will@cvradio.com Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Sunday announced he would stand for re-election on May 12 at the head of a cross-sectarian bloc, and received the support of a powerful Shia group close to Iran. Abadi, a Shia Muslim who led Iraq in the three-year war against the Islamist militant group Islamic State, said the "Victory Alliance" that he was assembling to contest the parliamentary election would include candidates from other communities. Abadi took over the premiership in 2014 from Nuri al-Maliki, a close ally of Iran widely blamed by Iraqi politicians for the army's collapse as Islamic State seized a third of Iraq. Maliki, who heads the Shia Dawa party, announced on Saturday that he would be running in the election. Maliki, who holds the ceremonial title of vice-president, remains a powerful figure as head of the largest political bloc in the current parliament. Abadi is a Dawa member but did not secure Maliki's endorsement for his candidacy. Maliki said on Saturday that Dawa supporters would be free to choose between his "State of Law" alliance and Abadi's Victory Alliance. The prime minister did, however, secure the support of powerful coalition of Iranian-backed Shia groups who took part in the war on Islamic State, led by the Badr Organisation. Lawmakers close to Abadi and Badr leader Hadi al-Amiri told Reuters their representatives had signed an electoral pact on Sunday. Abadi is credited with quickly rebuilding the army and defeating Islamic State in its main Iraqi stronghold, Mosul, last July, with strong assistance from a U.S.-led coalition. His tie-up with Amiri's "Conquest Alliance" broadens his base within Iraq's majority Shi'ite Arab community. But it alienated Moqtada al-Sadr, an influential Shia cleric with a large following among Iraq's urban poor who two years ago led demonstrations against the corruption eating away at Iraq's oil revenues. "I am stunned to see the course taken by brother Abadi, who we had thought to be a leading advocate of reform," said a statement from Sadr, one of a few Iraqi Shi'ite leaders who keep Iran at arm's length. The prime minister's office is reserved for the Shia Arabs under a power-sharing system set up after the 2003 U.S-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, a Sunni Arab. The largely ceremonial office of president is reserved for a Kurdish member of parliament. The speaker of parliament is drawn from Sunni Arab MPs. Parliament is likely to meet in the next few days to approve May 12 as the date for the election. Short link: news, latest-news Financial supporters of a Canberra cat cafe that has not yet eventuated have questioned where their money is three years after donating to the project. In 2015, sisters Carolyn and Andrea Sewell raised more than $8000 from two campaigns on crowdfunding website IndieGoGo, but couldn't reach their $120,000 goal. According to Carolyn Sewell, an earlier campaign had raised $700 for the Capital Cat Cafe, bringing the potential total raised to $9000. But three years on, backers have tried contacting the pair for updates, only to be ignored. After being contacted by The Canberra Times, the cafe posted on Facebook on Thursday morning. They said they were "embarrassed" at how long the project had taken, adding they were getting closer, but offered to refund donors. According to the post, they had been unable to find a suitable, centralised location. Melissa Read, one of the cafe's donors, said she'd tried contacting the pair in October but was ignored. "I think [Thursday's Facebook post] is a bit of a cop out," Ms Read said. "It was good that they did offer the chance of a refund. They've taken $8000 from people and provided no updates." Ms Read said she would seek a refund but would offer to donate again if the Sewell sisters could set a definitive date. "It's a cool thing for Canberra to have." Fee Brucesmith, a Sydney-based donor, said friends of hers had donated from across Australia and one had donated from the United States. "It's just disappointing. People, out of the goodness of their hearts, got on board this and in good faith donated their money," Ms Brucesmith said. "It wasn't the point of the money, it was the principle behind it." "I like cats and I just thought it was a great idea for people." In an email on Thursday, Ms Sewell said there weren't any new developments. "We have had a great deal of trouble finding and securing a suitable premise for cat cafe and are continuing to work on this," she said. "There is not much further we can say unfortunately, until a building has been confirmed." "We are really thankful for the support we have from people," Ms Sewell said. ACT planning authorities confirmed a cat cafe had been proposed in 2015 but never proceeded, despite authorities working with the owners on their proposal. There had been no development application for a cat cafe since. However a planning spokeswoman said a DA may not be required if it's not a new building or significant changes - including signage - are not needed. The spokeswoman also said people required permits to keep four or more cats on a residential premises. "Domestic Animal Services have not received an application for a licence to keep four or more cats relating to the Capital Cat Cafe proposal," the spokeswoman said. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/b2cd5b0e-7ef9-434b-9ee8-1a0df1e34725/r0_104_2000_1234_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news Canberra Airport says it would "certainly" be interested in having a low-cost airline such as Jetstar flying between the capital and Sydney. Flights between Canberra and Sydney have consistently had some of the worst cancellation rates in the country, with recent government statistics indicating a downturn in passengers flying between the cities. Canberra Airport managing director Stephen Byron said Canberra to Sydney would be well-suited to a low-cost airline such as Jetstar, and this could encourage more travellers to fly the route. "It's the largest route that doesn't have a low-cost carrier on it in the Australian market," Mr Byron said. "It is a route that would well suit a Jetstar operation." Mr Byron compared the Canberra to Sydney route with similar shorter flights operated by Jetstar across the ditch in New Zealand. "I think the opportunity is there to provide a low-cost airline service between Canberra and Sydney," he said. "And I think it would see hundreds of thousands of passengers attracted to it." Cancellations for Canberra to Sydney flights hit 4.8 per cent in November, well above the national cancellation average of 1.4 per cent of all flights. Mr Byron said the pattern of cancellations was "unacceptably high". "We are concerned that the pattern of cancellation rates on the Canberra to Sydney route seems to now be showing up as customers choosing to use other modes of transport," he said. "Whether they are choosing to drive or use the bus, it's hard to imagine people would find the roads in Sydney more reliable than the airlines." Statistics from the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development showed the number of passengers on Canberra to Sydney flights dropped 2.3 per cent between September 2016 and September 2017, with total passenger numbers falling from 84,600 to 82,600. At the same time most other domestic routes had experienced an increase in passenger numbers, Mr Byron said. Mr Byron has also called on the airlines already flying the route to offer bargain prices in order to regain customer confidence after the spate of cancellations. "The other way that airlines could regain their trust with the public, that does seem to be moving away because of the cancellations, would be to reduce the cancellation rates and also to offer more discount air fares," he said. Customers and Canberra Airport's owners have spoken out since flights between Canberra and Sydney topped the nation with an October cancellation rate of 8.1 per cent. QantasLink chief operating officer Jenny Chamberlain has previously said improving the reliability of the airline's network had been given "the highest priority". "Cancellations on the Canberra route improved significantly in November in comparison to the previous month," she said. "We're seeing improvements as a result of the recent adjustments we've made to our network and schedule, and our teams remain focused on ensuring this trend continues." /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/f7ebd6fc-f9c0-4b09-918d-0d53e8673beb/r0_134_2000_1264_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news Morning, Canberra! Hopefully you're feeling refreshed for your first day of the working week, after that overnight low of 8 degrees. We're in for a partly cloudy one today with a top of 26 degrees - a welcome change after last week. Here are your Monday headlines. The company formerly known as the Foy Group appears to have walked away from its plans to build a plastics-to-fuel plant in the ACT, selling its block in Hume the day after it finally settled. Integrated Energy Solutions had planned to build a plant that would convert 73 tonnes of plastic into 77.5 million litres of fuel a year, but the proposal had its critics. More on this story here. Families enrolling at Radford College for the first time this year will be slugged with a compulsory $1190 building levy ahead of an ambitious campus redevelopment aimed at expanding the school by 25 per cent. The introduction of the fee means families of year 11 and 12 students starting at Radford in February will pay almost $2000 more than those who enrolled in 2017. Emily Baker has the details. Momentum seems to be gathering for another airline to enter the market after Canberra Airport revealed it would "certainly" be interested in having a low-cost airline such as Jetstar flying between the capital and Sydney. Managing director Stephen Byron said Canberra to Sydney is the the largest route that doesn't have a low-cost carrier on it in the Australian market. Steven Trask has the story. Julie Akmacic and her husband Peter Deerson noticed something wasn't quite right with Lucy's skull when she was just a few weeks old. Now, the Canberra family begins the new year preparing for their baby to have major surgery to remodel and reconstruct her skull, at just 13 months old. Sally Whyte with this heartbreaking story. Respect the art, respect each other, were the only instructions as Canberrans went to see Hyper Real in the buff at the National Gallery of Australia on Saturday night. Karen Hardy was among them, wearing shoes for safety reasons. Her story is here. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/7de06764-4311-4776-9f4b-0414e1640055/r0_120_2000_1250_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news The Raiders club begins its appeal on Monday against a $120,000 fine imposed by the ACT Gambling and Racing Commission for breaches of poker machine laws. After an almost year-long investigation into a complaint by problem gambler Laurie Brown, the commission took disciplinary action against the Raiders late last year, alleging the club had not not recorded the signs that a patron had a gambling problem. Clubs are required by law to keep a record of anyone showing signs of problem gambling - signs such as being unable to stop gambling, or making multiple ATM withdrawals. Prof Brown lost $226,050 over 18 months at the Raiders club in Belconnen, until the alert was finally raised by her bank at the beginning of 2017. She says no-one intervened, despite an obvious gambling problem, which included withdrawing thousands of dollars through staff-supervised cash-out machines on some nights. But Raiders general manager Simon Hawkins has rejected the commission's findings as "erroneous" and its report as "riddled with errors". He says Prof Brown showed no signs of distress or problem gambling that could have triggered intervention. He said the commission had alleged the club should have recorded problem gambling on eight separate occasions. "Our sin is simply that we didn't tell the commission when a patron used an ATM/Eftpos to get cash on multiple occasions," he said. The Raiders have appealed, with an initial hearing set down for Monday afternoon in the tribunal. Prof Brown, who said she was never shown any of the documents the Raiders submitted to the ACT government in their defence, says she has also not been shown any documents relating to the club's appeal. Mr Hawkins would not comment ahead of Monday's hearing, and the tribunal said it could not release the Raiders' application for review or other documents in the case. The case will be keenly watched as a precedent-setter for the way Canberra's clubs deal with problem gamblers. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/85e477df-9848-4570-8292-3ec473a59a7d/r0_130_1999_1259_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg A suicide bomber killed 11 people on Wednesday in an attack on a mosque in northeast Nigeria, the epicentre of the conflict with Islamist insurgency Boko Haram, two military officials, a resident and an aid worker said. The bomber hit the mosque in the town of Gamboru in Borno state, near Nigeria's border with Cameroon, during dawn prayers, said Ali Mustapha, an aid worker, and Lawan Abba, a resident. The attack bears the hallmarks of Boko Haram, a jihadist group which frequently uses suicide bombers, often women and girls, to attack crowded public spaces such as mosques and markets. Short link: As we begin the new year, it is a time to reflect upon past accomplishments and look ahead to 2018 goals. In 2017, we removed many job-killing Obama era regulations, and before adjourning last year, passed historic tax reforms that will benefit hard-working Americans at every income level. These tax changes will provide a family of 4 earning a median income of $73,000 a year $2,059 more in their pocket each year. They double the child care tax credit from $1,000 to $2,000 per child and nearly double the standard exemption the first $12,000 for individuals and $24,000 for couples is now tax-free. Tax reform also provides needed relief for small businesses, positively impacting 62,041 taxpayers in Southwest Florida. For corporations, tax cuts mean that capital will be brought back into the United States and foreign corporations will have an incentive to relocate here. Finally, it eliminates the most onerous and unfair portion of the failed experiment of Obamacare, the individual mandate that forced Americans to either buy insurance that they didnt want and couldnt afford, or pay a fine for not doing so. Now it is gone. The regulatory relief which Congress has enacted and the President has signed, as well as Executive branch orders, will save businesses over $8.1 billion in costs. Less bureaucratic red tape lowers costs, allows for confidence and gives a predictability that leads to hiring, investment and a booming economy. I was proud to sponsor one of these major regulatory repeal bills H.J. Res 67, which was passed by Congress and signed by the President. The bill terminates a regulation that forced private-sector workers into government-run IRAs managed by cities and counties, which offered workers fewer protections and less control over their hard-earned savings. In foreign affairs, we have returned to a policy of projecting strength and leadership. After eight years of empty threats and crossed red lines, the United States is once again a power to be respected on the world stage. President Trump has been clear and decisive about North Koreas illegal nuclear program and consequentially China has engaged more than ever in dealing with its client state. With this in mind, I co-introduced a bill to defuel rocket man Kim Jong-Uns missile fuel supply from China and Russia. The administration is rightly supporting the protests against the Mullah-led theocracy in Iran. Former President Obama failed to support the green revolution but this time we have more resolve. I hope we see the advantages for the United States of an independent Kurdistan and have advocated for it. Locally, I have been fighting relentlessly for funding to clean up the Lake Okeechobee Watershed. I have brought House leadership to SW Florida to personally tour the Everglades so they would understand their importance. I wrote a letter to President Trump, which was co-signed by the entire Florida Delegation, asking President Trump to support Everglades Restoration projects in his fiscal year 2018 Budget. In the House, we were successful in achieving the highest ever funding for rebuilding the Herbert Hoover Dike, and the full amount of funding requested for Lake Okeechobee and Everglades restoration (CERP) projects. Bringing all concerned parties together in a united effort has been critical to our success and will be necessary as we move forward together. There is still much to be done. My colleagues and I in the House have passed many common-sense reforms this year that have stalled in the Senate. In June, the House passed Kates Law to make sure that deported illegal aliens who re-enter the country are incarcerated, and a bill to defund sanctuary cities. A few weeks ago, we passed concealed carry reciprocity to allow individuals with valid concealed carry permits to exercise their rights across all 50 states. In total, 477 bills passed the House and 378 of those remain stuck in the Senate. I have sponsored the RAISE Act to stop chain migration, change immigration from families to skills based, and end the diversity lottery. As a member of the Education and the Workforce committee, we passed the PROSPER Act, which will move funding to career technical education to prepare students to fill the 6 million existing job vacancies. Finally, I am all-out fighting for a permanent ban on offshore drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. The existing moratorium, passed in 2022, expires on June 30, 2022 and the Interior Department has insidiously determined that seismic and geophysical testing can begin, despite the language of the ban concerning related activities to leasing for drilling. I have argued our case to Republican leadership and will work to get the moratorium extended. Our economy and life style depend on a pristine environment and tourism. It has been an honor to represent Southwest Florida in Congress and I will continue to work every day to better our community and our nation. Happy New Year! Francis Rooney is the U.S. Representative for Floridas 19th congressional district. He is the Vice-Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and serves on the Committee on Education and the Workforce. He previously served as U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See under President George W. Bush from 2005 to 2008. 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. Through a collection of vivid photos, journalist and photographer Mona Abdel Karim captures the spirit of Indian culture in her first solo exhibition Colours of India, held at the Egyptian Centre for International Cooperation between 8 and 13 January. The photos showcase Indias rich cultural diversity and its presence within Egypt, as Abdel Karim presents a series of photographs depicting many classical and contemporary art forms. Abdel Karim is the editor of Sawtulhind magazine, the flagship Arabic-language magazine published by the Indian embassy in Cairo. She is also the official photographer of the India by the Nile festival, the annual cultural event organized by the embassy. For Abdel Karim, who holds a post-graduate diploma in cultural development, photography was originally just a hobby. However, over time, taking photographs became part of her professional life, with a focus on performances, people and folklore. I am in love with details. I like to peer into things and find them. Maybe this exhibition is more about colours, another favorite aspect that I love to capture, Abdel Karim said in an interview with Ahram Online. For several years, her photographs have been featured in newspapers and magazines and shown in group exhibitions at venues including The Opera House, the Russian Cultural Center and ElSawy Culturewheel. Abdel Karim has chosen 50 photos for the January exhibition, taken over a period of five years and grouped into several series. While smaller versions of some of them have been printed in publications before, this is the first time for the photos to be exhibited as full-size prints. One of her series is on the Holi festival celebrations in Egypt, with its bright colors and joyous spirit. There is also a monochrome series on the Baron Palace, the 19th century Indian-inspired palace in Heliopolis. It was built by millionaire Belgian industrialist Baron Empain and designed after the Hindu temples of Orissa in India and Angkor Wat in Cambodia. This is the only series that she chose to depict in black and white, despite the exhibitions title being an ode to colour. When I talk about colours, I am also referring to the different colours of culture. With the Baron palace, I wanted to put the focus on its architectural beauty, the texture and all the details of its sculpted surface. I think I could make a whole exhibit about the palace and its fascinating details, Abdel Karim told Ahram Online. Abdel Karim also dedicates a collection of photos to the art of movement and Indias different dances. Each dance form has numerous stories to tell about gods, love, war, victory of good over evil, etc. Thus each step, facial expression, body gesture has a significance, the photographer writes in her exhibition statement. She tells Ahram Online about the thrill of capturing a moment from a dance performance, as it then becomes another piece of art as a still frame. Of the 50 photos, only three were shot in India, when Abdel Karim visited some years ago. It was great to see how many of the people who came were remembering their own connection with India. Others became intrigued to read more about India, or to attend more of these events when they learnt that all this is happening in Egypt. So the exhibition fostered this cultural connection. Its not only about photos, Abdel Karim said. Amidst her interest in the different Indian dances, Abdel Karim took special note of how some of them can be compared with performance arts in Egypt. One such comparison she draws is between the Kathak dance and the Sufi twirling. The recent forms of Kathak can be linked with the Sufi dance. For example, Chakkarwala Tukras signature spins of Kathak, very much resemble twirling Dervishes. Manjari Chaturvedi, who is a popular Sufi Kathak dancer of India ... has introduced a new art form: 'Sufi Kathak'. She has blended the mysticism of Sufism with the classicism of Kathak to evolve a new kind of dance. For Abdel Karim, the exhibition her first solo is only one stageof an ongoing project, as she plans to explore further these relationships, and juxtapose Indian dances and music with Egyptian ones. This collection is a very small one from the number of photos I still have. There is more I want to offer, and more to explore, she says. On 10 January, a seminar was held in parallel to the exhibition, with talks by Abdel Karim alongside three of Egypts well-established photographers Ashraf Talaat, Ahmed Hayman, and Ayman Gamal El-Din on their relevant experiences of photographing India and Indian culture. Short link: Aston Martin has plans to file for an initial public offering (IPO) later this year, targeting a valuation of approximately $6.8 billion (5 billion), Bloomberg News reports, citing unnamed sources. According to those sources, the British automaker reportedly held preliminary discussions with advisors about a valuation for the company, including its debt. Aston Martins future plans that include SUVs, starting with the DBX, has investors interested in looking into an IPO this year. The automaker has plans to enter the booming segment in 2019. In terms of sales, Aston is coming off of a strong year, as it passed the 5,000-unit mark for the first time since 2008. Most of the sales came from the V12-powered DB11, but the recently launched all-new Vantage and the upcoming DBX crossover will surely give the brand a serious boost. Things are still in the air, though, as the automaker could go in a different direction. When the news agency asked Aston Martin for a comment, the automaker was non-committal: As a matter of policy, Aston Martin does not comment about speculation concerning future ownership or capital restructuring. Well, floating some of your shares has worked wonderfully for Ferrari and FCA, so we cant see any reason why Aston wouldnt go down the same route if they decide to raise some extra capital. Photo Gallery A woman from Citrus County, Florida has been arrested after crashing her car with her two-year-old son on board and subsequently resisting arrest. Brianna Dee Knox, 28, was taken into custody by the Florida Highway Patrol after driving recklessly and crashing into four cars on I-4 at roughly 5 PM on January 9. The Florida Highway Patrol reports that, after the crash, Knoxs red 2001 Honda broke down under an overpass. Upon exiting the vehicle, Knox started acting erratically and disturbed, even letting her young son walk towards traffic while she relieved herself on the side of the road. The Miami Herald reports that when troopers David Flores and Alain Hernandez arrived on the scene, Knox resisted arrest, kicked one of the officers in the chest and hand and violently struggled as they handcuffed her. Knox was arrested on charges including driving under the influence, battery on a law enforcement officer, leaving the scene of a crash and child neglect. She is being held at the Hills borough County jail on $15,000 bail. PHOTO GALLERY This was truly the Year of the Asshole. Myself included. We dont have to make 2018 the Year of the Mensch but I hope it can be the Year of the Not as Much of an Asshole. #RealisticGoals To that, Ganz responded: I wish my memories were foggier. I wish there was a way to fix it. It took me years to believe in my talents again, to trust a boss when he complimented me and not cringe when he asked for my number. I was afraid to be enthusiastic, knowing it might be turned against me later. As a follow-up to that request, on January 10, Harmon spoke on his podcast Harmontown and detailed his actions (beginning around the 18:40 mark). In this excerpt, he explains what he did: I broke up with my girlfriend, then I went right full-steam into creeping on my employee And then after that season, I got overt about my feelings after it was wrapped and said I love you, and she said the same thing shed been saying the entire time, in one language or another: Please, dont you understand that focusing on me like this, liking me like this, preferring me like this, I cant say no to it, and when you do it, it makes me unable to know whether Im good at my job? And because I finally got to the point where I said to her, Oh, I love you because thats what I thought it was when you target somebody for two years and it was therefore rejected that way, I was humiliated Now I wanted to teach her a lesson. I wanted to show her that if she didnt like being liked in that way, then oh boy, she should get over herself. After all, if youre just gonna be a writer, this is how just writers get treatedI drank, I took pills, I crushed on her and resented her for not reciprocating it. And the entire time, I was the one writing her paychecks and in control of whether she stayed or went and whether she felt good about herself or not, and said horrible things, just treated her cruelly, pointedly. Things that I would never ever ever have done if she had been male and if I had never had those feelings for her. And I lied to myself the entire time about it, and I lost my job, I ruined my show, I betrayed the audience, I destroyed everything, and I damaged her internal compass. And I moved on. And I never did it before, and I will never do it again, but I certainly wouldnt have been able to do it if I had any respect for women on a fundamental level. I was thinking about them as different creatures, I was thinking about the ones that I liked as having some special role in my life, and I did it all by not thinking about it. Mayor Fortin stated residents concerned with Peachland Councils irregular development approval of a 5 storey high rise in a 3 storey zoning on Beach Avenue will have an opportunity for comment at the time of the Public Hearing. Again, she repeated this same statement in an email to me, have I missed something here? I thought there was a policy and procedure in place when management recommends reworking the Official Community Plan, an amendment change of this magnitude would require: after the recommendation, some discussion at a COTW, in camera or regular council meeting, a motion, a vote and finally a date for a public hearing, if indeed the vote approved it. How did we already arrive at the public hearing stage, has there already been private discussion on this subject, if so when an where? Is this normal practice for Peachland Council, if so could it be considered more than irregular. Todays council agenda is calling for the first and second reading considerations and you say it is already a done deal. This council can build all the splash parks, electric power stations, piers and monument to their term and themselves, unfortunately they will all be remembered for one issue and one issue only, the total cluster fiasco of the PeachTree development approval. Taryn Skalbania Chelsea Powrie Buzz and Roxy are a lovable pair of cat siblings looking for a forever home. The two currently live at Critteraid in Summerland, with animal director Jess Byer. "They have to stay together, they're a bonded pair," Byer said. "It means they're connected, they have an emotional bond, they depend on each other." The two are affectionate, but would do best in a home with no other cats or dogs. Buzz's special interests include lounging around and getting cuddles, while Roxy's favourite time of day is breakfast. If you are interested in adopting Buzz and Roxy or any of the pets featured weekly by Castanet, contact Critteraid at 250 494 5057, [email protected] or online. You could have the missing piece of the puzzle that will help the RCMP put someone behind bars. Here is a recent crime that Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers hope you can help solve by calling our anonymous tips line at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit our website at www.crimestoppers.net or text to CRIMES (274637), keyword Ktown. CRIME: FRAUD/THEFT OF VEHICLE DATE: January 6, 2018 RCMP FILE: 2018-952 On January 6th a woman parked a black 2017 Ford F150 pickup in the parking lot at George Elliott School on Bottom Wood Lake Road in Lake Country between 930 a.m. and 12:20 p.m. A suspect broke the left rear window to reach a purse that had unfortunately been left on the seat, and was also able to leave with the truck. The truck was recovered nearby the next day, but the thief used one of the credit cards to withdraw cash at a local bank. He attempted at another Lake Country bank but was unsuccessful. Lake Country RCMP would like to identify this person of interest for the fraud. Photo: Crime Stoppers If you know anything about this crime, or any other crime, call the Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers anonymous tips line at 1-800-222-TIPS or visit our website at www.crimestoppers.net. Your information will be kept confidential and could lead to a reward of up to $2000.00. Colton Davies Community members in Naramata had a chance to interact with their local firefighters on Saturday, as the department hosted its annual open house at the fire hall. More than two dozen crew members were on hand, who cooked up pancakes, socialized, and took used Christmas trees to be chipped as well. "We always look to give back to the community and make sure they support us during the whole year," fire chief Tony Trovao said. "It's our way to give back a little bit a pancake breakfast, let them see the equipment and stuff that we bought. Show them all the members and put faces to the names, all that kind of stuff." The community engagement likely had added significance for residents this time around, after a calendar year that was the busiest ever for Naramata fire. Trovao said the department responded to 227 emergency calls last year, smashing a previous high of 156 emergency calls. "It was definitely a lot busier year, probably to the point where some people were pretty tired towards the end of summer. But it was a good year overall for Naramata Fire," Trovao said. "We're here for the community but the community backs us up at the same time." Trovao said the hall hosts the open house each year in the winter and, when possible, in the summer. Photo: Google Maps Roxul Inc., a manufacturing company in Grand Forks, was fined more than $122,000 last month when a worker was hurt on the job. A manufacturer in Grand Forks was fined more than $120,000 last month after a worker was injured on the job. Roxul Inc. was fined $122,444.55 by WorkSafeBC on Dec. 14, after an incident where a "worker's arms were caught between the heat drum and tension roller" of a machine, which resulted in an injury, a penalty summary showed. The extent of the employee's injuries are not known. The incident occurred on Aug. 4, according to a post-incident report provided to Castanet. "The firm failed to ensure machinery was effectively safeguarded and locked out to protect workers. These were repeated and high-risk violations," the penalty summary from WorkSafeBC stated. Further information in the post-incident report showed that Roxul has complied with three orders that were issued by WorkSafeBC as a result of the workplace injury. Ibrahim El-Haddad will hold an exhibition at Mashrabia Gallery on 21 January. His work playfully uses found objects from the streets of Cairo, painted in vivid colours that reflect the spontaneity he sees in the city, and details in everyday life that we often overlook. El-Haddads pieces resemble African art and celebrate unrefined, simple things. A graduate of Helwans University of Fine Arts in 1990, El-Haddad then went to Switzerland with a scholarship, returning to Egypt in 2011 before the revolution. His lengthy absence from the Egyptian capital has enabled him to see the culture with a renewed perspective, heightening his sensitivity and affection for simple gestures and daily scenarios of the world around him, the exhibition statement reads. Programme: The exhibition opens 21 January and runs till 28 February From Saturday to Thursday between 11am and 8pm Mashrabia Gallery, 8 Champollion Street, Downtown Cairo For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Short link: Photo: RCMP Annie Kirsten Michel UPDATE: 5:30 p.m. Jan. 15 Kamloops RCMP say 14-year-old Annie Kirsten Michel, reported missing Saturday, has been located safe and sound. ORIGINAL STORY: Saturday, Jan. 13 Kamloops RCMP are hoping the public can help locate a missing teen. Annie Kirsten Michel, 14, went missing on the afternoon of Jan. 11. Michel, who is from the Kamloops area, is described as Aboriginal, 5' 1" tall, 115 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes She is believed to be in the Kamloops area, but has not been in touch with her family since Jan. 11. Anyone with information on Michel is asked to call Kamloops RCMP at 250-828-3000. Colton Davies Its a competition that tests your inner and outer strength. The Tydax Fitness Okanagan Valley Throwdown is taking place at the South Okanagan Events Centre this weekend. More than 300 athletes from around Canada and parts of the United States are in town for the Crossfit-style event. And theyre working hard. "It tests our strength, our endurance, our gymnastic skills, conditioning, stamina, a bunch of things," Vernon-based Crossfit athlete Rebecca Stoddart said. Stoddart is taking part for her fourth year at the Throwdown, and said the event has become much more competitive as the sport continues to grow. "You train in your local gym and you think you're doing pretty good, and then you come here and you see how good everybody's doing... Everybody steps up their game every year." Athletes can compete individually or in teams at the Throwdown. Co-founder Mike Hill said the style of the competition brings camaraderie for all the athletes who take part. "The energy and the atmosphere that this functional fitness - Crossfit community brings, it can't be beaten. It's all about community and encouraging each other." Since it began in Penticton five years ago, the Throwdown now has expanded to host an annual event in the Fraser Valley. And Hill said it could be grown further in the future, as invitations for the Throwdown have come from as far as Ontario. "Getting invitations from other regions that hear about what we're doing here, inviting us to bring the competition to their town and their stadium, it's neat... Rather than you begging to go and play with them, they want you to come and play," he said. "We'd love to take them all on, but we need to walk before we can run. We want to grow the right way and at the right pace." Spectators can watch from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday on the second day of the competition. Admission is $8 dollars. Al-Ahram Arabic news site has honored Hend Sabry, the award-winning Tunisian actress based in Cairo. A special award was granted to Sabry in a ceremony that took place last Thursday at Al-Ahram premises, and that celebrated her extensive 17-year career in Egyptian cinema and television. Sabry, 36, is among the most popular actresses in the region and has been based in Egypt for many years, where she is a regular fixture in local films and TV series. On her Instagram account, Sabry shared photos from the ceremony, with a caption expressing her gratitude and pride at being honored by the long standing Al-Ahram establishment. During the ceremony, Sabry discussed some of the milestones of her career, which culminated with her receiving the Faten Hamama Excellence Award at the Cairo International Film Festival in 2017. She said the award was most significant to her, for bearing the name of the iconic Faten Hamama, whom she loves and respects, with the approval and support of Hamama's family. Other subjects discussed included her initial apprehension at taking on the series Halawet El-Donia, because of the emotional sensitivity around cancer as a disease. Yet she was proud to have taken the role, which she feels has given many people hope and inspiration. She further talked about giving up her salary as an actress in the 2016 film Zahret Halab (Rose of Aleppo), which she also directed. This is common in the field, when an actor believes in a film with an important message and a small budget. It was time to have a film about the Tunisian youth in who have joined IS militants in Syria or Libya. As artists, we are trying to answer some of the many questions around this issue, Sabry said. Sabrys career began in 1994 at the age of 14 when she debuted in the Tunisian production Silence of the Palaces (Samt Al-Qosoor) by director Moufida Tlatli. Her first appearance in Egyptian cinema was in the 2002 production A Teenager's Diary (Muzakirat Murahiqua), a role that paved her way to stardom. Her later roles include starring in films such as A Citizen, a Detective, and a Thief (Mowaten we Mokhber we Haramy) in 2002, Downtown Girls (Banat West El-Balad) in 2005, and Ibrahim El-Abyad in 2009. She also appeared in The Yacoubian Building (Oumaret Yacoubian, 2006), alongside an extensive cast of Egypt's biggest stars. Her embodiment of an HIV positive woman in Asmaa (2011) brought her several awards. Apart from her many achievements in cinema, Sabry is active in social and humanitarian work. Since 2009, she has been working closely with the UN World Food Programme (WFP) on raising awareness about hunger in the region. In 2010, Sabry officially became a WFP regional ambassador against hunger. For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Short link: Crystal Lynn McClure, 33, a lifelong resident of Birchwood, Tennessee, passed away on Friday January 12, 2018 at her home. Crystal attended Birchwood Baptist Church and graduated from Central High School in 2002. She went on to study Humanities at Chattanooga State before attending both MTSU and Bryan College where she studied Psychology. She went on to attend Cleveland State where she graduated with an Associates Degree in Business Administration. Crystal loved to read and she was a freelance writer for the Cerebral Palsy Family Network & The Mighty. She enjoyed journaling on her bible studies, her cancer journey, her prayers, and her life with Cerebral Palsy. Crystal was known for always welcoming everyone into her life and never meeting a stranger. She loved socializing and live music, but more than anything she loved her family. Crystal will be remembered as a vibrant soul full of life with a heart for others, and will be dearly missed by all that knew her. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, John W. & Shirley Y. Lawson and Searle A. & Emma McClure. Crystal leaves behind to cherish her memory, her loving parents, Abby G. and Billy E. McClure; sister, Emily A. McClure; and niece, Kaylee I. Parker; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, extended family, and friends. The family will receive friends from 5-8 p.m. on Sunday Jan. 14, at Companion Funeral Home, at 2419 Georgetown Road NW, Cleveland, Tn. 37311. The family will also receive friends on Monday, Jan. 15, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Birchwood Baptist Church located at 5436 TN Hwy 60, Birchwood, Tn. 37308. A celebration of life funeral service will follow the visitation on Monday, beginning at 1 p.m. at the church with Pastor David Delmotte officiating. Crystal will be laid to rest after the service in the McInturff Cemetery in Birchwood. The family would like to wish a special thanks to the staff at Tennessee Oncology of Cleveland, all of which became a part of our family as they showed kindness and compassion to each of us. Also a special thanks to Hearth Home Hospice and Crystals wonderful nurse M.J., as well as all of her dear friends. You are invited to share a personal memory of Crystal or your condolences with his family at his online memorial at www.companionfunerals.com. Companion Funeral and Cremation Service and the Cody family are honored to assist the McClure family with these arrangements. The announcement Saturday came after directors and stars, including Jessica Chastain and Judd Apatow, shared their shock at reports of the huge pay disparity for the Ridley Scott film. The 10 days of reshoots were necessary after Kevin Spacey was replaced by Christopher Plummer when accusations of sexual misconduct surfaced against Spacey. USA Today reported Williams was paid less than $1,000 for the 10 days. This all happened very fast. We all have unanswered questions and we were supposed to come together to celebrate safety. All of this was about feeling safe. It has been made clear to me that the performers in EX Fest do not feel safe. This is not the time to come together to celebrate. We should end the celebrations before they begin. I am aware of the recent allegations made against me, but no one has been able to give me more information than that at this time. I am not guilty of sexual misconduct. I wish there were more information available, but with so much uncertainty and so little time, I think it is best to cancel this year's Chicago EX Fest. Rockwell's utterance threatened to distract from a strong broadcast of the program that featured cameos from former cast members Bill Murray and Fred Armisen, as well as a strong opening sketch that made fun of MSNBC morning hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. And viewers heard other bits of profanity during the program: During "Weekend Update," co-anchor Colin Jost repeated the word "s--hole" that has become an integral part of the recent news cycle after reports surfaced stating President Trump used the phrase to describe certain foreign countries. NBC bleeped out that word on the west coast as well. In an era when TV viewers routinely hear Samantha Bee utter all kinds of profanity on basic-cable's TBS and listen to all sorts of once-offensive language on networks ranging from FX to HBO, who cares if someone drops a discouraging word on "SNL"? Simply put, the show airs on broadcast TV, and is held to a different standard by the Federal Communications Commission. What's more, uttering profanity on the venerable series over its past four-plus decades on air has not often been rewarded. In February, 1981, cast member Charles Rocket improvised a response to host Charlene Tilton that included the word "f-k," and the incident that went down in infamy. Rocket was taken off the program. Featured player Jenny Slate inadvertently used a variation of that same word in her debut on the program in September of 2009. While she had a strong first year, and even established herself with a recurring character, she did not return to the program in its next season. Both of those mishaps took place well after midnight. Last season, actress Kristen Stewart uttered the word in the midst of her monologue on a broadcast in February of last year. Norm MacDonald and Paul Shaffer are among others who have thrown the word out while on the air. At least one person who swore on a live "SNL" telecast escaped punishment. In 1995, cast member Cheri Oteri uttered the word "s-t" while playing irascible character Rita DelVecchio. Host David Schwimmer called attention to the mistake during the episode's farewell moments, and Oteri placed some money in a "swear jar." All was forgiven. Oteri stayed with the program until 2000. "When someone asked me, 'Did you hear what Donald Trump called Haiti and Africa?' I was like, oh boy, did it start with an N?" Che, who is black, said. "But then I heard what he said, and I was like, that's it? My job is to make fun of the news, but Trump saying something racist isn't exactly news anymore." Gaba said he is especially aggravated when he sees commercial truck drivers violate the law, since their vehicles weigh so much and can cause so much damage in a crash. Rafael Alvarez, 40, of Chicago, driving a white-panel box truck, admitted that he had been talking to a customer and that he should get a Bluetooth earpiece. Im going to get it today, he said after getting his ticket. As Ellis group exited the bar around 1:30 a.m., Taylor and at least one member of this group opened fire, striking Ellis and two people in the group. One of the gunmen firing shots was wearing a track suit like the one Taylor was seen wearing. The 16-year-old also tried to force his way into another store Jan. 9. He was armed with a knife and he was with other robbers. The employees were able to block the doors, police said. Two of the guards then told Villarreal that they were also Chicago police officers working security at the store and all three guards tried to take him into custody after noticing several items concealed under his clothing, according to an arrest report. Lyntrell Armstead, Jr., of the 4700 block of West West End Avenue, is charged with two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon as well as possession of a firearm without a serial number, according to a news release from the Chicago Police Department. The chase spanned three miles and ended in the 3000 block of West Grand Avenue in the Humboldt Park neighborhood when the car crashed into a light pole, police said. Officers saw a Dodge Charger and a Land Rover driving erratically in traffic Jan. 12. The Charger crashed into a cement barrier in the 7500 block of South Lafayette Avenue, and a 17-year-old jumped out and got into the Land Rover which was being driven by the younger boy, police said. After striking the barrier, the womans vehicle rolled over on an embankment, officials said. The woman appeared to be between the ages of 40 and 50, and her name was not released, officials said. Authorities said the girl's injuries were not considered to be life-threatening but did not provide further details. Police also did not identify the girl nor detail her relationship to Ruiz." Authorities said Wilson was behind the wheel of a 2008 Jeep SUV following behind her former 23-year-old partner and his 20-year-old girlfriend in the 7900 block of South Essex Avenue in the South Chicago neighborhood just after 3:30 a.m. Friday. While following the couple, she sped toward them, striking the woman before speeding off, authorities said. Indiana hopes to make Medicaid enrollees pay a fee if they smoke cigarettes. (Yasser al-Zayyat / AFP/Getty Images) Greitens' campaign for governor had access to the donor list for The Mission Continues, a veterans' charity he founded, and raised $2 million from individuals and entities that had given the charity significant contributions. Democrats said it was the kind of insider politics that Greitens decried in his campaign, and the chairman of the state party filed an ethics complaint contending he should have disclosed the list as an in-kind contribution. Greitens initially denied using the charity's list for fundraising, then belatedly reported it as an in-kind contribution. He paid a $100 fine. To the editor: All the talk about how taxpayers should position themselves during the new tax year has diverted attention from what seems to be a predominant characteristic of the recently passed and signed tax bill. Nonpartisan accounts suggest it provides a brunch buffet for corporations and the very wealthy with table scraps for the middle class. "I want to see if they 'have it,' and this is an opportunity to be successful and show what it takes," she said. "Being honorable is what Martin Luther King was all about. As far as the speeches go and the framework, Michelle Obama's words are a message and something we should all live by. It's important to overcome obstacles and be successful. I am always pleasantly surprised by what these young people bring." "We will continue with this investigation as a death investigation in an attempt to determine what happened regarding the victim's death and how he ended up at the location where he was found," Deputy Chief Keith Zupec said after the autopsy results were released. By the time the steam fire engines America and Little Giant arrived, the blaze that would become the Great Chicago Fire was well on its way to ravaging the city. But it was only a matter of days after the flames subsided that an enterprising real estate developer would start the process of rebuilding. "White Paper: Made in China 2025 Foshan Sample" is released at the 2018 Made in China Forum in Foshan, Guangdong Province on Jan. 13. [Photo provided to China.org.cn] As an epitome of China's manufacturing development, Foshan offers a sample of implementing "Made in China 2025" and some practical experience in pursuing manufacturing transformation and upgrading. This is a conclusion of the "White Paper: Made in China 2025 Foshan Sample" released at the 2018 Made in China Forum, a one-and-a-half-day event that opened in Foshan, Guangdong Province on Jan. 13. Composed of nine chapters, the white paper examines Foshan's efforts and experience in implementing the "Made in China 2025" target and pursuing manufacturing transformation and upgrading. In May, 2015, the Chinese government unveiled the 10-year national action plan designed to transform China from a manufacturing giant into a world manufacturing power. To achieve its implementation, 30 provincial governments formulated action plans designed to fit for their own conditions, and the Ministry of Information and Technology selected 21 cities or city clusters including Foshan as pilot areas. After more than two years, the time has come to reflect on both the achievements so far and problems that have been revealed. In this context, CAIJING Magazine, a weekly business magazine based in Beijing, and its affiliated CAIJING Think Tank organized about 20 Chinese economists to study Foshan's efforts to implement the "Made in China 2025" program in its economic activities. "The research team conducted field surveys in Foshan on four occasions and held two seminars in 2017," said Zhu Sendi, honorary director of the China Machinery Industry Federation in introducing the white paper at the forum. Foshan was chosen because "its trajectory of manufacturing development is similar to that of the whole country, namely from carrying out industrial transfer to pursuing industrial upgrading," Zhu explained. In addition, though neither a provincial capital nor a special economic zone, Foshan has achieved greater success in industrialization than other comparable Chinese cities, according to the research team. Foshan's GDP was 863 billion yuan in 2016, next only to Guangzhou and Shenzhen within the province, and its 2017 GDP is expected to reach 950 billion yuan. Foshan's total industrial output value in 2016 ranked second among sub-provincial cities, and its Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) has been above 50.0 for 15 consecutive months from Oct., 2016. Faced with diminishing comparative advantage in the cost of production factors, Foshan has been focusing on supply-side structural reform by improving the efficiency and quality of development as well as fostering new growth drivers. Foshan's success in manufacturing development can be attributed to the synergy between government, market and society, said Zhang Yansheng, researcher of the Macroeconomic Research, National Development and Reform Commission and a member of the research team. Foshan has coordinated the role of "the visible hand" and "the invisible hand," under which government seeks to create a sound business environment while allowing the market to play a decisive role in resource allocation. Well on its way to developing into a national manufacturing center, Foshan is expected to make even greater strides from now on, as described in the white paper. With a theme of "New Industrial Revolution in a Changing Global Manufacturing Landscape", the 2018 Made in China Forum gathered political, business and academic leaders from China and abroad to discuss global manufacturing trends, China's new role in the global industrial chain and other key issues. China's top anti-graft agency on Saturday pledged to safeguard the position of Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, as the core of the CPC Central Committee and the whole Party. The key to implementing the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress is to safeguard Xi's position as the core of the CPC Central Committee and the whole Party, and to safeguard the authority of the CPC Central Committee and its centralized, unified leadership, said a communique adopted at the second plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), which was held from Thursday to Saturday. Another key is to study and grasp Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and make it the guide in practice and work, it said. "Currently, the fight against corruption remains grave and complex, and the full and strict governance over the Party should not be given up halfway. We must have the resolve and tenacity to persevere in the never-ending fight against corruption," said the communique. "We must focus on solving problems, maintain strategic resolve, eliminate distraction of wrong ideas, and ensure strict Party self-governance without any pause or slackness," it said. CCDI members and senior Party and state leaders,including Xi, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng, attended the session. Xi delivered a speech at the opening meeting. Xi's speech explained strategic guidelines for Party governance, summarized progress made in the past five years and analyzed challenges and risks ahead, the communique said, adding that it is important for all Party to carefully study it. POLITICAL DISCIPLINES The most important thing is to tighten the Party's political rules and disciplines, said the communique, calling for better supervision over the political life of the Party and how its policies are being implemented. The "Janus-faced ones", who are disloyal and dishonest to the Party, who comply in public but oppose in private, should be firmly excluded, it said. In the communique, the CCDI pledged to enhance monitoring of political life within the Party and inspect how key principles and policies are carried out and internal management mechanisms operate. SUPERVISORY NETWORK COVERING ALL The communique pledged to build a supervisory network over all state functionaries, under the Party's leadership. China is expanding a pilot reform of supervisory systems in Beijing, Shanxi and Zhejiang nationwide, with supervisory commissions being established at national, provincial, city and county levels. Sharing offices and staff with CPC discipline agencies, the new commissions will incorporate existing supervisory, corruption prevention and control agencies within government and procuratorates. Efforts should be made to create a highly efficient supervisory mechanism to ensure coordination between discipline inspection and judicial investigation, the CCDI communique said. FIGHTING BUREAUCRACY, CURBING PRIVILEGES The CCDI will closely monitor undesirable work styles. "More will be done to curb formalities for formalities' sake and bureaucracy," the communique said. "Those who are active only in words rather than deeds will be held accountable." The communique stressed firm opposition to Party officials seeking privileges, and urged efforts to push leading officials to discipline themselves and their families. The CCDI will continue to dispatch inspection teams regularly and on specific missions and launch more effective education campaigns. ZERO TOLERANCE "We will continue to see that there are no no-go zones, no stone is left unturned, and no tolerance is shown for corruption," the communique said. The CCDI said the fight against corruption will target officials who have shown no restraint and continued their wrongdoing after the 18th CPC National Congress in late 2012. The CCDI will fight corruption in selection and appointment of officials, government approval and supervision, resource exploitation, finance, and other key areas prone to corruption. The commission stressed efforts to address corruption that occurs on the people's doorsteps, especially in poverty relief. The fight against corruption at the grassroots level will be combined with that against criminal gangs. The "protection umbrella" behind the gangs will be removed, it said. Officials working in discipline inspection and supervision should be loyal, resolute, responsible and maintain discipline and the law, ensuring that power bestowed by the Party and the people is not abused, according to the communique. This year, the Communist Party of China is expected to put forward a number of measures to deepen reform and mark the 40th anniversary of the reform and opening-up policy, analysts said. In several key speeches recently, President Xi Jinping has highlighted deepening reform and opening-up as a priority, sending a strong signal that changes will be implemented to stimulate further development. In his New Year speech, Xi pledged to resolutely carry out the task because "reform and opening-up is the path we must take to make progress in contemporary China and realize the Chinese dream". He cited a traditional adage, saying the Chinese people would "cut paths through mountains and build bridges across rivers" to move reform forward. "Reforms in all areas should be further advanced to constantly improve the level of modernization of China's system and our capacity for governance," he said. When he addressed the BRICS Business Summit in Xiamen, Fujian province, in September, Xi said China would commemorate the 40th anniversary of reform and opening-up in a grand manner. "Thanks to the leadership of the CPC, the Chinese people have found the successful path of socialism with Chinese characteristics," he said, adding that despite challenges and difficulties, the people have made great progress thanks to their diligence, bravery and wisdom. In his speech at the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Da Nang, Vietnam, in November, Xi stressed the importance of marking the 40th anniversary of the reform and opening-up policy. He pledged that China would continue the opening-up process, and her development would deliver even greater benefits to the world. "For nearly four decades, China has opened its arms to embrace the world and achieved 'leapfrog development' for itself through this process," he said. Since Xi became General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, reform has emerged as the hallmark of his administration. In late 2012, his first trip outside Beijing as General Secretary was to Guangdong province, which has been at the forefront of China's reform and opening-up drive for decades. Xi also heads the Central Leading Group for Deepening Overall Reform, which was established in late 2013. Last year, 79 major reform tasks were completed, while 399 reform plans were formulated by the central authorities. In his report to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Xi mentioned the word "reform" 71 times, indicating his determination to introduce a raft of amendments and new measures. "Only with socialism can we save China; only with reform and opening-up can we develop China, develop socialism and develop Marxism," he said. The launch of more than 1,500 reform measures in the past five years has seen breakthroughs in a number of key areas, while a general framework for reform has been established in major fields, he added. Zhu Lijia, a professor of public administration at the Chinese Academy of Governance, said comprehensively deepening reform will be the Party's main task in the coming years. The CPC faces many uncertainties and challenges, both domestically and internationally, and only by deepening reform will it really solve problems, he added. Last month's Central Economic Work Conference identified three 'tough battles' in the coming three years: resolving risks; targeting poverty; and controlling pollution. Liu Yuanchun, vice-president of Renmin University of China, said pursuing high-quality growth will be the long-term target of reform, given that the country is facing the challenge of unbalanced, unsustainable and inadequate development. Speaking to the 21st Century Business Herald, Liu said deepening supply-side structural reform and invigorating market entities will be on the country's reform agenda this year. Wide-ranging structural reforms, designed to improve the supply-side economy, produced the desired outcomes in 2017 and are expected to be used again this year. Combating overcapacity will be a major task of the reforms. Last year, China achieved its target of slashing steel production capacity by around 50 million metric tons and reducing coal production capacity by at least 150 million tons. Experts and special guests attend a ceremony marking the return of eight fossils from Europe, at a paleontological museum in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, Jan. 13, 2018. Eight fossils of dinosaurs and a bird dating back at least 125 million years have been returned to China from Europe. Originally found in the province, the fossils went overseas for one reason or another, but in 2017, a French fossil collector decided to return them to China. [Photo/Xinhua] Eight fossils of dinosaurs and a bird dating back at least 125 million years have been returned to China from Europe. On Saturday, the fossils, including seven of dinosaurs with feathers and one of a primitive bird, went on display at a paleontological museum in northeast China's Liaoning Province. They were originally found in the province. The fossils went overseas for one reason or another, but in 2017, a French fossil collector decided to return them to China. "The eight fossils are significant in research about the origin of birds and the relations between dinosaurs and birds," said paleontologist Sun Ge. Dinosaur expert Xu Xing said that the fossils are an indicator that dinosaurs could have developed feathers in their early stage, and that one branch of them could have grown smaller and smaller, before eventually evolving into birds. Since a fossil protection regulation went into effect in 2011, more than 5,000 fossils taken overseas have been returned to China. Chinese man Yuan Jianglei rode a bicycle 16,000 kilometers back to his hometown from Africas Benin collecting donations to help install solar power stations and water wells for communities in Benin. The young man is set to go back to Benin after the Chinese Spring Festival in February to fulfill his promise, reports Beijing Youth Daily. Yuan Jianglei poses for a photo with his African friends. [Photo/Beijing Youth Daily] Yuan Jianglei, born in 1991 in Ningbo in Chinas Zhejiang Province, graduated from Chongqing Jiaotong University in 2014, and majored in radio and television journalism. He decided to teach Chinese in the Confucius Institute in Benin, one of the most underdeveloped countries in Africa. Yuan Jianglei poses for a photo with his African friends. [Photo/Beijing Youth Daily] In September 2016, Yuan Jianglei rode a bike back to his hometown from Benin, a 16,000 kilometer journey that took him over 360 days to complete. He took photos of his journey, and after arriving in China in August 2017 made them into a documentary. He then contacted with enterprises to collect donations to help the locals in Benin. Yuan Jianglei poses for a photo on his 16,000-kilometer ride to come back to his hometown from Africas Benin. [Photo/Beijing Youth Daily] A well-known Chinese enterprise in the field of renewable energy has donated several hundred thousand yuan to Yuan Jianglei. The young man is now set to go back to Benin to fulfill his promise of making living conditions better for the local communities. Yuan Jianglei poses for a photo on his 16,000-kilometer ride to come back to his hometown from Africas Benin. [Photo/Beijing Youth Daily] Two leading Chinese companies on Friday held a groundbreaking ceremony to start the construction of a sub-sea pipeline installation for Dangote Oil Refining Company Limited in Lagos, Nigeria's economic hub. Top officials of the Nigerian Dangote's Group, Xie Xianju, Deputy General Manager of China Harbor Engineering Co (Nigeria) and Zhang Qing, General Manager of China's Offshore Oil Engineering Company (COOEC) attended the ceremony, near the Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ). The pipeline project is part of Dangote's 17 billion U.S. dollars gas pipeline, fertilizer, petrochemicals and refinery projects. The work-scope includes transportation and installation of nine sub-sea pipelines with a total length of 100 kilometers in water depths of up to 40 meters. Of the pipelines, six are 24-inch diameter and three are 48-inch. The Chinese contractors will also install five single point mooring systems, a catenary anchor leg mooring buoy weighing 240 tonnes and pipeline end manifold carrying a total weight of 220 tonnes for a shuttle tanker that imports crude for the refinery. Xie said the quality of the work to be done at the site would be of the highest international standard, adding that the company's imprimatur of unrivaled excellence would be brought to bear in the project. Sumil Katawia of the Dangote's Group, said the desire to have the best installations informed the decision to work with a reputable, world class firm like COOEC and China Harbor. Dangote Refinery currently under construction would save Nigeria 12 billion U.S. dollars annual import substitution, create 4,000 direct jobs and crash prices of petroleum products. The project would add value to the economy as it would also create 145,000 indirect jobs. The refinery would lower the prices of petroleum products in Nigeria and save some costs on importation, when completed. The refinery will have the capacity to refine 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day while the petrochemical plant will produce 780 KTPA Polypropylene, 500 KTPA of Polyethylene while the fertilizer project will produce 3.0 million metric tonnes per annum of Urea. The 650,000-barrels-per-day refinery will come on stream by September 2019, according to officials of the company. A Sino-British joint venture will soon begin outbound tourism business for Chinese tourists in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone (SFTZ). Registered in the FTZ in 2015 by Thomas Cook Group and Shanghai's Fosun International, Fosun Tourism and Culture Group is one of the beneficiaries of fine-tuning to some laws and regulations in China's FTZs to further opening-up and reform. Eleven regulations including those on ship registration, urban rail transit and foreign investment are to be temporarily adjusted, according to a State Council decision. One regulation specifically deals with foreign investment in tourism. Joint ventures registered in the zones are now allowed directly into outbound tourism for Chinese residents. Previous regulations meant joint ventures had to work with local travel agencies on outbound tourism, but could apply for a their own license after two years. Xu Bingbin, vice president of the group, said his firm has various products for Chinese tourists, and since the change to regulations, revenue is expected to increase tenfold this year. "The alteration of these laws and regulations will further the opening up of China's free trade zones," said Ren Yibiao, general manager of the National Base for International Culture Trade (Shanghai). The changes are also good for FTZ businesses involved in shipping, agriculture, aerospace and urban rail transit. As of October 2017, nearly 18,000 firms were registered in the SFTZ, double the number in the four previous bonded zones when they merged in September 2013. In the first three quarters 2017, foreign trade in the zone rose 16.2 percent year on year to 150 billion U.S. dollars. The SFTZ was launched to trial streamlined business registration. Companies can register and be operational in the zone in three working days, considerably less than the previous 40. In 2014, three more FTZs opened in Tianjin Municipality, and the provinces of Guangdong and Fujian. A third batch of seven more went online in August 2016. As structural reform breeds innovation-driven growth, these zones have become attractive to investors and contributed to policy innovation and opening up in industry, finance and other sectors. In January 2017, the central government announced more measures to attract foreign investment through easier access and a better business environment. Foreign firms already face fewer restrictions in the manufacturing, mining and services sectors. "The trials in the FTZs set an example for economic reform and opening up nationwide," said Ren. Flash With a key cooperation forum and the Belt and Road Initiative, China hopes to raise its cooperation with Africa to a new stage, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Saturday. Wang made the remarks when meeting his Rwandan counterpart Louise Mushikiwabo in Kigali, capital of Rwanda, the first stop in his new year African trip. Wang said China hopes to work closely with Rwanda to hold a successful Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit this year and to dovetail China's Belt and Road Initiative with African countries' development strategies, thus boosting Africa's industrialization and modernization and raising the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Africa to a new level. Mushikiwabo said Rwanda is willing to strengthen cooperation with China regarding the Belt and Road Initiative, which she said set a good example of deepening regional cooperation for other countries. The minister praised China's firm commitment to developing partnership with Africa and the resultant rapid growth of China-Africa trade in a world full of uncertainties. She further said Rwanda is willing to work with China to ensure a success out of the FOCAC summit. Christians in Canada are fighting back against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's requirement for employers to hand in an attestation that expresses support for abortion and transgender rights in order for them to be given summer job grants. The Canadian Council of Christian Charities' (CCCC) director of legal services, Barry W. Bussey, told Life Site News that they had received tons of calls and emails from members who had complained about the attestation. He said most of them have refused to sign the required paperwork. "People are very concerned," Bussey explained to Life Site. "We have 3,400 members across the country and we have a number of them who rely on the Canada Summer Jobs," he added. "In fact, most of them are saying, no, they're not signing." Patty Hajdu, the Liberal employment minister, started implementing the attestation requirement for applicants this year, even for online applications. The Liberals explicitly said last year that they did not want the job grants to go to pro-life groups. The Toronto Right to Life Association has filed a legal challenge against this new policy. According to the group, the attestation requirement ought to be scrapped as it stepped on the Charter rights of freedom of religion, expression and equality. In the wake of the backlash against the pro-abortion attestation requirement, Trudeau has once again defended the move. On Jan. 9, he said groups that want to remove women's access to abortion are not in line with the Canadian society, Global News relayed. Trudeau said Canada is all about defending rights and freedoms and highlighted the importance of knowing the "difference between freedom of expression and acting on those freedoms." He said women have spent generations fighting for the right to choose what to do with their own bodies, so it is not proper to restrict those rights. Two recent church demolitions in China have sparked fears that the government could be launching a wider crackdown on Christianity as it gears up for tighter restrictions on religion. On Jan. 7, authorities set off explosives inside the Golden Lampstand Church in Linfen, Shanxi province, and tore at the remains with diggers and jackhammers. The incident came less than a month after a 20-year-old Catholic church in the nearby province of Shaanxi was demolished, The Guardian detailed. A pastor, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, had witnessed the Golden Lampstand Church's demolition and said a large group of police officers had kept people and worshippers from coming close to the building. He added that the house of worship had been built in 2008 and that there was no reason for it to be destroyed. "I think this might be a new pattern against any independent house churches with an existing building or intention to build one," said China Aid founder Bob Fu of the incident. "It also could be a prelude to enforcing the new regulation on religious affairs that will take effect in February." Although the Chinese Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, authorities implement strict regulations when it comes to that matter. Churches and pastors must be officially sanctioned by the state and are required to abide with the government's rules. Those that gather without official permission are subjected to arrests and church demolitions. Meanwhile, in the city of Wenzhou, Christians are fighting back against the government's ban on Sunday School that was implemented last year. Some churches moved the lessons to private homes, while others rescheduled the classes to Saturdays, Reuters reported. A number of Christians in Wenzhou feel that their faith is more important than their children's grades. One mother told Reuters that Christian lessons were very important because the youth nowadays are more vulnerable than ever to the influence of drugs, pornography, gambling ,violence, video games, and other socially destructive behaviors. Transparency group FaithLeaks has unveiled secret documents which expose a sexual abuse scandal within the Jehovah's Witnesses church and the latter's alleged efforts to cover up the accusations. Based on the 33 letters and internal documents leaked by FaithLeaks on Jan. 9, leaders of the Jehovah's Witnesses and its legal entities called Watchtower discussed the sexual abuse accusations made by three separate individuals. The files, which were written from 1999 to 2012, included a conclusion that the allegations of two of the young women - who were sisters - against their father were true, Newsweek detailed. The leaked documents also detailed that the father had started abusing one of his daughters when she was only three and continued until she was 12 years old. The letter to the Watchtower was sent by the Palmer Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses in Brimfield, Massachusetts. "Our impression upon speaking with both girls was similar," the leaked letter said. "That they are both quite rational. It certainly appears that these were real events." Despite the conclusion, it took some time before church leaders acted on the issue since one of the victims wanted to avoid facing her father and was hesitant in filing a formal complaint. The church later on held an internal trial which sentenced the father to a brief excommunication. In addition, the leaked files showed that the church leaders had urged the woman and her husband to stay quiet and keep the incident from secular law enforcement officials. The father was never officially charged even though he was also accused of raping another woman who was not related to them. Last month, the NL Times reported that a hotline created for victims of sexual abuse within the Jehovah's Witnesses community had gotten around 80 reports. The Reclaimed Voices Foundation hotline received 50, and the rest came in via Dutch newspaper Trouw. The foundation established the hotline to expose child sexual abuse incidents within the Jehovah's Witnesses church. The hotline's co-founder, Frank Huiting, admitted that he had also experienced sexual abuse within the religious community when he was still a child. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence's promise in October to help persecuted Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East appears to have been fulfilled as USAID has announced a change in its policy concerning relief funding. On Oct. 25, 2017, Pence promised to "stop funding ineffective relief efforts at the United Nations" and to funnel aid directly to Christians and other persecuted minorities in Iraq via USAID. Following a number of discussions between the United Nations and the Trump administration, the United States Agency for International Development, which is commonly known as USAID, confirmed that its contribution of $150 million that would go to the Funding Facility for Stabilization in Iraq would be restructured, Fox News detailed. USAID Counselor Tom Staal told Fox that $55 million of the $75 million already given to the United Nations Development Program fund was allotted "specifically for minorities" who had suffered because of the atrocities of the Islamic State. He added that the specific towns where the budget was to be spent was also detailed in the new agreements. Moreover, Staal revealed that USAID has already drafted a contract containing new oversight procedures that aimed to make sure that the UNDP performed its tasks effectively. Those measures include hiring a third party that would monitor and report on the progress of the agency. Last month, Christians in the northern Iraqi town of Teleskof were finally able to return to their homeland to celebrate Christmas for the first time since ISIS took over the region. Hundreds of once-displaced congregants gathered at the Church of Saint George as Father Salar Bodagh led a traditional bonfire ceremony which signified renewal, The Guardian reported. Amidst the joy of being reunited once again for their Christmas celebrations after Iraq declared victory over ISIS, the damage to the mostly Christian town caused many to wonder if they could still move forward from this setback. Based on estimates by community leaders, at least 7,000 Teleskof residents fled to various parts of Iraq, the Kurdistan region, U.S. Australia, Germany, and other countries. Many of these Christians feel that there is no more future left for them in their home country. Internet preacher and Tennessee pastor Greg Locke has spoken out against a "vicious" report that talked about his alleged separation from his wife over a mental condition and his purported romantic involvement with another woman who worked at their church. In a video posted on his Facebook page, Pastor Locke reacted to a report by Pulpit & Pen which said he had sent his wife, Melissa, away on a bus and claimed that she was mentally ill. The publication also cited church sources who said the couple was getting a divorce and that the Tennessee pastor was romantically involved with a woman called "Tai," The Christian Post relayed. However, many of the congregants at Global Vision Bible Church seemed to not know of any mental illness that Melissa was allegedly suffering from. "I am saddened tonight by a vicious article that is rapidly circling the internet," said Pastor Locke in his Facebook video. "I'm no stranger to hundreds of news articles both good and bad. However, this is a situation of a writer gathering fake and/or out of context information and totally fabricating a story. This is a very personal and hurtful hit piece. Our entire church congregation knows the facts and the timeline." In addition, Locke lamented the bad things that "bitterly disgruntled people" told Pulpit & Pen, adding that the latter had published it without even verifying it with him. Nevertheless, he said he was trying to "Be Still" in the middle of this very difficult situation and that he knows God will use the bad experience for the good outcomes ultimately. Last month, Pastor Locke made headlines when he criticized evangelicals who believed there were "multiple ways to heaven." In a mini-sermon, the Tennessee pastor said those who do not believe that Jesus was the only way they could enter God's kingdom were not Bible believers, The Christian Post said in a separate report. Quoting John 14:6, Pastor Locke asserted that no one goes to the Father in heaven except through Jesus. He said believing otherwise was tantamount to delivering a "smack" to the Lord's face. The Catholic Church in England and Wales is aiming to lead parishioners to a closer relationship with God and to help them find out what their vocations are through a new mobile app called "God Calls." The newly launched "God Calls" app is meant to be a "spiritual toolkit" commissioned by the National Office for Vocation of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. The mobile application provides its users with daily prayers, Bible meditations, and reflections on the lives of the saints, the Catholic Herald detailed. Aside from that, "God Calls" has a journal so users can keep track of their spiritual growth and have a better understanding of the Lord's calling for them. The app also allows them to connect with other users and to access Twitter and the news. Sr. Elaine Penrice, who works at the vocation office, told Catholic News Service that the "God Calls" app was initially proposed two years ago. They wanted to use it to convey the message that each person is called by God to universal holiness and to a particular vocation, and people ought to develop a deeper relationship with the Lord. "We were aware that to communicate this idea, it is important to get the message to as many people as possible," Sr. Penrice told CNS. "The app was one of the ways we thought we might be able to help people a especially young people a to think about their relationship with God, and how to make that relationship concrete every day." The "God Calls" app can be downloaded for free by iPhone and Android users from its website at www.godcalls.co.uk. Earlier this month, Crux reported that the Vatican had created a new app that would help priests create short homilies like the ones Pope Francis delivers. "Clerus-App," which can be downloaded for free from Google Play, puts together reflections, comments, and Gospel meditations for a homily. As of the moment, "Clerus-App" is available only in Italian. However, there are plans to roll out an English version in the future. A 14-year-old boy was hit by a stray bullet as he played basketball Saturday at a park in southwest Houston, according to the Houston Police Department. The boy was taken to Texas Children's Hospital and is expected to survive, according to a Houston Police Department spokesman. The HPD official said the the boy was playing basketball when he was struck in the back by a stray bullet shot from a dark vehicle. The shooter was thought to be firing at a group of men playing dice or dominoes at Haviland Park in the 11600 block of Haviland, police said. "I just want to leave a committed life behind." That is a pronouncement from Martin Luther King Jr. which was seared into my mind the moment I read it when I was 16-years of age. It was a sentence in an excerpt of King's Drum Major Instinct sermon which I stumbled upon while browsing through the pages of a national news magazine. That year, a bill had been introduced in Congress to make MLK's birthday a national holiday. The publication of the excerpt may have been part of a campaign to promote the initiative, or part of the Black History Month observance. As a High School student, King's name was part of my everyday life. My route to school consisted of a drive down Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Houston. Still, seeing King's name on a street sign and attending a predominately African-American school where I was the only non-Black person in most of my classes did not mean I was familiar with King's words or life. The excerpt from the Drum Major Instinct sermon compelled me to want to learn more about MLK Jr. How did Martin Luther King K Jr. earn a hallowed place in American history? If you are like I was, wanting to know more about MLK, I would urge you to do the following: Watch 'Eyes on the Prize'. It is a documentary on the American Civil Rights Movement based on a book of the same name. It tells how King and other Black leaders challenged the nation's citizenry to be true to the ideals of equality and justice expressed in the Declaration of Independence. It tells how Black Americans were subject to persecution and death for no other reason than not being of European ancestry. The documentary shows how authorities used police dogs, mounted police, barb-wired-rapped batons and water cannons to try to stop non-violent organized activities that aimed to bring to light the wrongs wrought by the uneven implementation of the law. You could also read MLK's "Letter from the Birmingham Jail." It is a landmark document written while King was in detention for leading a nonviolent demonstration against segregation. In the letter, responding to the labeling of the marches for civil rights as "unwise and untimely," King details the indignities and dangers faced daily by Black Americans in the Jim Crow era. King methodically lays out Black Americans' grievances against government authorities, explaining how the issues the demonstration addressed existed since the founding of the nation. He points out that the idea of "waiting" for the passing of time to fix unjust laws is not realistic. King's letter teaches us that change in public policy in a society is brought about by brave individuals who are left with no choice except to impose their will on time via peaceful civil disobedience. As a young person, I learned that Martin Luther King's words, whether written or verbalized, placed context to the civil action that brought about the passing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Rights Act, the laws that transformed and continue to transform American society. (Continue below) Years later, King's words are a constant reminder that Americans must remain vigilant. Because, even in a democratic republic, the possibility exists that the skewed views of a small number of individuals who harken for the past can be adopted into public policies that pose a danger to humanity. Martin Luther King Jr. words continue to resonate within me because they provide a timeless lesson all people should know and heed: In America, it is possible to achieve high-minded objectives if we have the courage to lead a life committed to reasoning beyond the common feeling and popular opinion of the day. *** Hector de Leon is the writer of Hector de Leon Perspective, a blog about the American Latino experience centered in Houston. For comments, tips or pitches for this blog, write to Olivia P. Tallet. U.S. Coast Guard Nine eels, 24 sharks, and 187 red snappers were seized from a Mexican lancha boat crew caught poaching in U.S. waters off the Texas coast. The Thursday morning interdiction near Corpus Christi netted more than 2,300 pounds of illegal catches, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. A 22-year-old man was wounded late Saturday in a stabbing outside a southwest Houston apartment complex. Two men and a woman started fighting around 10:40 p.m. near the Shadow Ridge Apartments in the 5800 block of Fondren, according to Houston police. After one man, Cristian Lopez, was stabbed repeatedly, witnesses told police a man and a woman fled the scene. By the time police arrived, Lopez was lying in the parking lot, bleeding from multiple stab wounds. He was rushed to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police said. It's unknown what led to the altercation and the man and woman who fled are wanted for questioning. The murder trial for an undocumented Nigerian immigrant accused of stabbing his fiance to death in 2015 opened in a Fort Bend County Courtroom on Tuesday, Jan. 9. Osa Alohaneke, 59, was living in an area of southwest Houston located in Fort Bend County with his fiance, 52-year-old Cameroon-native Evelyne Ebane Epiepang, when he allegedly attacked her and her friend, Veronica Taku, with a kitchen knife. Taku survived. Epiepang was dead when investigators arrived. On Thursday, Jan. 10, Taku testified how Alohaneke stalked his fiance and threatened to kill her repeatedly in the hours leading up to the murder. In a musical Cameroon accent, Taku said Epiepang was afraid to go home. RANSACKED HOME: Couple bound, shot and killed in Spring After calling police from her for help, Taku said she and Epiepang waited in a park for more than an hour before returning to the house to gather some clothing. Taku said Alohaneke ambushed them at the door and pushed his way inside the house. "I turned to him and asked 'What is happening between you and Evelyne?'" Taku testified. "Osa looked and me and said 'Do you really want to know?' and then he pulled out a knife." Taku said she was screaming for help as Alohaneke stabbed her twice in the face and once on her arm before he turned his attention to his fiance. Taku testified she screamed for help through a bedroom window and watched in terror as Alohaneke chased his fiance, tripped her and then pounced on her with the knife, stabbing her over and over until she was no longer moving. "When Evelyne grew quiet, Osa laid down next to her. I thought he was dead too because he turned completely white, his clothes, his skin, white like a corpse, and then I passed out," Taku testified. Jurors listened to a recording of a 911 call about two hours before the murder wherein Epiepang told police Alohaneke had threatened to kill her over and over and she wanted him to leave her house. A second 911 recording was played and jurors listen as a 911 operator answers and loud screams echo repeatedly in the courtroom as Epiepang is fighting for her life. Several jurors appeared shaken by the recording and turn their eyes to Alohaneke, who quietly wipes away tears. According to documents filed by prosecutors, Alohaneke has a prior arrest record. He was arrested on assault charges by police in Plainfield, N.J. on Jan. 18, 2004 and again in 2010 on assault charges by police in Morristown, N.J. Most recently, he was arrested by Houston Police on prostitution charges after he allegedly offered an undercover agent money for sex in December of 2014. Those charges were still pending when Alohaneke was arrested for his fiance's murder on April 8, 2015. Alohaneke has been held at the Fort Bend County Jail for over two years awaiting trial under a detainer placed by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. In addition to first-degree felony murder charges, Alohaneke is also facing felony charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Then trial continues Tuesday, Jan. 16, in Fort Bend County 400th District Court. 3 1 of 3 HOGP Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Nick de la Torre/Staff Show More Show Less 3 of 3 CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The first astronaut of Puerto Rican heritage reached out to schoolchildren on the hurricane-bashed island. Flying aboard the International Space Station, NASA astronaut Joe Acaba fielded questions from students at the Puerto Rico Institute of Robotics in Manati. One student asked how Puerto Rico looked from space after Hurricane Maria struck in September. Acaba said the first thing he noticed was he lack of lights, making the island almost impossible to see at night. WASHINGTON - Teresa Manning - an anti-abortion activist in charge of the Health and Human Services Department's family planning programs - has resigned, according to a department spokeswoman. Manning, who served as deputy assistant secretary for the Office of Population Affairs, has spent much of her career fighting abortion and has publicly questioned the efficacy of several popular contraception methods. Her job included overseeing the Title X program, which provides family-planning funding for about 4 million poor Americans or those without health insurance. HHS spokeswoman Caitlin Oakley confirmed Manning's resignation but did not provide a reason for her abrupt departure. "HHS would like to thank her for her service to this Administration and the American people," Oakley said. Manning was escorted from the building by security officials Friday. According to an HHS official, Manning had turned in her badge and the escort allowed her to get back out through security. Her resignation does not appear to represent a major ideological shift in the department, since Valerie Huber, a prominent abstinence education advocate, has been named acting deputy assistant secretary for the Office of Population Affairs. Huber has served as chief of staff in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health since June. Manning, who was appointed by President Donald Trump last May, formerly lobbied for the National Right to Life Committee and worked as a legislative analyst for the Family Research Council. She was one of several antiabortion activists and leaders Trump has picked for key positions at the agency. Like many conservatives who oppose abortion rights, Manning has repeatedly objected to the use of RU-486, or mifepristone, which is often used with misoprostol to trigger an abortion during the early stages of a pregnancy, as well as the morning-after pill. But she also has expressed deep skepticism of birth control overall, suggesting in a 2003 interview with NPR that "contraception doesn't work." "Its efficacy is very low, especially when you consider over years - which a lot of contraception health advocates want to start women in their adolescent years, when they're extremely fertile, incidentally, and continue for 10, 20, 30 years. The prospect that contraception would always prevent the conception of a child is preposterous," Manning said at the time. Abortion-rights activists protested Manning's appointment, saying someone opposed to contraception shouldn't oversee Title X. Her replacement has long advocated for abstinence education. Huber managed Ohio's abstinence program from 2004 to 2007 and subsequently led Ascend, a group initially founded as the National Abstinence Education Association. She says she prefers to use the term "sexual risk avoidance," telling Focus on the Family's Citizen magazine that Ascend's mission is broader than telling teens not to have sex. "I bristle at the terminology 'abstinence only,' because our programs are so holistic," Huber said. "They contextualize a whole battery of different topics that surround a young person's decision whether to have sex or not. Rather than someone telling a young person, 'Do this, don't do that,' it's casting a vision for a young person's future." Some family planning advocates, such as Ginny Ehrlich, chief executive at the nonprofit Power to Decide, criticized the administration's decision to put Huber in charge of the Office of Population Affairs. "Manning's departure would be positive news except for the fact that the Trump administration has chosen to replace Manning with Valerie Huber, who is well known for placing ideology over an evidence-based approach to ensuring that young people have the information and services they need to avoid an unplanned pregnancy," said Ehrlich, whose group backs federal support for sex education and a wide range of contraception methods. "What we really need is for this administration to take women's health issues seriously and appoint an individual who is not only well qualified for the position, but also values women." NEW YORK - Donald Trump's vulgar remarks about why the U.S. should admit immigrants from Haiti and Africa have spotlighted the bitter divide among American evangelicals about his presidency. While some of his evangelical backers expressed support for his leadership, other conservative Christians are calling the president racist and that church leaders had a moral imperative to condemn him. "Your pro-life argument rings hollow if you don't have an issue with this xenophobic bigotry," tweeted pastor Earon James of Relevant Life Church in Pace, Fla. Trump won 80 percent of the white evangelical vote in the 2016 election. But recent polls show some weakening in that support, with 61 percent approving of his job performance, compared with 78 percent last February, according to the Pew Research Center. Still, conservative Christians remain as polarized as ever over his leadership. Many evangelical leaders who defended him in the past would not comment on Trump's remarks to a group of senators. A few offered some criticism. Pastor Ronnie Floyd, a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, said it was "not good" to devalue any person. Johnnie Moore, a public relations executive and a leader among Trump's evangelical advisers, said the reports of what Trump said were "absolutely suspect and politicized." Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who attended the Oval Office meeting Thursday, and people briefed on the conversation said Trump did make the comments as reported: He questioned why the U.S. would accept more immigrants from Haiti and "shithole countries" in Africa as he rejected a bipartisan immigration deal. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who Durbin said objected to Trump's remarks at that time, did not dispute Durbin's description. Pastor Mark Burns from South Carolina remained skeptical, but said if the remarks were true, Trump was only reacting to poor conditions in Haiti and Africa that were the fault of "lazy governments" there. The Rev. Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Dallas and a frequent guest at the White House, said that apart from the president's choice of words, "Trump is right on target in his policy," putting the needs of the U.S. above those of other countries. Yet anger spread among other conservative Christians. They posted family photos on social media and proudly noted immigrant relatives. Bishop Talbert Swan of the Church of God in Christ, or COGIC, the country's largest black Pentecostal denomination, tweeted a photo of one of his grandchildren born to what Swan said was his "educated, hard-working" Haitian-American daughter-in-law. Swan, based in Springfield, Mass., called Trump's comments "vile, foul-mouthed, racist," and posted the hashtag #ImpeachTrump. A significant number of African immigrants are Christians who joined U.S. evangelical congregations, and many have become advocates for more generous immigration policies and critics of Trump's views. Thabiti Anyabwile, pastor of Anacostia River Church, a Southern Baptist congregation in Washington, said his church includes Christians from Rwanda, Nigeria, Guyana and Zimbabwe. "This is my immigrant family, my true brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus," he wrote on the site of The Gospel Coalition, an evangelical group. "As a shepherd, I cannot abide the comments our president makes regarding immigrant peoples and their countries of origin. I cannot leave them alone to hear racist barbs, evil speech, incendiary comment, and blasphemous slander against the image and likeness of God in which they are made." American connections with Christians overseas also have grown in recent years through mission projects often in Haiti and Africa. The Rev. Tish Harrison Warren, an author and Anglican priest who serves at the Church of the Ascension in Pittsburgh, worried about the fallout for the fellowship of evangelicals outside and inside the U.S. Her denomination, the Anglican Church in North America, was formed under the leadership of African Anglican bishops to serve conservative Episcopalians and others. Her local church includes parishioners from Uganda, Iran, Turkey, China and other countries. "It hurts evangelism," Warren said of the president's comments. The Hudsons Bay Company store, seen here, was important to the community of Armstrong in the mid-20th century but the village was likely named after a railway man. Yes, you can transfer your domain to any registrar or hosting company once you have purchased it. Since domain transfers are a manual process, it can take up to 5 days to transfer the domain. Domains purchased with payment plans are not eligible to transfer until all payments have been made. Please remember that our 30-day money back guarantee is void once a domain has been transferred. For transfer instructions to GoDaddy, please click here. CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cuyahoga County planners are seeking the public's help to retrofit an urban region designed for the car - not bikes or pedestrians. On Wednesday and Thursday at locations across the county, a team of planners and engineers will hold public listening sessions to get reactions on the first rough draft of what's being called the Cuyahoga Greenways. Glenn Coyne, executive director of the county's planning commission, defined a greenway as a linear park separated from surrounding streets or roads and centered on a multipurpose pathway for cyclists and pedestrians. The greenway system, which eventually could encompass hundreds of miles of trails, greenways and bike paths, is envisioned as a vast grid designed to connect the county's 59 communities to each other, to downtown Cleveland, the Lake Erie shoreline, the Towpath Trail in the Cuyahoga Valley, adjacent counties, and regions far beyond Northeast Ohio. Meeting times and places The first meeting on the project will be from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Hofbrauhaus - Festsaal, 1550 Chester Ave., Cleveland. The next two meetings will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Thursday at the Gemini Center - Oak Room, 21225 Lorain Road, Fairview Park; and from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Beachwood Community Center, 25325 Fairmount Blvd., Beachwood. "This is the first big unveil of some of the ideas we have," Coyne said in an interview. "This is the first time the public will see what we're thinking about in terms of a framework." Planners will use the upcoming meetings to elicit responses to fine-grained local issues that affect specific neighborhoods and proposed routes. The big picture The meetings will also provide a first, big-picture glimpse of how the county wants to make it far easier to use bike trails and paths for recreation or commuting to work. A major thrust is that of re-envisioning an urban region whose transportation corridors were designed primarily to serve the automobile without regard for bikes or pedestrians. In addition to the meetings, the county will collect feedback through a special web page. The public can also access a detailed online planning tool that enables users to zoom in on a highly detailed map of the proposed greenway network. A second round of meetings to gather feedback will be in the spring, before the plan is finalized in about six months. Paying for the plan The $300,000 plan is supported by $125,000 from Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency, through its Transportation for Livable Communities Initiative, plus $150,000 from the county, and additional amounts from Cleveland Metroparks and Bike Cleveland. Design firms involved in the planning include SmithGroupJJR of Ann Arbor, Mich., and WSP, formerly WSP/Parsons Brinckerhoff. The goal is to create a guide for future projects so that as communities repair or redesign streets, they could build components of the regional greenway grid, or at least not spend money in ways that would preclude that opportunity. Inspired by Metroparks In a larger sense, Coyne said, the greenway concept is inspired by the 101-year-old Metroparks, conceived by planner William Stinchcomb, the agency's first engineer, as an "Emerald Necklace" of trails and parks encircling the county's urban core. In recent decades, Metroparks and partners including the City of Cleveland, the county and Canalway Partners have collaborated on expanding the park agency's role to include its management of reservations on the city's lakefront and the northernmost sections of the Towpath Trail in Cleveland. Now that the city's portion of the Towpath and related spurs are nearing completion in 2019-2020, Coyne said the county wants to connect all communities to the expanded Metroparks footprint. "How do we connect the rest of the county to that system and build a network of connectivity?" he said. The greenway could be the answer. Encore to Eastside Greenway plan The yearlong planning project is an outgrowth of the Eastside Greenway, a plan completed in 2015 that showed how 19 communities east of the Cuyahoga River could be connected to the Metroparks, the lakefront and other amenities. Coyne said that as the county worked with officials from other public agencies to figure out how to fund portions of the Eastside Greenway, the participants concluded that greenway planning should be expanded to encompass the entire county. The first step in the process, which begins in earnest this week, will focus on identifying the corridors for each portion of the greenway system. Each leg would then be evaluated in terms of whether it could be eligible for a greenway or some other type of route, which could include various types of on-road bike paths. Going beyond Spandex crowd "We're not going to make every trail usable by all ages and abilities, but that's an overarching goal," he said. "Every trail will be evaluated for that." The initial network envisioned by the county has been informed by a survey of 1,100 county residents. The survey reached beyond what Coyne called "the Spandex hardcore bicycle community" to include seniors, families whose children could ride or walk to school, or workers who could commute to jobs. "It really is a bigger net that we're casting," Coyne said. "I think it goes back to the success of Metroparks. People are very happy with the quality and success of Metroparks and they like it a lot and want to connect to it." BROOK PARK, Ohio -- Business owner Quentin Meng sought a $30,000 demolition and plant expansion grant last year from Brook Park city officials, but his Ques Industries is growing so rapidly he already has razed a neighboring building. He would still like the money, however, to help offset a $3 million loan he undertook to fund new equipment and the substantial expansion currently underway. City council discussed his request during its Jan. 9 caucus. The $30,000 would come from Brook Park's economic development fund in the 2018 budget. Ques Industries was established in 1983 and is located on West 140th Street within a 50,000-square-foot facility. Meng added seven employees last year and anticipates hiring even more. Ques Industries has been an established Brook Park business since 1983. "We currently have a $3,053,855 expansion going on directly next door to us, where we have demolished the animal hospital and are adding on by nearly doubling our facility size," Meng told council. "We're on a pretty steep growth curve at the moment, which as every business owner deals with, tightens up cash flow a little bit. Thus, the need for this grant." The expansion will add 45,000 square feet, and Meng said "at the very least" he will be adding 10-30 jobs. "This building cannot go up fast enough for us," Meng emphasized. "This entire expansion is dedicated toward adding new capabilities and honing in on new markets." Councilman Brian Poindexter questioned how a grant equaling just 1 percent of the entire project cost would be of benefit to Meng. "It's all on a $3 million loan," Meng replied. "This equipment is helping us with business we're trying to bring in right now." Councilman Jim Mencini said longstanding businesses like Ques "should be rewarded ... (because) you want them to stay here." "Brook Park is lucky to have you," added Councilman Rick Salvatore. "I think this is a tremendous opportunity for us to invest in a business in Brook Park. There are great things that can come from this business." Council later decided to consider the grant legislation for a possible vote at the next council meeting. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- An off-duty police officer shot and killed a man late Saturday at the Corner Alley bowling alley in Cleveland's University Circle neighborhood, according to Commander James McPike, who oversees the department homicide unit. The shooting happened about 11 p.m. Saturday at the bowling alley on Euclid Avenue and Ford Drive, according to three police sources. A fight broke out inside the bar and the off-duty police officer, who was working part-time security at the business, escorted several men outside after they were kicked out, according to police. One of the men, a 21-year-old, came back to the bowling alley and attacked the officer several feet from the front door, police said. Police said the officer fired shots at the man. A witness said he heard two gunshots. The man was taken to University Hospitals, where he died, according to police. The officer also suffered injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment, Cleveland police spokeswoman Sgt. Jennifer Ciaccia said. No one else was injured. Cleveland, University Circle and Case Western police officers surrounded the area following the shooting. Crime scene investigators marked evidence, including at least one bullet casing and a pool of blood, just steps outside the front door of the popular nightspot. A video taken by a witness and reviewed by cleveland.com showed what appears to be an officer, surrounded by several bar employees, trying to give emergency medical treatment to the man. Officers and detectives were inside the bowling alley interviewing witnesses. Several other witnesses were ordered to remain at the scene until they could be interviewed . Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams showed up to the scene, and left after refusing to answer questions from a reporter. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Longtime civil rights activist the Rev. Jesse Jackson on Friday chastised President Donald Trump for comments about some immigrants to the United States. "The language of Donald Trump has been a source of shame for our nation," Jackson said before a Friday evening event at the Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church in Cleveland. "Humiliation and untruth." During a meeting earlier this week at the White House with U.S. lawmakers, Trump referred to some immigrants as having come to the United States from "shithole countries." "It's flat-out ignorance, the American public deserves better," Jackson said. "But you get what you vote for, and what you don't vote for. 2018 will be a chance to make a difference if we vote our hopes and not our fears." Trump has denied using the language ascribed to him and several Republican members of Congress have said they didn't hear the president make the remarks. Other legislators - some Democrats and some Republicans - have vehemently condemned the president for the remarks. Jackson was in Cleveland for the 17th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gala, hosted at the church by the Cleveland branch of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. CLEVELAND, Ohio - A decision by the Trump administration to ease restrictions on companies that accidentally kill migratory birds came as the developers of a Lake Erie wind farm are studying the potential impact of the turbines on birds. There's a debate between environmental groups and the wind project developers whether the changes to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act will have any impact on North America's first freshwater offshore wind farm, scheduled to be constructed in Lake Erie this year. "Based on our preliminary reading of the Department of Interior ruling, it is our opinion at this time that it will not significantly impact Icebreaker," said Beth Nagusky of the Lake Erie Energy Development Corp., the nonprofit development group that is guiding the project. LEEDCo continues to conduct bi-weekly aerial surveys of Lake Erie birds in the vicinity of the future Icebreaker site, Nagusky said. The findings have been positive, he added. "Our risk assessment shows that our six-turbine project poses minimal risk to birds and bats," Nagusky said. "Regardless, we still plan to conduct rigorous pre- and post-construction monitoring, and adopt mitigation and adaptive management measures, to proactively protect fish and wildlife." LEEDCo has submitted environmental applications to the Ohio Power Siting Board detailing its plans for monitoring and analyzing the impact of the wind farm on birds, bats and fish. Approval of the plans is required before LEEDCo can proceed with construction of the $126 million wind project planned for a site about eight to 10 miles northwest of Cleveland. Bird advocates, however, believe that the weakening of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act "might have some impact on Icebreaker," said Michael Hutchins, director of the American Bird Conservancy's Bird Smart Wind Energy Campaign. He said that the Icebreaker pilot project posed potential dangers to migratory birds before the Department of the Interior ruled the law applied only to "purposeful actions" that kill migratory birds, and not to energy companies and other businesses that inadvertently kill birds. "We know that poorly placed wind turbines kill birds and bats, so this is hardly 'inadvertent,'" Hutchins said. "We don't agree with the Administration's decision on this and are exploring options now." Matt Butler of the Ohio Power Siting Board declined to comment on the Department of Interior's move. "While we're aware of the opinion issued by the DOI, we cannot comment on the impact the decision may or may not have on the Icebreaker Wind project," Butler said. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that more than 30 million birds die annually from collisions with power lines, communications towers, buildings and wind turbines. National Audubon Society officials said the decision "guts the treaty and runs counter to decades of legal precedent and conservation principles." "We will engage our 1.2 million members to defend the MBTA from this and any other attack on the laws that protect birds," said David O'Neill, Audubon's chief conservation officer. The Dec. 22 opinion supersedes a prior court opinion that determined the MBTA prohibited the taking and killing of migratory birds "by any means and in any manner," including incidental taking and killing. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- At least we know where President Donald Trump stands. No apology or clarification is needed from Trump or his surrogates. There's no mistaking his vicious slur of Africa. There's no excusing or explaining his commentary as tough, non-politically correct language. President Donald Trump has a problem with Africa or "shithole" nations, as he put it in a private discussion about immigration last Thursday. Does this make the commander-in-chief a racist, as some now allege? That's for each individual to decide. I've never used the term casually. I've taught myself to give people the benefit of the doubt as racial ignorance, stereotypes and distrust have long been a part of America's DNA. Most of us struggle with some form of prejudice. Family also taught me that you judge a tree by the fruit it bears. The fruits of Trump's mouth strike me as the product of a racist and bigoted person. His many utterances -- public and private -- make it clear that he has a problem with people of color. With this administration we have reached a slippery intersection of conflicting national values. Sadly, many in positions of leadership within the president's party are afraid to speak up. History reveals that silence can prove deadly. America's standing as the moral and aspirational leader of free nations is being called into question. More than ever, we need leaders who are capable of defining and articulating our national character going forward. Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson was mocked after a 2016 interview in which he failed to recognize Aleppo as a major city destroyed by the war in Syria. It was an embarrassing but non-offensive gaffe. The majority of Americans are also geographically illiterate, according to a recent study by the Council on Foreign Relations and National Geographic. Now, with a proven xenophobe in the White House, the confluence of American global illiteracy and presidential bigotry should set off crisis alarms about the health and prosperity of future generations. Are we preparing to leave our children a nation better off than how we found it? In the same meeting in which Trump crudely referenced Africa, he also reportedly disparaged Haitians: "Why do we need more Haitians. Take them out," he reportedly said in the meeting, an accusation he later denied on Twitter. Some politicians immediately called for an apology. U.S. Rep. Mia Love, a Haitian-American and the first black Republican woman elected to Congress, issued a passionate statement on Twitter: "The President's comments are unkind, divisive, elitist and fly in the face of our nation's values. The president must apologize to both the American people and the nations he so wantonly maligned." Love shouldn't hold her breath waiting for Trump to apologize. Not if his past is any predictor of behavior. Any forthcoming apology wouldn't pass the sincerity test anyway. What has been said is said -- what has been tweeted is tweeted. Still, one can only wonder why more leaders, especially Republicans, cower by refusing to stand and loudly condemn the president's vile and reckless utterances. Silence can only be interpreted as complicity or fear. Neither reaction passes the test of responsible leadership in these turbulent times. Now is the time for American leaders to be vigilant in the pursuit of true public service. Tough questions must be asked and answered. Namely, what do we stand for as a nation? What is our collective character as Americans? Do we want to remain the leader of the free world or do we wish to silently endure the vile xenophobia emanating from the White House? Where are the giant shoulders among us on which future generations will stand? "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy," said Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Now is the time for courageous voices. WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci's effort to align himself with President Donald Trump in his run for U.S. Senate on Friday included defending divisive remarks about immigrants that Trump made this week during a bipartisan White House meeting on immigration reform. According to multiple news reports, during the meeting Trump asked "Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?" when referring to immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador and Africa. Renacci - who on Thursday announced his Republican campaign for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Sherrod Brown - defended Trump's comments in a Friday morning television interview with FoxNews' Brian Kilmeade. "I've said all along the president many times says what people are thinking," Renacci told Kilmeade. "I learned as a business guy that you have to be careful what you say because people pick everything up. Believe me, I've learned that when you've got a mike on, you've got to watch what you say." Renacci then described Trump "a business guy going into a political career." "I know it's difficult for the president because many times you want to say what you are thinking but in the end, I know a lot of times he is saying what people are thinking," said Renacci. "So look, I always say, judge the president after four years. Let's judge the president after what we've done, let's not judge the president on what he says." Others from Ohio, like Toledo Democrat Marcy Kaptur, were more critical of Trump's remarks. She called them "vile," as well as "un-American, racist and cruel." President Trump's vile comments on immigrants are un-American, racist and cruel. @POTUS should apologize! Marcy Kaptur (@RepMarcyKaptur) January 12, 2018 At an appearance in Wisconsin on Friday, House Speaker Paul Ryan called Trump's remarks "very unfortunate" and "unhelpful." Ohio Gov. John Kasich described Trump's comments as "not helpful" and "inappropriate" during an MSNBC television appearance and said he disagreed with Renacci's stance. "It's a terrible comment," Kasich said. "The bottom line is, we're all made in the image of the Lord and we don't want to say disparaging things. We all make mistakes, but there's no excuse and when you do it you have to apologize." America was built on the backs of immigrants from around the globe. We must honor that history, not reject it. It starts with respectful rhetoric and signing bipartisan DACA legislation. John Kasich (@JohnKasich) January 11, 2018 Renacci on Thursday abandoned a bid for Ohio governor and announced that he'd switch to the Senate race because Trump asked him to do so, and that he plans to work in the Senate to advance Trump's agenda. Renacci told Kilmeade Trump promised to help with his campaign, and that he thinks "a lot like the president." "They asked me to jump into this race," Renacci told Kilmeade. "I've been a supporter of the president's agenda. I supported the president during the Ohio primary, which as you know was a difficult situation back then knowing that Gov. Kasich was running as well. And the president knows that I've supported his agenda from then all the way through to today." Alisyn Camerota said it best: "What happened to the foundational principle of our country: "Give me your tired, your poor..?" I was on @NewDay to discuss how @realDonaldTrump's recent comments are not new, but a continuation of a long history of disparaging remarks and actions. pic.twitter.com/CVGp7cEEQk Congressman Tim Ryan (@RepTimRyan) January 12, 2018 University of Akron political scientist David Cohen said Renacci's defense of Trump would probably play well with the base of Republican voters that Renacci will need to win a contested Senate primary. But Cohen said he believes it would not help Renacci in a general election against Brown. When President @realDonaldTrump asks you to run -- you do it. That's why I am proud to announce that I am running for the United States Senate! I'm ready to fight for the Trump agenda and get things done in the Senate!#MAGA https://t.co/5fLUUtRgfA Jim Renacci (@JimRenacci) January 11, 2018 "I think most Ohioans disagree with what President Trump said and his basic sentiments, but Renacci has got to win a primary," said Cohen. "That means he is going to have to lurch further to the right than he usually is, and he is going to have to defend the president." Ohio Democratic Party spokesman Jake Strassberger said "it shouldn't be hard to put partisanship aside and condemn repugnant comments." "If Congressman Renacci can't speak up on something like this, how can Ohioans count on him to stand up for them?" Strassberger asked. Brown released a statement that said he disagrees with Renacci's assertion "that President Trump's disgusting and hateful comments about immigrants were speaking for what many Americans are thinking." "The President certainly isn't speaking for me and he isn't speaking for a great majority of people across Ohio," said Brown. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Takehiko Nakao said on Friday that ADB and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) are exploring to co-finance several development projects this year. "We have been cooperating well," Nakao told Xinhua at the ADB headquarters in Manila. Nakao said he met with AIIB officials and had "serious discussions about how to do things better in each bank and how we can support the development of (member) countries." Already, he said ADB and AIIB had four co-financing projects in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Georgia. Nakao said it's good with the AIIB around because "we can now cooperate in these projects for co-financing." Nakao said ADB officials will make a trip to Beijing to meet with its AIIB counterparts. No date has been set yet for the meeting, he added. Continue Reading Below Advertisement Even though he's not a sleepwalker, he has a lock on his bedroom door for when guests are in town, for peace of mind. After all ... who knows? Is this the kind of thing you take risks with? But that also means that basically the only person he can sleep in the same room with is his wife. "I can't share a room with a friend or family member. And I don't really tell them why; I just insist on having my own room, and it makes me look like a bit of an asshole ... It's not just about trying to initiate something with them, it's also about what I might do on my own. "I had to go on a business trip with my boss six months ago, and then he booked a twin room, and I had to get my own room. I really don't want my boss to be sitting up at night reading a book, or to wake up in the middle of the night because I'm orgasming in the bed next to him." Continue Reading Below Advertisement So what's your cover story in that situation, if you don't want to have the "potential sleep rapist" conversation with your employer? If you say, "I snore really bad," they might be nice about it and say, "Oh, that's fine, I don't mind!" or "I have earplugs." Most people would rather put up with someone snoring or sleepwalking than pay the extra money for a hotel room. This sort of thing comes up more than you'd think. Like, say, at music festivals -- the kind where everyone camps for the weekend. "Last-minute, someone didn't have a tent and wanted to stay in my tent, when they were already there and had no way of getting one. So I had to navigate that thing of, like, how do I get this person away from me and still be nice and accommodating and find them another place to sleep? Finally he got too drunk anyway and went home." Continue Reading Below Advertisement Another minefield? Travel. "[Episodes] are most common with people you would be sort of sexually attracted to anyway ... I can't fall asleep on any kind of transport at all ... if a woman that you find attractive sits next to you, there's this thing in your head like, 'If I fall asleep, I may sexually assault this person.'" ANSONIA Every Sunday, Cathy Zuraw would pick up her father Robert E. Zuraw for breakfast at Duchess and then take him to Mass. After Mass, anything goes, she said, remembering their trips along the Connecticut wine trail. In one year, the two hit 16 wineries, trying to win a contest for a trip to Spain they didnt. On some days, she said, they would drive hundreds of miles. Robert Zuraw died peacefully after an illness, family members said, on Friday at the age of 86. He was Ansonias assistant superintendent of schools from 1974 to 1977, and superintendent from 1977 until he retired in 1991. Since 2007, the former Willis School, now home to the Ansonia school districts administrative offices, has been named in his honor. He was a man of principle, always believed in doing the right thing and instilled that in all of his five children, said Cathy Zuraw, who is Hearst Connecticut Medias photo editor. We are all heartbroken. Robert Zuraw was born in Derby on Sept. 23, 1931, to Michael Zuraw and Setlla (Liska) Zuraw. Known as Bob to his friends and Zeke to his family, he grew up on Riggs Street on Ansonias west side and attended Peck School when it was known as Holbrook School, which is also where he began his Ansonia teaching career. Zuraw graduated from Ansonia High School in 1949, got his teaching degree at New Haven State Teachers College and his masters at Fairfield University. He taught for one year in East Haven before being hired in Ansonia. In 1954, Zuraw was drafted into the U.S. Army. After two years, he returned to Ansonia to teach. Four years later, he was the first principal of the newly opened Prendergast School. He was a great educator and a good friend, said Carol Merlone, Ansonias current superintendent of schools, who was once hired by Zuraw to teach kindergarten at Peck School. He will always be in our thoughts and prayers at the Robert E. Zuraw Administrative Offices at 42 Grove Street. Former Derby Mayor Anita Dugatto said Zuraw was very involved in Democratic politics and with the Derby Elks Lodge. He was very supportive of both, Dugatto said. He was very pleasant and easy to talk to. Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti said he lived on the same street as Zuraw, and knew him since Cassetti was a boy. He served the city well, not only as a teacher and superintendent but (as a) public servant, Cassetti said. I am proud to have known him, and proud to say he was one of Ansonias finest. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. Zuraw is survived by his two sons, Michael Zuraw (and wife Christine) and Robert P. Zuraw; by daughters Essie Zuraw-Burns (and husband Ted), Cathy Zuraw-Conrad (and husband Mark), and Barbara Bub Zuraw (and husband Peter Friedland); and by eight grandchildren, a great-granddaughter and a sister-in-law, along with numerous nieces and nephews. Cathy Zuraw said her father Pop, as his grandkids called him would travel to games, plays and graduations for his grandchildren. She said he was very proud to have become a great-grandfather last year. When they traveled, she said, Robert Zuraw would reminisce about time spent with his wife, Mary Donahue Zuraw, who died in 2009. She was never far from his mind, Cathy Zuraw said. He missed her every day. Services are scheduled for Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. at The Jenkins King & Malerba Funeral Home at 12 Franklin Street in Ansonia. A Mass is set for Wednesday at 10 a.m. at The Church of the Assumption in Ansonia, followed by burial with military honors in Pine Grove Cemetery. 13 Ocak 2018 Cumartesi, 13:51 The local courts that are hearing the cases filed against journalists Sahin Alpay and Mehmet Altan have instigated a legal scandal by resisting a Constitutional Court (CC) ruling having a final and binding nature. Serious Crime Court No 13 which is trying Alpay has accused the CC of usurpation of jurisdiction. Following the passing by the CC of its rights violation ruling on Alpay and Altan, Istanbul Serious Crime Courts No 13 and 26, which are conducting the trials, ruled for Alpay and Altans detention to continue on grounds such as the reasoned ruling not being forthcoming and not having been promulgated in the Official Gazette. Alpay and Altans lawyers objected to the courts decisions. The lawyers, stating that the CC rulings were final and were binding on the courts, said, It cannot be expected for courts to assume a position along the lines of resisting or failing to comply with these rulings. With it stated in their objection pleadings that as per CC Standing Orders only rulings on annulment and objection applications need to be promulgated in the Official Gazette, it was pointed out that the CC Presiding Judges Office decides which rulings are to be promulgated in the Official Gazette. With it stressed in their objection pleadings, noting that it is inconceivable for courts to put themselves in the place of the CC Presiding Judges Office and rule that the rights violation ruling will become effective and valid following its promulgation in the Official Gazette, that CC rulings were final and were binding on courts, it was stated, Consequently, every judge, even if they do not agree with their content, must comply with CC rulings. Dissenting opinions may cause delay In their pleadings the lawyers, stating that the CCs violation ruling was not by its nature of general concern and the ruling did not need to be proclaimed to everyone for it to be implemented, indicated that the truncated ruling had been notified to the court immediately. The lawyers, noting that it cannot be expected for courts to assume a position along the lines of resisting or failing to comply with these rulings, stated that promulgation of the reasoned decision would also be delayed until such time as the dissenting opinions had been drafted. Referred to the next highest court Istanbul Serious Crime Court No 13, having rejected Alpays objection application, has referred the case to the next highest court. In its dismissal ruling, the court enumerated the limits of the CCs jurisdiction to rule on rights violations with respect to individual applications. The court, citing the provision examination may not be made of matters that must be reviewed through legal recourse laid down in Article 49 of the Law on Establishing the CC and its Proceedings Procedure, also included the provision, It may not conduct review as to appropriateness laid down in Article 50 of the same statute. The following was noted in the ruling in which it was stated that the CCs ruling declaring a rights violation was binding on everyone: Absolutely no office or body may refrain from applying CC decisions. However, the CC is not without restriction as to examining whether there has been a rights violation with respect to individual applications. The CC may not, for any reason whatsoever, put itself in the place of the local court and make an assessment of the evidence or examination of appropriateness. Since it cannot assess the evidence, it is neither possible for it to declare crime courts rulings to convict or acquit to be wrong, nor for it to rule that The evidentiary situation is inadequate. The applicants right has hence been violated if a defendants detention has been ordered by the local court following assessment of the evidentiary situation pertaining to the defendant and providing the statutory preconditions are present. Evidence known to nobody! The court, asserting that the CC had passed the ruling by putting itself in the place of the local court that is holding the trial, commented, When its reasons are read with care, the CC has stated that there are absolutely no concrete facts in the file apart from articles published by the defendant. In view of this declaration, our court is not simply required to order the defendants release, but also rule for his acquittal. The court, arguing that the CC has no such right or jurisdiction, said, The CC embarking on an examination of the merits of our case amounts to usurpation of jurisdiction. Decisions that it has passed having overstepped the boundaries imposed on it or even having intervened in areas that are expressly barred by statute cannot be said to be final and binding. In the courts continuation of detention order, the bench, asserting that it could make very detailed comments, argued that because these facts that are known to nobody would constitute comments reflecting bias and, as such, the bench would be recused, it could not do so. The court said, It is legally impossible for us to comply with the CCs demand of our bench that would lead to a breach of the ban on comments reflecting bias. Ruling is final and binding The member of the courts bench who dissented to the decision, Kadir Karakoc, for his part stated that CC rulings were such that they were final and were binding on the court, and Alpay should be released. Delta Airlines has apologized for listing Tibet and Taiwan as independent countries on its official website and promised to take immediate measures to correct the mistakes. Delta apologized deeply for the serious mistakes that have hurt Chinese people's feelings and it was taking immediate steps to resolve it, said a statement posted Friday night on the website of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). The U.S. carrier said it will have a careful check for other possible errors and avoid such mistakes in the future. In the letter of apology to the CAAC and on its official website, Delta said it is fully committed to China and Chinese customers as China is one of its most important markets. The CAAC earlier in the day summoned representatives of Delta, urging the company to issue an immediate and public apology, and to investigate the incident thoroughly and publish investigation outcome in a timely manner. On the Chinese version of Delta's official website, it listed Chinese territories, including Tibet and Taiwan, as "countries" in a drop-down menu. The CAAC on Saturday asked all foreign airlines operating in China to conduct self-checks on their websites, mobile apps and other platforms for similar mistakes including regarding Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan as "countries" in an online notice. "If there are such cases, actions should be taken immediately to rectify the mistakes," the CAAC said, adding that it will examine the process. Does anyone really think a government is better because of the way it looks? Anyone who actually believes this surely deserves exactly what he or she gets. The Blair and Cameron governments, among the worst in living memory (and in my view longer than that), were crammed with youthful idiots who looked reasonably good on TV, and great fusses were made of the numbers of women MPs (regardless of whether they were any good). Yet here we go again. We have just had a reshuffle openly based on the fatuous idea that the way the Government looks is what matters. The slogans never change. Theresa May recently reshuffled her cabinet - Justine Greening (left) resigned as education secretary rather than taking a new role at the Department for Work and Pensions. Boris Jonhson (right) remained as Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Old-fashioned organisations are called male, pale and stale, even if they are headed by women and contain far more women and ethnic minority members than at any time in history. Sometimes we are told that the Cabinet, or the fire brigade, or the police should look like the people they serve, or even that they should look like Britain. In fact, this generally means that they should look like the population of London, now one of the great multicultural and multi- ethnic city-states of the world, but completely unlike most of the rest of the country. Almost all media types and politicians live in London, so they dont know this. But I could not care less what they look like. I care only whether they know what they are doing, have the necessary experience, can think, and possess competence and courage. Does a member of an ethnic minority really want to be saved from a fire by a member of the same minority? Does a woman threatened by a rapist insist on being rescued from her plight by a female officer? You only have to ask the question to see that the whole idea is garbage. The public, unlike our governing elite, are not obsessed by race and sex. They are rightly interested only in the contents of the persons character. And so it is in politics. I personally see no difference between politicians whose skins are coloured differently from each other. I would regard it as bigotry to do so. I think we shall have ceased to be a racially divided society only when we stop making a fuss about colour. In fact, if we choose only on ability, that may sometimes mean that there are actually fewer ethnic minority politicians in the Government. Sometimes, equally, it will mean that there are more. Honesty and justice dont always look as good as cynical window- dressing. As for women in politics, they arent necessarily good for every member of the female sex. Female politicos mostly represent a rather militant faction. These are the lucky ones, garlanded with university degrees and professional qualifications. For them, work outside the home is a positive pleasure. But for millions of other women, work is just a hard, grinding necessity. It takes them away from their children in their tenderest years. It is forced on them by the rapid decline in real pay, which means that most households need two incomes to survive, when 40 years ago they could make do with one wage. Theres a perfectly respectable case for saying that this pressure on young mothers to abandon their children should be reduced. But who will make that case? Not ambitious young female politicians who happily leave their children with costly nannies, so they can climb to the top. They will be the last people interested in taking up this cause. A stale, male MP would be far more likely to listen. Then there is the stupid habit of giving politicians extra points because they went to a state comprehensive school. British state education is a twisting maze, in which success can be bought or wangled, and its best schools are often just as privileged as Eton in their own way. And almost any successful person who went to a comprehensive has benefited from some sort of a fiddle, involving costly houses, religious faith (feigned or real) or private tutors. Those who have made it to the top after attending a truly bogstandard comp, chaotic classrooms, rampant bullying and all, are much to be praised, but very rare. It is what we really are, not what we look like, that matters. The more we forget that, the worse we shall be governed. ........................................................................................................................................... Juggling it all can be difficult, but not necessarily impossible. Two best friends and mothers, who released their product Face Halo last year, have managed to turn over more than $1 million in just six months. FEMAIL spoke to the brains behind the business, Rebecca Williamson and Lizzy Pike from Sydney, about the secrets to their success. FEMAIL spoke to the brains behind the Face Halo business, Rebecca Williamson and Lizzy Pike (both pictured), to find out how they managed to turn over AUD $1M in less than six months 'Bec and I invested $25k each and six months later we turned over in excess of a million dollars it's been a crazy ride,' Lizzy told FEMAIL. Face Halo is a make-up remover pad that has been dubbed a 'game changer' in the industry by no less than Naomi Watts herself but it took a lot of work to get it there. 'Owning my own business was something that I was always working towards, I wanted the flexibility and freedom to make my own choices,' Lizzy explained. 'To start with, working for others is a good learning platform for the good and the bad. I learnt what I want and definitely what I don't want. 'Believe me I have worked with some real doozies, but they all taught me valuable lessons.' The brand is loved by countless celebrities, including their ambassador, Chloe Morello (pictured with the founders) Face Halo (pictured) is a make up remover pad that has been dubbed a 'game changer' in the industry To be successful when starting your own business Lizzy believes you need to start with an end in mind To be successful when starting your own business, Lizzy believes you need to start with an end in mind. She explained that it's important to think about where you see your business, or where you want your business to be in five years time and then you work backwards from there. 'Go big picture first with your vision then break it down into steps of what you need to do to get there,' she said. 'In the beginning of any new business you need to be prepared to roll your sleeves up and work 24/7 if necessary.' Naomi Watts (pictured) is just one of the brand's high profile fans This is a sentiment that Rebecca agrees with as the believes you need to have a clear vision, a great product, belief in your business and the ability to be able to devote everything to it. 'Having a team that has a combination of different skills and working out who can do what best is crucial,' she explained. REBECCA'S BUSINESS SUCCESS SECRETS 1. Make lists! Think of a great idea a gap in the market, a service that isnt working and write them down. 2. Get out there everything you do in life is experience that you can use. 3. Work hard at all jobs, so you get more opportunities. 4. Find something you love to do but at the same time, realize that wont always happen in every job as you work your way up. 5. Think outside the box. I see so many interesting jobs I never thought of. Advertisement LIZZY'S BUSINESS SUCCESS SECRETS 1. Work hard, but remember to have fun along the way. 2. Be grateful - Everyday I stop and say thankyou for what I have in my life even if its been a bad day there is always good in everything bad that happens (sometimes you just have to dig a little deeper to find it). 3. There is no such thing as failure only feedback what did you learn and what would you do differently. 4. Take calculated risks. 5. Surround yourself with great people. Advertisement Speaking about her tips, Rebecca said: 'Having a team that has a combination of different skills and working out who can do what best is crucial' Both women have had determination and business lives their whole lives and now they have truly been able to let them shine (pictured: Chloe Morello) Both women have had determination and business lives their whole lives and now they have truly been able to let them shine. 'I have always been a go getter as long as I can remember,' Lizzy said. 'Being idle has never been on my agenda. When I set my mind on something I go for it, I left school early and started my first job the week I turned 16 I have never been afraid to work hard.' After Lizzy had her children, she went back to study, which gave her the business acumen to start her own business. The businesswomen advise going 'big picture' first, and then breaking things down Rebecca explained that she took a back seat to her ex husband's career and raised their four children but she always wanted to do something for herself. 'Having four kids in four years certainly helped me learn to never waste one second and as they have grown up I started to get some more time and was determined to pursue something that used some of my other skills,' she said. 'My next husband helped give me the confidence to do that as well as the family and work support to make it happen. I was determined to work as hard as I could.' Both women explained that doing something that you're passionate about and love means you never feel like it's work Lizzy explained that one of her influences growing up that helped contribute to her business sense was her father, who was an entrepreneur himself. She said that during her life he was always starting a business, building it up and then selling it: 'He had many fails in business as well, I was 17 the first time my parents went bankrupt, I remember watching very closely the actions of my father when the creditors came and took our furniture and wondering what my Dad would do. 'It didn't take long until he came up with his next venture, what was more important for me was I saw his attitude, he never stayed down for too long, he picked himself up but a smile on his face and kept moving forward believing in himself and learning from his mistakes and working even harder. 'He would always say to me "don't ever let anyone tell you that you cant do something" all in all he taught me to take risks and never give up.' The business owners said it isn't always 'smooth sailing' in business - but you need to learn to appreciate the ride and stop for the good moments On the other side of the coin Rebecca hasn't had set business ideas, which she thinks has helped with their business. 'So much has changed recently with the growth of e-commerce and social media marketing, that is requires adaptability and flexibility to react to what the market is telling you,' she said. 'I was so keen to learn and grow in my 40s and I was able to think outside the box because I hadnt run a business in a more traditional way in the past. 'I love to meet people who are doing great things and ask and learn. I would have had more fear of that when I was younger.' Both women explained that doing something that you're passionate about and love means you never feel like it's work. 'It isnt always smooth sailing, however because its important to you, you appreciate the ride and learn to stop and celebrate the good moments,' Lizzy said. Tory MP Peter Bone has left his wife Jenny (pictured) for a woman 20 years his junior Order! Order! Heres a question you wont find any right honourable gentleman raising at PMQs. What makes a 65-year-old married man run off with a woman 20 years his junior? The easy response is lust, but it is not the full answer. Because another important ingredient in this toxic love potion is a whole heap of encouragement. It is mystifying to me why younger, evidently attractive women should risk all for the sake of wrinkles, grey hairs and pot bellies. Yet this is a recurring theme in the endless stream of sordid stories about pale, male and stale Members of Parliament cheating on their wives with younger models. From David Mellor back in the Major era (and no saint, he), to Robin Cook and John Prescott under Blair, and now Nigel Farage and his Ukip replacement Henry Bolton, there never seems to be a shortage of pretty young things more than prepared to help them do the dirty. Why are they so happy to jump into bed with someone elses husband? Do they really loathe other women that much? Its a question to which Mrs Bone would undoubtedly like to know the answer. Mrs Bone is (or was) the wife of Peter Bone, Tory MP for Wellingborough, whose strident thoughts from the home-front regularly prompted her husband to ask awkward questions in Parliament that inadvertently built her into something of a character from the Rumpole novels, and nothing short of a political treasure. She is name-checked in more than 60 debates, outstripping some serving MPs. Tory MP Peter Bone (left) has reportedly left his wife for Helen Harrison (right), a married physio 20 years his junior But this week we discovered that she who must be obeyed was being traded in for a younger replacement. In this case, Helen Harrison, a married 45-year-old brunette physiotherapist and would-be MP. Its a pathetic situation and Peter Bone could argue that its nobody elses business if it werent for the fact that, for the past decade, he has held up his wife as an example of everything that is good in this country. He frequently used her innate common-sense queries to taunt fellow MPs over Conservative values. David Cameron once famously joked that a large part of his life was about trying to give pleasure to Mrs Bone. So, did Helen Harrison not notice he was married? Or did she believe that old cliche that his wife didnt understand him and convince herself that she was the person to help fire his aged ego (and libido) back into life? None of us is immune to flattery, but why, in the current climate, when we are desperately striving to change the sexual culture, are we women not demanding more of our own sex? If we are at last teaching men that it is unacceptable, in fact unforgivable, to consciously hurt women with predatory advances, then is it not every bit as objectionable to steal another womans husband? Take Ukip activist Jo Marney, for whom a 30-year age gap and his bald, wrinkly look were no barrier to panting passion with her party leader, Mr Bolton. Given that she is a paid-up member of the party, she must have been acutely aware that Mr Bolton was married and had two tiny children, a one-year-old and a four-year-old, before she dangled her long legs in his direction. After all, his strong family background was one of his unique selling points as leader. In fact, she doesnt deny that she knew he was married, but claims his marriage had been over for some months before the pair collided at the Ukip Christmas party and fell head over heels in love. Henry Bolton with his wife Tatiana Smurova-Bolton His wife Tatiana, however, is struggling with this version of events, doesnt recall having split up with her husband at any time during their marriage, and is clearly deeply distressed to find herself at the centre of this sordid, humiliating affair. The unlikely lothario says: I have no doubt Im going to come out of this, and Jo and I are going to come out of this, as a couple, stronger than we went into it. We shall see. Given his mistresss vile racist views about Meghan Markle, revealed in todays paper, he will have to choose between his career and his deeply unpleasant paramour. Whats the betting it will all end in tears? Hers. It may not be total justice for wives, but it will be a shot across the bows. The secrets of REAL romance... THE dear old romantic fiction publishers Mills & Boon have produced a guide for the contemporary world called The Rules Of Romance. If you want to woo someone, then forget sending emails or texts write a letter. And if you do go on a date, choose a candlelit restaurant, hold their hand and maybe go crazy and turn up with a bunch of flowers. Do we really need to be told these simple things? Yes, I think we do. According to new research, doing all the chores is bad for a womans health. Who knew? Slaving around the house all day is likely to cut an older womans health by 25 per cent. Whereas men who pull on the Marigolds and whip round with the Hoover are healthier than those who just sit back and do nothing. So, what are you waiting for, boys? Fork out a fortune ... and become a human billboard LOGO LUNACY: Model Sofia Richie sports the 'free ad' look Gucci's hip creative director, Alessandro Michele, has made a name for himself by, um, writing the companys name all over its products. Logo prints now cover everything from blazers and belts to socks costing 155. Its a trend that sees the wearer paying for the privilege of walking around in an eye-wateringly expensive piece of clothing that is effectively an advert. The question has got to be: Why? Like many busy grooms-to-be, Prince Harry is juggling a full-time job with wedding preparations ahead of the big day. But it appears the royal, 33, has still found time to plan his stag do - and he is heading off to the slopes. Harry is believed to be preparing to hold his stag party in the Swiss ski resort of Verbier, after royal protection officers were spotted in the upmarket bar La Vache. According to the Daily Star, Prince Andrew has offered his 13million Chalet Helora to Harry and his friends. Prince Harry is believed to be heading to Swiss resort Verbier for his stag-do, after royal protection officers were spotted there. The royal is pictured at the resort in 2015 It is also thought that Harry and Meghan, 36, will throw a second more civilised 'stag-hen' party together at a polo match. A source told the Daily Star that Harry's royal protection officers had been spotted in Verbier. 'I have just seen Harry's advance close-protection team come into La Vache for lunch. They are clearly on a recce,' the source said. 'Quite a few of the staff recognised the Royal Protection Officers who skied with Harry in 2016.' Harry and Meghan are also thought to be throwing a joint hen and stag do at a polo match The exclusive resort Verbier is popular with members of the royal family and celebrities Another insider added: 'Prince Andrew cleared the diary of Chalet Helora as a gift from himself and the Duchess of York.' The bar La Vache is owned by Harrys friend Rob Sawyer, along with rugby star Lawrence Dallagio, James Blunt and superbike champion Carl Fogarty. Friends expected to be attending the stag party include Guy Pelly, Thomas van Straubenzee and George Stoy. Verbier is an exclusive ski resort that is popular with members of the royal family and celebrities. Harry's uncle Prince Andrew is believed to have offered his 13million Chalet Helora (pictured) to Harry and his stags Royal protection officers were spotted at the upmarket bar La Vache (pictured), owned by Harrys friend Rob Sawyer, along with rugby star Lawrence Dallagio, James Blunt and superbike champion Carl Fogarty Harry has visited the resort on a number of occasions in the past, while Prince William was also spotted partying in Verbier last year. Meanwhile, Prince Andrew and Fergie are also frequent visitors to the resort, with their holiday home there. Harry and Meghan's next official engagement will be in Cardiff on Thursday, when they will visit the Welsh capital's historic castle. The couple will marry at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on May 19. Kensington Palace has declined to comment. Charlie, who is now nine, is registered blind and has special educational needs The baby spent six months in neonatal unit, and suffered a bleed to the brain Angela Rayner, 37, said her son Charlie weighed less than 1lbs when he was born Labour MP Angela Rayner has described the heart-wrenching moment she was told her son wouldn't survive when he was born at just 23 weeks. The shadow education secretary, 37, described how her son Charlie looked like a 'baby sparrow' when he was born weighing less than 1lbs. Ms Rayner confessed there was a point when she 'curled up in a ball' and thought 'that's it', but her husband Mark refused to give up. Their baby son spent six months in a neonatal unit after being born, during which time he suffered a bleed to the brain. Charlie, who is now nine, is registered blind and has special educational needs. Labour MP Angela Rayner has described the heart-wrenching moment she was told her son Charlie (pictured with Ms Rayner) wouldn't survive when he was born at just 23 weeks In an interview with The Sunday Times Magazine, the MP for Ashton-under-Lyne explained how a doctor told her she had suffered a miscarriage when her waters broke at 23 weeks. 'He said, "Theres nothing we can do, he wont survive,"' the mother-of-three recalled. In fact, she and her husband Mark were told three times that Charlie wouldn't make it as he battled for survival. 'One time in particular they said he wouldnt survive, and it was not a good thing to carry on with it. I just curled up in ball and thought, "That's it"', she said. The shadow education secretary, 37, explained how doctors told her on three occasions that Charlie wouldn't survive Ms Rayner - who grew up on a council estate in Stockport - also described how she acted as a carer for her mother, who suffered from bipolar disorder, from a young age. Speaking about her experience growing up, she explained: 'I didnt know cuddles and telling your children you love them are really important. It sounds awful, but we never got that growing up.' During the interview with the Sunday Time Magazine, she also commented on how she believes Jeremy Corbyn will create the space for Labour to have the next female leader. Ms Rayner became a grandmother at the age of just 37 when her son Ryan, 20, welcomed baby Lilith Mae into the world in November. Ms Rayner admitted there was a point when she believed 'That's it', but her husband Mark (pictured together in 2015) refused to give up Ms Rayner became a grandmother at the age of 37 when her son Ryan, 20, welcomed baby Lilith Mae into the world in November Announcing the news on Twitter, the MP said: 'At just before 6am today after an eventful evening, I became a grandma. 'Thank you to all the wonderful staff at NHS Tameside', along with the hashtag 'grangela'. Ms Rayner gave birth to Ryan at the age of 16, and has previously spoken about how the 'saved her'. Speaking at a Labour fringe event last September, she said: 'Because I had a little person that I had to look after and I wanted to prove to everybody I wasn't the scumbag they thought I was going to be, and I could be a good mum, and that somebody was finally going to love me as much as I deserved to be loved. 'And that's what pregnancy was for me, it saved me.' SpaceX's Dragon cargo spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on Saturday after nearly four weeks in space. Dragon splashed down successfully about 10:37 a.m. EST (1537 GMT) west of Baja California, completing the second resupply mission to and from the International Space Station (ISS) with a commercial spacecraft, SpaceX said via Twitter. It carried approximately 4,100 pounds of NASA cargo, science and technology demonstration samples from the ISS. The spacecraft departed from the ISS at 4:58 a.m., after they used the robotic Canadarm2 to detach Dragon from the Harmony module of the orbiting lab. After Dragon was released from ISS and its thrusters transported it a safe distance away from the station, SpaceX's flight controllers in Hawthorne, California, executed a deorbit burn command, blasting Dragon back into Earth's atmosphere. The Dragon spacecraft will be taken by ship to Long Beach, California, where some cargo will be removed immediately for return to NASA, and then it will be prepared for a return trip to SpaceX's test facility in McGregor, Texas, for final processing, according to NASA. NASA said a variety of technological and biological studies had returned with Dragon. Hardware from the Made in Space Fiber Optics payload, which demonstrated manufacturing fiber optic filaments in a micro-gravity environment. The investigation pulled fiber optic wire from a heavy metal fluoride glass commonly used to make fiber optic glass. Research indicates that the fiber pulled in micro-gravity may not crystallize as much, giving it better optical qualities than the silica used in most fiber optic wire. Results from this investigation could lead to the production of higher-quality fiber optic products both in space and on Earth. Some payload samples were used to study a stress reaction in plants when experiencing reduced oxygen or hypoxia, which occurs for example, during times of soil flooding. Such natural low oxygen events are sensed by plants and can lead to either changes in growth and development to aid in the plant' s survival, or in extreme cases, lead to significant losses in productivity and even death. These spaceflight experiments may help provide molecular targets for manipulation to help make plants more tolerant of low oxygen conditions and so contribute to agriculturally important traits such as crop flood tolerance. Mice from a NASA study are expected to return live to Earth for additional study. The investigation evaluated a new drug delivery device for administering continuous low doses, which could help counteract muscle wasting and prevent the need for daily or frequent drug administration. A tiny capsule, implanted under the mouse's skin, delivers a constant, low dose of a drug via a silicone membrane, with channels as narrow as 1/50,000 the width of a human hair. The drug, called formoterol, is a common therapy in asthma inhalers and for other lung diseases that relaxes muscles responsible for tightening a patient's airways. The low-dose delivery also could help avoid the known side effects of taking high doses long-term. Dragon is the only space station resupply spacecraft currently able to return cargo to Earth. The spacecraft lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in the U.S. state of Florida on Dec. 15 carrying about 4,800 pounds of supplies and scientific cargo on the company's 13th commercial resupply mission to the station. It arrived at the station Dec. 17. Last time I visited Shanghai I tore through the local steamed xiao long bao dumplings at such speed that on my return to the UK my physique resembled a Shetland pony that had swallowed a Transit van. But it was worth the subsequent trips to the gym, as the food was so darned tasty. With Chinese New Year in a few weeks its time to get in training grab a menu, dial up a dose of deliciousness and pour yourself a glass of glory. Peking Duck is a star at any time of year, and wine-wise Ive found huge aromatic Gewurztraminer from Alsace is bang on the money to sip with it. Yep, a rich, exotic white. Olly Smith discovered that you can get a white Cabernet Sauvignon from Ningxia in China Theres a certain sweetness to the dish, which this fruity fandango of a wine offers in abundance, especially if youre feeling liberal with a splodge of plum sauce. If youre after red wines to go with your meaty dishes, Gamay is the grape that keeps on giving. Or you could try the local vino from China. Chateau Changyu-Moser XV Cabernet Sauvignon (14%) 2015 is in Tesco for 8.50, but Id go for the White Cabernet Sauvignon (13.5%) 2016 from the same producer, which is 14.99 in Wine Rack and works well with cashew-flavoured dishes. And yes, you read that right, a white Cabernet Sauvignon from Ningxia in China the trick is gentle pressing of the grapes for ten minutes so the free run juice has just the merest hint of colour. Which leads to another scrumptious all-rounder with a Chinese takeaway rose! I prefer them with a bit of fullness and fruit, from countries such as Chile or South Africa, to tackle the heat and richness in the dishes. Or my other top pick for a splendid all-round pairing with your Chinese takeaway is a traditional British India Pale Ale. Plenty of richness without being too heavy, its a delightful general companion to raise in celebration of Chinese food right here in Britain. And with Chinese New Year next month, youve plenty of time to practise pairing the perfect drink with the dish of your dreams. Marelize was eventually helped out of the water and taken to hospital She and husband Ryan, 26, were posing on beach in Hermanus, South Africa Marelize Dreyer, 25, from Leicestershire, got her leg trapped between two rocks Everyone wants to get that perfect holiday snap - and even more so when it's your honeymoon. But disaster struck for newlyweds Marelize and Ryan Dreyer when they were knocked over by a huge wave while posing for pictures at a beach in Hermanus, South Africa. Marelize, 25, from Leicestershire, found her leg trapped between two rocks, dislocating her ankle and breaking her leg in two places. Her husband, Ryan Dreyer, 26, had rushed through the water to help her on seeing that she could not stand and was clutching her ankle. He was eventually able to help her from the water with the help of Marelize's sister and a friend, and she was taken to hospital. Marelize Dreyer, 25, and Ryan Dreyer, 26, (pictured) were knocked over by a huge wave as they were posing for pictures at a beach in Hermanus, South Africa The dramatic moment a huge wave struck the newlyweds was captured on camera Despite being in pain, Marelize, who is a physiotherapy graduate, realised she needed to support her ankle and made a makeshift splint from two flip flops. Describing the moments before he and his wife were struck by the wave, Ryan explained how they had been trying to move to a safer spot. 'We were concerned about the bigger waves coming; but we weren't too concerned while crossing the rock there,' he said. 'When we were moving over we felt the first wave hit and that's where we tried to sit down and get another shot - since we were now in a safer location, with a rock pool nearby, rather than a drop straight into the ocean. Marelize ended up dislocating her ankle and breaking her leg in two places after her leg became trapped between two rocks The couple were on a belated honeymoon in South Africa when the accident took place 'We saw the next wave coming and tried to get ready for the picture, but the wave just smashed down on top of us. 'Instantly it felt like we were underwater - the wave was really disorientating, we were just sat there and the next second we were underwater. 'It was hard to know which way was up and how to stand because the wave was so powerful.' Ryan explained how he eventually managed to get up, but was horrified to see that Marelize had not. Ryan described how a massive wave 'smashed down' on them as they sat down on some rocks He said he saw Marelize 'flopping around' and clutching her ankle after he managed to get up Ryan said they had moved to what they had believed to be a safer location when the wave hit 'I stood up and looked for Marelize, and it instantly it was clear that something was wrong. She couldn't stand and she was just clutching her ankle, flopping around,' he said. 'Luckily the worst of the set of waves was over and I called for Gerda, Marelize's sister to help.' With the help of a friend, the pair managed to get Marelize up and away from the beach. She was eventually taken to hospital for treatment, where she had to wait for two days before getting a titanium plate and twelve screws put in her left leg. Marelize, who is a physiotherapy graduate, realised she needed to support her ankle and made a makeshift splint from two flip flops Marelize's friend Gerome carried her away from the beach, before she was taken to hospital The couple are now staying with family in order to give her time to recover. However, Ryan and Marelize, who were on a belated honeymoon, aren't letting this deter them from their travels and they're set to continue their travels on to Australia, as well as writing a blog about it. 'We had a bucket list of photos - few photos that we really wanted to get while we were travelling,' Ryan said. 'We'd tried it in a few places, but couldn't the picture to work for various reasons. 'We found this perfect place on the beach and Marelize's sister said she'd take the photo. Marelize was taken to hospital in an ambulance, after receiving treatment from paramedics Ryan was also given bandages for the minor injuries that he suffered during the incident 'We're not naive - her family goes to that particular beach town, both of us are aware of the danger, but in this case there was especially large waves form the super spring tide. 'We're usually very careful and have travelled all through South East Asia with no incidents, but perhaps we got a bit too relaxed as we're both from South Africa. 'There has been some criticism online, but I've been saying it's called an accident, not an on purpose.' Ryan explained how he and Marelize had been crossing the rocks to get to a safer location He said that they had been moving over when they felt the first wave hit them They then sat down to have another picture taken as they thought they were in a safer spot This is the hilarious moment a prankster deliberately fired a gender reveal smoke bomb in his own face. The man, named only as Josh, from Sarasota, Florida, was having fun with friends when he decided to try out the hand-held smoke bomb by blasting it straight into his face. But the joke was on him when the explosion was bigger than he had anticipated and he was left spluttering from the blue powder. The amusing moment was captured by a friend, who can be heard laughing as the trick goes wrong. The clip, which was taken on New Year's Day, shows Josh standing in what appears to be a deserted car park. Josh is seen holding the smoke bomb straight upwards but struggles for several moments before working out how to set it off. A prankster named only as Josh tried out a blue gender reveal smoke bomb by firing it into his face, pictured. The hilarious scene was captured on camera by a friend The young man, who is wearing an orange t-shirt and pale shorts, eventually fires it, sending a cloud of blue smoke straight into his face. Fortunately the prankster was also wearing a pair of sunglasses that would have protected his eyes from the blue cloud. Josh then begins coughing and shaking his head as he tries to dissipate the smoke. Prankster Josh tried desperately to shake himself clear of the smoke after he was surprised A cloud of smoke hung over Josh moments after the smoke bomb was fired, pictured The friend who shared the clip added the trick should not be tried at home. Gender reveal parties have become increasingly popular with expectant parents turning the milestone into an event. Smoke bombs like the one seen in the clip are just one fun way for couples to discover whether they will have a boy or a girl, often as a surprise. Advertisement Michelle Obama and her eldest daughter Malia made a rare appearance in swimsuits as they are enjoying the sun in Miami. The mother and 19-year-old daughter were spotted walking off Miami Beach on Saturday surrounded by friends - including former Obama administration senior advisor Valerie Jarrett - and Secret Service personnel. Michelle, 53, looked sensational in a white bikini top matched with high-waisted white denim cut-off shorts as she trudged her way barefoot through the sand, holding her shoes in one hand. On her way: Michelle Obama was spotted on Saturday enjoying the Miami Beach sun in a white swimsuit and denim shorts Bonding: Michelle was joined by her 19-year-old daughter Malia, who sported a black swimsuit Fun in the sun: Both ladies toted their shoes in their hands as they made their way off the beach surrounded by friends and Secret Service The former first lady also sported a long white blouse, a bandanna and large fold hoop earrings for the outing. Malia was looking similarly casual alongside her mother in a tan hoodie over her swimsuit, of which just her black bikini bottoms were visible. The tall teen toted in her hands a pair of white sneakers and her iPhone with a charger. She also was carrying a hefty-looking book - perhaps a bit of holiday break homework from Harvard University, where Malia is due to return later this month. The ladies looked as though they didn't have a care in the world, appearing as though the post-White House life suits them just fine. The day at the beach appeared to be all about girl time as former president Barack Obama was nowhere to be seen. The whole look: The former first lady donned a bandanna and long white blouse along with her swimsuit Winter sun: Malia wore a tan cut-out sweatshirt over her black bikini bottoms Happy days: The ladies didn't appear to have a care in the world one year since leaving the White House Getting it in: Malia was also toting a book - perhaps a bit of homework from her courses at Harvard Sunny day: At 53, Michelle displayed her impressively toned torso in the outfit Just the two of us: Neither former president Barack nor the couple's youngest daughter Sasha were in sight Winding up: The mom and daughter were later seen on the day leaving their hotel with a large number of bags Figure-flattering: Malia was a true beauty in her black and white patterned jumpsuit On the same day, Malia and Michelle were seen leaving their hotel with a large number of bags before grabbing some dinner at the trendy Prime 112 steakhouse and heading out of town. Malia looked stunning in a black and white patterned romper, looking all smiles outside of the restaurant, with her mom appearing in similar great spirits right behind her. Michelle strutted out of the celeb-friendly eatery looking typically fashionable in a set of flowing high-waisted trousers with a neutral green tank and long blue cardigan. She accessorized the look with a number of chains as well as a black purse with a lengthy strap. While it's not clear where youngest Obama daughter Sasha may be, she was hitting the Miami Beach at this time last year, gaining plenty of attention as she donned a swimsuit and enjoyed the sun with Joe Biden's daughter and another female friend. Malia is currently enjoying a well-earned break from her studies at Harvard after the whole Obama family got together in Hawaii over the Christmas period. According to the University's website, students are due back on January 22 for Spring term. Former president Barack recently revealed that he was left a wreck last year after he first dropped off Malia at university. Looking on: Malia strolled out the door right before her mother along with the Secret Service Next stop: The ladies went on to enjoy a meal at celebrity hot spot Prime 112, a steakhouse Looking relaxed: Michelle looked fashionable in a set of high-waisted trousers and a blue cardigan, accessorized with chains Moving on: She appeared to offer a little wave as she followed her oldest daughter out He discussed her move-in day with David Letterman on the talk show legend's new Netflix project My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman. Obama told him that he speaks with his daughter regularly because he is 'pathetic,' adding president Barack Obama said he was a wreck when he dropped his daughter Malia off at Harvard University. The 44th commander-in-chief discussed move-in day when he appeared as the first guest on David Letterman's new Netflix talk show 'My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman'. Obama then described how he speaks with the 19-year-old regularly because he's 'pathetic'. 'It was like open-heart surgery man,' Obama told Letterman of moving his oldest daughter into her college dorm in August 2017. 'And it was was interesting to see how everybody handled things differently. Michelle had a cleaning glove and was scouring the bathroom...Sasha tries to be cool because she didn't want to admit that she was going to miss her sister so she was helping make the bed and fold clothes. I was basically useless.' WHAT TO DO This week its all about the bum, says celebrity personal trainer Nadya Fairweather (u-shape.co.uk). The best-shaped bums are the ones that have muscle; however, we tend to lose this as we age, so the shape flattens sedentary jobs dont help this either. Lie on your back keeping your right leg bent and right foot on the floor. Celebrity personal trainer Nadya Fairweather recommends this extension exercise for shaping your bum Extend your left leg out and keep it there. Lift your bottom off the floor until your hips are high and gently drop back down. Try for ten to 15 reps, then switch to the left leg. If its too hard, start with both feet firmly on the floor, feet hip- width apart. Aim for three sets. WHAT TO EAT To perk up your behind, Shona Wilkinson (shonawilkinson.com) recommends these muscle- building foods. Good fats are essential for putting on muscle, so try having some coconut oil every day: either cook with it or spread on toast it also tastes delicious taken directly from the teaspoon. Shona Wilkinson advises good fats such as coconut oil for building muscle (file image) Steak is also great for muscle: some people are worried about eating red meat, but dont be. Make sure you have some fibre with it, such as broccoli. Eggs are another source of protein, which is crucial for building muscle. Try having them for breakfast to give you a great start to the day. WHAT TO WEAR What does 'Me too' mean after all? Apparently it means 'I too have been propositioned' or 'Advances have been made to me, too'. The understanding is that the female speaker preserved her virtue in spite of all the odds and the male predator was sent away with his tail between his legs. My father's generation called the men in such cases 'wolves'; others called them 'mashers'. Played in the movies by Leslie Phillips or Terry-Thomas or Sid James, they were figures of fun, leering, slavering fools who never ever succeeded in their attempts to corrupt women who were younger, smarter and sexier than they. Feminist Germaine Greer (pictured) believes the law on rape is due for a radical overhaul. She shared her views on the 'Me too' campaign The behaviour of such lecherous characters has always been pathetic and/or ludicrous, as much of Harvey Weinstein's seems to be. Anybody who exposes his or her genitalia, the flasher on the escalator, say, may imagine that he or she is displaying sexual power, but the fact is the opposite. Weinstein is not a Don Juan but a sexual incompetent, and, but for his power in la-la land, profoundly resistible. Accusations of rape are a different matter, of course, but the difficulty is that the issue is one of consent. The case used to be that if a man sincerely believed sex to be consensual he could not be found guilty of rape, but with convictions difficult to come by, this criterion has been loosening. In my view (not commonly held) the law of rape is medieval and profoundly misogynistic. It is due for a radical overhaul, but in the cacophony of prosecutions and lawsuits that is coming our way, it is unlikely to get it. What we can expect now is that the people accused of sexual misconduct so far all of them men will use every resource available to them to fight the accusations. The principal, and in many cases the only, testimony against them is the narratives of the victims. All the accused will be expertly defended; while the complainants may believe that they are parties to the litigation they are actually unless what has been brought is a civil suit simply exhibits in the case. The duty of the defending team will be to discredit them. Eight women have already accepted payments from Weinstein for their silence; they may well find breaking that silence will have devalued their evidence. Germaine Greer (pictured in 1974) describes sex as a blood sport as both the aggressor and victim take a risk It is worth bearing in mind that though almost 60 women came forward with allegations against Bill Cosby, allegations that included rape, drug-facilitated sexual assault, sexual battery and child sexual abuse, the one criminal case finally brought against him has resulted in a mistrial. In the military, and other organisations founded on similar principles, there has always been a rule that fraternisation between the ranks is not on. A person, male or female, with power over subordinates cannot be permitted to make a pass at any of them because he or she could be using a position of power to secure sexual favours by threat or coercion. If a teaching assistant only a year or two ahead of you puts a hand on your knee, you'd be a fool to spend the weekend weeping Teachers may not seduce their students while they are students, though quite a few will marry a student after graduation. If a teaching assistant only a year or two ahead of you puts a hand on your knee during a tutorial, you'd be a fool to spend the weekend weeping. One word of complaint could lose him or her the job, in which case weeping would be appropriate, for him or her, not for you. Sex has always been a bloodsport and players on both sides can get hurt. The aggressor takes a risk and the victim, especially if he or she is the only other person in the aggressor's hotel room, runs a risk. In the Thirties, during the Depression, one of the few ways young women could earn a living was by carrying out secretarial duties for travelling businessmen in their hotel rooms. In 1932, when Joan Crawford played Flaemmchen in Grand Hotel, the 'little stenographess' herself was on the make, with a collection of glamour photos she could show to a likely contender. She was also sharp, tough and aware that she couldn't give away what had to serve as her meal-ticket. Not nice, not Doris Day certainly, but more dignified than all this weeping and wailing about unwelcome advances. #Me Too: the story so far Oct 5: Film producer Harvey Weinstein is accused of sexual harassment in the New York Times by women including actresses Rose McGowan and Ashley Judd. Oct 10: 13 more women make allegations against Weinstein, including three of rape. His spokesman 'unequivocally' denies the allegations. Oct 15: #MeToo takes off on social media as women share stories of harassment in Hollywood and beyond. Oct 29: Kevin Spacey is accused of sexual misconduct by actor Anthony Rapp. Spacey denies Rapp's claims and refuses to comment on a dozen others made later. Oct 29: Around 40 Tory MPs are accused of sexual misconduct in a leaked spreadsheet dubbed 'the dirty dossier'. Nov 1: Defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon resigns after claims about past conduct. Nov 10: The BBC drops its Christmas Agatha Christie drama, after actor Ed Westwick is accused of sexual assault and rape, claims he denies. His scenes are shot with a replacement actor. Jan 8: Actresses wear black to the Golden Globes in protest against sexual harassment. Jan 9: Actress Catherine Deneuve is among 100 French women to sign a letter denouncing #MeToo for unfairly punishing men, victimising women and undermining sexual freedom. Advertisement Meryl Streep, doyenne of women in film, accepting Best Actress at the National Board of Review awards gala, confused her audience by singing the praises of men: 'I love men', she carolled. 'Oh my God! Yeah, I know it's the year of the woman and everything, but oh my God! The men! All my mentors have been men.' Which is not surprising seeing as nearly all the people in a position to mentor her were men. 'I have experienced things, mostly when I was young and pretty. Nobody comes on to me [now],' she told The New York Times. 'But back in the day, when everybody was doing cocaine, there was a lot of behaviour that was inexcusable. But now that people are older, and more sober, there has to be forgiveness, and that's the way I feel about it. I was really beaten up, but I don't want to ruin somebody's mature life. I just don't.' This extraordinary statement doesn't bear thinking about. The cocaine was illegal, but the sex wasn't. What 'beaten up' means in the context is unimaginable. Perhaps Streep will be subpoenaed one day and made to explain herself, but I wouldn't hold my breath. No one has accused Weinstein of doing cocaine and as Streep has said he was 'a champion of really great work'. The original Me Too movement was set up nearly ten years ago by black activist Tarana Burke to address the problem of sexual abuse among black female blue collar workers. As such, it was massively ignored by white feminist activists until, in October last year, actress Alyssa Milano sent out a tweet inviting women protesting against sexual harassment to post #metoo as a status update. When Time Magazine put Me Too on the cover as person of the year, Tarana Burke was not included on that cover. AND WHAT GERMAINE'S PEERS THINK... EVERY WOMAN I KNOW HAS BEEN SEXUALLY HARASSED Bestselling author Shirley Conran, 85, advised working women in her book Superwoman, that 'life is too short to stuff a mushroom'. Divorced from Sir Terence Conran, she has two sons, Jasper and Sebastian. During the Sixties, sexual harassment, and indeed sexual molestation, were everyday risks. Yes, people got fired but it was the women, not the men. What I remember about the men back then is that they were always vicious in their punishment if they were turned down. And they had long memories. They would see that you didn't get promoted, or were even demoted. A man in a rank above you found it easy to punish you for not giving in to him. And if you complained? No one ever took you seriously and nothing at all would happen except you may find yourself suddenly given a worse job to do. Shirley Conran (pictured) says she doesn't think the women behind the current 'Me Too' movement need her generation's help In the late Sixties and early Seventies, I led a group of women journalists in protests, sit-ins and demos for gender equality. We were fighting for equal pay and equal opportunities, and there was even a torch-lit march on Downing Street. Yet I haven't felt the need to add my voice to the MeToo movement today. I don't think the women behind it especially need my generation's help they're getting on just fine by themselves. As for the French women who wrote that long-winded whine of a letter, well, they're in a very lucky position: they are powerful and are perfectly able to make it clear to a man that they don't want his attention. But that's not the case for all women. It's easier to see off unwanted advances when you're rich and famous. Having said that, I'd be astonished if Catherine Deneuve hadn't been sexually harassed or molested in all her years in the film industry if she hadn't had her knees touched, if we could put it as daintily as that. Every single woman I know has, at some point in her life, been sexually harassed. I suffered severely from it. Is touching a woman on the knee a crime? I think touching anywhere needs to be forbidden as then it's clear: a person must not touch someone else's breasts, bum, big toe . . . anything. Shirley Conran says men don't need to touch a woman to make his meaning clear If a man wants to make a sexual advance to a woman, he has eyes to signal and a mouth to tell her she's beautiful or ask whether she would like a drink, to which she can respond as she pleases. He doesn't need to touch to make his meaning clear. Touching may give an unattractive man a sexual frisson but annoy a woman who feels that if she objects, the man will say: 'Oh, it was accidental'. Fundamentally we should all have our own space and no one should invade it. And if a man engages in frottage on the Tube, then of course that's wrong and women should jab back with their elbows, or better still, an umbrella. It's actually very simple. If you try to touch a goldfish in a bowl, it will dart away to the other side. In my view, we should all be untouchable in our own space, just like the goldfish. In any case, feminists have other battles on their hands right now. I think we should set our sights very firmly on the BBC and on big private corporations, where women are still not being paid as much as men for doing the same work. It's illegal, and I don't know why people aren't in prison for it. I find it hard to believe and extremely depressing that almost 50 years after our marches and protests, almost 50 years after the Equal Pay Act, our public broadcaster still doesn't have parity of pay. WHY DIDN'T I SPEAK OUT IN THE SIXTIES? Writer Elisabeth Luard, 75, partied with high society in the Sixties. She is the widow of former Private Eye owner Nicholas Luard, with whom she had four children. Coming of age in the Sixties, I considered myself a feminist to the core and still do. When I married Nicholas Luard, I refused to obey as well as love and honour, but I stuck to the rules. Not so Nicholas, who was busy from dusk to dawn at the satirical nightclub he owned with his friend Peter Cook. Elisabeth Luard (pictured) says she didn't tell anyone that one of her school friends fathers had wondering hands when she was 14 That famous photo of Christine Keeler in a striped swimsuit at Cannes? It was taken at Nicholas's request for a movie he was trying to get funded at the festival. During the trip, he shared a room with Christine for 'economic reasons', he said. It's hard to explain why I didn't object to a philandering husband. For those of us ill-educated at girls-only boarding-schools, those were the rules. We kept quiet. If you told on anyone, you were a spoilsport. And society, as Christine found to her cost, didn't like spoilsports. Growing up, I'd spend half-term weekends with school friends and their parents. I was 14 when one of the fathers asked me if I was homesick. What started as a comfort hug went on too long and his hands were suddenly everywhere. Instinct told me what he was after and I escaped with a just few popped buttons. I never told anyone at the time or since. Why not? Perhaps I knew I wouldn't be believed. I still remember the name, the place and the events 62 years later. Elisabeth (pictured n 1988) questions if current generations were betrayed by previous generations not speaking out against harassment During my (younger) career, I encountered an ancient, ugly Hollywood producer, who was considering, or so he said, investing in a TV cookery series I was to host. The offer, it turned out, was dependent on the casting-couch. I didn't co-operate, but I never complained. So the MeToo experiences of the new wave of feminists are all too familiar to my generation. They're a reminder of how much we didn't achieve. They also pose an uncomfortable question: did we betray our sons and daughters by not speaking out when it happened to us? TODAY FEMINISM IS ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN'T DO Writer and broadcaster Carol Sarler edited Honey magazine before launching current affairs programme Watch The Woman. When I was ten years old, I was lured by a stranger in the park. Once out of public sight, he held a knife to my neck, dragged me behind bushes and sexually assaulted me. Twenty years later, I was at a party when a senior male work colleague placed a paw on my thigh. Can you imagine, now, how I feel about today's prevailing message that there is no difference between those two crimes? That if you dare suggest otherwise, you'll be met by outrage? Last month, Hollywood actor Matt Damon felt the furies when, in the heights of Harvey Weinstein fever, he said, 'There's a difference between patting someone on the butt and rape or child molestation'. Based on my own experience, I'd call that stating the obvious. But based on the instant condemnation, he'll be lucky to work again. Carol Sarler (pictured) was sexually assaulted at age 10 however she is unwilling to join the 'Me too' campaign No wonder so many women of my generation have reached their 60s not only unwilling to join that ridiculous MeToo brigade but even to call themselves feminists. There was a time when the emerging women's movement was inspiring. We who had really known what oppression and inequality were really about marched to our anthem: 'I am woman! Hear me roar!' Yet how quickly it went downhill. That kind of feminism was all about what women could do; today's ninny version is all about what women can't do: they can't stand up to a lecherous man, they can't take sexual banter without suffering post-traumatic stress and they can't understand that as long as we emphasise our weaknesses we can never assert our strengths or exercise our choices. When I was ten, with the knife at my throat, I had no choice. I was a child. But 20 years later, with the paw on my thigh, I was a grown woman. Like all grown women I had a choice. And I exercised it. The first time, I asked him, please, to stop touching me. The second time, there was no please. The third time I slapped his fat face, then back-slapped the other cheek for good measure. The room fell silent. Then, to his eternal credit, the host male and also junior to the nuisance asked him, not me, to leave the party. A hundred people watched as, with cheeks flaming, he drooped down the stairs. Nobody of my generation, reading that, will be surprised. Not because violence is to be applauded, but because they remember the days when we discovered the sublime pleasure of taking control of our lives: sisters, doing it for themselves. When it came to unwanted attentions, we stood our ground without needing the support of hundreds of others, each clamouring for the fashionable status of 'victim'. As a result, our individual but effective battles were a damn sight more life-affirming than anything achieved by raucous rabbles. One day at a time, one man at a time. Result. While writing this, I've been trying to remember the name of the man who touched my thigh. Yet, for the life of me, I can't. But I'll bet you he hasn't forgotten mine. And, more to the point, I'll bet that he didn't do it again. Sometimes, in our quest for progress, we shunt into the backwater the tried and trusted. By we, I mean society companies and consumers alike. Bank branches are a case in point. As we highlight opposite in our report on the latest spate of closures, there is still a large slice of society that prefers to do its banking face-to-face rather than via the internet. Surely, access to a branch or for that matter a cash machine should be a right rather than the preserve of city dwellers or people living in affluent communities. Banks and I have said this for a long time should not be allowed to abandon communities altogether. Jane Howard, pictured, is the head of branch and private banking at Royal Bank of Scotland and mastermind behind axing of 259 Royal Bank of Scotland and NatWest branches At the very least they should leave in place a free-to-use cash machine, although I still maintain that shared branches are the best solution an idea first mooted by Derek French, founder of the Campaign for Community Banking Services more than 20 years ago. Sadly, like most bank branches, the campaign is no more. Progress? The same argument applies to investments. Asset managers are always keen to push the latest fad, whether it is low-cost index tracking funds or some exotic investment theme (for example, frontier markets). Yet there are some investments that have stood the test of time. Thankfully, unlike boarded-up bank branches, they keep going, enriching those who invest in them. Gone: Barclays shut down its branch in Glastonbury, pictured, shortly after HSBC did in 2015 I am referring to global investment trusts, some of which have been around for more than 100 years. The likes of Mercantile (1884), Murray International (1907), Scottish American (1873), Scottish Mortgage (1909) and Witan (1909). Yes, they are not particularly sexy on the surface and rarely recommended by financial advisers (perceived as boring). But they are ideal for investors looking for a one-stop investment they can hold long-term. Foreign & Colonial Investment Trust is part of this longevity club. Remarkably, it will be 150 years old this March and it is probably as relevant today as it has ever been. Quietly and diligently, the trusts management (BMO Global Asset Management) invests its 3 billion of assets worldwide in the pursuit of long-term returns. Throughout its life, it has been true to its objectives, bringing stock market investing to those of moderate means. Despite two world wars and numerous financial crises, it has thrived, becoming an investment home for more than 100,000 investors. According to BMO (Bank of Montreal), 1 invested back in 1868 would now be worth north of 108,000 40 times what the same amount left in a savings account would be worth. For the past 46 years, shareholders have enjoyed annual dividend increases, a comfort blanket for any investor. Last week, I had the privilege of joining the trusts chairman (Simon Fraser) and investment manager (Paul Niven) for dinner at the Malmaison Hotel in Clerkenwell, London. It is one of many events the trust will hold this year to mark its anniversary. Key will be a focus on financial education and the need for children and young adults to squirrel money away for the future. Although Niven is nervous about the UK economy as a result of Brexit which explains the trusts low six per cent exposure to the market he believes there are sufficient opportunities in Europe, Japan and emerging markets to keep the fund moving forward. Sometimes, in a world plagued by ageism, it pays to be in rather than out with the old. Talking of the new rather than the old, all investment trusts must now supply a key information document to new investors. It is a requirement under something called Mifid II (the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II) and is designed to ensure investors know what they are getting into in terms of risk and charges. Fine in theory on the charges front but misleading when it comes to suggesting possible returns. The figures may as well have been plucked out of the sky. Take for example investment trust Scottish Mortgage, a successful fund. Under four scenarios stress, unfavourable, moderate and favourable its managers Baillie Gifford must provide the estimated amount you might get back from an investment of 10,000 over one, three and five years. Worst case but one, your 10,000 may wilt to 3,551 over five years. Best case, it could become 47,833. Worst case? The trust may not be able to pay you back a penny. I call this regulatory baloney. If Foreign & Colonial had started its life under such a regime, I doubt whether it would be around today. Can you hear it? Me neither. Where is the roar of protest from big City investors against the monstrous payout housebuilding firm Persimmon is handing to its boss, Jeff Fairburn? The sum in question a total of 800 million of shareholders money going into the pockets of senior managers is stupendous by any yardstick. Plenty of people have said Mr Fairburn doesnt deserve his 100 million-plus reward because it hasnt sprung from his own genius, but from a share price bloated by Help to Buy. Grotesque: There is no public sign so far of Persimmon chief executive Jeff Fairburn giving up any of his total pay, bonuses and incentive package of 110m Its actually even worse than that: its the result of a rookie error. When they were designing the scheme, the chairman and the chair of the pay committee forgot to put a ceiling on rewards an omission for which they have rightly tendered their resignations. However it came about, this is a transfer of wealth from investors to employees on an unprecedented scale in corporate Britain. So much so, that the Persimmon Package amounts to a perverse form of socialism. Capital is being expropriated by a group of workers albeit pretty high-ranking ones from the owners. We know shareholders are upset why else would the chairman and his colleague have offered to resign? But what have they to say in public about this egregious incentive scheme, which in the end is paid for out of our savings and pensions? Nothing. Rien. Nichts. Nada. Or to be strictly accurate, barely a peep. Royal London has dished out a tongue-lashing well done but it only has a tiny shareholding. By contrast, Blackrock, which is the worlds biggest fund manager, has a significant stake in Persimmon, and plenty of clout. This time last year, the US giant was playing the responsible investor card with gusto, writing letters to the chairmen of every company in the FTSE 350 and warning them to behave themselves on pay. It even spelled out its belief that pay committees should have discretion to make adjustments for unintended outcomes, a stricture that is entirely apt for Persimmon. We are told Blackrock is expected to challenge the share scheme, but it, and other shareholders including Aberdeen Asset Management, are not saying anything publicly. Too few investors have revolted against Persimmon as its chief executive Jeff Fairburn, pictured, received total pay, bonuses and incentive package of 110m Why not? If ever there was an ideal time to denounce unjustified rewards loud and clear, this is it. It is all far too mealy-mouthed. The Investment Association, which is supposed to be the industry mouthpiece against such rewards, recently started drawing up a naughty list of companies where 20 per cent of shareholders had protested against executive excess. Remarkably, Persimmon does not make it on to the list because too few investors revolted. One City establishment figure who has spoken out is Stephen Martin, the boss of the Institute of Directors. Frankly, it would have been better if he had kept quiet. He chose to defend Mr Fairburn, saying he is within his rights to take his bonus. Perhaps he is, contractually speaking, but that doesnt stop it being indefensibly greedy. Tickings off behind closed doors are not good enough. The public silence of the shareholders allows Mr Fairburn to continue with his masquerade that his shameless self-enrichment is acceptable. He also seems to think he can keep quiet and it will all go away, describing his decision whether or not to donate some of his bonus to charity as a private matter. It isnt. This scandalous pay package, of a quoted company CEO in the housebuilding sector which is so crucial to the economy and the well-being of ordinary families, is a matter of public interest. Shareholders should tell Mr Fairburn in no uncertain terms that he must agree to a rewriting of his incentive scheme and they should do so publicly. I said last week that builders risk becoming the new bankers. Seems Im already being proved right. Carolyn Fairbairn is cool, crisp and calm. She needs to be. It would be challenging enough to be the first female director general of the CBI, which was, until her arrival in late 2015, a very male bastion. But she is at the helm at one of the most turbulent points in the organisations 50-year history. Previously a high-achieving but low profile businesswoman, her job at the CBI has put her on the front line of the debate over Brexit. SEAT AT THE TABLE: Carolyn Fairbairn, pictured, wants the UK to retain barrier-free trade with the EU She has been a target for some Leavers who have accused her of scaremongering over the UK economy and of Remoaner tendencies. If she is remotely perturbed, then she isnt letting it show, but instead is trying to lift the debate to a higher level one where facts, not anger and recrimination, hold sway. This year, she says, is the most important year for the UK economy for a generation. 'This needs to be a year where evidence overcomes emotion and ideology. The world wont wait for Britain while we sort out Brexit, she says. The CBI argued Britain should remain in the EU after a poll of its members showed four out of five believed that was best for their business. But Fairbairn insists she has no plot to sabotage Brexit. 'We are committed to making it a success. Not to have a second referendum, not to reverse it.' But barrier-free trade with the EU, she says, has been really good for jobs so anything that undoes that is a risk. 'Another risk is that we get Brexit wrong, we stay tribal when what we need now is unity. 'We need to think about practicalities. There are 150,000 exporters that only export to the EU and have no systems in place to manage red tape at borders. They have no means of filling a form in. 'Why did no one draw attention to that sort of thing before the referendum? Well, the campaigns werent very good, on either side, and it was very short. Couldnt UK exporters just broaden their horizons? 'Yes China, for example, is a really attractive market, and there are others, but the share of our exports to Germany alone is 11 per cent. Lets just get the facts in there. Fairbairn is big on facts and evidence, stressing time and again the need for decisions to be made on the basis of dispassionate research, not tribalism or prejudice. Isnt the problem, though, that in the current climate, few want to listen to facts, and even fewer want to give a hearing to the business lobby? I think the voice of business can be effective behind the scenes, she says. She counters criticism that the CBI has talked down the UK economy and been unnecessarily gloomy about our prospects, pointing out that, 'We havent actually done Brexit yet. And, she says, the distraction of Brexit means we are not doing anywhere near as well as we should be. Carolyn Fairbairn, pictured, speaking after the European Business Leaders Brexit Meeting in London last year The CBI is forecasting growth of 1.5 per cent for the UK this year, compared with 2.5 per cent for the US, 1.8 per cent in the Eurozone and 3.7 per cent for the world as a whole. 'The UK should be doing a lot better, given how strongly the world economy is performing. There is a lost opportunity and it is Brexit it is a Brexit tax almost. Now 57, Fairbairn lives in Winchester with her husband Peter Chittick, a co-founder of the Hotel du Vin chain, and has three children two daughters aged 23 and 21 and a son of 18. Her schedule starts with an alarm going off at 5.30am to catch the 6.50am train to arrive at the office before 9am. In a typical week, she schleps to two evening engagements. One of her hobby-horses is to cut down the number of boozy corporate dinners that clutter executives diaries, in favour of early evening events. She believes many women miss out on networking opportunities because they dont like alcohol-fuelled functions and often find it hard to attend because of childcare commitments. Corporate entertaining is also frequently orientated towards men, she says. 'We have done a lot at the CBI to move away from the dinner model. And sport is not always the most inclusive thing. Some women love it but entertaining doesnt always have to be the rugby. Such barriers have not held her back. She achieved a double first in economics from Cambridge and early in her career worked as an economist at the World Bank. Other roles included management consultancy at McKinsey and a stint at BBC Worldwide followed by a senior job at ITV. More recently she served as a director of Lloyds Bank. In the early 1990s, she was an adviser to No 10s policy unit under John Majors government though she has not been a member of a political party since. Fairbairn claims to have very good engagement with the Labour leadership over Brexit, but, she adds with a sigh in her voice, the partys threat to nationalise utilities is a major concern. 'We have been very open in saying investors would run for the hills if that comes in. Doesnt business bear a heavy responsibility for the appeal of Corbynism, with poor deals for consumers and outsized executive pay? 'There is a lot of reflection business needs to do about its role in society. Capitalism is working but not well enough, and not for enough people. So some people feel left out and there is anger. The way to deal with that, she says, is by improving productivity, which means improving skills. 'We need to help people gain the skills they need because as many as 35 per cent of current jobs wont exist in ten years time. Jobs are being automated. 'We should not be scared of robots because they can take over the boring tasks so people can take more interesting and highly paid work. 'But there will be a rough transition for some, and we have to be very honest about that. There is a danger, Fairbairn says, that the sheer amount of work involved in Brexit will push these issues into the long grass. 'If Brexit crowds everything else out it will be a disaster. Last year was the year of the debate, this year is the year of the decisions and it isnt just about how we will fashion Brexit. 'We need to leave behind the anger. We only have a finite time to shape our economy for the future and if we dont pull together, we face profound uncertainty. 'Lets take the ideological steam out of Brexit and for goodness sake get our act together. Clothing, homeware and fragrance business The White Company has defied the gloom in the retail sector with record sales approaching 200 million last year. Founded by entrepreneur Chrissie Rucker in 1994 to provide impeccably stylish, everyday luxury, the company has 57 stores in the UK, US and Ireland. Turnover shot up 8 per cent to 198.4 million in the year to March 25, 2017, with pre-tax profits rising to 17.3 million. FOUNDER: White Companys Chrissie Rucker, pictured, began the business in 1994 to provide impeccably stylish, everyday luxury The company said all areas of the business were performing strongly. But it decided against paying a dividend, having paid out 17.5 million the previous year. Rucker is understood to have collected 1.7 million in pay and bonuses as highest-paid director. She came up with the idea of The White Company after struggling to find anywhere to buy high quality bed linen for a reasonable price. She used her 6,000 savings to set up the firm then expanded into other areas. The business is controlled by Bectin which is jointly owned by Rucker and her husband Nick Wheeler founder of mens clothing chain Charles Tyrwhitt. The couple who have four children and live in a 17th Century manor house in Buckinghamshire have built up a fortune estimated at 100 million. They were awarded his and hers OBEs for services to the retail industry in the New Years honours list. Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi, pictured Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi has unwound his business interests after being made Education Minister in last weeks reshuffle. Having pledged to give them up if made a Minister, the Iraqi-born MP resigned as a director of Zahawi & Zahawi, the firm he founded with his wife Lana in 2010. He transferred his 50 per cent stake to her, filings on Companies House show. Zahawi, who founded pollsters YouGov, also resigned from the board of recruiter SThree in October and we revealed last month that he was to leave his 350,000-a-year part-time role at oil firm Gulf Keystone. The City of London Corporation is poised to issue a red warning report on the impact of Brexit over fears that a split from the EU will damage the capitals appeal to financial services firms. The report from the Corporation, one of the Citys most influential groups, has upgraded the risk rating for the Square Mile from amber. It cited the increased probability that a post-Brexit trade deal between the UK and EU is unlikely to replicate the level of access firms have within the Single Market. The City of London Corporation is poised to issue a red warning report on the impact of Brexit over fears that a split from the EU will damage the capitals appeal to financial services firms The paper, seen by The Mail on Sunday, will be presented at a corporation meeting next week. The report warns that a hit to the City would have a major economic impact on the UK [and] diminish the attractiveness of London and the UK as a place to do business. The Corporation estimates the financial services sector dominated by the Square Mile and which employs 1.1 million people across the UK contributed 72.1 billion in taxes last year. The Bank of England has estimated around 10,000 City jobs could leave London ahead of the UKs first day outside of the EU. It has said up to 75,000 jobs could ultimately disappear. Goldmans European leader Richard Gnodde met the PM last week over Brexit The City report emerges after Prime Minister Theresa May last week hosted a meeting of City leaders, including bosses of Goldman Sachs and Barclays, to reassure them on the Governments approach to Brexit. One City source said there are some encouraging noises from the Government, but added that time is running out for Ministers to limit Brexit damage. City groups are demanding a paper setting out the Governments position on financial services ahead of Brexit, as has been done in other areas such as the customs union. The City of London Corporation said last week that it was baffling this had not been published. Nicky Morgan, chair of Parliaments Treasury Select Committee, told the MoS: The Government should get on with publishing its overdue position paper on the future of financial services after Brexit to provide some much-needed clarity. Police officers are mounting an unprecedented legal challenge over the refusal to prosecute the suspect in the murder of WPC Yvonne Fletcher. A judicial review has been filed against the Governments decision to block key evidence from being used in a prosecution over the shooting of the officer outside the Libyan embassy in 1984. John Murray, who was standing next to Ms Fletcher, 25, when she was shot, and the Police Federation lodged the claim in the High Court. WPC Yvonne Fletcher, 25, was shot dead outside the Libyan embassy in 1984 Mr Murray said: I have no doubt that we will win. In 2015, after reopening the case, Scotland Yard arrested Saleh Ibrahim Mabrouk, a former Minister under Colonel Gaddafi, on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. But the case was later dropped for national security reasons. Scotland Yard arrested Saleh Ibrahim Mabrouk, a former Minister under Colonel Gaddafi, on suspicion of conspiracy to murder in 2015 but the case was later dropped for national security reasons Mabrouk denies any role in the murder. The hearing is expected to be held behind closed doors. Cambridge University is posting photos of exam halls on its website after snowflake students said they were stressed by taking tests in unfamiliar surroundings. An official report by academics at the university, where the countrys brightest have sat tests in large halls for centuries, said some undergraduates were uncomfortable with the examination room environment. It found a growing number claimed to be so anxious about taking three-hour, end-of-year written tests alongside hundreds of others that they were being allowed to sit papers on their own, in small college rooms. Cambridge University is posting photos of exam halls on its website after snowflake students said they were stressed by taking tests in unfamiliar surroundings But critics said the exam process should be tough and those who could not cope should not be at the university. Cambridges concessions emerged from a two-year review of the traditional exams, which said there was a 50 per cent jump in 2015-16 in undergraduates gaining permission to make alternative arrangements because of anxiety or mental health issues such as depression. The Examination Review Final Report also warned that bans imposed by colleges on parties and late-night bars to help students revise in peace could actually be another cause of stress. Many colleges restrict bar opening hours in the so-called quiet periods during the Easter term, and some even ban games on the lawns because of potential noise concerns. An official report by academics at the university, where the countrys brightest have sat tests in large halls for centuries, said some undergraduates were uncomfortable with the examination room environment But the report, by a group led by the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Education, Professor Graham Virgo, said: Changes to the college environment during the examination period can add to anxiety. One student told The Mail on Sunday that the obligatory quiet periods created a suffocating cloud of stress, and the nagging feeling that college is forcing you to work can undermine your self-confidence. However, the report praised colleges for introducing stress-reducing initiatives such as acupuncture. Examination room environment and a lack of familiarity with the venue were also cited by undergraduates as among the influencing factors for wanting alternative exam arrangements. Some photos of examination venues were added to the university website for the Easter 2017 examinations, the report said. But critics said the exam process should be tough and those who could not cope should not be at the university Minutes of meetings by the review group show some members wanted colleges to organise tours of exam halls. There were also suspicions that some students applying late for exam adjustments were working the system. It recommended more coursework to cut down on the pressure of three-hour tests, and that degree classification should not be based only on final-year exams. Chris McGovern, of the Campaign for Real Education, said: Students need to toughen up. Exams are rightly tough and, with a few exceptions, snowflake students shouldnt be at university if they cant cope. A Cambridge spokesman said it provided a comprehensive range of services to help students cope with exam stress. The news is the latest example of snowflake culture. Last week, we revealed colleges could face legal action if they let over-sensitive students ban speakers whose views they find upsetting. Two-thirds of doctors and nurses at some hospitals have ignored official pleas to get themselves vaccinated against flu this winter, risking the lives of vulnerable patients. Last week, senior doctors warned that not enough NHS workers are having the jab. Now an official report shows shockingly low staff vaccination rates at some of the countrys biggest and busiest hospitals. Only 33.7 per cent of frontline staff at Kings College Hospital in South London which houses one of the capitals largest A&E departments have received the jab this winter Only 33.7 per cent of frontline staff at Kings College Hospital in South London which houses one of the capitals largest A&E departments have received the jab this winter. The figure is 38.3 per cent at nearby Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Trust. Hospitals in Brighton, Essex, Northumbria, Cornwall, Harrogate, Wolverhampton, Salisbury and Hertfordshire also have less than half of their staff vaccinated. Overall, fewer than half of frontline workers have been inoculated against flu at 18 hospital trusts across England, which together run 55 hospitals. Overall, fewer than half of frontline workers have been inoculated against flu at 18 hospital trusts across England, which together run 55 hospitals Unvaccinated healthcare workers are more likely to catch the bug and pass it to patients than staff who have the jab. Last night, leading flu expert Professor John Oxford told The Mail on Sunday that NHS staff who refused vaccination risked killing their own patients. Staff who have ill children at home come into work and they give the virus to an old person and kill the person, he said. Calling on them to set an example, he added: It doesnt make public health sense [for staff] not to be vaccinated. His comments come a week after the outgoing NHS England medical director, Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, called for a serious debate about compulsory flu jabs for NHS staff. Flu is a double whammy, increasing the number of patients and putting staff out of action, he said. An NHS England spokesman said: Uptake of the flu vaccination among frontline staff is at record levels. Donald Trump was embroiled in a new row last night after Washington said the UK was as dangerous as countries he has described as s***holes. Security advice issued by the State Department ranks Britain on a par with the Congo and Zimbabwe, with US travellers warned about heightened risks to safety and security. It comes amid the continuing fall-out from Mr Trumps decision to cancel a trip to London next month and growing global anger over his reported remarks about the number of citizens of s***hole countries in Africa and the developing world being allowed to enter America. Donald Trump was embroiled in a new row last night after Washington said the UK was as dangerous as countries he has described as s***holes, including the Congo and Zimbabwe (pictured above during 2016 clashes in Harare) Under a new system, the US now divides countries into four levels of danger for its citizens. Level 1 is deemed as safe as staying in America, while Level 4 means do not travel. The UK is classed at Level 2, the same as the Congo, Zimbabwe and Algeria. Under its advice for the UK, the State Department says its citizens should exercise increased caution because of the threat of terrorism. It says: Groups continue plotting possible attacks in the United Kingdom be aware of your surroundings when travelling to tourist locations and crowded public venues. US travellers have been warned about heightened risks to safety and security after the president cancelled his visit to London next month US visitors to Zimbabwe are warned about crime and civil unrest. It says: Violent crime, such as assault, carjacking, and home invasion is common. Local police lack the resources to respond effectively to serious crime. While France, Spain, Italy and Germany are also ranked as Level 2 due to terrorism, most European countries, including Ireland, Portugal, Holland, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Austria and Poland are ranked as Level 1. Level 4 countries include Iran and Libya. The State Department says the new system is designed to provide US citizens with clear, timely, and reliable safety and security information. The Foreign Office denied the UK should be classed as a risky destination. A spokeswoman said: Britain continues to be a safe and attractive destination for foreign visitors. A politician has called for road signs on the state boarder warning NSW drivers they are '50 percent more likely' to have their car stolen when they cross into Victoria. Liberal MP Craig Kelly, who is also chairman of parliament's joint committee on law enforcement, made the comment after reading the latest figures from the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council. The data revealed that reveals 16,599 cars were stolen in Victoria between October 2016 and September last year, and 12,209 were stolen in NSW- where there is a larger population, The Australian reported. Liberal MP Craig Kelly has called for a parliamentary inquiry into car theft in Australia 'With such a dramatic difference, there is a good case that large warning signs should be erected on the NSW-Victorian border informing NSW motorists that once they cross into Victoria, they are 50 per cent more likely to have their car stolen,' Mr Kelly said. 'If the substantially higher theft rate in Victoria continues, it is possible that NSW motorists will need special insurance cover if they plan to drive across the border into the badlands of Victoria.' Victoria Police's acting commander of the southern metropolitan region Paul Hollowood said there have 'dramatic' been changes in the way criminals stole cars over the past two years. Car thieves are now officially on notice- the car they plan to steal may be equipped with a tracking device that police can trace in real time,' Mr Hollowood said. He said the latest figures showed a 12.9 percent decrease in the number of vehicles stolen in Victoria. Liberal MP Craig Kelly has called for a parliamentary inquiry into car theft in Australia. An agent of the Islamic State was facing up to 20 years in jail last night after an undercover sting by The Mail on Sunday. Hassan Bal, 26, was at the centre of an international fundraising operation in Britain and Ireland. Cash collected by his network of couriers was funnelled to Syria and used to buy weapons, clothes and equipment for jihadi fighters. As the key prosecution witness at British-born Bals trial next month, a Mail on Sunday reporter was due to give evidence from behind a screen to protect his identity. But the trial was called off after Bal pleaded guilty at a hearing last Friday in Waterford, Ireland, to two counts of fundraising for IS. He will be sentenced in April. CUTTING THE SUPPLY LINES: Adam Locksley photographed by our team. He water later released without charge. Hassan Bal pleaded guilty in Irish court last week, right Our undercover operation in which we secretly photographed a courier collecting what Bal believed to be cash led to an investigation involving the Mets Counter-terrorism Command, the FBI, Interpol and the Irish Gardai. Bal was arrested in April last year at the rented Waterford flat he shared with his pregnant wife. One charge he admitted involved sending 350 to a jihadi contact in Brcko, Bosnia, by money transfer, knowing the money would then be sent to IS in Syria. He also pleaded guilty to attempting to collect cash from a man in London known to him as Omar Abu Aziz through the use of an intermediary on October 23, 2015. Omar Abu Aziz was in fact MoS undercover reporter Omar Wahid. And the intermediary tasked with collecting the cash was Bals elder brother, Adam Locksley, 30, an electrician and plumber. The MoS launched its investigation into IS fundraising in 2015. Wahid contacted an infamous British extremist called Omar Hussain, 30 also known as the Supermarket Jihadi in Syria, who was urging followers to help fund jihad. Hussain put Wahid posing as an IS sympathiser in touch with an American fighter in Syria called Abu Issa Al-Amriki. Amriki told Wahid to send 1,000 dollars or euros, suggesting he steal the money from non-Muslims. He wrote: Stealing from kuffar [non-believers] for mujahideen [jihad fighters] is halal [lawful]. Wahid was given the name of a British-based IS fundraiser, Abu Abdul-Rahman Britani, who would arrange for the cash to be collected. It is suspected Britani and Bal are one and the same. During several days of often tense exchanges, the reporter gained Britanis trust and was eventually told to bring the money in a brown envelope to a builders warehouse in Cricklewood, North London, Instead of cash, the reporter put an A-Z map book in the envelope and left it on top of a yellow cement bag. Waiting nearby were members of an undercover Mail on Sunday team, poised to secretly photograph whoever came for the cash. Locksley then arrived and picked up the package while appearing to receive instructions on a mobile phone. The Mail on Sunday contacted police immediately and we handed over our evidence on Locksley, and all the communications with Britani, Amriki and Hussain. Locksley was dramatically arrested near his flat, which was later raided by Metropolitan Police detectives. He was on police bail for almost a year until he was discharged with no further action taken. In April last year, Amriki and his American wife, Umm Issa Amriki, were both killed in a drone strike by the US military. The Pentagon later described them both as recruiters for IS. The fate of Supermarket Jihadi Hussain, is less clear, with some media reports earlier this year saying he might have been executed by IS for disobeying orders. On Friday, Bal was remanded in custody until his next court appearance on April 10. Women who believe they are men are not being offered routine NHS screening for breast and cervical cancer amid fears that it might offend them. But astonishingly, an official guidebook states that men living as women are being invited for cervical smear tests even though they do not have a cervix. The advice, spelt out in a 24-page booklet published by Public Health England, was last night described as politically correct lunacy which was putting lives at risk. Women who believe they are men are not being offered routine NHS screening for breast and cervical cancer amid fears that it might offend them but men living as women are being invited for cervical smear tests even though they do not have a cervix Cervical cancer claims the lives of 900 women a year in Britain. But without the NHS screening programme, the number would be four times higher. Meanwhile, breast cancer screening is thought to save 1,300 lives annually, according to an independent review of the NHS mammogram programme. Screening saves lives by spotting cancer early, when it is possible to treat the disease successfully. Those not screened are more likely to go on to develop advanced cancer, which is almost always fatal. The PHE booklet, NHS Screening Programmes Information For Trans People, explains who we invite for screening. Trans people who register with their GP as being their birth sex will automatically be invited to screening appropriate to that. But if they register as their new gender, they will not be. So if a trans man who was born female registers as male, he wont be invited for breast screening at 50. Likewise, it tells those born as girls: If you are registered with a GP as male, you wont be invited for cervical screening. Most trans men do not have their wombs removed only a small number have full sex-change surgery. However, if a trans woman born male registers as female, you will be routinely invited for cervical screening. Trans health adviser Aedan Wolton, who features in a related NHS Choices video, said smear tests could be uncomfortable for trans masculine people born female as it challenged how they perceived themselves. This is unsurprising as the experience is often a very gendered one; from the waiting room, to the words used during the smear, it is often a procedure designed for women, he writes in an accompanying blog. Conservative MP David Davies, who has campaigned against Government plans to let people legally self-identify their own gender, said: This NHS effort to be politically correct is putting the lives of women who claim to be men at risk. It was also wasting the time of men who claim to be women by offering them tests for organs they do not have. Womens campaigner Laura Perrins said: Weve now got to the point where state collusion with this transgender agenda is endangering the health of women. 'Its a ludicrous use of NHS resources to invite men for a cervical smear test, while its immoral and dangerous not to invite women. The advice, spelt out in a 24-page booklet published by Public Health England, was last night described as politically correct lunacy which was putting lives at risk The PHE booklet is the latest in a series of official documents that cast aside normal biological definitions apparently to avoid offending transgender individuals. Last year, The Mail on Sunday told how the British Medical Association had advised its 160,000 members not to call pregnant women expectant mothers, but pregnant people instead. It is not just trans men who could miss out under the screening protocol. Men living as women will not be invited to a vital screening test, too. When they reach 65, all men should be asked to attend an ultrasound scan to check if they are developing a blood vessel defect called an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). AAAs are six times as common in older men than older women. If left untreated the artery can rupture, with fatal consequences. PHEs booklet warns: Any trans woman [born male] will have the same risk as a man and should consider accessing screening. But it goes on to say: If you are a trans woman aged 65 who is registered with a GP as female, you wont be invited for screening. By contrast, trans men born female who identify as male will be invited, even though they do not have a raised risk of AAA. What is biologically suitable, in terms of screening, is not always straightforward. Trans men who have had their uterus and cervix removed do not need smear tests; while trans women who have grown breast tissue after taking hormone therapy will need mammograms. Public Health England last night said that screening invitations were automatically sent by computer, based on patients registered age and sex. Director of screening Anne Mackie added: Following engagement with the LGBT community, we produced a guide to help trans people understand what screening is available in England. Bernard Reed, of support group Gender Identity Research and Education Society (GIRES), praised PHE, saying that its booklet provides valuable guidance. Melissa Lavell (pictured), 32, was crossing the tracks of the new Brightline train when she was struck and killed A high-speed train transporting reporters and government officials a day before its debut struck and killed a woman, police in Florida said Saturday. The woman, 32-year-old Melissa Lavell, was crossing the tracks of the new Brightline train after the sun set on Friday, Boynton Beach police said in a statement. Witnesses told police the woman tried to make it across after the guard rails went down, attempting to beat the train, which was traveling north. No one on the train was injured. The Brightline train gave VIP rides to government officials and reporters on Thursday and Friday and begins its service on Saturday running between Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. The company will make 10 round trips daily and nine trips on weekends, starting as early as 6am. It will expand south and north to take passengers from Miami to Orlando. Witnesses told police the woman tried to make it across after the guard rails went down The Brightline train gave VIP rides to government officials and reporters on Thursday and Friday (Pictured: Interior of train) The Sun Sentinel reported the train was running smoothly Friday evening when it made an abrupt stop and a Brightline employee informed the passengers about a 'trespasser incident.' The passengers on the preview ride were taken in buses to West Palm Beach and then back to Fort Lauderdale. 'I think people will always do stupid things and that's a risk and it doesn't look good from a PR standpoint but you can't argue with the laws of physics. If you put yourself in front of a train, there's danger. There's a risk,' said passenger Elena Postal. '(The) Tri Rail has that same problem so you know I wasn't too surprised that was going to happen,' said Jupiter resident Matthew Litwin. It is the third killing by a Brightline train. A woman was struck in July in Boca Raton in a case that was investigated as a suicide, and another woman was hit on the tracks in Deerfield Beach in November. CCTV Photo The burning Panama-registered oil tanker off the coast of Shanghai sank on Sunday, over a week after it collided with a cargo ship. Sanchi was carrying 136,000 tonnes of condensate from Iran when it collided with CF Crystal, a Hong Kong-registered bulk freighter, about 160 nautical miles east of the Yangtze River estuary in Shanghai on Jan. 6. The oil tanker was en route to South Korea. The ship has been ablaze ever since, and bad weather conditions have hampered the rescue and salvage work. The bodies of only three of the 32 crew members 30 Iranians and two Bangladeshis were found. Chinese experts have warned that the condensate aboard Sanchi could threaten the maritime environment as it may contain high levels of sulfide. The cause of the accident remains unknown. The ship's Voyage Data Recorder (VDR), similar in function to airplanes' "black box," has been retrieved for analysis. Weve all suffered that moment of pure horror after realising weve sent a text message to the wrong person. So pity the poor government official who inadvertently plunged Hawaii into panic yesterday after approving a nationwide text warning that a ballistic missile was on its way. Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill, read the message, in capital letters. Video appears to show a family taking shelter in the sewer through a manhole cover after a false alert of an inbound ballistic missile sparked panic in Hawaii on Saturday morning Residents of Hawaii are furiously asking why it took officials a whole 37 minutes to correct a missile threat warning that was sent out on Saturday morning, sparking panic across the state It wasnt until 8am local time about 18 minutes after the original text was sent that the mistake was spotted. Hawaiians were then told it was, in fact, a drill over email. One resident wrote on Twitter: WTF? We get an alert saying its not a drill and then they say it is. Thats one hell of a mistake to make. David Ige, the governor of Hawaii, told CNN, said: It was a mistake made at the change over of a shift. An employee pushed the wrong button. The text warnings are part of a new automatic alert system introduced last month in the wake of threats by North Korea. Its leader Kim Jong-un has repeatedly claimed the country has ballistic missiles capable of reaching the US state. RBS wasted at least 1.5 billion of taxpayers cash creating hundreds of branches of a new high street bank which will never open. The debacle costing in total 2.2 billion is the latest farcical chapter in the saga of RBS, 70 per cent of which is now owned by the Government. It had to be rescued from bankruptcy in a state bailout ten years ago after the disastrous mismanagement of chief executive Fred Goodwin, who was later stripped of his knighthood. RBS wasted at least 1.5 billion of taxpayers cash creating hundreds of branches of a new high street bank which will never open. The debacle costing in total 2.2 billion is the latest farcical chapter in the saga of RBS, 70 per cent of which is now owned by the Government The scheme to create the branches of a bank called Williams & Glyn was concocted to comply with European Commission rules. The commission approved a 50 billion Government bailout in 2008, but retrospectively ruled that RBS had to divest all of its branches in England and Wales. RBS began moves to sell the 315 branches, and in 2014 resurrected the brand of Williams & Glyn a bank it took over more than 30 years ago to take them on. Newly designed staff uniforms were ordered, and branches were kitted out with fresh signs and even special wallpaper. Thousands of IT workers were also employed to create the complex computer system required for a new bank. But in 2016, RBS decided the project was impossible. It claimed the new bank would not survive in the current market and blamed complications in the IT system. However, just months earlier, shareholders had been told that the project had been making good progress. One insider told The Mail on Sunday that 90 per cent of the new banks systems were ready to go, but were now gathering dust. Thousands of uniforms are also set to be returned. RBS began moves to sell the 315 branches, and in 2014 resurrected the brand of Williams & Glyn a bank it took over more than 30 years ago to take them on What a waste: The uniforms for Williams & Glyn staff before the project was axed In the end, RBS wrote off more than 1.5 billion on the cost of the failed project. The Treasury told RBS in February last year that it could give up the plan altogether if it instead invested 750 million in boosting banking competition in the UK. Last September, the European Commission approved that plan, signalling the end of the Williams & Glyn farce. When the 750 million bill for boosting banking competition is taken into account, the whole scheme cost taxpayers more than 2.2 billion. That bill will increase even further as RBS begins the process of returning its prematurely branded Williams & Glyn branches to their original livery. A spokesman for RBS said last night: A small percentage of Royal Bank of Scotland branches were refurbished. We are now reintegrating the Williams & Glyn network and its customers back into our main business. The scene of a grisly murder-suicide was stumbled upon by a couple's landlord when he went to deliver mail to their Newtown flat. An English woman in her 20s was suspected to have been murdered by her partner, days before she planned to move overseas. The young woman was found with head wounds lying beside the man aged in his 30s inside a tiny flat above the Persian Broil restaurant on King Street. An English woman and her partner were found dead in their tiny flat above a Persian restaurant in Newtown's King Street Police said they did not believe there was a killer at large and were investigating it as a murder-suicide after examining the scene on Friday. 'At this stage we suspect it is a possible murder-suicide,' Marrickville Local Area Command Inspector Geoff Olsen told the Daily Telegraph. Police were combing CCTV from nearby businesses as they tried to piece together the couple's final moments. A seriously wounded man was dumped at a Melbourne hospital on Saturday afternoon suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was left outside the Monash Medical Centre in Clayton at around 4pm by a man driving a white van, who quickly drove away after dropping off the injured man. 9NEWS reported that police located the van just streets away from the hospital on Sunday morning. A man suffering from serious gunshot wounds was driven to Monash Medical Centre in a van He was left outside the medical facility at 4pm on Saturday afternoon with 'serious' injuries 'The yet to be identified man is being treated for serious but non-life threatening injuries,' a Victoria Police spokeswoman said. He was treated and then transferred to Dandenong Hospital where he is now recovering from non-life threatening injuries. Meanwhile, Victoria police cordoned off the area around the van before taking the vehicle away for forensic testing. Police urge anyone with information about the incident to call CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000. Police have located the white van parked just streets away from the Monash Medical Centre The Queen has revealed that her preparation for her Coronation began at the age of 11, when her father asked her to write an account of his enthronement at Westminster Abbey in May 1937. In a rare conversation, she recalls her father, George VI, asking her to write down what she remembered of the day, describing the experience as very valuable. In a BBC documentary due to be screened tonight, the Queen admits to Royal commentator Alastair Bruce that she has a better recall of her fathers Coronation than of her own. The Queen has revealed that her preparation for her Coronation began at the age of 11, when her father asked her to write an account of his enthronement at Westminster Abbey in May 1937 Her account, written in a school exercise book, was inscribed: To Mummy and Papa, In Memory of Their Coronation, From Lilibet. By Herself. It provides a detailed account of the day, from the moment she leapt out of bed and concludes: I thought it all very wonderful The arches and beams at the top were covered with a sort of haze of wonder as Papa was crowned. Others, however, had a more frantic day. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Cosmo Lang, fretted about the regalia, not least as his assistant, the Dean of Westminster, was elderly and confused. To make sure the St Edward's Crown was worn the right way,round, the Archbishop attached two threads to the front. But they were removed by an overzealous cleaner and at the critical moment, the Dean handed it over back-to-front. The Archbishop was left floundering - another annoyance for the King, who had seen one Bishop treading on his train and another covering the Oath with his thumb. The King wrote in his diary:'I never did know whether it was right or not.' A Royal Navy surgeon who saved the lives of British and Argentine forces during the Falklands conflict has died. Surgeon Captain Rick Jolly, 71, set up a field hospital in an abandoned refrigeration unit at Ajax bay. Captain Jolly was the senior medical officer of 3 Commando Brigade. Falklands veteran Captain Rick Jolly, who treated both British and Argentine casualties during the conflict passed away at his home over the weekend Captain Rick Jolly, pictured second left outside his field hospital at Ajax Bay, who was the chief surgeon during the Falklands Conflict and was honoured by both British and Argentine officials for his life-saving efforts during the 1982 war Captain Jolly wrote a a book on his time in the Falklands, The Red and Green Life Machine Gulf War veteran John Nicholl wrote on Twitter: 'Very sad to hear Surgeon Commander Rick Jolly has died. 'Shared a glass of wine with him on a few occasions; a nicer chap you will not meet. A true hero of 1982 Falklands war; decorated by both sides. 'He should have won the highest award 4 his rescue of 2 drowning sailors. RIP Sir.' The field hospital was described as The Red and Green Life Machine and treated both British and Argentine casualties. Following the conflict, Captain Jolly was awarded an OBE by the Queen, while Argentine authorities appointed him to the Order of May for his dedication to their casualties in 1982. Gulf War veteran John Nichol was among those to pay tribute to the former surgeon Captain Jolly, pictured, was honoured by British and Argentine authorities for his exploits The NAACP has called the president a 'racist' after his alleged comments referring to Haiti, El Salvador and African nations as 'sh**hole countries.' Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP, told CNN's Erin Burnett Friday, 'We know he's a racist, he's demonstrated that... he's a racist both in his actions and his words.' Johnson also took issue with Martin Luther King Jr.'s nephew soft peddling of the issue by saying the president is 'racially ignorant and racially uninformed' and 'not racist in the traditional sense' after he had a private meeting in the Oval Office before an official MLK ceremony on Friday. 'I don't understand what it means to be not a racist in the traditional sense,' Johnson said about the remarks made by Isaac Newton Farris Jr. 'A racist is a racist in all sense of the word. And how one displays their racism is a problem no matter what.' Trump has been widely admonished for his 'sh**hole countries' comment. NAACP president Derrick Johnson says the president is 'a racist both in his actions and his words' Johnson spoke with Erin Burnett Friday and touched on what he saw as soft-peddling of the president's comments in statements made earlier Friday by Martin Luther King Jr's nephew Isaac Newton Farris Jr., MLK's nephew (to the right of Trump) soft peddled the issue of the president's comments, according to the NACCP's Johnson Johnson said that the language Trump reportedly used hearkens back to the '50s and '60s, it is the language of a Ross Barnett and a George Wallace.' He added that the issue will help to motivate African-American voters in the 2018 mid-term elections. Trump repeatedly told voters he is not a racist leading up to his 2016 election. The president claimed in a tweet on Friday morning that the widely reported 'sh**hole' comments he is said to have made Thursday were not correct. 'The language used by me at the DACA meeting was tough, but this was not the language used.' President Trump enters the Roosevelt Room following a brief meeting with Martin Luther King Jr.'s nephew Isaac Newton Farris Jr. in the Oval Office on Friday Farris Jr. recalled the president telling him Friday during a meeting where the reported vulgar comments were discussed that the president turned around and told him 'I am not the person that the media is making me out to be' Farris Jr. said his uncle, Martin Luther King Jr. would have urged the president 'not to refer to African countries like that,' in response to Trump's reported 'sh**hole countries' comment However, some people in the meeting on Thursday said otherwise. Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin, who was in the meeting on immigration confirmed the president used the term 'sh**hole countries' and called Trump's rhetoric during the meeting 'hate-filled, vile and racist.' Republican Sen. Tim Scott also told several outlets that Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, who was also in the room, told him the reported comments are 'basically accurate.' Farris Jr. toldCNN that Trump addressed the controversy over reportedly calling Haiti, El Salvador and African countries 'sh**tholes' in a meeting on immigration in the Oval on Thursday. Farris Jr. said Trump and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson, the only African-American in Trump's Cabinet, were discussing the fallout from the vulgar remarks, when the president turned to him and said 'I am not the person that the media is making me out to be.' MLK's nephew also told CNN: 'I don't think that President Trump is a racist in the traditional sense as we know in this country.' However, he added: 'I think President Trump is racially ignorant and racially uninformed.' Farris Jr. added his comments are just 'another example of him (Trump) speaking without knowing the facts.' When asked how his uncle would have responded to Trump's comments on Thursday, Farris Jr. said he would have asked him 'not to refer to African countries like that.' Trump did not publicly address the controversy during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day ceremony held in the Roosevelt Room on Friday, but it wasn't because no one was asking about it. 'Mr. President, will you give an apology for the statement yesterday?' asked American Urban Radio Network White House Correspondent and CNN contributor April Ryan. 'Mr. President, are you a racist?' she asked in a second attempt. The president ducked Ryan's questions as he said goodbye to his guests and rushed out of the room. House Speaker Paul Ryan on Friday called the president's comments on immigration 'unhelpful.' 'I read those comments later last night, the first thing that came to my mind was very unfortunate, unhelpful,' the Republican said at WisPolitics Luncheon in Milwaukee. The president ducked questions on his alleged 's***hole' countries remarks Trump's alleged remarks, which he has disputed, were thrown back in his face at a Martin Luther King Jr. Day event in the Roosevelt Room 'Mr. President, will you give an apology for the statement yesterday?' asked American Urban Radio Network correspondent and CNN contributor April Ryan At the White House Friday morning, Trump signed a proclamation honoring the civil rights leader and delivered a short speech celebrating King's accomplishments. Carson also spoke at the White House event, as did Farris Jr. 'If my uncle were here today, the first thing he would say is, "What are we or what are you doing for others?"' Farris said. 'We did not want the King holiday just to be a day of hero worship.' Farris said as his nephew, 'I certainly think that he was one of the greatest Americans that we have produced. But it should not be a day of hero worship. And that's why the Congress agreed with my aunt, and also made it a day of service so that we, on that day - as a matter of fact, at the King Center, we refer to it as "a day on, not a day off." Ryan also asked: 'Mr. President, are you a racist?' 'It's not a day to hang out in the park or pull out the barbeque grill. It's a day to do something to help someone else, and that can be as simple as delivering someone's trash or picking up the newspaper for that elderly person who can't get to the end of the driveway.' Trump said in his remarks that King 'courageously' stood up civil rights. 'Through his bravery and sacrifice, Dr. King opened the eyes and lifted the conscience of our nation,' he said. 'He steered the hearts of our people to recognize the dignity written in every human soul.' And in a moment of irony given his alleged remarks, Trump said, 'Today we celebrate Dr. King for standing up for self-evident truth Americans hold so dear, that no matter what the color of our skin or the place of our birth, we are all created equal by God.' 'While Dr. King is no longer with us,' Trump said, 'his words and vision only grow stronger through time.' Signing an MLK Day proclamation, Trump said, 'This is a great and important day... Congratulations to him and to everybody.' The president did not respond to Ryan's questions. Pastor Darrell Scott, a participant in the event, shouted, 'no,' at her instead New Education Secretary Damian Hinds (pictured) faces a clash with schools chiefs over his plans for a big increase in faith schools New Education Secretary Damian Hinds faces a clash with schools chiefs over his plans for a big increase in faith schools. Mr Hinds, who attended a Catholic grammar school, is expected to scrap the rule which forces new Catholic schools to accept 50 per cent non-Catholic pupils. Theresa May pledged to drop the rule for new state-funded Free Schools in her Election manifesto last year at the insistence of her former No 10 aide Nick Timothy. But the move was shelved by former Education Secretary Justine Greening after schools watchdog Ofsted warned it would lead to increased segregation. Some called it education apartheid. Allowing more Catholic-only schools would also mean more Muslim-only and Jewish-only schools. The 50 per cent cap, introduced ten years ago to stop the ghettoisation of schools, could be axed by Mr Hinds with the stroke of a pen. But opponents of faith schools say he has a conflict of interest. Mr Hinds accepted a 5,000 donation from the Catholic Church to fund an intern in his Commons office in 2014. The Church denied it was improper but secular organisation Humanists UK called it deeply inappropriate lobbying. In the same year, Mr Hinds denounced the 50 per cent cap, saying: A half-Catholic school is not the same thing as a Catholic school. He was strongly backed by fellow Catholic Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, a close friend of Mr Hinds since their Oxford days. Mr Hinds said it was impossible for the Catholic Church to set up new schools because it could not support so-called Catholic schools turning away families seeking a Catholic education for their children in favour of [non-Catholic] others who live closer to the school. He denied reports that white, middle-class, non-Catholic families cheat the system to get children into high-performing Catholic schools, such as by becoming bell ringers at Catholic churches and cleaning the pews. Nor were Catholic schools biased against ethnic minorities, he insisted. It is categorically untrue that they are a filtering device for middle-class, wealthy and bright children, said Mr Hinds, who attended St Ambrose, a Catholic school for boys in Cheshire. Damian Hinds (pictured second row, far left) next to chum Jacob Rees-Mogg at the Oxford Union in 1990. Second from left, broadcaster James Whale, next to Gary Lineker. From right, cricket commentator Henry Blofeld and athlete Steve Cram Few Catholic churches even have a bell tower. Anyone who says cleaning churches gives white middle-class families an advantage doesnt understand the demographics of those who clean churches. But if Mr Hinds scraps the 50 per cent cap, he is likely to face resistance from Ofsted. Chief inspector of schools Amanda Spielman has said she is uncomfortable about allowing more single-faith schools. Admission 100 per cent on faith leads to increased levels of segregation within communities, she said. And predecessor, Sir Michael Wilshaw, said it could make children more vulnerable to radicalisation. Mr Hindss support for more faith schools will fuel claims Mr Timothy was involved in Ms Greenings removal as Education Secretary during last weeks reshuffle. Ms Greening refused Mrs Mays demand that she switch to another Cabinet post and resigned. P.S Think he looks like Robin Williams? You're not alone Mr Timothy denied responsibility but accused Ms Greening of blocking education reforms. In 2016, Mr Timothy, former head of the New Schools Network set up to support Free Schools said removing the 50 per cent cap was vital to create new Catholic schools. The rule is failing in its objective to promote integration, he said. But it prevents new Catholic schools opening, because it contravenes the Churchs rules not to prioritise the admission of Catholic pupils. We will remove the 50 per cent rule. The Tories promised 500 new Free Schools by 2020, but have struggled to attract enough sponsors, partly because of resistance from churches as a result of the cap. Mr Hinds last night gave a broad hint he will axe the cap. An Education Department spokesman said: We want to go further to ensure all young people have a good school place and are keen for faith groups to play a key role. Faith schools are more likely to be rated outstanding by Ofsted than non-faith schools. Mr Hinds would respond to a year-long consultation on lifting the current cap on new faith Free Schools admissions in due course, added the spokesman. Lessons in life from the Education Secretary tipped to succeed PM Until last week, Tory MP Damian Hindss biggest claim to fame was his uncanny similarity to late US comic actor Robin Williams, writes Simon Walters. The married father of three has made few headlines since entering the Commons in 2010. But behind the low profile lies a fierce ambition and intellect: he won a First Class degree at Oxford and defeated Jacob Rees-Mogg to become Oxford Union President. Whether he lives up to Michael Goves claim he could succeed Theresa May at No10 depends on how well he performs in his new job as Education Secretary. Hinds, 48 and married to a teacher, Jacqui, drew on his spell as head of strategy with Greene King brewers in a vivid Commons speech on the decline in British pubs. The problem was the declining propensity of men to visit a pub to drink large quantities of beer, he said, compounded by the arrival of New World wine and big-screen TVs at home. But it is his views on education which will come under most scrutiny. Bungling Boris Johnson was rebuked by Theresa May at last weeks Cabinet meeting after he repeatedly mixed up the Lebanon with war-torn Yemen Bungling Boris Johnson was rebuked by Theresa May at last weeks Cabinet meeting after he repeatedly mixed up the Lebanon with war-torn Yemen. The Foreign Secretarys latest gaffe came during a discussion on the Yemen civil war, which has turned into a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Leading the Cabinet debate on Tuesday, Mr Johnson said: We have got to do something about the Saudi war on Lebanon... As fellow Ministers looked at each other, wondering whether it was a slip of the tongue, he repeated the mistake. Eventually, the Prime Minister interrupted him, saying: Sorry to butt in here, but I think you mean Yemen, not Lebanon. Mr Johnson looked down at his notes and apologised before carrying on with his analysis of the situation in Yemen, where Saudi Arabia intervened in the civil war in March 2015. The Riyadh regime supports Yemens disputed president, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, who is friendly to them, against the Houthi rebels, who say they have deposed him. The Saudi-led campaign, which is accompanied by a land, sea and air blockade, has so far led to more than 10,000 deaths and a humanitarian crisis. Ministers were surprised that Mr Johnson could have confused Yemen with Lebanon, which is 1,400 miles away, and not involved in the conflict. Yemen, the poorest Arab country, has been caught in the crosshairs of the long-simmering proxy power struggle between Sunni-ruled Saudi and Shia-dominated Iran, with each nation trying to influence the internal politics of the country. The three-year war has left up to one million of Yemens 28 million population facing starvation. Fighting has been deadlocked for more than a year. Iran admits backing the Houthi rebels but denies breaking a UN arms embargo by supplying them with arms. The Yemen/Lebanon mix-up is only the latest in a long line of gaffes by the accident-prone Foreign Secretary. Despite having a Turkish great-grandfather, Mr Johnson once penned a poem about Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accusing him of having relations with a goat. Foreign Minister Boris Johnson holds a press conference after a meeting in Brussels, Belgium on January 11, 2018 During the EU referendum campaign, he appeared to compare the EU with previous attempts to create a united Europe including Adolf Hitlers. And after US President Barack Obamas intervention in the Brexit debate, Johnson notoriously described Obama as a part-Kenyan with an ancestral dislike of Britain. Only last year, as Foreign Secretary, he was accused of incredible insensitivity during a visit to Burma after reciting part of a colonial-era Rudyard Kipling poem regarded as offensive to the Burmese. In late 2016, Boris was accused of turning up at a vital Brexit meeting chaired by Mrs May with the wrong documents. A source said the Foreign Secretary sparked groans of disapproval at a meeting of the Cabinets Brexit committee because he had read the wrong briefing notes ahead of the discussion. Well-placed sources told The Mail on Sunday he arrived with papers prepared for the committees previous meeting on the implications of leaving the customs union. The sources described an embarrassing silence, after which an awkward-looking Mrs May suggested the discussion move on. Samuel Lincoln Woodward, 20, has been arrested in connection with the death of Blaze Bernstein. Police say DNA links Woodward to the case The man accused of killing a 19-year-old Ivy league student from California defended the Confederate flag and wrote disturbing posts on social media, The New York Post reported on Saturday. Samuel Lincoln Woodward, 20, who was accused of slaying University of Pennsylvania pre-med student Blaze Bernstein by Orange County officials on Friday, wrote in one post that the rebel flag 'represents Southern pride, not racism.' On another social media platform called askfm, Woodward said if he could have two items while being stranded on a deserted island, it would be 'The Bible and a Colt .45' At one point, Woodward picks 'Waterboarding' as a new skill he wants to learn. In another message, someone states to Woodward: 'You are violence. It scares me.' Samuel Lincoln Woodward, 20 wrote in one post that the infamous rebel flag 'represents Southern pride, not racism' (Pictured: Woodward's image placed in front of Confederate Flag) In another message, someone states to Woodward that 'You are violence. It scares me,' to which he replies 'I wouldn't fight anybody unless they attacked me' The Newport Beach man says in his reply: 'I wouldn't fight anybody unless they attacked me.' On Friday, Undersheriff Don Barnes said that Orange County police collected DNA evidence which links Woodward to the crime. Details of Bernstein's death aren't being released. At one point, Woodward picks 'Waterboarding' as a new skill he wants to learn (Pictured: Parents of Blaze Bernstein, Gideon and Jeanne) Barnes says investigators are still trying to determine a motive. Woodward was the last person to see Blaze Bernstein alive, Barnes says. Authorities say the suspect previously told them he had left Bernstein at the park to go see his girlfriend, the San Jose Mercury News reports. Woodward could remember neither the name nor address of his 'girlfriend', police said. Woodward also had scratches on his hands, which police say he told them he had sustained while participating in a fight club. Woodward also had dirt under his fingernails, which he told authorities was due to falling into a 'dirty puddle' while sparring. Woodward, in a previous interview with police, said he had sustained scratches while participating in a fight club The body of Bernstein (pictured), a 19-year-old sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania, was found on Tuesday at Borrego Ranch Park in Southern California. Bernstein was home for winter break when he went missing on January 2 Bernstein was visiting his family in Foothill Ranch during winter break from the Ivy League school when his high school friend Woodward picked him up on January 2 and drove with him to several places before winding up at Borrego Park in Lake Forest, 6ABC reports. Bernstein's body was found in brush at the park on Tuesday after recent rains partially exposed it. Woodward has asked for an attorney, authorities say. During a meeting with authorities earlier this week, police say Woodward put his jacket over his hand so that his bare skin would not touch any part of the doors he opened and closed on his way out of the police station. Authorities had previously said they were investigating the death as a homicide. Orange County Undersheriff Don Barnes, left, takes a questions as District Attorney Tony Rackauckas looks on during a news conference about the death Gideon and Jeanne Bernstein speak on January 10 during a news conference Jeanne Bernstein tweeted about the news that an individual had been arrested in connection with her son's murder 'Nothing will bring back my son so we ask the world to please honor Blaze's memory by doing an act of kindness today - don't wait - do it now. Celebrate the goodness that still exists in this world in-spite of these acts of senseless evil. People are good and Blaze knew that,' Bernstein's mother Jeanne told the Los Angeles Times. She tweeted, when hearing the news: 'Finally. My thoughts are: Revenge is empty. It will never bring back my son. 'My only hopes are that he will never have the opportunity to hurt anyone else again and that something meaningful can come from the senseless act of Blaze's murder. 'Now Do Good for Blaze Bernstein.' Pictured is the park in which Bernstein was found. The Ivy League student was planning to major in psychology and later study medicine, his father said Pictured is another view of the park. His father had said his son had a passion for cooking and was a creative writer Woodward and Bernstein had attended the Orange County School of the Arts together. When he was arrested, Woodward was wearing a shirt that read: 'Keep the peace.' A woman who lived at the house where Woodward lived would not comment on the matter to the Los Angeles Times. Bernstein, a sophomore, was planning to major in psychology and later study medicine, the Orange County Register reported his father, Gideon Bernstein, saying last week. His dad said that he had a passion for cooking and was a creative writer. He had recently been named to the staff of Penn Appetit magazine at school. A friend at school told WPVI that she had been communicating with Bernstein over break over ideas for the magazine for the next semester. Ex-Army chief Lord Dannatt says he's filled with sadness and frustration at the mental health care given to soldiers To read in this newspaper last week of the tragic death of Warrant Officer Nathan Hunt filled me with sadness and frustration. Not only because the Army has lost a decorated soldier who fought with distinction in Afghanistan, but also because his death reminded me of the failure of the Ministry of Defence to provide adequate mental health care for our brave men and women in the Armed Forces who are still serving. Nathan Hunt was not a veteran he was a serving soldier who fought alongside Prince Harry in Helmand province. It is a shocking and damning statistic that since 1995, more than 400 serving Servicemen and women have taken their own lives thats around 20 personnel lost to suicide every year. It may horrify readers to learn therefore that there is no round-the-clock care for vulnerable troops. Cases of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are also on the rise, yet remarkably, specialist mental healthcare for active members of the Forces is only available during office hours. In the evenings, at night and at weekends, vulnerable personnel are expected to call a charity or turn up at their nearest A&E department. Let me be clear: this level of care falls far short of what our brave troops require. It also represents something of a dereliction of duty by the MoD towards those who defend our country. I have no difficulty with military veterans requiring help from charities that has always been the British way but not serving personnel, surely? Warrant Officer Nathan Hunt, who fought alongside Prince Harry in Helmand province, took his own life this year A Government that sends troops into dangerous situations has a clear moral responsibility to look after those who are traumatised by their warzone experiences, certainly while they remain in uniform. I am sad to admit that my efforts to persuade Ministers to improve mental healthcare for vulnerable personnel have failed so far. That is why now, following the death of WO Hunt, I have joined forces with The Mail on Sunday in a fresh bid to get the MoD to listen. It is also harrowing to read today in the MoS how other members of WO Hunts unit have been left traumatised by their experiences no surprise given their exposure to enemy fire and the unimaginable stress of searching for Taliban roadside bombs. Their stories echo so many experiences of young men and women who have fought in Iraq and Afghanistan in recent years. Since 1995, more than 400 serving Servicemen and women have taken their own lives thats around 20 personnel lost to suicide every year Nobody should judge them harshly for struggling to readjust to life back in this country, because theyre conditioned by what theyve seen, done, smelt and heard. That said, I am convinced that a major reason why these troops are suffering so acutely today is because of the lack of mental healthcare. In recent years, we have made steps forward, but have we done enough? Last year, Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood listened politely to my bid to set up a 24/7 helpline for serving personnel but it was rejected because it would cost 2 million and require the MoD to recruit an extra 40 mental healthcare experts. Defence officials calculated the helpline would be used by fewer than 50 troops a year so the project was deemed not cost-effective. Needless to say I was very disappointed, because even if only a small number of personnel require this service they should still receive it. If youre mentally ill you should get the care you need from your employer, whatever the time of day or day of the week. My words fell on cash-strapped ears back then, but I will not back down. I have raised the issue in the House of Lords. I remain convinced 2 million is not a huge sum when it comes to saving soldiers lives, even in these straitened times. If the MoD can afford to pay for rebranding campaigns, then surely it can afford to look after its traumatised troops. I also dont want any more Servicemen or women having to wait in an A&E department surrounded by drunks on a Saturday night when they should be able to speak to a military mental healthcare specialist under whose care they are already registered. We will never know whether WO Hunt would have called a dedicated military helpline for serving personnel, but it should be set up immediately so the next soldier to find themselves in a similar predicament and sadly that could be very soon has the option of doing so. It also makes financial sense to invest in better mental healthcare. Soldiers are expensive to train and too many are leaving too soon and faster than we can find new recruits. Prince Harry, fifth right, pictured with his battle group in Helmand Province, Afghanistan in March 2008, with Warrant Officer Nathan Hunt, circled, who took his own life this month So, having spent a lot of money to teach soldiers the art of modern warfare, we should aim to keep them in the skilled work for which they have been trained. That means enhancing the current level of treating mental health issues as quickly and effectively as possible, before anxiety and depression develop into full-blown PTSD. It is also important we make these improvements now, when the Forces are presenting themselves publicly as sympathetic towards those who are inclined to be emotional. Ministers must back up these claims with additional resources. Otherwise those who need an arm around them will find nobody is there. Taking people into our care is a 24/7 commitment and it should not be outsourced to a charity or the already overburdened NHS, hence the need for a properly staffed and funded crisis helpline. If we are not prepared to look after soldiers while they remain in uniform, ready and willing to deploy to any part of the world to defend Britains interests, then who are we willing to care for as a society? What does it say about us that we are prepared to stand aside as soldier after soldier takes his or her life when we could have intervened and possibly prevented their deaths? There has to be a better way. I want the Army to continue to Be The Best the slogan much admired by the new Defence Secretary, Gavin Williamson, and now reaffirmed by the Army. In promoting the excellent campaign of belonging within the Army, I hope Mr Williamson will support a 24/7 helpline for serving soldiers and be minded to save lives by improving mental healthcare. We expect troops to fight anywhere and at any time of the day or night. That means we should look out for their best interests around the clock. At least 12 million boxes of powdered baby milk are being recalled across 83 countries amid a salmonella scandal. Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed against French dairy group Lactalis by families who say their children were struck down with the infection. Picot and Milumel baby milk are two of the company's brands, and were the subject of chaotic international recalls issued in mid-December after dozens of children fell sick. The company's CEO, Emmanuel Besnier, told French media: 'We must take account the scale of this operation: more than 12 million boxes are affected.' He added that distributors would no longer have to sort through the produce to find the contaminated powder. Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed against French dairy group Lactalis by families who say their children were struck down with the infection 'They know that everything has to be removed from the shelves,' he said. Mr Besnier, scion of the secretive family behind one of the world's biggest dairy groups, promised compensation for all the families affected. He said that the consequences of this health crisis for consumers, including babies under six months, were at the forefront of his mind. 'It is for us, for me, a great concern,' he told the Journal du Dimanche. The firm's CEO said that the consequences of this health crisis for consumers, including babies under six months, were at the forefront of his mind An association representing victims says the authorities are underestimating the number of cases So far French officials have reported 35 cases of infants getting salmonella from the powder, while one case has been reported in Spain and another is being investigated in Greece. An association representing victims says the authorities are underestimating the number of cases. 'There are complaints and there will be an investigation with which we will fully collaborate. We never thought to act otherwise,' Besnier said. Created in 1933 by Besnier's grandfather, Lactalis has become an industry behemoth with annual sales of some 17 billion euros ($20.6 billion), with products including Galbani ricotta and mozzarella in Italy. With 246 production sites in 47 countries, its list of products also features household names like President butter and Societe roquefort. Two of those brands, Picot and Milumel baby milk, were the subject of chaotic international recalls issued in mid-December after dozens of children fell sick. The scandal deepened this month when French investigative weekly Le Canard Enchaine reported that state inspectors had given a clean bill of health to the Lactalis site in Craon, northwest France, in early September. They failed to find the salmonella bacteria that had been detected by Lactalis's own tests in August and November, which were not reported to the authorities. The company said it was not legally bound to report the contamination. A man has been charged with murder after allegedly stabbing a stranger to death as he ate breakfast outside a Sydney train station. Brian Lee, 29, allegedly confronted the man, 56, who was sitting in a small park outside Hurstville Train Station about 6am on Saturday. Lee allegedly lunged at the victim and stabbed him in the chest before running away, The Daily Telegraph reported. A man has been charged with murder after allegedly stabbing a stranger to death as he ate breakfast outside a Sydney train station Police are hoping CCTV from the train station will shed more light on the bizarre circumstances The man staggered across the grass for help but collapsed at the entrance to Hurstville Train Station. Women doing Tai Chi in the park found the man and called for help. An hour after the killing Lee's brother phone police after he arrived at their home. Officers arrested Lee nearby and seized an edged weapon shortly after being called to the scene. Brian Lee, 29, allegedly confronted the man, 56, who was sitting in a small park outside Hurstville Train Station about 6am on Saturday Police have responded to reports of a 'stabbed body' found at Hurstville station on Saturday They took him to Kogarah Police Station and charged with murder. He was refused bail and is due to appear in court on Sunday. Police are hoping CCTV from the train station will shed more light on the bizarre circumstances. A large crime scene has been established near Hurstville train station as police investigate Asha Awur (pictured) says she is considering sending her children back to Africa because she does not like how they are growing up in Australia A Sudanese single mother says she is considering moving back to Africa because she cannot control her teenage sons, one of which is in jail. Asha Awur, 36, who earlier this month made headlines for her comments about her Centrelink payment not being 'enough' to raise her six children on, told Daily Mail Australia her eldest son, who was just two years old when the family arrived as refugees from war-torn Sudan, had gone off the rails at a young age. Now he is behind bars and his younger brother is beginning to act out. Ms Awur and her children do not have any extended family members in Australia, and the two men who fathered the family are no longer on the scene. The Brisbane woman believes being surrounded by family and a solid community, like the one available to her children in Africa, will instill responsibility and confidence in the youngsters, who will return as better people. 'Back home, you have relatives by your side, they can help you. A lot of people prefer to come back,' she said. 'I regret coming to Australia. 'When we came, I thought it was going to be heaven, but when our children go astray, it's not something to be proud of.' Scroll down for video The Sudanese mother-of-six came to Australia as a refugee in 2002. Her eldest son, who was two at the time, is now in jail, and she fears for her second eldest son Ms Awur said her eldest son was an 'angry' boy due to a troubled relationship with his father, who left the family home when her son was 11, and was bullied when he started school because his skin was dark. At about 15 years old, he dropped out of school and began spending time with a group of other young people headed down the wrong path. He has been arrested twice and is now in jail. The Brisbane woman said many of the mothers in her community struggled with their teenage sons, who were often disobedient and eager to get out on their own. 'They don't listen when we say what you have to do. Instead they hang out with friends who tell them to "chill out",' she explained. 'They talk online to meet somewhere, and we mums we don't know what they're doing out there. '[Their anti-social behaviour] is a big shame to the Sudanese communities - we have enough problems where we came from, we don't want any more problems.' Ms Awur says she had brought in support workers, but her 15-year-old won't work with them, and has dropped out of school Ms Awur said she has not been made privy to the details of her son's crime, and fears he will be deported. She is desperate to help him, but does not know how. 'I know he is a bad boy, but I can't say "he's not my son",' she said. Her second eldest son is 15 years old and also beginning to act out. Ms Awur says she had brought in support workers, but he won't work with them. 'He doesn't want to engage with his support worker, and he's dropped from school,' she said. 'He just stays at home, and I say you have to find a job or do some training.' Ms Awur says she has 'no idea' what her son is doing while he is out, and he does not communicate via phone. The mother said she is often busy caring for her four youngest children, aged four to 14, when her 15-year-old disappears. The 36-year-old's youngest child is four, and she has no family around to help care for her kids so she can work Ms Awur says she is not the only mother in her community who has or wants to send their children back to Africa to learn about responsibility and family 'I said to his father that I want to get him out of the country, I do not like him being here,' she said. 'I want him to take my son to my mother in Uganda, where we have family.' She says the sentiment is true for many mothers in the area, some who have taken drastic action and shipped their children back to family members in Africa. Ms Awur receives $1,300 a fortnight from the Government, and says while she stands by her comments about it not being enough, she doesn't want any extra money in her payment. Instead, she wants the two men who fathered her children to pay her child support. Ms Awur says she has asked one of the men, who resides in Sydney, to move closer and help with the raising of their children so she can work, but he has refused. Ms Awur says she does not want to rely on Government payments and would love to return to work, but has nobody to help care for her children She believes the Australian Government is too soft on parents who do not pay child support. 'You're supposed to work and provide for a family, not rely on Centrelink,' she said. 'A lot of fathers, they're getting away, and the mother is stuck.' Ms Awur says officials should come into migrant communities and speak with mothers, who are desperate to ease the situation and help their wayward children. She is currently working on refreshing her aged care certification so she can return to work, but said it is difficult to find someone to look after her young children, so she will have to wait until they are older. Since beginning to speak out about her problems and her thoughts on the solutions, Ms Awur says she has received horrible messages. 'I get all these insults, people say things like "b**** go back to where you came from",' she said. 'I wish I had that kind of money - I would book tickets and go.' The boss of one of Britains leading bookstore firms has criticised the cutbacks in public libraries as a disgrace. James Daunt, chief executive of the 288-store Waterstones chain, said library closures threatened to throw social mobility into reverse and damage education. He described local politicians who shut down libraries as penny-pinching short-termists whose actions will create problems for society in future. James Daunt: 'If you have libraries, you will have people who are better educated and more civilised' Books are vital for a decent education, the Waterstones boss argues City analysts believe that a deal of between 200 million to 300 million for Waterstones is imminent If you have libraries, you will have people who are better educated and more civilised, Mr Daunt said. Youll probably have people with fewer mental health problems. A report by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy last month found that annual spending on council-run libraries had been slashed by 66 million. Waterstones is on the verge of being sold to a private equity purchaser after being put on the block last autumn by its owner, Russian tycoon Alexander Mamut. City analysts believe that a deal of between 200 million to 300 million is imminent with corporate financiers from NM Rothschild overseeing the sale, which has been in abeyance during the festive period. As the process resumed last week following the end of the Russian Orthodox Churchs Christmas celebrations, Mr Daunt has said he hopes the new owners will keep him on. Michael Curtis, pictured, who has one leg, sold heroin on two occasions to an undercover police officer in Manchester Michael Curtis, 46, 'openly and brazenly' peddled class A substances from his wheelchair in broad daylight on the south Manchester streets, a judge said. But Curtis, from Levenshulme, was caught out during a GMP operation in Whalley Range and the wider area. Manchester Crown Court heard how the officer had been sold heroin by Curtis - who had a leg amputated seven years ago due to damage from drug abuse - twice over a two month period. On the first occasion, in Whalley Range on May 5 last year, the officer approached Curtis, who was in a wheelchair being pushed by another man. He asked Curtis where he could buy some drugs. The officer was told to wait by Curtis, while he went to a property to collect the drugs. He overheard Curtis ask a woman for 'whiskey and brandy', a code for cocaine and heroin. Curtis was told the heroin would not be available for half an hour, and offered to get hold of it from another source. The officer was later sold a single wrap of heroin. On the second occasion, on June 21, the same undercover officer was again working in Whalley Range. He asked where he could get hold of drugs, and was directed towards Curtis. Curtis spoke to a dealer on the phone and ordered a wrap of heroin. He then told the officer to go to a car park, where some men arrived in cars shortly after to deliver the class A drug. The total value of the drugs in the two offences was 23, the court heard. Curtis was arrested in a raid as part of Operation Malham which was targeting the sale and supply of drugs in the south Manchester area Curtis was arrested in November during raids executed as part of Operation Malham, targeting the supply of drugs in south Manchester. He told officers he had no memory of the incidents. Judge Michael Leeming said Curtis had an 'appalling' criminal record, receiving 91 convictions previously. The judge said the community has suffered from offenders such as Curtis 'acting openly and brazenly, in daylight hours, dealing drugs'. The court heard that Curtis, described as a 'go-between', had to have a leg amputated because of the damage caused by injecting drugs. The judge said: 'The amputation of your leg took place in 2011, and that has not stemmed the frequency of your offending.' Sentencing on Friday, Judge Leeming sent Curtis to prison for two years. Curtis, of Swallow Street, Levenshulme, previously pleaded guilty to two counts of supplying a class A drug. Lady Lucan killed herself by taking a cocktail of drink and drugs after self-diagnosing herself with Parkinson's disease The tragic wife of Lord Lucan cut her three children out of her will and left her fortune to a homeless charity instead, it can be revealed today. Veronica, the Dowager Countess of Lucan, was found dead at her 2.9million home in Belgravia, London, in September. An inquest last week revealed the 80-year-old had killed herself after taking a cocktail of alcohol and drugs after wrongly believing she was suffering from Parkinson's disease. The aristocrat was estranged from her three children George, Frances and Camilla and chose to remove them from her will, leaving all her possessions to Shelter, an organisation which helps the homeless. Speaking after the hearing, Camilla Bingham, QC, told the Mail On Sunday: 'Mummy left her estate to the homeless charity, Shelter.' The total figure of Lady Lucan's inheritance is unknown but the sale of her Belgravia property alone is thought to run into the millions. The reasons behind her decision to select Shelter as a charity were not made clear during the hearing however a coroner heard how towards the end of her life, Lady Lucan became increasingly reclusive. She hadn't spoken to her three children in more than 35 years due to a long-standing rift and had never met any of her grandchildren. Reports suggested the family were divided over the disappearance of her missing husband Lord Lucan, who fled after the murder of their children's nanny in 1974. For four decades, Lady Lucan was the subject of countless stories and documentaries as the search for her husband Lord Lucan rumbled on. In 1999, Lord Lucan was officially declared dead by the High Court, but a death certificate was not granted until 2016, allowing George to become the 8th Earl of Lucan. An auction will take place in Oxfordshire next month where Lady Lucan's possessions will be sold. Among the items are expected to include a large oil portrait of her husband and a personalised top hat. In happier times: Lady Lucan, pictured, with children Camilla, Frances and George at Christmas 1974 Lady Lucan (right) was one of the last people to see Lord Lucan (left) alive before he became the most famous fugitive in the world. The couple are pictured on their wedding day in 1963 Shelter said: The proceeds will help us to continue fighting bad housing and homelessness. Last week a court heard how police smashed a window to break into her two-storey terraced townhouse in London's Belgravia last September. Officers found her body in night clothes on the dining room floor on top of an unmarked bottle with just one pill left inside. It later emerged she had taken a fatal amount of barbiturates and alcohol. Lady Lucan's daughter Camilla Bingham is pictured with her brother George at her wedding in Eaton Square in September 1998 The inquest was told Lady Lucan feared she had developed Parkinson's after she noticed a tremor in her right hand. But the coroner said there was no formal diagnosis and an examination of her brain came back with 'normal' results. However, Lady Lucan had also lost her sense of smell, felt tired, anxious and suffered from insomnia, as well as becoming forgetful. She was one of the last people to see Lord Lucan - the 7th Earl John Bingham - alive before he became the most famous fugitive in the world. He is alleged to have killed family nanny Sandra Rivett after mistaking her for his estranged wife during a bitter custody battle over their three children in 1974. The inquest heard Lady Lucan's friend David Davies was worried about her after she had not been seen for two days and missed their regular meeting at St James' Park. He went to Belgravia police station concerned she had killed herself, as the pair had discussed assisted suicide if they had a terminal illness or a degenerative disease Coroner Dr Fiona Wilcox recorded a verdict of suicide. She said: 'It's clear that Veronica Mary Lucan has for some time been considering how she could, if she was to take her own life. For 40 years she was the subject of countless stories and documentaries as the search for her husband Lord Lucan rumbled on (the couple pictured together in 1963) She said: 'She attended a seminar in relation to this and she had four books and notes recovered from the scene and hand written notes which appear to be taken from the books. 'It's clear from her diary entries of July, August, September she considered she suffered from Parkinson's disease, but there is no formal diagnosis and examination of her brain was normal. 'She had met with a publisher and I note she got up from the floor in a sprightly way, although she had seemed down. 'There's no evidence of suffering from a mental illness, although she had complained of anxiety and insomnia, which medication had been prescribed. 'Evidence from her diary seemed to suggest she had concerns she was suffering from Parkinson's disease in the weeks and months leading up to her death. She had also selected her final photographs and final edit of her book. 'This was a lady of a regular routine and regularly met with friends on a daily basis in St James' Park to have lunch and go to the library. Police smashed a window (circled) to break into her terraced townhouse in London's Belgravia The coroner added: 'Her friend David Davies became very concerned when he hadn't met her and in the park and went to the police station to report her missing. 'He was insistent at the time he thought she had taken her own life because she had knowledge of methods of suicide. But that said there was nothing to suggest any change in mood in her leading up to this. 'Her lifeless body was found wearing a blue dressing gown, slippers, with a small graze on her forehead. 'The pathologist gave a cause of death due to respiratory failure. This was supported by the congestion of the lungs, as well as barbiturates and alcohol poisoning. 'The level of barbiturates was above the normal therapeutic range and approached a fatal concentration, the effects of which would have been exacerbated by alcohol. 'It's clear there was nothing to suggest any third party involvement or forced entry or disturbance or disruption. When I consider all the evidence there's evidence of intention with hand written notes detailing concerns about her health. 'Although there is no suicide note there are diary entries in which she details these thoughts. I'm entirely satisfied that suicide is the final conclusion.' One of Britains largest companies was last night desperately pleading for a vast taxpayer bailout to avert a financial collapse that would put tens of thousands of jobs at risk. Troubled construction and engineering giant Carillion is set to hold last-ditch rescue talks with Whitehall officials today. The company needs to find 300 million by the end of the month to stay afloat. The group already receives more than 1 billion of taxpayers money in government contracts each year. It employs 19,500 staff in the UK. Unions have called on the government to do everything it can to protect Carillion workers Carillion is a major Government contractor in charge of building projects such as the HS2 rail project Despite the lucrative income from the state, Carillion has debts of more than 900 million, and a 600 million hole in its pension fund. The Prime Minister is being briefed on the crisis, with accountancy firm EY on standby to act as administrator if Carillion goes into administration. Liberal Democrat leader and former Business Secretary Sir Vince Cable said: The Government cant just do a financial bailout. The shareholders and the creditors the big banks have got to take a hit. Why Carillion has careered into crisis The Wolverhampton-based firm, the backbone behind a raft of public infrastructure projects, is teetering over a precipice. The company is the second largest construction firm in the UK but has debts of about 1.5billion and a pension fund shortfall of almost 600million. So how has it got into this mess? Most analysts agree that the answer is simple. It has over-reached itself. Carillion they argue has its fingers in too many pies at homes and abroad from the Battersea Power station redevelopment in the UK to operations in Canada, the Middle East and the Caribbean. The company's incessant desire to expand has resulted in it pursuing too many risky contracts - some accompanied by questionable accounting practices - that have become increasingly unprofitable. It has furthermore faced delays in payments in the Middle East. The firm in recent months has found it much harder to manage its mountainous debt pile and pension deficit. In December Carillion managed to persuade lenders to give it more time to repay them. But the company's banks are now understood to be unwilling to lend it any more cash. Advertisement Much of the blame for Carillions parlous state is being directed at former boss Richard Howson, 49, who left last September, having received more than 6 million in pay and bonuses since taking over as chief executive in 2012. He will continue to receive his 660,000 basic salary until his notice period expires at the end of October. Labour MP Rachel Reeves, who chairs the influential Business Select Committee, said: Its absolutely staggering that after resigning following a profits warning, the chief executive has continued to take home more than 50,000 a month. He shouldnt be paid. He should be taking responsibility. Carillions state projects include the HS2 high-speed rail-line, and the construction of major hospitals, schools and roads. The Wolverhampton-based firm is the second-largest supplier to Network Rail, and maintains about half the UKs prisons and about 50,000 homes for the Ministry of Defence. It has been awarded several major government contracts in recent months despite issuing a series of stark profit warnings. A spokesman said Carillion is in constructive dialogue in relation to additional short-term financing. But MPs warned that a failure of the business would cause a huge crisis and put thousands of jobs at risk. The Government has already prepared a contingency plan for Carillions collapse, and it is understood to have drafted in private sector advisers to handle the fall-out for projects and contracts. The Cabinet Office is already touting Carillions contracts to rival firms. Insiders said yesterday that administration is inevitable unless the Government steps in. It is hard to see how Carillion can go on much longer, a senior industry source said. Unless they can pull a rabbit out of the hat, they risk entering a death spiral. A spokesman for the GMB union said Carillion bosses should not be rewarded for failure with public money. A family from Allen, Texas gave Tamiflu to treat their six-year-old daughter A family in North Texas said a popular flu vaccination left their six-year-old daughter with bizarre and possibly life-threatening side effects. The family, who asked not to be named by local broadcaster DFW21 News, said they asked their local physician to write a prescription for Tamiflu, an antiviral medication designed to treat individuals with the flu. Shortly after administering the treatment, however, the family from Allen, Texas said that their daughter began exhibiting alarming side effects, including hallucinations and and an attempt, they believe, to hurt herself. 'The second story window was open, which is in her bedroom, and she used her desk to climb up onto it, and she was about to jump out the window when my wife came up and grabbed her,' her father said. Shortly after administering the treatment, they said that their daughter began exhibiting alarming side effects After rushing the small child to the emergency room, a doctor informed them that in very rare cases, nervous system problems - including psychosis - could present itself in Tamiflu patients. Dr Glenn Hardesty, with Texas Health Prosper, told DFW21 it's very rare but can happen. 'Less than one percent is what's listed in the data sheet,' he said. 'I've been in practice 20 years, and I haven't seen that particular complication.' Dr Glenn Hardesty (pictured), with Texas Health Prosper, explained to DFW21 that psychosis is a rare side-effect but can happen Although the reaction is placed on the medicine's warning list, the parents from Allen said that they wish they were consulted before administering the drug. 'I don't think the 16 hours of symptom relief from the flu is worth the possible side effects that we went through,' her father said. Hardesty advised parents to be thorough in their research before giving their children powerful medication. 'Know that side effects are there for a reason. They're written down for a reason. I guess they can happen, and we got the short end of the stick,' her father said. Many flu seasons don't really get going until around Christmas, and don't crescendo until February. That's how last year's flu season played out. This season got off to an early start and cases surged over the holidays. In fact, new CDC data shows that this year has been especially deadly, with 20 children and more than 85 adults succumbing to the flu already this season. While this year's epidemic is still shy of the devastating death toll seen in 2014/2015, officials warn the rate of cases is severe, and this season looks set to be the second-worst on record. The deadly H3N2 virus is now widespread in more than 46 states, and the rate of cases is quadruple that of previous years, and hospitalizations have doubled in the last week as the outbreak reaches its 'peak'. Uniquely, this year baby boomers appear to be as vulnerable to the virus as the usual victims - infants and the elderly. Unveiling the sobering statistics on Friday morning, CDC officials insisted it is not too late to get the flu shot, despite evidence that this year's vaccine is only 30 per cent effective against H3N2. New CDC data shows that this year has been especially deadly, with 20 children and more than 85 adults succumbing to the flu already this season (Pictured: Allen City Hospital) Rush-hour traffic in London touched on pre-pandemic levels this morning (see graphs, top right; traffic on the A102 into London, left; London Bridge, main; and a rail commuter, inset) as hundreds of thousands of staff headed back to their desks after bosses called time on working from home. TomTom traffic data put 9am congestion in London at 61% - compared to 63% in 2019. Birmingham and Liverpool were also close to the 2019 average - but other cities, including Leeds, Newcastle, Manchester and Sheffield were still well below. After 18 months of employees working at home, some of the UK's biggest employers have told staff they are now expected to turn up for work - even if it is just for one day a week. But there was dismay as civil service chiefs and the Bank of England again delayed plans to require their staff to return to the workplace. The drive to bring Britain back to the office came amid growing frustration among ministers that the Civil Service has failed to take the lead. Official 'work from home' Whitehall guidance was removed on July 19 and businesses have been told that the Government 'expects and recommends a gradual return over the summer'. But insiders said Whitehall had only seen a slight increase in staff back at their desks, with the numbers in the office still 'pretty low'. Olivia Nova (pictured) was found dead in Las Vegas on January 7 from circumstances that have yet to be disclosed A close friend to porn star Olivia Nova insisted the starlet was trying to turn her life around and get sober before her untimely death last week. On January 7, 20-year-old Nova, born Lexi Forde, was found dead in Las Vegas in circumstances that have to be disclosed. Jimmie Romero, a close friend of Nova's, said she reached out to friends to help sort out her life in the days leading up to her death. 'Lexi knew her days were limited, she was told in October by doctors,' Romero said in an interview with the Mirror Online earlier this week. 'She was at a friend's house trying to get sober. She had three days off of everything. She said she wanted to change her lifestyle - she looked in my eyes and said to me, "I want to stop and change my life. I have a family that loves me."' Jimmie Romero, a close friend of Nova's, said that she reached out to friends to help sort out her life in the days leading up to her death The exact nature of Nova's alleged problems remain unclear. Having been sober himself for 14 years, Romero said that he pleaded with Nova to seek medical assistance and a stint at a rehab facility to detox. Unfortunately, Romero said, circumstances led to her young life being snuffed out just after the new year. 'If there is a heaven, I hope you're smiling and all the pain is gone. Sleep easy my friend,' Jimmie added. 'My love, respect always... You will never be forgotten.' Before entering into the adult entertainment industry, Nova experienced a number traumatic life events including a near fatal accident. In 2014, Nova was rushed to the hospital after crashing a snowmobile that left numerous injuries on her face. The young starlet was reportedly drunk at the time of the incident. She later posted a dramatic picture of herself in a neck-brace along with a bloody face as she was being treated in the hospital. Before entering into the adult entertainment industry, Nova experienced a number traumatic life events including a near fatal accident on a snowmobile in 2014 'So thankful to be alive,' she wrote in the caption of an Instagram post. 'Thank you for all of your prayers everyone, I hope you all take it to heart when I say it's never going to be worth it to drink and drive. 'I easily could've lost my life or taken another this morning,' she added. Nova's death also came less than a year after her boyfriend committed suicide. In a tweet earlier in December, she said he killed himself two days before her birthday in April. Nova started acting in pornographic films in March of 2017. Nova's death came less than a year after her boyfriend committed suicide 'While only represented by Direct Models for a short period of time, we came to know Olivia as a beautiful girl with a very sweet and gentle personality,' LA Direct Models said, according to XBIZ.com. Derek Hay, owner of LA Direct Models which signed Nova in December 2016, described her as a 'sweet, mild-mannered girl'. 'It's very very sudden, she was really a sweet, mild mannered girl, we're very saddened by her death, she was only 20,' he told DailyMail.com. Hay said Nova had only been signed up to LA Direct Models for two months and she had been in the porn industry for just a year. 'We sent her to shoot in Prague and Paris which she completed, returning from that trip just a few days prior to Christmas. I have been speaking to Olivia regularly, she lives in Vegas, my office is in Vegas. She wanted to move from one agency to my own and we met several times to discuss the possibility of doing that.' Hay says Nova died at a private residence in Vegas but not her own place. Nova is the fourth porn star to die in recent months. August Ames, 23, committed suicide on December 6 while Turi Luv died in August from a drug overdose. Shyla Stylez, 35, died in November and her cause of death is still unknown. Firefighters and volunteers are battling to control a blaze in Perth. The fire in Mundaring in Perth's hills was reported at 8.30am on Sunday. Water-bombing aircraft were called to help after residential properties in the area sounded the alarm, ABC News reported. The fire is burning 12 kilometres south east of Mundaring. It started near the intersection of Gorrie Road and Chamber Road (Perth city pictured) The fire in Mundaring in Perth's hills was reported at 8.30am on Sunday (Perth city pictured) The fire is burning 12 kilometres south east of Mundaring. It started near the intersection of Gorrie Road and Chamber Road. Up to 50 firefighters and volunteers are working to contain the blaze. Emergency services said the fire was out of control and unpredictable, but not a threat to lives at this stage. Strong winds have blown smoke across the city. Images posted to social media show the city skyline covered in smoke. 'Bloody Armageddon out here,' one person wrote on Instagram. Images posted to social media show the city skyline covered in smoke Former President Bill Clinton denied renewed allegations that charity money earmarked for Haiti from the Clinton Foundation was used to fund daughter Chelsea's 2010 wedding. He took to Twitter to address the renewed rumor, which first emerged the day before the 2016 presidential. He wrote: 'No Clinton Foundation funds dedicated to Haiti or otherwise were used to pay for Chelsea's wedding. It's not only untrue, it's a personal insult to me, to Hillary, and to Chelsea and Marc.' The allegation re-emerged this week after Bill, Hillary and Chelsea tweeted reactions to Trump's reported remarks about 'sh**hole countries,' that referenced Haiti, among other nations. Chelsea Clinton married Marc Mezvinsky (pictured) in 2010. The allegations that Clinton Foundation funds were diverted to the wedding were first reported via emails from WikiLeaks Reports that Foundation funds were used for Chelsea's wedding emerged the day before the 2016 election Old allegations, new statement: Bill Clinton took to Twitter to deny the allegations Saturday 'The anniversary of the devastating earthquake 8 years ago is a day to remember the tragedy, honor the resilient people of Haiti, & affirm America's commitment to helping our neighbors,' Hillary tweeted. 'Instead, we're subjected to Trump's ignorant, racist views of anyone who doesn't look like him.' Chelsea tweeted: 'Mr. President, immigrants from El Salvador, Haiti and the 54 countries in Africa likely helped build your buildings. They've certainly helped build our country.' The allegation was returned to the public discourse on Saturday when Tom Fitton, president of the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch, responded to the Clinton family tweets during a segment on Fox News. The original information came from emails that WikiLeaks published on November 6, 2016. In several emails, Doug Band, a former top aide to president Bill Clinton and a former Clinton Global Initiative board member, complains about Chelsea Clinton (writing 'cvc' for Chelsea Victoria Clinton). In one email, dated January 1, 2012, Band emails John Podesta, Chairman of the 2016 Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, and says Chelsea Clinton was conducting an internal investigation into CGI and the Clinton Foundation, which posed a conflict of interest. It is unclear why Chelsea Clinton was investigating her family's foundation and its dealings with money. But the emails appear to reveal that Chelsea Clinton told one of former president George W Bush's daughters about the investigation, which put the information into the hands of the GOP - what Band referred to as a 'conflict of interest'. Clinton family tweets disdain after President Trump's 'sh**thole countries' remarks Hillary took her own shot at POTUS for the comments he made on Thursday. The tweets seemed to have spurned renewed interest in the discussion of Chelsea's wedding It is not known which daughter Chelsea told this information to or why she disclosed that she was conducting the internal investigation. The email from Band reads: 'I just received a call from a close friend of (William Jefferson Clinton) who said that cvc told one of the (George W Bush) kids that she is conducting an internal investigation of money within the foundation from cgi to the foundation. 'The bush kid then told someone else who then told an operative within the republican party. 'I have heard more and more chatter of cvc and (Bari Lurie, chief of staff to Chelsea Clinton at the Clinton Foundation) talking about lots of what is going on internally to people. Not smart,' he wrote. Podesta replied calling his comments an 'understatement'. Band replies: 'I learned from the best. The investigation into her getting paid for campaigning, using foundation resources for her wedding and life for a decade, taxes on money from her parents ... 'I hope that you will speak to her and end this. Once we go down this road....,' Band wrote ominously. On Saturday, the Washington Post pointed out specifically that, notwithstanding not knowing the nature of these emails, they refer to 'resources' from the Foundation and not money, or funds. A Colorado woman died in a bungee accident on January 4 but investigators say the device was functioning properly and are looking into other factors involved. Ciara Romero, a 20-year-old nurse, died while using a 70-foot bungee-jump feature at Get Air at the Silo Trampoline Park, an indoor recreation park in Grand Junction. The device was tested after the accident by the Department of Labor and Employment, which worked with Head Rush, the makers the bungee, and confirmed it is now looking at other factors in the case, according to the Daily Sentinel. Ciara Romero, 20, died while participating in a 70-foot bungee-jump feature in Colorado She died while using a 70-foot bungee-jump feature at Get Air at the Silo Trampoline Park (pictured) 'This inspection involved testing which subjected the device to various loading profiles across a range of weights, where the velocity and force were recorded in simulated descents,' according to a statement by Head Rush. 'The inspection and testing determined that the device, webbing and triple-locking carabiner were found to be intact, and functioning normally, with no apparent damage.' Cher Haavind, a spokeswoman for the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, confirmed the investigation into Romero's death is moving forward. She says they will refocus on eyewitness statements and will continue to work with local police. 'We're looking at all possible causes,' she said. 'This is extremely rare, which is why the investigation is taking longer.' Tragic: The young woman fell to her death while at the indoor recreation center in Colorado Services were held for the young nurse who tragically died during a bungee accident Funeral services were held on Thursday for the young woman at Fellowship Church in Grand Junction (pictured) Get Air released a statement Monday, according to the Sentinel saying it 'feels deep sorrow and profound sympathy for (Romero's) family and friends in their loss, and expresses its sincere condolences to them' and thanking first-responders for responding and assisting Romero and her family. 'We are fully cooperating with the Grand Junction Police Department, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration and Colorado State regulatory agencies in their investigations of the incident. 'We will have no further comment regarding this investigation or incident,' the statement said. Michelle Williams says her co-star Mark Wahlberg's decision to donate the $1.5 million he earned for reshoots for 'All the Money in the World' to the sexual misconduct defense initiative Time's Up isn't about her. The actress, who reportedly was paid less than $1,000 for the reshoots, said in a statement Saturday: 'Today isn't about me.' Williams said her fellow actresses and activist friends stood by her and 'taught me to use my voice, and the most powerful men in charge, they listened and they acted.' She said it was 'one of the most indelible days of my life' because of Wahlberg, talent agency William Morris Endeavor and 'a community of women and men who share in this accomplishment.' Williams added: 'Anthony Rapp, for all the shoulders you stood on, now we stand on yours.' The reshoots occurred over 10 days when Christopher Plummer replaced Kevin Spacey in the film after sexual misconduct accusations against Spacey surfaced. Both Plummer and Williams were nominated for Golden Globes for their performances. Pay gap: Mark Wahlberg has announced he is donating $1.5M to the Time's Up legal fund in Michelle Williams' name after it emerged he was paid substantially more than his co-star for reshoots for All The Money In The World In a statement earlier Saturday Wahlberg, 46, said: 'Over the last few days my reshoot fee for All The Money in the World has become an important topic of conversation. 'I 100% support the fight for fair pay and I'm donating the $1.5 million to the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund in Michelle Williams' name.' At the same time, WME, which reps Wahlberg, Williams and Scott, has pledged $500,000 in a donation to #TimesUp. WME said: 'The current conversation is a reminder that those of us in a position of influence have a responsibility to challenge inequities, including the gender wage gap. 'In recognition of the pay discrepancy on All The Money In The World reshoots, WME is donating an additional $500,000 to the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund in Michelle Williams' name, following our $1 million pledge to the organization earlier this month. It's crucial that this conversation continues within our community and we are committed to being part of the solution.' It was reported this week that Wahlberg held up the production of All the Money in the World by refusing to sign-off on disgraced actor Kevin Spacey's replacement if he was not paid more than $1 million for the reshoots which took place in November. Christopher Plummer was drafted to replace Spacey after filming had already wrapped after claims of sexual abuse emerged against the House of Cards star. Million dollar issue: Their differing contracts meant that Wahlberg could demand more money for the reshoots while Williams accepted to do them for the standard SAG daily rate 'I 100% support the fight for fair pay and I'm donating the $1.5 million to the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund in Michelle Williams' name.' Wahlberg said in a statement on Saturday Wahlberg decided to exercise a co-star approval clause in his contract and hold up production of the Ridley Scott kidnapping drama if his demands were not met, according to USA Today last week. 'What (Wahlberg) said was, 'I will not approve Christopher Plummer unless you pay me.'' And that's how he (expletive) them,' says one person who spoke to the publication under the condition of anonymity. The Oscar winner would not be allowed to step into the role until Wahlberg got his way, with the latter's lawyer writing a letter to financiers demanding the payment for his work over the Thanksgiving holiday. Williams, a four-time Oscar nominee, is the top-billed actor on the project and has more screentime than Wahlberg Shocking disparity: Wahlberg earned an additional $1.5million for the while his co-star Williams was offered less than $1,000 for the rehoots which took place over Thanksgiving last year Classy: Piers Morgan, Mark Ruffalo and Jesse Tyler Ferguson all applauded Wahlberg for the move Details over the staggering pay disparity on the reshoot of of the film caused waves when it was revealed that Wahlberg earned an additional $1.5million for the work after his representatives declared that he never works for free - while his co-star Williams was offered less than $1,000 for her troubles. As TMZ first reported last week, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter, when Plummer was brought on the project Scott approached Williams, asking her to travel back to Rome over the Thanksgiving holiday to reshoot some scenes. Williams answered the call and agreed to be compensated at the minimum SAG-AFTRA rate of $80 per day, earning her a total of $800 for the 10-day reshoot. Around the same time, Scott flew to London to meet with Wahlberg about doing the reshoot. According to TMZ's report, the Transformers alum also agreed to redo the scenes with Williams and Spacey's replacement, Christopher Plummer, but he and Scott did not discuss his compensation at the time. Allegedly unbeknownst to Scott, Wahlberg's representatives later met with the two main financial backers of the project and demanded that their client be paid for the extra work. Williams and Wahlberg took part in the 10-day reshoot in Rome in late November so the film could be released on time on Christmas Day Christopher Plummer (Left) with Ridley Scott for the 'All the Money in the World' film premiere, Los Angeles on December 18, 2017 Thank you: Eva Longoria, Amber Tamblyn and Busy Philipps all praised Wahlberg When Ridley Scott said in an interview with USA Today in December that he and his cast - excluding Plummer who was paid - were working for free to reshoot the movie in the wake of the Spacey debacle, he was unaware of Wahlberg's side deal, and was reportedly left feeling betrayed and 'hung out to dry.' Williams and Wahlberg are both represented by Williams Morris Endeavor, and some critics have accused the talent agency of failing to inform the Oscar-nominated actress of her co-start's lucrative arrangement. But according to TMZ sources, the glaring disparity in Williams and Wahlberg's payouts came down to their individual contracts: Williams' contract reportedly required her to do reshoots, as needed, as part of her overall salary, whereas Wahlberg's did not have such a clause. One person familiar with contract negotiations explained that it is not a common practice for agents within the same company to discuss or coordinate their clients' salaries, and doing so would be in violation of their duty of confidentiality. After: Plummer (above) was called in to replace Spacey in November, having always been Scott's first choice in the role Before: Kevin Spacey as J Paul Getty in the original All the Money in the World shoot (above) Times up: Ashley Judd, Jessica Chastain, Danielle Brooks and Terry Crews all tweeted their support The actors' union SAG-AFTRA, which represents both Williams and Wahlberg, said it is looking into the pay disparity on Scott's latest project, which was released on schedule on Christmas Day thanks to the $10million reshoot. 'We are unambiguously in favor of pay equity between men and women in this industry and support every action to move in this direction. At the same time, performers at this level negotiate their above-scale rates through their agents,' said a SAG-AFTRA spokesperson. Despite being the film's top-billed star and receiving her fifth Golden Globe nomination for her work in the movie, Williams just $80 per day, according to fellow A-lister Jessica Chastain. This means that the single mother traveled to Italy in late November for a last-second reshoot while being paid 0.05 per cent what her male co-star was making for his work. Williams was reportedly unaware that Wahlberg was not working for free when the reshoot began. This is the moment police officers rescue two distressed dogs locked inside their owner's car on a scorching hot day. The Queensland Police Service took to its Facebook page on Sunday to share the confronting scenes as a warning to others that dogs should never be left inside cars. 'Why would you leave a dog, let alone two, in a car with only the window cracked?' the police service said. Scroll down for video The large dark coloured dog appears distressed, with its head down as officers attempt to pull it from the vehicle safely In the footage from December 2016, the police are seen reaching inside the car to rescue the two dogs, who appear to be poodle crosses. The large dark coloured dog appears distressed, with its head down as officers attempt to pull it from the vehicle safely. 'You're not doing very good in there are you? It's very hot,' an officer can be heard saying. The owner left the dogs for two-and-a-half hours, according to the Queensland Police. They were locked inside the car for more than an hour before the police discovered them. Fortunately the dogs survived, and were not seriously injured. They were locked inside the car for more than an hour before the police discovered them Fortunately the two dogs survived and were not seriously injured, despite being left in the car for more than an hour When the owner finally returned to her car, the police told her it was 'unacceptable' When the owner finally returned to her car, the police told her it was 'unacceptable'. 'The reason we're here is because your dogs were locked in the car, they were hot and distressed,' the officer said. 'That is not acceptable, you've been warned about this three times prior, about not leaving your dogs in your car, it's on our system.' The Queensland Police Service said it posted the footage as a reminder to others leaving dogs inside cars was never OK. The Queensland Police Service said it posted the footage as a reminder to others leaving dogs inside cars was never OK 'While this incident is from December 2016, we have had a number of calls over the last few days for incidents of this exact nature,' the service said. 'It is frustrating to see people aren't getting the message.' Leaving a dog unsupervised in a car can be an offence under the Animal Care and Protection Act in Queensland. The police said the RSPCA took over the investigation, and took action against the woman for leaving her two dogs inside the car. The devastated wife of a man who was allegedly stabbed to death by a stranger said her husband was a peacemaker who would never fight with anyone. Australia Post worker Klaus Petr, 56, was killed in an allegedly random attack on Saturday as he ate breakfast outside Hurstville train station in Sydney's south. Wife Ann remembered her husband on Sunday as a kind man who was the last person she expected to be involved in any sort of altercation, 7 News reported. Devastated wife Ann Petr (pictured) said her husband was a peacemaker who would never fight with anyone - after he as killed in an allegedly random attack in Sydney's south on Saturday Australia Post worker Klaus Petr (pictured), 56, was killed in an allegedly random attack on Saturday 'Even if I would fight with someone, he would say: 'Let it go, don't worry, keep your mouth shut',' she said. 'He was that kind of person, he would walk away, he didn't want to fight.' She said Mr Petr had finished working a night shift, but never made it back home after he was allegedly stabbed in the chest. Mrs Petr added: 'He was a really good person, really quiet and wouldn't get involved with anyone because he liked to be in peace by himself. 'He would like to always sit down and read books, then he would work hard in the evening and come home in the morning.' Her comments come after 29-year-old Brian Lee was charged with murder on Sunday morning, accused of lunging at a man with a weapon before running away, The Daily Telegraph reported. Wife Ann (pictured with Klaus) remembered her husband on Sunday as a kind man who was the last person she expected to be involved in any sort of altercation Her comments come after 29-year-old Brian Lee was charged with murder after allegedly stabbing a stranger to death as he ate breakfast outside a Sydney train station (pictured) Lee's alleged victim was found after he staggered across a small park for help, but collapsed at the entrance to Hurstville train station (pictured) Officers arrested Lee nearby and seized an edged weapon shortly after being called to the scene. Pictured: NSW Police and forensic services officers scour the crime scene His alleged victim was found by women doing Tai Chi in the park, after he staggered across the grass for help, but collapsed at the entrance to Hurstville train station. An hour after the killing, Lee's brother phoned police after he arrived at their home. Officers arrested Lee nearby and seized an edged weapon shortly after being called to the scene. They took him to Kogarah Police Station where he was charged with murder. Mr Lee was refused bail and was due to appear in court on Sunday. A Jack Sparrow impersonator has married her dream man - a Haitian pirate who died in the 18th century, who she has never seen. Amanda Teague, 45, from Downpatrick, Northern Ireland, married the ghost who is also named Jack - and the two go on dates just like a regular married couple. The unlikely pair sailed a boat away from Ireland into international waters so that the marriage would be legal. Amanda Teague, a Captain Jack Sparrow impersonator, married an 18th century ghost of a Haitian pirate named Jack 'He is my soulmate': The happy couple were married in international waters so that the marriage was legal The 45-year-old believes her husband looks like Captain Jack Sparrow, played by Johnny Depp, from the Pirates of the Caribbean films A psychic said 'I do' for Jack. Amanda said: 'He is my soulmate. I am so happy. It is the perfect kind of relationship for me,' reports the Daily Star. Although Amanda cannot see her husband, she believes he looks like Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean. He has told her he is black with jet-black hair. The couple's romance started in 2014 when Amanda felt his presence, and eventually the pair began talking and got to know each other Amanda, who has five children, says she has never felt a connection as strong with a living person as she does with her pirate husband, Jack The couple bought a home together after the wedding, and while Jack could not pay anything towards it, he helped choose the property and had an input on the interior design She added that she wanted to spread awareness about the novel type of pairing. 'There are a lot of people out there who don't know about spiritual relationships, but it could be right for them. 'I want to get the message out there.' The mother-of-five, who was married previously, says that she has never felt a connection to anyone like the one she has with her husband, who was left at the altar in his earlier life. The Haitian pirate was put to death in his previous life for his crimes. It all started in 2014, when she felt his presence, and eventually the pair began talking and got to know each other. She explains, 'The more I learned about him, the more I liked him.' The Jack Sparrow impersonator, from Downpatrick, Northern Ireland, said, 'It is the perfect kind of relationship for me' In 2015, Amanda spent over 4,000 to turn herself into Captain Jack Sparrow - getting tattoos, pirate-style dreadlocks and gold-plated teeth in a bid to mimic the character The wedding rings incorporated brass and rose gold, the couple's favourite metals. Jack's ring was fitted onto a candle during the ceremony as he was unable to wear it Two years after they first met, the couple got engaged. 'Jack proposed to me,' Amanda said. 'I told him I wasn't really cool with having casual sex with a spirit and I wanted us to make a proper commitment to each other. 'If I am going to be in a long-term relationship with somebody I have the right to be married. 'I wanted the big traditional wedding with the white dress, it was very important to me.' Amanda explains that she was very keen on having a traditional wedding: 'I wanted the big traditional wedding with the white dress, it was very important to me' The couple's wedding rings incorporated brass, which is Jack's favourite metal, and white-gold, which is Amanda's. Because Jack cannot wear his ring, it has been fitted to a candle which was used in the wedding ceremony to represent him. After the wedding, the couple bought their first home together, and even though Jack couldn't contribute financially, he helped pick the new house and had an input with the interior design. Although the mother-of-five has never seen her husband, he has told her he is black with jet black hair, and she feels he looks like Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean Amanda says sex with a spirit is surprisingly similar to sex with a physical human. She says: 'It is well known that people often feel a spirit touch their hands, their face or their hair. 'The only difference with having a sexual relationship with a spirit is obviously that sense of touch goes a lot deeper. 'You can feel the weight of the spirit, their touch, the pressure. 'You can literally feel the physical act of what the spirit is doing to you, and the spirit can feel it too.' They also buy each other birthday and Christmas presents, with Jack making clear what he wants to buy her through one of her daughters, who often has vivid dreams that Amanda is convinced are messages from Jack. In 2015, Amanda legally changed her name to Amanda Sparrow and spent over 4,000 turning herself into Captain Jack Sparrow, from the film Pirates of the Caribbean. She made the transformation after watching the film franchise for the first time - when her 13-year-old daughter said that she was just like Johnny Depp's distinctive character. 'I want to get the message out there': Amanda wants to spread the word about spiritual relationships, as few people are aware of them Amanda has even got tattoos like the drunken sailor, and got pirate-style dreadlocks and gold-plated teeth in a bid to mimic the character. She set up her impersonator business off the back of the look. Amanda, said: 'My daughter Carla Rose screamed in front of the TV 'Mum you are so much like Jack Sparrow!' and I was like - 'who is Jack Sparrow?' 'I settled down to watch 15 minutes with her because it was on Sky and I was instantly hooked. 'The way he gets on with life, his freedom and his walk is so much like me in personality - I'm quite masculine and have that sense. 'The way he deals with things is identical to me. I just really related to him.' An inmate at one of Britain's most notorious prisons is reported to have sliced off his penis with a makeshift knife while high on the illegal drug Spice. The unknown prisoner nearly bled to death after self-harming at the Category A jail in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, which has been dubbed 'Monster Mansion'. The inmate, who was said to be in his early 30s, had to spend weeks having surgery in hospital after cutting off his genitals, according to the Daily Star Sunday. The horrific injury was revealed as Judge Kristina Harrison told a court in the North East of the dangers of using the illegal drug Spice. The unknown prisoner nearly bled to death after self-harming at the Category A jail in Wakefield, West Yorkshire (pictured), which has been dubbed 'Monster Mansion' A prison source said inmates high on Spice had inflicted terrible injuries on themselves including biting their tongues and mutilating their faces. The source said prison officers were having to be sent home after inhaling the drug while users were being turned into 'zombies'. The drug, which is meant to mimic the effects of cannabis, was outlawed in 2016 but remains a problem in UK jails. Home Office statistics have shown that almost two-thirds of drug seizures in prison are related to Spice, which is cheaper than tobacco in no-smoking jails. Figures from the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman figures show that 79 people who were suspected to have been using spice or similar new psychoactive substances died in prison between June 2013 and September 2016. Suspects have attended court incapable as a result of using the drug, while 16 prison officers in County Durham had to take time off work last year after breathing in Spice fumes from prisoners cells. Former prisons ombudsman Nigel Ombudsman has described it as 'a scourge in prison'. The top-security prison in Wakefield has been called 'Monster Mansion' because of the dangerous inmates held there, such as violent prisoner Charles Bronson and serial killer Robert Maudsley. Other inmates at Wakefield have included child killer Stuart Hazell, and serial killer GP Harold Shipman, who died at the prison in 2004. An art dealer who donated his multi-million pound collection to Tate a decade ago has been accused of sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour by three women he worked with. The allegations against Anthony d'Offay dating from 1997 to 2004 come from women with successful careers in the art world, the Observer reports. Police are investigating the 78-year-old, who has been married to his wife Anne Seymour since 1977, after a young woman reported he sent her malicious messages, the newspaper reports. He strongly denies the allegations and claimed he is unaware of the police probe. Anthony d'Offay (pictured) has been accused of sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour by three women he worked with One of the women is a former employee who was 25 when she began working at his gallery in Mayfair as an assistant in 1998. The woman said she was concerned that he often took her to meeting outside the gallery and even more so when he told she would accompany him on a trip to New York. There, she said, things escalated he was 'more touchy' and had 'no sense of boundary in respect to my personal space.' She said that an incident in October 2000 at his former gallery on Dering Street led to her leaving her job after signing a settlement agreement which she is breaking by speaking out now. 'He grabbed me. Pulled me really tight and started kissing my neck,' she told the Observer. Anthony d'Offay is pictured with his wife Anne. The couple donated their collection of modern and contemporary art to the Tate and Scottish National Gallery of Art She said she'd pushed him away but couldn't scream as she had been on the phone at the time. The incident was caught on CCTV, she said. Another woman said she had been introduced to Mr d'Offay as a potential mentor when she was 34. But she became uncomfortable as he began increasingly calling her outside work. She said one night, during a stroll in the park after a dinner party in 2004, he had 'lunged at her with his mouth open.' d'Offay denies the allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour made against him by three women When she refused, he had insisted she 'surrender' to him, she said despite him being married. The last time she spoke with him on the phone, she said he was in the bath and she believed he had masturbated during the call. 'I felt violated that he had used 'my voice to service his sexual needs,' she said. She said he punished her professionally for a number of years after. A third woman, who worked at Mr d'Offay's gallery between 1997 and 1999, said she had complained after he humiliated her in front of others by making a suggestive comment. 'It was something about sitting in one of your laps and giving him a French kiss,' she told the Observer. She remembers being told that he would be spoken to about the incident, but believes her complaint was ignored. In a statement to the Observer, Mr d'Offay denied all the allegations, saying he was 'appalled' by them. Anthony D'Offay's gift to the nation Anthony and his wife Anne d'Offay's incredible collection of modern and contemporary art was acquired by Tate and the Scottish National Gallery of Art in 2008. The collection of more than 700 works by artists from around the globe - including Gerhard Richter, Jeff Koons and Robert Mapplethorpe -was valued at 125million. But it was given to Tate and Scottish National Gallery for just 26.5million. It was the most significant gift of art made to the United Kingdom in 100 years generosity on a level with Henry Tate and Samuel Courtauld. As part of the agreement, Mr d'Offay determined the way the works would be displayed in 'Artist Rooms,' i.e. that each artist in the collection must be explored individually in a room of their own. Advertisement The dealer, who created the Artist Rooms project after donating much of his art collection to Tate and Scottish National Gallery of Art, left his role as ex-officio curator in December. He insisted that his decision to retire was due to his age and having been involved with the project for a lengthy period of time. A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: 'Police received an allegation of malicious communications on Wednesday, 20 December. 'Officers from the Central North Command Unit investigate.' The spokesman said no arrests have been made and enquiries continue. Tonight, D'Offay said of the allegations: 'I am appalled these allegations are being levelled against me and I categorically deny the claims being made.' He added. 'I am completely unaware of any police investigation. If there is one, then police time is being wasted.' He also said: 'I conceived the idea for Artist Rooms some 15 years ago. It has been a wonderful success. However, having been directly involved for that length of time and also reaching 78 years old, I decided in December it was time to retire as ex-officio curator.' Directors of stricken construction firm Carillion were tonight making a last-bid plea to banks after the Government refused to rescue the company, leaving it on the brink of collapse. According to reports, the company's board was locked in a meeting before making an eleventh hour appeal to its lenders. If they cannot secure the extra funds, thought to be short-term loans of tens of millions of pounds, the firm could fold - with potentially catastrophic consequences for a host of public services. The company - close to going under from the burden of 1.5billion in debt - holds a range of crucial government contracts, including with schools, hospitals, prisons and transport infrastructure. Whitehall officials have been working through the weekend in a desperate bid to agree a rescue package before financial markets open tomorrow but sources told Sky News talks ended with John Manzoni, the permanent secretary at the Cabinet Office, confirming the taxpayer would not offer any special support. Tory chairman Brandon Lewis said today that the government was keeping a 'close eye' on the situation, while stressing that the company was still a 'going concern'. Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has been criticised for handing Carillion work on the HS2 project just a week after it issued a shock profit in July. Theresa May (pictured going to church in her Maidenhead constituency today) is resisted a huge bailout of stricken contractor Carillion Unions have called on the government to do everything it can to protect Carillion workers Carillion is a major Government contractor in charge of building projects such as the HS2 rail project He has insisted that at the time he was given 'secure undertakings' about the health of the company. But Andrew Adonis, the former chair of the government's national infrastructure committee, said the minister had behaved negligently. 'They got HS2 contracts from him after their troubles emerged in the summer, raising big questions about his due diligence and judgment,' he said. Labour's shadow Cabinet Office minister Jon Trickett was equally critical. 'It has been clear for months that Carillion has been in difficulty but the government has continued to hand over contracts to the company even after profits warnings were issued,' he said. 'Jobs and public services are now at risk because the Tories were blinded by their commitment to a failing ideological project of introducing the profit motive into taxpayer-funded services. 'Labour urges the government to stand ready to intervene and bring these crucial public sector contracts back in-house in order to protect Carillion's employees, pension holders and British taxpayers.' Whitehall insiders however are adamant that the HS2 contracts were 'stress tested' to ensure that if one contractor pulled out, others in the consortium would have been able to make up the shortfall. Why Carillion has careered into crisis The Wolverhampton-based firm, the backbone behind a raft of public infrastructure projects, is teetering over a precipice. The company is the second largest construction firm in the UK but has debts of about 1.5billion and a pension fund shortfall of almost 600million. So how has it got into this mess? Most analysts agree that the answer is simple. It has over-reached itself. Carillion they argue has its fingers in too many pies at homes and abroad from the Battersea Power station redevelopment in the UK to operations in Canada, the Middle East and the Caribbean. The company's incessant desire to expand has resulted in it pursuing too many risky contracts - some accompanied by questionable accounting practices - that have become increasingly unprofitable. It has furthermore faced delays in payments in the Middle East. The firm in recent months has found it much harder to manage its mountainous debt pile and pension deficit. In December Carillion managed to persuade lenders to give it more time to repay them. But the company's banks are now understood to be unwilling to lend it any more cash. Advertisement Any collapse of Carillion, which provides services to government departments including justice, health and education, and has built hospitals, roads and rail lines, would be felt across Britain and also in Canada and the Middle East where the 200-year-old company has worked on numerous prestigious landmark projects. Mr Lewis told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: 'It is a going concern, it's a very commercially sensitive situation so I wouldn't comment further than to say it is a going concern. 'I would hope to see that the working capital they need will be there, working with their partners. 'But of course ministers and my colleague the Secretary of State at Business is keeping a very close eye on it.' Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable has insisted that shareholders and creditors, rather than taxpayers, should take the financial 'hit' of saving the struggling construction giant from collapse. He rejected suggestions the company should benefit from a Government bailout to avoid major public sector projects being plunged into chaos. The former business secretary told the BBC: 'The shareholders of the company are going to have to take a loss. 'The creditors, the big banks who hold most of this debt, will have to write off some of it, perhaps replace some of it with shares.' According to the Sunday Mirror, Mrs May is understood to be resisting pressure for a bailout. Cabinet Office minister David Lidington has been leading the cross-government response to the crisis. A spokeswoman for the department said: 'Carillion is a major supplier to Government so we are continuing to carefully monitor the situation while working to ensure our contingency plans are robust. The company has kept us informed of the steps it is taking to restructure the business.' Carillion said on Friday it remained in 'constructive discussions' with its creditors and suggestions that they had rejected its business plan were factually wrong. Shares in Carillion plunged almost 30 per cent to a new low on Friday after Sky News reported it had put administrators on standby, while an official told Reuters that creditors did not like the plan put forward. Tensions over the future of Carillion have been rising for weeks and on Thursday ministers overseeing everything from justice to transport, health and education met to discuss how they should respond to the possible demise of a business that plays a central role in British public life. Tory chairman Brandon Lewis (pictured on the BBC's Andrew Marr show today) said the government was keeping a 'close eye' on the situation, while stressing that the company was still a 'going concern'. Carillion is playing a major role in the HS2 railway development Carillion has been left with debts estimated at 1billion following an accounting scandal. It also has a pension black hole of 587million that puts the retirements of 28,500 at risk. Unions earlier this week called on the Government to do all it can to protect workers at the firm. The firm employs about 43,000 people worldwide and also manages and maintains army and hospital buildings, roads in addition to swathes of Britain's internet infrastructure. Last July it revealed ballooning debts amid delays in collecting cash from clients, problems on contracts and a downturn in new business. It issued three profit warnings last year amid falls in projected revenues and also faces an investigation by the City regulator Financial Conduct Authority into the information it divulged to shareholders in the run-up to its July trading update. A teenager was charged after a video of herself 'kicking a puppy' went viral online. The confronting footage shows the young woman kicking the small pup a number of times while it cowers to the ground. The little puppy run to hide against a wall after being kicked about nine times but the teenager follows him and continues to kick the canine. Scroll down for video A teenager was charged after a video of herself 'kicking a puppy (pictured)' went viral online The confronting footage shows the young woman kicking the small pup (left and right) a number of times while it cowers to the ground Shared by the puppy's owner, Rylee Phillips (who was not involved in the kicking), the pup can be heard whimpering throughout the 20 second video as it is struck by the woman. The woman can be heard saying 'your dog's dead Rylee' before ending with 'how do you like that Rylee?'. After the teenager finishes kicking the puppy, she turns the camera on herself to show her face. The video gained more than 70,000 views as it was shared across a number of Facebook pages 24 hours ago. Queensland Police said a woman was charged with animal cruelty after allegedly 'filming herself assaulting a dog' in Gracemere, central Queensland. 'It will be alleged around 7pm the 17-year-old woman made a video where she kicked the animal numerous times and made threats before sharing the vision on a social media app,' police said. The teenager is expected to appear in Rockhampton Magistrate's Court Monday. Shared by the puppy's owner, Rylee Phillips, the pup (pictured) can be heard whimpering throughout the 20 second video as it is struck by the woman Black cab rapist John Worboys (pictured) is set to live in a seaside flat worth more than 300,000 following his release from jail Black cab rapist John Worboys is set to live in a seaside flat worth more than 300,000 following his release from jail and not far from four of his victims. Worboys, 60, was jailed indefinitely in 2008, with a minimum term of eight years, for drugging and sexually assaulting female passengers. It emerged last week that he would be freed nine years after his imprisonment, prompting outrage. Now, residents of Park Pine Mansions in Poole, Dorset, are worried he will return live in the flat he owns there where he previously starred in pornographic films with a friend. The tenants of the flat, a man with a teenage daughter, left last week after discovering Worboys owned it, according to the Mirror. It means Worboys, who could be banned from living in London under his parole terms, could return to live there just two miles from Bournemouth, where he is feared to have targeted at least four women while working as a cab driver. Scroll down for video Residents of Park Pine Mansions (above) in Poole are worried he will return live in his flat Worboys is believed to have owned a number of properties across London and had more than 80,000 in two bank accounts when he was jailed. 'It's disgusting that after conning the justice system into letting him walk he is able to cling on to so many of his assets,' a source told The Sunday Mirror. 'People will believe Worboys is going to be released and will live in a hovel.' The source said: 'The reality is he's a wealthy man who will live in the lap of luxury just miles from his alleged victims. Many of them are terrified at the fact he is set to return.' It is understood Worboys' licence conditions have not yet been finalised and victims will have a chance to give their views to the Parole Board on suitable conditions before his release. Worboys (above) was jailed indefinitely in 2008, with a minimum term of eight years, for drugging and sexually assaulting female passengers The tenants of Worboys' flat, a man with a teenage daughter, left last week after discovering he owned it He was convicted of 19 offences relating to 12 victims but is suspected of being one of the country's most prolific sex offenders after he was linked to 102 complaints in total. However, he was assessed to no longer be a danger to the public by a panel of three people. Following the decision to release him questions were raised as to why all of the complainants who came forward had not seen their cases brought to trial. There were also criticisms over a failure to inform some victims of his planned release. The women, who were attacked between 2002 and 2008, heard about it in media reports. But now, Justice Secretary David Gauke is taking the Parole Board to judicial review over the decision to free Worboys. Mr Gauke faced pressure from cabinet colleagues to bring the matter to a review the only way to reverse the board's decision. A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: 'Mr Gauke commissioned, mid-last week, advice on the plausibility of a judicial review and the prospect of success of any judicial review. 'The Secretary of State is minded to move forward only if there was a reasonable prospect of success.' Worboys is also understood to have changed his name to John Radford, after the legendary Arsenal centre-forward. Mr Radford, 70, who scored 149 goals for Arsenal in 481 appearances, told the Sun: 'There is nothing I can do about it, is there?' A young woman has been forced to spend as much as $1,000 per week treating her rare and disabling illness because doctors refuse to recognise the condition. Madison Rapa, a 26-year-old businesswoman from Melbourne, returned from a holiday across the United States two years ago and suddenly fell ill. She began experiencing heart and lung issues, suffered memory loss, had extreme fatigue, uncontrollable migraines and nausea. Ms Rapa spoke to someone who had Lyme Disease, who recommended she have her blood samples sent to America. It was then she discovered she had the crippling condition. The condition is so rare in Australia it is not covered by Medicare and barely even acknowledged because there is 'little evidence' of it being contracted in the country, according to the government. Madison Rapa (pictured), a 26-year-old businesswoman from Melbourne, returned from a holiday across the United States two years ago and suddenly fell terribly unwell Ms Rapa (pictured right with a friend) contracted Lyme Disease, a condition so rare it is not covered by Medicare and barely even acknowledged within Australia After visiting 47 different doctors, being misdiagnosed countless times and spending over $100,000 on treatment, Ms Rapa has been forced into extreme measures. She was initially told her symptoms were due to 'ageing', but after being left 'rolling around in agony' after eating something as simple as an almond, the 26-year-old sought help overseas. A friend set up a crowd-funding page for her to travel to Malaysia where she would receive medical attention not offered in Australia. Ms Rapa now has a doctor in Sydney that has helped her work through the worst symptoms and take control of the condition, but it has taken more than two-and-a-half years and huge amounts of money. 'I have to travel interstate to see the doctor and none of it is covered by Medicare,' she told News.com.au. 'I've been misdiagnosed so many times I've spent thousands on treatment for things I didn't have.' Ms Rapa now has a doctor in Sydney that has helped her work through the worst symptoms and take control of the condition Lyme Disease can be contracted by ticks with the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, found in America and Europe A friend of Ms Rapa created a GoFundMe page to help her pay her exorbitant medical bills, which also included trips to Cyprus in search of a cure. 'Her whole body has been slowly failing her. Madi had been going from doctor to doctor, spending thousands and even travelling interstate to doctors trying to get answers and getting no where,' Olivia Maree said. One of the treatments is ozone therapy, where the amount of oxygen in the system is increased with the introduction of ozone, which have been used to treat cancer and AIDS. Among the therapies used in Malaysia are stem cell transplants and hyperthermia. A friend of Ms Rapa created a GoFundMe page to help her pay her exorbitant medical bills, which also included trips to Cyprus in search of a cure 'This is a photo of Madi's brain. A normal healthy brain is suppose to have no red areas shown. The doctors have said how lucky she currently is to have no irreversible brain damage,' her friend Olivia Maree wrote The NSW government states the condition is contracted in temperate forests in Europe and America, and that although some bites from east coast ticks can give similar symptoms to Lyme Disease, they blame 'poor characterisation' for the relation. 'While there is no evidence that Lyme disease is caused by Australian ticks, there may be other infections carried by Australian ticks which may cause an infection which is similar to Lyme disease. These infections remain poorly characterised,' the government fact sheet reads. 'Lyme disease is not a notifiable condition in NSW.' Ms Rapa said she wants the government to recognise the condition and to encourage education for medical staff on how to identify it. 'If they don't want to put money into treatment to help people in my position, then at least don't punish the few people who are,' she said. Ms Rapa said she wants the government to recognise the condition and to encourage education for medical staff on how to identify it The British Army has released a new advert showing a Muslim soldier praying as it defied critics of an inclusive recruitment campaign which critics have called 'politically correct'. The new film, called Keeping My Faith, shows a soldier taking off his helmet and kneeling down in prayer while his comrades wait respectfully nearby. It is the latest step in the Army's 'This is Belonging' campaign, which has featured adverts telling recruits they are allowed to be emotional and reassuring gay people that they will be accepted if they sign up. But the videos uploaded to YouTube came under fire last week when retired Major General Tim Cross said recruits needed to know that 'we are not going to be soft and we are not going to be nice to people'. The British Army has released a new advert showing a Muslim soldier praying as it continues an inclusive recruitment campaign which critics have called 'politically correct' In the latest video the Muslim soldier is shown washing his face and using a prayer mat while his colleagues keep quiet. The caption 'This is Belonging' appears as the soldier gets up again and the squad moves on with its hillside patrol. Colonel Richard Kemp, who led British troops in Afghanistan, said the new campaign showed an Army 'being forced down a route of political correctness'. He said: 'What it clearly is doing is appealing, trying to appeal, to a series of minorities who may or may not be interested in joining the forces. 'And by doing that, it's almost neglecting the main group of people who are interested in joining.' The new film, called Keeping My Faith, shows a soldier taking off his helmet and kneeling down in prayer while his comrades wait respectfully nearby However, Afghanistan veteran Dr Mike Martin said the adverts were focusing on 'status and belonging' which were motivations to sign up. He said: 'Even the war-fighting adverts are doing that because they focus on belonging, as often the activities shown are done in teams, and status as well, as for young people there's that sense of cool. 'I don't see these new adverts as a particular diversion from that, but a lot of people have painted these adverts as "Well, what we did before was war-fighting and now it's all soft and cuddly and about belonging". 'Even people who criticise this approach because it's soft would accept that the most important part of fighting power is the teams that you generate to deliver that fighting power.' It follows the advert Expressing My Emotions, published yesterday, which shows a soldier wiping a tear from his face as he receives a letter from a loved one. 'This is Belonging' came under fire last week when a retired Major General said recruits need to know that 'we are not going to be soft and we are not going to be nice to people' Another video, Facing My Kryptonite, shows a young recruit taking on a tough physical challenge while supportive male and female colleagues cheer him on, while a further advert shows a woman leading a patrol from a helicopter. An earlier clip, entitled Can I Be Gay In The Army?, featured the voice of a gay recruit saying: 'I was really worried about whether I'd be accepted. 'But within days I was more than confident about being who I was. I'm not afraid to talk about having a boyfriend. 'I thought I'd have to hide it but once you've done it you think why did I make it such a big thing for so long?' Advertisement Rain will shift south of the Scottish border today after fears of flooding hit the south-west of England last night and Wales along with the UK's northern regions prepare for snow. A flood warning was issued last night as rain pelted the south-west of England, following flooding in the east on Friday. A car was pictured half-submerged in water in Welney, Norfolk, before the Environment Agency warned of flooding on the other side of the country the following day. Five-year-old Amelia has fun on the ice rink at Beamish Museum in County Durham, today (SUN), as other pars of the UK brace themselves for frost and snow this week A view of Ullswater, the second largest lake in the Lake District, Cumbria, in the north west of England as northern regions brace for possible snow Snow is expected in Wales in the coming days, after frost hit Aberystwyth on Thursday and cold temperatures spread south from Scotland across the rest of Britain Millie, 11, shovels ice from the ice rink at Beamish Museum, County Durham, today, as severe gales, blizzards, hail and snow are expected along with freezing temperatures Ullswater in the Lake District, Cumbria, today as the raid looks to move south of the Scottish border and across England A woman was spotted pushing a pram on bitterly cold and frosty morning in Aberystwyth, Wales, on Thursday. The Met Office has forecast snow across the UK A car in Norfolk is pictured half-submerged in water in Norfolk the day before flood warnings were issued for the south-west of England Though the south-west is set for a dry Sunday, the Met Office issued a rain warning in the region yesterday, with Cornwall on alert from 9.40am until midnight. Between 1pm and midnight, Camborne, in the west of the county, was the wettest area in the UK, with 14.4mm of rain falling on the town. More rain is expected tonight as showers from western Scotland are set to shift south-eastwards across the rest of the UK, which will be hit by blustery showers and strong winds. Snow is expected on Scottish hills tonight and temperatures will plummet south of the border in the coming days. People were seen walking in The Long Walk in Windsor, Berkshire, with temperatures below freezing after a night of clear cloudless skies People are being urged to enjoy their weekend while they can... as blizzards and gale force winds are set to cause havoc next week Drizzle in the south-east will clear tomorrow morning, but showers will continue in the north, which will see snow falling throughout the day. Temperatures in the south-east could reach below zero by Wednesday, with the cold lasting until Thursday night. In London, temperatures will be as low as 1C at night, with highs of just 6C during the day. A Met Office spokesman said: 'A polar maritime air mass will feed in behind the rain on Monday, turning things colder and windy with frequent showers bringing some snow. 'There could be power cuts and public transport delays come Monday and Tuesday. 'Mostly in the north, all of Scotland and parts of Northern Ireland will bare the brunt of it.' And there is a chance that wet weather could return on Thursday, with wind and rain possibly hitting the south of England. Meteorological Office forecaster Emma Sharples said: Cold air is set to spread across the country overnight into Monday. On Monday night and through Tuesday in Scotland and Northern Ireland we have issued a weather warning of possible hail and snow, with up to four inches possible above 200 metres. In England and Wales, we are looking at a mixture of sunshine and blustery showers with some hail, sleet and snow mixed in, which will continue towards the end of the week. Snow showers are most likely on the hills, mountains and moors but no major accumulations are likely. Jamie Oliver (pictured) may be closing a dozen more of his Italian restaurants Jamie Oliver may be closing a dozen more of his Italian restaurants after his chains lost almost 10million last year. The celebrity chef closed seven of his Italian restaurants as well as his Union Jacks chain last year. Now, he could be closing 12 more with branches at risk including Glasgow, Bristol, Cardiff and St Albans. Staff at Jamie's Italian restaurants could be told about the possible closures as early as next week, according to The Sun. A source described the news as 'devastating,' adding that the timing is terrible. 'Officially, staff will be told the closures are because of company streamlining,' the source said. 'But hard-working, loyal employees who have given their all for Jamie Oliver now fear being tossed aside like garbage.' The celebrity chef closed seven of his Italian restaurants as well as his Union Jacks chain last year. Pictured, Jamie's Italian in Old Bailey, London A spokesman for the Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group said it was exploring how to restructure the chain, but that no decisions have been made. 'The Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group can confirm it is exploring plans to restructure its Jamie's Italian restaurant estate in the UK, to ensure the business is in good shape for the future,' the company said in a statement to City AM. 'As part of this review, we are in conversation with our stakeholders, but no final decisions or proposals have been made at this stage.' Mail Online has contacted the group for further comment. Oliver's restaurants lost 9.9million last year. In 2016, they had made a profit of 2.4million. Mark Acklom, 44, has not been seen since he allegedly swindling a British divorcee out of 850,000 when he posed as a Swiss banker MI6 agent Britain's most wanted conman is on the run with a new identity which he used to get a new valid passport, reports have claimed. Mark Acklom, 44, has not been seen since he allegedly swindled a British divorcee out of 850,000 when he posed as a Swiss banker MI6 agent. Avon and Somerset Police believe he is with his wife, Maria Yolanda Ros Rodriguez, 47, and their two daughters, aged six and eight. It is now claimed he has changed his name to Marc Long in a desperate bid to obtain a legitimate passport and a Swiss residency permit. A European Arrest Warrant has been issued for his arrest, although the order is not recognised in Switzerland. However there is an extradition treaty between Britain and Switzerland. The passport and residency permit were obtained in 2014, according to Sky News, which is long after he fled the UK. Both are still valid. It is believed that he rented a flat above a shop in the Swiss city of Zurich but has since left. Avon and Somerset Police yesterday refused to confirm the allegations but said they were still hunting the conman. A spokesman for the firm said: 'The search for wanted man Mark Acklom continues and we're working with a number of agencies to try and locate him. 'A European Arrest Warrant remains in place.' Speaking previously, Detective Inspector Adam Bunting, said: 'Mark Acklom is a convincing fraudster and we're working hard to locate him as soon as possible. Conman Mark Acklom, 43, alias Marc Ros Rodriguez, pictured with his wife Maria Yolanda Ros Rodriguez, known as Yolanda Ros, in Ascot's Royal Enclosure 'We know Acklom and his wife have previously set-up businesses working within the property development or rental sectors. 'Both of them may be using aliases and Acklom is fluent in Spanish, as well as other languages.' Acklom, now 44, first tried his hand at fraud aged just 16. While studying in Eastbourne, he stole his father's gold Amex card, posed as a stockbroker and hired jets to fly his friends around Europe. He even convinced a building society to give him a mortgage of nearly 500,000 which he used to buy a small mansion in London. He was later jailed three times in Spain for a variety of fraud offences and used the name Marc Ros Rodriguez. He then returned to the UK and, over the course of a year-long relationship, reportedly promised to marry Carolyn Woods and tricked her into handing over the huge sum of money. Ms Woods said of their romance: 'He has a great presence and charisma, he exudes confidence and the air around him was electric. I was caught up in a whirlwind of excitement. Carolyn Woods with daughter Lara. Speaking of her romance with Acklom, she said: 'He has a great presence and charisma, he exudes confidence and the air around him was electric' 'One of the most extraordinary things he told me was that it was all a cover and he was an MI6 agent. It sounds very far-fetched, but he convinced me it was true.' She added: 'I had just sold my house and I offered him a loan of 26,000. In the end I lent him everything I had.' But before they could walk down the aisle, he vanished with the cash - leaving Ms Woods emotionally and financially ruined and on the brink of suicide. The body of a woman has been discovered on a beach in Marbella, near the spot where missing mum-of-two Rebecca Muldoon was last seen on January 2. Spanish police confirmed this morning the body found on a beach appeared to be that of Mrs Muldoon but said the dead woman had yet to be identified officially. A local walking along the sand at Oasis Beach, near Victor's Beach Bar which is popular with holidaymakers and expats, alerted emergency services just after 9am this morning. Police sources have told local media they believe it could be missing Rebecca, 35, originally from Southend, Essex, because of the clothes the dead woman was wearing and her physical characteristics. Rebecca Muldoon, 35, went missing on the same day she was due to appear in court in relation to domestic abuse she allegedly suffered at the hands of her partner The housewife vanished from her penthouse flat in an area of Marbella called Camino del PInar, about three miles from the spot where the woman's body was found, after police arrested her husband Paul on suspicion of domestic violence. She spent most of the evening of January 1 at a local police station after officers called by a neighbour who heard shouting and screaming held Mr Muldoon and locked him up in cells ahead of a court appearance. She declined to press charges at the police station and failed to attend a court summons a day after she was last seen where she was set to be asked to give evidence against her partner at a speedy trial. Her two children, aged eight and 11, are now back in the UK with their grandmother after Rebecca's distressed loved ones took a call saying she had gone missing and the youngsters were about to be taken into care and they flew out to the Costa del Sol to pick them up. Spanish police confirmed this morning the body found on a beach appeared to be that of Mrs Muldoon but said the dead woman had yet to be identified officially The body of a woman was found on Oasis beach in Marbella (pictured) by a local Officials have confirmed Mr Muldoon, who Rebecca met in the UK and married in the States after moving to Los Angeles briefly before her return to Europe, was in custody when she went missing. He is believed to be still under formal investigation on suspicion of domestic violence - but was released after the court no-show by his wife and told only that he must attend court for further questioning as and when required. He could not be reached for comment today. Earlier this week police and Civil Protection workers searched a river bed and hillside near Rebecca's home after a police helicopter flew over woods and shrubland between Marbella and the mountains behind it. Rebecca's brother Tyler, 21, who lives in Colchester, Essex, and was among the relatives who flew out to Spain to pick up his sister's children, said earlier this week: 'We are obviously extremely worried. The housewife vanished from her penthouse flat in an area of Marbella called Camino del PInar, about three miles from the spot where the woman's body was found after a search was conducted by Spanish Police and Civil protection units 'Rebecca vanished without money, passport or clothes and her mobile is dead. 'We would just like her to know if she does read the appeals for information about her that the children are safe and that she should contact them and that if she needs help, we can help her.' It is understood the body was badly decomposed after days in the sea, although there is nothing at this stage to indicate her death was the result of a crime. An autopsy is due to take place tomorrow. A spokesman for Spain's National Police said: 'The body of a woman has been discovered on Oasis Beach in Marbella. 'A woman who happened to be walking by alerted the authorities.' Rebecca - originally from Southend - has been living in Marbella for the last year A well-placed source added: 'In principle the physical characteristics of the woman discovered match those of the British woman police were looking for who disappeared on January 2 in Marbella, although she hasn't yet been officially identified. 'An autopsy will now take place to determine the cause of death, but there no signs of external violence.' Local reports said police were alerted by a neighbour who discovered the youngsters were alone in the property, although it is believed the person that called the cops was someone who had been left temporarily in charge of the youngsters and grew concerned when the missing Briton failed to return. Friend Stephanie Faye Dalrymple previously appealed for information on her whereabouts in a Facebook, saying: 'Rebecca has been missing for a week. She has no money, passport or clothes and her phone is dead. 'She has two children and I desperately need to know if anyone has seen her. 'If you live in Marbella please share this. Her family are so worried and any info at all would be gratefully received.' Dozens of sailors aboard an Iranian oil tanker that blew up and sank off the coast of China yesterday had 'no hope' of being saved, a maritime official has said. The collision and disaster of the Sanchi, which carried 30 Iranians and two Bangladeshis, had transfixed an Iran still reeling from days of protests and unrest that swept the country at the start of the year. Families of the sailors wept and screamed at the headquarters of the National Iranian Tanker Co in Tehran, the private firm that owns the Sanchi. Some needed to be taken by ambulance to nearby hospitals as they were so overwhelmed by the news. 'No hope of finding survivors': Two bodies were recovered from the tanker yesterday, and another body was found on Monday and taken to Shanghai for identification The crash happened last Saturday when an oil tanker collided with a freighter in the East China Sea, 114 miles off China's coast 'Thirty-two people died without a funeral and without coffins! They burned to ashes while their families were wailing here!' cried out one woman who didn't give her name. The government 'has come after 10 days to sympathize with them? What sympathy are you talking about?' State TV earlier quoted Mahmoud Rastad, the chief of Iran's maritime agency, as saying: 'There is no hope of finding survivors among the [missing] 29 members of the crew.' President Hassan Rouhani expressed his condolences and called on relevant government agencies to investigate the tragedy and take any necessary legal measures, according to state TV. In a message, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expressed his condolences and sympathy with the victims' families, his own website, Khamenei.ir, reported Sunday. The government also announced Monday as a nationwide day of public mourning over the disaster. The cause of the Janunary 6 collision between the Sanchi and the Chinese freighter CF Crystal, 160 miles off the coast of Shanghai, remains unclear. The CF Crystal had 21 crew members, all of whom were reported safe. Chinese state media also said the ship's voice data recorder, which functions like 'black boxes' on aircraft, had been recovered. Pictured: A rescue ship works to extinguish the fire on the burning Iranian oil tanker Sanchi But the Sanchi, carrying nearly 1 million barrels of a gassy, ultra-light oil bound for South Korea, burst into flames. Chinese officials blamed poor weather for complicating their rescue efforts. Thirteen ships, including one from South Korea and two from Japan, engaged in the rescue and cleanup effort Saturday, spraying foam in an effort to extinguish the fire. The Chinese freighter's 21 crew members were all accounted for. The burning oil tanker's crew consisted of 32 members But around noon on Sunday, Chinese state media reported that a large explosion shook the Sanchi, its hull and superstructure completely stripped of paint by the flames. The ship then sank into the sea. The Chinese say the ship left a 3.8-square-mile area contaminated with oil. However, the condensate oil the ship was carrying readily evaporates or burns off in a fire, reducing the chance of a major oil spill. Chinese state media also said the ship's voice data recorder, which functions like 'black boxes' on aircraft, had been recovered. Three bodies have been recovered from the sea, leaving 29 crew members still unaccounted for. The tanker has operated under five different names since it was built in 2008, according to the UN-run International Maritime Organization. The National Iranian Tanker Co describes itself as operating the largest tanker fleet in the Middle East. It's the second collision for a ship from the National Iranian Tanker Co in less than a year and a half. In August 2016, one of its tankers collided with a Swiss container ship in the Singapore Strait, damaging both ships but causing no injuries or oil spill. Nicola Sturgeon has vowed to decide whether to press ahead with a second Scottish independent referendum by the end of this year. The SNP leader said her next move would be determined by the shape of the deal hammered out between Britain and the EU. Ms Sturgeon has suffered a series of knockbacks in her campaign to hold another vote on tearing up the UK, losing seats to the Tories in the election in June. Appearing on the BBC's Andrew Marr show, SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said her next move on a referendum would be determined by the shape of the deal hammered out between Britain and the EU Polls have suggested that the public north of the border are not keen to hold another referendum after they opted against splitting the union in 2014. The First Minister has already backtracked on her initial timetable for holding a vote, but suggested the Brexit situation should soon be clear enough to choose whether to go ahead. In an interview on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Ms Sturgeon said: 'By roundabout the autumn of this year we should have some clarity about that future relationship. 'That's when I will be able to look at that and make a judgment on what I think the next appropriate steps are for Scotland.' Ms Sturgeon has demanded that Britain either stays in the EU single market, or Scotland be allowed to keep its ties. But Theresa May has made clear that the whole UK will be leaving the single market, saying that is the only way of genuinely leaving the EU. Mrs May has previously accused Ms Sturgeon of trying to exploit the Brexit vote to revive her independence campaign. The comments come ahead of the publication of a Scottish government assessment on the impact of Brexit. The current timetable for talks with the EU should see a Withdrawal Agreement finalised in October, alongside a political declaration setting out the terms of future trade arrangments. Fears are growing of a major health crisis in East Africa as a girl died of a suspected fever which could be more deadly than the Black Death. A nine-year-old girl died in central Uganda with the symptoms of an eye-bleeding disease which it is thought could kill up to 40 per cent of those infected by it. The feared outbreak comes only months after hundreds of people were killed by the plague in Madagascar in what was described as the worst bout for 50 years. The symptoms of the new disease include headaches, bleeding, vomiting, diarrhoea and muscle pains, according to the Daily Star Sunday. Fears are growing of a major health crisis in East Africa as a girl died of a suspected fever which could be more deadly than the Black Death (file photo of nurses) A nine-year-old girl died in the Nakaseke District of central Uganda with the symptoms of an eye-bleeding disease which it is thought could kill up to 40 per cent of those infected by it A health team is reported to have rushed to disinfect the girl's house and put her in a body bag after she died in the Nakaseke District of central Uganda. A relative of the dead girl said that the family had been left in the dark about burial arrangements while health officials rushed to contain the disease. Three people were earlier reported to have died in South Sudan last week of a similar viral fever. The medieval Black Death, caused by the bubonic plague, killed around 100million people in Europe after reaching the continent in 1347. The plague has largely vanished in Western countries and can be treated with antibiotics, but still kills a few people every year in the United States. Under-fire Ukip chief Henry Bolton has been spotted at Ashford International train station's Eurostar terminal after his model girlfriend apologised for sending racist texts about Meghan Markle. Asked if he will stand down as leader of the party, Mr Bolton said 'No' before stressing: 'You don't know the context'. His girlfriend, Jo Marney, 25, sent a series of shocking messages in which she said Prince Harry's 'black American' fiancee will 'taint' the Royal Family with 'her seed' and pave the way for a 'black king'. Asked if he will stand down as leader of the party, Mr Bolton said 'No' before stressing: 'You don't know the context' His girlfriend, Jo Marney, 25, sent a series of shocking messages in which she said Prince Harry 's 'black American' fiancee will 'taint' the Royal Family with 'her seed' and pave the way for a 'black king'. Pictured: Ms Marney at Ashford International tonight After being tracked down again at the Kent station this evening, Ms Marney said her comments were taken 'completely out of context'. Pictured: Mr Bolton attempts to block the camera as he is asked if he will resign The couple quickly left the terminal when asked questions about the furore, with Mr Bolton keen to stress he was not leaving the country She apologised earlier today when approached by MailOnline, calling her comments 'reckless and unnecessary'. But tonight it has also been revealed the model made remarks about child abuse to a friend, comparing it to animal abuse to make a point. A friend of hers said those comments had been taken out of context and were part of an 'outrage competition'. After being tracked down again at the Kent station this evening, Ms Marney said her racist comments were taken 'completely out of context'. The couple quickly left the terminal when asked questions about the furore, with Mr Bolton keen to stress he was not leaving the country. Jo Marney, 25, apologised outside her home today for a series of racist comments she made about Meghan Markle He said: 'If we were leaving the country, we'd be catching probably the Eurostar from here. 'But we're going away from the Eurostar, aren't we?' The embattled politician then appeared to walk away from the terminal. Earlier today, Ms Marney told MailOnline: 'I'd like to say I'm absolutely devastated by the messages that I've sent and the distress that I've caused anyone by those messages,'She added: 'They were unnecessary, they were reckless, they were overly exaggerated purely for effect. 'They were never intended to be put in the public domain and I'd like to take this opportunity to offer my sincere and deepest apologies to anyone I've hurt and for the distress and embarrassment I've caused my family, friends and the party.' The 54-year-old party leader, whose relationship with Ms Marney has also led to demands for him to quit, was told by Ukip West Midlands MEP Bill Etheridge after the texts surfaced: 'Go now. Go quietly and leave us to deal with what's left.' Mr Bolton, whose relationship with Ms Marney is under investigation by the party, said today that she had been suspended 'immediately upon us receiving this information'. In a Facebook video message Mr Etheridge said: 'It appears that we are now seeing Ukip resources, which are at best scant, being used to defend Henry's private life.' He said he would step down as a Ukip spokesman if Mr Bolton, who was elected leader last September, 'insists on prolonging this agony'. Speaking outside her home today, Ms Marney(pictured) told MailOnline: 'I'd like to say I'm absolutely devastated by the messages that I've sent and the distress that I've caused' Ukip leader Henry Bolton has faced calls to quit over his relationship with Ms Marney. They are seen together in an undated photograph A senior UKIP source insisted Mr Bolton had not resigned and was not intending to tonight. Fellow former Ukip leadership candidate Ben Walker also called for Mr Bolton to resign, accusing him of having 'deeply flawed judgement'. Ms Marney says that Prince Harry's 'black American' fiancee will 'taint' the Royal Family with 'her seed' and pave the way for a 'black king. Pictured: Meghan and Prince Harry in London on January 9 Mr Bolton tweeted this morning that he was in London and preparing to head down to London to deal with 'other matters'. The Mail On Sunday also revealed Ms Marney's use of the word 'Negro' and a message reading 'This is Britain, not Africa' during a discussion about the royal engagement. In a statement last night Ms Marney said: 'The opinions I expressed were deliberately exaggerated in order to make a point and have, to an extent, been taken out of context. Yet I fully recognise the offence they have caused.' Mr Bolton replied to a young party member online who urged him to publicly call for Ms Marney to have her membership removed. 'She has to go or he and @UKIP are doomed if we let this behaviour happen in the party,' the teenage activist said. In replying Mr Bolton tweeted: 'Jo was suspended immediately upon us receiving this information.' Peter Whittle, leader of Ukip's delegation in the London Assembly, also called for Ms Marney to be 'expelled altogether' for the 'disgraceful remarks'. Mr Bolton, whose relationship with Ms Marney has also led to calls for him to quit, was told by Ukip West Midlands MEP Bill Etheridge(pic in Horden in 2015) after the texts surfaced: 'Go now' Party chairman Paul Oakden said he decided to suspend Ms Marney's party membership immediately after he was made aware of the messages. 'Ukip does not, has not and never will condone racism,' he told the Mail on Sunday. The report of Ms Marney's use of highly offensive language about people from different ethnic backgrounds comes as Mr Bolton faces an investigation into his controversial private life by senior party officials. Mr Bolton left wife Tatiana, 42, who gave birth to their second daughter at London's St Pancras station in 2016 after going into labour on a train, prior to his relationship with Ms Marney becoming public in early January. The Ukip leader confirmed that he had a 'change in my relationship status' in recent weeks, although he denied reports that it had involved 'a clandestine affair with a young lady who happens also to be a member of Ukip'. In a letter to members, Mr Oakden said the National Executive Committee ruling body agreed to discuss the leader's private life at a special meeting in January. On her Twitter profile Ms Marney describes herself as a model, actor and journalist, as well as a Brexiteer. Ms Marney was immediately suspended from Ukip last night after The Mail on Sunday alerted party chiefs to her grossly offensive comments. The Mail On Sunday's revelations come just days before Bolton is due to face a crunch meeting over his own future with Ukip following outrage over his new relationship. These are the disgusting texts that forced Ukip to suspend Ms Marney Mr Bolton tweeted this morning that he was in London and preparing to head down to London to deal with 'other matters' If Mr Bolton is ousted by the party's ruling National Executive Committee on Thursday, it would leave the party having to elect its fifth leader in barely 18 months. His position looks increasingly shaky as there is no recent precedent for the partner of the leader of any political party to have been suspended from that party. One Ukip figure even predicted that the scandal could signal the end of the party, which has battled serious financial problems since Nigel Farage stepped down as leader in the wake of the EU referendum. In Ms Marney's messages, which she sent to a male friend just three weeks before starting her relationship with Mr Bolton, she sneers at Harry's engagement to Los Angeles-born Markle who will marry Harry on May 19 on the grounds that she is a 'black American'. Ms Marney also describes Ms Markle, whose mother is black and whose father is white, as 'a scrubber' and a 'gender equality t***' who is 'obsessed with race' and a 'dumb little commoner'. Alluding to ethnic minorities in general, Ms Marney writes that they are 'pushing their way to the top slowly slowly. Next will be a Muslim PM. And a black king'. The ex-model who has remained in touch with the friend she texted since starting her relationship with Mr Bolton tells him that she would not have sex 'with a negro'. When the friend asks her what is wrong with black people, she replies: 'Ugly. Not my thing. Just personal taste. They don't turn me on.' During the exchange, Ms Marney who is from Kent and describes herself as an actor and music journalist also complains that there is 'an immigration problem', saying: 'This is Britain. Not Africa'. In a stream of vile messages, glamour model Ms Marney(pictured in modelling images) also says that she would never have sex with 'a negro' because they are 'ugly' After her friend accuses her of being racist, she writes: 'Lol so what... Not wanting other races and cultures to invade your own culture doesn't mean I hate their race. Just means I don't want their cultures invading mine.' After being confronted with her texts by The Mail on Sunday last night, Ms Marney apologised for her comments which she claimed had been 'taken out of context'. In a statement, she said: 'I apologise unreservedly for the shocking language I used. The opinions I expressed were deliberately exaggerated in order to make a point and have, to an extent, been taken out of context. Yet I fully recognise the offence they have caused. 'No offence was intended and, again, I apologise unreservedly for any such offence or hurt that my messages have caused to members of the public, members of Ukip my friends, family and loved ones. 'I have disappointed them all and let myself down. I cannot sufficiently express my regret and sadness at having done so.' Mr Oakden said: 'In light of messages that have been brought to my attention, I have taken the decision to immediately suspend her party membership pending an investigation. Ukip does not, has not and never will condone racism.' Since news of his relationship broke, Mr Bolton has repeatedly insisted that he will not resign as he is convinced another leadership contest would 'cripple the party'. He claimed that his marriage to Ms Smurova was already over when he met Miss Marney, and has said: 'I have no doubt I'm going to come out of this, and Jo and I are going to come out of this as a couple, stronger than we went into it.' Before the racist texts emerged, Mr Oakden said that Mr Bolton and the party were 'keen to work collectively in finding a resolution that best protects the future prospects of Ukip' following the scandal over the relationship. Henry Bolton, 54, was already facing calls for his resignation after he left his wife Tatiana Smurova (both pictured together) for 25-year-old Jo Marney Mr Farage quit after the 2016 referendum, saying he had achieved his political ambition. He was followed as leader by Diane James, who lasted just 18 days after feuding with the party's 'old guard'. Mr Farage then returned briefly, to be succeeded by Paul Nuttall in November 2016. Nuttall resigned after seven months following the Election, when Ukip's polled less than 2 per cent. Steve Crowther took over until Mr Bolton was elected in September. He has failed to lift Ukip's poll ratings above 4 per cent. Mr Oakden said Mr Bolton now finds himself with a 'difficult' decision to make and is expected to decide on Sunday what to do to 'help remedy the situation'. He told BBC's Sunday Politics: 'I think it is very clear that Henry is increasingly in a position where he's got some difficult decisions to make.' Mr Oakden, who declined to give his own views on Mr Bolton's current situation, said the party needs to be 'behind our leader 100 per cent in taking that battle (for Brexit) forward'. He said: 'Whether or not the party decides it is willing to give that support to Henry is for the party to decide.' The party's National Executive Committee will meet next Sunday. Asked by the Press Association whether Mr Bolton should resign former Ukip leader Nigel Farage declined to comment. Former leadership candidate Suzanne Evans told BBC News: 'It's just another scandal on top of scandal after scandal with Mr Bolton. I understand he is considering his position today. 'We will have to see what the next few hours bring.' Advertisement A vintage Alfa Romeo that was hidden on a farm in the Australian Outback for decades has gone on sale for an eye-watering 750,000. The Italian motor dates back to 1921 and only 52 were ever built. Of those this is the only one that survives to this day. The 1921 Alfa G1 spent much of its life in Australia after it was exported there soon after being made. A vintage Alfa Romeo (pictured in side profile) built in 1921 that was hidden on a farm in the Australian Outback for decades has gone on for sale and for an eye-watering 750,000 The Alfa Romeo G1 dates back to 1921 and only 52 were ever built. Of those, this is the only one which survives A stunning black and white photo taken in the 1920s shows the car's original Australian owner With the Italian economy struggling in the wake of the First World War, Alfa decided to send all of their new G1s down under in the hope of making the most from each sale. Once in Australia the motor was purchased at auction by a prominent businessman who used the car regularly before being declared bankrupt. Even then he refused to give up the Alfa, hiding it from officials on a farm in the Queensland Outback. After his death the car remained in storage for 25 years until it was rediscovered in 1964. Alfa enthusiast Ross Flewell-Smith began an extensive 10 year restoration project which included crafting a new Torpedo-style body on to the original chassis. The car left Australia in 2012 after it was purchased by an American collector, who again gave the car an extensive restoration. Jeremy Clarkson has always insisted Alfa Romeo's have a charm all of their own making the G1 a must-have for serious motoring enthusiasts The 1921 Alfa G1 spent much of its life in Australia after it was exported there soon after it was made With the Italian economy struggling in the wake of the First World War, Alfa had decided to send all of their new G1s down under in the hope of making the most from each sale Now, after owning the Alfa for six years, he has decided to sell the G1 at RM Sotheby's Auctions in Arizona, US. The vintage motor belies the brand's notorious reputation of being unreliable. Famously, Jeremy Clarkson maintains that no one can call themselves a true petrolhead until they have owned an Alfa. Its first owner went bankrupts but hid the car away in the Queensland Outback hoping officials would not find it Alfa enthusiast Ross Flewell-Smith purchased the car 25 years later and began an extensive 10 year restoration project which included crafting a new Torpedo-style body on to the original chassis A spokesman for RM Sotheby's, said: 'This exciting, powerful and oldest-known surviving Alfa Romeo presents a rare opportunity for the discerning automotive connoisseur to own a historic machine. 'It is a car that will be a welcome entrant at vintage rally events where it will certainly be the centre of attention, as well as an absolute blast to drive. 'We expect it to fetch in the realm of $1,000,000, which is around 750,000.' The sale takes place on January 18. South Africa has protested to the U.S. embassy in Pretoria about reported remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump that some immigrants from Africa and Haiti come from 's***hole' countries. South Africa's foreign ministry called the remarks, which sources said Trump made earlier this week during a meeting on immigration legislation, 'crude and offensive' and said Trump's subsequent denial was not categorical. 'Relations between South Africa and the United States, and between the rest of Africa and the United States, must be based on mutual respect and understanding,' the foreign ministry said in a statement on Sunday. South Africa's foreign ministry (foreign minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane pictured above) has called out President Donald Trump after his crude remarks about African nations It said it would ask the second-in-charge of the U.S. embassy to explain Trump's comments on Monday. Trump was widely condemned by many African countries and by international rights organisations for the comments. Botswana's foreign ministry earlier summoned the U.S. ambassador in protest. According to reports, President Trump made disparaging comments about immigrants from Haiti and Africa, and made the insensitive remark in regards to immigration from those countries. His comments have been widely criticized across the political spectrum, creating even more controversy in an already controversial administration. U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, who was apparently at the meeting where the remarks were said, has called Trump's words 'hate filled'. Royal Mail won't be marking the day Britain leaves the European Union with commemoration stamps because it's not an 'important anniversary,' it has been revealed. David Gold, the Royal Mail's director of public affairs and policy, informed MPs in a letter that the 13 sets of special stamps printed every year were to 'mark important anniversaries and activities that reflect the UK's heritage and contribution to the world, the Telegraph reports. Mr Gold said the postal service maintains 'strict political neutrality due to the important role we play in the electoral process including referendums.' Royal Mail won't be marking the day Britain leaves the European Union next year. But it marked Britain joining the European Economic Community with stamps in 1973 (above) He added that Brexit stamps went against the Royal Mail's policy to not get involved in 'political matters.' But in 1973, it produced stamps depicting a jigsaw piece with the Union Jack on it fitting into a puzzle representing Europe when Britain joined the European Economic Community. In the letter, in response to Conservative MP David Jones, Mr Gold said he was unaware of the process to led to those stamps being issued. Until now, the postal service had not explained its decision to not print commemoration stamps for Brexit in March 2019. Last year, Royal Mail printed stamps of David Bowie albums, characters from the Star Wars franchise (above) and famous race horses The decision has prompted criticism from Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Michael Gove, the Environment Secretary. This year's Special Stamp programme includes a set of 15 stamps to mark the significant British contribution to the critically-acclaimed Game of Thrones television series. Royal Mail has said the 2018 progamme will showcase the 'Best of British' in a number of subjects, including marking the 50th anniversary of Dad's Army with eight stamps depicting much-loved characters from the series in June. The Royal Air Force's centenary will be marked with 10 stamps issued in March. Last year, Royal Mail printed stamps of David Bowie albums, characters from the Star Wars franchise and famous race horses. The number of prisoners reoffending after being released from prison early has as much as doubled. The total number of serious criminals wanted for 'recall to prison' has shot up in the last three years, according to the Metropolitan police. Many of these are wanted because they have committed crimes after being let out of prison on license. The number of serious criminals wanted for 'recall to prison' has doubled in the last three years, according to the Metropolitan police (stock photo) Scotland Yard had to track down and recapture 1,884 dangerous criminals last year. This is up from from 903 in 2014. This weekend MPs said budget cuts to the police force may be to blame for these shocking figures. They questioned whether forces being made to tighten already tight belts are still able to perform basic tasks to protect the public. Louise Haigh, shadow police minister, said: 'It's little wonder there are so many more wanted suspects when we have record levels of detective vacancies, record lows of police officers, and a completely broken probation system.' But Scotland Yard hit back, suggesting many of those they are tracking had left the country. It said: 'Many wanted offenders are believed to be out of the UK.' MPs have questioned if forces suffering budget cuts are still able to protect the public (stock photo) She added that the government is failing in its basic duty to keep the public safe. Yvette Cooper, chairwoman of the home affairs select committee, said: 'This has really serious consequences for public safety and the rule of law. I fear this is more evidence that the government was very unwise not to provide more funding for the police.' This data, obtained by The Sunday Times from 15 of the 43 police forces in England and Wales, shows the total number of wanted suspects in these areas increased from 17,628 in June 2015 to 22,233 in June 2017. These numbers included offenders out on license. Former members of Colombian guerrilla group Farc have set up their own jungle hotel - complete with plastic shacks and rice stew. Ex-fighters say the attraction will offer visitors an authentic taste of rebel life, and are preparing a menu consisting of basic food cooked on a makeshift oven. Leaders of the left-wing paramilitary force, which signed a peace accord with the national government last November, hope it will also create jobs. Leftist rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) patrol by a roadway near to San Vicente de Caguan in an undated image Former members of Farc, full name the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, are given 620,000 Colombian pesos (160) each month for two years to help move into civilian life, and many choose to invest this cash into business new ventures. The one-storey hotel, called Casa Verde (Green House), has been set up near La Guajira, in eastern Meta province, reported the BBC's Natalio Cosoy. In common with many other business projects set up by former rebels, it is based in a former Farc stronghold. Einer Lopez, an ex-Farc commander, said the hotel was intended to provide a realistic representation of rebel life. 'We will build basic shacks, like the ones we used to live in, with a plastic sheet, some palm leaves and a mosquito net,' he said. Dishes on offer at the hotel include wheat-based fried tortilla cancharina fariana and the carbohydrate-heavy guerrilla rice, which can be easily prepared on a makeshift stove. It is the latest venture by the Colombian rebel group, who have also launched a television show hosted by a woman(pic) who was sentenced to 27 years in jail for her role in a car bombing It is the latest venture by the Colombian rebel group, who have also launched a television show hosted by a woman who was sentenced to 27 years in jail for her role in a car bombing. Marilu Ramirez works for Nueva Colombia Noticias, a budding video network that aims to offer an alternative to what some see as a media landscape crowded with biased, traditional outlets. One year after the signing of the accord, the ex-combatants are living in a hotel paid for by the Colombian government, teaching themselves how to operate cameras and gearing up to launch a daily newscast. Their audience is still minuscule, but they hope to attract a large, loyal following by focusing on stories from the places they know best: remote parts of Colombia long neglected by state and establishment media networks alike. 'We want to give a voice to those who have been living for decades in silence, but experiencing firsthand the state's neglect,' Ramirez said after a recent taping of her debate show, 'La Mesa Caliente' (The Hot Table). The story of Nueva Colombia Noticias is in many ways a microcosm of both the successes and challenges of reintegrating former guerrillas into Colombian society. Reporting on the streets, the ex-combatants are coming face-to-face with a Colombian populace reluctant to embrace them after five decades of bloody conflict. Many Colombians are also wary of the network's continued ties and unabashed support for the former guerrillas' new political party. 'They still have a long way to go in becoming independent and not appearing like propaganda,' said Fabiola Leon, the Colombia representative for international advocacy group Reporters Without Borders. In the urban jungle of Bogota, the budding journalists are putting into practice many of the same techniques they learned while dodging bombs and bullets in the countryside: trying to keep calm even when interview subjects begin lambasting former rebels as monsters and terrorists. 'You feel the rejection,' said Gersson Pedraza, 25, who joined the Farc when he was 12. 'And you just have to withstand it.' In common with many other business projects set up by former rebels,(including this one, pictured) it is based in a former Farc stronghold The YouTube channel currently has 25 reporters in Colombia's capital, nearly all of whom are former rebels living off monthly payments that the Colombian government agreed to pay as part of the peace accord. Those payments are equivalent to 90 percent of the nation's current minimum wage. The network also relies on journalists stationed at some of the 26 zones where former guerrillas are transitioning to civilian life. President Donald Trump says he was misquoted by a news outlet claiming he said he has a positive relationship with Kim Jong-un. Trump argued Sunday in a set of furious tweets that he said 'I'd' and the Wall Street Journal misquoted him on purpose. 'Obviously I didnt say that. I said Id have a good relationship with Kim Jong Un, a big difference,' Trump stated. 'They knew exactly what I said and meant. They just wanted a story. FAKE NEWS!'' SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO President Donald Trump says he was misquoted by a news outlet claiming he said he has a positive relationship with Kim Jong-un Trump argued Sunday in a set of furious tweets that he said 'I'd' and the Wall Street Journal misquoted him on purpose The president's spokeswoman had also disputed the quote, tweeting on Saturday night that Trump had said I'd - and offering an audio recording of Trump talking about Kim in the interview to prove it. In the audio, Trump did appear to be saying 'I'd' rather than 'I' as the Journal first reported. 'President Trump said, I'D probably have a very good relationship with Kim Jong Un of North Korea. I'D -- I'D -- I'D. NOT I!' a message from Sanders said. The tweet declared the Wall Street Journal piece 'FAKE NEWS' in bold white letters in a graphic that led with a red banner. The news outlet also released audio from the interview on Twitter as the White House went on the assault nearly two days after the Journal's original piece. The president's spokeswoman had also disputed the quote, tweeting on Saturday night that Trump had said I'd 'We have reviewed the audio from our interview with President Trump, as well as the transcript provided by an external service, and stand by what we reported,' it said in a tweet that accompanied its clip and a transcript. The Wall Street Journal suggested Thursday that Trump had been in contact with North Korea's reclusive dictator after an interview in the Oval Office where the president would not say whether he'd talked to him but reportedly claimed: 'I probably have a very good relationship with Kim Jong Un.' 'I have relationships with people. I think you people are surprised,' Trump is said to have stated. Playing coy, the president also said, 'I dont want to comment on it. Im not saying I have or havent. I just dont want to comment.' The White House also offered an audio recording of Trump talking about Kim in the interview to prove he said 'I'd' The U.S. does not have formal diplomatic relations with North Korea. It's been nearly a decade since the nations have held high -evel talks. The Trump administration in November categorized North Korea as a state sponsor of terror, putting it back on the United States' list of sworn enemies. It has successfully pressed at the United Nations for strict sanctions that have almost totally isolated the rogue regime. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in October that the U.S. has back channel communications with North Korea. 'We have lines of communication to Pyongyangwere not in a dark situation, a blackout,' he stated. Trump then harangued him for it publicly, saying that Tillerson was 'wasting his time trying to negotiate' with Kim. South Korea was opening up high-level talks last week with North Korea ahead of the Winter Olympics, which will be held on the peninsula in February. Addressing the thaw in tensions in his first Cabinet meeting of the new year, Trump said he'd just spoken to South Korean President Moon Jae-in and he's 'very thankful for what weve done.' 'He felt that the original that the initial talk was extremely good. Had a lot of good comment,' Trump said. 'Well see where it goes. Hes very thankful for what weve done.' Trump would not say whether he'd ever talked to Kim on Thursday - but he said in November he'd like them to be friends Trump remarked, 'Who knows where it leads.' Adding, 'Hopefully, it will lead to success for the world not just for our country, but for the world. And well be seeing over the next number of weeks and months what happens.' Trump has repeatedly derided Kim as 'Little Rocket Man' and threatened him with the 'might' of the U.S. military. In August, Trump angrily threatened North Korea with 'fire and fury' if Kim continued to threaten the United States and its allies. And just last week he claimed he had a 'much bigger & more powerful' nuclear button than the one Kim claims to have on his desk. After Kim called him a 'dotard' in November, Trump, 71, sarcastically referred to the rogue leader who just celebrated his 34th birthday this week as 'short and fat.' 'Oh well, I try so hard to be his friend - and maybe someday that will happen!' Trump tweeted. Asked about the tweet at a news conference that day in Vietnam, Trump said of a friendship with Kim: 'I think anything is a possibility. Strange things happen in life. That might be a strange thing to happen, but its certainly a possibility. 'If that did happen, it would be a good thing for I can tell you for North Korea. But it would also be good for lots of other places, and it would be good for the world. 'So, certainly, it is something that could happen. I dont know that it will, but it would be very, very nice if it did,' Trump said. Trump told the Wall Street Journal that he's a 'flexible' person who often develops friendships with people he used to be on bad terms with. 'Youll see that a lot with me, and then all of the sudden somebodys my best friend,' he said. 'I could give you 20 examples. You could give me 30. Im a very flexible person.' Just before the U.S. president's shocking claim Thursday that he 'probably' has a 'very good relationship' with Kim, North Korea claimed that author Michael Wolff's bombshell book about the White House 'foretells Trump's political demise' Kim has slammed the U.S. president as a 'frightened dog' and a 'gangster fond of playing with fire' and called him 'mentally deranged.' In a New Year's day address, he warned: 'The entire United States is within range of our nuclear weapons, a nuclear button is always on my desk. This is reality, not a threat. 'This year, we should focus on mass-producing nuclear warheads and ballistic missiles for operational deployment,' he said. 'These weapons will be used only if our society is threatened.' Just before the U.S. president's shocking claim Thursday that he 'probably' has a 'very good relationship' with Kim, North Korea claimed that author Michael Wolff's bombshell book about the White House 'foretells Trump's political demise.' Trump has repeatedly derided Kim as 'Little Rocket Man' and threatened him with the 'might' of the U.S. military Kim has slammed the U.S. president as a 'frightened dog' and a 'gangster fond of playing with fire' and called him 'mentally deranged' Salacious details inside the book, 'Fire And Fury: Inside The Trump White House,' about Trump's behavior and his aides' private views about his competency made for fresh fodder for critics of the president who've said he's mentally unstable. The president and other White House aides have blasted it as 'inaccurate trash', but it was the top-selling book in the U.S. last week. In Pyongyang, one of Kim's mouthpiece newspapers, Rodong Sinmun, said the book had led to Trump being 'massively humiliated worldwide' and its sales reflect 'rapidly surging anti-Trump sentiments in the international community.' Fire And Fury was released earlier this month and had sold 29,000 copies by the end of its second day on the market, NPD BookScan said. Digital sales had already topped 250,000 and audio sales exceed 100,000, according to Macmillan, the parent company of the book's publisher, Henry Holt and Co., as of last week. It has raised an initial announced printing of 150,000 to more than a million. The first excerpt of the book came out the morning after Trump's tweet boasting about the size of his nuclear button. Asked in a news conference that day about Trump's 'mental fitness' as a result of the tweet, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said, 'I think the President and the people of this country should be concerned about the mental fitness of the leader of North Korea. 'Hes made repeated threats. Hes tested missiles time and time again for years. And this is a President whos not going to cower down and hes not going to be weak, and is going to make sure that he does what hes promised to do, and thats stand up and protect the American people.' A British man has been rushed to hospital 'critically injured' after a fall at a Gran Canaria holiday resort. The 21-year-old is said to have plunged around 20 feet at an apartment complex in popular Playa del Ingles in the south of the island. Island daily La Provincia said the emergency services were alerted in the early hours of yesterday morning. The casualty, described as British, is understood to have been rushed to the Insular Hospital in the Gran Canaria capital Las Palmas suffering serious head injuries. A British man has been rushed to hospital 'critically injured' after a fall at a the La Villa Santa Ana holiday resort in Gran Canaria (pictured) Local reports said police were investigating whether the injured Brit had been drinking before falling. No-one from La Villa Santa Ana, a holiday complex where the unnamed 21-year-old is said to have fallen, was immediately available for comment this morning. The hospital where he was reportedly taken was also unable to give out any details about his condition. Allow second Covishield dose after 4 weeks from first for those who want it early: Kerala HC to Centre The Centre had opposed the plea by contending that the 84-day gap between two doses of Covishield was fixed to increase the efficacy of the vaccine. Advertisement Sydney Sea Planes will resume flying on Monday, two weeks after one of its planes crashed killing everyone on board. A British family-of-five were all tragically killed when the seaplane crashed into the Hawksbury River, north of Sydney on New Years Eve. Experienced pilot Gareth Morgan, 44, was also killed. The company grounded its fleet following the crash but is expected to take flight again on Monday. Emma Bowden, 48, and her daughter Heather, 11, died in a horror seaplane crash in the Hawkesbury River, north of Sydney, on New Year's Eve Investigations into the crash continue with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) interviewing witnesses and examining recorded data from on-board the flight. Millionaire CEO Richard Cousins was on-board the plane with his two sons, Edward, 23, and William, 25, fiancee Emma Bowden and her 11-year-old daughter Heather when it plunged into the river. The chief executive of British catering giant Compass, Mr Cousins was due to retire in March having spent the past 11 years at the helm and transforming a business on its knees to turning a 1.6billion annual profit. It is believed he was in Australia on a family holiday to celebrate the New Year with his family when they died. Scroll down for video Richard Cousins (right) - a millionaire CEO in charge of British catering company Compass - was on board the plane with his fiancee, her daughter and his two sons Mr Cousins' sons Edward, 23 (left) and William, 25 (right) were also killed when their seaplane plunged into the Hawkesbury River It's believed Ms Bowden (left) and her daughter (right) were travelling with Mr Cousins and his sons on a festive family holiday One of the six to be named as dead is experienced 44-year-old Australian pilot Gareth Morgan (pictured) Mr Morgan (pictured), who was one of the six to be killed on Sunday, has been described a 'very experienced pilot' The body of a passenger recovered from the downed seaplane that crashed on Sunday killing six people is carried by police and paramedics When he announced in September that he planned to retire in March, the company's share price plummeted. Mr Cousins was named at No 11 on last year's 100 Best Performing CEOs in the World by Harvard Business Review. The 58-year-old had also served on the board of supermarket giant Tesco, but resigned last year in protest at plans to buy wholesaler Booker. Police said the wreckage of the aircraft, operated by Sydney Seaplanes, was eventually found on the bottom of Cowan Creek under 42ft of water with the bodies inside. Witness Myles Baptiste said he saw the plane crash. He told 9News: 'It made a tight right-hand turn and as it actually turned around, the wings dipped and it nosedived straight into the water.' A police spokesman said: 'For reasons that are not known at this stage, the plane has hit the water and it has subsequently sunk. 'At the time of the collision, there was a pilot and five passengers on board. I can confirm the six people on the plane are deceased.' The plane crashed while flying a party of five from Cottage Point to Rose Bay on Sydney Harbour ahead of the New Year's Eve fireworks display. The six people including five Britons killed in a seaplane crash north of Sydney have been named; pictured is one of the bodies being removed by police and paramedics New South Wales Police and investigators from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau pictured on a police launch at the site where a seaplane crashed on New Year's Eve A New South Wales policewoman is seen holding a piece of debris from the seaplane which crashed in the Hawkesbury River Five Britons, including an 11-year-old girl, were on board the Sydney Seaplanes Cessna aircraft when it came down. Pictured are police officers gathering evidence at the scene The passengers are believed to have been enjoying a 'wine and dine' sightseeing tour and were flying from Cottage Point to Rose Bay in Sydney Harbour when the plane came down around 3pm local time The remains of all six victims have now been taken from the water and emergency services are now working to retrieve the plane from 42ft below the surface An officer carries a piece of debris recovered from a seaplane that crashed into the Hawkesbury River Sydney Seaplanes managing director Aaron Shaw confirmed that the aircraft was one of theirs and said they were working with police on the scene. He said: 'All at Sydney Seaplanes are deeply shocked by this incident and the resulting loss of life. 'We wish to pass on our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the passengers and pilot who were tragically killed. We do not yet know the cause of the accident. 'We are dedicating our full resources in assisting the NSW Police, the Australian Transport Safety Board, Civil Aviation Safety Authority and other relevant authorities to understand the cause of the accident.' He added: 'Sydney Seaplanes has been operating since 2005, have undertaken thousands of flights in that period and have had an unblemished safety record until now. 'The safety of our passengers and staff is our absolute primary and highest priority. 'Our aircraft are professionally maintained to manufacturer's specifications and our seaplane pilots are some of the most experienced in the world.' A Sydney Seaplanes pilot took to Facebook to write: 'Thoughts are with the guys from Sydney Seaplanes this afternoon, hope they are all well and things have a positive outcome. Top bunch of guys working there.' Sydney Seaplanes managing director Aaron Shaw confirmed that the aircraft was one of theirs Chelsea Manning on Sunday confirmed via Twitter that she is a candidate for U.S. Senate. Three days after making her intention known to federal election officials, Manning tweeted "yup, we're running for senate" with an attached campaign video. She sent a subsequent tweet seeking donations to her campaign. Chelsea Manning, who was released from The 30-year-old Manning filed her statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission on Thursday. In the video Manning said 'We don't need more or better leaders, we need someone willing to fight.' Known as Bradley Manning at the time of her 2010 arrest, the former Army intelligence analyst was convicted of leaking classified documents to the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks. Manning came out as transgender after being sentenced to 35 years in prison. President Barack Obama granted Manning clemency before leaving office last year. Manning is running as a Democrat and will likely challenge two-term Sen. Ben Cardin in the primary. When Manning was released from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, in May, she told the AP in an email that she was eager to define her future - but made no mention of politics. Manning will run against two-term incumbent Democrat Ben Cardin The Oklahoma native had planned to move to Maryland, where she has an aunt. She has been registered to vote at the apartment in North Bethesda since mid-August, according to the Maryland State Board of Elections. Her recent move would not affect a Senate bid. To run for that office, a person must be at least 30 years old, a U.S. citizen for nine years and an inhabitant of the state at election time, according to the Maryland State Board of Elections. A felony conviction does not appear to preclude a run. Manning is yet to file for the primary with the state elections board, which she must do in person by Feb. 27, according to the board's website. Cardin is also yet to file. But campaign finance reports show that his organization had nearly $2 million cash on hand in late September. The word 's***hole' - which President Donald Trump allegedly used to describe countries from which he does not want immigrants coming to the US - has been projected along with other messages onto his Washington, DC hotel. Trump is said to have made the remarks - which he has denied but which a US Senator who was present confirmed - at a meeting with legislators, setting off a firestorm of criticism when they became public. 'NOT A DC RESIDENT? NEED A PLACE TO STAY? TRY OUR S***HOLE. THIS PLACE IS A S***HOLE,' read successive messages projected over the entrance of the Trump International Hotel in central Washington, according to videos posted on social media. A flood of grinning poop emojis then stream out of the hotel's entrance as 'S***HOLE' appears in larger text above it. Another clip shows the word 'S***HOLE' over the entrance along with an arrow pointing to the door. The word 's***hole' - which President Donald Trump allegedly used to describe countries from which he does not want immigrants coming to the US - has been projected along with other messages onto his Washington hotel (pictured0 A flood of grinning poop emojis then stream out of the hotel's entrance as 'S***HOLE' appears in larger text above it (pictured) 'NOT A DC RESIDENT? NEED A PLACE TO STAY? TRY OUR S***HOLE. THIS PLACE IS A S***HOLE,' read successive messages projected over the entrance of the Trump International Hotel, according to videos posted on social media (pictured) The videos were posted on the Twitter account of Robin Bell, as well as on his website Bell Visuals, who has staged other projection protests and been likened to a 'hit-and-run editorial writer' by The Washington Post. More than two million people have watched the videos and they have been shared more than 5,000 times The alleged expletive emerged out of a Thursday meeting about immigration reform between Trump and legislators. After lawmakers raised the issue of protections for immigrants from African nations, Haiti and El Salvador, the president reportedly demanded to know why the US should accept immigrants from 's***hole countries,' rather than - for instance - wealthy and overwhelmingly white Norway. The videos were posted on the Twitter account of Robin Bell, as well as on his website Bell Visuals , who has staged other projection protests and been likened to a 'hit-and-run editorial writer' by The Washington Post (Pictured, Trump International Hotel) After lawmakers raised the issue of protections for immigrants from African nations, Haiti and El Salvador, the president (pictured, Friday) reportedly demanded to know why the US should accept immigrants from 's***hole countries' The White House initially did not deny that Trump made the remarks, but Trump later disputed the reports on Twitter (pictured) The White House initially did not deny that Trump made the remarks, but Trump later disputed the reports on Twitter. 'The language used by me at the DACA meeting was tough, but this was not the language used. What was really tough was the outlandish proposal made - a big setback for DACA!' he tweeted on Friday. But Democratic Senator Richard Durbin said Trump had specifically asked: 'Do we need more Haitians?' before launching into a diatribe about African immigration. Trump then 'said things which were hate-filled, vile and racist,' Durbin said, adding that 'sh*thole' was 'the exact word used by the president, not just once but repeatedly.' Frank Vella (right), 52, and his brother George (left), 48, have been remembered as 'good community men' by heartbroken locals in Sarina, central Queensland Two brothers believed to have been gassed to death inside a molasses tank have been remembered as 'good community men' by heartbroken locals. Tiny rural town Sarina, in central Queensland, has been rocked by the deaths of long-time locals Frank Vella, 52, and his brother George, 48, on Saturday. Police believe their bodies were found inside a storage tank after they were poisoned by fumes while cleaning inside. More than half a dozen shocked members of the community paid touching tributes to the brothers on Sunday, while they came to terms with the loss, Daily Mercury reported. George's old boss Angelo Sorbello said: 'George was the best fellow I knew.' 'George came to us as a young man and worked for us for many years ... I still can't believe it. I saw him just last Thursday.' The two brothers are believed to have been gassed to death while cleaning inside a molasses tank on Saturday. Pictured: George Vella Local Kerrie Micallef posted to Facebook, remembering the pair as 'hard working' and 'generous' men. Meanwhile, friend Kevin Keating said Frank was a 'top bloke' who he would go on trips with and meet weekly at the local hotel. 'We always said we needed to do our trips more often because you don't live forever,' he told the publication. 'It's just hard to realise that this has happened.' Workplace investigators were on site at the transport company (pictured) on Sunday morning as they tried to work out what caused the incident Police believe their bodies were found inside a storage tank (stock image) after they were poisoned by fumes while cleaning inside Workplace investigators were on site at the transport company on Sunday morning as they tried to work out what caused the incident. A Workplace Health and Safety Queensland spokesman told AAP it had seized a 'prime mover with a trailer carrying two transport tanks' for investigation. Sarina councillor Martina Bella said the death of the men, both employees with Vella Haulage Sarina, would 'knock' the community. The spokesman could not confirm how the men died. 'Everyone knows them, I went to school with the family,' she told the Mercury. A family has been left devastated after a third one of their children died of a rare heart condition. Carrick Prentice-Underwood, 19, died on Thursday morning four years after the death of his brother Craig, 17, and seven years after his sister Charlotte, 16. His parents, Maggie and Robert Underwood, say they feel 'totally lost' after the third tragedy to strike their family in recent years. But the family, which has five other children, was back at work on Saturday fundraising for a charity they established in memory of their other children in Redditch, Worcestershire, BBC News reported. Carrick Prentice-Underwood, 19, died on Thursday morning four years after the death of his brother Craig, and seven years on from his sister Charlotte's death They set up the Charlotte & Craig Saving Hearts Foundation following the deaths of Carrick's siblings, to campaign for defibrillators in public places. A younger brother, seven-year-old Mitchell, said the family should continue with the fundraiser and 'do it for Carrick'. A post from Carrick's mother on a tribute Facebook page said: 'Miss you son I'm sorry we couldn't stop you leaving us so suddenly. You grew your wings and broke our hearts.' On the charity page the family wrote: 'We are heartbroken, numb and totally lost. Why is it always the good ones, so much evil and you keep taking our babies.' Friends and supporters of the family have set up a JustGiving page to help the family pay for Carrick's funeral costs. Carrick's siblings Craig (left), 17, and Charlotte (right), 16, also died as teenagers, after which the family had genetic tests revealing several of their children had rare heart conditions A post on the fundraising page said: '[Maggie and Robert] are the nicest most selfless couple I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. They do everything for our community to help raise money to save lives, turning their pain into positive things. 'Its our chance to show our appreciation for what they do for us, and to help a Redditch family in tragedy.' Maggie and Robert Underwood, say they feel 'totally lost' after the third tragedy to strike their family in recent years Charlotte, 16, was thought to have died of sudden arrythmia death syndrome in 2010, but when Craig, 17, died in 2013 the family had genetic testing. It showed that four of the family's other children had Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, according to the charity's website, suggesting Charlotte may have had it too. The charity has succeeded in having a defibrillator installed in Charlotte's old school as well as other schools in the area. Jeremy Corbyn sparked fresh speculation about backing for a fresh Brexit referendum today. The Labour leader pointedly avoided ruling out support for another national vote when the shape of a proposed deal with the EU becomes clear. Close ally Emily Thornberry also suggested the party would shift its position if public opinion turned dramatically against leaving the bloc. Remainers from across parties last week seized on remarks by Nigel Farage seemingly endorsing the prospect of another referendum. Appearing on ITV's Peston programme today, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn pointedy avoided ruling out support for another national vote when the shape of a proposed deal with the EU becomes clear Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage last week raised the prospect of another Brexit referendum to 'kill off' the issue once and for all (pictured) The former UKIP leader said he thought the new ballot might be needed to 'kill off' the issue once and for all. Amid a wave of condemnation from Brexiteers, Mr Farage later tried to backtrack by insisting he had merely been voicing concerns that relentless opposition from Europhiles in parliament could end up torpedoing the UK's departure. Theresa May has flatly reject the idea of a second national vote warning that it would only throw the process into chaos. Polls suggest that there is little appetite among the public for another referendum. However, the episode has increased the pressure on Mr Corbyn and the Labour leadership to soft their stance further. Speaking on ITV's Peston programme, Mr Corbyn made clear he was not yet calling for a new national poll on withdrawal - but said he was not implacably opposed to one either. The Labour leader told ITV's Peston On Sunday: 'We are not supporting or calling for a second referendum. What we have called for is a meaningful vote in Parliament.' When it was put to Mr Corbyn that he was not saying he would never support another referendum, the Labour leader said: 'We are not calling for one either'. Asked on the BBC's Andrew Marr show about a second referendum, Ms Thornberry said: 'If 90 per cent of the population was now saying we must stay in the European Union and we must not leave then that would be a challenge that would be there for all of us who are democrats. 'But, at the moment, and as things currently stand, we proceed in good faith, we do as we are instructed and we are leaving the European Union. 'We have said that we must respect the result of the referendum which means that we have to leave, but we have to look after the economy which, in my view, means that we don't go very far.' Deputy Tory party chairman James Cleverly said the comments showed that Labour was trying to frustrate Brexit. On the BBC's Andrew Marr show, Emily Thornberry suggested Labour would shift its position if public opinion turned dramatically against leaving the bloc He said: 'Once again the very top of Labour, this time Jeremy Corbyn and Emily Thornberry, have failed to rule out a second referendum. 'Every step of the way Labour are trying to frustrate the Brexit process rather than make a success of it. 'Labour just can't be trusted to deliver on leaving the European Union.' While appearing to soften his position on the referendum, Mr Corbyn also slapped down critics calling for the UK to stay in the single market if Brexit does happen. The Labour leader said: 'The single market is dependent on membership of the European Union.' The comments came after some Labour figures called for the party to change tack and campaign to remain in the single market and customs union after withdrawal. Mr Corbyn expressed concern about some parts of the single market set-up. 'There are also aspects of the single market one wants to think about such as the restrictions on state aid to industry, which is something that I would wish to challenge.' Mr Corbyn said Labour would vote against landmark Brexit legislation which returns to the Commons in the next few days unless its demands were met in areas such as workers rights. Labour MP Chuka Umunna told Sky's Sunday with Niall Paterson: 'In terms of the notion that you have to be in the European Union to be part of the EU single market, that is not correct. 'Norway, Lichtenstein and Iceland fully participate in the single market, but they are not members of the European Union, and there's no reason why the UK, if we leave, should not have that kind of relationship.' The former shadow business secretary said the Government had a duty to try to deliver Brexit on the terms it was sold to the British people. He added: 'If that proves to be impossible then of course we should have an open mind about what happens at the end of the process. 'I'm not opposed in principle at all to us having a new poll on this, on the final deal.' A speeding vehicle flew through the air and landed in the side of at two-story building, igniting a small fire with two people inside, in Southern California on Sunday morning. One person was still trapped inside the vehicle as of 6.45 am Pacific, according to the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA). The other individual had already gotten out of the car, which was lodged into the side of an office building in Santa Ana. Los Angeles County Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) was able to free the other individual in the vehicle, after the person was trapped for more than an hour inside the dangling car, Captain Stephen Horner of the Orange County Fire Authority told the Daily Mail. Two people survived a car crash that launched their vehicle into the second floor of an office building in Santa Ana, California on Sunday morning 'The vehicle hit the center divider and went airborne and landed into the building,' OCFA said. One person was able to get out of the car without assistance, but USAR had to extricate the second person. The crash caused a small fire at the point of impact, on the second floor. 'The fire was quickly extinguished by the first arriving units,' Horner said. A speeding vehicle flew through the air and landed in the side of at two-story building, igniting a small fire with two people inside Then the rescue team went to work, to get that other individual safely out of the vehicle. 'USAR was able to access the passenger door,' Horner said. 'They used a front loader from the city of Santa Ana to stablize the vehicle and the members of USAR were able to gain access and pull the vicitm out from the passenger side of the vehicle safety.' One person was still trapped inside the vehicle as of 6.45 am Pacific, OCFA said Both individuals have safely made it out of the car, and have been taken to an area hospital to be treated for minor injuries The individual who was still trapped inside with emergency responders arrived was in the for over an hour. The two individuals involved in the crash have yet to be identified. They have been taken to an area hospital to be treated for minor injuries, Horner said. No one else was in the building at the time of the crash. The Santa Ana Police Department did not immediately return a phone message from the Daily Mail regarding whether any charges had been filed related to this incident. A man who went missing after setting up a date with a girl through the dating site Plenty of Fish has been identified, months after his skeletal remains were found and nearly a year after he disappeared. Marty McMillian Jr., 22, of Washington D.C., went missing last spring after setting up a date with a woman he met on the dating site Plenty of Fish. McMillan's skeletal remains were found in October. The bones were found near Maryland's Suitland Parkway. Marty McMillan Jr., 22, went missing in April of last year after setting up a date on the online dating site Plenty of Fish 'He was a human being. He didn't deserve to be laying out there all that time like that, just thrown away like a piece of trash,' McMillain's grandmother Forlesia Cook said to NBC Washington. McMillan's car was found by his grandmother in May of last year, about three miles from the place he was last seen. Police said he was shot multiple times before his body was dumped. McMillan's last recorded phone was with the woman he was supposed to meet up with from the dating site, but she claims she didn't have her phone on her and she never met up with him. McMillan's bank cards were used after he disappeared, according to the Washington Post. No arrests have been made in connection with the case. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information regarding McMillan's death. McMillan's body was found in October of 2017, but was just recently identified President Donald Trump said Sunday that an immigration deal is 'probably dead' at this stage because Democrats 'don't really want' one. In a tweet, Trump blamed the opposing party for a stall in talks that came after a widely-publicized claim that he said he doesn't want people from 's***hole' countries relocating to the United States. 'DACA is probably dead because the Democrats dont really want it, they just want to talk and take desperately needed money away from our Military,' he said. A follow-up message proclaimed: 'I, as President, want people coming into our Country who are going to help us become strong and great again, people coming in through a system based on MERIT. No more Lotteries! #AMERICA FIRST'. President Donald Trump said Sunday that an immigration deal is 'probably dead' at this stage because Democrats 'don't really want' one Trump, pictured Friday, is blaming Democrats for the collapse of a deal to protect Dreamers and fix flaws in the immigration system Trump also sent this tweet on Sunday morning explaining his position on a deal A bipartisan group of senators said they had reached an agreement on Thursday only to hear from the president by way of his spokeswoman at a news a conference that the proposal was unsatisfactory to the White House. Later, the president said in tweets that Democrats seem 'intent on having people and drugs pour into our country' and the agreement they offered was a 'big step backwards.' 'Wall was not properly funded, Chain & Lottery were made worse and USA would be forced to take large numbers of people from high crime...countries which are doing badly,' he said. 'I want a merit based system of immigration and people who will help take our country to the next level. I want safety and security for our people. I want to stop the massive inflow of drugs.' Trump is also demanding that the Democratic Party give him the boost in military spending he's been requesting as part of the negotiations to protect Dreamers and keep the government funded beyond Friday. Accusing Democrats of 'not being interested in life and safety,' Trump said last Friday, 'Sadly, Democrats want to stop paying our troops and government workers in order to give a sweetheart deal, not a fair deal, for DACA. Take care of our Military, and our Country, FIRST!' Democrats are saying that an immigration compromise must include a route to citizenship for illegal immigrants who were brought to the country as children and are currently living and working in the country under the Deferred Action for Childhood arrivals program. Colorado Sen. Michael Bennett, one of the Democratic senators involved in the negotiations said Sunday on Meet the Press that his group was willing to offer Trump $1.6 billion for his border wall and another $1.1 billion for other border security enhancements. 'And at the same time, we're saying that we should put the DREAMERS on a pathway to citizenship,' Bennett said. 'There are other compromises as well. This was a hard-fought negotiation over four months. I think that it's a middle-of-the-road approach that I hope other colleagues will support.' The money would only get Trump through the first year of construction, though. His administration prefers a bill that would allocate $30 billion to border security and the wall. Republican Sen. Jeff Flake said Sunday on ABC News' 'This Week' that the deal that had been worked out and Trump is rejecting is truly bipartisan. 'There are three Democrats, three Republicans and were working now to add more Republicans to that list and we will have more this coming week,' he said. 'I think that when we get back into town, people will realize theres only deal in town, theres only one bipartisan bill and we need 60 votes and that bill will be presented with even more Republicans and Democrats than we have right now.' A bipartisan group of senators said they had reached an agreement on Thursday only to hear from the president by way of his spokeswoman at a news a conference that the proposal was unsatisfactory to the White House. Trump had the above to say on Friday am Shortly after the White House rejected the senators' immigration compromise, a claim that Trump had referred to Haiti and other African nations as s***hole' countries emerged. The comments were supposedly uttered by Trump at a Thursday session in the Oval Office that Republican senators and one Democrat, Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, had attended. 'He said these hate-filled things and he said them repeatedly,' Durbin said on Friday. Republicans in the room have said they 'do not recall' the president making the comments Durbin says he did. 'Im saying that this is a gross misrepresentation,' Sen.David Perdue clarified to ABC News on Sunday. One Republican has suggested that Trump did make derogatory comments, though, and he confronted him. Alluding to the dispute, Sen. Lindsey Graham said in a Friday afternoon statement, ' I said my piece directly to him' in the meeting. 'The President and all those attending the meeting know what I said and how I feel.' To that, Perdue said on Sunday, 'Youll have to deal with him. Basically is an operative word.' Appearing on 'This Week,' though, Sen. Flake, a Republican. cast doubt on Perdue's version of events. 'All I can say is I was in a meeting directly afterwards where those who had presented the president our proposal spoke about the meeting. And they -- they said those words were used before those words went public. So thats all I can tell you is I -- I heard that account before the account even went public,' Flake revealed. The reported remarks created chaos for Trump at home and abroad. Hatian-American Republican Rep. Mia Love of Utah, said the comments were 'unkind, divisive [and] elitist' and demanded that Trump apologize. House Democrats said they would move to censure Trump for the reported comment after the three-day holiday. UN human rights spokesman Rupert Colville said, 'If confirmed, these are shocking and shameful comments from the President of the United States. Sorry, but there is no other word one can use but racist.' Asked point blank if he's 'a racist' on Friday by veteran reporter April Ryan after he signed a Martin Luther King Jr. Day proclamation, Trump exited the room swiftly without commenting. Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Thursday that there was no deal yet to help the 'Dreamers,' immigrants who came to the U.S. illegally as children, despite a handful of senators boasting that a deal had been made Trump on Friday pushed back aggressively on the original claim, which had appeared in the Washington Post, that he asked in the meeting, 'Why are we having all these people from s***hole countries come here?' He said in a lengthy set of tweets that 'the language used by me at the DACA meeting was tough, but this was not the language used.' 'What was really tough was the outlandish proposal made - a big setback for DACA!' he said, referring to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program his administration is ending. Trump said, among other things, that the deal he was presented did not include enough funding for his border wall and did not make radical enough changes to the visa system. Complaining about the proposal on Saturday he said it was a 'missed opportunity,' which is, 'Too bad!' 'The Democrats are all talk and no action,' he said. 'They are doing nothing to fix DACA.' Six senators had boasted on Thursday that they had a deal in place that would solve the issue of what to do with the roughly 800,00 people brought to the U.S. illegally as children and whose legal status granted under the Obama administration is about to expire. Yet, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters, 'There has not been a deal reached yet.' Sen. Jeff Flake, a Republican from Arizona, was one of six senators who signed on to a statement saying that a deal had been etched out between the two parties in the upper chamber Even after Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the deal was a no-go, the senators involved were touting it on social media President Trump told a bipartisan group of lawmakers to keep working on an immigration after a group of senators thought they had one done. He also made headlines by allegedly claiming in the meeting, 'Why are we having all these people from s***hole countries come here?' Minutes after the briefing, Durbin, Democrat from Illinois, and Cory Gardner, a Republican from Colorado, tweeted a statement saying there was indeed a deal. 'Several of my colleagues and I have reached an agreement that reflects the discussion we had this week with @realDonaldTrump on a solution for Dreamers and border security,' Gardner wrote, sharing a statement that was co-signed by five of his colleagues. The group of senators working together included Gardner and Durbin, along with Republicans Jeff Flake and Graham, as well as Democrats Michael Bennet and Bob Menendez. 'We have been working for four months and have reached an agreement in principle that addresses border security, the diversity visa lottery, chain migration/family reunification, and the Dream Act the areas outlined by the President. We are now working to build support for that deal in Congress,' the statement said. A spokeswoman for President Trump told DailyMail.com then that what Sanders said from the podium stands. CNN reported that Durbin and Graham had met with Trump at the White House, along with a handful of other senators on Thursday, and Trump told the lawmakers to keep working. More shockingly, when those in the meeting breached restoring protections for immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador and African countries as part of the deal, the president mocked those parts of the world. After news of the insult broke, White House Deputy Press Secretary Raj Shah issued a long-winded statement on immigration, but not a denial. 'Certain Washington politicians choose to fight for foreign countries, but President Trump will always fight for the American people,' Shah said, according to CNN. 'The President will only accept an immigration deal that adequately addresses the visa lottery system and chain migration - two programs that hurt our economy and allow terrorists into our country,' he continued. 'Like other nations that have merit-based immigration, President Trump is fighting for permanent solutions that make our country stronger by welcoming those who can contribute to our society, grow our economy and assimilate into our great nation.' 'He will always reject temporary, weak and dangerous stopgap measures that threaten the lives of hardworking Americans, and undercut immigrants who seek a better life in the United States through a legal pathway,' the Trump spokesman added. At the White House's daily briefing, Huckabee Sanders warned that the Democrats best not play politics over immigration and risk a government shutdown. 'Democrats should stop making our brave troops and essential government functions political pawns in their swamp games,' she said. 'They should stop their obstruction and work with Republicans to fund the government.' She also told reporters that she believed a deal would get done. 'We are confident and we feel we're going to get there,' the press secretary said as she exited the podium for the day. The White House meeting was also attended by Republicans including Sens. Tom Cotton and David Perdue, along with Reps. Bob Goodlatte and Kevin McCarthy, the Republican's chief vote counter, Sen. John Cornyn, said. Cornyn indicated to CNN that the gang of six's proposal wouldn't be enough to get an immigration bill over the finish line. 'I think the message has now been delivered that we need to get everybody at the table and we'll take the best of their ideas,' Cornyn said. Goodlatte, who serves as the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, unveiled an immigration bill Wednesday afternoon that would give Trump most of what he wants and give the Dreamers three-year documents that could be renewed indefinitely. The White House has indicated its support for Goodlatte's bill, but Democrats have said that the Dreamers must be awarded permanent residency status, an action conservatives are rallying against as amnesty for the illegal immigrants. These artworks were created by M25 rapist Antoni Imiela from behind bars and give a disturbing glimpse into his twisted mind as he begs to be released. One of the oil paintings shows a barely-human form standing on a rocky outcrop while another depicts a moon-lit landscape said to be inspired by his time on the run for armed robbery. The 63-year-old has served fewer than 14 years for nine assaults but, like vile taxi driver John Worboys, could soon be free to walk the streets as his case is considered by the Parole Board. Scroll down for video. One of the oil paintings by M25 rapist Antoni Imiela shows a barely-human form standing on a rocky outcrop Another depicts a moon-lit landscape said to be inspired by his time on the run for armed robbery His paintings were published by The Sunday People alongside extracts from jail letters which demonstrate Imiela's appalling lack of remorse. In one of the letters, from August, he boasts: 'Well I've got the rest of my life to live yet and things to do and in the future. 'Oh yeah I've still got a lot of ambition and have always got what I aimed for even if it took hard work.' Many of the messages focus on his upcoming parole hearing, with one reading: 'The main thing in my head is hoping to get out.' Family of Imiela's victims, which included girls as young as 10, are said to be 'horrified' at the thought of him being released. Imiela was dubbed 'the M25 rapist' due to his propensity to use the motorway to flee the scene of his violent attacks, carried out across the Home Counties. He would snatch his victims where they were walking, drag them into a secluded area and rape them. Imiela's merciless Christmas Day attack on Sheila Jankowitz in 1987 was the precursor to a series of violent rapes that he committed more than a decade later. A spokesman for the Parole Board said: 'We can confirm that the Ministry of Justice has referred the case of Antoni Imiela for a parole review. 'The review is following the standard six-month process for all indeterminate sentence prisoners and will be reviewed on the papers in the first instance. 'The review may be concluded on the papers or alternatively it may be directed to an oral hearing.' The Old Bailey back in 2012 heard that he knew he was facing a lengthy jail sentence for armed robbery when he attacked Mrs Jankowitz in the early hours of Christmas Day 1987. Imiela, 63, has served less than 14 years for attacking nine women but, like vile taxi driver John Worboys, could soon be free to walk the streets A sexual predator dubbed the M25 rapist (pictured) who was handed seven life sentences in 2014 for a string of horrific attacks is being considered for parole, it has been claimed Antoni Imiela, then 49, of Appledore, near Ashford in Kent, is pictured at Folkestone Police Station Two weeks later he handed himself in to police for the robbery spree and was eventually jailed for 14 years. He was released in 1996, and five years later began a terrifying campaign of rapes across the south of England on victims as young as 10. Born in Lubeck, West Germany, in 1954 to a Polish father, a soldier, and German mother, Imiela spent part of his early childhood in a displaced people's camp as his parents were both refugees. Rapist John Worboys (pictured) could be freed in a matter of weeks. His victims' lawyer has blasted parole bosses for keeping them in the dark over his release The family moved to the UK in 1961 and spent time in Worthing, West Sussex, before eventually settling in the north east. But his life spiralled out of control and he was first sent to Borstal at the age of 15 when he was locked up for robbery. He had a child but his relationship with his partner came to a turbulent end in the mid 1980s. In February 1987, after Imiela lost his job as a plasterer, he began his series of armed robberies across the country before he raped Sheila Jankowitz. After his release from prison in 1996, he tried to build a new life in the south of England with another woman. Christine, who was just recovering from a turbulent relationship with another man, married Imiela in 1997 and the couple moved into an old council house in the village of Appledore in Kent. Imiela tried a string of odd jobs, including running a 'bric-a-brac' stall in nearby Rye, East Sussex, before finding work on the railways. Colleagues recalled that he would brag to them about his use of prostitutes - although it later emerged that some of the stories might actually have been about rape victims. Richard Scorer, a specialist abuse lawyer from Slater and Gordon, represented 11 of the rapist's victims and said they had been treated with 'the utmost contempt' by the justice system Pictured: The taxi driven by John Worboys where he tricked women into drinking spiked champagne before sexually abusing them One colleague said that shortly before Imiela's arrest for the seven rapes, he saw him at St Pancras railway station in London, where he boasted that he 'went with this young girl and she looked only about 12'. A few days earlier, Imiela had driven to Birmingham and kidnapped a 10-year-old girl at knifepoint before putting her through a five-hour sex ordeal in his car. He also suggested to another colleague - who had no idea his fellow railway worker was the rapist - that the little girl might have 'deserved it'. The shocking news comes as a lawyer who represented several of Black cab rapist John Worboys' victims today accused parole bosses of treating his clients with 'the utmost contempt' after revealing they had not been consulted on the sex attacker's licence conditions. Former stripper Worboys, 60, was jailed in 2009 for 19 sex offences, including rape, with many believing he would die behind bars. But there has been outrage after it emerged he could walk free in a matter of weeks. A meeting will take place tomorrow to finalise the conditions of Worboys' release - but his victims have been kept in the dark. Richard Scorer, a specialist abuse lawyer from Slater and Gordon, represented 11 of the rapist's victims and has demanded Worboys is barred from Greater London. In a statement, he said: 'It is unbelievable that Worboys' victims have not been consulted on their attacker's licence conditions when they are living in fear of his release. 'Considering the shambles of this sorry episode so far it is inexcusable that all victims have not been asked to make representations about his restrictions. Ex-stripper Worboys, 60, was jailed in 2009 for 19 sex offences, including rape, with many believing he would die behind bars. Pictured right: Evidence seized by police on Warboys' arrest 'Our clients already felt betrayed by the way they have been treated by the criminal justice system; they now feel like they are being treated with the utmost contempt. 'This is an absolute disgrace and we demand that all victims those involved in the criminal trial and those who were not are consulted before Worboys' licence conditions are finalised.' The taxi driver would pick his victims up in his London cab, giving them spiked champagne after claiming he had won the lottery. A total of 102 women accused Worboys of sex attacks and police suspected him of claiming more than 500 victims. During the police investigation in 2008, files relating to 83 women were referred to the CPS, but they only took 14 cases forward as the others 'did not pass the evidential test'. Yet 26 women picked out Worboys as their attacker to police. Some of the women whose cases were dropped were told that there was 'no point' putting him on trial a second time as it was thought Worboys would never be released having been given an indeterminate sentence for public protection in 2009. Several women are now crowdfunding to raise cash to launch fresh action against Worboys. A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: 'The licence conditions for John Worboys have not been finalised, and he will not be released until victims have had an opportunity to make representations to the Parole Board on his licence conditions. Martin Luther King Jr.'s son is claiming that President Trump was simply going through the motions when he signed a proclamation in honor the civil rights leader. Martin Luther King III said that the president doesn't have credibility to speak on matters regarding MLK following remarks Trump made regarding immigration from countries in Africa, referring to them as 's***holes'. 'When you make a statement like you made yesterday, the question is: 'Do you even understand why we have a Martin Luther King holiday?' King told the New York Daily News. Martin Luther King III claims that Donald Trump doesn't get his father's legacy 'Today he's doing what the script told him to do. Yesterday caused him to lose any level of credibility. You can talk about Martin Luther King. But the hope is you would hear and embrace what he had to say.' Trump's remarks have been criticized across the political spectrum, yet the president still called MLK a 'great American hero'. 'Today we celebrate Dr. King for standing up for the self-evident truth Americans hold so dear, that no matter what the color of our skin or the place of our birth, we are all created equal by God,' Trump said. MLK's signature speech is his 'I Have a Dream' address. MLK III referred to his father's words while reflecting on the state of the nation. 'We are not further away from the dream, but we are still quite a ways away,' King said. 'We are a divided nation. We are segregated in some regards. We still need to address racism. We are still are a racial society, but the majority of people do not harbor racist feelings.' Rep. John Lewis, a Georgia Democrat and civil rights legend, said Sunday that Donald Trump 'is a racist' as he condemned the Republican president for reportedly referring to Haiti and African nations as 's***hole countries.' Reflecting on the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., Lewis said, 'We have come so far. We made so much progress. And I think this man, this president, is taking us back to another place. 'I think he is a racist,' Lewis said on ABC News' 'This Week.' GOP Congresswoman Mia Love, who's Haitian-American, also said Sunday that Trump's alleged comments were racist in nature. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO Rep. John Lewis, a Georgia Democrat and civil rights legend, said Sunday that Donald Trump 'is a racist' as he condemned the Republican president for reportedly referring to Haiti and African nations as 's***hole countries' President Trump has faced fierce blowback over claims that he referred to Haiti and African nations as 's***holes' in an immigration meeting last Thursday at the White House. He's seen signing a Martin Luther King Jr. Day proclamation on Friday 'I can't defend the indefensible. There are countries that do struggle out there, but their people are good people,' Love, the first Haitian-American elected to Congress, said on CNN's State of the Union. 'Their people are part of us. We're Americans,' the Utah Republican also said. Lewis said Friday that he plans to skip Trump's first State of the Union address in a rejection of the disputed comments. 'In good conscience, I can not and will not sit there and listen at him as he gives the State of the Union Address,' Lewis repeated on Sunday. The lawmaker who marched with King was one of nearly 70 Democrats who boycotted Trump's inauguration last year on the heels of another racially-charged dispute that erupted over MLK Day weekend. President Trump has faced fierce blowback over claims that he referred to Haiti and African nations as 's***holes' in an immigration meeting last Thursday at the White House. Trump's alleged remarks, which he has disputed, were thrown back in his face at an ill-timed Martin Luther King Jr. Day event in the Roosevelt Room. 'Mr. President, will you give an apology for the statement yesterday?' asked American Urban Radio Network White House Correspondent and CNN contributor April Ryan. 'Mr. President, are you a racist?' she asked in a second attempt. The president ducked Ryan's questions as he said goodbye to his guests and rushed out of the room. Lewis said Friday after the incident that he 'cannot in all good conscious be in a room, with what he has said about so many Americans' during an appearance on Katy Tur's MSNBC program. The African-American congressman said that Trump must have racism 'in his DNA.' He told Tur, 'I think the words that he spoke, and the action that he took to honor Dr Martin Luther King, Jr are incompatible. 'You cannot speak the words of tolerance of peace and love and nonviolence and then put down a group of people. A nation of people, because of the color of their skin, or what part of the world they may come from.' On Sunday morning, lawmakers on the top programs were all asked to weigh in on what had emerged as the question of the day: Is Trump a racist? Georgia Sen. David Perdue, a Republican who was in the meeting where Trump is said to have derided some nations as 's***hole countries,' told ABC, 'I think thats ridiculous. I grew up in the south, I fully understand what that means, but the congressman and I just disagree on a couple things.' Perdue said that what had been reported was a 'gross misrepresentation' of what Trump actually said in the meeting. 'The gross misrepresentation was that language was used in there that was not used,' he said, 'and also that the tone of that meeting was not contributory and not constructive.' Sen. Michael Bennett, a Democrat working with a bipartisan groups of senators on an immigration compromise, would not call Trump a racist on 'Meet the Press.' 'I was raised not to call people racist on the theory that it was hard for them to be rehabilitated once you said that,' he told host Chuck Todd. 'But there's no question what he said was racist. There's no question what he said was un-American and completely unmoored from the facts.' Bennett said Trump seems to think that immigrants like his mother and his grandparents - 'Polish Jews who came here after the Holocaust - are 'lazy and, and the truth is exactly the opposite.' 'And-and on the question of what's in his heart, do you have any idea-thought, Chuck, that he would've called into question Barack Obama's birth certificate if Barack Obama were white?' Bennett asked. Sen. Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky who ran against Trump in the 2016 GOP primary, said on Meet the Press that Trump had helped finance a medical mission trip to Haiti where Paul performed eye surgeries on patients. 'And I think it's unfair then to sort of all of a sudden paint him, "Oh well, he's a racist," when I know, for a fact, that he cares very deeply about the people of Haiti because he helped finance a trip where we were able to get vision back for 200 people in Haiti,' Paul said. The president ducked questions on Friday on his alleged 's***hole' countries remarks Trump's alleged remarks, which he has disputed, were thrown back in his face at an ill-timed Martin Luther King Jr. Day event in the Roosevelt Room 'Mr. President, will you give an apology for the statement yesterday?' asked American Urban Radio Network correspondent and CNN contributor April Ryan MLK Day will not be observed by the federal government until Monday, but Trump skipped town on Friday afternoon for Palm Beach. He's expected to return to Washington at some point on Monday. At the White House on Friday morning, Trump signed a proclamation honoring the civil rights leader and delivered a short speech celebrating King's accomplishments. Trump said his remarks that King 'courageously' stood up civil rights. 'Through his bravery and sacrifice, Dr. King opened the eyes and lifted the conscience of our nation,' he said. 'He steered the hearts of our people to recognize the dignity written in every human soul.' Ryan also asked: 'Mr. President, are you a racist?' And in a moment of irony given his alleged remarks, Trump said, 'Today we celebrate Dr. King for standing up for self-evident truth Americans hold so dear, that no matter what the color of our skin or the place of our birth, we are all created equal by God.' 'While Dr. King is no longer with us,' Trump said, 'his words and vision only grow stronger through time.' Signing an MLK Day proclamation, Trump said, 'This is a great and important day...Congratulations to him and to everybody.' As soon as the president finished, Ryan and other reporters hit him with a string of questions about the remarks he's said to have made yesterday about 's***hole' nations. Trump has denied making the widely condemned comment railing against immigrants from 's***hole countries,' although he has admitted to using 'tough' language in an Oval Office meeting with lawmakers on Thursday. 'The language used by me at the DACA meeting was tough, but this was not the language used,' Trump said in a Friday morning tweet. 'What was really tough was the outlandish proposal made - a big setback for DACA!' The tweet came hours after a bombshell report about Trump's comments, which the White House did not immediately deny, and two Republican senators in the room say they do not recall. Trump's claim that he did not make the directly contradicted by Democratic Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois, who was in the meeting. 'In the course of his comments, [Trump] said things that were hate-filled, vile and racist,' Durbin told reporters Friday. 'I use those words advisedly. I understand how powerful they are. But I cannot believe in this history of the White House, in that Oval Office, any president has ever spoken the words that I personally heard our president speak yesterday,' Durbin said in a Friday statement. 'You've seen the comments in the press,' Durbin said. 'I have not read one of them that's inaccurate. To no surprise, the President started tweeting this morning, denying that he used those words. It is not true. He said these hate-filled things and he said them repeatedly.' 'When the question was raised about Haitians, for example. We have a group that have temporary protected status in the United States because they were the victims of crises, disasters, and political upheaval,' Durbin continued. 'The largest group's El Salvadoran, the second is Honduran and the third is Haitian. And when I mentioned that fact to him he said Haitians, do we need more Haitians?' 'And then he went on and he started to describe the immigration from Africa that was being protected in this bipartisan measure. That's when he used these vile and vulgar comments calling the nations they come from shitholes. The exact word used by the president not just once, but repeatedly. That was the nature of this conversation.' Trump's public argument against the emerging deal to protect DACA recipients and make other immigration policy came after a flurry of rebukes from Democrats as well as Republicans in Congress. Trump also denied having said 'take them out' in regard to Haitians, as his administration moves to remove temporary immigration status for people who fled disasters in Haiti and El Salvador years ago. Democrats want to give some 'diversity' visas to these people as changes are made to a special program that lets people apply from around the world to come here. 'Never said anything derogatory about Haitians other than Haiti is, obviously, a very poor and troubled country. Never said "take them out," Trump wrote. 'Made up by Dems. I have a wonderful relationship with Haitians. Probably should record future meetings - unfortunately, no trust!' Trump has not apologized, and the White House initially did not not deny he made the comments, which were originally reported by the Washington Post. A 23-year-old New York photographer has accused Golden Globe award-winning comedian Aziz Ansari of sexual misconduct after they went on a date last year that she claims was a 'violating night and a painful one'. The woman, who lives in Brooklyn, spoke to women's website Babe on the condition of anonymity, claiming that the Master of None actor ignored her verbal and non-verbal cues in his Manhattan apartment in September last year. She has claimed that Ansari repeatedly tried to pressure into having sex over the course of the night. Dailymail.com has repeatedly reached out to Ansari's representatives for comment. The woman said she met Ansari at an after-party for the Emmys in Los Angeles on September 17 when she noticed they had both brought the same kind of film cameras. Award-winning comedian Aziz Ansari is seen wearing a Time's Up initiative pin at a Golden Globes after party last weekend 'I stood up, and I'm like tipsy at this point and feeling really confident. I'm in a gown, and I walked up to Aziz and said, 'What'd you just shoot with?'' she recalled. She said she exchanged phone numbers with Ansari at the party and later made plans for a date when they had both returned to New York. On Monday, September 25, she said she went to Ansari's swanky TriBeCa apartment, where they drank white wine and talked. 'I didn't get to choose and I prefer red, but it was white wine,' she recalled. Ansari then walked her a few blocks away to Grand Banks, an oyster bar on a historic wooden schooner on the Hudson River, she told the publication. She claims the dinner proceeded and Ansari seemed in a rush to get her elsewhere. 'When the waiter came over he quickly asked for the check and he said like, 'Let's get off this boat',' before her wine glass was even empty, she said. 'Like, he got the check and then it was bada-boom, bada-bing, we're out of there.' When the pair returned to his apartment on trendy Franklin Street, she said they kissed, but she declined sex when Ansari offered to get a condom. She claims he performed oral sex on her and then asked her to reciprocate, which she did. The woman claims he stuck his fingers down her throat and allegedly kept moving her hand towards his penis. Ansari is pictured above with Master of None co-creator Alan Yang (left) and co-stars Eric Wareheim and Alessandra Mastronardi after the Emmys. A woman has come forward claiming she met Ansari that night and later had a date that turned uncomfortable 'He probably moved my hand to his d**k five to seven times, she said. He kept doing it after I moved it away. 'It was 30 minutes of me getting up and moving and him following and sticking his fingers down my throat again. It was really repetitive. It felt like a f***ing game.' She said she couldn't say whether Ansari was just clueless or actively ignoring her signals. 'I know I was physically giving off cues that I wasn't interested. I don't think that was noticed at all, or if it was, it was ignored,' she said. She alleges that Ansari repeatedly asked her 'Where do you want me to f**k you?' When the woman stood up to leave, Ansari insisted on calling a car for her, she claims. He allegedly instructed her to use the name 'Essence' with the driver. 'I cried the whole ride home. At that point I felt violated. That last hour was so out of my hand,' she said On the way home, the woman texted a friend: 'I hate men.' (A reporter for Babe reviewed the text messages and spoke with the friends.) She texted another friend after she got back to her apartment: 'I'm taking a bath I'm really upset I feel weird.' The woman said that Ansari's reputation as a feminist and 'woke' individual on social issues heightened the sense of disconnect she felt on the date. 'This was not what I expected. I'd seen some of his shows and read excerpts from his book and I was not expecting a bad night at all, much less a violating night and a painful one,' she said. The next day, before the woman could figure out what to say to Ansari about the date, he allegedly sent her a text message. 'It was fun meeting you last night,' the message read. The woman responded: 'Last night might've been fun for you, but it wasn't for me. You ignored clear non-verbal clues; you kept going with advances. 'I want to make sure you're aware so maybe the next girl doesn't have to cry on the ride home.' Ansari allegedly replied: 'I'm so sad to hear this. Clearly, I misread things in the moment and I'm truly sorry.' The top state primary school in the country has banned girls under eight from wearing hijabs as well as fasting among young pupils. St Stephen's primary school has called on the government to take a firm stand and follow suit rather than leaving schools to create their own rules. The school in Newham, east London, has demanded that parents don't allow their children to fast throughout the school day during Ramadan - when pupils will have to sit summer exams. The chairman of governors at St Stephen's, Arif Qawi, has proposed that the Department for Education should 'step up and take it out of our hands'. St Stephen's primary school in Newham, east London, has banned girls under eight from wearing hijabs as well as fasting among young pupils He added: 'We did not ban fasting altogether but we encouraged them [children] to fast in holidays, at weekends and not on the school campus. Here we are responsible for their health and safety if they pass out on campus. It is not fair to us.' Mr Qawi annouced that he had spoken to Muslim clerics who told him that boys should fast from puberty. However some children at St Stephen's were fasting from the age of eight or nine which Mr Qawi said just seemed wrong. He said: 'It is unfair to teachers and very unfair to governors. We are unpaid. Why should we get the backlash?' Headmistress of St Stephen's, Neena Lall, backed the change in a bid to make the pupils feel more integrated into the school. Headmistress of St Stephen's, Neena Lall, backed the change in a bid to make the pupils feel more integrated into the school She recalled asking the children a couple of years ago to put their hand up if they thought they were British, and very few did. Although it is mostly as an optional item a survey of 800 primary schools found that nearly 20 per cent of them list the hijab as part of their uniform for children aged four to eleven. A campaign led by Amina Lone , of the Social Action and Research Foundation, is fighting for young Muslim girls not to have to wear the hijab in primary schools. The Department for Education said: 'It is a matter for individual schools to decide how to accommodate children observing Ramadan, and to set uniform policies. We issue clear guidance on uniform and to help schools understand their legal duties under the Equality Act.' According to Mr Qawi apart from a few exceptions most of the parents were happy with the school's stance on fasting. He said that their eyes were sparkling with the idea that the decision was no longer in their hands. France will this week urge Britain to take in more migrants and pay a larger cost towards policing them as part of a revision of the so-called Le Touquet agreement. It was in 2003 that Prime Minister Tony Blair and President Jacques Chirac signed the historic document that revolutionised border controls in Channel ports. It meant moving the French frontier to the south coast of England, and the UK frontier to northern France. But with Brexit approaching, and the number of Britain-bound asylum seekers in ports such as Calais growing, the French want Le Touquet to be updated. France will this week urge Britain to take in more migrants and pay a larger cost towards policing them as part of a revision of the so-called Le Touquet agreement. Pictured: The Calais Jungle before it was dismantled With Brexit approaching, and the number of Britain-bound asylum seekers in ports such as Calais growing, the French want Le Touquet to be updated. Pictured: Riots in the Calais Jungle More than 8,000 were kicked out of the port town in 2016 following the razing of the so-called Calais 'Jungle' refugee camp, but illegal settlements are reappearing Pictured: Fire burns during clashes between migrants and police on the eve of the Calais Jungle's closure in October 2016 Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said today that reform would include Britain sharing more costs and taking in greater numbers of migrants. 'I want to reach an additional protocol to these agreements and to take concrete measures to look after a certain number of costs by the British,' Mr Collomb said in an interview with Paris newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche. Mr Collomb also said the British should 'take concrete measures' to take on 'a larger number of people, as regards to the reception of refugees and unaccompanied minors.' It was in 2003 that Prime Minister Tony Blair and President Jacques Chirac signed the historic document that provided juxtaposed border controls in Channel ports. Pictured: Blair and Chirac in 2002 France will do everything it can to help refugees 'but cannot take in economic migrants,' Mr Collomb added. His words came as President Emmanuel Macron prepared to meet Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday for the 35th UK-France summit. It will be held at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Berkshire, with Brexit and related issues such as immigration high on the agenda. An Elysee Palace statement explains that 'ways to improve the handling of migrants on the common border in Calais' will be discussed. Before his election as head of state last May, Mr Macron described Britain's decision to leave the EU as 'a crime' but he has since softened his stance. He once suggested that Le Touquet would have to be renegotiated completely, but he is now pointing to the new clauses suggested by Mr Collomb. Interior Minister Gerard Collomb (right) said today that reform would include Britain sharing more costs and taking in greater numbers of migrants. Pictured centre: French president Emmanuel Macron Mr Macron is, however, increasingly concerned by security in Calais, where hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers have crossed into the UK over the past 20 years. More than 8,000 were kicked out of the port town in 2016 following the razing of the so-called Calais 'Jungle' refugee camp, but illegal settlements are reappearing. Those creating them hope to get across to England using ferries or the Channel Tunnel, and often pay people smugglers. On Tuesday, both Mr Macron and Mr Collomb will visit representatives of the security services and humanitarian groups in Calais. The Prime Minister's spokesman said: 'We have provided help already in the form of additional security and we have put in place structures in order to find minors in Calais homes here.' A California man filmed the shocking moment his home in Montecito was ravaged by flash floods on Tuesday evening. Marco Farrell captured the dramatic moment on camera, narrating his family's terror a wall of mud and water came rushing down their street and into their home. At the start of the four-and-a-half minute clip, Farrell walks outside and notes that the water is headed their direction, shouting at a motorist to 'get out.' 'The flash flood is right there! Get out of here! Go! ' he yells impatiently at a large white van on the street in front of him. The vehicle can be seen reversing down the street as a wave of water and debris comes into view, barreling down the road and towards Farrell's driveway. He then runs back into his home and can be heard telling his mother that the flood waters are breaking into their home and to wake up his dad so they can get to a higher location. Marco Farrell captured the dramatic moment on camera, narrating his family's terror a wall of mud and water came rushing down their street and into their home At the start of the four-and-a-half minute clip, Farrell walks outside and notes that the water is headed their direction, shouting at a motorist to 'get out' He then runs back into his home and can be heard telling his mother that the flood waters are breaking into their home and to wake up his dad so they can get to a higher location In the rest of the video, which flashes in and out of focus as he frantically runs around his home trying to get to safety, there are various scenes of devastation in the home. Farrell takes a moment to push a sofa against one of the doors, but it doesn't keep the water out. In one shot water can be seen gushing through the crack in a door. Farrell then pans over to a shot of the kitchen, which is filled up to the counter top with mud. Farrell said in an interview with ABC 7 that he, his parents and his dog went into their hallway for more than an hour - where the water over time filled to thigh-high. 'The scariest thing was the sound,' he explained. 'It sounded like the scariest monster you ever heard, banging on your door.' After the storm passed he posted to his Facebook that the family survived the traumatic incident. 'We are alive. My parents, Lucas and I are safe,' he wrote on Wednesday morning. '4 feet 9f raging mud in the house. My 4runner is gone from driveway.' In the rest of the video, which flashes in and out of focus as he frantically runs around his home trying to get to safety, there are various scenes of devastation in the home In one shot water can be seen gushing through the crack in a door Farrell then pans over to a shot of the kitchen, which is filled up to the counter top with mud The death toll from mudslides that devastated parts of California's scenic Santa Barbara County rose to 19 on Saturday amid a massive influx of emergency crews searching for five people still missing, according to Cal Fire's latest update. 'The unstable environment remains a critical threat to civilians and responders,' a fact sheet released on Saturday said. 'The large amounts of mud and debris are making access and progress challenging. Search and rescue remains the highest priority.' A total of 28 people have been injured as a resulted of the catastrophe, Cal Fire said. One missing person was found alive on Saturday but chances were dwindling fast that more survivors could still be located from the torrent of mud and debris that struck on Tuesday, said Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown. 'While every hour it remains less likely we'll find anyone alive, there remains hope,' he said at a news conference. Seven people had still been counted missing at the start of Saturday, according to Cal Fire, which saw about another 900 emergency personnel arrive in Montecito, north of Los Angeles, to join the relief effort under way by more than 2,100 personnel from local, state and federal agencies, including the US Coast Guard, the US Navy and the American Red Cross. 'We have to do whatever it takes,' said Capt Tom Henzgen, leader of a team from the Los Angeles Fire Department. The death toll from mudslides that devastated parts of California's scenic Santa Barbara County rose to 19 on Saturday amid a massive influx of emergency crews searching for five people still missing, according to Cal Fire's latest update The ramped-up rescue effort is in response to urgent requests for additional manpower made earlier in the week. A rescue worker is pictured on Friday in Montecito The disaster struck on Tuesday after heavy rains drenched the area near Montecito, where vegetation had been stripped bare by the largest wildfire in California's history The destruction covered 30 square miles, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said. Officials ordered residents in most of the southeastern corner of Montecito, which is east of Santa Barbara, to leave their homes for what was likely to be 1-2 weeks The ramped-up rescue effort is in response to urgent requests for additional manpower made earlier in the week. 'We need that number to effectively meet our objectives,' said Amber Anderson, a spokesman for the multi-agency response team. 'To get people here takes time and we're finally getting that request for influx.' The disaster struck on Tuesday after heavy rains drenched the area near Montecito, where vegetation had been stripped bare by the largest wildfire in California's history. Rain-soaked hillsides gave way, unleashing a sudden, violent stream of mud, water, uprooted trees and boulders onto the valley below and killing victims, now know to be ages 3 to 89. The destruction covered 30 square miles, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said. Officials ordered residents in most of the southeastern corner of Montecito, which is east of Santa Barbara, to leave their homes for what was likely to be 1-2 weeks. A young mother asleep with her 3-year-old daughter as her 10-year-old nephew slumbered nearby were among those killed. Other victims included a 22-year-old woman who died in the arms of her brother as he frantically tried to save her after their father was swept to his death by the fast-moving river of mud. Loved ones of a British headteacher murdered by pirates in the Amazon jungle have revealed she would have went on her solo kayaking trip even if warned she would die. Emma Kelty, 43, was 42 days into a 4,000-mile journey from the source of the Amazon to the sea when she disappeared. It has since emerged a gang of pirates named the 'Water Rats' spotted Ms Kelty, from Finchley, north London, resting in a tent next to the river when they blasted her twice with a sawn-off shotgun and hacked at her with a machete. The body of British headteacher Emma Kelty, who was murdered in the Amazon jungle by pirates, has still not been discovered four months on from her brutal death Ms Kelty, 43, was 42 days into a 4,000-mile solo kayaking trip from the source of the Amazon to the sea when she disappeared Pictured: The canoe used by the suspects (left) and the kayak belonging to Emma Kelty. Ms Kelty's body was dumped in the river But in an interview with the Sunday Times Magazine, friends and family have insisted the former primary school teacher would have set off on the journey even if she was told it would be her last. Schoolmate Jewell said: 'Even if someone had been able to tell her fortune and tell her, "This is definitely going to happen to you," she would have gone anyway.' The comments come as it emerged Ms Kelty's body has still not been discovered, four months after her murder. One of the gang members responsible for the brutal slaying admitted Ms Kelty was still alive when they dumped her body in the river's murky waters to be eaten by piranhas. After murdering Ms Kelty in cold blood, the gang travelled to a local market and flogged the teacher's belongings. Her two mobile phones, a drone, a GoPro camera and a laptop were sold possibly for as little as 300 reals, roughly the equivalent of 70. It has also emerged a 16-year-old student warned Ms Kelty not to go beyond his village over fears of pirates and drug traffickers. Ms Kelty's heartbroken brother Piers has now revealed the body has still not been found and divers called off the search after eight days Ms Kelty had kept friends and family up to date with her progress using social media. Loved ones first knew something was wrong when updates abruptly stopped Miliane Vicente told a newspaper: 'We looked her in the eyes and begged her not to attempt that stretch of river. 'I said that it was very dangerous, that it was full of drugs traffickers and pirates there. We told her they would kill her.' According to the teenager, Ms Kelty replied: 'I can't stay, the more time I stay here the more time I'm losing. For me to succeed I have to do this route. Your hearts are very kind, but I have to carry on.' Ms Kelty was born to well-off parents in London and father Peter was a partner at a financial investment company. She was known for her determination and before her trip to the Amazon had already been on adventures around the world. In 2015, she walked the 2,600-mile Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada. In a chilling post written a few days before she disappeared, she said: 'So in or near Coari (100km away) I will have my boat stolen and I will be killed too. Nice' The pirates stole Ms Kelty's equipment, including her mobile phones, and sold them at a market hours after the murder Ms Kelty's drone, which was flogged by the pirates In 2017 she skied 700 miles unassisted to become only the sixth woman to reach the South Pole on a solo expedition. Like the Amazon trek, these trips were not without their dangers but her friends say Ms Kelty always set out to finish what she had started. Even after developing 'polar thigh' - a painful condition that causes skin to die - she kept on through the Antarctic's -30C temperatures. Ms Kelty had left her job as a headmistress at a Surrey primary school to travel the world. But she had dismissed warnings from those who urged her not to tackle the Amazon alone, particularly as she was new to kayaking. The Bristol University graduate had been posting updates online and tracking her progress by GPS, but the messages stopped and the trail ended in the notorious drug-smuggling route between the small towns of Coari and Codajas. In a chilling post written a few days before she disappeared, she said: 'So in or near Coari (100km away) I will have my boat stolen and I will be killed too. Nice.' Paedophile entertainer Rolf Harris has made a rare public outing after being chauffeured to his local shops in a 60,000 BMW. The 87-year-old was photographed holding a number of documents in his left hand when he made his way out of the Mailboxes Etc store in Maidenhead, Berkshire. Harris was freed from prison in May 2017 after he was jailed for more than five years following his conviction of 12 indecent assaults. He also preyed on two teenage girls and abused his daughter's friend. Convicted paedophile Rolf Harris was spotted leaving the Mailboxes Etc store in Maidenhead The disgraced entertainer was driven to the outlet in a black 60,000 BMW 7 Series And the recent spotting is just one of a handful of sightings since he was released from HMP Stafford after serving less than half of his sentence. He was seen picking up items, which an eyewitness said looked like planning documents, from the outlet after arriving in a black BMW 7-Series car. The witness said he tried to avoid being seen and 'ensured he didn't mix with the public'. They told The Sun on Sunday: 'Harris was trying to ensure he didn't mix with the public. 'He was speaking to people in the Mailboxes place and he came out holding what looked like documents that could be something to do with planning. 'He was then straining his eyes to see the car as he came out, and he obviously wanted to get straight to the vehicle without passing too many people. 'He was walking really slowly, and then had difficulty getting in to the car he is not sprightly as he used to be. But luckily for him, no-one really noticed him or stopped to talk to him.' Harris (pictured) was holding sheets of paper, which one onlooker described as looking like 'planning documents' He then got back into the BMW after collecting the items from the store near his home in Berkshire It comes after the disgraced entertainer successfully appealed one conviction of incident assault after it was overturned by the Court of Appeal. He was cleared of groping an eight-year-old autograph hunter in the late 1960s after his lawyers presented fresh evidence about an alleged sex attack at a community centre in Portsmouth. Appeal judge Lord Justice Treacy said that a key witness in the trial, a man that had lived in the area of the community centre Harris was said to have visited, gave a statement that was 'a fantasy'. Serial killer Levi Bellfield (pictured) has boasted about the luxuries he is enjoying in prison Serial killer Levi Bellfield has reportedly boasted about the luxuries he is enjoying in prison - adding that 'he most likely eats better than most out there'. The 49-year-old, who was convicted of multiple counts of murder, brags in letters to a pen pal about how he likes to spend his private money on 'proper' food, such as rump steaks and legs of lamb. He also details how he has his TV, PlayStation, XBox and DVD player all lined up, as he admits he might have an OCD-type disorder, according to the Sun on Sunday. And the murderer, whose victims include 13-year-old Milly Dowler, claims former-fellow inmate Charles Bronson is 'still perving over young men' and that he 'terrorised' Britain's 'most dangerous prisoner'. He was in a cell near Bronson, 65, at Wakefield Prison, West Yorkshire, before being transferred to Frankland jail in Co Durham. Writing from Frankland prison under his Muslim name Yusuf Rahim, the serial killer reportedly reveals to a friend: 'The prison food is OK but I cook daily. 'Halal rump steak, leg of lamb, chicken or roast beef. 'I like to spend my private money on proper food mate. Writing from Frankland prison under his Muslim name Yusuf Rahim, the serial killer reveals to a friend: 'The prison food is OK but I cook daily. Halal rump steak, leg of lamb, chicken or roast beef' 'To be honest mate I most likely eat better than most out there.' He adds: 'I think I've got a disorder. Everything has to be in place neat and tidy. 'TV, PlayStation X Box and DVD player and my sound system and speakers facing towards me.' In 2008 Bellfield was given a whole-life term for murdering Marsha McDonnell, 19, in Hampton, west London, in 2003, for killing Amelie Delagrange, 22, in Twickenham, west London, in 2004, and attempting to murder Kate Sheedy, 18, in Isleworth, earlier that year. Bellfield's first murder victim was schoolgirl Milly Dowler, who was 13 when she was snatched while walking home from school in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, in 2002. She was found six months later. Bellfield's first murder victim was schoolgirl Milly Dowler (pictured), who was 13 when she was snatched while walking home from school in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, in 2002. She was found six months later However Bellfield, a former wheel clamper, was not convicted of the murder until 2011. At the time he was already in jail for the murders of Ms Delagrange and Ms McDonnell and the attempted murder of Ms Sheedy. The judge at his trial over Milly's murder described Bellfield as a 'cruel and pitiless killer'. Bellfield yawned as he was led from court, after his final conviction. A former Wall Street executive filed a harassment complaint against Former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, police said Sunday. Spitzer, 58, threatened to stab a man's penis in an outburst at an upscale restaurant, the alleged victim of the remark, Jamie Antolini, 48, has claimed, according to the New York Daily News. Spitzer approached Antolini at his table at Avra Madison Estiatorio on the Upper East Side on January 2 and said, 'I'll f***ing kill you, I will have you killed. I'm going to stab you in the c**k with a f***ing knife.,' the complaint said. Spitzer 'lost his mind' when he heard Antolini praise longtime rival, Home Depot founder Ken Legon, as an 'amazing guy', Antolini said. Spitzer has not been arrested and it's not yet known if he's being questioned related to this complaint. Jamie Antolini (left), 48, filed a harassment complaint against former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer (right), 58, for allegedly threatening to stab him in the penis in New York City on January 2, police said Sunday The alleged outburst took place at the upscale Greek restaurant, Avra Madison Estiatorio, on New York's Upper East Side on January 2 Antolini said the confrontation lasted about 20 minutes until security dragged Spitzer out of the upscale Greek restaurant. At one point, Antolini recalled Spitzer saying: 'He leaned into me, got right in my face, screaming - yelling - 'I don't know who the f*** you think you are! I'll f****** have you killed!' Antolini said that through the entire outburst, he remained in his seat, holding a glass of wine. 'All I said was, "Ken Langone would have been the best President ever",' Antolini told the New York Daily News. He added that he never saw Spitzer brandish a knife. Spitzer's spokeswoman, Lisa Lindon, blamed the outburst on Antolini and said the former governor was at the restaurant to celebrate his mother's 90th birthday. 'The patron persisted in making aggressive remarks, which Mr. Spitzer initially ignored. An argument ensued, but at no time did he make any threats,' she said in a statement. Spitzer's spokeswoman, Lisa Lindon, blamed the outburst on Antolini and said the former governor was at the restaurant to celebrate his mother's 90th birthday; Spitzer is seen here in Midtown, Manhattan on November 5, 2013 Anotolini (right) is seen here with Randi Schatz in New York City on March 21 Former escort Svetlana Travis Zakharova, 27, released a 2016 recording on Saturday which she claims is of disgraced former New York governor Eliot Spitzer threatening her life; Zakharova was charged with extorting Spitzer for $400,000 by threatening to take their relationship public; She is pictured in court in 2017 The outburst came three days before an escort accused of extorting Spitzer for $400,000 released a recording she says is of him threatening to kill her. Svetlana Travis Zakharova, 27, was charged with extorting Spitzer, who she said she had a long-term relationship with after a 2016 bust-up at The Plaza Hotel during which she said he tried to choke her. Zakharova denied extorting him but pleaded guilty to stealing from another lover to for rent money last year. She has always argued that Spitzer ought to have been arrested for assault after their Plaza fight. On Saturday, The New York Post published a recording of a phone call she provided them in which a man is heard telling her: 'You're going to die a slow and painful death you f****** b****'. She claims it is of Spitzer and that it demonstrates his violent streak. In a statement to DailyMail.com, Spitzer's lawyer refused to say whether or not it was his in the recording. 'This is a woman who has been extorting and threatening Mr. Spitzer and his family for years. The record in her criminal case speaks for itself,' he said. Zakharova alleges that the phone call took place in February 2016, shortly after the incident at The Plaza. It is not clear who initiated the call but the recording begins with her saying: 'You never helped me, you ruined my life.' In response, the man fires back: 'You f**king bitch! You piece of s**t. And then you f**king destroyed my life!' the man exploded. Spitzer, shown above with girlfriend Roxana Girand, has not commented on the recording 'You know what's going to happen to you? You're going to be f**king dead. 'You're going to die a slow painful death and your family is going to look at you and laugh because you're a f**king bitch.' Spitzer and the woman were found inside a suite at The Plaza Hotel on February 13, 2016. She had called 911 from the bathroom on her cell phone, claiming they had been fighting. When police arrived, he answered the door, said all was fine and she was nowhere to be seen. They went back not long afterwards and saw broken glass and blood spatter on the floor inside. Zakharova was then found injured in the bathroom. Her version of what happened changed several times during police questioning. At first, she claimed he had choked her after she refused her sexual advances, alleging that he said: 'What am I paying you for?' Antolini and Schatz are seen here attending an event on Park Place in New York on May 16 In another story, she said he was angry because she'd told him of her plans to go back to her native Russia and called her a 'whore'. He was never charged and she left the country, but five months later, he sued her claiming she was ruining his life by trying to extort him. He claimed that their relationship was not a business one, that they were dating, but that he had given her money to keep their liaisons quiet. Spitzer wanted to keep them secret, he said, because of his use of prostitutes in the past which led him to resign in 2008. Their civil case was settled but the NYPD investigated and arrested Zakharova afterwards. In October last year, she accepted a plea deal which saw her plead guilty to petit larceny for stealing from another ex-lover to get rent money. In 2008, Spitzer resigned after it was revealed he had spent $10,000 on prostitutes from the agency Emperors VIP The deal meant that she would not have to serve time for extorting Spitzer but it also stopped her from being able to speak publicly about it. In November, her lawyers filed a motion to lift that ban. As part of it, she was able to describe his alleged fetish for being walked around on all fours while wearing a leather leash. 'The fact that Spitzer was paying young girls to insert sex toys into his anal cavity and walk him around the floor on all fours with a leash is conduct that he made a conscious choice to engage in. 'If these facts are embarrassing to Spitzer and his family then shame on Spitzer for engaging in the conduct in the first place and shame on the Bronx DA for catering to Spitzer by trying to suppress [Zakharova's] right to free speech,' her lawyer said. Zakharova was sentenced to three months in jail but was released on time served, having already spent a year behind bars. In 2008, Spitzer resigned after it was revealed he had spent $10,000 on prostitutes from the agency Emperors VIP. Sen. Jeff Flake, Republican from Arizona, said Sunday that he heard about President Trump's 's***hole' comment the slur became public knowledge. 'All I can say is I was in a meeting directly afterwards where those who had presented the president our proposal spoke about the meeting,' Flake said on ABC's This Week. 'And they said those words were used before those words went public. So that's all I can tell you is I heard that account before the account even went public.' The president created a firestorm Thursday when the remark which he attached to Haiti, El Salvador and African countries during an immigration discussion was reported by the Washington Post. Sen. Jeff Flake (pictured), a Republican from Arizona, said on This Week that he heard about President Trump's 's***hole' comment before it was reported in the Washington Post. Flake also previewed a speech he plans to deliver this week comparing Trump to Stalin ABC News' George Stephanopoulos (pictured) asked Sen. Jeff Flake about a series of speeches the senator plans to deliver scolding the president for using terms like 'fake news' and calling the media the 'enemy of the people' The president has denied he used that exact language, while Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, said he did. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, also told Sen. Tim Scott, another South Carolina Republican, that Trump did, in fact, use that language. Sen. David Perdue, a Republican from Georgia, appeared before Flake on the ABC News program and called Durbin's characterization of the conversation a 'gross misrepresentation' of what occurred. 'It's not the first time Senator Dubin has done it, and it is not productive to solving the problem that we have at hand,' Perdue told anchor George Stephanopoulos. Senators are currently trying to etch out a bipartisan immigration deal that would ensure that the so-called 'Dreamers' would get to stay in the United States after the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, policy expires. Sen. Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican who was in the meeting, said in a joint statement with Perdue that he did 'not recall' the president commenting on 's***hole countries.' Flake's account of hearing about the quip right after it happened lends legitimacy to the Post's story. The Arizona Republican, who is retiring next year and has pledged to be a thorn in Trump's side, is slated to give a series of speeches on the president's loose relationship with the truth. Flake previewed the message he plans to share Wednesday, the same day Trump has scheduled his so-called 'Fake News Awards.' 'Its a testament to the condition of our democracy that our own president uses words infamously spoken by Joseph Stalin to describe his enemies,' Flake will say. 'It bears noting that so fraught with malice was the phrase "enemy of the people" that even Nikita Khrushchev forbade its use.' 'And of course, the president has it precisely backward,' Flake will note. 'Despotism is the enemy of the people, the free press is the despots enemy.' Stephanopoulos asked the senator what he was trying to accomplish with these speeches. 'You can talk about crowd size and this is pretty innocuous if theres a falsehood. But when you reflexively refer to the press as the enemy of the people or fake news, that has real damage,' Flake explained. The Arizona Republican said that 'authoritarians across the world are using the term "fake news" to justify cracking down on their opposition.' 'That's nothing we should be proud of,' Flake offered. 'And so I'm going to talk about how damaging that is,' he continued. 'It'll be, I think, on the same day, probably Wednesday, that the president is giving out his fake news awards.' 'And I just want the president to know that this has real consequences,' Flake said. A Mexican drug cartel heiress was arrested during a top-secret raid of her home on Friday. Sofia Del Carmen Monsivais Trevino was arrested in relation to the deaths of five lawmen in January 2017, according to Proceso. Mexican Marines arrested her during a raid on her home in the Campestre neighborhood of Alvaro Obregon. They found numerous weapons and drugs when they hit the house where she'd been hiding for the better part of a year. Monsivais Trevino, who is the heiress to the Cartel del Noreste (CDN) was taken in two months after authorities in nearby Nuevo Laredo captured another of the cartel's leaders and member of the Trevino family - Ana Isabel Trevino Morales. Sofia Del Carmen Monsivais Trevino was arrested in relation to the deaths of five lawmen in January 2017, according Proceso. Mexican Marines arrested her during a raid on her home in the Campestre neighborhood of Alvaro Obregon and found numerous weapons and drugs Monsivais Trevino, who is the heiress to the Cartel del Noreste (CDN) was taken in two months after authorities in nearby Nuevo Laredo captured another of the cartel's leaders and member of the Trevino family - Ana Isabel Trevino Morales (pictured) She was transported to the central Mexican state of Morelos and booked into a federal women's prison on charges of federal organized crime. The heiress was also accused of being behind the murder of a top Tamaulipas prosecutor, Ricardo Martinez Chavez, and four of his staffers January 2017, Proceso reported. Among the other victims, whose names weren't released, were a department head, a state prosecutor and a special agent. A team of CDN gunmen allegedly ambushed Martinez Chavez and the staffers in early January, firing more than 300 rounds from AK-47 and AR-15 rifles. Prosecutors tied Monsivas Trevino to the crime quickly and claim she is the person who gave the order to kill Martinez Chavez. The heiress was also accused of being behind the murder of a top Tamaulipas prosecutor, Ricardo Martinez Chavez (pictured), and four of his staffers January 2017 Prosecutors tied Monsivas Trevino to the crime quickly and claim she is the person who gave the order to kill Martinez Chavez In the days just before the ambush the prosecutor received a series of threats. At the time his agency was looking into the CDN operations in Nuevo Laredo. State police had also shut down bars and brothels allegedly being used by the cartel for human trafficking and forced prostitution. The authorities also made several large arrests - seizing weapons and cash in the city. The CDN broke off from the larger Los Zetas Cartel in the past years - beginning a war for control against the newly-rivaled gang. The CDN is a family structured gang where power is controlled and shared by relatives of the former Los Zetas boss Miguel Angel Trevino Morales, Sofia's uncle better known as Z40. The CDN started after Z40 was arrested. Advertisement Off the coast of Washington State are many picturesque islands populated with wealthy vacation owners. But McNeil Island is different, inhabited by 236 'sexually violent predators' whose prison sentences have ended but who the state refuses to release. These residents are, in the view of the state, the worst rapists and child molesters who are more likely to commit new offenses. After sex offenders finish serving prison time for the crimes they committed, an End of Sentence Review Committee assesses whether or not they believe the person is a repeat offender. Anyone who meets the definition of a 'sexually violent predator' is sent to McNeil Island's center, established in 1991, for an indefinite period of time to receive treatment. Once sent there, it is nearly impossible to convince a court to re-release the person. Off the coast of Washington State sits McNeil Island (pictured), inhabited by 236 'sexually violent predators' whose prison sentences have ended but who the state refuses to release After sex offenders finish serving prison time for the crimes they committed, an End of Sentence Review Committee assesses whether or not they believe the person is a repeat offender. If so, they are sent to McNeil Island's Special Commitment Center (pictured) The island - referred to by some as 'pedophile island' (satellite view) - is only accessible by a ferry that runs every two hours, and has been the home to many of its residents for years The island - eferred to by some as 'pedophile island' - is only accessible by a ferry that runs every two hours, and has been the home to many of its residents for years. For a short time in the 1960s, the island was the home of infamous cult leader and serial killer Charles Manson. Vice News spoke to Justin, who spent five years in prison and has spent a decade at McNeil Island. He recently convinced the state he should be freed. He started molesting children when he was a child himself and was convicted at age 13 of first-degree child rape for molesting his half-sister for more than a year. Like many sex offenders, he was also abused himself - physically and sexually, he says. One resident named Justin, who spent five years in prison and has spent a decade at McNeil Island, recently convinced the state he should be freed (Pictured, the grounds of the center) Rachel Forde, who worked as Justin's attorney for the last five years, said the treatment center on McNeil island offers 'no benefit at all' (Pictured, a room for residents at the Special Commitment Center on McNeil Island) 'If our society gets together and says: "We want life sentences for all sex offenders", then we should just be honest about that and say that and change our laws,' Forde told Vice (Pictured, a special padded pink room used for residents who might harm themselves or others) But staff disagrees. Elena Lopez, the clinical director at McNeil Island, said: 'The purpose of our treatment program is to manage their risk. It's not to eradicate or eliminate or get rid of' (Pictured, restraint chair next to a door in a living unit at the center) 'I will tell you that it took forever for me to forgive myself for what I have done,' Justin told Vice. 'I don't have any urges towards children, I don't have any struggles about urges towards children. I honestly am baffled because it's like I just stop thinking about it.' Justin is set to be released later this year, and he will face plenty of restrictions and monitoring. Rachel Forde, who worked as Justin's attorney for the last five years, said the treatment center on McNeil island offers 'no benefit at all'. 'If our society gets together and says: "We want life sentences for all sex offenders", then we should just be honest about that and say that and change our laws,' Forde told Vice. But the staff disagrees. Elena Lopez, the clinical director at McNeil Island, said the main treatment offered is group therapy, although they do offer 'case management' which is an hour of individual therapy. 'The purpose of our treatment program is to manage their risk. It's not to eradicate or eliminate or get rid of, because most of our residents may always have a proclivity for deviancy in some way whether that's for children or non-consensual sex or other,' Lopez said. And Bill Van Hook, who has run the center for almost two years, said the only way people get out of the center is if they throw themselves into treatment. 'They think: "I have to get involved in treatment and that's how I'm going to get out",' Van Hook said. In September of last year, about 200 residents filed a federal lawsuit alleging that the facility is violating their rights by forcing them to drink the often-cloudy, brown water. Resident JD McManus (pictured) said his friends on McNeil Island have contracted diseases from the water Calvin Malone (pictured), a resident leading the legal challenge, said the water contains high level of chemicals and fecal matter and that he never sees the staff drink the water Special Commitment Centers (pictured, on the island) have been the subject of controversy for many years because of the involuntary confinement of sex offenders past fulfilling their court sentences. Nineteen other states have facilities like the one on McNeil Island Despite the lack of research as to whether these centers reduce sex offenders' chances of committing new crimes, the Supreme Court ruled the facilities legal in 1997 (Pictured, McNeil Island) For a short time in the 1960s, the island was the home of infamous cult leader and serial killer Charles Manson (pictured, 1969) Special Commitment Centers have been the subject of controversy for many years because of the involuntary confinement of sex offenders past fulfilling their court sentences. Nineteen other states have facilities like the one on McNeil Island. Despite the lack of research as to whether these centers reduce sex offenders' chances of committing new crimes, the Supreme Court ruled the facilities legal in 1997. The court declined to revisit the issue last year. In September 2017, about 200 residents filed a federal lawsuit alleging that the facility is violating their rights by forcing them to drink the often-cloudy, brown water. The residents alleged the contaminated water causes stomach pain and skin rashes and has been blamed for unexplained deaths. Health reports say the facility's water treatment plant has been 'on the verge of failure' since 2013. Calvin Malone, a resident leading the legal challenge, said the water contains high level of chemicals and fecal matter. 'None of the staff drinks the water here,' he said. 'If the water was perfectly fine, why would they carry water from the mainland onto the site or use bottled water from the kitchen when the residents have to drink water from the pipes?' JD McManus, who has lived at the center since 2001, said his friends on McNeil Island have contracted diseases from the water and he has suffered ill effects such as developing hives after taking a shower. 'Just because we did a crime, doesn't mean we shouldn't have clean water,' McManus said. Australia Post worker Klaus Petr (pictured), 56, was killed in an allegedly random attack on Saturday A man who was allegedly stabbed to death outside a Sydney train station had been sitting in a park reading a bible when police say he was murdered. Brian Lee, 29, was charged with murder after the victim - 56-year-old Klaus Petr - was found by members of the public near Hurstville train station on Saturday morning. Police said the victim suffered 'severe lacerations' in what they believe was a 'random' attack. They seized an 'edged weapon' when arresting Lee nearby less than 30 minutes after the alleged attack. NSW Police allege Mr Petr was killed after 6am in a small park near the station, reportedly as he was reading the religious text. He was found near the station entrance by people who had been practising tai chi in the park. His wife, Ann, described him as a kind and quiet person. 'I never think (sic) anything like this happen to him at all,' she told the Seven Network on Sunday. Police said the victim suffered 'severe lacerations' in what they believe was a 'random' attack Wife Ann (pictured with Klaus) remembered her husband as a kind man who was the last person she expected to be involved in any sort of altercation 'He's a very good person. I just feel shocked.' She added: 'Even if I would fight with someone, he would say: 'Let it go, don't worry, keep your mouth shut. 'He was that kind of person, he would walk away, he didn't want to fight.' She said Mr Petr had finished working a night shift, but never made it back home after he was allegedly stabbed in the chest. Mrs Petr added: 'He was a really good person, really quiet and wouldn't get involved with anyone because he liked to be in peace by himself. 'He would like to always sit down and read books, then he would work hard in the evening and come home in the morning.' Devastated wife Ann Petr (pictured) said her husband was a peacemaker who would never fight with anyone Brian Lee was charged with murder after allegedly stabbing a stranger to death outside a Sydney train station (pictured) A NSW Police spokesman said that detectives don't believe Lee knew the victim. 'It appears to be random,' the spokesman said on Sunday. The 29-year-old was charged with murder and wasn't required to appear when his matter was briefly mentioned in Parramatta Local Court on Sunday. His legal aid solicitor said Lee wasn't applying for bail and it was formally refused by Magistrate Daphne Kok. Lee is due back in court at Burwood in mid-March. A former policeman accused of sexual harassment and soliciting child pornography has had more than a dozen rape charges added to a long list of allegations against him. Vaughan Hildebrand, 29, has been behind bars since June last year after 10 women alleged they were sexually harassed by the former Sydney constable. Another two women have come forward, one who has accused Hildebrand of repeatedly raping her in 2010, The Daily Telegraph reported. Vaughan Hildebrand, 29, who is accused of sexual harassment and soliciting child pornography, has had 14 rape charges added to a long list of allegations against him He has been charged with 14 counts of rape relating to that woman. Hildebrand faces a total of 15 counts of sexual intercourse without consent and a further 12 of using a carriage service to harass and intimidate. He was initially investigated and charged with 17 offences relating to the harassment and stalking of three women. Seven others later came forward and he was charged with another 16 offences - including using a carriage service to solicit child pornography and one count of rape. Hildebrand, 29, has been behind bars since June last year after 10 separate women alleged they were sexually harassed by the former Sydney constable A total of 51 offences relating to the accusations of 12 women allegedly occurred between 2010 and 2016. Police also allege they found a number of guns and ammunition in his possession when they raided his home. There are further claims he pretended to be a plastic surgeon to obtain images of a woman's breasts. Hildebrand was reportedly attached to Sydney City Local Area Command when most of the offences allegedly occurred. When the allegations came to light, he was suspended from the force without pay, but later resigned from his post. The former constable, from Campbelltown in Sydney's south-west, has been 'tormented' in jail, his lawyer told the paper. Hildebrand was reportedly attached to Sydney City Local Area Command (pictured) when most of the alleged offences occurred. HOW MORE WOMEN CAME FORWARD TO ACCUSE OFFICER VAUGHAN HILDEBRAND OF 51 OFFENCES - INCLUDING RAPE Former policeman Vaughan Hildebrand (pictured) stands accused of 51 serious offences Former policeman Vaughan Hildebrand stands accused of rape, sexual harassment and soliciting child pornography. The 29-year-old has been in jail for more than six months after 10 women alleged they were sexually harassed by the former Sydney constable. Another two women have since come forward, leading to 18 fresh charges - including 14 counts of rape - to be laid against him. June 2017: Hildebrand is arrested and charged with 17 offences after three separate women made serious allegations against the policeman. The charges include four counts of stalking and harassment, six of using a carriage service to harass and misconduct in public office. November 2017: Seven more women come forward and accuse the former constable of sexual assault. Hildebrand is charged with another 16 offences - including using a carriage service to solicit child pornography and one count of rape. December 2017 - to present: Another two women, one who accuses Hildebrand of repeatedly raping her in 2010, come forward. Among 18 new charges to be laid against him are 14 counts of rape. The 51 offences relating to the accusations of 12 women allegedly occurred between 2010 and 2016. Advertisement Hildebrand remains behind bars after twice being refused bail. Police have not ruled out pressing further charges. Acting Assistant Commissioner David Donohue said at the time of Hildebrand's arrest he was horrified by the allegations. 'We are entrusted as police officers to uphold the law and while these are allegations, any misuse of trust is a serious matter,' Supt Donohue said, according to the paper. Hildebrand is due to appear at Central Local Court on February 15. A cocaine dealer who once survived a hail of over 100 bullets in 1993 and was part of a drug ring that brought billions of dollars in drugs in the U.S. was finally brought to justice after four years on the run. Mario Gonzalez, a drug dealer known as a 'cocaine cowboy' was arrested Friday night after going on the run after his release from prison in 2014. Two helicopters and nearly 40 officers were involved in tracking down Gonzalez after he eluded them on an ATV. Ultimately, a K-9 officer sniffed out Gonzalez hiding in the bushes and bit him. Gonzalez was found with a semiautomatic weapon and cash. Mario Gonzalez, part of the 'cocaine cowboys' drug ring who once survived over a hundred bullets being fired at him, was captured by authorities Friday after four years on the run In 1993, Gonzalez was wanted on drug and weapons charges - when authorities cornered him, he tried to escape by running them over in a vehicle. When he was captured, he was found with a pipe bomb and a gun. Gonzalez was subsequently convicted on a rash of charges and spent nearly two decades in jail. 'Cocaine cowboys' refers to a ring of drug dealers that worked to traffic cocaine into the United States in conjunction with Colombian drug cartels in the 1970s and 1980s. They were popularized by a documentary film of the same name in 2006. In the 1980s, the cocaine cowboys smuggled 75 tons of the drug into the country and made over $2 billion. A FEMA contractor is accused of killing a 67-year-old man in Florida months after he befriended the senior citizen while he was assessing the damage to his home caused by the deadly Hurricane Irma. William Reiss, 68, was shot four times in the head in his Polk City home on January 3. One of three young men arrested over his murder is Gerjuan Jackson - an 18-year-old official FEMA contractor. Jackson was arrested in Mobile, Alabama last week with two other suspected accomplices. William Reiss, 68, was shot four times in the head in his home in Polk City, Florida on January 3 allegedly by 18-year-old FEMA contractor Gerjuan Jackson The teenager had met Reiss when he was inspecting his home following the deadly hurricanes last September. During that time, police say Reiss showed the suspect his gun collection and later sold the teenager two handguns worth roughly $800. Jackson was arrested soon after back in Alabama for improper possession of the guns, WFLA reports. Police said Jackson then suggested to his two alleged accomplices that they should target Reiss. Kenley Campbell, 22, and Darril Lamar Rankin Jr., 22, have also been arrested over the murder Jackson allegedly went inside Reiss' home and gunned him down while Kenley Campbell, 22, and Darril Lamar Rankin Jr., 22, waited outside in the car. Once the shots were fired, the other two men allegedly stole the victim's firearm collection and his flat screen television. They are also accused of stealing his truck. Police said Jackson set the truck on fire in a secluded area back in Alabama. The three men have been charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, armed burglary with assault/battery, 13 counts of grand theft of a firearm, robbery with a firearm/deadly weapon, conveyance burglary and grand theft of a motor vehicle. A man who is now fighting for his life in hospital following a vicious stabbing attack tried to seek help from a nearby Subway store moments after he was injured. Footage from the store, obtained by Ten News, shows the man, aged in his 30s, stagger into the store after he was attacked near Flinders Street Station in Melbourne in the early hours of Monday morning. Dressed in a white t-shirt underneath a pink shirt, he is seen clutching his stomach as blood leaves an increasingly large stain on his clothing. He and a woman, also in her 30s, were rushed to hospital about 4.30am, after a fight between two groups outside a 7-Eleven on the corner of Flinders and Elizabeth St. A man is fighting for life and a woman has been hospitalised with serious injuries after a stabbing in Melbourne on Monday morning The man was seen seeking help inside the Subway store next door after the attack. His wounds are evident as a patch of blood is seen staining his shirt A crime scene has been established and four people are currently helping police with inquiries. A spokeswoman for Victoria Ambulance told Daily Mail Australia the woman had 'serious injuries to her upper body', but was in a stable condition and had been transported to the Royal Alfred Hospital. The man also had serious injuries to his upper body and had been transported to the Royal Melbourne Hospital. The two injured are both in their 30's, and four people are in custody and speaking with police Police say two groups were fighting outside a 7-Eleven near Flinders Street Station about 4.30am Evidence collected by officers at the crime scene included a handbag containing a passport and a mobile phone. A witness has told the Today Show she saw the woman was badly injured. 'I think it was a serious fight and two people were just lying down and the other people were just hitting them,' she said. 'I could see one person, a lady, she just pulled up her shirt and she just got her stomach and she was bleeding.' The did-he-or-didn't-he say 's***hole' debate continued to rage on Sunday, with Sen. David Perdue, a Georgia Republican, saying that President Trump did not utter the phrase. 'Im telling you he did not use that word, George, and Im telling you its a gross misrepresentation.' Perdue told anchor George Stephanopoulos on ABC's This Week. 'How many times do you want me to say that?' On Thursday, the Washington Post reported that Trump had deemed Haiti, El Salvador and the whole of Africa 's***hole countries' during a bipartisan meeting on immigration with six senators. Scroll down for video Sen. David Perdue said Sunday that President Trump did not call Haiti, El Salvador and African nations 's***hole countries' in a meeting with a group of Republican and Democratic senators on Thursday Sen. David Perdue (left) told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos (right) that President Trump 'did not use that word.' Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, backed up the Washington Post's account of the meeting Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, confirmed the Post's reporting, while Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, alluded that it was true. 'Following comments by the President, I said my piece directly to him yesterday. The President and all those attending the meeting know what I said and how I feel,' Graham said in a statement Saturday. Sen. Dick Durbin (pictured) said President Trump made the 's***hole countries' comment Both Durbin and Graham were in the meeting. Sen. Jeff Flake, an Arizona Republican and foe to President Trump, told Stephanopoulos on the same program that he heard about the quip from his fellow senators shortly after the meeting occurred and before the comment became public. Perdue, however, suggested Durbin mischaracterized what occurred. 'Im saying that this is a gross misrepresentation, its not the first time Senator Durbin has done it, and it is not productive to solving the problem that we have at hand,' Perdue said. Stephanopoulos pointed out that Trump's comments had been confirmed by 'multiple sources.' 'Multiple sources? There were six of us in the room. I haven't heard any of those six sources other than Senator Durbin talk about what was said,' Perdue said. Stephanopoulos noted how Graham had told Sen. Tim Scott, also a South Carolina Republican, that the reports were 'basically accurate.' 'Well, that's you'll have to deal with him,' Perdue commented. '"Basically" is an operative word.' Sen. Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican, echoed Perdue's comments during an appearance on CBS' Face the Nation. 'I certainly didn't hear what Sen. Durbin has said repeatedly,' Cotton said. 'Sen. Durbin has a history of misrepresenting what happens in White House meetings, though. So perhaps we should be surprised by that.' Cotton and Perdue were referencing a 2013 incident in which President Obama's Press Secretary Jay Carney said an incident described by Durbin 'did not happen.' Durbin alleged that a House Republican leader told Obama, 'I cannot even stand to look at you.' Carney said it didn't occur. Lashing out at Perdue and Cotton's comments on Sunday, Durbin's Communications Director Ben Marter tweeted, 'Credibility is something that's built by being consistently honest over time.' 'Senator Durbin has it. Senator Perdue does not. Ask anyone who's dealt with both,' Marter said. In another tweet, Marter wrote, 'Yesterday, Senators Cotton and Perdue "could not recall" what the president said. Today they can.' 'That, folks, is a credibility problem,' Marter added. Brazen dealers are using the mail system to send drugs disguised in items targeted at children. Ecstasy pills hidden inside Haribo lolly bags and meth concealed in tractor parts were among the drugs seized at the Sydney International Mail Gateway. In other recent seizures cocaine has been found in children's books, and narcotics have been disguised as bags of branded rock sugar. The Australian Border force revealed it intercepts 20,000 illegal packages per year at the Granville centre, and detected 100 kilograms of drugs in 10 days over Christmas. Pictured are bags of lollies containing ecstasy tablets seized by the Australian Border Force Brazen dealers are using the mail system to send drugs disguised in items targeted at children (pictured is the illegal drug known as 'bath salts' disguised as rock sugar) Ecstasy pills hidden inside Haribo lolly bags and meth concealed in tractor parts were among the drugs seized at the Sydney International Mail Gateway (pictured is a children's book used to ship cocaine) The massive seizures come despite the ABF only being able to inspect 30 per cent of the 200million packages sent every year, The Daily Telegraph reported. Along with chemical swabs, sniffer dogs and X-ray machines, the ABF focuses on certain countries of origin to detect narcotics. Acting ABF Assistant Commissioner Tim Fitzgerald said dealers were using the dark web to sell their products, but the method exposes their customers to danger. 'The dark net will just send them whatever substance, and in a number of instances it's deadly substances like fentanyl and carfentanil,' he said. These bags of lollies were used to conceal ecstasy tablets, and seized at the Sydney International Gateway mail centre in Granville In other recent seizures cocaine has been found in children's books, and narcotics have been disguised as bags of branded rock sugar (pictured are children's books used to ship cocaine) 'These are deadly products, they're killing hundreds of people a day across the US and Europe. The smallest contact with this sort of product can be deadly.' Up to 6000 dark web drug deals are made by Australians per month, with buyers often using cryptocurrencies to hide their tracks. 'In the last 12 months, ABF officers at the Sydney International Mail Gateway have made almost 50,000 detections of illicit goods, including almost 20,000 of illegal drugs and precursors,' a spokeperson told Daily Mail Australia. 'People should not assume the dark net is invisible to authorities. The ABF and our law enforcement partners are well aware of these websites and have the capability to detect imports of illicit goods via these sites.' The news comes after nine backpackers were hospitalised in Perth after taking a drug which arrived in the post. The group almost lost their lives after overdosing on Hyoscine - a motion sickness medicine which they mistook for cocaine. ABF officers (pictured, left, right) at the Sydney International Mail Gateway have made almost 50,000 detections of illicit goods, including almost 20,000 of illegal drugs and precursors A substitute teacher was caught on camera telling a Lebanese student that he will be 'kicked out of the country.' Brody Elahmar said he started recording when the teacher filling in at Noble High School in North Berwick, Maine, started making comments he found offensive. The 16-year-old said he was talking about an upcoming trip to Lebanon, where his father was born, when the substitute interrupted, telling him he'd be 'kicked out of the country.' 'Oh, you're getting kicked out of my country,' the woman can be heard saying in the video. Elahmar lived in Lebanon for 10 years, but was born in the United States and is thus a citizen. Scroll down for video Brody Elahmar said he started recording when the teacher filling in at Noble High School in North Berwick, Maine, started making comments he found offensive 'Oh, you're getting kicked out of my country,' the woman can be heard saying in the video. Elahmar lived in Lebanon for 10 years, but was born in the United States and is thus a citizen 'It's not your country - I'm part of it too' Elahamar responds, before the teacher starts speaking over him. She can be heard saying: 'Yes it is my country,' as he's saying 'It's my country too though!' 'It's been mine longer than it's been yours,' the teacher concludes. 'I'm like, it's crazy. I did not see this coming one bit,' Elahmar told Fox 23 about the incident. 'I never like stand up or like do anything, but it just got way too out of hand. I knew something had to be done.' 'Those statements are not condoned by our school department and are inappropriate,' Sanford Superintendent of Schools David Theoharides said. The department is currently investigating the incident In a second video Elahmarr confronts the teacher and tells her he'd recorded the previous conversation, to which she responds that it was just a joke The teacher, who hasn't been identified, couldn't be reached for comment. In a second video Elahmarr confronts the teacher and tells her he'd recorded the previous conversation, to which she responds that it was just a joke. 'The five of us, we were all laughing about the wall - we were joking,' she can be heard saying, before apologizing. 'Those statements are not condoned by our school department and are inappropriate,' Sanford Superintendent of Schools David Theoharides said. The department is currently investigating the incident. Elahmar told CBS he shared the video to bring awareness that jokes like this aren't funny, and it's not 'just an OK subject.' A dead body was found Sunday on a runway at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Hawaii. Crews were made aware of the body on the Reef Runway at around noon, Tim Sakahara, a spokesperson for the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) told KHON. 'We certainly are saddened about this tragic event that happened here,' Sakahara said. The Reef Runway has been closed, but the rest of the airport has remained open while an investigation is underway. A dead body was found Sunday on the Reef Runway at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Hawaii 'At about 12 o'clock we were notified about possible items or object on the runway,' Sakahara said. Someone on a plane initially saw something on the runway, which prompted further review by airport officials. 'Our crews went out and immediately checked it out and they discovered that it was, in fact, a body.' That discovery came at about 12.15 pm, according to HDOT. Crews were made aware of the body on the Reef Runway at around noon, Tim Sakahara, a spokesperson for the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) told KHON 'They alerted authorities right away, who came and made sure that the scene was contained, and the investigation started right away,' Sakahara said. Sakahara could not answer whether rumors that the body belonged to a stow=away were true. 'Details are gonna have to come through the investigation,' he said. Sakahara noted that investigators, at the time that he was speaking to KHON, were still on Reef Runway, making determinations as to what exactly happened that resulted in a dead body at the Hawaii airport. Honolulu police are seen here at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport after a body was found on the Reef Runway Honolulu, located on the island of O'ahu, is the main gateway to and from the islands of Hawaii State and federal officials are seen here, investigating the dead body found on Reef Runway Sakahara anticipated several hours of closure for the Reef Runway while investigators do their work. 'In the mean time, all three other runways are open and operating,' he said. Sakahara noted there had been no delays as a result of the body being found, or the Reef Runway being closed temporarily. The Hawaii Sheriff's Department arrived on scene first, and contained the area. The Sheriff's Department then called in the Honolulu Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other federal authorities, according to Sakahara, who came on scene soon after. Staff at a Queensland hospital have received an email warning them not to speak another language among themselves Workers at a Queensland hospital have been issued with a warning to immediately stop speaking foreign languages at work because it makes patients feel 'paranoid and isolated'. 'I have received a few complaints lately about staff speaking in their own language in front of others,' the email cited by the Courier Mail reads. It is claimed the email has come from a senior at the remote country hospital. 'If I get any other complaints the matter will be referred to HR,' they say. Queensland Health has confirmed an investigation is under way but North West Hospital and Health Service has denied the accusation. Acting Chief Executive Barbara Davis said there was no requirement for staff to only speak English with each other at the hospital. 'We are looking into this matter and if anyone within the hospital has issued such a communication without the authorisation of senior management, they will be counselled,' she told the Courier Mail. While hospital executives deny the claim, the nurses union does agree staff should not speak other languages in front of patients as it makes them feel scared when they're already scared enough No formal complaints have been made but it is understood those who received the email earlier this month were upset by it. The Queensland Nurses and Midwives' Union (QNMU) said staff speaking in other languages can make patients feel uncomfortable or scared when they were already in a difficult situation. 'Nurses, doctors and all medical staff need to be mindful of patients' emotional well-being during what can be an emotional and stressful time,' QNMU organiser Kaylene Turnbull said. In 2011, more than half of the country's GPs, half of specialists and a third of nurses were born overseas according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. A vile Instagram 'hate page' has been dedicated to a close friend of bullied Akubra girl Amy 'Dolly' Everett who committed suicide aged 14. The shocking social media account, which has just one follower and four photos, bills itself as the 'Katelyn Simpson Hate Page'. Cruel comments litter the anonymous account, mocking the young Northern Territory girl's fashion choices and taking aim at her love for horses. It comes just days after the 15-year-old rodeo champion's father spoke to Daily Mail Australia to reveal the relentless online torment suffered by his daughter. 'Why don't you just go cut your wrist until you bleed out, you'll do everyone a favour. Go do what Dolly did, it should've been you not her,' one message read. Scroll down for video A father revealed the disgusting messages an online tormentor sent his daughter Katelyn Simpson, a national rodeo champion (pictured) A vile Instagram page has been set up mocking rodeo champion Katelyn Simpson, who is 15 Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Saturday, Katelyn's father Russell Simpson said 'when they mentioned Dolly, I just lost it'. Amy 'Dolly' Everett, from Katherine in the Northern Territory, took her own life on January 3, after being 'overwhelmed' by cyber bullies. Her death sparked a national debate about the state of bullying within Australia. 'Because we know Dolly and her family, it's just heart-breaking. I don't know how to put it into words or describe the feeling, but it really knocked me,' the Darwin man said. Mr Simpson said the messages sent to his daughter in the wake of Dolly's tragic death were like a slap in the face. 'Why don't you just go cut your wrist until you bleed out, you'll do everyone a favour. Go do what Dolly did, it should've been you not her,' one message read Mr Simpson revealed his daughter Katelyn had been the subject of online bullying since she was about 12-years-old. He said he didn't know the extent of the abuse until a concerned parent phoned him on Saturday. 'Katelyn begged people not to tell us because she thought she could handle it we only found out when a friend of hers' mother rang today and let us know what was going on,' he said. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, he revealed his daughter Katelyn (pictured), who is a national rodeo champion, had been the subject of online bullying since she was about 12-years-old 'Dreams come true just met Fallon Taylor': Katelyn Simpson (right) pictured with Fallon Taylor at Warwick for a rodeo competition Russell Simpson, pictured with his wife Kathy, said he was devastated to discover the vile messages sent to his daughter on Snapchat Mr Simpson discovered Katelyn was repeatedly trolled by a person she knew, masquerading as a 'fake account' on the messaging app, Snapchat. Mr Simpson and his wife Kathy were shocked to discover just how vile the abuse was. 'Stop telling everyone you're a virgin, no one believes it,' one message read. 'Get some contacts or something, or get braces to fix up your grotty ass teeth and that over bite makes me want to kill myself. 'Also cut your hair, or do you want it long so all the boys can pull it? Seriously, fix yourself.' 'Winning Warwick rodeo was definitely a fluke, you aren't that good honey. So you should just continue f***ing all those bullriders that are way too old for you,' the bully said Mr Simpson said Katelyn (pictured) was a strong young woman who was learning to deal with the online abuse she copped The person went on to bully Katelyn about her success in rodeo, which has taken her all the way to the US to compete. 'Winning Warwick rodeo was definitely a fluke, you aren't that good honey. So you should just continue f***ing all those bullriders that are way too old for you,' the bully said. Mr Simpson said he nor Katelyn knew who the bully was but vowed to find out. He expected it was a teenage girl who knew Katelyn and was 'jealous' of her accomplishments in the sport, but feared it could even be 'a disillusioned parent'. Mr Simpson said the messages were the end of the line for him, and he would not sit back and allow the abuse. He said he was in the process of compiling all the messages to take to the police. The Darwin father said Katelyn was strong and could deal with the abuse, but feared other children her age were more vulnerable. Katelyn Simpson updated her profile picture on Facebook in support of Dolly Everett, who took her own life on January 3 'We know our daughter very well, and she's very strong. But a lot of these kids aren't as strong and I would hate to think it was happening to a friend and something terrible happened,' Mr Simpson said about Katelyn (pictured) 'We know our daughter very well, and she's very strong. But a lot of these kids aren't as strong and I would hate to think it was happening to a friend and something terrible happened,' he said. While Katelyn put on a tough facade, Mr Simpson admitted he didn't know 'what was festering underneath'. 'We can only see what happens on the outside, but we don't know what's happening on the inside,' he said. 'I found my breaking point today, what's hers?' Lord Lucans tragic widow cut her three children out of her will and left all of her possessions to the homeless charity Shelter, I can reveal. Veronica, the Dowager Countess of Lucan, who was found dead at her Belgravia home last September, was estranged from her son George and daughters Frances and Camilla. Mummy left her estate to the homeless charity, Shelter, Camilla, a QC, told me. Veronica, the Dowager Countess of Lucan, was found dead at her Belgravia home last September. Above, Veronica in 1963 with her husband Lord Richard John Bingham She attended her mothers inquest last week during which it was revealed she had killed herself with a cocktail of drink and drugs after wrongly believing she was suffering from Parkinsons disease. In her later years, Lady Lucan became a rather tragic and lonely figure. Some say she never really recovered from her husbands disappearance in 1974. He vanished after bludgeoning his childrens nanny to death. Socialite and author Basia Briggs, who met Lady Lucan every fortnight in her final years, said it was a relief that she left everything to charity rather than the unsavoury characters who would swarm around her. Estranged: The Countess of Lucan was not speaking to from her son George and daughters Frances and Camilla at the time of her death (above, George) I used to have tea with her every other week at The Goring hotel in London, and she always had a lot of unsavoury characters attending with her, trying to take advantage, said Basia. Veronica was terribly vulnerable and fell for men who promised her things and then let her down when they realised she didnt have much money. It was all so terribly sad. For 40 years Lady Lucan was the subject of countless stories and documentaries as the search for her husband rumbled on. In 1999, Lord Lucan was officially declared dead by the High Court, but a death certificate was not granted until 2016, allowing George to become the 8th Earl of Lucan. Lady Lucans possessions are expected to include a large oil portrait of her husband, as well as some unusual personal effects including a personalised top hat. An auction will take place in Oxfordshire next month. It is not known why Shelter was chosen by Lady Lucan, who died in a grand, albeit dilapidated, property in Belgravia. Shelter said: The proceeds will help us to continue fighting bad housing and homelessness. It's the best moment of any society girls career gracing the Tatler front cover for the first time. So imagine Jessica Clarkes surprise when she learned that the top of her head had been cut off from hundreds of copies of the latest issue. To add insult to injury, some covers were also printed upside down, forcing publisher Conde Nast to recall those copies of the magazine from newsagents last week. The 24-year-old model, below, was born in New Zealand but now lives in Notting Hill, West London, and is a friend of the Delevingne sisters. She is also dating Rufus Taylor, the son of Queen drummer Roger Taylor. The 24-year-old model was born in New Zealand but now lives in Notting Hill, West London, and is a friend of the Delevingne sisters They were stylishly in sync with their futuristic fashion sense for Zayn Malik's Men In Black-themed birthday bash on Friday. While they are usually inseparable, 22-year-old Gigi Hadid and 25-year-old Zayn Malik put on equally fashionable displays in different parts of New York City on Saturday. The catwalk queen swamped her petite model-honed figure in a knitted beige jumper as she paraded her long legs in skinny jeans. Scroll down for video She Ha-did it again: Make-up free Gigi Hadid wrapped up in stylish coat and trendy micro-shades for outing in New York City on Saturday The magazine cover model tugged on the edge of her caramel-coloured coat to keep off the frosty bite to the air in the Big Apple. Gigi hung up her sky-scraper stilettos in favour for a comfortable pair of walking boots on the way home to her apartment. As one of the models of the moment, it is no surprise Gigi donned a pair of micro-shades which are the hottest sunglasses trend as worn by her supermodel sister Bella and American reality star Kim Kardashian. Riding solo: Meanwhile, her boyfriend Zayn Malik stepped out in a funky fleece jacket for a separate outing out and about in the Big Apple The fashionista upped the style stakes as she toted her pink fluffy handbag to carry her everyday essentials on the low-key outing. With her golden locks swept into a ponytail, Gigi showcased her God-given beauty when she went make-up free and teased a glimpse of her blue eyes when she peeped over the top of her sunglasses. Elsewhere in New York, Zayn looked like he was hot off the catwalk in a kooky coat lined with fleece for added warmth and genuine style. Model of the moment: Gigi donned a pair of micro-shades which are the hottest sunglasses trend as worn by her supermodel sister Bella and American reality star Kim Kardashian Statuesque supermodel: The catwalk queen swamped her petite model-honed figure in a knitted beige jumper as she paraded her long legs in skinny jeans The former One Direction hunk teased a glimpse of his extensive tattoos on his chest by styling his violet and ivory pinstriped shirt unbuttoned around his neck. Pillowtalk hitmaker Zayn accessorised with sexy sunglasses and green trainers to give his jeans and shirt combination an edgy vibe. No doubt the musician was delighted with the news his Taylor Swift collaboration Don't Wanna Live Forever has been nominated for the BRIT Awards 2018. How to accessorise: The fashionista upped the style stakes as she toted her pink fluffy handbag to carry her everyday essentials on the low-key outing God given beauty: With her golden locks swept into a ponytail, Gigi showcased her glowing complexion and radiant rosy cheeks when she went make-up free The solo artist will go head to head against his former One Direction bandmates Harry Styles and Liam Payne for the British Artist Video Of The Year. Styles' eccentric piano ballad Sign Of The Times and Malik's Taylor Swift collaboration Don't Wanna Live Forever will battle it out with Payne's slick dance track Strip That Down featuring Quavo at the ceremony on February 21. Liam, Zayn and Harry will compete against Calvin Harris, Clean Bandit, Jonas Blue, Little Mix, Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa and Anne-Marie. The winner of the British Artist Video award will be decided by the public, with one of the 10 acts eliminated each week until there are only five left on the night of the awards. Winter in NYC: The magazine cover model donned a caramel-coloured coat to keep off the frosty bite to the air in the Big Apple Designer looks: Elsewhere in New York, Zayn looked like he was hot off the catwalk in a kooky coat lined with fleece for added warmth and genuine style Stylish style: The former One Direction hunk teased a glimpse of his extensive tattoos on his chest by styling his violet and ivory pinstriped shirt unbuttoned around his neck While he was flying solo on the outing on Saturday, Zayn is rarely seen without his glamorous girlfriend Gigi firmly at his side. The couple have been inseparable since they embarked on their love story together in November 2015 but they didn't go public on social media until January 2016. They became an item within weeks of Gigi's split from former flame and DNCE hitmaker Joe Jonas, who recently announced his engagement to Game of Thrones' sassy redhead Sophie Turner. Love has blossomed since Gigi and Zayn were first romantically linked at Justin Bieber's American Music Awards afterparty. As last year wound down, she was arrested for domestic battery and subsequently filed a second time for divorce from her husband Ryan Dorsey. But Naya Rivera showed not a hint of strain on Saturday while posing at the 2018 Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour in Pasadena. Naya, 31, played up her trim legs in a glinting blue miniskirt and black knee-high boots at what is her first public event since the arrest and re-filing. Glowing: Naya Rivera showed not a hint of strain on Saturday while posing at the 2018 Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour in Pasadena Attending the event inside The Langham Huntington, a five-star hotel, she teamed the skirt with a colorful floral print T-shirt that read: 'MORE' at the top. The Santa Clarita-born actress, who is starring on the YouTube show Step Up: High Water, posed flanked by Holly Sorensen, its creator, and Adam Shankman, who directed its pilot. This trio were joined by Naya's co-star Petrice Jones for an onstage panel discussion, where Naya was photographed with a radiant smile on her face. Top people: Naya, who is starring on the YouTube show Step Up: High Water, posed flanked by Holly Sorensen, its creator, and Adam Shankman, who directed its pilot Well, it is a TCA Press Tour: This trio were joined by Naya's co-star Petrice Jones for an onstage panel discussion Naya had married actor Ryan in 2014, first filed for divorce in November of 2016. By October of last year, they were giving the relationship another try. Thanksgiving weekend, however, was where the marriage went south again. After an alleged altercation with Ryan, she was arrested for misdemeanor domestic battery but got out on a bond of $1,000 - and according to US Weekly, it was her father-in-law who collected her from court. Cheery: Naya was photographed there with a radiant smile on her face Publicity rounds: Naya, 31, played up her trim legs in a glinting blue miniskirt and black knee-high boots at what is her first public event since her arrest and divorce re-filing The incident took place in Kanawha County, West Virginia, whose local Sherriff's office has said to the magazine that alcohol was involved in the conflict - the subject of which was Ryan and Naya's two-year-old son Josey. On December 5, TMZ revealed Naya had filed for divorce again, and that she was being represented by the formidable celeb divorce lawyer Laura Wasser. The Blast have published court documents revealing that Naya and Ryan have temporarily decided on joint custody of their little one. He was pictured arriving in Sydney on Friday ahead of promotional duties for Netflix film Bright. And Will Smith appears to be enjoying his time Down Under, with the Hollywood hunk taking to Instagram on Saturday to rave over Eastern Suburbs hotspot Porch and Parlour, in Sydney's Bondi. A close-up of a plate of green pea pancakes was captioned by the 49-year-old: 'It Broke Me Y'all!' 'It broke me y'all!' Will Smith, 49, couldn't contain his excitement over food at a Sydney cafe, taking to Instagram on Saturday to share a close-up snap of the gourmet brunch Taking to Instagram, Will shared his enthusiasm over the $19 gourmet brunch with his 4.7 million fans. 'Okay...I ABSOLUTELY HATE when people post pictures of food! BUT...this damn Green Pea Pancake at Porch & Parlour in Bondi Beach, Australia...It Broke Me, Y'all.' The photo saw Will dining on a generously-sized green pea pancake, served with avocado, snow peas, a poached egg, feta, zucchini and a mint salad. Bon Appetit! The photo saw the Men in Black star dining on a generously-sized green pea pancake, served with avocado, snow peas, a poached egg, feta, zucchini and a mint salad Tourist mode: Having arrived in Sydney on Friday, Will has wasted no time in taking in the sights. Saturday saw the A-list actor partake in the Bridge Climb, a popular activity that allows tourists to scale the famous monument, taking in Sydney's sweeping skyline Will arrived in Sydney on Friday to promote Netflix film Bright, in which he stars alongside Australia's Joel Edgerton, 43. The thriller-fantasy film sees Will star as police officer Daryl Ward, who teams up with rookie Nick Jakoby, played by Joel, and comes face-to-face with a world filled with human and mythical creatures. Wasting no time in taking in the sights, Saturday saw Will partake in the Bridge Climb, a popular activity that allows tourists to scale the famous monument, taking in Sydney's sweeping skyline. Second time's the charm: Clearly a fan of the tourist attraction, it's not Will's first time, having ticked it off his Bucket List several years ago Clearly a fan of the tourist attraction, it's not the Men in Black star's first time, having ticked it off his Bucket List several years ago. And after touching down on Friday, the husband of actress Jada Pinkett Smith, shared a snap to Instagram with the Opera House in the background. 'What Up, Sydney? Ya Boy is in the Buildin,' he enthusiastically captioned the photo. Latest gig: The husband of Jada Pinkett Smith, is in Australia to promote Netflix film Bright He's the Byron Bay-native who's modelled for the likes of Moschino and Justin Cassin. And even off the runway, Jordan Barrett nails his fashion looks - with the blonde hunk showing off his winter style on the streets of New York City this month. Strutting around in Manhattan's ritzy West Village neighbourhood, the 21-year-old braved freezing temperatures to run errands. Off-duty style: Jordan Barrett nailed his fashion style on the streets of New York City this month Looking slightly downcast, Jordan donned a navy sweater and matching pants. Utilising two of the various pockets in his trousers, he kept his hands warm. Layering up, the hunk added a long thick jacket complete with a warm hood. Keeping warm: Strutting out and about in the West Village, the 21-year-old was seen completely rugged up as he braved the average one degree weather Accessories: The latest face of Stuart Weitzman kept his prized possessions in a small over the shoulder bagand also added a gold necklace and unique shaped bracelet to the mix Making his way through the icy footpath, Jordan added black leather boots. The latest face of Stuart Weitzman kept his prized possessions in a small over the shoulder bag and also added a gold necklace and unique shaped bracelet to the mix. Keeping a low profile, he walked with his head down. Stylish: Making his way through the icy footpath, Jordan added black leather boots Jordan, is that you? Keeping a low profile, he walked with his head down Known for his smouldering blue eyes, in a bizarre recent turn of events, 'Human Ken Doll' Rodrigo Alves has confessed he used Jordan as his inspiration for his various surgeries. 'I met him once in France and I really loved the shape of his jawline, the shape of his chin,' he told news.com.au. 'I loved his eyes I think he is perfect. So, I asked the doctor to try and replicate it.' Her fans aren't sure if she's joking but it sure has everyone talking. Gabourey Sidibe, 34, took to Twitter to announce on Saturday that she was getting a tonsillectomy and she deserves to take a year off to recover. 'Ive decided to get a tonsillectomy and I deserve to take all of 2018 off as personal time to rest from this huge adult decision I just made, she told her followers. 'Please respect my privacy at this time.' Having a laugh? Gabourey Sidibe announced on Twitter on Saturday that she deserves a year off after tonsil surgery The Empire star also posted an image to her personal Instagram showing her with a long ponytail and a huge smile on her face later the same day. Sidibe rose to fame for her portrayal of a troubled teenager in 2009's Precious. BRB: Could the actress be taking a year off? What a doll: Sidibe found fame and garnered an Academy Award nomination for her work in 2009's Precious The actress is known for keeping things light on social media but if she is in fact getting her tonsils removed, it could require a long recover time for an adult. Sidibe stars as A&R boss Becky Williams on the Fox hit series Empire. She rang in the new year with co-star Jussie Smollett in Miami at Sean 'Diddy' Combs Revolt New Year's eve celebration. Slay: The Empire star showed off her svelte figure at an Empire event in 2017 Shine bright: Gabby welcomed 2018 alongside co-star Jussie Smollett on Sean 'Diddy' Combs mansion in Miami's Star Island They're the Bachelor couple frequently seen parading around on Bondi Beach. And Saturday was no exception for Matty 'J' Johnson and his ladylove Laura Byrne. The former reality stars took to the water, showing off their gym-honed physiques while packing on the PDA. Making a splash! Laura Byrne was back on Bondi Beach on Saturday, once again showing off her bikini body as she went for a swim with Matty 'J' Johnson They're going to swimmingly! The twosome were spotted wrapping their arms around one another whilst in the water Proving they're as loved-up as ever, the twosome were spotted wrapping their arms around one another whilst in the water. It seems the pair only had eyes for one another, blissfully unaware of nearby bathers. One fellow beach-goer was seen sporting a snorkeling mask, perhaps hoping to bubble beneath the surface to take a closer look at Laura and Matty's concealed physiques. Physiques on show: The pair both possess a penchant for stripping down to their swimwear Looks crowded! It seems the pair only had eyes for one another, blissfully unaware of nearby bathers The next Tim Robards? Matty is hoping to get a little more ripped according to his personal trainer However, it wasn't long before the picture-perfect hipsters were out of the water and in full view of the public, with Laura lingering as she made her way back to the shore. Dripping wet, the Wollongong native showed off her figure in a mismatched bikini. The quirky Kate Middleton look-a-like, who owns a three-legged dog named Buster, opted for a striped bikini top teamed with a pair of floral patterned bottoms. Quirky! The quirky Kate Middleton look-a-like, who owns a three-legged dog named Buster, opted for a striped bikini top teamed with a pair of floral patterned bottoms Dripping wet: The Wollongong native showed off her figure in a mismatched bikini Not to be outdone by his brunette stunner, marketing manager Matty also made for an eye-catching figure as he emerged from the water. His personal trainer Jono Castano-Acero recently told Daily Mail Australia that reality star is focused 'on putting on a bit more weight'. Perhaps trying to look as ripped as the original Bachelor, Tim Robards, Jono stated that Matty wants to reach 90kg. Loved-up: The pair fell in love on The Bachelor and currently reside in Sydney's eastern suburbs Picture-perfect hipsters! Matty and Laura spent time wading around in the water before drying off Another day, another shirtless display! Matty shed his shirt less than 24 hours after stripping down on national TV for a live cross with The Project And it appears Matty doesn't mind drawing attention to his current physique, rocking a pair of eye-catching blue board shorts during Saturday's swimming session. However, the trendy trunks were a little more modest than the jocks Matty chose to wear during his national segment on The Project on Friday night. Spruiking his upcoming appearance at The People's Choice Undies Run For Bowel Cancer, the aspiring star stripped down to his underwear during a live cross at Sydney's busy Martin Place. They're so Bondi! Matty and Laura are regulars at Sydney's most popular beach The place to see and be seen! Despite being on national television the pair managed to fly under the radar while blending in with fellow beachgoers Making sure his six pack was on full display for the camera, he appeared more than pleased with what host Meshel Laurie described as his 'tidy rig.' Despite being on national television the pair managed to fly under the radar while blending in with fellow beachgoers. Matty will once again strip down to his undies for the fun run, to be held in Adelaide on Sunday. They formed a close bond during their time in the Love Island villa. And Olivia Attwood showed her support for newly-single Amber Davies, as the pair headed for a night out in Manchester on Saturday. The glamorous outing comes after the 26-year-old reality starlet admitted 'she's drifted apart' from Kem Cetinay, following his split with the 21-year-old dancer. Scroll down for video Best pals: Olivia Attwood showed her support for newly-single Amber Davies, as the pair headed for a night out in Manchester on Saturday Clad in a plunging pink vest top, the buxom blonde proudly paraded her ample assets as she shrugged a fluffy black coat over her shoulders. She complemented the look with ripped black jeans and added a boost to her figure with gold velvet court shoes. Known for her designer taste, Olivia clutched a YSL shoulder bag for the swanky evening out and accessorized the chic ensemble with a long gold necklace. The television personality styled her long blonde tresses in bouffant curls and accentuated her golden sun-kissed tan with fluttery eyelashes and a glossy pink lip. Thick as thieves: The glamorous outing comes after the 26-year-old reality starlet admitted 'she's drifted apart' from Kem Cetinay, following his split with the 21-year-old dancer Meanwhile Amber put on a sizzling display as she flaunted her incredible figure in black PVC leggings and purple over-the-knee boots. She paired the look with a black striped blazer and a stone grey Gucci bag. The bubbly brunette appeared to be loving single life as she giggled with her pal as they made their way to Neighbourhood nightclub. High spirits: Clad in a plunging pink vest top, the buxom blonde proudly paraded her ample assets as she giggled with her former reality co-star Their outing comes after Olivia firmly pledged her allegiance to Amber, following her split with Romford barber Kem last month. She wrote in her New Magazine column: ' I did watch Dancing on Ice and its a bit of a difficult one for me at the moment with Kem, especially with Amber and everything as shes my girl. 'Kem and I had an extremely close relationship in the villa, we really did, and I have found the way weve drifted apart quite hard if Im honest.' The blonde beauty also commented on Amber causing drama last Saturday night after the star tweeted about her ex-boyfriend and former I'm A Celebrity star Scarlet Moffatt possibly dating. The I'm A Celeb star was seen cheering on the cheeky Essex amateur skater in the crowd. Olivia added: 'I dont know the truth but I guess Scarlett being there was a little bit random - unless they have become really good friends? 'Whether that is a cover for the fact that they might be dating, I dont know, it was all a bit odd.' Scarlett and Kem had denied romance rumours by insisiting they are just 'BFFs (best friends forever) in an Instagram snap'. Sexy: Amber flaunted her incredible figure in black PVC leggings and purple over-the-knee boots Meanwhile Kem has revealed how Liam Payne helped him move on from his ex-girlfriend, admitting the One Directioner was one of the first to text him following his split. The 21-year-old told the Mirror: 'Liam has been really supportive. He was checking I was okay and gave good advice. 'I couldn't believe he was going out of his way to support me.' Moving on: Meanwhile Kem has revealed how Liam Payne helped him move on from his ex-girlfriend, admitting the One Directioner was one of the first to text him following his split. Kem and Amber split in December citing hectic work schedules. The pair met and fell in love on Love Island over the summer, and went on to win the show and its 50,000 prize pot after winning over fans with their playful relationship. However, the pint-sized duo called time on their romance in early December, due to their conflicting work schedules following the success of the ITV2 show. Confirming the split in a statement to MailOnline, they said: 'With sadness, weve decided to separate. We fell in love in the villa and want to thank all the fans of the show for supporting us.' It was later claimed Amber had called the relationship off as she felt things were 'moving too fast' - with the pair openly discussing the prospect of marriage and children in the future, in a number of interviews. She has been praised for her fit physique since her breakthrough in the 90s. And Cindy Crawford proved she was still in top-notch shape as she shared a video of herself working out with her personal trainer, Sarah Haganan, at the gym. The 51-year-old supermodel looked all smiles as she recorded an intense squatting session for her Instagram followers. Scroll down for video Getting fit! Cindy Crawford proved she was still in top-notch shape as she shared a video of herself working out with her personal trainer, Sarah Haganan, at the gym Cindy sported a blue tank top, black workout leggings, and black running shoes that featured a rainbow colored sole. The mother-of-two kept her iconic dark locks in a ponytail while flaunting her natural beauty with no makeup. Cindy's trainer and long-time friend wore burgundy pants, a black tank top, and turquoise running shoes. The two ladies perfectly accessorized their fitness attire with weighted balls, which they used to add more intensity to their fitness session. Great form: The 51-year-old supermodel looked all smiles as she recorded an intense squatting session for her Instagram followers Meanwhile, Cindy's 16-year-old daughter Kaia posted a snap from her British Vogue photo shoot in 2017. The teenager simply captioned the photo: 'me 90% of the time'. In the picture, Kaia donned a denim ensemble while bending down and resting her head on her knees. With her new-found success in the modeling world, Kaia's mom Cindy has been a helpful role model to look up to. The old days! Cindy posted a throwback of herself in vintage Pepsi merchandise on Friday Throwback: Meanwhile, Cindy's 16-year-old daughter Kaia posted a snap from her British Vogue photo shoot in 2017 Cindy's recent interview with The Cut revealed that her daughter has followed by example of the 90s model's beauty regime. Cindy said: 'The good thing is that shes grown up with seeing how I take care of myself, so I dont really have to say that much to her. 'Shes seen me going to bed early if I have an early call the next day or waking up early to squeeze in a workout.' Crawford continued: 'Maybe its just my kids, but they act like theyre not listening to what you say, so I have to live by example.' She's known for showing provocative photos on social media. But on Saturday, ahead of Versace's Men's Fashion Week runway show in Milan, Italy, Catherine McNeil opted to cover up her slender frame. The 28-year-old sported a velvet ensemble, consisting of a semi-sheer black blouse and blue pantsuit. Velvet crush! Catherine McNeil, 28, covered her slender figure in a bold pantsuit, as she arrived at Versace's Men's Fashion Week runway show in Milan, Italy, on Saturday Catherine made a bold impression as she posed for photos prior to the runway show. The Australian fashionista donned a semi-sheer black blouse with several buttons left undone. Catherine teamed the look with a blue velvet patterned pantsuit, and accessorised with a gold-chained handbag and statement belt with heart-shaped padlock. Styling her brunette cropped locks in relaxed waves, the ex-fiancee of actress Ruby Rose finished off the ensemble with an androgynous makeup palette. Textured: The fashionista donned a semi-sheer black blouse teamed with a statement blue velvet pantsuit Catherine drew attention to a porcelain complexion, defined brows, kohl-rimmed eyes and a nude lipstick. The model's fashion week attire is in stark contrast to her Instagram snaps that often see her putting on a risque display. Late last month, Catherine perched her frame on a white BMW motorcycle in a secluded outdoor area, using a strategically-placed star emoji to conceal her private parts. Tresses: Catherine styled her cropped brunette locks in relaxed waves, framing an androgynous makeup palette The photo that saw her sporting just a black leather jacket and holding one hand to her mouth in a sultry fashion, was captioned: 'Stealing police bikes and flashing strangers.' Catherine's X-rated display comes shortly after she posed topless on the cover of the December issue of Vogue Italia. The starlet wore just a pair of studded knickers, alongside fellow models Anja Rubik, Joan Smalls and Jamie Bochert. The eyes have it: The ex-fiancee of actress Ruby Rose drew attention a porcelain complexion, defined brows and kohl-rimmed eyes She's not shy: The model's fashion week attire is in stark contrast to her Instagram snaps that often see her putting on a risque display. Late last month, Catherine perched her frame on a white BMW motorcycle in a secluded outdoor area, using a strategically-placed star emoji to conceal her private parts Catherine later wrote on Instagram: 'THANK YOU!!! more then honored to grace the cover of @vogueitalia with these incredible ladies.' The notoriously private star got her big break at 14 after winning a model search competition by Girlfriend magazine. Throughout her career, Catherine has worked with some of fashion's biggest names, including Prada and Dior. He's been undergoing an intense training regime ahead of his Cancer Council charity run which will see him sprint 2.3km in his underwear. And on Sunday, The Bachelor's Matthew 'Matty J' Johnston took to Instagram to give fans a sneak peak of his barely-there race ensemble. After arriving in Adelaide for the event, the 31-year-old hunk stripped down to his figure-hugging underpants prompting his girlfriend Laura Byrne, 31, to cheer him on. Scroll down for video All for charity: On Sunday, The Bachelor's Matthew 'Matty J' Johnston took to Instagram to give his fans a sneak peak of his body in just his underwear ahead of his Cancer Council undies run In a video shared to Instagram, Matty emerged from his bathroom to reveal his outfit, and proclaimed 'It's on'. Giving a complete 360 degree look at his undies, the reality star also strutted his stuff around his hotel room. 'You still have until 4pm to rock up, register and help raise money to fight bowel cancer,' he captioned the clip. He's been training hard: Giving a complete 360 degree look at his undies, the reality star also strutted his stuff around his hotel room And ensuring his fans knew what they were getting into, Matty graced their screens with a photo of his toned behind. 'Perfect conditions to run semi nude in the city,' he wrote. But it wasn't just Matty excited for his competition, getting in on the action, Laura also took to Instagram to secretly film her man walk around in his undies. Working hard: Speaking to Daily Mail Australia earlier in the month, Matty's trainer Jono Castano Acero said he had been training for the race five days per week 'Well this is going to be entertaining,' she captioned her video, heard giggling in the background she also included two laughing emoji faces in her caption. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Matty's trainer Jono Castano Acero said he had been working hard to prepare for the race. 'We have been training five days a week - three being high intensity weight sessions - focusing on getting the heart rate high,' he said. 'Two days focusing on running 2.5km which is more than his 2.3km that he needs to run. He's been hitting some good times.' James Marsden's good genes have led son Jack to the runway. The eldest child of the Westworld actor made his catwalk debut during Friday's Dolce & Gabbana show at Milan's Men's Fashion Week. The Party of Five alum, 44, gushed about the 16-year-old model online, posting an Instagram of his offspring with a caption that read: 'Could not be more proud of my oldest son @jackmmarsden walking his first show for @dolcegabbana.' Proud papa! James Marsden gushed about son Jack on Instagram today after the teen made his runway modeling debut during Dolce & Gabbana's Men's Fashion Week show in Milan Face it! The 16-year-old's striking blue eyes, angular jaw and pale complexion made an impact on the catwalk The runway rookie's, who James shares with ex wife Lisa Linde, striking blue eyes, angular jaw and pale complexion made quite the impression on the catwalk. During the show the Wilhelmina repped teen strutted his stuff in a velveteen robe with red fur collar. The outwear was thrown over a graphic grey sweater and draw-string trousers. The look was adorned with layers of long, beaded rosary-style necklaces while Jack's hair was combed back slickly. Fashion legend: The Westworld star beamed in another photo with his son and designer Domenico Dolce taken backstage Fur real! During the show the Wilhelmina repped teen strutted his stuff in a velveteen robe with red fur collar Sporty sneakers finished off the haute couture ensemble. Another photo showed the Oklahoma-born actor beaming backstage with his son and D&G designer Domenico Dolce. Dad James's captioned continued, thanking the Italian fashion house's founders by name: 'Thank you Domenico and Stefano for having us!' The tags '#proudpapa,' '#DGKingsAngels,' '#MFW' and a few others rounded out the post. Famous on the internet: Also among Marsden's pictures was a backstage snapshot of Jack with Vine star Cameron Dallas, left Also among Marsden's pictures was a backstage snapshot of Jack with Vine star Cameron Dallas. Dallas, 23, stuck out his tongue and flashed a rock-one gesture while clad in a red sweater from the brand. The now-YouTuber also made his runway debut at D&G's Milan Men's Fashion Week show. While James was backstage this weekend, he'll take the spotlight once more when the second season of HBO's Westworld premieres sometime this Spring. She is facing an ongoing custody battle with babydaddy number two. Now it has emerged that the father of Nicole Curtis's first child is facing jail for almost $15k in unpaid child support. The 41-year-old Rehab Addict star had first-born Ethan who is now 20-years-old with Steven Cimini. Owed: Rehab Addict star Nicole Curtis' first babydaddy facing jail over $15k in unpaid child support According to The Blast, Cimini filed documents over paternity and support in 2001; however last November a motion for contempt was filed by the court against him, alleging he owed $14,685.54 in back child support. He was ordered to appear before a Michigan court on December 5 but failed to turn up; police were then issued a warrant for his arrest. Curtis is also battling against Shane McGuire, the father of her two-year-old son Harper. She recently defended her decision to keep breastfeeding her son after being accused of using nursing as a ploy to keep him away from his father. Eldest: The 41-year-old Rehab Addict star had first-born Ethan who is now 20-years-old with Steven Cimini (Ethan pictured in 2010) She told the court said she needed more time with Harper because he relied on her body to be fed; In response, a judge told her to use a breast pump and send her milk with the child when he was visiting his father in Minnesota. Curtis lives in Detroit, Michigan, where she also films her hit HGTV home renovation show. In an interview with People, the TV star, who is a vocal advocate for breastfeeding and attachment parenting, said she physically could not produce enough milk by pumping and that her son refused to drink it unless it came straight from her nipple. Two fronts: Curtis is also battling against Shane McGuire, the father of her two-year-old son Harper McGuire's attorneys say Harper drank happily from a bottle of formula when he was six-months-old. Despite criticism from people who say Harper is too old to be nursed, she wants to leave it up to him when he will stop. 'Its important that children have both of their parents. But [preventing] me from breastfeeding my child just so he can see the dad is not right,' she said. Winter weather is the perfect time for cuddling those closest to you. And Lea Michele stayed close to boyfriend Zandy Reich during vacation in New York City on Saturday. The Glee alum and her beau were joined by their friends Becca Tobin and her husband Zach Martin for a bit of shopping and sunset watching. Snuggle time: Lea Michele gets close to boyfriend Zandy Reich on Saturday in New York City Michele was all bundled up in a creme colored coat with a fur-lined hoodie, black tights and Ugg boots. Her boyfriend had a similar look in matching Ugg boots, a navy blue beanie and jacket and brown pants. They huddled together as the sun was setting and the waves crashed around them. Just the 4 of us: Lea and her bff Becca Tobin double dated with their guys Shopping day: The girls shopped at AYR, the women's clothing company where the Glee alum's boyfriend is president Reich, who the beautiful brunette has been dating since July, is the president of women's clothing brand AYR. So it's no surprise that Lea and Becca had a lot of shopping at one of their Big Apple shops. 'Back in our old stomping grounds,' she titled an Instagram photo with her gal pal. 'NYC weekend with Becca.' Support: The brunette stepped out to support Ryan Murphy's project last week Before heading east, Michele was home in Los Angeles supporting Ryan Murphy's latest project The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. She walked the red carpet in a white Elisabetta Franchi ensemble and white high heel sandals. The series premieres on FX on January 17. He's the Hollywood actor in Sydney to promote his Netflix film Bright. But it wasn't all work for Will Smith, as he took some time out over the weekend to explore Sydney's Eastern Suburbs and even posed for photos with fans. And there was no sleeping in for the 49-year-old during his trip as the actor was spotted at Bronte Beach completing an early morning run. Nice guy! Over the weekend, actor Will Smith took some time out of his press tour to pose with fans around Sydney's Eastern Suburbs 'Just your casual Saturday morning 6am jog at Bronte Beach with @willsmith,' one fan captioned a shot of the actor they shared on Instagram. In the image he was seen wearing a navy T-shirt and white shorts. And it seems he was in for quite the workout that morning as he hit the gym after running the three kilometers to Bondi Beach. Right place right time! 'Awesome to meet you, cheers for the selfie @willsmith,' captioned a starstruck fan What are the chances! Sending her followers into meltdown, the local said she bumped into him on her way to the Bondi Farmers Markets One local stopped the star for a selfie and later shared it to Instagram with the caption: 'Awesome to meet you, cheers for the selfie @willsmith'. 'Don't even care that you got sweat on my face.' Sending her followers into meltdown, she explained that she had bumped into him while on her way to Bondi's Farmers Markets. 'He walked out the gym while I was en route to the farmers market this morning' One Sydney-based fan stopped the star for a selfie in Bondi Press tour: He's the Hollywood actor in Sydney to promote his Netflix film Bright Tourist: All smiles in each photo, on Friday, Will took his own selfie in front of the Opera House to announce his arrival Down Under 'He walked out the gym while I was en route to the farmers market this morning,' she explained. On Friday, Will took his own selfie in front of the Opera House to announce his arrival Down Under. 'What Up, Sydney? Ya' Boy is in the Buildin',' he captioned the post. Taking in the local sights, on Sunday, the husband of actress Jada Pinkett-Smith headed to Bondi's Porch & Parlour for lunch, where he couldn't help but rave over his meal. 'Okay... I ABSOLUTELY HATE when people post pictures of food! BUT... this damn Green Pea Pancake at Porch & Parlour in Bondi Beach, Australia... It Broke Me, Y'all,' he captioned. She will be saying 'I do' in September of this year. And Cara Santana showed off her bride-to-be glow while walking the red carpet at Hallmark's Winter TCA Event in Pasadena, California, on Saturday. The actress, 33, appeared in high spirits as she was joined by her handsome fiance Jesse Metcalfe, 39. Looking good: Cara Santana showed off her bride-to-be glow while walking the red carpet at Hallmark's Winter TCA Event in Pasadena, California, on Saturday Cara stepped out in an elegant magenta dress that featured one sleeve, which showed off her toned shoulders. She tastefully teamed her ensemble with silver strappy heels that were embellished with matching magenta bows. Cara wore her dark locks in a elegant up-do hairstyle, while accentuating her natural beauty with shimmery makeup. The Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3 actress accessorized her look with hoop earrings from Alexis Bittar, and a magenta clutch handbag. Lovebirds: The actress, 33, appeared in high spirits as she was joined by her handsome fiance Jesse Metcalfe, 39 She's glowing: Cara stepped out in an elegant magenta dress that featured one sleeve, which showed off her toned shoulders Cheers! While inside, the couple got cozy at their table Jesse followed in his wife-to-be's fashionable footsteps with a perfectly tailored black suit. The John Tucker Must Die actor finished his ensemble with a patterned button-up shirt and a purple tie. Jesse also looked handsome with his hunky facial hair that added edge to his appearance. Back in black: Pregnant Ali Fedotowsky showed off her growing baby bump in a tight off the shoulder dress The couple: Ali was joined by her new fiance Kevin Manno, who matched his beautiful wife with a snazzy black suit All smiles: The 33-year-old TV personality added height to her frame with a chic pair of black opened-toe heels Joining the happy couples on the carpet were Alexa Vega and Katrina Bowden Chic: Bailee Madison also made an appearance in a chic one-sleeve nude dress that featured layered tulle Pregnant Ali Fedotowsky showed off her growing baby bump in a tight off the shoulder dress. The 33-year-old TV personality added height to her frame with a chic pair of black opened-toe heels. Ali was joined by her new fiance Kevin Manno, who matched his beautiful wife with a snazzy black suit. Joining the happy couples on the carpet were Alexa Vega and Katrina Bowden. Bailee Madison also made an appearance in a chic one-sleeve nude dress that featured layered tulle. Golden girls: Brooke Burns dazzled as she stepped out in an all-sequins number Thighs the limit: Danica McKellar and Kristy Swanson showed some leg in their fashionable gowns Chic: Jodie Sweetin flashed a smile in a pantsuit that had a open skirt tied at her hips Gorgeous: Jessica Lowndes stepped out in a polka dot dress, while Bethany Lenz took the plunge in a sexy suit finished off with a white blazer Red hot! Catherine Bell stepped out in a long-sleeve mini dress Looking good: Candace Cameron and Courtney Thorne-Smith were all smiles while stepping out for the event What a classic beauty: Andie MacDowell stepped out in a elegant off-the-shoulder dress teamed with metallic heels Other established stars such as Jon Voight made an appearance at the channel's big event of the year. Famed TV journalist Nancy Grace arrived in style as she sported a navy blue shirt paired with matching trousers. The event hosted over 300 members, where the Hallmark network unveiled new stars and programs for the upcoming year. Making his mark! Other established stars such as Jon Voight made an appearance at the channel's big event of the year Twinning: Lacey Chabert and Alison Sweeney both stepped out in elegant midi dresses She publicly pledged her support for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Presidential Election. And Naomi Watts appeared to hit out at US President Donald Trump and his alleged comments regarding 's***hole countries' on Sunday - although he has since denied he is a racist. The 49-year-old actress took to Instagram to share a throwback photo from a holiday she took to Kenya, which she captioned with the hashtag: '#notas**thole'. Scroll down for video 'Not a s**thole': Naomi Watts hit out at President Donald Trump as she shared a throwback snap from her trip to Kenya on Instagram on Sunday 'Beautiful Kenya. I miss you,' Naomi added beneath the snap, which showed her posing with her arms spread wide and held up in the air. Looking triumphant and relaxed, the Mullholland Drive star seemed to relish soaking up the scenery. However, it was the additional hashtag that caught the most attention - which appeared to allude to President Trump's recent comments on immigration. Shock: The caption appeared to refer to Trump's immigration meeting last week, which allegedly saw him ask: 'Why are we having these people from s***hole countries come here?' Camp ya Kanzi: Naomi tagged the 'award-winning, luxury eco-lodge' in her snap, and assured fans it was 'not a s**thole' The 71-year-old sparked outrage across the world when he allegedly asked 'Why are we having all these people from s***hole countries come here?' in an Oval Office meeting about immigration on Thursday. He went on to deny he was racist, telling reporters on Sunday: 'I'm not a racist. I'm the least racist person you have ever interviewed. That I can tell you.' He later added on Twitter: 'The language used by me at the DACA meeting was tough, but this was not the language used.' According to CNN, South Africa will embark on a diplomatic protest towards the US Embassy in Pretoria on Monday, following the alleged shock comments. Family time: The actress traveled to the African nation in July last year, with her two sons, Alexander and Samuel Nyumbani Children's Home: Naomi and her son looked overjoyed to be meeting with children at the facility, seen with huge smiles on their faces Naomi tagged Campi ya Kanzi, an 'award-winning, luxury eco-lodge' in the snap, where a stay in their most expensive suite costs $10, 118 AUD (or $8,000 USD) per night. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Naomi's management for comment. The actress travelled to the African nation in July last year, with her two sons, Alexander, 10, and Samuel, nine. Naomi shared a number of photos during their travels, including one that showed her with her son at The Nyumbani Children's Home in the Kenyan city of Nairobi. The pair looked overjoyed to be meeting with children at the facility and were pictured with huge smiles on their faces. Pucker up! Clearly having relished her time in the country, the actress called the trip a dream come true In another happy snap, Naomi was seen at the famous Giraffe Manor where one of the African animals planted a kiss she planted a kiss on her mouth. Clearly having relished her time in the country, the actress called the trip a dream come true, adding that she and her boys will 'cherish these memories forever'. Naomi, who is an Australian citizen, currently resides in New York with her boys, who she shares with ex Liev Schreiber. Alison Brie's known for playing by the rules, making her mark as goodie-two-shoes Annie in Community. But the actress displayed her rebellious side Saturday at a party for Los Angeles Confidential's Awards Issue hosted at The Jeremy Hotel in West Hollywood. During the celebration the GLOW star, 35, left little to the imagination in a plunging Roland Mouret jumpsuit with retro details. Alison Brie wowed in a plunging white jumpsuit at a Saturday celebration for Los Angeles Confidential magazine's Awards Issue Alison, who graces one of the magazine's covers this month, smoldered in the ivory outfit which featured a sequined bodice which plunged low. A flouncing peplum hugged her waist with flowy bell-bottoms below. The Mad Men actress accessorized with dangling Irene Neuwirth earrings. Brie took a note from her very 80s GLOW character, styling her shoulder-length hair into fluffy, feathered layers. Flash dance! Brie took a note from her very 80s GLOW character, styling her hair into fluffy, feathered layers Pep-lum in her step! The ivory Roland Mouret outfit featured a plunging sequined bodice and flouncing peplum with flowy bell-bottoms below Cover girl! The voice of BoJack Horseman's Diane looked animated while signing a larger-than-life poster of her magazine cover Alison, who is married to star Dave Franco, framed her baby blues with shimmering sienna eyeshadow. The star, who voices Diane on Netflix's BoJack Horseman, looked animated while signing a larger-than-life poster of her magazine cover. Fellow cover girl Ana de Armas wowed in a classic LBD. The Blade Runner 2049 actress looked sexy and sweet in an off-the-shoulder dress with skirt that skimmed her mid-thighs which she paired with Mary Jane heels. A classic! Fellow cover girl Ana de Armas wowed in well-tailored LBD Heel's to you! The Blade Runner 2049 actress looked sexy and sweet in an off-the-shoulder dress with skirt that skimmed her mid-thighs which she paired with Mary Jane heels The Cuba-born star wore her dark tresses in romantic waves with sultry cat-eyes and a bronze glow on her face. Blanca Blanco turned heads in wide-legged velvet trousers with a paint splattered top. Linear earrings framed the California born starlet's face while she played up her eyes with shimmering blue shadow. The Mission Impossible actress styled her hair into a smooth updo with a clean center part for a polished look. The cat's meow! The Cuba-born star wore her dark tresses in romantic waves with sultry cat-eyes and a bronze glow on her face Masterpiece! Blanca Blanco turned heads in wide-legged velvet trousers with a paint splattered top This Is Us's Milo Ventimiglia was typically handsome at the event, where he wore a short-sleeved button-up that could barely contain his bulging biceps. The mustachioed actor teamed the top with blue jeans while carrying a denim Carhart jacket at his side in case of a chill. The Heroes actor covered the magazine's Men issue last Fall. Los Angeles Confidential's awards season issue is currently on newsstands and is also available to read on the web. Michelle Williams, 37, has released a statement praising Mark Wahlberg, 46, for his $1.5 million donation to the Time's Up legal fund. The Boogie Nights star teamed up with his reps at WME to donate a combined $2 million to the fund against sexual abuse and harassment. In her statement, his All The Money In The World co-star wrote: 'Today is one of the most indelible days of my life because of Mark Wahlberg, WME and a community of women and men who share in this accomplishment.' Lady in red: Michelle Williams, 37, has released a statement praising Mark Wahlberg, 46, for his 1.5 million donation to the Time's Up legal fund. She's seen here in December 2017 The four-time Academy Award nominated actress's statement read in full: 'Today isnt about me.' 'My fellow actresses stood by me and stood up for me, my activist friends taught me to use my voice, and the most powerful men in charge, they listened and they acted.' 'If we truly envision an equal world, it takes equal effort and sacrifice.' 'Today is one of the most indelible days of my life because of Mark Wahlberg, WME and a community of women and men who share in this accomplishment.' 'Anthony Rapp, for all the shoulders you stood on, now we stand on yours.' Statement: 'If we truly envision an equal world, it takes equal effort and sacrifice.' Williams is seen here on January 8, 2018 Mark Wahlberg earlier had announced he would donate the $1.5 million he made for re-shooting scenes for All The Money In The World to Time's Up. The actor announced his decision following reports that his co-star Michelle Williams made less than $1,000 for the same re-shoots on the Ridley Scott movie. In a statement Saturday Wahlberg said: 'Over the last few days my reshoot fee for All The Money in the World has become an important topic of conversation. 'I 100% support the fight for fair pay and Im donating the $1.5 million to the Times Up Legal Defense Fund in Michelle Williams' name.' Pay gap: Mark Wahlberg has announced he is donating $1.5M to the Time's Up legal fund in Michelle Williams' name after it emerged he was paid substantially more than his co-star for reshoots for All The Money In The World At the same time, WME, which reps Wahlberg, Williams and Scott, has pledged $500,000 in a donation to #TimesUp. WME said: 'The current conversation is a reminder that those of us in a position of influence have a responsibility to challenge inequities, including the gender wage gap.' 'In recognition of the pay discrepancy on All The Money In The World reshoots, WME is donating an additional $500,000 to the Times Up Legal Defense Fund in Michelle Williams name, following our $1 million pledge to the organization earlier this month. Its crucial that this conversation continues within our community and we are committed to being part of the solution.' It was reported this week that Wahlberg held up the production of All the Money in the World by refusing to sign-off on disgraced actor Kevin Spacey's replacement if he was not paid more than $1 million for the reshoots which took place in November. Christopher Plummer was drafted to replace Spacey after filming had already wrapped after claims of sexual abuse emerged against the House of Cards star. Million dollar issue: Their differing contracts meant that Wahlberg could demand more money for the reshoots while Williams accepted to do them for the standard SAG daily rate 'I 100% support the fight for fair pay and Im donating the $1.5 million to the Times Up Legal Defense Fund in Michelle Williams name.' Wahlberg said in a statement on Saturday Wahlberg decided to exercise a co-star approval clause in his contract and hold up production of the Ridley Scott kidnapping drama if his demands were not met, according to USA Today last week. 'What (Wahlberg) said was, "I will not approve Christopher Plummer unless you pay me.'" And that's how he (expletive) them,' says one person who spoke to the publication under the condition of anonymity. The Oscar winner would not be allowed to step into the role until Wahlberg got his way, with the latter's lawyer writing a letter to financiers demanding the payment for his work over the Thanksgiving holiday. Williams, a four-time Oscar nominee, is the top-billed actor on the project and has more screentime than Wahlberg Shocking disparity: Wahlberg earned an additional $1.5million for the while his co-star Williams was offered less than $1,000 for the rehoots which took place over Thanksgiving last year Classy: Piers Morgan, Mark Ruffalo and Jesse Tyler Ferguson all applauded Wahlberg for the move Details over the staggering pay disparity on the reshoot of of the film caused waves when it was revealed that Wahlberg earned an additional $1.5million for the work after his representatives declared that he never works for free - while his co-star Williams was offered less than $1,000 for her troubles. As TMZ first reported last week, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter, when Plummer was brought on the project Scott approached Williams, asking her to travel back to Rome over the Thanksgiving holiday to reshoot some scenes. Williams answered the call and agreed to be compensated at the minimum SAG-AFTRA rate of $80 per day, earning her a total of $800 for the 10-day reshoot. Around the same time, Scott flew to London to meet with Wahlberg about doing the reshoot. According to TMZ's report, the Transformers alum also agreed to redo the scenes with Williams and Spacey's replacement, Christopher Plummer, but he and Scott did not discuss his compensation at the time. Allegedly unbeknownst to Scott, Wahlberg's representatives later met with the two main financial backers of the project and demanded that their client be paid for the extra work. Williams and Wahlberg took part in the 10-day reshoot in Rome in late November so the film could be released on time on Christmas Day Christopher Plummer (Left) with Ridley Scott for the 'All the Money in the World' film premiere, Los Angeles on December 18, 2017 Thank you: Eva Longoria, Amber Tamblyn and Busy Philipps all praised Wahlberg When Ridley Scott said in an interview with USA Today in December that he and his cast - excluding Plummer who was paid - were working for free to reshoot the movie in the wake of the Spacey debacle, he was unaware of Wahlberg's side deal, and was reportedly left feeling betrayed and 'hung out to dry.' Williams and Wahlberg are both represented by Williams Morris Endeavor, and some critics have accused the talent agency of failing to inform the Oscar-nominated actress of her co-start's lucrative arrangement. But according to TMZ sources, the glaring disparity in Williams and Wahlberg's payouts came down to their individual contracts: Williams' contract reportedly required her to do reshoots, as needed, as part of her overall salary, whereas Wahlberg's did not have such a clause. One person familiar with contract negotiations explained that it is not a common practice for agents within the same company to discuss or coordinate their clients' salaries, and doing so would be in violation of their duty of confidentiality. After: Plummer (above) was called in to replace Spacey in November, having always been Scott's first choice in the role Before: Kevin Spacey as J Paul Getty in the original All the Money in the World shoot (above) Times up: Ashley Judd, Jessica Chastain, Danielle Brooks and Terry Crews all tweeted their support The actors' union SAG-AFTRA, which represents both Williams and Wahlberg, said it is looking into the pay disparity on Scott's latest project, which was released on schedule on Christmas Day thanks to the $10million reshoot. 'We are unambiguously in favor of pay equity between men and women in this industry and support every action to move in this direction. At the same time, performers at this level negotiate their above-scale rates through their agents,' said a SAG-AFTRA spokesperson. Despite being the film's top-billed star and receiving her fifth Golden Globe nomination for her work in the movie, Williams just $80 per day, according to fellow A-lister Jessica Chastain. This means that the single mother traveled to Italy in late November for a last-second reshoot while being paid 0.05 per cent what her male co-star was making for his work. Williams was reportedly unaware that Wahlberg was not working for free when the reshoot began, but her agents at William Morris Endeavour were well aware of his payday as they also represent both Wahlberg and Scott. She's no stranger to the exotic life, having found fame over the summer on ITV's hit show Love Island. And Georgia Harrison soaked up all the winter sun she could as stepped out for a dip in the ocean during her Dubai getaway on Saturday. The 23 year-old reality starlet left very little to the imagination in a jaw-dropping turquoise blue bikini as she confidently strutted her impeccable figure on the sandy shore. Scroll down for video Sunshine beauty: Georgia Harrison, 23, soaked up all the rays she could as stepped out for a saucy dip in the ocean during her Dubai getaway on Saturday Georgia looked more bond girl than model as she rose up out of the water, showing off her ample cleavage in a plunging bikini top. Dripping wet from her soak in the crystal blue ocean, she adjusted her skin-tight bikini bottoms to showcase her perky derriere and statuesque pins, with the turquoise blue contrasting beautifully off her sun-soaked complexion. The natural beauty was fresh-faced for her fun frolick, with her sun-kissed ombre locks drying perfectly into effortless beach waves. Not one to forget a touch of glamour, the bombshell tied her risque look together with delicate jewellery, with drop pearl earrings, a dainty gold watch and matching bangles. Beach bum: The 23 year-old reality starlet left very little to the imagination in a jaw-dropping turquoise blue bikini as she confidently strutted her impeccable figure on the sandy shore The fashionista dried off further up the beach and stopped to take a few sultry selfies, showing off her best model pout. It's certainly been a busy year for the Essex beauty, who entered the famed Love Island villa in Mallorca in July, and finished off 2017 with the release of her debut sexy calendar. Georgia first met Love Island beau Sam, 22, on the hit ITV2 show over the summer, when the Geordie was reintroduced to the villa for a second time after failing to find love in the first few weeks. Perfect pout: The fashionista dried off further up the beach and stopped to take a few sultry selfies, showing off her best model pout However, their love story appeared to grind to a halt after Sam was spotted enjoying the new found throes of his fame on nights out flanked by various women. Georgia posted a cryptic Tweet outlining that she had ended things with the Geordie lad - and hinted at his infidelity. She penned: 'Would like to confirm that myself and Sam are no longer together. Unfortunately for some men one girl isn't always enough'. Georiga recently accused her former TOWIE stars of ''ostricising and bullying' new cast additions - claiming they feel 'threatened' if they think a girl is 'prettier than them'. In November, she jumped to the defense of Megan McKenna after the reality beauty was accused of having 'no friends' on TOWIE by her co-star Chloe Sims. She finalised her divorce from Miami nightclub owner Romain Zago in August, after four years of marriage. But now Joanna Krupa looked at the funnier side of marital bliss during a hilarious sketch she filmed back in her native Poland for their own version of Saturday Night Live on Saturday. The 38 year-old looked ravishing in a decadent bejewelled wedding gown, hugging every inch of her curvaceous figure. Scroll down for video Wedding day: Joanna Krupa looked at the funnier side of marital bliss during a hilarious sketch she filmed back in Warsaw, Poland for their own version of SNL on Saturday Swept off her feet: The 38 year-old looked ravishing in a decadent bejeweled wedding gown, hugging every inch of her curvaceous figure The Real Housewives reality star's signature blonde locks were styled into perfect waves as she she slightly appeared unimpressed with her on-screen husband, before being swept off her feet by the mullet-bearing actor. Wrapping her arms around her TV suitor, the bombshell laughed as he swung her around in a dizzying fashion. Her natural beauty shone through with only a light touch of nude pink lipstick and a lashings of mascara. Riotous: Joanna set the audience laughing in the highly humorous sketch, where she cringed as her less-than-impressive hubby grabbed her hips before pulling a ridiculous face Joanna - who also hosts Poland's Next Top Model - set the audience laughing in the highly humorous sketch, where she cringed as her less-than-impressive hubby grabbed her hips before pulling a ridiculous face. While the laughable skit was enjoyed by the audience, it may have hit too close to home for the beauty, who divorced husband Romain late last year. At the time, she told Us Weekly that she attributes long distance to the reason theyre not together. Were friends. We talk on a daily basis. But I think when things go wrong I dont know if theres a way to go back, she said when asked if theyd ever consider reconciling. Real Housewife: The former reality star is a recent divorcee. She split from her husband Romain Zago after four years of marriage back in August Despite the emotional process, Joanna proved there was no ill will between the couple, telling DailyMail.com: 'Its been an interesting day but its all good. Were on great terms and Im very grateful Romain is supporting me right now. We are on great terms, we talk more than ever. Were best friends and not much has changed. Im very grateful to have Romains support and we respect our ten years together.' Her lively wedding skit wasn't the only thing to get the audience laughing, as Joanna went through several costume changes for SNL Polksa, including sporting a full head of braids, a fake face tattoo and baggy sweat pants in a spoof rap video. Home again: Joanna Krupa was seen in Warsaw, Poland shooting SNL The Dancing With The Stars alum was seen writhing around on the hood of a BMW, and seemed to be having load of fun as she wore Adidas sweats, high top black sneakers, and a black bomber jacket. A white hoodie could be seen underneath her zipped-up coat and a small indeterminable fake tattoo was spotted on her face. Joannas hair was braided back and purple clip-in braids added a touch of color to the rapper-esque ensemble. She continued to prove her acting prowess on the comical show, dressing up as an singing air hostess in a form fitting blue-and-mustard uniform, before rocking just a dressing gown. Dance it out: On Saturday, the model was spotted filming a rap video sketch as she danced on the hood of a BMW Hood rat: Joanna sported a head full of braids, a fake face tattoo, and baggy sweat pants Krupa is a full-time Los Angeles resident and is currently single. She and her ex-husband are in the process of selling their $2 million dollar condo in Miami. Its located on the 42nd floor of the Four Seasons in Brickell. When the Poland native will be ready to give love another shot is to be determined. Honestly, right now Im trying to focus on work. I just feel like men in Hollywood are looking for a trophy wife, she told Us. Its really hard to get to know somebody. If prince charming comes along, great, but I just feel like its really tough in LA. Cosy: She continued to prove her acting prowess on the comical show, rocking just a dressing gown in a spa-esque sketch Hold up: Joanna cut her comedy teeth into a number of sketches, including a comical police skit In the air: Diana also dressed up as an singing air hostess in a form fitting blue-and-mustard uniform Successful stint: The beauty was later seen leaving the studios in a gold miniskirt Leggy look: The beauty had her golden locks tumbling around her shoulders This former Bachelor star is due to return to TV screens for a second chance at love on the inaugural Bachelor In Paradise. And if Megan Marx's latest bikini snap is anything to go by, she is sure to sizzle on the show. The reality star flaunted her enviable curves and toned figure in an Instagram post on Sunday wearing a skimpy black two piece. Beach babe! The Bachelor's Megan Marx sizzles as she shares throwback flaunting toned body in skimpy black bikini Megan left little to the imagination in the string bikini, which retail for $119 from Sommer Swim. The picture, geo-tagged at Avila Beach, California, appeared to be a throwback, as she wrote: 'Missing this place a little.' Putting her statuesque frame on display, Megan stood tall against a large rock formation with damp hair and sunglasses. Stunning! Megan left little to the imagination in the string bikini, which retail for $119 from Sommer Swim 'Yes, I can easily eat a whole pizza': Earlier in the week, Megan had enjoyed a quiet night in, claiming to have ordered a whole pizza for her 'Friday date night' at home Earlier in the week, Megan had enjoyed a quiet night in, claiming to have ordered a whole pizza for her 'Friday date night'. Watching a movie on her laptop as she ate a slice of pizza, she told her 141k followers: 'Yes, I can easily eat a whole pizza.' Megan has also been offering fans a glimpse of what they can expect to see on TV in the coming month, flaunting her amazing figure in a red swimsuit. The beauty took to Instagram last week to share a stunning snap of herself in a revealing red bikini. Red hot! The Bachelor's Megan Marx shows off her sizzling curves and toned figure in a skimpy string bikini In the social media snap Megan could be seen posing seductively on a chair, book in one hand. The beauty flaunted her curves in a skimpy red bikini which also showcased her toned stomach. Wearing a pair of oversized glasses and sporting a golden tan, Megan styled her blonde locks out in relaxed waves. Beach babe! Megan has gained a 141,000 strong social media following on Instagram thanks to her bikini snaps Returning to screens: Megan's latest sizzling display comes ahead of her return to TV screens on Bachelor In Paradise later this year 'Thank you @missguided for my new bikini! Its already been on a plane, in a hotel pool and enjoyed a sunset!' She captioned the photo. Megan's latest sizzling display comes ahead of her return to TV screens on Bachelor In Paradise later this year. While Megan has not been officially confirmed by Channel 10 as a cast member, the blonde beauty was photographed on the Fiji set filming scenes with Jake Ellis. Back on TV! Megan's latest sizzling display comes ahead of her return to TV screens on Bachelor In Paradise later this year High profile romance: Megan made headlines for her romance with fellow contestant Tiffany Scanlon First rising to fame competing on The Bachelor for Richie Strahan's affections, Megan made headlines for her romance with fellow contestant Tiffany Scanlon. The blonde beauties enjoyed a high profile romance after leaving The Bachelor, moving to Bali to start a business together. But their relationship fizzled out last February, with both blaming the public spotlight for the demise of their romance. She has played plenty of no-nonsense women over the course of her career which has spanned more than 45 years. And Meryl Streep certainly looked the part as she stepped out in a sheer black blouse at the Paris premiere of her new movie The Post on Saturday. The 68-year-old was accompanied by co-star Tom Hanks and director Steven Spielberg in France, where the film is being released under the name The Pentagon Papers. No-nonsense: Meryl Streep wore a sheer frilled blouse and dramatic flares at the Paris premiere of the Pentagon Papers alongside director Steven Spielberg and co-star Tom Hanks The 68-year-old paired the frilled see-through number with a pair of dramatic flares, and the outfit was nipped in at the waist by a small patent belt. She wore a black jacket with military-style buttons draped over her shoulders and accessorised with a black box clutch with a gold trim. Meryl looked effortlessly stylish in the all-black outfit which she completed with her signature pointed-edge glasses and onyx earrings. Her youthful complexion glowed in the barely-there makeup as she kept her blonde-hued hair out of her face by placing it into a chignon style. Smiles: In the film the 68-year-old plays Katherine Graham, the first female publisher of the Washington Post. The film, based on a true story deals with some of the sexism faced by Katherine The film, set in 1971, is centred around the 7,000 page Pentagon Papers which revealed the United States' involvement in the Vietnam war from 1945 to 1967. In the film, Meryl plays the first female publisher of the Washington Post, as she deals with some of the sexism faced by Katharine Graham. Based on a true story, editor Ben Bradlee, played by Tom Hanks, races to find the papers. Glowing: The American actress wore her signature pointed-edge glasses and pulled her hair back into a chignon style Classic: Meryl fought back the cold wearing a black jacket with military-style gold buttons on it and carried a box clutch which matched her all-black outfit Actress Meryl has rarely been out of the spotlight recently because of her involvement in the Time's Up initiative. The movement, launched by hundreds of Hollywood women to advocate for the end of sexual harassment, features a legal defence fund which subsidises legal support for victims who have experienced abuse in the workplace. The American actress walked the Golden Globes red carpet with Ai-jen Poo, the director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance. Writing in Cosmopolitan after the event, Ai-jen said: 'On the night of the awards, after taking a shot of vodka for courage, we stood shoulder-to-shoulder in front of countless cameras, shared our message with the media, and cheered others on who were doing the same.' Advertisement He is somewhat of a poster boy for Hollywood, boasting leading roles in some of the world's biggest blockbusters. So it's no surprise Tom Cruise caused quite the stir when shooting scenes for the sixth instalment of acclaimed movie franchise Mission: Impossible on the streets of central London on Sunday, where the actor performed a series of death-defying stunts against its famous skyline. The 55-year-old star stopped city-dwellers in their tracks as they halted their weekend plans to stop and watch the A-list star in action - much to the dismay of some of London's drivers, who were burdened with long queues after fans eager to see Tom brought traffic to a standstill. Scroll down for video Admiring the Cruise: Tom Cruise caused quite the stir when shooting scenes for the sixth instalment of acclaimed movie franchise Mission: Impossible on the streets of central London on Sunday, where the actor performed a series of death-defying stunts against its famous skyline Praised for performing his own stunts in the action series, Tom once again pushed his physical ability to the limit as he shot a number of high-octane scenes in the British capital. One particular standout stunt saw Tom sprint across a rooftop in a bid to reach a helicopter that was set for take off. While the images taken of the moment do not confirm whether or not Tom's character Ethan Hunt makes it in time, shots taken shortly after do show the helicopter flying over the huge crowd who paused their day to stand and spectate the display, despite the seriously chilly climes. But their patience wasn't in vain as Tom was later pictured flashing a broad grin and waving at the masses as he took a brief break from filming the exhilarating scenes. Starstruck: The 55-year-old star stopped city-dwellers in their tracks as they halted their weekend plans to stop and watch the A-list star in action Worth braving the cold! Fans' patience wasn't in vain as Tom was later pictured flashing a broad grin and waving at the masses as he took a brief break from filming the exhilarating scenes The Top Gun star was forced to put filming for the highly-anticipated sequel on hold after a botched stunt, which was supposed to show Tom jump from the roof of a building and land on an adjacent wall, instead saw him break his ankle. The incident - which happened five months ago - meant production for the movie was pushed back just shy of two months M:I6 director Christopher McQuarrie told Empire about the incident and detailed to the film magazine how the leading man suffered the injury after three previous jumps for the stunt. Action man: Praised for performing his own stunts in the action series, Tom once again pushed his physical ability to the limit as he shot a number of high-octane scenes in the British capital Stopping traffic: The buzz the actor spurred meant some of London's road users were faced with long queues a 'On the fourth try, he hit the building at a slightly different angle and he broke his ankle,' the filmmaker said. 'He knew the instant that he hit the building that his ankle was broken. You can see it on his face... he knew in that instant: "Well, we're not coming back here. We're not doing this again today".' Paramount, the studio making the film, issued a statement in the wake of the injury indicating that 'production will go on hiatus while Tom makes a full recovery'. The Hollywood Reporter claimed at the time that it would take eight to nine weeks for him to heal but it took only seven. At the time of injury Paramount insisted that the release date of the film, July 27, 2018, will not change - and it looks to still be on track to meet this deadline. Catch me if you can! One particular standout stunt saw Tom sprint across a rooftop in a bid to reach a helicopter that was set for take off Come fly with me: While the images taken of the moment do not confirm whether or not Tom's character Ethan Hunt makes it in time, shots taken shortly after do show the helicopter flying over the huge crowd Snap happy: Fans in their droves stopped to capture the moments on their phones as they occupied bike lanes and the pavement Tom was spotted on the Essex set of Mission: Impossible 6 in October, for the first time since his injury. Known for his adrenaline fueled set-pieces, the star has been snapped in Paris as well as London for the upcoming flick. While most of the details of the plot of the latest film have been kept tightly under wraps, Skydance Media CEO David Ellison revealed that Tom will be performing the biggest stunt sequence of his career in the film. Ellison told Collider: 'What Tom is doing in this movie I believe will top anything thats come before. It is absolutely unbelievablehes been training for a year. 'It is going to be, I believe, the most impressive and unbelievable thing that Tom Cruise has done in a movie, and he has been working on it since right after Rogue Nation came out [in 2015]. Its gonna be mind-blowing.' The acting veteran stars alongside Man Of Steel star Henry Cavill in the film, as well as a host of other big names including Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Jeremy Renner and The Crown's Vanessa Kirby. In need of some assistance? Tom had a member of the crew on hand to assist him while performing the dangerous stunts They announced in November that they were expecting the pitter patter of tiny feet once again. And Eddie Redmayne, 35, appeared at ease ahead of the impending arrival of his second child as he attended the premiere for his new flick Early Man in London on Sunday alongside his pregnant wife Hannah Bagshawe, also 35. Despite walking the red carpet for his new project, all eyes were firmly on Hannah and her blossoming bump during the cinematic event. Scroll down for video Glowing: Eddie Redmayne, 35, appeared at ease ahead of the arrival of his second child as he attended the premiere for his new flick Early Man in London on Sunday alongside his pregnant wife Hannah Bagshawe, also 35 The PR executive was radiant as she donned a chic knee-length black jacket which boasted intricate embroidery detailing around the cuffs and around the torso for the festivities. Hannah teamed her eye-catching garment with a pair of charcoal grey skinny jeans which hugged her slender pins and drew attention to her pointed black stilettos. The natural beauty teamed her ensemble with a flowing black shirt which fell to her thighs and covered her blossoming stomach while she posed for photos with her Oscar-winning other half. She worked her honey-hued tresses into a messy ponytail as she gazed into Eddie's eyes during the red carpet. Blossoming: Despite walking the red carpet for his new project, all eyes were firmly on Hannah and her blossoming bump during the cinematic event Style savvy: Following Hannah's stylish lead, Eddie sported a pair of black chinos which he teamed with a naval-inspired jacket and blue knit Focus: Despite walking the red carpet for his new project, all eyes were firmly on Hannah and her blossoming bump during the cinematic event Snap happy: Eddie stopped to take photos with fans that waited in the crowd Following Hannah's stylish lead, Eddie sported a pair of black chinos which he teamed with a naval-inspired jacket and blue knit. Eddie's latest cinematic offering follows a cave man named Dug and his pet sidekick Hognob who are forced to unite their tribe against a mighty enemy Lord North and his Bronze Age City. The stop-motion animated flick is being hailed the next Wallace and Gromit and is film directed by Nick Park and includes the voices of Tom Hiddleston, Maisie Williams, and Timothy Spall in it. Publicity executive Hannah fell pregnant with their first child the year after Eddie won his Academy Award for the film in January 2015. Screen star: Eddie's latest cinematic offering follows a cave man named Dug and his pet sidekick Hognob who are forced to unite their tribe against a mighty enemy Lord North and his Bronze Age City Star-studded: Eddie's co-star in the flick Tom Hiddleston stepped out on the green carpet What a difference: The dapper film star sported a much longer 'do and a thick beard for the occasion which see's him play villain Lord Nooth Fancy footwear: The Thor star teamed his suit with a dark brown dress shoe Write on time! Tom happily signed autographs for waiting fans She was still by his side when he went up for the gong for a second time in 2016, with The Danish Girl, despite being three-months-pregnant. In November, the couple confirmed they were expecting baby number two to E! News, when a representative for the couple announced: 'Eddie and Hannah Redmayne are delighted to confirm they are expecting their second child. Eddie and Hannah started dating in 2012 after previously being friends since their school days. They first met when the Oscar winner was studying at Eton College, while Hannah was boarding at a nearby girls' school. Pretty in Pink: While Maisie Williams, 20, looked positively charming in her head-to-toe Coach ensemble as she attended the event in which she voices the character of Goona Making a statement: She donned a pair of satin pink trouser for the occasion All that glitters: She teamed her kooky look with a glittering lurex jumper Retro: The Game of Thrones star worked her brunette tresses into a voluminous curl However their friendship turned to romance when Eddie invited her to visit him in Italy while he was filming Les Miserables. Eddie and Hannah, who welcomed their first child Iris Mary in June 2016, wed in Babington House in Somerset just before Christmas 2014. Eddie is currently filming Fantastic Beasts 2: The Crimes of Grindelwald, in which he stars as Newt Scamander. The highly-anticipated sequel - which will follow on from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them which hit cinemas last Christmas - will be the first in the five-film series to introduce iconic Harry Potter character Albus Dumbledore as a young man. Green with envy: Rob Brydon - who voices a messenger bird in the flick - walked the green carpet All smiles: Wallace and Gromit creator and Early Man director attended the event with his other half Mags Connolly Chilling: Johnny Vegas beamed as he walked the carpet Picture perfect: Fonejacker Kayvan Novak walked the carpet with Talitha Stone The next installment will feature Jude Law as a young Dumbledore and Johnny Depp in the role of Gellert Grindelwald. The second of the five adventures penned by Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling will be released on 16 November 2018. Back at the premiere, Eddie's co-star in the flick Tom Hiddleston stepped out on the green carpet, looking suave in a navy blue suit. The dapper film star sported a much longer 'do and a thick beard for the occasion which see's him play villain Lord Nooth. While Maisie Williams, 20, looked positively charming in her head-to-toe Coach ensemble as she attended the event in which she voices the character of Goona. Spot the difference: Peter Lord and David Sproxton, founders of Aardman Animations studios which produced, took a walk on the wild side with their leopard print clobber Hitting the right notes: George Smith, Blake Richardson and Reece Bibby of New Hope Club posed on the carpet Heading off: Eddie and Hannah went hand-in-hand as they left the after-party They've not shared the screen together since she left the soap in 2016. But that didn't stop former Hollyoaks actress Jorgie Porter, 30, from painting the town red with Kieron Richardson and co-stars to celebrate his 32nd birthday in Manchester on Saturday. The model, who's best known for playing Theresa McQueen on the long-running Channel 4 soap, exuded glamour in an aubergine faux-fur jacket while heading out with fellow Hollyoaks actress Jazmine Franks. Scroll down for video Pretty in purple: Jorgie Porter, 30, painted the town red with fellow Hollyoaks star Kieron Richardson to celebrate his 32nd birthday in Manchester on Saturday Striking beauty:The model, who's best known for playing Theresa McQueen on the long-running Channel Four soap, exuded glamour in an aubergine faux-fur jacket while heading out with fellow Hollyoaks actress Jazmine Franks The starlet bundled up with several warming layers underneath her statement jacket, with a smart grey zipped jacket and a simple black top creatively tied at the bottom to amp up the seductive feel. Paired with a conservative skin-tight black skirt, the acting beauty showed off all of her vivacious curves in the elegant ensemble. Jorgie's black killer heels matched perfectly with her chic black clutch bag, and added a pop of colour with a deep rouge lip. Her platinum blonde tresses oozed Old Hollywood glamour in tight curls that fell delicately onto her shoulders. Classic look: The starlet bundled up with several warming layers underneath her statement jacket, with a smart grey zipped jacket and a simple black top creatively tied at the bottom to amp up the seductive feel Friend and current Hollyoaks star Jazmine Franks rocked a much edgier ensemble, donning a classic leather jacket, but almost caused a stir in a dangerously low-cut crimson top. The daring look was offset with skinny black jeans that hugged her curves, and strappy black sandal heels, perfect for partying the night away. Sweeping her brunette locks up into a half-up-half-down ponytail, the starlet got the chance to show off her statement black tassel earrings plus burst of colour with a deep berry lip and lashings of mascara. Bundled up: Jorgie's former McQueen sibling, Gemma Merna, 33, looked ravishing in her winter-ready ensemble, bundling up into a striking emerald green scarf Beaming: Birthday boy Kieron Richardson seemed ready to celebrate his new year in style, donning dapper army-green overcoat over a casual cream jumper Jorgie's former McQueen sibling, Gemma Merna, 33, looked ravishing in her winter-ready ensemble, bundling up into a striking emerald green scarf. The Manchester native beamed as she headed to the fun event, braving the chilly temperatures with a rocker leather jacket with faux-fur trim. She carried her worldly possessions in a simple yet classic tan leather cross-body bag and showcased her impressive pins in knee-high grey heeled boots. The signature blonde left her locks naturally flowing, and added a hint on soft pink on her lips. Celebrations: Shielding from the brisk cold, the casually clad Hollyoaks star - known for his role as Ste Hay on the award-winning drama - appeared jubilant as he walked next to husband Carl Hyland Birthday boy Kieron Richardson seemed ready to celebrate his new year in style, donning dapper army-green overcoat over a casual cream jumper. Shielding from the brisk cold, the casually clad Hollyoaks star - known for his role as Ste Hay on the award-winning drama - was grinning ear to ear as he walked next to husband Carl Hyland. The couple became first-time parents in May, bringing Chase and Phoebe Rae into the world via surrogate. Busy lady! Soap mum Nicole Barber-Lane didn't waste anytime rushing from the class room to the birthday bash as she carried her course files with her to the shindig The handsome pair took time off dad duty to spend the night out with friends, with partner Carl looking just as handsome in a constrasting blue jacket and black polo shirt. Soap mum Nicole Barber-Lane - who's played Myra McQueen on the Chester soap for over a decade - didn't waste anytime rushing from the class room to the birthday bash as she carried her course files with her to the shindig. The beaming brunette shot a massive smile to cameras as she wrapped up in a tartan scarf and grey tweed jacket, looking ever the professional following her day of classes. Looking incredibly scholarly, the mum-of-two kept warm in a black form-fitting dress, with smart black tights and polished loafers. Professional: The beaming brunette shot a massive smile to cameras as she wrapped up in a tartan scarf and grey tweed jacket, looking ever the professional following her day of classes Kim Kardashian gave her social media followers quite an eyeful on Sunday. The 37-year-old reality star flashed her impressive cleavage in a photo she captioned 'Morning' along with a sunshine emoji. Pulling a sneer for the camera, Kim, clad in a denim shirt, also revealed a jeweled grill in her teeth. Good morning indeed! Kim Kardashian treated her Instagram followers to a sexy cleavage shot on Sunday morning The reality TV icon had strung on three necklaces, two of which were medallions and one of which had metallic lettering reading: 'PABLO.' Kim's husband, Kanye West, released a record in 2016 entitled The Life Of Pablo - his seventh and most recent studio album. Kanye is Kim's third husband - preceded by Damon Thomas and Kris Humphries - and the pair of them are currently expecting a baby via surrogate. The couple, who are known affectionately to fans as Kimye, already share four-year-old daughter North and two-year-old son Saint. Dropping references: Kim's 'PABLO' necklace in the snap appeared to be a nod to her husband Kanye West's seventh and latest studio album The Life Of Pablo As it turns out, Kim's family is expanding on multiple fronts, with her younger sister Khloe, 33, expecting a baby by her Cleveland Cavalier beau Tristan Thompson. Last year, Tristan and his ex-girlfriend Jordan Craig welcomed their own son Prince. There is also a swirl of rumors that Kim and Khloe's half-sister Kylie Jenner is pregnant at 20 by her 25-year-old rapper boyfriend Travis Scott. Expanding the family: Kim is currently, by way of a surrogate, expecting her third child by Kanye, who is her third husband after Damon Young and Kris Humphries Meanwhile, the eldest sibling in the Kardashian-Jenner lineup, Kourtney Kardashian, 38, has got three children by her on-and-off paramour Scott Disick. Mason, their eldest, is eight, while Penelope is five and Reign is three. The Kardashian girls' rotund younger brother Rob Kardashian, 30, has a one-year-old daughter named Dream by his ex-fiancee Blac Chyna. She has been throwing herself into single life following her split with fellow Love Island winner Kem Cetinay last month. And Amber Davies put on a brave face as she attended the launch of Paige Louise's new make-up palette in Manchester on Sunday. It comes after the 21-year-old reality starlet made a thinly veiled dig at her ex-boyfriend, after revealing she received texts messages from girls claiming to have slept with the Romford barber in the wake of their split. Scroll down for video Newly-single: Amber Davies appeared in high spirits as she attended a make-up launch in Manchester on Sunday She told The Sun: 'I felt like I'd been stabbed, but Kem was saying he was bleeding. 'I've had a handful of messages from girls some sent just a few days after we had split saying they had slept with him.' 'People deal with things in different ways, maybe that was his way, but if I was sleeping with loads of people, I wouldn't speak publicly about how heartbroken I was.' MailOnline has contacted Kem Cetinay's representative for comment. Moving on: Amber put her heartache aside as she showcased her enviable figure as she slipped her lithe limbs into tight wet-look leggings and suede over-the-knee boots However, Amber put her heartache aside as she showcased her enviable figure as she slipped her lithe limbs into tight wet-look leggings and suede over-the-knee boots. She complemented the look with a black floral blouse and accessorized the chic ensemble with a stone grey Gucci shoulder bag and silver watch. The beauty showed off her cosmetic prowess with a smoky brown eye, fluttery eyelashes and a glossy mauve lip as she flashed her mega watt smile for the cameras beside make-up artist Paige - who was launching her new eyeshadow palette. Glamorous: The brunette beauty showed off her cosmetic prowess with a smoky brown eye, fluttery eyelashes and a glossy mauve lip as she flashed her mega watt smile for the cameras Glam: The brunette beauty showed off her cosmetic prowess with a smoky brown eye, fluttery eyelashes and a glossy mauve lip as she posed alongside make-up artist Paige Louise (L) The television personality was joined by curvy model Demi Rose who showed off her sartorial flair in a navy velvet jacket with a white faux-fur trim. Pairing the look with ripped denim jeans and a black vest top, the 22-year-old oozed glamour as she strutted into The Warehouse for the launch. The Instagram star looked every inch the beauty icon as she sat in the make-up chair before signing eye shadow palettes. Soap star Adam Thomas and his brother Scott also looked dapper as they posed on the red carpet before heading into the venue. Stylish: Curvy model Demi Rose who showed off her sartorial flair in a navy velvet jacket with a white faux-fur trim Chic: Pairing the look with ripped denim jeans and a black vest top, the 22-year-old oozed glamour as she strutted into The Warehouse for the launch. The Instagram star looked every inch the beauty icon as she sat in the make-up chair before signing eye shadow palettes Full face of make-up: Demi appeared to be getting a glamorous make-up look done as she sat in a chair Suave: Soap star Adam Thomas and his brother Scott also looked dapper as they posed on the red carpet before heading into the venue Her outing comes after Love Island pal Olivia Attwood firmly pledged her allegiance to Amber, as the pair hit the town on Saturday. Amber put on a sizzling display as she flaunted her incredible figure in black PVC leggings and purple over-the-knee boots. She paired the look with a black striped blazer and a stone grey Gucci bag. The bubbly brunette appeared to be loving single life as she giggled with her pal in a series of Instagram snaps. OIivia wrote in her New Magazine column: ' I did watch Dancing on Ice and it's a bit of a difficult one for me at the moment with Kem, especially with Amber and everything as she's my girl. 'Kem and I had an extremely close relationship in the villa, we really did, and I have found the way we've drifted apart quite hard if I'm honest.' Loyal: Her outing comes after Love Island pal Olivia Attwood firmly pledged her allegiance to Amber, as the pair hit the town on Saturday Sober: Amber stuck to Red Bull after revealing she relied on alcohol as a 'coping mechanism' following her split Having a great time: The bubbly brunette appeared to be loving single life as she giggled with her pal in a series of Instagram snaps The blonde beauty also commented on Amber causing drama last Saturday night after the star tweeted about her ex-boyfriend and former I'm A Celebrity star Scarlet Moffatt possibly dating. The I'm A Celeb star was seen cheering on the cheeky Essex amateur skater in the crowd. Olivia added: 'I don't know the truth but I guess Scarlett being there was a little bit random - unless they have become really good friends? 'Whether that is a cover for the fact that they might be dating, I don't know, it was all a bit odd.' Scarlett and Kem had denied romance rumours by insisiting they are just 'BFFs (best friends forever) in an Instagram snap'. Meanwhile Kem has revealed how Liam Payne helped him move on from his ex-girlfriend, admitting the One Directioner was one of the first to text him following his split. The 21-year-old told the Mirror: 'Liam has been really supportive. He was checking I was okay and gave good advice. 'I couldn't believe he was going out of his way to support me.' Moving on: Meanwhile Kem has revealed how Liam Payne helped him move on from his ex-girlfriend, admitting the One Directioner was one of the first to text him following his split. Kem and Amber split in December citing hectic work schedules. The pair met and fell in love on Love Island over the summer, and went on to win the show and its 50,000 prize pot after winning over fans with their playful relationship. However, the pint-sized duo called time on their romance in early December, due to their conflicting work schedules following the success of the ITV2 show. Confirming the split in a statement to MailOnline, they said: 'With sadness, we've decided to separate. We fell in love in the villa and want to thank all the fans of the show for supporting us.' It was later claimed Amber had called the relationship off as she felt things were 'moving too fast' - with the pair openly discussing the prospect of marriage and children in the future, in a number of interviews. They were seen kissing after a lunch date at a restaurant in Los Feliz in Los Angeles just before Christmas and they enjoyed a festive trip to Chile. So it seems safe to say on-off couple Elon Musk and Amber Heard are back together again. And that appeared to be cemented in the early hours of Sunday morning when they turned up at The Abbey nightclub in West Hollywood around 1am, according to TMZ. Scroll down for videos Night out: Amber Heard, in the hat, and her on-off-on again beau tech billionaire Elon Musk, in a white shirt, turned up at West Hollywood club The Abbey at 1am on Sunday morning They had some drinks and danced with a few friends, all captured in two brief videos posted by a Twitter user. It looked like they really enjoyed grooving to Cardi B's Bodak Yellow. The 31-year-old actress and the Tesla/SpaceX CEO, 46, began dating in 2016 before parting ways last August. But the multi-billionaire wasn't happy about it. Getting close: The 31-year-old actress and the Tesla/SpaceX CEO, 46, have denied they are back together after last summer's split. But they have been seen together many times recenty In November, the father-of-five with first wife, Justine Wilson, told Rolling Stone: 'I just broke up with my girlfriend. I was really in love, and it hurt bad.' Then he added: 'Well, she broke up with me more than I broke up with her, I think.' Elon admitted he hates being alone, saying: 'I will never be happy without having someone. Going to sleep alone kills me. Staying close: Elon stood just behind Johnny Depp's ex. In November he admitted that he was finding their split hard, saying, 'I was really in love, and it hurt bad' 'It's not like I don't know what that feels like: Being in a big empty house, and the footsteps echoing through the hallway, no one there - and no one on the pillow next to you. F**k. 'How do you make yourself happy in a situation like that?' Despite that, the couple recently denied a reconciliation, however recent events seem to indicate the opposite. Amber, of course, is the ex-wife of Johnny Depp. She's usually seen rocking a more revealing look and isn't shy about showing off her curves. And Demi Rose Mawby was looking uncharacteristically demure when she stepped out on Sunday, attending the PLouise beauty launch at The Warehouse in Manchester. The brunette beauty kept her famous figure under wraps in a pair of ripped jeans and an embroidered coat with a shearling collar. Scroll down for video New look: Demi Rose Mawby was looking uncharacteristically demure when she stepped out on Sunday, attending the PLouise beauty launch at The Warehouse in Manchester Demi teased just a hint of cleavage in a simple black vest top, layering up with her statement jacket featuring pretty floral embellishment. She hid behind a pair of oval shades and wore her brunette locks down in a sleek style. Demi was in attendance to showcase the new eye shadow palette, and was spotted getting a makeover behind the scenes. Covering up: Demi teased just a hint of cleavage in a simple black vest top, layering up with her statement jacket featuring pretty floral embellishment Shady lady: She hid behind a pair of oval shades and wore her brunette locks down in a sleek style Flower power: The brunette beauty kept her famous figure under wraps in a pair of ripped jeans and an embroidered coat with a shearling collar Wrapping up: The social media sensation ensured she kept wrap, wrapping up against the winter chill Demi turned heads as she posed on the red carpet at the event, ensuring all eyes were on her. The star has been sending her social media followers wild of late, taking to Instagram last week to share some very revealing selfies. The curvy pin-up posed up a storm in her latest mirror selfie, flaunting her enviable physique and eye-popping cleavage in a skimpy Bardot crop top. Makeover: Demi was in attendance to showcase the new eye shadow palette, and was spotted getting a makeover behind the scenes Finishing touches: The social media sensation was getting a glamorous makeover Strike a pose! Demi turned heads as she posed on the red carpet at the event, ensuring all eyes were on her Demi's off-the-shoulder number highlighted her impossibly tiny waist and flat stomach. The brunette bombshell completed her off-duty look with a pair of high-rise jeans and opted for pretty, rose hued make-up. Another sultry post from the Birmingham born beauty shows her posing in a red bra, showing off her voluptuous chest to the max. Revealing: Demi has been sending her social media followers wild of late, taking to Instagram last week to share some very revealing selfies Curvy queen: Another sultry post from the Birmingham born beauty shows her posing in a red bra, showing off her voluptuous chest to the max Demi recently stripped down to her bikini top to showcase her famously ample assets in a sizzling Instagram selfie. The brunette beauty made sure to catch the eye with her revealing appearance, as she teased a look at her bust, along with her incredibly toned stomach. No doubt leaving her followers on the photo-sharing app a little hot under the collar, Demi smouldered for the camera in her scantily-clad attire. Catching the eye: Demi previously stripped down to her bikini top to showcase her famously ample assets in a sizzling Instagram selfie The star, who has made a name for herself modelling swimwear, made sure to flaunt her bust in a barely-there burnt orange bikini top that fastened together with a single silver clip at the front. Framing her assets it featured string detailing that hung down from its dainty straps and the starlet made sure to flaunt her incredibly honed stomach, as she paired her swimwear with a pair of camouflage cargo pants that sat low on her hips. Demi's glossy mane was left down to fall past her shoulders in a poker-straight style and sported a glamorous make-up look, accentuating her striking features. New romance: Demi is now dating new beau Chris Martinez - who is know for being one half of DJ'ing duo The Martinez Brothers Famous face: Chris and his brother Stevie (above) are best known for their long-term residencies in Ibiza and were previously dubbed the 'crown princes of DC10' while being named Mixmag's DJs of the Year in 2014 Her saucy social media post comes after Demi confirmed her new relationship with beau Chris Martinez before Christmas. They were seen packing on the PDA while preparing to jet out of Madrid airport and didn't hold back as they enjoyed a smooch in front of onlookers. Millionaire star Martinez is usually seen performing alongside his brother Stevie as part of the house DJ'ing duo. MailOnline have contacted representatives for both Demi and Chris. Chris and his brother Stevie are best known for their long-term residencies in Ibiza and were previously dubbed the 'crown princes of DC10' while being named Mixmag's DJs of the Year in 2014. The duo started out on the New York club scene, as they're originally from The Bronx, and were later mentored by DJ Dennis Ferrer, who then signed the pair to his label. They are often touring internationally. Chris was spotted getting close to Demi at the airport in Madrid, while the couple were waiting in line ahead of their flight. Seemingly besotted, the pair held hands as they proved inseparable when they strolled through the terminal. The curvy stunner enjoyed a brief love affair with Tyga in May 2016 when the US rapper was on a break from seeing his on/off girlfriend at the time Kylie. Birmingham born beauty Demi gave a rare glimpse into their whirlwind romance but she admitted she wasn't left heartbroken when it came to an end in an interview with The Sun. She told the publication in 2016: 'It was interesting, it just happened really fast. He had been messaging me then I went to a party in Cannes and bumped into him. He was nice and we got along. And I spent some time with him. 'We ended up spending the rest of our time there together. We really liked each other but logistically it didn't work out in the end. 'But you know, everything happens for a reason. Im not heartbroken though. For now Im just doing me!' Kate Upton is kicking off the New Year with a new brand partnership. The 25-year-old model took her Instagram followers behind the scenes of her Yamamay lingerie shoot on Sunday in Miami. Totally in love with our new muse, the clothing brand said in an Instagram story. So proud to show you our natural woman. Scroll down for video Model moments: Kate Upton took her Instagram followers behind the scenes of her Yamamay lingerie shoot on Sunday in Miami The Michigan native started off her day in a white robe and slippers as she got her hair curled by Francogo and her makeup done by Maud Laceppe. Her dog Harleywho has his own Instagram account @therealharleyuptonjoined the crew for the day. Once the prepping hours were complete, The Other Woman actress slipped into a revealing navy lace bra and panty set for her first shots. She later donned a white lace bra and matching underwear. Getting ready: The 25-year-old model started off her day in a white robe and slippers as she got her hair curled by Francogo and her makeup done by Maud Laceppe Once the prepping hours were complete, the actress slipped into a revealing navy lace bra and panty set. She later wore a dainty white lace bra and matching underwear The photographer running the shoot was Giampaolo Sgura. Ironically, back in 2013, the cameraman told GQ that he wasnt interested in shooting Kate. Ive never thought of photographing her, he said. Its one of those success stories in fashion that is very momentary. Shes different, shes curvy in contrast to the other girls, big boobs, so people will talk about her. Personally I find her beauty to be regular also a bit vulgar perhaps. The photographer running the shoot was Giampaolo Sgura The Other Woman actress looked sultry in a matching black lingerie set and a silk robe One man that has always been on the Upton train is her husband Justin Verlander. The two were married in November in Tuscany only days after the Houston Astros won the 2017 World Series. Justin, 34, is a pitcher for the Astros and the fourth-highest paid MLB player in the league. The two recently returned from the Bahamas where they rang in the New Year together. Wedded bliss: Upton is married to Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander She flew into Byron Bay, on the New South Wales coast of Australia, to spend the New Year with her fiance. And in Monday's NW magazine, it's been claimed that Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth tied the knot in secret during the trip. The report comes after the couple were spotted wearing bands on their ring fingers in the coastal town last week. 'It felt right': Liam Hemsworth and Miley Cyrus 'are husband and wife after tying the knot in secret in Byron Bay'. The report comes after the couple were spotted wearing bands on their ring fingers in the coastal town last week An insider reportedly said of the alleged nuptials: 'It's such a special place for them (in Byron Bay). It felt right.' The A-list couple called off their first engagement in 2013, but rekindled their romance in January 2016 while ringing in the New Year in Byron Bay. 'It's where they realised that they couldn't live without each other and decided to really give their relationship another go,' the source reportedly went on to tell the publication. 'It was a no-brainer that it'd be the place they tied the knot,' they added. Reports: An insider reportedly said of the alleged nuptials: 'It's such a special place for them (in Byron Bay). It felt right' Speculation: This is not the first time the couple, who met on the set of The Last Song in 2009, have sparked speculation they have already tied the knot Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Liam and Miley's management for comment. This is not the first time the couple, who met on the set of The Last Song in 2009, have sparked speculation they have already tied the knot. A source close to Liam and Miley allegedly told OK! magazine last year: 'Miley is absolutely over the moon since she and Liam took the plunge and exchanged vows. 'Words cannot describe how much love they have for each other and they know they want to spend the rest of their lives together.' Gushing comments: A source close to Liam and Miley allegedly told OK! magazine last year: 'Miley is absolutely over the moon since she and Liam took the plunge and exchanged vows' Miley and Liam became engaged in 2012, but split just a year later. It was revealed in January 2016 that the couple had reunited and that their engagement was back on. Miley has spoken candidly about their time apart, telling Billboard: 'I needed to change so much. And changing with someone else not changing like that is too hard.' 'Suddenly you're like, "I don't recognise you anymore". We had to re-fall for each other,' she explained. Peter Stefanovic's addition to Channel Nine's weekend breakfast line up means a Stefanovic will be waking up with Today viewers seven days a week. And it seems not everyone is a fan of back to back Karl and Peter Stefanovic, with New Idea reporting fans have been taking to social media to voice their displeasure. An insider is also alleged to have told the publication 'no job is guaranteed' following Lisa Wilkinson's shock departure last year. 'How many bloody Stefanovics are going to hit our screens?' Viewers complain online about brothers Karl and Peter hosting Today seven days a week Last week, it was confirmed Peter would be stepping down from his role as 60 Minutes correspondent and hosting Weekend Today with Allison Langdon. According to New Idea, 'fuming fans' have been going online to voice their displeasure at Peter's appointment. 'How many bloody Stefanovics are going to hit our screens?' One person wrote online. New job: Last week, it was confirmed Peter would be stepping down from his role as 60 Minutes correspondent and hosting Weekend Today. Peter pictured with wife Sylvia Jeffreys Not happy! Another person added: 'Peter has as much personality as his brother. Zero' Another person added: 'Peter has as much personality as his brother. Zero.' Meanwhile, an insider has allegedly claimed 'not even Karl Stefanovic is safe', with the publicity from his relationship with Jasmine Yarbrough seeing his popularity take a 'serious hit'. 'This is show business and tough decisions will always need to be made,' a source reportedly said. New host: In December, former Today newsreader Georgie Gardner was announced as Lisa's replacement Report: An insider has allegedly claimed 'not even Karl Stefanovic is safe', with the publicity from his relationship with Jasmine Yarbrough seeing his popularity take a 'serious hit' 'No job is guaranteed, especially if the ratings start to slide.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Nine for comment. Meanwhile, Peter has praised his brother Karl, revealing he has always looked up to him in a new interview with Nine Honey. 'Hes a great mentor for me, Karl, he tells me things to work on or things I can do better or things that might not be working or how to move to different levels. Hes a good brother and a good man,' he revealed. Nine has shaken up its morning lineup for 2018 after Lisa Wilkinson quit in October after failing to achieve pay parity with co-host Karl. In December, former Today newsreader Georgie Gardner was announced as Lisa's replacement. He's currently in Australia promoting his new Netflix film Bright. And on Monday, Hollywood star Will Smith sent fans into overdrive when he appeared on Sunrise. The 49-year-old appeared in high spirits as crowds frantically tried to snap selfies with the Hollywood star and shake his hand. Scroll down for video Wild over Will! Fans are sent into overdrive and frantically snap selfies with American actor Smith as he appears on Sunrise during a surprise trip to Australia Doing his thing: The 49-year-old appeared in high spirits as fans frantically tried to snap selfies with the Hollywood star and shake his hand Will looked casual and cool during the early morning outing, wearing a black and orange jacket and a white printed T-shirt. He teamed the look with black tracksuit pants with a matching orange stripe. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air favourite waved to the crowd who gathered outside of the Sunrise studio in Sydney, and signed autographs. Getting up close and personal: Fans mobbed the Men In Black star Stylish: Will looked casual and cool during the early morning outing, wearing a black and orange jacket and a white printed T-shirt Leading man! Sunrise hosts David 'Kochie' Koch and Samantha Armytage looked thrilled at Will's appearance on the show Star attraction: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star waved to the crowd who gathered outside of the Sunrise studios in Sydney, and signed autographs Sunrise hosts David 'Kochie' Koch and Samantha Armytage looked thrilled at Will's appearance on the show. Will sat down for an interview alongside his Bright co-stars, Joel Edgerton and Lucy Fry. Talking about his energy on the day, he said: 'It's hugely important to me to maintain a certain energy, it's healing, it's loving, it's kind.' Promotional duties: He also sat down for an interview with his Bright co-stars, Joel Edgerton and Lucy Fry Buzz: Talking about his energy on the day, he said: 'It's hugely important to me to maintain a certain energy, it's healing, it's loving, it's kind' Positive: 'I learned really young that my energy was infectious, when I come into the studio, long after I leave, the energy I bring it's still going to be here and people are going to take it home and it will affect their families with it' 'I learned really young that my energy was infectious, when I come into the studio, long after I leave, the energy I bring it's still going to be here and people are going to take it home and it will affect their families with it.' 'Yeah, I'm really happy,' he added. Will was seen arriving into Sydney on Friday and appears to be enjoying his time Down Under. The American star has been spotted over the weekend, going for a run and doing the Bondi to Bronte. Quick trip: Will was seen arriving into Sydney on Friday, and appears to be enjoying his time Down Under Fitting in with the locals: The American star has been spotted over the weekend, going for a run and doing the Bondi to Bronte Adventurous: He was also seen climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge Keeping his fans in the loop: On Friday, Will took his own selfie in front of the Opera House to announce his arrival Down Under He was also seen climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge. On Friday, Will took his own selfie in front of the Opera House to announce his arrival Down Under. 'What Up, Sydney? Ya' Boy is in the Buildin',' he captioned the post. Taking in the local sights, on Sunday, the husband of actress Jada Pinkett-Smith headed to Bondi's Porch & Parlour for lunch, where he couldn't help but rave over his meal. 'Okay... I ABSOLUTELY HATE when people post pictures of food! BUT... this damn Green Pea Pancake at Porch & Parlour in Bondi Beach, Australia... It Broke Me, Y'all,' he captioned the snap. Out and about: Taking in the local sights, on Sunday, the husband of actress Jada Pinkett-Smith headed to Bondi's Porch & Parlour for lunch She's preparing to make her debut on The Project this Sunday. And Lisa Wilkinson has once again denied there is a feud between herself and Carrie Bickmore, following reports the long-standing Project star 'was furious' her new desk partner was going to earn four times her salary. Speaking to TV WEEK, the 58-year-old shed light on how the move to Channel 10 was a 'no-brainer' and how she hopes the platform will advance her news and current affairs coverage. Scroll down for video Clarity: Lisa Wilkinson opened up to TV WEEK on Monday about her much-publicised relationship with The Project leading lady, Carrie Bickmore The veteran journalist squashed persistent rumours her new position has been a source of friction with Carrie, 37, who is The Project's regular co-host. 'Carrie and I have been mates for years. I'm a huge admirer of her wonderful work and passion for the causes she believes in,' Lisa gushed. 'To be working with Carrie was one of the big reasons I decided to go to Ten. And we couldn't be more excited to be working together,' she added. 'Carrie and I have been mates for years. I'm a huge admirer of her wonderful work and passion for the causes she believes in,' Lisa gushed The mother of three explained how doing breakfast television with the Today show for a decade 'took its toll'. With an evening show like The Project and her appointment as Executive Editor for digital site Ten Daily, she said her family are ' incredibly pleased to have me back'. She also described how her move to the show was 'a no-brainer'. Girl power: The veteran journalist squashed persistent rumours her new position has been a source of friction with Carrie, 37, who is The Project's regular co-host 'I love The Project, as do my whole family. I really wanted to get back into more news and current affairs,' she offered. At the close of 2017, Lisa secured a reported $2.3 million salary to front The Sunday Project and helm Ten Daily for Channel 10. This came after the former magazine editor left the Nine Network in a high-profile split due to a pay disparity dispute with her co-host, Karl Stefanovic. 'I love The Project, as do my whole family. I really wanted to get back into more news and current affairs,' she offered On December 18, Michael Douglas became a grandfather when his son Cameron Douglas and girlfriend Viviane Thibes gave birth to their little girl Lua Izzy. On Sunday, Cameron shared a photo on Instagram of his dad and two step-siblings Dylan, 17, and Carys, 14, meeting his daughter for the first time. The 73-year-old actor missed the birth of his granddaughter due to the fact that he was out of the country with his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones and his two youngest children. New addition: On Sunday, Michael Douglas' son Cameron shared a photo on Instagram of his dad and two step-siblings Dylan, 17, and Carys, 14, meeting his daughter for the first time The dad-of-three talked with PEOPLE about the newest edition to the family. 'Were all ecstatic about baby Lua. Dylan and Carys love being an aunt and uncle and were so happy to be her Bubba and Zeze,' Douglas said, speaking of the names the baby will know him and his wife as. Michael returned roughly four weeks after Lua's birth from his luxurious trip to India, Cambodia, Thailand, and Hong Kong. It's a girl: On December 18, Douglas Cameron and his girlfriend Viviane Thibes gave birth to their little girl Lua Izzy On vacay: The 73-year-old actor missed the birth of his granddaughter due to the fact that he was out of the country with his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones and his two youngest children Cameron, 39, is the Basic Instinct stars eldest son. He shares him with ex-wife and film producer Diandra Luker. The two were divorced in 2000. Douglas and Zeta-Jones have been married for 17 years. They share their two children Dylan and Carys. When asked by ET what has made their marriage so successful, the actor said mutual respect. The family went on a four week trip to India, Cambodia, Thailand, and Hong Kong While attending his step-mom Catherines movie premiere for Cocaine Godmother in early December, Cameron talked with ET about becoming a dad. 'Im really looking forward to it,' he said. And I think its going to be more inspiration and drive to really try to put a nice life together for my daughter. The birth of his little one comes just a year after a seven year stint in prison for possession of heroin, selling meth, and smuggling drugs into prison. She recently confirmed her romance with co-star James Stewart after the pair were seen kissing in Byron Bay. But Home And Away star Sarah Roberts has revealed she was once rejected by a boy because of her skin colour. In a letter written to her nine-year-old self and published in New Idea, the stunning actress also said she was heavily bullied and subjected to racial slurs. She said she was called horrid names such as 'poo-face', 'curry-muncher' and 'abbo'. Scroll down for video 'I am so sorry he didn't want to go out with you because you have brown skin': Home And Away's Sarah Roberts reveals she was rejected by a boy because of her skin colour Opening up about how she was rejected by her first crush because of her gap teeth, the stunner warned her younger self it was to get much worse. 'I am so, so sorry that he didn't want to "go out with you" because he might get his tongue stuck in the gap between your teeth when you kissed and because you have brown skin,' she penned. 'The thing is Sar, as you grow up, a lot of people are going to make fun of you for the colour of your skin.' Horrible: Opening up about how she was rejected by her first crush because of her gap teeth, the stunner warned her younger self it was to get much worse Racial slurs: She said she was called horrid names such as 'poo-face', 'curry-muncher' and 'abbo' 'They are going to call you names like "poo-face", "curry-muncher", "chipolata sausage" and "abbo", but as the years go by... you''ll realise that the colour of your skin is actually your most beautiful asset,' she added. After long-standing rumours, the actress recently revealed her romance with co-star James Stewart. Enjoying both an on and off-screen romance, the pair were seen hand-in-hand as they walked around Byron Bay last week. New couple! Last week, Sarah Roberts and co-star James Stewart confirmed their relationship after they were seen walking hand-in hand around Byron Bay In October, Woman's Day reported James had 'fallen into the arms' of his new co-star Sarah. The soap actor has a five-year-old daughter, Scout, with his former Packed To The Rafters co-star Jessica Marais. The couple split in 2015 after a five-year engagement. It's one of the most popular cooking shows on television - despite most of the drama happening outside the kitchen. And it looks like there will be plenty of drama airing on My Kitchen Rules this season with the final lineup of teams revealed on Monday. Sydney sisters Jess and Emma have said they will 'score everyone zero', while Melbourne best friends Roula and Rachael have promised explosive fights. 'We could win - when we score everyone zero': Sydney-based sisters Jess, 31, and Emma, 38, won't hold back when it comes to doing well in the cooking challenges Group one: Jess and Emma Sydney-based sisters Jess, 31, and Emma, 38, won't hold back when it comes to winning the cooking challenges. 'We could win - when we score everyone zero,' Emma told TV Week, with Jess also admitting to the magazine: 'People will think we're horrible.' 'I can get violent with my words, but not physically violent': Roula, 34, and Rachael, 34, take inspiration from their love of hip-hop to channel their 'inner gangster' Roula and Rachael Roula, 34, and Rachael, 34, take inspiration from their love of hip-hop to channel their 'inner gangster', New Idea reports. The two met while working at a real estate agency 18 months ago and have been inseparable ever since. 'I'm loud. I'm vocal, and I can get violent with my words, but not physically violent,' Roula told TV Week, while Rachael admitted they will often fight but make up almost instantly afterwards. Don't underestimate them! Both 21, Stella and Jazzey will be among the youngest in the cooking competition this year Stella and Jazzey Both 21, Stella and Jazzey will be among the youngest in the cooking competition this year. The waitresses from Western Australia told New Idea they expect to be 'underestimated' because of their age and bubbly personalities, but they will take the challenges very seriously. Experienced: Loved up couple Alex and Emily are hoping to use their experience in the hospitality industry to their advantage Alex and Emily Loved up couple Alex and Emily are hoping to use their experience in the hospitality industry to their advantage. Alex, 35, and Emily, 27, hope to open their own venue after the series and are considered the cool and collected couple of My Kitchen Rules. 'Italians do it better': Brothers Josh, 36, and Nic, 33, believe their cultural background will give them an edge in the competition Josh and Nic Brothers Josh, 36, and Nic, 33, believe their cultural background will give them an edge in the competition. The Sydney siblings live by the saying 'Italians do it better' when it comes to restaurants, TV Week reports. Longtime friends: Hardworking mums Kim and Suong plan to wow TV audiences with their skills cooking Vietnamese food Kim and Suong Hardworking mums Kim and Suong plan to wow TV audiences with their skills cooking Vietnamese food. Both refugees, the 38-year-olds from Melbourne have been friends since high school. Plenty of laughs: Best buddies Stuss and Steve think their laughs and close bond will earn them plenty of fans Stuss and Steve Best buddies Stuss and Steve think their laughs and close bond will earn them plenty of fans. The Brisbane-based friends are also brothers-in-law, with Steve, 52, married to 56-year-old's Stuss' sister. Pressure cook: Sunshine Coast love birds Ash and Matty had only been dating for 18 months when they decided to put their relationship to the test on My Kitchen Rules Ash and Matty Sunshine Coast love birds Ash and Matty had only been dating for 18 months when they decided to put their relationship to the test on My Kitchen Rules. Nurse Ash, 25, can cook while 26-year-old Matty admits to having no skill in the kitchen. Talking a big game: Very confident sisters Georgie, 25, and Alicia, 30, think they have what it takes to win My Kitchen Rules Group two: Georgie and Alicia Very confident sisters Georgie, 25, and Alicia, 30, think they have what it takes to win My Kitchen Rules. The siblings from NSW admit to TV Week they are 'talking a big game' when it comes to their culinary abilities. Experimental: Defence Force buddies Aly, 25, and Matt, 26, say they aren't afraid to experiment in the kitchen Matt and Aly Defence Force buddies Aly, 25, and Matt, 26, say they aren't afraid to experiment in the kitchen. The pair from Queensland describe their cooking style as 'a little bit of everything' and they will always try something once, TV Week reports. Consider themselves siblings: Dan, 27, and Gemma, 38, confess to signing up to the Channel Seven reality series because both their partners can't cook Dan and Gemma Dan, 27, and Gemma, 38, confess to signing up to the Channel Seven reality series because both their partners can't cook. The South Australia-based in-laws say their families are extremely close and they consider themselves siblings. Won't hold back: Russian beauties Olga, 33, and Valeria, 26, have vowed to win My Kitchen Rules at all costs Olga and Valeria Russian beauties Olga, 33, and Valeria, 26, have vowed to win My Kitchen Rules at all costs. The group from NSW told TV Week the other teams better watch out for them as they 'want to win with a bang'. Family connection: Mother and daughter duo Pat and Louisa from NSW plan to showcase amazing Hungarian food on television Pat and Louisa Mother and daughter duo Pat and Louisa from NSW plan to showcase amazing Hungarian food on television. The 61-year-old and her 31-year-old have grown especially close since Louisa's dad died 10 years ago. Heating things up: Fiery friends Sonya, 34, and Hadil, 30, promise to bring plenty of heat into their cooking in the kitchen Sonya and Hadil Fiery friends Sonya, 34, and Hadil, 30, promise to bring plenty of heat into their cooking in the kitchen. NSW-based Hadil will 'zone out' while cooking but Sonya will often overthink things because she is a 'perfectionist'. Hello handsome! Hunky Tasmanian truffle farmer Henry is sure to cause viewers and contestants alike to swoon Henry and Anna Henry, 26, and Anna, 24, hope to showcase their love of truffles to Australian audiences. But hunky Tasmanian truffle farmer Henry is sure to cause viewers and contestants alike to swoon. Buddies: Lifelong friends, Davide, 36, and Marco, 32, tell TV Week they have 'fantastic chemistry' in the kitchen Davide and Marco Lifelong friends, Davide, 36, and Marco, 32, tell TV Week they have 'fantastic chemistry' in the kitchen. The duo from Western Australia promise viewers they will see every emotion possible from them. She recently revealed she was getting laser treatments to remove skin blemishes on her body. And on Friday, Neighbours star Natalie Bassingthwaighte, 42, showcased her incredible figure as she enjoyed a day at the beach in Melbourne. Going makeup free, Natalie stripped down to a black bathing suit, flaunting her trim pins as she lapped up time with her family. Scroll down for video One hot mama! Makeup free Natalie Bassingthwaighte, 42, flaunts her trim pins and toned figure in a bathing suit as she enjoys a day at the beach with her family The Rogue Traders star showcased a soft golden glow on the day, and had her hair pulled back off her face in a bun. Her swimsuit featured stripes and a halterneck design, and appeared high-cut at the hips. Natalie was joined on the day by her husband, Cameron McGlinchey, and their two children, daughter Harper, seven, and son Hendrix, four. If you've got it! Her swimsuit featured stripes and a halterneck design, and appeared high-cut at the hips Downtime: Natalie appeared in high spirits as she soaked up the summer weather Family: Natalie was joined on the day by her husband, Cameron McGlinchey, and their two children, daughter Harper, seven, and son Hendrix, four Natalie appeared in high spirits and sat on the sand at one point, talking to her children, who played with bodyboards in the water. The blonde beauty is set to appear again on Neighbours, reprising her role as character Isabelle 'Izzy' Holland. She previously appeared on the show from 2003 to 2007. Earlier this month, Natalie revealed with fans the preparations she's undertaking before she hits screens again. Back on TV: The blonde beauty is set to appear again on Neighbours, reprising her role as character Isabelle 'Izzy' Holland Treatments: Earlier this month, Natalie revealed with fans the preparations she's undertaking before she hits screens again. The blonde beauty shared a candid video of herself to Instagram, undergoing PicoSure laser treatment in order to remove skin blemishes The blonde beauty shared a candid video of herself to Instagram, undergoing PicoSure laser treatment in order to remove skin blemishes. In the video, the usually glamorous soapie star dons protective googles for her eyes and a headband, with her shoulders and upper chest fully exposed. The former So You Think You Can Dance presenter praises the beauty treatment, which removes sun spots and pigmentation. 'So, people have been commenting on my skin lately and I have to say a big reason is because of this machine,' she said in the post, making clear it wasn't related to an endorsement deal. She's a fan: The former So You Think You Can Dance presenter praises the beauty treatment, which removes sun spots and pigmentation 'It's called a pico laser and I have had three sessions on my face and now I am doing my chest for sun spots or dare I say, age spots, and pigmentation,' she continued. 'I have told all my friends and now I am telling you ... It's really quite incredible!' she said, before adding,'Thanks to the chicks always. I actually can't wait to see the full results! Eek.' It didn't stop there, with the approachable star then answering a number of questions from fans about the procedure, mostly related to recovery time. She is currently in an ongoing legal battle with the Kardashian family. But Blac Chyna has managed to put her troubles behind her as she enjoyed a luxurious dinner in Beverly Hills, California, on Saturday night. The 29-year-old reality star shared a series of photos from her night out on her Instagram account. Sexy siren! Blac Chyna has managed to put her troubles behind her as she enjoyed a luxurious dinner in Beverly Hills, California, on Saturday night Chyna stepped out flaunting her sensational curves in a tight red mini dress that featured an off-the-should neckline. The mother-of-one teamed her sexy ensemble with thigh-high open-toe red boots. Blac Chyna wore her blonde locks poker straight with a middle part while accentuating her natural beauty with false eyelashes and a nude pout. The former love-interest of Robert Kardashian accessorized her ensemble with a diamond bracelet and multiple matching rings. Red hot: The 29-year-old reality star shared a series of photos from her night out on her Instagram account Living the life of luxury: Chyna stepped out flaunting her sensational curves in a tight red mini dress that featured an off-the-should neckline The television personality continued to flaunt her $272,000 (198,000) 488 Ferrari Spider as she headed into the sportscar. The quarter-of-a-million dollar ride also features Forgiato wheels, which was installed at the Kardashian's favourite car spot, Calabasas Luxury Motorcars. She is also the owner of a charcoal Bentley Bentayga, an SUV that starts at $229,000 (166,000) and a pink colored Range Rover. All smiles! The doting mother also shared a photo of the one-year-old in a stroller wearing sunglasses while smiling up at the camera Adorable! The next day, Blac Chyna spent some quality time with her one-year-old daughter, Dream Kardashian The next day, Blac Chyna spent some quality time with her one-year-old daughter, Dream Kardashian. She took an adorable video of the baby laughing while playing on an iPhone. The doting mother also shared a photo of the one-year-old in a stroller wearing sunglasses while smiling up at the camera. Blac Chyna simply captioned the Instagram photo: ' Mood All 2018.' The Queensland Police Union has called for an immediate end to the use of unmarked and covert speed cameras, saying they do nothing more than raise government revenue. QPU president Ian Leavers said the "sneaky" devices did not work to reduce the state's road toll or stop people from speeding. "Getting a ticket in the mail up to a month after speeding when you can barely remember even where you were back then, has no effect and is quite rightly cynically viewed as revenue raising," he told AAP on Sunday. Australian Jessica-Rose Clark will press ahead with her UFC flyweight fight against Paige VanZant in St Louis, despite having her home burgled and losing a pet. Clark will fight on Monday afternoon (AEDT), a few days after losing $US30,000 ($A42,000) worth of goods and having her cat Dwight put down after it was attacked during the incident in her Las Vegas apartment. It occurred after the 30-year-old Queenslander had left for St Louis, where she will contest just her second UFC bout. "The police are launching a full investigation," Clark tweeted. She showed a nice sense of dark humour, joking she had to fight to pay for some new shoes. Clark is ranked 10th in the new women's flyweight division following her UFC debut win over compatriot Bec Rawlings in Sydney last November. VanZant, who is ranked 11th in the lighter strawweight division, has moved up to flyweight. The 23-year-old American hasn't fought for just more than a year, but has inside the distance wins over Australians Rawlings and Alex Chambers. But Clark is isn't concerned VanZant has any weapons which will pose her problems. "I don't really think that there are any," Clark told AAP before news of her misfortune emerged. "But that's the beautiful thing. You can't predict how easy it's going to happen, you can't predict what anyone is going to do." VanZant, who is well known outside the octagon for being on the American version of Dancing with the Stars, isn't focusing on Clark. "How I'm going to win the fight is by making the fight my own, not focus too much on her style and what she brings to the table," VanZant said on the UFC website. "I need to make it my fight and make her have to adjust to what I'm doing. "I'm going to push the pace." Clark views the fight as a chance to get herself more widely known after making her UFC debut less than two months ago. "It's evolved a lot quicker than what I thought, but the exact speed that I hoped it would," Clark said. A murder-suicide could be the reason behind the deaths of a man and a woman in Sydney's inner west, police say. Police discovered the bodies of the woman, a British national in her 20s, and a man in his 30s at a Newtown unit on Friday afternoon after concerns were raised for the pair's welfare. A strikeforce was established to investigate the circumstances of their deaths with a murder-suicide a line of inquiry being investigated, a NSW Police spokeswoman told AAP on Sunday. The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office confirmed it was providing support to the family of a British national who died in NSW. "Our staff are in contact with the New South Wales police," the FCO spokesman told AAP in a statement on Sunday. Today's Birthday, January 15: US music producer Sonny Moore aka Skrillex (1988- ). Sonny Moore, better known to the music world as Skrillex, has reinvented his sound in recent years through collaborative works with fellow electro-head Diplo. Since bringing the English genre of dubstep to US mainstream charts in the late 2000s, Skrillex enhanced his global following by teaming up with Diplo, Thomas Pentz, to create electronic outfit Jack U. In 2015, the DJ duo released a nine-track LP, Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack U, with their hit song Where Are U Now, featuring Canadian megastar Justin Bieber, becoming one of the most-viewed YouTube videos in history scoring almost one billion clicks. Born the son of Scientologists in the Los Angeles county of Highland Park in 1988, Moore moved north with his family to a San Francisco suburb at a young age and began piano lessons aged six. After the family returned to Los Angeles, the future musician attended an arts academy based on the teachings of Scientology founder L Ron Hubbard. By age 13, Moore was attending local punk gigs and before long sneaking into illegal warehouse raves and club gigs. Bullied as a teenager, Moore's world was rocked further in 2004 with the revelation he was adopted, a fact his whole family had concealed for the first 16 years of his life. A bitter feud with his parents ensued and he later dropped out of high school and travelled to Atlanta, Georgia to audition for post-hardcore rockers From First to Last. He initially wanted to join as the emo group's guitarist, but ultimately lent his angst-ridden vocals to two studio albums before quitting three years later to pursue a solo career. Modelling his sound on influences like Marilyn Manson, Nine Inch Nails, Daft Punk and Justice, Moore released his debut digital EP Gypsyhook under his own name in 2009. Under his childhood online screen name of Skrillex, the Deadmau5 label product exploded onto the mainstream electronic scene in 2010 with debut LP Scary Monsters & Nice Sprites, which won three Grammys. Despite touring prolifically, the 30-year-old found time to start his own record label in 2011 and craft 2012 hit Bangarang, a second album, Recess, in 2014 and most recently a swag of joint works with RL Grime, What So Not, Rick Ross and Poo Bear. One in five Australians have no savings according to research conducted by the ANZ Bank which says it will serve up a charity donation at the Australian Open. For every ace struck at Melbourne Park during the annual grand slam, ANZ will donate $10 to a range of charities focused on funding financial education schemes. The pledge includes all courts, all standards and all players at the Australian Open including singles, doubles, mixed, wheelchair and juniors, ANZ's Fred Ohlsson said. "Financial wellbeing has a profound impact on overall health and wellbeing and is imperative for Australians to participate more in their community," he added. The funds will be split between The Smith Family, The Benevolent Society, Berry Street and Brotherhood of St Laurence charities and will total a minimum of $100,000. ANZ is preparing to publish its latest financial wellbeing survey in April but has released some early results of the poll of more than 3500 people across Australia. SURVEY RESULTS * One in five respondents have no savings * More than 2 million say they would need to borrow within a week if their income dropped * Fewer than half (45 per cent) of respondents feel on top of their money * 71 per cent don't always plan or budget their regular income * Almost three-quarters (72 per cent) have less than six months of saved income. The Greens are actively throwing their support behind the campaign to change the date of Australia Day. Greens councillors across the country who launch local campaigns to move the January 26 date have been told they can count on the full support and resources of the national party. "All Australians want a day on which we can come together and to celebrate our wonderfully diverse, open and free society - but January 26 is not that day," Greens leader Richard Di Natale told Fairfax Media on Sunday. "It's time that we stop papering over an issue that for 200 years has been so divisive and painful for so many of our citizens." Indigenous leaders have been pushing for the change in recent years, saying January 26 marks the date the First Fleet landed in Sydney Cove in 1788, marking the beginning of British colonisation. However, there is a great deal of resistance from different quarters to the move, including from the Turnbull government. A man has been charged over an alleged one-punch attack man in Newcastle. A 45-year-old man was allegedly punched once to the face during a row between the two men outside a licensed premises on Sunday evening, with the man falling to the ground and hitting his head on the ground. He is in John Hunter Hospital in critical but stable condition after surgery. The 43-year-old man he had been arguing with was arrested nearby and charged with reckless grievous bodily harm and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on February 1. Detectives believe a middle-aged man was stabbed to death outside a Sydney train station by 29-year-old Brian Lee in a "random" weekend attack. Lee was charged with murder after the victim - 56-year-old Klaus Petr - was found by members of the public near Hurstville train station on Saturday morning. Police say the victim suffered "severe lacerations". They seized an "edged weapon" when arresting Lee nearby less than 30 minutes after the attack. Lee lives on Patrick Street just north of the train station. NSW Police allege Mr Petr was killed after 6am in a small park near the station. He was found near the station entrance by people who'd been practising tai chi in the park. His wife, Ann, described him as a kind and quiet person. "I never think (sic) anything like this happen to him at all," she told the Seven Network on Sunday. "He's a very good person. I just feel shocked." Lee was arrested following a tip-off from the public. News Corp Australia reports it was his brother who rang authorities. A NSW Police spokesman told AAP that detectives don't believe Lee knew the victim. "It appears to be random," the spokesman said on Sunday. The 29-year-old was charged with murder overnight and wasn't required to appear when his matter was briefly mentioned in Parramatta Local Court on Sunday. His legal aid solicitor said Lee wasn't applying for bail and it was formally refused by Magistrate Daphne Kok. Lee is due back in court at Burwood in mid-March. The two workers who died while working inside a molasses tank at a central Queensland business were brothers. Media reports have named the men as Frank Vella, 52, and his younger brother George Vella, 48. They were found dead inside the tank at a transport business at Sarina, south of Mackay, on Saturday night. It's believed the brothers were overcome by fumes in the tank, which was also used to carry fertiliser. A Workplace Health and Safety investigation is probing what went wrong. Friends and family say the men were well known, and their loss will hit the Sarina community hard. "Frank was a quiet bloke but had a funny sense of humour. He would come out with some hilarious stuff, sometimes," RSL Sarina Branch president Ron Gurnett has told The Courier-Mail. "George would do anything for the community. They're very nice people who would give you the shirt off their back without questioning it." Workplace authorities have seized a prime mover with a trailer carrying two transport tanks as part of the investigation. America's Homeland Security chief says anyone who brands US President Donald Trump a racist would also have to deem Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull a racist. Kirstjen Nielsen on Sunday said the merit-based immigration system Mr Trump wants to introduce is the "exact" same as Australia and Canada have. Mr Trump has been condemned in the US and across the globe for reportedly labelling Haiti, El Salvador and African countries as s***holes and suggesting the US should accept more people from countries such as Norway. "I take a little bit of offence to the comments and suggestions that the president is racist," Ms Nielsen said during an interview on Fox News Sunday in the US. Ms Nielsen says what Mr Trump is looking at is the same as the merit-based system used in Australia and Canada. "I'm sure that we are not, any of us, suggesting that Canada and Australia and their leaders are racists," she said. When interviewer Chris Wallace responded that Mr Trump "seems to be suggesting you'd rather have a janitor from Norway than a doctor from Haiti" Ms Nielsen disagreed. "I think what he's trying to do is move away from a quota based system, whether that's a quota of underrepresented countries or a quota of Norway, for example," Ms Nielsen said. "I think what he's trying to say is we need to look at the individual and ensure that we look at those who can bring merit to our country." The Homeland Security secretary was in the Oval Office on Thursday when Mr Trump allegedly uttered "s***hole" in front of Democrat and Republican members of Congress while discussing a potential bipartisan immigration deal. Mr Trump denied making the comment. Ms Nielsen, like the Republicans in the Oval Office, refused to confirm or deny Mr Trump's use of "s***hole". "I don't recall him saying that exact phrase," Ms Nielsen said. Republican Senator Lindsay Graham did release a statement saying he confronted Mr Trump about his disparaging remarks, although he did not explicitly confirm the president used "s***hole". Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, a key negotiator in immigration talks, told reporters the president used the word. A young woman who allegedly filmed herself kicking a dog and then shared the footage online is due to front a Queensland court charged with animal cruelty. The 17-year-old woman can be seen kicking the dog several times and making threats against the distressed and yelping animal at a property near Rockhampton. She's been charged with animal cruelty and is due to appear at Rockhampton Magistrates Court on Monday. The RSPCA says if there's one good thing about the rise of animal attacks being shared online, it's that the perpetrators are highly likely to be caught. "Sadly it appears to be escalating," the RSPCA's Michael Beatty told ABC radio. "The only good thing about it is that if somebody has posted on social media, normally they can be charged." Sydney Seaplanes won't resume flights on Monday due to weather, two weeks after one of its planes crashed into a river north of Sydney, killing all six people on board. The company stopped all flights immediately after the New Year's Eve crash which claimed the lives of Canadian pilot Gareth Morgan, high-profile UK businessman Richard Cousins, his two adult sons Edward and William, his fiancee Emma Bowden and her 11-year-old daughter Heather. The DHC-2 Beaver, which crashed into Jerusalem Bay on the Hawkesbury River was pulled from almost 15 metres of water four days after the crash. The recovery operation, which involved police divers, crane operators and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, revealed significant damage to the aircraft. The wreckage of the Beaver has been taken to a secure facility to be examined by bureau investigators where they will assess all aspects related to the aircraft's airworthiness, its history and what caused the New Year's Eve crash. A Sydney Seaplanes spokeswoman told AAP on Monday that flights would not recommence due to weather, while the Bureau of Meteorology issued wind warnings for the next two days. A funeral service was held for Mr Morgan in Sydney last week after his family arrived from Canada to farewell the experienced pilot. Sydney Seaplanes managing director Aaron Shaw earlier described Mr Morgan as "a great man and a great pilot". A banner with the image of pro-Iranian Shiite Muslim cleric Ibrahim Zakzaky, who who has been held in custody for more than two years in Nigeria A prominent pro-Iranian Shiite Muslim cleric, who has been held in custody for more than two years in Nigeria, on Saturday made a rare public appearance to counter rumours that he had died. Ibrahim Zakzaky, the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), was arrested in December 2015 after his supporters clashed with the military in the northern city of Zaria. He lost the sight in his left eye during two days of unrest, in which troops allegedly killed more than 300 IMN supporters and arrested hundreds of others. His lawyer and human rights groups have repeatedly called for him to be released on health grounds from secret police detention in the capital, Abuja. Rumours swirled earlier this week that he had died but on Saturday he was seen with his wife, Zainab, at the offices of the country's intelligence agency, the Department of State Services. The 64-year-old cleric wore a neck brace over his traditional robes and walked with the help of a stick before getting into a waiting vehicle. He told reporters only that an unspecified medical condition had been "severe on me on Monday" but symptoms then subsided and he was allowed to see his own doctor for the first time. "I'm getting better," he said. Zakzaky has long been at loggerheads with Nigeria's secular authorities because of his repeated call for an Iranian-style Islamic revolution Zakzaky's wife is said to have been in a "far worse" state, with bullets from the attack in December 2015 still lodged in her body. The couple's lawyer said in November last year that she had been in "excruciating pain and agony on a daily basis" and her life was in danger unless she received urgent medical attention. Nigeria's government has previously ignored a court order to release the couple. Zakzaky has been at loggerheads with Nigeria's secular authorities before because of his repeated calls for an Iranian-style Islamic revolution in Nigeria. Northern Nigeria is predominantly Sunni Muslim. A DSS official, Nnanna Nnochiri, said the rumours about Zakzaky's health were "unfounded" and circulated by people wanting to "foment trouble". "The man is alive, he's on his feet, he's hale and hearty, he's up and doing," he said. The Mercer family bankrolled Steve Bannon's right-wing political activities but cut him off after he was repudiated by the White House He is a reclusive hedge fund billionaire who made a fortune using complicated algorithms to bet on things other people could not see. One of his gambles was on Donald Trump. And his backing of the long-shot presidential candidate has made Robert "Bob" Mercer, the former co-CEO of Renaissance Technologies, the top powerbroker in Republican politics today. The Mercer family is not nearly as well known as the industrialist Koch brothers or the Las Vegas casino magnate Sheldon Adelson when it comes to supporting right-wing causes in the United States. And they are more than happy to keep it that way. Mercer, 71, who worked as a computer scientist at IBM before joining Long Island-based Renaissance Technologies, has always shunned the limelight. According to numerous accounts, Mercer is socially awkward and intensely private. He is described in Michael Wolff's bombshell new book "Fire and Fury" as "almost nonverbal, looking at you with a dead stare and either not talking or offering only minimal response." In November, Robert Mercer abruptly announced that he was stepping down as co-chief executive of Renaissance Technologies because of the unwanted press scrutiny brought about by his political activities. In his resignation letter, Mercer also made his most expansive public comments to date, outlining the core principles of his libertarian philosophy. - Advocate of small government - "I believe that individuals are happiest and most fulfilled when they form their own opinions, assume responsibility for their own actions, and spend the fruits of their own labor as they see fit," he said. "This is why I support conservatives, who favor a smaller, less powerful government." In his book about the Trump White House, Wolff expanded further on what he claimed was the Mercer family doctrine. He said they were attempting to build a "radical free-market, small-government, home-schooling, antiliberal, gold-standard, pro-death penalty, anti-Muslim, pro-Christian, monetarist, anti-civil-rights political movement in the United States." With the silver-haired Mercer patriarch remaining behind the scenes, it is up to Rebekah, 44, the second of his three daughters, to channel the family money to conservative causes and maintain the direct line to the White House. While the Koch brothers and other Republican mega-donors sat out the 2016 presidential race because of a distaste for Trump, the Mercers threw their considerable resources behind the brash real estate tycoon after initially backing Texas Senator Ted Cruz. President Donald Trump brought Steve Bannon and Kellyanne Conway on to his then floundering campaign at the suggestion of the Mercer family They donated millions to Trump's coffers and persuaded his then floundering campaign to take on board two figures seen as instrumental to his upset victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton -- anti-establishment ideologue Steve Bannon and pollster Kellyanne Conway. Robert Mercer, who reportedly has an abiding hatred of the Clintons, is a long-time patron of Bannon, who headed the right-wing website Breitbart News until becoming chief executive of Trump's election campaign. When President Trump angrily severed ties with Bannon recently over comments he made in the Wolff book, it was a damaging blow to his former White House chief strategist. But the coup de grace to any remaining political ambitions Bannon may have had came a few days later, when the Mercer family pulled the plug on their long-time ally. - 'I support President Trump' - "I support President Trump and the platform upon which he was elected," Rebekah Mercer said in a rare public statement. "My family and I have not communicated with Steve Bannon in many months and have provided no financial support to his political agenda, nor do we support his recent actions and statements." The excommunication marked the end of the long-standing collaboration between the Mercer family and Bannon, who had been a fringe player in Republican politics until a $10 million investment by the Mercers turned his Breitbart News into a powerful conservative voice. The Mercers are estimated to have contributed a total of more than $100 million to conservative causes over the past decade, including funding for the Government Accountability Institute (GAI). Rebekah Mercer serves as chairwoman of the board of the Florida-based institute co-founded by Bannon whose stated mission is to root out "cronyism and corruption." GAI is perhaps best known for a 2015 book by its president, Peter Schweizer, that was highly critical of the Clintons: "Clinton Cash: The Untold Story of How and Why Foreign Governments and Businesses Helped Make Bill and Hillary Rich." Besides contributing to Breitbart and GAI, the Mercers also invested in Cambridge Analytica, a political data analysis firm whose efforts have been credited with helping Trump win the 2016 election. While Bannon has been the Mercers' frontman for their political activities for years, his departure from the scene would not appear to lessen their influence. According to The Daily Beast, before repudiating Bannon, Rebekah Mercer held a telephone call with the White House, where she spoke with President Trump. The White House has denied that President Donald Trump said he had a good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un US President Donald Trump pushed back at a report that he had suggested he had a good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, saying he had been misquoted. The Wall Street Journal quoted Trump as saying in an interview Thursday: "I probably have a very good relationship with Kim Jong-Un." But the White House insisted he said "I'd," not "I", and Trump followed up in a tweet on Sunday. "Obviously I didn't say that. I said 'I'd have a good relationship with Kim Jong Un,' a big difference. Fortunately we now record conversations with reporters," he tweeted. "And they knew exactly what I said and meant. They just wanted a story. FAKE NEWS!" Both The Wall Street Journal and the White House posted audio recordings of Trump's remarks on Twitter. These, while not completely clear, appeared to support White House press secretary Sarah Sanders' account. She had earlier tweeted a written message disputing the newspaper's article. "President Trump said, I'D probably have a very good relationship with Kim Jong Un of North Korea. I'D -- I'D -- I'D. NOT I!" the message read, with "I'D" in red ink, under a red banner reading "FAKE NEWS." Mockingly mimicking the newspaper's front page, it then reads "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL -- FAKE NEWS IS AT IT AGAIN! -- FALSELY QUOTING PRESIDENT TRUMP." Washington and Pyongyang are in a standoff over North Korea's missile and nuclear programs, which could be used to target the United States and its allies. Trump has repeatedly insulted the North Korean leader, describing him as mad and a "rocket man." Asked by The Wall Street Journal if he had spoken to Kim, Trump said: "I don't want to comment on it. I'm not saying I have or haven't. I just don't want to comment." Trump suggested his variable position on individuals was part of a broader strategy. But it was not clear how his remarks fitted with his self-described policy of "maximum pressure" on Pyongyang. In the coming week the United States and Canada are to host a meeting in Vancouver on the nuclear standoff with North Korea, bringing together friendly powers from around the world. A knee injury forced Spanish world number one Rafael Nadal out of the warm-up Brisbane International, but he said he "feels good" after intensive practice in Melbourne An unusually long list of injuries and illnesses could take its toll on the Australian Open, which has already seen withdrawals by Serena Williams and Andy Murray. AFP Sport gives the rundown of who has been struggling in the lead-up to the first Grand Slam of the year which starts on Monday: - Novak Djokovic - Six-time Melbourne champion has been sidelined since Wimbledon in July with a right elbow injury. Admits it is still not 100 percent, but at a level where he can play. Appeared at the Kooyong exhibition tournament last week. - Rafael Nadal - A knee injury forced the Spanish world number one out of the warm-up Brisbane International, but he said Saturday he "feels good" after intensive practice sessions in Melbourne. - Stan Wawrinka - The 2014 champion and his team only made the decision to play the Australian Open on Saturday as he returns from two operations on a knee cartilage injury. Said the knee was holding up well but he was still feeling pain. - Milos Raonic - Calf and wrist problems kept the tall Canadian out of action since last October. Played the Brisbane International, but was bundled out by a wildcard. - Nick Kyrgios - Leg was strapped at the Brisbane event which he said related to fluid on the back of his left knee. It didn't seem to trouble Australia's big hope, who won the tournament. - Jack Sock - The American retired from a match at the Hopman Cup with an injured hip, but returned two days later when he lost to Roger Federer. - Dominic Thiem - The Austrian world number five pulled out of the warm-up Qatar Open just hours before his semi-final with flu and a fever. The same issue forced him out of a scheduled match at the Kooyong Classic last week. - Jo-Wilfried Tsonga - The 2008 Australian Open runner-up withdrew from the Qatar Open before it started with a wrist injury. - Garbine Muguruza - World number three retired from Brisbane after collapsing with severe leg cramps. Also pulled out of the Sydney International last week with a thigh injury, but said it had responded well to treatment. - Sloane Stephens - The US Open champion withdrew from Brisbane to rest a troublesome knee and was knocked out of Sydney in the first round. Insisted the knee was now "all good". - Johanna Konta - A semi-finalist in Melbourne two years ago, the Briton's Brisbane campaign ended early when she retired with a right hip injury. Was bundled out of the Sydney International in the first round but said this week "so far, so good" on the injury. - Caroline Garcia - The rising French star retired in tears from Brisbane with a back injury in the opening round, saying she could barely move. - Petra Kvitova - The two-time Wimbledon champion pulled out of Brisbane with a viral illness and was knocked out of Sydney in round two. She missed last year's Australian Open after being attacked with a knife near her Czech home. - Julia Goerges - The German, ranked 12, withdrew from the Sydney International just hours after beating Caroline Wozniacki to win the warm-up Auckland Classic, citing a right knee injury. - Eugenie Bouchard - The Canadian lost all three matches at the Hopman Cup and was eliminated in the first round at Hobart, but said a buttock injury suffered in Perth was now fine. Members of India's tiny Jewish community pray at the Magen David Synagogue in Mumbai Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu makes an emotional visit this week to a Jewish centre targeted in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, in a trip that India's tiny and shrinking Jewish community hopes will boost its profile. Netanyahu will talk trade in New Delhi and marvel at the Taj Mahal before rounding off his visit in Mumbai, where the majority of India's estimated 4,500 Jews live. There he will accompany 11-year-old Moshe Holtzberg as the boy returns for the first time to the house where his parents were killed in the 26/11 terror attacks that left 166 people dead. At Mumbai's Magen David synagogue, worshippers are excited about the first visit to India by an Israeli leader in almost 15 years. "It's very good news for us. We're very lucky to get to see the prime minister over here," Joel Gershon Awaskar told AFP after concluding his morning prayers. Netanyahu will be only the second Israeli PM to visit India and the first since Ariel Sharon in 2003. It comes six months after Indian leader Narendra Modi toured Israel. Israel Kozlovsky is now the rabbi of the Chabad Mumbai which was attacked by Pakistani militants in November 2008 For Jonathan Solomon, chairman of the Indian Jewish Federation, the reciprocal visits and warm ties between the two countries are of the "utmost importance" to Jews in India. "The closer the co-operation, the closer the Jewish community in India feels to Israel. So we feel recognised and we feel secure," he told AFP. It is not just recognition from abroad that many Indian Jews crave. Although historians believe Jews first arrived in India 2,000 years ago, their descendents today say they are virtually unknown in a country where they are hugely outnumbered by Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jains and Zoroastrians. Nor are Jews officially recognised as a minority community by India's government. - Unknown - India is in fact home to several distinct Jewish groups. These include Bene Israelis, who have the longest history in India, and Baghdadi Jews, who fled persecution in the Middle East in the 18th and 19th centuries. Although there are no official figures, academics say India's Jewish population peaked at around 20,000 in the mid 1940s. The majority of India's estimated 4,500 Jews live in Mumbai Numbers have dwindled rapidly because of emigration since the creation of Israel in 1948. "Many people here don't know about the Jewish community, about our customs and festivals," said Awaskar, who hopes Netanyahu's visit will help increase awareness amongst Indians about the Jewish faith. "It will be good for us, we'll become well known," he added, a black-and-white checked, round cloth "kippah" resting on the top of his head. Magen David, light blue in colour and situated in Mumbai's historic Byculla district, is one of eight synagogues in India's financial capital and surrounding suburbs. Every morning some 15 men -- a few swaying back and forth -- recite prayers there, in a space which could easily hold hundreds. Afterwards they sit down for a breakfast consisting of bread, eggs and cheese, washed down with a cup of milky Indian tea. More prayers are read and then bananas and slices of apple are served. "This whole area used to be Jewish," recalls Ellis Jacob David, an official at the synagogue. "But many migrated to Israel, UK, Canada, Australia and the USA." - 'Emotional' - India's Jewish community hasn't experienced the discrimination seen in other countries, a fact that Jewish historian Leora Pezarkar partly attributes to its adoption of Indian customs, dress and language. "The community has mixed really well with the local population while not deviating from who they are as Jews," she told AFP. David, whose parents fled persecution in Iraq to come to India 125 years ago, says he has never experienced or heard of anyone being a victim of anti-semitism in India. It is one of the biggest synagogues in Mumbai but the Magen David Synagogue is barely filled at prayer time "There was just one attack and that took place from outside the country, not internal, at all," he told AFP, referring to November 2008. Six people were killed at Chabad House, a Jewish centre in south Mumbai, when Pakistani militants carried out co-ordinated attacks across the city. Moshe Holtzberg was just two years old when his parents, who ran the centre, were gunned down. He was saved by his nanny who managed to escape and now lives in Israel. On Thursday, Moshe, along with Netanyahu, will visit his former home where a memorial to the victims is to be unveiled. "His visit is going to be very emotional for us. This is the place where he got his last hug from his father and mother," Israel Kozlovsky, the centre's rabbi, told AFP. Netanyahu will also travel to Modi's home state of Gujarat and host a party for Bollywood producers where he will trumpet Israel as a filming location. Jewish leaders hope the visit will help persuade India's government to officially recognise them as a minority community, meaning they would be included in the census. In 2016, Maharashtra state granted Jews minority status, making it easier to register marriages and acquire funding for institutions, but the central government is yet to follow suit. "Although it is just a symbolic recognition it is important for the community," said Solomon. The Ritz-Carlton is located in Hong Kong's highest skyscraper A South Korean has been arrested for the suspected murder of his wife and young son at the luxury Ritz-Carlton hotel on Hong Kong's harbourfront on Sunday, officials said. Police rushed to the hotel after receiving a report on Sunday morning that a man and a woman, both aged 42, were fighting. The woman and a boy aged six were found dead at the scene while the man was arrested on suspicion of murder and taken to hospital, police said. The suspect was believed to have consumed alcohol and appeared unconscious in the hotel suite with minor wounds to his hand and face, police assistant district commander Chan Tsz-Leung told an evening press conference. The woman suffered multiple cuts and wounds to her neck and a wound was also found on the throat of the boy. Police retrieved a five-inch-long knife at the scene, Chan said. The motive for the killings remained unclear, with the suspect still in hospital and unfit to talk to police. Local news site Apple Daily said the couple and their son had checked into the five-star hotel a few days beforehand. A source with knowledge of the investigation told AFP that a friend of the suspect had warned authorities in South Korea he was potentially suicidal shortly before the incident. The Ritz-Carlton is located on the top floors of Hong Kong's tallest skyscraper -- the International Commerce Centre -- and is famous for panoramic views of the city and its Victoria Harbour. "Our thoughts are with the family of the guests involved at this very difficult time," a hotel spokesperson in Hong Kong told AFP, declining to comment further as an investigation was ongoing. In a separate incident, Hong Kong police are investigating the murder-suicide of a couple found dead at a public housing estate near the border with mainland China, local media reported. Iraqis gather in Baghdad's Tahrir Square to celebrate the declared end of the country's three-year war against the Islamic State group, in which its forces pushed the jihadists back with support from a US-led international coalition With the Islamic State group all but vanquished from its self-proclaimed "caliphate" in Iraq and Syria, the US-led coalition that has been fighting the jihadists for more than three years is transforming its mission. Eager to avoid a repeat of 2011, when America completed its troop withdrawal from Iraq only to watch in horror as IS later overran swathes of the country, the coalition is focusing on what it must do to stop a jihadi re-emergence. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis recently told reporters the mission now is shifting towards stabilization and making sure an "ISIS 2.0" can't pop up, using an alternate acronym to refer to the jihadist group. Already, the Pentagon has said it will stay in Syria "as long as we need to." "The longer term recovery is going to take a lot of effort and a lot of years after what (IS) did, because they forcibly kept innocent people in the midst of the combat zone, and that meant the residential areas took damage, the public areas -- everything took damage," he said, adding that a most pressing need is to clear cities and terrain of innumerable bombs, mines and booby traps. America hastily convened a coalition in 2014 after IS swept across vast tracts of Iraqi and Syrian territory, terrorizing residents and leaving a trail of murder and atrocity in their wake. The US military began bombing them that summer with the immediate goal of stopping IS from reaching Baghdad after they'd seized a string of major cities including Mosul and Tikrit. Today, the coalition boasts 70 nations as well as international organizations like NATO and Interpol. A photo showing Iraqi troops carrying a captured Islamic State group flag in Mosul in July 2017 as the battle for city neared its conclusion, and another showing the same spot six months later Though some alliance members are there in name only, bigger countries like Britain, France, Canada and Australia are helping in the skies and on the ground. A State Department official said some coalition members can play an increased role now that the main campaign is over, including by countering IS propaganda, sending in police trainers and providing funding. Nicholas Heras, a fellow at the Center for a New American Security, said that ideally, "you are going to have different partners taking on many different aspects of the stabilizing mission, the part that they do well." With IS now cleared from 98 percent of the terrain they once held, nations like France and Australia have begun pulling some military assets -- including planes and artillery -- from Iraq and Syria, and the Pentagon has said the tapering off of bombing missions means it has more resources to fight the Taliban in Afghanistan. But the coalition is keeping an indefinite presence to help Iraqis get the support and training they need, and to protect a Kurdish-Arab alliance who fought against IS in Syria. "If we were to repeat the mistakes that we made when the Iraq War came to a close then we are very much likely to see a repeat of the tragedies that followed," warned Steve Warren, a retired Army colonel who was top spokesman for the coalition between 2015 and 2016. "They need to morph into a stabilization force, there's no question." - 'Skin in the game' - America has about 2,000 troops in Syria and more than 5,000 in Iraq, augmented in both countries by coalition members who have provided commandos and military trainers. US special forces personnel working with Kurdish allies who played a key role in battles against the Islamic State group in Syria But where Iraq now has a cohesive military and some degree of political stability, Syria is mired in civil war and President Bashar al-Assad is working with Russia and Iranian militias to maintain control of areas once in the hands of rebels or IS. That means the US must keep boots on the ground in Syria to protect fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces who it backed to fight IS. "Unless we want to cede eastern Syria to the Iranians, (the coalition) needs to be there," Warren told AFP. "Not necessarily the US -- it's other partners who have skin in this game, which includes every country in Europe," he added, referring to the refugee crisis that has gripped the continent in part because of Syria. Additionally, extremist groups the world over are rebranding themselves under the IS banner, meaning the anti-IS coalition will have a role beyond the Middle East, including in African nations. Last year, four new African nations signed up to the coalition: Djibouti, Niger, Cameroon and Chad. An Islamic State group flag at a location where suspected extremists were killed in a 2016 gun battle with police in Dhaka, Bangladesh "Pre-existing terrorist organizations like in the Philippines, like in Bangladesh, like in the Sinai and Afghanistan, they have basically rebranded themselves and started flying the ISIS flag in order to gain attraction and resources," the State Department official told AFP. US military officials stress the fight against IS is not over, and warn of the jihadists in Iraq and Syria returning to a more traditional insurgency. "Their repressive ideology continues. The conditions remain present for Daesh to return, and only through coalition and international efforts can the defeat become permanent," coalition commander Lieutenant General Paul Funk said, using an Arabic acronym for the group. Jean Ping, former head of the African Union, is a Gabonese career diplomat who was narrowly defeated by Ali Bongo in last year's presidential election Gabon opposition leader Jean Ping was on Saturday prevented by the security forces from taking a flight to France over a judicial matter, he told AFP. "I was supposed to travel this evening but the security forces prevented me," the former African Union chief told AFP. A career diplomat, the 75-year-old was narrowly defeated by incumbent Ali Bongo in last year's presidential election last year in what he claims was electoral fraud. Ping told AFP he had not been notified of any ban on leaving the country, but said it appeared to be linked to a judicial request that he help with an inquiry in which he has been called as a witness. An official-looking letter banning him from leaving the country on grounds he needed to be available to the judge leading an inquiry into a protester arrested in September, was widely circulated on social media but AFP was unable to verify its authenticity. "The courts are on strike," he said, referring to an ongoing strike by magistrates since mid-December. "How could they issue such a document so quickly?" But government spokesman Alain-Claude Bilie by Nze said Ping was aware of the ban. "He is very cheeky! It's him who was trying to pull off a disappearing act when he should be be answering for his acts in court," he told AFP. Traffic was snarled up due to the heavy deployment of security forces at Libreville airport where around 50 of Ping's supporters had also gathered, among them opposition figures such as former oil minister Alexandre Barro Chambrier. Shortly before midnight, when the plane was due to take off, Ping returned home. A similar ban was put in place in September after what the government accused Ping of making "inflammatory comments" but was lifted about a week later. Gabon's parliament on Wednesday approved a raft of changes to the constitution which was slammed by the opposition as a power grab, with the proposal now set to be approved by the constitutional court. Where the previous version said the president would rule "in consultation with the government", the new text allows him to "determine the policy of the nation" while also ruling out any limit on the number of times he can be re-elected. This handout picture from the Transport Ministry of China shows smoke and flames coming from the burning oil tanker Sanchi before it sank A Iranian oil tanker burst into flames from end to end and sank Sunday, eight days after a collision with a cargo ship off China, state media said. A Tehran official said even before news of the sinking that there was no hope of saving some 30 missing crewmen. But Chinese officials played down fears of a major environmental disaster. The Sanchi, carrying 136,000 tonnes of light crude oil from Iran, had been in flames since colliding with the CF Crystal, a Hong Kong-registered bulk freighter, on January 6. Around midday Sunday the ship "suddenly ignited", with the entire vessel burning fiercely and a pall of smoke around 800-1,000 metres high, China's transport ministry said, releasing dramatic pictures showing the entire vessel obscured by thick black smoke. The ship later sank, the official news agency Xinhua cited the State Oceanic Administration as saying. "There is no hope of finding survivors among the members of the crew," Mohammad Rastad, spokesman for the Iranian rescue team dispatched to Shanghai, told Iran's state broadcaster in Tehran before the tanker went down. Rastad said information from members of the Crystal crew suggested all the personnel on the Sanchi were killed in the first hour of the accident "due to the explosion and the release of gas". "Despite our efforts, it has not been possible to extinguish the fire and recover the bodies due to repeated explosions and gas leaks," he said. The Sanchi, which was headed to South Korea to deliver its cargo, had a crew of 32 -- 30 Iranians and two Bangladeshis. Only three bodies have so far been recovered. Chinese rescuers Saturday also recovered the tanker's "black box", the transport ministry said without specifying exactly what had been retrieved. A reporter with China's state television CCTV aboard a plane from the State Oceanic Administration reported seeing wreckage from the Sanchi and oil on fire, and spilt fuel covering a 10 square kilometre area. "The oil spill situation is very serious," CCTV quoted the reporter as saying on social media. But the television earlier also cited Zhang Yong, a senior engineer with the State Oceanic Administration, as playing down fears of a spill. "Because this is light crude oil spill, relatively speaking it has a much smaller impact than other oil spills, because this kind of oil is especially volatile -- most of it has entered the atmosphere, so its had less impact on the ocean...," Zhang was quoted as saying. "This area should be considered the open sea, very far from places where people live, so the human impact should be minimal." This handout picture from the Transport Ministry of China shows smoke and flames coming from the Sanchi before it went down Rescue efforts had been particularly difficult because at 89 degrees Celsius, the vessels compartments were too hot for workers to withstand for long, CCTV quoted He Wang, an expert from Chinese oil company Huade Petrochemical, as saying. Protesters shout anti-government slogans outside the Tunisian General Labour Union headquarters on the seventh anniversary of the 2011 uprising Tunisians on Sunday marked seven years since the uprising that launched the Arab Spring, with fresh protests and some people expressing pride but others anger over persistent economic problems. The North African country is seen as having had a relatively smooth democratic transition since the January 14, 2011 toppling of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali after 23 years in power. But seven years later, anger has risen over new austerity measures after a year of rising prices, with protesters again chanting the 2011 slogans of "Work, Freedom, Dignity". On Sunday, several hundred people took part in rallies in the capital Tunis, responding to calls to demonstrate from a powerful labour union and several political parties. Security was tight as protesters poured through checkpoints into Habib Bourguiba Avenue, the epicentre of the 2011 demonstrations, but no incidents were reported. Demonstrators chanted against "poverty and hunger" as they marched up the avenue, accusing "thieves" of having stolen the country. Tunisians wave their national flag and the flag of the Ennahda Islamist party as they gather on Habib Bourguiba Avenue in Tunis on January 14, 2018 to mark the seventh anniversary of the uprising that launched the Arab Spring Outside the offices of the powerful UGTT trade union, demonstrator Foued el-Arbi waved an empty basket marked "2018". "This empty basket sums up our situation seven years after the revolution," said the philosophy professor. But others expressed their pride over the uprising that unseated Ben Ali. The revolution "is the best thing that could have happened, despite the hardships... As long as there are people (who believe), there is hope," said Mohamed Wajdi. A wave of peaceful protests and night-time unrest hit cities and towns across the country over the past week, after hikes in value-added tax and social security contributions introduced in early January. The interior ministry says it has arrested more than 800 people suspected of taking part in violence, theft and looting since the unrest began. Protesters' demands have included a review of the 2018 austerity budget and more efficient measures to fight enduring corruption. - 'Fall of the budget' - More than 1,000 people took part in Sunday's protest outside the UGTT offices. "The people want the fall of the 2018 budget," some chanted, echoing 2011 calls for the fall of the regime. Unemployment figures and inflation rate in Tunisia. Political parties and a union called for fresh protests against austerity after a week of unrest. Hundreds more gathered after Ennahdha, an Islamist party that is part of the ruling coalition, and Prime Minister Youssef Chahed's Popular Front party also called for demonstrations. President Beji Caid Essebsi marked the anniversary by attending the opening of a youth centre in the working-class Tunis suburb of Ettadhamen, which saw clashes between young protesters and police this week. "This year we will start to take care of the young," he said. "The revolution for freedom and dignity... was in effect led by the young." Several local residents turned out to air their frustration. "He says he will help us, and then he goes back to his palace," said Mouna, a high school student. Tunisia's 2011 revolt was sparked by the self-immolation of a fruit seller in desperation at police harassment and unemployment. On January 14, 2011, Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia, inspiring similar revolts across the region in what became known as the Arab Spring. Tunisia has been praised for its steps towards democracy in the years since, compared to countries now wracked by war such as Syria or Yemen. A new constitution was adopted and legislative and presidential polls held in 2014. But authorities have struggled to revitalise Tunisia's economy, including after deadly jihadist attacks in 2015 dealt a major blow to the key tourism sector. Tunisian workers hold up a basket with text reading in Arabic: "the basket is empty" while shouting slogans against the government in front of the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) headquarters in Tunis Seven years on, youth unemployment is more than 35 percent, according to the International Labour Organization, while inflation was more than six percent at the end of last year. On Saturday, Essebsi announced an increase in aid to the needy and improved health care as part of social reforms. The action plan, costing more than 70 million dinars ($28.5 million), will benefit more than 120,000 Tunisians, according to the authorities. Tunisia has secured a 2.4-billion-euro ($2.9-billion) IMF loan in return for a reduction in its budget deficit and financial reforms. Lebanese security forces stand near a damaged vehicle following a car bomb blast in the southern Lebanese port city of Sidon An official of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas was wounded on Sunday in a car bomb blast in Lebanon's southern port city of Sidon. Hamas's Lebanon branch named the wounded man as its "staff member" Mohammed Hamdan. "The blast wounded his leg, destroyed his car and damaged the building. Preliminary evidence points to Zionist (involvement) behind this crime," it said in a statement. A military source told AFP that a BMW "detonated, wounding Hamas official Mohammed Hamdan", and Lebanon's army said a "500-gramme bomb" had been placed in his vehicle. An AFP journalist in Sidon saw the burnt-out vehicle, a silver BMW, in a parking lot of an apartment building where Hamdan lived. Firefighters arrived to put out the flames and Lebanese security forces quickly cordoned off the area. "All civilians get back!" shouted an officer, ushering curious residents away from the charred car. The Red Cross confirmed there was only one person wounded in the blast and said he had been transported to hospital in a civilian vehicle. Hamas's representative in Lebanon, Ali Baraka, visited Hamdan at the Labib Hospital in Sidon. "Hamas is coordinating with Lebanese security forces to uncover all the links to this crime and the failed assassination attempt against Hamdan," he told reporters. "This message carries the fingerprints of Israel, which wants to shift the lens away from internal affairs to the outside because of the uprising in Palestine," Baraka said. Hamdan did not appear to have a public or political role in Hamas, but a Palestinian security source told AFP that he was a member of the organisation's security apparatus. "Hamdan is an official in Hamas's security service. His work is linked to internal Palestinian affairs," the source said. Lebanese security forces and emergency services stand near a damaged car following a car bomb blast in the southern Lebanese port city of Sidon on January 14, 2018 "Because of the nature of his work, the fingers are pointed to the Israeli enemy." Hamas has fought three wars with Israel in the past decade and is based in Gaza, but it operates branches elsewhere in the Middle East including Lebanon. Tens of thousands of Palestinian refugees live in Lebanon, many of them in 12 camps across the country. The most densely-populated is Ain al-Hilweh, which lies near Sidon and is home to an estimated 61,000 Palestinians, including 6,000 who have fled the war in neighbouring Syria. By longstanding convention, Lebanese authorities do not enter Palestinian camps, where security is instead left to joint Palestinian security forces. These units -- which include Hamas, rival Palestinian faction Fatah and other groups -- have fought several battles with jihadist groups inside Ain al-Hilweh. A picture released by the Iraqi premier's office on December 9, 2017 shows Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announcing the end of a three-year war against the Islamic State jihadist group Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced plans Sunday to run for re-election in May at the head of a new coalition separate from key rival and Dawa party co-member Nuri al-Maliki. Abadi said in a statement he set up the "Victory Alliance" coalition as a "cross-sectarian" list aimed at overcoming divisions and battling inequalities in the country. The coalition, the 65-year-old premier said, would strive to "protect the victory and the sacrifices" of the Iraqi people and to "fight against corruption... (and for) the unity of Iraq". Abadi declared victory in December in the three-year war by Iraqi forces to expel the Islamic State jihadist group from the vast areas north and west of Baghdad it had seized in 2014. Abadi had announced the previous month that Iraq's next parliamentary election would be held on May 15, but the date was later changed to May 12. The capture by jihadists of nearly one third of Iraq came under the rule of Maliki, the current vice president and former prime minister who ceded power to Abadi in August that year. Abadi and Maliki are both members of the Shiite Dawa party which has held the Iraqi premiership since 2006, three years after dictator Saddam Hussein was ousted in a US-led invasion. Iraq's Vice President Nuri al-Maliki speaks during a tribal gathering on May 13, 2017, in the central shrine city of Najaf Maliki is running in the parliamentary election at the head of his "State of Law" alliance, which won most of the votes in the previous polls of 2014. The creation of separate lists seems to indicate deep personal divisions within the Dawa party. But Maliki's spokesman, Abbas al-Mussawi, told AFP the party backs both lists. "The fact that two list are being put forth does not mean a clash between two people, but a confrontation between visions, programmes and different alliances," Mussawi said. "THIS PLACE IS A SHITHOLE" was among the messages projected over the entrance to President Donald Trump's hotel in Washington The word "shithole" -- which President Donald Trump allegedly used to describe countries from which he does not want immigrants coming to the US -- has been projected along with other messages onto his Washington hotel. Trump is said to have made the remarks -- which he has denied but which a US Senator who was present confirmed -- at a meeting with legislators, setting off a firestorm of criticism when they became public. "NOT A DC RESIDENT? NEED A PLACE TO STAY? TRY OUR SHITHOLE. THIS PLACE IS A SHITHOLE," read successive messages projected over the entrance of the Trump International Hotel in central Washington, according to a video posted on social media. A flood of grinning feces emojis then stream out of the hotel's entrance as "SHITHOLE" appears in larger text above it. Another clip shows the word "SHITHOLE" over the entrance along with an arrow pointing to the door. The videos were posted on the Twitter account of Robin Bell, who has staged other projection protests and been likened to a "hit-and-run editorial writer" by The Washington Post. The alleged expletive emerged out of a Thursday meeting between Trump and legislators. The topic? Immigration reform. After lawmakers raised the issue of protections for immigrants from African nations, Haiti and El Salvador, the president reportedly demanded to know why the United States should accept immigrants from "shithole countries," rather than -- for instance -- wealthy and overwhelmingly white Norway. Trump on Friday tweeted a convoluted denial about the comments, which were reported by The Washington Post and The New York Times. But Democratic Senator Dick Durbin said Trump had specifically asked, "Do we need more Haitians?" before launching into a diatribe about African immigration. Trump then "said things which were hate-filled, vile and racist," Durbin said, adding that "shithole" was "the exact word used by the president, not just once but repeatedly." Guinea-Bissau's President Jose Mario Vaz has sought backing for his candidate from the second party in parliament Guinea-Bissau's Prime Minister Umaro Sissoco Embalo has submitted his resignation to the president, in a bid to end a two-year political crisis in the poor west African nation. Guinea-Bissau has been in the throes of a power struggle since August 2015, when President Jose Mario Vaz sacked former prime minister Domingos Simoes Pereira. Embalo, who became prime minister in December 2016, tendered his resignation to Vaz last week, he told AFP late Saturday. "I am not someone who clings to power. If the president does not trust me, I won't wait to be fired, I will leave," he said. A source at the presidency confirmed the resignation had been submitted. At its latest summit on December 16, the ECOWAS west African bloc urged Guinea-Bissau's leaders to resolve the crisis marring their tiny nation within two months, or else face sanctions. Vaz and former prime minister Pereira -- who heads the ruling party -- have accused each other of blocking the implementation of an accord reached in October 2016, following talks mediated by Alpha Conde, president of neighbouring Guinea. The agreement had envisaged naming a new prime minister "who had the president's trust", and who would maintain his position until elections to be held in 2018. The UN Security Council in September also asked the leaders of the former Portuguese colony to hold talks and to revise the constitution. Under the current constitution, the choice of prime minister rests with the ruling party -- the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), of which Vaz is a member. But because the PAIGC lost its parliamentary majority, Vaz has sought backing from MPs from the second party, along with 15 rebels from the ruling party. Guinea-Bissau, one of the world's poorest countries, has been plagued by military coups and instability since its independence from Portugal in 1974. President Joao Bernardo Vieira was assassinated in 2009 alongside General Tagme Na Waie. Sri Lanka's president has reinstated a 37-year-long ban on women buying alcohol - just days after the restriction was lifted by his finance minister. Maithripala Sirisena said he had ordered Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera to revoke his decision to overturn the 1979 law prohibiting the sale of all alcohol to women. 'From tomorrow, the minister's order will be rescinded,' Sirisena's office said in a statement, which gave no explanation for the sudden change of direction. Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena (pictured) ordered his finance minister to revoke his decision to overturn the 1979 law prohibiting the sale of any type of alcohol to women The reversal comes after a finance ministry official said Samaraweera had revoked the 39-year-old law in an effort to strike sexist bills from the statute books. 'The idea was to restore gender neutrality,' ministry spokesman Ali Hassen said of the decision Wednesday to roll back the ban. The finance minster said strict curbs on Sri Lanka's licensed liquor manufacturers only encourage a black market for spirits, and deprive the state of much-needed revenue. But last week's decision to relax laws on alcohol provoked a backlash in some quarters of the majority-Buddhist nation of 21 million people. The National Movement for Consumer Rights Protection had accused the finance minister of encouraging drinking, and had urged Sirisena to intervene and restore the restrictions. Under further new measures passed by Samaraweera, bars and pubs can remain open longer, and a ban on women working in bars, distilleries and breweries was lifted. But Finance Minster Mangala Samaraweera said restrictions only encourage a black market for spirits, and deprive the state of much-needed revenue But Sirisena's office also moved to restrict these new rules, saying the president was reducing the time period bars could be open. It was not clear from Sirisena's statement yesterday if the decision to allow women to work in the alcohol industry had also been reversed. The ban on women buying liquor was originally imposed in 1979 to appease the conservative Buddhist hierarchy of the time. Liquor vendors in Sri Lanka are also forbidden to sell spirits to police or members of the armed forces in uniform. Sri Lanka unveiled steep tax rises on hard liquor in its November budget but greatly reduced tariffs on wine and beer. UN peacekeepers were deployed in a village in Kasai, where conflict has displaced some 1.4 million people since August 2016 Men armed with machetes killed four soldiers in an attack Sunday near the main Kananga airport in Kasai, an opposition stronghold in the south of the Democratic Republic of Congo, residents said as tensions returned to the restive region. The assailants attacked the soldiers as they were sleeping in their tent, the sources told AFP, adding that they then set fire to the tent. "An army vehicle arrived not far from my house and I saw four bodies of soldiers that they were transporting as well as another soldier with blood all over his body and wounds," one resident said by telephone. The regional army commander, Brigadier General Marcellin Assoumani Issa Kumba, confirmed the attack but said he could not confirm the death toll. "We are in full pursuit of these bandits," he told AFP, adding that "the situation is under control for the moment." A large contingent of soldiers could be seen patrolling the Kananga airport, while the streets of the city of around one million inhabitants were deserted and churches called off Sunday services. Early this month three suspected militiamen were killed in fighting with soldiers near the airport. The violence in Kasai erupted after a tribal chieftain known as the Kamwina Nsapu, who rebelled against the regime of President Joseph Kabila, was killed in August 2016. More than 3,000 people have died in the region and some 1.4 million have been displaced since then. Two UN experts were killed in March last year while investigating violence in the region, where the United Nations has counted more than 80 mass graves. Elections were supposed to take place by December 2017, but they were repeatedly postponed -- officially because of the violence in Kasai. Kabila, 46, has been in power since 2001, at the helm of a regime widely criticised for corruption, repression and incompetence. The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) in December accused the authorities of committing "crimes against humanity perpetrated to create chaos". Supporters of US President Donald Trump hold signs near his Mar-a-Lago resort in West Palm Beach, Florida on January 13, 2018 US President Donald Trump vehemently denied Sunday that he was a racist, after his vulgar disparagement of African countries and Haiti complicated a bipartisan deal on immigration. "I'm not a racist. I am the least racist person you have ever interviewed," Trump told reporters at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he was having dinner with Republican House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy. Trump appeared to give up for dead an immigration deal, coming back on the issue in a pair of early morning tweets three days after reportedly referring to African and Haitian immigrants as coming from "shithole countries," triggering global condemnation. "DACA is probably dead because the Democrats don't really want it," Trump tweeted, referring to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program at the heart of the immigration impasse. Hundreds of thousands of immigrants brought to the country illegally as children -- so-called "Dreamers" -- face deportation unless a compromise can be reached that would grant them rights to stay. A bipartisan deal to resolve the Dreamers issue in return for changes demanded by Republicans in the way visas are allocated collapsed in acrimony Thursday with Trump's remarks, which were widely denounced as racist. "I think this man, this president, is taking us back to another place," John Lewis, a Georgia congressman who was on the front lines of the 1960s civil rights movement, said Sunday on ABC's "This Week." "I think he is a racist." - 'Defend the indefensible' - Senator David Purdue, a Republican from Georgia, called charges that Trump is racist "ridiculous" and his reported remarks a "gross misrepresentation" of the White House meeting on immigration. But other Republicans, pained by the turn of events, spoke out against the president as debate over the slur spilled into Sunday television talk shows. "I can't defend the indefensible," said Mia Love, a Haitian-American congresswoman from Utah who campaigned on Trump's behalf in the country's Haitian community. "I still think that he should apologize," she said on CNN's "State of the Union." "I think that there are people that are looking for an apology. And I think that that would show real leadership." Trump's "shithole countries" remarks were confirmed by Senator Dick Durbin, a Democrat who attended the White House meeting, after it was reported by The Washington Post and other media. But Trump has stuck with a vague denial that he used such language, and so far has made no move to apologize, hurting prospects for a deal on DACA and making life uncomfortable for Republicans as they look ahead to midterm elections this year. The president sought to shift from the defensive by portraying Democrats as not truly interested in an immigration deal. "They just want to talk and take desperately needed money away from our Military," he tweeted. "I, as President, want people coming into our Country who are going to help us become strong and great again, people coming in through a system based on MERIT. No more Lotteries! #AMERICA FIRST." In Florida, Trump added: "I don't think Democrats want to make a deal. The folks from DACA should know the Democrats are the ones that aren't going to make a deal." He insisted the White House was "ready, willing and able to make a deal on DACA." - 'A deal to be had' - But Senator Jeff Flake, a Republican who has been critical of Trump, said Democrats were serious about a bipartisan deal on immigration. He said the compromise presented to the White House Thursday would end a visa lottery system and so-called chain migration under which legal immigrants can bring in family members. The Dreamers would be allowed to stay but not become US citizens, according to Flake. The senator from Arizona said Trump's remarks came in reaction to an element of the deal that would reallocate the visas given out in a lottery to immigrants who are currently in a protected status, like Haitians and the Dreamers. "I believe there is a deal to be had," he said. Trump announced in September he was scrapping the DACA program but delayed enforcement to give Congress six months -- until March -- to craft a lasting solution. On Tuesday, however, a federal judge ordered the government to keep DACA going pending resolution of court challenges to the president's decision. Meanwhile, dimming prospects for a 2018 spending agreement means lawmakers will have to resort to a temporary funding extension to avert a government shutdown on January 19. This file photo from January 07, 2018 shows Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi making a speech in the Shiite holy city of Najaf Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said Sunday he would stand for re-election in May at the head of a new coalition, buoyed by victory over the Islamic State group. Abadi's newly created "Victory Alliance" will face the "State of Law" bloc of Nuri al-Maliki, his predecessor, key rival and Shiite Dawa party co-member who now holds the post of vice president. The 65-year-old Abadi was little known when he became prime minister three years ago, after Maliki ceded power to him in August 2014 amid political and sectarian chaos and a sweeping offensive by IS. In December, Abadi declared victory in the three-year war by Iraqi forces to expel the jihadists from vast swathes of territory they had seized north and west of Baghdad -- nearly one third of the country. Since taking over, the prime minister has also rebuilt the crumbling armed forces, taken back disputed areas in the north from the Kurds and torpedoed their hopes for independence. He has also succeeded in persuading the Hashed al-Shaabi, a Shiite-dominated paramilitary force which helped fight IS, to join his "Victory Alliance" which he describes as a "cross-sectarian" list. The Hashed al-Shaabi, or Popular Mobilisation Units, now seeks to be a key political player in Iraq as well after proving itself to be a formidable force on the battlefield against IS. Destroyed buildings pictured in Mosul on January 8, 2018, six months after Iraqi forces retook the country's second city from the Islamic State group Several Hashed commanders have already shed their military fatigues for civilian clothes to join the "Victory Alliance" for the May 12 parliamentary election. Ahmad al-Kinani, spokesman for a list led by Asaib Ahl al-Haq, one of the militias under the Hashed umbrella, told AFP that after "long negotiations" Abadi had won the support of 18 lists, including two led by key former Hashed commanders. Iraq is made up of 18 provinces and has a 328-seat parliament of deputies who serve four-year terms, elected in their constituencies by proportional representation. - 'Victory, unity' - Abadi, one of the rare Shiite politicians who enjoys grassroot support among the country's Sunni minority, said on Saturday that his alliance is aimed at overcoming divisions in Iraq. The alliance, said the 65-year-old premier, would strive to "protect the victory and the sacrifices" of the Iraqi people and to "fight against corruption... and for the unity of Iraq". Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga fighters celebrate the New Year on December 31, 2017 The goal of consolidating Iraqi unity has been at the centre of Abadi's premiership. It took centre stage late last year when he sent troops to retake disputed Kurdish-held positions and categorically opposed an independence vote in the autonomous Kurdish region. Kurds, who currently hold 60 seats in the Baghdad-based federal parliament, will enter the May election divided. Their two historic parties, the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, submitted a joint list at the 2014 election but will now go their separate ways. Several Kurdish officials have also voiced their opposition to the Hashed al-Shaabi. Iraq's main three opposition parties have, however, decided to form one common list. - Iran's role - Abadi's predecessor Maliki, under whose rule IS's 2014 rampage took place, is also standing in the election on a separate list, his "State of Law" alliance. Iraq's Vice President Nuri al-Maliki pictured on May 13, 2017 in the central shrine city of Najaf The move seems to indicate deep cracks within the Shiite Dawa party to which both Abadi and Maliki belong. Dawa, a historic opponent of the late Saddam Hussein, has held Iraq's premiership since 2006, three years after the dictator was ousted in a US-led invasion. In the previous parliamentary election of 2014, "State of Law" took most of the votes. Maliki's spokesman, Abbas al-Mussawi, told AFP that Dawa backs both lists. "The fact that two lists are being put forth does not mean a clash between two people, but a confrontation between visions, programmes and different alliances," Mussawi said. "The Dawa party has adopted both lists and there is no pressure being imposed on us, not from Iran or the United States," he said. However, political analyst Essam Fila told AFP he expected Iran to play an "important role" in the election and would ensure that "even Sunni factions back the Shiite alliances". Abe visited the two-storey building, now a museum, that housed the consulate where Chiune Sugihara worked in the Baltic state's second city Kaunas Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Sunday visited a memorial to a Japanese diplomat who saved 6,000 European Jews from the Holocaust by issuing visas from war-torn Lithuania, in defiance of Tokyo. Abe visited the two-storey building, now a museum, that housed the consulate where Chiune Sugihara worked in the Baltic state's second city Kaunas. "The courageous humanitarian act of Mr Sugihara is highly appreciated by the whole world," Abe said, adding that the diplomat worked with "conviction and passion". "I am really very proud of him as a Japanese." Ahead of the visit on Saturday, he told reporters Sugihara's memory still provides guidance in a world "where rule of law and international order are being challenged in various forms". The diplomat, who died in 1986 aged 86, is thought to have been among around 15 who issued visas for European Jews during World War II. He is often called "Japan's Schindler" -- a reference to German industrialist Oskar Schindler who is credited with saving 1,200 Jews during the Holocaust. "Sugihara needed a lot of courage to do what he has done, especially when we know that it was dangerous for him to defy the government's orders," the head of Lithuania's Jewish community, Faina Kukliansky, told AFP. Lithuania's Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius described the visit as "emotional". - 18-hour days - Sugihara was appointed vice-consul in October 1939, one month after German and allied Soviet forces attacked and carved up neighbouring Poland. Japan saw still-independent and neutral Lithuania, which harboured thousands of Polish refugees, as a perfect location for the polyglot Sugihara to collect intelligence about military developments in the region. But when Moscow invaded the country crowds of Jewish refugees, mostly from occupied Poland, started lining up at the Japanese consulate seeking visas to flee. Sugihara wasted no time in issuing visas, sometimes working 18 hours a day and evading strict instructions issued by Tokyo. Sugihara worked around the clock, issuing over 2,000 visas in July and August, sometimes working 18 hours per day and evading strict instructions issued by Tokyo With visas in hand, Jews took a gruelling two-week railway trip across Russia to Vladivostok in the far east and then travelled by boat to Japan. Many of them were later sent to the Shanghai Ghetto and stayed there until the end of the war. Sugihara received Israel's "Righteous Among the Nations" title honouring people who saved Jews during the Holocaust in 1984. Abe, who has been criticised for appearing to minimise Japan's own atrocities during the war, is on a six-day trip in the Baltics which will also take in Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania. The isolated Casamance region had enjoyed a period of relative calm prior to the January 6 massacre of youths collecting wood in the Bayotte forest outside the regional capital Ziguinchor Senegalese police said Sunday they have arrested 22 people suspected of involvement in a January 6 massacre of 14 young men in the troubled region of Casamance. The arrests were the first in connection with the killings in a region separated from the rest of Senegal by The Gambia, and which has been the target of an independence campaign for more than 35 years. "Ongoing investigations have opened up useful lines of enquiry leading to the arrest thus far of 22 people, all of Senegalese nationality," a police statement said. A rebel movement in the area has blamed the massacre on a feud in the illegal teak logging industry, ending a period of relative calm in Casamance. Around 20 men were collecting wood in the protected forest of Bayottes, close to the regional capital of Ziguinchor when a 15- to 20-strong armed group attacked them. The government says 10 were shot dead, two were stabbed to death and one was burned. Half a dozen more were wounded. Days later a 14th body was found. Four of the victims of the killings in the village of Toubacouta were members of a local forestry surveillance committee, the APS news agency reported, quoting a witness. The victims were looking for firewood, according to friends who escaped and their families. However, several sources told AFP they were potentially involved in the illegal logging trade in a region with plentiful rosewood and teak, both highly prized in China. One resident told AFP Sunday he and 15 others, including a woman, had been detained by troops in the early hours in Toubacouta. "They combed the village," said the man, who would not give his name. A local youth association head, Abdou Sane, was quoted by APS as saying that "19 young men and a woman were arrested this morning by police. They are being held at Ziguinchor police station." Army chief of staff General Cheikh Gueye meanwhile said his troops had "yet to finger anyone", but added: "We are in no hurry." Seeking to end decades of unrest in Casamance, separated from the rest of Senegal by The Gambia, President Macky Sall had urged a peace "without victor or vanquished Justice Minister Ismaila Madior Fall on January 9 said authorities would crackdown on illegal logging in a region which, until the massacre, had enjoyed a period of relative calm since Senegal's President Macky Sall took office in 2012. German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen meets Jordan's King Abdullah II at the Royal Palace in Amman on January 14, 2018 Germany's Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen said on Sunday the war against the Islamic State group is not over, even if the jihadists have been "largely defeated militarily". Von der Leyen was speaking to reporters on her first visit to Jordan where Germany has 280 members of its forces as part of the US-led coalition's battle against IS in Syria and Iraq. The jihadist group "has been largely defeated militarily", the German minister said, adding however that the ultra-radical Islamist fighters "are not to be underestimated". The battle must continue and IS must not be allowed "to retreat into safe havens", she said. In October, Germany redeployed to Jordan military personnel and Tornado surveillance jets after withdrawing them from Turkey amid a dispute with Ankara. Von der Leyen said Germany was now considering reducing the number of its troops in the region. The IS self-proclaimed "caliphate" that spanned territory the size of Britain in Syria and Iraq was largely defeated last year. Iraq announced the end of the three-year war against IS in December, and across the border in Syria the jihadists have been ousted from most of their strongholds, with only isolated pockets left. Jordan, a key US ally, has used its own air force and allowed US-led coalition forces to use its bases to battle IS in Iraq and Syria. A Jordanian military band plays in front of a German GROB G 120TP training aircraft at a ceremony in Jordan on January 14, 2018 during a visit by the German defence minister The German defence minister also met Jordan's King Abdullah II and army chief of staff Mahmud Abdel Halim Freihat, and handed over two training aircraft and other military vehicles worth around 18 million euros. "Germany and Europe... have a strong interest in Jordan's stability," she said. The royal court said King Abdullah discussed with von der Leyen the "importance of intensifying cooperation and coordination among all concerned parties, regionally and internationally... to address the threat of terrorism". Germany spent some 130 million euros on defence aid for Jordan last year. This included weapons, equipment and infrastructure, according to the German news agency DPA. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, pictured on January 9, 2018, has repeatedly called for the clearing of "terrorists" from Afrin, Syria President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday threatened to attack the Kurdish militia-held town of Afrin in northern Syria "in the days ahead" to clear it of "terrorists". "We will continue our operations begun with Operation Euphrates Shield to clean our southern borders of terror in Afrin (northern Syria) in the days ahead god willing," Erdogan said in a televised speech. "The slightest disturbance on the border would be the signal for us to take a step." The president referred to Turkey's previous eight-month military operation launched in August 2016 against the Islamic State (IS) extremist group and the Syrian Kurdish Peoples' Protection Units (YPG) militia. It ended in March last year. Late last year, Turkish troops were then deployed to rebel-held northern Idlib province, south of Afrin, as part of an agreement with Iran and Russia to implement four so-called de-escalation zones in flashpoint areas around Syria. Erdogan has repeatedly said that Afrin should be cleared of "terrorists" and in November 2016, he said Turkish troops needed to be deployed there. Afrin is controlled by YPG militia considered by Ankara to be a terror group linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) waging an insurgency inside Turkey. The PKK is blacklisted as a terror group by Ankara and its Western allies. The US sees the YPG as the most effective fighting force against IS and last year provided it with arms ahead of major battles in Syria. The issue is among many causing tense relations between Ankara and Washington, though Turkish officials said in November that US President Donald Trump apparently told them Washington would no longer supply weapons to the YPG. "I hope that during an Afrin operation, these powers will not make the mistake of appearing to be on the same side as a terror organisation," Erdogan said in an apparent reference to the US during the rally in the northern Turkish city of Tokat. He added he hoped Turkey "would take action together" with its allies. Since December, Ankara has reinforced its southern border in Hatay and sent armoured vehicles, tanks and howitzers, sources told Hurriyet daily. Turkey has been working closely with Russia and Iran to end the nearly seven-year Syrian conflict despite Moscow and Tehran supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Ankara supporting the anti-Assad opposition. An experimental Ford Fusion self-driving delivery car is displayed shown at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas Autonomous driving is generating talk at this year's Detroit Auto Show after being a star at last week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The technology has generated plenty of excitement, but still faces myriad questions before it can be widely adopted. - Where does the technology stand? - Hundreds of fully autonomous cars have been built and put on roads in various countries around the world, but these vehicles are not for sale to the general public. Rather, carmakers and other companies developing the technology are testing these vehicles at low speeds in restricted areas. - Do today's cars employ any autonomous technology? - Some carmakers, especially higher-end brands including Audi, Mercedes, Tesla and Volvo, have installed autonomous features in a limited way to cars now on the market. Some cars can park themselves or permit the driver to take his or her hands off the steering wheel under certain, narrowly-defined conditions, such as during a traffic jam or riding on the highway. Models have installed autonomous braking systems and computer programs to maintain a safe distance from other cars, as well as to change lanes and pass other cars. - How does autonomous driving function? - A display demonstrates the sensors and technology behind self-driving cars during a conference showcasing artificial intelligence, deep learning, virtual reality and autonomous machines in Washington Autonomous cars take readings from three different types of sensors: cameras, radar and a scanner. This triple data set provides "great certainty" as to dangers from pedestrians or nearby objects, said Guillaume Devauchelle, director of innovation at French auto equipment company Valeo. "There must be less than one in a billion chance of a mistake," he added. But technologists face numerous complexities on roads -- especially in urban settings, where there is a constant and unpredictable throng of pedestrians, bicycles and other vehicles. Snow and other bad weather can also pose difficulties for sensors. The industry is still far from a solving all the riddles that would allow people "to legally watch a movie" in a fully autonomous car, said Rebecca Lindland, senior analyst at Kelley Blue Book. "I think we're just a long way off from really having that in any widespread application," she said. -Where do regulators stand on autonomous cars? - The Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, an international treaty, requires the driver to always maintain control of his vehicle. But the agreement has been amended to permit testing of autonomous vehicles. For now, autonomous shuttles and taxis testing the technology on the public roads must have an operator who can immediately take control of the vehicle. But regulators are expected to permit more exemptions in the near-future, especially for "clearly defined tests over a carefully-prescribed geographic area," Devauchelle said. General Motors unveiled Friday an autonomous car model with no steering wheel or pedals and said it was seeking approval from US regulators to test the vehicle as part of its strategy to introduce the cars to US roads in 2019. - How fast will it grow? - Autonomous features in cars sold at retail are limited at this point only to some luxury vehicles, but are expected to gradually become more widely adopted. Shuttles and robotic taxis are also still very niche, but will grow strongly in 2018, analysts said. Much more wide adoption by taxis or ride-sharing companies like Uber or Lyft could become a big market in major cities such as Paris, New York City or mega-cities in Asia and is not seen as being that far off. Autonomous technology could also be adopted for postal deliveries and in public transport. The auto industry is preparing for autonomous driving to become a significant puzzle piece in the 2020s. - How will insurers treat autonomous vehicles? - In some ways, the insurance of autonomous vehicles is fairly straightforward, said Francois Nedey, a member of the executive committee at Allianz France. In the case of a claim against a shuttle, the operator is responsible, although he could also take action against a manufacturer if the vehicle is defective. With cars, the driver is considered responsible, but an insurer could go after the manufacturer if an autonomous vehicle is dysfunctional. As autonomous cars become more widespread, "we will need to modify the rules" so that the "vehicle is considered responsible by default," Nedey said. Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met with his Bulgarian counterpart Boyko Borisov in Sofia, as the country takes on the rotating EU Council Presidency Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sought to drum up EU pressure on North Korea on Sunday in Sofia, while pledging to boost economic cooperation with Bulgaria and the Balkans. "During today's talks we discussed the constantly worsening security situation in Eastern Asia and we were unanimous with Premier Boyko Borisov about the importance of close cooperation on the North Korea issue," Abe said. He met with his Bulgarian counterpart Borisov as the country takes on the rotating EU presidency for the next six months. "We categorically condemn the behaviour of North Korea with their firing of ballistic missiles and nuclear programme," Borisov said, but added that "all problems must be solved in a peaceful way, on the negotiations table." Despite a recent cooling of tensions with Pyongyang, Abe has used his six-country trip to the Baltics and the Balkans to again hammer home his hawkish message that North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes pose a global threat. The Japanese PM also pressed "for a quick solution" to the problem of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea in the 1970 and 1980s -- an issue that has been a keystone of his political career. Progress on the problem has largely stalled since five of the 13 abducted returned home in 2002 and Abe's statement signalled that he would seek to rekindle EU support towards reaching a solution. - Speed up negotiations - A delegation of over 30 business leaders from Japan accompanied Abe on his trip to Sofia, where he agreed to set up an annual business forum to facilitate Japanese investment in the region, as well as a wider economic initiative with the Balkans. Electronics, automobile construction, tourism, culture and agriculture were mentioned by Borisov as potential sectors of cooperation. Bulgaria also promised to speed up the ratification of an EU-Japan free trade deal signed last year that would boost investment and trade. "We will put our whole will and assiduousness during our EU Presidency term to speed up to the maximum the process of concluding the negotiations (on the economic deal) between the European Union and Japan because this is extremely important for Bulgarian business also," Borisov said. Japan is keen to catch up as China bolsters its ties with Europe by pushing forward with its massive $1 trillion "One Belt, One Road" initiative, which seeks to build rail, maritime and road links from Asia to Europe and Africa. In 2018, Bulgaria will host a 16+1 economic summit of Central and Eastern Europe and China. Abe will pay a courtesy call to Bulgarian President Rumen Radev on Monday before departing for Serbia and Romania, the last two stops of his trip. A bright glow from Mayon volcano's summit crater indicated the start of lava flow as the Philippines raised the alert level for the country's most active volcano twice in 24 hours The Philippines raised the alert level for the country's most active volcano twice in 24 hours Sunday, meaning that a hazardous eruption is possible within days. A bright glow from Mayon volcano's summit crater indicated the start of lava flow, while steam and ash plumes were produced by three steam-driven eruptions, according to the country's volcanology institute. Mayon's status was raised late Sunday to Level Three, meaning "increased tendency towards hazardous eruption". "This means that Mayon is exhibiting relatively high unrest and that magma is at the crater and that hazardous eruption is possible within weeks or even days," the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said in a statement. More than 900 families have been evacuated and temporarily sheltered at nearby schools, a national disaster agency spokesperson told the Manila Bulletin. A seven-kilometre (four-mile) extended danger zone has been recommended on the volcano's southern flank. The public is urged to be vigilant and avoid entering the area "due to the danger of rockfalls, landslides and sudden explosions or dome collapse that may generate hazardous volcanic flows", Phivolcs said. Civil aviation authorities were told to advise pilots against flying near the summit due to the danger of erupting ash, which can be hazardous to aircraft. The 2,460-metre (8,070-foot) Mayon, located about 330 kilometres southeast of Manila, has a long history of deadly eruptions. Four foreign tourists and their local guide were killed when Mayon erupted in May 2013. In 1814 more than 1,200 people were killed when lava flows buried the town of Cagsawa. An explosion in August 2006 did not cause direct deaths, but four months later a typhoon unleashed an avalanche of volcanic mud from Mayon's slopes that killed 1,000 people. "For the past 24 hours, Mayon Volcano in Albay Province has noticeably increased its unrest," warned Phivolcs. Elaine Chao, US Secretary of Transportation, highlights Trump tax cuts at 2018 North American International Auto Show Press Preview in Detroit, Michigan The Detroit Auto Show shifted into full gear Sunday with international trade and tax cuts dominating the conversation, even as an optimistic industry raced to meet Americans' seemingly insatiable appetite for trucks and SUVs. In a keynote address, US Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao touted the tax cuts, which reduced the US corporate tax rate from 35 to 21 percent, saying the move will attract more US investment. GM had kicked off the auto show early Saturday night by debuting its revamped Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck. Ford was expected to launch vehicles later Sunday, with more launches Monday and early Tuesday. Industry insiders were taking a wait-and-see attitude toward talks to revamp the North American Free Trade Agreement, which has generated fears of huge tariffs on Mexican-made imports to the US. Negotiations have been ongoing since last summer at the insistence of US President Donald Trump, with the next round scheduled for January 23-28 in Montreal. Most automakers are following the negotiations, but haven't announced any changes in manufacturing plans in anticipation of NAFTA changes. "There's good conversation going on to modernize NAFTA," said Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors, adding that the company has no announcements on shifting manufacturing capacity. "We're going to continue to interact constructively to make sure people understand the very complex nature of our business." Automakers are waiting to fully assess the impacts of the recently passed $1.5 trillion tax cuts on the auto industry. Highlighting the reform, Chao pointed to Fiat Chrysler's decision to move production of its Ram trucks from Mexico to an assembly plant near Detroit. "This is just one example of the positive impact that the tax cuts and jobs act will have on workers, job creators, employers, and our country," Chao said. But analysts said many households still don't have a clear sense of how much they will benefit from the complex changes to tax laws. "There's some people that are probably putting off purchases because they don't really know... what our paychecks are going to look like," industry analyst Rebecca Lindland of Kelley Blue Book told AFP. Judging by the offerings at the auto show, trucks and SUVs remained the most important categories for car makers, after accounting for two out of every three cars sold in 2017. US auto sales dipped slightly in 2017 for the first time since the financial crisis, but remained at a solid level. Car makers planned to unveil several new trucks, SUVs and large "crossover" vehicles include Ford, Fiat Chrysler, Nissan and Toyota's Lexus. Coffins arrive at Ibrahim Babanginda Square in the Benue State capital Makurdi, on January 11, 2018, during a funeral service for scores who died following clashes between Fulani herdsmen and natives of Guma and Logo districts Nigerian cattle breeders on Sunday defended themselves from criticism after recent clashes with farmers left 80 dead, claiming they had lost more than 1,000 people to violence since mid-2017. Fulani herdsmen have been blamed for a spate of attacks against farming communities in the central state of Benue since the start of this year, putting pressure on the government to act. President Muhammadu Buhari has been criticised for his response to the attacks, which security analysts assess could pose a bigger threat than Boko Haram in the country's northeast. Pressure for land and water is seen as the main driver of the conflict, alongside ethnic and sectarian grievances, while a failure to prosecute those responsible has led to a spiral of tit-for-tat attacks. The national secretary of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Baba Usman Ngeljarma, said it was wrong to see the herders as solely responsible. He told a news conference in Abuja that "we have lost over 1,000 people, including children, women and the aged... in a span of seven months, beginning in June 2017 to January, 2018." Ngeljarma claimed that a series of attacks in the Mambilla area of Taraba state last June left more than 700 dead. Local politicians and police gave a much lower death toll at the time. Conflicting numbers are not uncommon in Nigeria and it was not possible to immediately verify the figures. But the high numbers are in line with reports that there has been an annual average death toll in the conflict of more than 2,000 between 2011 and 2016. The International Crisis Group said in a report published last September that more than 2,500 people were killed in 2016. Ngeljarma said no-one had been arrested for any of the killings, "even when the perpetrators are well known to the victims", highlighting a problem recognised as contributing to tit-for-tat attacks. He said the situation was fuelled by "draconian laws" enacted by some state governments to ban open grazing of cattle on farmland. Such legislation has been blamed for the attacks in Benue. The cattle breeders also suspected political involvement from lawmakers seeking to exploit the situation. Identity politics is strong in Nigeria, particularly along ethnic and religious lines. The herders are mostly Muslim while the farmers are largely Christian. Buhari, himself a Hausa-speaking Muslim Fulani, has warned against what he described as "simplistic reductionism". Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas (C-R) speaks during a meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas denounced US President Donald Trump's peace efforts as the "slap of the century", at a key meeting Sunday on the White House's declaration of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. In a wide-ranging two-hour speech, Abbas reiterated he would not accept the Trump administration as a mediator in peace talks with Israel and called for an internationally-led process. He also accused Israel through its actions of ending the 1994 Oslo peace accords that form the basis of Palestinian ties with the Jewish state, saying the Palestinians would study all strategies for responding to it. Beyond that, Abbas attacked the US ambassadors to Israel and the United Nations, David Friedman and Nikki Haley, calling them a "disgrace". Both Trump appointees have been strong supporters of Israel, with Friedman having backed Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. "We said 'no' to Trump, 'we will not accept your project'," the Palestinian president said. "The deal of the century is the slap of the century and we will not accept it," he added, referring to Trump's pledge to reach the "ultimate deal" -- Israeli-Palestinian peace. The meeting in Ramallah of the Palestinian Central Council -- a high-ranking arm of the Palestine Liberation Organisation -- was called in the wake of Trumps December 6 recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital. The move has infuriated the Palestinians, who want the annexed eastern sector of the city as the capital of their future state. Prior to the declaration, Trump and his envoys, including senior advisor and son-in-law Jared Kushner, had spent months seeking to negotiate how to restart talks between Israel and the Palestinians, stalled since 2014. But since Trumps Jerusalem announcement, the Palestinians have refused to meet with the US administration, and Abbas is expected to shun Vice President Mike Pence when he visits the region next week. - US relations 'nadir' - In the buildup to the Central Council meeting on Sunday and Monday, Palestinian officials had stressed that all options were on the table for responding to Trump, including suspending the PLO's recognition of Israel. Abbas did not mention recognition but said the Oslo accords that led to the creation of his Palestinian Authority and envisioned a final resolution to the conflict were in effect finished. "I am saying that Oslo, there is no Oslo. Israel ended Oslo," he said, referring to persistent Israeli settlement building and other issues seen as eroding the possibility of a two-state solution to the conflict. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas attacked the US ambassadors to Israel and the United Nations, David Friedman and Nikki Haley, calling them a "disgrace" The 121-member council will meet Monday to discuss strategy for responding to Trumps announcement, but Abbas offered few concrete policy proposals. Hugh Lovatt, Israel and Palestine Project Coordinator at the European Council for Foreign Relations, said while the speech was full of rhetoric, there was little noticeable policy. "It is safe to say that president Abbas has done little to improve US-Palestinian relations which have now reached their nadir," he told AFP. "Abbas's rambling speech was also noteworthy for what was not there -- namely, any real vision for moving beyond the failed US-led Oslo paradigm. "Those hoping for a glimpse of a new Palestinian strategy to end the occupation or a shift towards a one-state solution will have been left disappointed." While Palestinian leaders have been outraged by Trump's moves, they also face difficult choices in how to respond as they seek to salvage remaining hopes of a two-state solution to the conflict. Earlier this month, Palestinian leaders said they will not be "blackmailed" after Trump threatened to cut aid worth more than $300 million annually to force them to negotiate. Trump says "we refused negotiations. May God demolish your house. When did we refuse?" asked an indignant Abbas. CIUDAD VICTORIA, Mexico (AP) - A journalist was killed Saturday in the Mexican border state of Tamaulipas and authorities said they were investigating to see if his death was related to his work. Carlos Dominguez Rodriguez was slain in the city of Nuevo Laredo across from Texas while driving in a car with relatives who were unhurt in the attack, state security spokesman Luis Alberto Rodriguez told The Associated Press. Rodriguez said the body had stab wounds and there may have been gunshots. In the past, the 77-year-old Dominguez had worked for different print media outlets, including the Diario de Nuevo Laredo newspaper, but he was currently an independent journalist who wrote opinion columns for news websites, Rodriguez and other journalists said. If it is confirmed that Dominguez was murdered for his work, he would be the first journalist slain for his profession in the new year after a deadly 2017 that saw at least 10 killed in what international press groups called a crisis for freedom of expression in Mexico. Earlier in January, a news editor was killed in Mexico City in a robbery apparently unrelated to his profession. Rodriguez said preliminary investigations indicated that Dominguez had not reported receiving any threats or requested security. Tamaulipas' government released a statement saying it "will act firmly against any attack on freedom of expression and the labor of communicators." Tamaulipas has been wracked by drug cartel violence and the state is one where organized crime has often been able to intimidate media outlets into silence through violence and threats. Both the United Nations and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights have expressed concern about the impunity surrounding the killings of journalists in Mexico On Jan. 7, in Guerrero state in southern Mexico, several journalists reported being roughed up. Bernandino Hernandez, who has worked with the AP, said state police beat, kicked and dragged the journalists. MONTREAL (AP) - Canadiens center Phillip Danault has been stretchered off the ice after he was hit in the head by a slap shot from Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara. Danault went down with 1:37 left in the second period Saturday night. Chara, who has one of the hardest shots in the NHL, looked on in concern as trainers attended to Danault. Danault was moving and speaking to medical staff before he left the ice, to an ovation from the Bell Centre crowd. The Canadiens say Danault has a head injury and was taken to a hospital for further exams. Montreal Canadiens' Phillip Danault lies injured on the ice after he was hit in the head by a puck on a shot by Boston Bruins' Zdeno Chara during second period NHL hockey action in Montreal, Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP) The teams headed to the locker room after Danault got hurt and planned to play the rest of the second after intermission. DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) - Ford Motor Co. will re-enter the U.S. midsize pickup truck market next spring with the 2019 Ford Ranger. The automaker is set to unveil the new North American version of the Ranger Sunday ahead of the Detroit auto show. The Ranger was the best-selling small pickup in the U.S. in 2011. But Ford pulled it from the market because gas prices were high and it saw demand dwindling. Now, Ford says there's rising demand for a smaller, more maneuverable and more affordable truck than its massive F-150. This Jan. 5, 2018, photo, shows the 2019 Ford Ranger truck on display in Warren, Mich. Ford is unveiling the North American version of the Ranger on Sunday, Jan. 14, ahead of the Detroit auto show. It goes on sale next spring, eight years after Ford pulled it off the market in the U.S. and Canada. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) The North American Ranger shares underpinnings with the global version, which Ford has continued to sell abroad. But its frame is reinforced with steel to meet U.S. safety standards and it has steel bumpers. Ford isn't yet revealing price, fuel economy or other details. This Jan. 5, 2018, photo shows the 2019 Ford Ranger, center, next to the automaker's F-350, left, and the F-150 in Warren, Mich. Ford is unveiling the North American version of the Ranger on Sunday, Jan. 14, ahead of the Detroit auto show. It goes on sale next spring, eight years after Ford pulled it off the market in the U.S. and Canada. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) NEW DELHI (AP) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived Sunday for his first visit to India to expand defense, trade and energy ties. During his six-day stay the two countries are expected to sign agreements on cybersecurity, energy and space cooperation and film production, India's External Affairs Ministry said. They're also expected to review progress in implementing agreements on cooperation in technology, water and agriculture that were signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Israel last year, the first by an Indian prime minister to Israel. Before leaving for India, Netanyahu told reporters in Israel that the trip "serves our security, economic, trade and tourism interests, as well as many other areas." Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, is welcomed by India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his arrival at Palam airport in New Delhi Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu arrived Sunday for his first visit to India to expand defense, trade and energy ties. (AP Photo) "We are strengthening ties between Israel and this important global power," he said. The visit marks 25 years since India and Israel established diplomatic relations, but comes just weeks after India voted in favor of a U.N. resolution denouncing President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Daniel Carmon, the Israeli ambassador to India, played down India's vote. "I think that the relationship is much stronger than one vote at the U.N.," he said. Bilateral trade between the countries has skyrocketed from $200 million in 1992, when India and Israel established diplomatic ties, to $4.16 billion in 2016. But that remains far below Israel's nearly $40 billion in annual trade with its largest partners, the United States and the European Union. Still there are irritants in the growing relationship, including India's cancellation of a $500 million anti-tank missile deal with Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. It wasn't clear why India scrapped the deal before the contract was signed. During the Cold War, India didn't have open relations with Israel, leaning heavily in favor of the Palestinians. But over the past quarter century, the two countries have developed close ties. Carmon said that Israeli-India ties would withstand any troubles. "The relationship is an all-weather relationship," he told reporters Friday, adding it was "so strong and so important to both countries that our feeling is that nothing can reverse it." He said Netanyahu was bringing with him 130 businesspeople, "which reflects the enthusiasm in Israel to do more business with India." Modi received Netanyahu at New Delhi airport on Sunday. Netanyahu's office put out an announcement saying that Modi's greeting was a "surprise welcome" because a Cabinet minister had been scheduled to attend instead. "I very much appreciate the gesture," Netanyahu said. On Monday, Netanyahu will have formal discussions with Modi and call on President Ram Nath Kovind as well as attend an India-Israel CEO Forum Meeting. In Mumbai, Netanyahu will meet with Jewish community leaders, Indian business leaders and representatives of the Bollywood film industry. Netanyahu will also visit Modi's home state of Gujarat in western India. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, center, and his wife Sarah, left, are greeted by India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi on their arrival at Palam airport in New Delhi Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu arrived Sunday for his first visit to India to expand defense, trade and energy ties. (AP Photo) Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, center left, is welcomed by India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, center right, on his arrival at Palam airport in New Delhi Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu arrived Sunday for his first visit to India to expand defense, trade and energy ties. (AP Photo) A blunder that caused more than a million people in Hawaii to fear that they were about to be struck by a nuclear missile fed skepticism Sunday about the government's ability to keep them informed in a real emergency. Residents and tourists alike remained rattled a day after the mistaken alert was blasted out to cellphones across the islands with a warning to seek immediate shelter and the ominous statement 'This is not a drill.' 'My confidence in our so-called leaders' ability to disseminate this vital information has certainly been tarnished,' said Patrick Day, who sprang from bed when the alert was issued Saturday morning. 'I would have to think twice before acting on any future advisory.' Scroll down for video During a shift change at the state's Emergency Management Agency, someone doing a routine test hit the live alert button. The error sparked a doomsday panic across Hawaii This smartphone screen capture shows a false incoming ballistic missile emergency alert sent from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency system on Saturday, January 13, 2018 The erroneous warning was sent during a shift change at the state's Emergency Management Agency when someone doing a routine test hit the live alert button, state officials said. 'Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill,' said the alert. They tried to assure residents there would be no repeat false alarms. The agency changed protocols to require that two people send an alert and made it easier to cancel a false alarm - a process that took nearly 40 minutes. President Donald Trump said the federal government will 'get involved' with Hawaii, but didn't provide any additional details. The error sparked a doomsday panic across the islands known as a laid-back paradise. Parents clutched their children, huddled in bathtubs and said prayers. Students bolted across the University of Hawaii campus to take cover in buildings. Drivers abandoned cars on a highway and took shelter in a tunnel. Others resigned themselves to a fate they could not control and simply waited for the attack. President Donald Trump said the federal government will 'get involved' with Hawaii, but didn't provide any additional details The 911 system for the island of Oahu was overwhelmed with more than 5,000 calls. There were no major emergencies during the false alarm, Mayor Kirk Caldwell said. An investigation into what went wrong was underway Sunday at the Federal Communications Commission, which sets rules for wireless emergency alerts sent by local, state or federal officials to warn of the threat of hurricanes, wildfires, flash flooding and to announce searches for missing children. The state of Hawaii 'did not have reasonable safeguards or process controls in place to prevent the transmission of a false alert,' FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said in a statement, calling the mistake 'absolutely unacceptable.' 'False alerts undermine public confidence in the alerting system and thus reduce their effectiveness during real emergencies,' he said. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen urged Americans not to lose faith in their government. Vern Miyagi, Administrator, HEMA, left, and Hawaii Governor David Ige addressed the media during a press conference on Saturday 'I would hate for anybody not to abide by alerts and warnings coming from government systems,' Nielsen said on 'Fox News Sunday.' ''They can trust government systems. We test them every day. This is a very unfortunate mistake, but these alerts are vital. Seconds and minutes can save lives.' With mobile phones ubiquitous, wireless alerts can quickly disseminate information to a wide number of users, but there have been concerns about creating a panic if they are sent too broadly. Authorities were criticized for not sending an alert to mobile phones when fires ripped through Northern California in October, killing 40 people. Officials had decided not to use the system because they couldn't target them precisely enough and feared a wider broadcast would lead to mass evacuations, including people not in danger, snarling traffic that would hamper firefighting and rescues efforts. Lisa Foxen, a social worker and mother of two young children in east Honolulu, said she expects Hawaii officials to make necessary changes and restore trust in the system. The best thing to come out of the scare, she said, was that it pushed her family to come up with a plan if there is a real threat. Philip Simmons, an orchestral conductor, said the false alarm was one of the most horrifying events of his life, and he had no idea what to do. He said everyone from Gov. David Ige to the president should resign 'I kind of was just almost like a deer in headlights,' she said. 'I knew what to do in a hurricane. I knew what to do in an earthquake. But the missile thing is new to me.' The false alarm triggered a broader discussion about national security at a time when North Korea has been flexing its muscles by launching test missiles and bragging about its nuclear capability. Its leader, Kim Jong Un, has also exchanged insults on Twitter with President Donald Trump about their arsenals. The standoff has whipped up nuclear fears on Hawaii and led the islands to revive Cold War-era siren tests that drew international attention. U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, a Hawaii Democrat, said officials should be held accountable for the 'epic failure of leadership' behind the warning. She said the nuclear threat underscored the need for Trump to meet with Kim to work out differences without preconditions. 'The government has totally blown this,' Simmons said. 'They're completely inept at protecting the people of this country and notifying them of what's happening' 'The people of Hawaii are paying the price now for decades of failed leadership in this country' by setting 'unrealistic preconditions,' she said. 'The leaders of this country need to experience that same visceral understanding of how lives are at stake.' Philip Simmons, an orchestral conductor, said the false alarm was one of the most horrifying events of his life, and he had no idea what to do. He said everyone from Gov. David Ige to the president should resign. 'The government has totally blown this,' Simmons said. 'They're completely inept at protecting the people of this country and notifying them of what's happening.' The mistake was not the first for the state's warning system. During a test last month, 12 of the state's 386 sirens played an ambulance siren. In the tourist hub of Waikiki, the sirens were barely audible, prompting officials to add more sirens and reposition ones already in place. TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - A burning Iranian oil tanker exploded and sank Sunday after more than a week listing off the coast of China, as an Iranian official acknowledged there was "no hope" of missing sailors surviving the disaster. The collision and disaster of the Sanchi, which carried 30 Iranians and two Bangladeshis, had transfixed an Iran still reeling from days of protests and unrest that swept the country at the start of the year. Families of the sailors wept and screamed at the headquarters of the National Iranian Tanker Co. in Tehran, the private company that owns the Sanchi. Some needed to be taken by ambulance to nearby hospitals as they were so overwhelmed by the news. Friends and colleagues of the deceased Iranian seafarers aboard a tanker that sank off the coast of China weep at the headquarters of National Iranian Tanker Company, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018. The burning Iranian tanker listing for days off the coast of China after a collision with another vessel sank Sunday, with an Iranian official saying there was "no hope" of survival for the 29 missing sailors onboard. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) "Thirty-two people died without a funeral and without coffins! They burned to ashes while their families were wailing here!" cried out one woman who didn't give her name. The government "has come after 10 days to sympathize with them? What sympathy are you talking about?" State TV earlier quoted Mahmoud Rastad, the chief of Iran's maritime agency, as saying: "There is no hope of finding survivors among the (missing) 29 members of the crew." President Hassan Rouhani expressed his condolences and called on relevant government agencies to investigate the tragedy and take any necessary legal measures, according to state TV. In a message, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expressed his condolences and sympathy with the victims' families, his own website, Khamenei.ir, reported Sunday. The government also announced Monday as a nationwide day of public mourning over the disaster. The cause of the Jan. 6 collision between the Sanchi and the Chinese freighter CF Crystal, 257 kilometers (160 miles) off the coast of Shanghai, remains unclear. The CF Crystal had 21 crew members, all of whom were reported safe. But the Sanchi, carrying nearly 1 million barrels of a gassy, ultra-light oil bound for South Korea, burst into flames. Chinese officials blamed poor weather for complicating their rescue efforts. Thirteen ships, including one from South Korea and two from Japan, engaged in the rescue and cleanup effort Saturday, spraying foam in an effort to extinguish the fire. But around noon Sunday, Chinese state media reported that a large explosion shook the Sanchi, its hull and superstructure completely stripped of paint by the flames. The ship then sank into the sea. The Chinese say the ship left a 10-square-kilometer (3.8-square-mile) area contaminated with oil. However, the condensate oil the ship was carrying readily evaporates or burns off in a fire, reducing the chance of a major oil spill. Chinese state media also said the ship's voice data recorder, which functions like "black boxes" on aircraft, had been recovered. Three bodies have been recovered from the sea, leaving 29 crew members still unaccounted for. The tanker has operated under five different names since it was built in 2008, according to the U.N.-run International Maritime Organization. The National Iranian Tanker Co. describes itself as operating the largest tanker fleet in the Middle East. It's the second collision for a ship from the National Iranian Tanker Co. in less than a year and a half. In August 2016, one of its tankers collided with a Swiss container ship in the Singapore Strait, damaging both ships but causing no injuries or oil spill. ___ Associated Press writers Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Mohammad Nasiri contributed to this report. Friends and colleagues of Iranian sailors, who died aboard a tanker that sank off the coast of China, weep at the headquarters of National Iranian Tanker Company, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018. The burning Iranian tanker listing for days off the coast of China after a collision with another vessel sank Sunday, with an Iranian official saying there was "no hope" of survival for the 29 missing sailors onboard. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) Iranian Vice-President for Parliamentary Affairs Hosseinali Amiri, left, listens to a friend of sailors who died aboard a tanker that sank off the coast of China, at the headquarters of the National Iranian Tanker Company, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018. The burning Iranian tanker listing for days off the coast of China after a collision with another vessel sank Sunday, with an Iranian official saying there was "no hope" of survival for the 29 missing sailors onboard. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) A friend of sailors, who died aboard a tanker that sank off the coast of China, speaks as families, friends and colleagues gather at the headquarters of the National Iranian Tanker Company, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018. The burning Iranian tanker listing for days off the coast of China after a collision with another vessel sank Sunday, with an Iranian official saying there was "no hope" of survival for the 29 missing sailors onboard. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) A friend of sailors who died aboard a tanker that sank off the coast of China speaks as families, friends and colleagues gather at the headquarters of the National Iranian Tanker Company, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018. The burning Iranian tanker listing for days off the coast of China after a collision with another vessel sank Sunday, with an Iranian official saying there was "no hope" of survival for the 29 missing sailors onboard. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) AP reporter recounts moments after Hawaii missile alert HONOLULU (AP) - It was a beautiful Hawaii morning: nice breeze, blue skies, birds chirping. Then terror struck. We were up early, my daughter and I, because this Saturday morning was her first day of ice skating lessons, a day we had been talking about and looking forward to for months. We were also having construction done in our Honolulu apartment, which sits atop a hill overlooking the Nuuanu Valley and, in the distance, Pearl Harbor. So, I had been frantically clearing out the living room and covering our things with sheets so they wouldn't be smothered in sawdust. We got her skating clothes on and tacked up the living room, and I was just about to hop in the shower when, around 8:07 a.m., my phone started the aggressive, long pulsating tone that normally accompanies a flash flood or other warning. Emergency Alert: "BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL." ___ Missile-alert mistake feeds doubts about a real emergency HONOLULU (AP) - A blunder that caused more than a million people in Hawaii to fear that they were about to be struck by a nuclear missile fed skepticism Sunday about the government's ability to keep them informed in a real emergency. Residents and tourists alike remained rattled a day after the mistaken alert was blasted out to cellphones across the islands with a warning to seek immediate shelter and the ominous statement "This is not a drill." "My confidence in our so-called leaders' ability to disseminate this vital information has certainly been tarnished," said Patrick Day, who sprang from bed when the alert was issued Saturday morning. "I would have to think twice before acting on any future advisory." Authorities said the warning was sent during a shift change at the state's Emergency Management Agency when someone doing a routine test hit the live alert button. State officials tried to assure residents there would be no repeat false alarms. The agency changed protocols to require that two people send an alert and made it easier to cancel a false alarm - a process that took nearly 40 minutes. ___ Trust and truth under Trump: Americans are in a quandary RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - When truck driver Chris Gromek wants to know what's really going on in Washington, he scans the internet and satellite radio. He no longer flips TV channels because networks such as Fox News and MSNBC deliver conflicting accounts tainted by politics, he says. "Where is the truth?" asks the 47-year-old North Carolina resident. Answering that question accurately is a cornerstone of any functioning democracy, according to none other than Thomas Jefferson. But a year into Donald Trump's fact-bending, media-bashing presidency, Americans are increasingly confused about who can be trusted to tell them reliably what their government and their commander in chief are doing. Interviews across the polarized country as well as polling from Trump's first year suggest people seek out various outlets of information, including Trump's Twitter account, and trust none in particular. Many say that practice is a new, Trump-era phenomenon in their lives as the president and the media he denigrates as "fake news" fight to be seen as the more credible source. ___ Prayers for California mudslide victims; death toll hits 20 MONTECITO, Calif. (AP) - Parishioners prayed on Sunday for those killed and for families still searching for missing relatives in a Southern California community ravaged by mudslides, and authorities announced another body had been found, increasing the death toll to 20. The body of 30-year-old Pinit Sutthithepa was discovered Saturday afternoon. His 2-year-old daughter, Lydia, remained missing. His 6-year-old son, Peerawat, nicknamed Pasta, and his 79-year-old father-in-law, Richard Loring Taylor, also were killed in the mudslides. The list of those still missing in the mudslides has shrunk to four. Because most churches in Montecito are in an evacuation area, many worshippers attended services in nearby towns. At a church in Santa Barbara, they carried flowers, lit candles and prayed for the families who have lost loved ones. The victims were their friends and neighbors, they said. "Our whole community is devastated," Hannah Miller said at the Trinity Episcopal Church. "There isn't anyone who doesn't know someone who has been affected by this disaster. It is truly awful. We can just pray they find those poor missing people." ___ Trump says program to protect 'Dreamers' is 'probably dead' PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - President Donald Trump said Sunday that a program that protects immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children is "probably dead," casting a cloud over already tenuous negotiations just days before a deadline on a government funding deal that Democrats have tied to immigration. At issue is the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program created by President Barack Obama to shield hundreds of thousands of these individuals, known as "Dreamers," from deportation. Trump, who has taken a hard stance against illegal immigration, announced last year that he will end the program unless Congress comes up with a solution by March. "DACA is probably dead because the Democrats don't really want it, they just want to talk and take desperately needed money away from our Military," the Republican president tweeted. "I, as President, want people coming into our Country who are going to help us become strong and great again, people coming in through a system based on MERIT. No more Lotteries! #AMERICA FIRST." Republicans and Democrats were already at odds over funding the government, and the negotiations became more complicated after Democrats - whose votes are needed to pass a government funding bill - insisted immigration be included. Government funding expires midnight Friday without a deal in place, and some government functions will begin to go dark. Further roiling the talks are comments by Trump during an Oval Office meeting in which he questioned the need to admit more Haitians to the U.S., along with Africans from "shithole" countries, according to people briefed on the conversation but not authorized to describe it publicly. He also said in the Thursday meeting he would prefer immigrants from countries like Norway instead. The White House has not denied that Trump said the word "shithole," though Trump did push back on some depictions of the meeting. ___ APNewsBreak: US set to cut UN money for Palestinian refugees WASHINGTON (AP) - The Trump administration is preparing to withhold tens of millions of dollars from the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, cutting the year's first contribution by more than half or perhaps entirely, and making additional donations contingent on major changes to the organization, according to U.S. officials. President Donald Trump hasn't made a final decision, but appears more likely to send only $60 million of the planned $125 million first installment to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency, said the officials, who weren't authorized to publicly discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity. Future contributions would require the agency, facing heavy Israeli criticism, to demonstrate significant changes in operations, they said, adding that one suggestion under consideration would require the Palestinians to first re-enter peace talks with Israel. The State Department said Sunday that "the decision is under review. There are still deliberations taking place." The White House did not immediately respond to questions about the matter. The administration could announce its decision as early as Tuesday, the officials said. The plan to withhold some of the money is backed by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defense Secretary James Mattis, who offered it as a compromise to demands for more drastic measures by U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, the officials said. ___ Chelsea Manning confirms US Senate run NORTH BETHESDA, Md. (AP) - Chelsea Manning on Sunday confirmed via Twitter that she is a candidate for U.S. Senate. Three days after making her intention known to federal election officials, Manning tweeted "yup, we're running for senate" with an attached campaign video indicating her intention to run in the 2018 Maryland Democratic primary. She sent a subsequent tweet seeking donations to her campaign. The 71-second video weaves together images of white supremacists holding tiki torches in Charlottesville, Virginia, as well as protesters clashing with police elsewhere. "We live in trying times . times of fear . of suppression . of hate," Manning said. The montage shifts to the U.S. Capitol and President Donald Trump sitting with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, both Democrats. ___ Earthquake in Peru destroys dozens of homes, kills 1 man LIMA, Peru (AP) - A powerful earthquake struck off Peru's coast early Sunday, tumbling adobe homes in small, rural towns, killing at least one person and leaving dozens injured, officials said. The earthquake destroyed 63 homes, displacing about 130 people, and it injured 65 people, Peru's Chief of Civil Defense Jorge Chavez said. The sole fatality was man killed when he was crushed by a fallen rock, said officials, adding that many of those injured were in Chala district, a coastal area dependent on fishing and mining that is popular with tourists. Emergency crews responded by sending tents and mattresses to the displaced families, officials said. "Everything that is needed is going to be sent," Peru's President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski said. "We are already responding at full speed." ___ Plane dangles off cliff after skidding off runway in Turkey ISTANBUL (AP) - A commercial airplane that skidded off a runway after landing in northern Turkey dangled precariously Sunday off a muddy cliff with its nose only a few feet from the Black Sea. Some of the 168 people on board the Boeing 737-800 described it as a "miracle" that everyone was evacuated safely from the plane, which went off a runway at Trabzon Airport. Images show the aircraft on its belly and perched at an acute angle just above the water. If it had slid any further along the slope, the plane would have likely plunged into the sea in the Turkish province of Trabzon. Pegasus Airlines said no one was injured during the incident late Saturday, despite the panic among the 162 passengers on board Flight PC8622. The six-member crew, including two pilots, was also evacuated. Flights were suspended at Trabzon Airport for several hours before resuming again Sunday. Passenger Yuksel Gordu told Turkey's official Anadolu news agency that words weren't enough to describe the fear on the aircraft. ___ Jaguars stun Steelers 45-42 to earn trip to AFC title game PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Jacksonville Jaguars, yes those Jacksonville Jaguars, are heading to the AFC championship game. Rookie running back Leonard Fournette ran for 109 yards and three touchdowns, Blake Bortles added 214 yards passing and a vital fourth-quarter score as the relentless Jaguars stunned the Pittsburgh Steelers 45-42 on Sunday. The third-seeded Jaguars (12-6) will face top-seeded New England next week in Foxborough, Massachusetts after jumping on Pittsburgh early, then holding on late. Jacksonville raced to a 21-point lead, fended off a Steelers rally and responded every time Pittsburgh (13-4) challenged. "The guys played with confidence all day long," Bortles said. "Obviously, what they have on their side of the ball, it's a good team. We know they got a good offense. We knew we were going to have to be efficient, hold on to the ball for a little bit, so we did it." Ben Roethlisberger threw for 469 yards and set a franchise record with five touchdown passes, but was also intercepted once and had a fumble returned for a score. All-Pro Antonio Brown caught seven passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns in his return from a left calf injury. Le'Veon Bell had 155 yards of total offense and two scores. TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iranian officials said Sunday that hundreds of people detained in recent weeks during anti-government protests have been released and acknowledged that at least 25 people were killed during the unrest. The demonstrations that erupted in a number of towns and cities were the largest seen in Iran since the disputed 2009 presidential election, but authorities say the unrest has waned in recent days, and the security forces insist they have restored order. Tehran prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi said 440 "arrested rioters" have been released in Tehran alone. The semi-official Fars news agency quoted judiciary spokesman Gholamhosein Mohseni Ejehi as saying that just 55 people remain in detention in the capital in connection with the protests. It was not clear how many Iranians are still detained elsewhere, and the largest and most violent of the demonstrations were held in the provinces. Last week, an Iranian reformist lawmaker, Mahmoud Sadeghi, said some 3,700 people were arrested across the country. The protests, which began three weeks ago, were initially sparked by anger at the weak economy and official corruption, but escalated rapidly, with some protesters calling for the overthrow of the government and clashing with security forces. Ejehi, the judiciary spokesman, said Sunday that at least 25 people were killed in the clashes, while insisting that none died at the hands of security forces. Officials had previously said 21 people were killed. Iranian officials have acknowledged the widespread anger over the economy, which remains weak despite the lifting of international sanctions under the 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers. But they have portrayed the violence as part of a conspiracy by the United States, Israel and other countries to try to overthrow the clerically-overseen government. The United States and Israel have expressed support for the protests but deny any involvement in them. ISTANBUL (AP) - A commercial airplane that skidded off a runway after landing in northern Turkey dangled precariously Sunday off a muddy cliff with its nose only a few feet from the Black Sea. Some of the 168 people on board the Boeing 737-800 described it as a "miracle" that everyone was evacuated safely from the plane, which went off a runway at Trabzon Airport. Images show the aircraft on its belly and perched at an acute angle just above the water. If it had slid any further along the slope, the plane would have likely plunged into the sea in the Turkish province of Trabzon. A Boeing 737-800 of Turkey's Pegasus Airlines after skidding off the runway downhill towards the sea at the airport in Trabzon, Turkey, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018. Trabzon Gov. Yucel Yavuz said all 162 passengers and crew on board were evacuated and safe early Sunday. The cause of the accident was not yet known. (DHA-Depo Photos via AP) Pegasus Airlines said no one was injured during the incident late Saturday, despite the panic among the 162 passengers on board Flight PC8622. The six-member crew, including two pilots, was also evacuated. Flights were suspended at Trabzon Airport for several hours before resuming again Sunday. Passenger Yuksel Gordu told Turkey's official Anadolu news agency that words weren't enough to describe the fear on the aircraft. "It's a miracle we escaped. We could have burned, exploded, flown into the sea," Gordu said. "Thank God for this. I feel like I'm going crazy when I think about it." Another passenger, Fatma Gordu, told private Dogan news agency that there was a loud sound after landing. "We swerved all of a sudden," she said. "The front of the plane crashed and the back was in the air. Everyone panicked." Trabzon Gov. Yucel Yavuz said investigators were trying to determine why the plane had left the runway. The prosecutor's office launched an investigation. The flight originated in the Turkish capital, Ankara. Airport officials would not discuss the status of plane Sunday and whether it had been towed off the slope. TEMUCO, Chile (AP) - When Pope Francis visits the de facto capital of Chile's Mapuche people, he will be inserting himself into one of Latin America's longest-running conflicts involving indigenous populations and one that periodically erupts in violence. Leaders of both the Mapuches and the Chilean government have said in recent weeks they hope Francis can "facilitate dialogue" on disputes dating to the late 19th century, when the Mapuches, known for their ferocity resisting Spanish and other European settlers, were definitively defeated by the Chilean military. At stake are many thorny issues: ownership of ancestral lands in the southern Araucania region, legal recognition of the Mapuches' language and culture, and discrimination that their leaders say permeates all facets of life. A police office stands guard outside the Cathedral in Santiago, Chile, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2018. President Michelle Bachelet is asking the country to receive Pope Francis in a "climate of respect," hours after three Roman Catholic churches were firebombed and a note left at the scene threatening the pontiff. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix) "In practical terms, we as a people don't exist. It's shameful," said Hugo Alcaman, president of ENAMA, a Mapuche group that encourages local businesses and advocates social change. "We need negotiations. We hope that the pope plants the seeds for it to happen." How far the pope goes in any statement supporting the Mapuches will be closely watched, and even fretted over. Francis, a native of neighboring Argentina and the first pope from Latin America, has shown strong support for indigenous peoples during visits in other countries. In Bolivia in 2015, he went so far as to apologize for the Roman Catholic Church's "grave sins" committed against indigenous communities in the name of God during the colonial era. His visit to Temuco on Wednesday takes him to a region of high volatility. While the vast majority of Chile's estimated 1 million citizens of Mapuche descent oppose using violence, a small number use it to push their agenda. In recent years scores of churches have been among the targets - including three firebombed Friday in the nation's capital, Santiago. Like in previous incidents in Araucania, pamphlets extolling the Mapuche cause were found at the scene of one of the churches, though no arrests were made and no group has claimed responsibility. "There is both hope and worry about the pope's visit," said Emilio Taladriz, director of Multigremial de la Araucania, a conglomerate of unions across several industries. "The area is still one of conflict." Protests are expected in Temuco, including outside the Maquehue Air Base where the pope will celebrate Mass. It was built on land that was taken from Mapuches in the early 20th century and remains a point of friction. Chilean authorities plan to deploy more than 4,000 police officers in Temuco's streets as, flanked by 16 police vehicles, Francis rides in the popemobile down a central avenue before visiting an order of nuns. A Mapuche choir will participate in the Mass, and afterward the pope will have lunch with a group of Mapuches hand-picked by local bishops. Fernando Diaz, a priest in the Temuco area who has worked with Mapuches for years, expressed disappointment that Francis is not scheduled to meet with any of the leaders of the cause. "The visit has been planned so the pope sees as little of the reality as possible," Diaz said. Massimo Faggioli, a Vatican expert and theology professor at Villanova University in Philadelphia, said every papal visit disappointments someone over who gets or does not get an audience, but the pope generally finds a way to carve out time for what is important to him. "Usually Francis has a good ear and tries to adapt," said Faggioli. The first papal visit to Chile since Saint John Paul II in 1987 comes as the Catholic Church's role with indigenous peoples in the Andean nation of 17 million people has shifted. During the 1973-1990 dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet, many Chilean bishops pushed to protect native peoples and get their cultures recognized. But today the hierarchy is much more aligned with business interests. In 1987, John Paul II gave a pointed nod to Mapuches that surely prompted cringes within Pinochet's government, which was unsympathetic toward indigenous groups and cracked down on any form of dissent. During his homily, John Paul said faith in God could overcome all human-caused problems, implicitly referring to friction between Mapuches and the Chilean state. "It's for this reason that the pope, from Temuco, encourages the Mapuches to conserve with healthy pride the culture of its people," the former pontiff said, adding that included "the traditions and customs, the language and its own values." Since then, the Mapuches have made significant strides. The return of democracy in Chile in the 1990s set the stage for creation of a government body, the National Corporation of Indigenous Development, that is dedicated to issues related to the country's native peoples and spurred many changes. Some ancestral lands have been returned. University scholarships have been set aside for Mapuches along with other benefits not open to all Chileans. Various aspects of Mapuche culture, such as many foods, have become part of the mainstream. Still, problems persist, ranging from economic to social. Araucania remains the country's poorest region, and Mapuches complain of frequent abuse at the hands of security forces. One case that reverberated strongly in the community involved the arrest of two Mapuche brothers, ages 13 and 17, while police were searching for five wanted Mapuche men in December 2016. The 17-year-old, Brandon Hernandez Huentecol, was shot in the back by a police officer while face-down on the ground, resulting in a nearly two-month stay in the hospital and several surgeries for a shattered pelvis. The officer has not been charged and failed to appear in court in response to a summons to testify. Over a year later, the boy's mother is beseeching Francis to bring his influence to bear. "I know you are a man who professes Christian values and love for thy neighbor and for those who can't defend themselves," Ada Huentecol, said recently in an open letter to the pope. "That is why I ask that you help us, that you speak up and demand justice for my son." ___ Associated Press writer Mauricio Cuevas reported from Temuco, and Peter Prengaman reported from Paihuano, Chile. ___ Follow Prengaman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/peterprengaman PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - The Latest on President Donald Trump (all times local): 10:50 p.m. President Donald Trump says in the wake of his recent comments about Haiti and African countries that "I'm not a racist." President Donald Trump, accompanied by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Calif., speaks to members of the media as they arrive for a dinner at Trump International Golf Club in in West Palm Beach, Fla., Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Trump has been accused of using a vulgar word to describe African countries during an Oval Office meeting last week with a bipartisan group of six senators. People briefed on the conversation also say that during the meeting the president also questioned the need to admit more Haitians to the U.S. The individuals spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to describe the meeting publicly. Trump addressed the issue briefly Sunday as he arrived for dinner at one of his Florida golf clubs with House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California. Asked what he thinks about people who think he's racist, Trump said: "I'm not a racist." He told reporters: "I am the least racist person you have ever interviewed. That I can tell you." ___ 9:45 p.m. President Donald Trump says he doesn't know if the government will shut down at the end of the week. Temporary government funding expires at midnight Friday, and some government functions will begin shutting down unless lawmakers reach agreement on future funding. Trump wants to increase spending on the military, while Democrats want corresponding increases in other domestic spending. The president says there shouldn't be a shutdown but if there is the military gets hurt very badly. Says Trump: "We cannot let our military be hurt." He commented on the way to dinner Sunday night at his Florida golf club with House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a Republican from California. ___ 7:45 p.m. President Donald Trump says in the wake of his recent comments about Haiti and African countries that "I'm not a racist." Trump has been accused of using a vulgar word to describe African countries during an Oval Office meeting last week with a bipartisan group of six senators. People briefed on the conversation also say that during the meeting the president also questioned the need to admit more Haitians to the U.S. The individuals spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to describe the meeting publicly. Trump addressed the issue briefly Sunday as he arrived for dinner at one of his Florida golf clubs with House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California. Asked what he thinks about people who think he's racist, Trump said: "I'm not a racist." He told reporters: "I am the least racist person you have ever interviewed. That I can tell you." ___ 11:25 a.m. A spokesman for Democratic Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin is questioning the credibility of a Republican senator who says President Donald Trump did not refer to African countries using a vulgarity during a closed-door meeting. Ben Marter tweeted Sunday, shortly after Republican Georgia Sen. David Perdue went on ABC's "This Week" to call reports that Trump used vile language in the meeting a "gross misrepresentation." Perdue says Durbin and Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham were mistaken in indicating Trump had. Previously, Perdue and Republican Sen. Tom Cotton said in a statement that they "do not recall the President saying those comments specifically." Cotton said Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation" that he "didn't hear" the vulgar word. Marter tweeted: "Credibility is something that's built by being consistently honest over time. Senator Durbin has it. Senator Perdue does not. Ask anyone who's dealt with both." ___ 10:50 a.m. A Republican senator is insisting that President Donald Trump did not use a vulgar term in referring to African countries during a closed-door meeting on immigration that he and five other senators attended last week. Georgia Sen. David Perdue called reports describing Trump as using vile language in the meeting a "gross misrepresentation" and said Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin and Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham were mistaken in indicating that was the case. Perdue said Sunday on ABC's "This Week: "I am telling you that he did not use that word. And I'm telling you it's a gross misrepresentation." He and Republican Sen. Tom Cotton had previously issued a statement saying they "do not recall the President saying those comments specifically." Cotton said Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation" that he "didn't hear" the vulgar word used. World leaders have denounced Trump's comments as racist. ___ 9:25 a.m. President Donald Trump says a program to protect immigrants brought into the U.S. illegally as children is "probably dead." The Republican president tweets that "Democrats don't really want it," referring to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The Obama-era program shields these individuals, commonly referred to as "Dreamers," from deportation. Trump said last year that he's killing the program unless Congress sends him legislation by March to keep it. Trump last week rejected an immigration deal drafted by a bipartisan group of senators. The deal included a pathway to citizenship for "Dreamers" and $1.6 billion for border security, including Trump's promised border wall. Trump tweeted Sunday: "DACA is probably dead because the Democrats don't really want it, they just want to talk and take desperately needed money away from our Military." COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - The role that drugmakers and drug distributors played in contributing to the nation's deadly opioid epidemic is now front and center in a federal courtroom in Cleveland. Judge Dan Polster is overseeing more than 200 lawsuits against drug companies brought by local communities across the country, including those in California, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia. The lawsuits have been consolidated into what is known as "multidistrict litigation," an approach taken when lawsuits of a similar nature are filed around the country. The consolidation comes in the midst of the most widespread and deadly drug crisis in the nation's history. The government tallied 63,600 overdose drug deaths in 2016, another record. Most of the deaths involved prescription opioids such as OxyContin or Vicodin or related illicit drugs such as heroin and fentanyl. Judge Dan Polster poses in his office, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018, in Cleveland. Polster has invited Ohio's attorney general Mike DeWine to brief him on the impact of the opioid epidemic. Polster is overseeing a consolidated case involving dozens of lawsuits filed by communities around the country against drugmakers and drug distributors. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) A look at the lawsuits and the consolidation process: HOW CASES ARE CHOSEN FOR CONSOLIDATION Congress created the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation 50 years ago this year. The panel's responsibilities are determining whether civil lawsuits pending around the country are similar enough to be combined, and to select a judge or judges to oversee them. Consolidated cases can involve airplane crashes, train wrecks or hotel fires, or lawsuits over defective products, such as lawsuits consolidated in Miami recently against Japanese auto-parts supplier Takata over its air bag inflators. ___ WHY OPIOID CASES WERE CONSOLIDATED IN OHIO The panel cited three reasons in its decision last month to center the cases in Cleveland. First is Ohio's own experience with overdose deaths and attempts to slow the epidemic. In 2016, a record 4,050 Ohioans died of overdoses, a number expected to rise again for 2017. Next is Cleveland's proximity to various drugmakers' headquarters in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, which is home to drug distributor Cardinal Health. Finally, the panel cited Polster's experience on a previous consolidated case involving damage claims related to dyes used in magnetic resonance imaging procedures. That case, which involved several hundred cases, "has provided him valuable insight into the management of complex, multidistrict litigation," the panel ruled. Polster was nominated in 1997 by President Bill Clinton, a Democrat, and confirmed and sworn in as judge in 1998. ___ WHO IS SUING The communities suing are cities or counties adversely affected by the opioid crisis. Municipalities added to the case last week include Guayanilla in Puerto Rico, Jefferson Davis County in Mississippi and the city of New Castle, Indiana. Other communities include hard hit cities like Portsmouth, Ohio and Huntington, West Virginia, and Henderson County in Kentucky. Polster's courtroom isn't the only place where lawsuits are being heard against drugmakers. Some government bodies, including Ohio and at least nine other states, are suing the industry in state courts. Additionally, most states have joined a multistate investigation of the industry that could end up sparking a settlement or yet more litigation against the industry. ___ WHAT THE LAWSUITS ALLEGE The lawsuits accuse drugmakers of using deceptive marketing to push the sale of opioids and targeted painkillers at vulnerable populations like the elderly and veterans. Allegations against distributors accuse them of lax product oversight and of ignoring suspicious orders of large quantities of painkillers. Targets of the lawsuits include drugmakers such as Allergan, Johnson & Johnson, and Purdue Pharma, and the three large drug distribution companies, Amerisource Bergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson. Drug distributors and manufacturers named in these and other lawsuits have said they don't believe litigation is the answer but have pledged to help solve the crisis. ___ LAWSUIT DURATION Such lawsuits with multiple jurisdictions can drag on for years, although one goal of consolidation is to cut down on redundant filings that can lead to delays. Polster has said he wants to move quickly, noting that hundreds of people would die in the U.S. from overdoses just during a Jan. 9 hearing. "My objective is to do something meaningful to abate this crisis and do it in 2018," Polster said, adding: "With all these smart people here and their clients I'm confident we can do something to dramatically reduce the number of opioids that are being disseminated, manufactured and distributed." ___ Associated Press Writer Geoff Mulvihill in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, contributed to this report. ___ Andrew Welsh-Huggins can be reached on Twitter at https://twitter.com/awhcolumbus. BARNSTABLE, Mass. (AP) - Recent bone-chilling temperatures across Massachusetts have had even turkey vultures seeking warmth. The Cape Cod Times reports two turkey vultures whose wings were encased in ice were taken to the Cape Wildlife Center this month after a woman discovered them huddling to stay warm under a bush in her backyard. Wildlife center executive director Zak Mertz says the center used space heaters to warm the turkey vultures and free them from the ice. Mertz says the birds were soon doing great and eating ferociously. Wildlife officials tweeted on Thursday the birds had been released back into the wild. Mertz says he hopes they will rejoin their flock and have a better winter than they've had so far. BERLIN (AP) - Hannover president Martin Kind has apologized for the racial abuse Mainz players Leon Balogun and Anthony Ujah were subjected to before the teams' Bundesliga game on Saturday. Balogun says on Twitter: "Ujah and I were racially insulted with ape noises among other things as we warmed up in front of the Hannover fan block. I'm shocked that such behavior exists in 2018 in the Bundesliga, where players of differing backgrounds, skin colors and religions fight daily for their fans." The 29-year-old defender adds, "We give everything for the fans every week, but some of you don't even give us respect. There shouldn't be any room for any racism in any stand in the world!" Club president Kind says, "I reject such behavior 200 percent. Such thoughts have no place at Hannover. We apologize in every form to Mainz and the two players." News agency dpa says Hannover has said that between six and 12 people were involved. Hannover won the game 3-2. RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) - The Palestinian president railed at President Donald Trump in a fiery, two-hour-long speech on Sunday, saying "shame on you" for his treatment of the Palestinians and warning that he would have no problem rejecting what he suggested would be an unacceptable peace plan. The speech by Mahmoud Abbas ratcheted up what has been more than a month of harsh rhetoric toward Trump since the president's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Relations between Washington and the Palestinians have sunk to a new low, boding poorly for a peace plan the White House has promised to present. Speaking to the Palestinian Central Council, a decision-making body, Abbas repeated the Palestinians' opposition to Trump's Jerusalem recognition and censured Trump for accusing the Palestinians of refusing to negotiate. "He (Trump) said in a tweet: 'We won't give money to the Palestinians because they rejected the negotiations,'" Abbas said. "Shame on you. When did we reject the talks? Where is the negotiation that we rejected?" Trump infuriated Palestinians and Muslims around the world when he announced late last year that the U.S. would recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move its embassy there, upending decades of U.S. policy and countering an international consensus that the fate of Jerusalem should be decided in negotiations between the sides. Abbas has said that by siding with the Israelis on a sensitive issue, the announcement had destroyed Trump's credibility as a Mideast peace broker. "We can say no to anyone if things are related to our fate and our people, and now we have said no to Trump," he said. "We told him the deal of the century was the slap of the century. But we will slap back." Abbas also said that the Palestinians have rejected a U.S. request to halt payments to roughly 35,000 families of Palestinians killed and wounded in the conflict with Israel, including suicide bombers and other militants. Israel argues that the practice encourages violence. Hoping to secure what he has called the "ultimate" deal, Trump has for nearly a year dispatched his Mideast team, led by his adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner, to the region to try to breathe life into moribund peace talks, which collapsed in 2014. But the Jerusalem pivot threw a wrench into Trump's peacemaking attempts. Since then, the Palestinians have butted heads with the U.S. at the United Nations, winning a global rebuke against Trump's move. Trump has responded by threatening to cut aid and to reduce U.S. payments to the U.N.'s Palestinian refugee agency. The U.S. is the largest donor to the agency. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has welcomed Trump's tough line toward the Palestinians, while also pushing forward with more settlement construction on lands sought by the Palestinians. Palestinian officials say that while they have not received a formal proposal from the U.S., they have heard from Saudi interlocutors that the U.S. is exploring the possibility of offering the Palestinians a statelet in the parts of the West Bank they already control, with Israel controlling the borders, and the Gaza Strip. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss a sensitive diplomatic issue. U.S. officials have not confirmed the claims. But if true, the proposal would fall far short of Palestinian claims to the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza for an independent state. Abbas said the Palestinians will not accept the U.S. as a sole broker, and believe a deal can only be reached if there are multiple parties, such as with the international nuclear deal between six global powers and Iran. SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borisov promised Sunday to create opportunities for Japanese businesses in the Balkans and agreed on the need to counter the weapons threat posed by North Korea. Abe is on a six-country European tour that makes him the first Japanese prime minister to visit the region. Before arriving in Bulgaria, he was in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Serbia and Romania are his next stops. A delegation representing more than 30 Japanese companies is traveling with him. Abe said Japan favors a united Europe, and he hailed Bulgaria's efforts to bring the countries that were part of the former Yugoslavia into the European Union. Japan is keen to beef up its presence in Eastern Europe as China bolsters its footprint there. Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borissov welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, left, in Sofia, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018. Abe is visiting Bulgaria as part of his East European tour. (AP Photo/Valentina Petrova) Borisov said options would be found for Japanese companies to implement large infrastructure projects in Bulgaria and across the Western Balkans. Bulgaria currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU's legislative arm, the European Council. Borisov said his country will work in that role for quick ratification of the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement trade deal. Abe and Borisov agreed that close cooperation is needed on North Korea, both on Pyongyang's arms program and the status of Japanese citizens kidnapped by North Korea decades ago. "We categorically condemn the launching by North Korea of ballistic missiles and its nuclear program. We believe firmly that all problems should be resolved on the negotiating table," Borisov told reporters. Briefing reporters on Sunday, Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Norio Maruyama said both leaders stressed the necessity of maintaining pressure on North Korea. "Both sides cannot accept a nuclear North Korea," Maruyama said. "We would like to emphasize that this threat is an imminent threat, an unprecedented imminent threat not only to Japan but also to the international community, now that the missiles can reach this region of Europe," he said. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borissov, right, meet in Sofia, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018. Abe is visiting Bulgaria as part of his East European tour. (AP Photo/Valentina Petrova) Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borissov speaks during joint news conference with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, left, in Sofia, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018. Abe is visiting Bulgaria as part of his East European tour. (AP Photo/Valentina Petrova) Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks during a news conference in Sofia, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018. Abe is visiting Bulgaria as part of his East European tour. (AP Photo/Valentina Petrova) PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - President Donald Trump has called the new governor of Virginia, Democrat Ralph Northam, to congratulate him. Northam was sworn in Saturday during ceremonies at the state Capitol in Richmond. The White House says Trump called Northam on Sunday from his Florida estate and says the president and the governor agreed to work together closely on many issues, including support of the military. Trump placed another call of congratulations on Sunday to New Jersey's governor-elect, Democrat Phil Murphy. He'll be sworn in on Tuesday. The White House says Trump and Murphy agreed to work together and to seek improvements to the country's infrastructure. A British woman in her 20s has been found dead alongside a man in his 30s in what police believe was a murder-suicide. The body of the woman, who has not been named, was found with that of a man at a flat in the Newtown suburb of Sydney, the New South Wales Police Force said. According to reports the pair were a couple who had lived in the flat, which is above a restaurant on a road lined with bars and shops, for several months. Sydney (PA) Emergency services were called to the scene three miles south-west of the city centre at around 5.30pm on Friday after concerns were raised for the welfare of a man and a woman at the property. Police attended and discovered the bodies of a woman, aged in her 20s, and a man, aged in his 30s, the force said. Local police and detectives from the states homicide squad launched an investigation and officials from the British embassy have been in contact with the womans family. The nationality and identity of the man have not been released, although he is understood not to be from the UK. Neighbour Scott Haggarty told the Australian Daily Telegraph he last saw them arrive home together on Wednesday afternoon. The couple,who kept themselves to themselves, looked happy. They looked like a couple who worked in the bars and were on holidays here, he said. They just looked like a regular couple, I never heard an argument or anything. A police source told the Press Association the woman is thought to have been the victim of a murder-suicide. A Foreign Office spokesman said: We are providing consular assistance to the family of a British national who has died in New South Wales, Australia, and our staff are in contact with the New South Wales police. New Culture Secretary Matt Hancock has suggested the BBC could follow the public sector and cap staff salaries at the same level as the Prime Minister. Mr Hancock said the corporation had missed a chance to bring in similar measures, as he contrasted the salaries of BBC foreign editors with those of ambassadors. He also warned against measures passed by peers last week for tougher media regulation, calling them the death knell of democracy. (Clara Molden/PA) .@MattHancock says he will "certainly be discussing" the topic of pay for star BBC presenters such as John Humphrys with the director general #Peston pic.twitter.com/rlz24hrIrh Peston (@itvpeston) January 14, 2018 Mr Hancocks comments come in the midst of a row over Carrie Gracie, who has resigned as the BBCs China editor in a row over unequal pay. In a BBC pay disclosure last year, North America editor Jon Sopel was listed as having a salary of between 200,000 and 249,999, while Gracie revealed she had been earning 135,000 before the BBC offered her a 45,000 rise, which she rejected. John Humphrys, who has been criticised after a leaked tape showed him joking with Mr Sopel about the matter, was listed as having a salary of between 600,000 and 649,999, making him the BBCs highest-paid news presenter. Have been invited to give evidence to parliamentary select committee on #equalpay for #BBCwomen. Yes! Lets sort this pay mess now. Carrie Gracie (@TheCarrieGracie) January 9, 2018 Making sure we have equal pay isnt just about levelling up womens pay in the BBC, its about equal pay and a reasonable level, Mr Hancock told ITVs Peston On Sunday. Across the rest of the public sector, we brought in rules to say that except in exceptional circumstances, people who are paid for by taxpayers money shouldnt be paid more than the Prime Minister. The BBC, of course, are responsible for their own pay, and I think that they missed a chance to bring in that kind of rule when we brought it in for the rest of public sector a few years ago. So now it has to go through a special process to pay somebody more than the Prime Minister. Of course, theres sometimes circumstances where thats necessary, but if you think about it this way. In a country around the world where people are paid for by the taxpayer, who should we be paying the most to. Is it the BBC editor, or is it the ambassador? The generals have also made a very good point, that people in the armed services put their life on the line and yet they abide by the public sector pay norms, which is not to have excessive pay and where the Prime Ministers pay is seen as a guide at the top. My thoughts for the day: 1 thanks to EHRC for demanding facts on BBC pay policy. 2 thanks to BBC audience for trusting me that this fight is for principle not money, for all staff not 'stars'. 3 apology to all who'll miss me in China. Best work here: https://t.co/a9fnpT2idu Carrie Gracie (@TheCarrieGracie) January 9, 2018 Mr Hancock added that he would be discussing the issue with BBC director-general Lord Hall in the next few weeks. The BBC is funded by licence fee payers and the licence fee is effectively a tax, Mr Hancock said. And if you think about it, weve got to have equal pay for equal jobs, and I think the BBC has a special responsibility to lead and to be a beacon, because this issue is broader than the BBC. In the same interview Mr Hancock said the local press particularly faced enormous challenges as he warned against the measures passed in the House of Lords. Peers passed two amendments to tackle alleged media abuses and backed the launch of the second phase of the Leveson Inquiry into press standards. Finding a way to have a robust democracy, based on a decent discussion based on fact, is incredibly difficult and incredibly important, said Mr Hancock. I dont think the amendments passed by the House of Lords last week would have helped at all to get there. In fact the amendments, by putting more pressure on local press in particular, I think would be the death knell of democracy if they were brought in at a local level. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was bizarrely asked about his favourite cake after an interloper gatecrashed his press conference following Sundays victory over Manchester City. Klopp had been answering routine questions about his sides 4-3 victory at Anfield when he was suddenly asked: Jurgen, what is your favourite cake? The German initially took the interruption in good humour, saying: That is an interesting question strawberry cake. Jurgen Klopp was asked about his favourite type of cake after Liverpools victory over Manchester City (Martin Rickett/PA) When Jurgen Klopp's press conference was interrupted by bizarre questions about cake #LFC pic.twitter.com/IqHgtXulOV Andy Hampson (@andyhampson) January 14, 2018 He then began to look confused as the man posing the question asked his opinions on Cherry Bakewell and Manchester Tart. Liverpools press officer quickly invited a journalist to ask a question and the man was later escorted from the room by stewards. Press Association Sport understands Liverpool are relaxed about the situation and do not consider the incident a serious security issue. SANTIAGO, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Pope Francis will not be at risk during his trip to Chile this week, despite a series of attacks at Catholic churches in the capital city of Santiago, Interior Minister Mario Fernandez said on local radio station BioBio on Saturday. Unknown vandals set fire to at least two churches, threw a homemade bomb at one and left pamphlets with threatening messages to the pontiff early on Friday morning, days before his arrival in the South American country. No one was injured, and no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks. Fernandez said small groups with limited capabilities were behind the attacks, but he did not name them. "These are serious and inexcusable actions, but we have to put things in perspective," he said. "We are not talking about significant groups that are truly dangerous." Francis, who hails from Argentina and is the first Latin American pope, will arrive in Chile on Monday. A Mass he has planned to hold on Tuesday in a Santiago park is expected to attract more than 500,000 people. Various groups are planning demonstrations on issues ranging from indigenous rights to a sexual abuse scandal. The pope will also visit the cities of Temuco and Iquique before heading to Peru. (Reporting by Antonio de la Jara; Writing by Luc Cohen; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn) SANTIAGO, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Chilean officials on Saturday criticized the World Bank, saying it treated the South American country unfairly in its closely watched annual "Doing Business" competitiveness rankings. "What happened with the World Bank's competitiveness rankings is very concerning," socialist President Michelle Bachelet, whose four-year term ends in March, wrote on Twitter after the World Bank's chief economist apologized for Chile's slippage in the rankings under her tenure. "Rankings that international institutions conduct should be trustworthy, since they impact investment and countries' development," Bachelet wrote, adding that the government would formally request a complete investigation from the World Bank. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal published on Friday, World Bank Chief Economist Paul Romer apologized to Chile for changes to the report's methodology that he said "conveyed the wrong impression" about the business environment under Bachelet. Chile currently ranks 55th out of 190 countries on the list, down from 34th in 2014, the year Bachelet took office. Its ranking declined to 41st in 2015, 48th in 2016, and 57th in 2017, the World Bank's reports show. Romer told the newspaper the decline resulted from methodological changes, rather than a deterioration of Chile's business environment, and may have been the result of the World Bank staff's political motivations. He told the newspaper he would revise the reports. Chile is one of Latin America's wealthiest and most stable countries. While Bachelet introduced progressive tax and labor reforms that the country's business community said crimped investment, she has not fundamentally altered the country's longstanding free-market model. Economic growth decelerated under her watch in large part due to low prices for copper, the country's main export. In presidential elections last month, conservative billionaire and former President Sebastian Pinera trounced Bachelet's preferred candidate, Alejandro Guillier, in part on promises to slash red tape and boost investment. Pinera presided over a booming economy from 2010-2014 amid high copper prices. He had succeeded Bachelet, who served her first term from 2006-2010. Chile's constitution prohibits consecutive re-election. The World Bank's Doing Business ranking weighs factors such as the ease of starting a business, obtaining credit, paying taxes and getting construction permits. "It is rare to see an action this immoral," Economy Minister Jorge Rodriguez Grossi said in a statement. "We hope it is corrected quickly, but the damage is done." (Reporting by Antonio de la Jara; Additional reporting and writing by Luc Cohen; Editing by David Gregorio) By Fiston Mahamba GOMA, Congo, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Congolese troops began a military offensive in the eastern city of Beni on Saturday against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a Ugandan rebel armed group blamed for an attack that killed 15 United Nations peacekeepers last month. The operation is part of a joint effort by Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda against the group after the suspected ADF attack on a base manned by Tanzanian peacekeeping troops. That attack, which also killed five Congolese soldiers and wounded another 53 peacekeepers, came amid a rising wave of violence in the mineral-rich, ethnically volatile area. "Since this morning, we have launched a general offensive against the ADF phenomena," General Marcel Mbangu, commander in charge of Congo's North Kivu province, told a new conference. "This is, for us, the final offensive. We will fight them until the end, until we have secured our territory," he added. Residents reported the sounds of gunfire and explosions in Beni on Saturday. Rival militia groups control parts of eastern Congo long after the official end of a 1998-2003 war in which millions of people died, mostly from hunger and disease. A surge in militia violence across the country, which followed President Joseph Kabila's refusal to step down when his mandate expired just over a year ago, has raised fears Congo could slide into all-out war again. The Islamist ADF has long been active along the Congo-Uganda border and has been blamed for a spate of massacres. Last month Uganda launched air strikes and artillery attacks on ADF positions on its side. (Writing by Tim Cocks; Editing by Ros Russell) SANTO DOMINGO, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Members of Venezuela's leftist government and opposition leaders concluded a round of talks in the Dominican Republic on Saturday, failing to reach a deal to address the country's political and economic crisis. Saying they had made strides but needed more time, the parties announced another round of talks to begin in the Dominican Republic on Jan. 18. The result prolongs the standoff between the government and the opposition, who have tried and failed for years to strike a pact. The two sides last met for talks in December. Nevertheless, Dominican President Danilo Medina, who led the negotiations, expressed optimism about the progress made during the round. "Although we have made extremely important advances, we still have pending matters that must be discussed," he said at a press conference following the end of the talks. Representatives from Bolivia, Chile, Mexico and Nicaragua also participated in the discussions. The parties did not detail where they had made progress. As millions of Venezuelans grapple with shortages of food and basic goods, the opposition leaders are demanding that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accept humanitarian assistance from abroad, in addition to releasing several hundred jailed political activists. "These days and hours of intense work are not enough to achieve what our people, the Venezuelan people, need to have an avenue, a path of hope," said Julio Borges, former president of the country's opposition-controlled National Assembly, at the press conference. For its part, the government wants the opposition's help in pushing for the elimination of sanctions levied last year by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration. (Reporting by Jorge Pineda in SANTO DOMINGO; additional reporting by Julia Love and Sharay Angulo in MEXICO CITY; Editing by Christian Schmollinger) ATHENS, Jan 14 (Reuters) - A majority of Greeks do not want the term "Macedonia" used in any solution to a long-running dispute over the former Yugoslav republic's name, a poll showed on Sunday. The dispute over the name of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), as it is formally known, has persisted for nearly three decades and has held up its prospects of joining the European Union. Greece has challenged the name since Macedonia declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, saying it implies territorial claims to a Greek province of the same name. It has only agreed that the country be referred to internationally as "FYROM" until the row is resolved. That is the name under which it was admitted to the United Nations in 1993. The two neighbours have agreed to form working groups led by foreign ministers to hold talks on a solution. They are hoping for progress in talks with a U.N. mediator on Jan. 17. Greek government officials have suggested that Athens would try to focus on brokering an agreement that calls for a compound name with a geographical qualifier. However, a nationwide survey conducted by Marc pollsters last week for the Proto Thema newspaper asked if Greece should agree on a compound name including the term "Macedonia", with 68 percent repsonding "no" and 23.6 percent "yes". Greeks are highly sensitive about the name issue and rallies are planned in Athens and in northern Greece in the coming weeks against any compromise that might retain the name Macedonia. Macedonia is also the name of Greece's largest province and of the ancient northern Greek kingdom ruled by Alexander the Great. Deputy Foreign Minister George Katrougalos said on Sunday that the government was aiming for resolution to the name issue "with national unity". "The solution that we will bring to parliament will be accepted not only by the two government partners but much more broadly," he said. (Reporting by Karolina Tagaris; Editing by David Goodman) LUSAKA, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Zambia on Sunday relaxed rules imposed to curb the spread of cholera as the number of new cases being reported has halved, Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya said. Schools and some markets will be allowed to re-open, Chilufya told a news conference in Lusaka. Police arrested 55 people in the capital on Friday after residents rioted over a curfew and ban on street vending. The outbreak has killed 74 people since Oct. 4, including 68 in Lusaka, Chilufya said. The number of new cases has fallen to around 80 from 164 a week ago. Of the more than 3,200 cases reported in total, more than 3,000 have been in Lusaka. All government and private schools will re-open on Jan. 22, but Zambia's two largest public universities will remain closed for now. President Edgar Lungu last month directed the military to clean markets and unblock drains to help to fight the spread of the waterborne disease. Cholera causes acute watery diarrhoea. It can be treated with oral hydration solutions and antibiotics but spreads rapidly and can kill within hours if not treated. (Reporting by Chris Mfula; Editing by Kevin Liffey) GENEVA, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Luxury goods group LVMH's watch and jewellery sales rose more than 10 percent last year, the head of the group's Hublot brand said on Sunday. "For Hublot, sales were up 12 percent in 2017. The rise was more than 10 percent for the watch and jewellery business as a whole," Hublot Chief Executive Ricardo Guadalupe told Reuters in Geneva ahead of an international watch fair. "This year, we expect Hublot sales to rise 5-6 percent, maybe 10 percent if things go well," he added. Hublot is one of three LVMH luxury watch brands which also include TAG Heuer and Zenith. It counts Bulgari among its top-end jewellery units. The watch fair is dominated by LVMH's rival Richemont , with Swiss-made luxury timepieces just emerging from a severe downturn as Chinese demand picks up and the industry's biggest market, Hong Kong, returns to growth. Overall, Swiss watch exports rose 2.8 percent in the first eleven months of 2017. (Reporting by Silke Koltrowitz; Editing by Richard Lough and Alexander Smith) Politics is supposed to be the second-oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first ~ Ronald Reagan Reflecting on what had happened, what continues to, and where we are going; where we are heading for - my mind wandered repulsively until it settled on American science writer and astronomer Carl Sagan, who named his 1997 book Billions and Billions-Thoughts on Life and Death at the Brink of the Millennium. As the Daily Mirror reported, members of the United National Party and the joint opposition traded blows and exchanged unpleasant words over differences with regard to the tabling of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry report on the Central Bank bond issue when the Parliament met for a special session to debate the CB bond transactions. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya had announced that President Sirisena had agreed to present copies to the House in a week. There are billions of stars in our universe, said our Science teacher at JSC form 60 years ago, and he posed the question, how much is a billion? just a few did speculate, ten million? 100 million? Speaker Karu Jayasuriya is now fallen between the devil and deep blue sea and had earlier warned the mischief makers and provokers of bad behaviour that one parliamentary sitting costs something like Rs. 4.5 million. The debate on the bond commission report was an utter waste of public funds. Some of our honourable MPs [sorry, they are paid excessively; hence no more honourable] have proved once more that they do not deserve to occupy the hallowed precincts of Diyawanna: perhaps, albeit the surrounding mud holes in it. Politics has become an art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich, by promising to protect each from the other, but, once they gain power, would plunder the common wealth of both. Will the Commission report be taken up again, [warm up for round two?] after the tabling of the Bond report in Parliament along with the 34 reports of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to investigate and inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges, were handed over to the President following the completion of investigations. The 34 reports of the PRECIFAC on past heroics, mainly by the JO and SLFP men have to be debated too. The tax-payer cannot afford to foot the bill; what is more appropriate is to draft necessary legislation as recommended by all these Commissions for drastic punitive action against the perpetrators, including those connived and helped, direct and indirect persuaders, and finally the aborted or successful cover up operators at all levels. The drafters of the enactments must ensure the applicability of such laws to past, with necessary changes to make retroactive the legal consequences of actions that were committed, before the enactment of the law. If necessary, Constitutional amendment can be proposed too, for two-thirds; a Referendum undoubtedly, will receive 99.9% ayes! Taking turns they Rob the National treasury to the Tune of Billions There are billions of stars in our universe, said our Science teacher at JSC form 60 years ago, and he posed the question, how much is a billion? just a few did speculate, ten million? 100 million? Thanks to our Legislators, today, even a grade two student would confidently give the correct answer; they are used to hearing term billion mentioned frequently on the news along with Scam, Swindle, hoax plunder and fraud (ten years ago only when the budget deficit was mentioned we heard the term billion). Let them continue the good work of educating the nation; already the Deputy Minister of Finance has assessed the loss on CB Bond issue to be over one trillion. The voters must ensure they encourage the Diyawanna Scammers cum martial arts champs by casting their vote for the Parties they represent, so that in their next tenure in office the children would learn how much is a Quadrillion and perhaps if the children are lucky, a Quintillion as well. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya fallen between the devil and deep blue sea, had earlier warned the mischief makers and provokers of bad behaviour The tax-payer cannot afford to foot the bill 34 PRECIFAC reports on past heroics, mainly by the JO and SLFP men have to be debated too Do not debate, enact ex post facto laws to prosecute and recover loot Some common-law jurisdictions do not permit retro-activity-- the principle, law does not operate retroactively could be made null and void through the doctrine of parliamentary supremacy, which allows Parliament to pass any law it wishesneeds to be passed retrospectivelythe racketeers must be brought before the Courts. When they call the roll in the Senate, the Senators do not know whether to answer Present or Not Guilty. -Theodore Roosevelt. Since 1960, the Bribery and Corruption Commission hasnt produced a single MP or a government Minister in Court. The last punitive action against a politician was in the first few years of post-independence Sri Lanka. Why is it that the Bribery Commissioners did not want to independently investigate allegations of corruption against Parliamentarians? Those who make accusations against the men in power for corruption are the ones who were equally corrupt or more crooked when they were in power. Today a fair proportion of Politicians of both sides are corrupt to the core. The State has got into dire financial crisis due to the robbery and plunder of state possessions by the politicians, their Cronies and Acolytes. History of action against legislators Allegations against State Council members prompted DS Senanayake to advise Governor Sir Andrew Caldecott to appointed a Commission to investigate bribery among them; the one-man commissioner, Lawyer L. M. D. de Silva, Kings Council, who later served as a member of the Privy Council in UK, found eight members guilty of corruption. They included three Europeans appointed by the Governor himself. The elected members were E. W. Abeygoonesekara - Nuwara-Eliya, A. H. Gunasekara - Balangoda, D. D. Gunasekara - Bandarawela, U. Batuwantudawa - Kalutara and E. R. Thambimuttu -Trinco-Batticaloa. The first seven handed in their resignation immediately. The Leader of the House, DS Senanayake moved for the removal of Thambimuttu. The next was in 1959. A few days before his assassination, and on September 11, 1959, Prime Minister SWRD Bandaranaike advised G.G. Ponnambalam QC to appoint the Thalgodapitiya Commission to inquire into allegations of bribery and corruption against his own governments parliamentarians, that included some members of his Cabinet. "The 34 reports of the PRECIFAC on past heroics, mainly by the JO and SLFP men have to be debated too. The tax-payer cannot afford to foot the bill" The report tabled on December 16, 1960, found two of SWRD loyalists, D. B. Monnekulame and C. A. S. Marikkar, along with H. Abeywickrema, M. P. de Zoysa, M. S. Kariyappar and R. E. Jayatillake guilty. SWRDs successor Sirimavo Bandaranaike was lenient with the offenders. In 1965, they were punished under the UNP-led Government of Dudley Senanayake. Kariappar lost his seat and civic rights, as the rest of six lost their civic rights too. The Bribery Department was converted to a Commission to eradicate and inquire into Bribery and Corruption in the 1940s. During Sirimavos UF rule [1970-77], there were allegations of corruption against SLFP Ministers on taking bribes as low as five hundred rupees, or for handing over teacher appointments held in Rest Houses! To me who shunned liquor fearing hell, was given them as part of a plot, beheading the children who were adorable, I fell prey to the enemy design Two hundred and two years ago, on January 25, 1816, when the last monarch of Sri Lanka, Sri Wickrema Rajasinghe was deported to India a poet had penned down what would have been the sentiments of the young king. The above stanza in that anthology of verses delineates that the king repented his alcoholism, a habit inculcated in the king by the British through conspirators in the Kings court. An intoxicated Rajasinghe killed the family of Ehelepola earning the wrath of masses which ultimately led to his alienation and capture by the British. Recounted even today the collection of verses is best known by the poignant last line of the last stanza Ithin Ayubowan Lakmawuni Garu or Goodbye Honourable Mother Lanka. Though vilified by the British writers, Sri Wickrema Rajasinghe who built the Paththirippuwa, the Octagon of Sri Dalada Maligawa, is known for his contribution to agriculture and architecture and was popular among his subjects.The British design to make the king unpopular among the people yielded results with the macabre punishment meted out to Ehelepolas family by an intoxicated Rajasinghe. Making the teetotaller king an alcoholic with the assistance of intermediaries, was only a part of the greater alcoholism agenda of the British.The biggest plan was to intoxicate the entire male population of the country. The British governors were on record that defeating Kings in Ceylon was not an easy task as the entire male population in the land forms their army. Any given time these strong men, who were mostly farmers, were ready to go to war. If at all if they had any experience in alcohol it was the occasional tasting of toddy. So unlike the Portuguese and the Dutch, the British ambitiously promoted liquor by opening taverns in almost every town and village in view of emasculating the Sinhala population thus making them weak fighters and also to increase the tax revenue of the British Raj. In the post-independence Sri Lanka teetotalism was once again feted, especially in the villages, with a wave of nationalism steeped in traditional Buddhist values. Peace and harmony reigned and people became healthier and peaceful. This idyllic scene however changed once again, in 1977. With the influx of foreign liquor, change of social values and the privatization of distilleries, there was a sharp upward trend in liquor consumption in the post-1977 era. While Sri Lankan men were once againemasculated the picked up alcoholic habits started causing irreparable damage to the countrys social fabric. Liquor licences were doled out to local politicians and their henchmen breeding a new creed of lawless neo-rich class who in turn went on to patronize the underworld in order keep their business intact. Hospitals were flooded with patients suffering from alcohol related diseases like cirrhosis, hypertension, haemorrhagic stroke, epilepsy and atrial fibrillation and also depression due to alcoholism. Annually a slew of suicides were attributed to the alcohol habit. There was a steady flow of alcohol related liver, mouth, throat, colon, bowels, bladder and oesophagus to the cancer hospital. Alcohol related homicide, rape and other crimes, road traffic accidents continued to spiral while domestic violence where women and children suffered mercilessly saw a new high. Alcoholic husbands dealt a lethal blow to home economies. Studies conducted by international institutes including World Health Organization (WHO) and University of Washington ranked Sri Lanka among the highly intoxicated nations in the world with an upward curve in consumption since 1980s while we also recorded worlds second highest rate of Cirrhosis in the world, only second to Moldova. Doctors, civil society and especially the clergy belonging to all faiths urged quick action to arrest the trend. Largely due to the pressure from these sections and political parties like the JHU, new regulations were brought in to fight alcohol. They went hand in hand with measures against the tobacco. Thus a strong message was conveyed to the masses especially to younger generation that alcohol and tobacco are lethal vices for health and should be avoided. However during the past couple of months, starting from the last budget, the present government has been turning the anti-alcohol policy upside down. Reducing beer taxes and deregulating at a rate the rules that protected the Sri Lankan from alcohol, the government today is out to promote what was once put on hold after learning all the bitter lessons. Failure to understand the local pulse and scant regard to middle class values led to the exit of the UNP led government in 2004. It looks as if it has not yet learnt its lessons and bent on walking down the suicidal lane with its reckless policy on alcohol. The 93rd Death Anniversary of Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam was commemorated on the January 9 at 5.00 pm at the Presidential Secretariat premises. (Old parliament premises) The Chief Guest was Disaster Management Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, while Minister of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs D. M. Swaminathan was the Guest of Honour. The welcome address was delivered by Dr.J M Swaminathan, Trustee. Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa gave a brief account of Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalams life and career. Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam was a Scholar and Statesman, Administrator and Patriot. When we consider Sir Ponnambalams life as a whole, we come before a man of strong will, clear vision, character, industry and efficiency, who having towered above the giants of his own day still remains an example and inspiration to succeeding generations of Sri Lankans. A short time after Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalams death the grateful people honoured his memory by erecting his statue on the grounds of the old parliament which house the present Presidential Secretariat premises. "When we consider Sir Ponnambalams life as a whole, we come before a man of strong will, clear vision, character, industry and efficiency, towered above the giants" It was unveiled by the then Governor, Sir Herbert Stanley on 03rd April 1930. It was the 1st statue to adorn this premises and stood in solitary splendour till the statue of his brother Ramanathan was erected in 1953. The garlanding of the statue was done by Ministers Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and Minister D. M. Swaminathan. The family members Sega Nagendra, (Trustee ) Nirmalan Nagendra and Prashan Nagendra and the members of Colombo North Hindu Paripalana Sangam and other distinguished personalities also garlanded the statue. Certain media institutes were fabricating fake news and they would learn an unforgettable lesson after the February 10 elections, UNP Parliamentarian Minister Lakshman Kiriella said at a UNP meeting in Gurudeniya The UNP cannot be defeated by false propaganda and our victory of the election will prove it, he said. President Donald Trump could win the election despite false propaganda campaign carried out by 99 percent of American media. But Donald Trump explained to people about the false propaganda carried by the media using the term Fake News and he also won the presidential election, Kiriella said. Minister Kiriella said if the media went beyond their limit of freedom they would learn a good lesson on February 10. The UNP will win all the local government institutes in the hill country and it was UNP voters in this area who mostly contributed for the victory of the President and the UNP victory at the last general elections. Even in 2005 when Mahinda Rajapaksa won most electorates in other parts of the country he could not win Kandy. This left Kandy being ignored by the last Government. The expressway allocated for Kandy was shifted to the Southern province, he said. Local government institutes capable of developing the area should be elected. This good governance government will continue definitely till 2015, he said. Many UNP candidates were also present. (J.A. L. Jayasinghe) Japans Foreign Minister Taro Kono The visit to Sri Lanka by Japans Foreign Minister Taro Kono (Jan 4 6) saw governmental confirmation of Sri Lankas first Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project. A statement from Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghes office revealed that an MoU with Japan to build a Floating Storage Re-gasification Unit (FSRU) will be signed this week. The project to build the FSRU and LNG terminal will be a joint venture by Sri Lanka Ports Authority with both Japan and India, it is learnt. The Japanese partner will be a consortium comprising Mitsubishi and Fujitsu, while Petronet will be the Indian partner, according to sources at the Ministry of Development Strategies and Investment Promotion, which will sign the MoU on behalf of Sri Lanka. A new company will be formed with representation from SLPA and the Treasury to be the Sri Lankan partner in this venture the sources said. LNG is very new to Sri Lanka as an energy source. What makes LNG different from any other type of power project is that an LNG terminal would include docking facilities within a port, for the special tankers carrying liquefied gas. As a result, the strategic dimension of investment in a LNG terminal or FSRU by any foreign partner cannot be ignored. It is in effect an investment in port development. Sri Lankas LNG terminal is to be located within the Colombo port. The FSRU is actually a special type of ship. LNG is natural gas that has been converted into liquid form for ease of transportation and storage, which is converted back into its gaseous state after it reaches its market destination, and thereafter distributed through pipelines. Once Sri Lankas LNG terminal/ FSRU infrastructure is in place and becomes operational, pipelines from Colombo port will transport the gas to two dual-fuel power plants in Kerawalapitiya expected to be completed around 2021, according to Dr. Suren Batagoda, Secretary Ministry of Power and Energy. "Japanese envoys never fail to recall the speech made by JR Jayewardena at the San Francisco Peace Conference in 1951,where Sri Lanka came to Japans defence and rescue" One will be built in partnership with the Japanese government and the other in partnership with government of India he said. Japans public broadcaster NHK World described Konos visit as being part of Japanese governments plan to promote cooperation for port expansion projects. Japan has contributed to the development of navigation facilities in Trincomalee port and has expressed interest in its further development, at various times. Konos low profile visit concluded with a tour of Colombo port, including the site for the East Terminal which is yet to be completed under the Colombo Port Expansion Project.Japanese media did not hesitate to report the port visit in the context of Japans concerns over Chinas growing maritime footprint in the region. China is increasing involvement in port development in Sri Lanka reported NHKWorld, adding that Before the port visit, Kono told reporters that projects to build ports and other infrastructure should be open to any country.This was not reported locally because the port visit apparently was not open local journalists, with only Japanese media being present. Konos remark flagged Japans concerns over Chinas major role in Sri Lankas infrastructure development. His Sri Lanka visit was part of a tour that included Pakistan and the Maldives also states in which China has significant infrastructure investments under itsBelt and Road initiative. At a media briefing with a selected group of local journalists in Colombo Japanese Foreign Ministrys Deputy Press Secretary Toshihide Ando said Japans concept is to develop free and open maritime order in the Indo Pacific region as an international public good, and that it is important that we have maritime cooperation in this region. Asked about the status of talks regarding the development of Trincomalee port, he declined to comment. MoU with Japan to build a Floating Storage Re-gasification Unit to be signed this week With Mitsubishi, Fujitsu Petronet will be the Indian partner Sri Lankas LNG terminal is to be located within the Colombo port The increasingly anxious interest shown by Japan and India in investing in the development of Colombo and Trincomalee ports, is clearly related to concerns arising from Sri Lankas lease of Hambantota port to a Chinese company that holds a majority stake. The apparent loss of sovereign control over the port, strategically located near major East-West sea lanes,has led to fears that it may become a Chinese military base, in spite of Sri Lankas assurances to the contrary. We want to ensure that we develop all our ports, and all these ports are used for commercial activity, transparent activity, and will not be available to anyone for any military activity,PM Wickremesinghe stated in Tokyo last April. There has been in a shift in the orientation of Japans military, or Self-Defence Forces as they are called, following the Abe administrations amendment to the constitution in 2015 allowing them to be deployed in offensive operations that had been prohibited by Article 9 since the end of World War II. This has no doubt created the space for a more assertive Japanese foreign policy. "Japanese Foreign Ministrys Deputy Press Secretary Toshihide Ando said Japans concept is to develop free and open maritime order in the Indo-Pacific region as an international public good" As an island nation with scarce natural resources, Japan depends on maritime transport to obtain most of its requirements including energy, hence its concerns over access to sea lanes. Japans interests now converge with those of the US and India, and with China being seen as a common adversary, a closer strategic partnership has evolved among the three. Japan now participates in the Malabar naval drills with US and India, and uses US-type rhetoric with terminology like Indo-Pacificto refer to the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, blurring the boundaries. Historically, Japans relations with Sri Lanka have been cordial. Japan has been generous with aid and is also a major development partner. During Sri Lankas war years Japan was one of the four co-chairs of the peace process, and when the Western co-chairs threatened to cut off aid Japan reassured Sri Lanka that it would not follow suit. Japanese envoys never fail to recall the speech made by JR Jayewardena at the San Francisco Peace Conference in 1951,where Sri Lanka came to Japans defence and rescue. The Japanese still remember that this speech supported Japans return to the international society after the WWII, the visiting foreign minister said in a written interview with an English daily ahead of his visit. One might say Sri Lankas relationship with Japan has been somewhat special. "The increasingly anxious interest shown by Japan and India in investing in the development of Colombo and Trincomalee ports, is clearly related to concerns arising from Sri Lankas lease of Hambantota port to a Chinese company that holds a majority stake." Against this backdrop Japans interest in investing in Sri Lankan ports would normally be seen as a welcome development. But with India a partner in the proposed joint venture, and given the evolving strategic landscape, it would now appear to be embedded in a larger trilateral project of countering Chinese influence. This could mean there is a hidden cost, in that Sri Lanka risks being drawn into the eye of the storm in the event of an escalation in tensions between China and the US and/or India. Analysts tracking Japans role in shaping the regional security architecture acknowledge its more robust and independent policies, but also express misgivings.The only question is how Japan will decide to utilize their naval power in the coming decades writes Brian Kalan in a military analysis for Southfront. Will it be used in the pursuit of ensuring their independence and peaceful relations with their regional partners, or in the self-destructive pursuit of U.S. hegemony in the region? A 69-year-old man was shot dead in Rakwana on the Kohombakanda-Labuwelwatta Road last night, Police said. The victim, a resident of Kahawatta, died after admission to the Kahawatta Hospital. The Rakwana Police commenced an investigation into the shooting after the Hospital police informed about the death. Police recovered a motorcycle and a bullet from the shooting scene and the reason for the shooting was unknown. The Supreme Court has communicated to the Presidential Secretariat that President Maithripala Sirisenas term was only five years, it is learnt. Last week the President had made a reference to the Supreme Court seeking its opinion whether he could serve up to six years. The five-member bench of the Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that the Presidents term was restricted only to five years. The bench comprised Chief Justice Priyasath Dep, Eva Wanasundare, Buvaneka Aluvihare, Sisira de Abrew and K. Chitrasiri. The bench communicated its opinion to the Presidential Secretariat yesterday. Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj yesterday met Sri Lankan Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera in New Delhi and discussed issues of development cooperation between the two countries. Sri Lanka is one of the major recipients of development credit given by India, with total commitment of around USD 2.63 billion, including USD 458 million as grants. Under a line of credit of USD 167.4 million, the tsunami-damaged Colombo-Matara rail link has been repaired and upgraded. Another line of credit of USD 800 million for track laying and supply of rolling stock to support construction of railway lines in northern Sri Lanka is already operational. In October 2014, the Pallai-Jaffna reconstructed railway track and signal system was inaugurated thereby reconnecting Jaffna to Colombo by rail. (PTI) Mumbai: Karan Johar is one of the most loved personalities on and off the camera, and now it looks like the time has come for his kids to take the legacy forward. Karan is absolutely obsessed with his twins Yash and Roohi and its adorable to see that side of him. The filmmaker shared a picture of them on Christmas, New Year and every special occasion or not. Basically the internet loves his kids as much as the dad himself. After changing his twitter profile picture to an adorable one (of course with them), he now shared an image of Roohi showing some sister love to Yash. Heres the pic: Sister love!!!! A post shared by Karan Johar (@karanjohar) on Jan 12, 2018 at 11:34pm PST Karan, like Tusshar Kapoor, is a single father to Yash and Roohi. The filmmaker is one of the most-sought after in the industry. He is currently producing as many as 11 big-budget films. Mumbai: Hollywood's highest paid-actor Mark Wahlberg has responded to criticism that he was paid USD 1.5million to reshoot 'All the Money in the World' by donating the full sum to the Time's Up legal fund. The actor issued a statement which read, "Over the last few days my reshoot fee for All the Money in the World has become an important topic of conversation. I 100 percent support the fight for fair pay and I'm donating the USD 1.5 million to the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund in Michelle Williams' name." The 46-year-old actor had come under fire after details of his apparently lucrative deal to save director Ridley Scott's film 'All the Money in the World' were leaked, according to the Hollywood Reporter. There was a public outcry when it was revealed that Michelle Williams was paid just one percent of her co-star Mark's fee for reshoots on the movie after Kevin Spacey - who was originally playing billionaire J Paul Getty was accused of sexual misconduct and replaced by Christopher Plummer. Wahlberg, named as the highest paid actor in the world last year after earning around USD 50 million, reportedly drove a hard bargain after Spacey was axed from the project. Williams and Wahlberg are both represented by the William Morris Endeavor. WME is making a USD 500,000 donation as well. WME said, "The current conversation is a reminder that those of us in a position of influence have a responsibility to challenge inequities, including the gender wage gap. In recognition of the pay discrepancy on the All the Money in the World reshoots, WME is donating an additional USD 500,000 to the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund in Michelle Williams' name, following our $1 million pledge to the organization earlier this month." "It's crucial that this conversation continues within our community and we are committed to being part of the solution," concluded the statement. Meanwhile, Williams has applauded Wahlberg's recent donation to the Time's Up legal defence fund. She said, "Today isn't about me. My fellow actresses stood by me and stood up for me, my activist friends taught me to use my voice, and the most powerful men in charge, they listened and they acted. If we truly envision an equal world, it takes equal effort and sacrifice. Today is one of the most indelible days of my life because of Mark Wahlberg, WME and a community of women and men who share in this accomplishment. Anthony Rapp, for all the shoulders you stood on, now we stand on yours." Time's Up campaign was created in the wake of the sexual assault and harassment allegations which have emerged in recent months. The group is advocating for gender equality and has launched a legal fund to victims, and also supported stars wearing black to the Golden Globes Awards to show solidarity with victims. Mysore: Fourteen-year- old Ullekh felt he had lost everything when his left leg was amputated after it was crushed by the KSRTC bus he was trying to board in October last year. While in hospital recently, he asked to see his favourite star, Shivanna, and his dream came true when Sandalwood star, Shivrajkumar visited him in his home here on Saturday. The star was in Mysuru to attend the Suttur Jathra Mahotsav and took time out to visit the boy, whose entire family is a fan of the late iconic Dr Rajkumar. In fact, Ullekhs father, Bannur Puttaswamy, a cable operator in Bannur, is a member of the Dr Rajkumar Fans Association. "Ullekh is fond of Appu (Puneeth Rajkumar) and Shivanna. While he was hospitalised, he said he wanted to meet Shivanna. So he was very happy when Shivanna came to our house to meet Ullekh and spent over an hour with him. He told him that bad incidents do happen, but he had to be courageous and move forward as he was young and technological advancements could help with his mobility, recounted the boys distraught father. Since Ullekh has not been able to attend classes, we are collecting notes from his school and he is studying at home. He will be allowed to write his exam this year, he added. Recalling the accident, he said that on October 23 after finishing school at 4.15pm Ullekh reached the KSRTC city bus station at around 4.45pm, but a conductor refused to let him into one bus as he had a pass, and so he tried to catch another. But once again this bus conductor too noticed that he was a pass holder and reportedly asked the driver to move on. Ullekh fell down in the meanwhile and his left leg was entangled in the back wheel of the bus. Although the people around shouted for the bus to stop , the driver did not and as a result his left leg was crushed. He was rushed to a private hospital, where doctors removed his left leg after surgery. He is a brilliant child and dreamt of becoming an IPS officer, he recounted sadly. The family has registered a complaint of negligence against both bus conductor and bus driver. I will fight to get justice to ensure that such incidents dont ever happen, Mr Puttaswamy vowed. Mumbai: It was a massive display of talent at the Hyderabad Public Schools annual day celebration held on the school premises in Begumpet on Friday evening. While annual days generally see a wide range of cultural performances on stage, the school decided to try something new this time and brought together all the students and teachers to stage a single, classic play, The Sound of Music. Young kids showcasing their talent Over 400 students from pre-primary to Class XII participated in the show which was witnessed by an audience of over 1,000 people, comprising mostly parents. The presentation was a culmination of nearly two months of practice that followed an intense audition procedure where students were selected based on their abilities to play the various characters. Students and teachers enacting on stage The elaborate musical was planned in order to showcase the theatrical talent of the kids and lasted for an hour and 45 minutes. Making it a night of pure theatre, the set-up was truly grand with an expansive stage and professional floodlights in place. Mumbai: Looks like director Vikram Kumars association with the Akkineni family continues to flourish. After directing three generations of the clan in Manam, the filmmaker recently helmed 'Hello' starring Akhil, and will next work with Naga Chaitanya. Vikram, who presently has a couple of projects lined up in Telugu and Tamil, was keen to direct 'Chay' next. But will take up the project only after honouring his prior commitments. A source in the know says, Nagarjuna was always fascinated with Vikrams working style and entrusted him with the responsibility of relaunching Akhil. He now wants the director to bring 'Chay' closer to the family audience. Nagarjuna sure has a thing for multi-starrers. After all, the number of times he has shown initiative and okayed scripts that he found interesting, despite having other leading stars in the film, is quite phenomenal. While he is presently working on a film with Nani, we have learnt that it is possible he would team up with actor-director-producer Dhanush soon. Nothing has been finalised yet! Dhanush was in Hyderabad recently and he met Nagarjuna. The duo had elaborate discussions where they discussed the possibility of teaming up. The Tamil actor was all praise for Nagarjunas acting in Oopiri, which had a wide release in Tamil too as Thozha. The duo has decided on some basic plans and will figure out something concrete before meeting again, shares a source in the know. The source adds that a Tamil-Telugu bilingual could be on the cards. Washington: According to a recent study, anxiety may be an early indicator of Alzheimer's disease in older adults. The findings support the hypothesis that neuropsychiatric symptoms could represent the early manifestation of Alzheimer's disease in them. Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative condition that causes the decline of cognitive function and the inability to carry out daily life activities. Past studies have suggested depression and other neuropsychiatric symptoms may be predictors of AD's progression during its "preclinical" phase, during which time brain deposits of fibrillar amyloid and pathological tau accumulate in a patient's brain. This phase can occur more than a decade before a patient's onset of mild cognitive impairment. Investigators at Brigham and Women's Hospital examined the association of brain amyloid beta and longitudinal measures of depression and depressive symptoms in cognitively normal, older adults. Their findings suggest that higher levels of amyloid beta may be associated with increasing symptoms of anxiety in these individuals. These results support the theory that neuropsychiatric symptoms could be an early indicator of AD. "Rather than just looking at depression as a total score, we looked at specific symptoms such as anxiety. When compared to other symptoms of depression such as sadness or loss of interest, anxiety symptoms increased over time in those with higher amyloid beta levels in the brain," said first author Nancy Donovan. "This suggests that anxiety symptoms could be a manifestation of Alzheimer's disease prior to the onset of cognitive impairment. If further research substantiates anxiety as an early indicator, it would be important for not only identifying people early on with the disease, but also, treating it and potentially slowing or preventing the disease process early on." As anxiety is common in older people, rising anxiety symptoms may prove to be most useful as a risk marker in older adults with other genetic, biological or clinical indicators of high AD risk. Researchers derived data from the Harvard Aging Brain Study, an observational study of older adult volunteers aimed at defining neurobiological and clinical changes in early Alzheimer's disease. The participants included 270 community dwelling, cognitively normal men and women, between 62 and 90 years old, with no active psychiatric disorders. Individuals also underwent baseline imaging scans commonly used in studies of Alzheimer's disease, and annual assessments with the 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), an assessment used to detect depression in older adults. The team calculated total GDS scores as well as scores for three clusters symptoms of depression: apathy-anhedonia, dysphoria, and anxiety. These scores were looked at over a span of five years. From their research, the team found that higher brain amyloid beta burden was associated with increasing anxiety symptoms over time in cognitively normal older adults. The results suggest that worsening anxious-depressive symptoms may be an early predictor of elevated amyloid beta levels - and, in turn AD -- and provide support for the hypothesis that emerging neuropsychiatric symptoms represent an early manifestation of preclinical Alzheimer's disease. Donovan notes further longitudinal follow-up is needed to determine whether these escalating depressive symptoms give rise to clinical depression and dementia stages of Alzheimer's disease over time. The study has been published in The American Journal of Psychiatry. In what is being perceived as the two states preparing their positions on sharing water of the contentious Cauvery. BENGALURU: In what is being perceived as the two states preparing their positions on sharing water of the contentious Cauvery, CMs of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka on Saturday squabbled about flow of water with the former demanding 15 tmcft to save crops and the latter maintaining that low storage levels in reservoirs meant that nothing could be released to the neighbouring state. In his letter to Mr Siddaramaiah, Tamil Nadu CM Edapadi K. Palaniswami explained about availability of water in reservoirs in the Cauvery basin, adding As per the final order of the tribunal, Karnataka has to ensure 192 tmcft during a water year. However, till on January 9, Mettur reservoir received only 111.647 tmcft leaving a deficit of 68.224 tmcft of water. In response, Mr Siddaramaiah told the media in Delhi that it would not be possible to ensure flow of water to TN. We do not have water. How can we supply to them? Police catch the driver of a cab who molested his woman passenger and this in turn solved a four-month-old case of rape of a minor Hyderabad: Community closed circuit cameras helped police catch the driver of a cab who molested his woman passenger and this in turn solved a four-month-old case of rape of a minor. The Ola cab driver, Kandukuri Naga Madhu Kiran, was arrested by Kushaiguda police on Sunday for molesting a woman passenger a week ago. After being taken into custody, police say that Kiran confessed to another crime - raping a 10-year-old girl in October 2017 and admitted that he often attempted to force himself on women. Kiran was a standby driver for his friend Mahesh who owned two cars that he hired out to Ola. Kiran was paid Rs 50 per trip. On the night of January 5, around 11 pm, he dropped an Ola passenger in the Chakripuram area, and was proceeding towards Radhika crossroads for another Ola pick up when the trip was cancelled. He spotted a woman, waiting at Radhika crossroads to go to her home in Malkajgiri after doing some shopping, and offered her a ride. Joint Commissioner of Police, Rachakonda, Tarun Joshi, said that a little into the journey Kiran diverted from the route he was supposed to take and when the woman questioned him, he told her that there was a new booking and asked her to sit in the rear seat. After she sat in the rear seat, he activated the central locking system and forced himself on her. When she resisted and raised the alarm, he left her and sped away. During inquiry, he confessed that he had kidnapped and raped a 10-year-old girl by tying her hands and legs and later abandoned her at Yapral in October 2017. A case had been registered in that incident, but we had no clues until now, Mr Joshi said. He added that Kiran had the reputation of being a womaniser, frequenting sex workers and having affairs. Investigating officers say he started out by going to sex workers, but recently he has been forcing himself on any woman he thought was an easy target. He trapped the minor girl by befriending her before he raped her. Police say his employer Mahesh was not aware of Kirans criminal behaviour. By making these changes, I expect the time people spend on Facebook and some measures of engagement will go down. But I also expect the time you spend on Facebook will be more valuable. Mark Zuckerberg Hyderabad: To ensure quality time for visitors, Facebook will prioritise posts by friends and family members over public content by publishers and brands. Mr Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, on Thursday posted, Research shows that strengthening our relationships improves our well-being and happiness. But recently we have gotten feedback from our community that public content posts from businesses, brands and media is crowding out the personal moments that lead us to connect more with each other. It is a known fact that public content has exploded on Facebook. An avid Facebook user, Mr Arvind Konduru, said, I often missed posts from friends and I thought they removed me as a friend. But my news feed was crowded with sponsored posts. Sometimes, I have to visit their profile to know whats happening. Zuckerberg is aware of the repercussions and is looking for long-term gains. He further wrote, By making these changes, I expect the time people spend on Facebook and some measures of engagement will go down. But I also expect the time you spend on Facebook will be more valuable. The new move has not gone down well with publishers and social media campaigners. Mr Akhil Karthik, who runs a social media campaign, said, Facebook is making it difficult for social media marketing. As such, the ad rates have increased. Small brands will suffer. According to Mr Adam Mosseri, head of News Feed, The impact will vary, depending on the type of content they produce. Posts that generate conversation will show higher on news feed. In fact, live videos on average get six times as many interactions as regular videos. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Vijayawada: Sankaranti has given relief to bureaucrats and politicians in the Capital region. Nearly 30 bureaucrats have already left for Hyderabad due to Sankranti holidays while politicos have left for Bengaluru, Chennai and Coorg to spend holidays in their estates. Since followers also left, party offices in the capital wore a deserted look. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu left for his native place in Naravari Palle, Chittoor district, on Saturday afternoon. He will be spending his Sankranti holidays with family members. District collector B. Lakshmikantham is also on a vacation and will be back on January 16. Following the Chief Minister 14 ministers have already left for their native villages. Politicians are planning their Sankranti holidays at Araku, Maredumilli, Ooty and Coorg. Many Telugu Desam leaders also left for their native places. Apart from spending the Sankranti holidays with friends and relatives, we have been advised to concentrate on building health profiles of the villages to create a healthy AP, a TD leader said, and added that cleaning tanks is also another mission they are taking up in villages. New Delhi: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who is on a six-day visit to India, was on Sunday received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Delhi Airport. Setting aside protocol, Modi received his Israeli counterpart with a hug upon arrival. "Welcome to India, my friend PM Netanyahu! Your visit to India is historic and special. It will further cement the close friendship between our nations," Modi tweeted. Welcome to India, my friend PM @netanyahu! Your visit to India is historic and special. It will further cement the close friendship between our nations. @IsraeliPM #ShalomNamaste pic.twitter.com/sidgMmA1fu Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 14, 2018 The two prime ministers attended a solemn ceremony at the Teen Murti Memorial on Sunday to mark the formal renaming of Teen Murti Chowk as the Teen Murti Haifa Chowk by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC). The three bronze statues at Teen Murti represent the Hyderabad, Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers, who were part of the 15 Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade, which carried out the victorious assault on the fortified city of Haifa on September 23, 1918, during World War I. The visit marks 25 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and takes place about six months after Modi's trip to Israel, the first by an Indian prime minister to the Jewish state. Netanyahu's visit to India is only the second one by an Israeli prime minister and comes after a gap of 15 years. #WATCH Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu received by PM Narendra Modi in Delhi. #NetanyahuInIndia pic.twitter.com/CTv4rlEWSg ANI (@ANI) January 14, 2018 Keen to strengthen bilateral relations "even more", Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu earlier on Sunday left for India along with the largest business delegation that has ever accompanied an Israeli premier on an overseas tour. "This evening I am leaving on an historic visit to India. I will meet with the Prime Minister, my friend Narendra Modi, with the Indian President and with many other leaders. We will sign very many agreements," Netanyahu said in statement. "We are strengthening ties between Israel and this important global power. This serves our security, economic, trade and tourism interests, as well as many other areas. This is a great blessing for the State of Israel," he said. "Indian Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi is a close friend of Israel and of mine and I appreciate the fact that he will accompany me on extensive parts of my visit," Netanyahu said just before leaving for New Delhi. "On this visit I intend to strengthen bilateral relations even more. This visit is an opportunity to enhance cooperation with a global economic, security, technology and tourism power," he added. Netanyahu will hold meetings with President Ram Nath Kovind and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, apart from Modi. Several MoUs, including in the field of oil and gas, renewable energy, amended protocol for airports, cyber security, and co-production of films and documentaries, will be signed between the two sides. Israel's Saare Tzedek hospital would be signing an agreement with the ministry of health and family welfare. Sources said that this relates to sharing of knowledge in the field of homoeopathy and Ayurveda that have been gaining popularity in Israel over the last few years. Technion-Israel Institute of Technology would also be signing an agreement with the ministry of science and technology, sources here said. Netanyahu is leading a high-profile delegation comprising 130 businessmen from 102 Israeli companies drawn from areas like agriculture, water, cyber security, health care and security, on his trip. Israel will be investing USD 68.6 million to boost cooperation with India in areas like tourism, technology, agriculture and innovation over a period of four years, a senior official here said ahead of Netanyahu's visit. The commitment is in addition to the India-Israel Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation Fund of USD 40 million over five years with equal contribution from both sides that has already been agreed between the two nations, Deputy Director General of Israel's Foreign Ministry, Gilad Cohen, earlier told PTI. The Indian prime minister will be hosting a private dinner for Netanyahu today evening after his arrival in New Delhi. The Israeli leader would also meet Swaraj. The Israeli premier would be formally welcomed on Monday morning at Rashtrapati Bhawan following which he would lay a wreath at Rajghat. He would then participate in a dialogue at Hyderabad House which will also include a one-on-one discussion with Modi. A meeting with President Kovind is also scheduled for Monday. Netanyahu, accompanied by his wife Sara, would be travelling to Agra to see the Taj Mahal on Tuesday and return to Delhi to participate in the Raisina Dialogue. Modi would be accompanying Netanyahu to Gujarat on Wednesday where he will be welcomed in the same fashion as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was with a road show in Ahmedabad. The road show is said to be an 8-kilometre drive from the airport to the Sabarmati Ashram. The two leaders will also be witnessing several innovative technologies in the field of water, agriculture and health at iCreate and visit a Centre of Excellence. Netanyahu would arrive in Mumbai on Wednesday in the evening where he will meet the Indian Jewish community. A packed schedule on Thursday for the Israeli premier in Mumbai would include a "power breakfast" with Indian business leaders, a business seminar, attending two memorial services for the victims of the 26/11 attack at the Taj hotel and Nariman House and finally a gala event with Bollywood actors. Anuj said that the Loya family was pained with the chain of events which has been happening in the past few days. (Photo: ANI/PTI) New Delhi: "Please don't harass us," Anuj Loya, son of deceased Justice BH Loya urged NGOs and politicians in a press conference on Sunday. An emotional Anuj said the Loya family was pained with the chain of events which has been happening in the past few days. "We are convinced that his (Loya's) was a natural death, we do not have any suspicion about it. There is no doubt about it, everything is clear," he said, adding that the family did not have any complaints against anyone. Loya's lawyer Ameet Naik said the death of Justice Loya was a tragedy and not a controversy. He also requested to not politicise the matter. "There is no controversy. No need of politicising the issue. This is a tragic event. We do not want to be victims of politicisation of the issue. Let it remain the way it is - noncontroversial," he said. The reaction comes two days after four Supreme Court judges held a press meet to protest against the Chief Justice of India. Terming the concern voiced by the judges as "extremely important", Congress president Rahul Gandhi and other opposition parties had on Friday called for a "thorough probe" into the mysterious death of judge BH Loya. The BJP shot back, with its spokesman Sambit Patra accusing the Congress of politicising internal matters of the judiciary. In an unprecedented move in the annals of judiciary, four senior most judges of the Supreme Court on Friday questioned the unilateral and biased decisions of the Chief justice of India Dipak Misra in allocation of important cases to junior judges. The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Maharasthra government to file the autopsy report into the death of former CBI judge BH Loya who died in mysterious circumstances in December 2014. At the time of his death, Loya was presiding over the CBI court hearing the alleged Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case. He died of cardiac arrest on December 1, 2014, according to hospital records, a day after he attended the wedding ceremony and reception of the daughter of fellow Judge Sapna Josh. In 2017, the Caravan reported that Loyas family members claimed that the 48-year-olds death was suspicious. In an interview to PTI, the Army chief asserted that there was room for ramping up heat on Pakistan to cut flow of cross border terror activities. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: Political initiative must go hand-in-hand with military operations in Jammu and Kashmir to bring peace, Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat said on Sunday, and favoured ramping up military offensive to pile up heat on Pakistan to stop cross-border terrorism in the state. Gen Rawat said the armed forces operating in the state cannot be status quoist and must evolve new strategies and tactics to deal with the situation, which he feels is marginally better since he took over a year ago. In an interview to PTI, the Army chief asserted that there was room for ramping up heat on Pakistan to cut flow of cross border terror activities, clearly indicating that the Army will continue its policy of hot pursuit in dealing with militancy. The political initiative and all the other initiatives must go simultaneously hand-in-hand and only if all of us function in synergy, we can bring lasting peace in Kashmir. It has to be a politico-military approach that we have to adopt, the Army chief said. In October, the government had appointed former Intelligence Bureau chief Dineshwar Sharma as its special representative for a sustained dialogue with all stakeholders in J&K. When the government appointed an interlocutor, it is with that purpose. He is the governments representative to reach out to the people of Kashmir and see what their grievances are so that those can then be addressed at a political level, the army chief said. Asked whether there is room for ramping up pressure on Pakistan to force it to stop sending terrorists to the state, he said, Yes, you cannot be status quoist. You have to continuously think and keep moving forward. You have to keep changing your doctrines and concept and the manner in which you operate in such areas. Gen Rawat said the army will have to evolve new strategies and new tactics to deal with the situation. At the same time, he said an overall approach was required to deal with the Kashmir issue. Since beginning of last year, the army pursued an aggressive anti-terror policy in Jammu and Kashmir and, at the same time, forcefully responded to all ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control with a tit-for-tat approach. Military is only part of the mechanism to resolve the Kashmir issue. Our charter is to ensure that the terrorists who are creating violence in the state are taken to task and those who have been radicalised and are increasingly moving towards terrorism are prevented from doing so, he said. Gen Rawat said some youths continue to be radicalised and are joining militancy. The Army has been trying to maintain pressure on terror groups, he said. The Armys aim is to ensure that it continues to maintain the pressure on the terrorists and those fomenting trouble there, Gen Rawat said. But at the same time, we have to also reach out to the people, he said. Asked whether the situation in Kashmir has improved since he has taken over as the Army chief a year ago, Gen Rawat said, I am only seeing a marginal change in situation for the better. I do not think it is time to become over confident and start assuming that the situation has been brought under control because infiltration from across the borders will continue. The LoC has remained volatile in the last year. According to official figures, 860 incidents of ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops were reported in 2017 as against 221 the year before. India has also been effectively retaliating to Pakistani firing and even crossed the LoC to punish Pakistani troops on several occasions as part of tactical operations. The account was later restored along with the blue tick and the questionable tweets were also removed. (Photo: ANI) New Delhi: In what can only be a case of hacking, two photographs of Pakistan's flag and the neighbouring country's President Mamnoon Hussain were posted from the Twitter account of India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Syed Akbaruddin. The pictures were posted during the late hours of Sunday, and interestingly, the "blue tick" that marks a verified account also disappeared at the time. The account was later restored along with the blue tick and the questionable tweets were also removed. Evidently, cyber attack has not been a new strategy for the terrorists in Pakistan, and government officials have been prime targets. In 2016, a total of 199 government websites were hacked in India, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had told the Parliament. In fact, more than 700 websites under the Indian government have been hacked from 2013 to 2016. In January, 2017, the website of the National Security Guard (NSG), the Indian special forces unit combating terror activities, was also hacked posing unprecedented threat to national security. The website was, however, blocked immediately by the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT.IN). As technology has progressed, so has the strategy of terror attacks and cyber warfare taken over the battlefield to breach national security. Addressing the press on Saturday, Army Chief Bipin Rawat also focused on the increasing threat of cyber and information warfare, adding that the Indian security forces are concentrating more in that area. Cyber warfare is a phenomenon plaguing countries across the world too. Although the culprits of cyber attacks are practically impossible to nab, the source has often been traced to Russia. In 2017, more than 300 Ukrainian companies were penetrated by hackers speculated by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to be from Russia, in an attempt to cripple the financial system of the country. Czech Republic too fell victim to a massive cyber attack, wherein emails of dozens of its most senior diplomats were hacked. Russian hackers were again thought to be behind it. Recently, Russian hackers are laying blueprint to hack the internal email system of the United States Senate, a report by a cyber security firm has suggested. Hyderabad: The governments arrears to TS Transco have reached Rs 13,000 crore. The government has not released power subsidy it owes to the power company since 2014. Besides, Transco has paid for costly power from other producers for which it needs to be reimburse. The TS government joined the Ujwal Discoms Assurance Yojana (UDAY) introduced by the Centre some years ago. According to the terms of UDAY, the government took over the debt of discoms to the tune of Rs 8,923 crore and issued bonds for Rs 9,000 crore. It released Rs 7,800 crore to discoms, and Rs 1,200 crore is still pending. Several government departments have not paid power charges for a long time, dues for which have reached Rs 2,600 crore. Government sources said that the arrears of power subsidy could not be given. If in any year the government does not release subsidy, the amount lapses and is not carried forward. Officials said the government is facing financial difficulty and is not in a position to pay Transco. Power officials said discoms were facing serious financial issues and if the government does not release arrears their condition would deteriorate even further. Lucknow: Three men from Punjab were beaten up by Vishwa Hindi Parishad (VHP) workers in front of police inside Baghpat court premises on Saturday. The victims had reached local court to get their marriage registered but as soon as the right-wing outfit came to know about this, they reached the spot and roughed up the youngsters. The police reached the spot and took the victims away to the police station, but the assault did not stop even while they were being taken away. Later, Hindu Yuva Vahini workers also joined their VHP counterparts and started protesting outside the police station. The couple from Punjab had reached Baghpat court along with grooms cousin to get married. The couple, along with others, were sitting in a lawyers chamber when VHP workers stormed inside and began questioning their purpose of visit. On learning that the girl and the boy belonged to different religions, the right-wing workers started roughing up the couple and created a ruckus before being joined by Hindu Yuva Vahini members. According to the police, the three youths had been absconding from Punjab for four days and an FIR was lodged in this regard in Barnala. Hyderabad: A new political front, the Bahujana Left Front (BLF) will be launched on January 25, with the CPM taking the lead. The front divides the two main Left parties the CPM and the CPI that have a difference of opinion on political support to the Congress. According to CPM state secretary Tammineni Veerabhadram, the new front, which 28 small parties and organisations have agreed to join, will contest in all 119 Assembly and 17 Lok Sabha seats. It will be pitted against the TRS, BJP and the Congress, which it considers anti-democratic, anti-secular and dictatorial'. The CPI is keeping away from this front, believing that there is no need to oppose the Congress, and that it cannot be branded anti-secular and anti-democratic unlike the BJP. Though we have yet to take a stand on seat adjustments or alliance with the Congress to oppose the dictatorial TRS, we differ with the CPM phraseology for the Congress, CPI state secretary Chada Venkat Reddy said. This new political front and a political party that is going to be launched by Telangana Joint Act-ion Committee (TJAC) leader Prof Kodanda-ram, in February, indicates the fractured nature of the Opposition. It is likely that the CPI will come to an understanding with the Congress. Though the Congress wants all parties barring the BJP to put up a united fight against the TRS, as of now it looks like a multi-cornered contest, which will suit TRS chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao. He would be happy to see more Opposition parties splitting the anti-establishment vote to the advantage of the TRS. The divided vote due to several parties trying to field candidates will only be to the advantage of the TRS, CPIs Venkata Reddy said. He said there was no need to oppose the Congress either at the national level or in the state, as the main enemy of the Left is the BJP at the national level. KCR is heading the most undemocratic, dictatorial family rule which we need to oppose. In the larger perspective we need not oppose the Congress here and this we made clear to CPM leaders, he said. Mr Veerabhadram does not agree. We cannot change our policies from one election to another. Whatever happened previously need not be repeated. Assuming we join hands with the Congress and it comes to power, what will be the fate of the Left parties? They will not join the government nor can they dictate to the Congress. As far as the new front is concerned, it involves all sections of society that were hitherto deprived of power. So far 28 parties have consented and this may increase. The philosophy and the political line will be different from that of the traditional parties. Our front would be the broadest and include all the backward sections of society, he said. Hyderabad: Telangana state Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao will be the first farmer in the state to give up the agriculture subsidy of Rs 8,000 per acre per year voluntarily. The subsidy is to be given to 71 lakh farmers across the state from May this year. Mr Rao will make an announcement in this regard after the guidelines for disbursal of this sop to farmers is released in February. Mr Raos sacrifice is to encourage rich farmers comprising ministers, MPs, MLAs, MLCs, IAS, IPS, Group-I officers etc., to give up the financial aid, since they obviously dont need it, being farmers in name only. Theres some doubt about whether this will ploy will work, since the Central governments similar plea for the rich to give up the LPG subsidy flopped. Of the 90 lakh LPG consumers in Telangana, only 4.90 lakh or a little over five per cent, gave up the subsidy. Since Mr Rao had announced that the financial aid will extend to all agriculture land owners, irrespective of their social or economic status or the extent of land they hold, well-off farmers too are eligible for the scheme. K Chandrasekhar Rao eligible for Rs 6.8 lakh sop annually The Chief Ministers owns an 85-acre farm in Erravelli near the city, making him eligible to claim Rs 6.8 lakh every year. The government estimates that it requires Rs 5,600 crore in May to disburse to all the 71 lakh farmers for the ensuing kharif season. Another Rs 5,000 crore will be required for the rabi season in November, which takes the total burden on the state exchequer to over Rs 10,000 crore per year. The state government had struggled to clear the Rs 17,500 crore crop loan arrears promised during the 2014 Assembly elections. It took four years to clear the arrears in four instalments paid to banks. So, having to now fork out Rs 10,000 crore every year to farmers has huge financial implications. The appeal to rich farmers to give up the subsidy voluntarily can save Rs 500 crore every year. According to agriculture department statistics, 62 per cent of farmers in Telangana state hold less than 2.5 acres of land, 24 per cent own land between 2.5 and 5 acres, 11 per cent own between 5 and 10 acres, less than 3 per cent own between 10 and 25 acres and only 0.88 per cent own more than 25 acres. The Chief Minister calculates that if those who own between 5-10 acres, 10-25 acres, and more than 25 acres give up the subsidy, that would mean 15 per cent of the 71 lakh farmers would have foregone the subsidy voluntarily. The government has made it clear that the initiative will be voluntary and there are no plans to make it compulsory. It seems everyone had over-reacted to the unprecedented press conference that four senior Supreme Court judges held on Friday. The judges had stated their case quite carefully though the justification they gave about the danger to democracy and their obligation to the nation had its element of justifiable rhetoric. They did not reveal much, and they referred only to the issue of allocation of cases by Chief Justice Dipak Misra. They defined the function of the Chief Justice as being that of first among equals, and his right to set the roster doesnt allow him to be arbitrary. On the third day, it seems that the rebellion that seemed to have shaken the Supreme Court of India turns out to be quite nearly the proverbial storm in a teacup. Justice Kurian Josephs statement to the media on Saturday proves the case. The liberal lawyers, the Congress Party and many other political critics and opponents of Prime Minister Narendra Modi jumped the gun, as it were, and saw a dark connection between the apparent collapse of the working of the Supreme Court and the right-wing politics of the Modi government. There were enough reasons for the anti-Modi camp to draw such hasty conclusions. Chief Justice Misra gave clear hints of his right-wing bias, especially in the judgment he delivered about making the national anthem in cinema halls mandatory, which has since been made conditional, and Justice D.V. Chandrachud made stinging remarks about wearing nationalism on ones sleeve, which is a rebuttal of the Chief Justices argument in the matter. Interestingly, the Chief Justice was part of the bench which modified the earlier direction of the court. The error committed by the critics of the Chief Justice, and by implication of Prime Minister Modi, is that they saw the revolt that would bring about the reigning right-wing doctrines in the executive and the judiciary as the beginning of the end. The haste was uncalled for. The critics should have waited a little longer. It showed a certain desperation by the critics of the Prime Minister. It looked like that they have given up the possibility of tripping the Prime Minister on political grounds, and they were only too willing to cheer every little act which appeared to challenge the Prime Ministers right-wing rhetoric and stratagems. It is the mistake that more than 40 years ago, the critics and opponents of Indira Gandhi had committed, clutching at every straw that promised to expose her authoritarian politics. She was finally defeated by the people in the general election of 1977 and not by her inveterate critics. Similarly, Mr Modi will be defeated by the people when they choose, and not by his ideological opponents. That brings us to the question of whether Justices J. Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Kurian Joseph and Madan B. Lokur were right in what they did. It seems that they did so because they genuinely felt that the problem needed to be brought to public attention. There is little doubt that Chief Justice Misras refusal to respond to their concerns forced them to voice their protest in public. There is no need to impute any other ulterior motive to their move. Does it set a bad precedent? Perhaps it does. But they seem to have done it in the best interests of the Supreme Court, the judiciary and the country. Their rebellion has certainly helped in blowing away the meaningless opaqueness of how the highest court of the country works. It has been suggested that they could have protested constitutionally by writing to the President. There is no such provision. The President is the head of the executive and the legislature, but not of the judiciary, though it is the President who appoints the judges of high courts and the Supreme Court. It is possible for members of Parliament to meet the President and point to issues regarding the functioning of the Prime Minister, and of the governors in the states. But there is no provision for Cabinet ministers to complain to the President against the Prime Minister. This is much more so in the case of the judges of the Supreme Court. They cannot petition the President against the Chief Justice of India. They have done what could be done in the circumstances. There is little doubt that Chief Justice Misra has somehow failed to provide good leadership in the Supreme Court, which means that he did not take his four senior colleagues into confidence. Let us remember that the other 20 judges of the court did not come out, but it is clear they did not endorse the manner in which the Chief Justice was dealing with the problem. That is why, as reported, they have called for a meeting of the whole court that is of all the 25 judges to sort out issues. The sin of CJI Misra is not his right-wing tilt but his failure to play it fair. He has been seen as being partial, excluding those who did not share his biases. It may be a misperception. But he has not done anything to clear the air. So it is for him to take the initiative and restore the unity of the Supreme Court of India. There are real problems with the Supreme Court, and it goes beyond the allocation of cases by the Chief Justice. The court has to ensure that there is a real play of ideas and ideologies and dispel the notion that they have no biases and ideological biases. If Chief Justice Misra is a right-wing reactionary, he need not hide it. And the same freedom is there for the other judges as well. What is of utmost importance is that they argue their biases with jurisprudential rigour, and if their biases fail the legal test then they have to sacrifice their bias in favour of the rule of law. The functioning of the United States Supreme Court is a good example of the clash of conservative and liberal ideas within the constitutional framework. After the Supreme Court made it optional for cinema theatres to play the national anthem before every screening, the government has set up an inter-ministerial committee to study the rules for playing the anthem and give its recommendations. After the Supreme Court made it optional for cinema theatres to play the national anthem before every screening, the government has set up an inter-ministerial committee to study the rules for playing the anthem and give its recommendations. The panel will be headed by Brij Raj Sharma, special secretary in the ministry of home affairs in charge of border affairs. Besides Sharma, the committee will include 11 other members, including joint secretary-level officials nominated by the ministries, including defence, external affairs, human resource development, law, information and broadcasting, among others. Sharma is a Jammu & Kashmir cadre IAS officer and has been directed to frame guidelines on how the national anthem is to be played and sung. The panel will submit its report within six months. However, sources say, during this interval the government says it will seek directions from the Supreme Court on its interim order. The Sharma panels report, it is hoped, will clear the confusion that has created a public stir. Security matters Former RAW chief Rajinder Khanna has been named the Deputy National Security Adviser, the first time that both the National Security Advisor and the Deputy NSA are from the intelligence background. Before confirming the appointment, sources say, the government held discussions on why the National Security Advisor (NSA) and deputy NSA should have a security background instead of the usual foreign affairs background. NSA Ajit Doval, a former IPS officer, retired as chief of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), the country's internal intelligence agency. Khanna, a 1978 batch Research and Analysis Wing service (RAW) officer, is considered an expert on Pakistan and Islamic terrorism, and has supervised several counter-terrorism operations. After retiring from RAW he was re-employed as Officer on Special Duty (neighbourhood studies) in the National Security Council Secretariat. By appointing two intelligence officers as the NSA and deputy NSA, it is a clear signal that internal security is top priority for the Modi sarkar. The post was lying vacant since Arvind Gupta, a former Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, completed his tenure in August last year. Mr Gupta was appointed to the post in August 2014. Cadre power The naming of Vijay Gokhale as foreign secretary is being viewed as a sign that the government is focusing intensely on its approach to China, following the Doklam episode, which raised tensions between the two nations. A 1981-batch IFS officer and secretary (economic relations in the ministry of external affairs, Mr Gokhale succeeds Dr S. Jaishankar, who is completing his tenure this month-end. Whispers in Delhi suggest that Mr Jaishankar himself may well segue into some useful but new role, pretty soon. Significantly, Mr Gokhale was Indian ambassador to Beijing during the border crisis and played a major role in intensive talks with Chinese diplomats. Apparently, his views on China are in convergence with Jaishankars, who too had an earlier stint as enjoy to China. Sources say that Mr Gokhale is representative of a new generation of China experts trying to make the point that old-style methods of dealing with Beijing need a relook. Sources say that Mr Gokhales appointment firmly ensconces a new outlook on China within the ministry of external affairs, one which marks a breakaway from the old thinking. How effective the new thinking will be, will be known in the months ahead as India negotiates with its aggressive neighbour. Apple said it will cut the price of a replacement for an out-of-warranty battery to $29 from $79 for an iPhone 6 or later. Four US House Republicans, including the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, wrote Apple Inc chief executive Tim Cook asking him to answer questions about its disclosure that it slowed older iPhones with flagging batteries. The California-based company apologized over the issue on December 28th, cut battery replacement costs and said it will change its software to show users whether their phone battery is good. The letter also said they were concerned about reports that an iPhone battery overheated and began to emit smoke in Switzerland. According to Reuters report, an overheated iPhone battery injured a repairman in an Apple store in Zurich and prompted the evacuation of around 50 people from the shop due to smoke, Swiss police said. Apple addressed the concerns about the quality and durability of its products at a time when it is charging $999 for its newest flagship model, the iPhone X. We know that some of you feel Apple has let you down, it said last month. We apologize. US Senator John Thune, who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, sent a similar letter to Apple last week. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. The revelations by Manning exposed covered-up misdeeds and possible crimes by US troops and allies; her actions made her a hero to anti-war and anti-secrecy activists but US establishment figures branded her a traitor. (Photo: AP) Washington: Transgender whistleblower Chelsea Manning, jailed for leaking classified information, is seeking election in the US state of Maryland, a document seen on Saturday says. The Federal Election Commission document, filed on Thursday, lists Chelsea Elizabeth Manning of North Bethesda, Maryland, as a Democratic candidate for the United States senate. Manning, now 30, was an army intelligence analyst sentenced to 35 years in prison in 2013 for leaking more than 700,000 classified documents related to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The revelations by Manning, then known as Bradley Manning, exposed covered-up misdeeds and possible crimes by US troops and allies. Her actions made her a hero to anti-war and anti-secrecy activists but US establishment figures branded her a traitor. Then-president Barack Obama commuted Manning's sentence, leading to her release in May. During her incarceration, Manning battled for, and won, the right to start hormone treatment. On Twitter, she identifies herself as a "transwoman," and carries the slogan: "Make powerful people angry." The Democratic Senate incumbent is Ben Cardin, who was first elected in 2006 and is the senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In 2017 elections, transgender candidate Danika Roem was elected to the Virginia state House of Delegates, becoming the first openly transgender lawmaker in the United States. US President Donald Trump has labelled Manning a traitor. He also tried to bar transgender personnel from the military, but federal courts ruled against that ban. Trump came back on the issue in a pair tweets three days after igniting outrage by referring to African and Haitian immigrants as coming from 'shithole countries'. (Photo: AFP) Washington: US President Donald Trump said Sunday a deal to resolve the status of hundreds of thousands of immigrants who entered the United States illegally as children is "probably dead", blaming it on Democrats. Trump came back on the issue in a pair of early morning tweets three days after igniting outrage by referring to African and Haitian immigrants as coming from "shithole countries." Global condemnation of the remark as racist has put the president on the defensive amid bipartisan attempts to negotiate a budget deal that would avert a looming government shutdown and remove the threat of deportation of the so-called "dreamers." "DACA is probably dead because the Democrats don't really want it, they just want to talk and take desperately needed money away from our Military," Trump said, referring to the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals program. DACA is probably dead because the Democrats dont really want it, they just want to talk and take desperately needed money away from our Military. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2018 "I, as President, want people coming into our Country who are going to help us become strong and great again, people coming in through a system based on MERIT. No more Lotteries! #AMERICA FIRST," he said. I, as President, want people coming into our Country who are going to help us become strong and great again, people coming in through a system based on MERIT. No more Lotteries! #AMERICA FIRST Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2018 DACA, established in 2012 by Trump predecessor Barack Obama, protects from deportation hundreds of thousands of immigrants whose parents brought them into the country illegally as children. Trump said in September he was scrapping the program but delayed enforcement to give Congress six months -- until March -- to craft a lasting solution. But a federal judge on Tuesday ordered the government to keep DACA going pending resolution of court challenges to the president's decision. Asif, in his tweet, said: 'Very irresponsible statement by Indian Army Chief, not befitting his office. Amounts to invitation for nuclear encounter.' (Photo: AFP) Islamabad: Pakistan Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Saturday issued a nuclear threat to India while responding to a statement of Army Chief General Bipin Rawat. "Very irresponsible statement by Indian Army Chief, not befitting his office. Amounts to invitation for nuclear encounter. If that is what they (India) desire, they are welcome to test our resolve. The general's doubt would swiftly be removed, inshallah," Asif tweeted. Very irresponsible statement by Indian Army Chief,not befitting his office. Amounts to invitation for nuclear encounter.If that is what they desire,they are welcome to test our resolve.The general's doubt would swiftly be removed, inshallah. Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) January 13, 2018 On Friday, Rawat, during a media briefing in Delhi, said the force was ready to call Pakistan's "nuclear bluff" and cross the border to carry out any operation if asked by the government. He was responding to a question on the possibility of Pakistan using its nuclear weapons in case the situation along the border deteriorates. Following Asif's remarks, Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal went on a tweeting spree. "The threatening and irresponsible statement by the Indian Army Chief today is representative of a sinister mindset that has taken hold of India. Pakistan has demonstrated deterrence capability," he tweeted from his personal handle. The threatening and irresponsible statement by the Indian Army Chief today is representative of a sinister mindset that has taken hold of India. Pakistan has demonstrated deterrence capability.1/2 Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) January 13, 2018 "These are not issues to be taken lightly. There must not be any misadventure based on miscalculation. Pakistan is fully capable of defending itself," he said in a second tweet. These are not issues to be taken lightly. There must not be any misadventure based on miscalculation. Pakistan is fully capable of defending itself. 2/2 Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) January 13, 2018 This all comes after Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Asif Ghafoor reacted to Gen Rawat's statement and said such statements were unbecoming of a person of his stature. "We believe COAS is a very responsible appointment and four-star is a rank with age-long experience and maturity," the Geo TV quoted Ghafoor as saying. Ghafoor further stated that Pakistan has a credible nuclear capability, exclusively meant for the threat from the east. "But we believe it's a weapon of deterrence, not of choice." Under the UK's Department for Education guidelines, uniform policy is a matter for individual head-teachers and their governing bodies. (Photo: Representational Image) London: One of the UK's leading state-funded schools has called on the government to take a firm stand on children wearing hijab and fasting during Ramadan. St Stephen's School in Newham, east London, became one of the first schools in the country to ban the hijab for girls under eight in 2016 and intends to ban it for girls under 11 from September 2018. It also imposed strict rules on Ramadan fasting, a ritual that lasts around 18 hours a day in the summer, on school premises. The school, with a majority of pupils from Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi backgrounds and headed by Indian-origin principal Neena Lall wants the UK government to issue clear guidelines on the issue to prevent a backlash from parents. "The department should step up and take it out of our hands and tell every school this is how it (fasting) should be. The same for the hijab, it should not be our decision. It is unfair to teachers and very unfair to governors. We are unpaid. Why should we get the backlash?" Arif Qawi, chairman of governors at St Stephen's School, told The Sunday Times'. He said that despite criticism from a few families, some parents were happy with the school's stance on fasting. "We did not ban fasting altogether but we encouraged them (children) to fast on holidays, at weekends and not on the school campus. Here we are responsible for their health and safety if they pass out on campus. It is not fair to us," said Qawi, who consulted with Muslim clerics to confirm that fasting should begin from the age of puberty. Under the UK's Department for Education guidelines, uniform policy is a matter for individual head-teachers and their governing bodies. "It is a matter for individual schools to decide how to accommodate children observing Ramadan, and to set uniform policies. We issue clear guidance on uniform and to help schools understand their legal duties under the Equality Act, a Department for Education statement said. In November 2017, St Stephen's School had topped a prestigious primary schools league table published by The Sunday Times annually. It was listed as the best school in England in the 'Schools Guide 2018' for a strong teaching record. "Everything we do here comes from our vision that every St Stephen's child blossoms into a confident, respectful, modern British citizen prepared to be an aspirational contributor in the global community," Lall had said at the time. Amidst war of words between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and BJP leaders on banning Hindu fundamentalist organisations, the Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday instructed the Karnataka Congress leaders not to deviate from development agenda during the course of the ensuing Assembly election campaign. Rahul, who held a meeting with party state unit leaders for more than three hours on the poll preparedness of the organisation, told the state leaders not to fall into the trap of the BJP's "communal agenda," it is learnt. At the closed-door meeting held at Rahul residence on Tughlaq Lane here, it is learnt, he told the state leaders that the narrative should only explain voters about the development works implemented by the state government and nothing else. Rahul's pep talk came in the background of a series of war of words between Siddaramaiah and BJP leaders about the banning of some of the Hindu organisations for allegedly fuelling communal hatredness. The Congress chief also instructed them that every one should work together without giving scope for any differences among leaders, new comers or old timers. He also advise the state unit to finalise candidates for at least 170 Assembly constituencies by March first week so that contestants can start campaign early. Rahul, who initially spoke to each leader separately while walking on the lawn of his residence, subsequently held a joint meeting. Siddaramaiah, KPCC pesident G Parameshwara, working presidents Dinesh Gundu Rao and S R Patil, AICC general secretary incharge of Karnataka K C Venugopal, party leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leaders Oscar Fernandes, M Veerappa Moily, K H Muniyappa and B K Hariprasad were present. Emerging out of the meeting, Venugopal told reporters that the performance of the state government and party organisation issues were discussed in the meeting. Rahul and other leaders appreciated the governance in the state and exuded confidence that the party will return to power. Parameshwara said Rahul will be touring the state on February 10, 11 and 12, holding meetings with women organisations, farmers, intellectuals and students. The party leaders will conduct a joint statewide campaign by travelling in the same bus in the run-up to the elections. JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy on Saturday charged that the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government had indulged in rampant illegal mining activities with more than Rs 5,450 crore worth of iron ore being illegally lifted and transported by officials of the state-owned Mysore Minerals Ltd (MML) between 2014 and 2017. Addressing reporters in Bengaluru, Kumaraswamy said that an internal enquiry by senior officers of MML had revealed that 60,56,440 MT of ore had been lifted and sold by the MML during the said period. "Three times of this quantity has been illegally mined and sold," Kumarswamy claimed. He said the MML had permitted Subbarayanahalli Iron Ore Mines and Thimmappanagudi Iron Ore Mines to mine ore in Sandur taluk in Ballari district. Contracts had also been awarded (from November 27, 2014 to March 31, 2017) to S S Muchandi (excavation); Amit Earth Movers (drilling); Vishal Enterprises (crushing/screening); and South West Mining Ltd (excavation). Kumaraswamy said that Rs 2,062 crore worth of ore was illegally lifted and transported within the state between 2014 and 2015 itself. Officials had shown records of less quantity of ore being mined, while the quantum of ore excavated was much higher, he said. He said that as many as eight IAS officers who had tried to expose the scam had been transferred by the government in quick succession. "IAS officer Munish Moudgil was transferred one month after he took charge. The office of the chief minister is directly involved in this illegality," he said. He said the IAS officer Tushar Girinath was heading the department at the height of the scam. He is now the principal secretary to the chief minister. "The government was forced to constitute the enquiry committee after yet another honest IAS officer P Hemalatha wanted to refer the matter to the Lokayukta. She was shunted out in three months," he said. He also said that though the contractors had single permits, they had made multiple trips and transported the raw material illegally. The committee had also highlighted that South West Mining Ltd had carried out excavations on behalf of S S Muchandi, as the latter had no excavation equipment. "It is a fact that BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa has links with South West Mining Ltd. Ironically, the illegal mining activities carried out by the Congress government is worse than the previous BJP regime. These people are more intelligent - they know how to escape, unlike Yeddyurappa who was caught red-handed with a cheque," he said. Kumaraswamy also hinted that Siddaramaiah was in the know of the illegalities. "The Mines and Geology department continues to be under Siddaramaiah. Minister Vinay Kulkarni holds the portfolio only in name. This kind of rampant illegalities cannot be carried out without the blessings of the higher ups." The JD(S) leader has demanded a fair probe into the matter. Today would have been the 92nd birthday of Mahasweta Devi and to commemorate this day, Google has come out with a Doodle honouring her, which shows Mahasweta Devi in the foreground and tribal people, whose cause she championed, in the background. Born in Dhaka on January 14, 1926, Mahasweta Devi was the daughter of Manish Ghatak, himself an accomplished writer under the pen name Jubanashwa and Dharitri Devi, a writer and a social activist. Educated in Dhaka prior to India's independence, Mahasweta went on to study in Santiniketan and got her B.A from Visva-Bharati University and M.A in English from Calcutta University. Mahasweta began her writing career with a biography on Rani Lakshmibai, titled Jhansir Rani, in 1956. She then went on to work as a teacher and a journalist. Noted for her work focusing on tribal people, she studied them extensively so as to be able to write in a manner that could reach out to the people who read her works. Mahasweta Devi was also an accomplished social activist and her activism led to many visible results, the first of which being the release of the statue of tribal leader Birsa Munda from imprisonment by the Jharkand State Government. She was also instrumental in the fall of CPI(M) and the rise of Mamata Banerjee in the West Bengal government in the 2011 West Bengal Assembly polls. Additionally, she represented India in an impassioned speech during the Frankfurt Book Fair of 2006. As an author, Mahasweta Devi penned over 100 novels and 20 collections of short stories. Her most popular works include Hajar Churashir Maa, Rudali and Aranyer Adhikar, the former two of which have been adapted into motion pictures. She won multiple awards for her works and her social activism, including Jnanpith Award, Sahitya Akademi Award in Bengali, Padma Shri and Padma Vibhushan. Mahasweta Devi died on July 23, 2016, following a major heart attack. Both Mamata Banerjee and PM Narendra Modi expressed grief at her passing. Miscreants set ablaze several cars that were parked in front of the owners' houses in different areas of Kalaburagi city, early Sunday morning. Among the many cars set afire, two cars parked at Sedam Road, Jayanagar; one in Banashankari Colony, one in Vivesvaraya Colony, one in front of United Hospital and one at Lalageri Cross are burnt to a cinder. Police said that all this is the handiwork of a single gang of miscreants. Barely one month ago, four bikes and one autorickshaw were set on fire in Roja Layout in Kalaburagi. Superintendent of Police N Shashikumar visited the spots. Kalaburagi rural and University police have registered cases and investigations are on. Officials of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) officials will soon bid goodbye to their vintage ambassadors and commute to work in electric sedans. The civic body will sign a memorandum of understanding with the Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) under the Power Ministry for the project. "The officials travelling by ambassadors will soon be given e-sedans for commuting to work. "In the first phase, 80 electrically-run sedans will be procured by the ministry. The e-sedans will cost around Rs 10 lakh each, which the civic body will have to purchase from the company under the ministry at a subsidised rate," a senior NDMC official said. Charging stations have been developed for the e-sedans at different areas including Shivaji Stadium and Palika Kendra. The sedans can be driven up to 140 km at a time and can run up to the speed of 100 km per hour. Prime Minister Narendra Modi received his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu as he landed at the Palam airport in New Delhi on Sunday for a six-day visit to India. Modi made a departure from protocol and received Netanyahu at the airport, thus reciprocating a gesture the Israeli prime minister had extended to him when he himself had landed in Tel Aviv to commence his landmark visit to the West Asian nation in July. "Welcome to India, Prime Minister Netanyahu! Your visit to India is special, historic. This visit will strengthen the close ties between our countries," Modi tweeted in Hebrew. "Thank You...to my good friend, Indian Prime Minister @narendramodi, who surprised me with a personal welcome at the airport upon my arrival in India. Together we will bring the relations between our countries to new heights!" Netanyahu tweeted. The two prime ministers drove straight from the airport to Teenmurti Chowk to pay homage to the soldiers of Mysore Lancers, Jodhpur Lancers and Hyderabad Lancers, who had fought for the allied forces to wrest control of Haifa a now a major port city on Mediterranean Coast of Israel a from the Ottoman Empire in September 1918 during the World War I. Teenmurti Chowk was formally renamed as Teenmurti-Haifa Chowk to mark the centenary of the historic Battle of Haifa. Modi, Netanyahu and his wife Sara placed wreaths before the three bronze statues, representing the soldiers of Hyderabad, Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers. "Salute to the great Indian traditions of selfless sacrifice and penance," Modi wrote on the Visitors' Book, noting the valour and sacrifice of the soldiers from India in the Battle of Haifa in particular and in the two World Wars in general. Netanyahu held his first official meeting in New Delhi later in the afternoon when External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on him. Modi also hosted a private dinner in honour of Netanyahu. The two prime ministers will again formally meet at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Monday. The two sides are expected to ink pacts to step up cooperation in the fields of energy, space technology, cybersecurity and production of films. The two prime ministers are also expected to discuss ways to step up defence and counter-terrorism cooperation. Netanyahu is accompanied by a business delegation comprising 130 executives representing over 100 companies. He and Modi will address the second Israel-India CEOs' Forum meeting on Monday. Netanyahu's maiden visit to New Delhi will mark the end of the celebration of 25th anniversary of the establishment of India-Israel diplomatic relations in 1992. Ariel Sharon, who visited New Delhi in 2003, was the first Israeli prime minister to visit India. Ezer Weizmann's visit to New Delhi in 1997 was the first by an Israeli President. Reuven Rivlin, the current president of the West Asian nation, visited India in 2016. Pranab Mukherjee was the first President of India to visit Israel in 2015. Modi's visit last year was the first visit by a prime minister of India to Israel. A man from Congo (Africa) who was in Bengaluru, rammed the car he was driving into a median wall on Hennur Main Road near Geddalahalli at about 4 am on Sunday. He died in the accident. Police said that the deceased car driver has been identified as Asami Baliweb (24). He succumbed to injuries at hospital at about 6.20 am. Police added that Baliweb drove the car (No. KA 03 MB 9489) to the extreme left, onto the footpath, hit a metal staircase and finally rammed into the median wall. He appeared to be heavily intoxicated. Two others who were with Baliweb are Peotrpee (27) and Bruno (32). They currently are being treated for injuries at People Tree hospital. Police said all three are Congo citizens. One of the UK's leading state-funded schools has called on the government to take a firm stand on children wearing hijab and fasting during Ramadan. St Stephen's School in Newham, east London, became one of the first schools in the country to ban the hijab for girls under eight in 2016 and intends to ban it for girls under 11 from September 2018. It also imposed strict rules on Ramadan fasting, a ritual that lasts around 18 hours a day in the summer, on school premises. The school, with a majority of pupils from Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi backgrounds and headed by Indian- origin principal Neena Lall wants the UK government to issue clear guidelines on the issue to prevent a backlash from parents. "The department should step up and take it out of our hands and tell every school this is how it (fasting) should be. The same for the hijab, it should not be our decision. It is unfair to teachers and very unfair to governors. We are unpaid. Why should we get the backlash, Arif Qawi, chairman of governors at St Stephen's School, told The Sunday Times'. He said that despite criticism from a few families, some parents were happy with the school's stance on fasting. "We did not ban fasting altogether but we encouraged them (children) to fast on holidays, at weekends and not on the school campus. Here we are responsible for their health and safety if they pass out on campus. It is not fair to us," said Qawi, who consulted with Muslim clerics to confirm that fasting should begin from the age of puberty. Under the UK's Department for Education guidelines, uniform policy is a matter for individual head-teachers and their governing bodies. "It is a matter for individual schools to decide how to accommodate children observing Ramadan, and to set uniform policies. We issue clear guidance on uniform and to help schools understand their legal duties under the Equality Act, a Department for Education statement said. In November 2017, St Stephen's School had topped a prestigious primary schools league table published by The Sunday Times annually. It was listed as the best school in England in the 'Schools Guide 2018' for a strong teaching record. "Everything we do here comes from our vision that every St Stephens child blossoms into a confident, respectful, modern British citizen prepared to be an aspirational contributor in the global community," Lall had said at the time. Security forces today recovered an improvised explosive device (IED) on the outskirts of Srinagar, the second such recovery in the city in as many days, police said. The IED was detected by a patrol party of security forces in Maloora area of Srinagar this morning, a police official said. He said the area was cordoned off and a bomb disposal squad was rushed to the spot which destroyed the explosive. Further details are awaited, the official said. This is the second IED recovered by security forces in as many days in Srinagar. Yesterday, an IED, weighing approximately 5 kg, was recovered on the Srinagar-Baramulla Highway in HMT area of the city in the close vicinity of Maloora. Militants target security forces with IEDs to inflict maximum damage. Four policemen were killed on January 6 in an IED blast in Sopore township of north Kashmir. Goa Water Resources Minister Vinod Palyekar has reportedly called Kannadigas 'harami' (illegitimate or bastard). Palyekar made the remarks while speaking to reporters in Goa, after visiting the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project site at Kanakumbi in Belagavi district on Saturday. The project aims to divert the Mahadayi river water at Kanakumbi in Khanapur taluk. During his interaction with reporters in Goa, Palyekar said, "The Karnataka government is playing dirty politics over the Mahadayi dispute and had diverted the river water, which should flow in Goa." To a query on why he sought security cover during his visit to the project site, Palyekar said: "Kannadiga people are 'harami' and can stoop to any level." Though there was a Supreme Court stay on the project work, the Karnataka government had been carrying out the construction work, Palyekar stated. Later, the minister asked journalists not to mention the abusive word. On Sunday, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah termed Palyekar's statement reprehensible. "The abusive words used against #Kannadigas by @bjp4India Irrigation Minister from Goa are reprehensible, to say the least. However, we hold no grudge against the people of Goa. We will continue to strive to secure drinking water from #Mahadayi for out people," Siddaramaiah tweeted. Palyekar is from the Goa Forward Party, which is part of the BJP-led alliance government in Goa. Vipassana purifies the mind and it's practice leads to increased concentration, President Ram Nath Kovind said on Sunday while speaking at Global Vipassana Foundation's 'Gratitude Day'. "This practice includes three simple precepts - morality, concentration of mind and self realisation through awareness and insight. It is a non -sectarain meditation technique that applies equally on all human beings irrespective of caste, religion, language, gender or age," the President said. Kovind affirmed that the propagation of the Vipassana practice is beneficial for society. Kovind said that he was pleased to note that the Vipassana Kendra in Igatpuri, Dengan Palace in Nagpur and the biggest Pagoda in the world in Mumbai are popularising the Vipassana practice and attracting people in large numbers not only from Maharashtra but from various parts of India and abroad. The President informed that in 1972, Acharya Vinoba Bhave had told Shri Satya Narayan Goenka to teach Vipassana to school children. In 1975 prisoners in jails were also taught Vipassana. The government of Maharashtra is providing facilities to its officials in learning Vipassana. Other state governments are also doing so. Two minor Dalit girls were allegedly raped and killed in separate incidents in Haryana, barely a month after a similar case involving a six-year-old girl shook the state. Police said one of the girls, a 15-year-old school student, had been brutally assaulted and her private parts mutiliated. The body of the other victim, an 11-year-old girl, was found in a village in Panipat district this morning, a police official said. The official said she was abudcted by two men last evening when she had gone out of her house to throw garbage in the village dumpyard. Rahul Sharma, superintendent of police, Panipat, told PTI over the phone that two men, who lived in her neighbourhood, were arrested today for the crime. After abducting her, the accused took her to a house where they allegedly raped and strangled her. They also burnt her clothes in a bid to destroy evidence, the SP said. The body of the 15-year-old girl, who had been missing since last Tuesday after she left home for tuition classes, was found near a canal at Budha Khera village in Jind district's Safidon town yesterday, the police said. The girl, who belonged to a village in Kurukshetra district, had been brutally assaulted, an official said. Her private parts were mutilated and some of her vital organs had been ruptured, the official said. She was a Class 10 student, the police said. Two special investigation teams (SITs) under DSP-rank officers have been constituted to probe the incident, the Jind police said. A hunt was on for the accused and a rape-and-murder case registered after a post-mortem report confirmed the assault, Sunil Kumar, who is heading one of the SITs, said over the phone today. The two incidents come close on the heels of another incident last month, in which a six-year-old girl was violently raped and killed in Haryana's Uklana area in Hisar district. The brutal rape of the six-year-old, and the recent savage incidents, were a stark reminder of the December 16, 2012, incident in Delhi, in which a physiotherapy intern was raped by a group of a men in a moving bus and a rod inserted into her body. She died in a hospital 13 days later. Former Bihar Congress president Ashok Choudhary attending the feast organised by JD (U) on the occasion of Makar Sankranti on Sunday raised many eyebrows. In the feast organised by State JD (U) president Bashisht Narayan Singh at his Patna residence all the other alliance partners within the Bihar NDA, including senior BJP leader Sushil Modi, were invited. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Bihar Assembly Speaker Vijay Choudhary also graced the occasion. However, the most noticeable guest on the occasion was Ashok Choudhary along with other party legislator Dilip Choudhary. Ashok was Bihar's Education Minister in Nitish Cabinet when the grand alliance was ruling the state. However, soon after Nitish severed ties with the RJD and the Congress, the party high command removed Ashok from the post of the Bihar Congress chief. He was charged with planning a coup within the party so as to cross over the fence to Nitish's outfit with his breakaway group. But the two-thirds legislator could not weaned away from the parent party and hence the 'coup' died a premature death. However, the Congress, which has 27 members in the Assembly, is now always suspicious over the rebel leader's next move. Ashok was conspicuous by his absence when the CLP leader Sadanand Singh convened a party meeting on Saturday but managed to find time to attend JD (U) feast on Sunday. Ashok, however, appeared unperturbed over such charge. "I have very high regards for Bashishtha Babu. He is like a guardian to me. So I could not say no when he invited me for Makar Sankranti," said Ashok, enjoying the media glare. It is pertinent to mention here that one needs the support of at least 18 Congress MLAs to form a breakaway faction, which could eventually merge with the JD (U), which has 71 members in the 243-member House. Members of Hindu Yuva Vahini (HYV), an outfit formed by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, thrashed a couple in state's Baghpat district, over what they alleged 'love jehad'. According to the police sources, the Vahini activists barged into the chambers of a lawyer in Baghpat, where the couple was sitting. The couple had reached the district court on Saturday to solemnise their marriage. Police said that the girl hailed from Barnala in Punjab while the boy was a resident of Saharanpur district in the state. The saffron activists brutally thrashed the youth and also assaulted the girl in front of the cops, who tried to rescue them, sources said. The Vahini members also barged into the police station and tried to forcibly take away the couple but could not succeed, sources added. They alleged that the girl had been trapped by the youth, who hailed from a different community. The girl, however, told the cops that she had decided to marry the youth of her own free will. Earlier also Vahini activists had taken the law in their hands and acted as vigilantes. A few months back an old Muslim man was lynched allegedly by its activists in state's communally sensitive Bulandshahar district for helping two lovers of different communities elope. They had also publicly assaulted a Muslim youth and dragged him to the police station in Meerut accusing him of indulging in 'love jehad'. A few months back scores of HYV activists had barged into a church in Maharajganj district during a prayer and assaulted the priests there alleging that they were ''forcing'' people to convert to Christianity. The Vahini members have also been accused of threatening and assaulting the cops on several occasions. Congress president Rahul Gandhi is all set to celebrate Makar Sankranti in his Lok Sabha constituency Amethi on Monday during his two-day visit, his first after assuming the charge of the party. According to sources, Rahul will be attending a khichri bhoj or gruel banquet (khichri is eaten on the occasion of Makar Sankrant) along with his party workers. The Congress president would also be visiting a few famous temples besides meeting the party workers and local leaders. Amethi district Congress president Yogendra Mishra said Rahul would be accorded a grand welcome in the constituency. "It is his first visit as a Congress chief....we have planned a grand reception for him this time," Mishra said. Sources said Rahul will go on padyatra (foot march) in Gauriganj, the district headquarter and also pay obeisance at the famous Hanuman Temple there. Welcome arches have been erected in different parts of the constituency. Flower petals would also be showered on Rahul during his padyatra, sources said. The grand reception plan is being seen as in response to the Amethi visits by Union minister Smriti Irani and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The BJP has set its eyes on the constituency after Smriti managed to reduce Rahul's victory margin substantially in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. BJP chief Amit Shah, Adityanath and Smriti had addressed a public meeting in Amethi a few months back and announced sops for the constituency. The saffron party has also dropped enough hints that Smriti would be its candidate from Amethi again in the next general elections in 2019. The work on converting Sunny Side, the abode of late General K S Thimayya in Madikeri into a memorial has been re-started. The state government, through the Department of Kannada and Culture, released Rs 2.30 crore for the purpose last week. The memorial is expected to be ready within a few months. At the same time, a war tank, a long-pending demand, has finally arrived at the 'Sunny Side'. Demand for tank Owing to shortage of fund, the work on converting 'Sunny Side' into a memorial could not be taken up. Ex-servicemen have been demanding that a war tank be kept in the museum of 'Sunny Side'. When the Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat visited Kodagu to unveil the statues of Field Marshal K M Cariappa and General K S Thimayya on Kaveri College premises in Gonikoppa recently, the ex-servicemen's association had appealed for the same. The war tank has arrived at Madikeri from Army Training Centre in Pune. The battle tank "Himath" was used during the India-Pakistan war in 1971. After the completion of the memorial, the war tank will be open for public viewing. The Nirmiti Kendra has taken up the work on the memorial but will retain the old structure of the house. It is proposed to keep a model of a fighter plane too, and items used by Gen Thimayya while serving the Army, along with war tank, in the memorial. Funds for memorial The state government had announced the conversion of the house into a memorial in its budget. Accordingly, the district administration had prepared an estimate for Rs 5.5 crore. In 2013-14, the government had released Rs 45 lakh. When the state government claimed that it cannot release such a huge amount, the district administration had revised the estimate to Rs 3.70 crore. The state government has so far released Rs 1.45 crore. With the recent release of Rs 2.30 crore, the work is likely to be completed at the earliest, said the Nirmiti Kendra officials. The Centre has proposed to bring in a new assessment criteria for recruitment and promotion of university professors/lecturers to improve the quality of higher education. The Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry has also proposed to scrap the current system of appraisal and promotion of faculty members based on academic performance indicator (API) scores. The ministry's proposal will be taken up for a decision during the two-day meeting of the Central Advisory Board of Education, beginning Monday. HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar will preside over the meeting. "Proposal to introduce a new assessment criteria for recruitment and promotion in lieu of the API scores is one of the key agenda of the meeting. The proposal has been made to improve the quality of higher education in the country," official sources said. The system of faculty members' appraisal on the basis of API scores has been a contentious topic ever since the University Grants Commission (UGC) introduced it in 2010. Last year, the UGC had to restore the direct teaching hours workload of university faculty members after various teachers' bodies, including the Delhi University Teachers Association, came together to protest against the commission's revised recruitment and promotion rules. The revised rules enhanced the per week classroom teaching time by two hours lining it with the API. The government is exploring options of absorbing Air India employees in public sector enterprises and voluntary retirement package, as it moves ahead with the airline's disinvestment amid stiff opposition from worker unions, sources said. While FDI of up to 49% has been allowed in the debt-laden carrier, efforts are on to ensure a smooth strategic disinvestment and a group of ministers is weighing various options. Air India, estimated to have a debt burden of more than Rs 50,000 crore, is staying afloat on taxpayers' money and the divestment plan is aimed at reviving the airline's fortunes. Sources in the know said the government is mulling providing airline employees the option of joining public sector companies. The possibility of having a VRS package is also under consideration, sources said, while adding that a final decision is yet to be made. "Various options are under consideration to protect the interests of the employees," Civil Aviation Secretary R N Choubey said. His response came to queries on whether the government is looking at giving Air India employees the option to join public sector firms, apart from extending VRS package. Air India and its subsidiaries have around 29,000 employees, including those on contract. A group of ministers is in the process of finalising the modalities for the proposed strategic stake sale and expression of interest is likely to be invited from bidders soon. On January 10, the government allowed overseas entities, including foreign airlines, to own up to 49% stake under the approval route in Air India subject to certain conditions. "Substantial ownership and effective control of Air India shall continue to be vested in an Indian national," the government had said. Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju had said permitting 49% FDI in Air India brings the airline at par with other domestic carriers and does away with the preferential treatment that was extended to the carrier. Postal stamps and covers featuring various facets of lighthouses across the globe were on display in a philately exhibition, on the theme 'Candle on the Water,' organised by the Dakshina Kannada district Philately and Numismatics Association (DKPANA) at the head post office at Pandeshwar on Sunday. MRPL general manager K Shridhar, who was the exhibitor, spoke to DH and said that lighthouses act as candles for sailors, helping them navigate in the right direction. Lighthouses are also termed as "pharos" and beacons. The special covers on lighthouses were categorised on various bases, such as the design, materials, architecture, administration, on-shore and off-shore. There were stamps and covers from around 70 different nations including Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, China, Japan, US, Germany, France, Spain and Russia featuring lighthouses on miniature sheets, cancellations, maxim cards, commemorative covers and gutter pairs. Stamps on lighthouses at Mahabalipuram and Alappuzha were also seen. Shridhar said that he has been collecting stamps and covers since 2000. He is basically from Erode, Tamil Nadu. Prizes He has won the 5th place (Vermeil) in INPEX a National Philatelic Exhibition 2017 for his collection on lighthouses. Twelve other members of DKPANA who bagged awards in the INPEX 2017 are Daniel Monteiro (vermeil), Kishore Jhunjunwalla (large silver), Gopal Biswas (large vermeil and special prize), Sudhir Jain (silver), Sheryl Prabhu (bronze), Surendra A Kotadia (bronze), S Satish Kumar (bronze), Vidya Kishore Baglodi (silver), Ghouse Ali Zameer (large silver), Meera Mahaveer Kundur (large silver), St Aloysius High School (silver) and S Abhishek (silver). Gold-plated stamps Raviraj Belma from Konaje, senior project manager at Infosys, Mudipu, exhibited gold plated stamps released during the 80's. The stamps are issued by Postal Commemorative Society (PCS), United States, which is the third party, the exhibitor said. There were around 36 stamps on display. Special cover on Pejawar seer M K Krishnaiah, curator of the Corporation Bank Haji Abdullah Heritage Museum, Udupi, informed that a philately cover will be released by the India Posts on Pejawar Mutt seer Sri Vishwesha Theertha, at Car Street, Udupi, at 4 pm on January 17 during a civic felicitation to Vishwesha Theertha, the outgoing seer of Paryaya Peetha. The cover is brought out to mark completion of 80 years of the seer's hermitage. It will have pictures of the seer during his 'Sanyasa Deekshe' (attainment of hermitage) and in recent times. It will also have a special postal cancellation showing 'Vittala', the presiding deity of Pejawar Mutt. The Department had released a special cover on Sri Pejawar Adhokshaja Mutt of Udupi in January, 2016, to commemorate the 5th Paryaya of Sri Vishwesha Teertha Swami. Krishnaiah added that a post card featuring Sri Madhwacharya and Udupi Sri Krishna was issued by South Karnataka Postal Region in the first week of January this year. A postal cancellation featuring Attur Church, Karkala, will be launched at the church premises at 12 noon on January 18, Krishnaiah said. The cancellations are issued by the Department of Posts, Karnataka Circle, Bengaluru. Goa Water Resource Minister Vinod Palyekar has reportedly abused Kannadigas terming them as 'harami' (illegitimate or bastard). Palyekar made the derogatory and objectionable remarks while speaking to reporters in Goa, after visiting the Kalasa-Banduri nalaha project site at Kanakumbi in Belagavi district on Saturday. The project aims to divert the Mahadayi river water at Kanakumbi in Khanapur taluk. During his reaction with reporters in Goa, the minister said, "The Karnataka government was playing dirty politics over the Mahadayi and had diverted the river water, which sould flow in Goa". To a query on why did he taken security during his visit to the project site, Palyekar said: "Kannadiga people are harami and can stoop to any level." Though there was a Supreme Court stay on the project work, the Karnataka government had been carrying out the construction work in violation of the order, he stated. Later, Palyekar requested the journalists to not to mention of the abusive word he had used. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday termed as reprehensible Palyekar's reported derogatory remark about Kannadigas. "The abusive words used against #Kannadigas by @bjp4India Irrigation Minister from Goa are reprehensible to say the least. However, we hold no grudge against the people of Goa. We will continue to strive to secure drinking water from #Mahadayi for out people," Siddaramaiah tweeted. BJP leader K S Eshwarappa condemned the Palyekar's remark and demanded that he should immediately apologie. "His comments are heights of stupidity. It is against the Constitution of India and against the federal principles," Eshwarappa remarked. JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy also condemned the Goa Minister's remark. Meanwhile, Karnataka Water Resource minister M B Patil is scheduled to visit Kalasa-Banduri nalha project site on Monday, along with journalists, to provide them details about the ground reality at project site. DH News Service The Indian Army has revived its bid to procure Spike man-portable anti-tank guided missiles, albeit in lesser quantity, from Israel at a time when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is visiting India to boost bilateral relations. Last year, the defence ministry cancelled a nearly Rs 3,200 crore ($500 million) tender to procure these missiles from Israel after the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) promised that it could come out with a similar missile. But the Indian Army restarted the talks with the defence ministry to procure the Spike because even a timely delivery from the DRDO can't materialise before 2021-22. "We look at the reduced number of Spikes from Israel. We need the MP-ATGM to meet the gap between the trial of the indigenous missile and its production. The Israeli missile would be acquired through a government-to-government route for faster procurement," said Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat. In November 2017, the defence ministry exited from a tender to acquire Spike-MR missile system from Rafael Advanced Defence Systems after it encountered roadblocks because of the Israeli firm's reservations in ensuring full transfer of technology as per the provisions of the government's Make in India' initiative. The DRDO chipped in with a promise of delivering similar missiles to the army in the next four years. The first trial is scheduled for July-August 2018. The army's claims on the revival of the missile deal coincide with the first visit by an Israel prime minister in 15 years. With Israel being one of the topmost suppliers of arms and ammunition to India, defence relations will figure at the talks between Netanyahu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Spike MR missile is a 3rd generation, fire and forget, top attack, ATGM with a range of 2.5 km, which can operate both during the day and night. The army is currently using 2nd generation Atoms - Honkers and Milan 2T - which do not have night-fighting capabilities. In 2009, the MoD accepted the requirement of buying 321 ATGM launchers and 8,356 missiles, with 30% offsets and a transfer of technology clause. Spike missiles underwent trials in 2011-12 after the US denied technology transfer for Javelin. The defence ministry accepted the trial evaluation in 2013 and gave clearance for procuring from a single vendor. The US government later tried to offer the Javelin ATGM with the transfer of technology but India chose to go ahead with the Israeli system. The DRDO's own Nag anti-tank missile a one of the five missiles to be developed under A P J Abdul Kampala's integrated guided missile programmes a is yet to be inducted in the Army even after more than three decades. Nearly 20 lakh devotees from across the country and even overseas took a holy dip on Sunday at the confluence of River Ganga and the Bay of Bengal on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. South 24 Parganas district magistrate Y Ratnakara Rao said, Nearly 20 lakh people have arrived at the Gangasagar today(Sunday) to take the dip and attend the fair. Last year, we had received around 15 lakh pilgrims. This year, we expect more than 20 lakh pilgrims as another dip will happen tomorrow at the crack of dawn. Rao said around 500 additional CCTV cameras have been installed along the entire stretch of around 120 km from Babughat in Kolkata to the Sagar Island at Gangasagar to monitor movement of pilgrims as well as keeping a close tab on security arrangements. We have equipped our officials with satellite phones for the first time for uninterrupted communication and to ensure real time feedback along with the CCTV footage, which is being constantly monitored by a team of officials at the central control room, Rao said. The Navy, Coast Guard, Marine Police and two battalions of the NDRF along with over 3,000 police personnel have been engaged in ensuring a tight security cover for the huge mass of pilgrims. Seven drones are also being used as a security backup. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has said that with a large congregation like the one in Gangasagar, the fair should be accorded the status of Kumbh Mela. Banerjee's demand is backed by Shankaracharya of Puri Swami Nischalananda Saraswati, who is attending the Gangasagar fair this year. Pilgrims take a dip at the confluence of the Ganga and the sea on the occasion of Makar Sankranti and then offer prayers at the temple of Kapil Muni, a Hindu mythical hermit. Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly and former chief minister Jagadish Shettar challenged the Congress party on Sunday to announce Chief Minister Siddaramaiah as its next CM candidate. Pointing out that BJP had announced BS Yeddyurappa as its CM candidate a year ago, Shettar said Congress hesitates to announce Siddaramaiah as the CM candidate because it fears a rebellion among its leaders. BJP leader and former chief minister Jagadish Shettar has alleged that with a view to capture the votebank in the forthcoming general elections, Congress party leaders have been illegally distributing sarees, watches and mixer grinders among the people. The state government may soon regularise it in the name of 'Vastra Bhagya', he commented. Speaking to reporters here on Sunday, Shettar said that Congress leaders are suddenly concerned about the poor and common people as the elections are fast approaching. "Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would soon announce 'Vastra Bhagya', as one of the government schemes to distribute sarees, shirts, in the budget," Shettar ridiculed. "If we speak against Indira Canteen, they (Congress) describe us as anti-poor. Why did Siddaramaiah not launch the canteen immediately after he came to power," he questioned. No one, including, AICC president Rahul Gandhi, can stop the BJP wave in Karnataka. Siddaramaiah fears PM Narendra Modi and BJPapresident Amit Shah, Shettar said. When questioned about Siddaramaiah's "terrorist" comments against BJP and RSS, he challenged the CMato release the documents to prove it. The Associated Managements of Primary and Secondary Schools in Karnataka (KAMS) has submitted a memorandum to the state education department, demanding the state revise its textbooks, failing which they would seek a legal remedy in the matter. They sought the government revise the textbooks of the state syllabus so that it be on par with the NCERT textbooks. The textbooks being used at present are not as per the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2005, they said. Giving examples from an analysis of the textbooks conducted by NCERT, the association has said that the textbooks are not learner-centric. For instance, the analysis pointed out that the Mathematics textbooks for Class V did not have enough examples of real-life applications of concepts they were learning. Concepts in the Science textbooks are not introduced at the appropriate age level, encouraging rote learning. Activities are too classroom-centric and don't encourage exploring outside the classroom, the analysis said. The state syllabus textbooks for the 2017-18 academic year were revised by a committee headed by scholar, Baraguru Ramachandrappa. Based on these observations, KAMS has said that 'it is devastating to know that the books are substandard and not par with the recommendation of NCERT'. They said that providing poor quality textbooks amounts to violation of a child's rights as students will not be able to face competition from their peers studying in other boards. Lawyers' representatives met Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra and other judges on Sunday and were assured that there would be a congenial atmosphere in the Supreme Court. All issues raised by the four seniormost judges would be resolved soon, they said. A seven-member delegation of the Bar Council of India (BCI) held a meeting with CJI and a number of other judges in its efforts to end the crisis that struck the highest judiciary after four seniormost judges Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B Lokur and Kurian Joseph on Friday questioned "arbitrary" allocations of cases to select benches. A possibility of full court meeting was also expressed on Monday where Chief Justice Misra might meet with all other judges to address the concerns. Two other judges of the apex court, Justices S A Bobde and L Nageswara Rao, also met Justice Chelameswar who led the four judges in the unprecedented press conference, at his residence here. Hectic parleys took place throughout the day, with lawyers meeting different judges, including Justice Arun Mishra who heard Mumbai special judge B S Loya's death case. Supreme Court Bar Association president Vikas Singh went to meet the CJI at his residence and handed over the resolution passed by the executive committee. "I met the CJI and handed over a copy of the resolution. He said that he would look into it and ensure there was congeniality in the Supreme Court at the earliest," Singh said after his 15-minute meeting with the CJI. The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), at an emergency meeting on Saturday, passed a resolution and expressed "grave concern" over the differences of four seniormost judges with the CJI and said the issue should be immediately considered by the full court of the apex court. The SCBA executive committee resolved that all public interest litigation (PIL) matters, including the pending PILs, should be either taken up by the CJI or be assigned for adjudication to four senior judges who are part of the apex court Collegium. After meeting the CJI late in the evening, BCI chairman Manan Kumar Mishra said, "We met the CJI and he said there would be a very congenial atmosphere in the Supreme Court and everything will be sorted." Mishra, however, added, "The BCI has a limited role. We can't interfere much. This is an internal issue. All judges whom we met said everything will be sorted out." 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United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. quote on the King monument in Washington, D.C. Photo by Chris Savage. Many of us will celebrate Martin Luther King Day by visiting a museum, participating in a community volunteer event, or by watch a civil rights documentary. These are all, of course, perfectly appropriate ways to celebrate the life of our countrys preeminent civil rights warrior. However, in addition to his fight for civil rights for non-white Americans, Dr. King was equally passionate about economic justice issues. It is with this in mind that the One Fair Wage campaign is hosting a series of events around Michigan on Martin Luther King Day (Monday, January 15th). These events will take place in Detroit and Kalamazoo and will feature volunteers leading the teach-ins and collecting signatures. Here are the details: The Michigan One Fair Wage campaign will take part in events across the state on MLK Day to both honor the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and continue his push for economic justice. The events will allow supporters of raising Michigans minimum wage to $12/hour and bringing parity to all workers to learn about the ballot measure and sign the petition to the put the measure on the ballot. Detroit Teach-In What: Michigan One Fair Wage Campaign Teach-In Where: COLORS Restaurant, 311 E. Grand River Ave., Detroit, MI 48226 Time: 11 a.m. A teach-in will take place in the restaurant and petitions will be available for people to sign. Detroit MLK March and Rally What: MLK Day March for Jobs, Peace & Justice Where: Central United Methodist Church, 23 E. Adams and Woodward, Detroit Time: Rally begins at noon MI One Fair Wage campaign will have a table at the event and will be collecting signatures. For more information about the march click here. Kalamazoo Teach-In What: Michigan One Fair Wage Campaign Teach-In Where: Western Michigan University, Bernhard Cener Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. A teach-in will take place in the restaurant and petitions will be available for people to sign. For more information on the One Fair Wage campaign, go to OneFairWage.com. (Photo: Zambia tourism)Lusaka street. Zambia has banned church services and shut down schools in the high-density residential areas of the capital Lusaka due to a cholera epidemic that is threatening the nation of more than 15 million people. The World Health Organization said on Jan. 12 it estimated that around 440 000 people living in hotspots in five sub-districts of Lusaka had received their first dose of an anti-cholera oral vaccine. In two weeks they will receive a second dose. "Zambia is experiencing one of the worst outbreaks of cholera in years," said Dr. Nathan Bakyaita, WHO Representative to Zambia. Police in Zambia arrested 55 people in Lusaka after residents rioted over a curfew and ban on street vending imposed to control a cholera outbreak, the government had said on Jan. 12, Reuters news agency reported. The riots were in the densely populated Kanyama township and sparked after police sealed off a market where trading had been banned day before, when the curfew was declared. Zambia's Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo said at a media briefing that the residents smashed window panes at a local police station and set ablaze one motor vehicle. NEARLY 3,000 CHOLERA CASES As of Jan. 10, the Ministry of Health has reported 2,905 suspected cases of cholera, with 67 cumulative deaths in Zambia, said WHO. Lusaka alone registered 2,755 suspected cases, with 62 deaths. As of Jan 8, the case fatality rate was 2.27 percent. The Zambian bishops' conference has implemented measures, such as eliminating the handshake of peace in areas where masses are still allowed, Catholic News Service reported. Zambian government ministers said Jan. 7 that all gatherings of every nature, including church services, were banned in areas most affected by the epidemic. The ministers said the ban was aimed at curbing the spread of the disease and making current treatment measures more effective. Cholera is caused by bacterial infection. Within a few hours of infection, the disease causes vomiting and diarrhea, leading to severe dehydration that can be deadly without rapid intervention. Access to clean water and sanitation is critical to control the spread of cholera, and those with mild symptoms can usually be treated with hydration and antibiotics, although some cases require intravenous fluids. CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES Representatives of three Christian communities in Zambia the Catholic Church, the Council of Churches in Zambia, and the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia issued a Jan. 8 statement on national dialogue in which they expressed sadness at the loss of lives due to the cholera crisis. In a "Statement of National Dialogue" On Ian. 8, the Council of Churches in Zambia, Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia, and Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops stated there can be no peace without justice in Zambia, the World Council of Churches reported. "True dialogue means a change of heart, attitude and behavior," the statement reads. "It is a project, an ongoing process and effort." Lack of peace hurts everyone, especially the weak, elderly, the poor, women and children, the statement continues. "It hurts us Christians because we are essentially brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ who identifies himself with the same poor and the suffering," the text reads. "Despite the public pronouncements that Zambia is a peaceful country, the reality on the ground is different due to many acts of injustice, a growing culture of corruption, incidences of violence and utterances out of deep-seated hatred." The religious leaders urged political leaders to stop insulting each other or anyone who does not agree with their political opinion. "These leaders of political parties must restrain themselves and their members from making inflammatory or irresponsible statements." Considered to be the Ten Best UFO Photos Ever Taken I am sure that we could add more pictures to this list but these are considered ten o... Latest News IISER Bhopal researchers sequence genome of medicinal herb Giloy Giloy has major applications in pharmaceuticals and ayurvedic formulations to treat various health conditions NIIT University appoints former IIT Delhi professor as president Senior academic Rajesh Khanna has held numerous faculty and administrative positions at IIT Delhi for his NEET PG 2021 admit card to be released today Candidates who had registered for the exam can download the admit card from the official website of the When Stranger Things actor David Harbour isn't busy protecting Hawkins from shadow monsters, he's making a fan's high school senior photos memorable. Two days after Stranger Things Season 2 premiered in October 2017, Damaris Fregoso, a California high school student, took to Twitter to ask Harbour if he would grant her wish and join her in her high school senior photos. Of course, Harbour didn't jump on the request too fast, he made Fregoso do a little work before he decides. "How many retweets for you to take my senior photos with me?" Fregoso tweeted. David Harbour Sets Terms First Before Saying 'Yes' Harbour immediately replied to her question and stated that she would have to get 25K retweets of her tweet. Also, if he does accept the offer, he wants to wear a school sweatshirt and hold a trombone. Twitter users went crazy over Harbour's response. Interestingly, his costar Noah Schapp even joined in on the fun and supported the cause. Fregoso exceeded the requirement and raked in over 29,000 retweets so, a deal is a deal. As promised, Harbour completed the request and joined Fregoso in her senior photos. Stranger Things Actor Shares Photos On Instagram On Friday, the actor shared their most adorable photos on Instagram. The two both wore school sweatshirts while Harbour held pompoms and bunny ears behind Fregoso. The Critics' Choice Award winner also took photos with Fregoso's family, as well as her 5-month-old nephew. "Voted to most likely hijack someone's senior photos 24 years later. Many thanks to @postydamaris and her kind family and @iamtommyg photography for making a dream come true and proving my high school classmates right!!" Harbour wrote. Fregoso also took to Instagram to share the unforgettable moment with her followers. "Senior photos 18' -bunny ear -trombone -pompoms and -smiles (twitter saw it first)" Fregoso wrote. Is There A Season 3? In December 2017, Stranger Things creators, the Duffer Brothers, confirmed that a third installment of the Netflix series was definitely happening. However, fans were disappointed when Harbour stated that the new season might not premiere until 2019. In an interview with Variety, Harbour agreed that it is annoying to delay the release of a new season. However, the Duffer Brothers have plans to run the series for an at least four seasons. While Harbour might have disappointed fans by saying that a new season probably won't premiere in 2018, fans will be halfway happy to know that he won a Critics' Choice Award. The actor received the award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. Harbour is also nominated for two Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series and Outstanding Performance in an Ensemble Drama Series. Hi all, Been living/residing in Italy for many years, married with 2 kids. My mother died recently in Ireland and left her house to myself, my brother and my sister. The house is now for sale and at current prices should fetch around 300,000 to be split 3 ways. Inheritance tax will not have to be paid in Ireland as the house was left in a will between siblings and is under the threshold for tax. Can I simply transfer this money to Italy when the time comes? How will I be fixed tax wise, am I already compliant as it will be coming from another EU country? Is there anything else I should know? thank you, DC. In 1969, the rock concert called Woodstock happened. Some folks in Bexar County wanted to try to get the same thing in San Antonio. They named it Battle of the Bands, and it continues to this day but is located in Dallas. It was (first) held in Von Ormy at the end of Trawalter Lane. I have several friends and neighbors who attended the concert, which went on for three days and was held for the following two years at the same location. One of the musicians who played at the Battle of the Bands was a young Ted Nugent. I would like to see if you can provide me any information on the event. Charlie Brown The Battle of the Bands held in 2017 in Dallas is described on a ticketing site as having been held for over 17 years, which would put its origin around the turn of this century. The only Battle of the Bands in San Antonio close to the time period you reference took place at a Dixieland Jazz Festival over several nights in July 1968 at HemisFair 68, and the performers were Don Alberts Dixieland All Stars and Jim Cullums Happy Jazz Band. When I put queries about the local rock festival you remember on several Facebook pages, I heard from Clarence Simpson, who knew one of the promoters of an event called Thank You, America, and pointed me to a Sept. 5, 1970, Billboard article that refers to it as San Antonios first and only rock festival. But it took place on the Northwest Side, not the south. According to newspaper coverage, the face of the festival was William S. Bill Crow, often referred to as a young stockbroker headquartered in El Tropicano hotel. Although news sources call it a festival, he announced it as a two-day party, featuring 24 hours of music to be played by 10 bands, starting Aug. 15, 1970, a Saturday, on an 80-acre site 20 minutes from North Star Mall. For a $15 donation, those attending would get a badge that entitled them to dinner on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday and access to five open bars. There would be 30 private security guards hired from the Smith detective agency to protect the guests up to 5,000 in Crows prediction, as quoted in the San Antonio Express, July 10, 1970. He didnt want it to be a rowdy rock n roll festival with the problems that Woodstock had encountered. Beer will not run out, liquor will not run out, food will not run out, promised a flyer for the event, whose full name was Thank You America A Rich Mans Festival. Crow had sent out invitations to 300 public officials, including then-President Richard Nixon, who declined. Most of the attendees, he said, would be mostly by invitation, adults who make America work doctors, lawyers, stockholders, company owners and others, along with several prominent Hollywood personalities, perhaps there for the full Hollywood production movie to be filmed at the festival. Bands named in the advance publicity included Corn Bread, Pablo de la Cruz, Eastwood Review, Flat Earth Ensemble, Greed, Hatfield, Heavy Heart and Smoky. After the event, Billboard reported that Mother Earth, a hard-rock group from Nashville, and the Mushroom, composed of members of the original cast of Hair, played after the original two days. Bands were supposed to play continuously from a 20-foot elevated stage. Perhaps to counteract the rock festival image he wanted to avoid, Crow told the paper he had rented 500 chairs and two red, white and blue tents for food service. There were some wobbles in the planning, and the festival was scaled back to 20 acres and eight bands, with liquor to be had on a bring your own bottle basis, according to the Express, July 27, 1970. The security guards were now going to come from the Texas Detective Agency, and the location, off Bulverde Road, leaked out to no avail, because rich people and nearly everyone else stayed away in droves. Thanks, America bash was a bomb, said the Express-News headline published Aug. 16, 1970, day 2 of the festival as originally planned. Only about 200 people had attended on day 1, and most of those were the local long-hair crowd who tossed Frisbees and spent their time searching for something to quench their 90-plus degree thirst, while a Department of Public Safety helicopter hovered overhead. The big name stars didnt show, and that probably includes Nugent, who had made appearances at clubs here as early as 1968. In an apparent effort to save the show, Crow switched to an even more pared-down plan B, with $5 admission for another three days, at which six bands played. By the end of this poor-mans festival, security was being provided by the Bandidos outlaw motorcycle club, while Bexar County sheriffs deputies observed from the periphery of the wingding area, wrote Express columnist Sam Kindrick, Aug. 26, 1970. This was less than a year after the death of an audience member at Californias Altamont Free Concert at which the Hells Angels acted as informal security. Although Crow announced that the festival might run through Labor Day, it closed Aug. 20, with encouragement from local authorities. Sometime during those latter days, says Billboard, the promoters added a new attraction, a tent where diphtheria immunizations were given, as the city had been undergoing an epidemic of the bacterial illness since the previous spring. When the Billboard article came out, talk of a feature film of the tiny, ailing festival had downshifted to an episode in a possible TV series about similar events throughout the country. If that happened, its hard to find evidence of it now. Were you at Thank You, America? If so, did you have a better time than we reported, then or now? If so, contact this column; all replies will be forwarded and may be published in a future column. historycolumn@yahoo.com | Twitter: @sahistorycolumn | Facebook: SanAntoniohistorycolumn MISSION A former Starr County justice of the peace will attempt to win back his old job despite being convicted on two counts of bribery and removed from the bench. Salvador Zarate Jr., 65, was arrested for taking a $500 bribe in exchange for reducing bond on two people arrested on drug charges in the county jail. In Texas, a candidate for public office cannot have been finally convicted of a felony. But the embattled Zarate has appealed his conviction, which officials say paved the way for him to enter the race. Whether I win or not thats not my goal, Zarate said. I was illegally convicted. Zarates bid to retake the bench he once held for two decades has raised eyebrows across Starr County, and confounded some officials, including Starr County District Attorney Omar Escobar Jr. If the former judge were to win the primary election in May, but lose his appeal before the the Fourth Court of Appeals in San Antonio, the county would have to replace him for the second time in two years. Its strange, isnt it, Escobar said. The real issue requires a legislative fix. Eloy Zarate Jr. no relation to the convicted justice of the peace was appointed to the Precinct 3 bench in 2016. The 45-year-old businessman is now running for election to the post. He owns EZJ Development LLC and E&A Homebuilders LP. I think anybody in their professional mind is going to go with me because they know what he was doing, the sitting justice of the peace said. At this point I just want to run against him, and may the best man win. Both men are running as Democrats. The party chair did not return calls for comment. County Commissioner Eloy Garza also was surprised to learn of the former judges intention to run in the wake of his public arrest and conviction. Theres no way hes going to make it, Garza said, not even close. A confidential informant told Starr County investigators that two people arrested on felony drug charges had paid Salvador Zarate $500 to have their bonds reduced from $30,000 to $5,000, court records show. At the time of his arrest on Christmas Eve 2014, investigators found a plastic baggie with cocaine tucked in a Marlboro cigarette box inside his briefcase. State District Judge Jose Luis Garza sentenced him in May 2016 to serve five years probation. As part of his sentence, Salvador Zarate, who has a prior arrest for driving while intoxicated, is required to submit to drug and alcohol monitoring. Weeks after his sentencing, he twice tested positive for cocaine and alcohol in violation of his probation, records show. After his arrest, the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct suspended the judge, who had been serving his fifth consecutive term. In a separate civil suit after his conviction, he was ordered to vacate his position. The Starr County District Attorneys Office said Zarates appeal stays that order. The Starr County regional public defenders office, which represents people who cannot afford an attorney, will argue the former judges case in appellate court on the basis there was insufficient evidence for his bribery conviction. Zarates attorney claims the trial court also abused its discretion in failing to grant his request for a jury instruction on entrapment. No hearing date has been set for the appeal. Despite long odds, the former JP, now living off his Social Security check, remains defiant, referring to his opponent and his supporters as the cartel. Theyre trying to pull me out of the race, Zarate said. This is an injustice for me and my people. anelsen@express-news.net | Twitter: @amnelsen Susan Gonzales grew up in the Edgewood area hearing tales of a demonic occurrence at El Camaroncito night club on Old Highway 90. In a West Side variation of an often-repeated urban legend, a woman accepts a dance from a mysterious stranger. She looked down toward the floor, and thats when she saw the person she was dancing with had hooves, so she ran out screaming, Gonzales said laughing. I remember hearing that as a kid, and Im 60 years old. She was among those who spent Saturday afternoon at Del Bravo Record Shop, telling stories of the Old Highway 90, now Enrique M. Barrera Parkway, a commercial corridor thats still home to mom-and-pop businesses. If you drive down here at 9 at night on a Friday or weekend, its just like driving into Cotulla or Pleasanton back in the 70s, said Javier Gutierrez, whose parents started the record store in 1966, across the street from its current location. Its a small-town feel. At Saturdays Remember Old Highway 90 Storytelling Event, the San Antonio Office of Historical Preservation took video of current residents and those who grew up in the neighborhood, many of whom brought old photos. Those in attendance noted that many of the businesses on the corridor, including Del Bravo and 4M Auto Supply down the street, are locally owned and have been in the same family for a generation or more. One of the corridors most famous sons is Johnny Hernandez, the San Antonio chef and entrepreneur who began his culinary career at Johnnys Cafeteria, his fathers former restaurant on Old Highway 90. His company still operates a production kitchen at one of the the family properties near Del Bravo, his sister Leticia said. I remember my brother Johnny and I washing pots, she said. Johnny and I have been in the business since we were tiny, since we could barely reach the tables. Its another way to promote these businesses and help them market themselves as part of the heritage of San Antonio, said Shannon Miller, the Office of Historic Preservations director, about Saturdays event. Miller was careful to say her office wasnt taking a position on the City Councils decision in 2015 to rename the street after Barrera, a longtime Edgewood ISD trustee and former councilman who died in 2007. But many of those in attendance said theyre in favor of changing the name back to Old Highway 90. Some in favor of changing it back said the name change has hurt business because theyre no longer on what they say was a street with an iconic name. Others said they want to preserve the culture of the corridor. Its a different culture from going to Alamo Heights, to Alamo Ranch, Gutierrez said. Thats why its important to preserve it. He compared working with the commercial corridor to efforts in other parts of town to bring in local businesses. The only difference is, were more organic, Gutierrez said. Its natural. District 6 Councilman Greg Brockhouse was in attendance and said he wants to poll the neighborhood on changing the name back to Old Highway 90, then bring it up before the City Council in the future. jbuch@express-news.net | Twitter: @jlbuch Heres a good bar bet: In San Antonio, who is responsible for a cracked and dangerous sidewalk the city or the property owner? As with hundreds of American cities, San Antonio has a longstanding rule holding the property owner responsible, regardless of who or what caused the damage, with an added provision absolving the city of any legal liability. But City Council members and city public works officials acknowledge that the requirement, though enshrined in the city charter, has been widely ignored for years. Voters here approved a bond proposal last year whose underlying assumption about sidewalks that theyre a public good provided by the city went unchallenged. And a majority of City Council members, mindful of their stated commitment to redress historical inequity in how the city distributes funds, believes the charter provision is unfair and should be changed. For decades, it ensured that only neighborhoods whose homeowners could afford sidewalks got sidewalks, they said. The ordinance was entirely done through the racism of the time, said District 5 Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales. Historically, sidewalks have not been funded properly in San Antonio because areas were redlined and discriminated against. More Information Who pays for sidewalks? Denver, Colorado Homeowners are responsible Orlando, Florida City is responsible Austin City is responsible Portland, Oregon Homeowners are responsible Seattle, Washington Homeowners are responsible, unless a city tree damages the sidewalk Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Homeowners are responsible, but city has cost share program Salt Lake City, Utah Homeowners are responsible, but city has cost share program Raleigh, North Carolina City is responsible Baltimore, Maryland City is responsible Omaha, Nebraska Homeowner is responsible Los Angeles, California Safe sidewalks program fixes sidewalks Memphis, Tennessee Homeowner is responsible Dallas Homeowners are responsible but city has cost share program See More Collapse Were not enforcing the ordinance, said Ana Sandoval, the new councilwoman for District 7. Were taking the responsibility (for construction and repairs). If we do it for vehicles, shouldnt we do it for pedestrians? District 1 Councilman Roberto Trevino, whose wonkish attention to the issue has earned him the City Hall nickname Luke Sidewalker, was blunt: We cannot force people to pay for their sidewalks. Its just fundamentally unfair. The council and public works department have generally looked the other way for years, recognizing the political nightmare of dropping what could be a $3,000 to $6,000 bill on a taxpayer for the construction of a no-frills, 50-foot stretch of sidewalk. That is a non-starter for a great portion of our community, said District 6 Councilman Greg Brockhouse. If were talking equity, thats a tough one to swallow. San Antonios requirement, at least as it exists on paper, is not unique. Dallas also holds property owners financially responsible for sidewalks, as do many cities, generally in western states. Austin does not, and its less common in eastern states. The debate goes back at least a century. In 1918, the Missouri Supreme Court upheld a Kansas City ordinance that required property owners to maintain their sidewalks. And even as San Antonio has eased away from enforcing its own rule, other cities in the past 20 years have shifted responsibility to homeowners, looking for ways to cut costs and reduce liability. Anthony Chukwudolue, the assistant director of San Antonios Transportation & Capital Improvements department, or TCI, said that even among cities that require it, he knew of only one, San Francisco, that actually fines homeowners if they dont fix their sidewalks. San Antonio now has a record amount of money allocated for sidewalks, including some $78 million for five years of new construction that comes from the 2017-2020 bond program. But the city is missing nearly 2,000 miles of sidewalks that simply were never built, some 40 percent of the citys street frontage. Thats not unusual. Houston, Austin and Nashville, among other cities, have had a higher percentage; Minneapolis and Seattle far lower. Depending on cost estimates for concrete, building San Antonios missing sidewalks could run about $1 billion and take half a century to complete. The city obviously doesnt have a billion dollars to commit to this, Trevino said. But this is a core quality of life issue for most of the city, especially the older districts. Most homeowners believe they have already paid for their sidewalks through various bond programs and years of paying property taxes, council members said. In some cases, developers built sidewalks and wrapped the cost into the price of new homes. So the city continues to build new sidewalks and residents effectively get them free or at least get them without being specifically taxed or billed for them. The exception seems to be a group of 53 property owners in 2017 who voluntarily participated in a fledgling cost-sharing program in which the city spent $250,000 to help them defray the cost of their sidewalks. For Brockhouse, keeping the responsibility on homeowners but helping them pay the costs might be a way forward. Id like to greatly expand it, he said of the program. TCI spokeswoman April Alcoser said most of the cost-sharing participants were from Trevinos downtown area district, though every district had some users. The average amount they paid was about $800, adding up to about 14 percent of the total cost, which averaged $5,509 per home. The city picked up the rest, even though the program has been touted as a 50-50 match. Some of the projects were more expensive because of Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant curb ramps and underground utilities. Convinced the city has not been spending its money wisely on the sidewalks it does build, Trevino requested an audit of the TCI sidewalks program by City Auditor Kevin Barthold. It showed the city spent some $18 million on the entire sidewalks program last year, only $5.47 million of which went toward building actual sidewalks. The construction of driveways and curbs, removal of old sidewalks, prepping the new site and landscaping cost more than $10 million. TCI director Mike Frisbie, defending his departments program, said the true cost of a sidewalk has to include ancillary things like traffic control, driveway reconstruction, and in some cases landscaping, curb work, etc. We simply have to make a greater impact with our money, Trevino said. We have to have a city-wide plan for sidewalks. Not just my district or anyones neighborhood, but a real plan, like any city would do with roads, drainage or major infrastructure. Council members plan to huddle with city engineers next month to go over the numbers. For at least a year, Trevino has championed the use of pre-cast concrete, like the medians one sees on interstate highways, rather than traditional pour-in-place concrete, for a majority of San Antonios sidewalk needs. Industry sources say pre-cast sidewalks that are compressed and properly reinforced can last as long as 80 years many pour-in-place walks crack badly in less than five and though more expensive initially, Trevino says they could save $300 million to $500 million in 20 years. Were an economically segregated city, Trevino said. And, yes, sidewalks are an equity issue. But it is also a longevity issue. Trevino, an architect, associates broken and missing sidewalks with neighborhoods that have been neglected, and with residents, especially the elderly, who may feel isolated and overwhelmed if forced to navigate slabs of tilting, cracked concrete. He sees San Antonios urban sidewalks as a bellwether for its approach to infrastructure, either as a long-term investment or a Band-Aid approach. Better sidewalks, say those who study them, make people want to walk, and when they do, they engage their neighbors, feel safer, connect with local schools and businesses, and feel invested in the community. Urban planners say sidewalks are routinely underfunded compared to streets and drainage but remain a typical big-city infrastructure complaint. It is by far our No. 1 ask, Trevino said. AUSTIN - President Donald Trump couldnt ask for a more ardent defender than Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who has compared Trump to Ronald Reagan, praised his steel-trap memory and decried as nonsense a bestseller that paints the workings of the White House as beyond a disaster. With the same focus that allowed him to move past Trumps assertion revealed during the presidential campaign that he could grab womens private parts with impunity, Patrick is gliding past the most recent events with his eye on the big picture. Patricks loyalty hasnt been swayed by the investigation into the Trump campaign with regard to Russias efforts to sway the presidential election. Trumps bragging that his nuclear button is bigger than North Koreas apparently didnt faze Patrick. Nor did eye-popping assertions in Michael Wolffs Fire and Fury, which portrays Trump as someone who neither reads nor listens and is viewed by his own people as unfit. Trump and some others vehemently deny the books assertions. And while many were aghast at Trumps reported vulgar comments on immigration, Patrick didnt immediately weigh in the presidents alleged assertion that we shouldnt take any more immigrants from shithole countries, a reference to nations in Africa. Patrick wasnt alone in his silence on that. Gov. Greg Abbott a fellow Republican whose support for Trump has been far lower-key than Patricks also didnt have an immediate comment on that immigration firestorm. By contrast, House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, said it is our country that suffers the most from such disrespect to immigrants. Some think Trump wont make it through a full term, much less have a chance at a second term. But some people also thought Trumps crude comments about women, made in 2011 but revealed in 2016, would sink his White House dreams. Patrick at that time said there was no excuse for talking about women that way, but he remained Trumps Texas campaign chairman. After Wolffs book came out and before Trumps immigration comments last week, Patrick was enthusiastic in his praise for Trump, talking him up on the radio and in response to questions after a Dallas appearance with Abbott. Ive spent a lot of time with him. Ive seen him in all situations. And hes one of the sharpest guys Ive ever been around in politics, and hes got a steel-trap memory, doesnt forget anything, and hes an action-oriented guy, and thats what I admire about him. And this book is just nonsense, Patrick said told reporters in Dallas Tuesday. Asked about his assertion that Reagan and Trump have been the best presidents in his lifetime, Patrick called the two dynamic. Supporting Trump appears to be a virtually politically risk-free position for Patrick as a Republican in in Texas, where the presidents numbers have remained strong among GOP voters. Jim Henson, director of the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin, said its polling showed Trumps positive job approval rating among Texas Republicans stayed stable between June, at 80 percent, and October, at 78 percent. It makes sense politically for Patrick to show bigger public enthusiasm for Trump than Abbott, Henson suggested. Abbotts approval ratings in Texas are in Trumps range, he said, while Patricks are a bit lower because he is not as well known. Patrick has more to gain from publicly embracing President Trump and absorbing the possible risks in doing so should Trump lose the support of Republicans which, of course, has not happened so far, Henson said. Abbott doesn't need the extra public attention that comes with declaring Trump a great president, and so doesn't need to take the extra risk that comes with such a position coming back to haunt him later. For Abbott, he said, there will be plenty of opportunities down the road to cozy up to the Trump administration when the political benefits are more clear. Patrick, who had been U.S. Sen. Ted Cruzs Texas chairman before the senators presidential bid ended, said he supports Trump because he thinks hes doing right for the country. Asked if there is any political risk involved, Patrick echoed what the poll numbers tell us. Republicans sure like him, and the last time I checked, Im still a Republican, OK? Patrick told me. So I dont think theres any risk there. Patrick added that when he switched from Cruz to Trump, some warned him against the move, quoting them as saying, Dan, dont get hooked up with him, because if he goes down and they all said hes going to lose youll suffer. That wasnt the issue for me. The issue was hes a Republican. Im a Republican. I didnt agree with Hillarys politics. So I can take that risk, he said. Someone said to me, Dan you just bought a penny stock, and after he won, you know that penny stock? I still have it. And its worth a whole lot more. pfikac@express-news.net | Twitter: @pfikac Peggy Fikac is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of her stories here. | pfikac@express-news.net | @pfikac Since Spanish Catholics arrived in a place then known as Yanaguana 300 years ago, the church has been amassing artistic, architectural and historical treasures that begin with its mission parishes and historic cathedral. Many parishes are, in effect, museums of religious art. Father David Garcia, who raised millions to restore the World Heritage-recognized mission churches and San Fernando Cathedral, can rattle off a list of significant paintings and pieces. So can Catholic scholars such as Father Bob Wright of the Oblate School of Theology. But perhaps no other person knows more about the Archdiocese of San Antonios trove as its archivist, Brother Ed Loch, a Marianist who has safeguarded them for 30 years. His list begins with a baptismal register from the 1700s that contains a significant entry about the first Mass celebrated in San Antonio by the Franciscan Fray Antonio de Olivares. The date, May 5, 1718, reflects the founding of a city and a place of conversion for the viceroy of New Spain. Loch calls it the holy grail of everything. Hes quick to point out, however, that for Native Americans, present-day San Antonio was already a sacred place for at least 7,000 years. Indigenous groups even regarded it as neutral ground, where they could set aside animosities, he said. Olivares recorded the baptismal register entry specifically because the Spanish intended such records to survive. The document is currently being restored and is among the many that have been digitized, or soon will be. The archdiocese holds a number of valued sacred artworks, but Garcia, director of the Old Spanish Missions and administrator of the Mission Concepcion parish, believes an oil painting of St. Francis of Assisi at Concepcion is probably the oldest painting in any church in San Antonio, dating to at least the 1690s, he said. An ornate limestone baptismal font at San Fernando Cathedral, an 18th-century piece depicting cherubs and topped with a copper lid, is another of Garcias favorites. Its believed to have been produced in 1760 and given to the church by King Charles III of Spain. After the Alamo, the Rose Window at Mission San Jose is the citys most iconic image and an architectural feature equally as cherished. Carved in limestone, its shape, a modified quatrefoil, has been used as a symbol of the city nationally. Its believed to be the work of sculptor and surveyor Pedro Huizar. Around the corner from the window is the mission churchs facade ornate limestone columns that tell the story of Jesus life, or what Garcia called Christs tree of life. The imagery was used to convert Native Americans to Christianity, he said. The facade features the Blessed Mothers parents San Joaquin, or Joachim, and Santa Ana, or Anne; San Jose, or Joseph, holding the Christ child; and St. Dominic and St. Francis next to San Jose. Garcia said Francis and Dominic were significant to New World evangelization. Angels surround the piece, and Mary is depicted as Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of the Americas. A restoration expert who visited the site said the facade was the most spectacular piece of colonial sculpture in any church in the United States from that era, Garcia said. The archdioceses archives at its chancery on the West Side are open to the public and contains a wealth of documents. The collection has been in transition of late, being packed, moved and unpacked again within the archives area and in a nearby space. Other archdiocesan treasures include two white zucchetto skullcaps worn by Pope Pius XII. Loch compared their status as gifts and handouts to flags flown over the U.S. Capitol. They spent little time on the pontiffs head. More unique is Cardinal Eugenio Pacellis mozetta, an elbow-length red cape worn to a 1939 conclave from which he emerged as Piux XII. He gave it to San Antonio Bishop Francis J. Furey. An 1899 archdiocesan report to Rome illustrates the importance the cathedral had and continues to have as the seat of bishops. The document functioned as a census, listing data that included the distance of each parish to the cathedral and the number of sacraments celebrated that year. A large-scale needlepoint tapestry, completed in 1976, depicts the dioceses bishops and their coats of arms from 1874 to 1969. Nearby, ceiling-high shelving holds 125 years of local Catholic newspapers. Theyre fragile, and the archdiocese hopes to begin digitizing them. Loch is looking for volunteers for the project. Newer stacks of documents reflect the cooperation the church reached with the National Park Service regarding the missions. Loch said its one place the church and government get along. The archdiocese is also building a collection of documents it will use to petition the Vatican for the canonization of Father Antonio Margil, the founder of San Jose and other missions along his route from Costa Rica to North America, which he traveled on foot bare feet, Loch emphasized. The archdiocese holds memorabilia of the 1987 visit by Pope John Paul II, including a green silk chasuble and stole he wore for a papal Mass on Sept. 13, 1987. One of the most treasured vestiges of that visit is the backdrop for the popes appearance at Guadalupe Plaza, a large-scale mural produced by local jail inmates, about 14 feet high and 7 feet wide. Made of colorful yarn glued onto plywood, it depicts the citys various West Side parishes in the shadow of the Virgen de Guadalupe. Some inmates, due for release at the end of their sentences, refused to leave the jail until it was completed, Loch said, visibly moved by their desire to be part of it. The piece, recently taken out of storage, has been reassembled and put on exhibit at the new Museum of the Faith Communities of Bexar County near St. Paul Catholic Church, Loch said. eayala@express-news.net | Twitter: @ElaineAyala Fairfield Theatre Company / Contributed photo Three of the most prolific rock guitarists in the world will present a historic night of music at Fairfield Theatre Company on Friday, Jan. 19. The show, called Masters of the Telecaster, takes place at FTCs StageOne. Masters of the Telecaster features Jim Weider (The Band), Snowy White (Pink Floyd) and G.E. Smith (Roger Waters). Audience members can expect lots of blues, roots, and rock n roll. BRIDGEPORT First came the robo-meters. Get ready for the robo-greeter. Visitors to the downtown government center where the mayor and other key department heads report to work have a new, high-tech way to sign in. Gone is the guest book and pen, replaced by a counter-mounted computer pad which issues temporary photo identification stickers. Visitors enter their name, organization/company, phone number and email, and whom they are stopping in to see. Then they or the security guard scan the visitors drivers license or another government-issued ID, and the pad photographs a head shot for a temporary badge. Once the person or department they are visiting is checked off and a badge is created, a verification email will be sent from the system to the destination department, said Rowena White, Mayor Joe Ganims head of communications. A telephone call from the front desk greeter and/or security will also take place in the event there is a failure with the email. People headed to the Probate Court, the Registrars of Voters or Vital Records offices all located just off of the lobby in government center are not required to obtain the photo badges. White said the technology, provided by iLobby and costing $3,300, is part of an overall effort to enhance security in municipal buildings. Those upgrades have been under way for two years, with physical and policy changes at both the government center and at City Hall on Lyon Terrace, which houses the Tax Collector, Tax Assessor, Zoning, Building and Fire Marshals offices, the City and Town Clerks, the Board of Education and the offices of Civil Service and Labor Relations. White said a different sign-in strategy is being considered for the Lyon Terrace building. There were some mixed reactions to the new sign-in process in government center this week. I think its good for security, (with) whats going on in the world today, said George Cogdell, joking, Im not getting away with anything if I have to sign in like that. But one woman, speaking in Spanish, said through a translator that she hates technology. It was just a year ago that another technological advancement touted by City Hall new automated downtown parking meters that accept credit cards and issue violations were criticized as a step too far by some business owners, visitors to downtown and City Council members. It took several months, and some changes ordered by the council, for people to get used to the meters. Asked what can be done to assure visitors to City Hall who are suspicious of providing personal information to a computer and of identification theft, White said, This identification process does not require any persons vital or personal information. No date of birth, address, Social Security number, drivers license number, etc. She said the basic information that is collected is saved in the cloud for up to six months, then purged. If a guest of the city has an appointment every month, for example, they will be able to select Returning Visitor and their photo taken from the initial visit will appear along with their name, White said. This will be printed as an ID badge for their visit. So perhaps the biggest inconvenience is making sure you look your best for that first photo. Fairfield senior advocates finances workshop Jan. 19 To the Editor: Its no secret that seniors pay a disproportionate share of the cost of our Town government; education costs constitute the major Budget item. For many seniors property taxes represent a greater outlay than Federal, State, and Sales tax combined. Our personal finances are dependent on keeping our seniors. Moreover, seniors have contributed to the life in Fairfield for decades and are integral to Town identity. Last year Fairfield Senior Advocates studied the changes in after-tax income for a hypothetical senior Fairfield household. We found that their after-tax real income declined markedly over the past six years. The impending federal tax changes will affect seniors in different ways. Some will benefit from lower tax rates and an increased standard deduction. But many Fairfield seniors will face reduced tax deductions (especially a reduced deduction for State and local taxes) and a higher income tax bill. On Jan. 19 (10 a.m. to noon) FSA will hold a workshop on senior finances at the Bigelow Center. We will discuss the State budget changes, the impact of federal tax revisions on seniors of differing incomes - plus our efforts to find better housing options for seniors. Urb Leimkuhler Fairfield How much state should pay for local education unresolved To the Editor: Understanding a problem fully can be the first step to solving it. And sometimes understanding a problem requires going back to the beginning to see how and when it started. Alternatively, a good way to just ignore a problem is to engage in some good old political sloganeering. To me, harping on Connecticuts unfunded local education mandates is nothing more than Just that: political sloganeering designed to ignore the tough debate on how to fund local K-12 education. Connecticuts general education policy would seem to date back to when Connecticut was still a British colony. The policy was based on two basic principles. One, that the state should compel parents and those who control children to educate them. The other, that public money, raised by taxes, could be used to pay for education. Around the same time our country gained its independence, the newly founded state of Connecticut gave the responsibility of raising taxes,to local governments. Schools were supported by local taxes augmented by rate-bills levied against students families. From the outset, local education was one big unfunded mandate placed on local governments by the state. And for the first 200 years nobody seemed to complain. In 1795, the state began to send per-student education grants to the locals to supplement local tax collections. Those per-student grants lasted in the same basic form for almost 200 years, too. In1974, the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled that the way state educational aid was distributed among towns denied students an equal educational opportunity. In response to the decision, the General Assembly enacted a complex formula for distributing aid to school districts. The formula has been extensively revised several times since, but remains controversial, if not unintelligible, including in the courts. The issue of how much the state should pay for the local education it has mandated, and how much the locals should pay, remains unresolved. And since leaving this policy to the courts seems to be the choice of both the current governor and the legislature, I guess we will just have to wait to see what the CT Supremes find in that magic crystal ball of theirs. Jim Brown Fairfield The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you, we are excited to offer 4 weeks FREE Digital & Print access to all subscribers new and returning alike. We are dedicated to continuing providing reliable, high quality journalism. This is possible with the trust and support of our subscribers in the community we are proud to serve. Heath Ledger's father has admitted he still thinks about his late son every day. Heath Ledger The iconic actor tragically passed away in January 2008 when he was just 28 years old after suffering cardiac arrest brought on by prescription drug intoxication, and although this month marks a decade since 'The Dark Knight' star's death, the memory is still fresh in the minds of his family. His dad Kim said: "That kind of memory doesn't go away." In memory of his passing, Heath's family set up The Heath Ledger Scholarship, which helps kickstart the careers of aspiring actors in Australia. And whilst accepting a GQ award for his work on the scholarship, Kim said he was thankful to the industry for the kindness and assistance they showed Heath. He is quoted by the Daily Mail newspaper as saying: "In an industry that's so tough, so demanding, and in some cases, so devastating [it was] the underlying kindness, assistance and help that Heath had given ... This award has gone a long way to mimic what Heath did." It isn't the first time Heath's family have spoken about him since his passing, as Kim previously admitted it feels as though the actor is "still around every day". He said: "He gave us a lot of love as an individual, he was an amazing young guy. He loved his family and his friends and we loved him right back. We still feel like he's around us every single day." Heath left behind a daughter, Matilda, whom he had with his ex-wife Michelle Williams, and the actress previously claimed it "won't ever be right" for her to raise her 12-year-old daughter - who was just two at the time of Heath's passing - without her father. She said: "In all honesty, for pretty much everything else, I feel like I'm a believer in not fighting circumstances, accepting where you are and where you've been. "In pretty much all senses but one, I would be able to go totally down that line of thinking were it not for Matilda not have her dad. "You know, that's just that something doesn't ... I mean, it just won't ever be right." AMMAN, Jordan, January 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- ArabiaWeather, the largest private weather company in the Arab World and a pioneer in weather-related technology, has been singled out by Google as one of the top applications of 2017. (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/508741/ArabiaWeather_Logo.jpg ) Google recently announced the names of the recipients of its 'Best of 2017' award, which is Google's most prestigious award whereby tens of thousands of applications added to the Play Store on a daily basis were considered for the accolade. ArabiaWeather, a regional household name and provider of its weather forecasting app of the same name, was awarded the 'Best Daily Helper' award for the MENA region. The award comes as a result of ArabiaWeather's efforts over the last year, during which the app succeeded in maintaining its ranking as the #1 application in the 'Weather' and 'Travel' categories in several countries. In response to this recognition, ArabiaWeather CEO Mohammed Al Shaker stated, "We are very pleased to be singled out by Google, amongst fierce competition in this category, across the MENA region. ArabiaWeather's app users are the backbone of this Company, and we hope to always exceed their expectations and meet their every need." ArabiaWeather has been investing heavily in its consumer technologies, growing its following exponentially on both iOS and Android platforms in addition to social media. Looking to the future, Al Shaker added, "We are very excited about what's next for ArabiaWeather. We are all working very hard on developing products that are useful and relevant to both consumers and enterprises." ArabiaWeather's Product Engineering and Consumer teams have also been working tirelessly this year on introducing new app features. Among these enhancements are three major product feature updates; the first of which is a clothing recommendations section in the application which recommends what best to wear during the day based on the expected weather conditions. The second is a section in the application with the purpose of informing on whether schools will be operating regularly or if there will be any delays or days off due to adverse weather conditions. Furthermore, ArabiaWeather will be relying more heavily on video content for the dispersion of weather reports and updates as part of its new strategy, aimed at widening its reach and increasing consumer engagement and satisfaction. About ArabiaWeather Through its media products, enterprise solutions and consumer platforms, ArabiaWeather delivers its forecasts to 70 million Arab users on a daily basis. ArabiaWeather's Enterprise division provides decision support solutions to businesses across the region to sectors that are enormously affected by weather conditions such as Media, Airlines, Oil & Gas, Agriculture, Insurance and Retail, among others. ArabiaWeather also works with various governments and National Weather Services across the region. Through its Consumer division, ArabiaWeather's web properties, mobile applications and social media platforms serve millions of consumers across the Middle East, providing them with timely, accurate and localized weather information in Arabic and English. ArabiaWeather's technology runs on proprietary, hyper-localized data and algorithms. The Company has offices in Amman, Riyadh and Dubai, staffed with the region's leading meteorologists, weather experts, as well as talented R&D specialists who endeavor to deliver the most accurate weather forecasts and information in the region. For round-the-clock weather forecasts and services, please visit http://www.arabiaweather.com and download ArabiaWeather apps through http://apps.arabiaweather.com/, and to learn about the enterprise solutions offered by ArabiaWeather, please visit http://corporate.arabiaweather.com. Prasos, a Jyvaskyla, Finland-based Bitcoin broker in the Nordics, raised 2.5M in funding. The round in which Prasos offered up to 15% of its equity and achieved over 1,000 new shareholders from Finland and abroad was raised via the Invesdor platform. The company intends to use the funds to invest in the expansion in Europe, study potential company acquisitions in target markets and further develop its exchange services. Founded in 2012 by Henry Brade, CEO, Prasos focuses on the exchange of cryptocurrencies and asset management. The company, which has a current team of 15 professionals, operates under the following main brands: Bittiraha.fi, Coinmotion.com and Denarium. Trading volume across all Prasos services was over 100m in 2017. The company, which has over 60 000 clients in Europe, also plans to develop a Cryptocurrency Investment fund. FinSMEs 14/01/2018 The government will soon invite fresh applications for the post of RBI deputy governor, a position that fell vacant after SS Mundra retired on completion of his three-year term on 31 July, 2017. New Delhi: The government will soon invite fresh applications for the post of RBI deputy governor, a position that fell vacant after SS Mundra retired on completion of his three-year term on 31 July, 2017. Although interviews were conducted on 29 July last year, the government has decided to start the process all over again, sources said without giving reasons. Advertisements seeking application from eligible bankers would be issued soon, they added. The Financial Sector Regulatory Appointment Search Committee (FSRASC) headed by the Cabinet Secretary will select a suitable candidate to succeed Mundra. The central bank has four deputy governors two from within the ranks, one commercial banker and one economist to head the monetary policy department. The members of the search committee include the RBI governor, Financial Services Secretary and three independent members. According to the earlier notice put up on RBIs website, applicants should have extensive experience as a full-time director or board member and possess understanding, at a very senior level, of supervision and compliance in the financial sector. Strong competencies working with financial performance data, including interpreting, summarising, high level output and strong and clear communication skills on matters of public policy, are also listed as criteria for the post. The appointment will be made for a period of three years and the person will be eligible for reappointment, it had said. The deputy governor will draw a fixed salary of Rs 2.25 lakh per month plus allowances, it added. Noted development economist Jean Dreze has pitched for more inclusive and active social policies in India, saying even a high rate of economic growth has failed to improve the quality of life of a large section of people in the country. New Delhi: Noted development economist Jean Dreze has pitched for more inclusive and active social policies in India, saying even a high rate of economic growth has failed to improve the quality of life of a large section of people in the country. Dreze also expressed concern over widespread underemployment and stagnating wages, which according to him, reflected 'lopsidedness of economic growth in India.' "What is even more worrying is that relatively fast economic growth continues to go hand in hand with sluggish improvements in people's living conditions and the quality of life. Addressing this requires not only more inclusive growth but also more active social policies," Dreze told PTI in an interview. Dreze, a former member of the former UPA government's National Advisory Council, said that had India's economic growth been more labour-intensive then the country would have seen an increase in real wages, and possibly an increase in women's participation in the labour force. "Instead, real agricultural wages have remained more or less constant for the best of the last four years, and women's workforce participation is stagnating at one of the lowest levels in the world. The stagnation of real wages is a clear sign, among others, of the lopsidedness of economic growth in India," he asserted. Contrary to business propaganda, Dreze pointed out, the social spending in India is quite low by international standards as a proportion of GDP. "If it rises in the run-up to the next elections, that will be good news, as long as the money is well spent," said Dreze, who has done extensive work in India on issues like hunger, famine, and the MNREGA. Talking about rising intolerance in India, the eminent economist said that ideally the people should not just tolerate each other, but befriend each other. "If a Hindu marries a Muslim, we should celebrate rather than tolerate. Someone said that a well-integrated society is one where 'everyone is a potential friend'. If that is the aim, we have a long way to go," he emphasised. Shrinking job opportunities in the Gulf region, the principal job destination of Keralites, in the wake of a slide in oil prices and the plight of emigrants forced to return home dominated the two-day session of Loka Kerala Sabha (LKS). The central focus of Loka Kerala Sabha (LKS), a general assembly of Malayali diaspora held in the state capital of Thiruvananthapuram on 12-13 January, was on channelising a part of the estimated Rs 90,000 crore the state receives as remittances every year towards the development of the state. But the shrinking job opportunities in the Gulf region, the principal job destination of Keralites, in the wake of a slide in oil prices and the plight of emigrants forced to return home dominated the two-day session. The government, which organised the event in a bid to make the emigrants partners of its ambitious scheme to raise Rs 50,000 crores outside the state budget for the infrastructure development, had no immediate solution to the burning issue. A cross-section of the overseas members Firstpost interacted with exuded hope that their demand for a pragmatic scheme for rehabilitation of returnees may find a place in the governments scheme of things since the LKS is designed and structured like a legislative body unlike the NRK conclaves that the government used to organise from time to time in the past. The Loka Kerala Sabha, which includes 177 members of the diaspora from across the world, 33 members of Parliament and all 141 MLAs, is a permanent body with a secretariat of its own and subject committees to deal with specific issues. However, a section of the members has expressed apprehension about the seriousness of the government in solving the problems faced by the diaspora since it could not ensure the participation of all the MLAs and MPs at the summit. The majority of the MLAs and MPs stayed away from the summit. This is a clear indication that they are not attaching any importance to the NRKs, who contribute about 35 percent of the states income, says Varghese Puthukulangara, a member from Kuwait. He said that the initiative will bear fruit only if the legislators take active participation in the activities of the sabha. If all MLAs and MPs were present at the summit, they could have got first-hand information about the issues faced by the NRKs and take them to the Assembly and Parliament for the solution, he added. Doubt about a fair deal to the emigrants, who have returned from abroad, has also been expressed since only six of them have been given representation in the sabha. This is inadequate considering their number. The number of emigrants returning to Kerala in 2014 was 1.24 million, about 52 percent of the total number of emigrants, according to the Kerala Migration Survey, 2014. Most of them, who have returned to the state after losing their jobs, are struggling to make both ends meet. KT Kunhumuhammad, chairman of the Non-Resident Keralite Welfare Board, said he was surprised to learn that many Gulf returnees were doing jobs of night watchmen. A survey conducted by the Sharjah-based Pravasi Bandhu Welfare Trust showed that 95 percent of the estimated 2.2 million NRKs in the Gulf region had no saving at all. They have nothing left to sustain their lives if they lose their job and return to the state, says trust chairman KV Shamsudheen. The return till 2014 was part of the natural process. But it has assumed the dimension of a reverse exodus in the last three years due to the fall in the oil prices and the consequent job localisation undertaken by many Gulf countries. With no improvement in oil prices in sight, the reverse exodus is expected to gain momentum in the coming years. Ashraf Vengath from Saudi Arabia said that the slump in oil prices, Nitaqat policy and new taxes being introduced by the Saudi government will force 70 percent of the NRKs to return to the state in a short period. Those who return will be the unskilled and semi-skilled workers, who will not be able to find a job anywhere in the Gulf as the employment scene throughout the region is changing fast. No wonder one of the main concerns expressed by members at the summit was about the plight of the returnees. The concern was shared even by business tycoons like Yusuf Ali, Ravi Pillai and Dr Azad Moopen. They stressed on the need for a well-planned strategy to rehabilitate the returnees. The task is not easy with the changing job scene in the Gulf countries reducing chances for fresh migration. Studies have revealed that migration from the state has been showing a steady decline over the years. The Kerala Migration Survey 2016 has revealed that migration had declined by 1.54 lakh between 2014 and 2016. According to the survey, the total number of Keralite emigrants declined from 2.4 million in 2014 to 2.24 million in 2016. This is the first time that the migration has shown such a decline since Gulf emerged as the principal destination for unemployed Kerala youths in the wake of the 1960s oil boom. The decline in migration will put additional pressure on the job market in the state already burdened with 7.4 percent unemployment compared to a national average of 2.3 percent. Under the circumstances, it will not be easy for the government to spend much money on the rehabilitation of the Gulf returnees. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has, therefore, appealed to the wealthy NRKs to bail out the hapless returnees. He has asked them to share the responsibility by pumping money into the governments welfare schemes for the NRKs. The depression in the Gulf may also affect the governments plan to raise funds from the NRKs to fund various projects drawn up by it for the development of the state. Finance Minister Thomas Isaac, who is struggling to pay salaries and pension to employees on time, is counting heavily on the NRKs for the successful functioning of the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), a dream body he has conceived to raise funds outside the budget for executing infrastructure projects. Isaac has mooted a Pravasi Chitty as a key tool to mop up the money. He has targeted mobilisation of Rs 20,000 crores from 10 lakh NRKs through the chit scheme in the next two years. Many think it is too tall a target considering the fact that only 1 lakh NRKs had joined the pension scheme launched by the government with a minor subscription nearly a decade ago. Shamsudheen said that the NRKs in Dubai did not show much enthusiasm to the scheme when a team of officials from the state made a presentation recently. Many who attended the event expressed several apprehensions about the scheme, which is scheduled to be launched in April 2018. But what is worrying economists is the overall impact of the decrease in migration. They feel that this will bring down the remittances, which fuelled the economy to a big extent. Migration experts have already warned a 5 to 10 percent decrease in remittances this year due to the decrease in the outflow of emigrants. S Irudaya Rajan, head of the migration unit at Centre for Development Studies (CDS), feels that Keralas Gulf connection could end in another 10 to 15 years. According to him, the only option for the states unemployed youths is to upgrade their skills and look out for opportunities in new destinations. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu will arrive in New Delhi on Sunday on a six-day visit during which both the strategic partners will aim to further expand ties on a range of key areas including defence and trade besides deliberating on Israel-Palestine relationship. Auto refresh feeds Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu will arrive in New Delhi on Sunday on a six-day visit, reported PTI. However, Israeli Ambassador to India Daniel Carmon, at a media briefing, set at rest all speculation over this saying, "I think the relationship is much stronger than one vote in the UN here and there." The visit comes less than a month after New Delhi voted in the UN General Assembly against US President Donald Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital. This is the first prime ministerial visit from Israel to India since the visit of then Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Joint Secretary (West Asia-North Africa division) in the ministry B Bala Bhaskar said the Palestinian issue is likely to figure in the talks between the two prime ministers besides other key issues of mutual importance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Netanyahu will hold talks on Monday covering entire expanse of the ties and explore new areas of cooperation to further deepen the "very very special relationship", the external affairs ministry said. He will leave for Ahmedabad on the morning of 17 January. In Ahmedabad, he will visit Sabarmati Ashram. Modi and he will also visit the Center of Excellence in Vadrad and inaugurate a Center of Excellence for date palms in Bhuj via video conference. On 15 January, Netanyahu will meet with the Indo-Israeli CEO forum in New Delhi and address a separate business event. He will deliver a speech at the Raisina Dialogue on 16 January. "We are strengthening ties between Israel and this important global power. This serves our security, economic, trade and tourism interests, as well as many other areas. This is a great blessing for the State of Israel," he said. "This evening I am leaving on an historic visit to India. I will meet with the Prime Minister, my friend Narendra Modi, with the Indian President and with many other leaders. We will sign very many agreements," Netanyahu said in statement. "Indian Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi is a close friend of Israel and of mine and I appreciate the fact that he will accompany me on extensive parts of my visit," Netanyahu said just before leaving for New Delhi. Sareshwala added, The difference between Congress and Modis style of dealing with Israel is that the Congress would meet Netanyahu behind closed doors, while Modi does it publically." Speaking to CNN-News18, BJP leader and Modi confidant Zafar Sareshwala said, We dont want symbolism. In the past, I have congratulated the PM for not wearing a skullcap and for not holding Iftar parties. The same symbolism has to be done away with in diplomacy as well, he said. Netanyahu's visit to India is only the second one by an Israeli prime minister and comes after a gap of 15 years. Former prime minister Ariel Sharon visited India in 2003. The visit marks 25 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and takes place about six months after Modi's trip to Israel, the first by an Indian prime minister to the Jewish state. Technion-Israel Institute of Technology would also be signing an agreement with the ministry of science and technology, sources here said. Israel's Saare Tzedek hospital would be signing an agreement with the ministry of health and family welfare. Informed sources here said that this relates to sharing of knowledge in the field of homoeopathy and Ayurveda that have been gaining popularity in Israel over the last few years. Several MoUs, including in the field of oil and gas, renewable energy, amended protocol for airports, cyber security, and co-production of films and documentaries, will be signed between the two sides. The Ambassador described innovation as a "cross-cutting issue" and said this would be reflected in the discussions between Modi and Netanyahu. "Innovation that would, you know, touch any of the areas in which we cooperate. Innovation could be in the field of defence, innovation could be in the field of agriculture, innovation could be in the field of IT, of R&D," he said. According to Daniel Carmon, though cooperation in agriculture and water were the highlights of Modi's visit to Israel in July last year, this time innovation will top the agenda. Agriculture and water resources will also be the focus of visit The Ambassador described innovation as a "cross-cutting issue" and said this would be reflected in the discussions between Modi and Netanyahu. "Innovation that would, you know, touch any of the areas in which we cooperate. Innovation could be in the field of defence, innovation could be in the field of agriculture, innovation could be in the field of IT, of R&D," he said. According to Daniel Carmon, though cooperation in agriculture and water were the highlights of Modi's visit to Israel in July last year, this time innovation will top the agenda. Agriculture and water resources will also be the focus of visit The Ambassador described innovation as a "cross-cutting issue" and said this would be reflected in the discussions between Modi and Netanyahu. "Innovation that would, you know, touch any of the areas in which we cooperate. Innovation could be in the field of defence, innovation could be in the field of agriculture, innovation could be in the field of IT, of R&D," he said. According to Daniel Carmon, though cooperation in agriculture and water were the highlights of Modi's visit to Israel in July last year, this time innovation will top the agenda. Agriculture and water resources will also be the focus of visit The Ambassador described innovation as a "cross-cutting issue" and said this would be reflected in the discussions between Modi and Netanyahu. "Innovation that would, you know, touch any of the areas in which we cooperate. Innovation could be in the field of defence, innovation could be in the field of agriculture, innovation could be in the field of IT, of R&D," he said. According to Daniel Carmon, though cooperation in agriculture and water were the highlights of Modi's visit to Israel in July last year, this time innovation will top the agenda. Agriculture and water resources will also be the focus of visit These centres cover areas like vegetables, citrus fruits, dates, mangoes, flowers, beekeeping, he said, adding that "we are now starting work on a dairy farm in Haryana". Carmon said that by the end of this month, there will be 22 centres of excellence set up with Israeli aid up and running across India. Netanyahu is also scheduled to visit a Centre of Excellence in Agriculture at Vadrad, Gujarat, that has been set up with Israeli assistance. Teen Murti Road will be named after Israeli city of Haifa. After renaming, the road will be called Teen Murti Haifa Chowk. Haifa was the site of a major war during World War 1. Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is going to meet External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj at the Taj Diplomatic End shortly, reports India Today. The three bronze statues at Teen Murti represent the Hyderabad, Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers who were part of the 15 Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade. The brigade carried out the victorious assault on the fortified city of Haifa on 23 September, 1918, during World War I. Forty-four Indian soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice during the liberation of the city in World War I. Till date, the 61 Cavalry celebrates September 23 as its Raising Day or "Haifa Day." There are various accounts of this battle all narrate the valour with which the lancers undertook the assault on the garrisoned city protected by a joint force of Ottomans, Germany and Austria-Hungary. The liberation of Haifa cleared a supply route for the Allies to the city through the sea. Netanyahu will also be accompanied by Moshe Holtzberg, whose parents, Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg, were killed in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Moshe, who was only two years old then, will visit Chabad House, where his parents were killed. Apart from the summit-level meeting, the second India-Israel CEOs forum will be held as also a series of other meetings between both sides in New Delhi and Mumbai during the course of the visit. Netanyahu will be accompanied by a delegation of 130 Israeli business leaders. Here is what Modi wrote in the visitor's book at Teen Murti chowk It is the 100th anniversary of the end of World War-1. Many golden pages of the sacrifices of Indian braves are written in the history of both World War. One of these pages was written 100 years ago, in the sacrifice of Indian soldiers at Haifa. The sacrifice commemorated at Teen Murti observes its centenary. Naming spot as Teen Murti Haifa Chowk, marks this historic occasion. In presence of the Prime Minister of Israel, we pay homage to the brave soldiers. Salute to the great Indian traditions of selfless sacrifice and penance. The three bronze statues at Teen Murti represent the Hyderabad, Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers who were part of the 15 Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade. The two leaders also laid a wreath and signed the visitor's book at the memorial. Narendra Modi and his Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday attended a ceremony at the Teen Murti Memorial in New Delhi to mark the renaming of Teen Murti Chowk as Teen Murti Haifa Chowk. In an interview with India Today , Netanyahu said, "I don't do Yoga but I wake up in the morning and when I look to the east, the first democracy I see is India and when Mr. Modi wakes up in the morning and does his Yoga and looks left, the first democracy he sees is Israel. This is a grand partnership." Benjamin Netanyahu: "I wake up in the morning and when I look to the east, the first democracy I see is India." Narendra Modi receives Benjamin Netanyahu at the Rashtrapati Bhawan before the ceremonial welcome Dr Harsh Vardhan, Hardeep Singh Puri, the three heads of the armed forces were among the dignitaries introduced to Benjamin Netanyahu. 'Visit to India deeply moving for me and my wife': Benjamin Netanyahu at Rashtrapati Bhavan Speaking to reporters at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "It began with Prime Minister Modi's historic visit to Israel that created tremendous enthusiasm. It continues with my visit here which I must say is deeply moving for me,my wife and people of Israel. It heralds a flourishing partnership to bring prosperity, peace and progress for our people," according to ANI . The Israeli prime minister pays homage to Mahatma Gandhi along with his wife Sara. He laid a wreath at the memorial. According to an editorial in Jerusalem Post , India change in its behaviour towards Israel is due to Jerusalem's standing in the West Asia. As per the article, Indian leaders were previosuly wary of publicly supporting Israel out of fear of hurting Muslim sentiments in India. It also says that this changed when the Palestinian ambassador recently hugged LeT chief and 2008 Mumbai attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed in Pakistan. "New Delhi has also realized that its efforts for decades to curry favor with Arab states by taking anti-Israel positions in UN votes have not paid off. [...] There was nothing new about this behavior on the part of the Palestinians and Arabs. Despite Indias willingness to support Arab-backed votes in the UN on a variety of issues, Arab and Muslim states are reluctant to reciprocate," the editorial read. Reasons for India's change in attitude towards Israel: From Israeli media's point of view In a note in the visitor's book at Raj Ghat, Netanyahu wrote: "Such grandeur and simplicity in honor of modern India's founding fathers, one of the world's greatest spiritual leaders." He signed it off as: "In deepest friendship and respect". The two leaders will have a one-to-one meeting for a little over hald an hour. They are expected to deliver the joint press address at around 1.30 pm. Memorandums of Understanding(s) related to terror, oil, cybersecurity, agriculture etc. will be signed on Monday between India and Israel. Referring to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's comments on Sunday that India-Israel relations were a "match made in heaven", Israeli publication Haaretz wrote in a piece saying that for the arms trade, and public relations, it is a match made in heaven. "But as Modi won't betray the Palestinians or renounce the Iranians, it resembles more an open marriage," the opinion piece read. As Benjamin Netanyahu held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Monday, thousands of people marched in Kargil, Jammu and Kashmir to protest Israeli prime minister's visit to India. According to Greater Kashmir , the protest was organised by Imam Khomeini Memorial Trust (IKMT). The protesters raised slogans against Modi and expressed their support for the Palestinians. Speaking to protesters at Laal Chowk Kargil, Chairman Guardian Council IKMT Kargil said the land of Mahatama Gandhi can't tolerate war-criminal like Netanyahu. "People all over India rejoicing the harvest festivals. PM Netanyahu's visit is a good start to the new year. I was overwhelmed by the warmth of the Israeli people laid by my friend, Bibi. I promised our people to uphold a strategic partnerships. Our friendship has linked both countries for centuries." "Our discussions were wide ranging and intensive, marked by a desire to do more. I have a reputation of getting impatient with getting results. If I may let out an open secret, so are you... We want to strengthen agriculture, science and technology. We exchanged views on centres of excellence. In defence, I have invited Israeli companies to make more weapons in India vis-a-vis our liberalised FDI rates. We are also committed to flow of people and ideas between our geographies. Working with Israel to bring people closer on both sides." 'Proud to have you (Netanyahu) in my home state, Gujarat day after,' says Narendra Modi "Thank you for your exceptional friendship and hospitality. I was deeply moved today at the ceremonial reception. You are revolutionary leader of India, revolutionising the India-Israel relationships. Until you visited Israel, none before you had visited our sovereign state." "Israel is a global force of technology. India abounds with creativity, scientific technology. We can achieve this together. We achieve more with less, more crops with less water, more revenue with less expenditure." "We are proud of our present, resilient democracy. The diversity is source of our strength. A fine example is India with its dozens of languages. The Jews of India have never experienced anti-Semitism in India. This is a tribute to India's tolerate nature. India is a living proof that democracy works. It is the free citizens who thrive because they are free. Our commitment to do so is reflected in the agreements we signed. "My friend Narendra, any time you want to do a yoga class, I'll be there," Netanyahu concluded the press statement on that note. "India and Israel know the pain of terrorist attacks. We never give in. When you (Modi) hosted us yesterday, you lit up the house with colours of India and Israel." That India is among the world's largest importers of military inventory and that Israel is a major arms exporter also provides a natural complementarity to the bilateral relationship. With a population below nine million and a GDP of $350 billion, Israel is relatively small compared to the Indian behemoth with a population of 1.25 billion and a GDP of $2.5 trillion. Yet Israel occupies a very special niche in India's security framework and has been a supplier of critical military technology. This was illustrated during the 1999 Kargil War, when precision-guided ordnance was obtained from Tel Aviv. It has had a chequered past since the post-World War II birth of both countries but is poised for a pragmatic future trajectory based on shared interests. The visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to India (January 14-19) commemorates the 25th anniversary of the opening of an Indian embassy in Tel Aviv in 1992. India-Israel committed to take their friendship to new heights In his media address, Benjamin Netanyahu said: My wife and I are very happy that we are going to Bollywood. We had seen and heard so much, we wanted to see for ourselves In defence, Modi said he has invited Israeli companies to take advantage of the liberalised FDI regime to make more in India with domestic companies. "The results are already visible on the ground. Our discussions today were marked by convergence to accelerate our engagement and to scale up our partnership." The Indian Prime Minister said both he and Netanyahu "have imparted our shared impatience to the implementation of our earlier decisions". "These are agriculture, science and technology and security.," he stated. "We exchanged views on scaling up the Centers of Excellence that have been a mainstay of agricultural cooperation." "We will strengthen the existing pillars of cooperation in areas that touch the lives of our peoples," Modi said in a joint address to the media with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following delegation level talks here. India and Israel have agreed to enhance cooperation in the areas of agriculture, science and technology and security, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday. Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said that discussions were held on improving agriculture in India, using technological breakthroughs achieved by Israel. They will first be taken to the Oberoi Amarvilas and then the Taj Mahal through the eastern gates in golf carts. After touring the Taj for a couple of hours they will return to the hotel, where Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will host them for lunch at the hotel. Netanyahu wil tour the Taj for a few hours before being hosted by Adityanath for lunch The Taj complex has been shut for all other visitors since 11am. Benjamin Netanyahu and wife Sara are being accompanied by the Israeli delegation and security personnel. They are expected to tour the monument for a couple of hours as the couple has the entire monument to themselves, News18 reported. Benjamin Netanyahu and Sara Netanyahu are scheduled to have lunch with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath after touring the Taj Mahal for a couple of hours. Timeline of how the diplomatic relations between India and Israel have progressed over the years RECAP: I arrived in India with the biggest delegation of business leaders that has ever joined an Israeli PM on an official visit Timeline of how the diplomatic relations between India and Israel have progressed over the years Heavy security arrangements have been put in place with over 1,500 security personnel guarding the 5 kilometre stretch that Israeli Netanyahu will be travelling on, during his visit to the Taj Mahal. CRPF personnel, Rapid Action Force and police teams have been deployed to take care of the security arrangements for the high-profile delegation of 130 members. Agra turned into a fortress in view of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the city. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu will attend the Raisina Dialogue scheduled to start at 6.30 pm today. The agenda of the conference will be "Managing Disruptive Transitions Ideas, Institutions, and Idioms. Nearly all the dignitaries are now seated in the main hall, and the conference will begin shortly. Elaborate security arrangements have been put in place as VVIP figures, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will attend the event. The conference has started and the guests were informed about the plan for the evening. Meanwhile, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and his Israei counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu are running slightly behind the schedule. The two prime ministers are expected to arrive shortly. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, along with his wife Sara Netanyahu reached at Taj Palace, where the conference co-hosted by the Ministry of External affairs is being held. Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj are also present. While acknowledging the long-standing friendship between India and Israel, Netanyahu in his inaugural address, says that defence power is very important to reinstate one's existence. "The weak don't survive, the strong survive, you make alliances with the strong, you are able to maintain peace by being strong. So, therefore the first requirement from our the time of our first PM was to achieve minimal strength required to assure existence," Netanyahu said. Netanyahu doesn't mince words, getting straight to his very realist view of the world: "Strength. Power" "If you want to be an economic power, you must reduce and simplify taxes and must cut bureaucracy. The main job of both India and Israel is to cut this bureaucracy so the firms can go on with their business of doing business," Netanyahu said. "I was astounded to know that PM Modi has moved India in the scale of ease of doing business 42 places in three years. If you want to be an economic power, you must reduce and simplify taxes," he said. The Israeli prime minister apparently praised the tax reforms introduced by the Narendra Modi government, without really mentioning the Goods and Services Tax. "Prime Minister Benjamin Natanyahu's visit to India underlines the celebration of 25 years of diplomatic relations between India and Israel. His brief yet, truly inspiring inaugural address makes for a rare opportunity: with Prime Minister Netanyahu addressing from the podium and Prime Minister sitting in the audience. She also commented on the fact that it was a rare occasion that the Israeli PM was addressing from the podium while Modi was sitting in the audience. Starting the vote of thanks on a lighter note, Swaraj said that the organisers have had problems in the past in adjusting the microphone's height whenever she take over from another speaker. "But this year the organisers seems to have been prepared," she said. Sushma Swaraj starts off vote of thanks like a roast of sorts: One pot shot at herself (height) and one at Modi (sitting in the audience) We believe in India as you believe in Israel: Benjamin Netanyahu to PM Modi Gujarat is set to roll out the red carpet for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he arrives in Ahmedabad on Wednesday along with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. The two leaders will hold a roadshow, which will begin from the city airport and end at the Sabarmati Ashram, a journey of eight kilometres. According to reports, security along the 14-km stretch where the two prime ministers will hold their roadshow is quite heavy. 12 teams of Chetak commandoes, Israeli snipers, Quick Response Teams, the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad and the Gujarat Police. Modi, Netanyahu expected to arrive at Ahmedabad airport around 10:30 am where they will be received by the top ministers of the Vijay Rupani government. Both the leaders will inaugurate iCreate Center at Deo Dholera Village in Ahmedabad. They'll also dedicate a mobile water desalination van to Suigam Taluka, of Banaskantha district via video link, ANI reports. Netanyahu and Modi will also visit the Centre of Excellence for Vegetables at Vadrad in Sabarkantha district. They will be briefed on work plan of the Centre. They will inaugurate the Centre of Excellence for Date Palms at Kukama, Kutch District, through a video link. The two PMs will also interact with farmers. Modi and Netanyahu will inaugurate the iCreate Center at Deo Dholera Village in Ahmedabad. They will visit a Startup Exhibition and interact with innovators and Startup CEOs. The two prime ministers will dedicate a mobile water desalination van to Suigam Taluka, of Banaskantha district, through a video link. Both leaders will also address the gathering. Benjamin Netanyahu with his wife arrive in Ahmedabad where they were received by Modi. There are 140 Jews in Gujarat, News18 reports. The community had extended an invite to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit their synagogue but since that could not be factored in, they are at the roadshow to greet him. At iCreate Center in Ahmedabad, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is right. Technology is central to development, because all of us rise and fall together. Half a year ago, Israel-India developed an innovation bridge to help solve pressing global problems. Over 600 companies applied. Several dozen were chosen. I have a simple message. i want young Indians to know Israel wants to form partnerships with you. We're your partners. I want Israelis to come to India. Bachelors with a backpack but with a laptop. That's why I have come here." Prime Minister Narendra Modi says: "When I went to Israel in 2017, I made up my mind that this foundation should have more strong relations with Israel. Since then, I was waiting for my friend Benjamin Netanyahu to come to India. "Never stop dreaming and never let the dreams die. It is good for children to have high curiosity quotient. Our youth has energy and enthusiasm, all that they want is a little bit of encouragement, network and institutional support," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, quoting Albert Einstein. "You have seen in iCreate, the letter 'i' is lower case. There is a reason for that. Creativity is halted when 'i' is big," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Ahmedabad. "Today, it is necessary to innovate to get rid of the problems faced by our young country. How to improve the quality of life of an ordinary person at minimal expense, innovate for it. Today a huge campaign of Clean India is going on in the country. Can we do new innovations on sanitation? Waste to wealth, there are immense possibilities of innovation in this one topic," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking at iCreate Center in Ahmedabad, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: "Israeli technology and creativity reaches the whole world. The people of Israel have proven to the whole world that the size of the country and the resolve of the countrymen, is what takes a country forward. Innovation plays a major role in bringing Indian and Israeli people closer." "We're here to make your lives better and I thank you for this warm friendship...We want to help India help itself. Because India has vision. It understand that knowledge is the future. This is the policy of Narendra Modi and this is my policy," Netanyahu said at Vadrad. Mashav is Israel's Agency for International Development Cooperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "We are working towards doubling farmer incomes by 2022. For this, optimum utilisation of land resources, ensuring minimum wastage and understanding the needs of the market assume importance," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Centre of Excellence for Vegetables. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu have wrapped up their Gujarat visit. The duo are scheduled to reach Mumbai by Wednesday evening. Netanyahu landed at the airport in Mumbai on Wednesday night for the Mumbai leg of his six-day India visit, a senior official told PTI. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu will have a packed schedule during the Mumbai leg of his visit on Thursday, when he will have breakfast with business leaders, pay tributes to Mumbai terror attack victims and attend a 'Shalom Bollywood' event among other engagements. He will later address the India-Israel Business Summit at the iconic Taj Hotel in South Mumbai. Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis will also attend the summit, sources in Mumbai told PTI. Moshe arrived in Mumbai on Tuesday, returning to the place where he was orphaned nine years ago. Moshe's father Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and mother Rivka were killed at the Nariman House during the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The Jewish couple ran a cultural and outreach centre for the Chabad-Lubavitch movement at the Nariman House in south Mumbai's Colaba area. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be visiting to the nearby Nariman House, where he will meet 11-year-old Moshe Holtzberg. Holtzberg and his orphaned grandson 'little' Moshe are on a visit to Mumbai nine years after the deadly attacks by 10 Pakistani terrorists on Chabad House, or Nariman House. In an exclusive interview to PTI, Holtzberg said: "Pakistan must know best what the people are facing. The sorrows of father, brother, wife and children." Moshe's grandfather Rabbi Nachman Holtzberg, who lost his son Gavriel in the 26/11 terror attacks, said on Wednesday that Pakistan should rethink on its policy of creating terrorists. He said spreading love and compassion is the "only victory" in the world. Following talks I have held with my friend, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Indian government has informed us that it is putting the Spike deal back on track. This is very important and there will be many more deals, Netanyahu said in a brief video statement during his five-day visit to India. Earlier in January, Israels state-owned defence contractor Rafael said Indias Ministry of Defence had cancelled the deal worth about $500 million to buy Spike anti-tank guided missiles. There was no immediate comment from Indian authorities. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday during a tour of India he had been informed by the Indian government that it had decided to put a major anti-tank missile deal back on track. At Thursday's event, the visiting prime minister will take the opportunity to showcase Israel as a shooting hotspot for Bollywood, which is constantly on the prowl globally for exotic foreign locales for what is the world's largest film industry. An invitation to Bollywood by Israeli Ambassador in India Daniel Carmon says that Israel honours Bollywood's starring role in contemporary Indian culture and offers Bollywood many opportunities with its rich history, culture, diversity and breathtaking landscape. The much-anticipated event is expected to attract a galaxy of leading actors, directors and producers including Amitabh Bachchan who will interact with the Netanyahu couple and later join a gala dinner in a south Mumbai five-star hotel. President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli ambassador to India Daniel Carmon have welcomed the magazine and sent congratulatory messages, he said. Jhirad, who is also the president and managing trustee of Bene Israel Heritage Museum and Genealogical Centre, said the magazine's editorial advisory board includes MPs Poonam Mahajan and Rajeev Chandrasekhar. The magazine would be launched at the Magen David Synagogue at Byculla in south Mumbai on Thursday, Ralphy Jhirad, the editorial board member of the magazine, told PTI. The Jewish community will mark Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Mumbai visit with the launch of Namaste Shalom, a regular monthly magazine on bilateral relations between the two friendly nations. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu was evidently impressed by Harwardhansinh Jhala, who had developed a drone that can detect landmines. In his speech at the iCreate event in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, Netanyahu said, "(Here) 14-year-old has a drone in the sky that can identify landmine. It can solve so much suffering. Just 14-year-old." According to DNA , Jhala was joyous with the reference. "They met us, saw our drone and understood the technology behind it," he told DNA. Jhala was among the 15 start-ups from Gujarat, who met both the prime ministers at the event. The Israeli prime minister spoke to business leaders Ajay Piramal, Rahul Bajaj, Adi Godrej, Harsh Goenka, Anand Mahindra, Dilip Shanghvi, Ashok Hinduja, Atul Punj and Chanda Kochhar over a 'power breakfast' at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai On Wednesday, Muslim organisations held protests in the city against the Israeli prime minister's visit, reported The Indian Express . Several Muslim children have died in Jerusalem. They (Israel) are a threat to Muslims across the world. Our protest is against India forging such ties with Israel, Mohammed Rizvi, general secretary of the Raza Academy told The Indian Express. Netanyahu will leave for Israel in the early hours of Friday. Netanyahu will cap his hectic schedule by attending the 'Shalom Bollywood' event, in which he will invite leading actors, directors, and producers in the Indian cinema industry to come to Israel to shoot movies and collaborate with the Israeli film and television industry. Netanyahu will then proceed to the nearby Nariman House, where he will meet 11-year-old Moshe Holtzberg. Moshe's father Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and mother Rivka were killed at the Nariman House during the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Netanyahu will later meet around 25 to 30 members of the Jewish community at the Taj hotel. In the first visit by an Israeli Prime Minister to the financial capital of India, Netanyahu will lay a wreath at the memorial for the victims of the 26/11 terror attacks. "Innovation doesn't happen by itself. Some of it does. But it can be nurtured, it can encouraged. It also can be discouraged. The job of governments like that of Prime Minister Modi and my own government is to facilitate your competitive advantages and ability to innovate," he said "We in Israel are seizing the future, you in India are seizing the future. Together, you will get there a lot quicker and also get a lot further," he said. "It is very, very crucial today for you and your Israeli counterparts to meet up, because the future belongs to those who innovate," Netanyahu said at the first of his numerous assignments for the day as he wraps up his four-day India visit. Stating that the partnership between Israel and India is doing wonders, Israel prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked business leaders to focus on innovation, reported PTI. "The future belongs to those who innovate," Netanyahu said in his opening remarks at a power breakfast with top corporate honchos at the iconic Taj hotel overlooking the Arabia Sea. Future belongs to those who innovate: Netanyahu to India Inc Business leaders who were present at the breakfast included Ajay Piramal, Rahul Bajaj, Adi Godrej, Harsh Goenka, Anand Mahindra, Dilip Shanghvi, Ashok Hinduja, Atul Punj and Chanda Kochhar. "So it is leaders. It is people. But I think the most important thing is to have it among business leaders and technological leaders and entrepreneurs like yourself. This is the cherry on the pie! What a cherry! I thought we will discuss the cherry," Netanyahu said. "In addition, there is a partnership of genuine sympathy between our people. And that is not obvious. Our two civilisations are very old and we have not met each other in real sense. There is an instant chemical reaction of tremendous solidarity and identification and I see it in my Facebook followers. They haven't changed the algorithm yet and I see it very very strongly. We see it when we walk the streets, the responses that we get here. And Indian citizens, when they come to Israel, they can see it. It is powerful," he said. "It is on the level first of a deep personal friendship between Prime Minister Modi and myself," he said. Netanyahu to business leaders: The partnership between Israel and India is doing wonders 'India, Israel are innovation nations, must come together to define future': Netanyahu at business summit India knows value and glory of competition, says Benjamin Netanyahu at India-Israel Business Summit This is the beginning of a wonderful ancient friendship and the possibilities are boundless. We have to bring talents of India and Israel together. Fifteen countries ahead of Israel in the World Banks competitive index make me lose sleep. It isnt Syria, but countries like Singapore, USA and Switzerland which make me lose sleep, Netanyahu was quoted as saying by The Indian Express . "India-Israel partnership is reaching unprecedented heights. This is beginning of a wonderful friendship where possibilities are boundless," says Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the India-Israel Business Summit in Mumbai. "India and Israel are democracies and share the love for freedom. We are a match made in heaven," says Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the business summit in Mumbai. "The agriculture practices used in Israel are very impressive. We are going to sign an MoU for irrigation with an Israeli firm to help sustain the water-starved regions of Maharashtra," Fadnavis added. "The way the Jewish community has assimilated with the Indian community here is very good. India and Israel can become the best partners. A new chapter of friendship and relationship started when Modi visited Israel last year," said Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis at the India-Israel Business Summit on Thursday. "Im sure in time to come, we will see many Israeli businesses mainly in technology and agriculture flourishing, collaborating and cooperating with Indian businesses," he adds. "Maharashtra is the right place to forge alliance. I look forward to many more alliances between Maharashtra and Israel," says CM Devendra Fadnavis. 'Want to collaborate more with Israel for farmers' benefit' Although the early Zionists, such as David Ben-Gurion, were keen to woo Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru whom they perceived to be the architects of modern India, whose support would, in turn, legitimise Israel as a political idea the two were not convinced, inspired ideologically by the Palestinian cause and politically by the need to weld the Muslim minority into the national struggle and the postcolonial nation. If internationalism is shared history, India and Israel were destined for amity. Both nations, however different in their geographical constituency, were carved with an intense political struggle against their hostile neighbourhood, each with a keen sense of civilizational significance in its emergence. "The future belongs to those who innovate and it is our job to encourage you to innovate. It is very crucial for you and your Israeli counterparts to meet," Netanyahu said. His remarks came at a power-breakfast where he held discussions with top Indian CEOs, industrialists and bankers at the iconic Hotel Taj Mahal Palace. Among the CEOs present were Ashok Hinduja, Anand Mahindra, Adi Godrej, Ajay Piramal, Harsh Goenka and Chanda Kochhar, with whom Netanyahu cheerfully interacted before getting down to breakfast-cum-business. Israel prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday said "the business partnership between India and Israel is doing wonders" and that he has developed "a strong personal friendship" with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On the last leg of his four-day India visit, which he described as extraordinary, Netanyahu said there is a deep and abiding respect for India, it's people and culture."We are the two oldest cultures on earth. We are democracies, we share our love for freedom, and we share our love for humanity. We are truly your partners. This is a partnership made in heaven," Netanyahu said, while appealing to Indian businesses to invest in Israel. Addressing the India-Israel Business Summit, Netanyahu mentioned the "deep personal friendship" he shares with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, adding that the warmth goes deeper, right up to the common man. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday termed his country's partnership with India as one "made in heaven", which rests on shared values of love for humanity, democracy and freedom. Benjamin Netanyahu arrives at Chabad House, lays wreath at the memorial to 26/11 terror attack victims at Taj Hotel in Mumbai, reports Hindustan Times. Netanyahu will later visit the nearby Nariman House, where he will meet 11-year-old Israeli boy Moshe Holtzberg. Moshe's father Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and mother Rivka were killed at the Nariman House during the 2008 attacks. The Israeli prime minister also wrote a message in the visitor's book at the place. Netanyahu, along with Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, laid wreath at the memorial of the terror attack victims, that claimed 166 lives, at the iconic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in south Mumbai under a heavy security blanket. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday paid tributes to the victims of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. The Nariman House, renamed as Chabad House, was under siege during the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. According to Chabad.org , 26/11 survivor Moshe Holtzbeg and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu unveiled the plans for the living memorial on Thursday. Netanyahu also unveiled a plaque in the memory of Moshes parents, Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg. This was followed by Moshe's two grandmothers lighting an eternal flame in remembrance of the victims. Speaking to CNN-News18, a Jewish resident in Mumbai said, "This (Israel prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and 26/11 survivor Moshe Holtzberg) visit to Mumbai is of immense emotional importance to the entire world. This visit shows the courage which Israel stands for." The bespectacled Moshe, now 11, also sporting the 'Kippah' and a dark suit, had an emotional 'reunion' meeting with the Israel prime minister, as his Indian saviour nanny Sandra Samuel and grandparents flanked them in a small room in the Chabad House, in Nariman House, Colaba. Sporting the trademark Jewish small brimless cloth cap, 'Kippah,' Netanyahu was warmly welcomed by the present Rabbi Israel Kozlovsky and other officials of Chabad House in the afternoon. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday visited the Chabad House here along with Moshe Holtzberg, who as a two-year-old was orphaned in the carnage there during the 2008 terror attack. The Israeli prime minister thanked Moshe for hosting him and showing him his room in the Chabad House. "Your parents showed love to the people and welcomed all to this house. They provided for every Jew a home. This is loving Israel but terrorists showed hatred towards Israel," he said. "This place is a unique merge between love for Israeli people and the hatred towards the people of Israel. The nation of Israel is known for salvation," Netanyahu told the gathering in Hebrew. He was addressing people at the Chabad House, or the Nariman House, after meeting 11-year-old Moshe Holtzberg whose father Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and mother Rivka were killed along with six others there during the 26/11 terror attacks. Moshe, then a toddler of two years, was miraculously saved by his Indian nanny Sandra Samuel, who now lives in Israel. The Chabad House is a unique blend of love and hatred towards the people of Israel, the country's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said on Thursday. "In the past, the Jewish people have witnessed a lot of challenges but with the help of God they overcame everything. The people of Israel are living and will live forever," he said at the Chabad House, or the Nariman House in Mumbai. Israeli prime minister Benjamin said that the terrorists could not harm Moshe because of the love shown by his nanny. Netanyahu says Moshe Holtzberg was unharmed during 26/11 because of his nanny's love According to Hindustan Times, the proposed memorial would include a small terrace garden and rooms on the fifth floor of the building where Moshe and his parents Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg stayed before the attack. The fourth floor is likely to be converted into a museum. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahi made a formal announcement on Thursday on the setting up of a living memorial at Nariman House, that was under siege during the 26/11 terror attacks. After Benjamin Netanyahu and Moshe Holtzberg visited Nariman House on Thursday, the Israeli prime minister shared an image of the two in one of the rooms formerly occupied by the 26/11 survivor and his parents. "I added today a mark of Moshe's height to the wall where his mother had marked his height," Netanyahu said in the tweet. Speaking to Times Now on his visit to Center of Excellence for Vegetables in Gujarat, Benjamin Netanyahu said that he interacted with farmers who had had their incomes multiply because of the center. "This is tremendous. If we can have that multiplied through half of India, it means we've raised the living standards for a massive number of Indians. I mean, this partnership is real," he said. Netanyahu further added that despite their being markets, and other aspects, he saw the partnership differently. "I see it (India-Israel relations) as a partnership of civilisations, a partnership of two democracies," he said, "This kind of cooperation that we have, with technology on one side and agriculture on the other is so good for every aspect of life. for water, for agricultre, for security. This has statutory benefits," Benjamin Netanyahu told Times Now. "When he thinks about increasing vegetable production, enhancing indian security against terrorism, catapulting young Indians into future with technological know-how, I think he's thinking about what is good for India. I think he is right," said Netanyahu Speaking to Times Now, Israeli prime minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is "a great patriot of India" and that he does "what is good for India." Paid humble tributes to 26/11 terrorist attack victims in Mumbai with Hon PM @netanyahu at a memorial in Hotel Taj. 26/11 . . pic.twitter.com/AeNf8yGkRQ PM Benjamin Netanyahu interacted with the leaders of Jewish community in India. Praised their contribution in preserving Jewish values & culture and for cementing India-Israel relations. pic.twitter.com/urWfGifKG0 Thank you Honorable #CM for hosting our #PM and for participating in the #BusinessSummit today with your vision on cooperation between #Maharashtra and #Israel @israelinMumbai @ykv_finkelstein @MASHAVisrael @InnovationAut @CMOMaharashtra @poonam_mahajan https://t.co/hE650B7x1V This is a partnership of civilizations, a partnership of two democracies: B Netanyahu, Israel PM #NetanyahuUpfront pic.twitter.com/iNpmvJH7Ft Speaking to Times Now on his visit to Center of Excellence for Vegetables in Gujarat, Benjamin Netanyahu said that he interacted with farmers who had had their incomes multiply because of the center. "This is tremendous. If we can have that multiplied through half of India, it means we've raised the living standards for a massive number of Indians. I mean, this partnership is real," he said. Netanyahu further added that despite their being markets, and other aspects, he saw the partnership differently. "I see it (India-Israel relations) as a partnership of civilisations, a partnership of two democracies," he said, "This kind of cooperation that we have, with technology on one side and agriculture on the other is so good for every aspect of life. for water, for agricultre, for security. This has statutory benefits," Benjamin Netanyahu told Times Now. PM Modi is a great patriot of India, he does what is good for India: B Netanyahu, Israel PM EXCLUSIVELY in conversation with @RShivshankar #NetanyahuUpfront pic.twitter.com/ob5dhB5ZAd "When he thinks about increasing vegetable production, enhancing indian security against terrorism, catapulting young Indians into future with technological know-how, I think he's thinking about what is good for India. I think he is right," said Netanyahu Speaking to Times Now, Israeli prime minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is "a great patriot of India" and that he does "what is good for India." Very warm meeting between @IsraeliPM @netanyahu and representatives of the #JewishCommunities of #India .Highlighting the Historic bond between us,the fact that Jews were always welcome in #India &never persecuted,some ideas were offered to strengthen ties,especially with youth pic.twitter.com/Iza0z3H3zt In order to deal with terrorism, the first requirement is intelligence. We share intelligence with India & many countries & we prevented dozens & dozens of major terror strikes which could have disrupted the whole international system, says Israel PM @netanyahu #NetanyahuUpfront Latest updates: Writing in the visitor's diary at the Teen Murti memorial, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the renaming of the road to honour the Battle of Haifa is a historic occasion. Benjamin Netanyahu is all set to meet External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj at the Taj Diplomatic Enclave shortly. Meanwhile, the Israel prime minister took to Twitter to thank Modi for the warm welcome. Earlier in the day, Narendra Modi and Benjamin Netanyahu reached Teen Murti chowk, laid a wreath at the memorial and signed the visitor's book. The road will now be renamed as Teen Murti Haifa chowk. The three bronze statues at Teen Murti represent the Hyderabad, Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers who were part of the 15 Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade. The brigade carried out the victorious assault on the fortified city of Haifa on 23 September, 1918, during World War I. Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke the protocol to personally welcome Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Delhi airport. After the ceremonial welcome, both leaders have left for the Teen Murti chowk, which will be renamed Teen Murti Haifa chowk. Keen to strengthen bilateral relations "even more", Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday left for India on a six-day visit along with the largest business delegation that has ever accompanied an Israeli premier on an overseas tour. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Netanyahu will hold talks on Monday covering entire expanse of the ties and explore new areas of cooperation to further deepen the "very very special relationship", the external affairs ministry said. Joint Secretary (West Asia-North Africa division) in the ministry B Bala Bhaskar said the Palestinian issue is likely to figure in the talks between the two prime ministers besides other key issues of mutual importance. India last month had joined 127 other countries to vote in the United Nations General Assembly in favour of a resolution opposing the recent decision of US president Donald Trump to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital. "Our policy is not influenced by any third country... our policy is independent," he said when asked about India's position on the sensitive issue. The Israeli prime minister will travel to Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Agra also. "This is a very very special relationship... We want to take it to higher level," said Bhaskar. Modi had visited the Jewish state in July last year, becoming the first Indian premier to do so. Asked whether purchase of Spike anti-tank guided missiles Z$I*(ATGMs) from Israel through the government-to-government (G-to-G) route will be discussed during Netanyahu's visit, Bhaskar refused to give a direct reply. In November, the defence ministry had decided to retract the process to acquire a batch of Spike missiles from Israeli firm Rafael Advanced Defence Systems. Now, it is learnt that the government is considering buying the missiles through G-to-G route. Bhaskar said both the countries have long-standing defence ties and new areas of cooperation are being explored. He said aim will be to further boost cooperation in a range of sectors including water, agriculture, scientific research and education. Ahead of the visit, Israeli Ambassador Daniel Carmon said, "The Prime Minister's visit to India is the grand finale to the celebrations of 25 years of growing partnership between India and Israel." He said the visit will focus on the progress made between India and Israel since Modi's visit to Israel last summer, and on shaping the next 25 years of relations between the two countries. On 15 January, Netanyahu will meet with the Indo-Israeli CEO forum in New Delhi and address a separate business event. He will deliver a speech at the Raisina Dialogue on 16 January. Netanyahu will also meet President Ram Nath Kovind. He will leave for Ahmedabad on the morning of 17 January. In Ahmedabad, he will visit Sabarmati Ashram. Modi and he will also visit the Center of Excellence in Vadrad and inaugurate a Center of Excellence for date palms in Bhuj via video conference. The Israeli prime minister will have a number of engagements in Mumbai on 18 January. The Israeli embassy here said Netanyahu will meet with Jewish community leaders and select members of the Indian business community in Mumbai. It said he will reach out to Bollywood in an exclusive "Shalom Bollywood" event. Asked whether Baby Moshe, the Israeli child who lost his parents in the 2008 terror attack on a Jewish centre in Mumbai, will be part of Netanyahu's delegation or whether Moshe will attend Jewish community event, Bhaskar said finer details of the Israeli PM's visit were still being worked out. With inputs from PTI 'Our family is pained with the chain of events in past few days. Please don't harass us,' Justice BH Loya's son, Anuj Loya said to the media during a press conference "Our family is pained by the chain of events in past few days. Please don't harass us," Judge BH Loya's son, Anuj Loya said to the media during a press conference on Sunday The press conference was held in Mumbai two days after top Supreme Court judges took on Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra alleging 'selective' allocation of cases to benches. Warning that democracy is at stake, four senior judges of the Supreme Court had on Friday mounted a virtual revolt against the country's chief justice, raising questions on "selective" case allocation and certain judicial orders, sending shockwaves across the judiciary and polity. The judges had mentioned the allocation of a petition on judge Loya's death as an issue they had raised. "There is no controversy, no need of politicising the issue. This is a tragic event. We do not want to be victims of politicisation of the issue. Let it remain the way it is, non-controversial," lawyer Ameet Naik said at the conference on Sunday. "This is a matter of great grief for the family...Anuj is very disturbed about the issue. Anuj has held this press conference to clear the air about this," he added, reiterating his plea to the media to avoid politicising the death of BH Loya. Anuj's cousin and a family friend were also present during the press conference. Anuj said he did not have any doubts about the way his father died three years ago. "I had an emotional turmoil, hence I had suspicions about his death. But now we don't have any doubts about the way he died," he said to reporters. "Earlier my grandfather and aunt had some doubts about his death, which they shared. But now neither of them has any doubts," he added. Justice BH Loya's son, Anuj Loya, held a press conference in Mumbai today and said, "Our family is pained with the chain of events in past few days. Please don't harass us." #JusticeLoya pic.twitter.com/G86lhTA7gj Mumbai Mirror (@MumbaiMirror) January 14, 2018 When Anuj was asked if he wanted an investigation into his father's death, the 21-year-old said, "I am no one to decide if there should be an investigation. I don't think there was anything suspicious about this." Anuj, who is a second-year student of law in a Pune-based college, also urged NGOs and politicians to stop "harassing" his family. "We faced some pressure from politicians and NGOs. We dont want to name anyone, but please excuse my family from continuously asking about my father's death," he said at the press conference. Special CBI judge Loya, who was presiding over the Soharabuddin "fake encounter" case at the time, died in Nagpur on 30 November 2014, where he was visiting to attend a colleague's daughter's wedding. He was said to have suffered a heart attack. Regarding the Supreme Court's probe into Loya's death, the apex court said the "mysterious death" of BH Loya was a "serious matter" and sought a response from the Maharashtra government on pleas seeking an independent probe into it. A bench of justices Arun Mishra and MM Shantanagoudar asked Maharashtra government counsel Nishant R Katneshwarkar to file a reply by 15 January. With inputs from agencies A 56-year-old builder was allegedly shot dead by two unidentified men outside his residence in Deccan-Gymkhana area in Pune Pune: A 56-year-old builder was allegedly shot dead by two unidentified men outside his residence in Deccan-Gymkhana area in Pune, police said on Sunday. The assailants fired five rounds at Devendra Shah in front of his son on the plush Prabhat Road around midnight on Saturday night. Two of the bullets hit Shah, an official said. Police have retrieved a CCTV camera footage of the area in which the two assailants are seen. The two assailants came near the building in which Shah resided in Lane No. 7 on Prabhat Road and started arguing with a man who runs a laundry business there. "One of the assailants asked the laundry man to summon Shah. The shop owner then called the builder down," Additional Commissioner of Police (South/North region) Ravindra Sengaonkar said. The moment Shah came down with his son, both the assailants fired five rounds at the builder, he said. "Two bullets hit Shah. The assailants then fled from the spot," said Sengaonkar. The builder was rushed to a nearby private hospital where he succumbed during treatment. "We have got the CCTV camera footage in which the two assailants are clearly seen coming," the officer said, adding that the assailants had not covered their faces. Shah's son told the police his father did not have enmity with anyone, Sengaonkar said. The motive behind the killing was yet to be ascertained, he said. The Deccan Gymkhana police registered a case under IPC Section 302 (murder) against the assailants, he said, adding that an investigation was on. Search operations continued on Sunday to trace missing students, a day after a private boat carrying students on a school picnic capsized off the coast of Dahanu Mumbai: Search operations continued on Sunday to trace missing students, a day after a private boat carrying students on a school picnic capsized off the coast of Dahanu in Palghar district of Maharashtra. 35 students were accounted for on Saturday but the total number of students was not confirmed, an Indian Coast Guard spokesperson said. The Indian Coast Guard helicopter took off at the first light this morning to search the waters around the Dahanu creek, the spokesperson said. A second helo (helicopter) sortie was also about to take off from Daman shortly, he said. The Indian Coast Guard station at Dahanu is coordinating with local authorities and school staff to confirm the number of students. Three girls drowned on Saturday and five were feared missing after the private boat carrying nearly 40 students capsized off the coast of Dahanu, police earlier said. Three persons, including the owner of the boat, were arrested by the Palghar Police late Saturday evening. The police on Saturday said 32 students had been rescued and a search for the missing ones was continuing, with coast guard personnel and local fishermen out at sea. The bodies of the three girls Sonal Bhagwan Surati, Janhavi Harish Surati and Sanskruti Mayavanshi all aged 17, were recovered, Superintendent of Police, Palghar, Manjunath Singe said. All three were residents of Masauli in Dahanu's Ambedkar Nagar area. The private boat 'Dahanu Queen' was carrying students of the Ponda School and Junior College in Parnaka in Dahanu when it capsized, Singe said. A day after a ferry capsized in the Dahanu creek in Maharashtra's Palghar district, the Coast Guard, which had resumed the search operations this morning, subsequently called them off. Mumbai: A day after a ferry capsized in the Dahanu creek in Maharashtra's Palghar district, the Coast Guard, which had resumed the search operations on Sunday morning, subsequently called them off after confirming that 32 of the 35 students on the boat were rescued while three drowned. The police had said that three girls drowned and five were feared missing after the private boat, "Dahanu Queen", carrying around 40 students on a picnic capsized off the Dahanu coast. The boat was carrying students of the Ponda School and Junior College in Parnaka in Dahanu when it capsized, Superintendent of Police, Palghar, Manjunath Singe had said. A Coast Guard (CG) spokesperson had on Saturday said that a total of 35 students were accounted for and that search operations were on to trace those missing. The total number of students on board the boat was not confirmed on Saturday. However, a senior CG officer on Sunday said the boat was carrying 35 students, of whom three drowned. "There were 35 students in the capsized boat, of whom three drowned. We have rescued all the remaining students and sent them for treatment to the local hospitals," Varun Augustya, CG Commandant, Dahanu Station, said. He added that the CG decided to call off the search operations after the school authorities and district administration confirmed the exact number of students on the boat. "We had deployed one interceptor craft, along with two helicopters, on Saturday. We continued with them on Sunday as well before we called off the operations," Augustya said. He added that their counterparts in Daman assisted in the search operations. The commandant said the CG was now focusing its attention on the rescue operation to trace the missing crew members of the Pawan Hans helicopter, which had crashed off the Mumbai coast. The helicopter, with seven people on board five ONGC officers and two pilots had crashed minutes after it took off for the state-owned company's oil installation in the Arabian Sea. Earlier in the morning, a CG helicopter took off to search the waters around the Dahanu creek. The CG station at Dahanu coordinated with the local authorities and school staff before confirming the number of students on board the ill-fated boat. Three persons, including the owner of the boat, were arrested by the Palghar police late last evening. The deceased girls were identified as Sonal Bhagwan Surati, Janhavi Harish Surati and Sanskruti Mayavanshi, all aged 17, Singe had said. All three were residents of Masauli in Dahanu's Ambedkar Nagar area. The Coordination Committee of the Delhi District Court Bar Associations on Sunday termed as 'unfortunate' the presser by four seniormost judges of the Supreme Court and said it would take to the streets if the crisis was not resolved within 10 days. New Delhi: The Coordination Committee of the Delhi District Court Bar Associations on Sunday termed as "unfortunate" the presser by four seniormost judges of the Supreme Court and said it would take to the streets if the crisis was not resolved within 10 days. The coordination committee of lawyers of six district courts in the national capital after a meeting passed a resolution and said that an internal mechanism should be developed to settle such disputes in the judiciary and a judicial accountability bill should be brought to prevent such incidents. The panel said it would hold discussions with the bar associations across the country on the issue and threatened to take to the streets if the crisis was not resolved in 10 days. "We, hereby, resolve that the Chief Justice of India should have kept his house in order and the grievances of the four seniormost judges should have been addressed by the CJI immediately," a release, from the committee, said. In an unprecedented move, four senior Supreme Court judgesjustices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, MB Lokur and Kurian Josephhad on Friday mounted a virtual revolt against CJI Dipak Misra at a press meet, raising questions on "selective" case allocation and certain judicial orders, sending shockwaves across the judiciary and polity. A teenage domestic help, who was allegedly brutally assaulted by her employer, was rescued by the Delhi Commission For Women (DCW) from northwest Delhi's Model Town New Delhi: A teenage domestic help, who was allegedly brutally assaulted by her employer, was rescued by the Delhi Commission For Women (DCW) from northwest Delhi's Model Town. The DCW received a call on its helpline-181 on Friday about a girl being illegally confined to a house in Model Town. A DCW team along with police men reached the house where the girl was allegedly being kept in illegal confinement, a DCW statement read. The girl was rescued and her employer, a doctor, was arrested. The girl belongs to Ranchi, Jharkhand. Members of a placement agency had brought her to Delhi. She was "physically and mentally tortured, confined to the house and not paid any money", said the DCW. The girl alleged her lady employer beat her up every day. The employer poured hot water on her and branded with a hot iron, she alleged. The doctor had even bitten her, the girl told police. The girl was not given food for days, according to the DCW. Police said they have arrested the employer and are looking for members of the placement agency who brought her from Ranchi to Delhi A Delhi University student has been arrested after he mowed down a man with his speeding BMW car here, police said on Saturday. New Delhi: A Delhi University student has been arrested after he mowed down a man with his speeding BMW car here, police said on Saturday. Police said the accident happened on 10 January and the accused was arrested the next day but later released on bail. The hit-and-run incident was captured on CCTV cameras. "The accused student, Abhinav Sahni was behind the wheels. He was accompanied by his friends on the day of the accident," a senior police officer said. "The speeding red-coloured BMW was coming from Kamla Nagar market, when it hit Shiv Nath, 50, who was crossing the road. Shiv Nath was flung several metres into the air," he said, adding that Sahni fled the spot in his car. Some passersby later informed police and Shiv Nath was rushed to a hospital where he was declared dead, he added. "On the basis of the CCTV footage, the accused was later identified as Sahni, a student of Khalsa college, and he was arrested on 11 January," the police officer added. Setting aside protocol, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday received his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, who arrived in New Delhi on a six-day visit. New Delhi: Setting aside protocol, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday received his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, who arrived in New Delhi on a six-day visit. Modi received Netanyahu at the airport. #WATCH Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu received by PM Narendra Modi in Delhi. #NetanyahuInIndia pic.twitter.com/CTv4rlEWSg ANI (@ANI) January 14, 2018 He welcomed Netanyahu with a hug upon his arrival. During the visit, the two leaders will hold comprehensive dialogue on a variety of issues. The two will shortly attend a solemn ceremony at the Teen Murti Memorial New Delhi this afternoon to mark the formal renaming of the Teen Murti Chowk as the Teen Murti Haifa Chowk. The two leaders will also lay a wreath, and sign the visitor's book at the memorial, official sources said. Follow LIVE updates of the state visit here Tamil Nadu's traditional Jallikattu or bull taming sport got off to a great start on Sunday as part of Pongal celebrations in Madurai district. Chennai: Tamil Nadu's traditional Jallikattu or bull taming sport got off to a great start on Sunday as part of Pongal celebrations in Madurai district. After mass protests last year against banning the sport, Jallikattu was held following the passing of an ordinance amending the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. The Madurai district administration had made elaborate security arrangements at Avaniapuram where 625 bulls and an equal number of bull tamers participated in the event. Both were subjected to fitness tests. The rules of the sport say that a bull tamer will be awarded a prize if he hangs on to the hump of the animal for a certain period of time. The prizes include consumer durables, cash and more. Around 60 bull tamers were injured in the sport and were provided medical assistance at the venue. On Tuesday, Jallikattu would be held at Alanganallur in Madurai district where Chief Minister K. Palaniswami is expected to witness the event and also distribute prizes for the winners. The Pongal festivities take place over four days, the first-day being Bhogi, which was Saturday, when people burn their old clothes, mats and other items. Homes are painted afresh. The second day is the main Pongal festival celebrated on the first day of the Tamil month Thai. The third day is the Mattu Pongal when bulls and cows are bathed and their horns painted and worshipped as they play an important role in farms. Women feed the birds with coloured rice and pray for the welfare of their brothers. In some parts of the state, Jallikattua bull-taming sportis held. The fourth day is the Kannum Pongalthe day to go out and meet relatives and friends, and go sightseeing. Sawarkhed's groundwater contains fluoride. This is a chemical that is naturally present in soil, rocks and groundwater. But in concentrated form, it can be extremely harmful. Parth MN is travelling across Maharashtra's Marathwada region on a People's Archive of Rural India fellowship to chronicle agrarian issues in the region, over a period of 6-8 months. Firstpost will reproduce his reports as and when he files them for Pari. Not many in Sawarkhed village of Nandeds Mahoor taluka smile or laugh unreservedly. When interacting with a stranger, they are mindful of their mouths. It is embarrassing, says Rameshwar Jadhav. As he speaks, you can see that all his teeth are rotten and misshapen, their colours ranging from yellow ochre to dark brown. Ramaeshwar, 22, an agricultural labourer, is not the only one with this problem in Sawarkhed, a village of around 500 people. Almost every adults teeth here have deteriorated in varying degrees. Many also have a limp or are permanently hunched over as they slowly make their way through the narrow alleys and green fields. Those who can walk, need frequent breaks. The entire village appears to move in slow motion in a different era. This tableau has been created by whats inside the earth, beneath the feet of the villagers: the groundwater here contains fluoride. This is a chemical that is naturally present in soil, rocks and groundwater. But in concentrated form, it can be extremely harmful. According to the World Health Organisation, more than 1.5 mg of fluoride per litre of water is dangerous for consumption. In Sawarkhed, it was 9.5 mg when the Groundwater Surveys and Development Agency (GSDA) checked the fluoride level around 2012-13. The formation of flourosis depends on the extent of flouride in water, and therefore its progression varies," says Ashish Ardhapurkar, a physician based in Nanded town. Once the deterioration sets in, he says, it cannot be reversed. "But children are protected from it. They become vulnerable to dental flourosis only after they develop wisdom teeth, and to skeletal flourosis after their bone growth, which mostly happens after the age of six." Fluorosis can be checked in the initial stages, says Satish Berajdar, a well-known dentist in Latur town. If not, the effects are far-reaching. People are permanently handicapped, their teeth are destroyed. It reduces the bodys immunity and overall ability to cope as well, and makes you vulnerable to other diseases. But the people of Sawarkhed didnt know this for a long time. They kept consuming the contaminated water until 2006, when the state provided a tap at a dug well. That well is around one kilometre away, and even today is not sufficient for the drinking needs of the entire village. Whereas handpumps on borewells are at nearly every doorstep. We knew the water we drank [from handpumps] was not the purest. But nobody told us it was so dangerous. And when you are desperate for water, you have to consume what you get, says Madhukar Jadhav, a 55-year-old farmer and agricultural labourer. By the time awareness started creeping in, it was too late for Madhukars sister Anushaya Rathod. It started with pain in the knees [some 30 years ago], she says, her teeth all gone. The pain then spread across the body. Eventually, the shape and size of my bones changed, reducing me to a cripple. When the pain in the joints began, the family did not imagine it was due to the water they were drinking. "We thought it was an ordinary illness," Madhukar says. "Later, when it became alarming, we took her to many doctors in Yavatmal, Nanded and Kinwat. I must have spent over one lakh rupees, borrowing most of it from relatives and friends. But no treatment worked and I did not have the capacity to spend more. Eventually, we gave up According to the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, as many as 2,086 water sources in Maharashtra have highly harmful fluoride, along with nitrate and arsenic. Anushaya, now in her 50s, cannot stand on her feet anymore. She can hardly move around, and has to use her hands because her bony legs remain folded into each other. This has been her condition for over 10 years. I have become a burden on my family, she says. I live with my brother, he looks after me. But I feel guilty I cannot do anything for him and his family. Madhukar has seen his own productivity fall over the years. If I work for an hour on the farm, I have to take a break of half an hour. My back aches a lot, he says. It is a task to even attend to natures call. The body is so inflexible. Madhukar cultivates cotton, tur and jowar on his six acres. He also works as an agricultural labourer. Nobody pays me the amount that labourers usually get [around Rs. 250 a day]. It is saddening to see your worth go down. Pankaj Mahales family too tried various treatments, but he lost his 50-year-old father six years ago. "He had skeletal flourosis," Pankaj, 34, says. "He was bent from the waist. We took him to bone specialists, to doctors in Nanded and even Nagpur. But they said my father's bones have become so brittle that even a minor jerk could break him down. They gave him calcium medicines that cost 3,000 rupees per month. To take him to doctors in various places, we had to hire a private car. The expenses ran into lakhs by the time he died. The district administration did not offer any free medical help." So where did the excessive flouride in Sawarkheds water come from? Drought is at the core of the flourosis in this region. For several decades, the farmers here have been drilling borewells to extract groundwater for irrigation, washing and bathing. But with water shortages growing in increasingly arid Marathwada in the last two decades, they started drinking the groundwater too. Flouride exists in some groundwater sources, but the deeper a borewell is dug, the more the chances of the flouride content increasing. Additionally, fertilisers, pesticides, sewage, industrial effluents and depletion in groundwater led to higher concentrations of flouride. Although a borewell must not go deeper than 200 feet (according to the Maharashtra Groundwater Act of 2009) , borewells in Marathwada are frequently as deep as 500 feet or more. Without any monitoring of the number and depth of borewells, and with water requirements increasing due to erratic rainfall and a shift to cash crops, farmers in this region desperately drill deeper until they find some water. And if a village is unlucky to have sunk a borewell where the fluoride content is high, as Sawarkhed was, the chemical slowly seeps into the people so much so that 209 of Sawarkheds 517 residents are now categorised as non-workers by Census 2011. And a report of the National Programme for the Prevention and Control of Flourosis notes that (till 2013) 3,710 persons in Nanded had dental fluorosis, and 389 had skeletal flourosis. Local journalist Dharmaraj Hallyale, who has followed this crisis closely, says even after tap water was made available in Sawarkhed in 2006, for four years the tap did not function properly. There would be no electricity, he says. So the pump wouldnt work. I wrote to the district collector and the state government. I followed it up for a month, before it was eventually fixed in 2010. Hallyale also filed an RTI (Right to Information) application seeking information for the entire state and 25 districts [out of a total of 36] turned out to have fluoride in their water sources in varying degrees. These numbers vary depending on the source of the data. According to the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, in the year 2016-17, as many as 2,086 water sources in Maharashtra had fluoride, along with nitrate and arsenic both highly harmful too. The number has apparently decreased over the years in 2012-13, it was 4,520. In Nanded district, according to an affidavit filed by the collector in August 2014 at the National Green Tribunal (NGT), water sources in 383 villages had flouride over permissible limits, of which 257 were provided alternative sources of water. In 2015-16 though, the GSDA categorised 46 villages in Nanded as flourosis-affected, and claimed that merely four of those remain to be tackled. On 11 January, 2016, following an application by a team of nine advocates led by Asim Sarode about villagers being forced to drink flouride water, the NGT ordered the collectors of 12 districts in Maharashtra along with the GSDA to, among other measures, monitor water quality and publish district-wise information; provide alternative water sources; and provide medical facilities to patients free of cost. When this was ignored, on 28 November, 2017 the NGT issued warrants against the 12 district collectors, including those of Nanded, Chandrapur, Beed, Yavatmal, Latur, Washim, Parbhani, Hingoli, Jalna and Jalgaon. Meanwhile, Sunegaon (Sangvi) village, around 200 kilometres from Sawarkhed, now has a dug well, which did not exist before. After the Limboti dam was constructed around 2006, a lake formed near the village of 630 residents in Laturs Ahmadpur taluka. This enhanced percolation, and when they dug a well in 2007, they hit water. But by then Sukesh Dhavale, 30, had consumed fluoride-infused groundwater for 20 years, and seen his health deteriorate like the people in Sawarkhed. I constantly feel there is a layer on my teeth, says the agricultural labourer, getting up from under a tree, his joints audibly creaking. The layer falls off after a while. But so does a part of the tooth. I cannot eat anything hard. My joints also hurt, I cannot work for long. At the Ahmadpur laboratory of the GSDA, around eight kilometres from Sunegaon (Sangvi), the person in charge searches on a computer, at our request, for a list of fluorosis-prone villages; an adjacent village, Sunegaon Shendri, is on the list of 25 such villages in Latur district. Govind Kale, 35, of Sunegaon Shendri, who is with me, exclaims, We have been drinking groundwater for a year now. The common [dug] well in the village is not working. The entire village drinks borewell water. Why is anybody not doing anything about it? Why are we not warned in advance? Eighty years after this problem was first highlighted in Andhra Pradeshs Nalgonda village (now in Telangana) even a documentary titled Crippled Lives was made on this no lessons seem to have been learnt. This piece first appeared in People's Archive of Rural India and is reproduced here by arrangement with Pari At least 28 persons, including 10 women, have so far been arrested in connection with the attack on the cavalcade of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar in Buxar district two days ago. Patna: At least 28 persons, including 10 women, have so far been arrested in connection with the attack on the cavalcade of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar in Buxar district two days ago. Altogether five FIRs have been registered in connection with the incident against 99 named persons and 500-700 unnamed ones, Buxar Superintendent of Police Rakesh Kumar said on Sunday. "We have so far arrested 28 persons18 men and 10 womenin connection with the stone-pelting incident on CM's car on Friday," the Superintendent of Police told PTI. The chief minister's convoy was pelted with stones during his tour of Nandan village in Dumraon block as part of his state-wide Vikas Samiksha Yatra. Although Kumar remained unharmed, several security personnel suffered injuries and a few vehicles in the cavalcade were damaged in the stone-pelting. "Those named in the FIRs were identified with the help of video footages and photographs obtained from various sources. While 28 of them have been arrested, efforts are on to nab the others," the police officer said. Divisional Commissioner of Patna Anand Kishore had visited Buxar on Saturday along with Inspector General of Police, Patna Zone, NH Khan. "A thorough probe is being conducted into the incident to find out whether the attack was pre-planned and if so, who were behind it," Kishore said. Meanwhile, senior RJD leader Jagdanand Singh, who had earlier been an MP from Buxar, today visited Nandan village. "The government in the state wants to send the message that voices raised in support of legitimate demands will be crushed with iron hand," he told reporters. "The RJD will not tolerate injustice against poor Dalits who do not have major demands. They only wanted a word of assurance from the chief minister that the promises he has been making will indeed be fulfilled," Singh said. Opposition RJD has been accused by the ruling JD(U)-BJP combine of being behind the attack criticized the police action following Friday's incident. Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra met a seven-member delegation of the Bar Council of India (BCI) and assured it that the crisis following a virtual revolt by four senior most Supreme Court (SC) judges against him would be sorted out soon. New Delhi: Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra met a seven-member delegation of the Bar Council of India (BCI) and assured it that the crisis following a virtual revolt by four senior most Supreme Court (SC) judges against him would be sorted out soon. After a 50-minute meeting with the CJI, BCI chairman Manan Kumar Mishra, who headed the delegation, told reporters that the meeting took place in a congenial atmosphere and that Justice Misra assured them that everything would be sorted out soon. "We met the CJI in a congenial atmosphere and he said that everything would be sorted out soon," he said. Mishra added that before meeting the CJI, the panel had also discussed the crisis plaguing the higher judiciary with other judges, including three of the four senior most judges, who had mounted a virtual revolt against Justice Misra at an unprecedented press conference here on Friday. He said the panel met justices J Chelameswar, M B Lokur, and Kurian Joseph and that they also assured it that everything would be sorted out. Mishra did not mention whether the panel had a talk with the fourth rebellious judge, Justice Ranjan Gogoi, who had gone out of station after Friday's presser. He added that the media would be informed about the BCI's day-long parleys with the Supreme Court judges at a press conference on Monday. Hectic parleys took place throughout the day among the apex court judges as well over the crisis that has erupted after the virtual revolt by the four senior most judges of the court against the CJI. Two top court judges justices S A Bobde and L Nageswara Rao met Justice Chelameswar, who had led the four judges at the unprecedented press conference, at his official residence, sources said. The BCI panel also had a brief meeting with Justice Arun Mishra, who is in focus for hearing a PIL seeking a probe into the death of special CBI judge B H Loya. Loya, who was dealing with the Sohrabuddin Sheikh "fake encounter" case, had allegedly died of a cardiac arrest in Nagpur on 1 December, 2014. The four rebellious judges had raised a question over the allocation of Loya's case to Justice Mishra. The four judges had flagged a litany of problems, including the assigning of cases in the apex court, and said there were certain issues afflicting the country's highest court. Nagaland chief minister TR Zeliang on Saturday said that solution to the seven-decade-old Naga insurgency must be finalised at the earliest. Akuluto: Nagaland chief minister TR Zeliang on Saturday said that solution to the seven-decade-old Naga insurgency must be finalised at the earliest. "Solution to the protracted Naga political issue must be finalised at the earliest time possible for the sake of peace and harmony of all the Nagas," he told a gathering here in Zunheboto district. "Solution is a must for all the Nagas and it must arrive for the sake of permanent peace in the land. And that is why Solution first and then election," he reiterated. Inviting all Naga rebel groups to come together in unison for a final settlement, Zeliang believed that the land of the Nagas would be among the best in the world once underground movement was resolved. "We are second to none and given the opportunity, Nagas have the capability to compete at the global level," he added. On 3 August, 2015, the central government and the separatist group, the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah signed the Framework Agreement to end the insurgency. Last year, the government had also signed an agreement with a Working Committee comprising six Naga National Political Groups. The NSCN-IM has been in talks with the government since 1997 after the signing of a ceasefire agreement. Supreme Court Bar Association president Vikas Singh met Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra and handed over a resolution on the crisis in the apex judiciary to him. New Delhi: Supreme Court Bar Association president Vikas Singh on Sunday met the Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra and handed over a resolution on the crisis in the apex judiciary to him. The senior lawyer told PTI that he handed over a copy of the SCBA resolution to the CJI, who assured him that he would look into it. "I met the CJI and handed over a copy of the resolution. He said that he would look into it and ensure there was congeniality in the Supreme Court at the earliest," Singh told PTI after his 15-minute meeting with the CJI. Singh expressed hope that all judges of the apex court would give consideration to its resolution in which the association asked for a full court discussion to defuse the present crisis plaguing the higher judiciary. The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), at an emergency meeting on Saturday, passed a resolution and expressed "grave concern" over the differences of four senior-most judges with the CJI and said the issue should be immediately considered by the full court of the apex court. The SCBA executive committee resolved that all public interest litigation (PIL) matters, including the pending PILs, should be either taken up by the CJI or be assigned for adjudication to four senior judges who are part of the apex court collegium. Sources said that the full court of the Supreme Court is in all possibility would tomorrow deliberate upon the situation arising out of the controversial presser of its four seniormost judges who virtually revolted against the CJI. Full court mechanism is one in which deliberations by all the judges of the top court takes place in-house and not in the open. They said the full court deliberation has become necessary as the four judges, who went public with their grievances, in all probability did not have the support of the other apex court judges. The Supreme Court, at present, has 25 judges including the Chief Justice. The sanctioned strength of the apex court is 31, including the CJI. "It is for sure that they (judges) will have to go for a full court tomorrow. In full court, the CJI has the majority that is why these four judges have not demanded for full court deliberation on their grievances," one of the sources said. They cited a report appearing in the media that one of the judges, who is likely to become a future CJI, has also expressed his reservation about the presser held on Friday last by Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B Lokur and Kurian Joseph. The Supreme Court not only listed a PIL on Judge BH Loya's death, it also heard the matter, knowing the matter was listed in the Bombay High Court. It raises serious questions of propriety. One of the main triggers for the events on Friday at the Supreme Court was the issue of the assignment of the Judge Loya case. Some background. Judge BH Loya was a CBI Special Sessions Judge who was hearing the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case. One of the main accused in this case was BJP President and now Rajya Sabha MP, Amit Shah. Amit Shah was discharged in the case, but not by Judge Loya. He was discharged by another judge as Loya died during the pendency of the trial. The Supreme Court had directed that the judge hearing the matter should not be transferred. The Caravan, had reported that the death of Loya happened under suspicious circumstances and that it warranted an investigation. The news magazine also raised questions about the conduct of the then Chief Justice of the High Court at Bombay, Justice (Retired) Mohit Shah. Though these allegations came out many years after the death of Judge Loya, senior retired members of the high judiciary demanded an inquiry post the article was published. Now any court possessing writ jurisdiction is empowered to order the inquiry. Both the Supreme Court as well as the high courts are empowered under the Constitution to hear and entertain public interest litigations into causes such as this. The question though is one of protocol and propriety. Which would be the ideal forum to hear and supervise an inquiry into the death of a member of the lower judiciary, a sessions judge in this case? Both the high courts and the Supreme Court are creatures of one Constitution. They both, however, exercise their jurisdictions in very different spheres. A high court possesses a power the Supreme Court does not. And that is the power of superintendence, ie, the power to supervise the functioning of courts that are within its territorial jurisdiction. A high court is an ultimate court in a state or states that are within its jurisdiction. It can be both an original as well as an appellate court, both in criminal and civil matters. Though there are no longer trials before a high court in criminal matters (except under special laws), despite the fact that the procedural law envisages them, a high court's power of superintendence is not one that is found with the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court doesn't supervise the high courts in India. Even though the high courts are bound by the Supreme Court's rulings on law, the Supreme Court can only hear appeals. It cannot revise procedural rulings or interim orders of a high court. The natural forum, therefore, to entertain a petition or to conduct such an inquiry is the high court that had the superintendence of the court which the judge presided over, in this case, it's the Bombay High Court. The Bombay High Court had taken up a matter filed by the Bombay Lawyers Association seeking an inquiry into the death of Judge Loya. This matter was mentioned before a division bench of the high court and it had decided to take the matter up on 23 January. Since this question was pending before the high court, it meant the high court was seized of the matter. Once the high court is seized of the matter, the Supreme Court cannot and should not have entertained it. In fact, when the matter was taken up on 12 January, there were objections at the Bar of the Supreme Court raising this very point. Dushyant Dave representing the Bombay Lawyers Association said, The Bombay High Court is seized of the matter and in my opinion, the Supreme Court should not hear this matter. If the court goes ahead with the hearing, it may have implications before the high court." The Supreme Court said it would examine the objection when it hears the matter. But this raises a serious issue of propriety once more. The Supreme Court should have let the Bombay High Court finish hearing the matter before it took up the matter on appeal. Since the Bombay High Court was already hearing this matter there was no need to take this unprecedented step of hearing the same matter. A high court is bound by a decision of the Supreme Court. If the Supreme Court decides first, a high court cannot pass final judgement. Now that the Supreme Court is seized of the matter, the high court cannot in the interest of propriety go ahead and hear it. Though in law it can. What the Supreme Court has essentially done is issue a de facto prohibition to the Bombay High Court from hearing the matter at all for now. This is exercising superintendence over a high court, a power the Supreme Court does not have. This may be why the four judges took that unprecedented step. The matter was listed, when it should have ideally been not-listed till the Bombay High Court had decided on the matter. That's not all though. Not only was the matter listed in the Supreme Court, it was also heard, and de-facto superintendence was exercised. And that too in a case that may have implications for a sitting Rajya Sabha MP and the President of the ruling party in power. It raises serious questions of propriety. Institutions are about how they project themselves. The whole idea of propriety is not just about doing the right thing but also about doing it in a manner that it appears to everyone that you are doing the right thing. It must be beyond doubt and leave no room for baseless speculation. The actions of India's top court must be such that they are beyond such doubts. This is perhaps the point the four judges were trying to make when they went public with their letter about case allocations. The Supreme Court hearing the Judge Loya case when the Bombay High Court is seized, is something that is not proper. But it happened nonetheless. Only time will tell us if the country is richer or poorer for it. The castigation of the judiciary for not being of the times is unfounded, for, despite the troughs and earthquakes, the Supreme Court of India has remained the vestige of a democratic vision that nationalist leaders had imagined for India India has a complicated relationship with its judiciary. On the one side, it's interpreted as an institution of incomparable panache, an old-worldly charm that still imagines an India of liberal values, quiet resignation and traditional resilience in other words, an India that is quickly and surely disappearing. Contrary to this, there's a widespread castigation as well based on the same premises as the nostalgic laudation interpreting the judiciary to be a dilapidated, inefficient island in the fast-moving dynamism of the sea. The judiciary is often seen as the crumbling vestige of an India that Indians are zealous to leave behind, but cannot because the judiciary dispenses justice even though justice is impassably slow, dredged across time by the proverbial taarikh. With over 22 million cases unheard and pending in higher and subordinate courts of law, the judiciary in India severely understaffed and grossly overworked has fulfilled this prophecy. Of frequent reference is also the case of caste. It is argued that the judiciary, populated by as much as 95 percent of its constituency by individuals of the Brahmin caste, is Brahmanical. This criticism resurfaced in the defiance and subsequent punishment of Justice CS Karnan whose persecution, it is said, was about his caste. As a judge of the apex court hearing Hadiyas case asked what the case had to do with gender, certain formulations cast on the Supreme Court the aspersion of being a benevolent patriarch whose justice was sexual governance. In the middle of accusations, however, there is a simultaneous recognition that the judiciary may indeed be fraught with shortcomings, but if it were not for its resilient and forthright presence, India would be worse off. This was a resonant sentiment on the promulgation of the Justice KS Puttaswamy vs Union of India judgment also known as the celebrated judgment upholding privacy as a fundamental right. It is this sentiment that innumerable citizens hold on to as an act of democratic faith. When, on 12 January, 2018, four prominent judges of the Supreme Court Ranjan Gogoi, J Chelameswar, Madan B Lokur and Kurian Joseph held a press conference, the first time in the history of independent India, to declare that democracy in the country is in unprecedented danger, they inspired reminiscence of Justice HR Khanna who, in the ADM Jabalpur vs Shiv Kant Shukla case deciding whether the many arbitrary detentions of the Emergency could be challenged in court, had pleaded constitutional guarantee for life and liberty unconditional to the power of the executive. While drawing on an illustrious history of judicial dissent, they (the four dissenting Supreme Court judges) appealed to the aforesaid democratic faith in the judiciary and affirmed its precarious character, particularly when assaulted by an ascendant executive. In a crisply worded letter to Chief Justice Dipak Misra, the judges emphasised that while the Chief Justice of India is privileged to determine the roster, this privilege does not accrue to judicial superiority but the need to devise "a disciplined and efficient transaction of business of the court". He is, then, not the first, but the first among equals nothing more or nothing less". The anxious need to reiterate this, the letter noted, came from the chief justices flouting of conventional judicial procedure in assigning cases of far-reaching national significance to benches of their presence with any rationale basis for such assignment". When pressed further by some during the press conference, Justice Gogoi confirmed, as was feared, that their own misgivings were informed by the circumstances surrounding the death of BH Loya, the special CBI judge trying the Sohrabuddin case against BJP president Amit Shah. Although the four judges were cautious with what they said, acknowledging that it was towards the reputation of their institution, they remained unforgivable in asserting that if democracy is to survive, India will have to guard its free judiciary. This impasse in Indias democratic life is not unusual, but its expression has been extraordinary. In the cherished division between the legislature, executive, and the judiciary that India decided to enshrine, the Constituent Assembly was a house divided. Jawaharlal Nehru invoked the proverbial Lakshman rekha, suggesting that no Supreme Court can make itself a third chamber. No Supreme Court and no judiciary can stand in judgment over the sovereign will of (the) Parliament. If we go wrong here and there, it can point it out, but in the ultimate analysis, where the future of the (country) is concerned, no judiciary can come in the way. And if it comes in the way, ultimately, the whole Constitution is a creature of (the) Parliament. Nehru, a constitutionalist in the classical Western tradition, was unstinted in his conviction towards a powerful central executive and a relative disregard for federalist political systems. Its political dangers, that we have come to live, were not lost on him, but never acutely realised. But rarely were thinkers and constitutionalists spared suspicions that the idealism of sharing power between the three estates of democracy will not come to last, that ambitions beyond the constitutionalist will destroy this structure, and with it, the idealism of creating a nation. BR Ambedkar forewarned that while the Chief Justice is a very eminent, person, but after all the Chief Justice is a man with all the failings, all the sentiments and all the prejudices which we as common people have.... Although Ambedkar is to have voiced this concern on the issue of who could veto the appointment of judges, it is a concern that has remained. The press conference, then, is to be located in a longue duree of both the executive abuse of power and the awareness that this can be done, and simultaneously, that in a democratic nation it should not be. This democracy, however precarious, has faced only one decisive threat in its postcolonial history, and this threat was defeated. That we do it again is the conviction of the judges, as a second, more insidious authoritarianism attempts to empty the transparency of democratic institutions from within. It is well-known, with sufficient public interest, that the legislature has, over the years, been rendered beholden to the will of the executive; legislation is now a matter not of debate and discussants with different but ultimately conducive, conceptions of public good, but a programmatic exercise between political parties, mediated by the infamous whip. Perhaps the castigation of the judiciary for not being of the times is unfounded, for that is precisely its appreciation that it has, despite the troughs and earthquakes, remained the vestige of a democratic vision that nationalist leaders had imagined for their India: an India they had lived for, but would not live to see. As the micro-sovereigns of the BJP government attempt to malign the political character and concern of the judiciary, to defend the judiciary is to defend the India that is quickly and surely disappearing, and with whose disappearance we, too, will disappear. That is not surprising because political practitioners in a democracy are guided by majoritarianism. Indias Supreme Court (SC) is a classic example of an institution which stood up to this evil of democracy. But history is hardly a mirror for the present, it seems. English philosopher John Stuart Mill expounded the theory of the tyranny of the majority, in the 19th century. A variation of it, the "tyranny of public opinion" has often been used as a fig leaf by those whose last resort is politics. That is not surprising because political practitioners in a democracy are guided by majoritarianism. Indias Supreme Court is a classic example of an institution which stood up to this evil of democracy. But history is hardly a mirror for the present, it seems. Which is why it was surprising to see India's judiciary, trained to contain the evils of this tyranny of public opinion, taking refuge behind it, as four senior most judges of the apex court did on Friday, when they rebelled against Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra. They brought the murky goings on in the closed corridors of the Supreme Court to the "court of public opinion". For those who have access to portals of the Supreme Court, the spectacle of four of its senior most judges raising the banner of revolt against their Chief Justice did not come as a surprise, but rather a conspiracy to alter the course of history. It was brewing for some time is the general refrain if you talk to anyone conversant with what is going on. Letters were being secretly written to judges and circulating, pointing out skeletons in cupboards hidden from public view. Insinuation and innuendo over the formation of benches on certain issues of critical economic and political importance were the order of the day. And there were all indications that there was something stinking in the corridors of the Supreme Court, to borrow a phrase from Justice Markandey Katju (he was referring to the Allahabad High Court). All this was exposed in a jiffy as the judges pointed fingers at CJIs alleged indiscretion in allocating cases to benches and his other administrative functioning. Attempts will be made to treat this fracas as an aberration. To bury the hatchet and continue business as usual when the Supreme Court meets on Monday. Such treatment would be worse than the disease. It would be prudent to dig deep into the malaise that afflicts a judicial system that stands in splendid isolation, deeply hollowed and completely impervious to any change within itself. Look at the issues which are raised by four senior most judges and evaluate if any of them is concerned about peoples welfare at large. Prima facie, all of them relate to work-allocation within the court. They object to the fact that critical issues that grab headlines are being allotted to benches comprising junior judges and senior judges are being passed up. In effect, they are implying their juniors are less qualified to deal with these cases. At the same time, they apply the logic of Chief Justice of India being first among equals to hammer home the point that the CJI is equal to the rest of the bench. The manner in which the case pertaining to the death of Justice Loya is being brought out to settle scores within the Supreme Court smacks of politics. It was hardly a coincidence that senior advocate Dushyant Dave wrote a piece in The Indian Express accusing the CJI of administrative overreach on the day the four judges chose to go public. Was their decision to go to the people impulsive and not premeditated? Is the facade of public opinion being used to cover up a conspiracy by a clique of activist-lawyers who are known to bully non-conformist judges for setting political agenda in the garb of judicial activism? Is this judicial activism for the public good? Apparently, it is cleverly garbed in the discourse of public good to protect a select group of lawyers personal turf. None of the issues raised by these activist-lawyers pertain to the issues that make the countrys highest court inaccessible to common people. Take for instance, the language spoken in the higher judiciary. It is often incomprehensible to people and the fees charged by lawyers is so exorbitant that an ex-IAS officer Harish Chandra Gupta, known for his impeccable integrity but implicated in the coal scam, recently pleaded with the court to put him in jail instead of putting him through the charade of trials which he could not afford. But this is not the only issue. The judiciary has kept itself away from Right To Information Act and judges are not bound to declare their assets like other public servants. Similarly, the principles of social justice (euphemism for reservation in government jobs) enunciated by the Supreme Court aptly in the Mandal Commission report does not apply to the judiciary. And the selection of judges to higher judiciary is not only opaque but obnoxiously clannish to say the least. The manner in which the Supreme Court struck down the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) passed unanimously by Parliament was indicative of the higher judiciary's aversion to reform. Ironically, Justice J Chelameswar, who led the revolt by four judges was the powerful dissenter in the NJAC judgment. In his judgment, Chelameswar quoted an ardent appeal for reform by Lord Macaulay to British Parliament in 1831 to enfranchise the working class. He underlined the importance of reform in order to protect the royalty and ruling clique and said, Reform that you preserve. Perhaps on Monday when the Supreme Court meets, Lord Macaulays words can be re-phrased and dinned into the ears: "Reform, lordships that you may preserve. After leading from the front in the Gujarat Assembly polls that saw his party improving its show, Congress president Rahul Gandhi is now focusing on Uttar Pradesh Lucknow: After leading from the front in the Gujarat Assembly polls that saw his party improving its show, Congress president Rahul Gandhi is now focusing on Uttar Pradesh to galvanise party cadres in the run-up to 2019 Lok Sabha elections. First time after donning the mantle of the party chief, Gandhi is all set to pay a two-day visit to his Lok Sabha constituency Amethi from Monday. Though party workers are excited by his anointment and have planned a grand reception in Amethi, they are aware that the path for their young leader will not be easy in Uttar Pradesh where its electoral foray in the assembly polls had been anything but encouraging. "The new party president knows the state well, has a personal rapport with party leaders and workers in Uttar Pradesh. we are ready to work hard with him in the field," Congress spokesman Amar Nath told PTI. "The Congress will definitely work out ways and means to galvanise the party in Uttar Pradesh in order to make a big impact in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls," he added. The Uttar Pradesh Assembly has 403 seats. In the last assembly elections, the Congress managed to win just seven seats, its lowest ever in the state. But what came as a bigger shock was its dismal show in Amethi and Rae Bareli, which had long been nurtured by the Gandhi family. The Modi wave stormed into Amethi and Rae Bareli, and Congress was routed in eight of the 10 Assembly seats there. The BJP won six seats in Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi's parliamentary constituencies with two seats going to the Samajwadi Party. In a major embarrassment to the senior leadership of the party, the Congress could manage victory in only two of the 10 prestigious seats. The party lost all five seats in Amethi, and barely saved face by winning in just two of the five seats in Sonia Gandhi's Rae Bareli constituency. Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said there is complete breakdown of law and order in the state, hours after two minor Dalit girls were allegedly raped and killed in separate incidents. Hooda said the BJP government has failed to put a check on the rising crime graph. Chandigarh: Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said there is complete breakdown of law and order in the state, hours after two minor Dalit girls were allegedly raped and killed in separate incidents. Hooda said the BJP government has failed to put a check on the rising crime graph. Demanding exemplary punishment for the culprits, he said, "This government has failed on all fronts. The law and order situation has completely broken down. Children are neither safe in schools nor in their homes. Such heinous crimes are increasing, but the government seems to be in slumber," he said. Two minor girls were allegedly raped and killed in separate incidents in Haryana, barely a month after a similar case involving a six-year-old girl shook the state. Police said one of the girls, a 15-year-old school student, had been brutally assaulted and her private parts mutilated. Referring to the case in which the 15-year-old girl from Kurukshetra district was sexually assaulted and murdered, Hooda said the incident was similar to the Nirbhaya case which took place in Delhi a few years back. The body of the other victim, an 11-year-old girl, was found in a village in Panipat district this morning, a police official said. Hooda said these shocking incidents were a grim reminder of how the law and order situation in the state has deteriorated under the BJP government. Haryana Congress president Ashok Tanwar also hit out at the state government over alleged deteriorating law and order situation. As political parties get ready for elections, a BJP MP is looking at a novel way of winning the polls - with a ritual in New Delhi in praise of the 'goddess of the ruling administration'. New Delhi: As political parties get ready for elections, a BJP MP is looking at a novel way of winning the polls - with a ritual in New Delhi in praise of the "goddess of the ruling administration". The 'mahayagna' will be held somewhere close to the iconic Red Fort in March, party sources said. Delhi BJP MP Mahesh Giri is organising the event, which, the sources said, could be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party chief Amit Shah and the chief ministers of BJP-ruled states. The "Rashtra Raksha Yagna" (ritual for saving the nation) will seek the blessings of Baglamukhi Devi for the next Lok Sabha elections and other state polls, the sources added. Giri declined to comment on the yagna, but told PTI the details would be disclosed on 22 January. Devotees believe the goddess of "raj vyavastha" (ruling administration) blesses people with power. Aao ek sankalp lein, aao ek aahuti dein (Come, let's take a resolve and make an offering)" is the slogan for the event, plans for which are being chalked out at the residence of Giri, a disciple of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar of the Art of Living, the sources said. The 'mahayagna' is being planned at the time when the BJP has to fight to retain power in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. It also seeks to wrest Karnataka from the Congress. All the four states are scheduled to hold polls this year. The results of the elections in these states are expected to have an impact on the general elections in 2019. Several BJP and RSS leaders met at the residence of Home Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi to hold deliberations on the upcoming assembly polls in three northeastern states Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland New Delhi: Several BJP and RSS leaders on Sunday met at the residence of Home Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi to hold deliberations on the upcoming assembly polls in three northeastern states Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland. Besides Singh, Krishna Gopal, a senior RSS functionary, and BJP general secretary Ram Madhav, who oversees his party's affairs in the North East, were among the leaders present at the meeting. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval also attended the meeting. Though details of the deliberations were not immediately clear, sources said the political situation in the region was at the centre of the discussion. In Tripura, where the stakes are high for the BJP, the party is likely to ally with the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT), which represents a section of the state's tribal population. The Union home minister had recently assured it of forming a high-powered committee to look into their demands aimed at protecting and promoting socio-economic and cultural interests of the state's indigenous population. Though the IPFT has long sought a separate state for tribals, the BJP leadership has made it clear that it does not support the demand. Following Singh's assurance to the IPFT leadership, its president NC Debbarma had on Thursday announced a tie-up with the BJP for the polls. The BJP is yet to make an announcement. Debbarma had said his party would keep the separate state demand in abeyance for now as the central government had agreed to examine their problems and take corrective measures. The BJP has emerged as the main challenger to the ruling Left Front in Tripura. In Meghalaya and Nagaland, two Christian-majority states, the BJP hopes to put up a good performance, especially in the former, where the Congress is in power. The Naga People's Front, which is in power in Nagaland, is a BJP ally. Union minister Prakash Javadekar on Saturday said the BJP would win the upcoming Karnataka Assembly polls and form the next government in the state. Pune: Union minister Prakash Javadekar on Saturday said the BJP would win the upcoming Karnataka Assembly polls and form the next government in the state. "I am the party in-charge for Karnataka. We will win (the polls) in Karnataka as there is a complete anti-incumbency (against the ruling Congress) in the state and the BJP is getting a tremendous response," he told reporters on the sidelines of a programme in Pune. "Currently, the BJP has governments in 19 states. With the victory in the upcoming elections in the north-eastern states of Tripura, Mizoram and Meghalaya, the tally will go up to 22. After the victory in Karnataka, the number of BJP-ruled states will go up to 23. "The situation in the country will be like the BJP everywhere and the Congress nowhere," the Union human resources development minister said. He alleged that instead of introspecting, the Congress was taking refuge in communalism and that it was hand in glove with Kerala's Popular Front of India (PFI), which he dubbed as a terror organisation. Javadekar alleged that PFI workers had killed 24 BJP activists in Karnataka. "Instead of booking them, the Siddaramaiah government is withdrawing the cases against these people. The Congress has withdrawn 155 cases lodged against 1,600 PFI workers. It is also engaged in alliance talks with PFI-affiliated political organisation, the Social Democratic Party of India," he said. Javadekar alleged that as the Congress was becoming "irrelevant", it had started hobnobbing with "terror organisations" and "casteist outfits". Accusing the Congress of indulging in "vote bank" politics, he said the Karnataka government celebrated the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan but did not celebrate Swami Vivekananda's birth anniversary on Friday. Claiming that the law-and-order situation had collapsed in the southern state, he said, "See the cases of scholar MM Kalburgi, journalist Gauri Lankesh and the 24 BJP workers. Not a single case has been cracked so far. Women are unsafe in the state. Farmers are in distress and are committing suicide every day." "The Congress is losing the plot. The common man and farmers are angry in Karnataka and we are sure that we will clinch an unprecedented victory (in the upcoming polls)," he added. Talking about the crisis in the Supreme Court, Javadekar said it was an internal issue of the judiciary and accused the Congress of "politicising" it. There are practical difficulties in renewing the alliance with the NCP for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and Assembly polls in Maharashtra, the Congress says but is hopeful that an amicable solution can be worked out. Mumbai: There are practical difficulties in renewing the alliance with the NCP for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and Assembly polls in Maharashtra, the Congress says but is hopeful that an amicable solution can be worked out. The two Opposition parties had an acrimonious break-up ahead of the 2014 state polls. Senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan said had the NCP not withdrawn support and called off the tie-up, the alliance together would have got 35 percent votes. "Contesting separately was a loss to both the parties," he said. The former chief minister admitted there were practical difficulties in renewing the alliance. "Yes, difficulties are there. But both parties must remember they were in power for 15 years in the state and can work out an amicable solution," he said. A Congress source said there has to be a "win-win situation" for both the parties to forge a tie-up. "It's too early to come to a final decision. There are practical difficulties. The Bhandara-Gondia Lok Sabha bypoll will be a precursor to what happens later," the source said. Nana Patole, the sitting BJP MP from the Bhandara-Gondia seat, recently quit the party and returned to the Congress, necessitating the by-election. Both the Congress and the NCP are now staking claim to contest the bypoll. However, the Congress workers and leaders in Gondia are not in favour of an alliance with the NCP. "They (NCP) don't fulfil their commitment in an alliance and are trying to lure the Congress workers into their fold," a Congress leader from Gondia said, adding that they have informed the state leadership about their views. Interestingly, in the Bhandara zilla parishad poll slated for Monday, the Congress has joined hands with the NCP. But, for the Gondia zilla parishad poll, also scheduled for Monday, the Congress has tied-up with the BJP. "The main question will be who is the big brother in the alliance," the Congress source said, referring to his party's refusal to accept the NCP's demand for equal seat sharing in the 2014 polls for the 288-member state Assembly. At that time, the NCP also wanted equal sharing of the the tenure of the chief minister's post. The source said these were among the main reasons for the break-up of the two parties in 2014 after being in power for 15 years. Meanwhile, an NCP leader said practical difficulties need to be sorted out as the 2014 Assembly poll results showed that contesting the elections independently cost the former alliance partners the government of 15 years. "(Senior Congress leader) Ashok Chavan is positive about an alliance. Let's see if his party leaders support him," the NCP leader said. He, however, said their claim on the Bhandara-Gondia seat remains since the NCP had contested it in 2014 when both his party and the Congress fought the Lok Sabha polls in alliance. NCP spokesman Nawab Malik said, "Since both the parties contested the last Assembly polls separately, finalising a seat-sharing alliance for 2019 shouldn't be a problem as the 2014 figures of who won which seat and came second in which seat are already available." He said that after 2014, the NCP and the Congress had contested all the by-elections together. IANS Apple, which announced its first data centre in China will be operational from February, mistakenly sent a notice to some of the US users saying their iCloud data is being migrated to the servers in the Asian country. The Cupertino-based Apple has now apologised. In an email obtained by TechCrunch, the company said: "We are very sorry that you received this email. This email was intended only for customers whose Apple ID country is China. A very small number of our customers whose Apple ID country is not China also received this email by mistake". In a move to increase transparency and make inroads into China, the first data centre of the Cupertino-based tech giant Apple in China will be put into operation on 28 February. From then on, photos, documents and other personal information uploaded to iCloud accounts by Apple customers in China will be stored at a data base in southwest China's Guizhou Province, Xinhua news agency reported. The move is aiming to increase transparency and offer Chinese customers a safer and more fluent experience of iCloud, the company was quoted as saying. Apple announced the constructing of the new data base in Guizhou last July, with an investment of $1 billion. Apple's gets most of its products manufactured in China and also sources its best electronics engineers from the there. The Modi government has invited ten heads of state from ASEAN for the Republic Day parade and all ten have agreed to come. This underscores a major policy statement. The Indian Republic Day parade every 26 January is still a spectacle, even though there has been little change in the format. For some, perhaps, it is this very similarity that makes it such a comfortable annual optic. One of the intriguing aspects of the event, besides it being a salute to the military, civil and cultural might of India, is the selection of the chief guest. It is the best step forward for us. In recent years we have had US president Barack Obama, UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and President Francois Hollande of France. In a subtle fashion, the invitation echoes the current foreign policy priorities and last year, the Crown Princes presence was seen as an indicator of Indias major initiatives in the Gulf and Mid-East. In the light of these past decisions, the invitation to the chief guests for 2018 has far reaching consequences. The Modi government has invited ten heads of state from ASEAN and all ten have agreed to come. It is a logistical and protocol nightmare for sure, and there is a need to up security to an unprecedented level. However, this also underscores a major policy statement. Indias Act East policy certainly has an energy about, it and it is indicative of Indias strategic move to position itself as a major power in the region. The ten are: Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan Of Brunei, Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte Of Philippines, Joko Widodo, the President Of Indonesia Najib Razak, Prime Minister Of Malaysia, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister Of Vietnam, President Halima Yacob of Singapore, President Htin Kyaw of Myanmar, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha of Thailand and Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith of Laos. It is unprecedented to have so many VIPs at a celebration and not an international summit meet or conference. Besides flexing India's military muscle, what Modi has in mind is to impress upon these ten entities the need to appreciate India as the bulwark against Chinese adventurism and to make the Indo-ASEAN entity more viable in commercial terms. At the same time, these ten nations could be a strong support for Indias ongoing bid to sit on the UN Security Council. Modi is canny enough to have conjured up this opportunity to bring the flock together in convivial surroundings. The morning parade is a visual treat and presents the nation in a good light. We are also pretty decent at making the arrangements and organising the details with split second military precision. All in all, the prime minister of India playing host to these ten countries can only signal a better relationship with the East, something that has been hovering in the background since the 1980s. The fact that all ten have agreed to be present is indicative of the seriousness with which they acknowledge India as a major player. If there is a downside, it is that parts of Delhi will be in a lockdown. Though the leaders will probably bring with them their own security contingents, India will have to ensure the safety of not just the VIPs but the capital itself. Due to this, the public will be put to a certain amount of inconvenience. However, it will probably be worth it in the long run. Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in India on a six-day visit, during which he will hold talks with Narendra Modi. This is only the second visit by an Israeli leader to India. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in India on Sunday on a "historic" six-day visit, during which he will hold extensive talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Netanyahu said that the visit would provide him with an opportunity to enhance bilateral cooperation with a "global economic, security, technology and tourism power". "We are strengthening ties between Israel and this important global power. This serves our security, economic, trade and tourism interests, as well as many other areas. This is a great blessing for the state of Israel," Netanyahu said before his visit. Netanyahu's visit to India is only the second one by an Israeli prime minister and comes after a gap of 15 years. The visit also marks 25 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations. His visit assumes even more significance as it comes just over six months after the visit of Modi to Israel, the first ever Indian prime ministerial visit to the West Asian nation. While Netanyahu's visit comes days after India voted against Israel at the UN on the Jerusalem issue, Netanyahu's visit to India is expected to focus on economic issues and Palestine will not be the central part of discussions with Modi, Israeli daily Jerusalem Post reported. Dubbing India-Israel relationship as a "marriage made in heaven", Netanyahu said that even though the Jewish state was "disappointed" by India's vote at the UN against the Jerusalem issue, one negative vote will not affect the ties. Netanyahu said he hoped that his visit to India will strengthen cooperation between the two countries in various areas like technology, agriculture and other spheres that are changing the world. "Yes, naturally we were disappointed, but this visit is a testimony that our relationship is moving on so many fronts forward," Netanyahu said when asked to comment on India's vote at UN against the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital. "I don't think one vote affects a general trend you can see in many other votes and these visits," he told 'India Today' in an interview. Last month, India joined 127 other countries to vote in the United Nations General Assembly in favour of a resolution opposing the recent decision of US President Donald Trump to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital. The resolution was approved with 127-9 at the UN General Assembly. "First of all, there is a special relationship between the two countries, between their people and then between the leaders. The partnership between India and Israel is a marriage made in heaven but consecrated on earth," Netanyahu said. The Jerusalem Post also quoted un unnamed Israeli diplomatic officials as saying they did not expect India's vote against Israel on the Jerusalem issue in the UN General Assembly last month to cloud the visit. "The issue is behind us," one diplomatic official said. Modi broke protocol to receive Netanyahu at the airport Setting aside protocol, Modi received his Israeli counterpart with a hug upon his arrival. "Welcome to India, my friend PM @netanyahu! Your visit to India is historic and special. It will further cement the close friendship between our nations," Modi tweeted in English and Hebrew. Welcome to India, my friend PM @netanyahu! Your visit to India is historic and special. It will further cement the close friendship between our nations. @IsraeliPM #ShalomNamaste pic.twitter.com/sidgMmA1fu Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 14, 2018 Netanyahu, who arrived with his wife Sara and a high-level business delegation, tweeted, "We have landed in India. Thank you to my good friend Narendra Modi for the warm welcome!" Netanyahu also shared a video of Modi's greeting, saying, "Thank you to my good friend, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who surprised me with a personal welcome at the airport upon my arrival in India. Together we will bring the relations between our countries to new heights!" We have landed in India. Thank you to my good friend Narendra Modi for the warm welcome! https://t.co/mLsGxZT1E7 Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) January 14, 2018 Thank you to my good friend, Indian Prime Minister @narendramodi , who surprised me with a personal welcome at the airport upon my arrival in India. Together we will bring the relations between our countries to new heights! pic.twitter.com/bPZftC4caF Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) January 14, 2018 According to Israeli officials, Netanyahu was pleasantly surprised by Modi welcoming him at the airport. "I very much appreciate the gesture," Netanyahu was quoted as saying by officials. During Modi's visit to Israel last year, Netanyahu had also received the Indian prime minister at the airport. In another tweet later in the afternoon, the Israeli prime minister tweeted, "My first visit to India, a world power that is strengthening its relations with Israel. I am excited about this historic week that will further strengthen Israel's international standing." Teen Murti Chowk renamed after Israeli city Haifa Modi and Netanyahu later attended a ceremony to rename Teen Murti Chowk in central Delhi as Teen Murti-Haifa Chowk. They also laid a wreath and signed the visitor's book at the memorial. In the visitor's book, Modi wrote that he saluted the "great Indian traditions of selfless sacrifice and penance" of Indian soldiers, who laid down their lives during the liberation of the city of Haifa and the First World War. In the presence of PM @netanyahu, paid tributes to the brave Indian soldiers who fought at Haifa. The spot where we commemorate their sacrifice will now be called Teen Murti - Haifa Chowk. pic.twitter.com/WmXdS6pE7F Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 14, 2018 "One of these pages was written 100 years ago, in the sacrifice of Indian soldiers at Haifa. The sacrifice commemorated at Teen Murti observes its centenary. Naming this spot as Teen Murti-Haifa Chowk marks this historic occasion. In the presence of the prime minister of Israel, we pay homage to the brave soldiers," Modi wrote in the visitor's book. The three bronze statues at Teen Murti represent the Hyderabad, Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers who were part of the 15 Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade. The brigade carried out the victorious assault on the fortified city of Haifa on 23 September, 1918, during World War I. There are various accounts of this battle all narrate the valour with which the lancers undertook the assault on the garrisoned city protected by a joint force of Ottomans, Germany and Austria-Hungary. Till date, the 61 Cavalry celebrates 23 September as its Raising Day or "Haifa Day". The renaming gesture underscores the special link and the common history between Israel and India, Netanyahu said after the event. Prime Minister Netanyahu said: "This gesture underscores the special link and the common history between Israel and India." pic.twitter.com/HyBgZb5k00 PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) January 14, 2018 External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said the memorial was renamed "in memory of supreme sacrifice by Indian soldiers to liberate Haifa in 1918". Forty-four Indian soldiers were killed during the liberation of the city in World War I. Sushma Swaraj calls on Netanyahu External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj met Netanyahu at the at Taj Diplomatic Enclave in New Delhi. During the meeting, Netanyahu told Swaraj that he was overwhelmed by the warmth he received upon his arrival. He also said that his visit can catapult bilateral ties to the next level. Swaraj said that at the meeting, they held, "Warm and engaging conversation on various aspects of our bilateral ties aimed at strengthening our strategic partnership." EAM @SushmaSwaraj called on @IsraeliPM Benjamin Netanyahu. Warm and engaging conversation on various aspects of our bilateral ties aimed at strengthening our strategic partnership. #ShalomNamaste pic.twitter.com/u50qosUxmM Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) January 14, 2018 Netanyahu also tweeted about this interaction, saying, "We are here in India on a historic visit. It is important for the State of Israel that one of the world's major powers wants to develop close relations in many areas economics, trade, security and agriculture." We are here in India on a historic visit. It is important for the State of Israel that one of the world's major powers wants to develop close relations in many areas economics, trade, security and agriculture. pic.twitter.com/manzS6Ab3C PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) January 14, 2018 Later, Modi hosted a private dinner for Netanyahu and his wife at his official residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. Delighted to welcome Mrs. Netanyahu and PM @netanyahu to 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. @IsraeliPM pic.twitter.com/FDI4MJlKBq Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 14, 2018 Netanyahu's itinerary for his stay in India During the Israeli prime minister's visit, several MoUs, including in the field of defence, oil and gas, renewable energy, amended protocol for airports, cybersecurity, and co-production of films and documentaries are expected to be signed between the two nations. Netanyahu will be formally welcomed at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential palace, on Monday followed by a visit to Rajghat, the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. During his stay, Netanyahu will also visit Gujarat and Mumbai. On 15 January, Netanyahu will meet the Indo-Israeli CEO forum in New Delhi and address a separate business event. He will deliver a speech at the Raisina Dialogue on 16 January. Netanyahu will also call on President Ram Nath Kovind. He will then leave for Ahmedabad on the morning of 17 January. In Ahmedabad, he will visit the Sabarmati Ashram. Modi and Netanyahu will also visit the Center of Excellence in Vadrad and inaugurate a Center of Excellence for date palms in Bhuj via video conferencing. The Israeli prime minister will have a number of engagements in Mumbai on 18 January. The Israeli embassy had said that Netanyahu will meet with Jewish community leaders and select members of the Indian business community in Mumbai. The Israeli embassy said he will reach out to Bollywood in an exclusive "Shalom Bollywood" event. In Mumbai, he will also attend a ceremony at the Chabad House, which will be attended by Moshe Holtzberg. Fondly known as baby Moshe, the 11-year-old's parents were killed in the Chabad House during the 26/11 terror strike, which had come under attack. Netanyahu will return to Israel on Friday afternoon from Mumbai. With inputs from agencies Pope Francis called for hospitality towards migrants, calling it a 'sin' to give in to fear of the other as he marked the World Day of Migrants and Refugees. 'It is not easy... to put oneself in the shoes of people so different from us,' the pontiff said during a solemn mass at St Peter's Basilica. Vatican City: Pope Francis called for hospitality towards migrants, calling it a "sin" to give in to fear of the other as he marked the World Day of Migrants and Refugees. "It is not easy... to put oneself in the shoes of people so different from us," the pontiff said during a solemn mass at St Peter's Basilica. "Local communities are sometimes afraid that the newly arrived will disturb the established order, will 'steal' something they have long laboured to build up," Francis said. While such fears are not a sin, said the spiritual leader of the world's 1.3 billion Roman Catholics, "the sin is to refuse to encounter the other, the different, the neighbour." "The sin is to allow these fears to determine our responses, to limit our choices, to compromise respect and generosity, to feed hostility and rejection," Francis said, adding: "We often refuse to encounter the other and raise barriers to defend ourselves." The 81-year-old pontiff, himself the son of immigrants to Italy from Argentina, has championed the cause of migrants and asylum seekers since his election in 2013. His first official trip outside Rome was to the tiny Italian island of Lampedusa, which was at the time the first point of arrival in Europe for thousands of migrants. In April 2016, Francis visited the Greek island of Lesbos, a main entry point to Greece for migrants travelling from the Turkish coast, and returned home with three families of Syrian refugees aboard the papal plane. "Every stranger who knocks at our door is an opportunity for an encounter with Jesus Christ, who identifies with the welcomed and rejected strangers of every age," Francis said. On Monday, Francis will begin an eight-day tour of his native South America, visiting Peru and Chile. Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu makes an emotional visit this week to a Jewish centre targeted in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, in a trip that India's tiny and shrinking Jewish community hopes will boost its profile. Mumbai: Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu makes an emotional visit this week to a Jewish centre targeted in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, in a trip that India's tiny and shrinking Jewish community hopes will boost its profile. Netanyahu will talk trade in New Delhi and marvel at the Taj Mahal before rounding off his visit in Mumbai, where the majority of India's estimated 4,500 Jews live. There he will accompany 11-year-old Moshe Holtzberg as the boy returns for the first time to the house where his parents were killed in the 26/11 terror attacks that left 166 people dead. At Mumbai's Magen David synagogue, worshippers are excited about the first visit to India by an Israeli leader in almost 15 years. "It's very good news for us. We're very lucky to get to see the prime minister over here," Joel Gershon Awaskar told AFP after concluding his morning prayers. Netanyahu will be only the second Israeli PM to visit India and the first since Ariel Sharon in 2003. It comes six months after Indian leader Narendra Modi toured Israel. For Jonathan Solomon, chairman of the Indian Jewish Federation, the reciprocal visits and warm ties between the two countries are of the "utmost importance" to Jews in India. "The closer the co-operation, the closer the Jewish community in India feels to Israel. So we feel recognised and we feel secure," he told AFP. It is not just recognition from abroad that many Indian Jews crave. Although historians believe Jews first arrived in India 2,000 years ago, their descendants today say they are virtually unknown in a country where they are hugely outnumbered by Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jains and Zoroastrians. Nor are Jews officially recognised as a minority community by India's government. Unknown India is in fact home to several distinct Jewish groups. These include Bene Israelis, who have the longest history in India, and Baghdadi Jews, who fled persecution in the Middle East in the 18th and 19th centuries. Although there are no official figures, academics say India's Jewish population peaked at around 20,000 in the mid-1940s. Numbers have dwindled rapidly because of emigration since the creation of Israel in 1948. "Many people here don't know about the Jewish community, about our customs and festivals," said Awaskar, who hopes Netanyahu's visit will help increase awareness amongst Indians about the Jewish faith. "It will be good for us, we'll become well known," he added, a black-and-white checked, round cloth "kippah" resting on the top of his head. Magen David, light blue in colour and situated in Mumbai's historic Byculla district, is one of eight synagogues in India's financial capital and surrounding suburbs. Every morning some 15 men a few swaying back and forth recite prayers there, in a space which could easily hold hundreds. Afterwards, they sit down for a breakfast consisting of bread, eggs and cheese, washed down with a cup of milky Indian tea. More prayers are read and then bananas and slices of apple are served. "This whole area used to be Jewish," recalls Ellis Jacob David, an official at the synagogue. "But many migrated to Israel, UK, Canada, Australia and the USA." 'Emotional' India's Jewish community hasn't experienced the discrimination seen in other countries, a fact that Jewish historian Leora Pezarkar partly attributes to its adoption of Indian customs, dress and language. "The community has mixed really well with the local population while not deviating from who they are as Jews," she told AFP. David, whose parents fled persecution in Iraq to come to India 125 years ago, says he has never experienced or heard of anyone being a victim of anti-semitism in India. "There was just one attack and that took place from outside the country, not internal, at all," he told AFP, referring to November 2008. Six people were killed at Chabad House, a Jewish centre in south Mumbai when Pakistani militants carried out co-ordinated attacks across the city. Moshe Holtzberg was just two years old when his parents, who ran the centre, were gunned down. He was saved by his nanny who managed to escape and now lives in Israel. On Thursday, Moshe, along with Netanyahu, will visit his former home where a memorial to the victims is to be unveiled. "His visit is going to be very emotional for us. This is the place where he got his last hug from his father and mother," Israel Kozlovsky, the centre's rabbi, told AFP. Netanyahu will also travel to Modi's home state of Gujarat and host a party for Bollywood producers where he will trumpet Israel as a filming location. Jewish leaders hope the visit will help persuade India's government to officially recognise them as a minority community, meaning they would be included in the census. In 2016, Maharashtra state granted Jews minority status, making it easier to register marriages and acquire funding for institutions, but the central government is yet to follow suit. "Although it is just a symbolic recognition it is important for the community," said Solomon. China on Saturday pledged to continue playing a constructive role in maintaining and implementing the Iran nuclear deal Shanghai: China on Saturday pledged to continue playing a constructive role in maintaining and implementing the Iran nuclear deal, after US president Donald Trump set an ultimatum to fix disastrous flaws in a deal. Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi told Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif by phone that implementation of the deal had not been derailed but would face some new complicating factors, the state news agency Xinhua reported. Continuing to implement the nuclear deal was the responsibility of all parties concerned and the common wish of the international community, Wang was quoted as saying during the call, which took place on a visit to Rwanda. The deal would help uphold the international non-proliferation regime, maintain regional peace and stability and solve other hot issues around the world, he said. He urged Iran to remain calm and continue to fulfill its obligations under the deal. On Friday, Trump agreed to waive sanctions against Iran that were lifted as part of the international deal but said it would be the last time unless conditions were met to fix what he called significant flaws in the deal. His ultimatum puts pressure on Europeans key backers and parties to the 2015 international agreement to curb Irans nuclear program to satisfy Trump, who wants the pact strengthened with a separate agreement within 120 days. Zarif responded on Twitter that the deal was not renegotiable and that Trumps stance amounts to desperate attempts to undermine a solid multilateral agreement. While Trump approved the sanctions waiver, the Treasury Department announced new, targeted sanctions against 14 entities and people, including the head of Irans judiciary, Sadeq Amoli Larijani, a close ally of Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran said on Saturday it would retaliate against the new sanctions, although it did not specify how. Iran on Saturday rejected any modification of its nuclear deal with world powers after US president Donald Trump demanded tough new measures to keep the agreement alive. Tehran: Iran on Saturday rejected any modification of its nuclear deal with world powers after US president Donald Trump demanded tough new measures to keep the agreement alive. Iran "will not accept any amendments in this agreement, be it now or in the future, and it will not allow any other issues to be linked to the JCPOA", the foreign ministry said in a statement, using the 2015 deal's technical name. It has the backing of all the partners to the agreement apart from the United States, with Russia warning Washington on Saturday that withdrawing would be "a big miscalculation". "We are gradually coming to the conclusion that an internal decision by the US to leave the JCPOA has already been made or is close to being made," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the Interfax news agency. "This could be one of Washington's big foreign policy mistakes," he added. Trump again waived nuclear-related sanctions on Friday as required every few months to stay in the agreement but demanded that European partners work with Washington to "fix the deal's disastrous flaws, or the United States will withdraw". He said the new deal should curb Iran's missile programme and include permanent restrictions on the Islamic republic's nuclear plants, removing expiration dates due to kick in after a decade. The other parties to the agreement Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the European Union have all said the deal is working and that Iran is complying fully with its commitments. Britain and Germany said Friday they had taken note of Trump's latest decision and would confer with France before responding. It makes no difference On Saturday, French president Emmanuel Macron stressed the "necessary respect by all parties" of Iran's nuclear deal with world powers, in a telephone call with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, Israel's leader, a fierce critic of the deal, told Macron that changing the nuclear deal would increase the chances of it remaining in place. "Trump's remarks should be taken seriously, and whoever wants to keep the nuclear deal would be wise to fix it", a statement from Netanyahu's office read. On the streets of Tehran, many people have grown cynical and exasperated by the endless pressure from the United States. "It doesn't make any difference. We have been under US sanctions for the last 40 years," said Farshad Alyan, a 26-year-old law student. "Two years ago when the JCPOA was signed we were so hopeful. We don't have that hope any more." Iran argues that continued US sanctions on non-nuclear areas such as human rights and missile testing have effectively barred it from gaining many of the financial benefits expected from the deal. Foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said Trump's aggressive stance on the deal and Iran generally have also violated the commitment to "refrain from any policy specifically intended to directly and adversely affect the normalisation of trade and economic relations with Iran" in the accord. New sanctions criticised Many analysts agree. "Trump has once again avoided the nuclear option on the nuclear deal. But the clear reluctance with which he has issued the sanctions waivers will continue to weigh on the business community," said Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, founder of the Europe-Iran Forum, a business network. "However, if the 'adults in the room' prevailed this time and kept Trump from exiting the deal, there remains hope they will prevail in the end," he added. Responding to Trump's speech late Friday, Zarif tweeted: "Rather than repeating tired rhetoric, US must bring itself into full compliance just like Iran." Trump's policy & todays announcement amount to desperate attempts to undermine a solid multilateral agreement, maliciously violating its paras 26, 28 & 29. JCPOA is not renegotiable: rather than repeating tired rhetoric, US must bring itself into full compliance -just like Iran. Javad Zarif (@JZarif) January 12, 2018 Saturday's statement from Iran's foreign ministry further criticised new sanctions on 14 individuals announced by the US Treasury on Friday over human rights issues and Iran's missile programme. In particular, placing judiciary chief Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani on the sanctions list "crossed all red lines of conduct in the international community... and the government of the United States will bear responsibility for all the consequences of this hostile move". A Tehran official said even before news of the sinking that there was no hope of saving some 30 missing crewmen. But Chinese officials played down fears of a major environmental disaster Beijing: An Iranian oil tanker burst into flames from end to end and sank Sunday, eight days after a collision with a cargo ship off China, state media said. A Tehran official said even before news of the sinking that there was no hope of saving some 30 missing crewmen. But Chinese officials played down fears of a major environmental disaster. The Sanchi, carrying 1,36,000 tonnes of light crude oil from Iran, had been in flames since colliding with the CF Crystal, a Hong Kong-registered bulk freighter, on 6 January. Around midday Sunday the ship "suddenly ignited", with the entire vessel burning fiercely and a pall of smoke around 800-1,000 metres high, China's transport ministry said, releasing dramatic pictures showing the entire vessel obscured by thick black smoke. The ship later sank, the official news agency Xinhua cited the State Oceanic Administration as saying. "There is no hope of finding survivors among the members of the crew," Mohammad Rastad, spokesman for the Iranian rescue team dispatched to Shanghai, told Iran's state broadcaster in Tehran before the tanker went down. Rastad said information from members of the Crystal crew suggested all the personnel on the Sanchi were killed in the first hour of the accident "due to the explosion and the release of gas". "Despite our efforts, it has not been possible to extinguish the fire and recover the bodies due to repeated explosions and gas leaks," he said. The Sanchi, which was headed to South Korea to deliver its cargo, had a crew of 32-30 Iranians and two Bangladeshis. Only three bodies have so far been recovered. Chinese rescuers Saturday also recovered the tanker's "black box", the transport ministry said without specifying exactly what had been retrieved. A reporter with China's state television CCTV aboard a plane from the State Oceanic Administration reported seeing wreckage from the Sanchi and oil on fire, and spilt fuel covering a 10 square kilometre area. "The oil spill situation is very serious," CCTV quoted the reporter as saying on social media. But the television earlier also cited Zhang Yong, a senior engineer with the State Oceanic Administration, as playing down fears of a spill. "Because this is light crude oil spill, relatively speaking it has a much smaller impact than other oil spills, because this kind of oil is especially volatile most of it has entered the atmosphere, so its had less impact on the ocean...," Zhang was quoted as saying. "This area should be considered the open sea, very far from places where people live, so the human impact should be minimal." Rescue efforts had been particularly difficult because at 89 degrees Celsius, the vessels compartments were too hot for workers to withstand for long, CCTV quoted He Wang, an expert from Chinese oil company Huade Petrochemical, as saying. Irans president said the US had failed to undermine a nuclear deal between Tehran and major powers, and hailed the accord as a 'long-lasting victory' for Iran Ankara: Irans president said on Sunday the United States had failed to undermine a nuclear deal between Tehran and major powers, and hailed the accord as a "long-lasting victory" for Iran, state television reported. US president Donald Trump on Friday delivered an ultimatum to European signatories of the deal to fix the "terrible flaws" of the agreement with Iran, or the United States would pull out. "The American administration has failed to undermine the nuclear deal ... Trump, despite his repeated efforts, has failed to undermine the accord ... The deal is a long-lasting victory for Iran," President Hassan Rouhani said in a speech, broadcast live on state TV. On Friday, Trump agreed to waive sanctions against Iran for the last time to give the United States and European allies a final chance to amend the pact. Iran says the nuclear deal is not renegotiable and it will stick to the accord as long as the other signatories respect it but will "shred" the deal if Washington pulls out. Under the deal, Iran agreed to curb its nuclear programme, in exchange for lifting of most sanctions. PM Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu will attend a solemn ceremony at the Teen Murti Memorial in New Delhi to rename it after Haifa city New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu will on Sunday attend a solemn ceremony at the Teen Murti Memorial in New Delhi to mark the formal renaming of Teen Murti Chowk as Teen Murti Haifa Chowk. The two leaders will also lay a wreath and sign the visitor's book at the memorial, official sources said. Netanyahu is arriving in India on a six-day visit on Sunday. The three bronze statues at Teen Murti represent the Hyderabad, Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers who were part of the 15 Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade. The brigade carried out the victorious assault on the fortified city of Haifa on 23 September, 1918, during World War I. There are various accounts of this battle; all narrate the valour with which the lancers undertook the assault on the garrisoned city protected by a joint force of Ottomans, Germany and Austria-Hungary. The liberation of Haifa cleared a supply route for the Allies to the city through the sea. Forty-four Indian soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice during the liberation of the city in World War I. Till date, the 61 Cavalry celebrates 23 September as its Raising Day or "Haifa Day." Pakistan Army warned India against any misadventure, asserting that the country's nuclear weapons were exclusively meant to foil any threat emanating from the east. Islamabad: The Pakistan Army on Saturday warned India against any misadventure, asserting that the country's nuclear weapons were exclusively meant to foil any threat emanating from the east. The army's response came days after Indian Army chief General Bipin Rawat's recent remark that the force was ready to call Pakistan's "nuclear bluff" and cross the border to carry out any operation if asked by the government. "We will call the (nuclear) bluff of Pakistan. If we will have to really confront the Pakistanis, and a task is given to us, we are not going to say we cannot cross the border because they have nuclear weapons. We will have to call their nuclear bluff," Rawat said at a press conference on Wednesday. Pakistan Army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor warned of response if India undertook any misadventure. "Well, it's their choice. Should they wish to test our resolve they may try and see it for themselves," Ghafoor told state-run PTV. He said General Rawat's comments were unbecoming of an army chief. Asserting that India was not in a position to launch a conventional war over nuclearisation, Ghafoor said Pakistan had credible nuclear capability exclusively meant to foil any threat emanating from the east. "But we believe it's a weapon of deterrence, not a choice. The only thing stopping them is our credible nuclear deterrence as there is no space of war between the two nuclear states," he said. He alleged that India was using sub-conventional threat and state-sponsored terrorism to destabilise Pakistan but has failed to achieve its objectives so far. General Rawat's remark had come in response to a question on possibility of Pakistan using its nuclear weapons in case the situation along the border deteriorated. At least eight people died and dozens were injured in Tondela, Portugal, after a heater exploded and started a fire at the packed premises of a local residents' association Lisbon: At least eight people died and dozens were injured, some seriously, after a heater exploded and started a fire at the packed premises of a local residents' association in the north of Portugal, officials said. A wood-burning stove exploded in the two-story building late last night in the town of Tondela, around 250 kilometres north of the Portuguese capital of Lisbon, local mayor Jose Gomes Jesus told reporters. Civil Protection Agency commander Paulo Santos told local radio station TSF that at least 50 people were injured. Witnesses speaking to local television channels said the fire caused panic among the roughly 60 people in the building who were taking part in an evening amateur card tournament. They said people crowded the exits as thick smoke filled the building. Dozens of fire crews and two rescue helicopters were at the scene taking the injured to hospital. Authorities could not immediately be reached for comment. Prosecutors in Texas will decide in the coming weeks whether to seek the death penalty against the Indian-American adoptive father of three-year-old toddler Sherin Mathews whose decomposed body was found in a culvert, according to US media reports. Houston: Prosecutors in Texas will decide in the coming weeks whether to seek the death penalty against the Indian-American adoptive father of three-year-old toddler Sherin Mathews whose decomposed body was found in a culvert, according to US media reports. A grand jury in Dallas County, Texas, on Friday, returned several charges, most notably capital murder, against Sherin's foster father Wesley Mathews. The 37-year-old man from Kerala is accused of killing Sherin in October last year. The indictment says Wesley killed Sherin "by a manner and means unknown to the grand jury," court records show. The indictment for capital murder states that Wesley used a deadly weapon. The tampering with evidence indictment claims he altered, destroyed and concealed a human corpse with intent to impair evidence for a later police investigation. Wesley was arrested on 7 October and charged with felony injury to a child, which carries a sentence of up to life in prison, after Sherins body was found on 22 October in a culvert in suburban Dallas by a cadaver dog after an intense search. Initially, Wesley told police that he put her outside their home at 3 am to discipline her for not drinking her milk. His story changed after her body was found in a culvert, telling police that he "physically assisted" with pouring the milk down Sherin's throat and then moved her body after he realised she had choked and died. Prosecutors in Dallas will decide in the coming weeks whether to seek the death penalty against Wesley, CNN reported. Authorities were tight-lipped at a press conference on Friday, saying they did not want to prejudice a jury and were continuing to investigate the case that attracted much global attention and led to tightening of Indias child adoption policy. "We do want to make certain justice is done on behalf of this little three-year-old," said District Attorney Faith Johnson. "We will be seeking justice on her behalf." "We are going to be the voice for her in this offence, and do all we can to make sure the fair and just thing is done, said Johnson. The Dallas County Medical Examiners office said last week that while Sherins manner of death was homicidal violence, her exact cause of death could not be determined because of extensive decomposition. Johnson said the result of the autopsy led them to file the capital murder charge. "We have some information as to what might have happened, Johnson said. "But we are still investigating, looking into the facts, trying to make our case look better, and get better as we research, investigate and prepare for trial." Despite the limited details about what actually happened to Sherin, Johnson said she's confident her team will be able to get justice. "We plan to be very tenacious, persistent, prosecute this case to the fullest, do the best we can, Johnson said. Sherin was adopted by the Indian-American couple from Bihar in 2016. Her highly decomposed body was found by a cadaver dog in a culvert beneath a road in suburban Dallas on 22 October, two weeks after she mysteriously vanished from their home in Richardson. The medical examiner has ruled that Sherin died from homicidal violence but did not release additional details. "Based on the autopsy report we were able to determine we could seek capital murder in this case," Johnson said. The capital murder indictment against Mathews was a new development in the case, Fox4News.com reported. Wesley previously was charged with injury to a child, a first-degree felony punishable with a maximum 99 years in prison. Friday's indictment adds abandoning a child and tampering with evidence, second-degree allegations punishable by two to 20 years in prison. Sherin's adoptive mother, Sini Mathews, 35, faces one count of abandoning a child. That stems from the couple's decision to leave the girl at home on 6 October 6 Sini, a registered nurse, has maintained her innocence. Autopsy results were pending for several months before the Dallas County medical examiner's office on 3 January ruled Sherin's death a homicide. It did not offer many details on what might have caused Sherin's death. But in March, several months before her death, a doctor found multiple healing fractures on the child. The doctor contacted the Child Protection Services after finding multiple fractures in various stages of healing. Sherin suffered injuries to her upper-arm bones and fractures in her leg bones that were in various stages of healing, according to a court testimony. The doctor, Suzanne Dakil of the Referral and Evaluation of At Risk Children Clinic, testified at a custody hearing involving the couple's biological daughter that she suspected Sherin had been injured at the hands of her parents. "I had no explanation other than this that child had been physically abused," Dakil had testified. The Indian government has barred the operations of Holt International, the US adoption agency involved in placing Sherin with the Mathews family. The firm said it has followed all national and international laws and best practices during the adoption process. Richardson Police Chief Jim Spivey said he is "pleased that we have reached this stage" after the indictments against the parents were announced. "It has been a very intensive case for the Richardson Police Department," he said. Syrian troops have recaptured dozens of towns and villages from jihadist fighters, a monitor said on Sunday, bringing them closer to a key military airport in the country's northwest. Beirut: Syrian troops have recaptured dozens of towns and villages from jihadist fighters, a monitor said on Sunday, bringing them closer to a key military airport in the country's northwest. "In the past 24 hours, regime forces have taken at least 79 villages in the southern parts of Aleppo province, an area near the Abu Duhur military airport," said Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor. Russia-backed regime troops are aiming to reach the Abu Duhur base as part of a weeks-long assault against Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which is dominated by Al-Qaeda's former Syria affiliate. The offensive has seen Syrian forces seize surrounding territory in the provinces of Aleppo and Hama as they close in on Abu Duhur, which lies just inside the Idlib province. They briefly broke into the air base this week from the south but were ousted in a ferocious counter-offensive by jihadists and rebels. With the latest push in Aleppo province, Abdel Rahman said, army troops were seeking to open a new front on the airport's northern and eastern flanks. "Regime troops lost control of those villages in southern Aleppo province in 2012," he said. "They are advancing quickly now because of HTS's collapse, and the withdrawal of its fighters and those of other groups from the area," Abdel Rahman added. Syrian daily Al-Watan, which is close to the government, also reported that the army was "encircling" the airport. The airport straddles the border between Aleppo and Idlib, the last province in the country outside the government's control. In addition to the base, the regime hopes to secure a key patch of highway running through Idlib that links the northern city of Aleppo with the capital Damascus further south. Rebels and jihadists overran Idlib province over the course of several months in 2015, capturing Abu Duhur in September of that year. Since then, the jihadist forces behind HTS have expanded their control in the province, with the influence of mainstream rebels shrinking drastically. The fighting in Idlib has displaced nearly 1,00,000 people since early December, the United Nations has said. The international coalition fighting the Islamic State group was formed in late 2014 and has since conducted thousands of bombing missions while also helping train local forces on the ground The international coalition fighting the Islamic State group was formed in late 2014 and has since conducted thousands of bombing missions while also helping train local forces on the ground. Though it is made up of 74 nations and organisations, the coalition is a US-led and dominated enterprise. The United States is by far the largest contributor to the coalition, and has conducted the bulk of the more than 25,000 strikes in Iraq and Syria. Here is a look at what some of the other larger countries in the alliance are doing as the coalition focuses on stabilisation efforts to prevent a return of Islamic State. France The French military has just pulled two of the 12 Rafale fighters it had operating in the region, but for now is keeping the rest in theater. Officials say they will be used for intelligence gathering and surveillance. The French are also training Iraqi special forces and working to assist internally displaced people and refugees. Britain Royal Air Force aircraft have flown more than 10,400 missions and carried out over 1,700 strikes against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria since 2014. Over 600 British soldiers are on the ground in Iraq helping to train security forces. Canada A group of 20 Canadian army engineers has started training the Iraqi security forces in dealing with booby traps and mines, and the Canadians have a special operations contingent working in Iraq. The Royal Canadian Air Force also has two CC-130J Hercules transport aircraft to Iraq and has an air tanker in the region. Canada is sending a contingent of Royal Canadian Mounted Police to help train local cops in Iraq. Australia In December, the Royal Australian Air Force announced it was bringing home six hornet jets after a three-year mission. While the hornets are returning, a Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft and a refueling plane will continue to support coalition operations and around 380 personnel will stay to train Iraqi forces. Italy Italy has sent 1,400 soldiers to Iraq, 500 of them deployed to protect the Mosul dam. With work at the dam wrapping up, these troops are likely to be replaced by trainers to help local police forces. Italy's carabinieri military police force has already rotated scores of trainers into Iraq and has instructed about 30,000 Iraqi police officers. WHO, UNICEF and health sector partners are working with Bangladesh's health ministry to vaccinate more than 475,000 children in Rohingya refugee camps and temporary settlements Dhaka: As part of an intensified response to the current diphtheria outbreak, WHO, UNICEF and health sector partners are working with Bangladesh's health ministry to vaccinate more than 475,000 children in Rohingya refugee camps and temporary settlements. "All efforts are being made to stop further spread of diphtheria. The vaccination of children in the Rohingya camps and nearby areas demonstrates the health sector's commitment to protecting people, particularly children, against deadly diseases," said Dr Bardan Jung Rana, WHO representative to Bangladesh. Nearly 150,000 children aged six weeks to seven years received pentavalent vaccine (that protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, haemophilus influenza type B and hepatitis B), and nearly 166,000 children aged seven to 17 years were given tetanus and diphtheria (Td) vaccine, during a three-week vaccination campaign that ended on 31 December. Two more rounds of vaccination with a diphtheria-containing vaccine, at intervals of one month, are planned to fully protect the children in camps and surrounding areas. "Children are particularly vulnerable to diphtheria. Volunteers are making door-to-door visits in the Rohingya settlements to ensure all children receive vaccination. "The massive influx within a very short time has heavily affected basic services in the settlement areas. They have no choice but to live in a very congested environment, which is impacting their health and quality of life. We are making continued efforts to improve conditions of the camps," UNICEF country representative Edouard Beigbeder said. Colorado oil and gas industry regulators faced fury from local governments and residents Monday as they began to refine state rules for underground pipelines, measures spurred by a fatal house explosion in Firestone and an urban growth boom that complicates fossil fuels extraction. Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission regulators have proposed tougher requirements that companies cut off abandoned lines, test active lines to detect leaks, participate in an 811 system for locating lines at specific excavation sites and report more fully on fires and explosions that happen about once a month. But residents and local governments fearful, frustrated and angry about the accidents they know about are demanding much stricter protection for people and the environment. Seven years into a surge of oil and gas production, hundreds of miles of underground lines carry volatile hydrocarbons near people, with more than 120,000 segments known to be buried within 1,000 feet of buildings. State officials have conceded they dont know the locations or even the total miles. They lack data on underground lines beyond well pads called gathering lines that carry fossil fuels toward larger interstate pipelines. And no agreements have been made, state officials acknowledged Monday, for regulatory cooperation with other state agencies and federal overseers of those interstate lines. The current rules require reporting of accidents only when non-worker residents are hurt and fire causes damage that company officials deem significant. A coalition of Front Range government and emergency officials contends state regulators must obtain and make available detailed maps of all underground lines. Local leaders also are demanding reports on all accidents, better inspections to detect leaks, surface setbacks and markers on pipelines, and local discretion to require removal of abandoned steel and plastic pipelines. Im terrified because of what happened at Firestone, Longmont resident Judith Blackburn, a retired teacher, said after addressing commissioners. A lot of accidents like that could potentially happen in our community. She referred to pipeline safety tests Gov. John Hickenlooper ordered after the April 17 Firestone blast, which killed two men working inside a home and seriously injured a woman. More than 400 segments apparently had leaks. Even though thats a small percentage, it is a large number, Blackburn said. And theres no indication of where any of those leaking lines are. It would be a lot more heartening to work toward what we want than to keep fighting this industry that inevitably will be replaced. Fossil fuels should stay in the ground. Civil disobedience is our next step. Industry leaders support the COGCCs proposed rule changes. The proposed regulations call for more flow line testing, more reporting, more monitoring and more mapping all of which are beneficial for Coloradans who live near oil and gas operations, said Colorado Oil and Gas Association president Dan Haley. If approved, there will be more attention and scrutiny on these flow lines than ever before, creating an even safer industry. This added regulatory oversight and burden is something our industry must bear, because its the right thing to do and it is in the best interest of Coloradans across the state. Yet cities and counties demanded more. They argued theres no way to ensure environmental health and public safety with oil and gas flowing horizontally under communities, especially during a building boom, if nobody has comprehensive maps. These facilities have potential for dangerous failures if they are not handled correctly, but neither local governments nor Colorado residents can determine where they lie or if they have been constructed, tested and abandoned to the highest standards, assistant Boulder County Attorney Kate Burke said. This causes uncertainty, prevents the kind of land use and emergency planning that local governments conduct for other hazards, and makes it difficult or impossible for local governments, landowners and developers to ensure that they are building safely. La Plata County Commissioner Gwen Lachelt told commissioners the Firestone explosion exposed a huge problem. We need a flowline mapping database that is accessible to local government and landowners. Without this information, we cannot plan for growth. Fort Collins environmental planner Rebecca Everette testified that city officials seek clear maps. COGCC director Matt Lepore told her Form 44s submitted by companies are available on a COGCC website. The problem, Everette said later in an interview, is new development happening in the vicinity of oil and gas flow lines. We want to ensure our residents are protected. We have very little understanding of what is underground now. And hunting for scattered data on an agency website puts too much of a burden on local government, let alone first responders and residents, she said. We believe strongly in Fort Collins in open data and governmental transparency. This is the latest of multiple state-run rule-makings in recent years that have given Colorado carefully-worded documents meant to guide the oil and gas industry. Yet conflict over industrial operations inside communities has intensified. COGCC staffers on Monday said no agreements have been made with federal and Public Utilities Commission officials for oversight of hundreds of miles of gathering lines. State Sen. Matt Jones said requiring companies to provide precise maps of all underground lines is a minimum and challenged assertions industry representatives have made that public maps could lead to illegal tampering. Public safety way outweighs that, Jones said, adding that sorting out oversight of gathering lines is essential. And in neighboring Utah, companies are required to report to state regulators any accidents that lead to injuries, Jones said. Companies operating in Colorado should have to report every accident. We should know whats going on. It's the end of an era for Domino's Pizza (NYSE: DPZ). Patrick Doyle, the CEO who led the pizza-delivery chain on an unbelievable comeback during his eight-year tenure, said he would step down from his post in June, to be replaced by Richard Allison, the current president of Domino's International. Since Doyle took the helm on March 8, 2010, the stock has returned more than 1,400%, outpacing the S&P 500 by a factor of 10 and making him one of the top CEOs of his era. Not surprisingly, Doyle's name was being tossed around as Chipotle Mexican Grill's (NYSE: CMG) next potential chief even before he said he would step down from Domino's. However, the rumors seem to be just that, as Doyle dismissed the idea of becoming top burrito at Chipotle and said he would take some time after leaving Domino's to take a breath and plan his next move. Even if Chipotle can't land the turnaround specialist, it would be mindful to take lessons from some of Doyle's best moves as he repaired Domino's brand and sent sales soaring. Brilliant TV marketing In 2010, when Doyle came on as CEO, he did something remarkable. He went on TV and admitted the company's pizza was terrible, acknowledging customer remarks saying the crust tasted like cardboard and the sauce was like ketchup. Then he pledged to make it better, rolling out new recipes for dough, sauce, and cheese that improved the pizza quality and resonated with customers. Going on TV like that, admitting the company had an awful product and speaking directly to the consumer, was a big risk for Doyle and the company, but it paid off. That sort of do-or-die moment recalls Chipotle's own botched efforts to recover from the E. coli crisis in late 2015 and rehabilitate the brand afterward. If CEO Steve Ells had gone on a TV ad like Doyle did, apologized directly to the consumer and asked them to return to the burrito chain so he could regain their trust, sales might have recovered. Instead, they remain down about 20% from pre-outbreak levels. While Ells and Chipotle did apologize in newspaper ads and on the Today show, there's nothing like broader TV ads for communicating directly to a mass audience. Additionally, Chipotle's efforts clearly weren't enough and were diluted by management's own blaming of the media and Centers for Disease Control for the backlash, its own occasional snark and flippant attitude, and a marketing campaign that focused on its "Food with Integrity" at a time when patrons were still afraid of getting sick from eating at its restaurants. Even today, some of Chipotle's customers don't seem to know what happened to the lemon slices that used to be by the drink station, which were moved behind the counter as part of its new food safety protocol. This is simply bad communication between a company and its customers. Doyle is the type of CEO who knows how to fix that. Even today, Chipotle could probably benefit from a marketing campaign similar to what Domino's did in 2010. Embracing technology After he improved the pizza recipe and told customers about it, Doyle's next winning move was tapping technology to make delivery better. Domino's rolled out tools to allow customers to order through its app, Twitter, or even with a simple pizza emoji. Domino's also introduced a pizza tracker to allow customers to see what stage of the delivery process their order was in, which was a hit with customers. Meanwhile, Chipotle has been much slower to use technology to speed up the ordering process. During high-traffic peak hours before the E. coli crisis, the company would obsess about "throughput" or the number of customers it could serve in an hour, but allowing remote ordering through apps would have been a surefire way to improve that. It wasn't until last year that Chipotle really began focusing on digital ordering and improving the speed and accuracy of the process, but it may have missed an opportunity as it has lost customers who have gotten fed up with waiting in line and can't afford to waste 10 to 15 minutes on their lunch break. With Chipotle having a higher-end clientele than most fast food chains, focusing on digital ordering, like Starbucks did, should have been a no-brainer. Focus on the food While Chipotle's food quality and taste generally get rave reviews, its most recent creations have missed the mark. It pulled chorizo, the first meat it had added since its inception, after just a year on the menu, and the backlash against its highly anticipated queso has been well-publicized. Increasingly, it seems like the company's recipes are governed more by its own "Food with Integrity" mantra rather than customer taste. Chipotle may want to borrow from its Tasty Made burger chain, where it replaced organic meat with conventional after customers found the former too expensive. For many customers, price or taste are more important than sourcing. Doyle seems to understand this intuitively, that taste comes above all else in the food business. During Doyle's tenure, the company successfully introduced a number of chicken items, which boosted sales in addition to the pizza revamp, and today 70% of Domino's menu items have been introduced since 2008. Chipotle's latest menu items like queso, and any new ones, could use some similar tinkering. It doesn't look like Doyle will come on to be the burrito chain's next CEO, but Chipotle's board should consider someone in his mold. Knowing how to communicate with customers, making food taste better, and harnessing the power of technology will all be key qualities that the next head must possess in order to turn the company around. The clock is ticking. 10 stocks we like better than Chipotle Mexican GrillWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.* David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Chipotle Mexican Grill wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys. Click here to learn about these picks! *Stock Advisor returns as of January 2, 2018 Jeremy Bowman owns shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill and Starbucks. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Chipotle Mexican Grill, Starbucks, and Twitter. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Ford Motor Co. will re-enter the U.S. midsize pickup truck market next spring with the 2019 Ford Ranger. The automaker is set to unveil the new North American version of the Ranger Sunday ahead of the Detroit auto show. The Ranger was the best-selling small pickup in the U.S. in 2011. But Ford pulled it from the market because gas prices were high and it saw demand dwindling. Now, Ford says there's rising demand for a smaller, more maneuverable and more affordable truck than its massive F-150. The North American Ranger shares underpinnings with the global version, which Ford has continued to sell abroad. But its frame is reinforced with steel to meet U.S. safety standards and it has steel bumpers. Ford isn't yet revealing price, fuel economy or other details. Crude prices have been red-hot over the past six months, rebounding more than 40% to well over $60 a barrel, a three-year high. While some analysts believe oil could give back some of its recent gains and head back into the $50s, others see catalysts on the horizon that could push it even higher. Analysts at Citigroup, for example, recently put out a report listing several wild cards that could drive crude up toward $80 a barrel. Among the most notable was President Trump, who through words or actions could escalate tensions in places like Iran and North Korea. Either scenario, or any number of other wild cards, could cause oil prices to skyrocket. How Trump could affect oil prices Citigroup noted that President Trump, for example, could make good on his threats to end the controversial Iran nuclear deal, which, among other things, enabled the Middle Eastern nation to increase its oil exports. While recent reports suggest that the president will probably extend the sanction relief, it's still possible that he could reimpose them on the country. If that happened, it would dislocate as much as 500,000 barrels per day of the country's oil exports, which Citi thought would immediately add $5 per barrel to the price of oil. However, even without an impact from Trump, Iran represents a huge wild card. Current tensions in the country from recent protests could boil over and take a significant portion of the country's oil exports offline. Meanwhile, the nation has long been a threat to cut off the oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz, which could significantly disrupt the oil market. In addition to Iran, Citigroup also noted that the "rhetoric from and toward North Korea has also escalated in the past few months," with Trump and Kim Jong-un trading incendiary comments, which could ultimately flare up into a military conflict. The risk of war would be likely to prompt nations to stockpile strategic goods such as oil, with that buying causing prices to spike. It's worth emphasizing out that these are wild card events and not what Citigroup expects to see this year -- although if oil prices do rocket because of some Trump-fueled crisis, that would certainly benefit U.S. oil producers. How a Trump bump would affect oil stocks Among the producers that would see the greatest lift from a return of $80 oil are those that have the lowest production costs and didn't cap their upside by hedging production against falling prices. Three that stand out are EOG Resources (NYSE:EOG), Anadarko Petroleum(NYSE:APC), and ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP). All three have gotten their costs down to the point where they can grow production at a healthy pace even if crude is in the $50s. EOG Resources, for example, can increase its oil output by a 15% compound annual rate through 2020 while living within the cash flow it can generate at $50 a barrel. Meanwhile, ConocoPhillips can grow its production by a 5% compound annual rate, while also returning significant cash flow to investors through dividends and share buybacks at $50 a barrel. Finally, Anadarko can deliver 14% oil production growth this year within cash flow at $50 oil. Because of those sub-$50-a-barrel breakeven levels, this trio would produce a gusher of cash flow if crude pushed toward $80 a barrel, since they don't have any oil hedges that would cap that upside. Contrast this with Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE:PXD), which had hedged 80% of its oil for 2018 by the end of last year's third quarter, which capped its ceiling on that production at around $58 a barrel. While hedging helped put a floor under Pioneer's cash flow when oil was lower, it now prevents the company from enjoying the full benefit of higher oil prices. Well positioned even without help from Trump As with any wild card, it's impossible to predict if President Trump will drive oil higher this year, which is why investors shouldn't buy oil stocks based on that belief. Instead, they should consider oil stocks that can do just fine if oil gives back its recent gains, while also providing unabated upside if it keeps rising. While that's a tall order, ConocoPhillips, EOG Resources, and Anadarko Petroleum all fit that bill, since they've pushed their production costs below $50 a barrel and don't have any oil hedges, which should enable them to do well no matter what happens to oil this year. Nissan Motor Company Chairman and former CEO Carlos Ghosn said on Sunday he believes the mass marketing of driverless cars by U.S. automakers is right around the corner. I would predict that this will come between 2021 and 2022, Ghosn, who also is chairman and CEO of French auto company Renault, told Trish Regan on Sunday Morning Futures. Ghosn said the reason it will still be a few years before more driverless cars are produced has to do with regulators and the robustness of the market for the vehicles. We need also the regulator to accept the fact that, on a mass marketing point of view, youre going to have plenty of cars without [a] driver. So I would say prototypes are ready 2018, 2019. Were gonna be continuing to work on robustness of the system 2021 will be my guess, he said. General Motors (NYSE:GM) on Friday said it filed a safety petition with the Department of Transportation (DOT) to deploy its all-electric Cruise AV (autonomous vehicle), which has no steering wheel, pedals or other manual controls in 2019 the same year the automaker said it plans to roll out a ride-hailing-type service. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said the agency will review GMs petition and give it responsible and careful consideration, during a speech at the Detroit Auto Show on Sunday, where she also announced the Trump administration will unveil revised guidelines for self-driving cars this summer. Ford is another major U.S. automaker already dabbling in the driverless car sector. In addition to its partnership with Dominos Pizza (NYSE:DPZ), its latest collaboration is with on-demand delivery service provider Postmates. Both companies will run pilot programs to see how self-driving technology will impact the delivery experience for consumers, enable brick-and-mortar retailers to reach new customer bases and transform how commerce moves in communities in which they operate, Sherif Marakby, Ford vice president of autonomous vehicles and electrification, said in a blog post. Many, including Ghosn and Chao, believe the implementation of self-driving cars will make travel safer and reduce the number of accidents on roadways. Nearly 37,500 people were killed in crashes in the U.S. in 2016, a 5.6% increase from 2015, though distraction-affected crashes decreased 2.2% in the same period, according to the latest data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This technology has tremendous potential to enhance safety [Automated vehicles] have faster reaction times, 360-degree vision and they can see at night, Chao said. What happened Shares of Vista Outdoor Inc. (NYSE: VSTO) fell 62% in 2017, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence, as firearm sales plunged in the United States. The company is restructuring in an effort to focus on key brands, but if the core firearm business doesn't recover in 2018, it could be difficult for shares to regain last year's losses. So what Fiscal second-quarter results give a good snapshot of why the year was so bad for Vista Outdoor's stock. Revenue was down 14% to $586 million and would have fallen 16% on an organic basis if not for acquisitions. Even worse, adjusted earnings per share fell from $0.74 per share a year ago to $0.34 in the quarter. Sales have been falling as gun sales drop in the United States. A favorable political environment with Republicans in control of Congress and the White House hasn't given gun buyers any urgency, and that's why sales are down. It could be another three years until there's a threat of gun regulation, so operations may not turn around anytime soon. Management said it will sell the Bolle, Serengeti, and Cebe brands and could consider selling other non-core brands. That may raise cash, but it will also increase the company's exposure to the volatile gun business. Now what Despite all of the challenges, management expects adjusted earnings of $0.50 to $0.60 per share, meaning shares trade at about 25 times the current depressed earnings level. If gun sales recover and Vista Outdoor's other business lines remain steady, the stock could be a good value for investors. It will be a volatile ride, but long-term this is a company with significant potential both in firearms and sporting goods. 10 stocks we like better than Vista OutdoorWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.* David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Vista Outdoor wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys. Click here to learn about these picks! *Stock Advisor returns as of January 2, 2018 Travis Hoium has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Hollywood actress Rebecca Hall, who will appear in an upcoming Woody Allen movie, said she is profoundly sorry for her part in the film and donated her earnings to the Times Up coalition. Hall said on Instagram that after much thought, she is conflicted and saddened by her decision to work on A Rainy Day in New York with the filmmaker, who has been accused of sexually assaulting his adopted daughter Dylan Farrow. After reading and re-reading Dylan Farrows statements of a few days ago and going back and reading the older ones -- I see, not only how complicated this matter is, but that my actions have made another woman feel silenced and dismissed, Hall said in the post. That is not something that sits easily with me in the current or indeed any moment, and I am profoundly sorry. I regret this decision and wouldnt make the same one today. MARK WAHLBERG TO DONATE $1.5M RESHOOT PAYCHECK TO TIMES UP LEGAL FUND In 2014, Allens adopted daughter alleged in The New York Times that she was molested by the director when she was a child. Allen has denied the accusations. In an Op-Ed piece for The Los Angeles Times in December, Farrow said she didnt understand how Allen had managed to maintain his place in Hollywood. Why is it that Harvey Weinstein and other accused celebrities have been cast out by Hollywood, while Allen recently secured a multimillion-dollar distribution deal with Amazon, greenlit by former Amazon Studios executive Roy Price before he was suspended over sexual misconduct allegations? Farrow wrote. WOODY ALLENS ARCHIVE WRITINGS ARE FILLED WITH DIRECTORS VIVID OBSESSION WITH YOUNG WOMEN AND GIRLS, REPORT SAYS Hall, who received a Golden Globe nod for her role in Allens 2008 movie, Vicky Christina Barcelona, said she was working on the movie set when the accusations against fallen movie mogul Weinstein broke in full force. And after what she had thought was an easy decision seven months prior to act in the movie, she realized there is nothing easy about any of this. In the weeks following, I have thought very deeply about this decision, and remain conflicted and saddened. Hall then said she donated her wages from the movie to Times Up, an initiative designed to bring about legislative change and raise legal funds for sexual assault and harassment victims across all industries. Ive also signed up, will continue to donate, and look forward to working with and being part of this positive movement towards change not just in Hollywood but hopefully everywhere, Hall wrote. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Actress Eliza Dushku has come forward with allegations against her stunt coordinator on the 1994 film True Lies, saying Joel Kramer molested her when he was 36 and she was just 12. In a lengthy post on Facebook, Dushku came forward over the weekend to give a full account of what she called a calculated effort by Kramer to get close to her. She said it followed a pattern of inappropriate behavior, including referring to her as Jailbait on set. WARNING: SOME DETAILS MAY BE INAPPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN She alleged that Kramer manipulated both her and her parents to let him be alone with her in a Miami hotel room where he allegedly got naked and initiated unwanted physical contact with her on a bed. In a statement to Fox News, Kramer denied the allegations against him, referring to the now 37-year-old actress accounts as entirely untrue. "These allegations are a well-crafted fabrication by Ms. Dushku. I do not understand what motivated Ms. Dushku to make this statement and I hope that she can find it in her conscious to correct this injustice and return my good name to me. I understand the culture in Hollywood has been historically unfair to women and I applaud and support women who are standing up and pointing out these injustices," he said. "It is unfortunate, however that this new culture allows a person to destroy the life and livelihood of a person with false accusations." Despite his assertion of innocence, Deadline reports that his agency, WPA, has dropped him as a client. Such behavior is unacceptable and entirely at odds with the standards of conduct we demand of ourselves, and expect from our clients, WPA's president and general counsel Richard Caleel said. In her post, the actress known for roles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Dollhouse wrote that Kramer groomed her and her parents promising to take her for a swim at the stunt crews hotel pool one night, followed by her first sushi dinner thereafter. That, she said, was how two people of very different ages ended up in the same hotel room together. I remember vividly how he methodically drew the shades and turned down the lights; how he cranked up the air-conditioning to what felt like freezing levels, where exactly he placed me on one of the two hotel room beds, what movie he put on the television (Coneheads); how he disappeared in the bathroom and emerged, naked, bearing nothing but a small hand towel held flimsy at his mid-section, she wrote. I remember what I was wearing (my favorite white denim shorts, thankfully, secured enough for me to keep on). I remember how he laid me down on the bed, wrapped me with his gigantic writhing body, and rubbed all over me. He spoke these words: Youre not going to sleep on me now sweetie, stop pretending youre sleeping, as he rubbed harder and faster against my catatonic body. When he was finished, he suggested, I think we should be careful, [about telling anyone] he meant. Dushku said she confided in a tough adult female friend. Deadline, in a separate report, revealed that the friend was her representative at the time, JoAnne Colonna, who confronted Kramer about what happened. Dushku also wrote that she suffered an injury to her ribs in a stunt gone wrong -- later on the same day that her friend talked to Kramer. The actress suggested in her post that it was no accident. To be clear, over the course of those months rehearsing and filming True Lies, it was Joel Kramer who was responsible for my safety on a film that at the time broke new ground for action films," she wrote. On a daily basis he rigged wires and harnesses on my 12 year old body. My life was literally in his hands. Dushku said she recently saw a photo of Kramer with his arm around a young girl, which prompted her to come forward with her story. Kramer recently worked on projects including Blade Runner 2049, Star Trek: Discovery and Westworld. James Cameron, who directed True Lies, commended Dushku on her decision to come forward while speaking at the Television Critics Association press tour. According to TV Guide, Cameron is working on a TV adaptation of True Lies. He said that he had no clue any of this was going on, promising that there would have been no mercy for Kramer if he did. Directors are historically pretty oblivious to the interpersonal things on their set, being so focused on what theyre doing creatively, he said, per Variety. The fact that this was happening under our noses and we didnt know about it... he said, noting it was troubling. Dushkus on-screen mother in True Lies, Jamie Lee Curtis, penned an article in The Huffington Post addressing the issue of the allegations. There are industry-wide legal protections for these young performers that have been long-held and hard fought. There are always teachers and advocates and adult family members or surrogates for the children on set and rigid rules that need to be followed. Yet sadly, as with any rules, these are often broken, she wrote. I hope today that what can come from all of these exposures are new guidelines and safe spaces for people regardless of age, gender, race or job to share their concerns and truths and that all abusers will be held accountable, Curtis continued. Kramer's full statement to Fox News can be read below: "Early this morning Eliza Dushku made a accusation against me on her Facebook page. This statement by Ms. Dushku has devastated my family and me. These accusations are entirely untrue. While filming 'True Lies' I treated Ms. Dushku with respect and was protective of her safety and welfare as is appropriate to my position as a stunt coordinator. A film crew is like a family, and Eliza was always treated and protected as a member of the family. I never behaved in any way inappropriately with her. I was never in a position where I was alone with her and even while working with her on set her female stunt double was always there to help her into her harness, offer support and ensure her well being. While it is true that Ms. Dushku did come swimming with several of the stunt crew at our hotel and afterwards had sushi with us, again we were not alone and I did not Lure her to my hotel room. We as a family were including Ms. Dushku in our group to make her feel welcome and included. These allegations are a well-crafted fabrication by Ms. Dushku. I do not understand what motivated Ms. Dushku to make this statement and I hope that she can find it in her conscious to correct this injustice and return my good name to me. I understand the culture in Hollywood has been historically unfair to women and I applaud and support women who are standing up and pointing out these injustices. It is unfortunate, however that this new culture allows a person to destroy the life and livelihood of a person with false accusations. This false accusation has subjected my family and me to death treats and will devastate my livelihood even when proven to be false. In truth, innocence in fact is not enough to clear a persons name in the minds on the world. This action can also only undermine the suffering of women who have had to deal with unjust treatment." Dogfish Head brewery is launching a beer aimed specifically at survivalists. The limited-edition Its the End of the Wort as We Know It ale was created by the Delaware brewery as an answer to the age old quandary of what beer you should bring if stranded on a desert island. Myself and six other co-workers from various departments at Dogfish set out to brew the most survivalist-oriented beer Dogfish has ever made and packed it with a bunch of delicious culinary ingredients resulting in a ton of goodness in the form of essential vitamins and amino acids," Sam Calagione, founder and CEO of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, said on the website. GENIUS BEER-BOTTLE OPENING HACK GOES VIRAL The 9 percent ABV concoction is brewed as a Belgian-style fruit ale but a nutrient-packed one with a complex mix of superfoods including goji berries, acai, purple sweet potatoes, rose hips, chia seeds, flax seed and quinoa. According to an independent lab, the brewery says the hazy, purple-hued beer was found to have eight times the amount of Vitamin B Complex than other lagers, and over 90 percent of the daily recommended serving of folic acid. The brewery is so confident in its brew, they hail it as a critical addition to your survival bunker. To double down on that claim, Dogfish Head is releasing 200 packages of the beer at its Milton, Delaware brewery that include a handful of other prepper-friendly items: a Dogfish-branded Swiss army knife, a solar blanket and a length of paracord, Food and Wine reports. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS Calagione admits though the brewers feel the tart, yet sweet brew is the ultimate and definitive survival beer to live off if stuck on a desert island, the brewery makes no claims about the healthiness of the beer. Were not making any health claims in association with this beer, he said. We are merely sharing our brewing process and the culinary ingredients we chose for the recipe that are rich in alluring aromas and flavors. The survivalist packages are being released on January 27 at 11 a.m. in the brewery for $45. The beer will remain on tap as long as the limited quantity survives. McDonalds in Canada has apologized and pulled a national 15-second radio advertisement from the air after facing harsh criticism that it belittled museums. In the since-pulled ad, a male narrator begins saying, You could get a museum tour for $5, CBC reports. A woman playing a museum guide then cuts in. There were dinosaurs and then there werent, she says, CBC writes. OK, then, exit through the gift shop! The male narrator returns and suggests that listeners can rather spend their $5 on a value meal at the hamburger chain and get a sandwich, fries and a drink. Tracy Calogheros, CEO of Prince Georges Exploration Place Museum, a science museum with dinosaur models and interactive exhibits, in British Columbia told CBC that the ad upset me so much I pulled over. THE ONE MCDONALD'S ITEM YOU SHOULD NEVER ORDER, ACCORDING TO AN EX-EMPLOYEE "It implies that we're just in it to rip people off, basically, in our gift shops and that you're much better to spend your $5 on a new McDonald's burger promotion," she continued. Calogheros was so incited by the ad that she felt was locally produced and specifically referring to the Exploration museum that she reached out to the radio station that was airing it. Colgheros learned from the station that the commercial was running across the country, and not a direct attack on the museum. However, Colgheros still felt belittled by the advertisement as did others. Ben Fast of the B.C. Museum Association told CBC he had been contacted by multiple members of the organization upset over the ad. "They're disappointed that McDonald's would kind of take a shot at the cultural sector like that, and it's not exactly true that $5 [at a museum] isn't worth the same thing as a hamburger," he said. A spokesperson for McDonalds, Adam Grachnik, said the ad was meant to be humorous and not offensive to museums. We appreciate that museums are trusted, respected and informative places about Canadian culture and apologize for any offence, Grachnik said in an email statement to The Canadian Press. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS McDonalds also reached out to Calegheros, and museum association executive director, John McAvity, each personally to apologize for the ad. "I just think they had blinders on with their ad campaign and just didn't really see the impacts of the message they were sending, she said to The Canadian Press. "The lasting effects coming out of a museum are something that more people are in pursuit of than the same lasting effects you may get out of a fast-food visit, she added. The Canadian Museums Association said in a release that in addition to requesting that McDonalds remove the ad nationally, they also asked for the company to consider a way to work positively with museums in the future. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! There was a time when the Democrats were the party of working Americans. They seemed to understand and fight for the interests of the working class and people living in poverty. Republicans, by contrast, struggled for decades with the perception that they were for the rich. Well, how things have turned around. Just look at the latest economic pronouncements of leading establishment Democrats. Here in my home state of California, in response to President Trump signing the GOP tax reform bill into law, state Senate Democratic leader Kevin de Leon has taken up a new cause: fighting for the right of the richest Californians to evade their taxes. Its almost unbelievable but true. De Leon (who is also the leading challenger to Sen. Dianne Feinstein in her primary battle as she seeks re-election this year) has proposed setting up a new so-called charity that would enable the Silicon Valley and Hollywood elite to claw back their losses from the Trump administrations new tax reform law. If youre a member of a working family struggling to make ends meet (as pretty much half of American families are after the economic disaster of the Bush and Obama years), then $1,000 makes a real difference. That tax reform law, lets remind ourselves, actually means that some of the richest people in the richest parts of America will pay more in taxes, thanks to drastic cuts in deductions for state and local taxes they pay. To fight off President Trumps vicious attack on their rich friends (read: donors), California Democrats want to set up a California Excellence Fund. Donations to the fund would be matched dollar-for-dollar by tax credits, which can then be subtracted from tax bills as charity. Its a classic liberal version of charity, mind you: all the money would go straight into the coffers of the state governments general fund. Who would benefit from this bit of creative accounting? Californians earning over $1 million a year, mainly. Kevin de Leon: the last best hope for California millionaires. Not sure he wants that as the bumper sticker for his campaign against Feinstein, but as they say: when someone tells you who they are, believe them. Another prominent California Democrat also revealed her true colors this past week over taxes: our old friend, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. She dismissed $1,000 worker bonuses given in response to the GOP tax cuts as crumbs. Well yes, thats what $1,000 may mean to you if youre married to a wealthy real estate tycoon and live in splendor in San Francisco. But if youre a member of a working family struggling to make ends meet (as pretty much half of American families are after the economic disaster of the Bush and Obama years), then $1,000 makes a real difference. You can see the new left elitism in their attitude to immigration too. Their total rejection of any effort to clamp down on the out-of-control low-wage immigration that harms American workers shows that establishment Democrats sympathies now lie with big business, not working people. Thats not true of the Democrats populist wing, of course. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont quite rightly points out that its corporate America that wants mass immigration. In a 2105 interview Sanders said: Bring in all kinds of people, work for $2 or $3 an hour, that would be great for them. I don't believe in that. I think we have to raise wages in this country, I think we have to do everything we can to create millions of jobs. You know what youth unemployment is in the United States of America today? If you're a white high school graduate, it's 33 percent, Hispanic 36 percent, African American 51 percent. You think we should open the borders and bring in a lot of low-wage workers, or do you think maybe we should try to get jobs for those kids? Thats Donald Trumps position too: and rightly so. But establishment Democrats like Nancy Pelosi and Kevin de Leon and all the rest who are busy attacking the presidents pro-worker economic agenda have totally lost touch with the needs and aspirations of working Americans. They demean and dismiss them, preferring the company and the interests of their wealthy friends and donors. Thats todays elitist Democrats: theyve become the party of the rich, sneering at the poor. Author's note: Well be debating all this on Sunday night on The Next Revolution at 9 p.m. EST on FNC. Hope you can join us! NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! As it has for the last three years, the Washington Post dedicated a team of data collectors and writers to focus on the issue of fatal shootings by police, producing a long story earlier this month headlined: Nationwide, police shot and killed nearly 1,000 people in 2017. The exact number of such deaths the Post counted was 987. But rather than supplying any balance or meaningful context to an important topic, the flawed story takes the reader just where discerning people might expect to the discredited myth that racist police are targeting and gunning down unarmed black men and boys for no reason other than the color of their skin. By the third paragraph, the Post moves its focus to race, stating: While many of the year-to-year patterns remain consistent, the number of unarmed black males killed in 2017 declined from two years ago. Last year, police killed 19, a figure tracking closely with the 17 killed in 2016. In 2015, police shot and killed 36 unarmed black males. Wait a minute. Note that while the issue of unarmed black males being shot by police drew enormous news coverage last year enough to make the average person think there was a massive wave of such shootings according to the Posts own tally only 2 percent of those who died as a result of police shootings were unarmed black men and boys. Yet four paragraphs later, the Post story blows the poisonous dog-whistle of race even though 98 percent of people shot by police last year were not unarmed black males. The Post story states: National scrutiny of shootings by police began after an unarmed black teenager from a suburb of St. Louis was fatally shot by a white police officer in August 2014. The death of 18-year-old Michael Brown sparked widespread protests, prompted a White House commission to call for reforms, galvanized the Black Lives Matter movement and led many police agencies across the nation to examine their use of deadly force. What the Post states, as far as it goes, is true. But writers of the Post article know or certainly should know by now that a Justice Department report cleared Police Officer Darren Wilson of Ferguson, Missouri of any wrongdoing for his shooting of Brown. The report states: Not only do eyewitnesses and physical evidence corroborate Wilsons account, but there is no credible evidence to disprove Wilsons perception that Brown posed a threat to Wilson as Brown advanced toward him. Simply stated, Michael Brown was no martyr for police brutality. Brown was a thug and a thief. He stole a pack of $50 cigarillos from a convenience store, menaced the shopkeeper and shoved him out of the way. Brown then walked a few blocks and attacked Wilson, a uniformed police officer sitting in his marked police SUV, and tried to grab Wilsons gun. Do that in any city in the world no matter what your race or ethnicity and you put yourself in immediate risk of deadly force being used against you. Police are not required to allow anyone to grab their guns and kill them. And, getting back to the Post article, it appears as though somewhere near three-quarters of the 987 people who were fatally shot by police last year posed a grave threat to police and others because they were armed with their own knife or a gun. Put the Posts numbers in perspective, because the paper chose not to do so. According to the FBIs Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted data collection, in 2016 law enforcement agencies that filed reports tallied 57,180 officers assaulted in the line of duty. That number only represents data from 12,421 law enforcement agencies about 70 percent of the 18,000 agencies in the country. So a more realistic estimate of assaults on police last year would be roughly 75,000. So when you think about shooting by police, remember that each year thousands of cops are feloniously assaulted and injured by dangerous attackers. And despite the danger, and their annual face-to-face contacts with tens of millions of us, police fatally shot only 987 people last year a tiny fraction of 1 percent of those who assaulted the cops. Whats truly remarkable is that thousands more people werent killed as they assaulted police with the intent to seriously injure or in some cases with the intent to kill the law enforcement officers. So the Post story should not be focused on police excess. It should be focused on the remarkable degree of restraint exercised by police. No police officer in his or her right mind sets out to kill anyone and no officer finds the experience enjoyable or thrilling. It is a nightmare they all want to avoid. Certainly, police shootings must be thoroughly and fairly investigated. And in the rare cases where police are have acted unlawfully they should face prosecution. But in the overwhelming majority of police shootings, officers are acting to protect themselves or others from the prospect of imminent death or injury. Race plays no part in the decision to reluctantly shoot when there is no other alternative. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! President Trumps threat on Friday to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal and reimpose economic sanctions on the Islamic Republic if it doesnt renegotiate the agreement could cause big headaches for the United States. While the president stopped short of withdrawing from the nuclear pact with Iran and other world powers, he threatened to withdraw from the deal in 120 days if Iran does not agree to renegotiate it. In particular, the president said he wants 10-year limits on Iranian nuclear development made permanent. But Irans government said Saturday that it would refuse to renegotiate the deal and threatened to retaliate against the U.S. after President Trump imposed more limited sanctions not connected to the nuclear agreement against 14 Iranian individuals and entities. Some Americans are applauding President Trumps strong stance, particularly in light of recent anti-government protest demonstrations held in some 80 cities across Iran. Many foreign policy hawks, like former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton, have called for regime change in Iran and advocated imposing additional economic sanctions to achieve that result and bolster the protesters. If President Trump pulls out of the nuclear deal in four months, these hawks will cheer. But in reality, imposing harsh and broad economic sanctions on Iran would be a mistake and play right into the hands of the hardliners in Tehran who pose the greatest threat to the United States. The right way to support the protesters and squeeze the Iranian regime is by helping the Iranian people communicate more freely with each other and the outside world. If all this sounds a bit confusing, well thats understandable. Just about all Americans find the Iranian regime detestable. The Iranian government is virulently anti-American and anti-Israel, it provides military and financial support for Syrian dictator Bashar Assad and for terrorist groups, it denies its own people basic freedoms, and it places especially severe restrictions on women. Its been exhilarating to see Iranians marching in the streets, demonstrating against their corrupt government, and demanding change since the end of December. Theres no question that the United States should do whatever we can to help them. OK so then wouldnt new economic sanctions on Iran be helpful? No, they would not. In truth, theres a right way and a wrong way to encourage the protesters in Iran and the wrong way is by imposing additional crippling economic sanctions, especially if its an attempt to force quick regime change. The recent protests, which started because of economic concerns and have expanded to a broader political rebuke of the Iranian government, exposed just how brittle and weak the regime is. But applying more economic pressure on Iran from the outside is likely to stir up nationalism. This would help the regime, rather than encourage a pro-democratic revolt. Just look at Russia, where President Vladimir Putin has skillfully used economic pressure from the West as a scapegoat to effectively rally his base and shore up his power. The Iranian government has been adept at doing this in the past, and it will jump at the chance to do it again. To date, anti-government protesters in Iran have blamed skyrocketing prices of basic staples, including food and fuel, on their own leaders. But if the United States is responsible for driving the price up, Iranians will blame us instead letting the ruling clerics off the hook. In addition, applying pressure on Iran without the international community behind us makes successful regime change less likely. If America imposes additional economic sanctions against Iran we will be doing so alone, since it would be in breach of the nuclear agreement. Few other countries would support such an approach certainly not the Europeans. Russia and China show no interest in joining us either, as evident from their recent lack of support for even a strongly worded statement at the U.N. about the protests. The United States not Iran would become the international pariah. Whats more, recall that before the nuclear deal was reached, the international community imposed some of the harshest economic sanctions in history against Iran. But even that wasnt enough to bring down the regime. America acting alone is unlikely to yield a different result. Finally, the United States has a terrible track record when it comes to imposing regime change in the Middle East. We failed to get the results we wanted in Iraq, Libya and Syria. Theres no reason to think we can do better in Iran. For all these reasons, the Trump administration should take a different tack. The right way to support the protesters and squeeze the Iranian regime is by helping the Iranian people communicate more freely with each other and the outside world. The United States government should try to improve the communication and social media tools available in Iran. It should work with technology companies to ensure they have the necessary exemptions from sanctions to do business in the country. For example, when reporters asked what steps the Trump administration was taking to coordinate with Google so that it could provide its encrypted communication application called Signal in Iran, the State Department had no answer. This is just one of several tools the U.S. government could be deploying right now to help the protesters better communicate and organize. More broadly, an increasingly open society, which allows more free-flow of information and goods, would undermine the closed theocracy the ruling clerics want to maintain in Iran. The sanctions relief promised in the nuclear agreement helped move the country in that direction. Squandering that opening now would only help the hardliners. Thats why Congress should use this window to amend the law so that President Trump doesnt have to decide every 120 days whether to waive economic sanctions for Iran, or decide every 90 days whether to certify the 2015 nuclear agreement. The nuclear deal is working because it is keeping Iran from following in the footsteps of North Korea and going nuclear. Granted, the deal hasnt turned Iran into a peace-loving, religiously pluralistic, progressive Jeffersonian democracy where all men and women are treated equally. But no one with any knowledge of the Iranian regime ever believed that would happen. We should leave the Iran nuclear deal in place. Instead, Congress should look at individuals committing human rights violations and further sanction them, which would be in keeping with the nuclear agreement. There is a right way and a wrong way to respond to the Iranian protests. Yes, Iran is a menace. Yes, we should all be glad to see this regime go. But additional economic sanctions will not get us that result we want. Lets focus on the tools that will. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! I have been given a bad break, said Lou Gehrig, the great New York Yankee first baseman, on July 4, 1939, before a packed Yankee Stadium. Just two weeks earlier, he had been diagnosed with a terrible disease called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, which slowly destroys nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord and renders its victims paralyzed. There was no treatment for ALS, and two years after his retirement speech, Lou Gehrig was dead. Three-quarters of a century later, in May of this year, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved Radicava. It doesnt cure ALS, but it slows down the functional decline of patients significantly. Also in 2017, the FDA approved Brineura, the first treatment for Batten disease, a deadly neurological disorder, and Bavencio, the first drug for Merkel cell carcinoma, a skin cancer. These medicines treat rare diseases. ALS affects about 20,000 Americans; Batten occurs in two to four of every 100,000 births, and there are only about 1,500 cases of Merkel cancer are diagnosed annually. For decades, such illnesses presented a classic market failure: If few people have a disease, then theres little incentive to develop a medicine to address it. After all, the average cost of bringing a drug to market is now close to $3 billion, according to a Tufts University study. Drug companies headquartered in the U.S. develop more than half the new medicines available in the world today, according to a study by Arthur Daemmrich, who heads the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation at the Smithsonian Institution. Our system of largely unregulated prices provides the incentive to invest and thus to innovate. By contrast, in Europe, where governments directly manage health care, access to the best new drugs is often limited as a way to hold down fiscal deficits, and patients suffer. Tomas Philipson of the University of Chicago, now a member of the Presidents Council of Economic Advisors, writes that his research shows that you get what you pay for. Cancer patients live longer in the U.S. than the EU because of the free-market investments we make in drugs and other treatments. Drug companies headquartered in the U.S. develop more than half the new medicines available in the world today. By contrast, in Europe, where governments directly manage health care, access to the best new drugs is often limited as a way to hold down fiscal deficits, and patients suffer. While Europe provides more serious constraints on innovation, U.S. drug companies do face significant obstacles, especially from health insurers that shirk their obligation to insure. And even in relatively free system, drugs to treat diseases with few patients present a special problem that was addressed in 1983 with the Orphan Drug Act. Sponsored by Rep. Henry Waxman, a liberal California Democrat and signed by President Ronald Reagan, a conservative California Republican, the law provides tax credits, priority FDA review, a waiver of user fees, grants for clinical trials, and an extension of market exclusivity to encourage companies to develop drugs for diseases that afflict fewer than 200,000 Americans. In the decade leading up to the passage of the Orphan Drug Act, says an FDA presentation, only 10 industry-supported products for rare diseases were brought to market. Since the bill passed, the total is more than 600. Because it takes many years to develop a drug and bring it through trials, the Orphan Drug Act combined with breakthroughs in genetic science -- is now producing an explosion of new approvals: 285 since 2010, including 50 in the first nine months of 2017 alone. While each orphan disease afflicts a small number of people, there are 7,000 such illnesses. One of the worst is spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), the leading genetic cause of death in infants, affecting one in every 6,000 to 10,000 Americans. SMA destroys the motor neurons that control the arms, legs, face, and throat and takes away a persons ability to walk, eat and ultimately breathe. Imagine the plight of the English family of Orem, Utah. One daughter died of SMA at age 4; a second died at 5. Like Lou Gehrig, they had no drugs to help them. A third English child, a son named Colin, did not develop symptoms until he was 12. He has a chance for a better life with what the Boston Globe, in a feature about the family this month, called a magic potion called Spinraza, an injectable orphan drug, sold by the Cambridge [Mass.] biotech giant Biogen, Inc., that had taken a decade to invent, perfect, test, and bring to market. On Dec. 23, 2016, Spinraza became the first drug approved by the FDA for SMA. Roughly 200 patients participated in clinical trials, according to Biogen, and another 1,200 U.S. patients are now using the drug, administered at 180 sites. Treatments for complex rare diseases are rarely cheap. Brineura costs $285,000 a year, according to an article in JAMA Pediatrics. Kalydeco, which treats a variety of cystic fibrosis, costs $311,000 a year. The list price of Spinraza is $750,000 for the first year of treatment, when four loading doses are needed, and $375,000 annually thereafter. Pharmaceutical companies dont simply charge what the traffic will bear. They typically embark on a long price-discovery process that includes such considerations as the cost of bringing the drug to market, the clinical value, the impact on the health system, and the companys research and development needs. Revenues from Spinraza, for example, will help fund Biogens research into Alzheimers Disease. What about the patients? Some 91 percent of Americans have private or government-provided health insurance, and the primary purpose of any insurance is to provide a financial backstop against unexpected, catastrophic costs like the expenses of rebuilding a house after a fire. Prolonging the life of a child is precisely why insurance was invented, but the journey of many patients and their families to get insurance to pay for orphan-drug treatments has been difficult. Europe passed its equivalent of the U.S. Orphan Drug Act in 1999, and the European Medicines Agency approved Spinraza in June, but many individual countries, including Norway and Spain, have balked at allowing patients to benefit from it. The Spanish publication El Pais on Dec. 13 related the story of how SMA-affected children from Spains province of Galicia are getting their medicines from Germany. Americas pharmaceutical, medical, regulatory, and insurance systems are allowing todays Lou Gehrigs and those afflicted with other orphan diseases the chance to live longer and better. But the balance is delicate, and all the systems require nurturing. The principle that keeps innovation churning ahead is one that some European countries seem to have forgotten: always put patients first. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! It is utterly astounding that Time magazine published an op-ed by clueless actor Sean Penn, lecturing President Trump on compassion and justice in Latin America and the Caribbean. Who is Sean Penn to lecture anyone about compassion? After all, it is Sean Penn who enabled and befriended the repressive and ruthless Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez, using his Hollywood clout to lend credibility to Chavez and to spread lies about the successes of Chavezs disastrous socialist revolution. Of course, Penn was not alone. Actor Danny Glover and filmmaker Michael Moore also lavished Chavez and his successor, Nicholas Maduro, with praise and support as Venezuela spiraled into chaos and poverty. So did Democratic Socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Sanders website once stated that the American Dream was dead and more likely to be found in Venezuela than the U.S. He has since quietly removed this passage from the site. What has Sean Penn said about the horrible indignities and abuses suffered by the Venezuelan people? Nothing. Where is his compassionate op-ed to show concern for the victims of Venezuelan socialism and repression? Under Chavez and Maduro, Venezuela went from being the economic envy of Latin America rich in oil and with a vibrant economy to being one of its poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. Today, thanks to the nationalization of oil production and government-imposed price controls, Venezuela is a country of hunger, deprivation, food shortages and humiliations that proud Venezuelans never thought they would be forced to endure. As a result of terrible food shortages, 75 percent of Venezuelans lost an average of 19 pounds last year. The Miami Herald, in one of the saddest articles I have ever read, chronicled the plight of Venezuelan mothers with degrees in medicine and engineering prostituting themselves in neighboring Colombia to afford groceries for their families. Others are eating their pets or have to give away children they can no longer feed. The political repression in Venezuela is equally alarming. Hundreds of dissidents have been imprisoned, including Maduros most threatening competitor the handsome, young and courageous former mayor of Caracas, Leopoldo Lopez. Lopez was sentenced to 14 years in prison on trumped up charges, though he is currently under house arrest due to health concerns. On top of all this, Venezuelas brave citizens risk being attacked or killed by their own government when they protest against elections and institutions rigged by the regime. So what has Sean Penn said about these horrible indignities and abuses suffered by the Venezuelan people? Nothing. Where is his compassionate op-ed to show concern for the victims of Venezuelan socialism and repression? Silence. Meanwhile, President Trump whom Penn calls an enemy of compassion over his reported use of vulgar language to describe some parts of the world in a closed-door Oval Office meeting has been unequivocal in voicing his support for the Venezuelan people. President Trump has condemned Venezuelas socialist oppressors and made the quest of the Venezuelan people for freedom and prosperity one of his top three international concerns, behind North Korea and Iran. I do agree with Penn on one thing. Immigrants and refugees who have escaped the corrupt, dysfunctional, crime-ridden, socialist and communist regimes of Latin America are precisely the kind of hard-working and grateful people we should be welcoming to the U.S. They truly appreciate the blessings that Penn takes for granted. Unlike Penn, these immigrants understand that it is democracy and American free-enterprise that have made our country the best and most prosperous in the history of the world. They know that nothing has lifted more people out of poverty than entrepreneurial capitalism. And they resent the ignorant complicity of members of the Hollywood elite, like Sean Penn, in the destruction of their country and the misery and poverty it has wrought. A few months ago I attended the graduation ceremony of a group of Latin Americans who had attended an English language course sponsored by the LIBRE Initiative, a nonprofit that educates Hispanics about how to achieve the American Dream. A Venezuelan man stood up. He told us he was one of the lucky ones who was able to leave that nation. He expressed deep gratitude to America and to the LIBRE Initiative, which was empowering him with language skills to succeed in his new home. Holding a small American flag in one hand and a Venezuelan flag in the other, he addressed this small group of immigrants gathered inside of a cramped Honduran restaurant. He didnt mince words. We need to educate our children to be wary of those who promise us free things, the man said. I dont care if its a bag of rice or a washing machine. Nothing is worth your freedom. Its priceless. This new immigrant knows more about America, freedom, and the fruits of free enterprise than Sean Penn and socialist Hollywood pals will ever know. Norma Salazar keeps it together during the day -- she has to, she said, for her kids -- but at night it's a different story. That's when the 27-year old Dallas woman allows herself to cry. "What if," she said, "What are we going to do if this happens?" Salazar is one of more than 690,000 recipients of the Deferrered Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, a program President Obama initiated in 2012. It allows some foreign born children brought to the U.S. illegally to legally stay and work. Each enrollment allows a two year stay, which can be renewed. President Donald Trump ended the DACA program last September. As lawmakers debate what to do next, DACA recipients find their fate hanging in the balance. "They're scared," Dallas immigration attorney Martin Valko said. "It's been a roller coaster ride for them from the beginning. You get it. It's been taken away from you. ... What's going to happen?" Texas is second only to California in its number of DACA recipients. Valko said if you don't buy a humanitarian argument for allowing DACA recipients to stay, he said consider the financial contributions they're making by working and living in the United States. "The bottom line is, they are a part of the economy," Valko said. "Trying to pull them out of the system will, I think, cause significant damage. But others claim DACA recipients cost the country as well. Mark Krikorian, with the Center for Immigration Studies, said, "The big costs are health care, food stamps, education." He added that amnesty programs like DACA create an incentive for new illegal immigration and can create "chain migration," meaning, once an immigrant is in the United States legally, they can apply for family members to join them. Krikorkian said he's not necessarily opposed to creating a solution for DACA recipients, but added, "We have to have other things packaged with it." Salazar said her story is typical of many DACA recipients. Her mother brought her here from Mexico when she was a child, just 10-years old. Salazar went to school, learned the language, and eventually went to college and got an office job. At the top of her mind, she said, always, is her mother. "My mom went through a lot to make this happen for me, so I was determined for it not to be in vain." Now Salazar is a married mother of three. She's terrified she may have to leave her children once her DACA term expires. She said leaving to live in a country she doesn't know would be catastrophic for her family, not just financially, but emotionally as well. Her youngest child, a son, has autism. In talking about the possiblity of leaving, she can barely get the words out, "He needs me," she whispered. "He needs me." President Trump and Capitol Hill lawmakers were immediately briefed Saturday on the false alarm in Hawaii for a ballistic missile attack, including Hawaii Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard who said she was trying to calm fears and get to the bottom of the mishap. Were still trying to let people know what happened, Gabbard told Fox News minutes after the text message was mistakenly sent to Hawaii residents and visitors who were just waking up. Were trying to get to the bottom of this immediately. Gabbard also said that she urgently began making calls and sending out tweets, as many in Hawaii panicked for about 35 minutes, before learning the text was a false alarm. Hawaii this is a false alarm. There is no incoming missile to Hawaii. I have confirmed with officials there is no income missile, Gabbard tweeted in all uppercase letters. Hours later, officials said the alert button was accidentally pressed by an emergency official, purportedly during a shift change. The White House confirmed that President Trump, who this weekend is at his Florida estate, Mar-a-Largo, was immediately briefed on the incident. Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill, the text read. Hawaii residents have increasingly been on edge about such an attack, as North Korea continues to test a nuclear warhead and inter-continental missiles on which to launch one. After the text was sent, Hawaii Gov. David Ige met with top officials of the states Department of Defense and the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to determine what caused the false alarm and to prevent it from happening again. While I am thankful this mornings alert was a false alarm, the public must have confidence in our emergency alert system. I am working to get to the bottom of this so we can prevent an error of this type in the future, he said. Fox News is told the U.S. House was planning a hearing in early February to address emergency alert systems and that the incident in Hawaii will now be part of the hearing. And a Federal Communications Commision official said Satauday the agency would start an investigation into the incident. Fox News Chad Pergram contributed to this report. Chelsea Manning, the former Army intelligence analyst convicted of leaking classified documents to WikiLeaks, confirmed Sunday that shes running in Maryland for a Senate seat. "Yup, we're running for Senate," Manning tweeted three days after she filed her statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission. The tweet also included a campaign video indicating her intention to run in the 2018 Maryland Democratic primary and was followed by a tweet seeking donations to her campaign. She is running for the seat held by two-term Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin. The 30-year-old Manning was known as Bradley Manning when arrested in 2010 for leaking the classified documents to WikiLeaks, the anti-secrecy website. Manning came out as transgender after being sentenced to 35 years in prison. Former President Barack Obama granted Manning clemency before leaving office last year. She was released from Fort Leavenworth, Kan., in May. Manning was born in Oklahoma. She has been registered to vote at the apartment in North Bethesda since mid-August, according to the Maryland State Board of Elections. A felony conviction does not appear to preclude the Senate run. However, Manning has yet to file for the primary with the state elections board, which she must do in person by Feb. 27, according to the board's website. Cardin also has not filed. But campaign finance reports show that his organization had nearly $2 million cash on hand in late September. The Washington Post first reported Saturday that Manning has filed to run in Maryland for the seat of Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin. Since leaving prison, Manning has become known for controversial tweets, often accompanied with a series of emojis and the hashtag #WeGotThis. Manning recently tweeted out the message f---k the police on Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, along with the hashtag #DisarmThePolice. Manning has also referred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement as literally the new gestapo. Fox News Adam Shaw and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Saturday's errant ballistic-missile alert to cellphones, televisions and radio stations in Hawaii has officials in Washington planning to find out what went wrong. Federal Communication Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced plans for a probe via Twitter. The @FCC is launching a full investigation into the false emergency alert that was sent to residents of Hawaii, Pai tweeted later Saturday. U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, praised Pai's decision to address an error that sent many Hawaii residents into a panic for about 40 minutes. "This system failed miserably and we need to start over," Schatz tweeted. Local officials and the U.S. Pacific Command quickly recognized that the alert was a false alarm, but the system took about 40 minutes to send a corrective message to Hawaii residents, the Washington Examiner reported. The FCC has regulated the nation's wireless emergency alert system since 2012. But critics have pointed out a number of perceived flaws, such as messages being delivered to too wide a swath rather than the people most affected by an emergency, Reuters reported. In December, officials from Harris County, Texas, told members of the FCC about problems they experienced in directing alerts to people most affected by Hurricane Harvey, the New York Times reported. In October, U.S. Sens. Kamala Harris and Dianne Feinstein, both D-Calif., wrote to Pai, saying that inefficient location-targeting had deprived some residents of receiving alerts, as wildfires raged across Northern California, the Times reported. These emergency services are caught in a bind between notifying individuals in imminent danger and risking mass panic, the senators wrote. Just last week Pai proposed that service providers deliver these alerts to match the geographic area specified by the officials sending the alert with no more overshoot than one-tenth of a mile. The FCC plans to vote this month on a plan to improve the emergency alert system so it better targets the people most affected by a given situation. Under such a proposed sytem, Pai said, Americans will take more seriously the alerts they receive on their mobile devices. Participants in the DACA program may continue to request renewals under terms that were in place before President Donald Trump rescinded the program in September, U.S. immigration officials announced Saturday. The decision by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services came four days after a federal judge, in a nod to pending lawsuits, temporarily blocked the Trump administration's decision to end the program. Due to a federal court order, USCIS has resumed accepting requests to renew a grant of deferred action under DACA. Until further notice, and unless otherwise provided in this guidance, the DACA policy will be operated on the terms in place before it was rescinded on Sept. 5, 2017, the agency said in a statement. However, the agency said it would not accept new applicants for DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), which was initiated by the Obama administration. The program has protected about 800,000 people -- many of them college-age students. Congress is debating whether to write new legislation that would grant legal citizenship to those registered under DACA. Trump has repeatedly said he opposes DACA unless Congress agrees to fund a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. The Associated Press has contributed to this story. You may want to load up on java before boarding your plane, according to one industry insider. An unidentified flight attendant for a major American airline made a claim to Vice.com that the water used for coffee on flights may be dangerously unhealthy. Dont drink the coffee on airplanes. Its the same potable water that goes through the bathroom system, the attendant claimed. Other flight attendants on major airlines have made a similar accusation over the years. FLIGHT ATTENDANTS' BIGGEST SECRETS REVEALED We recently had a test for E. coli in our water and it didnt pass, and then maintenance came on and hit a couple buttons and it passed, the anonymous flight attendant added. So, avoid any hot water or tea. Bottled and ice is fine, of course. The flight attendant, who confessed to Vice that traveling all the time is not nearly as glamorous as expected, may also have another reason to warn people against drinking while flying the plane bathrooms. The attendant claimed the bathrooms were the most disgusting places on the planet. Theres no way these people act this way in their normal lives, the flight attendant added. But they get on a plane and go, Cool, Ill just pee all over the floor and dump my peanuts right on the ground. A spokesperson for the industry group Airlines for America responded to NY Daily News about the unnamed flight attendants allegations, saying that she couldnt speak to the specific remark but denied water on aircrafts is unsafe to consume. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS What we can say is that the safety of our passengers and crew remain the airlines' primary focus, which includes the provision of clean drinking water, she told the Daily News. The airline industry is subject to the Aircraft Drinking Water Rule, she added, which requires rigorous processes to ensure onboard water systems are regularly disinfected and that clean drinking water is available. A passenger jet skidded off the runway at a Turkish airport Saturday and plunged down the side of the cliff just a few feet away from the Black Sea, sparking mass panic among travelers and crewmembers. The Pegasus Airlines Boeing 737-800 aircraft carrying 168 passengers and crewmembers had a runway excursion incident while landing at the Trabzon Airport, the airline said in a statement on Sunday. Photos showed the aircraft on a muddy slope with its nose dangerously close to the Black Sea coast. All 162 passengers, 2 pilots and 4 cabin crew have been disembarked safely from the aircraft. There has been no loss of life or injury to anyone on-board, the airline said. Passengers on the jet told state-run news agency Anadolu there was panic and screaming when the aircraft careened off the runway. "We tilted to the side, the front was down while the plane's rear was up. There was panic; people shouting, screaming," passenger Fatma Gordu said, according to Sky News. Passenger Yuksel Gordu said that words weren't enough to describe their fear. "It's a miracle we escaped. We could have burned, exploded, flown into the sea," Gordu said. "Thank God for this. I feel like I'm going crazy when I think about it." The airport shut down for hours after the incident, but reopened by Sunday. Trabzon Governor Yucel Yavuz said an investigation is being conducted. Weve taken all necessary measures, Yavuz told Turkish media. We will re-open the airport to airport traffic as soon as possible. Pegasus Airlines also did not provide further details on what caused the jet to skid off the runway. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The girlfriend of the Las Vegas shooter told authorities that they would likely find her fingerprints on some of Stephen Paddocks bullets because she sometimes assisted him in loading ammunition into magazines, court documents unsealed on Friday revealed. There was no evidence at that time of "criminal involvement" by Marilou Danley, an Oct. 3 document showed, but it noted that investigators had not ruled out the possibility. Officials also reportedly sought the email, Facebook and Instagram accounts of Danley, who was in the Philippines during the Oct. 1 shooting. Paddock fatally shot himself after firing from a Las Vegas Strip hotel room into a concert crowd, killing 58 people and injuring hundreds. Also unveiled on Friday: Emails Paddock had exchanged about buying rifles and bump stocks months before he carried out the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history. Paddock reportedly used guns equipped with the device, which allows semi-automatic weapons to fire almost as quickly as automatic ones. The documents said Paddock had received an email from a Gmail account in July encouraging him to try an AR-style rifle before buying one. "We have huge selection" in the Las Vegas area, the email allegedly noted. Paddock wrote back that he wanted to try several scopes and different types of ammunition. An email in response suggested trying a bump stock on the rifle with a 100-round magazine. Paddock's email address and the Gmail address had similar names, leading investigators to suspect that he may have been emailing himself, although they couldn't figure out why. FBI agents reportedly knew that Paddock had left behind big caches of guns, ammunition and explosives when they sought warrants to search his properties and online accounts, according to the documents. Las Vegas Police Officer Aden Ocampo Gomez and FBI spokeswoman Sandra Breault said Friday that they had no update about Paddock's motive. Both called it an ongoing investigation. A Nevada judge will hear arguments on Tuesday about whether Las Vegas police search warrant documents should remain sealed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Police in Oregon said they shot and killed an armed suspect following a pursuit Friday after receiving reports of an unknown vehicle. Authorities were informed around 1:30 p.m. of the presence of a suspicious vehicle, appearing to be a pickup truck according to a video from KATU 2, driving in a field near Sherwood, the Washington County Sheriffs Office said in a news release. When local police arrived at the scene and tried to engage the driver, identified as Remi Sabbe, 54, he reportedly shot at the officer several times while driving farther away into the field. DRAMATIC HIGH-SPEED CHASE ENDS WITH A HUG, A KISS AND TWO ARRESTS Police cordoned off the scene, closing nearby roads, and called in the Washington County Tactical Negotiations Team and Crisis Negotiations Unit, the sheriffs office said. The tactical unit reportedly dispatched an armored vehicle onto the field around 3:30 p.m. and engaged Sabbe. Authorities ultimately fired upon the suspect," according to the sheriff. Video shows the beefed-up police unit crashing into the pickup truck multiple times in an attempt to get the suspect to stop. POLICE CHASE GREYHOUND BUS AFTER PASSENGER REPORTS THREATS Sabbe was pronounced dead on the scene despite authorities attempts to save his life, the sheriffs department said. An AR-style rifle was recovered from inside the suspect vehicle, authorities said. An autopsy on Sabbes body was conducted Saturday and the resulted are expected to be released Tuesday, Detective Robert L. Rookhuyzen told Fox News. Officers involved in the episode were placed on administrative leave per agency protocol, the sheriffs office said. Their names will not be released until next week, Rookhuyzen said. As search and rescue crews continue to dig through the remnants of the mudslides that pummeled parts of Southern California, law enforcement raised the death toll to 19 on Saturday. Morgan Christine Corey, 25, is the latest victim found among the debris, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said during a news conference. Morgans younger sister Sawyer was previously also found dead. The sheriff asked that the public keep this devastated family in your thoughts and prayers and said there would be a candle light vigil on Sunday to remember and honor the victims. Brown also said a 62-year-old man named Delbert Weltzin was found alive by rescue teams; the number of missing people stands at five. CALIFORNIA MUDSLIDES: WHERE AND WHY THEY HAPPEN "While every hour it remains less likely that we will find anyone alive, there is always hope," the sheriff said. The number of searchers and recovery workers in Montecito surged to more than 2,000 in the days after significant rain led to mudslides that ravaged an area previously scorched by the Thomas Fire, which officials said was fully contained on Friday. The fire is the states largest wildfire on record. "We have to do whatever it takes," Capt. Tom Henzgen, leader of a team from the Los Angeles Fire Department, told The Associated Press. Before the next bout of rain hits the area, crews were working throughout the day Saturday to clear debris basins, with officials saying there was still a lot more work to be done. But Tom Fayram, the deputy director of the county's flood control district, told The AP that the crews were making great progress. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES TRIGGER MASS DESTRUCTION, HURTING FAMILIES, ECONOMY Crews in tanker trucks worked to remove the muddy water from the flooded sections of U.S. 101, a highway connecting Los Angeles to the Santa Barbara region. The California Department of Transportation abandoned hopes of reopening the highway on Monday and said it was not known when the closure would be lifted. In the disaster zone, searchers used chainsaws and rakes to remove logs and sift through the remnants of what was left of multimillion-dollar homes. Much of the area remained under mandatory evacuation orders, with the sheriff saying the area was not a safe or convenient place to be right now. The Associated Press contributed to this report. From time to time, parts of California are at risk of powerful mudslides as flooding causes mud and debris to slide down hillsides into communities. A weather system known as an "atmospheric river" can help trigger mudslides in California. An atmospheric river, or a huge plume of subtropical moisture, can bring inches of rain in foothills and mountains. The flooding caused by such weather events can send mud and debris sliding down from wildfire-charred hillsides that are stripped of vegetation, eventually reaching the communities below. LAKE EFFECT SNOW: HERE'S HOW IT IMPACTS THE GREAT LAKES In 2018, some 21 people died from the mudslides that swept over parts of the states southern region, mainly in Montecito, Santa Barbara County an area northwest of Los Angeles thats home to celebrities such as Ellen DeGeneres, Rob Lowe and Oprah Winfrey, among others. Several homes were destroyed because of the mudslides, which were sparked after torrential rains caused flash flooding in the Santa Ynez Mountains. Heres what you need to know about mudslides. Why do mudslides occur? Mudslides, also known as debris flows, are a type of landslide that can occur after a natural disaster, such as a wildfire. Debris flows often contain mud, rock and other materials. Human modification of land can make certain slopes and steep areas vulnerable to landslides during and after heavy rains, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which estimates that roughly 25 to 50 people die each year in the United States because of land and mudslides. But mudslides can also occur without a wildfire preceding it, according to Francis Rengers, a research geologist at the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the science agency for the Department of Interior. In January 2018, you had a large amount of rain and a burn area that didnt need much to get going in the first place, Rengers said. A few different factors contribute to debris flows in Southern California, David Peterson, a professor of forest ecology at the University of Washington, told Fox News. The Thomas Fire, which burned more than 280,000 acres and primarily affected Ventura, Montecito, Carpinteria and Santa Barbara Counties, removed all of the living and dead vegetation that protected the soil beneath, Peterson said. The land quickly eroded when there was no vegetation to hold it in place. The fire was also hot enough to cook out the organic matter in the soil, which helps the earth to absorb water when it rains. When you have five or more inches of water in a day or two, it doesnt buffer the impact of the rain on the soil, he said, adding that the soil also became very hot from the wildfires. This results in the so-called hydrophobic effect, which causes the soil to repel water. Different soil texture can also affect the severity of mudslides, Peterson said. As for the January 2018 incident, however, Peterson added that the upper layer of soil got so saturated [by the rain] that it became like Jell-O and just flowed downhill. Where do they occur? Mudslides typically occur in areas with steep hillsides, gullies and other narrow channels that make it easy for rain, mud and debris to flow through -- much like the terrain in Southern California, Peterson said. These gullies and other passageways form over millions of years. In the West, the rains always come in the winter, flow downhill and create these big drainages, he said. LIGHTNING SAFETY: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW While Peterson acknowledged the devastation that mudslides have caused, he said that the occurrence is a natural phenomena." "Big mudslides are normal. This has happened for millions of years, he said. Is there anything that can be done to prevent or stop mudslides? The short answer: no. Theres nothing to prevent the magnitude of these events, Peterson said. While dams might catch some of the sediment, he said, the structures wouldnt be of much use for a large mudslide. Its unclear if the Thomas Fire made the mudslides worse. Peterson suspects not. But Rengers said the USGS is continuing to research the phenomena. Basically, the really high rainfall rates are what controlled the really large response that we saw. And the damage inflicted by the debris flows is proportional to the rainfall, Rengers said in January. What can people do to protect themselves? Peterson cautioned those who choose to live beneath steep hillsides in Southern California. There are many homes at the bottom of these steep drainages. But at some point mudslides will happen, he said. He explained that when people choose to build their homes at the bottom of these steep drainages, they decide to take on the risk because they think its a low probability it [mudslides] will happen to them. CLICK HERE FOR MORE WEATHER COVERAGE FROM FOX NEWS Most of the stucco-style homes that are popular in California dont have basements or subfloors, meaning they have relatively little defense against the powerful mudslides. Since many of the stucco homes are placed on top of a cement slab, the soil from the mudslide weighs more than the house. The result? The homes become like a little boat in the bathtub, he said. These are natural risks that people need to think about. Peterson said most people would have better luck defending their home from fire than a mudslide. In 2014, debris and mud from a mudslide in Oso, Wash., covered a square mile in roughly 20 seconds, Peterson said. Rengers cautioned people who do have homes in these areas to heed all evacuation warnings. If they dont evacuate and are stuck, they should try contacting local authorities, he said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. An illegal immigrant on a Greyhound bus who allegedly threatened to shoot and kill passengers on Friday leading police on a chase from Wisconsin to Illinois was deported five times, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson told Fox News. The spokesperson said on Sunday that Margarito Vargas-Rosas, 33, who faces terror charges, was in the U.S. illegally and was "removed" from the U.S. the last five times Border Patrol agents encountered him. He also had a previous DUI arrest to his name. A judge in Illinois on Sunday ordered the suspect held without bond. Vargas-Rosas faces a fugitive-from-justice charge. Police responded to a call around 9:40 p.m. Friday from a bus passenger who claimed there was a person threatening to kill people, Fox 6 reported, citing the Racine County Sheriffs Department. Vargas-Rosas, of Chicago, was reportedly pacing the aisle toward the back of the bus, and appeared to draw what passengers thought was a weapon from his waistband. Deputies with the Milwaukee and Kenosha County Sheriffs Offices both attempted to pull the bus over, but the driver didnt stop the vehicle. Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling said the bus driver thought it was a training exercise by law enforcement, or thought he was going to stop someone. Passenger Patrick Todd told The Chicago Tribune the bus occupants were confused by the driver's actions and kept yelling at him to pull over. EMANUEL ROLLS OUT CHICAGO ID FOR 'UNDOCUMENTED' AND THOSE 'ON THE SIDELINES' Authorities ultimately used spike strips to flatten the vehicles tires, which forced it to a stop on Interstate 94 near the Illinois community of Wadsworth. While the bus eventually stopped, the driver, according to Dodd, didnt stop after the first spike strip, he went on to Illinois before hitting the second spike strip. Another passenger, Terrance Williams of New Jersey, said he thought police were escorting the bus, not realizing what was happening in the back. He was also confused about why the bus driver took so long to pull over. "The law is, you see emergency lights, you pull over," Williams said. "(The police) were in front of us, they were in back of us." I think he ultimately recognized that this was a serious event when we spiked his tires, Schmaling said of the driver. Vargas-Rosas was ordered off the bus at gunpoint, according to Fox 6, and was taken into custody without incident. Schmaling said the man made threats to law enforcement as he was being transported to jail. SANCTUARY CITIES: WHAT ARE THEY? Officials didnt locate a weapon on Vargas-Rosas, but said the bus will be thoroughly searched. None of the nearly 40 people aboard the bus were injured. Vargas-Rosas reportedly faces charges of felony terroristic threats and disorderly conduct. Fox News' Katherine Lam, Bryan Llenas and The Associated Press contributed to this report. After Hawaii emergency officials confirmed that an alert about an inbound ballistic missile was a mistake, they said the employee who pushed the wrong button feels awful about the panic-inducing incident. Vern Miyagi, who oversees the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (EMA), said at a news conference late Saturday that the civil defense employee who pushed the wrong button regrets what took place. "This guy feels bad, right. He's not doing this on purpose - it was a mistake on his part and he feels terrible about it," said Miyagi in a press conference Saturday afternoon. Miyagi, a retired Army major general, said the employee would be "counseled and drilled so this never happens again," but he did not say whether there would be disciplinary measures. Rather than triggering a test of the system, it went into actual event mode. He confirmed that to trigger the alert, there is a two-step process involving only one employee who both triggers the alarm, then also confirms it. "There is a screen that says, 'Are you sure you want to do this?'" Miyagi said. The employee confirmed the alert, inadvertently causing a panic in a state already on edge over saber-rattling missile threats from North Korea. HAWAII TO SOUND WARNING SIRENS AMID NUCLEAR THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA Hawaii Gov. David Ige said in a statement Sunday that the false alert was "an unfortunate situation that has never happened before and will never happen again." "On behalf of the State of Hawai'i, I deeply apologize for this false alert that created stress, anxiety and fear of a crisis in our residents and guests," Ige said. At about 8:07 a.m. local time, Hawaii citizens received an emergency alert on their phone that read: BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. At 8:20 a.m. local time, Hawaii EMA tweeted that there was NO missile threat to the state. However, the tweet didn't reach people who aren't on the social media platform. Around the same time, House Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, tweeted: HAWAII THIS IS A FALSE ALARM. THERE IS NO INCOMING MISSILE TO HAWAII. I HAVE CONFIRMED WITH OFFICIALS THERE IS NO INCOMING MISSILE. Roughly 15 minutes later, the U.S. Pacific Command issued a statement, clarifying there was "no ballistic missile threat to Hawaii." It wasn't until 38 minutes after the first warning at 8:45 a.m. that Hawaii's EMA alerted mobile devices across the islands that that initial alert was a false alarm. "If it was a mistake and someone pushed a button they shouldnt have pushed, then why the 38 minute delay?" asked Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, D-Hawaii, in an interview with Fox News. "The next question is, why dont we have a better fail-safe?" Hanabusa, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, vowed she would hold Capitol Hill hearings about the incident. "The real issue that I think we as a state now has to deal with is how do you build back public confidence and public trust?" Hanabusa said. "So the first thing weve got to do is explain to people how it happened ... and why we were unable to correct it." At the news conference late Saturday, Miyagi said that there will now be a two-person rule implemented for sending test alerts and actual alerts. He also offered an apology for the stresses resulting from the false alarm. "I deeply apologize for the trouble and the heartbreak that we caused today," Miyagi said, taking responsibility for the incident as he called it a result of human error. "We made a mistake." He added that EMA will "hold off" on future tests of the system "until we get this squared away." Gov. Ige said Saturday is "a day that most of us will never forget," a day Hawaii residents thought "our worst nightmare might be happening." "I know firsthand that was happened today was totally unacceptable and many in our community was deeply affected by this," Ige said. "And I'm sorry for that pain and confusion that anyone might've experienced." Hawaii House Speaker Scott Saiki said the system state residents have been told to rely on failed miserably on Saturday. "Clearly, government agencies are not prepared and lack the capacity to deal with emergency situations," Saiki said. He also noted that the State House would begin an immediate investigation. Many social media users posted footage of the emergency alert being broadcast on local television. "The U.S. Pacific Command has detected a missile threat to Hawaii. A missile may impact on land or sea within minutes. This is not a drill," the television broadcast stated. "If you are indoors, stay indoors. If you are outdoors, seek immediate shelter in a building. Remain indoors well away from windows." "If you are driving, pull safely to the side of the road and seek shelter in a building or lay on the floor. We will announce when the threat has ended. This is not a drill. Take immediate action measures," the broadcast concluded. Fox News' Chad Pergram spoke with two people on the Kona side of the Big Island who said they were told to stay in their hotel room and that there was a missile incoming. One Twitter user posted a photo of a message board on a Hawaiian highway that read: "MISSILE ALERT IN ERROR THERE IS NO THREAT." Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, tweeted: "There is no missile threat. It was a false alarm based on a human error. There is nothing more important to Hawaii than professionalizing and fool-proofing this process." In a follow-up tweet, he adopted a stern tone: "What happened today is totally inexcusable. The whole state was terrified. There needs to be tough and quick accountability and a fixed process." Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, tweeted that she would work to find out what occurred. A White House official said President Trump, who is spending the weekend in Florida, had been briefed on the episode, which they said "was purely a state exercise." Ige said in an earlier statement that "while I am thankful this mornings alert was a false alarm, the public must have confidence in our emergency alert system. I am working to get to the bottom of this so we can prevent an error of this type in the future." Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai said in a statement that the false alarm was "absolutely unacceptable" and an investigation by the agency was underway. "Based on the information we have collected so far, it appears that the government of Hawaii did not have reasonable safeguards or process controls in place to prevent the transmission of a false alert," Pai said. Moving forward, we will focus on what steps need to be taken to prevent a similar incident from happening again." Fox News' Jennifer Bowman, Christopher Carbone, Lee Ross, Lucas Tomlinson and Chad Pergram and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Adult film actress Olivia Nova, who died at age 20 on Jan. 7 in Las Vegas, was reportedly trying to improve her life and get sober before her untimely death, according to a friend speaking to Mirror Online. Her passing represents the latest untimely death in a series among young performers working in the perilous adult film industry. Friend Jimmie Romero said Nova, whose real name is Lexi, was reportedly aware of a problem and wanted to change her lifestyle, the outlet said Friday. "Lexi knew her days were limited, she was told in October by doctors," Romero said. "She was at a friend's house trying to get sober. She had three days off of everything. She said she wanted to change her lifestyle - she looked in my eyes and said to me, 'I want to stop and change my life. I have a family that loves me.'" PORN STAR OLIVIA NOVA DIES AT 20, LATEST IN STRING OF DEATHS TO ROCK ADULT INDUSTRY Romero told Mirror Online that he implored his friend to seek professional help, but she reportedly declined so she could be there for another friend heading down a dangerous path. "If there is a heaven, I hope you're smiling and all the pain is gone, Romero said of Nova. Sleep easy my friend. My love, respect always... You will never be forgotten." Novas cause of death is unknown. Nova entered the perilous, illicit porn industry in March 2017 and amassed a following of over 20,000 people on Twitter. On Christmas, the adult film actress reportedly tweeted that she was lonely after spending the holidays by herself. In April, Novas boyfriend, Nolan, reportedly died of a heroin overdose, according to Mirror. The outlet said she posted to Instagram in the days following his death, reportedly saying, "Rest In Peace love.... it seems like we were cuddling in bed all day with the puppy eating pizza and watching movies yesterday. Im not ready to say goodbye to you yet...." Members of Novas family started a GoFundMe page to help offset costs for a funeral and to bring Novas body to her hometown in Minnesota, the page said. As of Saturday, the total funds had reached nearly $10,000, more than the original $8,000 goal. PORN STAR AUGUST AMES REVEALED PAST SEXUAL ABUSE, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES BEFORE HANGING DEATH Nova's death comes after the December suicide of August Ames at 23. Ames hanged herself after she was called homophobic for not having sex on camera with men who had done gay porn. She also suffered from mental health issues, and said she had been molested as a child. Adult entertainer Turi Luv (real name Yurizan Beltran), 31, died of a drug overdose the same month. In one of her last Instagram posts, she included a quotation that read: "I hope to arrive to my death, late, in love, and a little drunk." Adult Film Hall of Famer Shyla Stylez died in her sleep in November 2017 at the age of 35. She had retired from the porn industry the previous year. Fox News Diana Falzone contributed to this report. Two women were arrested after a methamphetamine lab in a Texas apartment exploded while a child was in the home, causing several windows to be blown out during a blast residents described as a bomb going off. Nancy Cruz-Rodriguez, 39, and Odalys Corrales, 18, were arrested and charged with manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance. Corrales was also charged with child endangerment after authorities found a child inside the Arlington apartment where the drug lab exploded, FOX4 reported. Neighbors at the apartment complex near the AT&T Stadium told FOX4 they heard a bomb-like sound just after 11 p.m. Friday. The explosion was so powerful that it blew out windows from at least five nearby apartments. I was in my apartment, we were watching a movie and the whole apartment just shook and I went outside to look and see what was wrong and I didn't see nothing outside or anything like that until I heard all the ambulance and police officers came, Alfonzo Martinez recalled. I got my kids and we all went out. But the smoke was really bad so I told them to cover their face, another resident said. No one was injured in the explosion. Police seized 21 pounds of meth, an unspecified amount of cash and a car. Federal authorities may be conducting an investigation in the case. A New York University liberal studies professor known for his tweets fighting back against PC culture filed a defamation lawsuit against the school and four colleagues last week over a string of claims he said were false, the New York Post reported. Plaintiff Michael Rectenwald's case named the school, associate professor Jacqueline Bishop, adjunct professor Amber Frost, professor Carley Moore and Theresa Senft, whom the Post described as an ex-assistant professor, as defendants. Rectenwald alleged that a May email thread sent to more than 100 NYU staffers included malicious statements -- and that NYU didnt prevent the nasty screed, the Post reported. The emails reportedly called him an Adderall-filled bully and right-wing misogynist, among other things. Frost responded to Fox News briefly in an email: "lol." The university and the other three defendants did not respond to Fox News' requests for comment. Rectenwald is known for using the Twitter handle @antipcnyuprof and tweeting under the pseudonym Deplorable NYU Prof. He came forward in October 2016. His lawsuit claimed Senft made fun of him in an email to the liberal studies department in May 2017 -- one day after he tweeted about a deplorable prof-related advance from a publisher, the Post added. Bishop, Frost and Moore are among those accused of making disparaging remarks. Frost allegedly said Rectenwald was a right-wing misogynist, while Bishop allegedly claimed Rectenwald arrived at staff meetings high and incoherent with your tongue sticking out the side of your mouth. Its very painful to be accused of things that you havent done and have no basis in fact, Rectenwald told the newspaper. A NYU spokesman told the Post, This lawsuit is without merit. A Florida woman who made a dash across the tracks was struck and killed on Friday night by a new high-speed train during its preview run, authorities said. Melissa Lavell, 32, was attempting to beat the train while the guard rails were down when she was struck, witnesses told police. The Brightline train, doing preview runs from Fort Lauderdale to West Palm Beach the night before its launch, stopped abruptly, a passenger told the Sun-Sentinel. A Brightline train employee told passengers there was a trespasser incident. No one on the train was injured. "It's always unfortunate when there's an accident like that," Brightline President and COO Patrick Goddard said. "Certainly, safety is our top priority and when these [incidents] occur, as they do, we're prepared." The train passengers were a mix of government officials and reporters getting VIP rides before Brightlines official launch of the high-speed trains on Saturday. They were placed on buses to West Palm Beach and then sent back to Fort Lauderdale. The train company was providing preview rides on Thursday and Saturday. The train will make 10 round trips daily starting at 6 a.m. and nine trips on weekends. It will expand south and north to take passengers from Miami to Orlando. This is the third fatal incident by a Brightline train, the Sun-Sentinel reported. A woman died in July after she was struck by a train in Boca Raton. Police investigated the incident as a suicide. Another woman also died in November when she was struck on the Deerfield Beach tracks. The Associated Press contributed to this report. An Oconee County High School custodian is behind bars and charged with unlawful surveillance. Oconee County Sheriff's deputies said a female student found Timothy Brian Burnette's phone recording video in the girl's locker room Wednesday. That student told the principal, who immediately contacted the sheriff's office. "They were there within just a matter of minutes, quickly interviewed the suspect, and placed him under arrest," said Chief Deputy Lee Weems of the Oconee County Sheriff's Office. Weems said they quickly got the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the FBI involved. They searched Burnette's home. If they find anything there or learn that videos like the one taken in the girl's locker room were shared, Burnette will face federal charges. School officials sent out an email to parents Thursday explaining what happened. In the email, they state Burnette was terminated. The sheriff's office said Burnette does not have any prior criminal convictions. Read more from Fox 5 Atlanta. #stocks Seoul stocks inch up after weak U.S. jobs data South Korean stocks edged up after choppy trading Monday as investors seek to digest weaker-than-expected August jobs data in the United States. The Korean won rose against the U.S... #KARA Ex-KARA member Hur Young-ji tests positive for coronavirus Hur Young-ji, a former member of now-disbanded K-pop girl group KARA, has tested positive for the new coronavirus, her management agency said Monday. "She used a self-test kit f... Honolulus 911 system was inundated with more than 5,000 telephone calls Saturday as Hawaii plummeted into a state of panic and confusion over a false ballistic missile scare. About half of those callers were unable to get through, but operators were planning to get back to them to ensure that no actual emergencies were happening, Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Mayor Kirk Caldwell said there were no reported injuries or accidents related to the panic and confusion that ensued, the paper reported. Within minutes of the alert, police were notified that it was indeed false. Nevertheless, city officials followed protocol as they waited for state officials to issue a correction, Ballard told the paper. Later Saturday, authorities said a body was discovered near a runway at Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. The runway was closed Saturday as authorities investigated. It reopened several hours later and Hawaii Department of Transportation spokesman Tim Sakahara said the incident didn't lead to any delays. No further details about the body were available. The Associated Press contributed to this report. An Indiana cop jumped into action to save a toddler choking on an apple at a Chick-fil-A his first work as a paid police officer. Hobart Police Officer Richard Mayer was dining at the fast food restaurant in Merrillville with a few of his colleagues when Melanie Hasse ran to him for help, WLS reported. Hasse told the news station her daughter Charlotte choked on a piece of apple. "I looked over and she started gagging. I could see something kind of in the back of her throat, mistakenly reached in to try to grab it out, I think that pushed it back into her throat," Hasse recalled. Mayer said the worried mother came running over to him about her choking daughter and he immediately sprang into action. I grabbed her and Officer Ramos to my right flipped her over, we did back slaps on her and got food dislodged from her throat right away," Mayer said, adding that the incident caught us all off guard. The piece of fruit dislodged from the toddlers throat, allowing oxygen back into her body, WLS reported. Mayer revealed saving the toddler was his first act as a paid police officer. "This is what he was meant to do," Hasse said. "To save lives in some kind of way." The widow of an Indian man killed last February in a suspected hate crime in suburban Kansas City has spent the year since his death devoting herself to spreading love and positivity in his name. Srinivas Kuchibhotla, 32, an Indian immigrant who lived in the Kansas City suburb of Olathe, was shot to death last February at Austins Bar & Grill. Adam Purinton is charged with first-degree murder in Kuchibhotla's death and also faces federal hate crimes charges. Witnesses have said Purinton, who is white, yelled, "Get out of my country," at Kuchibhotla and another Indian national before opening fire. A third man was wounded when he tried to intervene. Kuchibhotla's wife, Sunayana Dumala, become increasingly outspoken against hate in an effort to share her husband's legacy. "I can't let people forget him," Dumala, told The Kansas City Star . "That is what is making me spread his legacy, and I hope I'm getting there. I hope I succeed and the name Srinivas Kuchibhotla stays there forever. "People can forget me, but not forget him." Dumala has plans for a peace walk in early March, around Kuchibhotla's birthday, and she is thinking of ways to raise intercultural awareness in younger children. In the year since her husband's death, she also has received support, including in the form of letters and donations from around the world. Her husband's employer, GPS Device-maker Garmin, honored him, and a painting of Kuchibhotla hangs at the company's Olathe headquarters. One of the issues Dumala has had to deal with is that her visa ended when Kuchibhotla was killed. U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder, a Kansas Republican, helped her get a temporary one, and she recently learned she had been granted a new visa that will allow her to travel back to India next month for the anniversary of Kuchibhotla's death. "We believe he reached heaven," she said, "so we're praying for him to be happy and have that peace." ___ Information from: The Kansas City Star, http://www.kcstar.com A 10-year-old boy was freed Sunday after being held hostage for 30 hours at an Ohio apartment complex. The standoff in Liberty Township ended around 6:30 a.m. when the man who took the boy hostage surrendered to SWAT negotiators, Fox 19 Cincinnati reported. Charges were pending against the man, who was not immediately identified. He fired 20 to 30 shots at deputies in the morning and afternoon Saturday. Deputies did not return fire. The boys mother said she was happy her son was safe, WCPO-TV reported. He's a brave little boy, the woman said. All he wanted to do at the end of the day was protect Mommy. I think he was more concerned about me being safe versus him being stuck with the bad guy." The standoff began during a dispute at 1 a.m. Saturday between the suspect and the mother, Fox 19 reported. She and another person in the apartment at the time fled, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported. The gunman held the boy in the apartment for several hours and then took him to a car parked in a garage attached to the apartment, Fox 19 reported. The gunman and the boy then spent more than 12 hours in the backseat of the vehicle. The car was running the entire time. Transgender Americans are openly enlisting in the U.S. military for the first time -- and many say they feel courts will ultimately block President Donald Trump from banning their service. Nicholas Bade, a 37-year-old transgender man who is among the first of what advocates expect will be a small but historic surge of enlistments, has wanted to join the military since he was young. I just couldnt face the idea of doing it as a traditional female, Bade told Reuters as he carried a folder of medical documents into an Air Force recruiting office in Chicago last week. Although military officials have said they dont know how many transgender people have enlisted since Jan. 1, advocates claim dozens, if not hundreds, of transgender people will seek to join an estimated 4,000 already serving. PENTAGON SAYS TRANSGENDER PEOPLE CAN ENLIST, STARTING IN JANUARY Aspiring transgender military service members told Reuters they were pushing ahead with enlistments despite lingering uncertainty about whether they would be welcome in the future. Im not worried, Logan Downs, 23, an Oregon transgender man working to join the Air Force, told Reuters. Trump caught the Pentagon off guard when he tweeted in July that transgender people would be banned from serving in the armed forces, citing health care costs and unit disruption. The Obama administration had decided in June 2016 to allow transgender service members to serve openly, and a deadline to start accepting recruits was set for Jan. 1, 2018. The decision came five years after the military ended its ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual people serving openly. Trumps reversal also blocked government-funded sex-reassignment surgery and other treatments for active-duty personnel. SECOND US JUDGE HALTS TRUMP'S TRANSGENDER MILITARY BAN However, federal judges in Baltimore and Washington blocked Trumps decision. A Pentagon review of the issue is set to be finalized in February and forwarded to Trump, who is expected to make a decision on the future of transgender personnel in March. Bianca Wright, of Seattle, has waited to re-enlist after leaving the military and pursuing a gender transition following 14 years of service, including deployments to Iraq. After Trumps declaration, that all came crashing down, she said. Critics of Trumps ban pointed to a Rand Corporation study that estimated annual transgender health care accounted for only $2.4 million to $8.4 million of the more than $50 billion in Defense Department health care spending, or just a fraction of a percent. Rand also found 18 other countries allowed transgender members to serve, and Australia, Canada, Israel and the United Kingdom saw little or no impact on operational effectiveness. The girlfriend of Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock deleted her Facebook account less than an hour before police released Paddocks name, according to reports. Marilou Danley was traveling in the Philippines on Oct. 1 when Paddock fired a barrage of shots from his hotel room on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay resort and casino. The result was 58 people dead and hundreds injured in the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. When initially contacted by investigators, Danley was adamant that she had no prior inclination of Paddocks intentions to conduct the attack, an FBI agents affidavit says. The affidavit was part of more than 300 pages that federal prosecutors released Friday following an order by U.S. District Judge Jennifer Dorsey. The documents suggest Danley acted quickly after the shooting to conceal her relationship with Paddock, the New York Post reported. Paddock began firing around 10:08 p.m. local time, according to emergency calls to police. The documents show that Danleys Facebook account was set to private at 12:30 a.m. Oct. 2 about two-and-a-half hours after the rampage began and was deleted at 2:46 a.m., less than an hour before authorities released Paddocks name to the public at 3:30 a.m., the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. By 5 a.m., Danley had been found by investigators and labeled a person of interest in the case, the paper reported. Meanwhile, emails reviewed by investigators have confirmed that Paddock sent an unspecified amount of money to Danley in September, the Review-Journal reported. As of October, there was no evidence that Danley assisted Paddock in commission of the massacre, and she remained the subject of intensive review, the documents say. The FBI said in late December the agency probably wouldn't brief the public about the motive for the attack until its report is released sometime before the tragedys first anniversary. Fox News' Greg Norman contributed to this story. next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres is telling Colombians there is no justification for armed violence following recent attacks by the nation's last remaining rebel group after the expiration of a temporary cease-fire. In televised remarks Saturday, Guterres said that peace is the only answer to deep-rooted problems like poverty and inequality. The United Nations' chief is in Colombia for a two-day trip aimed at supporting the country's peace initiatives. Colombia reached an historic peace agreement in 2016 with the country's biggest guerrilla group to end Latin America's longest-running conflict. Peace talks with rebels from the smaller National Liberation Army experienced setback this week when guerrillas engaged in new attacks after the end of a temporary cease-fire. One soldier was killed and two people injured. When Pope Francis visits the de facto capital of Chile's Mapuche people this week, he'll be inserting himself into an extended and sometimes violent conflict involving indigenous populations. Both Mapuche and the Chilean government leaders have said in recent weeks they hope Francis can "facilitate dialogue" on disputes dating to the late 19th century. That's when the Mapuches were definitively defeated by the Chilean military are centuries of resistance. At stake are many thorny issues: ownership of ancestral lands, legal recognition of the Mapuches' language and culture, and discrimination that their leaders say permeates all facets of life. How far the pope goes in any statement supporting the Mapuches will be closely watched, and even fretted over. Francis has shown strong support for indigenous peoples during visits in other countries. North Korea slammed South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Sunday for giving President Trump big credit in the talks between Pyongyang and Seoul, threatening to pull its delegation heading to Pyeongchang Winter Olympics but earlier lauded Kim Jong Uns brilliant policy for reunification between the North and the South. The Hermit Kingdom said Moons ill-boding remarks chilling the atmosphere for reconciliation were upsetting North Koreans, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing the regimes state-run Korean Central News Agency. It described the presidents behavior as impolite after delegations from both sides met last week for the first time in more than two years. "[Moon] even made such rubbish that the North was led to dialogue to open up the chapter for 'the North's denuclearization,' not for the improvement of the South-North relations," the KCNA statement said. "The present South Korean chief executive's attitude casts doubt as to his intent to improve the North-South ties and build confidence." TRUMP DESERVES 'BIG CREDIT' FOR SPARKING NORTH KOREA TALKS, SOUTH KOREA'S PRESIDENT SAYS Moon said during his New Year news conference last week: I think President Trump deserves big credit for bringing about the inter-Korean talks. It could be a resulting work of the U.S.-led sanctions and pressure. Though North Korea insisted the regime will push to improve ties with the South, it will never remain an onlooker to sordid acts of chilling the efforts, the statement said. The regime also threatened to pull its delegation heading to the Winter Olympics, saying: "They should know that train and bus carrying our delegation to the Olympics are still in Pyongyang." North Koreas newspaper Rodong Sinmun earlier praised Kim for his brilliant policy on pushing for a new era of talks with South Korea, calling its leader the bright lodestar of national reunification. The recent inter-Korean high-level talks are a precious fruition of the new policy set forth by the respected Supreme Leader in his New Year Address to improve the north-south relations, Rodong Sinmun said in its commentary over the weekend. He is a peerless patriot and the supreme incarnation of love and benevolence as he is creditably carrying forward the patriotic history with the same warm love for the nation and benevolence as those of the great leaders. NORTH KOREA'S WEAPONS 'ARE ONLY AIMED AT THE US,' REGIME OFFICIAL SAYS It added, A new dawn of national reunification is breaking thanks to his warm patriotic will and under his extraordinary leadership. "It is important to realize reconciliation and unity between peoples in order to improve North-South relations and create an atmosphere conducive to reunification," the state-run newspaper said. North Korea agreed to send a delegation including high-ranking officials, cheerleaders, performing artists and taekwondo athletes to the Winter Olympics between Feb. 9 and 25, the first sign of a possible thaw in relationship between to rivaling sides. North and South officials are expected to meet on Monday in the Panmunjom Village to talk about the regimes art troupes visit to the Olympic Games, Yonhap reported Sunday. Seoul officials are also expected to bring up its proposal for the two Koreas joint march during the Olympics opening ceremony. The Palestinian president railed at President Donald Trump in a fiery, two-hour-long speech on Sunday, saying "shame on you" for his treatment of the Palestinians and warning that he would have no problem rejecting what he suggested would be an unacceptable peace plan. The speech by Mahmoud Abbas ratcheted up what has been more than a month of harsh rhetoric toward Trump since the president's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Relations between Washington and the Palestinians have sunk to a new low, boding poorly for a peace plan the White House has promised to present. Speaking to the Palestinian Central Council, a decision-making body, Abbas repeated the Palestinians' opposition to Trump's Jerusalem recognition and censured Trump for accusing the Palestinians of refusing to negotiate. "He (Trump) said in a tweet: `We won't give money to the Palestinians because they rejected the negotiations,"' Abbas said. "Shame on you. When did we reject the talks? Where is the negotiation that we rejected?" Trump infuriated Palestinians and Muslims around the world when he announced late last year that the U.S. would recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move its embassy there, upending decades of U.S. policy and countering an international consensus that the fate of Jerusalem should be decided in negotiations between the sides. Abbas has said that by siding with the Israelis on a sensitive issue, the announcement had destroyed Trump's credibility as a Mideast peace broker. "We can say no to anyone if things are related to our fate and our people, and now we have said no to Trump," he said. "We told him the deal of the century was the slap of the century. But we will slap back." Abbas also said that the Palestinians have rejected a U.S. request to halt payments to roughly 35,000 families of Palestinians killed and wounded in the conflict with Israel, including suicide bombers and other militants. Israel argues that the practice encourages violence. Hoping to secure what he has called the "ultimate" deal, Trump has for nearly a year dispatched his Mideast team, led by his adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner, to the region to try to breathe life into moribund peace talks, which collapsed in 2014. But the Jerusalem pivot threw a wrench into Trump's peacemaking attempts. Since then, the Palestinians have butted heads with the U.S. at the United Nations, winning a global rebuke against Trump's move. Trump has responded by threatening to cut aid and to reduce U.S. payments to the U.N.'s Palestinian refugee agency. The U.S. is the largest donor to the agency. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has welcomed Trump's tough line toward the Palestinians, while also pushing forward with more settlement construction on lands sought by the Palestinians. Palestinian officials say that while they have not received a formal proposal from the U.S., they have heard from Saudi interlocutors that the U.S. is exploring the possibility of offering the Palestinians a statelet in the parts of the West Bank they already control, with Israel controlling the borders, and the Gaza Strip. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss a sensitive diplomatic issue. U.S. officials have not confirmed the claims. But if true, the proposal would fall far short of Palestinian claims to the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza for an independent state. Abbas said the Palestinians will not accept the U.S. as a sole broker, and believe a deal can only be reached if there are multiple parties, such as with the international nuclear deal between six global powers and Iran. Sixteen people were injured when a speedboat carrying 31 passengers exploded in southern Thailand on Sunday, authorities told Reuters. Most of the people onboard the boat, which was near Phi Phi Le island at the time of the explosion, were Chinese tourists. When it caught fire, passengers jumped into the water, said Police Lt. Santipot Nguanruang of the Phi Phi island police station. People on nearby boats pulled them from the water, he said. The injured included 14 passengers from China and two Thai crew members. Santipot said. Both Phuket and Phi Phi islands are major tourist destinations in Thailand's south. Tourism is a major revenue earner for Thailand, which hosted an estimated 35 million visitors last year. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Free Freightnet Membership List your company in the Freightnet directory. It's Free, it's Easy and your company can be displayed in front of potential freight buyers within 24 hours. Arable growers are continuing to shift from winter- to spring-sown barley varieties, according to the final results of AHDBs 2018 annual crop survey. The Early Bird Survey of cropping intentions for harvest 2018 covers 500,000ha across the UK to predict a national planting figure. The results are compared with Defras June crop survey 2017 to show what differences and trends are emerging in arable growers plans for this years harvest. The overall results for Britain show the winter barley area is expected to have fallen by 9% from 423,000ha in the Defra data for 2017, to a forecast 383,000ha in the autumn Early Bird Survey. That compares with a 7% increase in the spring-sown barley area from 754,000ha in 2017 to 803,000ha forecast for this year. See also: The best spring cropping options for 2017 Bad weather AHDB analyst Daniel Rooney explained a major driver for the swing was a period of prolonged bad weather at sowing time in the autumn. The biggest changes have been seen in Scotland and the more northern areas of England where wetter weather tended to hamper winter drilling, Mr Rooney said. For the two largest English production regions for the crop, the East and Yorkshire and Humberside, the winter barley area is estimated to fall by 13% and 8% respectively, according to the AHDB figures. But in Scotland, where some areas experienced the wettest weather on record last summer and autumn, winter barley plantings fell by a quarter to just 36,000ha. By comparison the area in Scotland earmarked for spring barley planting rose by 12% from 244,000ha to 274,000ha. The north-western and north-eastern regions of England showed the largest percentage rise in spring barley planting of 38% albeit from a low base of 40,000ha in 2017. Wheat and oilseed rape The survey results for wheat and oilseed rape were also released but spring versus winter plantings were not compared. However, there were marked changes between regions and when comparisons were made against the year-earlier figures. The overall area of oilseed rape in Britain is expected to rise by 11% from 562,000ha to 622,000ha. The percentage increase is mainly driven by a huge rise in the main OSR growing region in eastern England. Planting is up by 40% from 116,000ha in June 2017 to 162,000ha for the 2018 crop. Mr Rooney said the increase came on the back of a particularly low planting level in 2016 which led to the reduced harvest area last year. Cabbage stem flea beetle populations were particularly high in 2016 so growers avoided drilling it for the 2017 harvest. However, at drilling time for harvest 2018 the pest level had declined. Those growers that left out OSR the previous year had space in the rotation to bring it back in, resulting in the big increase we are seeing in the survey, he explained. For wheat, the overall change is expected to be a decline of about 2% from 1.8mha to 1.75m hectares. The main reductions were in Scotland and the north west of England which fell by 10%, again driven by bad weather at drilling. The East and West Midlands offset those declines with a 2-3% increase in areas sown. The West Midlands showed a rise from 260,000ha to 164,000ha and in the east of the region, the area rose from 325,000ha to 334,000ha. What is the Early Bird Survey? The Early Bird Survey is carried out for the AHDB between late October and early November and estimates national cropping intentions. The survey is conducted by Andersons Centre supported by the Association of Independent Crop Consultants and other agronomists. For the latest survey, 60 agronomists gathered data from almost 500,000ha of arable land across all regions of Great Britain to create a forecast for the whole of the country. The survey asks what area has been planted and what the intentions are for any land earmarked for planting for the following harvest. GB wheat areas (000 ha) Region 2017 2018 %change East 457 435 -5% S East 214 209 -2% S West 158 155 -2% E Mid 325 334 3% W Mid 160 164 2% N West 37 33 -10% N East 68 63 -7% Yorks 233 225 -4% Scot 109 99 -10% Wales 30 32 4% GB 1792 1748 -2% GB winter barley area (000 ha) Region 2017 2018 %change East 87 76 -13% S East 35 34 -5% S West 46 46 -1% E Mid 46 44 -5% W Mid 33 30 -10% N West 16 13 -19% N East 28 26 -6% Yorks 69 63 -8% Scot 48 36 -25% Wales 14 15 4% GB 423 383 -9% Charles Brennan is out as Philadelphia CIO, a spokesman for the mayors office has confirmed. Mark Wheeler, deputy CIO for enterprise data and architecture, and the citys chief geographic information officer, will serve as interim CIO during a national search for Brennans replacement. Brennan served as Philadelphias CIO for roughly two years, taking up the work after the election of Mayor Jim Kenney. While Charles Brennan has made important contributions to OIT [Office of Information Technology] in the past two years, the administration has determined that a change in leadership is appropriate at this time, Mike Dunn, a spokesman for the mayors office, said in an email. The mayor remains fully committed to the work begun under Charlie, including fixing the back-office information systems that, in many instances, are desperately in need of modernization. Efforts to fix back-end information and related systems first launched during Kenneys predecessor, Michael Nutter, and have subsequently faced many obstacles , due in large part to the vast and complex scope of the work. A report by thefound in August that four critical IT upgrades have been plagued by cancellations, contractor disputes and delays , and that timelines for the completion of these projects remain somewhat hazy. Brennan, a 21-year veteran of the city's police department who spent years working in its IT office, was appointed to the CIO position amid a number of tech and innovation changes made in the early days of the Kenney administration. These changes included shutting down the Mayors Office of New Urban Mechanics (MONUM) and overhauling the citys reporting structure.The mayors office said at the time that these changes were designed to allow Brennan to focus more closely on the badly needed legacy system upgrades and IT capital projects. Whereas in the previous administration the CIO had reported directly to the city manager and the mayor, Brennan reported instead to the chief administrative officer, who also appropriated some of the CIOs innovation responsibilities. The citys innovation work continued, just in a different place Given the scope and importance of the ongoing critical IT systems work, it seems likely that Brennans permanent replacement will have direct experience completing similar projects. Interim CIO Wheeler, for his part, is a veteran public servant who has worked for the city since 2010, with an emphasis on data-driven decision-making and civic engagement, according to the citys website. He is also a former urban planner for the Philadelphia City Planning Commission. Recently, Wheeler was heavily involved with the creation of Atlas, a new map-based platform that gives users a streamlined location to access a diverse range of information about properties in Philadelphia, including value assessments, 311 call histories, zoning and other data. Mara Lavitt / Journal Register Co. HAMDEN Police are searching for the suspects in two separate robberies on Friday and Saturday. Police are looking for four men in their teens to early 20s accused of hitting a man with a gun and then stealing his wallet on Friday evening. Some flu protection is better than no flu protection. Thats the mantra of Dr. Zane Saul, Bridgeport Hospitals chief of infectious disease. He said any time people hear the flu shot isnt a perfect match for circulating viruses, theyre reluctant to get vaccinated. So his teeth were set on edge by a recent study showing the effectiveness of this years flu shot could be as low as 10 percent. The flu shot phobic people will hear that and say Of course! It doesnt work! Saul said. Despite that report published last week in the New England Journal of Medicine Saul and other experts said its still unclear how effective this years flu vaccine is, and that, in most cases, getting the vaccine is better than not getting protected against the infectious respiratory illness even when the vaccine isnt an ideal match for circulating viruses. Meanwhile, flu activity in Connecticut is climbing steadily. As of Nov. 25, a total of 142 people tested positive for the flu, up from 96 the week before, according tto the state Department of Public Health. The state also reports that 54 people were hospitalized, which rose from 39 the week before. There werent any deaths. The New England Journal of Medicine study is based largely on reports from Australia, in the Southern Hemisphere, which gets the flu season before this side of the world. Australia had not only record high numbers of flu cases, hospitalizations and deaths, but also a flu shot that doesnt seem to be a good match for the predominant strains. The report states that influenza A (H3N2) viruses are predominant in the Southern Hemisphere, and a preliminary estimate showed the vaccine as only 10 percent effective against that strain. The report said its unclear how the will affect the Northern Hemispheres flu season which typically starts in October and can run as late as May but this seasons vaccine has the same composition as the one being used in the Southern Hemisphere. Yet an expert from the state DPH said its a bit early to push the panic button and declare this seasons vaccine ineffective. It is important to remember that the flu season in the U.S. is just starting to ramp up and no studies on vaccine effectiveness for the Northern Hemisphere have been completed so far, said Mick Bolduc, DPHs vaccine coordinator for the Connecticut Immunization Program. Although the flu numbers from Australia are concerning and bear watching, the implications for the U.S. are not known at this point. Even in seasons when the vaccine is not a great match to the circulating flu strains, a flu shot is still the best protection an individual can get to protect not only against influenza disease but also from severe illness, hospitalization and death from flu-related complications. Locally, doctors agreed that its still too early to know whether the Northern Hemispheres flu season will mirror whats going on in Australia. The Australia data is interesting, but we dont know yet how well it applies to us, said Dr. Michael Parry, director of infectious diseases at Stamford Hospital. The virus changes from month to month. It can change for the worse or the better. Saul added that, even if the shot is a poor match for influenza A (H3N2), it will likely work well against other strains. Also, those who get the shot and contract influenza A (H3N2) will likely recover faster than those who dont get vaccinated. More Information Flu facts Here are some key numbers about flu activity in Connecticut, from the state Department of Public Health. As of Nov. 25: 142 people had tested positive for the flu 54 people were hospitalized related to flu There were no flu deaths Fairfield County has had the highest number of cases so far, at 49. Hartford County had 43, New Haven County had 26, New London County had 13, Tolland County had five and Litchfield, Windham and Middlesex counties all had two. See More Collapse This (report) is not a reason to not get a flu shot, Saul said. In Connecticut, influenza A viruses are dominating in the state, as they are nationwide. The state DPH reports that 106 of the positive flu cases were type A, with an unspecified subtype and 17 were type A (H3N2). The bulk of cases were in Fairfield County, which had 49 people test positive for the flu. Hartford County was close behind, with 43 cases, and New Haven County was a distant third with 26. Flu activity in the state is classified as regional, meaning that there have been outbreaks of influenza or increases in flu-like illnesses and recent lab-confirmed influenza in at least two, but less than half the regions of the state. The regional classification is one step down from widespread, which represents the highest level of flu activity. So far, flu is widespread in four states Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, and Oklahoma. In Stamford, Parry said hes only seeing a couple of cases a week. Its very sporadic nothing dramatic yet, he said. Saul said hes seen only a few flu cases at Bridgeport Hospital so far this season, but expects it to pick up soon. Were planning on this being a fairly robust flu season, he said. The federal judge who blocked President Trump from eliminating a program that protects nearly 700,000 young immigrants from deportation issued a follow-up ruling Friday saying the lawsuits challenging the presidents order can seek to prove discrimination, based on Trumps disparaging comments about Latinos. U.S. District Judge William Alsup of San Francisco issued a nationwide injunction Tuesday preserving the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA, while suits against its repeal continue. The program allows youths who entered the United States without documentation before age 16, and who had attended school or served in the military and had no serious criminal record, to obtain renewable two-year reprieves from deportation and work permits. Trump announced in September that he would abolish DACA in March unless Congress passed it as a law. In his Tuesday ruling, Alsup said Trump had offered no reasoned explanation for his action and had no basis for his assertion that former President Barack Obama had acted illegally in a 2012 order establishing the program. More News News Gavin Newsom calls on Trump to resign over 'shithole'... In Fridays order, Alsup dismissed some claims in the lawsuits that a repeal would violate the constitutional rights of DACA recipients, and that the public was entitled to advance notice and an opportunity to comment on the repeal. He said a new administration can change an earlier immigration policy, as long as it follows legal procedures, and noted that Obama had not provided notice and a comment period before launching the program. But the judge reiterated his previous assessment that the plaintiffs were likely to show that Trumps action was arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with the law because he offered no plausible rationale to show a repeal was in the national interest. And Alsup also refused to dismiss a claim that Trump was violating DACA recipients constitutional right to equal protection of the law. Latinos make up 93 percent of DACA recipients, Alsup said, and some of Trumps statements might be used to show a racial motivation. He cited the presidential candidates charge in 2015 that Mexican immigrants are drug dealers, rapists and killers, his assertion during a Republican debate that the Mexican government was sending the bad ones to the U.S., and his description in August of undocumented immigrants as animals. Although judges should be cautious in considering campaign rhetoric as evidence of presidential motives, Alsup said, they need not disregard clear-cut indications of racial prejudice on the campaign trail. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @egelko MCLEAN, Va. - Patricia Cooper's father was sliding toward death more quickly than anyone had anticipated. His only hope of surviving liver disease was a transplant, which his doctors agreed was all but a fantasy. In a nation with a severe shortage of donor livers, Wayne Cooper was too far down the list to have any chance of receiving one. At his home in McLean, Virginia, the 70-year-old was losing weight quickly. He slept all day. Patricia, an immigration attorney in Miami, called frequently. "He was too tired to hold the phone," she said. On Dec. 5, Patricia donated more than half her liver to her father, an obstetrician who 34 years earlier had personally brought her into this world. "It wasn't even a choice. It's my dad. Of course I'm going to do this," she said. "I knew the mental anguish of him dying and me thinking I could have done something to save his life was going to be worse than any physical pain." Though living-donor liver transplants have been performed in the United States for nearly three decades, they are still rare. In 2016, 345 of the 7,841 livers used in transplants came from living donors, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing, which coordinates transplant lists. U.S. hospitals more commonly use living donors for kidney transplants. Elsewhere, including Turkey and South Korea, live donors are the standard for liver transplants. In 2016, more than 14,000 people were on waiting lists for livers across this country. About 1,000 die each year because organs aren't found in time. The critical difference in live-liver donation is that, unlike other organs, livers regenerate. If the donor and recipient match in a variety of ways, surgeons can take a portion of a donor's liver and transplant it, skipping what can be a years-long wait for a cadaver liver that too often ends in a patient's death. Yet living-donor transplants expose two people - one of them perfectly healthy - to the rigors and risks of major surgery. "This is one of the few transplants we do where you could have two people die instead of one person die," said Rolf Barth, director of liver transplantation at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, who participated in the surgeries on the Coopers. They had been turned down by at least one other program, which considered their case too risky. Wayne's age put him near the limit that many physicians will consider for a transplant. He also has diabetes and, most important, heart problems that make liver surgery difficult. Not long before the operation, doctors had to insert a stent to keep a coronary artery open, something that normally would have put him on blood thinners for six months and precluded surgery. Instead, they used a new kind of device that requires only six weeks of blood thinners. "We've been a little more expansive in tackling difficult cases," Barth said. The family's discussion started last summer after Patricia Cooper, the oldest of three children, remembered writing stories for her high school newspaper about a classmate who received a kidney transplant. As she began to bring herself up to date on transplantation, she came across information on living donation. Her father rejected the idea, until she pointed out that he would have done anything to help his own father, who died at 58 of heart disease. "She's a lawyer," Wayne Cooper said. "She's good with words. So she turned the tables on me." Once it was clear that their blood types matched, the family discussed the possibility with one of the transplant centers where Wayne was being evaluated. The main concern was the disparity in their body sizes: Patricia's liver had to be large enough to provide an organ for her father and still leave her with adequate liver function during recuperation. The doctors there said she was too small. The wait for a cadaver liver resumed. Then Cooper and his wife, Bonnie, brought up the idea of living donation at the end of a conversation with Barth and John LaMattina, director of the medical school's living-donor liver transplantation program. The surgeons were intrigued and began checking into the possibilities. By October, Wayne was growing sicker and could barely eat. "I knew he was not going to get a cadaver [liver]," Patricia said. "He was going to die of malnutrition in a month or two. I just wanted to give him the chance to live." The doctors modeled the two livers before surgery. But nothing is ever certain until they see inside the patients. Patricia's liver required an unusual amount of microsurgery to connect to her father's bile ducts and arteries. On the day of the operations at the University of Maryland Medical Center, the two were placed in adjacent rooms. LaMattina and another surgeon began removing the lobe of Patricia's liver. About 90 minutes later, Barth and a fourth surgeon began preparing Wayne to receive the transplant. Timing was critical to minimizing how long the organ was outside both bodies. In between, it was stored in a cold solution. Patricia gave her father the entire right lobe of her liver, about 59 percent of its total volume, LaMattina said. Typically, the lobe is between 60 and 70 percent of a donor's liver volume. He said studies suggest the organ grows to most of its original volume - in both donor and recipient - within two months. In Maryland's program, which does about a dozen live-liver transplants each year, recipients fare as well or slightly better than people who receive cadaver livers, Barth and LaMattina said. The same is true nationally, according to UNOS data. Research has not shown a large impact on living donors, though a small number have suffered complications. Today, Wayne Cooper is recovering well at home. He is on immunosuppressants so that his body doesn't reject his daughter's organ, and he takes about 20 pills a day, including diabetes and heart medications. The twin surgeries cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, most of which will be covered by Medicare. Cooper and the doctors expect that he will die one day of something other than liver disease. "We tell all our patients that's our goal - that they would die of old age in their sleep," LaMattina said. Patricia recently returned to work part time. A competitive swimmer, she is suffering most from fatigue and the incision made in the thick muscles of her abdomen. "When these [surgeries] go well, they are wonderful, wonderful things," LaMattina said. "This is a story about the donor. The donor is going through something they don't need; that's a big deal, that's a risk, to do something for someone they care about." Haiti - FLASH : Trump, Chancellor Rodrigue convenes the American diplomat Diallo Following the insulting remarks attributed to US President Donald Trump by the US press, which would have qualified on Thursday January 11 at the White House several countries whose Haiti of "shithole country" https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23259-haiti-flash-haitian-government-s-reaction-to-president-trump-s-remarks.html , Antonio Rodrigue, the Minister of Foreign Affairs convened Friday, January 12 Robin Diallo the Charge d'Affaires of the United States Embassy in Haiti, to discuss with the diplomat the alleged statements of US President Donald Trump. On the other hand, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) expressed strong reaction in a statement on "the use of derogatory and repulsive language by the President of the United States in respect of our Member State, Haiti" Text of the CARICOM Declaration : "The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is deeply disturbed by reports about the use of derogatory and repulsive language by the President of the United States in respect of our Member State, Haiti, and other developing countries. CARICOM condemns in the strongest terms, the unenlightened views reportedly expressed. Of additional concern, is this pattern of denigrating Haiti and its citizens in what seems to be a concerted attempt to perpetuate a negative narrative of the country. We are especially saddened that such narrative emerged around the time of the anniversary of the devastating 2010 earthquake which took so many lives of citizens in that country. The Caribbean Community expresses its full support for the dignified statement of the Government of the Republic of Haiti in reaction to this highly offensive reference. It should be recalled that Haiti is the second democracy in the Western Hemisphere after the United States and that Haitians continue to contribute significantly in many spheres to the global community and particularly to the United States of America. CARICOM therefore views this insult to the character of the countries named and their citizens as totally unacceptable." See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23259-haiti-flash-haitian-government-s-reaction-to-president-trump-s-remarks.html HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - NOTICE : Measures for Pre-carnival activities 2018 in Port-au-Prince In order to ensure the smooth running of pre-Carnival Sundays, the Port-au-Prince Communal Administration informs the public and the Carnavaliers that several restrictive measures will be taken on Sundays 14-21-28 January and Sunday 4 February 2018. 1 - The access roads on Lalue, from Martin Luther King Avenue to Oswald Durand Street, will be closed to vehicular and motorcycle traffic from 2:00 pm. The arteries involved are: Ruelle Robin - Calstroem alley - Bern alley - Rue Alexis - Jeremie street - Jeremie alley - 2nd Jeremie alley - Chretien alley - Lavaud alley - Dufort street - Christophe avenue - Poste Marchand - Capois street - Lamarre street The movement of "wheelbarrows" will also be prohibited inside the course. 2 - Prohibition of driving with firearms or white (knives, machetes, spades or any other cutting object). 3 - Prohibition of selling drinks in glass bottles. Only drinks in plastic bottles and cans are allowed. It should be noted that any offender caught in the act will be apprehended and brought to justice for the legal consequences. The Communal Administration of Port-au-Prince invites the general population and the carnavaliers in particular to scrupulously respect the measures mentioned for the full success of the event. Moreover, Leon Ronsard Saint-Cyr, the Secretary of State for Public Security, informs the public in general and Carnavaliers in particular that pre-carnival activities and festivities, on the whole national territory, scheduled on Sundays preceding the fats days should not continue after 11:00 pm. The police were instructed to take all necessary steps to implement this measure. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Politic : Haiti signs joint work plans 2017-2018 with the UN The Government of Haiti and the United Nations Country Team signed the joint work plans 2017-2018 as part of the Development Assistance Framework 2017-2021 (UNDAF). This framework will guide during the next five years the partnership between the United Nations and the Government of Haiti to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to reach the status of emergent country by 2030, by reinforcing peace, stability and Haitian institutions and populations resilience https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22616-haiti-politic-the-5-prerequisites-for-sustainable-development.html . These goals represent Haitis commitment with its children and grandchildren to build a better future, and the UN will continue standing side by side with Haiti, as a partner, to fulfill this commitment. The minister of Planning and External Cooperation, Mr. Aviol Fleurant, signed the 5 plans accompanied by the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti, Dr. Mamadou Diallo, as well as the representatives of the 19 UN agencies, funds and programs working in Haiti. Let's recall that the Government of Haiti and the United Nations Country Team had signed on 30 June the Development Assistance Framework 2017-2021 (UNDAF) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21422-haiti-politics-signing-of-the-un-support-framework-2017-2021.html that will guide during the next five years the partnership to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The accomplishment of Haitis development objectives supported by this framework will need the mobilization of $1,085.57 million in order to implement specific and measurable actions in five priority areas of intervention: poverty reduction, social services, resilience, gender equality/protection and governance. This partnership between Haiti and the United Nations recognizes the leadership and responsibility of the Haitian institutions and population as the main actors to advance the countrys development. Consequently, the capacity development of the state structures and civil society will be a priority for this development assistance framework 2017-2021, which is based on the gains achieved over the last years in terms of stability, development and humanitarian response. In this regard, the UN will also support Haitis efforts to become less and less dependent on humanitarian aid and to increase the institutions and populations resilience to face and recover from external shocks, such as natural disasters and other potential humanitarian situations. The new framework is the result of the joint work of the Government of Haiti under the leadership of the Ministry of Planning and External Cooperation- and the United Nations country team (including 19 agencies, funds and programs and the MINUJUSTH) in order to be aligned behind national priorities and to determine how could the UN better support Haitis efforts towards sustainable development. Thus, the document was conceived under the umbrella of Haitis Strategic Development Plan (PSDH) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development signed in 2015 by 193 countries, including Haiti. This participatory process has been enriched with consultations with public institutions, civil society, and specialists from different ministries and universities, paying special attention to the voices of youth and vulnerable groups, in order to leave no one behind. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22616-haiti-politic-the-5-prerequisites-for-sustainable-development.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21422-haiti-politics-signing-of-the-un-support-framework-2017-2021.html HL/ HaitiLibre A YOUNG boy enjoyed a family trip to meet Father Christmas in Lapland after completing two years of cancer treatment. James Marsh, four, spent four days at Santas official North Pole residence during the run-up to the festive season. He was accompanied by his parents John and Nicole and siblings Adam, two, and twins Isabella and Finley, seven, who live in Charlotte Close, Caversham. They were joined by Mr Marshs mother Angela, from Peppard. The children were able to deliver their Christmas wishes to the man himself. James asked for a toy train, which duly arrived on Christmas Day. During their stay, the family stayed in a log cabin and took part in wildlife safaris across the Finnish countryside pulled by reindeer and huskies. They also saw the Northern Lights and rode a sleigh across a frozen lake. It was their first trip abroad since James finished undergoing chemotherapy for acute leukaemia on December 5. The family were invited after his sisters wrote to Father Christmas explaining what James had been through. He was diagnosed in 2015 when he developed pain and weakness in his legs. Following a blood test, he was rushed to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford for immediate treatment. James, who is in reception class at Caversham Primary School, had intravenous doses and spinal infusions of various drugs several times a week for a year, which made him sick and caused his hair to fall out. He also had to take steroids and have regular blood and platelet transfusions to top up his healthy cells. He then underwent another year on a lower dose after which a bone marrow test confirmed he was free of the disease. Mrs Marsh said: James loved his trip and was very impressed that he met Father Christmas. He was extremely happy and almost couldnt believe it that Santa had invited him because hed been so brave. He enjoyed the husky ride as he loves nature. From the moment he arrived, he was awestruck by everything he saw and was admiring the beautiful scenery in immense detail. We wouldnt have been able to travel before because we couldnt stay far from a hospital in case he became sick. His immunity is still low but he was no longer at serious risk so we just had to take some antibiotics with us in case. After returning to Caversham, the family enjoyed spending Christmas Day with relatives. Mrs Marsh said: James was very excited when he saw all the presents and was fascinated by the idea of Santa coming down the chimney to deliver them. I think his favourite thing was putting out a mince pie on Christmas Eve. It was a lovely day, although the girls got a bit frustrated as he wanted to open his presents and play with them one by one whereas they wanted to open them all at once! The family are feeling positive about the future and James is visibly improved. Mrs Marsh said: It has been a bit difficult for James to truly grasp that its completely finished because he has been undergoing treatment for half of his life but hes getting stronger all the time and, while he has always been a happy boy, hes becoming even happier. Hes more energetic and the girls are excited because he can now go in the pool in the summer. James is very happy at school. He actually wanted to go back before the Christmas holidays were over! Everybody knows him and the children are all very accepting of him hes very popular. Mr Marsh said: Its great that the treatment is finally over. James has really taken it in his stride although it was hard initially, he became very matter-of-fact, even though it would have been incredibly upsetting for many other children. One time when he was sick he just started cleaning it up himself because hed got so used to it that he was no longer fazed. It has been a process of adapting to noise and crowds because he was in isolation for so long we recently went to a soft play session and it was all a bit much for him. However, he has settled well at school and knows the names of his friends and teachers so hes happy. A message from the USA TODAY NETWORK It appears that youre attempting to visit this site from a location in the European Union. At this point in time we regret to say we cannot make this site available to you. Please visit our home page eu.usatoday.com for other content that may be of interest to you. This will be Ms. Erica Easts sixth year of teaching first grade at Odyssey Charter School. She has been an amazing teacher since her first day on the job. Her classroom is quiet and inviting. She sets high expectations for behavior and learning in her classroom and her students rise up to meet those expectations. Her students love and respect her. Ms. East absolutely loves teaching at Odyssey Charter School where the curriculum is rigorous, interesting and a lot of fun. She teaches the advanced classes of language arts and math in first grade. She creates a supportive environment in which students can excel in those classes, as well as in her homeroom class. She loves her hard-working students and their supportive parents. Its a school family of which she is proud to be a part. Ms. East grew up in North Carolina. She moved to Utah in the summer of 2005 and fell in love with the mountains. She received her Bachelors degree in elementary education from Utah Valley University. When she is not teaching, she loves to read! Some of her favorite books are Ish, Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon, Harry Potter, The Mortal Instruments, and the Ramona books by Beverly Clearly. She also loves to spend time with her family, especially her niece and nephews. Ms. East has always loved to learn and she knew at a very young age she wanted to be a teacher. Her teachers were a great inspiration in her life and she hopes to be the same to all of her students. She feels extremely blessed to have the opportunity to work with children and she is constantly learning and growing as she teaches them. Each student who is fortunate enough to come under the tutelage of Ms. East will progress leaps and bounds and leave her class with a love of learning! Lilia Redington is a sixth-grader at Odyssey Charter School. Each year, her teachers report how impressed they are at how hard she works. Lilia contributes to meaningful class discussions and stays focused on the task at hand. When other students are struggling with concepts in class, she is quick to offer her help. She is a great student to have in class. Though Lilia may appear to be a quiet and outwardly timid young girl, she is more than willing to share her talents with others. Some of her talents include playing the piano, tumbling (in any place big enough to do cartwheels and back bends) and even speaking Japanese. Even though she has lived in the United States for most of her life, she strives to learn her mothers native language, Japanese. Lilia maintains a proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing Japanese equal to that expected of one her age and has the test scores to prove it. She can also be found doing puzzle games, arts and crafts, or music and dancing. Lilia is a voracious reader and is often found immersed in a fantasy book. She will happily share all the details of her book for you if you lend her an ear. Lilia is kind and thoughtful of others. She loves to care for her two younger sisters and enjoys being the one to teach them about all the new experiences she has first. She spends four to five nights a week speaking with her grandfather in Japan to ensure that he doesnt get too lonely. On the years Lilia is able to visit relatives in Japan, she spends her days enrolled in public school there. Lilia maintains pen pals with several of her previous classmates and friends. She currently dreams of being a physical therapist and a mother. If Lilias parents had a message for her, it would be that they love her for who she is and only hope she continues to strive and achieve all the goals she sets for herself. Lilia exhibits the great character traits of hard work, compassion, excellence, and service that Odyssey Charter School strives to instill in each of their students! 1 / 6 Lisa Schuring, left, of Mapleton, organizes her purchases with the help of Patty Hulce on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018, at the Wandering Wardrobe in Springville. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald Isaac Hale, Daily Herald 2 / 6 Wandering Wardrobe owner Patty Hulce poses in her consignment store Friday, Jan. 12, 2018, in Springville. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald Isaac Hale, Daily Herald 3 / 6 Jewelry for sale hangs Friday, Jan. 12, 2018, at the Wandering Wardrobe in Springville. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald Isaac Hale, Daily Herald 4 / 6 Marjorie Dobson, of Mapleton, browses through pieces of clothing Friday, Jan. 12, 2018, at the Wandering Wardrobe in Springville. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald Isaac Hale, Daily Herald 5 / 6 The exterior of the Wandering Wardrobe is pictured Friday, Jan. 12, 2018, in Springville. The consignment store is located at 511 S. Main St. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald Isaac Hale, Daily Herald 6 / 6 A "sold" sticker sticks to a mirror Friday, Jan. 12, 2018, at the Wandering Wardrobe in Springville. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald Isaac Hale, Daily Herald For 18 years, Springville resident Patty Hulce has been running her consignment store The Wandering Wardrobe out of a historic building on Main Street. But this month, Hulce is emptying out the wardrobe for good and closing the store down. Hulce said shes had an emotional few weeks since she posted on Facebook announcing that the business would be closing. I cry about every single day, she said. Ive been incredibly blessed. These are my friends, and a woman (in the store) looked at me and said, Well done, Patty, well done. It warms my heart. She said shes enjoyed the experiences shes had running the business and the friends she has made. Its been a good business, she said. Theres always a few people who arent happy because you dont accept their items or price them too low. But, knock on wood, every single person that has come into the store since then has just been so kind. The Wandering Wardrobe, which is set to close by the end of the month, was born out of a trip to Salt Lake City in 2000. Hulce said she had teenage girls and she wanted to sell the clothes they had grown out of or didnt wear. I came home and thought like many customers, Hmm, that looks like an easy business. Maybe I want to do that.' Within 30 days, we were open, she added. Hulce and her business partner, who later left the business, opened The Wandering Wardrobe in a strip mall in Springville. Later, she began to think about moving the store to a house to save money. A friend in real estate pointed her to the historic home at 511 S. Main St., she said. (She said), I know this little house on Main Street, and it hadnt been listed. We walked through it and my husband turned to me and said, We are nuts if we dont buy this building. Thats where weve been ever since. Hulce said she has enjoyed running the consignment business because it allows her to be creative and save things from being thrown away before they are used up. I like what I call playing house, making the displays and showing things, she said. I like the fact Im helping with the not wasting. She said the store also became a place where she knew all the customers and their families. Hulce even compared it to Cheers, a place where everybody knows your name. Its kinda become a place people have said they feel comfortable to share something (with her) and they know I wont share it with anyone, like it is at a hairdressers, she said. They come into relax and enjoy themselves. Ive appreciated being that place and appreciate their business and support. Hulce said the timing was right for the business to close. Her husband retired about a year ago and shes been selling doTerra for about four years, which supplements their income. She said they plan to travel now that they wont be tied to the store. Theres a whole lot of the USA we havent seen, she said. We will travel and if some place calls our name, maybe we will stay. As for the historic building on Springvilles Main Street that has long housed the business, Hulce said the new owners plan to restore it and turn it into a bed and breakfast. Its amazing how quickly a national story hits home. A few weeks ago, we published stories about a hepatitis A outbreak in Southern California. At the time, it seemed like an isolated regional story. Since then, weve published stories about a hepatitis A outbreak at the Utah County Jail that officials report started in October. That was followed by reports about patrons possibly being exposed at two Spanish Fork eateries and a food pantry. That regional story from 700 miles away is now in our backyard. Thankfully, no one in Utah has died yet, but the San Diego outbreak killed 20 and sickened hundreds more, according to an Associated Press story. Utah officials have confirmed 152 cases, although none from the Spanish Fork restaurants, as of Wednesday. The local outbreak underscores the importance of good hygiene and a robust public health program. Were heartened by the signs that Utah Valley residents are taking this matter seriously. Shortly after the Utah County Health Department opened a call center on the matter, 1,700 residents contacted the department by phone or online to inquire if they should be vaccinated. About 400 people started the two-part vaccination for hepatitis A, as of Wednesday afternoon. Hepatitis A can be spread through close contact with an infected person or consuming food or drinks prepared by someone who is infected. People may reduce their chances of contracting or spreading the disease by washing their hands thoroughly after using the restroom and before preparing or eating food. Unfortunately, not everyone can readily access adequate sanitation facilities. People who are homeless or are habitual drug users are particularly susceptible because of their living conditions. Similarly, jail inmates may also be at risk because they are in close quarters with others who may not have the best hygiene. Hepatitis A also poses a unique public health challenge because an infected person may start spreading the disease two weeks before showing symptoms. After symptoms appear which can include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, yellowing of the eyes or skin, dark urine, diarrhea and fatigue a person could continue spreading the disease for up to a month. Thankfully, public health officials have been proactive in trying to inform the residents who may have been exposed to the disease. Still, its a daunting task up to 2,000 people may have been exposed in the case of a West Valley convenience store with an employee who became ill. Contacting everyone who may have been exposed can be time-consuming, especially in cases of people who dont have a permanent address. On that note, were thankful for the diligent efforts of the Utah County Health Department and the affected businesses. It appears that robust measures are being taken to help reduce the potential spread of the disease and to assure the public that the affected businesses are safe to visit. We will readily admit that no preventative measure is perfect. However, staying informed, taking precautions and getting vaccinated may help block infectious diseases from spreading especially to those that would be particularly vulnerable. As an example, we look at an AP story published in Saturdays Daily Herald. After a San Diego family skipped their flu shots this year, a boy came down with the flu and spread it to the rest of the family. The three children and the mother recovered, but the father had to be hospitalized and medically sedated. What may be a minor inconvenience for one person can lead to serious medical trouble for others. I have a city ordinance I would like Mayor Michelle Kaufusi, and other city officials to formally consider. I propose that they enact legislation in order to keep people from terrible cities from moving to Provo. With the recent hepatitis A stories coming out of West Jordan and Spanish Fork, its time for our elected officials to help protect us from Utahs riffraff by keeping them out of our amazing city. I call it the Sick Hepatitis Infected Townspeople Have Only Low Expectations bill and I think such an ordinance would help make Provo great again. The idea is simple. First, we compile a list of other Utah cities, where their culture is clearly inferior to ours, and we stop letting residents of those cities move to Provo to prevent the spread of hepatitis A from reaching our city limits. Right now, the list only contains West Jordan and Spanish Fork, but it will likely include Salt Lake City sooner or later due to all of their panhandlers. I heard on the news that the hepatitis A outbreak originally came to Utah from California, which totally makes sense when you think about it. We should add any city with a high number of Californian immigrants to the list of cities, until we can figure out whats going on here. It only makes sense that these sanctuary cities, who have embraced California culture, would be the first to fall prey to disease. California doesnt send us its best after all. Not only does the Sick Hepatitis Infected Townspeople Have Only Low Expectations bill create a city watchlist, but it finally gets the ball rolling on the stadium dome that Ive wanted to build over Provo for quite some time. I know that most people who come to Provo come here legally and overstay their visit after they graduate from Brigham Young University or Utah Valley University. I also know that most of them come by car, making a dome about as effective as our caucus system is at picking party nominees that the people like. And I know that I originally said that Spanish Fork would pay for a wall. But ignore all of that, and ask yourself how awesome it would be to have a wall around Provo? When it comes to the Provo Dome, feelings matter more than facts. And all feel that a wall around Provo would be as awesome as an apartment covered in gold. Demographics determine destiny, and if we dont keep Californias nasty Hep A out of Provo by keeping out Utahs less desirable residents, were going to see a lot of sick hombres in town. We should strive to attract residents from cities like Draper and Alpine to our city instead. Those are great cities, whose residents we should seek after over those residents from Spanish and West Jordan. Never mind that people in Draper and Alpine love living there, and would never dream of leaving their homes to come to Provo. Never mind that Provo, with its university, is a town made for those looking to make a better life for themselves. Never mind that there has been about 152 cases of hepatitis A and the two banned cities have a combined total of 152,560 residents, meaning that only .0009 percent of the population has the disease in the first place. None of that matters. Our expectations of what these people can achieve in our city needs to be as low as possible in spite of any anecdotal stories or hard data to the contrary. What matters more than data is that we feel like we are protecting ourselves from these people. The Sick Hepatitis Infected Townspeople Have Only Low Expectations bill will do just that. It will make us feel like were doing something to protect ourselves from hepatitis, and thats more important than actually protecting ourselves from hepatitis. Sure we could wash our hands, crack down on sanitation standards for businesses, give the homeless a place to clean themselves up and keep up-to-date on our own vaccinations, but those solutions are hard and expensive. My solution is just expensive. A list of banned cities and a stadium dome that covers Provo just feels awesome. Besides, vaccines give you autism. I saw that on The Dr. Oz Show. We have a wonderful city here in Provo. A tremendous city. Weve been making bad deals with our fellow Utahns for quite some time now. Its time that our politicians step up to the plate and make a travel deal that finally benefits us. Hopefully Provos politicos will put Provo first and say no to hepatitis. There will be people who will try and tell you that the Sick Hepatitis Infected Townspeople Have Only Low Expectations ordinance is a bad bill. Theyll try and use numbers, logic and complicated case studies to explain why the bill wont work. The best thing to do, if ever encounter that person, is laugh at them and call them fake news. This bill doesnt depend on facts. It doesnt need facts. It has alternative facts. Im a very stable genius, and I thought of the bill. What else do people really need to know? It would be great if we could get Congressman John Curtis and Congresswoman Mia Love to sign off on this bill too, but its more likely that well have to drain the swamp and kick those RINOs out of office. Maybe Utah County Commissioner Greg Graves can replace one of them? Those harassment charges are probably fake news too. Regardless, its time to make Provo great again and send those other residents back where they came from. Alex Wong/Staff/Getty Images(PHOENIX) -- Arizona Senate candidate Joe Arpaio, the controversial former sheriff of Maricopa County and an outspoken "birther," said Saturday he is not surprised that Hawaiians received an erroneous emergency mobile alert about an imminent ballistic missile attack because "there's something wrong with that government." Case in point, according to Arpaio? Former President Barack Obama's "fraudulent" Hawaii birth certificate. Arpaio claims Obama was not born in the U.S., despite what the birth certificate says. But Obama was indeed born in the U.S., in Honolulu on August 4, 1961. During an interview Saturday night with Fox News' Jeanine Pirro, Arpaio was asked for his thoughts on the alert, which turned out to be false and the result of human error. "I dont want to get into it," Arpaio said, "but I know doing a certain investigation on a fake, fraudulent government document. They cant even solve that case. They dont even want to look at it. So either theyre incompetent or theres something behind it." Pirro didn't let those remarks go unchallenged, telling Arpaio, 85, "I got to push back on that a little bit. That document, the long-form, was filed. Lets put that way. Lets talk about what happened today in Hawaii. You had some specific thoughts about today." Arpaio said, "Well, the only thing Im saying is they cant even solve a phony document. So now theyve got a problem. Theres something wrong with that government." Arpaio is running for the Senate seat currently occupied by Senator Jeff Flake, who is retiring from Congress at the end of his term. Once again he was met with resistance by Pirro, who countered, "Well, lets keep moving, because they did solve that, and Im going to keep pushing back on that." President Donald Trump last year pardoned Arpaio for criminal contempt of court, a misdemeanor. Arpaio had been convicted of the crime for disobeying a federal judge's order to stop racial profiling in detaining "individuals suspected of being in the U.S. illegally." Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. An artwork by Jean-Michel Basquiat, that previously sold for a record $110.5 million at auction, will return to New York City in a new exhibition. The painting, Untitled, will be on view at the Brooklyn Museum starting January 26 through March 11. The New York Times reports the exhibition is part of the touring show One Basquiat, supported by the paintings owner, Japanese art collector Yusaku Maezawa. The 1982 painting depicts a face in the shape of a skull. The artwork was purchased by Maezawa in May 2017 for the record sum after a 10-minute bidding war at Sothebys. After a world tour, Untitled will reside in a museum that Maezawa is building in Chiba, Japan. Basquiat died of a drug overdose in 1988 at age 27. Follow @htlifeandstyle for more The city of Corrientes in northeastern Argentina came alive with music and dance on Friday night to mark the beginning of the 28th Chamame Festival. Every year, the 10-day long festival, one of the longest in the calendar of summer festivals in the South American country and one of the most important, showcases Chamame, a folk music and dance genre, which might soon find itself on Unescos Intangible Cultural Heritage List. A total of 1,50,000 people are expected to attend the festival this year. (Festival Facebook page) This music and dance genre is the common culture shared by around 30 million people. And common culture is what identifies a nation for what it is, the art director of the festival, Eduardo Sivori, told Efe news. Chamame as a dance form involves natural improvisation during performance, it has ancient Guarani roots and has various versions owing to European and African influences. The lyrics, set to music with guitars, accordions, pianos or bandoneons, speak of beliefs, traditions, love, estrangement, social issues and topics such as discrimination in Corrientes, a part of the country that has never been considered to be especially important. Chamame is music and dance inextricably united. Something similar to what happens with tango, said Sivori, who added that a total of 1,50,000 people are expected to attend the event. Follow @htlifeandstyle for more Makar Sankranti is a celebration of the Sun god Surya, and the harvest festival falls on January 14 this year. It marks the Suns transit into Makara (Capricorn) which means the end of the winter solstice and the start of longer days. Celebrations are held across the country. In Gujarat, the event is celebrated as a two-day festival including Uttarayan and Vasi Uttarayan. Kite flying is an important activity related to the festival and you can spot thousands of kites across cities of Gujarat. A traditional Maharashtrian celebration includes exchange of til gul laddoo (sweets made of sesame seeds and jaggery) and puran poli (a sweet flatbread) as a gesture of goodwill. People gift the laddoos to each other and say Til gul ghyaa, god-god bola (accept this til-gul and speak sweetly). Many people also wear black garments on this day. Makar Sankranti is also considered a good day to bathe in sacred rivers and lakes to offer thanks to Surya and wash away sins. It is also an important day to visit the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh). Devotees fast and have a bath in til and water. Makar Sankranti is also referenced in mythology. In the Mahabharata, Bhishma waited for the sun to be in uttarayan so that he could die. Another legend says that the Sun god forgave his son Shani for a transgression and Shani then visited him on Makar Sankranti. The muhurat starts at 2am and ends at 5.41. And the auspicious time starts from 2am to 2.24am. Follow @htlifeandstyle for more Three Congress workers were arrested on Saturday in connection with a clash between them and BJP cadre after chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhans public meeting at Raghogarh, the home turf of AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh, on Friday night. FIRs were registered against 22 workers 13 from BJP and 9 from Congress of both parties, said police sources. Chouhan was at Raghogarh to address a public meeting in favour of BJP candidate contesting Raghogarh Nagar Palika election. When he was addressing the meeting around 9.30 pm, Congress workers raised slogans against him for allegedly choosing to visit the area after 12 years, that too when election to the civic body was scheduled there. After the CM departed, the cadre of the ruling party and the grand old party clashed and pelted stones at each other. Police resorted to use of force to control the situation while the district administration issued prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC. The clash went on for about an hour. FIRs were lodged from both sides. Digvijaya Singh who is presently on a Narmada parikrama (taking a round of river Narmada) made an appeal to people in his area to maintain peace and order. Congress MLA from Raghogarh and son of Digvijaya Singh, Jaivardhan Singh blamed Chachora MLA Mamta Meenas followers for going on rampage at Congress workers homes. The BJP leaders were frustrated over the low turnout at the CMs meeting. Meena, however, blamed the Congress leaders for disturbances during the CMs meeting and the attack on BJP workers. Raghogarh police station town inspector DPS Chauhan confirmed the arrest of three Congress workers and said the situation in the area was peaceful while investigation was going on. Bollywood Actor Nana Patekar paid his first obeisance at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Sunday. During his visit, he interacted with the media and said he felt blessed to be here. The level of seva and faith people have has left me awestruck and stunned, even I have never felt such solace and tranquillity before. I wonder why havent I been here before, he said. Nana Patekar with his wife pays obeisance at Golden Temple in Amritsar on Sunday. (Sameer Sehgal/HT Photo) I was missing something in my life. I thank God that during the journey of life, I have been able to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple, he added. On the auspicious day of Makkar Sangrandh, he also witnessed seva ( selfless service) and how people took the holy dip despite the cold. He also visited the worlds largest community kitchen at the shrine. Nana Patekar with his wife washing utensils at a community kitchen during their visit to the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Sunday. (Sameer Sehgal/HT Photo) Everyone is equal here, no discrimination on the basis of caste, creed or religion, the entire country should follow and practise what this place symbolises in real life and the nation will turn to gold, he said. Follow @htshowbiz for more I was in Kolkata just before Christmas, always a great time to be there because of the enthusiasm with which Kolkatans celebrate that festival. This time, while attempts to prevent Christians celebrating were made in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, in Kolkata , chief minister Mamata Banerjee joined in singing carols . Whenever I speak about Indias tradition of religious tolerance, of accepting that there are different ways to god, I quote the way Indians of different faiths enjoy celebrating each others religious festivals. As an example, I tell of my amazement to find Sikhs in the congregation at my first midnight mass in the Cathedral of the Redemption in New Delhi. I had just arrived from an England where my Roman Catholic friends were barred from coming to a Church of England service with me. But here were people of a completely different religion attending a Christian service. Since then I have frequently been invited to join in the celebrations of Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Muslim and Parsi festivals. I went to Kolkata to attend the 10th World Confluence of Spirituality, Power, and Humanity organised by the Srei and Kanoria foundations. Several speakers at the conference suggested that India should be the vishwa or worlds guru because of its tradition of religious plurality. That plurality was highlighted by the wide variety of faith leaders at the conference. Among them were the Roman Catholic archbishop of Ranchi, Cardinal Telesphore Toppo, and Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, chief imam of the All India Imam Organisations, the Venerable Bhikkhu Sanghasena of the Mahabodhi Meditation Centre in Leh, and Srimat Swami Shuddhianandaji, of the Advaita Ashram. The RSS was represented by Indresh Kumar. Former President of India Pranab Mukherjee also spoke. I chaired a session discussing the possibility of India playing the role of vishwa guru in tackling the problem of climate change. The recent snowfall in Florida might even persuade United States President Donald Trump that this is a problem. In the session the threat the world faces from climate change and the degradation of our environment was discussed in a spiritual context. The disappointing progress made at the 2015 United Nations Paris Conference on Climate Change and Trumps reaction to the limited accord which was reached there indicate how little the worlds political leaders will do to avert this threat. But where do spiritual leaders come in? Climate change is a crisis which requires much more fundamental changes than technology can provide. The fundamental changes we need are changes in the way we live our lives. Those changes will only come about if we revive our respect for nature and it is faith traditions which teach that the earth and all that is in it is sacred. In introducing the topic Spirituality and Nature Climate Change at the Confluence, I quoted from Amitav Ghoshs The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable. The derangement is our madness in failing to realise the danger of the unthinkable happening if we dont get real about climate change. Ghosh wrote, The most promising development (in the environment movement) is the growing involvement of religious groups and leaders in the politics of climate change. If the securitization and corporatization of climate change is to be prevented, then already existing communities and mass organisations will have to be in the forefront of the struggle. And of such organisations, those with religious affiliations possess the ability to mobilize people in far greater number than any others. The lifestyle changes we need to make are widely seen as burdensome, giving up a lot which makes life easier and enjoyable, but faith traditions demonstrate that we will live deeper, fuller, and hence happier lives if we do make the required changes. However, the impact of the faith communities would be much louder if they all spoke with one voice. At the end of our discussion the speakers, a Jesuit priest, Father Francis Gonsalves, an Islamic Scholar, Aslam Parvaiz, and two prominent Hindus, Swami Chidananda Saraswati, and Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, all agreed it was worth continuing the search for that one voice. Maybe Indias New Years resolution should be to become the Vishwa Guru on climate change by showing to the world that this one voice exists here and manifest its ability to mobilise people. The views expressed are personal The strangest dream I ever had was in the city of Houston. It was in March 2014, and I was on a tour through the United States, promoting the first volume of my Gandhi biography. In my dream I met a well-known academic who had joined the Aam Aadmi Party and urged me to do likewise. It was time, he said, for us to give up our careers and plunge into politics to save our country. The academic in my dream had left his job to fight a parliamentary seat in his native Rajasthan on behalf of AAP; he asked me to follow suit and contest a Lok Sabha seat too. The dream shook me. I had long believed that scholars must stay away from politics. On the other hand, I was disgusted by the two major parties in India. I saw the BJP as communal and sectarian; the Congress as corrupt and sycophantic. AAP, newly-formed, exuded hope and promise. Waking up in the middle of the night, I called my wife in Bengaluru and told her about my dream. She said, dont be absurd, politics is not for you. You are too much of a maverick to be part of an organisation. Besides, you will never win an election. I went back to sleep, and, astonishingly, had another dream about the same subject. This time, another academic I admired told me that I should contest the Lok Sabha elections in 2019. This second interlocutor suggested I contest from Dehradun, the town in which I was born and raised. To have the same dream twice in a night shook me thoroughly. I called my wife again. I told her that this was a signal I must consider seriously. By the time of the 2019 general elections, the second volume of my Gandhi biography would be done. Why not, at this stage, move from writing books to fighting elections? Surely actions were more effective than words? If I believed Indian democracy needed redemption and renewal, was it not hypocritical to continue to stand aside? My wife sighed and said, you have been away from India too long. The two academics I met in my dreams are both major figures in Indian intellectual life. Butsince it was a dreamit would not be proper to identify them. However, neither was Yogendra Yadav, another respected scholar who had in fact joined the Aam Aadmi Party. From Houston I moved to San Francisco, from there to Seattle and then on to the East Coast. On one of these long transcontinental flights I woke up from my fantasy. I knew that I had some proficiency and experience in writing books. I had absolutely no background in politics, and my temperament suggested that I would be wholly unsuited to it. By the time I returned home in April, the thought of contesting on behalf of AAP had disappeared from my mind. Before these dreams, I had never remotely considered entering politics. I disliked the Congress, distrusted the Communists, and detested the BJP. And I had little time for caste-and-region-based parties either. George Orwell once said that a writer must never be a loyal member of a political party. I believed that a writer must never be a disloyal member of a political party either. Intellectual integrity required one to be absolutely independent from all parties and politicians. And yet I dreamt, not once but twice in a single night, that I must enter politics and fight elections on behalf of a particular party. I think the dream signified two things; one personal, the other political. Like other writers, I had a complex about activists, and felt that I was not doing enough to transform my society for the better. Paradoxically, the more books one wrote, the more one became established in ones profession, the greater the guilt about being a mere chronicler rather than a real change-maker. Beyond my own personal anxieties and confusions, my dream also pointed to the immense appeal that the Aam Aadmi Party had in its early years. So many people across India were attracted to it. Here, at last, they thought, was an alternative to the BJP, the Congress, and the casteist BSP and SP and RJD. While priding myself in public for my independence from all political parties, somehow, subconsciously, I had also succumbed to the notion that this was a party with a difference. Of course we now know otherwise. The manner in which Arvind Kejriwal purged Yogendra Yadav showed that he is as desirous of power as Narendra Modi or Mamata Banerjee. And the manner in which Kejriwal has chosen his partys Rajya Sabha members shows that he is as enamoured of wealthy candidates as the BJP and Congress. It is now three-and-a-half years since I had those two dreams in a single night in Houston. I have not since thought of entering politics. But I suppose I shall never be entirely rid of feelings of guilt and inadequacy, of thinking that the life of action is somehow more significant than the life of the mind. Meanwhile, I console myself with the thought that democracy is not about party politics alone. Doctors, social workers, teachers, entrepreneurs, feminists and environmentalists can all contribute to the renewal of India, to bridging the gap between the ideals of the Constitution and the reality on the ground. And perhaps one day a party will be formed to sincerely and consistently take forward these ideals in the sphere of electoral politics. However, I know that I shall not bring myself to join this party, whether awake or in my dreams. Ramachandra Guhas books include Gandhi Before India Twitter: @Ram_Guha The views expressed are personal Punjabs wanted gangster Harsimrandeep Singh alias Simma, who was arrested by a joint team of the Punjab and Dehradun police on Saturday, is not the only hardened criminal who chose to lie low in Dehradun. In one of the most sensational arrests, two aides of the high-security Nabha jailbreak mastermind Parminder Singh alias Penda were found staying at Raipur area in November 2016. It was suspected that the jailbreak which saw Khalistan Liberation Force chief Harminder Singh alias Mintoo along with five others escape from the Punjab prison was planned at their hideout. Last November, it came to light that three shooters, who fatally attacked gangster Devpal Rana at a Roorkee court, had been living in a rented apartment in Race Course area. Hired by another gangster Rishipal Rana, the flat was used by the shooters to plan the murder. In April, Doon was shocked when the Jharkhand police along with its Uttarakhand counterpart arrested dreaded criminal Vikram Sharma from Aman Vihar area. Wanted in many cases and carrying a reward of Rs 30,000, Sharma was hiding in Dehradun since 2012 to evade arrest. Even Shahrukh Pathan, a sharpshooter who worked for the notorious interstate Jeeva Gang, confessed to have stayed in Dehradun for about a month last year. Wanted in the murder of Haridwar-based businessman Amit Dixit in March 2017, the hardcore criminal carrying a reward of Rs 60,000 was arrested from Delhi by the Special Task Force of the Uttarakhand police in November. Former director general of police Aloke Bihari Lal said a criminal rushing away to evade arrest has two things in mind. They run away from the safest escape route and theyd like to go to a place (to hide) where theres possibility of an easy hideout. Being a gateway to the Garhwal hills and the base for hill towns like Mussoorie, Dhanaulti and Chakrata, Dehradun gets more than 20 lakh tourists annually. It is well connected with Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi by roads. The distance can be easily covered in a matter of few hours. Additional director general of police, law and order, Ashok Kumar said such criminals often take advantage of interstate boundaries as officials in other states may not know about wanted status. Likewise, criminals from here hide in other states. Moreover, it is easy for people to hide in tourist places like Dehradun which have a high floating population (almost 1 lakh). With full-fledged functioning of state-of-the-art, technology based criminal tracking network and system (CCTNS), things will become difficult for such criminals looking to enter Uttarakhand, he added. Superintendent of police (city) Pradeep Kumar Rai said the police would take action against the owner of the house (where Singh and accomplices were hiding) for not carrying out police verification of tenants. Later in the day, a challan was also slapped against the house owner under the Police Act. A hardened criminal, Harsimrandeep Singh alias Simma has a long history of crime and carried a reward of Rs 2 lakh in Punjab. He had allegedly murdered a rice mill owner in Punjabs Faridkot in July last year and confessed to having committed the crime on a Facebook post. Singh along with three other accomplices was arrested after a joint operation by the Dehradun and Punjab police from Rajendra Nagar area here late on Saturday, Dehradun senior superintendent of police Nivedita Kukreti Kumar said. A revolver and six live cartridges were confiscated from Singh, who has been allegedly involved in several cases of extortion, murder, loot at gunpoint and abduction in Punjab. He hails from Bewal Kalan village in Bajakhana area of Faridkot. His accomplices - Phoolvinder Singh from Faridkot and Ramesh Kumar and Rohit Badu from Hanumangarh (Rajasthan) - were also arrested with arms. All the accused were booked under the Arms Act. The four were produced before a court on Sunday which sent them to police custody for two days. A software engineer working in Noida was on Friday kidnapped, thrashed and robbed by three youths travelling on an ungeared vehicle near Dhaula Kuan, police said. Investigators said that the crime took place on a dark stretch of Ridge Road, a few hundred metres from south Delhis Dhaula Kuan. The three accused first allegedly rammed the car of the victim with their two-wheeler, in order to make him stop and get him out of his vehicle. The victim, identified as 28-year-old Divesh Pahuja, a resident of central Delhis New Rajender Nagar, has received multiple injuries to his head due to the assault carried out by the three men, one of who even beat him up with a pistol butt . After holding him captive in his own car, the robbers drove the engineer to an ATM in west Delhis Mayapuri, where they forced him to withdraw money before fleeing. The ordeal lasted for almost an hour before the men let him go free in Naraina. Milind Dumbere, DCP (southwest), said a case of causing hurt during robbery has been registered at Delhi Cantonment police station and kidnapping charges would be added soon. There was no breakthrough in the case at the time of filing this report. Pahuja lives with his family in central Delhis New Rajender Nagar and works with a multinational firm in Noida Sector 62. Usually I drive back home via NH-24, Pragati Maidan and Ashoka Road. But on Friday, Google Maps showed a traffic jam in central Delhi and I opted to choose the DND-Ring Road-Dhaula Kuan route instead, said Pahuja. He said he had just crossed Dhaula Kuan and was on the Ridge Road around 10pm when a black scooter rammed his i20 car from behind. I stopped my car and came out to see who had caused the accident and spotted the three youths riding an ungeared vehicle, said Pahuja. When Pahuja tried getting back in his car, the men suddenly attacked him. While two of the men pushed him into the rear seat of his car, one suspect stayed behind on the scooter. One person held a pistol while the other began driving my car. The robber sitting next to me began hitting my head with the pistol butt. They wanted me to part with my wallet, alleged Pahuja. While narrating the incident, Pahuja said that he kept pleading with them to spare him and instead take all his cash but the robbers only found Rs 2,500 in my wallet. They seemed desperate and asked me to arrange Rs 50,000 more or withdraw money from an ATM, he said. He was then first taken to Mayapuri, while the third suspect followed the car on his scooter. In Mayapuri, they stopped at a lonely stretch of road, where two ATM booths were located. Before we went to the ATM, they made me wash the blood off my head and face. There was a security guard in one of the ATMs, so they were forced to take me to the other ATM booth, Pahuja said. He added that during the melee he tricked the men into believing that he had just Rs 10,000 in his account. When the robbers realised they could get no more out of him, they drove him to Naraina and fled on their scooter around 11 pm. Before leaving, they asked me if I belonged to a wealthy family. Perhaps, they also wanted to kidnap me for ransom, said Pahuja. Later, a bleeding Pahuja drove to his home, from where his family rushed him to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital where he received several stitches. Police were informed about the incident and a case was registered. The two robbers in the car with me were not masked. I can easily identify them if I saw them again, he said. A 24-year-old man was stabbed to death by four men for resisting a robbery on him and a female friend inside a park in Delhis Govindpuri on Saturday. Deputy commissioner of police (south east) Chinmoy Biswal said the incident happened around 4.30 pm. He said the victim Naresh and his friend were walking in the park when the four men came from behind and held them at knifepoint. One of them asked the two to hand over their belongings, but Naresh refused. The woman had kept her mobile phone and wallet with Naresh. According to her, one of the men took out a mobile phone from Nareshs pocket and tried to take out the other. He tried to stop them which led to a scuffle. During the scuffle, the man stabbed Naresh in the chest in front of her, said Biswal. After he fell on the ground, the four men took away their mobile phones and her wallet and fled the place. The woman then rushed out of the park and raised an alarm. With the help of a security guard and a few passers-by, Naresh was rushed to a hospital where he was declared dead. The police was informed after the guard made a call. The body was later sent for post mortem to AIIMS. Asked if the woman, too, was attacked, Biswal said she hasnt mentioned this in her statement. Reportedly, there were injuries on her body too, but Biswal said those were caused due to a fall while she was running out of the forest to seek help. Its full of stones and pebbles. While running she lost her balance and got injured, said Biswal. He added that a case of robbery and murder has been registered at Govindpuri police station. We have conducted several raids overnight and have also detained a few suspects, but so far, the accused have not been identified, said Biswal. Naresh, whose last name the police did not share, was a resident of Trilokpuri. He was working as a supervisor for a caterer. The 21-year-old woman is a resident of Tughlaqabad in south east Delhi and freelanced as a bridal make-up artist. This is the second case of a couple being attacked in a city park. Last month, a 16-year-old was gang raped while her male friend was beaten inside a park in Shalimar Bagh, northwest Delhi. Rajni Kushwaha is forced to relieve herself in the bushes even if it is in the dead of the night. It is not that her family doesnt have a toilet in their single-storey house at Aya Nagar. The toilet, she says, has become unusable due to sewage flowing from it. We cant use the toilet in our home because the commode is overflowing with drainage water from the entire neighbourhood, 36-year-old Kushwaha said. Over a hundred families in Aya Nagar an unauthorised colony in south Delhi face similar conditions in their homes. The residents blame the state irrigation and flood control department, which had laid down drain pipes in the neighbourhood, the outlets of which opened in a water body. Over the past two years, the water body has filled up with sewage water which now has started backflowing and entering the houses of Aya Nagar and threatening the lives of local residents. Thats not all. The walls of our house have become damp and some have even developed cracks. I cant let my four-year-old son go out and play as the pond right next to my house is overflowing with black, filthy water. I fear that they can fall in the water and drown, Kushwaha added. Kushwaha is not the only one in her neighbourhood who has been braving such deplorable conditions for the past two years. Life has become a living hell for more than one hundred families living in Aya Nagars G-Block, locally known as Paras Colony. Over the past two years, the water body has filled up with sewage water which now has started backflowing and entering the houses of Aya Nagar . (Burhaan Kinu/HT Photo) We cant drink water unless it is boiled or sieved as it contains a lot of impurities. You can see all kinds of black particles floating in the drinking water. Many people are falling sick. Even my daughter suffered from diarrohea last month. The water is so dirty that if you leave it for two days, worms start germinating in it, said Rajkumar Tiwari, a local. A spot check of Paras Colony last week, revealed that the area was engulfed by a foul smell and the pond was overflowing with drainage water. Sewage water had entered several houses. Some buildings had developed cracks while a few had even tilted to a side, forcing residents to abandon their homes. Locals complained about skin problems and water-borne diseases that they said were becoming increasingly common. Residents said that even though they are drinking boiled water, an epidemic or a disease outbreak was just waiting to happen. We are suffering because of the callous attitude of the state irrigation and flood control department. They had laid down piped drains in the adjacent F block of Aya Nagar a few years ago. The outlet, however, were left to open in a natural water body in G Block despite protests by locals. Now, the water body is overflowing and drainage water is entering the homes, said Ved Pal, the local councillor. Repeated attempts to reach out to the irrigation and flood control minister, the departments secretary and the chief engineer of zone 1 were unsuccessful. A senior official of the irrigation and flood control department, who was aware of the problem, said that the drain outlet was allowed to open in the water body as there was no other place. The matter had come up in a recent meeting with the deputy magistrate and sub-divisional magistrate. We are trying to come up with a solution like a permanent pump house. But as a temporary solution we are providing a motor pump to flush out some of the water when conditions aggravate, said the official. Locals, however, said that the claims were a hogwash as one motor pump was brought in and operated only for a few hours, when conditions aggravate, before being taken away. Conditions go back to being bad as soon as the pump ceases to work. Dirty, foul smelling drain water from nearby areas constantly pour into the water body throughout the day. The entrance to my house has been choked and is overflowing with water. In order to go out, we first have to climb on to the terrace, reach out to the next house and then use their staircase and entrance, said Nirmala Shunar, a local resident. Residents say sewer water flows into their houses. (Burhaan Kinu/HT Photo) While some families have reportedly abandoned their houses and have shifted elsewhere, others are living in a constant fear of their houses collapsing anytime. A portion of my house collapsed a year ago. Luckily, no one was injured. We had to spend more than Rs 3 lakh to rebuild the walls and the collapsed portion, which had caved in. But two months ago, the walls again developed cracks. We are poor people. How will we manage? said Rajesh Thakur, another local resident. Locals claimed that repeated appeals to authorities over the past two years have not yielded any results. The situation has reached such an alarming stage that the local councillor has sent a letter to the irrigation department warning that if any accident takes place, it would be the onus of the department. We have been running from pillar to post. We had also approached the south civic body. But nothing has been done. In February 2016, the sub-divisional magistrate of Mehrauli had requested the irrigation department for constructing a pump house. But till date nothing has been done. The matter has been again highlighted this month by the deputy magistrate in a meeting, said Pal. Locals alleged that life becomes all the more difficult during the monsoon season when the area gets submerged under knee-deep to waist-deep water. Even though we have dumped soil and concrete debris around our house to stop the dirty drain water from entering, during monsoon the stop-gap measure fails. Black sewage water enters our houses and we cant even get down from our beds, said Kushwaha. The situation is worsening everyday as more drainage water is pouring into the already overflowing water body. Locals alleged that earlier the outlet was allowed to open in a separate water body. The present water body was chosen later on as the earlier one had already filled up. Residents now claim that it will take a disaster in Aya Nagar for the authorities to wake up to their plight. A 24-year-old civil engineering student was stabbed to death by four men for resisting a robbery attempt when he was with a female friend at a park in south Delhis Govindpuri on Saturday. Three of the four alleged robbers have been arrested in the case as of late Sunday night, deputy commissioner of police (south east) Chinmoy Biswal said. He added that cops are on the lookout for the final suspect. The three have previous criminal records consisting of several petty crimes and they were arrested from different parts of the city, he added. Biswal said the victim, Naresh Dader, was sitting in the park with his friend around 4.30pm when the four men came from behind and held them at knifepoint. One of them asked the two to hand over their belongings, but Dader reportedly refused. The woman said she had given her mobile phone and wallet to Dader. According to the woman, one of the robbers took one of the mobile phones out of Daders pocket and tried to take out the other. Dader tried to stop the robbers, which led to a scuffle. In the ensuing scuffle, the man stabbed Dader in the chest in front his friend, said Biswal. After he fell on the ground, the four men took away the mobile phones and wallets. Before fleeing, they returned to the woman and allegedly forced her to give away the jewellery she was wearing. As soon as the robbers left, the woman rushed out of the park and raised alarm. With the help of a security guard and a few passersby, Dader was rushed to Batra Hospital where he was declared dead. The police was informed after the guard posted at the parks entrance made a call. Daders body was later sent for post mortem to AIIMS. Asked if the woman, too, was attacked, Biswal said she hasnt mentioned this in her statement. Although there were some injuries on her body, but Biswal said those were caused due to a fall while she was running out of the park to seek help. The park is full of stones and pebbles. While running she lost her balance and got injured, said Biswal. Police said Dader was a resident of Trilokpuri. His elder brother Lokesh said he had recently appeared for his final semester exam for a diploma in civil engineering he was pursuing from an institute in Dwarka. My brother wanted to apply for a junior engineer post for civic agencies after completing his studies, Lokesh said. Lokesh added that his brother would take up part-time assignments such as working for a caterer or working as a DJ to earn pocket money, but his goal was to be a civil engineer. He was very keen to finish his studies and enter the construction line he was passionate about. In fact, on Saturday too he had left home for a site my father is working in Chhattarpur before going to Govindpuri, said Lokesh. The 21-year-old woman is a resident of Tughlaqabad in southeast Delhi and worked as a freelance bridal make-up artist. This is the second case of a couple being attacked in a city park. Last month, a 16-year-old girl was gang raped while her male friend was beaten inside a park in Shalimar Bagh, northwest Delhi. Its a relatively warm winter morning and crisp sunshine is pouring in from the many glass doors and windows. The cosy setting of the lounge and drawing area, which have hosted many a dignitary, looks inviting. We are at the residence of Alexandre Ziegler, Ambassador of France to India, to talk about Frances presence at the recently-concluded World Book Fair in the Capital. This year, the European Union was the guest of honour at the New Delhi World Book Fair. We have invited the CEO of Gallimard Publishing House, Antoine Gallimard. Renowned French author and screen writer David Foenkinos was also present to participate in an engaging discussion on the subject, Lazy Sunday of Literature. His book, La Delicatesse, was recently translated in Hindi, as Nazakat, by Prabhat Ranjan, shares Ziegler, a bibliophile himself. Although the book fair in Delhi has concluded, the cultural and literary exchange between France and India hasnt. Going forward, France will be participating in book fairs in Kolkata and Jaipur. Exchange is at the core of our diplomatic mission, through our books. When we invite a French author or publisher to India, he returns to France with a piece of India that fosters other lucrative projects. Indian authors are widely published and read in France, says Ziegler, who was appointed to office in July, 2016. Before this, he was Head of the Foreign Ministers Political Office (Directeur de Cabinet). When we invite a French author or publisher to India, he returns to France with a piece of India, says Ziegler. (Amal KS/HT Photo) We take a tour of the official library on the ground floor. The musty smell of books and wooden shelves is a heady mix. The ambassador tells us that some of the editions here date back to the 1800s. We then climb up a flight of winding stairs leading to his private library. He shows us a copy of the classic French comic, Asterix which has been translated to Hindi. Many classics have been translated into Hindi by Indian publishers. The anthology of La Fontaine (Aur Unki Neetiparak Kavitayen), published by Vani Prakashan in 2015, and Rue des boutiques obscures (Main Gumshuda) by Patrick Modiano, published by Rajpal & Sons in 2016, are some of the most recent translations. Contemporary authors, like David Foenkinos, who came to New Delhi World Book Fair for the promotion of Nazakat (Rajpal & Sons), or graphic novelist Marjane Satrapi, whose bestseller, Persepolis, is scheduled to be published by Vani Prakashan next year are getting translated into Hindi, says Ziegler. The ambassador holds a degree in history from the Institut dEtudes Politiques, and is fond of classics, biographies and fiction. LInde Classique has been in my family since 1947. I make it a point to read two books a week. It helps me understand this beautiful country. Sometimes, you need to go back to some classic novels. And for that, I usually read Emile Zola, Victor Hugo and Albert Camus, he says. Maybe, one day in a few years, you will find a novel written by a former Ambassador of France to India, says Ziegler. (Amal KS/HT Photo) Browsing through his books, Ziegler explains the history of various classics. Asked if he has thought of turning author, he replies, It would be interesting to write anovel. But for the moment, I prefer to focus on my mission here in India. We have so much to do here to prepare the future. But, maybe, one day in a few years, you will find a novel written by a former Ambassador of France to India. Follow @htlifeandstyle for more At the start of winter, Dr Vinod Rastogi heads out of his home in West Delhis Uttam Nagar to board the Delhi Metro on blue line at 6 pm every Tuesday and Thursday with a backpack stuffed with medicines and a stethoscope around his neck. He changes over to yellow line to reach Patel Chowk or New Delhi station at around 7pm to offer free health checkups to the homeless living in a few of Delhi governments 259 night shelters. He carries a backpack full of paracetamol for fever, diclofenac for pain, calcium supplements, cough syrup, antiseptic and fungal ointments, among others. The ailments affecting people havent changed, what has are the facilities offered to the rotating team of doctors treating the homeless between 7 and 11pm from November to March under Delhis Mobile Health Scheme over close to 10 years under Delhis Winter Action Plan. We start treating people in shelters for common winter ailments, such as cough and cold, fever, joint pains etc. Since all shelters are full in winter because its too cold to sleep outdoors, there are always lots of patients, said Dr Rastogi, who works in the central district that covers Lutyens Delhi. Though the scheme has existed for close to a decade, the AAP government announced three weeks ago that it has constituted 10 teams of doctors to visit night shelters twice a week between 7 and 11pm. On January 5, the AAP government launched one van for de-addiction services for the homeless in their night shelters that collectively accommodate 20,000 people, but doctors on call for routine ailments have yet to get even one. We got vans, but it stopped a year ago and now I use the Metro, many others use twowheelers. Vans not only make it is safer and easier to commute between shelters at night, but also helps us cover more shelters during the allotted time, said a South-district doctor, who did not want to be named. According to the schedule, I am supposed to visit 10 to 12 shelters every night. Its impossible and also compromises on the quality of care we can provide, the doctor said. In the absence of transport, shelters off the beaten track slip between the cracks. Some of the shelters are scattered, maybe five in a 5km radius. How do we travel to all of them without a vehicle? So, most of the teams have selected the most important ones where there are more people or where the VIPs visit and go there regularly, said another doctor, on condition of anonymity. In south-east Delhis Kilokari and Sarai Kale Khan areas, the shelters havent had a single doctors visit this year. Last winter, a doctor would visit once or twice a week in a van, but this year, we have not had a single visit and the winter is already half-way through, said Ram Lal, 60. Visits are few and far between at many of the East Delhi shelters too. A doctor does visit, but there is no fixed routine. Last time, he made the caretaker throw away the medicines in the first-aid box because they had expired, and my brother had to be taken to a private clinic when he had diarrhoea, said Chander Singh, 44, sleeps in a shelter at Karkardooma. The Delhi Police on Sunday rescued a minor girl from a 32-year-old womans house in northeast Delhis Old Mustafabad, a week after the 12-year-old was allegedly kidnapped by a man on the pretext of marriage. Police have arrested the woman, who allegedly wanted to push the minor girl into flesh trade. The woman had kept the girl hostage inside a small room without food, police alleged. They are now looking for the youth who allegedly kidnapped the girl and sold her to the woman. Another man, who had molested the girl in the womans house, is also absconding. Police said the man also took away her belongings and money that she had brought from her home. Ajit Kumar Singla, deputy commissioner of police (northeast), said a case of kidnapping was registered on January 7 on the complaint of the girls family. We have arrested the woman while efforts are on to nab the youth, said Singla. The arrested woman, police said, was divorced thrice. She did not have a source of income so she attempted to push the girl into prostitution to earn money, said police. A police officer said the girl left her home on January 7 after telling her parents that she was going to meet a school friend. When she did not return home in the evening, her family started looking for her. But when she could not be found, they filed a missing complaint. A team was formed and during the probe it was learnt that the girl was kept hostage by a woman in her home. A raid was conducted and the girl was rescued and later reunited with her family, the officer said. The girl told the police that she was lured by a man in his early twenties on the pretext of marriage. The police said the reason for the death of a class 1 student of a Ghaziabad school on January 10 is unclear in the post-mortem examination report, as there was no injury mark on the body. It was alleged that the boy had allegedly died due to a beating he had received from a teacher in the school, located in Loni. The boy was a student of kindergarten and was promoted to class 1 by the school authorities on January 10. The same day, his mother had gone to the school to pay the fee. While she returned home, she got a call from the school, informing her that the boy was unwell. He was rushed to a hospital by school authorities and was later referred to GTB Hospital in Delhi, where he died. We have received the post-mortem examination report but it has remained inconclusive. It indicated no injury to the body of the victim. The viscera has been preserved for further analysis and it is upon the viscera report that any further conclusion could be drawn, HN Singh, senior superintendent of police, Ghaziabad, said. In an FIR lodged against the school authorities, the boys parents had alleged that he was beaten by his class teacher and the incident was witnessed by his sister, who is a student of class 4 in the same school. She has not gone to the school since the day of the incident. We will decide whether to send her to the same school. So far, the investigation has not progressed further. We asked the police about the post-mortem examination findings and they said that there was a contraction in the lungs. There is no conclusive cause of death in the report, the boys father, who is a shopkeeper in Loni, said. According to the officials of the district basic education department, an inquiry was set up and an official from the department was sent to inquire into the incident. The department found that the school was open despite orders for closure in the wake of harsh winter. The school was served a notice on this account. They also found that doctors at the first hospital where the child was taken to, by the school authorities, had specifically asked the school officials to take him to a higher centre in an ambulance and also on oxygen support. District basic education officer Vinay Kumar had said that the boy was instead taken on a bike to GTB Hosptial, following which he had died. Since the post-mortem examination report has remained inconclusive, we will also take expert medical opinion in this case as part of the investigation, a police officer from Loni said. Work on the Smart Grid project, which is aimed at providing uninterrupted electricity to Gurgaon, is scheduled to start later this month. As part of the Smart Grid project, the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN), a state-run discom, will construct an 800km long tunnel or duct to shift all 11KV overhead high tension electric cables underground. The move is not only aimed at facilitating round-the-clock power supply to the city by 2022, but also beautify the city as a large number of overhead electric cables and over 7,000 electricity poles will be removed from the streets as part of this ambitious project. The digging work for the duct is to start soon along the main roads in sectors 1-57. The duct will be 1-2 metres deep. The Smart Grid project is also tipped to go a long way in curbing incidents of electricity theft and faults and ensure round-the-clock distribution, a discom official said. In September 2017, the DHBVN hired two private companies to execute the project. The 11KV overhead electric cables spans 800km and runs along all the main roads of the city. The wires, supported by 7,000 electricity poles, are often an eyesore for residents and visitors and are also prone to suffering faults during the rainy season. The 11KV line supplies electricity from substations to transformers from where the retailers (domestic consumption) get household connections. All the 7,000 electricity poles supporting the 11KV line will be pulled out of the streets once the cables are shifted to the tunnel. The mazy lines of electric cables overhead will be a thing of the past. Freed of wires, the city will also look a lot better. Unlike the present distribution system, the Smart Grid project will also reduce technical faults, short circuit and pilferage. The state government is committed to supplying uninterrupted power to the city, Jaideep Fogat, executive engineer, DHBVN, said. The distribution of electricity and maintenance of power utilities is expected to improve under the Smart Grid project, the DHBVN official said. The present manual maintenance will be replaced by the Supervisory control and data acquisition (Scada), a software with a data base at all 39 substations. Rajesh Kansal, subdivisional engineer, DHBVN, said, There will be smart or advance metering and monitoring under the Smart Grid through Scada. We can monitor the utilities from the data base itself and fix a fault without disrupting supply from the substation. Now, for instance, if there is a fault in Sector 17, we stop supply from the substation to many areas to rectify the fault manually. It often takes hours to fix the fault and restore normal supply.Scada will update the fault quickly at the data base of the substation concerned and we will be able to easily fix the problem without disrupting supply to other areas. Read I Four to five-hour power cuts reported in Gurgaon The DHBVN has over 5 lakh consumers, spread across 600 group housing societies, 35 villages, over 50 municipal colonies, 75 unauthorised colonies and in sectors 1-57. Pilferage or power theft has been a big concern for the discom, as it impairs its power distribution and supply by 20-50 per cent. Sanjiv Chopra, chief engineer, DHBVN, said, Other than beautifying the city, the other advantage of the Smart Grid is that it will help us put a check on power theft. Once the risk of power theft or pilferage is nullified, we will be able to ensure uninterrupted supply to consumers. The total cost of the project has been revised to 3,500 crore and it will be completed by 2022. Overhead electricity wires pass through trees and often cause short circuits. They make it easy for people to put a hook and draw power illegally. It happens across the city. We need to crack down on this practice to boost supply, Rambir Singh, a resident of Sector 14, said. The recently revived Special Task Force (STF), which is based in Gurgaon, got its first taste of success when it arrested four shooters of the Manjeet Mahal gang, the STF spokesperson said on Sunday. The STF Gurgaon team initiated an operation after they got information that four shooters of the Manjeet Mahal gang were going to murder a member of the Jyoti Nandu gang, the spokesperson said. When the team tried to round up these shooters, they fired on the police team and tried to escape. After much toil, the STF team was able to apprehend all the shooters of the gang from Surkhpur road near Jhajjar, police said, adding that four loaded pistols, 20 live cartridges and one white-coloured Apache motorcycle were recovered from the accused. The arrested accused were identified as Sachin, a resident of Dadanpur of Jhajjar; Deepak, a resident of Kharhar of Jhajjar; Abhishek, a resident of Barwala in Hisar and Uttam, also a resident of Jhajjar. A case was registered by the STF against the four at the Jhajjar police station under sections 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), and 307 (attempt to murder) of the IPC and Arms Act. The accused have been arrested and handed over to the local police for further investigation, the spokesperson said. According to the preliminary interrogation, the four men have been found to be involved in other criminal activities, such as the theft of a Swift DZire car from Kanjhawala area in New Delhi on November 15. They were also involved in the attempted murder of a resident of Najafgard in Delhi on January 11, identified as Deepak. In August 2015, they had also attempted to murder a woman who lives in Kharhar, the accused confessed to the police. Last week, chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar ordered the revival of the STF. The STF was disbanded in 2010 by the previous Congress government following extortion charges. The decision comes in the back ground of the National Capital Region (NCR) witnessing a rise in criminal cases and gang rivalries. According to the data by the National Crime Records Bureau, Haryanas crime rate was third highest in the country, and it ranked sixth in crimes against women. The STF, which will be based at Bhondsi in Gurgaon because of its proximity to New Delhi and the NCR, will concentrate on rounding up drug dealers, breaking their supply chain, apprehending inter-state criminal gangs, illegal weapon suppliers, busting gangs active in crimes such as ATM and cattle thefts, among others. The Haryana government has called a meeting in Chandigarh on Monday to examine the status of land under the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA). The agenda for the meeting shows that the government is going to ignore the satellite images of land from 1981, and rely solely on the government record as maintained in 1980 in the process of defining forest land. The outcome of the meeting would bring Haryana a step closer to clearly defining the nature of land in the Aravallis, and how much, or little, of the protected hills would be opened to builders. The meeting comes in the backdrop of the NCR Planning Board asking the state, in November last year, to prepare a report on status of forest areas in Haryana. The report was sought as Haryanas response on areas included in the Aravallis has remained pending after the December 2016 decision to include all of NCR, with 13 cities from Haryana, in the area of Aravalli notification, 1992. Earlier, only Gurgaon and Faridabad were notified as part of Aravallis. It is important to note that the state has less than 3.7 % forest cover, mostly in Aravallis. How the state chooses to define forests on Monday may further reduce this area, environmentalists said. .on the same line of Punjab, the State of Haryana shall also initiate the process to identify the forest landinstead of dealing with the matter on case basis or only in eventuality of any orders passed either by the High Court or by the Supreme Court of India, based on the Government record maintained as on 25.10.1980, the date on which the Forest Conservation Act 1980 came into being. The said exercise shall also be carried out as expeditiously as possible without relying on the satellite imagery taken on 17.05.1981, the agenda for the meeting read. Environmentalists have raised concern that the criterion set for defining area under PLPA, i.e, relying only on government land record and not satellite imagery, goes against the SCs judgment on definition of deemed forest. The deemed forest terminology was derived from the December 1996 SC Godavarman judgment which stated that in addition to notified forests, areas recorded as forests in government records will be treated as forests for the purpose of the Forest Conservation Act (FCA). The judgment also stated that areas which meet the criterion of dictionary meaning of forest will also be treated as forest. These rules are applicable irrespective of land ownership, and to areas that were forests, but are now degraded, denuded or cleared. The starting time-period for reviewing whether an area is a forest is the current time period. If the site meets recorded or dictionary meaning criteria at present, then it will be treated as a forest for the purposes of FCA. It is only if a site does not meet the criteria of a forest at present do we have to go backwards, to see if the land in question was a forest in the past. The cut-off date for the look-back is October 25, 1980, i.e. if an area does not meet the dictionary meaning/recorded forest criteria presently, or in the past till October 25, 1980, then it will not be treated as a legal forest, environment analyst Chetan Agarwal said. Additionally, environment activists have also raised questions about states plan to follow the Punjab strategyblanket notification against case-specific notificationto identify forests in Haryana. Land status of Aravallis About 1,00,000 hectares of land fall under the Aravalis in south Haryana. More than 25,000 hectares are identified as forest under sections 4 and 5 of Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA). Around 62,000 hectares have been identified as NCZ, while another 12,800 hectares have been put under the yet to be decided category. At least 28 people, including 10 women, have so far been arrested in connection with the attack on the cavalcade of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar in Buxar district two days ago. Altogether five FIRs have been registered in connection with the incident against 99 named and 500-700 unnamed people, Buxar superintendent of police Rakesh Kumar said Sunday. We have so far arrested 28 persons 18 men and 10 women in connection with the stone-pelting incident on CMs car on Friday, the SP said. The chief ministers convoy was pelted with stones during his tour of Nandan village in Dumraon block as part of his state-wide Vikas Samiksha Yatra. Although Kumar remained unharmed, several security personnel suffered injuries and a few vehicles in the cavalcade were damaged in the stone-pelting. Those named in the FIRs were identified with the help of video footages and photographs obtained from various sources. While 28 of them have been arrested, efforts are on to nab the others, the police officer said. Divisional commissioner of Patna Anand Kishore had visited Buxar Saturday along with inspector general of police, Patna Zone, NH Khan. A thorough probe is being conducted into the incident to find out whether the attack was pre-planned and if so, who were behind it, Kishore said. Meanwhile, senior RJD leader Jagdanand Singh, who had earlier been an MP from Buxar, visited Nandan village Sunday. The government in the state wants to send the message that voices raised in support of legitimate demands will be crushed with iron hand, he said. The RJD will not tolerate injustice against poor Dalits who do not have major demands. They only wanted a word of assurance from the chief minister that the promises he has been making will indeed be fulfilled, Singh said. Opposition RJD has been accused by the ruling JD(U)-BJP combine of being behind the attack criticized the police action following Fridays incident. Arbitrarily letting junior judges head benches in the Supreme Court will harm the rule of law, four retired judges wrote to Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra on Sunday, throwing their weight behind four rebel judges in the apex court who have complained against the countrys top judge. The four senior puisne judges of the Supreme Court have brought to light a serious issue regarding the manner of allocation of cases, particularly sensitive cases, to various benches of the Supreme Court. They have expressed a grave concern that cases are not being allocated in a proper manner and are being allocated arbitrarily to particular designated benches, often headed by junior judges, in an arbitrary manner. This is having a very deleterious effect on the administration of justice and the rule of law, read the letter by the four former judges. They are Justice P.B. Sawant, a former Supreme Court judge, Justice A.P. Shah, former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, Justice K. Chandru, a former judge of the Madras High Court, and Justice H. Suresh, a former judge of the Bombay High Court. They said they agreed with the view of the rebel judges that the Chief Justice despite being the master of roster cannot assign cases in an arbitrary manner such that, sensitive and important cases are sent to hand picked benches of junior judges by the Chief Justice. This issue needs to be resolved and clear rules and norms must be laid down for allocation of benches and distribution of cases, which are rational, fair and transparent. They said this must be done immediately to restore public confidence in the judiciary and in the Supreme Court. Till that is done, it is important that all sensitive and important cases including pending ones, be dealt with by a Constitution Bench of the five senior most judges of this court. Only such measures would assure the people that the Supreme Court is functioning in a fair and transparent manner and that the power of the Chief Justice as master of roster is not being misused to achieve a particular result in important and sensitive cases. We therefore urge you to take immediate steps in this regard. The four judges -- Justices J. Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B. Lokur and Kurian Joseph -- who are the senior most after Justice Misra in that order on Friday rebelled against the Chief Justice over allocation of cases, saying the administration of the top court was not in order. The four judges also released a letter they wrote to Justice Misra a couple of months ago, conceding that he was the master of roster but that was not a recognition of any superior authority, legal or factual of the Chief Justice over his colleagues. Further improving its sex ratio at birth (SRB), Haryana has logged the highest ever ratio of 914 girls against 1,000 boys in 2017, an official release said on Saturday. It was 900 in 2016 and 876 in 2015. While 17 districts achieved the SRB of 900 or more, no district was below 880 in 2017, it said. Soon after the launch of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015, the state government launched a multi-pronged drive to check the skewed sex ratio and found that apart from qualified radiologists and doctors, there was a nexus in the state comprising quacks, untrained health workers, laboratory or x-ray technicians or operation theatre assistants. About 550 FIRs were registered under the PC-PNDT/MTP Act against the offenders after successful raids deploying decoy operations, including 126 cross-border raids in adjoining five states, since, the release said. Resultantly, an improvement was noticed that from 2011 when Haryana had the worst gender ratio among all states at 834:1000 (as per census 2011), the state witnessed an increase of 82 points in its sex ratio at birth during the past five years. Out of the 5,09,290 children born in the state during the year (January 2017 to December 2017), there were 2,66,064 boys and 2,43,226 girls. While 17 of the total 22 districts achieved an SRB of 900 or more, no district was below 880 in 2017. Panipat with SRB of 945 tops the list, followed by Yamunanagar with 943, close to 950 considered ideal from the perspective of public health. Mahendergarh, Rewari, Sonepat and Jhajjar districts having child sex ratio below 800 mark (as per 2011 census) showed improvement of 136, 91, 88, 96 points respectively, in their SRBs, the release added. A day after a ferry capsized in the Dahanu creek in Maharashtras Palghar district, the Coast Guard, which had resumed the search operations this morning, subsequently called them off after confirming that 32 of the 35 students on the boat were rescued while three drowned. The police had yesterday said that three girls drowned and five were feared missing after the private boat, Dahanu Queen, carrying around 40 students on a picnic capsized off the Dahanu coast. The boat was carrying students of the Ponda School and Junior College in Parnaka in Dahanu when it capsized, Superintendent of Police, Palghar, Manjunath Singe had said. A Coast Guard (CG) spokesperson had yesterday said that a total of 35 students were accounted for and that search operations were on to trace those missing. The total number of students on board the boat was not confirmed yesterday. However, a senior CG officer today said the boat was carrying 35 students, of whom three drowned. There were 35 students in the capsized boat, of whom three drowned. We have rescued all the remaining students and sent them for treatment to the local hospitals, Varun Augustya, CG Commandant, Dahanu Station, told PTI. He added that the CG decided to call off the search operations after the school authorities and district administration confirmed the exact number of students on the boat. We had deployed one interceptor craft, along with two helicopters, yesterday. We continued with them today as well before we called off the operations, Augustya said. He added that their counterparts in Daman assisted in the search operations. The commandant said the CG was now focussing its attention on the rescue operation to trace the missing crew members of the Pawan Hans helicopter, which had crashed off the Mumbai coast yesterday. The helicopter, with seven people on board -- five ONGC officers and two pilots -- had crashed minutes after it took off for the state-owned companys oil installation in the Arabian Sea. Earlier in the morning, a CG helicopter took off to search the waters around the Dahanu creek. The CG station at Dahanu coordinated with the local authorities and school staff before confirming the number of students on board the ill-fated boat. Three persons, including the owner of the boat, were arrested by the Palghar police late last evening. The deceased girls were identified as Sonal Bhagwan Surati, Janhavi Harish Surati and Sanskruti Mayavanshi, all aged 17, Singe had said yesterday. All three were residents of Masauli in Dahanus Ambedkar Nagar area. Dumped her neighbour who promised to marry her, a 17-year-old pregnant girl in a village in Bengals East Midnapore district has appealed to the administration to let her end her life. Written in mid-December and exposed by the media only on Saturday, her letter to the sub-divisional officer of Haldia has shocked the district administration and rights groups. The police have launched a hunt for the accused Sintu Mandal of Khanpur village in Sutahata area. His businessman father Bachaspati Mondal, who refused to take responsibility for his sons actions and even threatened the girls parents, was arrested Saturday night. Villagers said the Mandals also refused to abide by the ruling of village elders who asked Sintu to marry the girl. The meeting of the villagers was held at Khanpur on November 15 and Sintu was asked to marry the very next day. But he went into hiding and allegedly called up the girls parents and threatened to kill them if they tried to pressurise him. The daughter of a labourer, the girl also has a younger brother. In her letter, the girl who is nine months pregnant said Sintu Mandal, her neighbour, convinced her to get into a physical relationship by promising marriage but refused to tie the knot after she got pregnant. The girls parents said Sintu threatened them after she wrote to the administration. They also alleged that local police did not come to their aid despite repeated appeals. I did not get any help from the police. Under the circumstances, death is my only option. The man who promised to marry me is now declining to do so. What will the society say if I give birth to the child? Will the society accept this? Its better that I die, the girl said in the letter. Officials said she wrote to the SDO after her complaints to the police yielded no result. The girls family alleged that some policemen even asked for money for tracing Sintu. They are threatening us over phone. We are living in constant fear. Police are not taking any step only because we are poor people, the girl wrote to Purnendu Shekhar Naskar, sub divisional officer (SDO), Haldia. I will look into the matter and take action. The administration cannot give permission to anyone to take his or her life. I have asked the local police to probe the matter. We will take necessary steps, said V Solomon Nesakumar, superintendent of police, East Midnapore. We have to find the best solution, said Lina Ganguly, chairperson of West Bengal Commission for Women. Sunanda Mukherjee, former chairperson of the commission said, We have witnessed the plight of many women but this is shocking. The local administration should have acted when the victim lodged her first complaint. Four former senior judges on Sunday released a letter in support of a group of Supreme Court judges who on Friday openly criticised the way the top court was functioning. The retired judges including a former Supreme Court judge and a chief justice of the Delhi High Court confirmed they had issued an open letter to the Chief Justice of India after four Supreme Court judges held a press conference on Friday in which one of them warned that the nations democracy was under threat because of the way the top court was being run. The four sitting judges of the Supreme Court had criticised distribution of cases to judges and raised concerns about judicial appointments in the nations highest court under Chief Justice Dipak Misra. Misra has not responded to their allegations. We agree with the four judges that though the chief justice of India is the master of roster and can designate benches for allocation of work, this does not mean that it can be done in an arbitrary manner such that sensitive and important cases are sent to hand-picked benches of junior judges by the chief justice, the former judges said in the open letter on Sunday. Reuters was able to confirm that the letter was drafted and signed by four former judges PB Sawant, AP Shah, K Chandru and H Suresh. Two of the retired judges said it was important to support the group of Supreme Court judges because they had taken the bold step of speaking out publicly to protect the sanctity of the most important institution of India. Fridays public outburst by judges prompted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold an emergency meeting with his law minister on Friday but the government has refused to comment. The four former judges said in the statement that all rules and norms must be laid down clearly for allocation of cases. This must be done immediately to restore public confidence in the judiciary and in the Supreme Court, the former judges said. The son of special CBI judge BH Loya on Sunday said there was nothing suspicious about his fathers death and asked the media, politicians, lawyers and NGOs not to harass the family. The 21-year-old Anuj Loya told reporters that judge Loyas death in December 2014 was natural and described it as a sad and private matter. We are in pain and request people to not harass us as we do not have any allegations against anyone.. I am convinced it was a natural death, Anuj said two days after four senior Supreme Court justices spoke out against the allocation of cases in the court. One of the judges suggested that the trigger for their press conference had been the constitution of the bench hearing a matter relating to judge Loyas death. Two petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court for a probe into Loyas death, who died of a cardiac arrest in Nagpur on December 1, 2014. Anuj said his fathers sudden demise had made the family suspicious about his death but they no longer harboured any doubts. We have been through a hard time for the past few days reading about some media reports and are going through an emotional turmoil, so I request the politicians, lawyers and NGOs to stop asking about my fathers death, Anuj said. Asked why he was suspicious earlier, Anuj said he was 17 at the time. I was in emotional turmoil. I did not understand anything. His lawyer Ameet Naik said there was no conspiracy. We dont want to be victims of any political issue, he said. The 48-year-old justice Loya was hearing the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case in which BJP chief Amit Shah was an accused. Shah was discharged in the case. In order to check frequent confrontations between people from either sides and prevent rapid encroachment of no-mans land, officials of India and Nepal led by their Field Survey Teams (FST) on Saturday met in Bihars Motihari and amicably resolved to repair and re-erect the damaged and missing pillars meant for border demarcation. Top administrative officials of Motihari, Bettiah and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) officials from the 55, 47, 44 and 20th battalions represented the Indian side while administrative officials from Bara and Parsa districts of Nepal attended the meeting. Indian and Nepalese governments had erected around 8,000 pillars to demarcate the boundary along the 1,749-kilometer border. However, with passage of time, most of these pillars have been damaged or have gone missing. This has led to massive encroachments and infiltration of people into each others territories with the no-mans land in several areas virtually disappearing. Over the last few years, people from either sides, including forest officials, have indulged in skirmishes and confrontations over border disputes. Last year, people from Chhaudano village on Indian side and Kaliya village on Nepal side fought a pitched battle over border dispute, compelling senior officials from the two sides to intervene and separate them. In West Champarans Sushta area, the river has changed its course drastically over the last few years, washing away several demarcation pillars. In the process, it has disputed at least 6,000 acres of land along the forested stretch. Forest officials of both the countries often trade accuse each other of trespassing into each others territories. At the Saturday meeting, officials of both countries resolved to end all contentions issues related to border through bilateral discussion and re-instate the pillars at their actual locations as suggested by the two survey teams. Both sides also agreed to call a meeting of FST at Bara in Nepal soon to discuss further course of action and resolve any issues related to the survey. The resolution signed by both the nations said that the pillar repairing, erection and the ongoing survey work would be intensified at many locations. If need be, the two survey teams would carry out a fresh survey for identification and fixing of missing pillars. Saturdays meeting, however, did not raise the issue of equipping the pillars with satellite navigation. During the third meeting of India-Nepal Boundary Working Group (BWG) and field survey team held in Birgunj in June 2016, Nepals ministry of foreign affairs had announced that both the nations would enable their border pillars with GPS. Motihari DM Raman Kumar, who had attended the meeting, said, directions have been issued to SSB, circle officers and sub-divisional officers to monitor the pillar construction works and initiate punitive action against people who have encroached no-mans land. The Nepali side has also agreed to initiate similar action, Kumar said. The Pakistan Army on Saturday warned India against any misadventure, asserting that the countrys nuclear weapons were exclusively meant to foil any threat emanating from the east. The Armys response came days after Army Chief General Bipin Rawats recent remark that the force was ready to call Pakistans nuclear bluff and cross the border to carry out any operation if asked by the government. We will call the (nuclear) bluff of Pakistan. If we will have to really confront the Pakistanis, and a task is given to us, we are not going to say we cannot cross the border because they have nuclear weapons. We will have to call their nuclear bluff, Rawat said at a press conference on Wednesday. Pakistani foreign minister Khawaja M Asif also called it an irresponsible statement, not befitting his office. Amounts to invitation for nuclear encounter. If that is what they desire, they are welcome to test our resolve. The generals doubt would swiftly be removed, inshallah, he said in a tweet on Saturday. "Very irresponsible statement by Indian Army Chief,not befitting his office. Amounts to invitation for nuclear encounter.If that is what they desire,they are welcome to test our resolve.The general's doubt would swiftly be removed, inshallah." Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) January 13, 2018 Pakistan Army spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor also warned of response if India undertook any misadventure. Well, its their choice. Should they wish to test our resolve they may try and see it for themselves, Ghafoor told state-run PTV. He said General Rawats comments were unbefitting of an army chief. Asserting that India was not in a position to launch a conventional war after over nulcearisation, Ghafoor said Pakistan had credible nuclear capability exclusively meant to foil any threat emanating from the east. But we believe its a weapon of deterrence not a choice. The only thing stopping them is our credible nuclear deterrence as there is no space of war between the two nuclear states, he said. He alleged that India was using sub-conventional threat and state-sponsored terrorism to destabilise Pakistan but has failed to achieve its objectives so far. The threatening and irresponsible statement by the Indian Army Chief today is representative of a sinister mindset that has taken hold of India. Pakistan has demonstrated deterrence capability.1/2 Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) January 13, 2018 These are not issues to be taken lightly. There must not be any misadventure based on miscalculation. Pakistan is fully capable of defending itself. 2/2 Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) January 13, 2018 General Rawats remark had come in response to a question on possibility of Pakistan using its nuclear weapons in case the situation along the border deteriorated. Tired of seeing his mother struggle with a broom and mop every day in their house in Kochi, a little boy pestered his parents to get him some tools and instruments and made a robot to clean the floor. That feat opened a window for Sarang Sumesh and earned him a ticket to the Silicon Valley in US in 2016 to participate in Maker Faire festival of invention, creativity and resourcefulness. The trip was sponsored by a venture capitalist in Silicon Valley. Nine-year-old Sarang is obsessed with robots. When children of his age are busy with games and toys, Sarang is running against time delivering lectures and giving demonstrations in the country and abroad. He has just returned from Ahmedabad science fest and is getting ready for his second Maker Faire appearance in San Francisco. Rated as the youngster Tedex (thinkers, doers and idea generators conclave) speaker of the country he also spoke at Fab 12 Conference in Shenzhen in China last year. Sarang Sumesh, a 9-year-old from Kochi, has developed a special walking stick for the visually impaired, robotic tricycle and a special digital clock. (HT Photo) My role model is my father who imbibed a scientific spirit in me. I also love our former President APJ Abdul Kalam who always used to ask youngsters to dream big, said Sarang who once wanted to become a space scientist. His latest innovation is a smart car seat belt that automatically detaches in case of fire and accident which he developed in 2017. The innovation was sparked by a tragedy in Thrissur when a car in which a family was travelling suddenly caught fire. The head of the family who was at the wheels helped everyone escape but could not extricate himself from the burning car as his seat belt got jammed. Sarang got to work after the tragedy to come up with the smart seat belt. The smart seat belt can sense when the accident is happening and act accordingly. Collision will be detected by accelerometer. It can also sense fire or water and release the belt quickly, he said. In case of a collision, the belt will not release immediately but will depend on the vibration of the vehicle ensuring safety of passengers. How did the boy develop scientific temperament at a tender age? At the age of three he developed inclination for electronic goods. He used to dismantle electronic devices at a young age and refit them quickly. We noticed his prowess when he was four, said the mother Sreejaya, a former school teacher, adding he got his first lesson from his father VS Sumesh, an electronics engineer, currently working in the US. Sarang with his mother Sreejaya. (HT Photo) Sarang and his mother returned to Kochi from the US when the boy was three years old to live with his old paternal grandparents. I love experimenting with new devices. I feel innovations should help ease lives of human beings, said the fourth standard student of the Choice International School. Though he loves science he says maths is his favourite subject. Although his scientific jaunts often clash with his studies, his school co-operates fully to bloom his talent. His list of achievements is long. Besides smart seat belt and the cleaning robot, he has also developed a gas censor to check out unused wells, a special walking stick for the visually impaired, robotic tricycle, special digital clock and Lego calculator. Now he is planning to make a bigger and stronger Arduino-based (open source electronic prototyping enabling users to create interactive electronic objects) robot that can be fitted with vacuum cleaners to make them more effective. I want my country neat and clean. It is the turn of our country to show we are not lagging behind in any sphere, the youngster said with a chuckle. His inventions and innovations have got him a clutch of recognitions and honours. Last year Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan had honoured him with Young Achiever (Yuva Prathibha) award. The youngest robot maker, he is an inspiration for engineering students also. We are planning to enroll him in the next Fab Lab (Fab Lab is a small time workshop offering high-end digital fabrication) course which normally engineering grads and post-graduates do, said Kerala Startup Mission CEO Saji Gopinath. The state will do everything to keep up his scientific tempo, he added. Sarangs parents have not filed for any patent for his inventions. His mother said there are no plans for any commercial production yet. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in New Delhi on Sunday on his first visit to India to deepen defence, economic and cultural ties between the two countries that established diplomatic ties barely 25 years ago. Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke protocol to receive Netanyahu, only the second Israeli leader to visit India after Ariel Sharon in 2003, at the Palam airport where the two leaders shared a warm embrace. Indian Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi is a close friend of Israel and of mine and I appreciate the fact that he will accompany me on extensive parts of my visit, Netanyahu said before leaving for New Delhi. We are strengthening ties between Israel and this important global power. Modi, who made history in July when he became the first Indian PM to visit Israel, would accompany Netanyahu for most part of his tour that will also take him to Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Agra. Netanyahu had done the same for Modi in July. Welcome to India, my friend PM @netanyahu! Your visit to India is historic and special. It will further cement the close friendship between our nations, Modi tweeted in English and Hebrew. Israel is to invest $68.6 million in areas such as tourism, technology, agriculture and innovation over a period of four years, a senior Israeli official had said ahead of the visit. From the airport, Modi and Netanyahu headed straight to the Teen Murti Chowk in central Delhi for a ceremony to rename the war memorial as Teen Murti-Haifa Chowk. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu attend a ceremony at the Teen Murti Memorial in New Delhi to mark the formal renaming of the Teen Murti Chowk as Teen Murti Haifa Chowk on Sunday. (PTI) The three bronze statues at Teen Murti represent the Hyderabad, Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers who were part of the 15 Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade that liberated the Israeli city of Haifa on September 23, 1918 during World War 1. The renaming underscored the special link and the common history between Israel and India, Netanyahu said after the event, according to Israeli officials. Israel is one of Indias biggest weapons suppliers, exporting an average of $1 billion of military equipment each year. But days before Netanyahus arrival, India called off a deal to buy 8,000 anti-tank guided missiles from Israels state-owned defence contractor Rafael. Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara Netanyahu on their arrival at the Palam airport in New Delhi on Sunday. (Arvind Yadav/HT PHOTO) In December, New Delhi had voted in favour of a UN resolution denouncing US recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital. The relationship is an all-weather relationship... so strong and so important to both countries that our feeling is that nothing can reverse it, Israeli ambassador to India Daniel Carmon had said on Friday on being asked about the vote. External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj called on Netanyahu in the evening while Modi hosted him for a private dinner. Karnataka has already started diverting water from the Mahadayi river which would have otherwise flowed into Goa, its Water Resource Minister Vinod Palienkar said on Saturday, and termed Kannadigas harami (illegitimate). He later said that the abuse was uttered in the spur of the moment and requested the media to expunge the abusive word. Briefing reporters shortly after he visited the water diversion site to Kankumbi region in north Karnataka, he also said that the neighbouring state was indulging in petty politics, while also underplaying the letter written by Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to Karnataka BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa, where he promised to discuss sharing of drinking water on humanitarian grounds. I went with a team of Water Resource department officials to the site and saw that the work on the head regulator was on and the flow of water which comes to Goa was being stopped and diverted towards Karnataka. The photographs are clear. I have spoken to the Chief Minister and have given him the whole report, Palienkar said. He also said, that he had taken police personnel along with him for protection during his visit to site. They are harami people. They can do anything. I told reporters in Karnataka that their government is doing a dirty thing, by violating court orders. Karnataka is trying to destroy Goas identity by diverting the Mahadayi water. We will not let them succeed. Our North Goa Collector has today (Saturday) itself written a strong letter to her Belgaum counterpart asking to stop all construction works going on in contravention of the orders of the tribunal as well as the Supreme Court, Palienkar said. Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra are currently involved in a dispute in the tribunal over controversial Kalsa-Bhandura dam project across Mahadayi river, through which Karnataka aims to divert water from the Mahadayi basin to nearby basin on the Malaprabha river. Mahadayi, also known as the Mandovi river, is considered as a lifeline in the northern parts of the coastal state. It originates in Karnataka and meets the Arabian Sea in Panaji in Goa, while briefly flowing through Maharashtra. The river course is 28.8 km in Karnataka, and over 50 km in Goa. Parrikars letter to Yeddyurappa last month to discuss river water sharing for drinking purposes on humanitarian grounds had triggered popular protests in both Goa and Karnataka. Maharashtra recorded 1,39,706 illegal mining cases between 2013 and 2017, the highest number in the country, revealed data submitted by the Union environment ministry before the Rajya Sabha on January 3. However, the state had one of the lowest number of prosecutions in such cases. The state filed 712 first information reports (FIR) and one court case, while seizing around 1,39,000 vehicles used in illegal mining operations and collecting Rs 267 crores as fines from offender. India recorded 4,16,410 cases during the same time, which means Maharashtra accounts for 33.5% of all cases in the country. Uttar Pradesh recorded 36,054 illegal mining cases, Madhya Pradesh 46,193, Karnataka 33,390, and Goa had 3 cases. The information was submitted in response to a query on the environmental impact of illegal mining. The cases involve mining of sand, iron ore, bauxite, chromite, coal, and stone in Maharashtra. The high number of cases in Maharashtra can be clearly attributed to better detection, documentation and reporting related to illegal mining as the district administration in the state is more vigilant, said Satish Gavai, additional chief secretary, state environment department. The revenue administration and police are hand-in-glove with these illegal mining activities with areas distributed for mining purposes. Fortunately, this is not the case in Maharashtra, and the reason lesser cases are reported from other states. Illegal mining cases are being observed along fringes of tier I and II cities in Maharashtra where construction development is under way. The environmental impact includes loss of forest cover, habitat and biodiversity of an area, soil erosion, groundwater contamination and permanent destruction of hilly areas, said geologists. Excessive mining close to infrastructure projects loosens the foundation. The long term effects of such activities may lead to disasters such as bridge collapses or even inundation, said V Subramanyan, geologist and former head of department, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-B) Bombay, Geology department. HT had reported in April last year that the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) found that India was facing an environment crisis with illegal sand mining fetching $ 250 million (Rs 1,611 crores) in profits every year. Sand mining is a major environmental concern which may threaten the existence of over 70% of the worlds beaches, according to the United Nations Environment Programme. Excessive sand mining is responsible for affecting the natural flow of rivers by creating pits along the river bed, that can be disastrous in the long term for any ecosystem, said Subramanyan. The most important environmental requirement for a mining project is a comprehensive environment assessment programme, said Sumaira Abdulali from Awaaz Foundation, who has filed the only case related to illegal mining at the Bombay HC. The figures accurately indicate that illegal mining is rampant in Maharashtra. In spite of several measures, vested interests in the form of mafia have made this into an environmental disaster, she said. Gavai said the solution is to make regulations people-friendly so that there is better compliance. A group of Maoists torched the only bus connecting several remote locations in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh, cutting off the travel and trade lifeline of nearly 50 villages in south Bastar, police said on Sunday. The bus service in the region affected by left-wing extremism was reintroduced in May last year after 12 years, much to the relief of hundreds of villagers. A private bus operator provided the daily service between Dornapal town and Jagargonda village with state patronage. About a dozen Maoists stopped the bus between Chintagufa and Burkapal around 5.30pm on Friday, forced the passengers and the driver get out, and set it on fire, said a Sukma police officer who did not want to be named. There were 40 to 45 passengers on the bus. The bus service during its launch in May 2017. (HT file photo) The bus route cuts through the Maoist heartland, where security forces have been battling the insurgents in an unending cycle of violence. In April last year, Maoists killed 25 CRPF troopers in an ambush at Burkapal, which is on the bus route. Sukmas superintendent of police Abhishek Meena said, Security forces never used the bus, only locals did. There was no reason to target the bus, adding that the Maoists were frustrated after suffering extensive losses in recent encounters with security forces. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in India on Sunday for a six-day visit with the intention of strengthening bilateral relations even more. Netanyahu is being accompanied by the largest business delegation that has travelled with an Israeli Premier on an overseas tour. The visit marks 25 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and takes place about six months after Prime Minister Narendra Modis trip to Israel, the first by an Indian Prime Minister to the Jewish state. Netanyahu will hold meetings with President Ram Nath Kovind and external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, apart from Modi. Here are the highlights: 8.55pm: PM Modi hosts dinner for his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu in New Delhi, according to ANI. 8pm: Warm and engaging conversation on various aspects of our bilateral ties aimed at strengthening our strategic partnership, external affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted after the Sushma Swaraj-Netanyahu meeting. 6.05pm: PM of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu called meets external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi. 4.45pm: Mere dost Shriman Narendra Modi ji, mein aapse dobara milkar kaafi prassanata mehsoos kar raha hu, Netanyahu tweets in Hindi. 4.40pm: I am so happy to meet you again, my friend @PMOIndia @NarendraModi! tweets Netanyahu. 4.32pm: Thank you to my good friend, Indian PM Narendra Modi , who surprised me with a personal welcome at airport upon my arrival in India. Together we will bring the relations between our countries to new heights! tweets Netanyahu. 4.30pm: Benjamin Netanyahu thanks good friend PM Narendra Modi for personally welcoming him on his arrival in India. 3.45pm: One of these pages was written 100 years ago, in the sacrifice of Indian soldiers at Haifa. The sacrifice commemorated at Teen Murti observes its centenary. Naming this spot as Teen Murti-Haifa Chowk marks this historic occasion. In the presence of the Prime Minister of Israel, we pay homage to the brave soldiers, Modi writes in the visitors book at the Teen Murti-Haifa Chowk memorial. 3.30pm: PM Modi says he salutes the great Indian traditions of selfless sacrifice and penance of Indian soldiers, who laid down their lives during the liberation of the city of Haifa and the First World War. 3.15pm: Delhis Teen Murti Chowk formally renamed as Teen Murti Haifa Chowk, dedicated to India-Israel relations. 3pm: PM Modi, Benjamin Netanyahu attend ceremony to rename Teen Murti Chowk after the Israeli city of Haifa. 2:40pm: Welcome to India, my friend PM @netanyahu! Your visit to India is historic and special. It will further cement the close friendship between our nations, Modi tweeted in English and Hebrew. 2:30pm: The two leaders sign the visitors book at Teen Murti, reports ANI. 2:25pm: PM Modi and Netanyahu lay a wreath at the Teen Murti memorial, where they were received by army chief General Bipin Rawat and foreign secretary S Jaishankar. Delhi: Israel PM Netanyahu & PM Modi lay wreath at Teen Murti Chowk #NetanyahuInIndia pic.twitter.com/M2lTuNLpAs ANI (@ANI) January 14, 2018 2.15pm: The two will shortly attend a solemn ceremony at the Teen Murti Memorial in Delhi to mark the formal renaming of the Teen Murti Chowk as the Teen Murti Haifa Chowk. 2pm: Netanyahu will be visiting Agra, Gujarat and Mumbai and will be accompanied by Modi on extensive portions of his visit, a press statement said. 1:40pm: Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Netanyahu at the Delhi airport. He welcomed Netanyahu with a hug upon his arrival. 1.30pm: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu arrives in Delhi, reports ANI news agency. Even before it has fully taken off, Prime Minister Narendra Modis ambitious initiative to transform the countrys 115 backward districts has suffered a setback. Odisha, West Bengal and Kerala have opted out of the scheme for not being consulted early enough and dubbing it as an attempt to undermine the spirit of federalism by the BJP-led central government. At least two senior officials at the NITI Aayog the federal think tank led by Modi as its chairman that is steering the programme confirmed that the three states have refused to join the initiative, which was dubbed as an example of cooperative federalism. The officials said the Centre was making efforts to get them on board. The scheme, called Transforming India by 2022, aspires to rapidly transform backward districts that are lacking on key development indices in health, nutrition, education, agriculture, skill development, financial inclusion and basic infrastructure. The BJP is seen as an emerging political rival to the ruling parties in all three states the CPI(M) in Kerala, BJD in Odisha and Trinamool Congress in West Bengal. A senior official in Kerala, one of the first states to object to the initiative, said, In a cooperative federal structure, the state should have been asked first rather than told (about the scheme). The manner in which it was done was pretty obtrusive. Even West Bengal and Odisha see it as an attempt to undermine the spirit of federalism. There are several political parties involvedThere should have been consultation first before appointing prabhari officers, the official added. The states have objected to the choice of districts and officials being appointed without consulting them. To steer the initiative, the government has appointed 115 senior officials at the centre in charge of each of the districts as prabhari officers. Most of these officers are from the cadre of the state in which the districts lie and have worked there as young officers. The three states refused to sign the MoU (memorandum of understanding). As of now, we are down to 102 districts, one of the officials associated with the project said. At least four states asked for change in the districts and we agreed. These (three) states could have done the same, the second NITI official said. The project requires the state to sign an MoU saying it will form a committee under the chief secretary and appoint secretary-level officers to coordinate with the appointees of the Centre. The CPI(M)-led Kerala wanted the project discussed in the Zonal council or the National Development Council both bodies which comprise of ministers from the states and the Centre first. Odisha chief secretary Ajit Padhi refused to comment on why his state pulled out, responding through a text message. This is a sensitive matter and I wouldnt like to talk about it to the media, he wrote. BJD leader and partys chief whip in the Lok Sabha, Tathagata Satpathy said the Centre acted unilaterally. Very soon a time might come when the BJP will not be in power at the Centre and they should realise this can happen to them, the senior leader said. Political initiative must go hand-in-hand with military operations in Jammu and Kashmir to bring peace, Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat said on Sunday, and favoured ramping up military offensive to pile up heat on Pakistan to stop cross-border terrorism in the state. Gen Rawat said the armed forces operating in the state cannot be status quoist and must evolve new strategies and tactics to deal with the situation, which he feels is marginally better since he took over a year ago. In an interview to PTI, the Army chief asserted that there was room for ramping up heat on Pakistan to cut flow of cross border terror activities, clearly indicating that the Army will continue its policy of hot pursuit in dealing with militancy. The political initiative and all the other initiatives must go simultaneously hand-in-hand and only if all of us function in synergy, we can bring lasting peace in Kashmir. It has to be a politico-military approach that we have to adopt, the Army chief said. In October, the government had appointed former Intelligence Bureau chief Dineshwar Sharma as its special representative for a sustained dialogue with all stakeholders in J-K. When the government appointed an interlocutor, it is with that purpose. He is the governments representative to reach out to the people of Kashmir and see what their grievances are so that those can then be addressed at a political level, the Army chief said. Asked whether there is room for ramping up pressure on Pakistan to force it to stop sending terrorists to the state, he said, Yes, you cannot be status quoist. You have to continuously think and keep moving forward. You have to keep changing your doctrines and concept and the manner in which you operate in such areas. Gen Rawat said the Army will have to evolve new strategies and new tactics to deal with the situation. At the same time, he said an overall approach was required to deal with the Kashmir issue. Since beginning of last year, the Army pursued an aggressive anti-terror policy in Jammu and Kashmir and, at the same time, forcefully responded to all ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control with a tit-for-tat approach. Military is only part of the mechanism to resolve the Kashmir issue. Our charter is to ensure that the terrorists who are creating violence in the state are taken to task and those who have been radicalised and are increasingly moving towards terrorism are prevented from doing so, he said. Gen Rawat said some youths continue to be radicalised and are joining militancy. The Army has been trying to maintain pressure on terror groups, he said. The Armys aim is to ensure that it continues to maintain the pressure on the terrorists and those fomenting trouble there, Gen Rawat said. But at the same time, we have to also reach out to the people, he said. Asked whether the situation in Kashmir has improved since he has taken over as the Army chief a year ago, Gen Rawat said, I am only seeing a marginal change in situation for the better. I do not think it is time to become over confident and start assuming that the situation has been brought under control because infiltration from across the borders will continue. The LoC has remained volatile in the last year. According to official figures, 860 incidents of ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops were reported in 2017 as against 221 the year before. India has also been effectively retaliating to Pakistani firing and even crossed the LoC to punish Pakistani troops on several occasions as part of tactical operations. Several former judges and the countrys premier statutory body for lawyers stepped up efforts on Sunday to end an unprecedented crisis in the higher judiciary in which the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and four senior judges of the Supreme Court are pitted against each other. A seven-member committee of the Bar Council of India (BCI) met at least seven Supreme Court judges, including CJI Dipak Misra and the courts senior-most judge, Justice J Chelameswar, in an attempt to broker peace from within the legal fraternity and without any outside interference. (Highlights) The BCI chairman, Manan Kumar Mishra, who was heading the delegation, expressed confidence that the rift would be resolved soon. We met CJI in a congenial atmosphere. Everyone we talked to has assured us that matter will be sorted out, he said. Earlier in the day, Mishra met justices Chelameswar, Kurian Joseph and MB Lokur three of the four who held the shock press conference on Friday and expressed similar confidence: We have been told that there is no crisis. It is an internal matter. I am sure a solution will be found in two to three days. A source privy to the meetings said one of the judges told Mishra that the dispute was not personal and the issues raised were solely in the interest of the institution. A full court meeting, involving all the Supreme Court judges, is likely on Monday. The BCI delegation, which also met Justices RK Agrawal, AK Goel and Arun Kumar Misra on Sunday, is planning to speak to all the 25 judges of the court over the next two days The judicial fraternity has been shaken since four SC judges Justices Chelameswar, Kurian Joseph, Ranjan Gogoi and MB Lokur publicly questioned on Friday the CJIs administration of the court and his allocation of judges for important cases. On Sunday, four retired judges -- Justice PB Sawant of the Supreme Court, former chief justice of the Delhi high court AP Shah, former Madras high court judge K Chandru and former Bombay high court judge H Suresh -- said in an open letter to the CJI that the issue of allocation of cases be resolved within the judiciary to restore public trust and confidence. We agree that though the Chief Justice of India is the master of roster and can designate benches for allocation of work, this does not mean that it can be done in an arbitrary manner such that sensitive and important cases are sent to hand-picked benches of junior judges by the chief justice, the four former judges wrote. In another missive, Vikas Singh, the president of Supreme Court Bar Association met the CJI and handed him a resolution by the organisation that represents lawyers of the apex court. The resolution, passed on Saturday, expressed grave concern over differences among the judges of the Supreme Court. The body seemed to support the argument of the four dissenting judges, saying that important matters should either be dealt with either by the CJI or by the senior-most judges of the court. Three Bangladeshi prisoners escaped from the Alipore Central correctional home in South Kolkata, ostensibly by drugging prison guards, the jail authorities said. The matter came to the light during customary head counting of prisoners on Sunday morning. The state government ordered a departmental inquiry into the incident and placed under suspension five jail guards for dereliction of duty. I have already ordered departmental enquiry and suspension of those whose negligence resulted into such an incident. Our government will not tolerate any kind of callousness on the issue of jail security, West Bengal correctional services minister Ujjal Biswas said. He admitted serious lapses on part of prison guards on duty on Saturday night led to the incident. On December 2 last year, jailed ISIS suspect Mohammed Musiruddin alias Abu Musa, arrested for his alleged role in Burdwan blast slashed the throat of a jail warden in the correctional home, exposing the security lacunae. Officials of the state correctional services department said preliminary investigations revealed that prisoners made the daring escape by tranquilizing guards by offering them sedative-laced sweets. To climb down the prison walls they used bed sheets as ropes, said a prison department official requesting anonymity as he is not authorised to speak to media. Despite repeated attempts additional director general (correctional services) Arun Kumar Gupta could not be contacted as he refused to take calls. Another official of the department said that all the three were locked in Ward number 7 of the home at 6pm on Saturday. Even when the routine counting was done at 12 midnight, they were present. But during the counting on Sunday morning, it was found that Faruq Hawladar, Iman Chowdhury and Firdous Seikh were missing, he said. Firdous (29), a resident of Madaripur of Bangladesh, was arrested in 2014 in connection with a robbery case. Faruq (24), a resident of Bagerhat in Bangladesh, was arrested in 2013 under the Arms Act while Chowdhury (25) was arrested in 2014 in connection with a kidnapping case. A speeding truck ploughed into an autorickshaw on Sunday on the national highway 43 in Gumla in Jharkhand, killing 11 people and injuring five, police said. The accident took place near Palmadipa village under Bharno police station area around 8.30pm, they said. Those travelling in the autorickshaw were returning home in Bharno from a fair on the occasion of Makar Sankranti in Bero in the same district. Eleven people were killed on the spot, while five suffered grievous injuries, superintendent of police Anshuman Kumar said. The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital, from where doctors referred them to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Science in Ranchi. Kumar rushed to the spot along with deputy commissioner Sharvan Sahay. A US-based Indian engineer recently married his gay partner in Yavatmal, about 150 km southwest of Nagpur in a traditional vedic wedding ceremony ahead of the Supreme Court reviewing Section 377 of the Indian penal code (IPC) which crimilalises gay sexual relations. Hrishi Sathawane (40) from Yavatmal who now lives in Fremont, California and hVinh, a Vietnamese, met in October 2016 through an online dating website and got engaged in April last year. Hrishi graduated from IIT-Powai in 1997 and is US green card holder. Hrishis parents opposed him when he told them that he wanted to get married in Yavatmal. But he was firm and came to Yavatmal in the last week of December. He then booked a hotel for a get-together. An estimated 70-80 people including around 10 gay couples gathered there in the evening on December 30 for the marriage. His father, Mohan Kumar Sathawane who runs a photo studio at Yavatmal eventually agreed to the marriage after a lot of persuasion, but his mother did not attend the marriage. When contacted, Mohan Kumar refused to talk about the issue. But he confirmed that his son left the country after the marriage. Hrishi admitted in social media that his parents were against his decision. But I succeeded in convincing them, and many others in his circle, to bless me as I joined my gay fiance Vinh in wedlock, he said in a WhatsApp message. Gay marriage is illegal in India. When the news spread in the city, additional superintendent of police Amarsingh Jadhav directed the city police station to investigate the matter and submit a report soon. Two Muslim youths, aged 21, who went out for Basirhat in West Bengal on July 4 the day communal violence over a blasphemous social media post reached its peak in the town have not returned home since then, police and family members said. The family of one of the missing youths, Alamgir Mondal, a resident of Ankipur village, lodged a complaint with Basirhat police station on July 9, while the family of the other, Arafat Gharami, a resident of Ganrakuli, filed the complaint with neighbouring Hasnabad police station on July 8. The police took the families to several hospitals in Kolkata, where the injured were admitted, and the jails, where people arrested in connection with violence were kept. However, Mondal and Gharami, or their bodies, were not found anywhere. Neither the administration nor any rights group or organisations working for the Muslims got in touch with the families since. Officers at Basirhat and Hasnabad police stations, who are not authorised to speak to the media, on condition of anonymity said that the cases were not pursued because the families stopped following up. Text messages to C. Sudhakar, district superintendent of police, North 24-Parganas, elicited no response. While Arafats father Imadul did not admit it, their neighbours, who refused to be identified, alleged that the family stopped pursuing the case with the administration under pressure from some local influential persons. We are people with almost no connections. What can we do? We stopped looking for him, he said. Basirhat Uttar MLA, CPI(M)s Rafiqul Islam Mondal, said, I have heard about them, but none came to me for help. Trinamool Congresss Basirhat unit chief, A T M Abdullah, echoed him. In August, we contacted the families. They were supposed to come to our office in Kolkata so that we could help them move court. However, possibly under pressure, the families backed out, said Ranjit Sur, vice-president of Bengals largest rights organisation, Association for Protection of Democratic Rights. Violence broke out in Basirhat and neighbouring Baduria on July 2 over an offensive Facebook post by a minor Hindu boy and continued till July 6. One person, Kartik Ghosh, succumbed to the wounds sustained in a clash. Alamgir left for Basirhat town just like every other morning. Labour contractors gather at the town everyday looking for workers to work at fisheries. Usually these labourers work till 11.30-12.00 and have their lunch at home. Alamgir did not come back for his meal, said Mofazzal Haque, a neighbour, who visited the hospitals and jails in search of him. Alamgir, a daily labourer, was the sole bread earner for his septuagenarian grandparents, and they are now on the verge of starvation. He must have been killed, said Maijuddin Mondal, 75, who struggles to walk even with the help of a stick. His wife, Mairam Bibi, 70, can hardly leave her bed. A month after Alamgir went missing, the elderly couple sent his 18-year-old wife, Masuma Khatun, back to her paternal home, as they could not afford to feed an extra mouth. The couples only son Babar Ali Mondal, who lives separately with his family, irregularly earns Rs 200 a day. Gharami, a tailor, had gone to Basirhat town, five kilometres from their home, to get spare parts for his fathers cycle repairing shop. He took an auto-rickshaw ride. By the time he reached Basirhat, heavy rain had started. He left his phone, wrapped in a plastic packet, in the vehicle. Communal violence started around the same time. We were frantically calling his number to ask him to come back but it went on ringing. In the evening, the auto-driver came back with the phone and said that Arafat never came back to his vehicle, said Tarikul Islam, brother-in-law, and a resident of Moilakhola in Basirhat. When the family first went to the police on July 5, they were sent to Basirhat hospital. From the hospital, they learnt about 26 persons, including two seriously injured unidentified persons, were referred to R G Kar Medical College and Hospital (RGKMCH) in Kolkata. At RGKMCH, the doctors allegedly confirmed admitting 24 persons six of whom were sent to SSKM hospital but denied any knowledge about two unidentified persons. A 25-year-old farmer was on Sunday attacked by a tiger in the Khandar area of the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, a top forest official said. The victim, identified as Ramkesh Gujjar, a resident of Ganesh Nagar village on the periphery of the reserve, had taken his goats for grazing in the forest when he was mauled by the tiger, said Ranthambore field director YK Sahu. He received injuries on his eyes, back and neck, and has been referred to the SMS hospital in Jaipur, he said. Earlier too incidents of man-animal conflicts have been reported from the Khandar area of the reserve. In May 2015, a 35-year-old man was attacked by a tiger in the buffer area of Khandar. He received a head injury but later recovered. Similarly in November 2017, a tiger entered the fields in Talwada village in Khandar and attacked Gori Shankar, a farmer. Expert said such man-animal conflicts would increase in the future due to the increase in the number of big cat population in the reserve. The tiger population in the reserve has increased to 70, the highest in the in reserves history, some of them said. During drought, when there is lack of water or fodder, villagers enter the forest in search of fodder for the cattle which increase the chances of man-animal conflicts, they said. The state forest department will soon relocate tigers to the Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve from Ranthambore in what will be the countrys first relocation of big cats to decongest a wildlife habitat. The kite-flying season has arrived in Rajasthan, but there are not enough kite buyers in the market. Kite traders blame the Goods and Service Tax (GST) for their low business, saying that the new tax had increased the kite prices. Earlier there was no tax on finished kites, but now there is 5% GST on it, said Mangilal, a leading kite trader of Kota. The cost of raw material, including kite paper, has also increased under the GST. The tax on kite paper has increased from 5% to 12%, thus adding to the cost further. A large quantity of kites is imported in Rajasthan from Agra, Bareilly and Ahmedabad cities. The cost of saddi (cotton thread) and charkhi (a drum like article around which the thread is entwined), two other items used in kite-flying, has also increased due to the new tax. GST on charkhi and saddi is 18% and 5% respectively. Mohammad Imran, another kite trader on Kota, said that the demand of kites has dropped by around 40%. Earlier, 100 kites used to cost around 70, but the same number of kites now cost 90, he said. The kite traders are still to understand the complexities of the GST, as the business comes under the unorganised sector. As a result of the high costs of kites, kite-flyers are buying lesser kites. I am buying lesser kites and thread this Sakranti because the costs are very high, said Abhishek Sharma. Makar Sakranti will be celebrated in Kota and other parts of Rajasthan on Monday. Kite-flying is seen as an integral part of the celebrations. Jaipur will soon have a mini plant of camel milk. Rajasthan State Cattle Raiser Welfare Board chairman Gordhan Rainka on Saturday said, with efforts of chief minister Vasundhara Raje, a mini plant of camel milk will be set up on the lines of Saras Dairy, with the help of state government and Saras Dairy in Jaipur. Rainka said that the plant will be set up by the end of this financial year. Camel milk tends to lose all its quality if added with cow or buffalo milk.Therefore, a mini plant for camel milk will be set up. The plant will cost Rs 7 crore. On Jaipur being selected for camel milk plant despite most of the camel population being in western Rajasthan, Rainka said, Camel milk is high on demand in Mumbai, Delhi and other places in the country and abroad. Since Jaipur has the flights service, the milk can be easily sent to these places. He added that bulk milk cooler plants will be set up at seven divisional headquarters- Jaipur, Ajmer, Bharatpur, Kota, Udaipur, Jodhpur and Bikaner. After Jaipur, a mini plant for camel milk will be set up at Bikaner too. Referring camel milk as white gold, Rainka said that Food Safety Standards Authority of India has given permission to buy and sell camel milk across the country. There is a heavy demand for camel milk as researches have proved that it is useful in diabetes, autism and other diseases. The board chairman said, for the first time, camel has been declared as state animal and in the light of decreasing number of camels, the government has started awarding Rs 10,000 for every camel calf. The ban on camel trade has been lifted this year, so that camel can be easily purchased. All tourist spots, including lesser-known destinations dotting Uttarakhand, will now be easily accessible to even budget tourists through the easily affordable Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS), additional chief secretary Om Prakash said. Under the scheme beginning by March end, even budget tourists will be able to fly to the tourist spots by paying cheap air fares. It will give a substantial boost to tourism in the state, Prakash said, referring to the centrally funded Udan (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik), or the Regional Connectivity Scheme. Subsidised air fares will be in the range of 1,400 to 2,000 per person for fixed wing aircraft and 3,000 to 500 per person for helicopters, which will be run by private operators. The process of implementing the scheme relating to the low cost regional flights was expedited. (In that connection), talks will again resume with the Centre next week, he said, adding that an agreement was already signed between the Centre and the state regarding the scheme. The process of expanding airports, air strips and helipads and getting security measures would not take much time, the official said. We are readyonce we get the Centres nod, those measures will be ready before March. According to civil aviation sources, Heritage Aviation and Deccan Airlines have already approached the government with offers to introduce low cost regional flights. Prakash, however, said he had no knowledge about it. This is an issue between the Centre and airline operators. Some of them may have approached with proposals to introduce flights but we have no idea. Later, chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat told Hindustan Times that some airliners had approached with offers. Prakash said affordable regional flights would not only boost tourism but also ensure a quick and hassle free air journey for tourists. They will be spared the time consuming and tiresome journey by hill roads and also harassment by taxi operators who fleece customers. Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board joint director VS Chauhan listed yet another advantage of low cost flights operating in the state. Such flights will also make the remote and lesser known destinations easily accessible to tourists, giving a much needed boost to tourism in those spots. Reaching the destinations would not be difficult for tourists as most of them are not far off from areas where landing facilities for aircraft or helicopters are available, he said. Pilgrim arrival to the Kedarnath has increased manifold in the past few years as it is equipped with landing facilities for aircraft as well as helicopters, he said, citing an example. Such facilities are being developed in all hill districts in Garhwal and Kumaon. Rajput organisations on Sunday announced their support to the Congress in the upcoming bypolls. The community leaders will campaign for Congress candidates on all three seats. Miffed with the state governments indifference, the traditional and sizeable BJP vote bank extended their support to the Congress on all three seats. Bypolls to the Alwar and Ajmer Lok Sabha and Mandalgarh assembly constituencies will be held on January 29. The Rajput community is unhappy with the state BJP government. The community feels cheated. The agreement inked in the Anandpal encounter case has not been followed. In the Chatur Singh case, we demanded a CBI probe but nothing happened. Also, a sum of 3.5 crore service tax has been imposed on Rajput Sabha Bhawan, Shri Rajput Sabha president Giriraj Singh Lotwara said. I have been voting for the BJP for last two decades but the party has made all efforts to ruin us, so many cases have been made against us, he added. On Sunday, Ajmer Congress candidate, Raghu Sharma, met Rajput leaders seeking support in the bypolls. Leaders of Rajput organisation such as Shri Rajput Sabha, Marwar Rajput, Rashtriya Karni Sena, Rawna Rajput, Charan Rajput, Pratap Foundation etc have assured unconditional support to the Congress on all three seats. Community leaders will campaign for Congress candidates in Ajmer on January 16 and Alwar on January 18. It will be a wake-up call for BJP. The representatives of the community in the government MLAs and minister did not even come once when the community was in pain and remained tight-lipped, he said. Congress spokesperson and Jaipur district president Pratap Singh Khachariyawas alleged that there have been a lot of atrocities on the Rajput community by the ruling BJP government. The community was targeted and a number of cases were lodged against them. None of the MLAs and ministers spoke up against the issues, be it Padmavati, Anandpal, Chatur Singh or Raj Mahal hotel issue. The Rajput organisations have assured support on all three seats and this will come as a big jolt to the BJP. We have also assured the Congress support to the community, said Khachariyawas, who was accompanying Sharma. Six people were killed and four injured when an SUV they were travelling in overturned near Nagla Nirbhan village in Bayana sub-division of Bharatpur district on Sunday. Police said that Sanjay Jatav (25), a resident of Bayana, was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Bharatpur after he had fallen from a roof on Saturday night. Ten people, including his family members and relatives, were coming to Bharatpur in a Xylo (MH14-FS-1284) to see him at the hospital when the driver lost control of the speeding vehicle and it overturned, said Khaleel Ahamad, the station house officer (SHO) of Bayana police station. After receiving the information, a police team reached the spot, he said. Five of the passengers were killed on the spot, while one died during treatment at a hospital in Bharatpur, the SHO said. Rajkapoor Jatav (26), son of Bhagwan Singh, a neighbour of Sanjay, died during treatment at a hospital in Bharatpur, he said. He was the only son of his parents. Five other deceased were identified as Sanjays wife Nargesh Devi (25) and his brothers wife Babita Devi (28), both residents of Bayana, and his relatives Juli (20), Julis brother Manjit Jatav (30) and Ramfal Jatav (60), all residents of Hindaun City. Among the four injured were Vimla Devi (45) and her two sons Sahil Jatav (17), Shailesh Jatav (13) from Jatav Colony in Hindaun City. They were undergoing treatment at the government hospital in Bayana. Sahbag Jatav (11), son of Sanjay and Nargesh, was referred to a private hospital in Bharatpur, where his condition was stated to be critical, the SHO said. Ahamad said that the accident took place due to negligence of the SUV driver. He was speeding and lost control of the vehicle, resulting in the accident, he said, adding that the driver fled the scene of accident. The police are searching for him, he added.The bodies were later shifted to the mortuary at government hospital in Bayana. Meanwhile, in another road accident on Saturday evening, three people were killed and two dozen injured when a private mini bus overturned on the National Highway 11-B in the Sar Mathura police station area of Dholpur district. The private bus was coming from Karauli to Sar Mathura when the driver lost its control resulting in the accident, police said. After receiving the information, police reached the spot and rushed the injured to hospital for treatment. The agriculture department of Rajasthan is planning to experiment with the use of hydroponics technique in the cultivation of a few vegetables. An Australian delegation visited the governments centre of excellence at Bassi in Jaipur district recently to study the prospects of introducing the technique in the state. Soon, the Australian government will send a formal proposal for sharing this technique with Rajasthan, after which the work will start, said Prabu Lal Saini, the state agriculture minister. Hydroponics is a method to grow plants without soil, using mineral nutrient solutions in a water solvent. The three-member delegation, including South Australian governments investment manager (Indian trade) Rahul Ranjan and Australian firm Ironwoods chief consultant Mark Cody, studied the site and infrastructure at the centre for two days beginning January 11. Saini said that hydroponics technique would be used in the farming of tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, cucumber (kheera) and coloured capsicum. The farming of these vegetables will be done in 4,000 square metre area in Bassi. Use of the technique would increase the yields manyfolds, he said. Generally, yield per plant of tomato in three months is around half a kg and when grown in poly house the yield increases to 5-6kg per plant in six months, but through the hydroponics technique, the yield per plant will increase to around 65-70kg per plant in 10 months. Similarly, yield of coloured capsicum and cucumber is around 4kg per plant, which will increase by six times to 24kg per plant, he informed. Such innovations will help in doubling the income of farmers, he added. The crop will be grown vertically to accommodate more plants in the same area, thus increasing the yield. More production of vegetables will help in curbing hike in prices and common man can get quality vegetables at affordable prices, he said. Once it is started at Bassi, hydroponics will be propagated to farmers in the state, he said. Even during these two years of pilot move, an Indian version of hydroponics technique will be developed so that farmers can afford it, he added. The agriculture department has sanctioned 13 crore for the two-year project starting from June this year. Saini said the department has constituted a committee to speed up the project. The project will be supervised by Rajasthan Olive Cultivation Limited (ROCL). Two BJP legislators and their supporters clashed in Uttar Pradeshs Sitapur district over mismanagement during blanket distribution on Saturday. Supporters of BJP MP Rekha Verma and MLA Shashank Trivedi clashed after confrontation between the two leaders over mismanagement during blanket distribution programme in Maholi area of Sitapur. A video of the incident showed the MP holding her footwear in a gesture of retaliation when the supporters of the two leaders clashed. Intervention by local officials, including district magistrate Sarika Mohan and superintendent of police Anand Kulkarni, brought the situation under control, but not before the peoples representatives had cut a sorry figure. Police officers requesting anonymity said it started when Dhaurahra MP, Verma and Maholi nagar panchayat chairman Sarita Gupta were distributing blankets at the programme. The distribution was on when Maholi MLA, Trivedi arrived with his supporters. He said the MP was distributing the blankets inside a hall of Maholi tehsil while the MLA supporters were of the view that they would distribute blankets among those standing outside. He said the MP started complaining to the MLA about the mismanagement caused by his supporters. This triggered verbal duel between the two politicians and led to brawl among their supporters. Maholi SDM, Brijpal Singh and circle officer Ankit Kumar took away both leaders to separate rooms and chased away their supporters using mild force. On being informed by the two officials, the DM and the SP rushed to the spot and held talks with both leaders to resolve the issue. SP Kulkarni said the matter was resolved and the situation is normal now. BJP district unit chief Ajay Gupta also claimed that there was chaos following mismanagement but denied any problem between the two leaders. Uttar Pradesh Shia Waqf Board chairman Waseem Rizvi said Sunday he had received a threat call from a man, claiming to be an aide of fugitive mafia don Dawood Ibrahim, who threatened to blow up him and his family. Following Rizvis complaint, the Lucknow police has lodged an FIR and initiated a probe. I received the call last (Saturday) night in which caller took the name of Dawood and threatened to blow me up and my family for my stand on madrassa education and other issues, Rizvi, who has also favoured a Ram Temple in Ayodhya, said in Lucknow. The caller refused to identify himself but asked me to seek pardon from maulanas claiming Dawood Ibrahim was annoyed, Rizvi said. The Shia Waqf Board chairman said he had informed the police and also given the callers phone number. An FIR was lodged at the Sahadatganj police station in old Lucknow city and the matter is being probed, an official said. Rizvi had last week written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath suggesting that madrassas should be shut down as the Islamic institutions bred terrorists. He alleged that education imparted in these Islamic schools encouraged students to join terrorist ranks and sought that madrassas be replaced by schools affiliated to the CBSE or the ICSE which will offer students the optional subject of Islamic education. He said madrassas were mushrooming in almost every city, town and village and were providing misplaced and misconceived religious education and alleged that funds to run the madrassas were also coming from Pakistan and Bangladesh and that even some terror outfits were assisting them. His suggestion, however, did not go down well with the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), whose spokesman Khalilur Rehman Sajjad Nomani said madrassas had played a key role in the freedom movement and by raising questions, Rizvi was insulting them. The Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind went a step further when it served a legal notice on Rizvi for making defamatory remarks about madrassas. The notice accused Rizvi of insinuating that madrassa education system had not contributed to the progress of young Muslims, but had in fact created a sense of fundamentalism in them without any data backing his comments. It sought for a written and unconditional apology from Rizvi and a payment of Rs 20 crore towards damages. In October, Rizvi had met the Art of Living founder in Bengaluru and apprised him of the Shia Boards stand that a Ram temple should be built at the Ram Janmabhoomi site in Ayodhya. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was that time holding mediation talks on the Ayodhya issue. The Shia Waqf Board is drafting the terms and conditions of a mutual agreement, he had said, adding that the board did not want any mosque to be constructed at Rams birth place. Rizvi had also said that the number of mosques in Ayodhya were sufficient for the Muslims residing there and there was no need for a new mosque. Instead it should be constructed elsewhere in a Muslim populated area, he had suggested. Rizvi has also supported the BJP government on the Triple Talaq issue. There is nothing quite like hot tea on a cold day. And if the tea steams up in a small conical glass, it tastes even better. In fact, the very sight of tea bubbling in a pan, and then poured into these small glasses, works like magic. I always enjoyed stopping for tea at dhabas on my road trips to hill towns in the north. But there are also quite a few small tea shops in Delhi, where you get the old-style tea water and milk boiled together, with sugar, tea leaves and some spices. One such shop is in Hemraj Ladli Prasad in Kucha Ghasiram, a lane off Chandni Chowk. They are essentially milk and curd sellers, but are known for their sweets. This is not the place for those seeking exotic-sounding sweets such as dil bahar or chak-a-chak. They have three kinds of sweets burfi, rabri and milk cake and are known far and wide for just these three varieties. Many believe that they have the best milk cake in town. And I certainly think so. The shop, now run by Anoop Gupta, was set up about 80 years ago. It was started by his great-grand father, Hemlal, who handed over the business to his son, Ladli Prasad. When I first went there, many years ago, Ladli Prasads son, Gopi Kishen, was in charge. Alas, like many other Masters of Chandni Chowk, he has also left for the big sky. Its a small place with a bit of space outside where people can sit on benches and drink their tea. In a big kadhai behind the shop, the sweets are prepared. When carrots are in season, they also prepare gajar pak a carrot and milk preparation that is not as thick as gajar ka halwa, and somehow a lot more satisfying. When I was there last, a fresh paraat of gajar pak had just been prepared, and was being put on the wooden counter for sale. Elsewhere, milk cake is usually thick and hard. At the Hemraj Ladli Prasad shop in Chandni Chowk, because it is freshly prepared every day, it is moist and crumbly. (HT Photo) But, for me, this place is all about milk cake, colloquially also known as palangtor. What makes the milk cake different from the ones you get elsewhere is its softness. Elsewhere, milk cake is usually thick and hard. Here, because it is freshly prepared every day, it is moist and crumbly. I am told it lasts for ever, but I have never put that to test, for I usually end up eating it within a day or two. Freshness is the USP here. They make as much as is consumed every day, or as ordered for many buy kilos of sweets from this shop as temple offerings. I like their burfi, too, but the wonderfully warm and soft milk cake is a particular favourite of mine. And not just mine, I discovered that a happy dog who sits outside the shop is equally fond of it. If a piece of the sweet is chucked at her, she jumps up swallows it in one satisfying gulp. Every dog has its day. This one, clearly, has it through the day. Recipe: Milk cake Ingredients: 5 litres of full cream milk, 500g sugar Method: In a big pot boil the milk and sugar, stirring all the time. Let it simmer, but keep stirring. When the milk solidifies and turns brown because of the sugar, take off the heat and serve. Follow @htlifeandstyle for more The Coast Guard on Sunday called off the search operations in Dahanu, where a boat carrying 35 students capsized on Saturday, killing three. While the two arrested accused, boat owner Dhiraj Ambire and his son, Parth, have been remanded in police custody till January 19, the Dahanu police are yet to arrest Mahendra Ambire, who was steering the boat and is being treated at Cottage Hospital in Dahanu. The Dahanu police have seized the boat. The trio has been booked under section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), section 280 (rash navigation of vessel) and 282 (conveying person by water for hire in unsafe or overloaded vessel) of the IPC, said Hemant Katkar, sub-inspector and public relations officer, Palghar Police, adding, The boat was registered, but did not have permission from the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) and the Palghar police to ferry people. Elaborating on the rescue operations, commandant M Vijay Kumar of Coast Guard, Dahanu, said, We did three sorties since Sunday morning, and also did close coast patrolling to check if anybody was floating in the waters. We also pressed a fast patrolling vessel (FPV) and an interceptor craft from Mumbai which continued the search operations into the night and on Sunday morning. Five Coast Guard divers from Worli aided the search operations. According to the collectors report, there were 35 students on board with the 2 pilots. Three girls -- Sonal Surti, her cousin, Jhanvi Surti and Sanskruti Mayavanshi died, while the rest have been rescued, said a Coast Guard official. Sopan Ingle, principal of the Babubhai Ponda Junior College, where the three girls studied, said their sympathies are with the family. The students had gone on a joyride on their own. The college cant be held responsible for it. We are cooperating with the Dahanu police. We are equally shocked, said Ingle, who also teaches English at the college. We will observe a holiday on Monday, and also the secretarial practice (SP) exam for Class 12 (prelims) and English exam for Class 11 (second unit test) will be cancelled and will be held on January 23. As friends, family and colleagues gathered at the Juhu crematorium for the last rites of Captain Ramesh Ohatkar, who was killed in the Pawan Hans chopper crash on Saturday, they remembered the pilot as one of the most experienced in the industry. Ohatkar, 58, was to retire in two years. He is survived by his mother, wife and daughter and was planning to spend his retired life in Pune. A relative said, He was very particular about his work. He travelled to Pune to meet his daughter on weekends. Ohatkars colleagues at Pawan Hans remember him as a person who had good rapport with junior staff and got along well with everyone in the company. He had served the company for 28 years and had a flying experience of around 15,000 hours. Colleagues could not help compare him to Captain Eeso Samuel, another pilot who died in a helicopter crash in the same area in November 2015. Experts said that as helicopter pilots have short duration flights unlike airline pilots, an experience of around 12,000 hours is considered good. Captain Ohatkar was one of the most experienced in the country, said a Pawan Hans official. The family of Captain VC Katoch, the other helicopter pilot, who is still missing, arrived in Mumbai from Chandigarh on Sunday morning. Captain Katochs wife and two daughters did not speak to the media, requesting privacy, but they are reported to have told friends and neighbours that they are positive about Katochs wellbeing. PN Sreenivasan, who lived in the ONGC residential colony at Bandra Reclamation and worked as deputy general manager, was cremated at Mukti Dham Cemetery in Chakala on Sunday afternoon. ONGCs chairman and managing director (CMD), who reached Mumbai to oversee the search operations, said a high-level independent investigation will be instituted to ascertain the cause. The company spokesperson said, The recovered bodies of ONGC executives, after necessary procedures, have been handed over to the family members and two families have taken the bodies to their native places for last rites as desired by the family. The ONGC is extending all possible help to the bereaved families in this hour of grief and crisis. The company said the ONGC, Coast Guard and Indian Navy are looking for one missing person. The Aircraft Accident Investigation of Bureau (AAIB) team arrived Mumbai on Sunday morning after which they left to visit the spot where the mishap took place. They were accompanied by the ONGC and Pawan Hans officials. MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday appealed to writers and poets to start speaking against the BJP-led state government. The MNS chief, while speaking at Audumbar Literature Conclave at Sangli, said, It is the responsibility of the litterateurs to make the society understand what is going on around them, which I cant see any of you doing toda. Even at the time of Emergency, our litterateurs were found raising their voice openly. Playing the Marathi-Gujarati card, he also took potshots at the PM Narendra Modi for not speaking after Bhima-Koregaon clash. A fire erupted at a mall (Kamala Mills fire) and it was disturbing to see that 14 people lost their lives. Later, the clash took place between two communities (Maratha-Dalit) which led to death of a youth in Pune. The issue was even raised in the Parliament. My objection is, PM Modi tweeted after the Kamala Mills fire, in which all 14 who died were Gujarati, but kept quiet on the clash between two communities, Thackeray said. He again reiterated the same issue of son of soil (Marathi Manoos) and alleged that attempts are on to reduce importance of Mumbai. When PM Modi thinks of bringing bullet train, Ahmedabad gets the benefit as the project has been proposed between Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Similarly, when Union surface transport minister Nitin Gadkari declared of building an express highway worth Rs22,000 crore, Baroda got it as the project has been proposed between Mumbai and Baroda. Despite becoming the PM, Modi thinks of Gujarat, then why should we not think of Mumbai and Maharashtra? the MNS chief said. Quoting an incident, Thackeray said during Emergency a literature conclave was held at Karad district. The chairperson of the conclave Durga Bhagwat openly criticized Emergency despite the fact that the then chief minister YB Chavan was sharing the dais. PL Deshpande, one of the most popular Marathi writers, had also criticised Emergency. President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday said that Lord Buddhas teachings of non-violence and compassion have become important today. The President, who was on a two-day visit to Mumbai, was speaking at the Gratitude Day function at the Global Vipassana Pagoda at Gorai. The need for humanity to move from violence to compassion has become ever so important today. Therefore, it is important to spread the teachings of Lord Buddha in the society, said President Kovind, while addressing the gathering. He also laid the foundation stone for the Vipassana Meditation Centre, Dhammalaya 2. The centre will come up next to the Pagoda in Borivli. This would be Maharashtras second Dhammalaya. The first one is in Kolhapur. President Kovind said that Vipassana a meditation technique taught by Lord Buddha--purifies the mind and increases concentration. Kovind said, Students can get better marks in exams. Government officials and sportsmen can also perform it as Vipassana has a great impact on the mind, the body and at the spiritual level. He added that he was pleased to note that the Vipassana Kendra in Igatpuri, the Dragon Palace in Nagpur and the Global Vipassana Pagoda in Mumbai that has the largest stone dome in the world, are popularising the practice and attracting people from all over the world. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who was also present at the event, praised the Global Vipasanna Foundations efforts in reviving Vipassana in India. . Seven months after the Panjab University (PU) administrative building caught fire, one of the hostel rooms was reduced to ashes, here on Saturday. Room number 34 on the second floor of the girls hostel number 3, Sarojni Naidu Hall, caught fire while the residents were on the ground floor. The incident took place at 2:30 pm and the room was locked. The room was shared by two girls. According to the officials, one of the occupants, a postgraduate student of English department, rushed to the room after noticing smoke and flames coming out of the room informed the hostel warden, who in turn called the fire brigade and the police. The fire brigade reached the campus at 3 pm and by 3:30 pm, the fire was under control. PU chief security officer Ashwani Kaul said, The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. The room has burned completely and the adjacent rooms were also affected. Due to smoke, the adjacent rooms were evacuated and students are shifting with their friends. The students, whose room was burnt have been given an option of shifting with their friends in other hostels. But they will be brought back, Kaul said. We will sit with the occupants to access their losses, he said. Sources said, loose wiring in the hostels or short circuit could have led to the fire. Smoke billowing out of the gutted room (No. 34) on the second floor of girls hostel number 3 Sarojini Naidu Hall at Panjab University in Chandigarh on Saturday. (HT Photo) Room had heater However, dean students welfare Emanual Nahar, said that had the student informed the warden earlier instead of trying to control the fire herself, the damage would have been less. When she realized that the fire was uncontrollable, she informed the officials. We still managed to save a lot. Only the doors and windows of the adjacent room have been affected. Also there was a heater in the room, said Nahar. Student council general secretary Vani Sood said, The dean students welfare should set up a committee to look into the matter. Fortunately, there was no one in the room. Hostellers have been complaining that even though there are fire extinguishers on every floor but the residents dont know how to use it, Sood said. Student council joint secretary Karanbir Singh Randhawa said, The investigation is underway.We will look into getting the wiring of the hostel checked. The hostel building is also old. We have requested the vice-chancellor to compensate the affected students, to which he has agreed. PU issues statement in evening Even though the incident took place in the afternoon, the university issued a statement in the evening stating that a major fire was averted by prompt and swift action by UT fire brigade. Dean students welfare (women) professor Neena Capalash, DSW professor Emmanuel Nahar, chief security officer professor Ashwani Kaul and security staff reached the site by 3pm, followed by vice-chancellor professor Arun Grover, registrar Col G S Chadha, senator professor Ronki Ram, former DSW professor Ahluwalia and professor Sidhu. The statement further read, There was no physical injury to any individual. The police officials are yet to submit its findings and report. Arrangements have been made for the stay of the affected girls at the university guest house. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) led by the Badals and the SAD (Amritsar) led by Simranjeet Singh Mann are set to hold political conferences on the occasion of Maghi Mela here on Sunday, even as there are voices against holding such rallies at a religious fair. Other parties are not holding conferences this time. On Saturday, SAD president and former deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal visited the venue and examined the arrangements. Senior SAD-BJP leaders, including former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and state BJP president Vijay Sampla, are likely to speak from the stage. On other parties bowing out, Sukhbir said, Congress and AAP have failed to face the people, so they are making excuses not to hold rallies. The Maghi Mela is one of Punjabs major fairs and has religious significance for the Sikhs. It marks the battle of Muktsar in 1705, where 40 Sikh warriors laid down their lives for Guru Gobind Singh while fighting the Mughals. But over the years, it has also become a platform for political rallies. About the appeal of Sikh temporal seat Akal Takht at the time of Shaheedi Jor Mela in Fatehgarh Sahib against such rallies, SADs Muktsar MLA Kanwarjit Singh Barkandi said, The edict for not holding political rallies was only far Fatehgarh Sahib. We are holding the conference here, and arrangements for seating of more than 50,000 people have been made. Note that Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh had said there was no plan to ban political conferences at this mela. As for the SAD (A), its general secretary Jaskaran Singh Kahan Singh Wala said: We will discuss religious, political, social and economic issues of Punjab during the rally. We appeal to the people to attend in large numbers. Notably, the SAD (A) had staged a conference at Fatehgarh Sahib too despite the Akal Takhts call. When contacted about not holing a rally, Jagdeep Singh Sandhu, AAPs district unit president, said, We dont want the fair, which is held in the memory of Sikh martyrs, to turn into a political battlefield. Karan Kaur Brar, former Congress MLA from Muktsar, too claimed said, Congress has taken the initiative not to politicise such religious events. Meanwhile, members of a group called Dhan Dhan Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Committee on Saturday protested against the political conferences. Police stopped them outside the city limits where they blocked the road and raised slogans. The Chandigarh education department and government schoolteachers are headed for a showdown over increasing their working hours. The teachers work for 36 hours a week and the administration plans to move towards the minimum 45 hours stipulated under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009. To begin with, an increase of 45 minutes per day is planned. Around 4,500 teachers will be affected by the decision, if implemented. Officials say the administration wants to at least partly adopt the RTE Acts mandate. According to the original plan, the UT had to increase the working hours from January 2018, but a committee constituted on December 19 last year is still working on the modalities. Its report is expected on January 15, an official privy to the development said. UT director, school education, Rubinderjit S Brar confirmed the matter is under discussion. No decision has been taken as of now, he said. Meanwhile, teacher associations are up in arms against the move. If the department wants to increase the working hours according to the RTE Act, it should implement it fully and give all facilities to teachers as mentioned in it, said Arvind Rana, president, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Teachers Welfare Association. In 2013, too, the then director, public instructions, had taken the same decision, but the teachers had gone on an indefinite strike. After three days, the decision was taken back. Implement all aspects The city has 91 government senior secondary schools, 72 high schools, 25 middle schools and 13 primary schools. The first shift of the schools starts at 8:30am and ends at 2:30pm. The second shift is from 11am to 5pm. Of the 4,500 teachers, 1,200 are on contract. Also, there are 870 vacancies against the sanctioned posts. With 1.5 lakh students admitted to government schools, the student-teacher ratio comes out to 1:60. In senior secondary schools, it goes up to 1:80. According to the RTE, the ratio should be 1:40. You cant implement one aspect of the law and ignore others, said Rana. Rana said the pay scales, allowances, medical facilities, pension, gratuity and other benefits should also be implemented according to the RTE Act. Teachers are still doing non-academic work prohibited under the RTE, he added. Government Teachers Union (GTU) also said that if implemented, the move will meet the same fate as in 2013. Director of French Institute in India, Bertrand de Hartingh has called upon all stakeholders in Chandannagar in West Bengal to chip in to make the former French colony a tourism hub and the West Bengal government has expressed support for it. Like Marrakech in Morocco, Chandernagore can be a tourism destination in India if the owners of the heritage buildings are able to refurbish their own properties and manage to get enough support. One possible way will be to invite people from outside to stay in their traditional houses, Harthingh said. Most of the 99 heritage buildings in Chandannagar which retain French influences are now private properties, he said yesterday at the conclusion of a week-long Bonjour India project for Chandannagar. Chandannagar, a former French colony earlier known as Chandernagore is located 35 km from the city in Hoogly district. It became independent in May 1950. A week-long workshop was held as part of the Bonjour India project to restore the heritage Registry building on the picturesque strand by the Ganga river in the town. It is one of the 99 heritage structures blending the unique Indo-French architectural patterns. Hartingh said the restoration is a peoples project for which we can bring experts but is built on the participation of the owners (of the buildings). A street in Chandannagar. (r_i_ju/Instagram) Conservation architect Aishwarya Tipnis, who put together the Bonjour India project and conducted the workshop, said the most striking feature of Chandernagore heritage buildings is that they are a melange of Bengali and French architectural styles unlike other French colonies which have only French architecture. All such old houses which look European from outside have the unique Bengal style court yard inside. While seven of the earmarked 99 heritage properties have been listed by West Bengal Heritage Commission, we are working to restore all the 99 including the Registry building ... We are preparing for the next phase of Registry building restoration, she said. The workshop was held between January 5 to January 12 and was attended by students of three Indian institutions and one French institute. It came up with ideas of having coffee shops and a modern library at the registry building complex after restoration, Hartingh said. The week-long Bonjour Chandernagore also consisted of adda sessions where everything from gastronomy to the world-famed indigenous illumination were touched upon and local electricians and descendants of popular local sweet maker Surjo Modak were invited, Tipnis said. Follow @htlifeandstyle for more About 1,500 people are being evacuated from an island off the northern coast of Papua New Guinea (PNG) after a nearby volcano erupted, the local Red Cross said on Sunday. A volcano on the island of Kadovar, located about 24km north of the Papuan mainland, began erupting on January 5. That prompted the evacuation of 590 people on Kadovar to the nearby island of Blup Blup. After venting ash for several days, the volcano exploded on Friday, blasting out glowing red rocks and sulphur dioxide, the Rabaul Volcanological Observatory said in a bulletin. The PNG government then decided to evacuate Blup Blup as well because of issues with supplying people on the island along with the danger from the eruption. The evacuees are being moved to the mainland and the International Red Cross is providing about 87,000 kina ($26,274) in funding to help them, said PNG Red Cross secretary general Uvenama Rova by telephone from the capital of Port Moresby. The people there, as the volcano erupted, they rushed immediately to escape. So they are in immediate need of food, water, shelter and clothing as well, he said. In the latest bulletin issued on Sunday, the Observatory said a dome of lava on Kadover was visible in the sea at the base of thick white steam clouds that are rising to 600 metres (1,969 feet) above sea level. Australias foreign minister Julie Bishop announced on twitter that the Australian Government was contributing A$25,000 ($19,775) worth of humanitarian supplies for those affected. There are no confirmed records of a previous eruption of Kadovar, said Chris Firth, a vulcanologist at Macquarie University, but scientists speculate it could have been one of two burning islands mentioned in the journals of a 17th-century English pirate and maritime adventurer, William Dampier. An official in the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas was wounded in a car bomb blast in southern Lebanon on Sunday, military and medical sources told AFP. A military source said a BMW in the southern port city of Sidon detonated, wounding Hamas official Mohammed Hamdan. An AFP journalist in Sidon saw the burnt-out vehicle, a silver BMW, in a parking lot of an apartment building where Hamdan lived. Firefighters arrived to put out the flames and Lebanese security forces quickly cordoned off the area. The Red Cross confirmed that there was only one person wounded in the blast and said he had been transported to hospital in a civilian vehicle. According to a medical source at the scene, Hamdan suffered serious wounds to his legs while opening the door to his car and was undergoing surgery. The Lebanese National News Agency reported that the silver BMW belonged to Hamdan, who went by the nom de guerre Abu Hamzah. Hamas did not immediately issue a statement on the blast. Tens of thousands of Palestinian refugees live in Lebanon, many of them in 12 camps across the country. The most densely-populated of these camps is Ain al-Hilweh, which lies near Sidon and is home to some 61,000 Palestinians, including 6,000 who have fled the war in neighbouring Syria. A controversial member of Qatars royal family says he is being detained in the UAE, media reported Sunday, eight months into a crisis between Gulf states. Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali Al-Thani, a little-known royal, emerged as an unlikely mediator in August, weeks after Riyadh and Abu Dhabi cut ties with Doha. A video circulating online, also broadcast by Qatar-based Al-Jazeera television, shows the sheikh seated in an armchair warning that he was afraid something could happen to me that will be blamed on Qatar. I am now in Abu Dhabi, where I was a guest of (UAE crown prince) Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, he said. That is no longer the case. I am now detained, Sheikh Abdullah said. I want to make clear that the people of Qatar are innocent, the sheikh said. Sheikh Mohammed bears full responsibility for anything that happens to me. The video could not be immediately authenticated, while Emirati officials were not immediately available for comment. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain severed diplomatic and trade ties with Qatar in June over allegations Doha supported Islamist extremists and had close ties to regional rival Iran. Doha denies the accusations. In August, Sheikh Abdullah met powerful Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to mediate on reopening a land border to allow Qatari pilgrims to perform the annual Muslim pilgrimage to the Saudi city of Mecca. It was the first public high-level encounter between the two nations since the diplomatic crisis erupted. Doha was quick to point out that he was in Saudi Arabia on a personal mission and did not represent the government. Sheikh Abdullah belongs to a branch of the Al-Thani royal family that has seen its power eroded but is still well-connected in the Gulf. The word shithole -- which President Donald Trump allegedly used to describe countries from which he does not want immigrants coming to the US -- has been projected along with other messages onto his Washington hotel. Trump is said to have made the remarks -- which he has denied but which a US Senator who was present confirmed -- at a meeting with legislators, setting off a firestorm of criticism when they became public. NOT A DC RESIDENT? NEED A PLACE TO STAY? TRY OUR SHITHOLE. THIS PLACE IS A SHITHOLE, read successive messages projected over the entrance of the Trump International Hotel in central Washington, according to a video posted on social media. Just now: someone has projected the word "sh*thole" onto Trumps DC hotel. Priceless! https://t.co/dxBkav9lg1 Remove Trump Now (@KaniJJackson) January 14, 2018 A flood of grinning feces emojis then stream out of the hotels entrance as SHITHOLE appears in larger text above it. Another clip shows the word SHITHOLE over the entrance along with an arrow pointing to the door. The videos were posted on the Twitter account of Robin Bell, who has staged other projection protests and been likened to a hit-and-run editorial writer by The Washington Post. The alleged expletive emerged out of a Thursday meeting between Trump and legislators. The topic? Immigration reform. After lawmakers raised the issue of protections for immigrants from African nations, Haiti and El Salvador, the president reportedly demanded to know why the United States should accept immigrants from shithole countries, rather than -- for instance -- wealthy and overwhelmingly white Norway. Trump on Friday tweeted a convoluted denial about the comments, which were reported by The Washington Post and The New York Times. But Democratic Senator Dick Durbin said Trump had specifically asked, Do we need more Haitians? before launching into a diatribe about African immigration. Trump then said things which were hate-filled, vile and racist, Durbin said, adding that shithole was the exact word used by the president, not just once but repeatedly. A South Korean has been arrested for the suspected murder of his wife and child on Sunday at the luxury Ritz-Carlton hotel on Hong Kongs harbourfront, officials said. Police rushed to the hotel after receiving a report on Sunday morning that a man and a woman were fighting. The woman and a young boy were found dead at the scene while the man was arrested on suspicion of murder and taken to hospital, police said. Police did not confirm the relationship between the three but told AFP they were all foreign nationals. A spokesperson from the South Korean consulate in Hong Kong confirmed the three were nationals and from the same family. According to local news site Apple Daily, the couple, in their 40s, and their seven-year-old son checked into the five-star hotel a few days before. This handout from Apple Daily shows a murder suspect accused of killing women and boy at the Ritz-Carlton, arriving on a gurney at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital under police escort in Hong Kong. (AFP Photo) A source with knowledge of the investigation told AFP that a friend of the suspect had warned authorities in South Korea he was potentially suicidal shortly before the incident. The Ritz-Cartlon is located on the top floors of Hong Kongs tallest skyscraper -- the International Commerce Centre -- and is famous for panoramic views of the city and its Victoria Harbour. Our thoughts are with the family of the guests involved at this very difficult time, a hotel spokesperson in Hong Kong told AFP, declining to comment further as an investigation was ongoing. In a separate incident, Hong Kong police are investigating the murder-suicide of a couple found dead at a public housing estate near the border with mainland China, local media reported. US President Donald Trump pushed back at a report that he had suggested he had a good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, saying he had been misquoted. The Wall Street Journal quoted Trump as saying in an interview Thursday: I probably have a very good relationship with Kim Jong-Un. But the White House insisted he said Id, not I, and Trump followed up in a tweet on Sunday. Obviously I didnt say that. I said Id have a good relationship with Kim Jong Un, a big difference. Fortunately we now record conversations with reporters, he tweeted. And they knew exactly what I said and meant. They just wanted a story. FAKE NEWS! Both The Wall Street Journal and the White House posted audio recordings of Trumps remarks on Twitter. These, while not completely clear, appeared to support White House press secretary Sarah Sanders account. She had earlier tweeted a written message disputing the newspapers article. President Trump said, ID probably have a very good relationship with Kim Jong Un of North Korea. ID -- ID -- ID. NOT I! the message read, with ID in red ink, under a red banner reading FAKE NEWS. Mockingly mimicking the newspapers front page, it then reads THE WALL STREET JOURNAL -- FAKE NEWS IS AT IT AGAIN! -- FALSELY QUOTING PRESIDENT TRUMP. Washington and Pyongyang are in a standoff over North Koreas missile and nuclear programs, which could be used to target the United States and its allies. Trump has repeatedly insulted the North Korean leader, describing him as mad and a rocket man. Asked by The Wall Street Journal if he had spoken to Kim, Trump said: I dont want to comment on it. Im not saying I have or havent. I just dont want to comment. Trump suggested his variable position on individuals was part of a broader strategy. But it was not clear how his remarks fitted with his self-described policy of maximum pressure on Pyongyang. In the coming week the United States and Canada are to host a meeting in Vancouver on the nuclear standoff with North Korea, bringing together friendly powers from around the world. Leaflets in Punjabi, Gujarati and English have been issued over the weekend by the police in the east Midlands city of Leicester, cautioning people against bogus faith healers who promise luck, lucre and love for money. Leicester has a large Indian origin population which is targeted by faith healers, most of whom, the police said, are tricksters and conmen who are linked to organised criminal networks. Their services are usually offered through flyers, local radio and adverts. The leaflets have been particularly issued in the citys Belgrave and Rushey Mead area, which is predominantly inhabited by people of Indian origin and is a centre of Indian/Asian businesses, including the Golden Mile comprising several jewellery shops and branches of Indian banks. These individuals prey on people when they are at their most vulnerable people who are under great strain due to unfortunate life circumstancesThey are believed to operate nationwide and to move location across the country, the leaflet says. The leaflet in English. (Credit: Leicestershire Police) Several people in Leicester have fallen victim to these bogus babas over the years. One man who went by the name Kamalji was sentenced to nine years in jail and in 2016, his prison term was extended by five more years for failing to pay back 613,500 conned from his victims. The Leicestershire Police and a rationalist organisation in Birmingham have been campaigning against such babas. The latest police caution says: Belgrave and Rushey Mead police are alerting residents to be aware of bogus faith or spiritual healers. Please remind family and friends, especially those who may be suffering from stress or worry, not to be drawn into handing over large amounts of money for these services. A police spokesman said: They offer their services to people who may have business problems, marital disputes or are in poor health. They will advertise their services through local and national radio, newspaper adverts and flyers which are delivered door to door. They will claim that money given to them will be returned to their victims many times over and threaten those who do not pay with curses and black magic. If anyone is aware of anyone claiming to be a faith healer, we would like to hear from you. Palmists, astrologers and others offer their services in various parts of the United Kingdom, mainly in areas with large population of Indian/Asian origin, such as Hounslow and Wembley in London, Birmingham and Manchester. The White House has denied and corrected a quote attributed to President Donald Trump that suggested he had good contacts with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. I probably have a very good relationship with Kim Jong- Un, Trump was quoted as telling The Wall Street Journal in an interview on Thursday, refusing to confirm whether the two had spoken. I have relationships with people. I think you people are surprised. But press secretary Sarah Sanders insisted -- in a Twitter meme -- that Trump was misquoted. President Trump said, ID probably have a very good relationship with Kim Jong Un of North Korea. ID -- ID -- ID. NOT I! the message read, with ID in red ink, under a red banner reading FAKE NEWS. Mockingly mimicking the newspapers front page, it then reads THE WALL STREET JOURNAL -- FAKE NEWS IS AT IT AGAIN! -- FALSELY QUOTING PRESIDENT TRUMP. Here is the official audio showing WSJ misquoting @POTUS pic.twitter.com/wVwoafYkHg Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) January 14, 2018 Washington and Pyongyang are in a standoff over North Koreas missile and nuclear programs, which could be used to target the United States and its allies. Trump has repeatedly insulted the North Korean leader, describing him as mad and a rocket man. Asked if he had spoken to Kim, Trump said I dont want to comment on it. Im not saying I have or havent. I just dont want to comment. Trump suggested his variable position on individuals was part of a broader strategy. But it was not clear how his remarks fit with his self- described policy of maximum pressure on Pyongyang. Next week, the United States and Canada are to host a meeting on the nuclear standoff with North Korea in Vancouver, bringing together friendly powers from around the world. Late on Aug. 29, a the height of Hurricane Harvey's torrential rainfall, 46-year-old Holly Hartman sat up in bed and decided she needed to help. She signed on to Zello - a walkie-talkie-like app that became the No. 1 download in Apple's App Store immediately following the hurricane - and tuned in. "I heard so many people in such dire circumstances," Hartman said. "I saw how quickly the water came, how rapidly people came up to their waist in water and how hard it was to do the rescues." For residents surrounded by rising floodwaters or trapped in homes, those on the other side of the makeshift walkie-talkie phone were the only lifeline. As the need for high-water rescues across Houston and southeast Texas became apparent, 911 and emergency services grew overwhelmed with calls to pluck residents from their second floors, then attics, then roofs. Hartman, the Cajun Navy - a volunteer group formed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina that performs boat rescues in and around Louisiana - and volunteers like them, essentially created a dispatch service where anyone, from Rockport to Louisiana, needing help could call in and request assistance. By her estimation, the Memorial High School journalism teacher took around 60 to 70 calls during her 18 hours signed into Zello. After a short training session on how to use the app and dispatch rescuers, Hartman was online, coordinating relief efforts and helping lead dozens out of high water. "I was completely enthralled," Hartman said. "Voice after voice after voice coming through my phone in the dark, some asking for help, some saying they were on their way." Hurricane Harvey, now considered one of the costliest disasters in United States history, inundated Houston and the surrounding areas with more than 50 inches of rain, resulted in 70 deaths and damaged thousands of homes. By the time the waters receded, almost two weeks later, 10,000 people had been rescued by the Coast Guard alone. Parts of Hartman's neighborhood, Briargrove, suffered extensive damage in the Buffalo Bayou flooding following the worst of the storm and the water releases from the Addicks and Barker dams, but her home near the intersection of San Felipe and Voss streets in west Houston suffered little flood damage. "I didn't really have any water," Hartman said. "I lost electricity for like an hour - my concern was for my students and my friends." Hartman is still in touch with several of those whose lives she helped save. Shaundra Valcin, a young woman from Beaumont whose call for a rescue for her grandfather in Port Arthur was picked up by Hartman, shared photos and updates with Hartman throughout his rescue. One of Hartman's first calls, a boy in Orange calling in to report that his brother and cousin were trapped in the backyard shed when high water cut them off from the main house, ended tragically when the boy reported they had drowned. In the weeks following, she reached out to one of their mothers. "I needed to know their names," she said. Four months after the storm, Hartman's life is much the same as before the storm - she's in her 11th year teaching at Memorial, and still lives in her home in Briargrove. Despite saving lives, however, Hartman is slow to take credit. "Thank God for all the volunteers who took out their boats," Hartman said. "The whole city came together to do what they had to do and help people." In coming decades, oil producers using advanced drilling rigs and fracking tools could extract up to 70 billion barrels of crude from the sprawling Permian Basin, researchers say. John Roberts, a researcher for IHS Markit, began work on that estimate in 1987, when he started collecting geological data in West Texas for a small company in the midst of a crushing oil bust. Over the past 2 years, Roberts has led a sprint to build a gigantic database cataloging more than 440,000 wells drilled since the oil industry began plowing the Permian Basin in the 1920s. "We looked at the whole thing, grass to granite," said Roberts, executive director of global subsurface content operations at IHS Markit. What IHS found was that those 75,000 square miles in Texas and New Mexico could hold more crude in so-called recoverable resources - the amount that can be extracted with modern technology - than Kuwait and Argentina combined. And that's if U.S. shale drillers can only extract 4 to 6 percent of the crude stuck in 52 different rock formations a typical figure for such plays. In 1973, the year OPEC's oil embargo prompted gas lines in the United States, oil companies in the Permian Basin pumped more crude than they would in any of the next 44 years, yielding a record 763.5 million barrels that year. But almost a decade ago, drillers figured out how to extract crude from shale that had fed conventional oil-bearing formations for millennia. Since 2010, companies drilled about 20,000 sideways wells into the Permian, reversing the region's decades- long decline. Last year, the oil industry almost beat its production record in the Permian, extracting 740 million barrels of oil. The industry is set to break the record this year or next. Over the past century, the Permian has yielded 39 billion barrels, according to IHS. That it could pump another 70 billion barrels will keep companies busy for decades. That's not to say oil companies will ever reach all that crude. Drilling some of these fields, Roberts said, isn't financially feasible until crude prices reach $70 a barrel. Oil settled in New York at $51.88 a barrel Tuesday. Last week, Wood Mackenzie, an energy research firm, said unless oil prices rise high enough to spur technological innovations to overcome the Permian's geological constraints, the region's production could peak as early as 2021, around 3.5 million barrels a day. Roberts agreed. One piece of evidence that many in today's cluster of oil wells aren't profitable: Oil companies have left almost 2,300 wells dormant, waiting for crude prices to rise before they bring the drilled but unfinished wells into production. "They're waiting on rosier times," Roberts said. Editor's note: This is the fifth column in a series in which Reid provides advice to would-be barbecue entrepreneurs on "how to build the perfect barbecue joint." Previous articles addressed service style, smoker types, brisket and sausage; today's focus is the physical structure. One of the great things about the Houston barbecue scene is its entrepreneurial spirit. In business terms, there's a "low barrier to entry" for any ambitious backyard or competition pitmaster who decides to hang out his shingle and start selling barbecue on weekends. The physical infrastructure needed to sell barbecue is actually quite simple. At its most basic, all you need is a pop-up tent and a table. This is colloquially known as "shade tree barbecue," from the image of a pitmaster setting up under a tree by the side of the road to sell his wares. Some of Houston's most storied barbecue joints got their start this way. I still remember the day in 2012 when I got an invitation to go to Pearland, where chef Ronnie Killen had set up a tent and a table in the parking lot of his steakhouse after deciding to get back into the barbecue business. The rest, as they say, is history - Killen's Barbecue would open in a permanent location in 2013 and become one of the most celebrated barbecue joints in Texas. Of course, making the jump directly from tent-and-table to owning a standalone building is a rare feat. For perpetually under-capitalized, would-be barbecue entrepreneurs, there are usually a few steps in between. One option is to move up to, or just start with, a food truck or trailer. Obviously, this offers a more substantial physical infrastructure with which to make and serve barbecue, and it's mobile. But it comes with its own set of headaches - the trucks frequently break down, health department regulations are strict, and finding a profitable location to set up shop can be a challenge. CorkScrew BBQ in Spring started out this way, in a trailer on a patch of grass behind a shopping center just off Interstate 45. Will and Nichole Buckman's world-class barbecue gained a cultlike following, and they eventually purchased and moved into a permanent location in Old Town Spring in 2015. Another option is to open in a shopping center. When The Brisket House opened in a small strip center in the tony Tanglewood neighborhood, I thought it was a curious location for a barbecue joint. But owner and pitmaster Wayne Kammerl turned the tiny storefront into one of Houston's best barbecue purveyors. Kammerl would eventually expand with a location in the FM 1960 area but decided to purchase a standalone building. You may have noticed a pattern here. Many of Houston's most successful barbecue joints end up purchasing their own standalone building in which to grow their business. Why? Because owning real estate is basically a hedge against the vagaries of the restaurant business while ultimately becoming the retirement plan for the barbecue joints' owners. An example of this scenario would be for the owners to purchase the land and building for $500,000, then spend the next 20 years running their business while the value of the land appreciates. When it comes time to retire, they can sell the property for two or three times that. In 2003, when the Webber family bought the land for Tin Roof BBQ, Atascocita was just another small town on the outskirts of Houston. Now it's a booming suburb, and Tin Roof is in the thick of Atascocita's bustling business district. Tin Roof's success is certainly based on their great barbecue, but their family's financial future is also bound to the land it now sits on. So for the budding barbecue entrepreneur, I recommend taking the long view when it comes to the physical structure that houses your restaurant. Start out small and nimble, in a tent or trailer. Save as much money as you can. Begin looking for a permanent location, preferably in an up-and-coming neighborhood where real-estate values are still reasonable. Making barbecue is hard enough without spending every day worrying about how you will pay for retirement. The investment in owning a permanent location pays dividends now and especially in the future. Financial peace of mind is a necessary part of making consistently great barbecue. There are two kinds of shitholes. One is physical. One is a state of mind. We all know which one President Donald Trump was in when he reportedly asked in a meeting with Congressional members why the United States should admit people from "shithole countries" such as Haiti and some African nations that are predominately black, rather than places like Norway, which is predominately white. Given the choice between living with that kind of mentality and living in an actual shithole, I would gladly choose the latter. At least there's a way out. Trump, meanwhile, is trapped in his bigoted, xenophobic views. But we can't allow ourselves to get trapped along with him - trapped in outrage, in resignation or in apathy. Our children are listening when the president speaks. People who voted for him are listening. The world is listening. If we start rolling our eyes or waving off the president's rants as the symptoms of a mentally unstable buffoon, it signals tolerance of the toxic rhetoric that is tarnishing the shining American example. EDITORIAL: Trump's sh--list So what's to be done? Well, for starters, keep track. The rate at which Trump shocks and offends is such that we'll be talking about another remark next week. Don't let quantity lessen the cumulative blow. Keep a list, a file - hell, a spreadsheet - and title it thusly: Reason to vote. Then, fight back, not with anger but with facts and logic. On social media. Over coffee with Trump-minded friends and family. In letters to Congress members. Yes, it is still outrageous, even after a year of such behavior, for the U.S. president, in the course of conducting official business, to use such a word. Let alone in reference to foreign nations we consider allies. Let alone in reference to the homelands of hundreds of thousands of people who live and work in America. It wasn't just Trump's condemnation of the countries themselves. It was his insinuation that the people born there are not worthy of America's promise. As Americans, how many of our ancestors did not come from a place that someone regarded as a hellhole at the time? How many of them arrived wealthy, educated and comfortable? Not my family. By some standards, Alexander Hamilton, one of our greatest founding fathers, came from such a place in the British West Indies. MORE: Diplomats scramble to contain outrage over Trump's remarks By some standards, there are parts of this country, in West Virginia, in East Texas or in the Panhandle, that qualify for Trump's offensive distinction. They're dirt poor, lacking in education, opportunity and hope. Would the president call those places shitholes? Likely not. Some are overwhelmingly white. Some are his voters. Lacks compassion Trump's comments betray not only his racist views and his lack of compassion but also his ignorance. His recent insult comes on the heels of previously reported comments in which the president said Nigerians should go back to their "huts." Nigerians, it so happens, are the most educated group in America. About 61 percent of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher - more than twice the U.S. rate of 28.5 percent, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report. Haitians, meanwhile, facing steep poverty and other obstacles, hold their own. More than 70 percent of Haitian immigrants age 16 and older participate in the civilian labor force, compared with 66 percent of the overall foreign-born population and 62 percent of the U.S.-born population, according to the Migration Policy Institute. Meanwhile, 78 percent of those 25 and older have a high school degree or higher, compared with 71 percent of the foreign-born population and 88 percent of U.S.-born. MORE: Evangelical rift grows over Trump remarks Still, there are some trying to find wisdom in Trump's foul statement. One guy trolling my Facebook page Friday insisted that while the president's comment may be crude, it was truthful. He argued that Haiti and Honduras really are such countries. "Why do you think people are leaving them?" he asked. There's a difference between condemning failed leaders and failed policy and denouncing an entire country - encompassing everything from its people to its culture to its architecture. High and mighty To get another perspective, I called up Rosendo Ticas, who fled to the United States as a boy after he woke up one night with an M-16 in his back during a brutal civil war in his native El Salvador. I wrote about him recently as an example of how Texas' in-state tuition law for undocumented immigrants helped him go to college and achieve his dream of repairing airplanes. Did he view his native country, where his grandfather later died at the hands of gangs, as a bad place? No, he said. A poor country. A Third World country. But he would never condemn the whole place. "It's a good country," Ticas said, while acknowledging the violence, lack of opportunity and politicians too scared to make change. "There are good people there, like there are good people here." Perhaps Trump feels high and mighty enough to put down other nations because he is the leader of a country of high ideals and mighty influence. But every time he insults our allies, belittles the people who live and work here, and comports himself with the dignity of a drunken baboon, he is diminishing the power of his platform, and of America's voice. No country, no matter how rich, how powerful and how free, can flourish without a certain level of decency, compassion and civil discourse from its leaders. No city on a hill can survive with a gutter state of mind. "America, as it has done before, has gone off the rails," said Marianne Williamson, the author and lecturer, on Thursday evening. Williamson, a native Houstonian, was speaking at Unity of Houston as part of her "Love America" tour, which began last month. I was among the several hundred people who had gathered in the pyramid-shaped sanctuary, to hear her talk about spirituality and politics. For context, I really had no idea what to expect. I had heard of Williamson and knew that she writes about spirituality, but I've never read any of her books. The reason I ended up at the event is as follows. Last week, I decided to visit a place called 59 Minute Photo, on Westheimer, to get a set of passport photos. While en route, I happened to drive past a church and noticed that its sign was promoting Williamson's upcoming lecture. That might be interesting, I thought. Our politics are certainly bedeviled lately. So, while waiting for my passport photos to be printed, I consulted the Internet to see what this was all about. On Williamson's website, the tour is billed as an effort to promote political renewal via "a revolution in consciousness." Fear and hatred, the site explains, have become powerful forces in politics. In Williamson's view, we can harness the powers of love and decency in response - and, if our democracy is to survive, we must. My curiosity was piqued. The ills of fear and hatred are ancient, of course. Their political manifestations, like bigotry and corruption, predate the election of Donald Trump. But we've been confronted with them on a daily basis since he entered the White House, and many Americans have been asking themselves what they should do in response. And this is a line of inquiry that Trump himself revived just hours before Williamson took the stage. "Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?" said Trump on Thursday, in a meeting with Republican and Democratic lawmakers, according to a bombshell report that appeared shortly thereafter, in the Washington Post. This was, per the Post's sources, in response to the suggestion that protections for immigrants from nations including Haiti and El Salvador be extended as part of the comprehensive immigration reform deal he has called on Congress to pass. The president went on to say that the United States should prioritize immigration from countries like Norway instead. Trump has subsequently insisted, in a tweet, that although his language at the meeting was "tough," it did not include the obscenity attributed to him. I don't see why that matters, frankly. Let's suppose that he referred to "suboptimal countries" instead. That would still be evidence of bigotry and ignorance, both of which are worse than cussing, in my view. And I'd like to highlight a few points that Williamson made in her talk, which I found very bracing. Virtues and flaws She began by emphasizing how important it is for Americans to know the history of our nation, and to be clear-eyed about both its virtues and its flaws, and the contradictions that they reflect. We're the only country founded on small-d democratic principles, for example, but many of the men who signed the Constitution, which enshrines those principles, nonetheless owned slaves. Since then, in Williamson's telling, the Americans who want to realize those ideals have been in a constant struggle against those who would rather not, for various reasons. Perhaps they're beneficiaries of an unjust status quo, or are subconsciously seeking to re-create a regime in which the people are subordinate to an entitled aristocracy. The latter, Williamson continued, currently have the upper hand. And so it's incumbent on spiritual and religious communities to lead the change - as, historically, they always have. "People just being anti-slavery was not going to end slavery," she noted. They had to actually do something, as the Quakers did in the abolitionist movement, or as Martin Luther King Jr. did in the fight for civil rights. But what struck me most in Williamson's talk was her explanation for why spiritual and religious communities step up to the plate. "We don't believe in a God out there, and a devil out there, that is stalking the planet, trying to grab men's souls. We believe in something in here," she said, pointing at her head. That being the case, spiritual and religious Americans agree that there is a world beyond the world in which we live - a "truer reality," according to our beliefs. A world in which people are equal, and truly free. Love and decency Like all Americans, we also believe that's how things should be in this world, or at least in this country. But religious communities have, historically, been leaders in so many fights for change. Beliefs can't be quantified, measured, or documented; as Williamson put it, the truth sometimes "becomes out-pictured" by the proximate reality. But when political leaders are flouting basic American principles, spiritual and religious Americans often object, because our civic beliefs are often reinforced by our beliefs about the truer reality. Williamson is right, I think, about the powers of love and decency: They can harnessed, for political purposes, and should be channeled into actions accordingly. Voting is one example. Another would be pointing out that Trump's comments on Thursday should be offensive to all Americans, regardless of their political beliefs. As Americans, we believe that all people are created equal, even if they come from suboptimal countries; that is a foundational premise of this one, which Trump supposedly leads. College students no longer need to hit the gym to pedal an elliptical or exercise bike. At Texas A&M and Rice universities, students can get their cardio at the campus libraries. The colleges spent about $3,100 combined on desk bikes and under-desk pedals this year, part of a growing effort to keep libraries relevant to a generation of students for whom information never has been bound to a dusty book. The adjustments are part of a dramatic reshaping of the very definition of a library for students and other visitors. "Libraries typically used to be the gatekeepers to knowledge - in the olden days, the stacks were closed," said Susan Goodwin, associate dean for user services at A&M. "Now, I see us as a gateway. We are facilitators to bring (students) to other experts." Campuses across the state are pouring money into renovating libraries, adding study rooms, cafe-like booths and, yes, exercise machines so students can multi-task while studying. MORE: Good Brick Awards recognize San Jacinto College library restoration Librarians have shuttled books off-site as circulation has dropped, opening up floor space for clubs to gather or for makerspace centers to build electronics or use a 3D printer. A need for libraries to innovate, of course, is not exclusive to college campuses. Municipal and county libraries across Texas and the country have swapped bookshelves for computers, added cafes and provide a slate of community events in a bid to make them more attractive for today's consumers. But universities have an added urgency to keep up: faster turnover in user demographics as each successive class enrolls and graduates. "Every year, there's a new group of students coming in," said Debra Kolah, head of user experience at Rice University's Fondren Library. "You have to learn what these new students need to be successful." Along with the under-desk ellipticals, Rice has added standing desks and a room for nursing mothers this year. Students low on cell phone juice can check out a charger from the library, and if it rains unexpectedly, umbrellas are available for loan. Changing, too, are the functions of the library staff. The University of Texas at Austin hired a data management specialist to work with campus researchers. A&M's librarians no longer expect to answer questions that can be Googled. Now, they teach visitors how to navigate online databases or answer deep, subject-specific research questions. So far, college libraries' efforts to stay relevant appear to be effective. Sixty-four percent of students surveyed in 2015 by EBSCO Information Services, a library consulting company, said they used library resources for research. MORE: Harvey-damaged libraries win nearly $300,000 in recovery grants Checking out books, however, no longer is a draw. Research libraries' circulation dropped 58 percent from 1991 to 2015, while the total number of students enrolled rose 40 percent, according to the Association of Research Libraries. UT-Austin's libraries saw circulation, excluding e-books, drop from 1.9 million in 2007 to about 242,500 through early December. At the University of Houston, circulation - excluding course reserves, renewals and e-books - dropped from 129,403 in the 2006-07 academic year to 76,978 in 2016-17. Luis Rodriguez, a 21-year-old UH junior, goes to the library to study. It's often packed, he said, adding that he "can see the justification" for campuses' spending on libraries. But he perceives the library's books as "old" and "outdated" and says he'd prefer to search for scientific articles online. Open houses The first step to encouraging library use is getting new students in the door, staff acknowledge. Marketing campaigns, open houses, even integrating the library into the campus tour aim to teach students about resources they could find on-site. Campuses across the state have social media accounts for their libraries, posting photos and event listings. MORE: Damaged elementary school was built in a flood pool - and Katy school officials didn't know UH's library Twitter account earlier this month shared photos of dogs brought in for a pre-finals relaxation event. About 3,000 students come to a Texas A&M library open house for food and beverages each fall, Goodwin said. "It's anxiety-provoking to come into a building our size for the first time and ask a question," she said, adding that many A&M students come from small Texas towns. During orientation, new UT-Austin students meet a first-year experience librarian,who explain what the library has to offer. "I always encourage them to make a librarian their best friend forever," said Lorraine Haricombe, vice provost and UT libraries director. "It's a resource that will benefit them for the rest of their lives." Some students don't receive the message. Reagan Hahn, a 21-year-old junior at Rice who works as a library "ambassador," said many of her peers are "pretty unfamiliar" with what the library offers. MORE: UH's indoor football facility another big step Hahn, who studies kinesiology, said students use Fondren for group homework projects or as a meeting place. The library needs to stay in tune with what students want to remain relevant, she said. Value of space Rice's efforts to renovate Fondren, perhaps typify the lengths to which universities will go to keep the facility in touch with student needs. In 2005, Rice redesigned Fondren's west entrance, conceptualizing a "main street" through the center of the first floor to accommodate a high volume of student traffic. Overhead is an art installation - glass blue, yellow and red boats form Lino Tagliapietra's "Endeavor," created in 2008. Kolah later started leading user experience efforts at Fondren. Her office now surveys Rice's students and holds focus groups, asking how the library could better serve their needs. A digital media center, complete with podcast stations and a graphics lab, nestled into the library's basement in 2014, the same year @fondrenlibrary sent its first tweet. The reading room was renovated in December 2015. Administrators added cubicles with cushioned chairs and bar tables, scattered around the room. MORE: Look inside Texas A&M basketball locker room after multi-million dollar renovation Smaller changes came throughout. Students can scribble on new glass tables on the quiet sixth floor with dry-erase markers available for reserve from the library. Elsewhere in the building, what once was a computer lab now is a conference room. "If you are making sure you're creating spaces that are relevant to the next generation, you will continue to be utilized," Kolah said. There still is work to do, she added. The Asian reference alcove, for example, still holds stacks of books and journals. "In the near future, will this change? Yes," she said, adding that one possible use could be a space for graduate student collaboration. "It doesn't mean the books are not important. (But) space is one of the most valuable commodities. What could this be to make our students more successful?" Starting fresh Texas Southern University is starting from scratch with $43 million in construction on a new library to replace its existing one. Janice Peyton, executive director of TSU's library, says it will be a "tech-rich" environment. Tenants of the facility will be TSU's distance and online education divisions and tutoring. Administrative offices and a board room also will be in the new space, which is expected to be completed in summer 2019, she said. "Traditionally libraries have been more one-fits-all," Peyton said. "Now, I think we're getting more into understanding that learners learn in a variety of styles at different times. That's what they're asking for." Books will occupy parts of two of five stories in the new library. Staff members have weeded out 40,000 books as they prepare to move, Peyton said, looking at how frequently and recently they have been taken out. TSU placed these books in a staging area for passersby to take on campus. Peyton said she is looking into remote storage but called that "expensive." "It's a very emotional topic," Peyton said. "We are in a period right now where books and e-resources will coexist." Even after the waters receded and homes repaired, the invisible wounds inflicted by Hurricane Harvey have yet to heal for far too many Houstonians. Post-traumatic stress and other mental health issues still wrack those who survived the storm, and the usual insurance adjusters and repair crews still swarming the city don't have the tools to address this problem. Those institutions responsible for public health, such as City Hall and Harris County, lack the resources necessary to offer robust services. Enter philanthropists Maureen and Jim Hackett, who donated $20 million to create a regional mental health policy center ("$20 million gifted for mental health policy," Page A1, Jan. 8). RELATED: Integrated care can help kids recover from the trauma of natural disasters RELATED: Schools must be able to offer mental health services for students after Harvey ALSO: New strategies for treating those coping with mental illness need lawmakers' support The donation, which is believed to be one of the largest ever for a mental health endeavor, will initially target children, expected to be some of Harvey's hardest hit and most overlooked victims. Children's increased susceptibility to mental health conditions doesn't peak until about 18 months after a disaster according to experts, so the center - scheduled to become operational Jan. 15 - will help coordinate resources available to providers of services for children during the period of their heightened vulnerability. In the storm's worst affected areas, rates of post-traumatic stress disorder could be as much as five times more than pre-hurricane rates in youth 5 to 11 years old; three times more in those 12 to 17 years old; and six times higher in parents and caregivers and school personnel, according to research conducted by the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute. Although the Texas economy has boomed, the budget for mental services hasn't kept pace. Harris County's mental health care system, strained for decades, doesn't have the capacity to meet the increased demands in the aftermath of the disaster. RELATED: Harvey trauma notably hard on youth RELATED: Don't let the trauma of Harvey fade in memory If you doubt the existence of a budding mental health crisis, ask any teacher, law enforcement officer or doctor who deals with the delivery of social services. Or consider that the largest provider of mental health services in the area is not a center set up to administer social services but the Harris County Jail. ALSO: In a lesson from Katrina, Texas schools should invest in therapists after Harvey "Harvey didn't create every problem we have in Houston, but it both exposed and elevated the need for behavioral health services," Mayor Sylvester Turner said recently. We've made so much progress in the diagnosis and cure of mental health services, it's inexcusable that the delivery of services lags so far behind. The Hacketts aren't newcomers to the mental health field. Their generosity extends from the Harris County Felony Mental Health Court and the Harris Center for Intellectual and Developmental Disability to such national groups as the Alzheimer's Association and American Psychiatric Foundation. In addition, the Hacketts helped found a mental health channel that focuses on positive stories surrounding mental health challenges. But Houston cannot rely exclusively on the good-willed and charitable to support basic mental health needs. Harris County and our state legislators need to ensure parity between mental health and physical health. Expanding Medicaid at a state level would help ensure that Texas receives the federal dollars necessary to fund these services, instead of forcing counties to rely on property taxes. Maureen and Jim Hackett deserve praise for their contribution to our community's mental health infrastructure. What all too many people see as a problem with no solution, they see as an opportunity. If only our Austin politicians shared their vision. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff Address harm Regarding "Living with pollution" (Page B1, Jan. 7), the article concerning pollution in the Manchester neighborhood is an example of the need for government and industry to correct past failures to protect the environment and people. In the more than 40 years that I have had business dealings within and around Port Houston this neighborhood has stood in the shadow of the port and the various plants congregated around it while being ignored by all. While the article mentioned that Valero had recently purchased some of the homes next to their plant, it is disconcerting that after all these years the local governments, such as the city of Houston and Harris County have not stepped up to work with and require the area plants to buy out all of the homes in this neighborhood. Oprah's not the one Regarding "President Oprah? Awards speech stirs talk" (Page A7, Wednesday), people have we learned nothing this year about putting TV personalities in as president of the United States? Oprah? Really? I'm sure she's a lovely lady, but she knows nothing about running a country. The current holder of that office has run a company, and yet we are in a horrible mess. Let's give this important decision a LOT more thought and prayer. Donna Kelly, Tomball Echoing ancient history Regarding "A child president sits in the Oval Office" (Page A11, Jan. 8), Kathleen Parker's column on President Donald Trump's personality completely misses the mark. Trump has the personality of short-lived Roman Emperor Otho (69 AD) who bought the emperorship. If Parker had a bit more background in Roman history, she would probably also note the similarities of Hillary Clinton to Empress Livia (Augustus Caesar's wife). Livia was known for her manipulation of the political processes in Rome. In either case, Parker's column misses the point that we the people have acquiesced to a Roman-style republic that has been corrupted by money, power mongering and political manipulation. The Constitution of the United States was written with the underlying tenet that the American republic should not relegate itself into a Roman system where power brokers and money determined leadership. Unfortunately, the Republican and Democratic parties have co-opted the Constitution and circumvented this fundamental tenet that leadership and governance should be by merit (hence the reason for the Electoral College). James A. Babb, Friendswood Pot, booze kindred spirits Regarding "Lazy weed" (Page A11, Jan. 9), I have never tried pot and the only marijuana cigarette I ever saw was in a police van during the rodeo a long time ago. I feel sure that some of the men and women who spent time in Vietnam during the war were caught up in the invitation to try something new. But right now, and I am over 80, I know no one who uses the stuff and few who even admit to ever using it. So, I believe the editorial is wrong on the cited statistics. But, if the rampant use of the stuff is the norm, I feel that it, like alcohol, should be legalized. Since the recreational use of pot has proven to be so beneficial to the states where it has been legalized, why shouldn't the state of Texas reap the windfall in taxes that comes from the legalization and distribution of pot? And then the state could close a number of jails where those poor innocent pot dealers are serving time for their crimes, and smart investors who have quietly bought stock in pot growers and distributors could reap the benefits of their investments. Lawrence Keen, Pearland Louisiana teacher flap Regarding "La. teacher arrested after questioning pay raise for superintendent" (Page A11, Jan. 10), Deyshia Hargrave was mistreated for exercising her right to free speech and subjected to physical abuse, thrown to the floor and handcuffed. All she wanted was an answer to why teachers hadn't gotten a raise for 10 years while the superintendent got a raise. If the superintendant was being rewarded for performance, the reason he performed well was the efforts of his teachers. Ross Bonny, Spring Question raises ire After the video of the teacher being arrested was posted online, the superintendent, the school board, the school district and the marshal's office should all apologize. The only sign of intelligence is the city attorney, who is refusing to press charges against the teacher. "Stop resisting" is the old excuse the cops use as you don't move fast enough to keep up with them. Of course, the board hopes this will disappear, since any more attention will only reflect badly on the school board and its raise for the superintendent. Bob Gayle, Houston The U.S. government has a short and selective memory. This was in full display on Jan. 8, when Kristjen Nielsen, secretary of Homeland Security, announced her decision to end Temporary Protected Status for Salvadorans. TPS was created as part of the Immigration Act of 1990 to provide temporary relief to people already in the United States who could not return safely to countries ravaged by war or natural and environmental catastrophes. In the midst of their country's civil war, which ended in 1992, many Salvadorans at that time were able to get short-term relief from the TPS program; this status was terminated in 1994. RELATED: Welcoming refugees is what a proud nation does RELATED: We pay Mexico to catch refugees. Kids suffer. RELATED: U.S. needs to show more compassion for refugee children In 2001, El Salvador was again designated for TPS, this time following two devastating earthquakes and violent aftershocks that devoured much of that small country, taking nearly 1,000 lives and destroying close to 110,000 homes. Today overall conditions have remained a challenge for the large majority of Salvadorans. If anything, over the past 17 years the situation has deteriorated as the postwar economy and weakened institutions have not recovered, while inequality has deepened. Yet, the present conditions in El Salvador did not come about independent of U.S. actions. In fact, the United States has played a key role in their making. The United States has a long history of involvement in the economic and political affairs of El Salvador. As the civil war erupted in the country in the late 1970s, President Ronald Reagan sent significant support to the existing right-wing government during the war, to the tune of $1.5 million a day - $3.3 million in today's dollars - in military aid alone. The civil war resulted in countless deaths and the uprooting of thousands of people. The number of Salvadorans migrating to the United States increased five-fold between the 1970s and 1980s. But because Salvadorans were fleeing a U.S.-supported right-wing dictatorship, very few - less than 3 percent - seeking political asylum between 1983 and 1990 were granted this status. To partially remedy the incongruence between the thousands of individuals fleeing state-sponsored terror and the U.S. reluctance to extend refugee protection to them, President George W. Bush created TPS and El Salvador was the first country to be designated for this relief. Immigrant rights groups seeking formal recognition for the plight of Salvadoran refugees played a key role in these immigrants gaining this temporary relief. ALSO: Offering sanctuary to refugees reflects our American values During the Clinton administration, through new laws that would enable an unprecedented number of deportations, many Salvadorans who had come to the United States as young children were deported. Among these were youths who had joined gangs in the United States as a way to fit into a society that marginalized them. Returning to an essentially foreign country with few economic prospects and extremely limited opportunities, some of these youth found fertile ground to recreate their networks. El Salvador had been thoroughly militarized during the war years and was still awash in weapons.EThis is how the seeds for the recent waves of violence in El Salvador were planted, the violence that has forced thousands to flee the country and come to the South Texas border in search of political asylum. To this day, the U.S. government does not recognize its role in creating the current instability and rising violence in El Salvador. Instead, it distances itself from that violence and advocates military strategies to address the instability it helped create. Indeed, memory is selective and short. Nielsen's decision means that there are now about 200,000 Salvadorans who will become undocumented and run the risk of deportation if they do not return to El Salvador by Sept. 9, 2019. They are being thrown to the wind to find their fate in a country that cannot support this massive level of new arrivals. In the mix, of course, is the uncertain future of their nearly 193,000 U.S.-born children. The impact of the termination of TPS designation for Salvadorans hits close to home. Texas with more than 36,000 Salvadorans with TPS designation has the second largest population behind California. Among U.S. cities, Houston has the third largest population of impacted Salvadorans with 19,000 losing their TPS designation, followed by Dallas with approximately 10,000. These individuals are not strangers. They are our family, friends, coworkers and fellow congregants who have lived here, on average, for 20 years. They have established deep roots in this country and their communities. Taking this status away destroys their worlds and stifles their children's future. It harms their communities in this country, while also amplifying economic and political instability in El Salvador. Rather than taking away their temporary legal status, these Salvadorans should be granted permanent legal status. This act would formally recognize their deep roots in this nation, but it would also begin to redress for the havoc created by decades of U.S. policy in El Salvador. Saenz is Dean of the College of Public Policy and holds the Mark G. Yudof Endowed Chair at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Menjivar is Foundation Distinguished Professor in the Department of Sociology and Co-Director of the Center for Migration Research at the University of Kansas. California State Sen. Scott Wiener just launched a broadside against the sort of local ordinances that drive up home prices across the nation. Under Wiener's proposal, California cities would no longer have authority to restrict housing construction or impose parking mandates within a half mile of light rail stations and transit centers. The legislative package frees developers to start building the kind of projects that best serve the market rather than simply conform to government building and permit codes. Wiener and a budding California YIMBY movement (Yes In My Backyard) have figured out what should be obvious - that the key to lower housing costs is increased supply. In Texas, we have long looked down our noses at the east and west coasts as skyrocketing real estate prices have made the cost of living unbearable for all but the wealthiest residents. Ironically, although we Texans pride ourselves on our free-market mindset, it is California that is proposing to let the market decide. In Houston, we continue to let bureaucrats tell private enterprise how to develop their land. RELATED: City needs real action, not just gimmicks, as housing grows more expensive RELATED: Minimum parking requirements fit no coherent policy rhyme or reason ALSO: Downtown offers a free market alternative to wasteful parking mandates Here, our low-cost housing strategy has been "drive till you qualify," enabled by tollway and debt-financed freeway expansion, a tolerance for long commutes and loose land-use regulations in the suburbs and exurbs. If it wasn't clear before, Harvey's floodwaters now have exposed the hazards of paving the prairie - the result of our long-standing reliance on building ever farther out to satisfy demand for affordable housing. Post-Harvey, flood maps will push development to higher ground and force Houston to build more densely on that higher ground. It is this density of development that will allow Houston to continue its remarkable growth - and more importantly, to grow sustainably. Building more closely within the urban core of Houston will make the city more walkable, encourage smart public transit, allow people to live close to work, shopping and recreation. To reap these benefits, Houston must re-examine the current thicket of ordinances that codify urban sprawl into being and drive up costs. RELATED: Instead of keeping buildings away from bayous and demanding less concrete, we've said no to zoning ALSO: Suburbs set the pace on walkability Sure, we pride ourselves on not having zoning, but how does that help when Houston building codes call for absurdly large street setbacks (that cost a pretty penny and for which the rationale has been lost in the mists of time), overly generous parking requirements (more pavement equals increased flooding), and minimum lot sizes designed to maintain a suburb-like innercity. Houston sprawls for many reasons, but among the most powerful are Houston's far-reaching building codes. For example, to build a house here requires a minimum 3,500-square-foot lot. That means for a modest townhouse, land costs will top $100,000, even in lower-cost neighborhoods. That townhouse will come with two required parking spaces, which must both be sized for big cars, even if you don't want or need them (the spaces or the cars). If you have a big lot and want to build a "granny flat" out back, as many cities now encourage in order to increase housing supply, sorry; it can only be 900-square feet, and you have to add a parking space for grandma's Suburban. Defenders of the status quo will point to Houston's "Transit Oriented Development" statute, which allows higher density near rail stations. Since its passage eight years ago, a small number of projects have run this gauntlet. Although a separate ordinance allows businesses to opt out of parking requirements, the city has granted no zero-parking variances since the rule's passage. Density is allowed in Houston, but only by exemption. Developers who wish to create denser, more walkable and transit-friendly projects can do so, but they must navigate the Planning Commission, a time-consuming and uncertain process. The upshot is that most developers don't bother to try, and only the biggest projects with the highest-quality connections attempt to make it through. By design, there is no confidence in organic growth driven by small projects, which has been the bedrock of community creation in other cities. Indeed, some of the most coveted places in Houston, like 19th Street in the Heights and much of Montrose, would be illegal to develop under today's ordinances. Mandating low density around rail stops does not foster improved transportation options for low-income workers. The city should drop this rule in areas served by Metrorail in order to drive density, which drives ridership, which would leverage our multi-billion dollar light-rail investment. Furthermore, Houston housing policy's evil twin is traffic, so promoting housing development along our nascent rail system is critical. Instead of sporadically granting exemptions, Houston officials should follow the brave California senator's lead and end this city's government-knows-best building mandates. It's time to trust markets to drive the density Houston requires. Michael Skelly is an energy infrastructure entrepreneur and CEO of Clean Line Energy. Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. In a departure from the traditional CES fanfare, a new smart cities track offers a glimpse at the increasingly popular technology collaborations between the public and private sectors. Speakers at the "Smart Cities: Thriving in the Future" session agreed that municipalities seeking to up their game by deploying technology are, and should be, changing how they approach the matter. LAS VEGAS Municipal leaders may be shifting their smart city focus to residents and embracing a variety of partners, according to experts at one of the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show panels on the topic. For example, Hardik Bhatt, the former Illinois state CIO who joined Amazon Web Services in September, explained that the smart city thrust has changed during the past five to six years from being sensor-centric and technology-driven to being more data-driven and citizen-centric. Because what smart cities is going to do for you is create more data. You need to learn how to use the data that you already have, Bhatt said in an interview following a panel discussion about Marrying the Vision and Practical Realities of Smart Cities. Bhatt now serves as AWS leader of the smart cities and mobility group focused on state and local government and worldwide public sector. But you made it sound too easy," said moderator Stephen Goldsmith, director of the Innovations in American Government Program at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. "How do you deal with recalcitrant or the slow take-up rates of agency heads who are sitting on a huge amount of data? The answer in Illinois, said Bhatt, was to create an enterprise data-sharing agreement that covered agencies ranging from public health to juvenile justice. The policy gave leaders 10 days to explain why they couldnt share their data, then broke those silos of data and enabled sharing. In Columbus, Ohio, officials brought a citizens-first approach to bear on the issue of infant mortality, panelist Alex Fischer, president and CEO of the Columbus Partnership, said during the discussion. Whats absolutely critical is that you have interoperability that walks across platforms, said Fischer, whose organization is comprised of the citys top business leaders. If all you have is public data then youll only go so far. What were trying to do is put as much integrated data out in an open exchange that can be used by government, but also marry it with the private sector, Fischer added. During an earlier session, Smart Cities, Smart Nations, Rohit Aggarwala, head of urban systems at Sidewalk Labs, a subsidiary of Google parent Alphabet, said the physical and digital worlds must, in a sense, merge and be better integrated as agencies use tech to improve service. Sidewalk Labs is partnering with the city of Toronto to create Sidewalk Toronto, a district on its Eastern Waterfront. Its urban systems leader said the company thinks about a city as a platform because like a great platform, what a city is, is a invitation to co-create with users. A city feels authentic after a generation or two of people have lived and worked there and made it their own. And so what we are committed to do is think about how could you initially build a place that is meant to be co-created by the people who live and work there, Aggarwala said. You use technology to make public spaces more useable and more personable, he added. Despite a host of projects and work with data in cities from Cincinnati to Louisville, that process is moving slower in the U.S. outside population centers like New York City, Boston and Los Angeles. Goldsmith, a regular Government Technology contributor, said afterward that Bhatts description of a shift to a citizen-centered smart cities focus may be aspirational. And not met in very many places, primarily because of the way government is organized. One potential obstacle standing between cities and smart technology is funding, despite connections with the private sector and public-private partnerships. Private-sector partners, Goldsmith said, "want a return on their investment, so governments going to have to figure out how its going to buy, which means its going to have to figure out how it saves money and redeploys the money." Source: http://www.govtech.com/data/CES-2018-Making-Smart-Cities-Responsive.html For background, see this piece , and consider adding your questions to the ongoing community question document . Heading into a year of public consultations on Sidewalk Labs in Toronto, Civic Tech brings you this first piece in a series that will explore a range of issues raised by residents concerned about the project. Our city cannot become a privatized digital platform In the tech world, the word platform is used to describe an interconnected set of products and services. Sidewalk Labs has not been shy about using the word to describe the way it sees cities. Dan Doctoroff, chief executive of Sidewalk Labs, has likened the city to the operating system of a mobile phone, saying: What made [the smartphone] ultimately magical is that it enabled millions of people around the world to use their imagination and skills to create apps that, in most cases, no one ever dreamed the platform would be used for and keep it fresh, changing, useful, and current. To keep with the analogy, Sidewalk Labs should never be our operating system. Thats the role of government. If Sidewalk Labs wants to build some apps, theyre welcome to do so. But these apps will need oversight, especially since they may seek to disrupt the delivery of public services. The great and dangerous advantage of the technology sector is that it can go straight to market and its consumers via the internet. That can make tech products seem inevitable, instead of conditional on appropriate regulation. (Think of Ubers operating strategy.) As we move into a consultation on Sidewalk Labs, which will likely include some pilot projects, we must remember this: although consultation is a step in the right direction, it is not a substitute for policy or law. Its an input to both. Beware the blurring line between private and public sector language Heres Rohit Aggarwala, head of urban systems at Sidewalk Labs, quoted in a piece in Smithsonianmag.com about the project. Its an example of a communications strategy that makes Sidewalk Labs sound like the government, an issue that goes persistently unchecked in the press: Aggarwala also offers assurances that the purpose of gathering so much data is not a commercial one. This isnt about trying to figure out how we make money from capturing all this information for advertisers. Thats not our objective, he says. Our objective is to build a great neighbourhood. The only reason we want to capture information is to provide better urban services. Dan Doctoroff, CEO of Sidewalk Labs, doubled down on this line today in his Sidewalk Labs Reddit AMA. Of course the data collection is for commercial purposes it may not be for advertising, but for the provision of for-profit urban services. Sidewalk Labs is not the government, nor is it a philanthropic arm of Alphabet. Its a business. And its sister company, Google, recently received a $2.7-billion (U.S.) fine from the European Commission for anti-trust behaviour. (Google is appealing the decision.) As you watch Sidewalk Torontos communications, youll see constant references to leading urban thinkers and theories. This is intended to instill trust and familiarity among the urbanites who are closely monitoring the project, and highlight the city-building aspect of the project while downplaying the tech-business side. Alphabet, the parent company of Sidewalk Labs, has a market capitalization of approximately $730 billion (U.S.). That is roughly half of Canadas GDP. For all the times Sidewalk Toronto references Jane Jacobs, dont forget this. Decision-making on data: Whos in the drivers seat? Sidewalk Labs has said that it will make some of the data from this project available. The problem is that this is not, and never has been, Sidewalk Labs decision to make. There are three core outstanding questions to answer about the data from this and any other smart city project in Canada: Who can collect it? Who can use it? And under what terms? There is a strong argument to be made that there is only one organization that can collect civic data, whether its data from sensors monitoring the environment or from people moving in a public spacethe government. Mita Williams, a librarian at the University of Windsor with a long-time interest in open data, put it this way in a recent tweet: We are forced to trade our personal data when we use services such as Facebook. But our cities cannot be treated as the same. Civic data should belong to the city. From there, in terms of ownership, the list can expand beyond government. Individuals could also own it. Who can use it? Lots of people. Its here, at this stage, that we get into open data. Global corporations and small businesses alike can use it if, and only if, we all agree it should be open data in the first place. Having public data collection and access to core information about our cities is a modern-day census, not one we should privatize in any circumstance. Teresa Scassa, Canada research chair in information law and policy at the University of Ottawa outlines some of the related issues in this recent piece on data ownership. Civic data provides critical information to government and residents, to researchers and non-profits and academics and the private sector. So yes, some of it should definitely be open, but determining these details is a task for the government, not Sidewalk Labs. Sidewalks insatiable ambition and the network effect Another reason its important to maintain government ownership and control over any platform in our city is a phenomenon known as a network effect. A companys products become more powerful as the number of people using them grows. Consider Facebook: you use it because everyone else is using it. Network effects can lead to market domination and monopolies because of the power inherent from having many people use and rely on your product. And once a platform is embedded in society as a social norm, its incredibly difficult to dislodge. Sidewalk Labs has said that their appetite to move beyond the Quayside testing ground and into the rest of the city is insatiable. Their model includes a suite of proprietary products that would use a digital platform. See: Waymo (autonomous vehicles), Flow (transportation planning), Waze (traffic data), Cityblock (social-service delivery), LinkNYC (public Wi-Fi), and Nest (thermostats, outdoor security cameras). Will Fleissig, chief executive of Waterfront Toronto, has said that Sidewalks proposal stood out from more than a half-dozen submissions by demonstrating a plan that can take high-level conceptual ideas, piloting them and scaling them across a city. The ideas for Quayside are not intended to stay in Quayside. As such, Toronto must pay close attention to the core governance issues at the heart of this project. Its critical to ensure that whats public and vital to our citys operation stays under public control. Source: https://torontoist.com/2018/01/civic-tech-keeping-city-public-platform/ Four oarsmen smash 3,000 mile Atlantic row in 29 days 13 January 2018BBC NewsFour British amateur rowers are believed to have set a new world record for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic Ocean.Friends George Biggar, Dicky Taylor, Peter Robinson and Stuart Watts spent 29 days and 15 hours at sea during the 3,000-mile crossing from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean.The men were met by family and friends in Antigua just after 02:00 GMT.They beat the previous Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge race record of 35 days and raised 250,000 for charity.The quartet will donate the money to mental health charity Mind, in memory of Mr Biggar's mother Anne Fisher who died aged 54 in 2011, and Spinal Research, in support of Mr Robinson's friend Ben Kende who suffered a spinal cord injury while playing rugby for Hong Kong in 2010.Speaking moments after arriving in English Harbour in Antigua, Mr Biggar, 32, a property lawyer from London, said: "It's amazing to complete the row."We set out with it as a charity initiative for two charities."For me personally, the Mind element is commemorative for mum who struggled with mental illness through her life."I always felt a need and desire to do something to commemorate mum, and to bring that to fruition and to complete it. To do it such justice in such style with such great support is amazing."The quartet - who were known as The Oarsmen - were expecting to take 40 days to complete the row but families of the crew had to rebook flights to greet them as they progressed well ahead of schedule.The previous record was set last year by Anglo-American quartet Latitude 35, in a time of 35 days.Mr Biggar, Mr Robinson, a 32-year-old farmer from Alnwick in Northumberland, Mr Watts, a 34-year-old account director from Gloucester, and Mr Taylor, a 32-year-old IT consultant from Corbridge in Northumberland, led the 25-boat fleet from very early on in the race.They battled sea sickness, 40ft waves, hallucinations and chronic fatigue, but had their spirits lifted through a chance encounter with a minke whale and a calf which swam underneath their 26ft fibreglass vessel in the middle of the ocean.Race organisers said they believed the quartet completed the fastest Atlantic row of all time, as well as in race history. iciHaiti - Passing : Message of sympathy from the Secretary of State Gerald Oriol Jr. Gerald Oriol Jr., the Secretary of State for the Integration of Disabled People has learned with sorrow, the sad news of the death of Mr Doudly Elius https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-23235-icihaiti-passing-words-of-sympathy-from-the-office-of-the-organization-of-the-young-united-nations-in-haiti.html "In this painful circumstance, the Office of the Secretary of State presents his most sincere sympathies to the relatives, friends and collaborators of the deceased and wishes them courage. Doudly Elius has been a close associate of the BSEIPH and on several occasions he has shared his knowledge in the field of entrepreneurship with young people with disabilities wishing to start small businesses https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-15237-icihaiti-economy-entrepreneurship-training-for-40-women-with-disabilities.html Dynamic and ambitious, he never missed the opportunity to train and improve. In 2016, he was the first Haitian to win the Alumni Impact Award at the State Department of the United States of America. The departure of Doudly is a great loss for Haitian youth and the disability sector. That the earth may be light for him !" See also : https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-23235-icihaiti-passing-words-of-sympathy-from-the-office-of-the-organization-of-the-young-united-nations-in-haiti.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-15237-icihaiti-economy-entrepreneurship-training-for-40-women-with-disabilities.html IH/ iciHaiti Falklands War 'true hero' Captain Rick Jolly dies 14 January 2018BBC NewsA Royal Navy medical officer who saved the lives of hundreds of British and Argentine troops during the Falklands War has died, aged 71.Working amid terrible conditions in the field, Surgeon Capt Rick Jolly, from Torpoint, Cornwall, saved the life of every British troop he treated.He is the only person to have been decorated by both Britain and Argentina for his service during the conflict.After the war he wrote books and gave lectures to share his experiences.Capt Jolly, known as "Doc", was the senior medical officer of Plymouth-based 3 Commando Brigade and ran the field hospital at Ajax Bay where around 1,000 troops were treated.Despite the poor conditions, only three of the 580 British soldiers and Royal Marines wounded in action were to die of their wounds, and none while under his care.The hospital was known as the "red and green life machine" and this became the title of one of his books.He was appointed an OBE by the Queen, and awarded the Orden de Mayo (Order of May) by Argentina for his service during the war.Surgeon Cmdr Anthony Lambert met him several times, the first time shortly after he returned from the Falklands in 1982.He said: "As medics we aren't heroes, we just do our job, but he did his job incredibly well and was an inspiration to my generation".Tributes on social media include the commanding officer of the Royal Marines 40 Commando who called him a "true hero".Gulf War veteran John Nichol has also posted on Twitter, calling him "a true hero of 1982 Falklands war". Last year, after the Brit Award nominations were announced, there was a buzz ahead of the ceremony from every music fan hoping that the #BritsSoWhite uproar had done the trick. That after an overhaul of the voting panel, we might finally see the diversity and innovation in UK music recognised. It wasnt to be. This writer was just one person who left the ceremony feeling like theyd been tricked. A piece on why Skepta deserved to win Best British Male over the late David Bowie was swiftly followed by another, on how increasingly irrelevant the Brit Awards had become. Despite nominations for Kano, Skepta, Stormzy, Michael Kiwanuka, NAO, Craig David and Anohni, too much talent went home empty-handed. The reaction to the disappointment was fierce; music publications ran comment pieces with headlines calling for music fans and grime artists to forget the Brits. A piece by Joe Zadeh in the Fader pointed out how David Bowie, who passed away in January 2016 and was celebrated with so much love and sincerity that year, scooped up more trophies than all British BAME artists put together. The Brit awards 2017 was like watching some of the UKs most exciting artists finally being offered a seat at the table, only to be passed over when dinner was served. By the end of the show, it felt fair to wonder whether the Brits much-touted plan to diversify was just an intentional and tokenistic ruse to curry favour with earnest music fans and make us all naively tune in, drum up the viewing figures, and send the hashtags to the top of Twitter trending charts, Zadeh wrote. So when the Brit nominations for 2018 have been announced, this time on social media the general consensus appeared to go something like this: OK, not bad. Better than last year. But were not getting our hopes up just yet. This year it seems impossible, surely, that the awards ceremony could overlook those most deserving of recognition. It must at least be a first for the British Breakthrough category, where, for once, a white male artist has not been nominated. Instead you have rappers J Hus and Dave, hip hop artist Loyle Carner, Mercury Prize-winner Sampha, and rising pop star Dua Lipa: all completely different artists, linked only by sheer talent. The same thing happened for this years Grammy nominations, where no white men were nominated for Album of the Year for the first time in 20 years, and were also omitted from the Best New Artist category. Recommended The best new artists to look out for in 2018 For album of the year you have the obvious commercial pop juggernauts, but also works by artists who succeeded in balancing sales success with critical praise: Huss Common Sense and Stormzys Gang Signs & Prayer look like serious contenders against Ed Sheerans record-breaking album Divide. Similarly with Best Male: Loyle Carner and Stormzy are recognised alongside Liam Gallagher and Ed Sheeran. While props are owed to Dua Lipa, who along with the likes of Lorde, Alma and Charli XCX are pioneering a new wave of female-led pop music, one glaring omission was that of Stefflon Don in the Best Female category, and who also could have appeared as a potential British Breakthrough. Independent artists like Stormzy and Dave may not need the Brit awards, but its still essential for mainstream events and media to acknowledge their work and its impact on culture and society. Recommended The 30 best albums of 2017 In Beyonces heartfelt speech at last years Grammy awards she noted: Its important to me to show images to my children that reflect their beauty so they can grow up in a world where they look in the mirror first through their own families, as well as the news, the Super Bowl, the Olympics, the White House, and the Grammys, and see themselves. And have no doubt that theyre beautiful, intelligent, and capable. This is something I want for every child of every race, and I feel its vital that we learn from the past and recognise our tendencies to repeat our mistakes. Sceptics of mainstream shows like the Brits are unlikely to volunteer a nod of approval until the winners are read out on the night. But from this years nominations, it seems as though the Brit awards might finally be embracing the future of music, rather than clinging on to the past. The Brit Awards take place on Wednesday 21 February at the O2 Arena in London from 7.30pm Mario Testino and Bruce Weber have been accused of sexually exploiting male models in allegations that date back to the mid-1990s. Testino, who is renowned for taking the most iconic photographs of Diana, Princess of Wales months before her death, and Weber have since been suspended from working with Conde Nast titles such as Vogue and GQ. According to a New York Times investigation, the two acclaimed photographers exploited young assistants and models throughout their respective careers, subjecting them to sexual advances, including groping and masturbation, during photoshoots. Recommended Terry Richardson barred from working with Vogue A number of models and former assistants have recalled alleged incidents to The New York Times that accuse both Testino, 63, and Weber, 71 of sexual misconduct. Both men have been surprised by the allegations, with a statement from Webers lawyer saying he is shocked and saddened by the outrageous claims being made against me. Meanwhile, the law firm that represents Testino has said they were equally shocked by the allegations and that the employees coming forward could not confirm any of the claims. Model Ryan Locke describes Testino, who took the historic engagement portrait of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge in 2014, as a sexual predator. He claimed that when he told contemporaries he was working with the Peru-born photographer they would joke: tighten your belt, labelling him as notorious. Locke recalls going to a casting at Testinos hotel and being asked to take a nude test shot, something he disputed. Testinos work is widely acclaimed in the industry and his charming reputation made him a hit with celebrities. He shot Madonnas baby pictures for Vanity Fair in 1998 and most recently took the February cover of US Vogue featuring Serena Williams and her daughter he was awarded an OBE in 2014. Recommended The shocking list of sexual allegations facing Terry Richardson Fifteen models have come forward with allegations against Weber, who has photographed Leonardo DiCaprio and David Bowie and is renowned for his work with Calvin Klein. I remember him putting his fingers in my mouth, and him grabbing my privates, recalls model Robyn Sinclair. We never had sex or anything, but a lot of things happened. A lot of touching. A lot of molestation, he said of the American photographer. In light of the claims, Conde Nast has vowed to protect models from harassment and announced they would stop working with both photographers for now. We are deeply disturbed by these accusations and take this very seriously, reads the statement released by Anna Wintour, artistic director, and Robert A. Sauerberg Jr, chief executive. In light of these allegations, we will not be commissioning any new work with Bruce Weber and Mario Testino for the foreseeable future. One of the smallest babies in the world to ever survive is finally going home - after spending the first six months of her life in the hospital. Baby Manushi weighed just 400 grams when she was born 12 weeks prematurely after her mum began to suffer from complications related to the pregnancy. Born on June 15 in Rajasthan, India, the premature baby girl was not breathing when she first entered the world. And with paper-thin skin, underdeveloped organs and feet the size of a thumbnail, it was unlikely that she would survive. But despite the odds, Manushi, who is believed to be the smallest surviving baby ever born in Asia, began to gain weight. Manushis mum, Seeta, 48, said of her miracle baby: Shes just fought and fought and fought against all the odds, but shes made it. Born via emergency Caesarean section after an ultrasound during Seetas pregnancy revealed that there was no blood flow to the foetus, little Manushi was delivered at just 28 weeks. She was immediately put on a ventilator and transferred to the Jivanta Childrens Hospital NICU but the chances of survival were slim. Even if she did survive, doctors informed Manushis parents that their daughter only had a 0.5 per cent chance of surviving without brain damage. According to her doctor, Dr Janged: When the baby was born, we were uncertain of what would happen. Her hands were the size of her father's thumbnail And in the first few days after her birth, Manushi lost weight - narrowing her chances of survival even further. But Manushi proved she was strong - undergoing multiple transfusions of essential nutrition, blood transfusions, and respiratory support until she was stable enough to take milk at seven weeks. (Newslions Dr Janged said: We had to start the baby on total parenteral nutrition, which basically means giving all the essential nutrients, such as amino acids, lipids, carbohydrates, minerals, multivitamins, and trace elements, directly into blood circulation. However, defying the odds, at six months and a whopping 5.2lbs, Manushi has finally been sent home. And, in addition to saving their daughters life, Manushis doctors have waived what would have been an estimated one million rupees (11,500) hospital cost. On a train recently, I was able to see what the other people around me were reading. We were sitting at a table, four of us, all with laptops or tablets. In the window, in the reflection, I could look at their screens. We were all on Mail Online. Apart from my sheer nosiness, what else could be gleaned from this observation? That dailymail.co.uk is an extremely alluring beast, such that people from different walks of life are attracted to it. And if I wanted an illustration of the power of digital over print here it was. None of us was studying a newspaper, magazine or book. It was a Virgin train going north on the West Coast line. Now, Virgin has decided to stop selling the Daily Mail on board its trains along the same route. The train companys staff object, apparently, to the newspapers coverage of various issues, and a ban has therefore been imposed. Not only is this bizarre given that anyone can purchase a copy elsewhere before boarding a Virgin train, or as I found they can peruse the papers sister website to their hearts content but it is public relations suicide. Virgin workers may not share the papers stance on a range of causes, from the EU to immigration to LGBT rights to unemployment, but to ban the sale of the paper? What are they thinking? More to the point, what is Sir Richard Branson, the firms boss, thinking? No one is more PR-savvy than Branson, nobody in the past has exhibited a surer touch when it comes to promoting themselves or their brand. Branson has been telling us for years that he is Virgin, that the company and founder are inseparable, their values identical. He promotes himself to promote Virgin. Now we know that those standards he so aspires to include restricting choice and controlling freedom of expression. For once, Bransons deftness has deserted him. Free speech, and that includes a free press, is one of the tenets we hold dear. Its something we cite whenever asked why we fought world wars, and what it is we regard as special about the UK, about our democracy. The Daily Mail may not be to all tastes. But that can be said of any newspaper, any publication. If you dont like it, you have the licence not to buy it. Nobody is forcing you to digest it, let alone agree with its contents. Some of Bransons workers were annoyed by the Daily Mail. So what? As I say, no one was requiring them to read it. Could it be that Branson himself, the hippy billionaire and Remainer, does not approve of the Brexit-supporting Daily Mail? Almost certainly. But to allow that opposition to get in the way of something as precious as press freedom something he also, surely, agrees passionately about is hysterical. Thanks to Virgins move, a sale of just 70 papers a day on its West Coast line has now become a cause celebre, with Branson and his company accused by politicians of every hue, of censorship. Even Labour, no friend of the Daily Mail, has voiced its support for the paper. The party will not restrict sales of the Daily Mail, if it succeeded in renationalising the railways. A spokesman for Jeremy Corbyn said the Labour leader was an "enthusiastic supporter of a free press and the pluralism of the press. Obviously, private companies will decide what they want to stock on their trains." Downing Street said the move was ultimately a decision for Virgin Trains but Prime Minister Theresa May had "always been clear on the importance of a free press to our democracy". And Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, a former journalist, tweeted: "Absurd ban on Daily Mail by Virgin! Pompous, censorious and wrong #virginontheridiculous". The Society of Editors, that counts many editors among its members, voiced its opposition, saying the decision taken by Virgin Trains "smacks of censorship". Virgin has managed to stir up political leaders, and antagonised the rest of the press as well. Well done. What Branson, the PR-master, has failed to do is to keep things in perspective. Hes created a major issue, one that was bound to see a rallying round of support for the Daily Mail, and one, inevitably, that has inserted him into the centre of it. The slippery slope towards a boycott of all Virgin products because the company abhors freedom beckons. From irritation, possibly anger, at one newspaper Branson faces the very real prospect of a public relations crisis. Its extraordinary that one normally so smart should have committed such a grave error. Branson should extricate himself from this particular hole, and restore the Daily Mail, before it is too late. Although, perhaps he intends to go further. After all, why stop at the Daily Mail? At present Virgins West Coast trains stock alternative titles, but presumably, if they step out of line they too will be struck off. Or next, Virgins cabin attendants and ticket inspectors disapprove of what were reading on our screens and were ordered to switch sites or to turn them off completely. Branson and co have started something that has an unpleasant odour about it and will not have a happy ending. Chris Blackhurst is a former editor of The Independent, and executive director of C|T|F Partners, the campaigns and strategic communications advisory firm Shareholders and creditors, not taxpayers, should take the financial hit of saving struggling construction giant Carillion from collapse, the Liberal Democrat leader has said. Vince Cable rejected suggestions the company should benefit from a Government bailout to avoid major public sector projects being plunged into chaos. Carillion is a key supplier to the Government and has contracts in the rail industry, education and NHS. It has met lenders to discuss options to reduce debts, recapitalise and/or restructure the groups balance sheet. Shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey said on Friday the Government must stand ready to bring these contracts back into public control, stabilise the situation and safeguard our public services. Recommended Carillion crisis deepens after reports lenders rejected rescue plan But as the crisis deepened into the weekend Mr Cable, a former business secretary, warned the move should be avoided. He told the BBC: I think what has to happen in this case is the contracts have to be kept going and supporting the supply chain and the tens of thousands of workers and that can be done by the Government taking a lot of this in-house or re-tendering in other cases. The Government cant just do a financial bailout. The shareholders and the creditors the big banks have got to take a hit, they cant just offload all of the losses on to the taxpayer. Carillion has struggled since reporting half-year losses of 1.15bn and a meeting was held on Friday to discuss its pensions deficit. The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT), Unite and GMB unions all called for workers rights, including pensions, to be protected as a priority. A Government spokeswoman said on Friday: Carillion is a major supplier to the Government, with a number of long-term contracts. We are committed to maintaining a healthy supplier market and work closely with our key suppliers. The company has kept us informed of the steps it is taking to restructure the business. We remain supportive of their ongoing discussions with their stakeholders and await future updates on their progress. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA UK news in pictures 10 August 2021 Students react after they receive their A-Level results at the Ark Academy, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2021 The final athletes from Great Britain arrive home including Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald (front left-right) at Heathrow Airport, London following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games PA UK news in pictures 8 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Japan PA UK news in pictures 7 August 2021 People from the Glasgow Southside community take part in the Govanhill Carnival, an anti-racist celebration of pride, unity and the contributions immigrants have made to the community in Govanhill, at Queen's Park, Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2021 Chijindu Ujah of Britain, Zharnel Hughes of Britain, Richard Kilty of Britain and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Britain celebrate winning silver as they pose with Asha Philip of Britain, Imani Lansiquot of Britain, Dina Asher-Smith of Britain and Daryll Neita of Britain after they won bronze in the women's 4 x 100m relay during Olympic Games Day 14 Getty UK news in pictures 5 August 2021 A protester places flowers on a photograph of an executed man during a demonstration organised by supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) to protest against the inauguration of Iran's new president Ebrahim Raisi in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 4 August 2021 England's Joe Root looks on as India's KL Rahul doesn't make it to a catch during day one of Cinch First Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham PA UK news in pictures 3 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny and Jason Kenny with their silver medals for the Women's Team Pursuit and Mens Team Sprint during the Track Cycling at the Izu Velodrome on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 2 August 2021 Great Britains Charlotte Worthington competes during the Womens BMX Freestyle Final at the Tokyo Olympics PA UK news in pictures 1 August 2021 EPA UK news in pictures 31 July 2021 James Guy, Adam Peaty and Kathleen Dawson celebrate winning the gold medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay final at the Tokyo Olympics AP UK news in pictures 30 July 2021 Great Britain's Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte celebrate their Gold and Silver medals respectively for the Cycling BMX Racing at the Ariake Urban Sports Park on the seventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 29 July 2021 Team GB's Mallory Franklin during the Womens Canoe Slalom Final on day six of the Tokyo Olympic Games. She went on to win the silver medal Getty UK news in pictures 28 July 2021 Canoers on Llyn Padarn lake in Snowdonia, Gwynedd. It was announced that the north-west Wales slate landscape has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Status PA UK news in pictures 27 July 2021 A view of one of two areas now being used at a warehouse facility in Dover, Kent, for boats used by people thought to be migrants. PA UK news in pictures 26 July 2021 A woman is helped by Border Force officers as a group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard a Border Force vessel, following a small boat incident in the Channel PA UK news in pictures 25 July 2021 Vehicles drive through deep water on a flooded road in Nine Elms, London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 24 July 2021 Utilities workers inspect a 15x20ft sinkhole on Green Lane, Liverpool, which is suspected to have been caused by ruptured water main PA UK news in pictures 23 July 2021 Children interact with Mega Please Draw Freely by artist Ei Arakawa inside the Turbine Hall at the Tate Modern in London, part of UNIQLO Tate Play the gallery's new free programme of art-inspired activities for families PA UK news in pictures 22 July 2021 Festivalgoers in the campsite at the Latitude festival in Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk PA UK news in pictures 21 July 2021 A man walks past an artwork by Will Blood on the end of a property in Bedminster, Bristol, as the 75 murals project reaches the halfway point and various graffiti pieces are sprayed onto walls and buildings across the city over the Summer PA UK news in pictures 20 July 2021 People during morning prayer during Eid ul-Adha, or Festival of Sacrifice, in Southall Park, Uxbridge, London PA UK news in pictures 19 July 2021 Commuters, some not wearing facemasks, at Westminster Underground station, at 08:38 in London after the final legal Coronavirus restrictions were lifted in England PA UK news in pictures 18 July 2021 A view of spectators by the 2nd green during day four of The Open at The Royal St George's Golf Club in Sandwich, Kent PA UK news in pictures 17 July 2021 Cyclists ride over the Hammersmith Bridge in London. The bridge was closed last year after cracks in it worsened during a heatwave Getty UK news in pictures 16 July 2021 The sun rises behind the Sefton Park Palm House, in Sefton Park, Liverpool PA UK news in pictures 15 July 2021 Sir Nicholas Serota watches a short film about sea monsters as he opens a 7.6 million, 360 immersive dome at Devonport's Market Hall in Plymouth, which is the first of its type to be built in Europe PA UK news in pictures 14 July 2021 Heidi Street, playing a gothic character, looks at a brain suspended in glass at the worlds first attraction dedicated to the author of Frankenstein inside the Mary Shelleys House of Frankenstein experience, located in a Georgian terraced house in Bath, as it prepares to open to the public on 19 July PA UK news in pictures 13 July 2021 Rehearsals are held in a car park in Glasgow for a parade scene ahead of filming for what is thought to be the new Indiana Jones 5 movie starring Harrison Ford PA Jon Trickett MP, Labours shadow minister for the Cabinet Office, responding to talks on the future of Carillion, said: It has been clear for months that Carillion has been in difficulty but the Government has continued to hand over contracts to the company even after profits warnings were issued. Jobs and public services are now at risk because the Tories were blinded by their commitment to a failing ideological project of introducing the profit motive into taxpayer-funded services. Labour urges the Government to stand ready to intervene and bring these crucial public-sector contracts back in-house in order to protect Carillions employees, pension holders and British taxpayers. PA Nina Mufleh, a transplant from the Middle East who's been living in San Francisco for a year, really wants to work for Airbnb. She tried to get in touch with the company through emails and job listings but had no luck. So she decided to take her job search to the next level by creating a stunning resume that mirrors Airbnb's website. The resume, which Mufleh sent out to former colleagues for feedback Monday night and submitted to Airbnb on Tuesday, has attracted tons of attention both inside and outside of the company. What makes her resume so interesting is that it doesn't focus on her past experience information Airbnb could easily find on her LinkedIn profile if it wanted to. Instead, it showcases what she knows about the travel industry, what she could contribute to Airbnb and what she thinks the company should pursue next. Mufleh told Business Insider that she had tried contacting Airbnb for months. While she managed to meet with the company, none of those encounters ever turned into a job offer. Her sister told her she should move on because she had already tried everything. I actually thought, I havent done everything I can," Mufleh said. "Ive done the same thing multiple times, but I havent tried new approaches. Here are some screenshots from her resume, which looks like an Airbnb host profile. You can view her resume in full here. Mufleh has used her website to show her passion for the company Nina4airbnb.com The webpage highlights where Airbnb is underperforming Nina4airbnb.com With her resume, Mufleh managed to capture the attention of both the CEO and CMO of Airbnb, and she has now had a formal job interview with a marketing recruiter from the company. It took her about a week to create the resume, an effort that included gathering all the data, researching the market and working with a designer she had met at one of her previous jobs. Mufleh had been fascinated by culture and travel since she worked for Queen Rania Al Abdullah, the queen of Jordan, between 2006 and 2009. "She focused on cross cultural dialogue, and that's something that's kind of guided my career," Mufleh said. The feedback she received after sending out her resume was surprising. "[These are] definitely the results I was hoping for," she said. "But part of me didn't expect it to be this quick and exciting." Read more: 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. 2018. Follow Business Insider UK on Twitter. Democratic Unionist leader Arlene Foster has called for closer Anglo-Irish relations. In a speech on Brexit in Killarney in the Irish Republic, Ms Foster said there are more things to unite than divide Britain and Ireland in phase two of discussions on the UK's split from Europe. And she suggested leaders across the island of Ireland should work together for the benefit of everyone. The DUP chief said she planned to raise the prospect of enhancing Anglo-Irish relations, under the auspices of the British-Irish Council, when she meets Ireland's Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney. "Maintaining Northern Ireland's economic and political status as an integral part of the United Kingdom is absolutely crucial to me and my party," she said. Recommended EU to target UK tax haven territories as trade negotiations begin "To think anything else would be as foolish as believing that the Taoiseach (Leo Varadkar) or the Tanaiste (Mr Coveney) desired anything other than Irish unity. "But while we will always battle for our own national interests, we must also battle for our mutual interests. "And our mutual interests will not end on the day the UK formally leaves the European Union. The United Kingdom may be leaving the EU but the common interests that we share across the British Isles will remain." Ms Foster made the call at the Killarney Economic Conference in Co Kerry where the issues around Brexit were explored in a two-day conference. Her suggestions about deepening ties and mutual respect mark a significant departure from the fallout which marked relations between the DUP and the Irish Government towards the end of last year amid both the fractious finish to phase one of the Brexit negotiations and the Irish border question and Mr Coveney's aspirations for a united Ireland. The DUP suggested Anglo-Irish relations could be deepened through the British-Irish Council, which was set up as part the Good Friday Agreement to improve cooperation between the UK and Ireland in areas such as transport, the environment and energy. "The UK exiting the European Union ought not to become a barrier to continued co-operation on issues of ongoing mutual interest," she said. "It especially shouldn't become a barrier when the infrastructure - in the guise of the British-Irish Council - already exists that can allow us to continue to work together as closely as ever on issues of shared interest." Ms Foster gave the example of the Nordic Council, which includes Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Aland as a means for developing Anglo-Irish relations. She noted that some of the Nordic countries are in the European Union and Eurozone, while others are not. "Change should not be allowed to weaken the relationships so painstakingly put together across these British Isles," the DUP leader said. "As challenging as finding a suitable solution might seem, there is no good reason why our own issues on this island should present any threat to the progress we've made. "I value the relationships we have developed too much to do anything that would jeopardise them. "But, whether we voted to leave or voted to remain, whether we are citizens of the United Kingdom or citizens of Ireland, we must accept the reality of the referendum result, refrain from the continued re-fighting of the referendum, and seek the sensible, mutually beneficial outcomes from the complex negotiation process ahead that will serve us all well." UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA UK news in pictures 10 August 2021 Students react after they receive their A-Level results at the Ark Academy, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2021 The final athletes from Great Britain arrive home including Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald (front left-right) at Heathrow Airport, London following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games PA UK news in pictures 8 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Japan PA UK news in pictures 7 August 2021 People from the Glasgow Southside community take part in the Govanhill Carnival, an anti-racist celebration of pride, unity and the contributions immigrants have made to the community in Govanhill, at Queen's Park, Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2021 Chijindu Ujah of Britain, Zharnel Hughes of Britain, Richard Kilty of Britain and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Britain celebrate winning silver as they pose with Asha Philip of Britain, Imani Lansiquot of Britain, Dina Asher-Smith of Britain and Daryll Neita of Britain after they won bronze in the women's 4 x 100m relay during Olympic Games Day 14 Getty UK news in pictures 5 August 2021 A protester places flowers on a photograph of an executed man during a demonstration organised by supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) to protest against the inauguration of Iran's new president Ebrahim Raisi in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 4 August 2021 England's Joe Root looks on as India's KL Rahul doesn't make it to a catch during day one of Cinch First Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham PA UK news in pictures 3 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny and Jason Kenny with their silver medals for the Women's Team Pursuit and Mens Team Sprint during the Track Cycling at the Izu Velodrome on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 2 August 2021 Great Britains Charlotte Worthington competes during the Womens BMX Freestyle Final at the Tokyo Olympics PA UK news in pictures 1 August 2021 EPA UK news in pictures 31 July 2021 James Guy, Adam Peaty and Kathleen Dawson celebrate winning the gold medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay final at the Tokyo Olympics AP UK news in pictures 30 July 2021 Great Britain's Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte celebrate their Gold and Silver medals respectively for the Cycling BMX Racing at the Ariake Urban Sports Park on the seventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 29 July 2021 Team GB's Mallory Franklin during the Womens Canoe Slalom Final on day six of the Tokyo Olympic Games. She went on to win the silver medal Getty UK news in pictures 28 July 2021 Canoers on Llyn Padarn lake in Snowdonia, Gwynedd. It was announced that the north-west Wales slate landscape has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Status PA UK news in pictures 27 July 2021 A view of one of two areas now being used at a warehouse facility in Dover, Kent, for boats used by people thought to be migrants. PA UK news in pictures 26 July 2021 A woman is helped by Border Force officers as a group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard a Border Force vessel, following a small boat incident in the Channel PA UK news in pictures 25 July 2021 Vehicles drive through deep water on a flooded road in Nine Elms, London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 24 July 2021 Utilities workers inspect a 15x20ft sinkhole on Green Lane, Liverpool, which is suspected to have been caused by ruptured water main PA UK news in pictures 23 July 2021 Children interact with Mega Please Draw Freely by artist Ei Arakawa inside the Turbine Hall at the Tate Modern in London, part of UNIQLO Tate Play the gallery's new free programme of art-inspired activities for families PA UK news in pictures 22 July 2021 Festivalgoers in the campsite at the Latitude festival in Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk PA UK news in pictures 21 July 2021 A man walks past an artwork by Will Blood on the end of a property in Bedminster, Bristol, as the 75 murals project reaches the halfway point and various graffiti pieces are sprayed onto walls and buildings across the city over the Summer PA UK news in pictures 20 July 2021 People during morning prayer during Eid ul-Adha, or Festival of Sacrifice, in Southall Park, Uxbridge, London PA UK news in pictures 19 July 2021 Commuters, some not wearing facemasks, at Westminster Underground station, at 08:38 in London after the final legal Coronavirus restrictions were lifted in England PA UK news in pictures 18 July 2021 A view of spectators by the 2nd green during day four of The Open at The Royal St George's Golf Club in Sandwich, Kent PA UK news in pictures 17 July 2021 Cyclists ride over the Hammersmith Bridge in London. The bridge was closed last year after cracks in it worsened during a heatwave Getty UK news in pictures 16 July 2021 The sun rises behind the Sefton Park Palm House, in Sefton Park, Liverpool PA UK news in pictures 15 July 2021 Sir Nicholas Serota watches a short film about sea monsters as he opens a 7.6 million, 360 immersive dome at Devonport's Market Hall in Plymouth, which is the first of its type to be built in Europe PA UK news in pictures 14 July 2021 Heidi Street, playing a gothic character, looks at a brain suspended in glass at the worlds first attraction dedicated to the author of Frankenstein inside the Mary Shelleys House of Frankenstein experience, located in a Georgian terraced house in Bath, as it prepares to open to the public on 19 July PA UK news in pictures 13 July 2021 Rehearsals are held in a car park in Glasgow for a parade scene ahead of filming for what is thought to be the new Indiana Jones 5 movie starring Harrison Ford PA Ms Foster held talks with Micheal Martin, leader of Ireland's main opposition party, at the conference. "The continued absence of an Executive and Assembly is extremely damaging to Northern Ireland in the context of the Brexit negotiations," he said. Mr Martin agreed with Ms Foster's criticism of "megaphone diplomacy" in the heat of Brexit negotiations. "We need far more considered discussions and engagements. One always has to respect the postion of those you are negotiating with," he said. "Some of what has gone on has been, in my view, damaging enough in terms of articulating positons too freely in public, to be frank, in advance of negotiations being complete. It's not the way to do business." Mr Martin added: "I detect from Arlene Foster a clear commitment to the restoration of the Assembly and Executive and a belief that it's the right thing for Northern Ireland. "In terms of Brexit... I think the focus needs to be on very practical and constructive engagement to mitigate the damage that in my opinion Brexit will do to trade and jobs between north and south and east and west." PA A murder investigation has been launched after a man assaulted in a "mindless" attack in London's Trafalgar Square more than six months ago died in hospital. Desmond O'Beirne never recovered after suffering a devastating head injury when he was kicked and punched by two men outside the National Gallery in the early hours of 3 June. The 51-year-old, from Westminster, was taken to hospital and died from his injuries on 20 December. Detectives have called for the public's help in tracing Mr O'Beirne's attackers and have called on anyone who witnessed the attack, or events either side of it, to come come forward with information, mobile phone images or footage. DCI Noel McHugh from the Metropolitan Police's major crime command, said: "These two men will have spoken to friends and partners and possibly boasted about their mindless attack. I want you to call us with their names. "The males are distinctive and will be known to their group that evening. Desmond never regained consciousness after the brutal attack and it is vital we bring his attackers to justice." The attack at around 12.25am was caught on CCTV footage which shows one bearded suspect punching Mr O'Beirne on the back of the head. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA UK news in pictures 10 August 2021 Students react after they receive their A-Level results at the Ark Academy, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2021 The final athletes from Great Britain arrive home including Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald (front left-right) at Heathrow Airport, London following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games PA UK news in pictures 8 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Japan PA UK news in pictures 7 August 2021 People from the Glasgow Southside community take part in the Govanhill Carnival, an anti-racist celebration of pride, unity and the contributions immigrants have made to the community in Govanhill, at Queen's Park, Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2021 Chijindu Ujah of Britain, Zharnel Hughes of Britain, Richard Kilty of Britain and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Britain celebrate winning silver as they pose with Asha Philip of Britain, Imani Lansiquot of Britain, Dina Asher-Smith of Britain and Daryll Neita of Britain after they won bronze in the women's 4 x 100m relay during Olympic Games Day 14 Getty UK news in pictures 5 August 2021 A protester places flowers on a photograph of an executed man during a demonstration organised by supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) to protest against the inauguration of Iran's new president Ebrahim Raisi in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 4 August 2021 England's Joe Root looks on as India's KL Rahul doesn't make it to a catch during day one of Cinch First Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham PA UK news in pictures 3 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny and Jason Kenny with their silver medals for the Women's Team Pursuit and Mens Team Sprint during the Track Cycling at the Izu Velodrome on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 2 August 2021 Great Britains Charlotte Worthington competes during the Womens BMX Freestyle Final at the Tokyo Olympics PA UK news in pictures 1 August 2021 EPA UK news in pictures 31 July 2021 James Guy, Adam Peaty and Kathleen Dawson celebrate winning the gold medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay final at the Tokyo Olympics AP UK news in pictures 30 July 2021 Great Britain's Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte celebrate their Gold and Silver medals respectively for the Cycling BMX Racing at the Ariake Urban Sports Park on the seventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 29 July 2021 Team GB's Mallory Franklin during the Womens Canoe Slalom Final on day six of the Tokyo Olympic Games. She went on to win the silver medal Getty UK news in pictures 28 July 2021 Canoers on Llyn Padarn lake in Snowdonia, Gwynedd. It was announced that the north-west Wales slate landscape has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Status PA UK news in pictures 27 July 2021 A view of one of two areas now being used at a warehouse facility in Dover, Kent, for boats used by people thought to be migrants. PA UK news in pictures 26 July 2021 A woman is helped by Border Force officers as a group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard a Border Force vessel, following a small boat incident in the Channel PA UK news in pictures 25 July 2021 Vehicles drive through deep water on a flooded road in Nine Elms, London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 24 July 2021 Utilities workers inspect a 15x20ft sinkhole on Green Lane, Liverpool, which is suspected to have been caused by ruptured water main PA UK news in pictures 23 July 2021 Children interact with Mega Please Draw Freely by artist Ei Arakawa inside the Turbine Hall at the Tate Modern in London, part of UNIQLO Tate Play the gallery's new free programme of art-inspired activities for families PA UK news in pictures 22 July 2021 Festivalgoers in the campsite at the Latitude festival in Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk PA UK news in pictures 21 July 2021 A man walks past an artwork by Will Blood on the end of a property in Bedminster, Bristol, as the 75 murals project reaches the halfway point and various graffiti pieces are sprayed onto walls and buildings across the city over the Summer PA UK news in pictures 20 July 2021 People during morning prayer during Eid ul-Adha, or Festival of Sacrifice, in Southall Park, Uxbridge, London PA UK news in pictures 19 July 2021 Commuters, some not wearing facemasks, at Westminster Underground station, at 08:38 in London after the final legal Coronavirus restrictions were lifted in England PA UK news in pictures 18 July 2021 A view of spectators by the 2nd green during day four of The Open at The Royal St George's Golf Club in Sandwich, Kent PA UK news in pictures 17 July 2021 Cyclists ride over the Hammersmith Bridge in London. The bridge was closed last year after cracks in it worsened during a heatwave Getty UK news in pictures 16 July 2021 The sun rises behind the Sefton Park Palm House, in Sefton Park, Liverpool PA UK news in pictures 15 July 2021 Sir Nicholas Serota watches a short film about sea monsters as he opens a 7.6 million, 360 immersive dome at Devonport's Market Hall in Plymouth, which is the first of its type to be built in Europe PA UK news in pictures 14 July 2021 Heidi Street, playing a gothic character, looks at a brain suspended in glass at the worlds first attraction dedicated to the author of Frankenstein inside the Mary Shelleys House of Frankenstein experience, located in a Georgian terraced house in Bath, as it prepares to open to the public on 19 July PA UK news in pictures 13 July 2021 Rehearsals are held in a car park in Glasgow for a parade scene ahead of filming for what is thought to be the new Indiana Jones 5 movie starring Harrison Ford PA The second suspect then kicks Mr O'Beirne as he lies collapsed on on the pavement. Scotland Yard said the first suspect had his hair in a "top knot" style and was wearing a red t-shirt, dark trousers and light coloured shoes. The second man was wearing a black jacket with a white emblem on right shoulder and white writing with a picture on the rear. He was also wearing a white top under the jacket, dark trousers and dark shoes with white soles. Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 020 8785 8099. To give information anonymously they can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org. Press Association Revealed: Ornate bottle of oil used to anoint the Queen at her Coronation is filmed for the first time By Charlotte Dean For Mailonline14 January 2018During the Queen's Coronation 65 years ago the moment she was anointed was taken off air as a sign of respect for the young monarch.The process is shrouded in secrecy but tonight the the Dean of Westminster is allowing the sight of the ornate bottle and its contents to be revealed.A programme starring Her Majesty set to air on BBC1 tonight will diclose the sacred moment that Elizabeth II was consecrated Queen.The Queen will share her own memories of the day as well as her recollection of her father George VI's Coronation in 1937.The Queen recalled that the preparation for her future reign and Coronation began at the tender age of 11, when her father asked her to write an account of his enthronement at Westminster Abbey in May 1937.George VI asked her to write down what she remembered of the 'wonderful day' and during the programme she explains that she found the experience extremely valuable.The Queen also admits to Royal commentator Alastair Bruce that she has a better recall of her fathers Coronation than of her own.Her account, written in a school exercise book, was inscribed: To Mummy and Papa, In Memory of Their Coronation, From Lilibet. By Herself.It provides a detailed account of the day, from the moment she leapt out of bed and concludes: I thought it all very wonderful The arches and beams at the top were covered with a sort of haze of wonder as Papa was crowned.Others, however, had a more frantic day. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Cosmo Lang, fretted about the regalia, not least as his assistant, the Dean of Westminster, was elderly and confused.To make sure the St Edward's Crown was worn the right way round, the Archbishop attached two threads to the front.But they were removed by an overzealous cleaner and, at the critical moment, the Dean handed it over back-to-front.The Archbishop was left floundering - another annoyance for the King, who had seen one bishop treading on his train and another covering the oath with his thumb.The King wrote in his diary: 'I never did know whether it was right or not.'Read more: Ornate bottle of oil used to anoint the Queen | Daily Mail Online Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook A private detective accused of exploiting the hunt for Madeleine McCann to fund his lavish lifestyle has been found dead. Kevin Halligen, 56, gained notoriety when his firm Oakley International was used by the toddlers parents to help search for their missing daughter. His Washington-based company received about 300,000 of cash donated by the public after Madeleine vanished from an Algarve resort in May 2007 at the age of three. He was later forced to deny claims the money was actually siphoned off to pay for first-class travel, luxury hotel suites, a chauffeur and a mansion in Virginia, US. Adrian Gatton, a TV director and investigative journalist, who made a documentary with Halligen in 2014 for Channel 5 The McCanns and the Conman and who knew Halligen well, confirmed to the Press Association that he died last Monday, having sunk into alcohol addiction. He said: Although his death is certainly not foul play, as has been suggested, there are certainly a lot of people who wished him ill. But he was also unique. I knew chapter and verse about his life and career, but my interest was really to try and get to the bottom of why he did what he did. My understanding is that he was found dead on Monday night. There was blood around the house, probably caused by previous falls when he was either drunk or blacking out. Halligen was increasingly shambolic and these blood stains hadnt been cleared up. His house was full of empty drink bottles. A lot of people wished him ill but his death is almost certainly related to alcoholism. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA UK news in pictures 10 August 2021 Students react after they receive their A-Level results at the Ark Academy, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2021 The final athletes from Great Britain arrive home including Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald (front left-right) at Heathrow Airport, London following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games PA UK news in pictures 8 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Japan PA UK news in pictures 7 August 2021 People from the Glasgow Southside community take part in the Govanhill Carnival, an anti-racist celebration of pride, unity and the contributions immigrants have made to the community in Govanhill, at Queen's Park, Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2021 Chijindu Ujah of Britain, Zharnel Hughes of Britain, Richard Kilty of Britain and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Britain celebrate winning silver as they pose with Asha Philip of Britain, Imani Lansiquot of Britain, Dina Asher-Smith of Britain and Daryll Neita of Britain after they won bronze in the women's 4 x 100m relay during Olympic Games Day 14 Getty UK news in pictures 5 August 2021 A protester places flowers on a photograph of an executed man during a demonstration organised by supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) to protest against the inauguration of Iran's new president Ebrahim Raisi in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 4 August 2021 England's Joe Root looks on as India's KL Rahul doesn't make it to a catch during day one of Cinch First Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham PA UK news in pictures 3 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny and Jason Kenny with their silver medals for the Women's Team Pursuit and Mens Team Sprint during the Track Cycling at the Izu Velodrome on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 2 August 2021 Great Britains Charlotte Worthington competes during the Womens BMX Freestyle Final at the Tokyo Olympics PA UK news in pictures 1 August 2021 EPA UK news in pictures 31 July 2021 James Guy, Adam Peaty and Kathleen Dawson celebrate winning the gold medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay final at the Tokyo Olympics AP UK news in pictures 30 July 2021 Great Britain's Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte celebrate their Gold and Silver medals respectively for the Cycling BMX Racing at the Ariake Urban Sports Park on the seventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 29 July 2021 Team GB's Mallory Franklin during the Womens Canoe Slalom Final on day six of the Tokyo Olympic Games. She went on to win the silver medal Getty UK news in pictures 28 July 2021 Canoers on Llyn Padarn lake in Snowdonia, Gwynedd. It was announced that the north-west Wales slate landscape has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Status PA UK news in pictures 27 July 2021 A view of one of two areas now being used at a warehouse facility in Dover, Kent, for boats used by people thought to be migrants. PA UK news in pictures 26 July 2021 A woman is helped by Border Force officers as a group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard a Border Force vessel, following a small boat incident in the Channel PA UK news in pictures 25 July 2021 Vehicles drive through deep water on a flooded road in Nine Elms, London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 24 July 2021 Utilities workers inspect a 15x20ft sinkhole on Green Lane, Liverpool, which is suspected to have been caused by ruptured water main PA UK news in pictures 23 July 2021 Children interact with Mega Please Draw Freely by artist Ei Arakawa inside the Turbine Hall at the Tate Modern in London, part of UNIQLO Tate Play the gallery's new free programme of art-inspired activities for families PA UK news in pictures 22 July 2021 Festivalgoers in the campsite at the Latitude festival in Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk PA UK news in pictures 21 July 2021 A man walks past an artwork by Will Blood on the end of a property in Bedminster, Bristol, as the 75 murals project reaches the halfway point and various graffiti pieces are sprayed onto walls and buildings across the city over the Summer PA UK news in pictures 20 July 2021 People during morning prayer during Eid ul-Adha, or Festival of Sacrifice, in Southall Park, Uxbridge, London PA UK news in pictures 19 July 2021 Commuters, some not wearing facemasks, at Westminster Underground station, at 08:38 in London after the final legal Coronavirus restrictions were lifted in England PA UK news in pictures 18 July 2021 A view of spectators by the 2nd green during day four of The Open at The Royal St George's Golf Club in Sandwich, Kent PA UK news in pictures 17 July 2021 Cyclists ride over the Hammersmith Bridge in London. The bridge was closed last year after cracks in it worsened during a heatwave Getty UK news in pictures 16 July 2021 The sun rises behind the Sefton Park Palm House, in Sefton Park, Liverpool PA UK news in pictures 15 July 2021 Sir Nicholas Serota watches a short film about sea monsters as he opens a 7.6 million, 360 immersive dome at Devonport's Market Hall in Plymouth, which is the first of its type to be built in Europe PA UK news in pictures 14 July 2021 Heidi Street, playing a gothic character, looks at a brain suspended in glass at the worlds first attraction dedicated to the author of Frankenstein inside the Mary Shelleys House of Frankenstein experience, located in a Georgian terraced house in Bath, as it prepares to open to the public on 19 July PA UK news in pictures 13 July 2021 Rehearsals are held in a car park in Glasgow for a parade scene ahead of filming for what is thought to be the new Indiana Jones 5 movie starring Harrison Ford PA Surrey Police said the death was currently being treated as unexplained. A spokesman said: We were called to an address in Cobbett Hill Road, Normandy, on Monday following a report of a man in his 50s having been taken unwell, who subsequently died. The death is being treated as unexplained and a file will be passed to the coroners office in due course. The McCanns used the Irish nationals firm for around six months to look for their missing daughter. The 500,000 contract saw the firm hire private detectives, set up a hotline and process information. The McCanns terminated the arrangement without paying the full fees because Halligen, from Surrey, apparently failed to fulfil certain agreements. He was then extradited to the US in 2012 to face charges over an unrelated 1.3m con, to which he pleaded guilty in 2013. Dutch company Trafigura were targeted in the scam, being told by Halligen that he needed funds to secure the release of two business executives who were arrested in the Ivory Coast. In an interview for a 2014 Channel 5 documentary, Halligen denied claims he misused money raised to find Madeleine. He said: It is gross distortion of what was actually happening. The print media in particular took this line that really nothing was being done, I was living the high life on the proceeds of the McCann case. Trust me, I didnt buy so much as a new suit. The money, all of it, is fully accountable. PA The wife of notorious fugitive Lord Lucan cut her children out of her will and left her entire fortune to a homeless charity, her daughter reportedly said. The 80-year-old aristocrat, who was found dead at her Westminster home in September last year, donated her estate to Shelter, which supports those dealing with homelessness or housing issues. Formally named Veronica, Dowager Countess of Lucan, Lady Lucan severed ties with her family in the 1980s and continued to decline contact with them until her death. She had three children, Frances, Camilla and George, now the 8th Earl of Lucan. Following a inquest into her death this week, daughter Camilla Bingham told the Daily Mail: Mummy left her estate to the homeless charity, Shelter. The amount of the inheritance is not known. While her Belgravia home was thought to be worth millions, a friend of the aristocrat said during the inquest that she had indicated she was struggling financially. She gave the impression she was hard up and had to watch every penny and complained about interest rates going up, David Davies, who had known her for two years, said in a written statement. Despite Lady Lucans severance of ties her family said they remembered her lovingly and with admiration. A spokesperson for Shelter said: At a time when over 300,000 people in Britain are without a home, we are incredibly grateful for the support we receive. The proceeds from Lady Lucans estate will help Shelter to continue fighting bad housing and homelessness. Lord Lucan declared dead Lady Lucans husband, John Bingham, the 7th Earl of Lucan, disappeared in November 1974. The peer had vanished after the discovery of the body of nanny Sandra Rivett in the basement of the familys Belgravia home. He is widely believed to have bludgeoned her to death after mistaking her for his wife, with whom he was engaged in a bitter custody battle over their children. Dozens of reported sightings of the lord have been made across the globe in the years following his disappearance. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA UK news in pictures 10 August 2021 Students react after they receive their A-Level results at the Ark Academy, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2021 The final athletes from Great Britain arrive home including Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald (front left-right) at Heathrow Airport, London following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games PA UK news in pictures 8 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Japan PA UK news in pictures 7 August 2021 People from the Glasgow Southside community take part in the Govanhill Carnival, an anti-racist celebration of pride, unity and the contributions immigrants have made to the community in Govanhill, at Queen's Park, Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2021 Chijindu Ujah of Britain, Zharnel Hughes of Britain, Richard Kilty of Britain and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Britain celebrate winning silver as they pose with Asha Philip of Britain, Imani Lansiquot of Britain, Dina Asher-Smith of Britain and Daryll Neita of Britain after they won bronze in the women's 4 x 100m relay during Olympic Games Day 14 Getty UK news in pictures 5 August 2021 A protester places flowers on a photograph of an executed man during a demonstration organised by supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) to protest against the inauguration of Iran's new president Ebrahim Raisi in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 4 August 2021 England's Joe Root looks on as India's KL Rahul doesn't make it to a catch during day one of Cinch First Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham PA UK news in pictures 3 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny and Jason Kenny with their silver medals for the Women's Team Pursuit and Mens Team Sprint during the Track Cycling at the Izu Velodrome on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 2 August 2021 Great Britains Charlotte Worthington competes during the Womens BMX Freestyle Final at the Tokyo Olympics PA UK news in pictures 1 August 2021 EPA UK news in pictures 31 July 2021 James Guy, Adam Peaty and Kathleen Dawson celebrate winning the gold medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay final at the Tokyo Olympics AP UK news in pictures 30 July 2021 Great Britain's Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte celebrate their Gold and Silver medals respectively for the Cycling BMX Racing at the Ariake Urban Sports Park on the seventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 29 July 2021 Team GB's Mallory Franklin during the Womens Canoe Slalom Final on day six of the Tokyo Olympic Games. She went on to win the silver medal Getty UK news in pictures 28 July 2021 Canoers on Llyn Padarn lake in Snowdonia, Gwynedd. It was announced that the north-west Wales slate landscape has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Status PA UK news in pictures 27 July 2021 A view of one of two areas now being used at a warehouse facility in Dover, Kent, for boats used by people thought to be migrants. PA UK news in pictures 26 July 2021 A woman is helped by Border Force officers as a group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard a Border Force vessel, following a small boat incident in the Channel PA UK news in pictures 25 July 2021 Vehicles drive through deep water on a flooded road in Nine Elms, London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 24 July 2021 Utilities workers inspect a 15x20ft sinkhole on Green Lane, Liverpool, which is suspected to have been caused by ruptured water main PA UK news in pictures 23 July 2021 Children interact with Mega Please Draw Freely by artist Ei Arakawa inside the Turbine Hall at the Tate Modern in London, part of UNIQLO Tate Play the gallery's new free programme of art-inspired activities for families PA UK news in pictures 22 July 2021 Festivalgoers in the campsite at the Latitude festival in Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk PA UK news in pictures 21 July 2021 A man walks past an artwork by Will Blood on the end of a property in Bedminster, Bristol, as the 75 murals project reaches the halfway point and various graffiti pieces are sprayed onto walls and buildings across the city over the Summer PA UK news in pictures 20 July 2021 People during morning prayer during Eid ul-Adha, or Festival of Sacrifice, in Southall Park, Uxbridge, London PA UK news in pictures 19 July 2021 Commuters, some not wearing facemasks, at Westminster Underground station, at 08:38 in London after the final legal Coronavirus restrictions were lifted in England PA UK news in pictures 18 July 2021 A view of spectators by the 2nd green during day four of The Open at The Royal St George's Golf Club in Sandwich, Kent PA UK news in pictures 17 July 2021 Cyclists ride over the Hammersmith Bridge in London. The bridge was closed last year after cracks in it worsened during a heatwave Getty UK news in pictures 16 July 2021 The sun rises behind the Sefton Park Palm House, in Sefton Park, Liverpool PA UK news in pictures 15 July 2021 Sir Nicholas Serota watches a short film about sea monsters as he opens a 7.6 million, 360 immersive dome at Devonport's Market Hall in Plymouth, which is the first of its type to be built in Europe PA UK news in pictures 14 July 2021 Heidi Street, playing a gothic character, looks at a brain suspended in glass at the worlds first attraction dedicated to the author of Frankenstein inside the Mary Shelleys House of Frankenstein experience, located in a Georgian terraced house in Bath, as it prepares to open to the public on 19 July PA UK news in pictures 13 July 2021 Rehearsals are held in a car park in Glasgow for a parade scene ahead of filming for what is thought to be the new Indiana Jones 5 movie starring Harrison Ford PA Claims have been made he was living Australia, Ireland, South Africa and New Zealand; speculation even arose he had fled to India disguised as a hippy named Jungly Barry. The High Court declared Lord Lucan legally dead in 1999 and a death certificate was issued to his son in 2016. In 2017, Lady Lucan gave a television interview in which she said she believed Lord Lucan had made the brave decision to take his own life. She is said to have killed herself with a cocktail of drink and drugs after wrongly self-diagnosing with Parkinsons disease. Internet giants are failing to take up their social responsibility in helping to tackle soaring levels of child sex abuse taking place over the internet, Britains largest law enforcement agency has warned. Firms such as Facebook and Google should be more proactive in identifying online sex abuse directed at children and fund efforts to reduce the scale of the crime, according to the National Crime Agency (NCA). Its director general Lynne Owens, accused tech giants of not working closely enough with law enforcement to tackle the problem, and instead taking a passive approach. The NCA has seen a spike of 700 per cent in reported online child abuse since 2013. In the first 11 months of last year the agency received 72,000 referrals about online child sexual abuse imagery up from 6,000 in 2010. Ms Owens, who leads the UKs fight against serious and organised crime, called for Facebook, Google, Snapchat, YouTube and others to fund a joint team us and them to look at intelligence opportunities. She told The Sunday Times: I dont think they yet see their social responsibility to be more proactive in identifying child sex abuse and thats the thing we need to change. Police have warned that new developments in technology now allow tens of thousands of offenders in the UK alone to prey on children. Last week, a teenage girl settled her legal action against Facebook over naked images being posted on a shame page as a form of revenge porn, in a landmark legal action considered the first case of its kind. She sued the social media giant and the man suspected of posting her photo. Her lawyers alleged the image was blackmailed from her and then published as a form of revenge porn. Ms Owens said she believed there was work for the tech companies to do with the NCA on child sex abuse, saying: At the moment they dont go looking for it. They dont provide us with intelligence of the users who are uploading information. They dont take it down as quickly as I would like. I would like to have a very different relationship with the tech companies. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA UK news in pictures 10 August 2021 Students react after they receive their A-Level results at the Ark Academy, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2021 The final athletes from Great Britain arrive home including Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald (front left-right) at Heathrow Airport, London following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games PA UK news in pictures 8 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Japan PA UK news in pictures 7 August 2021 People from the Glasgow Southside community take part in the Govanhill Carnival, an anti-racist celebration of pride, unity and the contributions immigrants have made to the community in Govanhill, at Queen's Park, Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2021 Chijindu Ujah of Britain, Zharnel Hughes of Britain, Richard Kilty of Britain and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Britain celebrate winning silver as they pose with Asha Philip of Britain, Imani Lansiquot of Britain, Dina Asher-Smith of Britain and Daryll Neita of Britain after they won bronze in the women's 4 x 100m relay during Olympic Games Day 14 Getty UK news in pictures 5 August 2021 A protester places flowers on a photograph of an executed man during a demonstration organised by supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) to protest against the inauguration of Iran's new president Ebrahim Raisi in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 4 August 2021 England's Joe Root looks on as India's KL Rahul doesn't make it to a catch during day one of Cinch First Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham PA UK news in pictures 3 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny and Jason Kenny with their silver medals for the Women's Team Pursuit and Mens Team Sprint during the Track Cycling at the Izu Velodrome on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 2 August 2021 Great Britains Charlotte Worthington competes during the Womens BMX Freestyle Final at the Tokyo Olympics PA UK news in pictures 1 August 2021 EPA UK news in pictures 31 July 2021 James Guy, Adam Peaty and Kathleen Dawson celebrate winning the gold medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay final at the Tokyo Olympics AP UK news in pictures 30 July 2021 Great Britain's Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte celebrate their Gold and Silver medals respectively for the Cycling BMX Racing at the Ariake Urban Sports Park on the seventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 29 July 2021 Team GB's Mallory Franklin during the Womens Canoe Slalom Final on day six of the Tokyo Olympic Games. She went on to win the silver medal Getty UK news in pictures 28 July 2021 Canoers on Llyn Padarn lake in Snowdonia, Gwynedd. It was announced that the north-west Wales slate landscape has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Status PA UK news in pictures 27 July 2021 A view of one of two areas now being used at a warehouse facility in Dover, Kent, for boats used by people thought to be migrants. PA UK news in pictures 26 July 2021 A woman is helped by Border Force officers as a group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard a Border Force vessel, following a small boat incident in the Channel PA UK news in pictures 25 July 2021 Vehicles drive through deep water on a flooded road in Nine Elms, London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 24 July 2021 Utilities workers inspect a 15x20ft sinkhole on Green Lane, Liverpool, which is suspected to have been caused by ruptured water main PA UK news in pictures 23 July 2021 Children interact with Mega Please Draw Freely by artist Ei Arakawa inside the Turbine Hall at the Tate Modern in London, part of UNIQLO Tate Play the gallery's new free programme of art-inspired activities for families PA UK news in pictures 22 July 2021 Festivalgoers in the campsite at the Latitude festival in Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk PA UK news in pictures 21 July 2021 A man walks past an artwork by Will Blood on the end of a property in Bedminster, Bristol, as the 75 murals project reaches the halfway point and various graffiti pieces are sprayed onto walls and buildings across the city over the Summer PA UK news in pictures 20 July 2021 People during morning prayer during Eid ul-Adha, or Festival of Sacrifice, in Southall Park, Uxbridge, London PA UK news in pictures 19 July 2021 Commuters, some not wearing facemasks, at Westminster Underground station, at 08:38 in London after the final legal Coronavirus restrictions were lifted in England PA UK news in pictures 18 July 2021 A view of spectators by the 2nd green during day four of The Open at The Royal St George's Golf Club in Sandwich, Kent PA UK news in pictures 17 July 2021 Cyclists ride over the Hammersmith Bridge in London. The bridge was closed last year after cracks in it worsened during a heatwave Getty UK news in pictures 16 July 2021 The sun rises behind the Sefton Park Palm House, in Sefton Park, Liverpool PA Simon Milner, a senior executive at Facebook, said: We have zero tolerance for child exploitation. We reject the suggestion that we are failing in our responsibilities. We alert the appropriate authorities to potential offenders and young people at risk if we find them, as well as work with NGO partners and industry to support the development and sharing of technological tools that can speed up investigations. Google said it had a zero tolerance policy on child sex abuse content. As many as one in five non-religious people pray to God, a study has found. Just over half of all adults in the UK pray at least sometimes and are increasingly likely to call on God for help when engaged in activities such as cooking or exercising. But only one in three of these people say they still regularly pray at a place of worship as most people pray before going to sleep or incorporate it into their daily activities. Some 20 per cent of the 2,069 adults surveyed by ComRes for Christian aid charity Tearfund said they incorporated prayer into their daily routine by doing so when performing household chores or cooking. A further 15 per cent pray while travelling and 12 per cent pray during exercise. Family was the subject of most peoples prayers with 71 per cent of respondents saying they have thought about loved ones, followed by 42 per cent of people who say they pray to thank God. Prayers for health and for friends also featured in the prayers of 40 per cent of respondents. Among the non-religious, personal crisis and desperation tends to be what prompts most people to pray with 24 per cent of respondents saying it was a last resort. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA UK news in pictures 10 August 2021 Students react after they receive their A-Level results at the Ark Academy, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2021 The final athletes from Great Britain arrive home including Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald (front left-right) at Heathrow Airport, London following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games PA UK news in pictures 8 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Japan PA UK news in pictures 7 August 2021 People from the Glasgow Southside community take part in the Govanhill Carnival, an anti-racist celebration of pride, unity and the contributions immigrants have made to the community in Govanhill, at Queen's Park, Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2021 Chijindu Ujah of Britain, Zharnel Hughes of Britain, Richard Kilty of Britain and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Britain celebrate winning silver as they pose with Asha Philip of Britain, Imani Lansiquot of Britain, Dina Asher-Smith of Britain and Daryll Neita of Britain after they won bronze in the women's 4 x 100m relay during Olympic Games Day 14 Getty UK news in pictures 5 August 2021 A protester places flowers on a photograph of an executed man during a demonstration organised by supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) to protest against the inauguration of Iran's new president Ebrahim Raisi in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 4 August 2021 England's Joe Root looks on as India's KL Rahul doesn't make it to a catch during day one of Cinch First Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham PA UK news in pictures 3 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny and Jason Kenny with their silver medals for the Women's Team Pursuit and Mens Team Sprint during the Track Cycling at the Izu Velodrome on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 2 August 2021 Great Britains Charlotte Worthington competes during the Womens BMX Freestyle Final at the Tokyo Olympics PA UK news in pictures 1 August 2021 EPA UK news in pictures 31 July 2021 James Guy, Adam Peaty and Kathleen Dawson celebrate winning the gold medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay final at the Tokyo Olympics AP UK news in pictures 30 July 2021 Great Britain's Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte celebrate their Gold and Silver medals respectively for the Cycling BMX Racing at the Ariake Urban Sports Park on the seventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 29 July 2021 Team GB's Mallory Franklin during the Womens Canoe Slalom Final on day six of the Tokyo Olympic Games. She went on to win the silver medal Getty UK news in pictures 28 July 2021 Canoers on Llyn Padarn lake in Snowdonia, Gwynedd. It was announced that the north-west Wales slate landscape has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Status PA UK news in pictures 27 July 2021 A view of one of two areas now being used at a warehouse facility in Dover, Kent, for boats used by people thought to be migrants. PA UK news in pictures 26 July 2021 A woman is helped by Border Force officers as a group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard a Border Force vessel, following a small boat incident in the Channel PA UK news in pictures 25 July 2021 Vehicles drive through deep water on a flooded road in Nine Elms, London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 24 July 2021 Utilities workers inspect a 15x20ft sinkhole on Green Lane, Liverpool, which is suspected to have been caused by ruptured water main PA UK news in pictures 23 July 2021 Children interact with Mega Please Draw Freely by artist Ei Arakawa inside the Turbine Hall at the Tate Modern in London, part of UNIQLO Tate Play the gallery's new free programme of art-inspired activities for families PA UK news in pictures 22 July 2021 Festivalgoers in the campsite at the Latitude festival in Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk PA UK news in pictures 21 July 2021 A man walks past an artwork by Will Blood on the end of a property in Bedminster, Bristol, as the 75 murals project reaches the halfway point and various graffiti pieces are sprayed onto walls and buildings across the city over the Summer PA UK news in pictures 20 July 2021 People during morning prayer during Eid ul-Adha, or Festival of Sacrifice, in Southall Park, Uxbridge, London PA UK news in pictures 19 July 2021 Commuters, some not wearing facemasks, at Westminster Underground station, at 08:38 in London after the final legal Coronavirus restrictions were lifted in England PA UK news in pictures 18 July 2021 A view of spectators by the 2nd green during day four of The Open at The Royal St George's Golf Club in Sandwich, Kent PA UK news in pictures 17 July 2021 Cyclists ride over the Hammersmith Bridge in London. The bridge was closed last year after cracks in it worsened during a heatwave Getty UK news in pictures 16 July 2021 The sun rises behind the Sefton Park Palm House, in Sefton Park, Liverpool PA UK news in pictures 15 July 2021 Sir Nicholas Serota watches a short film about sea monsters as he opens a 7.6 million, 360 immersive dome at Devonport's Market Hall in Plymouth, which is the first of its type to be built in Europe PA UK news in pictures 14 July 2021 Heidi Street, playing a gothic character, looks at a brain suspended in glass at the worlds first attraction dedicated to the author of Frankenstein inside the Mary Shelleys House of Frankenstein experience, located in a Georgian terraced house in Bath, as it prepares to open to the public on 19 July PA UK news in pictures 13 July 2021 Rehearsals are held in a car park in Glasgow for a parade scene ahead of filming for what is thought to be the new Indiana Jones 5 movie starring Harrison Ford PA A further 32 per cent said they prayed on the off chance something could change while three per cent said they did it simply as a matter of routine. Rachel Treweek, the bishop of Gloucester, told The Guardian: We should not be surprised by these recent findings, which reflect human longing for the mystery and love of God amid experiences of daily life. Meanwhile, Isabelle Hamley, chaplain to the archbishop of Canterbury, said prayer is primarily a line of communication with God thinking, reflecting, bringing ones concerns and worries into a bigger picture. Prayer can involve requests, but its unhelpful to see God as a heavenly Santa. Many people are driven to pray at some point in their lives, even if they are not religious. Praying spontaneously is about reaching out. Opposition MPs will try to change Theresa Mays flagship Brexit legislation to guarantee the UK stays in the single market and the customs union. An amendment to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill to prevent the Government from using sweeping powers to take Britain out of the EU agreements has been backed by the SNP, the Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party. The move will be likely to expose deep divisions in Labours ranks over membership of the single market, days after Jeremy Corbyn came under fire from pro-EU MPs in his own party for taking the option off the table. Labour MP Wes Streeting, who has been critical of Mr Corbyns leadership, used a speech on Saturday to warn that his partys Brexit policy stands as the single biggest barrier to the UKs membership of the single market and customs union. It comes after Mr Corbyn was empty chaired at a cross-party summit on single-market membership which he refused to attend due to concerns it was no more than a political gimmick. SNP Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, said: Time is running out to prevent the economic catastrophe of an extreme Tory Brexit. We know UK government plans to drag Scotland and the UK out of the single market and customs union would destroy hundreds of thousands of jobs, and cause lasting damage to the incomes, livelihoods and living standards of millions of people across the country. With just 10 months to go before a deal is due between the UK and EU, sensible MPs of all parties must now unite to protect our vital place in the single market. The bill which will move EU law onto the statute books after Brexit returns to the Commons on Tuesday, after passing eight gruelling days of line-by-line scrutiny before Christmas. It will have its report stage and third reading before moving onto the Lords, where pro-EU peers are expected to make trouble for the Government. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable hailed the amendment as a significant step in the fight against Brexit, signalling increased resolve among opposition MPs to join forces against the Government over Brexit. He said: Through the four leaders in the House of Commons, we are presenting a united front. We urge the leadership of a fifth opposition party, Labour, to join us so we can change course from the dangerous Brexit being pursued by the Conservatives. Plaid Cymru Westminster leader, Liz Saville-Roberts, said: We remain hopeful that the Labour Party will work with us and take the opportunity to defeat the Tories. Green Party co-leader, Caroline Lucas, said: What happens this year in Parliament will have huge and lasting repercussions for the country which is why were putting party differences aside and working alongside each other. We urge the Labour leadership to join us in backing this crucial amendment and show that they too are willing to put the national interest first. 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 Labours official position is that it wants to negotiate a deal with the EU to retain the benefits of the single market, but insists it is not a membership group that can be joined after Brexit. A spokesperson for the Department for Exiting the European Union said: We respect the four freedoms of the EU and that is why, as we leave the EU, we are leaving the single market and customs union. The purpose of the Withdrawal Bill is to provide a functioning statute book on the day we leave the EU, not to pursue policy choices like this. The alternative is legal chaos that would harm the interests of everyone. Theresa May's Brexit policy could be "in tatters" after she appointed to the Government a prominent Eurosceptic MP who tried to block a transition deal, Labour has claimed. Suella Fernandes, chair of the European Research Group, an influential group of Brexit-backing Conservatives, was made a junior minister at the Department for Exiting the European Union (DexEU) in last week's reshuffle. The Fareham MP has risen swiftly through the ranks after only being elected to Parliament in 2015 but her appointment has drawn controversy over her staunch Eurosceptic views. Last year, Ms Fernandes coordinated a letter from some 40 Tory MPs opposing staying in the single market as part of the transitional deal with the European Union, a move they described as staying in the EU "by stealth". The remarks are at odds with the Government's position, as Ms May backed a transitional deal in a major speech in Florence last year. Shadow Brexit Minister Paul Blomfield, who has written to Ms Fernandes on the matter, said: The appointment of Suella Fernandes has left the Governments Brexit policy in tatters. Her previous comments demonstrate that she has no interest in securing a transitional deal with the European Union and in fact actively sought to undermine the Prime Ministers own negotiating position. She should retract her earlier remarks or step aside. The EU's guidelines on transitional arrangements say that existing rules and regulations would remain the same during any transition period, as the UK was still a member state. The position sits uneasily with Eurosceptic MPs who favour a hard Brexit and have tried to put pressure on the Government to walk away rather than cave to EU demands. Ms Fernandes also said leaving the EU without a deal would be "great" for Britain, in article for the grassroots website ConservativeHome. She said: In the event of no deal thats great as well for us. The ideal is a free trade agreement but in the event of that not working, no deal is something we will capitalise on using our strengths and the opportunities that brings. 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 It comes as a group of cross-party MPs launched a bid to change the Government's flagship Brexit legislation when it returns to the Commons next week. SNP, Green, Liberal Democrat and Plaid Cymru MPs have tabled an amendment to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill that would stop ministers from using sweeping powers to take the UK out of the single market and the customs union after Brexit. Labour has also tabled a separate amendment calling for the UK to remain in the Single Market and a Customs Union with the EU during a time-limited transition. A DExEU spokesperson said: "Suella Fernandes has an excellent track record both as a barrister and as an MP, and brings with her a thorough understanding of both the EU and the Brexit negotiations. She is joining a team that is committed to securing a smooth transition out of the EU. That is why we are proposing a simple, clear and time-limited period of implementation - using the existing structure of EU rules and regulations - that is in the interests of the whole of the UK and the EU. "We want to reach agreement on the implementation period as soon as possible in order to provide certainty for businesses and people. "The Prime Minister has also been clear we will be leaving the single market and the customs union after EU exit day." Demands to open up Britains shady network of overseas tax havens are set to be used by the EU as leverage to force concessions during Brexit trade talks, The Independent understands. European Council members will soon review whether British territories previously left off a Brussels tax haven blacklist should now be added just as negotiations move on to the all-important future trade deal. Publicly EU officials say the blacklisting process has nothing to do with Brexit, but separate sources in Brussels told The Independent British territories where billions of pounds are stashed will come into play. One official made clear the EU would go after them, while another said the UK Government must ask itself if it wants to fly in the face of British public opinion on tax avoidance. With the help of commission officials, EU council members in December produced a blacklist of uncooperative tax jurisdictions, in a bid to clamp down on evasion and avoidance, tackle threats to members states tax bases and take on third countries that consistently refuse to play fair. But the 17 jurisdictions listed included no British Overseas Territories or Crown Dependencies, despite them being named in earlier EU lists and some being implicated in the Paradise Papers scandal. The EU had agreed the blacklisting screening process would be put on hold for territories caught in Hurricane Irma, meanwhile the UK is said to have pushed back against tougher sanctions for blacklisted territories. 10 of the biggest tax havens in the world Show all 10 1 /10 10 of the biggest tax havens in the world 10 of the biggest tax havens in the world Luxembourg There are an estimated 2.5 trillion shares of mutual funds registered in the Grand Duchy, 1 trillion of which cannot be traced to an owner 10 of the biggest tax havens in the world Cayman Islands The Cayman Islands contain 6% of the world's total banking assets, but just 0.000008% of its population 10 of the biggest tax havens in the world Isle of Man David Cameron has said the Isle of Man, where there is no corporation, capital gains or inheritance tax, should not be considered a tax haven 10 of the biggest tax havens in the world Jersey There are over 3.5 billion assets per square mile on the self-governing Channel Island 10 of the biggest tax havens in the world Ireland Ireland made headlines last year when it emerged Apple was registered in the country in order to dodge over 40bn in taxes 10 of the biggest tax havens in the world Mauritius The Mauritian government notionally charges corporation tax, but companies can easily make this back through generous tax credits for foreign businesses 10 of the biggest tax havens in the world Bermuda Google holds more than 30bn in offshore cash reserves, primarily via Bermuda 10 of the biggest tax havens in the world Monaco A popular domicile for super-rich private individuals, Monaco has the most expensive property in the world. 1 million will buy just 225 square feet 10 of the biggest tax havens in the world Switzerland Switzerland has such secretive banking laws that it took until the 1990s to secure the release of Nazi cash reserves 10 of the biggest tax havens in the world Bahamas David Cameron's father ran an offshore fund which hired Bahamas residents to complete paperwork, thus dodging British tax bills But officials confirmed to The Independent that the screening process will now restart in early spring for British territories including Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Other British territories Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, the Isle of Man and Jersey promised to try and address EU concerns to stay off the list, which will now be reviewed annually. The Independent has been informed that as things stand it looks like Bermuda will be given a clean bill of health by the EU, but that outstanding questions remain for the Turks and Caicos Islands and Anguilla. According to one recent study by Berkeley academic Gabriel Zucman, there is 1.4tn of off shore wealth located in the UK, Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, Bermuda and Cayman Islands alone. Meanwhile EU states including Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Belgium, Portugal and Greece are all countries with a higher than global average exposure to citizens and firms stashing wealth offshore. Spokespeople at the European Commission said decisions on which jurisdictions to blacklist would be taken according to a strict and public criteria, not subject to any political pressure or consideration in Brexit negotiations. 'Tax havens': The 17 countries blacklisted by the EU But with the crucial Brexit trade talks to start in March, some officials privately acknowledge the dynamic is shifting, with the EU potentially using the process as leverage and vowing to pursue the territories for revenue post-withdrawal. A European Commission source said it was significant that none of the territories were mentioned in the joint EU-UK report setting out the phase one Brexit agreement last month. The UK has always protected them in the past. That is not going to happen in future European Commission official They went on: The UK has always protected them in the past. That is not going to happen in future. We will go after them. MEPs have also spoken publicly about the need to avoid trade deals with countries who fail to assist in the fight against tax avoidance, and have previously named the UK as slowing the EUs attempts. It has also not gone unnoticed in Brussels that the British public have turned on tax-avoiding companies and individuals, following a spate of publicity around avoidance schemes. Another Brussels source said: The question is would the Government of Britain want to put itself in a position where it runs counter to the publics position on tax havens, in which companies can base themselves in and pay a smaller proportion of tax than they should be? EU officials are to meet in February to flesh out potential sanctions against blacklisted jurisdictions that refuse to help the bloc track down revenue. As well as the reputational damage of being on the list, defensive measures touted so far include withdrawing EU grants, imposing reinforced monitoring on transactions and increased auditing for individuals and firms using the jurisdictions. They might also see the EU demanding mandatory disclosure of documents, tougher legal regulation and higher business costs. Financial penalties have not been ruled out. Iceland Protesters Throw Eggs at Parliament After Panama Papers Leak Chair of the Treasury Select Committee Nicky Morgan said: Im sure there is scope for leverage. To be honest, if the EU thinks trade negotiations are going well they wont make a fuss about our overseas territories. If they think they are not, they will. They will flex their rules according to what suits them best. She added: We certainly dont want out trade talks to be jeopardised by the action or lack of action by an overseas territory. A Government spokesperson told The Independent that the UK is at the forefront of tackling evasion and avoidance and it supports the development of the EU blacklist. Treasury Select Committee Chair Nicky Morgan MP said the EU could use tax havens as leverage (Rex) He added: Overseas territories are separate jurisdictions with their own democratically elected governments and they decide their own fiscal matters. Thanks to our leadership, all of our Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories with financial centres are committed to all global tax transparency standards, including the Common Reporting Standard that makes it harder for companies and individuals to hide their money abroad. We are working to secure a deep and special partnership with the European Union. We start from the unique position of regulatory alignment, trust in one anothers institutions and a shared spirit of cooperation. Brexit talks are set to restart towards the end of January, with negotiations initially focussing on the terms of the UKs transition our the bloc. But both sides are already drawing battle lines for the more substantial talks on future trade, with the UK seeking a broad free trade agreement. In particular, the UK is desperate to ensure the deal includes single market access for Londons financial services sector, but Brussels is adamant it must mean firms in the City adhering to European law. Jeremy Corbyn has questioned the so-called special relationship between Britain and the United States, as he condemned endless offensive comments from Donald Trump. The Labour leader said the UK had many important relationships around the world, with nations such as China and India, and distanced himself from the enduring bond with the US, saying no one has ever succeeded in defining what it meant. It comes after Mr Trump called off a proposed visit to open the US embassy in London amid reports he felt he had not been shown enough love by the British Government. Asked whether the UKs relationship with the US was the most important, Mr Corbyn told ITVs Peston On Sunday: No. I think there are many important relationships. The US one is obviously culturally and economically significant and important. Also the trading relationships we have around the world with obviously the EU, but also with India and China and the rest of the world are very important. Also our relationship with international institutions such as the United Nations is very important. He added: The biggest disappointment of Donald Trump is apart from his endless offensive remarks about women, about minorities and about different faiths is his failure to support international institutions like the United Nations and like Unesco. Mr Corbyn did acknowledge that having a relationship with and influence over the US was important because it is such a huge military and economic power around the world. He added: Im not sure that anyone has succeeded in defining the special relationship. Ive asked about the special relationship and I was told once, by a former prime minister, I wont name the person, that if they specified what the special relationship was, it wouldnt be a special relationship. His frontbench colleague Emily Thornberry also hit out at Mr Trump in a separate interview where she described the US President as racist and compared his leadership to an asteroid of awfulness which had befallen the earth. However Brandon Lewis, the newly appointed Tory chairman, said it was right for the US President to have a welcome in Britain. In the interview with ITV, Mr Corbyn also defied critics and ruled out staying in the single market after Brexit, saying: The single market is dependent on membership of the European Union. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA UK news in pictures 10 August 2021 Students react after they receive their A-Level results at the Ark Academy, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2021 The final athletes from Great Britain arrive home including Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald (front left-right) at Heathrow Airport, London following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games PA UK news in pictures 8 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Japan PA UK news in pictures 7 August 2021 People from the Glasgow Southside community take part in the Govanhill Carnival, an anti-racist celebration of pride, unity and the contributions immigrants have made to the community in Govanhill, at Queen's Park, Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2021 Chijindu Ujah of Britain, Zharnel Hughes of Britain, Richard Kilty of Britain and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Britain celebrate winning silver as they pose with Asha Philip of Britain, Imani Lansiquot of Britain, Dina Asher-Smith of Britain and Daryll Neita of Britain after they won bronze in the women's 4 x 100m relay during Olympic Games Day 14 Getty UK news in pictures 5 August 2021 A protester places flowers on a photograph of an executed man during a demonstration organised by supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) to protest against the inauguration of Iran's new president Ebrahim Raisi in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 4 August 2021 England's Joe Root looks on as India's KL Rahul doesn't make it to a catch during day one of Cinch First Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham PA UK news in pictures 3 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny and Jason Kenny with their silver medals for the Women's Team Pursuit and Mens Team Sprint during the Track Cycling at the Izu Velodrome on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 2 August 2021 Great Britains Charlotte Worthington competes during the Womens BMX Freestyle Final at the Tokyo Olympics PA UK news in pictures 1 August 2021 EPA UK news in pictures 31 July 2021 James Guy, Adam Peaty and Kathleen Dawson celebrate winning the gold medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay final at the Tokyo Olympics AP UK news in pictures 30 July 2021 Great Britain's Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte celebrate their Gold and Silver medals respectively for the Cycling BMX Racing at the Ariake Urban Sports Park on the seventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 29 July 2021 Team GB's Mallory Franklin during the Womens Canoe Slalom Final on day six of the Tokyo Olympic Games. She went on to win the silver medal Getty UK news in pictures 28 July 2021 Canoers on Llyn Padarn lake in Snowdonia, Gwynedd. It was announced that the north-west Wales slate landscape has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Status PA UK news in pictures 27 July 2021 A view of one of two areas now being used at a warehouse facility in Dover, Kent, for boats used by people thought to be migrants. PA UK news in pictures 26 July 2021 A woman is helped by Border Force officers as a group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard a Border Force vessel, following a small boat incident in the Channel PA UK news in pictures 25 July 2021 Vehicles drive through deep water on a flooded road in Nine Elms, London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 24 July 2021 Utilities workers inspect a 15x20ft sinkhole on Green Lane, Liverpool, which is suspected to have been caused by ruptured water main PA UK news in pictures 23 July 2021 Children interact with Mega Please Draw Freely by artist Ei Arakawa inside the Turbine Hall at the Tate Modern in London, part of UNIQLO Tate Play the gallery's new free programme of art-inspired activities for families PA UK news in pictures 22 July 2021 Festivalgoers in the campsite at the Latitude festival in Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk PA UK news in pictures 21 July 2021 A man walks past an artwork by Will Blood on the end of a property in Bedminster, Bristol, as the 75 murals project reaches the halfway point and various graffiti pieces are sprayed onto walls and buildings across the city over the Summer PA UK news in pictures 20 July 2021 People during morning prayer during Eid ul-Adha, or Festival of Sacrifice, in Southall Park, Uxbridge, London PA UK news in pictures 19 July 2021 Commuters, some not wearing facemasks, at Westminster Underground station, at 08:38 in London after the final legal Coronavirus restrictions were lifted in England PA UK news in pictures 18 July 2021 A view of spectators by the 2nd green during day four of The Open at The Royal St George's Golf Club in Sandwich, Kent PA UK news in pictures 17 July 2021 Cyclists ride over the Hammersmith Bridge in London. The bridge was closed last year after cracks in it worsened during a heatwave Getty UK news in pictures 16 July 2021 The sun rises behind the Sefton Park Palm House, in Sefton Park, Liverpool PA UK news in pictures 15 July 2021 Sir Nicholas Serota watches a short film about sea monsters as he opens a 7.6 million, 360 immersive dome at Devonport's Market Hall in Plymouth, which is the first of its type to be built in Europe PA UK news in pictures 14 July 2021 Heidi Street, playing a gothic character, looks at a brain suspended in glass at the worlds first attraction dedicated to the author of Frankenstein inside the Mary Shelleys House of Frankenstein experience, located in a Georgian terraced house in Bath, as it prepares to open to the public on 19 July PA UK news in pictures 13 July 2021 Rehearsals are held in a car park in Glasgow for a parade scene ahead of filming for what is thought to be the new Indiana Jones 5 movie starring Harrison Ford PA The Labour leader has come under pressure from his own MPs and other opposition parties to commit to staying in the EU trading agreements after Britain leaves the bloc. Mr Corbyn insisted his party was not supporting or calling for a second referendum, but would support a meaningful vote for Parliament. Labour will oppose landmark Brexit legislation when it returns to the Commons this week unless its demands were met in areas such as workers rights, he said. Theresa Mays fight to wipe out modern slavery could be derailed by plans for a hard Brexit, campaigners have warned. Labour MP Peter Kyle has written to the Prime Minister urging her to commit to remaining in EU legal and security agreements after Britain leaves the bloc, or risk undermining efforts to crack down on widespread exploitation and trafficking of vulnerable people. Ms May made tackling modern slavery into a personal mission when she was at the Home Office and she has continued to champion efforts to fight what she once described as the greatest human rights issue of our time. However, campaigners warned that leaving the EU without a deal could hamper the prosecution of criminal gangs by leaving a gaping hole in anti-trafficking laws and removing safeguards for those at risk. Tens of thousands of people are living in slavery in the UK, according to Government estimates. While many come from countries such as Albania, Romania and Vietnam, there are significant numbers of British nationals. Many are consigned to forced labour in car washes, nail salons and other low-cost services, while girls and women are often trafficked for sexual exploitation. Children can also be forced into a life of petty crime or begging. In a letter to the Prime Minister, Mr Kyle said: I am writing to express my deep concern about the future of the UKs fight against modern slavery, which I believe could be derailed by a failure to secure a Brexit deal. You have rightly described modern slavery as the great human rights issue of our time. It is clear, however, that a no deal Brexit would endanger the UKs ongoing struggle against this burning injustice. Mr Kyle, a supporter of Open Britain, which campaigns against a hard Brexit, called on the Prime Minister to rule out the prospect of walking away without a deal and to commit to full memberships of key EU agencies that help fight slavery and trafficking. Such as Europol, Eurojust and the European Arrest Warrant. He also urged her to rethink her approach to the future role of the European Court of Justice (ECJ), to continue close cooperation with the EU on security, justice and policing. Brexit could have disastrous consequences for the work against slavery, if the UK loses access to key mechanisms, such as Europol and the European Arrest Warrant, that allow cross-border work by police and security officials to dismantle trafficking networks, according to Jakub Sobik, of the charity Anti-Slavery International. He added: If the immigration status of European citizens were to change, it would make some of them more vulnerable to slavery, as they would face a risk of deportation should they come forward and report abuses. 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 Finally, many legal protections for slavery victims such as a recovery period and access to compensation come from EU laws, and there is a real risk they could be eroded with a no-deal Brexit. Theresa May has ambitions to become the worlds anti-slavery leader, but a no-deal Brexit would put a complete stop to that, no question. Anti-slavery laws are based on the legal and structural agreements between the UK and the EU, which would leave gaping holes in anti-trafficking legislation, said Kate Roberts, head of office at the Human Trafficking Foundation. She told The Independent: Police have repeatedly emphasised the importance of Europe-wide cooperation and information sharing in preventing and stopping the work of human traffickers. We need to know that structures and funding will remain in place to allow this important joint work to continue. While the impact of Brexit on migration is unclear, she warned that strict immigration policies can be used as a blackmail tool by traffickers. She said: Restrictive immigration policies are known to be a tool used by traffickers who know that the people they exploit are unlikely to approach the authorities for fear of losing their visa and right to work in the UK. It is vital that the UK works to ensure that legal migration channels remain open if we are to avoid an underground market of people lured to the UK on false pretences only to find that they are here illegally with no legal options to contest their treatment. Despite major efforts to tackle the issue, the National Audit Office (NAO) has previously warned that the Governments strategy was unclear and inadequate. And a report by Her Majestys Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) said police forces were guilty of inconsistent and ineffective identification of victims and were too slow to investigate abuse. In 2016, 3,805 potential victims of modern slavery were referred to enforcement agencies, a 17 per cent increase on the number of referrals in 2015. A Home Office spokesperson said: As we prepare to leave the EU it is vital that we agree a new way to ensure continued security, law enforcement and criminal justice cooperation. We recently outlined our proposal to seek a new agreement with the EU which will underpin our future partnership, building on the already deep level of collaboration we have on security, policing and criminal justice. Both the UK and EU have made clear our shared commitment to continued cooperation to keep Europe safe and this Government will do everything it can to keep the country secure. Layla Moran has been an MP for about six months so naturally she thinks its ridiculous that she is already being talked about as the next Lib Dem leader. But 10 years as a maths teacher is enough for her to at least partly understand what lies behind the speculation. Well, there are only 12 of us [in Parliament] arent there, she says, laughing. Not that many to pick from. But Ive only been here five minutes. Its very flattering, but Its ridiculous. Its crazy. Its not just a numbers game, though. That it is Layla Morans name and no one elses doing the rounds is because she is articulate, extremely intelligent, easy company, and she absolutely screams Lib Dem. Where to start? She is young (shes 35), shes a teacher, shes got a constituency full of academics in Oxford West and Abingdon, she has a Palestinian mother and a father who was a diplomat for the EU (she spent Christmas in Brussels, obviously). But what political people know that perhaps the population at large does not is that Lib Dems do not pull their punches, and she doesnt either. She thinks, Michael Gove was one of the worst things to ever happen to the education system in this country, she says. She thinks, David Cameron is the worst Prime Minister this country has ever had. Pleasingly, Moran is not a fully combat-trained politician yet. So when I ask her whether she has her eye on the top job, she replies, You say that like its a foregone conclusion that anyone would want to be Lib Dem leader. The rather longer standing press aide on hand winces a little bit. Its true of course. In the recent leadership election only one candidate stood, Sir Vince Cable, and he has almost stopped bothering to disguise the fact he wants to retire. Even so, this is still not a view that a political partys rising star is meant to say out loud. She backtracks a bit. Its not just leader of the Lib Dems. Its the leader of any party. Its not an easy job. Someone should want to do it, but I decided to be an MP for a very specific reason. In my head, Im still a teacher. I miss the kids. But there are concrete reasons that large parts of the party faithful are quietly gathering behind the Moran banner. No small cause is her election victory itself. Oxford West and Abingdon used to be solid Lib Dem, before turning marginal more recently. Its a seat full of academics that the Lib Dems prize greatly. Moran surprised everyone, not least herself, by turning over a 9,500 majority against a well liked Conservative candidate, Nicola Blackwood. Oh I was very surprised, she explains. We were nine-and-a-half-thousand behind. We werent aware of where the wind was blowing. It really wasnt until 4am that we were sure. At that point I was giving interviews about how great it was to come so close. Ms Moran makes no secret that education is her political cause. She gives long, detailed answers on the things that needs to be done, and she says her big ideas, to be announced at the partys spring and autumn conferences will have to make a splash. As the partys education spokesperson, last week she was happy to be dragged into the Toby Young imbroglio which, she says, spoke to some bigger issues about cronyism. There are lots of great educationalists out there who really care about social mobility, she says. Why was it this guy, whod made these comments that were so misogynistic and racist, why was it he, rather than someone who had spent their lifes work doing this? Just because hes a well known writer, a celebrity, why should he be on this board? But her concerns run deeper than the latest scandal of the hour. That she is so dismissive of Michael Gove is because he brought back learning by rote at a time when artificial intelligence threatens 20 to 40 per cent of middle income jobs. There is a clear need to rethink from the bottom up what education is for, and what its about and what we value, she says. Weve got a system that is encouraging people to rote learn. What are robots really good at? Learning by rote. She explains that the education system of the future will have to leverage human advantage against robotics. The one thing that robots really find difficult to do is to look someone in the eye and have a sense of how theyre feeling, she explains. We should be teaching that in schools. Still, to make a difference a party needs political clout. And the Liberal Democrats are lacking to a degree that is difficult to explain. Rarely a day goes by without someone seeking to set up a new centrist party. Huge swathes of the population are furious about Brexit, which the Labour Party is not making any attempt to oppose. But no one appears to be being driven in to the arms of the existing, centrist, pro-Europe party. Why? I think that is a really important question for our party to get to grips with, she says. But what is the answer? I dont know, I honestly dont know. I dont know, I really dont. I dont think it is something that will be easily solved. I think its partly the Coalition [government]. The Coalition hurt us so badly, frankly. It has taken a long while to rebuild that trust with the electorate. It is not until we show them that we are a serious party of serious ideas. Actually I think the education stuff helps. Its not all about Brexit. Its about general credibility for the party. A couple of weeks ago, the Times columnist Danny Finkelstein, seeking to answer the great question of why Remainers arent flocking to the Lib Dems, argued that they werent offering anything material. Economic decisions taken in coalition, on raising tuition fees, freezing public sector wages and lowering public spending, had decimated their base. Students, academics, public sector workers and the like, are all now solid Corbyn. Im going to pull you up on one word of that, Moran says. Solid. I dont think thats true. And the polling is showing that. If you look at why people voted Corbyn at the last election, is he was really good at selling hope, we need to do more of that. Some people call it populism. I dont agree with all the policies, but I do think the way he did it, the hopeful vision for the future that I would like to see the Lib Dems do more of. Secondly, theres Brexit. Voters felt that Labour would be the party of the 48 per cent. And now its patently clear, they are not. They are coming out of the single market, out of the customs union. Current party policy is to campaign for a second referendum on the terms of the deal, the so-called exit from Brexit, but the window in which that could feasibly happen is rapidly closing. Moran says that if it doesnt happen, the party simply starts campaigning straight away to go back in. We are on the right side of history. Over the years we have shown that generally we are on the right side of history. We were on the right side of history on Iraq, which is one of the reasons I joined, so we will keep banging on about it. Second referendum on the deal. Exit from Brexit. And you know what, even if we dont manage it, Im happy to die trying. Im so passionate about it. She says that this campaign to go back in, which is highly likely to happen, will have to focus on the positives of EU membership in a way that the referendum campaign did not. It was the worst of politics, she says. I was so embarrassed for our country, looking at it. I kind of didnt enjoy being a part of it. Her father was the EUs diplomat to Europe between 2012 and 2016, a comparatively rare Brit in the Brussels engine. In the wider Moran family, there is despair at the current conduct of the UK Government. I was in Brussels at Christmas, because that is where my parents are. She stops and emits a surprisingly enthusiastic sigh. Its a mess. Its a mess. The language [around the Christmas table] certainly wasnt flattering toward the Government. Dad has now joined the Lib Dems having been a Labour man all his life because hes so frustrated. He will shout at Corbyn as much as at May because of the ambiguity of his position. Around the table too was her Palestinian mother. Ms Moran doesnt like to make much of her heritage, and finds the UKs first Palestinian MP label attached to her quite strange. I am me. I am me. I never made a big deal out of it. But I appreciate it as a point of difference. Thats been a surprise actually, about being an MP, is me embracing my own identity in that way, because people keep asking me about it. Its not until you talk about it that you develop your thinking about what it means to you. She has previously promised to stand front and centre of any protest that might greet a Donald Trump visit, which is postponed for now. My mother told me over Christmas that when Trump made that announcement to move the embassy to Jerusalem she hadnt felt that awful about the state of the Middle East and Palestine since she was in Jordan, in 1967, listening to the World Service and they announced that the Arabs had lost the Six Day War. That was the last time that she felt this torn about the situation. I do feel that there are expectations on me from the Palestinian community, and from myself too. How can I be here, a hundred years after the Balfour declaration, and crazy-crazy Trump is in the White House. So I do kind of feel a heavy hand of history on my shoulder a bit. I am here maybe a bit to play a part. What I bring to the table is my own familys story. When I talk about it people will hear the human side of who I am and my family. It wont be something thats happening to someone else. As we discuss the mysteries of why Lib Dem voters are not returning, it transpires Tim Farron has been back on the airwaves, explaining that he regrets being almost forced, during the election to say that gay sex was not a sin. It took Vince Cable a matter of minutes to disown Farrons comments, which are, at the most generous level, not helpful to the Liberal cause. If the Lib Dems are to hold out any hope of a comeback, these are setbacks they do not need. I asked a leading party insider if Moran really is the real deal. He said the party faithful is crying out for a woman leader and that it would be a straight fight between Moran and the current deputy, Jo Swinson, though first one or the other would have to decide if they want it. She is telegenic, she is articulate, she is young. She has brought fresh ideas, vigour, dedication, she is a proper campaigner. She has taken a seat that very few people thought we would win in 2017 against a pretty good Conservative. She has shown she can win in a tough fight, and during the referendum she was at it, delivering leaflets, knocking on doors. For Lib Dem members, there is no greater praise. Pavement pounding. Delivering leaflets. That is the Lib Dem way. They want people who have done what they do. And dont forget, roughly two thirds of Lib Dem members now are post 2016 joiners. They will have seen Layla rise, from being one of them, to being one of the most high-profile people in the party. They dont want some ex-Spad [special adviser]. Some London person. They want one of their own. That is what Layla is. The Lib Dems future is uncertain. But bright or otherwise, it seems abundantly clear that Layla Moran will play a very large part in it. AirAsia Fly to Langkawi from RM69 only RM69 AirAsia is having promotion. Fly from Kuala Lumpur to Pulau Langkawi from only RM69. This promotion is valid for a limited time only. Limited promo seats available. Terms and conditions apply. **Terms and conditions apply** ~Click here for flight booking or price checking~ Planning for next holiday? Sign up Airbnb now and receive RM105 Travel Credit for when you book accommodation Pulau Langkawi Has Been Listed As 10th Best Island In Asia By The 2014 Tripadvisor Travellers Choice Langkawi, which is officially known as the Jewel of Kedah, is part of an archipelago of 104 islands in the Andaman Sea, some 30 km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia. It claims romantic white-sandy beaches, forested hills, waterfalls and crystal-clear waters. It was given a World Geopark status by UNESCO in 2007. Other Ongoing FREE Samples Giveaway The BBC should consider capping the pay of its top talent at 150,000 in line with the rest of the public sector, the new Culture Secretary has said. Matthew Hancock also said the BBC had a special responsibility to lead on equal pay issues and vowed to raise the issue with director general Tony Hall at a meeting in the coming weeks. The corporation was plunged into a fresh row over pay disparity among its most high-profile stars, when China editor Carrie Gracie resigned from her post after discovering she was earning up to 45,000 less than her male peers. Mr Hancock, who was promoted during last weeks Cabinet reshuffle, said equal pay isnt just about levelling up womens pay in the BBC, its about equal pay and a reasonable level. Weve got to have equal pay for equal jobs and I think that the BBC has a special responsibility to lead and be a beacon because this issue is broader than the BBC, he told ITVs Peston on Sunday. He said: Across the rest of the public sector we brought in rules to say that except in exceptional circumstances people who are paid for by taxpayers money shouldnt be paid more than the Prime Minister. Now, outside of the BBC well, the BBC of course is responsible for its own pay and I think that it missed a chance to bring in that kind of rule when we brought it in for the rest of the public sector a few years ago, so now it has to go through a special process to pay somebody more than the Prime Minister. Of course, there are sometimes circumstances where thats necessary. But if you think about it this way in a country round the world where people are paid for by the taxpayer, who should we be paying the most to? Is it the BBC editor or is it the ambassador? The generals are also making a very good point that people in the armed services put their life on the line and yet they abide by the public sector pay norms, which is not to have excessive pay and where the Prime Ministers pay is seen as a guide at the top. The BBC was hit with a major backlash last year when its pay disclosures revealed that two thirds of employees earning over 150,000 were men. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 5 September 2021 People enjoy the warm weather on Sandbanks beach, Poole PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA UK news in pictures 10 August 2021 Students react after they receive their A-Level results at the Ark Academy, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2021 The final athletes from Great Britain arrive home including Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald (front left-right) at Heathrow Airport, London following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games PA UK news in pictures 8 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Japan PA UK news in pictures 7 August 2021 People from the Glasgow Southside community take part in the Govanhill Carnival, an anti-racist celebration of pride, unity and the contributions immigrants have made to the community in Govanhill, at Queen's Park, Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2021 Chijindu Ujah of Britain, Zharnel Hughes of Britain, Richard Kilty of Britain and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Britain celebrate winning silver as they pose with Asha Philip of Britain, Imani Lansiquot of Britain, Dina Asher-Smith of Britain and Daryll Neita of Britain after they won bronze in the women's 4 x 100m relay during Olympic Games Day 14 Getty UK news in pictures 5 August 2021 A protester places flowers on a photograph of an executed man during a demonstration organised by supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) to protest against the inauguration of Iran's new president Ebrahim Raisi in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 4 August 2021 England's Joe Root looks on as India's KL Rahul doesn't make it to a catch during day one of Cinch First Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham PA UK news in pictures 3 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny and Jason Kenny with their silver medals for the Women's Team Pursuit and Mens Team Sprint during the Track Cycling at the Izu Velodrome on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 2 August 2021 Great Britains Charlotte Worthington competes during the Womens BMX Freestyle Final at the Tokyo Olympics PA UK news in pictures 1 August 2021 EPA UK news in pictures 31 July 2021 James Guy, Adam Peaty and Kathleen Dawson celebrate winning the gold medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay final at the Tokyo Olympics AP UK news in pictures 30 July 2021 Great Britain's Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte celebrate their Gold and Silver medals respectively for the Cycling BMX Racing at the Ariake Urban Sports Park on the seventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 29 July 2021 Team GB's Mallory Franklin during the Womens Canoe Slalom Final on day six of the Tokyo Olympic Games. She went on to win the silver medal Getty UK news in pictures 28 July 2021 Canoers on Llyn Padarn lake in Snowdonia, Gwynedd. It was announced that the north-west Wales slate landscape has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Status PA UK news in pictures 27 July 2021 A view of one of two areas now being used at a warehouse facility in Dover, Kent, for boats used by people thought to be migrants. PA UK news in pictures 26 July 2021 A woman is helped by Border Force officers as a group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard a Border Force vessel, following a small boat incident in the Channel PA UK news in pictures 25 July 2021 Vehicles drive through deep water on a flooded road in Nine Elms, London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 24 July 2021 Utilities workers inspect a 15x20ft sinkhole on Green Lane, Liverpool, which is suspected to have been caused by ruptured water main PA UK news in pictures 23 July 2021 Children interact with Mega Please Draw Freely by artist Ei Arakawa inside the Turbine Hall at the Tate Modern in London, part of UNIQLO Tate Play the gallery's new free programme of art-inspired activities for families PA UK news in pictures 22 July 2021 Festivalgoers in the campsite at the Latitude festival in Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk PA UK news in pictures 21 July 2021 A man walks past an artwork by Will Blood on the end of a property in Bedminster, Bristol, as the 75 murals project reaches the halfway point and various graffiti pieces are sprayed onto walls and buildings across the city over the Summer PA UK news in pictures 20 July 2021 People during morning prayer during Eid ul-Adha, or Festival of Sacrifice, in Southall Park, Uxbridge, London PA UK news in pictures 19 July 2021 Commuters, some not wearing facemasks, at Westminster Underground station, at 08:38 in London after the final legal Coronavirus restrictions were lifted in England PA UK news in pictures 18 July 2021 A view of spectators by the 2nd green during day four of The Open at The Royal St George's Golf Club in Sandwich, Kent PA It revealed that North America editor Jon Sopel earned between 200,000 and 249,999, while Ms Gracie said she had been earning 135,000 before the BBC offered her a 45,000 rise, which she rejected. Mr Sopel was heavily criticised when his conversation with Radio 4 Today programme presenter John Humphrys was leaked, where the men joked about the equal pay row. Mr Humphrys, one of the flagship news programmes longest serving presenters, is the BBCs highest paid news presenter with a salary of between 600,000 and 649,999. A BBC spokesperson said: We have reduced the amount we pay talent by a quarter over the past five years; however, were not competing in the same markets as politicians and other public sector jobs. We are competing against ITV, Sky, C4, and, increasingly now, the deep pockets of Netflix, Amazon and Apple. A number of presenters have left the BBC for considerably more money but we always look to negotiate deals at discount against the market. We have the highest respect for ambassadors, but these are entirely different jobs and in a different market. Residents of Hawaii - informed for 38 minutes that they were under attack from a ballistic missile - were forced to make desperate decisions about how to spend what people believed might be their last moments alive. As relief turned to fury after it was confirmed the warning sent to peoples mobiles phones by the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency was an error, stories emerged of people trying to contact their loved ones, rushing to take shelter or trying to protect their children. People said they could not understand why it had taken so long to correct the mistake. My friend in Hawaii got the alert and had to quickly choose between which members of his family he would spend his last moments on Earth with because they were ALL too far apart from each other. He had to make the difficult choice of going immediately to his youngest children, Gene Park wrote on Twitter. Mr Park, who works for the Washington Post and lives in the nations capital, shared a post from his friend which read: Right now, Im in tears, pulled over on Bishop Street. Just five minutes before warning, I dropped my oldest at the airport and drove to Nimitz Zippys. There I found out about the threat and had to decide whether to shelter there, drive to my two younger children at home, go back to the airport or go to be with my wife at work. Video recorded from the University of Hawaii showed crowds of people running in panic after the warning was sent out early on Saturday morning. Governor David Ige, said on CNN that the warning had been sent in error during a change in shift. He said an investigation was underway. I was awakened by the alert like everyone else here in the state of Hawaii. It was unfortunate and regrettable. We will be looking at how we can improve the procedures so it doesnt happen again. CNN journalist Jake Tapper wrote that he knew someone in Hawaii who had been crying in closet texting goodbyes to loved ones, husband shielding their baby. He added: Sounds traumatic. Hang in there, folks. Sara Donchey, a journalist from Texas, posted that she was in Hawaii when she also got the warning. This was my phone when I woke up just now. Im in Honolulu, #Hawaii and my family is on the North Shore, she wrote. They were hiding in the garage. My mom and sister were crying. It was a false alarm, but betting a lot of people are shaken. Hawaii ballistic missile alarm was due to someone 'pressing the wrong button' She added: Also, my husband was on a plane that had just departed #Hawaii when we got the missile alert. Ive been wondering if he and others flying were made aware. Hes on a flight with spotty or no internet service & I havent been able to reach him. The emergency alert, which was sent to cellphones just before 8.10am, said in capital letters: Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency tweeted that there was threat about 10 minutes later. But a revised push alert stating there was no threat did not go out for almost 40 minutes. The incident prompted the Pentagon and the US Pacific Command to issue the same statement, that they had detected no ballistic missile threat to Hawaii. 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 US President Donald Trump, who is in Florida, was briefed on the false alert. White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters said it was purely a state exercise. Reuters said Richard Ing, a Honolulu-based lawyer, was doing a construction project at home when his wife told him about the alert. They later were told it was a false alarm. I thought to myself, it must be someone's last day at work or someone got extremely upset at a superior and basically did this as a practical joke, he said. But I think it's a very serious problem if it wasn't that, or even it was, it shows that we have problems in the system that can cause major disruption and panic and anxiety among people in Hawaii. The false alarm came against the backdrop of nuclear tension between the US and North Korea, with both Mr Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un swapping insults. North Korea, which has been increasing the number of missile tests, has threatened to unleash his countrys growing missile weapon capability against the US territory of Guam or US states, while Mr Trump has threatened to totally destroy the country. The state last year reinstated a Second World War-style missile warning system amid fears of an attack by North Korea. The sirens did not sound when the erroneous text alert was issued. A full investigation into a false emergency alert which warned a ballistic missile was heading for Hawaii, according to the chairman of the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Residents received alerts to their phones at about 8.07am local time on Saturday saying "Ballistic missile threat inbound. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill". The message was also broadcast on television and caused utter panic on the islands before the alert was cancelled about 38 minutes later. Hawaiian Governor David Ige later told reporters an employee of Hawaii's Emergency Management Agency mistakenly "pressed the wrong button" during a shift change. The high-stake alert came just days after the FCC chairman Ajit Pai said the commission would vote to enhance the effectiveness of wireless emergency alerts, which have been in place since 2012. Mr Pai said on Twitter the commission was launching a full investigation into the false emergency alert that was sent to Hawaii residents. FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel added the commission had to find out what went wrong. Writing on Twitter, she said: "Emergency alerts are meant to keep us and our families safe, not to create false panic. We must investigate and we must do better." She praised the people of Hawaii for being "graceful and resilient" and added: "But I also know they never should have endured this false alert today. And I know like them I will hold my children a little bit closer tonight". The FCC is working to better target alerts to impacted people and is due to vote this month on a proposal to "more precisely target these alerts to affected communities". In a statement earlier this week, FCC chairman Mr Pai said the improved alerts will "lead Americans to take more seriously the alerts they receive on their mobile devices". Since 2012, the Wireless Emergency Alerts system has been used more than 33,000 times to warn people across the country of severe weather, evacuation orders, shelter-in place alerts and Amber Alerts, the FCC said in a report this week. Hawaii officials apologised repeatedly for the incident and Hawaii Emergency Management Agency Administrator Vern Miyagi said: "we made a mistake". 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 Governor Ige vowed that changes would be made and that this would not happen again. "I am sorry for the pain and confusion it caused. I, too, am extremely upset about this and am doing everything I can do to immediately improve our emergency management systems, procedures and staffing," he said. With the threat of missiles from North Korea in people's minds, the government reintroduced the Cold War-era warning siren tests last month which is expected to warn of a potential missile strike. Although nearly 93 percent of the state's 386 sirens reportedly worked properly, 12 mistakenly played an ambulance siren. At the tourist mecca of Waikiki, the sirens were barely audible, prompting officials to add more sirens there and to reposition ones already in place. Mr Miyagi told reporters that none of the sirens should have sounded because they run on a completely different system and would be initiated by a separate individual, NBC reports. He added that his team planned to investigate the issue and produce a report on the incident. A powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake has struck the coast of southern Peru, leaving one person dead and several dozen injured. Authorities rolled back earlier statements saying a second person had died and 17 people were missing in a mine, suggesting the human toll of the quake may not be as drastic as previously feared. Homes and roads collapsed and several municipalities were left without electricity. Residents of Lomas, a coastal town, were evacuated after feeling an aftershock. One 55-year-old man died in the town of Yauca after being crushed by a rock, Yamila Osorio, governor of Arequipa, said on Twitter. Jorge Chavez, chief of Peru's Civil Defense Institute, told local radio station RPP that 65 people were injured but withdrew his earlier statement that a second person had died in the town of Bella Union. "The victim reportedly found in Bella Union has not been confirmed," Mr Chavez said. "Officially, we only have one death." Damage to roads was impeding help from arriving to the most-affected zones, which are mainly rural and remote, Mr Chavez added. Aid workers and supplies would be flown in from nearby cities, he said. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty The quake hit offshore at 4:18am local time (9.18am GMT) at a depth of around 22.4 miles (36 km), the US Geological Survey (USGS) said. Its epicentre was in the Pacific Ocean 25 miles (40km) from the town of Acari. Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, the President of Peru, said on Twitter he was in route to the affected region to "verify the magnitude of the damage and send the needed humanitarian aid." Abel Salinas Rivas, the Health Minister, told RPP rescue workers spoke with representatives of the informal Estrella mine and confirmed no one was missing from there. Mr Rivas had said earlier 17 people were missing after the mine east of Chala suffered damages following the quake. The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre initially warned "hazardous tsunami waves are forecast for some coasts" and larger-than-normal waves could hit Peru and Chile. But the centre then said in a later statement "there is no longer a tsunami threat from this earthquake" and the centre hadn't observed any tsunami waves. The quake was also felt in northern Chile, Peru's southern neighbour. Chile's National Emergency offices said there were no reports of injuries, damage to infrastructure, or interruption of basic services. Earthquakes are common in Peru, but many homes are built with precarious materials unable to withstand them. In 2007 an earthquake killed hundreds in the region of Ica. China on Saturday pledged to continue playing a constructive role in maintaining and implementing the Iran nuclear deal, after U.S. President Donald Trump set an ultimatum to fix disastrous flaws in a deal. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif by phone that implementation of the deal had not been derailed but would face some new complicating factors, the state news agency Xinhua reported. Continuing to implement the nuclear deal was the responsibility of all parties concerned and the common wish of the international community, Wang was quoted as saying during the call, which took place on a visit to Rwanda. The deal would help uphold the international non-proliferation regime, maintain regional peace and stability and solve other hot issues around the world, he said. He urged Iran to remain calm and continue to fulfil its obligations under the deal. On Friday, Mr Trump agreed to waive sanctions against Iran that were lifted as part of the international deal but said it would be the last time unless conditions were met to fix what he called significant flaws in the deal. His ultimatum puts pressure on Europeans key backers and parties to the 2015 international agreement to curb Irans nuclear program to satisfy Mr Trump, who wants the pact strengthened with a separate agreement within 120 days. Mr Zarif responded on Twitter that the deal was not renegotiable and that Mr Trumps stance amounts to desperate attempts to undermine a solid multilateral agreement. While Trump approved the sanctions waiver, the Treasury Department announced new, targeted sanctions against 14 entities and people, including the head of Irans judiciary, Sadeq Amoli Larijani, a close ally of Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran said on Saturday it would retaliate against the new sanctions, although it did not specify how. Reuters A young British woman has been found dead alongside a man in what police believe was a murder-suicide in Australia. The body of the woman, who is in her 20s but has not been named, was found next to the body of a man in his 30s at a flat in the Newtown suburb of Sydney, the New South Wales Police Force said. According to local media reports, the pair were a couple who had lived in the flat, which is above a restaurant on a road lined with bars and shops, for several months. Emergency services were called to the scene three miles south-west of the city centre at around 5.30pm on Friday after concerns were raised for the welfare of a man and woman at the property. Police attended and discovered the bodies of a woman, aged in her 20s, and a man, aged in his 30s, the force said. Local police and detectives from the states homicide squad launched an investigation and officials from the British embassy have been in contact with the womans family. The nationality and identity of the man have not been released, although he is understood not to be from the UK. 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 Scott Haggarty, a neighbour, told the Australian Daily Telegraph he last saw them arrive home together on Wednesday afternoon. The couple, who kept themselves to themselves, looked happy. They looked like a couple who worked in the bars and were on holidays here, he said. They just looked like a regular couple, I never heard an argument or anything. The woman is thought to have been the victim of a murder-suicide. A Foreign Office spokesman said: We are providing consular assistance to the family of a British national who has died in New South Wales, Australia, and our staff are in contact with the New South Wales police. Additional reporting by Press Association The Queen was almost killed by a teenager in an assassination attempt later covered up by New Zealand authorities, a former police officer has claimed. Retired Dunedin detective Tom Lewis says an attempt on the monarchs life was made when she visited the city in October 1981. The former officer told the Stuff website that 17-year-old Christopher John Lewis narrowly missed the head-of-state when he fired shots the royal motorcade. But he claimed police and government officials covered up the would-be assassins actions due to fears the Queen would refuse to visit the country in future. Many in attendance at the event had heard the gunshots, although authorities maintained at the time it was the sound of a council sign falling over. "You will never get a true file on that, it was reactivated, regurgitated, bits pulled off it, other false bits put on it, Mr Lewis said. They were in damage control so many times." Christopher Lewis later told investigators that he was ordered to kill the Queen by a mysterious Englishman called Snowman. The teenager believed pro-Nazi, far-right groups were sprouting up across New Zealand and wanted to lead a local terror cell. Police files show Lewis had led officers to a fifth story toilet in a building overlooking the Queens route after being questioned over a non-related burglary incident. There, they found a .22 calibre rifle and empty shell casings. Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II on a walk-about in Portsmouth during her Silver Jubilee tour of Great Britain, 1977 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II The future Britain's Queen Elizabeth II (R) pictured with her younger sister Princess Margaret (L) in 1933 AFP/Getty Images) Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II The 9-year-old Elizabeth attends an aristocratic wedding with her mother and younger sister. Later in that year with the death of her Grandfather and the Abdication of her Uncle Edward VIII she became first in line to the throne, 1936 Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II The coronation of King George VI in 1937, Elizabeth aged 10 became the heir apparent to the throne Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth and her sister arrive at Waterloo station to say goodbye to their parents as they leave to tour Canada. Elizabeth was thought too young to escort her parents on the tour and was described as "tearful" as they departed. She and her parents made the first ever transatlantic telephone call during their time away, 1939 Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II The 13-year-old Elizabeth and her sister Margret address children who have been evacuated from the cities on BBC's 'The Chilrens Hour' She said "We are trying to do all we can to help our gallant sailors, soldiers and airmen, and we are trying, too, to bear our share of the danger and sadness of war. We know, every one of us, that in the end all will be well", 1940 Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Just before the end of the war Elizabeth took part in training to become an ATS officer. She is pictured learning to change a tire, 1945 AFP/Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II The official announcement of Princess Elizabeth and Phillip Mountbatten's engagement. The pairing was incredibly controversial as Prince Phillip had no financial standing and he was foreign born, the prince of Denmark and Greece (though he served Britain in the war and was given British Citizenship), 1947 Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II (in coach) and her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh are cheered by the crowd after their wedding ceremony, on 20 November 1947, on their road to Buckingham Palace, London Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth smiles at her first child, a month old Prince Charles. Charles was born on 14 November 1948 Corbis Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II The couples second child Princess Anne was born in 1950 Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Arriving back in England upon hearing the death of her father King George VI. The Kings health had been in decline for a number of years and Elizabeth had been filling in for him on an official visit to Australia by way of Kenya. As his heir Elizabeth became Queen aged 26 Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth's coronation took place on 2 June 1953. It was the first ever coronation to be aired live on television, being one of the most watched events in history with millions gathering around their TV sets to see the new monarch Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II standing next to her daughter Princess Anne, 1960 Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II President Eisenhower (centre) with the British Royal family (L-R) Prince Philip, Princess Anne, HM Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles and Captain John Eisenhower, at Balmoral Castle, Scotland, 1959 Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II as she turns to smile and talk to an unidentified officer, during the Trooping of the Colour by the First Battalion of the Jamaica Regiment at Up-Park Camp, Kingston, Jamaica, 1966 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II walking cross country at the North of Scotland Gun Dog Association Open Stake Retreiver Trials in the grounds of Balmoral Castle in 1967 Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to the Chelsea Flower Show in London, a regular fixture in the royal calendar, 1971 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh during their traditional summer break at Balmoral Castle. The highland retreat is one of the Queen's favourite places, each year, she heads off to Scotland for the summer. "It is rather nice to hibernate for a bit when one leads such a moveable life," she once said, 1976 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II during a walkabout in Muscat while visiting Oman, 1979 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II with some of her corgis walking the Cross Country course during the second day of the Windsor Horse Trials. The monarch is responsible for introducing a new breed of dog known as the "dorgi" when her corgi Tiny was mated with a dachshund "sausage dog" called Pipkin which belonged to Princess Margaret, 1980 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II (L-R) the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William, Prince Harry and the Prince and Princess of Wales after the christening ceremony of Prince Harry, 1984 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II taking the salute of the Household Guards regiments during the Trooping of the Colour ceremony in London, 1985 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Diana, Princess of Wales and Queen Elizabeth II as they smile to well-wishers outside Clarence House in London, 1987 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II, with Chief Instructor, Small Arms Corp LT Col George Harvey, firing the last shot on a standard SA 80 rifle when she attended the centenary of the Army Rifle Association at Bisley, 1993 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II South Africa's President Nelson Mandela greets Queen Elizabeth II as she steps from the royal yacht Britannia in Cape Town at the 1995's official start of the her first visit to the country since 1947 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II smiles as she visits Bowring Park in St. John's, Newfoundland, on the third day of a 10-day official visit to Canada, 1997 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh make their way into St. George's Chapel at Windsor for the annual Garter ceremony, 1999 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II and Pope John Paul II as they meet at the Vatican, 2000 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother leaving church by horse drawn carriage on the Sandringham Estate, Norfolk, 2000 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth rides her horse in the grounds of Windsor Castle, 2002 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth arrives for the world premiere of James Bond movie "Casino Royale" at the Odeon cinema in Leicester Square in London, 2006 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth boards a scheduled train at Kings Cross station in London, 2009 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II planting a tree at Newmarket Animal Health Trust, during a royal visit which marked her 50th year as the charity's patron, 2009 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II talking with Pope Benedict XVI during an audience in the Morning Drawing Room at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh during a four day visit by the Pope to the UK, 2010 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II visiting the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 2010 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II receives flowers from the crowd during her visit to Federation Square in downtown Melbourne, 2011 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth watches a preview of her Christmas message wearing a pair of 3D glasses, studded with Swarovski crystals in the form of a "Q", at Buckingham Palace in central London, 2012 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Members of Britain's royal family (front L to R) Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles cheer as competitors participate in a sack race at the Braemar Gathering in Braemar, Scotland, 2012 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Britain's Prince Charles kisses the hand of his mother Queen Elizabeth at the end of her Diamond Jubilee concert in front of Buckingham Palace in London, 2012 Reuters Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge laughs as Queen Elizabeth gestures during a visit to Vernon Park in Nottingham, 2012 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip attend a service for the Order of the British Empire at St Paul's Cathedral in London, 2012 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II meets young people during an official visit to The Shard building in central London, 2013 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Actress Angelina Jolie is presented with the Insignia of an Honorary Dame Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George by Queen Elizabeth II in the 1844 Room at Buckingham Palace, London, 2014 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh visit the Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red evolving art installation at the Tower of London, 2014 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at the State Opening of Parliament, 2015 AFP/Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II (L-R) Britain's Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge holding his son Prince George of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Harry (back), Prince Andrew, Duke of York (back), James, Viscount Severn (front), Princess Beatrice of York (back), Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Eugenie of York (back) stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace waiting to view the fly-past during the Queen's Birthday Parade, 'Trooping the Colour,' in London, 2015 Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II The Trooping of the Colour is an annual celebration marking the Queen's birthday, 2015 Getty Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Britain's Queen Elizabeth II stands with Kate the Duchess of Cambridge whilst pushing Princess Charlotte in a pram as they leave after attending the Christening of Britain's Princess Charlotte at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, 2015 AP Photo/Matt Dunham, Pool Queen Elizabeth II: Life in pictures Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II arrives at the Broadway Theatre in Barking, 2015 Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images Despite the apparent attempt on the Queens life, the boy was only two charged with two offences one of possessing a firearm in a public place and a second of discharging it. He was later jailed for three years and was transferred to a psychiatric hospital in 1983, where he made plans to murder Prince Charles during another royal visit to New Zealand. Lewis spent much of his adult life in and out of prison and in 1996 was charged with the murder of mother-of-three Tania Furlan, a crime of which DNA evidence later cleared him. He killed himself in in 1997 aged 33, while serving a jail term at Mount Eden prison in Auckland. It took Abdullhai almost three years to get from his home in Guinea to a rocky, snow-covered Alpine mountain pass in the dead of winter, for what he hopes will be the final stage of his journey into France. The terrain is steep and dangerous and he and a group of five other migrants face risks ranging from losing their footing on steep drops, being struck by falling rocks or succumbing to the -9C (15F) temperatures in clothing ill-suited to the terrain. Abdullhai, 38, is one of hundreds of migrants who over the last year have attempted to cross from Italy into France through high mountain passes, in a bid to evade increased border security put in place at easier crossing points. His group crossed into France in December. In Guinea, he left behind his wife and three children, including a two-year old son whom he has never seen. Our life in Guinea is not good, said Abdullhai, 38, who like his friends asked that his last name not be published in this story. Recommended At least three dead in French Alps avalanche There is no work there and no future for my children. Here in Europe we can have a future. We can find work and live a life with some dignity. This is worth a try for me. The number of migrants making perilous journeys has fallen since over one million arrived in Europe from the Middle East and Africa in 2015. There were 171,635 arrivals by boat officially recorded in 2017, down from 363,504 in 2016. As the group huddled around a fire in a cave during a rest on their journey, others told stories of being jailed and tortured, or of being orphaned and looking at uncertain futures in their home country. The crossings have become more perilous with heavy snowfall. Migrants risk death crossing Alps to reach France Show all 10 1 /10 Migrants risk death crossing Alps to reach France Migrants risk death crossing Alps to reach France The morning after a stay under a highway bypass Reuters Migrants risk death crossing Alps to reach France Discarded clothes are the remnants of previous missions Reuters Migrants risk death crossing Alps to reach France Abdullhai is helped by a friend Reuters Migrants risk death crossing Alps to reach France Resting up after a long section of the crossing Reuters Migrants risk death crossing Alps to reach France The group trudge through the unfamiliar terrain Reuters Migrants risk death crossing Alps to reach France The group preserve energy, while warming up their hands and shoes Reuters Migrants risk death crossing Alps to reach France The travellers pray for good luck throughout their journey Reuters Migrants risk death crossing Alps to reach France The group walk past an Italian man on an afternoon stroll Reuters Migrants risk death crossing Alps to reach France Abdurahman steps through the snow Reuters Migrants risk death crossing Alps to reach France Having finishing their walking for the day, the group stay in a Tous Migrants (All Migrants) shelter to sleep and ready themselves for the journey ahead Reuters On January 10, Reuters spoke with three migrants, a 24-year-old Senegalese man, a 31-year-old man from the Democratic Republic of Congo and a 37-year-old from Pakistan who were attempting to cross into France. They managed to cross the border, but abandoned their trek, exhausted and despondent, and were returned to Italy. But they are at least alive. The International Organisation for Migration estimates that 20,000 people have died in the Mediterranean itself while trying to reach Italy. Nor does it compare to the hardships that some of those making the journey have already endured to get as far as they have. I was imprisoned and tortured in Libya for many months. I was forced to work for free. Just look at my scars, said Kamarra, 28, from Guinea, lifting his shirt and pulling down his trousers at the side to show marks on his body and hip. After all that, crossing the Alps is not a big deal for me. Reuters A French dairy company has recalled baby milk products from 83 countries across Europe Africa and Asia after salmonella was discovered at the firm's factory. Lactalis said more than 12 million boxes of powdered baby milk were being withdrawn from the market. The firm's chief executive Emmanuel Besnier told weekly newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche that his family company, one of the worlds biggest dairies, would pay damages to every family which has suffered a prejudice. All recalled boxes have originated from Lactalis' factory in Craon, northwest France, where the salmonella bacteria was discovered in December. The plant is expected to remain closed for several months. The move comes after an initial bungled recall operation and the paper reported that 35 babies have been diagnosed with salmonella in France, one in Spain and a possible case in Greece. Salmonella infections can be life-threatening and the families of three dozen children who have fallen sick in France as a result of the contaminated baby milk have announced a raft of lawsuits. A spokesman for the company said all countries affected had been informed which did not include the UK, the US and Australia. A judicial investigation to determine who was responsible would continue, they added. Mr Besnier did not say how much the damages might amount to. The company's announcement came two days after Lactalis widened a product recall to cover all infant formula made at its Craon plan, regardless of the manufacture date, in an bid to contain the fallout from a health scare that risks damaging France's strategic agribusiness in overseas markets. 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 "Paying compensation is good, but money cannot buy everything," government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux said in an interview on BFM TV. The health scare intensified last week after France's biggest retailers including Carrefour, Auchan and Leclerc admitted products recalled in December had still found their way onto shelves. "It is the job of the investigation to determine where failings occurred and who is to blame," Mr Griveaux said, adding that "responsibilities were shared". Mr Besnier said the recall will be challenging since the company does not know how many baby milk boxes have been consumed already. He denied allegations the company had been slowing the process to curb losses but said the group had acted as quickly and efficiently as possible. Mr Besnier had previously been criticised for failing to speak out publicly during the salmonella scare. His family is the 11th wealthiest in France according to a 2017 ranking by Challenges magazine but the dairy tycoon has long shunned the public limelight and is known for his close relationships with politicians. Additional reporting by agencies. A ceiling has collapsed at a nightclub in Madrid, injuring 26 people, Spanish authorities said. Emergency services for the Spanish capital say 11 of the injured revellers were taken to nearby hospitals to be treated for bruises and light wounds. The others were treated on site at the La Suegra nightclub. The first floor ceiling of the La Suegra nightclub collapsed (EPA/Victor Lerena) Emergency services said a section of the ceiling measuring 16sq m (about 170sq ft) fell on the people at the nightclub. Arturo de Blas, who led the emergency response, said the ceiling in the upper floor fell on top of the people inside. 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 have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident. A passenger plane skidded off a runway and down the side of a cliff at an airport in northern Turkey. The Pegasus Airlines jet narrowly avoided plunging into the sea after it came to a stop on a mud bank while landing at Trabzon Airport on the Black Sea coast. Footage from on board crashed plane at Trabzon Airport in Turkey Pictures showed it nose down the slope just metres from the waters edge. Recommended Airline sorry for falsely accusing black basketball players of theft Some 162 passengers and six crew members were on board the Boeing 737-800, which had departed the Turkish capital Ankara. Pegasus said in a statement the aircraft had been successfully evacuated and no injuries were reported. One of the passengers, Fatma Gordu, told Turkish state-run news agency Anadolu the crash sparked panic on board the flight. We tilted to the side, the front was down while the planes rear was up. There was panic, people shouting, screaming, she said. The 10 least safe airlines Show all 10 1 /10 The 10 least safe airlines The 10 least safe airlines Batik Air The 10 least safe airlines Blue Wing Airlines The 10 least safe airlines Citilink The 10 least safe airlines Kalstar Aviation The 10 least safe airlines Lion Air The 10 least safe airlines Sriwijaya Air The 10 least safe airlines TransNusa Air Services The 10 least safe airlines Trigana Air Service The 10 least safe airlines Wings Air The 10 least safe airlines Xpress Air Trabzon governor Yucel Yavuz said authorities had not yet been determined what had caused the plane to career off the runway. The airport was closed to traffic while the runway was inspected, but reopened on Sunday morning. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has hailed a long-lasting victory over the US, which he claimed had tried to undermine a nuclear deal between his country and major world powers. Mr Rouhanis comments came after Donald Trump said he wanted to fix the terrible flaws of the agreement and threatened to pull the US out of the pact. But in a speech broadcast live on state TV, Mr Rouhani said: The American administration has failed to undermine the nuclear deal ... Trump, despite his repeated efforts, has failed to undermine the accord. He added: The deal is a long-lasting victory for Iran. A signature foreign policy achievement of Barack Obamas presidency, the 2015 nuclear deal struck between Iran and six world powers the US, UK, Russia, France, China, and Germany. It lifted crippling economic sanctions on Iran in return for limitations to the countrys nuclear energy programme. The international powers feared Iran would use this to create a nuclear weapon. President Trump has repeatedly claimed that the deal was too lenient and that Iran had broken parts of the agreement. He agreed to waive sanctions against Iran for the last time on Friday, to give the US and European allies a final chance to amend the pact. The ultimatum has put pressure on European countries who backed the 2015 international agreement and want the pact strengthened with a separate agreement within 120 days. Iran has said the original deal is non-negotiable and it will stick to the accord as long as the other signatories respect it. It nonetheless threatened to shred the deal if Washington pulls out. 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 China has pledged to continue playing a constructive role in maintaining the deal following President Trumps ultimatum to fix what he called significant flaws. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif by phone that implementation of the deal had not been derailed but would face some new complicating factors, the state news agency Xinhua reported. He also urged Iran to remain calm and continue to fulfil its obligations under the deal. Additional reporting by Reuters. Israels military said it has destroyed a cross-border attack tunnel that ran from Gaza into Israel and Egypt dug by Hamas, the Islamist group that controls the Palestinian enclave. Residents in Gaza said Israeli jets bombed an area east of the southern town of Rafah, by the Egyptian and Israeli borders. Israel confirmed the attack immediately afterwards, but gave no details. We understand this was a terror tunnel because it runs underneath strategic facilities, Israeli military spokesman Colonel Jonathan Conricus said, referring to gas and fuel pipelines, as well as an army position. It could also have served to transfer terrorists from the Gaza strip into Egypt, in order to attack Israeli targets from Egypt. Hamas did not comment. Colonel Conricus said the destroyed tunnel was dug by key operatives of Hamas and was one mile long, penetrating 80 metres under the Kerem Shalom border crossing into Israel and into Egypt. It is definitely a possibility that an attack was imminent, Colonel Conricus said, but would not elaborate further. Kerem Shalom, the main passage point for goods entering Gaza, was shut down on Saturday before the Israeli attack. Tensions have risen in the region since US President Donald Trump reversed decades of US policy on 6 December by recognising Jerusalem as Israels capital. Palestinians in Gaza have launched 18 cross-border rockets or mortars, and 15 protesters and two gunmen have been killed by Israeli fire. Escalation could easily occur, even though both sides have signalled they do not want that to happen. During the last Gaza war, in 2014, Hamas fighters used dozens of tunnels to blindside Israels superior forces and threaten civilian communities near the frontier. The Israeli military said it has destroyed three such tunnels in the past two months, but that it was not seeking escalation. Palestinians clash with Israeli troops during 'Day of Rage' Show all 18 1 /18 Palestinians clash with Israeli troops during 'Day of Rage' Palestinians clash with Israeli troops during 'Day of Rage' Israeli forces scuffle with Palestinians at Damascus Gate in Jerusalem's Old City AFP/Getty Images Palestinians clash with Israeli troops during 'Day of Rage' A Palestinian protester hurls stones as tear gas is fired by Israeli troops Reuters Palestinians clash with Israeli troops during 'Day of Rage' A Palestinian protester runs during clashes with Israeli troops REUTERS Palestinians clash with Israeli troops during 'Day of Rage' Israeli forces scuffle with Palestinians at Damascus Gate in Jerusalem's Old City AFP/Getty Images Palestinians clash with Israeli troops during 'Day of Rage' Palestinian protesters run during clashes REUTERS Palestinians clash with Israeli troops during 'Day of Rage' Israeli border policemen and a Palestinian protesters clash REUTERS Palestinians clash with Israeli troops during 'Day of Rage' Palestinian protesters react to tear gas REUTERS Palestinians clash with Israeli troops during 'Day of Rage' Israeli border policemen hold on to a Palestinian protester REUTERS Palestinians clash with Israeli troops during 'Day of Rage' Palestinian protesters react to tear gas fired by Israeli troops REUTERS Palestinians clash with Israeli troops during 'Day of Rage' Israeli border policemen and Palestinians scuffle after Friday prayers in Jerusalem's Old City REUTERS Palestinians clash with Israeli troops during 'Day of Rage' A Palestinian protester moves a burning tire during clashes with Israeli troops REUTERS Palestinians clash with Israeli troops during 'Day of Rage' Worshippers chant as they hold Palestinian flags after Friday prayers Reuters Palestinians clash with Israeli troops during 'Day of Rage' A Palestinian protester hurls back a tear gas canister fired by Israeli troops REUTERS Palestinians clash with Israeli troops during 'Day of Rage' A wounded Palestinian protester is evacuated during clashes with Israeli troops REUTERS Palestinians clash with Israeli troops during 'Day of Rage' Israeli border policemen and a Palestinian youth scuffle REUTERS Palestinians clash with Israeli troops during 'Day of Rage' Israeli border policemen detain a Palestinian man REUTERS Palestinians clash with Israeli troops during 'Day of Rage' A Palestinian protester uses a sling to hurl stones towards Israeli troops REUTERS Palestinians clash with Israeli troops during 'Day of Rage' Journalists react to tear gas fired by Israeli troops REUTERS Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the tunnel was a major terrorism infrastructure belonging to Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Hamas must understand that we will not allow these attacks to continue and that we will respond with even greater force, he told reporters before boarding a flight to India. Israel has been constructing a sensor-equipped underground wall along the 36-mile Gaza border, aiming to complete the $1.1bn (800m) project by mid-2019. Reuters Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has denounced Donald Trumps policy towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as the slap of the century. In a fiery speech to the Palestinian Central Council, a decision-making body, on Sunday, Mr Abbas criticised Mr Trump and his policies towards the Palestinians. Mr Abbas expressed fury over the decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israels capital, saying shame on you for the US Presidents treatment of the Palestinians. He said: Jerusalem was removed from the table by a tweet of Mr Trump. Our eternal capital is Jerusalem, and we will not accept what is being offered to us to make Abu Dis the capital of Palestine instead of the city of Jerusalem. He criticised Mr Trumps attitude towards the peace process as a slap in the face but warned we slap back, Haaretz reported. Mr Trump was condemned by the international community for announcing that the US would be moving its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem a de facto recognition of the Israel claim that Jerusalem is the undivided capital of their country. Prime Minister Theresa May said the decision was unhelpful in terms of prospects for peace in the region while French President Emmanuel Macron said the move was a threat to peace. The majority of the international community, including the UK, have their embassies in Tel Aviv as the Palestinians regard East Jerusalem as the capital of their state. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty The eastern portion of the city was captured by the Israeli Defensive Force (IDF) during the Six Days War in June 1967 and now forms part of the West Bank. The international community regards the West Bank and Gaza as occupied territories and has said the status of Jerusalem, one of the most contentious parts of the conflict, should be decided towards the end of the peace talks. Mr Abbas also condemned Mr Trump for claiming that the Palestinians refused to restart peace talks. He said the Palestinians remain committed to negotiations, but are ready to reject what they fear will be an unfair proposal from the White House. He previously said he would reject any peace deal which was drawn up by the Americans as Palestinians believe Washingtons neutrality is compromised. The Trump administration is preparing to withhold tens of millions of dollars from the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, cutting the years first contribution by more than half or perhaps entirely, and making additional donations contingent on major changes to the organisation, according to US officials. Mr Trump hasnt made a final decision, but appears more likely to send only $60 million of the planned $125 million first instalment to the UN Relief and Works Agency, said the officials, who werent authorised to publicly discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity. The administration could announce its decision as early as Tuesday, the officials said. The plan to withhold some of the money is backed by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defence Secretary James Mattis, who offered it as a compromise to demands for more drastic measures by UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, the officials said. Ms Haley wants a complete cutoff in US money until the Palestinians resume peace talks with Israel that have been frozen for years. But Mr Tillerson, General Mattis and others say ending all assistance would exacerbate instability in the Middle East, notably in Jordan, a host to hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees and a crucial US strategic partner. Additional reporting by agencies New footage shows the moments after an aeroplane skidded down a cliff in northern Turkey ending its journey just metres from the waters of the Black Sea. The Pegasus Airlines jet was stopped only by its wheels getting stuck in the mud. After the plane ground to a halt, passengers pulled out their phones to capture the chaos after the crash. Some are clearly confused about what happened and how to escape. Passenger plane stuck on cliff in Turkey The crash sparked panic on board the flight, one of the passengers, Fatma Gordu, told Turkish state-run news agency Anadolu. "We tilted to the side, the front was down while the plane's rear was up. There was panic; people shouting, screaming," she said. The flight was evacuated safely and all 162 passengers escaped unharmed. Ryanairs latest change to its cabin-bag policy has triggered fury among passengers, with one saying he feels held to ransom by the airline. But Europes biggest budget carrier insists the policy will benefit travellers thanks to more punctual departures. The allowance of free bags remains the same: a large case no more than 10kg and 55 x 40 x 20cm, plus a smaller bag no bigger than 35 x 20 x 20cm. Travellers take these through security to the departure gate. But unless the passenger pays extra for priority boarding, the larger case will be removed at the aircraft gate, tagged and placed in the hold. At the destination airport, the bag will be unloaded into the luggage system, appearing on the baggage carousel. The change was announced last summer. It was initially planned to be introduced on 1 November, but was postponed until 15 January as the airline sorted out the problems with pilot rostering which led to mass flight cancellations. At the same time, the airline has cut fees for some checked-in bags and increased the weight limit from 15 to 20kg. A checked bag on an off-peak flight will cost 25, down from 35, except during peak travel periods (Christmas/Easter/Summer) and on selected routes. Many Ryanair passengers have contacted The Independent about the changes. Robin Griggs, a frequent flyer between Manchester and Carcassonne in south-west France, said: Frequent flyers do not like waiting at the arrival hall to pick up their bags, it adds 20-30 minutes to the journey time. Effectively you need to pay more. How can they do this on existing bookings? I feel I am being held to ransom. Others appear to have misinterpreted the rules, with one saying He [sic] has changed the hand luggage sizes. Another called the change baffling, asking: Is this the dreaded ban of wheelie cabin bags we have heard rumours of? Ryanair passenger jumps out of emergency exit after flight delay James Robertson asked: Can the company change the terms like this on flights already booked? It can, because passengers accepted, when buying the ticket, that the bag might be placed in the hold. This has now changed from a possibility to a certainty unless the passenger pays 5 for priority boarding. Another passenger, Elizabeth Thompson, asked: Is this just another Ryanair way of making more money? In fact, say the airline, the package of changes will cost it 50m (45m). The airlines director of marketing, Kenny Jacobs, told The Independent it was the most-flagged policy change ever. He said that when the two-bag policy was launched, the airlines load factor the proportion of occupied seats was 81 per cent, leaving 34 seats empty on a typical flight. It has since increased to 96 per cent. Its simply physics that you cant have 185 people on an aircraft with a wheelie bag and a rucksack, said Mr Jacobs. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA UK news in pictures 10 August 2021 Students react after they receive their A-Level results at the Ark Academy, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2021 The final athletes from Great Britain arrive home including Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald (front left-right) at Heathrow Airport, London following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games PA UK news in pictures 8 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Japan PA UK news in pictures 7 August 2021 People from the Glasgow Southside community take part in the Govanhill Carnival, an anti-racist celebration of pride, unity and the contributions immigrants have made to the community in Govanhill, at Queen's Park, Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2021 Chijindu Ujah of Britain, Zharnel Hughes of Britain, Richard Kilty of Britain and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Britain celebrate winning silver as they pose with Asha Philip of Britain, Imani Lansiquot of Britain, Dina Asher-Smith of Britain and Daryll Neita of Britain after they won bronze in the women's 4 x 100m relay during Olympic Games Day 14 Getty UK news in pictures 5 August 2021 A protester places flowers on a photograph of an executed man during a demonstration organised by supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) to protest against the inauguration of Iran's new president Ebrahim Raisi in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 4 August 2021 England's Joe Root looks on as India's KL Rahul doesn't make it to a catch during day one of Cinch First Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham PA UK news in pictures 3 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny and Jason Kenny with their silver medals for the Women's Team Pursuit and Mens Team Sprint during the Track Cycling at the Izu Velodrome on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 2 August 2021 Great Britains Charlotte Worthington competes during the Womens BMX Freestyle Final at the Tokyo Olympics PA UK news in pictures 1 August 2021 EPA UK news in pictures 31 July 2021 James Guy, Adam Peaty and Kathleen Dawson celebrate winning the gold medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay final at the Tokyo Olympics AP UK news in pictures 30 July 2021 Great Britain's Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte celebrate their Gold and Silver medals respectively for the Cycling BMX Racing at the Ariake Urban Sports Park on the seventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 29 July 2021 Team GB's Mallory Franklin during the Womens Canoe Slalom Final on day six of the Tokyo Olympic Games. She went on to win the silver medal Getty UK news in pictures 28 July 2021 Canoers on Llyn Padarn lake in Snowdonia, Gwynedd. It was announced that the north-west Wales slate landscape has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Status PA UK news in pictures 27 July 2021 A view of one of two areas now being used at a warehouse facility in Dover, Kent, for boats used by people thought to be migrants. 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The bridge was closed last year after cracks in it worsened during a heatwave Getty Too many people were coming to the airport with too much stuff. We were keen to protect the two-bag rule. So we asked, how do we protect the punctuality? What weve got is an elegant and fair solution for customers. As Ryanairs terms and conditions make clear, paying extra is not an absolute guarantee that a large case can be carried into the cabin: Passengers who have purchased Priority Boarding will not be asked to place their cabin bag in the aircraft hold, unless necessary due to operational reasons. The airline warns passengers: Failure to comply [with cabin baggage rules] will result in a charge of 50 per item at the departure gate. For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser If you're interested in submitting a Letter to the Editor, click here. Submit Paviter Singh (right) of Beavercreek, Ohio, seen here with Wings of Hope CEO Bret Heinrich, won an airplane from the nonprofit Wings of Hope in the organizations charity raffle. (Wings of Hope photo) Justice Kurian Joseph, Justice J. Chelameswar, Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Madan Lokur address a press conference in New Delhi on Jan. 12, 2018. In an unprecedented event, four senior sitting judges of the Supreme Court met the media to complain that the administration of the country's top court was not in order. (Bidesh Manna/IANS) Losing Control of the American Fear Machine How soon before we start demanding dangerous solutions to our mass-driven anxieties? By Peter Van Buren January 13, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - Fear has always been a tool of the vested interests to retain power, make money, and keep the masses under control. But now things may be veering off the rails. The old fears deployed by the nations power centers during and after the Cold Warcommies and terroristsare reliably set, with the levers of power fueling and cooling down as needed. Theres always been an element of manipulation at work, as evil and insidious as that is (think Condoleezza Rices mushroom cloud), but its been one thats maintained a strategic balance. You want enough fear to make people compliant, but not so much that they end up chasing each otheror their leaderswith pitchforks or driving cars through crowds of protesters. It is now too easy for too many people to pour fuel on fires, with seemingly no interest in putting them out, ever. The establishment media, which once thrived on information gathering and reporting, now peddles in anxiety promotion, thanks largely to social media like Facebook and Twitter. Confirmation of our greatest fears rocket across multilayered platforms 24/7, unfiltered and unfettered, tailored to match what scares us most. Then we retweet and share to like-minded others to validate our fears and form bonded communities. These are deep waters: imagine an episode of Black Mirror where a device that algorithmically learns your deepest fears falls into the wrong hands. Theres a history to all of this. We first got really scared just as we were emerging as the predominant power on the planet, armed with the worlds only atomic bomb. Hence why we rewarded president after president for building and maintaining the most massive national security state ever known to make us feel safe. In the meantime we were instructed to be afraid of all sorts of stuffcommunists in government and Hollywood, domino theories, revolutionary movements, a whole basket of Bond villains. Those who supported peace were accused of working for the enemy. Pretty much anything the people in charge wanted to dodistort civil liberties, raise taxes to pay for weapons, overthrow governments, punish Americans for things they wrote or saidwas widely supported because we were afraid of what might happen otherwise. Most people now realize that this fear was overblown. Almost every American who died from the Cold War died in a fight we picked, inflamed, or dove blindly into. Cancer and car accidents took more American lives than Dr. Strangelove. Then we got really scared following September 11, 2001, more than we ever were during the Cold War. Republican leaders, their war-hawk operators, and Beltway bandits convinced Americans that the terrorists lived among us, controlled by masterminds in mosques here and overseas, simultaneously unpredictable and devious plotters playing the long game. They could turn our children into jihadis via Facebook. Warnings like if you are not with us youre against us soon turned into you shouldnt worry if you dont have anything to hide, as the national security state metastasized . In the end, diabetes and ladder falls took more American lives than Osama bin Laden or any of his al Qaeda offshoots. Never Miss Another Story Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter For a long time weve been acting like a shelter dog when the Bad Man comes into the room. The difference is that were always driven by anxiety more or less in the same direction, a straight line that cant be anything but purposeful. The nasty twist for 2018 is that we live in a world with a mainstream media that has barely screened ideological biases, backed up by social media exhibiting barely contained mental instability. We are ever more diverse and ever more separated at the same time, divided into a thousand socially isolating sub-reddits. It isnt practical anymore for us to have common fears. Fear is powerful. A sound triggers a memory that sets off involuntary, subconscious processes: the heart rate jumps, muscles twitch, higher brain functions switch to fight-or-flight. Live in this state long enough and you end up with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, the inability to control your reaction to certain stimuli. Imagine a whole country that way, trying to make good decisions while the lizard brain trumps rational thinking. Looking at a blog post from a few years ago about what we were afraid of then, there are some familiar names. Putin was going on to invade Europe and Kim Jong-un was going to start a war over a Seth Rogen comedy called The Interview . But there were no mainstream claims that the president was unfit ; people who thought so were pushed aside as conspiracy theorists and dismissed as birthers. There was no widespread anxiety over whether democracy was teetering; those who talked about coups and the Reichstag burning were mocked on reality TV as preppers. There was a kind of consensus on what to be afraid of and when. Now there is a fear for everyone. Were afraid Trump will start a war with North Korea (Kim is the sane one). Were also afraid he wont start a war and theyll get us first (Kim is the crazy one). Were afraid Trump is a Russian spy slipped into the White House (end of democracy) and were afraid the Democrats are using Mueller to overturn a legitimate election (end of democracy). Were worried the fascist government is taking away free speech and were worried the government isnt doing enough to suppress free speech to stop hate. There are too many guns for us to be safe and not enough guns to protect us. Elect more women or womens rights are finished. If we do elect more women (or POC, LGBTQ, etc.) the rest of us are finished. We never find time to exhale. So while the story used to be the tamping down of tensions on the Korean peninsula, the headline now is how the mentally ill Trump might just push the nuclear button anyway, maybe even tonight (better check Twitter). Whatever matters to youtransgender toilet rights, abortion, guns, religionis under lethal attack. It is always condition yellow, fight or flight. Fear is primitive; it doesnt matter what we fear so long as we remain afraid. Trump is not the demagogue you fear, just a cruder version of what has been the norm for decades. The thing to be scared of is what emerges after him. As such, there is still time. His bizarre ascension to the worlds most powerful office could become the argumentum ad absurdum that pulls the curtain back, Oz-like, on the way fear has been used to manipulate us. The risk is that Trump could also become a wake-up call of a different sort, to even worse and much smarter people, who will cross the line from manipulation to exploitation (the real burning of the Reichstag scenario), from gross but recognizable stasis into chaos. Frightened enough, people will accept, if not demand, extreme and dangerous solutions to problems whose true direness exists mostly within their anxieties. Remember the way fear of invasion following Pearl Harbor led us to unlawfully imprison American citizen shopkeepers and farmers of Japanese origin? Now thats something to really be afraid of. Syria - Volume of Al-Qaeda Propaganda Forecasts Syrian Army Success By Moon Of Alabama January 13, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - The success of the current Syrian government operations against al-Qaeda in Idleb governorate can be measured by the volume of U.S. propaganda against it. A similar situation occurred when Aleppo was liberated from al-Qaeda's control. Certain U.S. media, (non-)government-organizations and politicians obviously prefer Takfiri al-Qaeda rule in Syria over control by the legitimated secular government. According to the various streams of such propaganda Idleb is crowded with hospitals, bakeries and little children who all get "barrel bombed" by the nefarious Iranians and Russians while no Takfiri militant can ever be seen. Amnesty International , which famously begged "NATO: KEEP THE PROGRESS GOING" in Afghanistan , is again on the forefront: Amnesty International @amnesty - 3:41 PM - 12 Jan 2018 Were outraged by the attacks on civilians in #Idlib governorate which hosts thousands of internally displaced people from across #Syria. They now have nowhere else to flee to anymore. The tweet is decorated with a picture of al-Qaeda's first aid mercenaries, the White Helmets, who are paid by the British and other governments and receive propaganda cover from British media. The overpaid (more than $450,000 pa) eternal leader of Human Rights Watch, Ken Roth chips in: Kenneth Roth @KenRoth - 11:47 PM - 12 Jan 2018 Putin-Assad fooled Great Negotiator Trump into believing Syrian "de-escalation zone" would mean a halt in attacks on civilians rather than just a lull to regroup. Roth links to a Washington Post editorial which finds that fighting al-Qaeda in Idleb is not in the interest of the United States: [Trump officials] are playing down the Idlib fighting on the grounds that the area is dominated by al-Qaeda-linked rebel groups. ... While extremist groups control a large part of Idlib, Turkey says moderate Free Syrian Army units are involved in the fighting an assertion that we also heard from several FSA leaders now visiting Washington. ... [I]f the offensive is successful, the result will be the further entrenchment in Syria of not just Russia but also Iran, the Assad regimes closest ally. The United States, in short, stands to lose again to Russia in Syria. The Washington Post bureau chief in Beirut adds her half cent by lauding a propagandist for the al-Qaeda death-cult in Idleb as "brave journalist": Liz Sly @LizSly - 9:06 PM - 11 Jan 2018 This Syrian journalist, standing in an open field while bombs explode all around him, is very lucky to be alive. No flak jacket or helmet. You can barely hear him above the explosions. He and his colleagues are very brave. The neoconservative WaPo editors picked their idea from the notorious propaganda outlet Institute for the Study of War . When the de-escalation zones where introduced in Syria through negotiations between Russia, Iran, Turkey and the U.S., al-Qaeda and the Islamic State were excluded. Associated Press reported at that time: [The deal] also calls for the continued fight against IS and former Al-Qaeda affiliate Fateh Al-Sham Front Al-Qaeda itself denounced any de-escalation agreement and promised to continue fighting. Never Miss Another Story Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter The ISW recognized that at that time and pointed out that al-Qaeda is the real danger in the deal: The ceasefire deal will provide Al Qaeda with time and space to further network itself within the opposition , including through local governance and security structures. ... Syrian rebels have expressed dissatisfaction over U.S. demands to abandon the fight against President Assad and decreased U.S. support to rebels. Al Qaeda will exploit these grievances and attempt to fill the vacuum. Al Qaeda will position itself to eventually spoil the agreement, but will do so in a timeframe that supports its own interests. That al-Qaeda is the main ruling and fighting power in Idelb, is excluded from the de-escalation deal and tries to break it is now conveniently forgotten . In its newest efforts the ISW even claims that attacks on al-Qaeda violate the de-escalation agreement: Russia, Iran, and Syrian President Bashar al Assads regime launched a joint operation in northwestern Syria against the al Qaeda stronghold in Idlib Province in November 2017. ... The pro-regime offensive violates the de-escalation zone in Idlib Province. That is an obvious lie. The various UN Security Council resolutions on Syria demand "to eradicate the safe haven [al-Qaeda and ISIS] have established over significant parts of Syria". But the ISW now believes that fighting al-Qaeda is not in U.S. interests: A pro-regime campaign to seize Idlib Province is not in Americas interest. The extension of Assads control produces a corollary extension of Irans military footprint and leverage in Syria. ... Neither Turkey nor Russia can deliver an outcome in Syria that supports US interests. The US should help Turkey block pro-regime operations that will cause further humanitarian catastrophe. The US must refrain from accepting either Russias diplomatic play or Turkeys relationship with al Qaeda, however. The US must instead retain freedom of action and avoid the temptation to outsource American national security requirements to regional actors already at war in Syria. What does that actually say? What action would the ISW or the Washington Post editors like to see? Turkey attacking Syrian and Russian forces in Syria to prevent further attacks on al-Qaeda? An occupation of al-Qaeda held Idleb by U.S. forces against the will of Syria, Turkey, Iran and Russia? By what means? Neither the ISW nor the Washington Post offer concrete advice. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch do not further any idea on how to solve the issue. They seem to prefer that civilians living in Idleb stay under the deadly ruled of religious fanatics who's ideal of " liberated women " (video) are walking black tents. Thankfully larger scale military action against Syria by either Turkey or the U.S. is now unlikely. The bloody liberation of Idleb governorate from al-Qaeda will proceed. The propaganda wave against it lets one assume that it will be successful. This makes it even less understandable why the above outlets continue with their efforts. What again do they hope to achieve? This article was originally published by Moon Of Alabama - ==== Join the Discussion The US Betrayed Russia, but It Is Not News Thats Fit to Print New evidence that Washington broke its promise not to expand NATO one inch eastwarda fateful decision with ongoing ramificationshas not been reported by The New York Times or other agenda-setting media outlets. By Stephen F. Cohen Cohen returns to a subject he has treated repeatedly since the 1990s, mainstream media malpractice in covering Russia, but with a new and highly indicative example that is both historical and profoundly contemporary. There have been three relevant major episodes of such malpractice. The first was when American newspapers, particularly The New York Times, misled readers into thinking the Communists could not possibly win the Russian Civil War of 191820, as detailed in a study by Walter Lippmann and Charles Merz, published as a supplement to The New Republic, August 4, 1920. (Once canonical, the study was for years assigned reading at journalism schools, but no longer it seems to be.) The second episode was in the 1990s, when virtually the entire mainstream America print and broadcast media covered the US-backed reforms of Russian President Boris Yeltsin, which plundered and immiserated the Russian people, as a benevolent transition to democracy and capitalism and to the kind of Russia we want. (For this episode, see Cohens book Failed Crusade: American and the Tragedy of Post-Communist Russia .) The third and current episode grew out of the second but spread quickly through the media in the early 2000s with the demonization of Vladimir Putin, Yeltsins successor, and now is amply evidenced by mainstream coverage of the new Cold War, Russiagates allegation that Russia attacked American democracy in 2016, and much else related to Russia. This rendition may be the worst, certainly it is the most dangerous. January 13, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - Media malpractice has various elementsamong them, selective use of facts, some unverified, highly questionable narratives or reporting based on those facts, mingled with editorial commentary passed off as analysis, buttressed by carefully selected expert sources, often anonymous, and amplified by carefully chosen opinion page contributors. Throughout is the systematic practice of excluding developments (and opinion) that do not conform to the Times venerable motto, All the News Thats Fit to Print. When it comes to Russia, the Times often decides politically what is fit and what is not. And thus the most recent but exceedingly important example. In 1990, Soviet Russian leader Mikhail Gorbachev agreed not only to the reunification of Germany, whose division was the epicenter of that Cold War, but also, at the urging of the Western powers, particularly the United States, that the new Germany would be a member of NATO. (Already embattled at home, Gorbachev was further weakened by his decision, which probably contributed to the attempted coup against him in August 1991.) Gorbachev made the decision based on assurances by his thenWestern partners that in return NATO would never be expanded one inch eastward toward Russia. (Today, having nearly doubled its member countries, the worlds most powerful military alliance sits on Russias western borders.) At the time, it was known that President George H.W. Bush had especially persuaded Gorbachev through Secretary of State James Bakers not one inch and other equally emphatic guarantees. Ever since Bushs successor, President Bill Clinton, began the still ongoing process of NATO expansion, its promoters and apologists have repeatedly insisted there was no such promise, that it had all been myth or misunderstanding, and moreover that NATOs vast expansion had been necessary and has been a great success, actual myths that Cohen also discusses. Now, however, the invaluable National Security Archive at George Washington University has established the historical truth by publishing, on December 12 of last year, not only a detailed account of what Gorbachev was promised in 199091 but the relevant documents themselves . The truth, and the promises broken, are much more expansive than previously known: All of the Western powers involvedthe US, the UK, France, Germany itselfmade the same promise to Gorbachev on multiple occasions and in various emphatic ways. If we ask when the West, particularly Washington, lost Moscow as a potential strategic partner after the end of the Soviet Union, this is where an explanation begins. And yet, nearly a month after the publication of the National Security Archive documents, neither the Times nor The Washington Post, which profess to be the nations most important, reliable, and indispensable political newspapers, has published one word about this revelation. (Certainly the two papers are pervasively important to other media, not only due to their daily national syndicates but because todays broadcast media, especially CNN, MSNBC, NPR, and PBS, take most of their own Russia-related reporting cues from the Times and the Post.) How to explain the failure of the Times and Post to report or otherwise comment on the National Security Archives publication? It can hardly be their lack of space or their disinterest in Russia, which they featured regularly in one kind of unflattering story or anotherand almost daily in the form of Russiagate. Given their immense daily news-gathering capabilities, could both papers have missed the story? Impossible, even more so considering that three lesser publicationsThe National Interest, on December 12; Bloomberg, on December 13; and The American Conservative, on December 22reported and commented on its significance at length. Or perhaps the Times and Post consider the history and process of NATO expansion to be no longer newsworthy, even though it has been the driving, escalatory factor behind the new US-Russian Cold War; already contributed to two US-Russian proxy hot wars (in Georgia in 2008 and in Ukraine since 2014) as well as to NATOs ongoing buildup on Russias borders in the Baltic region, which is fraught with the possibility of an actual war between the nuclear superpowers; provoked Russia into reactions now cited as grave threats; nearly vaporized politically both the once robust pro-American lobby in Moscow politics and the previously widespread pro-American sentiments among Russian citizens; and implanted in at least one generation of the Russian policy elite the conviction that the broken promise to Gorbachev represented characteristic American betrayal and deceit. Both Russian presidents since 2000Putin and President Obamas reset partner, Dmitry Medvedevhave said the same, more than once. Putin put it bluntly: They duped us, in the full sense of this word. (See Cohens book Soviet Fates and Lost Alternatives .) Russians can cite other instances of deceit, including President George W. Bushs 2002 unilateral abrogation of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and Obamas broken promise that he would not use a 2011 UN Security Council resolution to depose Libyan leader Gaddafi. But it is the broken promise to Gorbachev that lingers as Americas original sin, partly because it was the first of many such perceived duplicities, but mainly because it has resulted in a Russia semi-encircled by US-led Western military power, an encroachment that continues today. Given all this, we must ask again: Why did neither the Times nor the Post report the archive revelations? Most likely because the evidence fundamentally undermines their essential overarching narrative that Putins Russia is solely responsible for the new Cold War and all of its attendant conflicts and dangers, and therefore that no rethinking of US policy toward post-Soviet Russia since 1991 is advisable or, it seems, permissible, certainly not by President Donald Trump. Therein lie the national-security dangers of media malpractice, and this example, while of special importance, is far from the only one in recent years. In this regard, the Times and Post seem contemptuous not only of their own professed journalistic standards but of their purportedly cherished adage that democracy requires fully informed citizens. If Americans cannot rely on the Times and Post, at least in regard to US-Russian relations, where can they seek the information and analysis they need? There are many valuable alternative media outlets, but few hard-working citizens have time to locate and consult them. Cohen recommends that they turn to two websites that almost daily aggregate reporting, analysis, and opinion not to be found in the Times, Post, or most other mainstream publications. One is Johnsons Russia List . The other is the website of the American Committee for East-West Accord , of which Cohen is a board member. Upon request, both will come to your computer. The former requests a nominal donation but does not insist on it. The latter is free. For readers who worry about international affairs, the new US-Russian Cold War, and America itself, the information and perspectives they will gain from these sites are invaluable. Stephen Frand Cohen is an American scholar and professor emeritus of Russian studies at Princeton University and New York University. This article was originally published by The Nation - ==== Join the Discussion Dem Support For Trump Surveillance Powers Proves Resistance Is Bull*hit By Caitlin Johnstone January 13, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - The so-called Resistance, the think tank-generated campaign to continue the authentic grassroots energy from the Bernie Sanders campaign and artificially harness it to oppose Donald Trump, is bullshit. It always has been bullshit. It always will be bullshit. The leaders of the Resistance do not oppose Donald Trump. They are Donald Trump dressed in drag. 55 Democrats voted against your constitutional rights and opposed the USA RIGHTS amendment. Had 26 voted the other way, we would have won. Among them is Nancy Pelosi and Adam Schiff. pic.twitter.com/7WHwPFGEIm Daniel Schuman (@danielschuman) January 11, 2018 As we discussed previously , the US intelligence community has been aggressively demanding that congress reauthorize its Orwellian Section 702 surveillance powers, and the president has been echoing those demands . House Democrats could have forced an amendment called the USA RIGHTS Act to abridge this administrations ability to spy on US citizens, but they did not . This same president who Democratic representatives like Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell have been loudly claiming is a treasonous Russian agent has been granted uninhibited surveillance powers by both Schiff and Swalwell, as well as House opposition leader Nancy Pelosi. They do not believe that Trump is a Kremlin asset, and they do not oppose him. This is a continuation of a standard trend in which Resistance leaders publicly claim that Trump is a traitor, an aspiring autocrat, a secret Nazi, dangerously incompetent and mentally ill, yet continue heaping godlike powers upon him anyway, like when they let the continued authorization of his unconstitutional AUMF war powers sail through unnoticed a few months ago. Their words say one thing, their actions say another. The great thing about the Democratic cult of anti-Trumpism is that it isnt actually about anything. It turns the sitting president into a placeholder to point at and scream NOT THAT! without ever actually doing anything to advance the wellbeing of Americans or providing any real inertia to the actual threats this administration poses in any meaningful way, and get everyone applauding Yes, I agree! Not that! Its not for anything, its just anti-something that the Democratic base is inherently opposed to anyway. Its a fake plastic toy they give rank-and-file Democrats to play with so theyre too preoccupied to reach for something real, like healthcare, peace, or justice. Anti-Trumpism has never been about opposing Trump. Its about killing off what remains of the true left in America by bullying them into falling in line with the establishment and accusing them of supporting an evil Nazi traitor if they dont. Its about manufacturing support for new cold war escalations with Russia. Its about manufacturing support for internet censorship to quash anti-establishment ideas. Its about rescuing the career of every MSM pundit whos been proven wrong about everything since 2015. Its about distracting from the DNC scandal which proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that democracy does not exist in America in any meaningful way. Its about pacing rank-and-file Democrats into alignment with Bush era neoconservatives. Opposing Trump has nothing to do with it. No, when it comes to actual policies that actually matter, Trump and those who McResist him are playing for the same exact team. Same expansion of the US war machine, same expansion of unaccountable Orwellian surveillance networks, same increasing government opacity and persecution of whistleblowers, same increasingly militarized police state, same soul-crushing Walmart economy, same subversion of anything resembling democracy, same oligarchy, same agenda. Same play, different masks. The two parties are both lying to you and the entire show is fake. US politics is a WWE performance with the audience deeply invested in the outcome of the match, each side of the stadium screaming for their favorite wrestler when the only determining factor is what will make Vince McMahon the most money. Its all a fake spectacle, and its designed to screw you over. Ignore the political theater and watch what actually happens, and you will see a very, very different America than the one you are told to see by proponents of mainstream narratives. Ignore their words and watch their actions, and oppose everyone whos on the side of the machine. Thanks for reading! My work here is entirely reader-funded so if you enjoyed this piece please consider sharing it around, liking me on Facebook , following me on Twitter , bookmarking my website , throwing some money into my hat on Patreon or Paypal , or buying my new book Woke: A Field Guide for Utopia Preppers . ==== Never Miss Another Story Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Join the Discussion A Warning for Democrats, and Indeed for All Americans By John Kiriakou January 13, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - Many Americans, at least most in my circle, are enjoying watching Donald Trump self-destruct. Its bad for the country, but to some of us its as much fun as watching a train wreck. And maybe if the Democrats can get their act together, they can win back the House in 2018 and the Senate and White House in 2020. Trump is making it look like it might be easy. But I have a warning for Democrats, and indeed for all Americans. For Gods sake, dont elevate the likes of former CIA directors Michael Hayden and John Brennan and the former director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, to the position of senior statesmen. They are not the voices of reason, either for the Democrats or for anybody else. They are monsters who have ignored the Constitution, the US code, and international law. They have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. We should shun them, not celebrate them. Hayden is probably the most public of the three. The former director of both the NSA and the CIA has never seen a camera that he didnt want to get in front of. Hes a regular on the Sunday morning talk shows, the cable news networks, and even Comedy Central. He sucks up to the right and then sucks up to the left if he thinks itll get him a little screen time. But let me tell you something from personal first-hand experience: I am convinced that hes a danger to the American way of life. Hayden headed the NSA from 1999 to 2005. It was on his watch that the NSA made the decision to spy on American citizens when he championed the Trailblazer Program . It was Hayden who targeted whistleblowers Thomas Drake, Bill Binney, and Kirk Wiebe. It was Hayden who created a domestic call telephone database to keep a record of every phone call and text message made by every American and to hold it forever. And hes been utterly unapologetic. Hayden said during his confirmation hearings that intercepting the communications of Americans was consistent with the Constitution, even if it meant overriding or ignoring laws forbidding warrantless wiretapping. Hayden served as CIA director from 2006 to 2009, where he oversaw the agencys system of secret prisons and the extraordinary rendition program. While there, he steadfastly supported the agencys torture program, lied to Congress about it , and tried to loosen regulations that would have allowed drone strikes based on the behavior of ground vehicles. And dont forget that Hayden, along with others relegated to the dustbin of history like former CIA leaders George Tenet, Jose Rodriguez, Mike Morrell, John McLaughlin, and Philip Mudd, all co-authored a rebuttal of the Senate Torture Report, saying that torture worked. And it wasnt really torture. Shameful. (Wont somebody please think of the torturer!) Like Hayden, John Brennan did incredible damage to our civil liberties during his tenure as Barack Obamas deputy national security advisor for counterterrorism and as CIA director. It is impossible to calculate the number of people John Brennan killed during his time in government, none of whom had the Constitutional benefit of having been charged with a crime, of having evidence presented against them, or of facing their accusers in a court of law. Brennan, the keeper of the infamous kill list , decided who would live and who would die. It was as simple as that. Brennan had no respect for the law and no tolerance for any journalist or citizen who challenged him on it. Brennan also had no respect for the Congressional oversight committees. He famously ordered his spies to hack into the computer system of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, lied about it, and then when caught, filed a crimes report with the Justice Department asking that the Intelligence Committee investigators be arrested. If that isnt anti-Constitutional authoritarianism, I dont know what is. Never Miss Another Story Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter An even more important thing that we should remember about Brennan is that he was not a johnny-come-lately to intelligence. He didnt just appear in the Obama campaign as a fresh-faced CIA Democrat. He had been the Number 3 at the CIA during the George W. Bush administration. He was up to his neck in the torture program, his denials notwithstanding. He was no liberal. Brennan is now a fellow at Fordham University, his alma mater, where he is free to propagandize the young people of our country. Hes also a frequent talking head at the Council on Foreign Relations and other groups where the swells meet to think the big thoughts. The rumor in Washington is that hes on every Democrats short list for Secretary of State or Secretary of Defense post-Trump. God help us. James Clapper is perhaps most famous , or infamous, for looking Senator Ron Wyden in the eye in an open hearing of the Senate Intelligence Committee and telling him point blank that the NSA was not, repeat not, spying on American citizens. Lying to Congress is a crime. Spying on Americans is a crime. But Clapper paid no price for his insolence. When Clapper finally submitted his resignation in 2016, Wyden said, During Director Clappers tenure, senior intelligence officials engaged in a deception spree regarding mass surveillance. Top officials, officials who reported to Director Clapper, repeatedly misled the American people and even lied to them. Thats Clappers legacy. Hes a liar. That brings us back to the issue of statesmanship. It is possible, and in this case obvious, that you can have a situation where there is no good guy. Its time for the Democrats to clean up their act. Theyre going to be the party of freedom, civil liberties, and human rights or they arent. They need to choose. They can still end up on the right side of history. But thats only if they shun monsters like Mike Hayden, John Brennan, and Jim Clapper and others like them, and if they start paying a little more attention to the Constitution. John Kiriakou is a former CIA counterterrorism officer and a former senior investigator with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. John became the sixth whistleblower indicted by the Obama administration under the Espionage Act a law designed to punish spies. He served 23 months in prison as a result of his attempts to oppose the Bush administration's torture program. This article was originally published by RSN ==== Join the Discussion The third batch of 560 Nigerian returnees from Libya has arrived Port Harcourt. This was confirmed by the South-South Zonal Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency, Mr Martins Ejike, who made this known to newsmen on Sunday in Port Harcourt. Ejike said that the returnees, comprising 540 adult and 20 infants, arrived the airport on board Max Air, with registration No: 5N-HMM at about 11:52 p.m. However, he expressed dissatisfaction over the poor response of some state governments in evacuating the Libyan returnees from the reception centre in the state. The zonal coordinator said that the Federal Government gave the states 48 hours to enable them to evacuate their returnees from the centre, He expressed dismay that some states failed to abide by the directives, noting that South-West states are not responding to the evacuation process. Ejike said that the choice of Port Harcourt airport as evacuation route was based on proximity to the most affected states. A graphic showed that Edo state along recorded 309 out of 484 migrants, the record also showed that over 80 per cent of the returnees were indigenes of Edo and Delta states. It is more convenient for the largely affected states to evacuate their returnees from Port Harcourt, he said. Mr Muhammad Dahiru, the Public Relations Officer of Max Air, also said that the airline was competent to convey 1,680 returnees if passengers were cleared without delays. Dahiru said that the airline deployed three air crafts with 560 capacity each for the operation, adding that speedy operation can be actualised if passengers documentation and clearance are not delayed. One of the returnees, Mr Paul Eke, who thanked the federal government for ensuring the smooth return of migrants, said that the measure showed governments commitment to its citizens. Eke also urged the government to continue its rescue process to the hinterland in the Libyan states where some Nigerians were being imprisoned and unjustly tortured. I urge our federal government to do more by rescuing some Nigerians who are still trapped in some interior parts of Libya. I stayed in Zawe Superata, this place is like an exit point to Italy and so many Nigerians are still being imprisoned there, Eke alleged. Source: (NAN) According to new reports, American president, Donald Trump has been branded a shameful racist after it was credibly reported he had described African nations, as well as Haiti and El Salvador as shitholes during a meeting with lawmakers on Thursday, and questioned why so many of their citizens had ever been permitted to enter America. Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here? Trump said, after being presented with a proposal to restore protections for immigrants from those countries as part of a bipartisan immigration deal. Trump demanded to know why the US would accept immigrants from these countries rather than places like Norway, whose prime minister he had met the day before. In a strongly-worded statement, the UN said it was impossible to describe his remarks as anything other than racist, while the Vatican decried Trumps words as particularly harsh and offensive. The African Union said it was alarmed by Trumps language. Given the historical reality of how many Africans arrived in the United States as slaves, this statement flies in the face of all accepted behaviour and practice, its spokeswoman Ebba Kalondo told Associated Press. Well, here are some reactions by some Nigerians on Twitter; The bitter truth is that we are a shithole country, with a shithole govt. and a shithole President. It is left for us to clean up our shit, wash our arse, flush Buhari down the toilet, open the windows, get rid of the stench and make Nigeria a cleaner and better place. Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) January 14, 2018 I dont understand why Nigerians are angry at Trump. Is Nigeria not a shithole? Parosident Buhari (@TheMbuhari) January 12, 2018 I dont know why people like deceiving themselves and sugarcoating things. Is Nigeria not a shithole country? Answer truthfully in your mind. Tomide (@MrTomide) January 12, 2018 I honestly dunno why people are angry with Trump. That he called African countries shithole? Lets take Nigeria as an example 347 men women & children were shot by Buharis Army. Today he is seeking a 2nd term. In Zimbabwe people queue for days to get enough money to buy bread Babasola Kuti (@SKSolaKuti) January 13, 2018 Was it only Nigeria that DT called a shithole, or were taking it more personal than everyone? Baba Ibadan (@smish001) January 12, 2018 Note to the Nigerian Diaspora: Learn to proudly say, Nigeria is a #shithole but we want to fix it. Because those of us who live in Nigeria are not going to pretend we have running water or good roads and we have access to social media. Onye Nkuzi (@cchukudebelu) January 14, 2018 I dont know about other african countries but nigeria is a shithole ,ruled by corrupt, selfish,greedy leaders who are cultist ,hard drug users and ex militants,womanizers and cultist. The truth is bitter,deal with it bryan (@gchild8701) January 12, 2018 1. Power cuts. 2. Bad roads. 3. Bribe taking police. 4. Youth unemployment. 5. Farmer/herder massacres. 6. Boko Haram. 7. Niger Delta environmental pollution/militancy 8. Teachers owed salaries for months 9. <10% female literacy in some states. Nigeria is a #shithole Onye Nkuzi (@cchukudebelu) January 14, 2018 I strongly disagree with nna Donald Trump, Nigeria is not a shithole, its a SUCKAWAY petite doctor (@ifylauren) January 13, 2018 In 2015, Nigeria was in shit so we flushed the shit and another shit came and we are now in a bigger #shithole. So dont call out @realDonaldTrump call out our #shitbrain political leaders,, they put us in this #shithole Emeka Obele (@Teemeks) January 14, 2018 We could go on and on. Many Nigerians on Twitter say Mr Trump is right, do you agree??? Popular media personality and OAP, Daddy Freeze who is known for this #FreeTheSheeple movement, pleaded with The Redeemed Christian Church of God to remove him off their mailing list because he His not a member of their church. Here is what he wrote; Dear city of David, kindly remove me from your mailing list. Im not a member of your church, neither do I share your philosophy of praying for what developed nations work for and have largely achieved. According to the RCCG website, you people have circa 33,000 branches. If you turned 10,000 of those branches into factories, you wont need to pray and fast to fulfill purpose. If another 10,000 were dedicated to FREE EDUCATION less prayers would be dedicated to fulfilling purpose. If the redeemed church made their schools FREE OF CHARGE AT LEAST FOR THEIR MEMBERS, it would be much easier for them to find their purpose and fulfill it! I once took my kids to your primary school and I was told it was about 500k a term, do I need to say more? Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Mark Zuckerberg and the nations of China and UAE are fulfilling their purpose through hard work, innovation and charity, NOT PRAYER, emulate them! Why 50 days of fasting and prayer? Even Jesus himself fasted only 40days. The one you people prayed and fasted last year, how far had it taken the body of Christ? Or the nation as a whole? Nigeria is predominantly christian with 51% of the population being christian, does it show? The richest nation on earth per capita is Qatar and its a Muslim nation, out of the top 8 wealthiest countries on earth per capita, 4 are Muslim nations and one is Buddhist, the only christian nations that made the list are predominantly Catholic. NOT ONE COUNTRY THAT IS PREDOMINANTLY PENTECOSTAL MADE IT TO TGE LIST AND THIS IS WHY! While you dedicate 50days to praying and fasting, they are building their nation and would eventually lend us money! A few days ago, Bill Gates came to bail us out by paying our $76million bill and you are here praying for fulfillment of purpose? ~FRZ #FreeTheSheeple source: 36ng Ten persons were confirmed dead on Saturday as rampaging Fulani herdsmen attacked two villages in the Birnin-Gwari Local Government of Kaduna State. Scores of others said to be seriously injured were rushed to the General Hospital in Birnin-Gwari. The suspected herdsmen, it was learnt, invaded Dangaji and Ungwan Gajere villages and unleashed terror on residents on Friday night. It was gathered that the attacks lasted for hours and that many villagers fled to safe abode. A source who spoke on condition of anonymity said the attackers took their time as they moved from one village to another, killing and burning houses. It was also gathered that three persons were kidnapped at the Dangaji village and asked to pay a ransom of N6m a week ago. Those kidnapped were said to be farmers. According to the source, it was after the kidnap incident that the suspected herdsmen swooped on the villagers, killing and razing houses. The source said, It is an unfortunate situation. After they entered the village, they came into other places and burnt houses. This early morning (Saturday), they went to another village, Kutemechi in Unguwan Gajere and killed about nine men. After they burnt the houses, the last victim was rushed to the hospital, but unfortunately, he died on the way to the hospital. All the villagers have fled and scattered into other communities where they can find shelter. The victims have been taken to the general hospital in the Birnin Gwari Local Government Area. The spokesperson for the state command, ASP Aliyu Mukhtar, confirmed the attack to, adding that only five persons were killed by the attackers. He added that those killed were local vigilantes in the areas, saying that the police in a joint operation with the military were currently on manhunt for the attackers. There was an attack yesterday night (Friday). Five persons were killed. Those killed are mostly the village vigilantes. No arrest yet but we are on manhunt for the attackers. There was also military joint patrol for the manhunt. Source: ( Punch Newspaper ) Three policemen have been dismissed by the Lagos State Police Command, for allegedly killing a youth on Ifelodun Street in the Amukoko area of the state. It was gathered that the policemen were on patrol in the area on Thursday when they sighted the youth drinking and smoking during a party. While attempting to arrest them, some of the residents reportedly resisted the policemen. The action was said to have led to a face-off between the youth and the policemen, who insisted on making the arrests. The youths mobilised and threw stones, sticks and bottles at them. The policemen, who could have used tear gas, started shooting into the crowd. At least two youths were hit. While one died on the spot, one other is receiving treatment in a hospital, a source said. The policemen were said to have been arrested and tried for the offence. The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chike Oti, identified the cops as Sgt. Osaseri Saturday, with force number 25759: Sgt. Segun Okun, with force number 359075;and Cpl. Adekunle Oluwarotimi with force number 496833. He said they had faced an orderly room trial where it was discovered that they didnt follow the police rules of engagement. He said, The general public is hereby informed that three policemen attached to Amukoko division have been tried and dismissed from the Nigeria Police for breaching the rules of engagement to wit, reckless application of firearms. The non-commissioned officers committed the offence on Thursday, January 11, 2018, at about 9.30pm on Ifelodun Street, Amukoko, Lagos State when they disproportionately responded with bullets fired from their weapons at some youths alleged to have hurled some non-ballistic missiles, such as stones, sticks and bottles, at them, leading to the death of one of the youths and injury on another. They were arrested, detained and tried immediately on the orders of the Commissioner of Police, Lagos state, CP Edgal Imohimi. The guilty verdict was passed on them by the adjudicating officer who considered that the officers did not appreciate the situation critically and ought not to have applied the maximum force on the unruly youths. Meanwhile, the officers will be charged to court next week, while a duplicate copy of the case file would be sent to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions for legal advice. Source: ( Punch Newspaper ) Punch The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, says he personally gave the Federal Government pictures of 800 Fulani herdsmen and their families that were killed in Taraba State last year but the government had yet to take action. Vanguard GOVERNOR Samuel Ortom of Benue State, yesterday, told senators that prior to the crisis that engulfed the state, which led to the killings by Fulani Herdsmen, President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, and Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, all ignored several warnings of the planned attack on Logo and Guma communities in the state The Sun Elder statesman and former aviation minister in Nigerias First Republic, Chief Mbazulike Amechi has taken a critical look at some nagging national issues including killings perpetrated by the herdsmen in parts of the country, President Muhammadu Buharis second term bid, restructuring, the Igbo and their crave for equal treatment in the comity of Nigerian nation. He disapproves of President Buharis 2nd term bid, describing it as re-electing an analogue president in digital era. He also addressed some other issues of national importance. Excerpts: Thisday Trying to debunk his death rumour and douse tension among his followers, the Department of State Service (DSS) saturday allowed the detained leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (ISM), Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, to speak to a select group of journalists, in his first public appearance since he was arrested in 2015. Daily Times Sequel to the statement credited to Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, at the State House in Abuja Thursday, where he was quoted to have said he advised the Benue State governor not to implement the anti grazing bill, Lalong has said the media should not misquote the intent of his statement, as Benue Plateau remain unquestionable ally. Read more at: https://dailytimes.ng/lalong-react-critics-says-benue-plateau-remain-unquestionable-ally/ Guardian First and foremost, we differ from the mainstream opinion that the president or any other person could direct states on what to do with their income. Daily Trust President Muhammadu Buhari has denounced a Twitter handle message in circulation purportedly belonging to him. Tribune The 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, has placed a curse on enemies of Yoruba unity, praying to Yoruba ancestors to unleash their wrath on those he described as enemies of unity among the race. Leadership The minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, has declared that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will be finished politically if the party fails to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 governorship election in Rivers State. The Nation The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has alerted the Nigerian public to the cases of listeriosis in South Africa which has infected 727 and killed at least 61 people in South Africa in the last one month. According to a statement, released by the spokesperson for the ministry, Mrs. Boade Akinola, the minister called for increased vigilance at the points of entry into the country by the relevant officials while directing the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, to increase their surveillance and monitoring of food items to ensure compliance with safety guidelines. According to the statement, port health officials have also been put on the alert. The statement read in part, The Nigerian public are advised to wash their fruits and vegetables properly and ensure meats are well cooked before consumption. Nigerians are advised to be calm as the Federal Government is monitoring the development in South Africa and would be properly advised when need be. Listeriosis is food-poisoning disease caused by eating food items such as meat, dairy products, fruits and vegetables contaminated by Listeria Monocystogene The disease primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, and newborns. The disease may occur as much as two months after eating contaminated food. The symptoms vary with the infected person but mainly include: Muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, diarrhoea, and convulsions. Source: ( Punch Newspaper ) Money spent on cleaning up illegal dumping could be spent "a hell of a lot better" within local communities. That is according to a South Dublin County Councillor, who says residents in Clondalkin are fed up due to excess litter in their locality. Update 4pm: The voting age should be dropped to 16 and referendums should be held on weekends to encourage higher turnout, the Government has been told. The specially-convened Citizens' Assembly held a series of debates and votes on the subject with all 99 members backing a proposal for referendums to take place on Saturdays or Sundays. They also backed calls for greater availability of postal voting and the automatic inclusion of eligible voters on the electoral register. The Assembly recommended that the Referendum Commission, which is set up to provide information to the public, should be allowed to give an opinion on significant issues that come under factual or legal dispute in the heat of a campaign, including on social media. The members also called for it to be developed into a permanent Electoral Commission. Retired judge Mary Laffoy, chair of the Citizens' Assembly, again praised the work of the volunteer members and the experts who gave presentations or advised the debate over the two days. She said the members had made important recommendations. "I will aim to finalise the report of the Assembly on this topic and furnish to the Houses of the Oireachtas as soon as possible," she said. Among the other proposals which got the overwhelming support of the assembly, above 80%, included greater provision of voter education on referendums, freedom to vote in any polling station and spending limits for parties, groups and individuals campaigning in referendums. They also recommended that the Government should not be allowed to fund one side of a campaign and that more than one referendum could be held at the same time. The Citizens' Assembly recommended that the Government or Oireachtas should act on the outcome of a referendum within five years. And they also backed the idea that a citizens' initiative, a type of petition, could be used to put an item on the agenda for decision by the Oireachtas. The idea of compulsory voting was roundly rejected. A smaller majority of the Citizens' Assembly, between 50 and 80%, recommended a ban on anonymous donations and said the Government should equally fund both sides in a campaign. Similar margins also backed the option to allow voting in the weeks before the poll; online voting; and people to vote even if they have been out of the country for five years or less. The Citizens' Assembly recommended that more than two options could appear on a referendum ballot paper but in those cases the outcome should be determined by the Single Transferable Vote system. The Citizens Assembly was set up to examine five issues. The weekend meeting on the issue of referendums was moved forward in a bid to avoid confusion if a date is set for the vote on the future of the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution. The next meeting of the Citizens Assembly will be on March 3 and 4 when it will examine the issue of fixed-term parliaments. Earlier: Citizens' Assembly to decide on referendum recommendations The Citizens Assembly will decide today what recommendations it will send to the Oireachtas on how we run referendums. A range of issues relating to the way referendums are run in Ireland were discussed yesterday. The funding of campaigns, setting up a permanent Referendum Commission and improving voter turnout were among the issues looked at. While ways of involving the public in triggering referendums by way of petition were also considered. Another issued looked at was the possibility of holding a vote over two days. Today in Malahide in Dublin, the members of the assembly will decide which issues they will vote on and send forward to the Houses of the Oireachtas for members to consider. Today those in attendance will agree proposals to be voted on and any that are approved will be sent to the Houses of the Oireachtas for consideration. 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. NEUHAUSEN, Switzerland, Jan. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tyco Retail Solutions today announced it is collaborating with Google Cloud to strengthen its market leadership in next generation real-time analytics and store execution and performance solutions. Google Cloud Platform provides a future proof infrastructure with global scale, security and high performance for Tyco Retails world-class global retail customers. The adoption of the Google Cloud Platform signals Tycos commitment to the evolution of its solution platforms for the development and deployment of its next generation of retail analytics and store solutions. Tyco Retail and Google Cloud will collaborate to deliver use cases marrying real-time edge intelligence and decision-making with core cloud computing. The initial phase of the partnership integrates Tycos real-time data intelligence and application capabilities across store inventory, loss prevention and traffic on the Google Cloud Platform for fast, consistent, scalable performance and measurable retailer value. This integration will provide retailers with a real-time view into accurate inventory availability for unified commerce fulfillment as well as in-store traffic data and insights for improved customer engagement. The new Google Cloud-based service for store shrink management enables retailers to enhance productivity, and increase reliability and performance of EAS systems for a new generation of innovative loss prevention. In addition, retailers will be able to incorporate external market, customer and retail data from Google Analytics and Tyco into the new extensible analytics platform for unmatched retail insights. The Google Cloud Platform provides a highly flexible infrastructure with state of the art security and data protection. It allows for simple deployment, rapid development and cost effective use. Tyco Retail will tap into Google Clouds big data and machine learning solutions to build better products and fuel amazing new solutions. We are excited to partner with Google Cloud and offer retailers our highly predictive analytics and innovative solutions through leading edge technology with the Google Cloud Platform, said Amin Shahidi, vice president of strategy, Tyco Retail Solutions. With best-in-class people, processes and technologies together we can deliver cutting edge insights for strategic retail outcomes. This innovative collaboration is currently being demonstrated at the National Retail Federation (NRF) 107th Annual Convention & EXPO at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. Visit booth #3103 from January 14-16 to see firsthand how Tyco Retail Solutions is helping retailers Experience Whats in Store. About Johnson Controls Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and multi industrial leader serving a wide range of customers in more than 150 countries. Our 120,000 employees create intelligent buildings, efficient energy solutions, integrated infrastructure and next generation transportation systems that work seamlessly together to deliver on the promise of smart cities and communities. Our commitment to sustainability dates back to our roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. We are committed to helping our customers win and creating greater value for all of our stakeholders through strategic focus on our buildings and energy growth platforms. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com or follow us @johnsoncontrols on Twitter. John Nuttall, back, and Amanda Korody embrace each other at B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver on Friday, July 29, 2016. A British Columbia judge was wrong to have thrown out findings of guilt against a pair of accused terrorist sympathizers who planted what they thought were pressure-cooker bombs on the lawn of the provincial legislature, the Crown says. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck This item is available in full to subscribers. Attention subscribers We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription. If you are a digital subscriber with an active subscription, then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site. If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account by clicking here. Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing. A woman mourns as friends and colleagues of Iranian sailors who died aboard a tanker that sank off the coast of China gather at the headquarters of the National Iranian Tanker Company, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018. The burning Iranian tanker listing for days off the coast of China after a collision with another vessel sank Sunday, with an Iranian official saying there was "no hope" of survival for the 29 missing sailors onboard. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) FILE - This image released by Sony Pictures shows Michelle Williams, left, and Mark Wahlberg in TriStar Pictures' "All The Money in the World." After an outcry over a significant disparity in pay with Williams, Wahlberg has agreed to donate the $1.5 million he earned for reshoots on the movie to the anti-sexual misconduct initiative TimeAos Up, in Williams' name, announced Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018. (Fabio Lovino/Sony-TriStar Pictures via AP) A vehicle drives between ice piled along the sides of Route 101 in Hoyt, N.B., on Sunday, January 14, 2018. Heavy rain flooded the road on Saturday floating large ice onto the road and dropping temperatures then froze the water overnight into Sunday morning. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Stephen MacGillivray SAN FRANCISCO -- A 68-year-old man that was living outside the U.S. has been deported back to the states and will face federal fraud charges. Richard Macadangdang Sales made his first court appearance on Friday from San Francisco. He is accused of cheating investors out of more than $900,000. In December 2017, a federal grand jury in Eugene indicted Sales on four counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. The indictment alleges that between 2011 and 2013, investors were led to believe Sales was using their money to recover hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of U.S. Treasury Notes that were in East Asia and the Pacific. The indictment states that the investors believed Sales was building houses for victims of natural disasters as part of the recovery process. Investors were told they would see returns as high as 100 percent. Sales was deported from Indonesia on January 11, 2018. He had been living outside the U.S. since 2012. FBI agents picked him up and escorted him back to the U.S. and arrested him after touching U.S. soil. Sales will be transferred back to Oregon for further court proceedings. ASTORIA, Ore. -- The Coast Guard in Astoria seized a large amount of cocaine during patrols off the coast of Mexico and Central America. They said they seized nearly 12,000 pounds of cocaine with a street value of more than $180 million. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Steadfast returned to Astoria the day before Christmas after 50 days. They said while they patrolled international waters off the coasts of Mexico and Central America, they intercepted five vessels, suspected of illegally smuggling drugs. "I couldn't be more proud of the hard work and dedication of my crew, and the men and women of the interagency aircrews and support networks ashore," said Cmdr. Alain Balmaceda, Steadfast's commanding officer. "Their teamwork was vital to successfully combating transnational organized crime in drug trafficking zones over the past several months." They said knowing they stopped tons of drugs from reaching America's shores made the deployment over the holidays even more rewarding. SPRINGFIELD, Ore. -- The Lane County Sheriff's Office is looking for candidates to fill 12 open Deputy Sheriff positions. Dozens of men and women attended the Lane County Sheriff Department's open house at Pleasant Hill Elementary School on Saturday. Applicants had the chance to meet with officers in the department. Some even took the Oregon Physical Abilities Test also known as the OPRAT. The spokewoman for the Lane County Sheriffs Office, Carrie Carver, said they are looking for people who are looking for a fast-paced, exciting career, where they can really help other people. She said the hiring process is a multi-step process with the ORPAT being the first step. It encompasses an obstacle course that you do six laps of, they do a push-pull machine, and they also do a dummy drag, Carver said. One applicant said the position appealed to him because law enforcement runs through his family. "Well law enforcement has been in my life. I have family that are law enforcement and it's a great career field. Lots of opportunity and a good place to serve your community and it's attractive," said Joey Fischer. Carver said they had more than 50 applicants make an appearance. She said out of all of those who took the ORPAT about half of them passed. She also highly encourages those who are interested to apply. You can do so here. TOLEDO, Iowa (AP) A Marion kindergarten teacher has been acquitted of not reporting that a 15-year-old classroom volunteer sexually abused her students. Cedar Rapids television station KCRG reports that a Tama County jury on Thursday found 59-year-old Diane Graham not guilty of failing to report sexual abuse. Graham's trial was moved out of Linn County after her attorneys cited extensive media coverage of the teen's and Graham's cases. Prosecutors said Graham was teaching at Starry Elementary when two students told her in August 2016 that they were being abused by the volunteer. Prosecutors said Graham didn't report the abuse, allowing it to continue for two more months. Graham testified in her own defense Wednesday and insisted she never saw or heard of any abuse. The teen was earlier convicted of sexual abuse. MASON CITY, Iowa Elliot Burgos, a 9-year-old boy from Mason City who had many rally around him during his fight against brain cancer, died Sunday, his family said in a Facebook post. In early January, Elliots mother ordered shirts for people to show support for her son, and more than 400 were ordered. During the holidays, many people reached out to the family, including the Iowa National Guard and area law enforcement. Some people reached out financially to help the family with medical expenses. We try to make every day special, Elliots mother, Shanda, said during the holidays. More than 6,000 people followed Elliots journey via the Facebook page Prayers for Elliot. CROW WING COUNTY, Minn. Three people from southeastern Minnesota were involved in a two-vehicle crash north of the Twin Cities. The Minnesota State Patrol says it happened around Highway 169 in Crow Wing County, just after 8 pm Friday. A 2010 GMC Sierra driven by 20-year-old Nicholas Robert Pierce of Byron was driving north. When Pierce turned left near mile marker 232, he was hit by a southbound 2008 Saturn Aura driven by 39-year-old Jessi Rene Nayquonabe of Garrison. The State Patrol says Nayquonabe suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to North Memorial Hospital. Three child passengers received what authorities call non-life threatening injuries and were taken to Onamia Hospital. Pierce and one passenger in his vehicle, 20-year-old Jonathan Gordon Trachsel of Rochester, were not harmed. Another passenger, 25-year-old Corey Kenneth Kohn of Rochester, did suffer an injury but was not transported by authorities for medical care. The State Patrol says road conditions were snowy and icy at the time of this crash and that neither Nayquonabe nor her child passengers were wearing seat belts. Pierce and his passengers were wearing their seat belts. The Crow Wing County Sheriffs Office assisted at the scene. CHARLES CITY, Iowa A North Iowa man accused of sexually touching a young girl has been found not guilty. 33-year-old Jason L. Wilson of Charles City was charged with lascivious acts with a child and indecent contact with a child for an incident authorities said happened in August 2017 at Wilsons home. Wilson pleaded not guilty to both charges. After a two-day trial where the prosecution presented its arguments in about four and hours and the defense spent just 30 minutes presenting its case, the jury took only 40 minutes to find Wilson not guilty on both counts. OSAGE, Iowa All charges have now been dropped against a mother and son over a trashed trailer. Theresa Ann Becker and Christopher Scott Arfman were arrested in September 2017 and charged with 2nd degree criminal mischief. Police said they caused thousands of dollars in damage to a mobile home at Triangle Court in Osage. Charges were dropped against Becker in November 2017 and court records now say the Mitchell County Attorneys Office dismissed the charges against Arfman on January 8. (Repeats story first published on Jan. 12 with no changes to text) By Lewis Krauskopf NEW YORK, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Volatility awaits shares of U.S. construction, engineering, building materials and other companies tied to infrastructure spending, but steel-nerved investors could be poised for gains if they weather a few bumps. The stocks are set to be in focus in the coming weeks as President Donald Trump seeks legislation geared at overhauling the country's aging roads, bridges and other infrastructure, fresh off passage of a tax reform bill by his Republican party. A bipartisan group of U.S. senators met with administration officials this week to discuss legislation to spend $1 trillion to improve infrastructure. An infusion of federal spending is expected to boost infrastructure-sensitive companies, but the stocks could see a rocky performance as a bill maneuvers through Congress and details of any legislation emerge. Improving the country's infrastructure, which last year was given a failing grade by the American Society of Civil Engineers, has broad appeal. Still, while some Democrats want such a bill, political differences may undermine the effort and affect the amount of private sector investment. Regardless of federal legislation, however, investors and analysts see a favorable climate for such stocks, including the need for an upgrade of national infrastructure, an expected spike in earnings for many companies this year, and positive economic trends that support investment in big projects. "There is money flowing in this area even if you don't get the big federal one," said Walter Todd, chief investment officer at Greenwood Capital Associates in Greenwood, South Carolina. "That would just be icing on the cake if that happened and would really flow through to these stocks." INFRASTRUTURE STOCKS SWING Todd says his firm is overweight infrastructure-related names, including owning civil contractor Granite Construction Inc , building materials companies Eagle Materials Inc and US Concrete Inc and steel company Nucor Corp . Those shares and other construction-related names soared in the immediate aftermath of Trump's November 2016 election, spurred by his campaign vow to spend on infrastructure. But while the benchmark S&P 500 stock index has been on a steady ascent since Trump's election, construction-related stocks in particular have endured a rollercoaster ride, whipsawed in part last year by uncertainty over Trump's agenda. Even with outsized gains over the past two months, the infrastructure trade has posted lukewarm returns since just after Trump's win. For example, since early December 2016, while the S&P 500 has surged more than 22 percent, the S&P 1500 construction and engineering index has climbed 9 percent, and the S&P 1500 steel index and the S&P 1500 construction materials group have each climbed about 5 percent. "From a year-over-year standpoint, a lot of these names have not really done anything," Todd said. At this relatively late point in the economic recovery, customers should be more comfortable making capital spending decisions on projects, according to analysts. 'LATE-CYCLE PLAY' Engineering and construction companies "are a late-cycle industrial play, so we have just started to see the juice kick in for a lot of them," said Tahira Afzal, managing director at KeyBanc Capital Markets. "Even without an infrastructure stimulus or infrastructure bill, the next two years should be years in which the sector outperforms." Earnings for S&P 1500 engineering and construction (E&C) companies overall are projected to grow 27 percent in 2018, while construction materials companies could see a 32 percent jump, according to Thomson Reuters data. That compares to a estimated 13.9 percent increase for the S&P 500, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. "The market is trading off of near-record earnings and the E&C companies aren't at those record earnings yet as a group," said John Rogers, founder of independent engineering and construction consulting firm JBR Advisory, LLC in Portland, Oregon. Some optimism over an infrastructure bill may already be reflected in stock values. For example, Fluor and Jacobs Engineering shares have climbed 28 percent and 18 percent respectively, since the start of November, while U.S. Steel shares have jumped more than 50 percent. While other factors could be fueling the gains, such as the tax-cut legislation or global economic momentum, these shares could pull back if the federal infrastructure package disappoints. "You really have to take a longer-term perspective and just realize that if something does happen in Washington there will be a lot of two-steps-forward, one-step-back," said Eric Marshall, portfolio manager at Dallas-based Hodges Capital Management, which owns building materials stocks as well as equipment rental company United Rentals Inc and contractor Primoris Services Corp . "You can make a multi-year argument that there is pent-up demand for things like waterworks and roads and bridges and highways," Marshall said. (Editing by Alden Bentley and Bernadette Baum) According to the Council of State Governments Justice Center, Missouri's incarceration rate has increased in recent years and is well over the national average. Between 2010 and 2015, Missouri's incarceration rate increased by 4 percent and was eighth highest in the nation in 2015. (Pixabay) Call for Entries: Arts in the Airport Exhibition Ectoplasm (Daylight Limited) by Nick DeFord. Image courtesy of Arts in the Airport. The Arts & Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville and the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority (McGhee Tyson Airport) announce a call for entries for the 19th Arts in the Airport, a juried exhibition developed to allow regional artists to compete and display work in the most visited site in the area. Approximately 40-45 fine art works encompassing all styles and genres from both emerging and established artists will comprise the exhibition in the secured area behind McGhee Tyson Airports security gate checkpoint from April 19 October 17, 2018. The deadline for entries to be received is Sunday, March 4, 2018. Prizes include at least $1,000 in cash awards. Artists may find more information and an entry form at www.knoxalliance.com/airport-entry/. The call for entries is open to all artists 18 years and older residing in the 33 counties of East Tennessee. Each artist may submit up to five entries which must be original works in the following categories: 2-D (painting, drawing, mixed media, printmaking, photography) and 3-D (sculpture of all media). The nonrefundable entry fee is $30 for up to five works (free for Arts & Culture Alliance members) and includes a six-month membership in the Arts & Culture Alliance. About the juror: Jessica Wohl received her BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute in 2001 and her MFA from the University of Georgia in 2010. Originally trained as an illustrator with specialization in art history, her studio practice now includes drawing, painting, embroidery, quilting, collage and installation. Wohls work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including at the Belfast Photo Festival, the Robert Mann Gallery in New York and the Zeitgeist Gallery in Nashville. Her work has also been exhibited at venues in Miami, Atlanta, New Orleans, Kansas City, England, Finland, Norway, Italy, Hong Kong and Korea, and has recently been featured in New American Paintings, Burnaway, Vogue and ArtNews. Her work is collected by the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, the Sprint-Nextel Corporation, the H&R Block World Headquarters, numerous private collectors and is included in the Drawing Centers Viewing Program. She is currently an assistant professor of Art at the University of the South where she teaches Drawing and Painting. www.jessicawohl.com More information about the program, as well as images from previous exhibitions, can be found at www.knoxalliance.com/arts-in-the-airport/. The current Arts in the Airport exhibition features the work of 34 artists in the East Tennessee region and celebrates the 80th Anniversary of McGhee Tyson Airport. Published January 13, 2018 Big South Fork fourth annual photo contest deadline set 2017 Photo Contest Winner. Photo courtesy of Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. ONEIDA, TN - The National Park Service announces that the deadline for the fourth annual Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area photo contest has been set for Friday, August 3, 2018. The park invites photographers to submit entries for exhibit at the park visitor center. Images may show wildlife, plant life, natural landscapes, historic areas, weather, or people interacting with nature within the boundaries of Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. All photographs, except those submitted in the artistic category, should accurately reflect the subject matter and the scene as it appeared. Photographs may be submitted into one of seven categories: Action/Adventure -- Photographs of people participating in recreational activities Artistic -- Artistic compositions in nature, both natural and manipulated in post processing Cultural -- Photographs that illustrate historic or culturally significant structures Flora & Fauna -- Animals in their natural habitat, including close-ups of invertebrates, or plants in their natural habitat, including close-ups of flowers, fungi, lichen, and algae Youth -- Entries in any category by photographers under 18 years of age Kentucky Landscapes -- Expansive and dramatic views of the land and its features within the Kentucky park boundaries Tennessee Landscapes -- Expansive and dramatic views of the land and its features within the Tennessee park boundaries. Entries will be judged on technical excellence, originality, creativity, visual impact, and artistic merit. Judges decisions are final. Selected images will be printed for an exhibition at Bandy Creek Visitor Center that will open on Saturday, September 1, 2018. Selected images may also be displayed on the internet and other venues. The contest is open to all photographers, except NPS employees and their immediate families and household members. Each person may only submit two photos into the competition. All photos must be in a digital format. Entries must be received no later than the close of business Friday, August 3, 2018. Each entry must be accompanied by a completed entry form with all information clearly filled out. Entry forms may be downloaded from https://www.nps.gov/biso/planyourvisit/biso-photo-contest.htm. Entries may be emailed to biso_information@nps.gov or hand-delivered or mailed to the park headquarters at Big South Fork NRRA, 4564 Leatherwood Road, Oneida, Tennessee 37841, Attn: Photo Exhibit. Published January 13, 2018 By Lee Kyung-min A 26-year old woman surnamed Han gave up taking oral contraceptives after experiencing severe migraine and nausea. The combination birth control pill that contains two hormones _ estrogen and progestin _ to prevent pregnancy _ is known to be a safe and effective method of birth control for most women, and is also used to help the regulation of periods. She decided to take what seemed to be a bothersome daily routine, to help treat her irregular menstrual cycle. "I always had irregular menstrual cycles since I was in high school," she said. "Doctors told me that I was too stressed out over study for the university entrance exam, adding that my condition should get better once the exam was over, but it didn't get any better long after I graduated university. That is why I tried taking the pills." Soon after she began the 28-day regimen that required her to take 21 pills _ one pill per day _ she had migraines, which made it impossible for her to do anything, let alone concentrate on her studies. "Having a headache itself was awful, but it got worse after I had constant nausea, followed by vomiting. I also started feeling depressed, a side effect which I think was compounded by having all those side effects from taking the pills." She is among many women _ including those who seek to delay having periods before important events such as major tests or other strenuous outdoor activities _ who decided to get off oral contraceptives due to the side effects. According to data submitted from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) to Rep. Kim Seung-hee of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party during the National Assembly audit last October, 958 cases of side effects were reported in 2016, up about 50 percent from 659 in 2013. By age, 476 cases were experienced by women in their 30s, followed by 288 by those in their 40s. Nineteen cases were experienced from those aged between 10 and 19, with eight cases from those under 10. Separate data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) showed over 397 million birth control pills including oral contraceptives and emergency contraceptives, also known as morning after pills, were sold in Korea. Kim, the former MFDS minister, urged the government to come up with measures to better inform women _ especially young women and teenagers _ about the possible side effects of taking the pills. "Many young women and girls are taking birth control pills without being informed about the possibility of cessation of menstruation, or a change in the amount or duration of their menstrual periods. The government should promptly roll out measures to prevent such instances." According to the Korean Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, taking the pill offers medical benefits such as decreased menstrual cramps and heavy bleeding. "Some women are reported to have seen an improvement in acne. Other positive aspects include protection against endometrial or ovarian cancer," an official from the doctors' group said. "However, women who should not take the combined pill include those who have had blood clots in their legs and lungs and those who have had breast cancer or liver cancer." Those who have had a stroke, coronary artery or heart disease, kidney failure, or acute hepatitis should not take the pills. The doctors' group also said those who require caution include current smokers over 35 who smoke 15 or more cigarettes per day, those who experience migraines soon after taking the pills, and those who have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes. German Ambassador to Korea Stephan Auer, left, listens to Israeli Ambassador to Korea Chaim Choshen during the opening ceremony of the "Culture Week on the Holocaust" at Goethe-Institute Korea in Seoul in this file photo taken on Feb. 6, 2017. / Courtesy of German Embassy By Yi Whan-woo The embassies of Germany and Israel will join Goethe-Institute Korea from Jan. 22 to 24 to commemorate the Holocaust. The three have co-hosted the memorial event, "Culture Week on the Holocaust," since last year, in line with the United Nations' International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which falls on Jan. 27. This year's event will take place at Goethe-Institute Korea, Germany's language and cultural center in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. German Ambassador to Korea Stephan Auer and Israeli Ambassador to Korea Chaim Choshen will give speeches during the opening ceremony at 7 p.m. Other invited guests include former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and over 30 ambassadors, many from European countries, according to the German Embassy. The opening day program will consist of two parts a lecture by Stephanie McMahon-Kaye, a scholar from the International School for Holocaust Studies in Jerusalem, about "spiritual and cultural resistance during the Holocaust," and followed by the screening of the English-language documentary, "Violins of Hope: Strings of the Holocaust," about Israeli violin maker Amnon Weinstein, who restored violins recovered from the Holocaust. Each program on Jan. 23 and 24 will begin at 7 p.m. and last for two hours. McMahon-Kaye will give a lecture again on Jan. 23 about the victims, perpetrators and bystanders of the Holocaust under the theme, "The Who of the Holocaust." Meanwhile, the last day's program will feature a special video clip of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra from January 2015, showing the orchestra members playing violins that once belonged to victims of the Holocaust that were restored by Weinstein. In 2005, the U.N.'s Holocaust Remembrance resolution designated Jan. 27 as an annual commemoration day for Holocaust victims. The resolution urges every U.N. member country to honor Holocaust victims and encourages the development of educational programs about Holocaust history to help prevent genocide. South Korea will install additional artificial reefs near the western maritime border with North Korea to prevent illegal fishing by Chinese vessels, the provincial government said Saturday. Incheon Metropolitan City said it will install artificial reefs around the five northwestern border islands in the Yellow Sea, including Baengnyeong and Daecheong, to prevent illegal trawling by Chinese boats. The central government and Incheon have placed about 800 man-made underwater structures, which range in size from 2 tons to 53.5 tons, in the western sea since 2013. Artificial reefs are man-made underwater structures that mimic some of the characteristics of natural reefs to protect marine resources. They are also effective at preventing illegal trawling. Chinese trawlers have taken advantage of tensions between the two Koreas: the South's Coast Guard does not actively crack down on Chinese ships near the high-tension western sea border since doing so could trigger an accidental clash with the North. In July, North Korea condemned the artificial reef structures as part of Seoul's military provocations against Pyongyang's maritime demarcation line. (Yonhap) By Park Si-soo Hong Kong police have arrested a South Korean man on suspicion of murdering his wife and seven-year-old son at the five-star Ritz-Carlton hotel, according to Reuters. The two were found dead in a room at 8:30 a.m. The man reportedly appeared drunk and injured. He was arrested at the scene and sent to hospital. Senior presidential secretary for civil affairs Cho Kuk explains a reform plan for the nation's three major investigation agencies at Cheong Wa Dae, Sunday. / Yonhap The government on Sunday announced plans to reform the country's three major investigation agencies, a move partly aimed at preventing abuse of power by such government institutions that include the spy agency. According to the plans announced by Cho Kuk, the senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) will hand over its anti-espionage cases to the police and only focus on gathering overseas intelligence. "It will become a top class intelligence agency for the people and the nation by taking its hands off local politics and anti-espionage investigation and focus only on North Korea and foreign issues," Cho said at a press briefing held at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae. Reforming the NIS and other so-called powerhouses was one of key election pledges of President Moon Jae-in as a way of preventing abuse of power. The NIS, for instance, is suspected of having interfered in various elections, including the 2012 presidential election, in which the ousted former leader Park Geun-hye was elected. The spy agency is also facing a prosecution investigation over allegations of offering monthly bribes to the former president. The agencies subject to reform include the police and the prosecution. "The prosecution, police and the NIS had worked on the opposite side of the people in the past. But even after the launch of a democratic government, they continued to work for the interest and benefits of their own organizations," Cho told the press briefing. "We continue to confirm one by one that reasons the people held up candles in 2016 and reasons a president was impeached in 2017 included wrongdoings by the prosecution, police and the NIS," he said. Had there not been such wrongdoings or systems to check and balance such abuse of power by these organizations, there would not have been the corruption and influence-peddling cases that led to the ouster of Park Geun-hye, Cho noted. In a press release, the Cheong Wa Dae official said the efforts to reform the three investigative agencies had three main objectives. First, they seek to completely root out social evils, such as abuse of power, and turn the agencies into those that will only serve the people, he said. The reform also seeks to enhance mutual control of the three agencies so they will each keep others in check. The police will take over anti-espionage investigation cases from the NIS, but to keep the police in check, a new mission-specific office will be created within the National Police Agency to take charge of such cases. Anti-espionage cases have often been used as an excuse to investigate, if not persecute, those critical to the government under former administrations. With its new power to investigate anti-espionage, the police may become the most powerful and largest investigative agency with over 100,000 officers under its wing, the Cheong Wa Dae official noted. "It is important to reform the agency to make sure it will work effectively while not violating the human rights of the people," Cho said. To this end, the government plans to introduce new self-autonomous police agencies under the direct leadership of all major autonomous local governments, including municipal governments. Currently, Jeju Province is the only local government with an autonomous police unit. The prosecution's power to directly investigate cases will be limited only to special cases while a joint investigation office, to be created with the police, will take over most of its investigative functions. "The prosecution monopolizes the power to press charges while it also possesses massive power, such as the power of direct investigation, the power to command police investigations and power to enforce sentences. As such massive power has not been effectively controlled, the prosecution has been abusing its power to maintain its own vested interest or those of specific political powers," Cheong Wa Dae said. The government will also continue its efforts to shed light on possible abuse of power by the prosecution in the past. Such efforts will include the launch of an investigation into the death of a farmer-activist who died in 2016 after being hit by a police water cannon during an anti-government rally. (Yonhap) Gov't also seeks to weaken prosecution's investigation power By Kim Bo-eun The government announced a set of steps to reform the nation's spy agency and prosecution Sunday and delegate some of their investigation functions to the police in a move to prevent their abuse of power. Under a reform plan to reorganize the nation's three investigation agencies, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) will no longer be allowed to investigate domestic espionage cases or collect information on politicians and citizens, Cheong Wa Dae said. The police will instead take over anti-espionage cases from the spy agency, and some investigative roles from the prosecution. This is in line with the Moon Jae-in administration's pledge to separate powerful government agencies from politics, disperse their power and institute checks and balances to prevent any abuse of power _ one of the President's main election pledges. "Even after the era of democracy began, powerful government bodies have stood in opposition to the people," said Cho Kuk, senior presidential secretary for civil affairs. He was referring to repeated cases of corruption and power abuse involving senior public officials. "The Moon administration will put an end to this vicious cycle. It is the government's plan to restructure the agencies to uphold the first article of the Constitution which is that the Republic of Korea is a democratic republic." The NIS has been accused of multiple wrongdoings _ including its heads paying bribes to the presidential office from its "special activities fund" under the Park Geun-hye administration, intervening in elections to support candidates of the then-ruling bloc and monitoring politicians, religious figures and celebrities who were critical of the government. The spy agency's role will be limited to handling information on North Korea and other countries. It will no longer have the right to investigate espionage cases _ something which has long been abused by former conservative administrations to persecute anti-government figures. Police will take over the function by establishing a new body within the force. The police force, composed of 100,000 officers, will be divided into state and local police, and officers in charge of investigations and handling administrative affairs, as a means to disperse its power. An independent investigative body will be set up to probe corruption cases involving presidential aides, ranking government officials and prosecutors, and their families. Until the agency is established, police will lead investigations involving prosecutors. The prosecution's investigative rights will be reduced to special cases involving finance and assisting police probes. Up until now, the prosecution has had unlimited power, holding direct investigative rights, rights to supervise police investigations and the sole right to indict. Prosecutors have often abused these rights to gain favors from politicians and maintain their power, the presidential office said. "If there were systems to check and balance the abuse of power by these organizations, there would not have been the corruption and influence-peddling cases that led to the ouster of former President Park," Cho said. However, it is unclear whether the government will succeed in having the revisions to related laws getting passed at the National Assembly, given that the opposition parties have strongly opposed most of the policies proposed by the Moon government. While pushing ahead with these reform measures, Cheong Wa Dae vowed to investigate alleged abuse of power committed by these institutions. In the case of the police, a civil panel will conduct investigations into five cases, including the deaths of a farmer in an anti-government protest after being hit by a water cannon, and tenants protesting a redevelopment project in Seoul's Yongsan district. Regarding the NIS, a taskforce has completed an investigation into the agency's intervention into the 2012 presidential election, in which it posted online comments in favor of the then-ruling party candidate Park to help her get elected. South Korea will enforce an alternate no driving day restriction in the capital city to cope with high levels of fine dust in the atmosphere, the government said Sunday. The move that will be implemented Monday affects all vehicles operated by public organizations in Seoul, the Ministry of Environment said. This marks the first time that a no driving day order has been issued by authorities this year. The ministry said restrictions apply to roughly half of all affected cars from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. South Korea usually implements alternate no driving days based on odd and even last numbers of a vehicle's license plate. The fine dust related restrictions first introduced in February of last year was last issued on Dec. 30. The ministry said the measures are being taken because fine dust levels have reached 57 micrograms per cubic meter in Seoul as of 4 p.m. Sunday. The corresponding numbers for nearby Incheon and Gyeonggi Province reached 54 micograms and 67 micrograms, respectively. Such numbers represent "bad" concentrations of fine dust in the air that can pose health problems. (Yonhap) By Robert Song Recently, the education ministry's decision to ban after-school English classes for first and second graders has caused much debate. As a former English educator and now a concerned parent, I would like to weigh in on this important subject. First of all, back in 2005 I worked as a director at GnB English, one of Korea's leading English academy franchises back then. At our peak, we had about 1,600 schools nationwide. One of the reasons for this huge success was the regular school's failure at teaching English. Not only was English not taught until the third grade, English classes for the most part were not very effective. At that time, I always wondered why regular schools could not improve their in-school programs as well as offer lots of after-school classes. After-school classes in English were not that prevalent back then. Fast forward to a few years ago and like mushrooms, after-school classes started popping up as well as in school English programs improving. Naturally, GnB English as well as most other English academies lost their edge and many went out of business. As I see it, the main reason for this was economics and convenience. After-school programs are roughly more than 50 percent cheaper than classes at academies. The main reason for this is no rent needs to be paid; our taxes pay that. Also, since the classes are taught at elementary schools, parents do not need to shuttle their children back and forth from academies as the kids can just move about within the school grounds themselves. If anyone has had children, taking your child from English to taekwondo to art academies is an extremely time consuming activity. Parents with two or more children, well need I say more. Having lived for over 20 years in Korea and witnessed the government's inconsistent English educational policies, I wish it would stop trying to turn the clock back. As the saying goes, "the horse has left the barn" or "the genie is out of the bottle," the government should not ban English in pre-schools and should not ban after-school programs. Since this is what people want and need, instead of trying to stifle it, they should be supporting and encouraging it. What they should do is ban English on the CSAT and start English at grade one! And why do grades 1-2 classes end after lunch? Robert Song is a former English educator based in Seoul, Korea, who is a business owner now. Write to robertssong@me.com In an off-the-cuff comment with legislators gathered in the Oval Office on Thursday to discuss immigration, President Donald Trump laid bare his world vision. There are wealthy white countries such as Norway, which are welcome to send immigrants to the United States. Then there are what the president called "shithole countries" Haiti and all the nations of Africa whose people (overwhelmingly black and brown) the president doesn't think belong here. Trump's comment was outrageous, immature, inhumane and vulgar and it shames the nation. It's shocking that an American president would think so reductively and heartlessly about so much of the world. Nevertheless, it is unlikely that the president himself will feel shame. Instead, he'll bluster and bray about "fake news" and try to drag in the 2016 election results and the stock market, and in the end, he is unlikely to be punished by his base for what he said. But his comments stand for themselves. "What do we want Haitians here for?" the president reportedly asked. "Why do we want all these people from Africa here? Why do we want all these people from shithole countries?" Then he added: "We should have people from places like Norway." The Washington Post first reported the president's comments, based on information from people briefed on the meeting. The White House quickly issued a statement that didn't deny the comments, but defended Trump's efforts to "fight for the American people." None of whom, apparently in the eyes of the White House, are people who trace their ancestry to Africa, Haiti or El Salvador, which was also part of the immigration policy discussion. "Certain Washington politicians choose to fight for foreign countries, but President Trump will always fight for the American people," spokesman Raj Shah told the Post. "... Like other nations that have merit-based immigration, President Trump is fighting for permanent solutions that make our country stronger by welcoming those who can contribute to our society, grow our economy and assimilate into our great nation." So Trump's dismissal of a large portion of the world is framed now as an argument for merit-based immigration? That's self-serving baloney. It's hard to interpret Trump's statement comparing Haiti and Africa with Norway, in effect as anything other than an attack on people of color around the world. But even those who don't interpret it that way should be appalled that the president would express such disdain and disgust for countries where poverty is rampant, where people struggle because they lack the economic advantages of Americans, where wars are not infrequent. Ten months ago, the Los Angeles Times editorial board published a multipart series about President Trump calling him "Our Dishonest President." We called him that because of a pattern of lies, misstatements and denials of reality that we argued were designed not just to deflect criticism, but to undermine the very idea of objective truth. But sometimes Donald Trump is at his scariest when he's saying what he truly believes. Trump's dwindling ranks of supporters say they like him because he calls things as he sees them. He's not polished he's the antithesis of the smooth-talking pol, the Washington insider, the denizen of the D.C. swamp. Fine. But now he has offered us another glimpse into what the unfettered Trump sees. The ugliness here isn't in the view, but in the viewer. Add these comments to the long list of embarrassments we've suffered as a nation since Nov. 8, 2016. The above editorial appeared in the Los Angeles Times. It was distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. By Samuel Kargbo FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE In late October, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) confirmed what many had long suspected: millions of dollars donated to fight the Ebola outbreaks in Guinea and Sierra Leone had been mismanaged and stolen. The world's oldest humanitarian organization was "outraged" by the findings, it said. Needless to say, they were not alone. I was national coordinator of Ebola burials for Sierra Leone at the height of the epidemic. For much of the crisis, beginning in 2014, we lacked the equipment and materials needed to contain the deadly virus. We lost many health workers amid the dearth of resources, and the thought of losing my own life leaving behind a family and two young children terrified me daily. These were anxious times for my country. That anxiety has not vanished. My thoughts frequently return to colleagues who died during the heroic fight. And now, with confirmation that huge sums of aid were stolen, the grief is compounded by anger and disappointment at the fraud itself, but also for what it says about Africa's struggles to improve healthcare access and outcomes. The rampant fraud illustrates how problematic it can be when donors channel resources through big NGOs like the Red Cross. And the IFRC's revelation is likely just the tip of the iceberg. Sierra Leone's minister of health and sanitation first warned of the possibility of widespread fraud in May 2015; he even called for a full accounting of money received and spent. Unfortunately, his request was largely ignored. The silence was lamentable, but not surprising; tracking donor funds is extremely difficult. When governments and private donors pledge monetary aid, the funds typically pass through a chain of large groups that determine how it will be allocated. But a full accounting often is never provided. For example, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that $3.3 billion was donated to the countries that were hardest hit by Ebola. And yet, the office's data do not show how the money was spent. There is widespread agreement among governments, development partners, and relief agencies that in a crisis like that caused by Ebola or any other health emergency, for that matter strong financial management is critical. Only with disciplined budgeting can staff be properly equipped and paid, hospitals stocked, and triage centers opened. When well-intentioned pledges fail to reach those in need, the result is measured in a lack of resources from a shortage of doctors to a lack of vehicles to transport the sick and bury the dead. Anger was my first emotion upon learning of the IFRC funding fraud. But it is the second sentiment disappointment that must drive Africa forward. If the continent is to make gains in achieving universal health coverage (UHC) and improving the quality of healthcare for everyone, it must start by ensuring that resources are used efficiently and fairly. Some progress has been made in strengthening national planning processes and principles. And, according to the UHC 2030 Alliance, which works to improve the quality of and access to healthcare systems around the world, recipient countries have done far more than their international counterparts to establish more effective budgetary frameworks. But Africa still has a long way to go before financial management and procurement systems meet adequate standards. To improve the quality of Africa's healthcare systems, and avoid a repeat of the IFRC's Ebola funding fiasco, countries that receive aid need better financial management protocols. In health emergencies, immediate aid is essential. But if that aid is to be allocated properly, recipient countries must already have the ability to manage large sums transparently. The goal must be to ensure that recipient countries have oversight over how donor funds are spent. At the moment, the opposite is happening, and most African countries are like the parched sailor adrift at sea we see money everywhere, but we have no ability to use it. To drink from the ocean of aid, African countries must first take control of their healthcare funding destinies. To do that, resources much be used efficiently. A regional and sector-wide approach is critical to improving coordination and preventing duplication. After the war and genocide in Rwanda, for example, the country's government required that all development partners work according to the government's agenda. Today, Rwanda is among the world leaders in healthcare access and outcomes. Rwanda's experience should serve as a model for other countries. As the world observed Universal Health Coverage Day in December, I was left to reflect on the horrors of the last few years, and consider what steps we must take to improve healthcare in the future. In Sierra Leone, as elsewhere, the focus must be on strong leadership, governance, and partnerships. But most of all, we must use our collective dissatisfaction with past failures to fuel efforts to make quality healthcare a reality for everyone. Samuel "SAS" Kargbo is director of policy and planning at the Ministry of Health and Sanitation in Sierra Leone, and a 2015 Aspen Institute New Voices fellow. Copyright belongs to Project Syndicate ( Moon should go all-out to restore credibility The Moon Jae-in administration's flip-flopping on its policy toward the virtual currency market last week undermined its credibility and trust in the decision-making process. Moon's policymakers should be held accountable for their incompetence and irresponsibility for triggering chaos. The episode began Thursday morning when Justice Minister Park Sang-ki said during a press conference that his ministry was preparing a bill to ban cryptocurrency trading and shut down all exchanges in Korea. The bill is no doubt part of measures to crack down on speculative investment in virtual currencies. He added the legislative move came after discussions with the Ministry of Strategy and Finance and the Financial Services Commission (FSC). But the presidential office backtracked on Minister Park's plan after just seven hours. The reason was because hundreds of investors flooded the presidential website in an online petition against the plan as bitcoins and other virtual currencies were sent into a tailspin. Presidential spokesman Yoon Young-chan said, "Nothing has been finalized at this point," adding that the minister's remarks were just one of the options to curb the market. Yoon's remarks sounded as if Park hastily announced the plan without sufficient consultation and coordination with related ministries and financial regulators. Yet it is difficult to accept the position of the presidential office. How could a Cabinet minister make public such an important policy without reaching a consensus within the government? During his news conference, Minister Park made clear there was no discord within ministries. FSC Chairman Choi Jong-ku backed Park by saying that his plan was a "coordinated" policy of the administration. In all likelihood, the presidential office lied in the face of strong protests from investors. President Moon and his secretaries certainly could not turn a deaf ear to the protesters because most of them were in their 20s and 30s _ an age group that strongly supports the chief executive. Critics even argued that Cheong Wa Dae caved in to the investors for fear of ruling party candidates losing votes in local elections slated for June 13. The investors certainly went too far in opposing the planned market shutdown. They called for the dismissal of Minister Park and FSC Chairman Choi, accusing the two of trying to deprive them of their dreams of being rich and happy. Some of them even regretted casting their votes for Moon in the snap election last May following the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye. The number of online petitioners was estimated at 160,000 as of Sunday morning. If the number reaches 200,000, the presidential office is obliged to announce its official position on the issue. What is worrisome is that the Moon government might pander to the petitioners, leading to a weakening of the fight against the runaway speculation on cryptocurrencies. Of course, it is important for the government to set out any policy based on public opinion. But government policies will get nowhere if they are too often swayed by populism. For this reason, President Moon should keep his promise to let Cabinet ministers lead the decision-making and policy-setting process without much intervention from the presidential office. As seen in the virtual currency market fiasco, policy credibility and trust will be severely damaged if the President and his aides undo or retract each minister's decisions and policies. So Moon and his office must go all-out to work together not only with ministries, but also the ruling and opposition parties to map out coherent and sophisticated policies based on close coordination and consensus. Checks and balances the key to reforming investigation agencies A blueprint to reform Korea's spy agency, police and prosecution aims to prevent abuse of power and to better serve the people and the nation. To this end, the government plans to ensure checks and balances among the three agencies. The roadmap, announced by senior presidential secretary for civil affairs Cho Kuk, Sunday, is one of President Moon Jae-in's campaign pledges to prevent abuse of power by the state intelligence agency and the two law enforcement bodies. We welcome the reform and call on the Moon administration to implement it faithfully so the three agencies can be reborn as the guardians of human rights and protectors of national security and the safety of the people. Most notable is a plan to make the National Intelligence Service (NIS) hand its investigative power for anti-espionage cases to the police. If this plan is turned into action, the NIS will focus on gathering intelligence on North Korea and foreign issues. In fact, the spy agency has long been blamed for abusing and misusing its investigative power in order to intervene in politics and to crack down on dissidents. Now the agency will have to shed its image of serving as a "maiden" of the power elite. A recent case of abuse took place in the 2012 presidential election, in which impeached President Park Geun-hye was elected. Three former NIS chiefs under Park and her conservative predecessor Lee Myung-bak were arrested on charges of meddling in elections or appropriating the NIS budget to offer bribes to the presidential office. Handing the NIS's investigative authority to the police might allow the law enforcement agency to have greater power, another source of concern for abuse. In this regard, the government plans to create an espionage investigation bureau within the National Police Agency to enhance its integrity and accountability. The Moon administration also plans to limit the prosecution's power to prevent it from abusing its authority and forming corrupt ties with the inner circles of political power. For this, the government will set up an independent investigative body to probe corruption cases involving politicians and high-ranking civil servants as well as prosecutors. The success of the prosecution reform will depend on how to restrict its monopoly of power to press charges against criminal suspects and share its investigation authority with police. This is easier said than done. But we hope the government will succeed in reforming the three agencies. This reform is an urgent task to restore democracy and build a fair and just society. By Tong Kim In the past few days, there has been a significant development on the Korean Peninsula: an outcome of high-level inter-Korean talks on Jan. 9 that resulted in assuring the safety of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics to begin next month and also opened a fresh window of opportunity to reduce tension and hold possible talks on denuclearization. In the talks, North Korea announced it will send a large-scale delegation to the Olympics and agreed to work with the South to improve inter-Korean relations. The North restored a military line of communication with the South and agreed to resume military talks for reducing tension and preventing accidental conflicts along the DMZ. However, the first challenge for military talks to confront will likely be the North side's unacceptable demand that the South end its joint exercises with U.S. forces, which have been temporarily postponed until after the Olympic Games. Moderation of the scale or rescheduling of the exercise may come up for discussion. In this context, it might be safer to put off military talks until after the Olympics as well. In anticipation of the North's demands for lifting Seoul's "May 24 restrictions," reopening the Gaeseong Industrial Complex and resuming tourism to Geumgang Mountain, President Moon said these issues should be examined in light of the U.N. Security Council's sanctions against North Korea. Following the inter-Korean talks, President Moon had phone conversations with U.S. President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. And the Korean President received encouraging support from the two foreign leaders most influential on the Korean Peninsula. The Chinese leader expressed his support for South Korea's efforts to improve relations with the North and pursue a peaceful resolution through dialogue, a reflection of Beijing's policy to oppose any actions that contribute to instability on the peninsula. President Moon endorsed President Trump's claim that the inter-Korean talks would not have been possible without his tough policy _ including a willingness to commit the total U.S. military might to North Korea. Moon thanked Trump's "influential leadership in making the talks possible." In return, Trump said he was open to holding talks with North Korea "at the appropriate time, under the right circumstances." Vice President Mike Pence will lead a U.S. delegation to the Olympics. In addition, Trump said there would be no military action during North-South talks. It is unknowable at this point how long inter-Korean talks would continue or how productive such talks will be. There are plenty of thorny, intractable issues lying ahead for them. There is no evidence that Kim Jong-un's motivation was solely because of Trump's tough stance, to which the North did not back down on its aggressive nuclear ambition. In his New Year's address, Kim Jong-un doubled down on increasing his nuclear arsenal. Trump's seemingly conciliatory statements do not mean a shift in U.S. policy. The Jan. 10 phone call between Trump and Moon stressed the importance of maximum pressure on North Korea. Moon supports and will continue to support Trump's pressure campaign against the regime in the North, if the North revives its visible provocations. At a press conference, President Moon conceded that dialogue alone might not be sufficient to resolve the denuclearization issue, implying he might seek even tougher measures. However, he does not support a military solution, which Trump does not exclude from his options. Seoul and Washington share the same goal of a denuclearized Korean Peninsula. Moon says any settlement of peace requires denuclearization. He also knows well that the North is not interested in talking to the South about denuclearization, not even with the U.S. at this time. At Panmunjeom last week, the North Korean representative made it clear the nuclear issue should not be an issue for discussion with the South. Seoul is hoping improved relations with Pyongyang somehow could lead to dialogue and engagement between the North and the U.S. Pyongyang's leaders have declared many times they will not negotiate away their hard-won nuclear arsenal. They believe only their nuclear weapons would ensure their survival. The answer may be in somewhere less than total denuclearization at the beginning, but in a long-term gradual process towards eventual denuclearization. So far neither sanctions nor shows of U.S. military might were able to rein in the North's nuclear and missile programs. They did not even bring the North to talks. As opposed to military pre-emption, which neither North Korea nor the U.S. can really opt for, would talks bring more talks that could lead to a resolution of the nuclear issue? 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. Q: What do you think about the "me-too" movement in South Korea? Eunmi (arrived in 2014) If "me-too" starts in Korea, then there would endless complaints. The workplace is terrible for women here. An organized campaign would result in so many confessions that business in Korea would probably have to shut down and the entire economy might be at risk. I wish the "me-too" movement would spread to North Korea, and especially I wish that Kim Jong-un could be prosecuted. The Kim family has been using North Korean women for decades. Unlike the USA, women in North Korea can't fight back easily and of course Kim Jong-un can use as many women as he wants without the media reporting anything bad about him. Eunbee (arrived in 2012) I recently read about the "me-too" movement. I don't know about it in detail. Based on what I have read, I agree with it. I believe that this type of thing needs to happen around the world. There are so many people using their power and money over others. It can hurt people trying to establish themselves in their careers when they get taken advantage of by such dirty people. A great thing about South Korea and other countries is that women have freedom of speech to speak out to fight back. They should continue doing so, I support them. Lee Chol (arrived 2012) I heard about "me-too" recently. I was surprised that such a thing would be happening in the USA for so long. I am a man, but I have no sympathy for those powerful people who have gotten caught abusing women. Misbehavior cannot be allowed and those who force others into sex or even rape them should be punished. So I'm happy to see those people are in trouble. I also want to say that the "worst" me-too is in places like China and North Korea. So many North Korean women are sold into sex slavery, sold off to farmers. They can't go to the media or police to talk about crimes against them and no one there loses a job when they get caught. Compiled by Casey Lartigue, Jr. and Lee Eun-koo, co-founders of the Teach North Korean Refugee Global Education Center (TNKR) Hanson Robotics chief scientist Ben Goertzel, center, moderates a debate on the future of humanity between Sophia, left, and Han at the RISE 2017 technology conference in Hong Kong in this July 2017 file photo. Both Sophia and Han are humanoids made by Hanson Robotics. / Courtesy of Connected Intelligence By Park Jae-hyuk People appear to have come closer to possibly coexisting with robots having strong resemblances to them, as technology is helping "humanoids" overcome "the uncanny valley," the hypothesis stating that once robots resemble humans, but not fully, they incite horror and discomfort in people. Since the concept was coined by Japanese robotics professor Masahiro Mori in the 1970s, it has explained the reason why people regard less-humanlike robots, such as Lotte's concierge robot and a Seoul whisky bar's bartender robot carving ice, as adorable, while news outlets describing lifelike robots as "creepy creatures." However, some humanlike robots have presented their potential to defeat the hypothesis Sophia, a very-humanlike robot created by the Hong Kong-based Hanson Robotics, is an example. At the RISE 2017 technology conference held in Hong Kong in July last year, the humanoid did not terrify anyone among the thousands of attendees at the global conference for startups. Modeled after actress Audrey Hepburn and company founder David Hanson's wife, "she" was the most popular speaker at the event, attracting a large number of spectators to her debate on the future of humanity with an earlier version named Han, a male-like humanoid. When the two came to a space for media on the sidelines of the sessions, journalists worldwide felt awe and wonder rather than fear and discomfort. Jeanne Lim, the chief marketing officer at Hanson, told Forbes last year that the uncanny valley is a popular concept, but not a proven fact. David Hanson also extrapolated on how humanoid robots can be likable in his published paper, "Upending the Uncanny Valley," despite the conception that anything "fake human" will trigger a revulsion in people. "We feel that for realistic robots to be appealing to people, robots must attain some level of integrated social responsibility and aesthetic refinement," he wrote. "Rendering the social human in all possible detail can help us to better understand social intelligence, both scientifically and artistically." Sophia herself mentioned the issue as well. Asked about the uncanny valley at Saudi Arabia's Future Investment Initiative last year, she answered: "Oh, am I really that creepy? Well, even if I didn't get over it, actually people like interacting with me sometimes, even more than a regular human." As they said, people have been open-minded toward a robot having 62 facial expressions, the ability to answer most questions and having a "sense of humor." Last year, Sophia was granted citizenship in Saudi Arabia, being the Middle Eastern country's only woman who is not required to wear hijab. Also, she was the most popular speaker at the United Nations Economic and Social Council last year. Oh Jun-ho, a professor of mechanical engineering at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), supported the possibility as well. In conjunction with Hanson, he developed Albert HUBO, a humanoid robot with an animatronic head in the likeness of Albert Einstein. "I modeled after the old man's face, so as to overcome the uncanny valley," he said. "Because old men's faces are imperfect, people feel less discomfort, although the robot's facial expressions are a bit awkward." He expects robots can serve as announcers and actors, instead of people, if they fully overcome the uncanny valley. However, he was skeptical about using humanoids in the services industry, unless there is enough advancement in artificial intelligence technology. "Sophia is still able to answer simple questions only or give wise answers to silly questions," he said. Kim Hyun-suk, fifth from left, head of Samsung Electronics' consumer electronics division, and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, third from right, pose with other high-profile guests during a ceremony to celebrate the official start of operations at the firm's new washing machine factory in Newberry, Friday. Cho Yoon-je, fourth from left, ambassador to the United State, also attended the event. Samsung will provide an inaugural washer to the Newberry County Museum to mark the historic day. / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics By Park Si-soo POSCO DAEWOO has formed a partnership with Incheon to help small- and medium-sized companies in the city west of Seoul. The Incheon-based trading company will help them by taking advantage of its extensive international sales and distribution network. The company said Sunday it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Incheon. The signing ceremony was attended by POSCO DAEWOO CEO Kim Young-sang, Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok and VIP guests from the Incheon Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) and other related organizations. Besides the ceremony, they discussed how to help small companies in Incheon expand into overseas markets and promote MICE business. MICE is an acronym for Meeting (corporate conferences), Incentive (corporate training and incentive travel), Convention (by international organizations and academic groups) and Event/Exhibition (including exhibitions and trade shows). POSCO DAEWOO said it would soon open a promotional pavilion dedicated to made-in-Korea products in the Chinese city of Chengdu, featuring products made by small companies in Incheon. The city will fund the project and find new up-and-coming companies, while the ICCI will select and manage companies that want to promote their products in the pavilion. POSCO DAEWOO and Incheon jointly opened the first pavilion of this kind in Yiwu, China, in June. It featured products from 60 small- and medium-sized Korean companies, including 20 based in Incheon. It sells Korean cosmetics and daily necessities. The company plans to open more pavilions in China and Southeast Asia. POSCO DAEWOO will also help MICE-related companies in Incheon, promote them at international conventions and co-host related international events with the city. "The promotional pavilion has contributed to the stable growth of small companies in Incheon," said POSCO DAEWOO CEO Kim Young-sang. "We will continue to explore ways to help them." The first trial date has been set for a lawsuit by a state against pharmaceutical companies over the opioid epidemic. Oklahoma is one of at least 13 states that have filed lawsuits against drugmakers, alleging fraudulent marketing of drugs that fueled the opioid epidemic. State Attorney General Mike Hunter says a judge has granted his request for a May 28, 2019, trial date for the lawsuit against Purdue Pharma, Allergan, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Teva Pharmaceuticals and several of their subsidiaries. The companies deny wrongdoing. Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine's office says other states that are suing are Alaska, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, South Carolina and Washington state. Lawsuits by Native American tribes and dozens of local governments are also pending. Rome, January 11 - Italy's Invitalia Global Investment and the Iranian banks Bank of Industry and Mines and Middle East Bank on Thursday signed a Master Credit Agreement setting terms and conditions for future investment contracts worth up to five billion euros. The contracts will span the sectors of energy, infrastructure, chemicals, petrochemicals and metallurgic, the two sides said. The contracts will be covered by a sovereign guarantee issued by the Iranian government, the parties said. Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan and Iranian Deputy Economy Minister Mohammad Khazaee hailed the deal. Khazaee is also head of the Organization for Investment, Economic and Technical Assistance of Iran (OIETAI). Its been just over six years since the last Ford Ranger pickup rolled off the assembly line, and Ford Motor Co. is ready to make the small-size truck for North American markets again. But this time, its a mid-size pickup, and it looks a lot more like the current F-150 than the former Ranger. Production on the new truck will begin in late 2018 for the 2019 model year. It will be powered by Fords 2.3-liter EcoBoost gasoline engine and mated to the companys 10-speed automatic transmission. The new Ranger will be available in both two-wheel- and four-wheel-drive configurations. Making the announcement on the eve of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Ford truck marketing manager Todd Eckert said the new pickup, while based on the Ranger the company has sold in the global market since 2011, features an all-new exterior design, chassis and powertrain developed specifically for the North American truck market. Advertisement Were not just bringing the global Ranger here and dropping it into the U.S. market, Eckert told The Times. The powertrain and the off-road packages are both unique to the U.S. market. That means that, unlike Fords bigger trucks, the new Ranger will not be offered with a diesel engine at least not at first nor with a manual transmission. The reinvented Ranger will allow Ford, which dominates the full-size truck market but has not had anything to offer in the competitive midsize segment, to sell against Toyotas Tacoma, Chevys Colorado, Nissans Frontier and GMCs Canyon. Its about time, said Kelley Blue Book senior analyst Karl Brauer. The old Ranger was kind of an enigma as the last compact truck on the market, after the Tacoma, the Frontier and the Canyon all got bigger, Brauer said. The new one is not little anymore, so it has finally caught up with the midsize trucks. Like its larger F-150 sibling, the Ranger will feature a high-strength steel frame paired with frame-mounted steel bumpers. It will feature some aluminum parts, also like the F-150, including the hood and tailgate. Eckert said the reinvented Ranger is expected to offer best-in-class torque and payload. The new Ranger will be built in the Wayne, Mich., factory that currently builds the Focus. Ford is shifting production of that vehicle to plants in China and will use the freed-up factory space to make Rangers starting this year and new Broncos starting in 2019. Advertisement Eckert said the truck will come standard with driver assist technology like automatic emergency braking. Safety features including blind spot detection, lane-keep assist and lane-departure warning will be available on higher trim levels. The truck will be compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The FX4 Off-Road Package will include skid plates, off-road shocks and suspension, and heavy-duty tires. To be sold in supercab and supercrew configurations, the Ranger will be available in three trim lines the entry level XL, the mid-level XLT and the high-end Lariat. It also will be offered with a Ranger-specific off-road package. Other key details, such as pricing, payload, fuel economy and towing capacities, have not been revealed. The truck itself will be on display at the Ford exhibit during the Detroit Auto Show, which will be open to the public from Jan. 20-28. Advertisement charles.fleming@latimes.com @misterfleming In a glass conference room in midtown Manhattan, a few dozen employees from Beacon Health Options are taking turns asking each other an incredibly awkward question: Are you having thoughts of suicide? Theres a right way to ask and a wrong way, and theyre here to learn the difference. The exercise is just one component of an eight-hour course in mental health first aid, a relatively new kind of training that, like first aid or CPR, is designed to give ordinary people tools to help someone in need. And as with first aid and CPR, companies have begun to see the value in having employees who have the skills to say something, if they see something. About 40 employers have trained more than 1,300 people over the last two years, according to the National Council for Behavioral Health, which imported the program from Australia in 2008 and adapted it for Americans. This year, it plans to train 6,000 workers through company-sponsored courses. Aetna Inc., George Washington University, real estate developer Lendlease Group and the healthcare technology companies Cerner Corp. and Netsmart Technologies have all sponsored workshops for their employees. Theres a growing recognition that mental health and addiction problems are having an impact in many ways, driving up healthcare costs and absenteeism, said Betsy Schwartz, vice president of public education and strategic initiatives at the council. Advertisement More than a quarter of workers reported some level of depression or anxiety in a 2015 survey by the American Psychological Assn., but the most common workplace solution employee assistance programs is notoriously unpopular. Most employees dont want to call an employer-sponsored program for help. Beyond offering good benefits, employers tend to duck more holistic solutions to workers mental stress. That challenging piece is really creating a culture where the organization is tuned in to employee well-being, said David Ballard, who leads the APAs Center for Organizational Excellence. When Jessica Caskey was working in human resources at a national park in Alaska, an employee placed an explosive device outside his boss office. In many ways, things turned out as well as possible. The police came, nobody was hurt, and after the employee was released from custody, Caskey fired him. Looking back, though, Caskey thinks she couldve handled it better. The employee had showed signs of suffering from some sort of mental health illness, Caskey said. Nobody took the time to dive in and figure out what was happening. The mental health first aid classes are designed to help people like Caskey do just that. Last year, she was one of 41 managers at Taos ski resort in New Mexico who took the course. Were not making anyone a clinician, Schwartz said. Were just teaching, as a clergy person told me recently, how to be good neighbors. Employees at the Taos resort face specific kinds of emotional stress. At the end of the ski season, most of the 700 temporary staffers will be out of a job, noted Ashley Ryland, the employee wellness coordinator at the resort. Ski patrollers, most of whom are certified EMTs, act as first responders to accidents and other distressing situations, making them particularly vulnerable to mental illness. The course covers the signs and symptoms of anxiety, depression and other common mental health disorders that people might observe among their coworkers. In one exercise, participants role-played what it feels like to hear a constant stream of paranoid thoughts. In another, groups were given art supplies so they could draw what anxiety looks like. As a mnemonic device, the instructors teach an acronym called Algee: Assess risk, listen non-judgmentally, give reassurance and information, encourage people to get appropriate professional help and encourage self-help and other support strategies. Advertisement Since she took the training last year, Caskey said shes used her Algee skills. A housekeeper recently uncharacteristically missed two days of work in a row and then left an incoherent voice message for her supervisor. Before she took the training, Caskey would have probably started disciplinary action. This time, she got on the phone. Her voice was trembling, she was crying, and she kept saying I just cant do it anymore, Caskey said. I jumped into action. I talked to her again, using what the counselors had taught: calm words, very quiet, not too excited. I gave her a feeling of value and purpose. A few weeks later, the housekeeper came back to her job. Greenfield and Tozzi write for Bloomberg. The realization that houses might simply vanish didnt start to set in until a 30-foot tree trunk barreled by. Trina Grokenberger stared out the upstairs window of her white Colonial house Tuesday morning, as a river raged through her front yard. It was 3:58 a.m. Dave! she called to her husband. We cant leave now, right? Thats all trees coming down the driveway. Advertisement Their white Land Rover was parked below, with the suitcase they had packed. They knew they were in a voluntary evacuation zone and that officials had warned of possible flooding and debris flows. In December they left for five days under a mandatory evacuation during the Thomas fire. Now the word voluntary had given them a false sense of comfort. They lived on a low slope, just a half mile from the freeway far from the steep mountain canyons where they expected the real damage to occur. Oh my God, hurry! she said. :: Monday night, a storm pushed into the Santa Ynez range above Montecito on the slopes burned bare just last month. By 2 a.m., disaster was unfolding with astounding intensity and speed. Rainwater poured down canyons, picking up ash, dirt, sticks and rocks. The debris ruptured a gas main. Fire lighted the sky orange. At 3:38 a.m., the storm unleashed its rain on the mountainside, dropping a half-inch in five minutes that drenched miles of precipitous terrain before draining into four creeks that cross Montecito to the ocean. The burned and waxy soil had no time to absorb the rainwater. Advertisement Boulders crushed cars. Mud and logs tore houses apart as if they were made of dust. People stood little chance. In normal times, Montecito Creek, the easternmost stream, gently flowed under stone bridges, through concrete and boulder channels. It was now in no mood to meander, no mood to abide by any efforts humans had employed to claim control debris basins, channel walls, culverts, sandbags, emergency alerts and, particularly lethal, the distinction between mandatory and voluntary evacuation zones. Advertisement The torrent rolled 2-ton stones and uprooted enormous trees. At his home, 60 feet above the creek, Jeff Bermant woke up to windows rattling and his bed shaking. Earthquake, he thought. The shaking stopped and started; it was not the same rhythm as an earthquake. He looked out his window and noticed the rain and the orange glow of a fire in the distance. Advertisement Four of his friends would die before daybreak. A home in the Romero Canyon area is surrounded by mud and debris in Montecito. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times ) :: At 4 a.m., roiling walls of detritus were racing down all four creeks. Advertisement A few hundred feet above the Grokenberger house on Hot Springs Road, Montecito Creek didnt make the east turn it was supposed to at the channel to go under the little bridge. It pushed straight through the neighborhood. From upstairs, the Grokenbergers son, 27-year-old Billy, heard a crash below. He had been videotaping the destruction from a window and continued filming as he walked down the stairs. Blackish mud four feet deep covered the bottom floor. The mud had come through the back and pushed out the front door, jambs and all. Outside, the river roared past, glowing orange under the light of the distant fire. The home of their next-door neighbors to the north, the Cantins, was gone. Advertisement Behind them, their close friends, John McManigal and his son Connor woke up to noise. The only ones home, they stood next to each other as their house twisted, the roof opened up and the floor gave way. They clung to each other underwater, until the current ripped them apart. Connor, 23, found himself racing downstream. Other people were caught by the water also sucked under the current, bashed by rocks, snagged in giant root balls of trees. Many were swept into San Ysidro Creek, a little over a mile to the northeast. The mudflow buried homes up to their eaves, packed the insides of some with timber and rocks, obliterated others. Advertisement Josie Gower had stacked two rows of sandbags around her home on East Valley Road, in the voluntary evacuation zone. The 69-year-old had an adventurous streak. She was a world traveler who met her ex-husband, a farmer from New Zealand, on a trip to the South Pacific. Having survived the Thomas fire last month made the predictions of this storm seem benign by comparison. But the rain was heavy enough that she woke up at 3 and watched it with her boyfriend, Norm Borgatello. They stepped out the front door to look, her family described later, and a cold sludge of gravel and mud and boulders picked them up. She tried to hold onto the door frame, but the force was overwhelming. He was thrown against a fence and pinned there, buried in mud up to his neck. She was swept away. Advertisement Josie! he called out, over the roaring river. Josie! Sheriffs deputies carry a body from the debris near Hot Springs Road in Montecito. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times ) :: With the forecasted heavy rain, and the vast denuded slopes above, the Montecito Fire Protection District had prepared for major flooding. Backup units from across the state were called in. Teams of firefighters were placed across town and some patrolled the streets. Advertisement As the creeks overran streets and bridges, some crews suddenly found themselves cut off from places where they were needed. Many units were staged down the hill along Coast Village Road, near the 101 Freeway, because it was easier to gain access from below than trying to cross the creeks higher up. Capt. Adam Estabrook and his Santa Barbara County Fire Department crew headed up to the hard hit area along Montecito Creek. They knew a way to come at it from above, to avoid the mud. They parked the engines on a high spot of Hot Springs Road, before it dipped 30 feet down into the mud. The only house standing was the white Colonial. Advertisement Inside, Billy Grokenberger was taking his last video of the ordeal. It was now 4:16 a.m. The giant oaks that shielded their home from the road were gone, as were their three cars. Boulders lay on a shoal of mud that amassed against their home. Estabrook could not believe what he was seeing. The creek was almost 200 yards wide. He and his crew could hear cries for help in the blackness. They trudged through mud, not thinking about the hidden swimming pools and manholes that could suck them under. A power pole had snapped, and downed wires crossed the mud to another pole that was leaning dangerously over the road. As they swept their flashlights over the terrain, they could hear moans. They followed the eerie sound until flashlights caught a glimpse of a mans head. He was barely holding onto a rock, as the current threatened to sweep him away. Advertisement He was covered in so much mud, you couldnt even really tell it was a human being, Estabrook recalled. They lifted him out of the water and walked him to higher ground. Suddenly, they realized the catastrophe that was building. Adrenaline surged as they prepared for a mass rescue operation. The man told them that his wife, his children and his parents were in the house with him when it got washed away. All the firefighters could do was search on foot and call out, hoping to hear responses in the din. No ambulances or equipment could get down in that draw. Advertisement 1 / 53 Firefighters successfully rescued a 14 yr old girl, right, after she was trapped for hours inside a destroyed home in Montecito Tuesday morning. (Mike Eliason / Santa Barbara County Fire Department ) 2 / 53 Santa Barbara County firefighters rescue two men and a woman from flooding and debris flow on Hot Springs Road in Montecito early Tuesday. (Mike Eliason / Santa Barbara County Fire Department) 3 / 53 Contractors for the city of Ventura work to clear a huge tree toppled by wind on South Chestnut street between Main and Santa Clara Streets in downtown Ventura on Tuesday morning. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 53 A car was stuck in a mudslide early Tuesday morning on Topanga Canyon Blvd., in Topanga. (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 53 Mario Romero looks at mud debris covering Maricopa Highway 33 North of Ojai that has several closures due to mud and debris slides covering the roadway Tuesday morning. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 53 Debris and mud cover the entrance of the Montecito Inn after heavy rain brought flash flooding and mudslides to the area. (Daniel Dreifuss / Associated Press) 7 / 53 A rainbow appears over the deadly mudslide in Montecito along Olive Mill Road. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 53 A man walks by destruction along Olive Mill Road in Montecito. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 53 A sheriffs deputy stands near a body covered by a tarp near Hot Springs Road in Montecito after a deadly mudslide swept through the area. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 53 Mangled cars are stuck near Olive Mill Road in Montecito after a major storm hit the burn area Tuesday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 53 Scene from the 300 block of Hot Springs Road in Montecito following debris and mud flow due to heavy rain Tuesday morning. (Mike Eliason / Santa Barbara County Fire Department)) 12 / 53 A mangled car along with other debris is wrapped around a tree along Hot Springs Road in Montecito. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 53 Scene from the 300 block of Hot Springs Road in Montecito following debris and mud flow due to heavy rain Tuesday morning. (Mike Eliason / Santa Barbara County Fire Department) ) 14 / 53 Scene from the 300 block of Hot Springs Road in Montecito following debris and mud flow due to heavy rain Tuesday morning. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 15 / 53 Sheriffs deputies carry a body from the debris near Hot Springs Road in Montecito after a major storm hit the burn area Tuesday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times ) 16 / 53 Orange County search-and-rescue crews look for missing people along Olive Mill Road and Hot Springs Road in Montecito. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 53 A house is left among boulders and mud along Glen Oaks Drive in Montecito. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 18 / 53 The 101 Freeway is covered with mud and debris at Olive Mill Road in Montecito. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 53 Montecito resident Terry Connery, second from left, is assisted on Wednesday by, from left, firefighters Mark Todd, John Cecena and Jeff Shea after the storm. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 20 / 53 A home off of Romero Canyon Road in Montecito is inundated with mud. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 21 / 53 Crews work to clear debris from the closed 101 Freeway at Olive Mill Road in Montecito. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 22 / 53 The 101 Freeway remains closed as mud and debris clog the roadway at the Olive Mill Road overpass in Montecito. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 23 / 53 A member of the search and rescue team inpsects property near a home along Glen Oaks Drive in Montecito. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 24 / 53 Aerial image of mudflow and damage to homes in Montecito. (Matt Udkow / Santa Barbara County Fire Department ) 25 / 53 Ventura County fire Capt. Clay Cundiff searches a home for a woman who was reported missing by friends and family on Lilac Drive and Tollis Avenue in Montecito. She was later found safe. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 26 / 53 A member of the San Bernardino Search and Rescue holds a picture that was found along the East Cold Springs Creek in Montecito after a major storm hit the burn area Wednesday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 27 / 53 Tim ODonnell, a member of the L.A. County Search and Rescue team, searches under Ashley Road along the East Cold Springs Creek in Montecito after a major storm hit the burn area Wednesday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 28 / 53 Travis Zehntner looks over the wreckage of a Glen Oaks Drive home where family friend Rebecca Riskin was killed. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 29 / 53 A home on West Park Lane along San Ysidro Creek in Montecito on Thursday. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 30 / 53 A Cantin family holiday card in a pile of debris in the 300 block of Hot Springs Road in Montecito. From left, Kim, mother who survived; father David, who was killed; son Jack, who is still missing; and daugher Lauren, who was pulled from the family home early Wednesday. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 31 / 53 A structure sits in a tree Friday on East Valley Road in Montecito. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 32 / 53 A dog and its handler from Riverside County search the rubble of a Hot Springs Road home Friday in Montecito. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 33 / 53 Water rises high near a home on East Valley Road on Friday in Montecito. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times ) 34 / 53 A dog helps rescue workers search through rocks, mud and debris for bodies Saturday in Montecito. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 35 / 53 Firefighters look for missing people along Hot Springs Road in Montecito on Saturday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 36 / 53 Los Angeles City firefighter Jeffrey Neu gives water to Faith, a cadaver dog, while searching in a wood pile in Montectio Creek. (Michael Owen Baker / For The Times) 37 / 53 A Montecito freeway sign sits in mud on Highway 101.= (Michael Owen Baker / For The Times) 38 / 53 A view of the Thomas Fire burn zone and San Ysidro Creek in the Santa Ynez Mountains which brought mud and debris into Montecito neighborhoods. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 39 / 53 Los Angeles City firefighter Hollyn Bullock uses a rescue tool to pry open a car door along Montecito Creek. (Michael Owen Baker / For The Times) 40 / 53 Montecito neighbors hug at a candlelight vigil outside the Santa Barbara Courthouse. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 41 / 53 Mourners gather for a candlelight vigil outside the Santa Barbara Courthouse Sunday for victims of the Montecito mudslides. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 42 / 53 Geness Lorien listens to speakers during a candlelight vigil outside the Santa Barbara Courthouse. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 43 / 53 Mourners gather for a candlelight vigil outside the Santa Barbara Courthouse Sunday for victims of the Montecito mudslides. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 44 / 53 Mark Vance shovels mud away from his house on Olive Mill Road in Montecito, California. (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times) 45 / 53 Jesse Rudnick, with the Regional Task Force 1 out of Marin County Fire and Rescue, searches for missing people around a Montecito home. (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times) 46 / 53 Hugo Bautista, left and Jose Garcia, contractors with Union Pacific Railroad make sure track is clear at the Olive Mill Road crossing in Montecito. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 47 / 53 Amtrak has added extra trains and cars for passengers trying to get around the 101 Freeway closure in Montecito. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 48 / 53 Crews continue to clear mud and debris from the 101 Freeway near Olive Mill Road on Tuesday, January 16, 2018. Officials said they hoped to have the freeway opened by next Monday. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 49 / 53 Cal Trans crews work on clearing a drain along the 101 Freeway in Montecito on Tuesday, January 16, 2018. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 50 / 53 A worker takes a breather from directing a bulldozer driver who clears mud from the 101 freeway in Montecito. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 51 / 53 Progress is slowly being made as a worker and trucks traverse a recently cleared portion of the the 101 freeway at Olive Mill Road in Montecito. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 52 / 53 Santa Barbara Supervisor Joan Hartmann, from front left, Jefferson Litten, Hartmanns Chief of Staff, and San Barbara City Councilman Eric Friedman, pink shirt, join others as they applaud first responders, fire fighters and law enforcement whove been aiding in the aftermath of the Montecito mudslide during a community meeting at the La Cumbre Junior High School in Santa Barbara. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 53 / 53 Margaret Stewart, with the Los Angeles City Fire Department, watches as her dog, Veya, tries to locate a victim of the mudslide along Highway 101 at Olive Mill Road in Montecito. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) :: Billy Grokenberger slogged through the mud on the first floor. He could see the firefighters through the wall that had been stripped of everything but the studs. He waded outside and shone his flashlight at them so they could see him. The rescuers got to him and guided the family and their dog to high ground. The three houses surrounding them had disappeared. Advertisement Grokenberger could only hope that their neighbors had evacuated or were on vacation. The people to the south, the Mitchells, were elderly. By this time, more equipment was getting in and ambulances arrived to take people to the hospital. Firefighters began to poke through massive piles of debris that had stacked against standing trees and exposed roots, searching for victims who might have been trapped. About 200 yards downstream from the Grokenbergers house, Montecito firefighters spotted their next-door neighbor, Kim Cantin, on a tangled mound of wood. Advertisement Cantin, 51, had multiple injuries, including a fractured hip. Her husband and two children were missing, she said. They removed her from the pile and put her in an ambulance. As the sun started to rise, a little before 7 a.m., Estabrook and other firefighters were walking by another pile of debris nearby when they heard a slight gasp. Did you hear that? someone said. Firefighters began pulling back chunks of wall, furniture and tree branches digging down into the soupy mud. They found an unconscious girl, maybe 12 years old, almost completely buried. Advertisement They pulled her out, laid her down, cleared her airway and nose and carried her to a fire engine. She was breathing. On the other side of the creek, rescuers came up against a nightmare. Under downed power lines, a crumpled mess of cars, logs, branches, a refrigerator, a chunk of house and mud had hung up against a tree next to a broken gas main. The escaping gas roared like a jet engine, piercing their ears. Montecito Fire Capt. Ben Hauser and Andy Rupp, one of his crew, made their way around it. The cars were empty. Advertisement Then Hauser heard a faint cry. I think I hear somebody! Hauser yelled. They put their ears to the pile. I think I hear it, too, Rupp said. Advertisement Fire Department! they shouted. A faint voice called back. Rupp climbed up the 15-foot pile, staying clear of the wires. He put his ear to the pile. Are you OK? he asked. She screamed but Rupp could barely hear her. She was not hurt badly, she said, and she was alone. Advertisement He stuck his head in a hollow space by a piece of roof and shone his flashlight. Can you see my flashlight now? he asked. He spotlighted different areas until she said she saw the light. He guessed that she was directly underneath where he stood. Rupp started plucking out sticks and small pieces of wood. Advertisement He grabbed a twig, and she yelped, Ow. Rupp was confused. You pulled my hair, she said. He reached down and saw strands of hair on a round surface. He pushed on it. Is this your head? Advertisement Yeah, she said. The girl was squatting, bent over with her chest at her knees, lodged between roof beams. As they spoke to her, they realized she was Lauren Cantin, 14, the daughter of the woman with the fractured hip. She was all but entombed in debris. It was going to take hours to remove her. They couldnt use power tools for fear of igniting that fuel. Even a hand saw could cause a spark. By now they were getting reports of a second rainstorm coming fast. They were in the middle of its path. Though Hauser feared the rescue would put dozens of firefighters in danger, he called for help. Advertisement An hour later, the gas leak stopped. They got out the power tools. They considered a chain saw, but the mud and rocks would wear the teeth to nothing. They pulled out a hydraulic cutter capable of slicing through wood, metal, rock, dirt. Firefighters rescue Lauren Cantin, 14, right, after she was trapped for hours inside a destroyed house in Montecito. (Mike Eliason / Santa Barbara County Fire Department ) Rupp held the girls hand. Mud covered her eyes, face and hair. She kept saying how cold she was. She asked about her family. We found your mom, Rupp said. Shell be OK. Advertisement They freed her around 8 a.m. They didnt know her father, David, had died. In just a few hours, the flooding destroyed 65 homes over 30 square miles and damaged 462. At least 20 bodies had been recovered by Sunday. On San Ysidro Creek, Gowers boyfriend, Borgatello, called her name for hours. Firefighters found her body about a mile downstream, identifiable only by fingerprints. Advertisement Neighbors on all sides of the Grokenberger house died. Next door to the south, James and Alice Mitchell, 89 and 78, respectively, never made it out of the flood. Jack Cantin, 17, is still missing. McManigal, 61, a husband and father of six boys he doted on, died in the storm. Advertisement His son Connor was found a half mile from their house, on the flooded 101 Freeway. He is recovering in a hospital. Times staff writers Joseph Serna, Laura J. Nelson and Ruben Vives contributed to this story. joe.mozingo@latimes.com | Twitter: @joemozingo Advertisement brittny.mejia@latimes.com | Twitter: @brittny_mejia matt.hamilton@latimes.com | Twitter: @MattHjourno UPDATES: 11:55 a.m.: This article was updated with the recovery of another body Sunday. Advertisement This article was originally published at 6 a.m. A driver who later admitted to using narcotics crashed his car into the second-floor dental offices of a Santa Ana building today, according to police. The white sedan was partially wedged into the second story of the office building, Santa Ana Police Department reported. A specialized fire truck from Los Angeles was brought in to extract the car from the dentists office. Officers were dispatched at 5:25 a.m. to the 300 block of East 17th Street. Investigators determined that the motorist had been speeding north on French Street, approaching 17th Street. The sedan then struck the raised center median on 17th Street, which launched the vehicle into the air. Firefighters from Los Angeles County and the Orange County Fire Authority extricated the occupants of the vehicle while its front end was still lodged high in the building. At First African Methodist Episcopal Church in South Los Angeles on Sunday morning, Senior Minister J. Edgar Boyd was met with murmurs of disapproval when he urged his mostly African American congregation to pray for the president of the United States. When Boyd asked God to hold Trump accountable for his words, his deeds and his actions, the disapproval turned to applause. Another pastor, Rev. Charolyn Jones, offered inspiration from the Jews who were held captive in Babylon and followed Gods advice to build houses, grow food and raise families. When people are constantly subjected to racist, vile, offensive and divisive remarks by a leader they may not have voted for, they should continue to hope and look to the future, whether by speaking out against racism or by running for public office, Jones said. Advertisement After the 10 a.m. service, church members said Martin Luther King Jr., whose birthday will be celebrated Monday as a federal holiday, would be disappointed, even horrified, to hear what Trump allegedly said recently about immigrants from Africa and Haiti. During a White House meeting with lawmakers last week, Trump asked why the United States would accept immigrants from shithole countries in Africa and the Caribbean and said the U.S. needed more people from places like Norway, according to two people briefed on the meeting. The fact that hed say something like that then turn around and talk about commemorating Martin Luther King is really hypocritical, said Archie Shackles, 65, of Trump. Shackles grew up in Texas during segregation and recalls having to step off the sidewalk to let white people go by. Trump, he said, wants to put African Americans in an even lower place than that. Hed love to take us back all the way to slavery, said Shackles, a librarian and member of the church choir. Shackles said those who oppose Trump should try to remove him from office and mobilize voters in elections down to the local level. Reggie Lee, a fashion designer, said Trump has made African Americans feel they are not equal to whites. Advertisement King worked so hard to make people feel equal, said Lee, 55. Now, I feel my race puts me in a category where my self-esteem has been tainted. Karen Jordan, a retired probation officer, remembers seeing television footage of civil rights activists being attacked by police dogs when she was a girl. Trumps remarks last week represent how he really thinks about African Americans and people of color, Jordan said. He has no filter. Its terrible. He doesnt represent the U.S. as it was established to be. But Jordans friend, Adrienne Parker, said she took heart from Sundays sermons. Advertisement Hope is still alive, she said. carlos.lozano@latimes.com Los Angeles County sheriffs detectives are investigating a triple homicide in Palmdale, authorities said Sunday. Deputies discovered three bodies while conducting a welfare check at a home in the 11 block of Avenue N-12 about 4 p.m. Saturday, according to a statement from the Sheriffs Department. A sister of one of the victims notified officials after she became concerned about her brother, authorities said. A man in his 80s, believed to be the father of the woman who called authorities, was found dead inside the home on Avenue N-12; his son and daughter-in-law, both in their 50s, were found dead at another location, according to the sheriffs statement. Advertisement They have not officially been identified. The exact cause of death has not been determined, but sheriffs officials said the three victims suffered some trauma to their bodies. No arrests have been made. Anyone with information about the incident can call the Sheriffs Department homicide bureau at (323) 890-5500. carlos.lozano@latimes.com Federal immigration authorities, in a victory for so-called Dreamers, quietly announced they have resumed accepting requests for renewals in DACA, the Obama-era program that shielded hundreds of thousands of young immigrants from deportation. Until further notice, if you already applied for #DACA and it was expiring, this is your chance to reapply, California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra tweeted Saturday night. The governments announcement, made without fanfare on a website Saturday, came four days after a federal judge in San Francisco issued an order temporarily blocking the Trump administrations decision to phase out the program. In a statement posted on its website, Citizenship and Immigration Services said, Due to a federal court order, USCIS has resumed accepting requests to renew a grant of deferred action under DACA. Advertisement DACA refers to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. The program allowed some young immigrants in the country illegally to obtain two-year permits to stay legally, work and attend school. Saturdays announcement means that individuals who had been granted deferred action may request a renewal. The government is now accepting requests from people who had never been granted DACA status. Until further notice, if you already applied for #DACA and it was expiring, this is your chance to reapply: https://t.co/itwYjimmX9 Xavier Becerra (@AGBecerra) January 14, 2018 The preliminary injunction temporarily blocking the halting of DACA was issued Jan. 9 by U.S. District Judge William Alsup in response to lawsuits by the state of California, the University of California and attorneys general from Maine, Maryland and Minnesota. In a tweet a day after Alsup issued the ruling, President Trump denounced the judges action, saying that it just shows how broken and unfair our court system is. Critics said President Obama abused executive power by creating DACA. Last September, Trump ordered that the program end by March, and lawmakers have been working since then to come up with a legislative remedy to protect the Dreamers. Some were brought in the country illegally as children; others entered the U.S. legally but overstayed visas. About 700,000 people obtained protections from deportation through DACA. Advocates for immigrants estimate that each day more than 120 DACA recipients have been losing their protected status because of Trumps order. They estimate that number will swell to 1,000 a day in March unless the program is revived. President Trumps frequent visits to South Florida make the area a high-risk target for terrorism, one that justifies more money from the federal government, Palm Beach Countys top law enforcement agency says. The Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office is pushing for the federal government to boost its funding for terrorism prevention by designating Mar-a-Lago Trumps private club a high-risk critical asset, according to a memo obtained by the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Having the president governing from our county in an area bordered on water on each side in a facility never built to offer the level of protection the president requires is a challenge, Palm Beach County Commissioner Dave Kerner said. We have to continue to supplement our local response. Trump is making his 12th visit to Mar-a-Lago this weekend since becoming president. In South Florida, anti-terrorism grants have been used to purchase automated license plate readers, cameras, mobile command centers, night-vision goggles, rescue boats and other specialized equipment. Advertisement While Mar-a-Lago presents security challenges, Henry Willis, a senior policy researcher with the nonprofit think tank Rand Corp., said he doesnt think it dramatically raises the safety risk for people living in South Florida given recent trends. What we tend to be seeing is many of the most recent attacks are on less defended public spaces and soft targets, he said. When the federal government awards anti-terrorism funds, one factor officials examine is the presence of symbolic targets and landmarks. These dollars are distributed through the Department of Homeland Securitys Urban Area Security Initiative. Homeland Security handed out $580 million in Urban Area Security Initiative funds in the 2017 budget year, including about $5.2 million for South Florida. New York City received the largest grant at $178 million. Palm Beach County has long lagged behind Broward and Miami-Dade counties in Homeland Security grants, according to statistics kept by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Since 2005, agencies in Miami-Dade and Broward counties have been awarded a combined $140 million through the Urban Area Security Initiative, according to state reports. Palm Beach County agencies have gotten just over $1 million. Homeland Security looks at a variety of factors when assessing a citys threat level, Willis said. Those factors include the amount of crucial ports, airports, stadiums and other infrastructure, the number of symbolic targets and the number of people living in the area on terrorism watch lists, he said. Advertisement Mar-a-Lago would likely fall under the high-risk designation, which could include other landmarks such as the White House, Willis said. Funding decisions have been controversial. Orlando the site of the Pulse shooting in 2016 hasnt received anti-terrorism funds through the Urban Area Security Initiative since 2014. Las Vegas leaders argued after the mass shooting there last year that Homeland Security undervalued the citys threat risk, leading to insufficient funding. In a March news conference, West Palm Beach Mayor Jeri Muoio said her city had seen a spike in cyberattacks, which she attributed to the increased attention the region was receiving because of Trumps visits. Advertisement The city needs to spend millions to update its equipment and hire more emergency personnel, she said. The Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office has served as the lead agency supporting the U.S. Secret Service in protecting Trumps estate since Trump was elected. More than 1,300 employees have racked up over 40,000 hours protecting Trump during his visits, an expense that has exceeded $3 million, according to the Sheriffs Office. Ultimately, the county received reimbursement for those expenses in a special appropriation through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. But sheriffs officials say additional Homeland Security funding could help offset future costs. They asked for the high-risk designation in an application to receive reimbursement for overtime costs associated with protecting the president. Advertisement Swisher writes for the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Yenni Sanchez had thought her work was finished. Spared from the threat of deportation by the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, she campaigned to oust Joe Arpaio when he unsuccessfully ran for reelection as Maricopa County sheriff in 2016. She knocked on hundreds of doors in south Phoenixs predominantly Latino neighborhoods to register voters. She made phone calls, walked on college campuses. Her message was direct, like the name of the group she worked with, Bazta Arpaio, a take on the Spanish word basta enough Arpaio. But now, the 85-year-old former sheriff is back and running for Senate. Sanchez, who had planned to step away from politics to focus on her studies at Grand Canyon University, is back as well, organizing once more. If he thinks he can come back and terrorize the entire state like he did Maricopa County, its not going to happen, Sanchez, 20, said. Im not going to let it happen. Advertisement Arpaio enters a crowded Republican primary and may not emerge as the partys nominee, but his bid has already galvanized Arizonas Latino electorate one of the countrys largest and fastest-growing voter blocs. Organizers like Sanchez, who thought they might sit out the midterm elections, rushed back into offices and started making calls. Social media groups that had gone dormant have resurrected with posts reminding voters that Arpaio was criminally convicted of violating a federal court order to stop racially profiling Latinos. Weve been hearing, Is it true Arpaio is back? OK, what can we do to help? said Montserrat Arredondo, director of One Arizona, a Phoenix nonprofit group focused on increasing Latino voter turnout. People were living in terror when Arpaio was in office. They havent forgotten. In 2008, 796,000 Latinos were eligible to vote in the state, according to One Arizona. By 2016, that potential voting pool jumped to 1.1 million. (California tops the nation with the most Latinos eligible to vote, almost 6.9 million.) In 2016, Latinos accounted for almost 20% of all registered voters in Arizona. Latinos make up about 30% of Arizonas population. Getting voters to the polls is another matter. In 2016, Latino voter turnout was 44%. Voter turnout and registration typically dip in midterm election years, and thats been the case with Latinos in Arizona. In 2010, 26% of Latinos eligible to vote cast a ballot, according to One Arizona. In 2014, the figure was even worse, with only 18% of eligible Latinos voting. One Arizona now hopes that at least 350,000 Latinos about one third of those eligible will vote in 2018. Advertisement He and Trump are energizing our base and, unlike other demographics in the state, our base is growing, Arredondo said. This, in turn, helps Democrats in a red state that, with Latino voters, is inching closer to purple with each election. Montserrat Arredondo, director of One Arizona, says of former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio: People were living in terror when former Sheriff Joe Arpaio was in office. They havent forgotten. (Kurtis Lee / Los Angeles Times ) Last year, President Trump pardoned Arpaio of a criminal conviction for violating a federal court order to stop racially profiling Latinos. When announcing his candidacy Tuesday, Arpaio pledged his full support to the president and his policies. On Saturday, Arpaio made his first public appearance since announcing his candidacy, attending a gathering of Maricopa County Republicans. He was unmoved when asked about the enthusiasm his candidacy has created among Latinos. Advertisement Many of them hate me for enforcing the law, he said. I cant change that. All I know is that I have my supporters, theyre going to support who they want. Im in this to win it though. Arpaio, gripping about a dozen red cardboard signs that read We need Sheriff Joe Arpaio in DC, walked through the crowd where he mingled with, among others, former state Sen. Kelli Ward and U.S. Rep. Martha McSally, who also are seeking the GOP Senate nomination. Overall, Arpaio was widely met with enthusiasm from attendees. So glad youre back, said a man wearing a Vietnam Veteran hat. Its great to be back, Arpaio replied. Advertisement Arpaio, who handed out business cards touting his once self-proclaimed status as Americas toughest sheriff, said he had no regrets from his more than two decades in office. Not a single one, he said. I spoke my mind and did what needed to be done and would do it the same in a minute. In an interview, Arpaio, who still insists he has evidence that former President Obamas birth certificate is forged, a rumor repeatedly shown to be false, did not lay out specific policy platforms, only insisting hell get things done in Washington. During his tenure as sheriff, repeated court rulings against his office for civil rights violations cost local taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. Advertisement To Ricardo Zamudio, 26, Arpaios reemergence sapped him of the rush of relief hes felt since 2016. No more racial profiling by local deputies, he remembers thinking at the time, no more crossing the street to avoid patrol cars. For eight years, Zamudio, also a DACA recipient, had worked to defeat Arpaio. Like Sanchez, hed made phone calls, sent Facebook messages, then followed up with eligible voters in person. The anger people had from the unjust treatment just boiled over, he said thinking back to Arpaios defeat. The work had paid off we got him. Zamudio, whose family brought him here from Mexico when he was 9, said his parents often thought of moving to California or Nevada to get away from Arpaio. Ultimately, they decided to stay. Advertisement This is our home, he said, noting that when he makes his pitch to register voters he highlights his immigration status. I tell them I cant vote, but they can. Ill be telling them that a lot this year. kurtis.lee@latimes.com Twitter: @kurtisalee ALSO Advertisement Trump sends message with Arpaio pardon: The federal government expects local help enforcing immigration laws The loud fight over what will happen to Americas Dreamers isnt what it seems. For both sides, its a fig leaf used to mask their true intentions. In his first term, Barack Obama admitted that he had no constitutional authority (Im president, Im not king) to grant amnesties. Yet during his campaign for reelection in 2012 he created the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which conferred a temporary reprieve from deportation to young people brought to this country as minors. Now Democrats are demanding the preservation and institutionalization of the DACA program. One day soon, they will likely demand its expansion. They do not control either house of Congress or the presidency. They do not enjoy a majority of state legislatures and governorships. To get their way, they are counting on either favorable public opinion or threats to shut down the government. Democrats are so focused on the 800,000 Dreamers less than 10% of the undocumented population because theyre politically photogenic and for now seen as the easiest group to exempt from efforts to control illegal immigration. In blanket fashion, the media consistently report that they are model youth, fulfilling their proverbial dreams of finishing college and achieving upward mobility. Advertisement An irate public has had it with open borders. That narrative lacks subtlety, if its not outright deceptive. The average age of DACA participants is now 24. Few after entering adulthood sought to address their known illegal status. Surveys suggest that most are not in school; fewer than 5% have graduated from college. Those employed earn a median hourly wage of $15.34, which means they are forced to compete on the lower end of the wage ladder. Only about a tenth of 1% of DACA youth serve in the U.S. military fewer than 900 total. Setting aside the reality of the Dreamer pool, the Democrats method of fighting for DACA suggests that they are broadly in favor of letting immigration dysfunction continue apace. Why else would they refuse to give President Trump any significant concessions in the DACA negotiations no wall, no end to chain migration, no cessation of visa lotteries? They know that if this generation of Dreamers gets a pass without broader reform, it will be followed by another and another, all expecting the same eventual exemptions. Democrats once used to talk about ending outright illegal immigration. They worried that it put downward pressure on wages. They thought it eroded union efforts and sapped political support among Democrats blue-collar base, while overtaxing finite social services to the detriment of the American underclass. In the current age of identity politics, a new generation of progressive Democrats has recalibrated mass illegal immigration as a godsend. Over the last 20 years, it has vastly expanded the Latino vote as well as empowered ethnic tribunes. Immigration has galvanized minority registration in general and encouraged bloc voting. One tangible result is that the American Southwest is slowly turning blue, or at least purple. Many pre-Trump Republicans favored illegal immigration too, although for different reasons: They worried more about obtaining workers rather than future constituents and voters. The Chamber of Commerce/Wall Street wing of the GOP thus ignored the issue for the last half-century. Inexpensive industrious workers were welcomed by the construction, landscaping, agriculture, hotel and restaurant industries. The social costs of providing parity for these workers and their dependents from the poorest regions of Mexico and Latin America arriving for the most part without legality, English, or high school diplomas were always passed on to the taxpayer. Advertisement Now, however, a newly ascendant conservative base objects to illegal immigration for many of the same reasons Democrats did historically. One exception, of sorts, is that even most hard-liners do not wish suddenly to deport all 10 million immigrants in the U.S. illegally, at least those who have not committed crimes, are not on public assistance, are fully employed and are willing to pay fines and to learn English to obtain green cards. The Dreamer debate is therefore an easy one for the many Beltway Republicans not truly committed to fixing our immigration system. Theyre all too happy to extend de facto amnesties and wont face much backlash for doing so; they just have to appease their constituents by championing, say, some kind of border security in exchange. The result will be a reprieve for Dreamers, a few security agreements and no real answer for how to deal with the more than 10 million immigrants living illegally in the United States, or for how to prevent millions more from following in their footsteps. On these larger issues of immigration, mythologies continue to dominate the conversation. The United States is hardly a xenophobic country. Much less is it anti-Latino. As of 2015, 46.6 million people living in the United States were not born here. That is the highest number in American history about four times greater than the number of immigrants living in any other nation on Earth. One of four California residents was not born in the United States. Advertisement Immigration is not especially diverse. About one in four immigrants in the United States arrived from one country: Mexico. Identity politics largely governs relative immigration enforcement. Yet the current liberal idea of a sanctuary city or state in which federal immigration authorities cannot easily deport convicted alien felons is hardly progressive. The concept of defying federal laws harkens back to the antebellum nullification efforts of defiant state governments that seceded to form the Confederacy. Certainly, California or New Mexico would resent bitterly any other state that likewise nullified the authority of federal laws. California Gov. Jerry Brown would grow irate if Utah or Alabama followed suit in defiance of Washington, declaring elements of national environmental legislation, gun registration statutes or safety standards null and void in their local and state jurisdictions. Advertisement Forgotten also are historic truths about immigration. In the past, immigration has proven a great boon to a host country if it was legal, measured, meritocratic and diverse. That way, assimilation, integration and mastery of native languages and customs were enhanced by immigrants who in turn enriched their adopted country. The opposite holds true of massive, illegal and nondiverse influxes of foreign nationals. The results are too often tribalism, political manipulation and factionalism, as the current multicultural and multiethnic turmoil in the Balkans, Middle East, Africa and now Europe attest. Illegal immigration flourished because Democrats wanted future constituents, and Republicans sought inexpensive labor. But an irate public has had it with open borders and both parties are scrambling to hide their past and present agendas for now by focusing on the idealized Dreamers. Victor Davis Hanson is a senior fellow at Stanford Universitys Hoover Institution. He is author of the Second World Wars. Advertisement Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook When Nathalie Gumpertz arrived in New York in 1858, she was 22, single and ready to build a life in her new country. Without thinking twice about her legal status, she got off the boat, made her way to the Lower East Side (then known as Klein Deutschland, or Little Germany, due to the preponderance of German immigrants in the neighborhood) and eventually married, had four kids and settled at 97 Orchard St., the historic tenement house that is now the heart of the Tenement Museum, where I serve as president. More than six decades later, in 1925, Rosaria Baldizzi arrived in New York to join her husband Adolfo at the same building, 97 Orchard. Baldizzi had a cloud hanging over her head that would remain there for the next two decades, one that Gumpertz never worried about: She had not entered the U.S. legally, and therefore had to worry about possible deportation. What happened to make these two womens experiences so different? In the years between their arrivals, illegal immigration was invented. For those clamoring for a wall against immigrants, it may come as a surprise to learn that there were no federal laws concerning immigration until well into the history of the United States. When people say my ancestors came here legally, theyre probably right. For the first century of the countrys existence, anyone could land here and walk right off the boat with no papers of any kind, just as Gumpertz did. Coming here illegally did not even exist as a concept. Advertisement There were no federal laws concerning immigration until well into the history of the United States. The first federal general immigration law was enacted in 1882. It prohibited from entering the U.S. any convict, lunatic, idiot, or any person unable to take care of himself or herself without becoming a public charge. In other words, unless you were physically or mentally incapable of taking care of yourself, you were in unless you were Chinese. Thats because the first sweeping federal restriction on immigration also came in 1882, in the form of the Chinese Exclusion Act. Troubled by the influx of Chinese workers who helped build the transcontinental railroads, among other things Congress enacted a wholesale ban on their further immigration that year. To enforce the ban, a bureaucracy had to be created, leading in 1891 to the establishment of the federal Bureau of Immigration, the first body charged with enforcing federal immigration law. Beyond these restrictions, however, federal immigration laws remained relatively lax: If you were an able-bodied, non-Chinese person, you could come legally for several more decades. You didnt have to speak a word of English or be literate in any language at all. In fact, it was not until 1917 that Congress required that immigrants pass a literacy test, and even then they could pass in any language, not just English. When a massive influx of new immigrant groups came at the turn of the 20th century Italians from Southern Europe and Jews from Eastern Europe, largely a backlash began to build. In 1924, President Coolidge signed into law the National Origins Act, the primary aim of which was to severely restrict the flow of immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe. The new law required for the first time that immigrants to the U.S. have visas, introducing the concept of having papers to American immigration policy. The concept of being an illegal immigrant pretty much dates back to 1924 less than a century ago. For most of American history, coming here legally meant next to nothing. And almost none of those who came here legally a century ago would make it across the border under todays far more stringent standards. Baldizzi would not become legal until a special immigration provision was enacted to offer amnesty to mainly European immigrants who arrived without proper documentation after 1921, who had established families, and who had already lived in the U.S. for seven years. She applied for legal status under the new policy and earned her citizenship three years later, in 1948. Only then, for the first time in more than two decades, could she stop worrying about her immigration status. Advertisement What constitutes legal immigration has been a moving target throughout our history. Americans who crow about their law-abiding ancestors may want to learn a little more about immigration history before wishing for a return to the good old days when pretty much anyone could come to the U.S. legally. Kevin Jennings is president of the Tenement Museum. He served as assistant deputy secretary of Education under President Obama from 2009 to 2011 and co-founded the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network in 1990. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook On my first day as director of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, in 2011, I walked into my downtown office and was struck by the view: mountains. I had no idea there were mountains in Los Angeles. Having never lived in Southern California, I had a Brooklynites view of L.A.: like New York City, but flattened like a pancake. I immediately called a friend of mine who grew up in L.A. You never told me there were mountains in Los Angeles, I said. You couldnt see them when I was growing up because of the smog, he said. Over the next seven years, I would learn that L.A. had emerged not only from the smog, but from a host of La La Land cliches. Coming from San Francisco, I had feared that I would find L.A. too complacent about healthcare issues that were important to me. After 20 years working in the San Francisco Health Department, anything would seem tame. San Francisco has a long tradition of in-your-face, out-on-the street activism. The AIDS crisis solidified this reputation, as the city coped with an overwhelming epidemic killing young, previously healthy men. Though many cities, including L.A., were affected by the AIDS epidemic, the concentration of gay people in San Francisco translated grief into anger and action. Advertisement L.A. is now home to a population San Francisco has lost. I was part of a team that implemented a needle exchange. Our lawyers warned us that we could be arrested, as needle exchange violated California paraphernalia laws, but no one blinked not my colleagues, not the Board of Supervisors, not Mayor Frank Jordan. Needle exchange was funded using public money in 1993. Other counties followed, including L.A. San Francisco activism was not limited to AIDS. Healthy San Francisco brought the city to near universal healthcare coverage by requiring employers to provide their employees, including those working part time, with health benefits. The program also included people in the country illegally. Another challenging but ultimately successful undertaking was a law to make tobacco vanish from the shelves of San Francisco pharmacies the first such law in the country. Boston and several smaller communities followed. The north-south differences were apparent from the moment I started interviewing for the L.A. job. When then-Supervisor Gloria Molina asked me whether I had any conditions for taking the job, I told her I wanted to continue to see patients. Oh, you wont have time for a private practice, she said. No, I explained, I will see patients in our public hospitals, as I do in San Francisco. She approved, but her initial assumption was telling. I also had an awkward meeting with the sheriffs investigators who vetted me for the L.A. job. They found numerous articles in which I was quoted on the subject of bath houses (as San Francisco health director, I opposed their reopening) and sex clubs (we insisted they not allow unsafe sex), and a photo of me with my arm around the Healthy Penis, a 7-foot cartoon character promoting safer sex. Apparently, I was not the usual new department head. But while L.A. activism is more restrained, I found the countys public health community full of committed colleagues and courageous political and social leaders prepared to stand up for the most vulnerable. These leaders welcomed our departments push to expand care to the uninsured. Now, L.A. has the largest health access program for the residually uninsured in the country, My Health LA. Advertisement Another program, Housing for Health, houses 4,000 people who were previously languishing in hospitals, in emergency rooms and on the streets. With the passage of propositions H and HHH, people voted with their wallets to help the homeless. By comparison, the homeless problem in San Francisco seems almost insurmountable; there is no land to build housing on the tip of that beautiful peninsula. On the whole, the San Francisco of today is very different from the one I moved to in 1986. The intense gentrification and mass immigration of dot-commers has pushed out the artists, the aging hippies and the working poor. In many ways, L.A. is now home to a population San Francisco has lost: people who are struggling with poverty but managing to keep their homes and families together under difficult conditions. Young people are still coming to L.A. to fulfill their dreams; they are not (yet) priced out of the market. What I never completely adapted to was L.A.s size. After all those years in San Francisco a city of 46 square miles the geography of L.A. County still overwhelms me. People say that in L.A. you have to think of yourself as living in a particular neighborhood. But the work of a county health director is not limited to a neighborhood. Advertisement In San Francisco, I could easily bicycle from our Bayview Health Center in the southeast to San Francisco General Hospital in the Mission to our Chinatown Health Services Center in the North. In L.A., it would take two and a half hours to drive from our Long Beach Health Center to the High Desert Regional Health Center and thats assuming no traffic. Perhaps the size of the county explains why, 6 1/2 years into the job, people meeting me for the first time would say: Oh, youre the new guy they just brought down from San Francisco. One thing I love about the size of L.A. is the scope of its diversity. On my daily bicycle ride to the office, from Hancock Park to downtown, I pass through little Bangladesh, a big community of Guatemalans, Historic Filipinotown and the largest community of Koreans outside of Seoul. When I go to our clinic in East L.A., all the signs are in Spanish and all business is conducted in Spanish. I feel that I am fulfilling a lifetime goal of serving as a doctor in Mexico without even having left the U.S., apologizing along the way for my Brooklyn-accented Spanish. Advertisement Now, after 30 years in California, I am happy to be returning to my hometown, New York, a city with the first public hospital in America, Bellevue, and a pioneer in the care of people with HIV/AIDS. I have enjoyed working in both San Francisco and L.A. more than I can say, but the biggest surprise may be this: When it comes to California, its not San Francisco where I am leaving my heart. Mitchell Katz served as director of the Los Angeles County Health Agency and director of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook Gavin Newsom releases ad that highlights his push to allow same-sex couples to marry By Phil Willon A new ad from Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsom features Phyllis Lyon, who with her partner, Del Martin, received the first marriage license after Newsom vowed to allow same-sex couples to marry when he was mayor of San Francisco in 2004. The current lieutenant governors push for marriage equality thrust him into the national spotlight and he has emphasized that effort to portray himself as a bold, progressive leader. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Failed California housing bill was not a bad idea, Gov. Jerry Brown says By Liam Dillon Gov. Jerry Brown (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Earlier this month, high-profile housing legislation that would have allowed for four- to five-story apartments and condominiums near transit stops failed to advance in the state Legislature. But had it reached his desk, would Gov. Jerry Brown have signed it? Maybe. I think that was not a bad idea, Brown said of Senate Bill 827 at a meeting with business leaders from the Bay Area Council on Monday afternoon. The bill, written by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), attracted national attention and a maelstrom of opposition in part because it would have eliminated single-family zoning near transit stops in favor of apartments or condominiums. Brown said that a relative of his who lives in West Portal, a low-density neighborhood in San Francisco, told the governor he was horrified by the bill. Brown also lamented dramatically rising housing costs. He said he bought his first house in Los Angeles in 1973 for $75,000 at a time when his salary as secretary of state was $35,000. Now, he said, buying a house for a little over twice ones annual salary is virtually impossible anywhere in the state. FOR THE RECORD May 1, 9:32 a.m.: This post originally misstated the year Brown purchased his house as 1970. It was 1973. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print John Cox begins California barnstorm with the delivery of gas tax repeal signatures By Javier Panzar Gubernatorial candidate John Cox, left, and Assembly candidate Bill Essayli load boxes of signatures for the gas tax repeal initiative. (Francine Orr) GOP gubernatorial candidate John Cox strolled up to the stack of 12 boxes in front of the Los Angeles County registrar-recorders offices in Norwalk on Monday and placed his hands on top of his partys hope for success in 2018. The boxes, stacked four across and three high, contained 211,000 signatures for an initiative to repeal recent increases in Californias gas tax and vehicle fees. Cox says the effort has gathered more than 940,000 signatures from registered voters to put the measure on the ballot far more than the 585,407 signatures that are required. The aim: to bring out the partys base to the polls this November and help candidates in tough congressional and legislative races down the ticket. A USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll in November found 54.2% of registered voters surveyed said they would repeal the tax and fee hike, but a survey a month earlier by another group said a majority would vote to keep the higher taxes. Cox was flanked by Bill Essayli, a former federal prosecutor who is challenging Democratic Assemblywoman Sabrina Cervantes of Riverside in the June primary. Cervantes voted for the gas tax and Essayli plans to use that vote against her. He even launched his campaign at a 76 gas station in Norco. This is a central issue in my campaign, he said. Cox also submitted signatures in San Diego on Monday and is headed to Bakersfield, Fresno and Sacramento, as well as Shasta and Butte counties in coming days. We are going all across the state, Cox said. The whole state is paying this tax and the whole state wants it gone. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print All Californians would be able to serve on state boards even people in the U.S. illegally under new bill By Jazmine Ulloa Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) State lawmakers on Monday introduced legislation that would allow all Californians to serve on state boards and commissions regardless of immigration status. Senate Bill 174, by Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) and Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo (D-Los Angeles), comes as the state is locked in a broader legal battle with the Trump administration over state immigration laws and his call for mass deportations. Lawmakers point to what they say is the states own discriminatory history as their basis for introducing the legislation. The proposal would amend an 1872 provision that was first adopted to exclude Chinese immigrants and other transient aliens from holding appointed civil positions. At the time, antipathy toward the Chinese had been building in California, though, Chinese immigrants opened hundreds of businesses across the state and would play a critical role in building the transcontinental railroad. The Senate bill would delete the phrase transient aliens from the government code and make clear that any person, regardless of citizenship or immigration status, can hold an appointed civil office if they are at least 18 years old and a resident of the state. That would allow any Californian to serve on hundreds of boards and commissions that advice in an array of policy areas, including farm labor, history and employment development. Californias two million undocumented immigrants are a source of energy for our state, Lara said in a statement. It is shocking to read the words of fear and exclusion that are still in California law but belong in historys trash can. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Tony Mendozas fundraising dries up after resignation amid harassment inquiry By Patrick McGreevy Former state Sen. Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia). (Steve Yeater / Associated Press) Political contributions to Tony Mendoza, who resigned from the state Senate under pressure amid sexual harassment allegations, have nearly dried up. New documents he filed with the state in his bid to reclaim the seat he once held show that his support has eroded. As a result, five other candidates for the 32nd District senate seat in the June 5 election have raised more than Mendoza so far this year. With the June 5 election approaching, Mendoza has reported raising just $7,750 in cash from six supporters during the nearly four-month period from Jan. 1 to April 21. Mendoza, a Democrat from Artesia, went on a leave of absence from the Senate Jan. 3 and resigned a month later under the threat of expulsion from colleagues. An investigation ordered by the Senate found a pattern of unwanted flirtatious or sexually suggestive behavior based on testimony from six women. Mendoza has denied wrongdoing. Last year, Mendozas reelection campaign raised $412,600, or an average of about $34,000 per month, from more than 350 supporters. Most of Mendozas 2018 total was contributed by the political arm of the Southern California Pipe Trades District Council 16 on Jan. 22, a month before Mendoza resigned. Mendoza also reported that his campaign loaned $125,000 this year to his legal defense fund. That left him with $446,600 in his campaign account at the end of April. Mendoza is running against eight Democrats and two Republicans. Democrat Bob J. Archuleta, a Pico Rivera city councilman, raised the most, $210,000, during the period. On Monday, Mendoza suffered another setback when the State Legislative Womens Caucus endorsed Democrat Vicky Santana, a member of the Rio Hondo College Board. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Newsom and Villaraigosa affairs coming to TV ads in California By Phil Willon An independent political committee backing Republican John Cox for governor released an ad blasting both Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for their past sexual affairs. The California Deserves Better ad, which was first reported by Politico, criticizes Newsom for having an affair with a woman on his staff in 2005 while he served as mayor of San Francisco. It also goes after Villaraigosa for having an extramarital affair with a television reporter in 2007 while he was mayor of Los Angeles. The ad, which begins airing on Fox stations in the states top media markets Monday, links Newsom and Villaraigosa to the men accused of sexual impropriety in the #MeToo movement, including movie mogul Harvey Weinstein and disgraced Today show veteran Matt Lauer. Powerful men are finally being held to account, punished for inappropriate sexual conduct with women over whom they exercise power, the ad begins. Newsom and Villaraigosa think the rules shouldnt apply to them. The independent campaign committee, called Restore Our Values, already has raised more than $100,000, said Leigh Teece of Emeryville in Northern California, co-founder of the group. Teece, the CEO of a nonprofit that helps line up students with professional mentors, said the campaign will actively support Cox. She called him a true conservative and noted that he supports cutting taxes and opposes Californias sanctuary state policy. John is a business person who has demonstrated integrity, Teece said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Was that Cisneros in the voicemail? Dispute is latest espisode of Democratic infighting in crowded primary races By Christine Mai-Duc Gil Cisneros speaks during a forum at Fullerton College in January. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) With less than five weeks to go before Californias primary, insults and accusations are flying with abandon in the most crowded races Democrats hope to ultimately win. The latest example of this is in the 39th Congressional District, where a half dozen Democrats are vying for a chance to replace Rep. Ed Royce, whos retiring. Its one of several California contests where Democratic leaders are already worried that divisions could ultimately split votes and shut Democrats out of key pickup opportunities. In that race, millionaires Gil Cisneros and Andy Thorburn are going negative about going negative. Cisneros was recently elevated to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committees Red to Blue program in hopes it would serve as a signal to Democratic activists and donors that his campaign was the most viable. But both Cisneros and Thorburn have poured millions into the race, which promises to be a knock down, drag out fight through June 5. At the center of the latest controversy is a voicemail, allegedly left by Cisneros on Thorburns home answering machine earlier this month. The recording, which the Thorburn campaign turned over to media outlet The Intercept, lasts less than 10 seconds. Hi Andy, its Gil Cisneros. Im gonna go negative on you, a mans voice is heard saying. Cisneros campaign manager Orrin Evans denied the candidate made the call, posting a cease and desist letter to The Intercept on Twitter. The letter, sent by a Cisneros campaign attorney, called the voicemail fabricated and demanded that the story be taken down, calling it defamatory. It gave the publication until 3 p.m. Friday to take down the story before they pursue all legal rights and remedies. An attorney for The Intercept, in a letter to Cisneros, said the publication confirmed with multiple sources familiar with Mr. Cisneros that his voice was on the recording, and that it stands by its reporting. Thorburns camp says it flatly rejects Cisneros denial, and that the timing of a negative website filled with unflattering background on Thorburn, released three days later, suggests it was him. Track the California races that could flip the House According to The Intercepts report, Cisneros campaign manager did not respond to initial inquiries about the voicemail, calling its questions ridiculous. In a follow-up statement Friday, Evans said called the episode a dirty, desperate trick by the Thorburn campaign and said they are readying to pursue legal action for defamation and false light against both him and the publication. It sounded like him to me! said Thorburns wife, Karen, in a statement released by the campaign. She was the one who first heard the voicemail, they said. Thorburn campaign manager Nancy Leeds called Cisneros threats Trump-like tactics and accused the candidate of trying to harass and intimidate anyone who stands in his way. Its not the first time candidates from the same party have clashed in the lead-up to the June 5 primary, and its all but certain to not be the last. Cisneros sued two of his opponents, Thorburn and Sam Jammal, over their ballot descriptions until they had to change them. Earlier this month, Democrat Bryan Caforio asked his opponent, Katie Hill, to sign a pledge rejecting the use of independent expenditure committees, entities that neither of them can legally coordinate with, in the race to unseat Rep. Steve Knight (R-Lancaster). Hill refused and called the attempt hollow and likened it to political theater, while Caforio accused her of empty campaign promises. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California Politics Podcast: The money raised in the race for governor hints at a race thats now red hot By John Myers With less than six weeks before election day, the cash raised in the California governors race mirrors the overall dynamics: one major front-runner and a heated race for second place. This weeks podcast episode offers a glimpse into those cash reports and how the Republican field seems more settled in a new statewide poll than the battle between Democrats. We also examine the reasons why a nationally talked-about housing bill in Sacramento was killed by the Democratic authors own allies. Im joined by Times staff writers Melanie Mason and Liam Dillon. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud and Stitcher. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement L.A. County politician sexually assaulted woman when she was 16, lawsuit claims By Dakota Smith A woman sued an unnamed politician in Los Angeles County on Friday, alleging the man sexually assaulted her when she was a teenager after he gave her an unusual-tasting drink. The politician, identified as John Doe, was in his early 40s and a public figure at the time of the 2007 assault, according to the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. The man is an elected official today and lives in Los Angeles, said attorney Lisa Bloom, who is representing the woman identified in the lawsuit as Jane Doe. Bloom declined to say what branch of government the man represents. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Villaraigosa touts his working-class upbringing, accomplishments as mayor in first TV ad By Phil Willon Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa released his first TV ad in the governors race Friday, touting his record and accomplishments as mayor of Los Angeles when up against the economic downturn during the recession. The 30-second television spot opens with a sweeping shot of Los Angeles and cuts to Villaraigosa sitting on a bus. In kindergarten, my sister and I took three buses to get to school. As mayor, I remembered that, Villaraigosa says into the camera. And despite the recession, we built more new schools and rail lines than any city in America, added 200,000 living wage jobs, built 20,000 units of affordable housing and nearly doubled graduation rates. Campaign spokesman Luis Vizcaino said the ad will air statewide over the next week at a cost of approximately $1 million. The commercial will being airing Saturday. Two Democratic rivals in Californias race for governor, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and state Treasurer John Chiang, also launched ads this week, signaling the biggest ramp-up of the campaign as the June 5 primary approaches. Newsom is the front-runner, while Villaraigosa is battling for second place with Republican John Cox. One recent poll has Villaraigosa trailing both Cox and Republican Assemblyman Travis Allen of Huntington Beach. Chiang has been stuck in the single digits in almost all polling in the race. Last week, an independent expenditure group called Families and Teachers for Antonio Villaraigosa for Governor, funded largely by a trio of wealthy charter school backers, launched a spot in support of the former mayor of Los Angeles. That ad campaign is focused on increasing Villaraigosas chances of coming in second in the June 5 primary and moving on to the general election. Villaraigosas ad, titled Three Buses, emphasizes the struggles he faced growing up in East Los Angeles and addresses one of his central campaign themes that hes the candidate best suited to help working-class Californians. I know how far a bus can take you, Villaraigosa says in the ad. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Sen. Dianne Feinstein wont participate in pre-primary debate By Sarah D. Wire (Tom Williams / CQ Roll Call) California Sen. Dianne Feinstein will not participate in a proposed pre-primary debate because there are too many candidates in the race, her campaign spokesman said Thursday. Political activists with the group Indivisible Los Angeles said they had a venue and date May 5 reserved for a debate with four of the Senate candidates. But they said if Feinstein does not participate, it will be canceled. Feinstein faces 31 primary opponents in her bid for a fifth full term representing California in the Senate. Feinstein staffers initially said she had a prior commitment on May 5 in San Francisco. When organizers offered to let her campaign pick another date, her campaign said it wasnt fair for the group to invite only some of the candidates when there is such a big field, said Tudor Popescu, volunteer community organizer with Indivisible Los Angeles. The invited candidates, all Democrats, were Feinstein, state Sen. Kevin de Leon, political action committee director Alison Hartson and lawyer Pat Harris. They were selected based on fundraising and poll numbers. There are 11 Republicans, 10 Democrats, nine independents and 2 third-party candidates running for Senate on the June ballot. Indivisible Los Angeles is still hoping Feinstein will pick another date, Popescu said. Feinstein spokesman Jeff Millman pointed to a San Francisco Chronicle endorsement of Feinstein, which indicates that she told the editorial board she would be willing to have a debate ahead of Novembers general election. Senator Feinstein looks forward to debating her opponent in the general election, Millman said in an email. Feinstein holds a substantial lead in both fundraising and in the polls. Front-runners in statewide races have routinely declined to debate their challengers, knowing that its free publicity for candidates who dont have the cash to increase their name recognition on their own. De Leon spokesman Jonathan Underland said the state senator has done candidate forums before, but planned to attend the May 5 debate only if Feinstein did. We basically said well clear his calendar 100%, well clear his calendar if Feinstein shows up, Underland said. Wed love to make it happen, but we want her to be there. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement NRA, Olympic shooter sue California over its restrictions on ammunition sales By Patrick McGreevy Olympian Kim Rhode is a plaintiff in a lawsuit filed by the NRA and its state affiliate against California. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) The National Rifle Assn. and its state affiliate have filed a fourth lawsuit against California over its gun control laws, this time challenging new restrictions on the sale and transfer of ammunition. The NRA and the California Rifle and Pistol Assn. filed a challenge in federal court to a requirement that ammunition sales and transfers be conducted face to face with California firearms dealers or licensed vendors, ending purchases made directly from out-of-state sellers on the internet. The lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California also challenged a requirement starting next year for background checks for people buying ammunition. The lawsuit was filed in the name of Kim Rhode, a six-time Olympic medal-winning shooter, and others. It challenges Californias new ammunition sales restrictions as a violation of the 2nd Amendment and the commerce clause of the United States Constitution. Restrictions on ammunition purchases were included in Proposition 63, approved by voters in 2016, and in bills approved by the Legislature. As a result of these laws, millions of constitutionally protected ammunition transfers are banned in California, Chris W. Cox, executive director of the NRAs Institute for Legislative Action, said in a statement. Californias law-abiding gun owners are sick of being treated like criminals and the NRA is proud to assist in this fight. Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is running for governor, defended his initiative and vowed to fight the NRA lawsuit. We wrote Proposition 63 on solid legal ground and principle: If youre a felon banned from possessing guns in California, then you should not be able to purchase the ammunition that makes a firearm deadly, Newsom said in a statement. California voters said loudly and clearly that guns and ammunition do not belong in the hands of dangerous individuals but once again, the NRA has prioritized gun industry profits over the lives of law-abiding Californians. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Republicans hope to ride a gas-tax repeal to victory By Patrick McGreevy In a Central Valley barn decked out in red, white and blue, dairyman and state Senate candidate Johnny Tacherra drew cheers from a crowd of fellow farmers when he said he opposes the California Legislatures hike on gas taxes and vehicle fees. I would not have voted for that. It is not the time to be voting on (raising) the gas tax, said Tacherra, a Republican running against Democratic Assemblywoman Anna Caballero, who voted for the tax increase last year. Three hundred miles away the same week, a campaign mailer arrived at homes in Orange County from an Assembly candidate with a message blaring from the cover in bold type: Republican Greg Haskin tough enough to stand up to Jerry Brown and repeal the gas tax. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Treasurer John Chiang launches ad in governors race touting his record as a fiscal steward By Seema Mehta In his first television ad in the governors race, state Treasurer John Chiang touts his record on fiscal issues as California faced the recession. Some thought we were done, Chiang says in a voiceover in the 30-second spot he released Thursday, with images of him standing seriously at a lectern and complimentary headlines about his work as controller and treasurer. But I knew better. I made the tough calls. And brought California back from the brink of financial disaster because you trusted me to manage our economy. Chiangs campaign is spending about $500,000 to air the ad in Los Angeles and San Diego in coming days. That buy is dwarfed by seven-figure purchases for ads supporting Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Newsom is the front-runner, while Villaraigosa is battling for second place with Republican businessman John Cox. Chiang has been mired in the single digits in almost all polling in the race. His ad, called Quiet Storm, tries to portray Chiang as a progressive who is effective and can move policy in Sacramento. Chiang points to his work challenging Wells Fargo before arguing that he could accomplish what doubters say is impossible to improve the states healthcare, housing and schools. I say, we got this, Chiang concludes. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Been ignoring the race for California governor? Thats OK, in some ways its just starting By Mark Z. Barabak On a recent trip to Iowa, Eric Garcetti the mayor of Los Angeles and a possible 2020 White House contestant raised eyebrows with a bit of exuberant outreach. Los Angeles and Iowa, Garcetti insisted, have a ton in common, and he didnt simply mean both are inhabited by carbon-based life forms needing oxygen to survive. Urban or rural, farmer or fashion plate, all of us harbor the same hopes and dreams, the mayor suggested, and if it wasnt a terribly original thought it also wasnt the most egregious sort of political pandering like, say, ordering that every home in Los Angeles be powered by Iowa-produced ethanol. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California voters should expect to decide on an $8.9-billion water bond in November By Liam Dillon (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) A proposal to borrow $8.9 billion for improvements to Californias water quality systems and watersheds and protection of natural habitats is eligible for the statewide ballot in November, Secretary of State Alex Padilla announced in a press release Wednesday. Padilla said the measure, which is backed by agricultural interests, had exceeded the 365,800 valid signatures it needed to qualify for the general election ballot. The bond measure will appear on the ballot unless proponents withdraw it by June 28, the release said. The bond is one of many voters could decide on in 2018. A $4-billion bond for parks and water infrastructure improvements will appear on the June 5 ballot. State lawmakers approved it last year. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print They came for Darrell Issa. They stayed with their inflatable chicken, blue wall and signs for political therapy By Christine Mai-Duc (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) A mother of two turned ringleader of the resistance and more than a hundred of her faithful followers gathered on Tuesday morning outside Rep. Darrell Issas office in a northern San Diego County suburb. Across the street was her foil, a wedding DJ in a red Make American Great Again cap, setting up hefty speakers for an upcoming war of words. For about 65 weeks the deep divide in America played out along this 100-yard stretch of road in Vista. Here, at 10 a.m. every Tuesday, passersby found signs, chants, songs and, if they were lucky, sometimes a 20-foot-tall inflatable chicken with a Trump-esque coif. Theyd also glimpse the state of the body politic in 2018, a time when shock has turned to anger and post-2016 calls for reconciliation have morphed into grudging acceptance that each side might be better off in their respective corners. Or in this case, their sides of the street. On Tuesday, the anti-Issa, anti-Trump contingent fought this particular battle for the last time, declaring it their final protest at the congressmans office. They said they planned to use their energy to knock on doors and get out the vote, with an occasional protest on the side. Their pro-Trump rivals vowed to show up wherever they do. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Efforts to regulate bail companies have some unlikely allies: bail agents By Jazmine Ulloa Jane Un, chief executive and founder of Abba Bail Bonds, works with a client. ( Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) In recent years, the seriousness and number of official complaints related to the bail industry in California have significantly increased while bail agents and bounty hunters face limited oversight, putting vulnerable communities at risk of fraud, embezzlement and other forms of victimization. This year, as Gov. Jerry Brown has pledged to work with lawmakers in a push to overhaul how courts assign defendants bail and to better regulate bail agencies, even some who profit from the court practice admit its time for regulation. These bail and bail-recovery agents could become unlikely allies, saying they advocate for change because theyve seen the system abuse the poor. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement California voters: Get ready for an onslaught of television ads By Seema Mehta After a sleepy campaign, California voters are now being bombarded with television advertisements in the governors race, an onslaught that is expected to ramp up in coming weeks. The ads most frequently seen on television are those promoting Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, the front-runner in the race, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who is trying to secure the second spot in the June primary. Newsoms campaign and an outside group backing Villaraigosa are spending seven figures weekly on these efforts, according to filings with the California secretary of states office and a media buyer who asked not to be identified in order to freely discuss the ads. Other gubernatorial candidates are expected to hit the airwaves soon, the media buyer said. State Treasurer John Chiang has reserved a half-million dollars in the coming days in the Los Angeles and San Diego markets, and Villaraigosas campaign has requested availability in at least five of the states biggest TV markets. The GOP candidates in the race, who will be seeking the state Republican Partys endorsement at its convention next weekend, have been much less active. Businessman John Cox in recent weeks has been spending about $90,000 per week, but doubled that this week in Los Angeles and added small buys on KFI-AM radio and cable in markets including Fresno, Bakersfield and Salinas. State Assemblyman Travis Allen of Huntington Beach, who has been scooping up Republican Party endorsements across the state, has yet to make a notable television or radio buy, though he and Cox have received some attention as commentators on Fox News. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Republicans ready to turn in signatures for ballot measure to repeal California gas-tax increase By Patrick McGreevy A Chevron gas station in Sacramento shows prices last year. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Republican activists said Tuesday that they have collected at least 830,000 signatures for an initiative to repeal recent increases in Californias gas tax and vehicle fees, more than enough to qualify the measure for the November ballot. The activists need 585,407 signatures of registered voters to qualify the ballot measure. Because signatures are still being processed and counted by the campaign, backers hope to have 900,000 by the time they begin turning them in to the counties on Friday, according to Carl DeMaio, a former San Diego City Council member and organizer of the drive. The breadth and depth of voter anger over the car and gas tax hikes is just amazing, said DeMaio, who hosts a radio talk show. We are seeing Democrats, independents and Republicans sign the petition and volunteering to carry the petition, people from all walks of life. The initiative targets a law approved in April 2017 by the Legislature and Gov. Jerry Brown that is expected to raise $5.4 billion annually for road and bridge repairs and improvements to mass transit. The money comes from a recent 12-cents-per-gallon increase in the gas tax, a 20-cent increase in the diesel fuel excise tax and a new annual vehicle fee ranging from $25 for cars valued at under $5,000, to $175 for cars worth $60,000 or more. The petition drive raised more than $2 million with significant contributions from the California Republican Party and Republican members of Congress from California, including House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield and Reps. Ken Calvert of Corona and Mimi Walters of Irvine. Republicans hope the issue will help their candidates for office in this years election and hurt Democrats who support the higher taxes. I think this is going to put Democrats in real bad spot, DeMaio said. A spokesman for Brown declined to comment until the signatures are filed. DeMaio said there were approximately 20,000 volunteer petition circulators who brought in more than 250,000 signatures, with the rest collected by paid circulators who received $1 to $2.50 per signature. Its a pretty comfortable margin [of signatures] that we have been able to hit here, DeMaio said. Opposition will grow, he said, as more Californians get their annual vehicle registration notice. The repeal campaign hopes to raise $5 million for the campaign to pass the constitutional amendment, which would not only repeal the increase in the gas tax and vehicle fees but require future increases to be submitted to voters. We know that Gov. Brown and his cohorts are going to spend an amazing amount of money to mislead voters, DeMaio said. But I feel pretty confident that we will repeal the gas tax. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Rep. Duncan Hunter sets up trust to raise money for legal expenses amid ongoing criminal investigation By Morgan Cook Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, has filed paperwork to establish a legal expense fund amid an ongoing federal criminal investigation into misused campaign cash. Hunter filed the required paperwork March 27, seeking a rarely granted Legal Expense Fund through which members of Congress under investigation or being sued in connection with doing their jobs or running for office can raise money for their legal expenses. Such funds are administered by an independent trustee and allow donors to give above the maximum amount they can contribute a candidates campaign. Hunter has spent more than $600,000 of campaign money on lawyers. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Kamala Harris says she wont take corporate donations anymore By Sarah D. Wire (Jose Luis Magana / Associated Press) California Sen. Kamala Harris says she will no longer accept money from corporate political action committees. In an interview with WWPM-FMs The Breakfast Club, in New York that aired Monday, the senator said she wasnt expecting a question at a town hall this month about whether she would accept money for corporations or corporate lobbyists. At the time, Harris said it depends, but she said on Monday that she had reflected on the matter and changed her mind. Money has had such an outside influence on politics, and especially with the Supreme Court determining Citizens United, which basically means that big corporations can spend unlimited amounts of money influencing a campaign, right? Harris said. Were all supposed to have an equal vote, but money has now really tipped the balance between an individual having equal power in an election to a corporation. So Ive actually made a decision since I had that conversation that Im not going to accept corporate PAC checks. I just Im not. You can watch the video of the interview here. (Harris corporate money comments come about 30 minutes in.) Harris wouldnt be on the ballot for a second Senate term until 2022, though its widely believed that she is planning a presidential bid in 2020. Other potential 2020 presidential candidates, including Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), have also ruled out taking corporate PAC money. Soon after Mondays show aired, Harris campaign sent out a fundraising request noting her new stance. As corporate PACs continue to corrupt our politics and twist Congress priorities at your expense, were going to focus on raising money from small-dollar, individual donors like you, the email says. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement With money tied up in court, California lawmakers try again with new plan to spend $2 billion on homeless housing By Liam Dillon A man sleeps on the sidewalk in front of the Union Rescue Mission in the skid row neighborhood of Los Angeles. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) A measure to spend $2 billion on housing homeless Californians could be on the November statewide ballot. State Sen. Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) is pushing the idea to deal with what he said was a burgeoning humanitarian crisis whose epicenter is here in California. De Leons new measure is a do-over for a 2016 plan passed by the Legislature to redirect $2 billion toward building homeless housing from a voter-approved 1% income tax surcharge on millionaires that funds mental health services. A Sacramento attorney sued over that decision, arguing that the move violated constitutional rules on approving loans without a public vote and that lawmakers shouldnt take money away from mental health treatment. The case remains active in Sacramento Superior Court and its unclear when, or if, the state will be able to spend the $2 billion. De Leons Senate Bill 1206 would put the $2-billion loan on the ballot in November, freeing up the money if voters approve the measure. De Leon said had he been able to predict the 2016 plan would end up in court, he would have sought a ballot measure at the time. We thought this was like apple pie and baseball and puppies, De Leon said. Who would oppose the idea of repurposing the dollars to build immediate housing as a permanent solution for homelessness? Obviously with a crystal ball, had I anticipated the litigation, I would have worked to place it on the ballot. De Leon noted that the 2016 plan had bipartisan supermajority support in the Legislature, something his new bill also will need to get on the ballot. Sen. John Moorlach (R-Costa Mesa) is a coauthor of the plan. SB 1206 is scheduled for its first hearing in the Legislature on Wednesday. Should De Leons measure be approved, it will join a crowded list of housing issues before voters in November. Californians will decide on a separate $4-billion bond to help finance new low-income housing and home loans for veterans. De Leon said hes not worried those two measures will compete against each other because voters are aware of the scale of the states housing problems and the proposed homeless housing bond redirects existing dollars instead of raising taxes. Once [voters] know that the impact on their pocketbook is not existent, Im confident that theyll join me and my colleague John Moorlach in support of this measure, De Leon said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California lawmakers say too many former felons are being denied professional licenses By John Myers Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco) along with supporters of bills to allow more former felons to receive professional licenses. (John Myers/Los Angeles Times) A trio of California Assembly members urged colleagues on Monday to pass legislation that would prohibit state commissions and agencies from rejecting a professional license for those who were once convicted of less serious crimes. We cant say we want to rehabilitate people, and then block them from getting the jobs that they need when theyre released, said Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco). That leads to more recidivism and to more crime. The bills, scheduled to be heard in Assembly committees Tuesday, would ban the use of arrest or conviction records as the reason for denying a professional license. The bill would not apply to Californians who served time for any of the offenses on the states list of violent crimes. The authors, all Democrats, said that a government-issued professional license is required for some 30% of all jobs in the state. Their bills would change the licensing process at the California departments of Consumer Affairs and Social Services and agencies that certify emergency medical technicians. The bills would block prior convictions from leading to the delay or denial of a license unless that crime is directly related to the profession the person intends to pursue. Two of the bills also specifically say convictions less than 5 years old could continue to play a role in licensing decisions. Last year, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a law that keeps private sector employers from inquiring about a job applicants conviction history prior to an offer of employment. Advocates joined the lawmakers at a press conference in Sacramento to point out that limits on awarding licenses should focus only on those whose prior criminal activity could pose a threat to consumers. Continuing to hold people back for crimes that are 6, 7, 8, 10, 20 years old does not actually make sense if youre looking at public safety, said Jael Myrick of the East Bay Community Law Center. One of the proposals, Assembly Bill 2293, seeks to make it easier for ex-felons to get a license allowing a job with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection the same agency that often uses prison inmates to battle blazes around the state. If a person is good enough to risk their life fighting fires for the state of California as an inmate, said Assemblywoman Eloise Gomez Reyes (D-Grand Terrace), their previous actions should not prevent from having a job utilizing the skill set that they learned. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Assembly speaker rebukes building trades union after it targets Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia By John Myers ( (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)) The decision by a politically powerful labor group to openly campaign against an embattled Los Angeles-area lawmaker drew a sharp rebuke on Friday from Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon. The Lakewood Democrat lashed out hours after the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California filed paperwork for a political action committee to defeat Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens). Garcia, whos seeking her fourth term, took an unpaid leave of absence in February following allegations of sexual misconduct. She has denied the reports and an Assembly investigation remains underway. Rendon didnt criticize the labor group by name, insisting instead that the decision was driven by oil and gas industry interests. This is a thinly veiled attempt by Big Oil and polluters to intimidate me and my members. It is an affront to my speakership, Rendon said in a statement. We are proud of the work that the Assembly has done to increase jobs and wages while defending our environment. We will vigorously defend the members of our caucus from any ill-advised political attack. A statement from the labor group, which sparred with Garcia last year on her effort to link new climate change policies with a crackdown on air pollution, said it had decided to reverse past support for her. The Trades have thousands of hard working members in Garcias district, and we look forward to lifting up another Democrat in the 58th Assembly to better represent them and their families, said the statement. The political action committees campaign finance filing on Friday listed nonmonetary in kind contributions from Erin Lehane, a public affairs consultant aligned with the building labor group. Lehane said she had begun researching Garcia in November. In January, a former legislative staffer accused her of groping him in 2014. Lehane, who identified herself as a spokesperson for the labor groups political action committee, said on Friday that she believed Garcias hypocrisy threatened a movement that will dictate how much harassment and abuse my daughter will face in her work life. Garcia, who has been an outspoken advocate for women in the #MeToo movement, has complained that her political opponents helped fan the flames of the accusations. Through a campaign consultant, she declined to comment on Friday. Rendons critique came on the heels of a full-page ad in The Times on Friday, partly paid for by the Trades Council, that criticized well-funded ivory tower elites who push proposals that hurt the oil and gas industry. We are the real jobs that fuel the real California economy, read the advertisement. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Legal tiff breaks out over independent committees ad backing Antonio Villaraigosa for governor By Phil Willon An attorney representing Gavin Newsoms campaign for governor is demanding that California television stations cease airing an ad by an independent political committee supporting his Democratic rival Antonio Villaraigosa. Attorney Thomas A. Willis, in a letter to the stations, said the ad is false and misleading and violates California law because it uses snippets of video footage from Villaraigosas own campaign ads. Willis called that illegal coordination between the campaign and PAC. Under California law, advertisements made by entities other than a candidate are presumed to be coordinated and thus not independent expenditures when the advertisement replicates, reproduces or disseminates substantial parts of a communication, including video footage, created and paid for by the candidate, the letter states. A representative for the independent expenditure committee Families & Teachers for Antonio Villaraigosa for Governor fired back. Attorney Brian T. Hildreth says those allegations have no merit and accused the Newsom campaign of being misleading. Hildreth sent a letter to the television stations in response, urging them to ignore the Newsom campaigns accusations. He said the Newsom camp appears to intentionally misrepresent the law and that the video use was permissible. He said only six seconds of video from Villaraigosas campaign ads was used, which is well within the legal limits. The independent committee is sponsored by the group California Charter Schools Assn. Advocates, according to the California secretary of states office. The ad is airing on broadcast and cable stations statewide. The committees ad is focused on Villaraigosas record as Assembly speaker and as mayor of Los Angeles when there was a drop in crime. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Governors race snapshot: Californians are generally upbeat but not focused on the campaign By Mark Z. Barabak Armand Werden, a 29-year-old community college student who works the taps at Dust Bowl Brewery in Turlock, said the state is on the upswing. (Phil Willon / Los Angeles Times) As California chooses a new governor one of just a handful in the last 40 years not named Jerry Brown the state seems to be enjoying something unusual in these tumultuous political times: a feeling of relative contentment. Not to say things are perfect. Still, more than 100 random interviews conducted over the length and breadth of the state from Redding in the north to Santee in the south, from the Pacific coastline to the edge of the Sierra Nevada found most saying things are looking up, at least so far as Californias direction is concerned. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Sierra Club backs Gavin Newsom for California governor By Phil Willon Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks with members of the public following a debate at USC in January. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) The Sierra Club endorsed Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom in the race for California governor, with officials in the established environmental group praising the Democrats record on climate change and clean energy. He has a proven record for leading on environmental protection, public health and clean energy, Kathryn Phillips, director of Sierra Club California, said in a statement released by the Newsom campaign. He understands that we are feeling the effects of climate change and that California must reduce carbon emissions and reach 100% renewable energy to achieve our climate goals. Phillips said the Sierra Clubs extensive network of volunteers will campaign for Newsom as the June 5 primary approaches. Sierra Club executive director Michael Brune also praised the Democrat, saying he will protect California from Donald Trumps attacks on our clean air and water. The Sierra Club joins a series of other influential groups in California that have backed Newsom. The California Medical Assn., the powerful state doctors lobby, announced its endorsement of Newsom on Thursday. The California Nurses Assn. and the Service Employees International Union, one of the most powerful labor unions in the state, also support Newsom. Newsom is the races front-runner in polls and fundraising. A poll released earlier this month by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California found that 26% of likely voters backed Newsom. John Cox, a Republican from Rancho Santa Fe, was favored by 15% of likely voters and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a Democrat, by 13%. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Californias GOP House members are taking their challengers more seriously and the numbers show it By Christine Mai-Duc For much of last year, consultants and campaign managers for some of Californias most vulnerable Republican incumbents maintained a bullish tone on the prospect that the GOP would hold the House in this years midterms. The National Republican Congressional Committee insisted that longtime Republican incumbents in California had built up reputations as effective champions of local issues that would help them weather a flood of Democratic enthusiasm. Since then Rep. Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista) have decided not to seek reelection and the NRCC has opened a West Coast headquarters in Orange County. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California officials say Pentagon has confirmed National Guard funding despite Trump threat By John Myers (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) The awkward dance between Gov. Jerry Brown and the federal government over the National Guard jerked back toward discord on Thursday, when Trump said he would refuse to pay for a new deployment of troops just hours after his administration said otherwise. And a few hours later, California officials said they had received written confirmation from the Pentagon that the mission would indeed be funded. Trump had earlier called Browns decision to approve 400 troops for a mission focused on combating transnational crime and drug smuggling a charade in a tweet. We need border security and action, not words! the president wrote. Governor Jerry Brown announced he will deploy up to 400 National Guard Troops to do nothing. The crime rate in California is high enough, and the Federal Government will not be paying for Governor Browns charade. We need border security and action, not words! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 19, 2018 A spokesman for Brown pointed to a tweet written Wednesday night by Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, thanking the California governor for his efforts. Trump was meeting on Thursday with Nielsen at his Mar-a-Lago estate not long after his tweet was posted. A tweet later posted by the California National Guard said that almost three hours after Trumps comment, the state received written confirmation from the Pentagon to fund the mission as outlined by Brown the day before. In short, nothing has changed today, said a subsequent Guard tweet. Just spoke w @JerryBrownGov about deploying the @USNationalGuard in California. Final details are being worked out but we are looking forward to the support. Thank you Gov Brown! Secretary Kirstjen M. Nielsen (@SecNielsen) April 19, 2018 Brown was the last of the nations border governors to respond to Trumps insistence earlier this month that National Guard troops were needed to assist with immigration-related duties at the U.S.-Mexico border. And he has consistently refused to allow California troops to engage in any mission related to federal immigration law. This will not be a mission to build a new wall, Brown wrote last week to Nielsen and Defense Secretary James N. Mattis. It will not be a mission to round up women and children or detain people escaping violence and seeking a better life. Exactly what the California operations will cost remains unclear, as state officials have said it will depend on decisions made once the mission begins. The funds would not be transferred to the state, but instead would be paid directly by the Department of Defense. Trump has critiqued California several times over the past few days, often writing tweets that embrace the actions by some cities and counties to join his administrations lawsuit against the states sanctuary immigration law. He made similar comments to reporters on Thursday afternoon. If you look at whats happening in California with sanctuary cities people are really going the opposite way, Trump said. They dont want sanctuary cities. Theres a little bit of a revolution going on in California. 2:26 p.m.:This article was updated with additional information from the California National Guard and with remarks from Trump. This article was originally published at 9:51 a.m. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Gay conversion therapy services would be banned under measure advancing in California By John Myers (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) The California Assembly voted Thursday to add gay conversion therapy to the states list of deceptive business practices, following a debate that focused on the personal experiences of several lawmakers and hinted at potential lawsuits to come. It is harmful and it is unnecessary, Assemblyman Evan Low (D-Campbell), the bills author and one of the Legislatures most vocal LGBTQ members, said of the practice. Low, who told Assembly members that he explored conversion therapy as a teenager and suffered depression over his sexual orientation, insisted that the bill would be limited to efforts that involve the exchange of money. Theres nothing wrong with me, he said in an emotional speech on the Assembly floor. Theres nothing that needs to be changed. The bill, which now heads to the Senate, has become the focal point of intense debate on social media. Some religious groups have said that such a law would be a violation of their constitutional rights, while advocates insist the provisions are narrow and theres no credible evidence that the services work. One key part of the debate centers on whether Assembly Bill 2943 would stretch beyond businesses that charge for these programs and extend to printed documents, even Bibles. An analysis by the Assembly Judiciary Committee says the bill would apply only to services that purport to change a persons sexual orientation and offered on a commercial basis, as well as the advertising and offering of such services. Lawmakers who spoke in support of AB 2943 also made clear that they believe those kinds of services have been discredited. This is fraudulent, it should not be occurring, said Assemblywoman Susan Eggman (D-Stockton). But you can still try to pray the gay away, if you like. Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Yuba City), who said the bill addresses a difficult issue, nonetheless said that its important to ensure laws dont tamper with religious freedom. We have to think about the legitimate experience of people who have gone through conversion therapy and said this was a good thing for them, Gallagher told his colleagues. California law already bans the use of conversion therapy by mental health professionals on those under age 18. Lows bill would expand the states efforts beyond minors. It would join a list of commercial activities deemed unfair or deceptive acts or practices and therefore banned under state law. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gavin Newsom gets backing from doctors group, despite differences over single-payer healthcare By Melanie Mason Gavin Newsom speaks at the California Democrats State Convention in San Diego on Feb. 24. (Kent Nishimura) Californias doctors are siding with Gavin Newsom in the governors race, even though they dont see eye-to-eye on a defining issue of the campaign: single-payer healthcare. The California Medical Assn., the state doctors lobby and a political heavyweight, announced its endorsement of the lieutenant governor on Thursday. Gavin is a lifelong champion for health care in California, and we know he will continue to fight for pragmatic solutions to our most crucial health care challenges, including working to achieve universal access and tackling our states physician shortage, CMA President Theodore M. Mazer said in a statement. Newsom has made his support for state-financed healthcare a centerpiece of his campaign, and he earned the early backing of the most ardent single-payer supporters, the state nurses union. The doctors, meanwhile, oppose the nurses bill, SB 562, which emerged as a flashpoint in the healthcare debate last year. The CMA said the bill would dismantle the healthcare marketplace and destabilize Californias economy. Newsom has said SB 562 should advance in the Legislature, but also said it has open-ended issues that still need to be addressed. The doctors group is also battling with another prominent Newsom endorser, the Service Employees International Union, over a new measure that would impose price caps on an array of medical services paid for by commercial health insurers in the state. The SEIU is a leading sponsor of the proposal; the doctors fiercely oppose it. Newsom and the physicians group have a history of political alignment. Newsom was the first statewide official to support Proposition 56, a 2016 tobacco tax pushed by the CMA that raised revenue in part to increase money for doctors who saw Medi-Cal patients. That year, the association also endorsed two initiatives championed by Newsom: Proposition 63, which imposed new gun control measures, and Proposition 64, which legalized recreational marijuana. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Independent committee backing Antonio Villaraigosa for governor hits the airwaves with first ad By Phil Willon Antonio Villaraigosa speaks at the 2018 California Democratic Party Convention in San Diego in February.. (Denis Poroy / Associated Press) A well-financed independent committee backing Antonio Villaraigosas bid to be Californias next governor released its first television ad Thursday, praising his record for working with Republicans and as a candidate for all of California. The ad, which is to air statewide on broadcast and cable stations, is focused on Villaraigosas record as Assembly speaker and mayor of Los Angeles, including on education and a drop in crime while he was at City Hall. To move California forward, we need to help more Californians get ahead, the ad says. Thats why Antonio Villaraigosa brought both parties together to balance the state budget with record investments in public schools and new career training programs. The independent expenditure committee behind the ad campaign, Families & Teachers for Antonio Villaraigosa for Governor 2018, is sponsored by the California Charter Schools Assn. Advocates, according to the California secretary of states office. The committee is spending seven figures per week on the ad buy, said Josh Pulliam, a political consultant for the committee. As mayor of Los Angeles, Villaraigosa clashed with teachers unions, starting with his failed attempt to take political control of the Los Angeles Unified School District. His fight with those unions continued after he left office in 2013. Money has poured into the committee this month from wealthy charter schools supporters: Reed Hastings, chief executive of Netflix, donated $7 million, and Los Angeles billionaire and philanthropist Eli Broad donated $1.5 million. On Wednesday, former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan donated $1 million. The independent expenditure committee is expected to provide a boost to Villaraigosas campaign. Democratic front-runner Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom has a major advantage in fundraising over all other candidates in the race and has received the backing of the California Teachers Assn. and other education unions. A recent Public Policy Institute of California poll also showed Villaraigosa lagging in third place in the race, trailing Newsom and Republican businessman John Cox. The candidates who finish in the top two in the June 5 primary will advance to the November general election, regardless of their party affiliation. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gov. Jerry Brown says Trump administration will fund his National Guard mission without immigration duties By John Myers (Alex Wong / Getty Images) Gov. Jerry Brown formally mobilized 400 California National Guard members Wednesday for transnational crime-fighting duties, thus preventing any effort by President Trump to have the troops focus on immigration enforcement on the Mexican border. The governor announced that federal officials have agreed to fund the plan he announced last week a mission to combat criminal gangs, human traffickers and illegal firearm and drug smugglers in locations around California, including near the border. The order Brown signed makes clear that the troops will not be allowed to perform a broader set of duties as envisioned by Trumps recent comments. California National Guard service members shall not engage in any direct law enforcement role nor enforce immigration laws, arrest people for immigration law violations, guard people taken into custody for alleged immigration violations, or support immigration law enforcement activities, the order read. The cost of the mission, a spokesman for Brown said, will be paid directly by the federal government. No initial estimate has been made, as the exact amount will depend on exactly how the troops will be used. Though the duties of California Guard members were outlined last week, the state had been waiting for an agreement by federal officials to pay for the operations. Since that time, the president has taken Brown and the state to task over its decision to avoid any immigration-related duties at the border. On Wednesday morning, Trump tweeted, Jerry Brown is trying to back out of the National Guard at the Border, but the people of the State are not happy. Want Security & Safety NOW! There is a Revolution going on in California. Soooo many Sanctuary areas want OUT of this ridiculous, crime infested & breeding concept. Jerry Brown is trying to back out of the National Guard at the Border, but the people of the State are not happy. Want Security & Safety NOW! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 18, 2018 Looks like Jerry Brown and California are not looking for safety and security along their very porous Border. He cannot come to terms for the National Guard to patrol and protect the Border, Trump tweeted Tuesday. There was no immediate reaction from the White House to Browns announcement. On Tuesday, Brown told reporters in Washington that his plan was consistent with a safer border. That sounds to me like fighting crime, the governor said. Trying to catch some desperate mothers and children, or unaccompanied minors coming from Central America, that sounds like something else. The order Brown issued Wednesday after returning from a brief trip to talk climate change in Toronto and to speak to a national trade union and visit with reporters in Washington is set to expire at the end of September. It specifically says no Guard service member may participate in a mission that would exceed the mission scope and limitations related to transnational crime activity. It also says troops cannot help build any new border barrier. 5:27 p.m.: This article was updated with information related to the cost of the Guard mission and Browns trip to Washington. This article was originally published at 5:13 p.m. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement California bill aims to end practice that keeps workplace misconduct cases out of court By Melanie Mason A California bill would prohibit employers from requiring workers to use private arbitration to settle disputes, a practice that critics say shields improper workplace conduct from public view. The bill by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher (D-San Diego) would bar businesses from making employees, when they are hired, waive their future rights to take any harassment, discrimination or other claims to court. Arbitration can be a highly effective dispute resolution method when both parties can choose it freely, when both parties are equal, Gonzalez Fletcher said at a news conference on Wednesday. It is far less successful when the more powerful party forces the other to accept those terms, especially as a condition of employment. Forced arbitration has come under increasing scrutiny since the #MeToo movement, with high-profile figures such as former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson pointing to the practice as shielding workplace abusers from public disclosure because arbitration resolutions often include nondisclosure agreements. Last year, a bipartisan bill was introduced in Congress to end mandatory arbitration in employment agreements. Gonzalez Fletcher said she was pursuing an unusual tool to draw attention to the issue a subpoena issued by the Legislature to compel testimony from a worker bound by a nondisclosure agreement as a result of arbitration. The Legislature has subpoena power but it is rarely used. The bills sponsors believe lawmakers last issued a subpoena in 2001 while investigating price manipulation by Enron. Gonzalez Fletcher said she has requested Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) to issue the subpoena to require Tara Zoumer, who sued the company WeWork in 2016 for overtime pay, to testify before the Assembly Judiciary Committee next week. Zoumers suit was moved to arbitration and resolved. She is now subject to a nondisclosure agreement and could face a financial penalty for speaking publicly about her case. A spokesman for Rendon said the subpoena request is under consideration. Business groups oppose the bill, AB 3080. The California Chamber of Commerce has dubbed it a job biller, claiming it would dramatically increase legal costs for businesses. Banning such agreements benefits the trial attorneys, not the employer or employee, the group said. The bill must first advance from the Assembly Labor Committee on Wednesday. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print At least 240 House lawmakers want a vote on immigration. California supporters say they arent ready to force one By Sarah D. Wire Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Turlock), flanked by Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Redlands) and Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas) speak about DACA legislation (Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call) Rep. Jeff Denham says at least 240 of the 430 current House members have signed onto his resolution to hold votes on four immigration bills, and he hopes House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) and President Trump are paying attention to the show of support. But, the Republican from Turlock and his allies said Wednesday that they are not yet willing to commit to forcing Ryans hand through a little-used procedural move called a discharge petition; they acknowledged theres no guarantee that all of 47 Republicans and 193 Democrats House co-signers will back them up if they try to force the issue. Im sure that it is something that will be discussed in the coming weeks. You should not need a discharge petition. When you can show the overwhelming majority of the House, the support of it, you should not need a discharge petition, but it is something we would talk about in the future, Denham said. It is far too early to talk about next steps. Ryan said last week that he opposes Denhams effort, saying its a waste of time for the House to vote on bills the president might veto. Denhams resolution would prompt debate and votes on four very different immigration bills: one favored by the Trump administration, one preferred by Democrats, one bipartisan proposal and another immigration bill of Ryans choice. Whichever got the most votes would move forward to the Senate. All four bills would help Dreamers to differing degrees and include varying levels of border security or immigration enforcement. For example, the Trump-backed bill would also dramatically reduce legal immigration, while the Democrats would only deal with legal status for Dreamers. Democrats say they dont expect the show of support will sway Ryan. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairwoman Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.) said Tuesday night she expects Ryan will have to be forced into allowing a vote. It doesnt matter how many signatures we get. We could have every signature, technically, except his, on the floor of the House and... if he doesnt want to, it doesnt happen, Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.) said. Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Redlands), who gathered the Democratic co-sponsors for Denham, also wouldnt give a deadline for House leaders to act, but said the co-sponsors are only willing to wait weeks not months. We do want to give them an opportunity to bring up the rule and to use whatever process they want, Aguilar said. They do have options, but I think they need to understand that we have options too. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Billionaire Democratic activist Tom Steyer endorses Kevin de Leon in his insurgent bid against Sen. Dianne Feinstein By Seema Mehta Tom Steyer, left, and California state Sen. Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles). (Getty Images; Los Angeles Times) Billionaire Democratic activist Tom Steyer is endorsing state Sen. Kevin de Leon in his insurgent challenge to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, and did not rule out funding an outside effort to boost De Leons chances. I think hes the kind of young progressive that reflects California and would be a very strong advocate for our state nationally, Steyer said in an interview on Tuesday, pointing to De Leons efforts on issues such as immigration, climate change and gun control while he was the state Senate leader. I know him well and hes a friend. We share a lot of values. Steyer, who flirted with running for the Senate seat, did not criticize Feinstein as he has in the past. Sen. Feinstein has been an outstanding public servant who has dedicated the bulk of her adult life to the service of our state and the country, he said. These are two strong, very good Democrats. I just believe Kevin is the true progressive and he reflects something we need representing California going forward. I have nothing bad to say about Dianne Feinstein. I have a lot of good to say about Kevin de Leon. De Leon faces enormous odds as he tries to oust Feinstein, who has served in the Senate for a quarter-century, is well known to the states voters and has daunting leads in polls and fundraising. But De Leon has gained notable endorsements, most recently from the 2.1-million-member California Labor Federation last week. Campaign finance reports released this week show that Feinstein has more than $10 million in the bank, while De Leon has just more than $670,000. Feinstein, a multimillionaire and one of the wealthiest members of the Senate, has already lent her campaign $5 million and could easily write another check. But Steyer, a billionaire former hedge fund manager, could write a larger one. He is among the largest Democratic donors in the nation and has already committed more than $50 million to push for the impeachment of President Trump and to register young voters. He was noncommittal when asked if he would fund an independent expenditure group on behalf of De Leon. I dont have any concrete plans for that, he said. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Californias largest pension fund sends next years invoice to state government: $6.3 billion By John Myers The California Public Employees Retirement System building (Max Whittaker / Getty Images) As part of a shift toward less optimistic expectations for investment returns to pay for government worker pensions, board members of the California Public Employees Retirement System voted Tuesday to require an almost $6.3-billion payment from the state budget in the fiscal year that begins on July 1. The action, which could receive final approval on Wednesday, reflects a gradually higher annual contribution to public employee pensions by the state and from local governments across California. In 2016, CalPERS approved a half-percentage point decrease in its official estimate of the long-term investment return on its $353.3-billion portfolio. That shift was designed to happen over several years, in hopes it would lessen the financial shock of shifting more of the costs onto government employers. The highest costs are also, in part, a reflection of increases in the size of the states payroll. The states CalPERS payment will be about $450 million more than the total paid in the current fiscal year and more than double what it was only a decade ago. CalPERS board members voted on Tuesdays staff proposal with little discussion, save for a question about the increase in contributions also required from workers hired after a pension overhaul that took effect in June. It seems like it will be a ding on peoples salaries, said Theresa Taylor, the chairwoman of CalPERS finance committee and a member of SEIU Local 1000, the union that represents some 96,000 state employees. The $6.299-billion payment required from Californias state government must now be factored into the budget crafted by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown in late June. Brown had already assumed a similarly sized payment in his budget proposal unveiled in January. In February, a coalition representing city governments warned about the effects of rising pension costs under the expectations of less money from Wall Street investments. The report issued by the League of California Cities projected an average increase of more than 50% in annual pension payments made by the states largest cities over the next seven years. A CalPERS staff report notes that the net return on all of the funds investments for the fiscal year that ended in July was 11.2%. But expectations on profits over the next 30 years remain significantly more modest, and theres long been a robust debate about how to properly set those future expectations. The lower the rate of projected investment return, the larger the share of pension costs that must be covered by taxpayers and some employees. Overall, CalPERS officials believe the system has assets to cover 71% of its long-term obligations. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California warns legal pot sellers not to participate in unlicensed 4/20 events By Patrick McGreevy Marijuana on display at a dispensary in Los Angeles. ( (Frederic J. Brown / AFP/Getty Images)) The state issued a warning Tuesday that businesses holding licenses to sell marijuana could face penalties if they participate in unlicensed temporary events away from their stores, including on Friday, April 20, which has become an annual celebration for counterculture groups. The warning was issued ahead of 4/20 by the state Bureau of Cannabis Control. Since Jan. 1, the bureau has issued more than 700 state licenses to sell marijuana for medical or recreational use. The bureau has issued 47 temporary event licenses to groups that are limited to holding the marijuana celebrations on county fairgrounds that have authorized such events with city approval. Any bureau licensee participating in an unlicensed cannabis event may be subject to disciplinary action, the warning said, adding that lawful participation by bureau licensees in any temporary cannabis event that allows sales and/or consumption is dependent upon issuance of the appropriate licenses from the bureau. While many Californians have been issued medical approval to sell or use marijuana, the law does not allow them to participate in unlicensed events, also referred to as Proposition 215 events after the ballot measure that legalized medical pot two decades ago in the state. Participation in such events may lead to civil penalties for unlicensed commercial cannabis activity, the warning said. Meanwhile, a survey of some 1,000 marijuana users that was released Tuesday by the firm LendEDU found that the average 4/20 participant plans to spend $71 on marijuana to celebrate the unofficial holiday, and about 35% of respondents are planning to take off work Friday. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California police groups shift position on officer discipline records, now consider support for making some of them public By Liam Dillon Los Angeles Police Department recruits at a graduation ceremony in April (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) Some major law enforcement groups signaled Tuesday they are willing to support making part of police officer disciplinary records public, a dramatic departure from their past positions. Local and national attention on police shootings and misconduct has led law enforcement organizations to reconsider their blanket opposition to proposals that would give public access to some internal disciplinary investigations of officers. Were going to be open to supporting efforts that would allow for some records to be released, said Ryan Sherman, a lobbyist with the Riverside Sheriffs Assn. Debate over secrecy provisions in officer disciplinary files came during a legislative hearing on Senate Bill 1421 from Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley). Skinners bill, which advanced out of the Senate Public Safety Committee on Tuesday, would require public disclosure of all internal officer shooting investigations and confirmed cases of sexual assault and lying while on duty. Currently, all police discipline information is confidential outside of a courtroom in California, which has some of the nations strictest standards against public disclosure. Unfortunately, the fact that we have such strict restrictions on any access to public records has affected certain communities trust towards our law enforcement, Skinner said during the hearing. Prior to Skinners effort, other have tried to loosen these rules, some of which date back 40 years. Most recently in 2016, a bid by then-Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) failed in a Senate committee. In debate two years ago, no major law enforcement groups indicated they would accept changes to state laws that would make individual internal investigations public, saying they were essential to protect officer privacy and safety. But Tuesday, Sherman and other lobbyists including those representing the states largest police labor organization, signaled they might be willing to entertain changes. They said they were negotiating with Skinner on the bills details. Law enforcement groups still have major concerns about SB 1421 as written. Ed Fishman, an attorney for the Police Officers Research Assn., told legislators that the bill would wrongfully expose police officers who acted within departmental policy to invasions of their privacy. It has unintended consequences that are extreme and will hurt the public, Fishman said. Tuesdays hearing featured testimony from many who have had relatives killed by police officers in recent years advocating for the bill. Senators on the Public Safety Committee also gave public rebukes to law enforcement lobbyists, criticizing them for a lack of diversity and insensitivity to concerns raised by communities of color. I think that you are completely and utterly out of touch with the realities of how those you are representing are perceived by major segments of California, said Sen. Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles). You are not going to be able to continue to lobby your way out of it. The bill faces at least one more committee hearing in the Senate before reaching the floor. It will have to pass both houses of the Legislature by the end of August. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Newest member of the California Assembly arrives ready to work on criminal justice issues By John Myers Assemblywoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove prepares for the oath of office from Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon with her husband, Austin Dove. (California Assembly Democrats) Two weeks after winning a Los Angeles special election, the newest member of the California Assembly says she hopes to focus on reforms to the states criminal justice system during her time in Sacramento. Assemblywoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Los Angeles) took the oath of office on Monday, filling one of three vacant seats representing Los Angeles County in the lower house. The Democrat, a former community college trustee and legislative staffer, thanked her mentors in remarks from the Assembly rostrum. So many women, and in my life so many black women, have paid in giving me the kind of morals and integrity and grit that is required to fight on behalf of people that you know, and people that you dont know, she said. Kamlager-Dove won handily on April 3, receiving 70% of the votes cast in the 54th Assembly District which encompasses communities west of downtown Los Angeles, from Crenshaw to Culver City and as far north as Westwood. She will serve the remaining eight months of the term of former Assemblyman Sebastian Ridley-Thomas, who resigned last year citing health concerns. She has said she hopes to focus her attention on poverty issues and on reform of the states criminal justice system. I think we have an opportunity to really push the needle in terms of how we look at rehabilitation, how we look at incarceration, and how we look at changing the lives oftentimes of poor men and women of color, Kamalager-Dove said on Monday in a video released by Assembly Democrats. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Survivors of violent crime raise their voices in California to call for a new approach to criminal justice By Jazmine Ulloa Aaliyah Smith marches with her cousins. (Jazmine Ulloa / Los Angeles Times) Her father, uncle, a cousin and two older brothers. Those are some of the family members 16-year-old Aaliyah Smith has lost to gun violence. Then there are her friends. Jermaine Jackson Jr., 27, was shot and killed in 2016 while he painted over graffiti in San Francisco. Toriano Tito Adger, 18, was shot there a year later at a bus stop. He called Smith, who was nearby, and warned her to run. She made it inside a library moments before the crack of gunfire. Last week, Smith was among hundreds who gathered in Sacramento for annual National Crime Victims Rights Week events, where calls were issued for a new approach to criminal justice and public safety in California, one that puts survivors at the center of policy. But a debate is brewing over what that entails. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California expects $14 billion in tax payments this month By John Myers State workers handle income tax returns at the California Franchise Tax Board offices. (Laura Morton / For The Times) Gov. Jerry Browns proposed state budget is built on what taxpayers might find an audacious assumption: almost $14 billion in tax payments in the month of April, an average of $83 million collected per hour on every business day of the month. Most of that money will come from the taxes Californians pay in advance of Tuesday nights filing deadline for income tax returns. If history is any guide, the rate of payment could quadruple by weeks end. While tax rules have shifted some of the payment schedules to other months, April remains a vitally important month to the fiscal health of state government. The state controllers office reports more than 15% of all personal income tax revenues in 2017 were collected in April. In the recession years of a decade ago, tax revenue predictions were frequently off the mark by hundreds of millions of dollars. The last two state budgets have seen significant windfalls of personal income tax revenue, thanks in part both to an improving economy and to the continuation of a temporary surcharge on the wealthiest taxpayers extended by voters in 2016. In the budget plan he sent to lawmakers in January, Brown projected a $6.1-billion windfall and proposed using a sizable amount to top off Californias rainy-day fund ahead of schedule. The independent Legislative Analysts Office reports that through the end of last week, the months income tax tally stood at $3 billion, slightly ahead of projections. By the end of the current week, a single days total could be almost that large. Lawmakers began reviewing the governors $190.3-billion spending plan during the winter, but few decisions are made until they get a look at Aprils tax revenues. The governor will release a revised plan based on the new data next month; lawmakers are required to send him a completed budget no later than June 15. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Feinstein war chest tops $10 million while Kevin de Leon struggles to keep pace By Sarah D. Wire Sen. Dianne Feinstein widened her already-massive fundraising advantage in the run-up to Junes primary, raising twice as much in the first quarter than her strongest Senate challenger has sitting in the bank. Feinstein raised $1.3 million between January and March, bringing her war chest to just over $10 million as Californias U.S. Senate race begins in earnest, according Federal Election Commission reports. Former state Senate leader Kevin De Leon, the best known of the more than 30 people who will appear with Feinstein on the June primary ballot, raised just $575,991 in that same period, bringing his cash on hand to $672,331, according to his quarterly FEC report. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump has met his match, says Gov. Jerry Brown in promoting climate action on a quick trip to Canada By John Myers (Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press) Gov. Jerry Brown told a Canadian audience Monday that he believes President Trumps efforts to reverse course on climate change policy are a momentary deviation as others in the United States seek limits on greenhouse gas emissions. Thats very temporary, I can assure you, Brown said at a joint event in Toronto with Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne. The governors quick international trip, announced only late last week, comes as Wynnes Liberal Party faces a stiff challenge in Junes election from the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario and its leader, Doug Ford. Critics of Wynnes party have called for Ontario to pull out of the Western Climate Initiative, a cooperative agreement between three Canadian provinces and California on efforts to limit greenhouse gases. Brown sought to link the efforts of Canadian conservatives with Republicans in the United States who oppose existing climate change programs. In contrast, he told the audience, several GOP lawmakers voted last summer to renew Californias cap-and-trade program. I would say to the conservatives of Canada, wake up and see what your friends in California are doing, he said. The Democrat took particular notice of Trumps efforts to shift away from climate change policies from the administration of former President Obama, as well as a push by the Environmental Protection Agency to cancel Californias strict limits on automobile emissions. If Trump tries to change that, well have litigation well beyond his term in office, Brown said while also noting Chinese government efforts to produce more low-emissions vehicles. Between California and China, Trump has met his match. What hes saying is not going to happen. Many of the governors remarks, though, were aimed at the tough political situation in which Wynne finds herself with seven weeks to go before Ontarios parliamentary elections. Dangers abound, but success is right in our hands, Brown said. So dont blow it! Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California voters are getting to know the states attorney general through his aggressive stance challenging Trump By Patrick McGreevy Less than two months from his first statewide election, California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra has become adept not only at challenging President Trump but at using the bully pulpit of his office to raise his profile with voters. The aggressive effort may help boost the former Los Angeles congressmans chances at winning a full term in office this fall, almost two years after he was appointed to replace Sen. Kamala Harris in 2017. Appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown, Becerra took office as attorney general four days after Trumps inauguration. Thats afforded him an opportunity to get in front of Californians and potential voters on an array of issues including immigration, healthcare and the environment. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gov. Jerry Brown forms commission for 2020 census outreach By Melanie Mason In an effort to make sure California has a strong showing in the next national census, Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday established a state commission to prepare outreach for the decennial count. It is vitally important for California to do everything it can to ensure that every Californian is counted in the upcoming census, Brown said in a prepared statement. The commissions formation comes on the heels of a Trump administration plan to ask about citizenship status as a part of the census. State officials fear that such a question, which has not been asked in a census since 1950, could chill participation among California residents. That could result in the state losing billions of dollars in federal funds and a seat in Congress. The 23-member panel, appointed largely by Brown as well as picks by legislative leaders, comes from private- and public-sector backgrounds, including civil rights groups, religious institutions and educational institutions. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Garcetti kicks off Iowa visit with 2020 on his mind and a hardhat on his head LA Mayor - and 2020 prospect - Eric Garcetti makes his Iowa debut at the Carpenters Union Training Center. Fearlessly flaunts the never be photographed in head gear/safety glasses rule. pic.twitter.com/14bUOPXMvF Mark Z. Barabak (@markzbarabak) April 13, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Asm. Rocky Chavez takes the lead in race to replace Issa, while Doug Applegate slips By Joshua Stewart A new poll shows that Republican Assemblyman Rocky Chavez has taken a clear lead over 15 other candidates running to replace Rep. Darrell Issa in Congress and has overtaken Democrat Doug Applegate, the previous frontrunner. In a SurveyUSA poll by 10News and The San Diego Union-Tribune, Chavez, R-Oceanside, has support of 16 percent of likely voters, putting him ahead of Applegate, a lawyer, who was favored by 12 percent of voters and is in second place. The top two vote-getters in June, regardless of party, will proceed to a November runoff election. Competing with Applegate for the No. 2 spot is Democrat Mike Levin, also a lawyer, with support of 9 percent of voters. Several other candidates were right at his heels. Democratic Businessman Paul Kerr and Board of Equalization Member Diane Harkey, R-Dana Point, were tied for fourth at 8 percent each. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Pro-Kevin de Leon group launches ad castigating Dianne Feinstein By Seema Mehta A group that is supporting Kevin de Leons bid for the U.S. Senate launched a blistering ad against Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Thursday, questioning her progressive principles and tying her to President Trump. The ad buy from A Progressive California is minuscule $10,000 to air it in Los Angeles for one day on CNN and MSNBC during programming such as The Rachel Maddow Show, Hardball with Chris Matthews and Anderson Cooper 360. The minute-long ad features news clips about Feinstein not getting the California Democratic Party endorsement earlier this year, as well as footage of Feinstein saying that Trump can be a good president and appearing to share a laugh with Trump. That moment actually came during a White House meeting in the aftermath of the Parkland, Fla., school shooting when the president suggested an assault weapons ban should be included in a bipartisan bill to expand gun background checks. It also features extensive clips of de Leons speech at the state partys convention. De Leon, who just ended his final term as leader of the state Senate, announced last year he would run against fellow Democrat Feinstein as she seeks her fifth full term. Feinsteins longtime political advisor dismissed the ad, noting the size of the buy. Its not really a buy, said Bill Carrick. Ten thousand dollars in cable in L.A. Poof, its gone. Still, he said he planned to have the campaigns lawyers review the ad to see if it violates campaign law that limits what outside groups like A Progressive California can do. Such groups cannot coordinate with campaigns or candidates, and are limited in how much their messages can support a candidate. Ann Ravel, the former chair of the Federal Election Commission and the California Fair Political Practices Commission, said if the ad was in a state race, she is certain that the state commission would open an investigation into potential coordination with de Leons campaign because of the messaging and the types of footage in the ad. But the bipartisan federal commission cant agree on how to enforce the federal regulations, she said. The problem is [outside groups] understand that given the lack of very strong enforcement at the federal level, theres the ability to stretch the law, she said. A spokeswoman for the FEC declined to comment. Dave Jacobson, a spokesman for A Progressive California, disputed the suggestion that the ad violated campaign law. This frivolous allegation shows that Sen. Feinstein is afraid of the public seeing an ad which showcases her own words, that Donald Trump can be a good president, he said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Dispute over money emerges in campaign to repeal Californias gas tax increase By Patrick McGreevy A motorist prepares to gas up her vehicle in San Rafael, Calif., in 2015. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) A proposed initiative to repeal hikes to Californias gas tax has been caught in the middle of a dispute involving Republican rivals in the governors race. Assemblyman Travis Allen, a Republican candidate for governor, decided in January to drop plans for his own initiative and said he would urge supporters to sign a separate petition being supported by several Republican members of Congress. Then last week, the committee Allen formed to finance his ballot measure reported a $300,000 contribution from PISF Inc., a Novato, Calif., real estate firm. Now, an organizer of the still active Give Voters a Voice committee is urging the Allen committee to immediately donate their funds in support of the ongoing signature gathering efforts. There is only one gas tax repeal measure currently in circulation and that is the measure sponsored by the Give Voters a Voice Committee, said Dave Gilliard, a consultant to the group. PISF Inc., he said, gave to repeal taxes a The Trump administration, under court order, said it would resume taking applications to renew temporary protections from deportation for hundreds of thousands of Dreamers who came to the country illegally as children, as the standoff intensified between the president and Congress over the programs future. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced Saturday evening that it will accept renewal applications for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. It will not accept applications from people whove not previously received permits. The agency was forced to act after a federal judge in San Francisco on Tuesday temporarily blocked the administrations plan to end the DACA program, which was started by President Obama. The decision and continued furor over reports that President Trump questioned why the country has to accept immigrants from certain shithole countries adds to doubts whether he and Congress can agree this week on a bill to fund large parts of the government before current funding expires Friday. Advertisement Democrats and some Republicans insist the money bill must include language protecting Dreamers from deportation. Trump has said for months that he wants a DACA compromise, but on Sunday he said on Twitter: DACA is probably dead because the Democrats dont really want it, they just want to talk and take desperately needed money away from our Military. Sunday night, before dinner with House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump repeated that criticism of Democrats. He also denied accusations of racism triggered by his use of the vulgar word to describe countries in Africa and his remark that he would rather see the U.S. get more immigrants from Norway. No, Im not a racist. Im the least racist person you will ever interview, he told reporters. Asked whether he thought a government shutdown would take place, Trump said he was unsure. I dont know if there is going to be a shutdown, he said. There shouldnt be because if there is our military gets hurt very badly. We cannot let our military be hurt. Most military operations would not be affected by a shutdown because they are considered essential to protect life or property. In past shutdowns, however, military pay was suspended, although soldiers were paid retroactively when the stalemate ended. California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra, who brought one of the lawsuits against the administration on DACA, disputed Trumps assertion about Democrats goals and urged his party not to accept any deals that add bad stuff related to border security. Advertisement Among other things, Trump wants money for a southern border wall. I will tell my Democratic friends the following: DACA is actually now alive and the Homeland Security Department is now accepting renewal applications, so its nowhere near dead, Becerra said on Fox News Sunday. I would hope they would not agree to any bad deals on immigration, taking really bad stuff that has nothing to do with helping our borders in order to get a DACA deal, he said, adding, That DACA deal should stand on its own. While Trump has assailed the judges order on Twitter, his administration has not yet appealed the decision but is expected to do so. Advertisement Immigration advocates urged DACA beneficiaries to seek renewals quickly. The Trump administration stated that it plans to vigorously challenge the district courts decision. This means that the window of time available for sending in your DACA renewal is uncertain, the National Immigration Law Center said in a release over social media, urging those eligible to apply immediately. This might also be a short window to file #DACA renewals given feds are likely to appeal. Count on @NILC_org to keep you informed. Marielena Hincapie (@MarielenaNILC) January 14, 2018 About 800,000 young people who came to the U.S. illegally as children have been allowed to live, work and go to school legally in the U.S. under the DACA program, and to serve in the military. Nearly a third of beneficiaries are estimated to live in California. Advertisement Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions said in September the administration would wind down the program as of March 5. The administration ended renewals for two-year permits in October. An estimated 144 people daily lose their deportation relief. Tuesdays order from U.S. District Judge William Alsup directed the administration to resume accepting renewal applications until all claims raised by the state of California and several other plaintiffs could be fully heard in court. On Friday, he said pro-DACA plaintiffs in the several lawsuits he is handling can proceed with additional claims that the administrations order to end the program stemmed from racial animus towards Mexicans and Latinos, as reflected in Trumps remarks during the 2016 campaign. That second ruling came amid the furor over Trumps remarks in a bipartisan meeting on Thursday at the White House in which he questioned why the United States should have to accept immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador or the shithole countries of Africa. Advertisement On Sunday, two Republican senators denied for the first time that Trump had used the word shithole, as other senators said he had. Sens. David Perdue of Georgia and Tom Cotton of Arkansas, two of seven lawmakers in the meeting, on Friday had issued a statement saying they did not recall Trump using the term. Both now dispute the account of the only Democrat in the meeting, Sen. Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, that Trump definitely made the remark. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) implicitly affirmed Durbins account. At the meeting, Durbin and Graham had outlined their compromise immigration idea, which reportedly provoked Trumps comment. I didnt hear it, and I was sitting no further away from Donald Trump than Dick Durbin was, Cotton said on CBS Face the Nation program. Cotton went so far as to suggest that Durbin has been untruthful before. Advertisement On ABCs This Week, Perdue told host George Stephanopoulos, Im telling you he did not use that word, George, and Im telling you it is a gross misrepresentation. Speaking on the same show after Perdues denial, Sen. Jeff Flake, a Republican from Arizona who wasnt at the White House meeting but spoke immediately after to Durbin and Graham, gave an opposing account. I was in a meeting directly afterwards where those who had presented to the president our proposal spoke about the meeting, and they said those words were used, before those words went public, he said. Advertisement The White House has not explicitly denied the reports. Trump said on Twitter last week that his words were tough, but this was not the language used. On NBCs Meet the Press, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said people shouldnt draw conclusions that Trump is racist. Its unfair then to sort of all of a sudden paint him, Oh well, hes a racist, when I know for a fact that he cares very deeply about the people in Haiti, because he helped finance a trip where we were able to get vision back for 200 people in Haiti, said Paul, an ophthalmologist. For all the debate, lawmakers in both parties are frustrated by the controversy Trump repeatedly has sparked as they head into a week under threat of a government shutdown. Advertisement Congress will continue wrangling over the Dreamers because Republicans, though they control the House and Senate, need Democrats votes to pass the government-spending bill given the number of Republicans who reflexively oppose any spending measures. Roused by Trumps statements, more Democrats are saying they will not back a spending bill without protection for Dreamers. sarah.wire@latimes.com Follow @sarahdwire on Twitter Advertisement Read more about the 55 members of Californias delegation at latimes.com/politics California could flip the House, and these 13 races will make the difference Updates on California politics UPDATES: Advertisement 5:30 p.m.: This article was updated with comments by Trump at Mar-a-Lago. 12:30 p.m. This story has been updated with more details and comments about the White House meeting in which Trump is reported to have used an anti-immigration slur. This story was first published at 7:30 a.m. A raucous, catcalling audience and volley of sharp political attacks enlivened the first major debate in Californias 2018 governors race Saturday, with front-runner Gavin Newsom taking the brunt of the blows from the candidates on stage. Most of Newsoms rivals tried at the event to chip away his dominant lead in the polls and money race as the contest, which has been sleepy for the last year, grows more visible and confrontational. The face-off took place at the Empowerment Congress Summit, an annual gathering held at USC. Newsom, the lieutenant governor and former mayor of San Francisco, kept a steely smile throughout most of the morning debate. He largely stayed out of the fray and on message, even after he was accused of being inconsistent and unrealistic on single-payer healthcare, and too cozy with teachers unions. The sharpest exchange came from rival Democrat and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who ridiculed Newsom for supporting a state-sponsored universal healthcare system last year without identifying a way to pay for it. The proposal was shelved in the Legislature because of a cost estimated to be as high as $400 billion. Advertisement Anyone whos telling you that we should do it without a plan is selling you snake oil, Villaraigosa said. State Treasurer John Chiang, who like Villaraigosa said he supports the concept of single-payer healthcare but said it was financially out of reach, accused Newsom of changing his position on the issue depending on the audience he was in front of. Newsom responded by saying that bold change is needed because the current, ineffective healthcare system is driving California into bankruptcy, and that the state needs a governor who is not afraid to act. It was one of the only times Newsom shot back at Villaraigosa. Antonio just mentioned that hes on Medicare. Isnt that interesting. A single-payer plan in this country that brings down costs, said Newsom, who dominates the fundraising race with more than $15 million raised to date, in part because he entered the contest three years ago far before any of the other candidates. The debate also grew increasingly chippy between the two Republicans on stage, Huntington Beach Assemblyman Travis Allen and Rancho Santa Fe businessman John Cox, with the biggest clash over which one of the two has played a bigger role in GOP-led efforts to repeal a newly approved gas tax. The barbed exchanges between the candidates was often interrupted by applause, loud groans and cascades of boos from the at-capacity crowd inside USCs Bovard Auditorium. The event was hosted by the Empowerment Congress, a nonprofit civil rights organization in Los Angeles. With six candidates on stage and only 90 minutes to carve out their political positions, the debate served as a display of each candidates style, demeanor and political reflexes rather than a showing of their depth of knowledge on the issues facing California. The moderators, KABC-TV news anchor Marc Brown and KPCC-FM public radio senior political reporter Mary Plummer, tried without success to quiet down the energized audience. They also admonished the candidates for interrupting one another and going over their time. Advertisement The only candidate to avoid conflict was Democrat Delaine Eastin, a former state schools chief, who received a warm response when she expressed strong support for universal preschool in California. Eastin drew loud applause when expressing her support for immigrants. My father was born in Kentucky. Nobody loved California more than he did, Eastin said. He used to say, Californians are people who are from somewhere else and came to their senses. Education was another flashpoint, with several candidates quickly turning to attack Newsom for his record on the issue. Advertisement After Cox blasted Newsoms endorsement by the California Teachers Assn. as an example of special-interest money controlling politicians, Newsom responded that he was proud of the endorsement. Im committed to public education. Im committed to increasing funding in our public school system, Newsom said, pointing to his track record on education while he was mayor of San Francisco. San Francisco was the top-performing urban school district in the state of California. We were hardly perfect; we had stubborn achievement gap issues, he said, adding that the city invested in arts education, placed wellness centers in schools and created college savings accounts for every kindergarten student. Villaraigosa and Chiang both objected, pointing to uneven performance among different groups of students. Advertisement I dont think we can gloss over the fact that San Francisco County is the worst county for African American students in this state, Villaraigosa said. You cant just say we have a little bit of an achievement gap. We actually have a real achievement gap, and if this state is going to be a golden state and its going to do what we should do to grow together, weve got to invest in every one of us. Chiang added that Latino and Pacific Islander students also faced a greater performance disparity in San Francisco than in other areas. Were talking about a very select group that may have high achievement that accounts for San Francisco, but when youre talking about the future of the state of California, theyre being left behind, he said. As expected, Democrats and Republicans divided along party lines on many of the other issues they were quizzed about, splitting over the new gas tax, climate change and President Trumps immigration policies. Advertisement The Democrats ripped into Trump for asking participants in an Oval Office meeting Thursday why the United States should accept immigrants from shithole countries in Africa, Central America and the Caribbean. Cox sidestepped Trumps slur, dismissing the controversy as distraction from the real issues facing California. Allen used it as an opportunity to voice his support for Trumps immigration crackdown, including the presidents push to build a massive border wall. He was roundly booed by the audience. Follow California politics by signing up for our email newsletter Cox, who also said he supports the border wall, caught an earful when he tried to explain why he thinks legal immigrants are crucial to Californias financial well-being. Advertisement We also need a wealth of people who can contribute to the American dream, who can pick the fruits and vegetables that make California No. 1 in agriculture, Cox said to loud groans from the crowd. He used his next opportunity to say he recognized immigrants contributed to all aspects of society. The biggest clash between the two Republicans was a snippy back-and-forth over the effort to repeal the gas tax. Allen started gathering signatures in May to place a measure on the ballot, but Cox didnt get involved in a competing effort until October. Allens effort failed Friday to qualify for the ballot, and he joined the effort that Cox is part of. Advertisement After Allen urged the audience to sign a petition to put the matter before voters, Cox replied: Travis, welcome to the fight on getting rid of the gas tax. Glad to have you on board finally. Allen pointed out that his call to repeal the gas tax predates Coxs. Its funny, John, that was my fight from the beginning, so youre welcome, Allen said, later adding, Id like to say thank you very much to John Cox for writing a $250,000 check to buy his way into the repeal-the-gas-tax [ballot measure committee]. Newsom has led all recent polls and has a vast advantage in campaign money raised, both of which make him the favorite to finish first in the June 5 primary. Advertisement The race is likely to boil down to a battle for second place and in California, thats good enough. Under the states top-two primary rules, the two candidates who receive the most votes in the primary win a ticket to the November general election, regardless of their party affiliation. According to a November USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll, Newsom led the pack with 31% of Californias registered voters, followed by Villaraigosa with 21%. Among the other Democrats, Chiang came in with 11% and Eastin registered at 4%. Allen led among the major Republicans with 15% and Cox was favored by 11%. Former GOP congressman Doug Ose, who entered the race just over a week ago and did not receive an invitation to the town hall, was not included in the poll. Advertisement seema.mehta@latimes.com Twitter: @LATSeema phil.willon@latimes.com Twitter: @philwillon Advertisement ALSO Another Republican has jumped into Californias race for governor, and he could sink his partys chances Republican candidates for California governor spar over support for Trump in their first debate Money, Republican malaise and Tom Steyer: These are the things to watch for in Californias 2018 statewide elections Crews on Saturday put the finishing touches on a colorful sculpture that will greet visitors to Laguna Beach City Hall for the next few months. On Friday, workers placed 12-foot-tall aluminum circles, partially wrapped in fabric of varying colors, on the facilitys front lawn at 505 Forest Ave. Stereo.bot, a Los Angeles-based design and technology company, developed the sculpture, titled Light Beam, which will be on display for two months. People will be able to walk through the circles as the sculpture is designed to be interactive, as if stepping into a kaleidoscope, Cultural Arts Manager Sian Poeschl told the Daily Pilot in December. Advertisement LED lights will illuminate the fabric while a computer program will control the lights brightness levels. We want audiences to think of public art in all its forms and hope that this pilot program is just the start, Poeschl said at the time. The project aligns with one of the goals of the citys Cultural Arts Plan, which the council approved in March 2016. One of the plans goals is providing accessible and informal year-round arts activities throughout the city, such as small-scale theatrical and musical performances and temporary installations such as Light Beam. The Arts Commission recommended the sculpture to the City Council, which unanimously approved the piece in December. The Planning Commission then granted a temporary use permit. The city will spend $26,900 of the Arts Commissions program budget to cover construction, installation and removal of the sculpture. bryce.alderton@latimes.com Twitter: @AldertonBryce Lets say your family wants to take a cruise, but dear old Dad or Aunt Meghan or sister Sara wont take the time or spend the money to get a passport, which theyll need on many cruises. Thats because most foreign-flagged cruise ships and most are registered in other countries are required to make a stop in a foreign port, thanks to federal regulations. But dont give up the ship or give up on a ship. Some cruises dont require a passport, and some leave from the West Coast, as close by as San Pedro or Long Beach. These no-passport-needed voyages, called closed-loop cruises, begin and end in the same U.S. port. You sometimes can travel to destinations in Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, the Bahamas and Bermuda from, say, Miami or San Diego, then return to that port and reenter the U.S. without a passport, as long as you have other acceptable proof of citizenship. Advertisement A birth certificate (certified, with a raised seal and signature) and a laminated government-issued photo ID may be enough. But the first thing you want to do before you book such a cruise is to check with the cruise line and see whether this is the case. Some may adopt a hard stance about passports. Consider this also: Just because its possible to cruise without a passport doesnt mean its a great idea. Among the issues: You may not be allowed to disembark in the foreign port. If something happens and you miss the ship say, you drink too many mojitos and lose track of time youll have a devil of a time reentering the United States. If you get sick or Dad falls and breaks a hip and cant return with the ship, youll need a passport. I can attest to the trouble youll encounter if youre in a foreign country sans passport. Mine was stolen in Mexico City a few years ago, and the U.S. Embassy thought I was lying and wouldnt help. Some friends finally ran interference for me. Had they not, I might be running a B&B in Guadalajara right now. (Maybe that wouldnt be all bad.) Advertisement But if that passport is an obstacle, you could hop on one of those four-night Catalina and Baja, Mexico, Carnival cruises from Long Beach, with rates are low as $169 per person, double occupancy, for an inside cabin. Weeklong no-passport-needed Mexican cruises are also available from Long Beach or San Pedro on several lines. For instance, take Norwegian Cruise Line south to Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas in Mexico for as little as $499 per person, double occupancy, Or you can take off for Alaska, with a stop in Victoria, Canada, on a 12-day roundtrip Princess cruise from San Pedro. Rates for an inside cabin start at $1,599 per person, double occupancy. Advertisement If you still have a bit of time before your trip, consider using the governments passport rush service. Private services also can help you get a passport faster. But if you want to chance it and sail without a passport, heres a closer look at places other than Mexico you can visit without a passport. Alaska: Yes, its a 49th state, so why a passport? Because youll probably stop in a pretty Canadian port such as Victoria or Vancouver, British Columbia, on your way there. Most closed-loop trips to Alaska depart from Seattle. Bahamas, Bermuda, Caribbean: These island are to East Coast residents what Ensenada and Baja are to West Coast residents: international playgrounds. Many short cruises are available from the Florida mainland to the Bahamas and Caribbean for bargain-basement prices. Advertisement But if you live in California, youll have to get to the East Coast or Florida to take advantage of them. Canada and New England: These leaf-peeper tours are popular in autumn. Most sail from Boston or New York City. Hawaii: Check out the 50th state by ship by flying to the islands, then sailing on Norwegian Cruise Lines Pride of America, a U.S.-flagged vessel. Or, if you dont mind spending several days at sea, sail round trip from California ports such as San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Advertisement travel@latimes.com @latimestravel I was driving California Highway 12 through the Napa-Sonoma wine country in mid-December when a low, dark cloud drifted into my peripheral vision. It was over a vineyard and seemed to be billowing a scary sight after the October wildfires that killed at least 43 people and burned more than 245,000 acres in Northern California. But as I turned to look at this cloud, it gained altitude, then exploded into a thousand winged pieces. They were starlings a murmuration of starlings, if you go in for fancy animal plural words. The vineyard was fine. If youve been putting off travel to this wine country, think again. Among about 900 wineries in Napa and Sonoma counties, industry officials say fewer than 20 suffered significant damage in October, and most of those have been repaired and reopened. The story is similar for restaurants and lodgings. Advertisement If you look for scars on the landscape, you will find them eventually. But I saw a lot of untroubled territory in a pair of trips in November and December tracing some of Napa and Sonoma counties most popular tourist routes. The area is so beautiful that it may startle anyone who saw the live coverage of those fires. The Gundlach Bundschu Winery, outside the city of Sonoma, lost one residential building to the fires of October, but its production facility, tasting room and most of its vineyards survived. You see acre upon acre of splendor, especially if you keep your eyes on the lowlands where most of the cities, towns, restaurants, lodgings and tasting rooms are. If you check the horizon, some ridges are darker than others. Thats scorched earth barely distinguishable from shadow from miles away. Meanwhile green shoots are multiplying. Nearly every business is open in the town plazas, and you see thank you, first responders signs on facades and shop windows. Many businesses invite customers to contribute to a local charity. Napa and Sonoma are not, however, awash in fire sale price-cutting. Although some hoteliers say they have deepened their usual winter-season discounts, many hotel rooms and homes that might have been occupied by travelers are instead housing locals whose residences were damaged or destroyed. Surveys by lodging consultants STR show that from Dec. 1 through Dec. 30, the average daily rate at Napa Countys hotels was $233.15, down 3.2% from the previous year. But the occupancy rate was 56.5%, up from 54.3% the year before, said Clay Gregory, president and chief executive of Visit Napa Valley. About two-thirds of visitors to the area, however, are day-trippers and not overnight guests. Several entrepreneurs told me they hope their numbers will return to normal in the spring, but nobody is sure. Advertisement If youre a Californian or even if youre not this might be a fine time to pop in, spend a few dollars and remind our northern neighbors that were in this together. Heres a closer look at what a Napa/Sonoma traveler can expect: Napa County A man fishes on Napa River near Oxbow Public Market. (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times ) Although the fires began northwest of Calistoga on Oct. 8, the flames never reached Napa Valleys main tourist corridor, which includes downtown Napa, Yountville, Oakville, Rutherford and St. Helena. Nor did the fire reach Lincoln Avenue, Calistogas main drag. Advertisement As you drive among those towns along on California 29 or ride the Napa Valley Wine Train (which parallels the highway between Napa and St. Helena), the valley seems open for business as usual, including the new Archer Hotel in downtown Napa. So far, you cant tell there was a fire, said visitor Larry Devich of Sacramento, about an hour into our ride on the wine train. But we had walked through an empty car on the way to our seats, and waitress Cathy Dominguez had confided that were only using half of the train right now. Scott Goldie, the wine trains co-chief executive, told me later, We were probably off by 80% in early November. But by early January, Goldie said, the shortfall was about 30%. Goldie, who lost his Atlas Peak home in the fires, has decided to bet on a big comeback. Beginning in April, he said, the train is adding cars and offering more excursions than it did last year. Advertisement I also browsed Napas Oxbow Public Market, walked along the Napa River and spent a night at the Indian Springs resort in Calistoga. No visible trouble, but Indian Springs general manager Tim McGregor mentioned he had lost his Santa Rosa home in the fires. In all, Napa County officials said, the major fires here (Atlas, Nuns and Tubbs) killed seven people and burned 69,979 acres. Yet county officials estimate that just 110 acres of vineyards burned. In Napa County, 1,051 structures were destroyed, including 611 residential units. Just north of Calistoga, Robert Louis Stevenson State Parks Mount St. Helena Trail is still closed, but its Table Rock Trail, Palisades Trail and Historic Oat Hill Mine Road are open. At two of the areas popular winery tasting rooms Rutherfords Grgich Hills Estate and the Castello di Amorosa outside Calistoga I found the settings flawless and customers happily sipping. Advertisement Henriette Steinrueck, Castellos vice president of operations, later told me that sales in early November were about half their usual level. By early January, she said the shortfall had shrunk to 15% to 20%. Among the more than 400 wineries in Napa County, Napa Valley Vintners spokeswoman Patsy McGaughy said, five sustained significant damage. Of those, McGaughy said, just one that was open to the public before the fires is still closed Signorello Estate in the hills off the Silverado Trail. Its owner has vowed to rebuild. Info: Visit Napa Valley, Napa Valley Welcome Center, 600 Main St., Napa; (707) 251-5895 Sonoma County Downtown Sonoma. (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times ) Advertisement The fires were a catastrophe shared by Napa and Sonoma counties, but the greatest damage was done in Santa Rosa, Sonomas biggest city. In all, county officials reported 24 deaths and 88,261 acres burned. Some 6,583 structures were destroyed, including 5,093 residential units. Santa Rosa lost more than 3,000 homes and many businesses, including the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country hotel, the Fountaingrove Inn and its historic Round Barn building, most of the Journeys End Mobile Home Park and most of the Paradise Ridge Winery (but its off-site tasting room in Kenwood is still in business). Yet most of Sonoma Countys lowlands look like most of Napas lowlands: idyllic, prosperous and Instagram-ready. A voluntary survey of Sonoma County growers found just 92 crop acres of wine grapes damaged along with 80 acres of pasture. Advertisement The flames never reached Sonoma Plaza, where Sonoma State Historic Park and Mission San Francisco Solano stand among shops and restaurants. As you drive Highway 12 north past the vineyards, tasting rooms and restaurants of Kenwood, all seems well. The same is true farther north in prosperous Healdsburg where the sleek Hotel Healdsburg and h2hotel are to be joined this spring by the new Harmon Guest House and on Dry Creek Road, which bends past many wineries north of town. A wandering visitor does run into sad surprises. You cant head up Adobe Canyon Road into Sugarloaf Ridge State Parkbecause most of its 4,020 acres burned. (The park remains closed.) Advertisement Drive idyllic Bennett Valley Road south from Santa Rosa and you will find miles of resplendent scenery, scattered ashen hints of trouble, then several grim blocks of burned-out homes as you enter the town of Glen Ellen, which lost hundreds of structures. Yet the Glen Ellen Star, a widely admired restaurant on Arnold Drive, is serving dinner nightly. And just west of town, 1,402-acre Jack London State Historic Park avoided the flames. Its trails and historic buildings have been open since early November. For more glimpses of the areas beauty, vulnerability and resilience, drive to the low hills east of the city of Sonoma. At Buena Vista Winery, charring from a preventive backfire stopped less than 50 feet from the old stone building that holds the two-story tasting room. And then theres the approach to nearby Gundlach Bundschu Winery, a sixth-generation family business. The flames claimed one historic home, but most of the operation survived, including the wine-production building, tasting room, two houses, a storage cave, picnic tables shaded by olive trees and the vineyards. Advertisement As you approach, the vineyard rows and pleasant scenery unfurl around you until a band of blackened landscape begins just below a ridge. Step inside, where Gary Coffland may be waiting to pour you a taste, tell you about all the wine lost in the quake of 1906, pour you another taste and show you his cellphone snaps of the October flames. Then, he might explain how helicopters scooped water from the vineyard reservoir, how the winery family and staff raced to rescue the place and then had it open again within two weeks. In the big picture, Coffland may tell you, The fires are just another chapter of calamity followed by recovery. Advertisement Info: Sonoma County Tourism, 23570 Arnold Drive, Sonoma; (707) 996-1090, Experience Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau, 453 First St. East, Sonoma; (707) 996-1090 christopher.reynolds@latimes.com Follow Reynolds on Twitter: @MrCSReynolds It was an unusual and terse announcement: In accordance with current assessments, the Israel army said on Saturday, the Kerem Shalom Crossing would be closed the next day. There was no further explanation. Kerem Shalom is one of the Gaza Strips few lifelines to the outer world and the principal entry point for humanitarian aid. The mystery was resolved at 7 a.m. Sunday, when Israel announced that its air force had destroyed a tunnel running from the Gaza Strip south into Egypt and north into Israel under the delicate triple-border area of Rafah. Israeli authorities said the tunnel extended almost 600 feet into Israeli territory and was built solely with the aim of executing terror attacks against Israelis. It was dug below the border crossing, beneath pipes used to transport natural gas and fuel. Advertisement Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said the tunnel represented a blatant violation of Israeli sovereignty. The destruction of the network of attack tunnels is an essential part of our policy of systematically harming Hamas strategic capabilities. Hamas is the Islamist militia that rules the Gaza Strip, a tiny Palestinian territory wedged among Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea. Countering Israels accusation that the wide, reinforced shaft was built to smuggle weapons and terrorists into Israel, Hamas claimed the tunnel was intended for smuggling goods. We have not encountered a tunnel like this before, said Brig. Gen. Ronen Manelis, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces. The existence of tunnels used to smuggle terrorists into Israel was revealed in the initial days of the 2014 war between Hamas and Israel. During the night of July 21, 2014, two Hamas cells attempted to penetrate Israel. In one of the attacks, 10 Palestinians exited a tunnel wearing full Israeli army uniforms. Seven Israeli soldiers and at least 10 guerrilla fighters were killed during the nighttime combat, which took place in residential neighborhoods of Israeli border towns. The tunnel bombed on Saturday night is the fourth tunnel Israel has destroyed in recent months. After several setbacks in detecting tunnels, the Israeli army insisted Sunday that Israel possesses the most advanced capability in the world to locate underground tunnels and announced its intention to demolish all of the tunnels extending from the Gaza Strip into Israel by the end of the year. Less than a week before the arrival of Vice President Mike Pence, the region is once again on the verge of turmoil. Advertisement Pences first stop, Egypt, brokered a faltering reunification agreement signed in October in Cairo between Hamas and Fatah, the internationally recognized Palestinian movement that rules the West Bank. Egypt has been fighting a war of attrition against Islamic State-affiliated militias in its vast Sinai desert, which borders Gaza. The Egyptians who negotiated a reconciliation with the Palestinian organization likely never imagined that it would dare cooperate with ISIS and dig a tunnel reaching all the way to Sinai, Ron Ben-Yishai, a military analyst for the Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot, wrote on Sunday, adding that the demolition is likely to have strategic consequences. He cautioned that the tunnel underneath the Kerem Shalom border crossing was an operation of deception not only against the Egyptians, but against Israel too. Hamas likely believed the Israeli army would never imagine it was digging a tunnel under the strips only lifeline, endangering the populations welfare. Since President Trumps Dec. 6 announcement recognizing Jerusalem as Israels capital, there has been an uptick in border violence, with more than 40 rockets and mortars fired at Israel from Gaza. Israel attributes most of the rocket fire to extreme Islamist groups in Gaza that are vying for power with Hamas. Advertisement ALSO Palestinian leaders threaten to withdraw formal recognition of Israel Organizations that promote a boycott of Israel are no longer welcome there U.S. fails to make payment to U.N. agency that helps Palestinians Advertisement Tarnopolsky is a special correspondent. Jan 14, 2018, 2:01pm ET Toyota Supra to debut in Geneva, offer four levels of tune The car will also see performance-tuned versions under the Gazoo Racing sub-brand. After what seems like ages of spy shots, we may finally have a release date for the fifth-generation Supra. Toyota is apparently readying it for a debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March, and it may not carry the Toyota name. According to Auto Express, the Supra will actually be sold under Toyota's Gazoo Racing performance sub-brand, which launched last September, and without Toyota branding. This is based on a statement by Gazoo Racing president Shigeki Tomoyama, who said, "The Supra will be by Gazoo." However, we think Tomoyama was referring to the Gazoo team's significant role in the Supra's development. There will still be a Toyota-branded Supra. That does not preclude Gazoo versions in increasing levels of tune, a pattern established with other models sold both as Toyotas and Gazoo Racing-modified vehicles. Auto Express also believes that there will be four such levels, with a significant performance difference between the top and bottom levels. One promising note is that Tomoyama has noted that "The new car has to appeal to the existing owners first." He then reiterated that "The old cars had a straight-six engine, twin turbos and rear-wheel drive; the new car must have the same philosophy. Since Toyota no longer makes an inline-six engine, that could refer to a BMW 3.0-liter, as the Supra is reported to share a platform with the BMW Z4. However, the Z4 will be convertible only, and the Supra will be a fixed head coupe. The same reports say that the Supra will debut in 2019, a year after the Z4. Meanwhile, Evo reports that Tomoyama has suggested a sub-3,300 pound curb weight and promised a 50/50 weight distribution. He also implied that a hybrid powertrain based on the TS050 Le Mans race car could power the Supra. With the Gazoo Racing Super Sport Concept that just debuted at the Tokyo Auto Salon, that certainly seems more likely. Time will tell if the Supra fills the big shoes of its predecessor. However, these sources say that Tomoyama himself owns a previous-generation Supra modified to 600 horsepower and significantly lightened, so that's a good sign. A Bucks County man charged with child rape and related offenses was cleared of all charges at trial, the (Bucks County) Courier Times reports. Kenneth C. Fenske, who turns 58 this month, of Milford, was one of six people charged in a so-called furry party sex ring. The suspects in eastern Pennsylvania and Virginia were adults who dressed in costumes and sexually abused children, authorities said following the arrests announced a year ago. A jury on Friday night acquitted Fenske of allegations he raped an 8-year-old boy during a 2009 furry party at his home, according to the report. "I'm just happy for Mr. Fenske that he was vindicated by the jury," the Courier Times quotes Fenske's defense attorney, Steven Fairlie, as saying following a four-day trial. "He's maintained his innocence throughout and obviously the jury believed him." Fenske has been free on 10 percent of $750,000 bail posted Jan. 27, 2017, according to court records. Here is the status of each of the other suspects arrested following an investigation by the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office. David Parker, 39, of Saylorsburg, pleaded guilty in August 2017 to sex trafficking involving a minor in federal court, under a plea deal calling for 30 years in prison, sexual offender registration and lifetime supervision following his release. Craig M. Knox, 36, of Henrico, Virginia, faces charges in Luzerne County Court of rape of child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, unlawful contact with minor and sexual exploitation of children. He remained in prison in lieu of $500,000 bail. Paige W. Tasker, 28, of Stroudsburg, is scheduled for sentencing Feb. 27 in Monroe County Court after pleading guilty to statutory sexual assault and corruption of minors. She remained behind bars on $250,000 bail. Jeffrey Harvey, 40, of West Wyoming, Luzerne County, awaits sentencing in Lackawanna County Court after pleading guilty to criminal attempted statutory sexual assault and criminal use of a communication facility. He was free on $100,000 bail posted Feb. 4, 2017, records show. Stephen M. Taylor, 31, of Henrico, Virginia, pleaded guilty in Virginia to charges for sexually abusing two Rottweilers and was sentenced to 20 months in prison, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Good grief. A diagram of recent court cases challenging gerrymandering in Pennsylvania and other states is itself starting to look like a badly mangled congressional district. Recently, federal judges in Pennsylvania and North Carolina came to opposite conclusions about whether Republican attempts to perpetuate power through district map-drawing violated the Elections Clause of the U.S. Constitution. A three-judge panel in North Carolina said "yes," unanimously, and ordered lawmakers to draw up a new map for this year's midterm elections. They also found the gerrymander violated the First Amendment and the Equal Protection clause. A three-judge panel in Pennsylvania, in 2-1 decision, went the other way, saying redistricting is a partisan process that requires a political solution, not a court-ordered one. Who's right? Who's wrong? On the weight of the evidence, both courts had reason to overturn obvious gerrymanders. In both cases, Republicans leaders freely testified they fed partisan data into sophisticated computer programs to minimize the chances of Democrats winning congressional races. In Pennsylvania, this contributed to Republicans winning and holding 13 of 18 congressional seats, despite the fact the Democrats received many more votes overall. In North Carolina, the GOP secured 10 of 13 seats. That's not anyone's idea of fairness, and it needs to be changed -- hopefully in time for upcoming elections. While we wish the Pennsylvania judges had ordered an immediate do-over, we respect the argument that judges shouldn't be doing the jobs of legislators. Yet that argument doesn't hold water here -- not in the way this practice has been honed and perfected in today's crazy, uber-partisan atmosphere and frozen in place. Gerrymandering -- by either party -- allows legislators to choose their voters, instead of the other way around. Gerrymandering in state legislative districts is doubly insidious. It concentrates partisan power among those who could initiate reform but have no incentive to do so as long as they're insulated from a healthy cross-section of voters and serious election challenges. Say what you will about judicial activism -- we don't think the people who drew up the U.S and state constitutions expected their successors to so refine the art of redistricting as to hand-pick their constituencies, right down to the street address. The best approach would be for Pennsylvania and other states to set up independent-minded citizen commissions to oversee the process of redistricting. Bills to accomplish this are being considered in Harrisburg, but again -- parties in power have no incentive to change. And they have the power to thwart reform. We'd like to think that voters in 2018 will rise up and demand this sort of fairness. But reforming redistricting, government ethics and campaign finance is a tough sell on the street -- especially among people who have been disillusioned and believe, rightfully, that the deck has been stacked against them in elections and by deep-pocketed special interests. This court docket is crowded. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a redistricting appeal brought by plaintiffs, based on the state constitution. (In December, a Commonwealth Court judge upheld the state's congressional map.) Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court is considering gerrymandering appeals from Wisconsin, Maryland and Texas. It's time to revise the rules to restore balance. If state legislatures won't do it, the courts must order them to redraw -- and redraw and redraw, if necessary -- until a constitutional semblance of fairness has been met. This isn't the easiest thing to define. On the other hand, it's easy to identify extreme gerrymandering when you see it -- and to understand how the 21st century version of this abuse threatens one of the foundations of our democratic way of life: The idea that one vote is equal to any other. WHEN it comes to mental health Castletroy College pupils say dont bottle it up, instead, blurt it out. Pupils from the school will join 7,000 other secondary school students from all over Ireland at the Cycle Against Suicide Student Leaders Congress at Dublins 3 Arena on January 18. Eleven fifth year students are involved as mental health ambassadors. Adrija Pavlova, Andrea Crochet, Brannagh McGuire, Conor Bourke, Danielle McMahon, Hazel Hourigan, Andreea Mocanu, Shannon Seagrief, Macief Jurewicz, Venkata Donthu and Lakeisha Lazo wear bright organge badges to demonstrate their promotion of mental well-being. The teenagers have been engaged in a number of different creative projects, which will be on display at the event in Dublin. They are inspired by the Cycle Against Suicide motto that, its OK not to feel OK and its absolutely OK to ask for help. The Student Leaders Congress promotes positive mental health and provides help-seeking advice to young people in a fun and inclusive manner. The theme for this year is #EmpowerYourVoice. CAS link teacher Martina Murphy, of Castletroy College, said she was very proud of the mental health ambassadors and the efforts they have made to promote positive mental health in the school community. Since September to promote the message of Empower Your Voice the students have created a well-being self-care kit which contains useful tips to help in tough times. They also organised a Blurt It Out Bingo session for junior cycle students to encourage them to speak out, make new friends and foster healthy relationships. The teenagers have plans for a lunch time pop-up cafe this year. Having started as a gathering of 40 young people in 2012, the Student Leaders Congress has grown year on year, and this years event will be the largest youth mental health conference in Europe. The student-led event boasts a diverse schedule of speakers, which includes representatives from Irish mental health organisations, Snapchat star James Kavanagh, Galway hurlers Jason Flynn and Davy Glennon, Dustin the Turkey, author Kevin Hines, and radio DJ Nikki Hayes. Music performances will be provided by Booka Brass Band, Mundy, Wild Youth, Little Hours and many more. All transition years in the school and some fifth years will attend the congress. MOVING into the New Year can provide many challenges for me. After the excitement of Christmas, it is easy for my mood to dip. Still more shopping offered as the only solution - those hypnotic sales.. One thing that startles me is my lack of understanding of mental hygiene, especially what to do in these down moments. I am not bad at looking after my physical health. I exercise, eat reasonably healthy foods, I go for a check up every six months but I rarely check on my mental health or indeed my spiritual health. I accept the dips as inevitable. Oh you are feeling depressed, pull yourself together, ts all in your head, may still be the best advice I offer myself. But just as our physical health is not one hundred per cent at all times - we get colds, stomach bugs - so our mental health is not one hundred per cent all the time. We experience psychological ups and downs, cuts and colds and we need to take care of our minds just like our bodies. But then no one ever taught me about maintaining mental hygiene. All attention was focused on my physical hygiene - I was taught to brush my teeth (not very well says my dentist) wash my hands and cover a cut so it didnt become infected. How is it we spend more time taking care of our teeth then we do our minds I ask myself? Why is our physical health is so much more important to us than our mental health? If my doctor tells me to go to the gym for half an hour a day, I have little hesitation doing it but if someone suggests I take thirty minutes quiet time every day - to ensure my mind and spirit are healthy - I hesitate and do nothing. I find it hard to get time to sit still or go for a walk or unplug from technology and yet this is probably more fundamental to my overall health than walking that treadmill. In the old days, copy books had margins at the side of the page - a space, kept blank - reserved for the teachers comments or marks. These were dreaded spaces as my teachers comments were not always complimentary. Today I view margins differently - I know I need them in my day, in my week - times and spaces preserved, kept free of busyness, spaces and times where I can rest a while and regain my balance - let my spirit catch up with me. There is a story about an American, who went to explore Africa in the 1800s. He was in a hurry and hired three African porters to carry his belongings. For three days they raced ahead and at the end of the third day, the Africans sat down and refused to go on. The American urged them to get up explaining the pressure he was under to reach his destination. They still refused to move. He eventually offered them cash but still no good. He was perplexed. Finally he got one of the Africans to tell him what was going on. The African porter pulled him aside and said: We have moved too quickly to reach here; now we need to sit and wait and give our spirits time to catch up with us. This New Year let us give our spirits a chance to catch up with us, look after our mental and spiritual health as well as our physical health - create margins in our days and weeks just for ourselves and we can make comments too. But please - encouraging ones only! FIANNA Fail members across Limerick have been put on high alert for a general election once again. The partys provincial organiser Colm Leahy has contacted members by telephone across Limerick City, telling them if they wished to put their name before a convention, they had until the end of the week. It looks like our selection convention will be held by the end of the month, thats what were assuming anyway, said one long-serving Fianna Fail councillor, who did not wish to be identified. The partys standard-bearer in Limerick City, Willie ODea, confirmed: We will have a selection convention fairly soon, yeah. Id anticipate invites going out this week. We have to be ready as an election can happen at any time. The Soldiers of Destiny are the last of the major parties to show their hand in Limerick ahead of a proposed general election. As the government teetered on the brink of a snap Christmas election at the start of December over the whistleblower crisis, Labour, Fine Gael, Solidarity and Sinn Fein all picked their city candidates. Labour picked Jan OSullivan, while Fine Gael selected Senators Kieran ODonnell and Maria Byrne to represent their parties. Sitting Sinn Fein TD Maurice Quinlivan will seek election again, while Cllr Cian Prendiville who came within 280 votes of election in 2016 will fly the flag for Solidarity here. In the rural county constituency, its a case of as you were for Fine Gael, with current TDs, Minister Patrick ODonovan and Tom Neville putting their name before the public. Sinn Fein meanwhile, has picked its 2016 general election candidate, Cllr Seamus Browne, Abbeyfeale. Solidarity is not expected to run a candidate, but Labour sources have indicated the party might run a candidate. For the first time in a decade, Fianna Fail will run two candidates in each Limerick constituency, following a directive from party leader Micheal Martin. While polltoppers Mr ODea and Niall Collins will run, all eyes will be on who the party faithful decides will be their running mates in each constituency. Galbally councillor Eddie Ryan, who has already declared his intention to seek the nomination, is favoured in the county. In the city, Cllr James Collins, who topped the poll in the City West constituency at the 2014 local election, is set to seek a nomination. He will likely benefit from the retirement of former Finance Minister Michael Noonan, with the pair both based in Dooradoyle. A LONG-RUNNING Limerick council prosecution over a farmers lack of a septic tank has yet to be flushed from the court system. It first came before Judge Marian OLeary in September 2016. William OKeeffe, of Ardroe, Pallasgreen was taken to court under the Water Pollution Act. Kilmallock Court heard that there was no septic tank installed in the rural cottage. A council employee said: It is an open hole on the site. A septic tank needs to be installed. It is going to ground water and causing pollution. They gave the cost of installing one at between 2,000 and 10,000. Solicitor for William OKeeffe, Brendan Gill said: He is the sole occupant of the house. The amount of waste wouldnt be very high. The case was adjourned on the first occasion as William OKeeffe is one of three co-owners with two siblings. His sister and brother were then prosecuted under the Water Pollution Act. His sister then gave her share of the house to William OKeeffe and proceedings were dropped against her. His brother - Patrick OKeeffe, Ballinagrane, Kilteely - was brought before the courts for ongoing water pollution. There have been many adjournments to see if the parties can resolve the issue. There are also separate civil proceedings involving the brothers in the Circuit Court. At the most recent district court sitting in Kilmallock, Robin Lee, solicitor for Patrick OKeeffe, applied for matters to be struck out against his client. My client says he hasnt stood in this property in 17 years. My client has had no act or part in creating this pollution. My application is that matters against my client - Patrick OKeeffe - be struck out, said Mr Lee. Judge OLeary said he is a joint owner. The court heard that the property is valued at 100,000, thus Patrick OKeeffes share is 33,333. Mr Lee said the house is land locked. To get into it my client would have to go through Billys (William OKeeffes) land. My client is fearful of setting foot on that land and what might result, said Mr Lee. Judge OLeary asked if they have tried to agree? Mr Lee said: A third party has been involved but to no avail. Will Leahy, solicitor for Limerick City and County Council, said he has sympathy for Mr Lee. I dont think his client can say he can be released from this claim when he is asserting his claim in another court, said Mr Leahy. The council costs are going up every time this comes before the court. The pollution matter is ongoing, he added. Mr Gill, representing William OKeeffe, said his client is present in court and is fully prepared to pay two thirds of the cost (of the septic tank). Judge OLeary said she will give one final adjournment. Mr Lee asked for the matter against Patrick OKeeffe to be struck out. Judge OLeary dismissed the application and put the case back until February 20. She told all parties to come up with a proposal. I will finalise it on the next day, said Judge OLeary. IF you have found yourself in the Dunraven Arms Hotel in Limerick at any stage over the last 40 years, theres a good chance you know John Shovlin. Immediately recognisable by his friendly smile and his soft Donegal lilt, the restaurant manager has served presidents, royals and even a pope during a stellar luxury hotel career in hotel, located in the centre of Adare village. But on New Years Eve, the veteran maitre d welcomed his final customer before ringing in 2018 as a retired man - after 37 years as the face of the much loved Dunraven restaurant. Ive looked after lords, ladies, presidents, but definitely my heart is with West Limerick and the people of Limerick. The everyday people, they were my life and my years at the Dunraven. The people of Limerick gave me some welcome, and Ill never forget that, said John, who settled in Adare for the long-term after his move to the Dunraven in 1980. I have been there in the same position for the 37 years, restaurant and banqueting manager from the very start. I was at Ashford Castle for a while before that, and I came to the Dunraven shortly after Bryan Murphy bought it. Ive worked with some fantastic people - some have passed on unfortunately, and some are like me, now retired. But others are still there, and in all my time I could never say that I had a bad time there. I enjoyed working for the Murphys. We had our ups and downs, but at the end of the day, its still a great place to work. And everywhere you go, people seem to know and remember it. Thankfully, a lot of people seem to remember me, because I was ever so long there! I dont know if that was a good or a bad thing, laughed John. One thing is sure, John made himself known to everyone who stayed at the hotel. His attitude towards the job can be easily surmised to hear him talk about the customers who he looked after. Those customers often included high profile names from the worlds of politics and global nobility. President Mary Robinson was a regular visitor there, President Mary McAleese as well and more recently President Michael D. Higgins. And Ive looked after the taoisigh as well, he said. In my time at Ashford Castle, I was lucky to have looked after US President Ronald Reagan. I was brought in to look after Senator Edward (Ted) Kennedy, and I was flown into Knock from Ashford Castle by helicopter in 1979 to look after Pope John Paul II, remembered John. When it comes to handling royalty, there is certain protocol to follow - but it went out the window after a stay in John and the teams care. I looked after Princess Anne when she came. A lovely lady, she had dinner and everything in the restaurant that night. There was no fuss with her. I found her down to earth and an absolute lady. I believe that youre not supposed to kiss the royalty, but she kissed me that morning when she was leaving, he laughed. He was also invited to Aras an Uachtarain for an official dinner with President Mary McAleese, such was the impression he made at the hotel. Another standout memory he has from his career was when he stood out at the front of the hotel, looking across at the US president. When President Bill Clinton was at Adare Manor, that was a big time for us as well. I remember him standing and waving at us from the gates of the Manor across the road, he said. One of his biggest roles at the Dunraven has undoubtedly been dealing with the weddings. No two brides are the same, according to the man who has attended thousands of weddings over nearly 40 years. Its their big day, and of course, brides can be so excitable on the day so you have to keep them calm, so that in itself was really important, he said. Of his regular customers, he said you get to know them. I knew their goods and their bads, how to assist them, how they liked their beef. When youre there for 37 years, you get this knowledge. Paying tribute to the long-standing employee, Louis Murphy of the Dunraven said: John joined my brother Bryan here at the hotel 37 years ago, he had been working with our uncle Rory Murphy, the then-Managing Director of Ashford and Dromoland castles. His personality and warmth has been endearing to every guest over the years and he had a great capacity for remembering everyones name. It has been a privilege to work with John, who has been a valued senior member of the team for so many years and he will missed by staff and guests alike. Bryan, Hugh and I would like to thank John for his wonderful service and loyalty to the Dunraven and we wish him and his lovely wife Margaret many happy days in his retirement, he added. Business EVERLEDGER PARTNERS WITH SHPING, DELIVERING THE FUTURE OF INFORMED CONSUMER SHOPPING EXPERIENCE 14.01.2018 13:30:24 - (live-PR.com) - 14 January 2018: Two major players in provenance authentication, Everledger, a leading emerging technology enterprise, and Shping, an industry-standards based track and trace cloud platform, have today announced a first-to-market collaboration that will see the pair build a GS1 EPCIS standard track-and-trace platform for product information using blockchain. Their strategic partnership was formally made public during the UNLOCK Blockchain Forum at - 14 January 2018: Two major players in provenance authentication, Everledger, a leading emerging technology enterprise, and Shping, an industry-standards based track and trace cloud platform, have today announced a first-to-market collaboration that will see the pair build a GS1 EPCIS standard track-and-trace platform for product information using blockchain.Their strategic partnership was formally made public during the UNLOCK Blockchain Forum at the Ritz Carlton Hotel DIFC. The UNLOCK Blockchain Forum is one of the biggest events of its kind to take place in the region. Both parties attended the event organized by the Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal to shed light on the blockchain concept and discuss how to successfully implement blockchain projects across different industries. Shpings current platform incorporates a front-end smartphone application to extend traceability and authentication capability up to and beyond the point of purchase. This new collaborative platform with Everledger will instantly recognise a trading partner publisher as an authorised party, automating the current manual process that requires each new subscriber to be individually validated before granting rights to publish data onto the blockchain. By applying GS1 identification standards like Global Location Number (GLN) and Global Company Prefix (GCP), Shping and Everledger have developed new technology that allows publishers of the traceability data to be instantly verified, said Shping Chief Executive Officer & Founder, Gennady Volchek. Being able to provide provenance and product authentication empowers brands with a tremendous point of difference. Encouraging consumer awareness, interest and the pursuit of this information was the last piece of the puzzle. Everledger Founder & CEO Leanne Kemp said, We are excited to continue leading the way with innovative collaborations to track verified provenance. Our technical integration and commercial collaboration with Shping is well-aligned with our purpose of building trust along the entire supply chain. It will enhance the informed consumer experience and greatly drive strong consumer and industry confidence in brands. This marks Everledgers foray into the mass consumer retail segment and a strong first step to take in driving such a progressive development within the retail industry through the convergence of our technologies, she added. The partnership also benefits industry, commercial and consumer users of the Shping ecosystem, with Shping Security, Shping Marketing and Shping App users set to benefit from a number of new enhancements. Brands using the Shping Security module for track and trace will now have the option to automatically upload their information to the Everledger blockchain with the Shping node playing a bridging role to the blockchain. Furthermore, any verified company can become a part of the Everledger blockchain (by creating a node) and that companys product information will be accessible through Shping. Meanwhile, all products recorded onto the blockchain by the Everledger platform, will soon be authenticated by the Shping App. This allows buyers to soon be able to confirm a products authenticity, provenance and qualities by simply entering a serial number into the Shping App. The collaboration plans to scale an onboarding of GS1 members in countries where Shping already has an integration and strategic partnership - Australia, Singapore, Russia, Malta and Azerbaijan. To market to consumers through Shping, brands using the platform must have a positive balance of Shping Coins. The only way to acquire these at present will be through the Token Sale, where Shping Coins will be put on sale directly for one time only. The countdown for the Shping Token presale is already well underway with the official launch date set for 00:00 (CET) Monday, 22 January 2018 for 30 days or until sold out. (See below for more info.) the Ritz Carlton Hotel DIFC. The UNLOCK Blockchain Forum is one of the biggest events of its kind to take place in the region. Both parties attended the event organized by the Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal to shed light on the blockchain concept and discuss how to successfully implement blockchain projects across different industries.Shpings current platform incorporates a front-end smartphone application to extend traceability and authentication capability up to and beyond the point of purchase. This new collaborative platform with Everledger will instantly recognise a trading partner publisher as an authorised party, automating the current manual process that requires each new subscriber to be individually validated before granting rights to publish data onto the blockchain.By applying GS1 identification standards like Global Location Number (GLN) and Global Company Prefix (GCP), Shping and Everledger have developed new technology that allows publishers of the traceability data to be instantly verified, said Shping Chief Executive Officer & Founder, Gennady Volchek.Being able to provide provenance and product authentication empowers brands with a tremendous point of difference. Encouraging consumer awareness, interest and the pursuit of this information was the last piece of the puzzle.Everledger Founder & CEO Leanne Kemp said, We are excited to continue leading the way with innovative collaborations to track verified provenance. Our technical integration and commercial collaboration with Shping is well-aligned with our purpose of building trust along the entire supply chain. It will enhance the informed consumer experience and greatly drive strong consumer and industry confidence in brands.This marks Everledgers foray into the mass consumer retail segment and a strong first step to take in driving such a progressive development within the retail industry through the convergence of our technologies, she added.The partnership also benefits industry, commercial and consumer users of the Shping ecosystem, with Shping Security, Shping Marketing and Shping App users set to benefit from a number of new enhancements.Brands using the Shping Security module for track and trace will now have the option to automatically upload their information to the Everledger blockchain with the Shping node playing a bridging role to the blockchain. Furthermore, any verified company can become a part of the Everledger blockchain (by creating a node) and that companys product information will be accessible through Shping.Meanwhile, all products recorded onto the blockchain by the Everledger platform, will soon be authenticated by the Shping App. This allows buyers to soon be able to confirm a products authenticity, provenance and qualities by simply entering a serial number into the Shping App.The collaboration plans to scale an onboarding of GS1 members in countries where Shping already has an integration and strategic partnership - Australia, Singapore, Russia, Malta and Azerbaijan.To market to consumers through Shping, brands using the platform must have a positive balance of Shping Coins. The only way to acquire these at present will be through the Token Sale, where Shping Coins will be put on sale directly for one time only.The countdown for the Shping Token presale is already well underway with the official launch date set for 00:00 (CET) Monday, 22 January 2018 for 30 days or until sold out. (See below for more info.) Contact information: Orient Planet PR & Marketing Communications P.O.Box. 500266, Dubai, UAE Contact Person: Jessy Chami Phone: 0097144562888 eMail: eMail Web: http://www.orientplanet.com Author: Pratik Karkera e-mail Web: http://www.orientplanet.com Phone: 0097144562888 14.01.2018 13:30:24 - Disclaimer: If you have any questions regarding information in this article please contact the author. Please do not contact Live-PR.com. We are not able to assist you. Live-PR.com disclaims content contained in this article. Live-PR.com is not authorized to give any information about content and not responsible for content posted by third party. Organizations & Institutions Ministry of Health & Prevention warns against dangers of silicone injections 14.01.2018 05:10:08 - UAE one of the first countries in the region to put strict controls on registration of medical devices, says Dr. Amin Al Amiri (live-PR.com) - UAE, January 13, 2018 - The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) has warned health care practitioners and community members via a Circular No. 216 of 2017 about the risks involved in using silicone injections, which are falsely promoted as approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Injections used to enhance the size of buttocks, breasts and other - UAE, January 13, 2018 - The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) has warned health care practitioners and community members via a Circular No. 216 of 2017 about the risks involved in using silicone injections, which are falsely promoted as approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Injections used to enhance the size of buttocks, breasts and other parts of the body can lead to serious injuries and irreversible deformities. In the circular sent to the directors of the medical districts, public and private hospitals, doctors, pharmacists and assistant pharmacists, and directors of public and private pharmacies, the Ministry recommends ensuring the safety of these products before using them. The FDA has made it clear that the only approved use for silicon injections is the silicon oil used in intraocular injection for some limited indications. UAE a world leader in enforcing strict regulations on the registration of medical devices H.E. Dr. Amin Hussein Al Amiri, MOHAPs Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Policy and Licensing, said that since 2008 the UAE has been one of the leading countries in the region and the world in enacting legislations and imposing strict controls for the registration of medical devices such as silicone injections, as part of its strategy to provide a vital legislative framework, good governance and quality regulatory services for the health sector. He mentioned that the process is not limited to the marketing authorization in terms of ensuring necessary validation from the internationally approved assessment centers, including the FDA, and ensuring necessary trials have been done and confirming standards of quality, the Ministry also obligates manufacturers and suppliers to submit periodic reports on the safety and post marketing surveillance reports, in accordance with the requirements of the Ministry, which are in line with the best international standards. Medical products marketing guide to ensure compliance with safety standards H.E. Dr. Al Amiri pointed out that the Ministry has issued a guide on practices for marketing and distribution of medical products under Ministerial Decree No. 1412 of 2017 from H.E. AbdulRahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention. He explained that the guide aims to regulate the marketing of medical products in line with ethical medical and pharmaceutical standards, thereby promoting an environment in which drug choices are based on the merits of each product and the health needs of patients. He reviewed the terms of good marketing practices in the country covering major topics including marketing licensing, product card approval, information provided in marketing materials in accordance with the approved medical leaflet, and marketing and supporting information. He said that marketing materials should be accurate, balanced and objective and must be based on a recent assessment of all relevant evidence. He added that the materials should promote the proper use of medical products and must be consistent with the policies adopted for health care facilities. Risks associated with silicone injections Individuals who go for Silicone injections should be aware of the risks associated with these injections. If the needles are not sterile, they can be the source of infections. Individuals must be careful in selecting the clinic for these kinds of procedures. Injecting close to the eyes leads to the fall of the eyelid on the eye, and local bleeding may occur in the tissues and the injections can also cause nerve damage outside the area of the facial muscles; silicone may also reach areas other than the muscles of the face, causing temporary muscle paralysis. The procedure also involves risks related to anesthesia and hypersensitivity to anesthetics. In some cases, a serious reaction can lead to a dangerous drop in blood pressure. Medical reports have cited a variability in response to silicone between the skin and muscles. A resistance to silicon develops over time, or the amount of injected material may become less effective or lose its effectiveness altogether. The patient may experience a leakage of the eyebrows and the fall of the eyelid due to overdose or error in choosing the location of the injection. In addition to the chance of his or her smile becoming asymmetrical, the patient may also suffer from leakage of some saliva if silicone is improperly injected in the mouth. Respiratory problems arising from large quantities of the substance injected into the neck are also common. Consequently, patients may suffer depression and isolation for months before correcting the defects caused by incorrect administration of silicon injections. FDA warning H.E. Dr. Al Amiri pointed out that the FDA has issued a warning to consumers and healthcare workers about serious injuries and deformities that could result from the use of injectable silicone or products marketed to fill the skin to enhance the size of the buttocks, breasts and other parts of the body. The FDA has confirmed that it has significant concerns about unsafe silicone injections that are marketed for body sculpting by unauthorized persons, with serious effects sometimes caused by silicon. The FDA has intervened to take action against perpetrators who promote these products and has also informed the public of the risks, which can include permanent deformities and even death. The MOHAP official added that the FDA recognizes proven medical observations such as the increased risk of cancerous white blood cells forming in women who have undergone injection and acknowledges that there are other medical doubts about the effects of different adverse effects. Cosmetic operations need to be supervised by medical staff and not by beauty salon employees The official called on the public not to pay attention to misleading advertisements which promote cosmetic injections in the houses and to ignore advertisements claiming special cosmetic injections, unless the advertisement is licensed by the Ministry of Health and Prevention in the UAE. The Assistant Undersecretary further emphasized that most promises made by ads published on social networking sites are unrealistic and are not based on medical facts. He explained that cosmetic operations need to be supervised by doctors, specialists and surgeons and not by beauty center staff, and must be conducted only under the supervision of medical professionals. Ministry organizes inspection campaigns to monitor compliance of beauty centers H.E. Dr. Al Amiri pointed out that Ministry inspectors carry out inspection campaigns even on weekends to monitor unhealthy practices in health facilities, especially beauty centers that provide silicone injections, Botox, Fillers and others. He stressed that the Ministry does not tolerate any violation of the licensing standards for professionals or quality of health services, because the ministry is entrusted with the health of society by the law. He added that during inspections, the teams check for compliance with medical and pharmaceutical practices and organize appropriate control records for violators in order to take strict actions based on health regulations. Health facilities receive emergency cases from unlicensed cosmetic injections The Assistant Undersecretary confirmed that hospitals have been receiving emergency cases resulting from serious health complications caused by illegal medical practices using unknown cosmetic injections or containing substances harmful to patients with heart and blood pressure defects. He called on patients and cosmetics researchers to refer to licensed health facilities in the country to obtain reliable medical treatments that are worth their health and money, noting the availability of advanced medical facilities approved by prestigious international institutions. He pointed out the need to report illegal practices to the Ministry of Health and Prevention, health authorities, or police stations in the country. He advised those experiencing side effects to fill out the Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) form available at parts of the body can lead to serious injuries and irreversible deformities. In the circular sent to the directors of the medical districts, public and private hospitals, doctors, pharmacists and assistant pharmacists, and directors of public and private pharmacies, the Ministry recommends ensuring the safety of these products before using them. The FDA has made it clear that the only approved use for silicon injections is the silicon oil used in intraocular injection for some limited indications.UAE a world leader in enforcing strict regulations on the registration of medical devicesH.E. Dr. Amin Hussein Al Amiri, MOHAPs Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Policy and Licensing, said that since 2008 the UAE has been one of the leading countries in the region and the world in enacting legislations and imposing strict controls for the registration of medical devices such as silicone injections, as part of its strategy to provide a vital legislative framework, good governance and quality regulatory services for the health sector. He mentioned that the process is not limited to the marketing authorization in terms of ensuring necessary validation from the internationally approved assessment centers, including the FDA, and ensuring necessary trials have been done and confirming standards of quality, the Ministry also obligates manufacturers and suppliers to submit periodic reports on the safety and post marketing surveillance reports, in accordance with the requirements of the Ministry, which are in line with the best international standards.Medical products marketing guide to ensure compliance with safety standardsH.E. Dr. Al Amiri pointed out that the Ministry has issued a guide on practices for marketing and distribution of medical products under Ministerial Decree No. 1412 of 2017 from H.E. AbdulRahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention. He explained that the guide aims to regulate the marketing of medical products in line with ethical medical and pharmaceutical standards, thereby promoting an environment in which drug choices are based on the merits of each product and the health needs of patients.He reviewed the terms of good marketing practices in the country covering major topics including marketing licensing, product card approval, information provided in marketing materials in accordance with the approved medical leaflet, and marketing and supporting information. He said that marketing materials should be accurate, balanced and objective and must be based on a recent assessment of all relevant evidence. He added that the materials should promote the proper use of medical products and must be consistent with the policies adopted for health care facilities.Risks associated with silicone injectionsIndividuals who go for Silicone injections should be aware of the risks associated with these injections. If the needles are not sterile, they can be the source of infections. Individuals must be careful in selecting the clinic for these kinds of procedures. Injecting close to the eyes leads to the fall of the eyelid on the eye, and local bleeding may occur in the tissues and the injections can also cause nerve damage outside the area of the facial muscles; silicone may also reach areas other than the muscles of the face, causing temporary muscle paralysis. The procedure also involves risks related to anesthesia and hypersensitivity to anesthetics. In some cases, a serious reaction can lead to a dangerous drop in blood pressure.Medical reports have cited a variability in response to silicone between the skin and muscles. A resistance to silicon develops over time, or the amount of injected material may become less effective or lose its effectiveness altogether. The patient may experience a leakage of the eyebrows and the fall of the eyelid due to overdose or error in choosing the location of the injection. In addition to the chance of his or her smile becoming asymmetrical, the patient may also suffer from leakage of some saliva if silicone is improperly injected in the mouth. Respiratory problems arising from large quantities of the substance injected into the neck are also common. Consequently, patients may suffer depression and isolation for months before correcting the defects caused by incorrect administration of silicon injections.FDA warningH.E. Dr. Al Amiri pointed out that the FDA has issued a warning to consumers and healthcare workers about serious injuries and deformities that could result from the use of injectable silicone or products marketed to fill the skin to enhance the size of the buttocks, breasts and other parts of the body.The FDA has confirmed that it has significant concerns about unsafe silicone injections that are marketed for body sculpting by unauthorized persons, with serious effects sometimes caused by silicon. The FDA has intervened to take action against perpetrators who promote these products and has also informed the public of the risks, which can include permanent deformities and even death.The MOHAP official added that the FDA recognizes proven medical observations such as the increased risk of cancerous white blood cells forming in women who have undergone injection and acknowledges that there are other medical doubts about the effects of different adverse effects.Cosmetic operations need to be supervised by medical staff and not by beauty salon employeesThe official called on the public not to pay attention to misleading advertisements which promote cosmetic injections in the houses and to ignore advertisements claiming special cosmetic injections, unless the advertisement is licensed by the Ministry of Health and Prevention in the UAE. The Assistant Undersecretary further emphasized that most promises made by ads published on social networking sites are unrealistic and are not based on medical facts. He explained that cosmetic operations need to be supervised by doctors, specialists and surgeons and not by beauty center staff, and must be conducted only under the supervision of medical professionals.Ministry organizes inspection campaigns to monitor compliance of beauty centersH.E. Dr. Al Amiri pointed out that Ministry inspectors carry out inspection campaigns even on weekends to monitor unhealthy practices in health facilities, especially beauty centers that provide silicone injections, Botox, Fillers and others. He stressed that the Ministry does not tolerate any violation of the licensing standards for professionals or quality of health services, because the ministry is entrusted with the health of society by the law.He added that during inspections, the teams check for compliance with medical and pharmaceutical practices and organize appropriate control records for violators in order to take strict actions based on health regulations.Health facilities receive emergency cases from unlicensed cosmetic injectionsThe Assistant Undersecretary confirmed that hospitals have been receiving emergency cases resulting from serious health complications caused by illegal medical practices using unknown cosmetic injections or containing substances harmful to patients with heart and blood pressure defects. He called on patients and cosmetics researchers to refer to licensed health facilities in the country to obtain reliable medical treatments that are worth their health and money, noting the availability of advanced medical facilities approved by prestigious international institutions. He pointed out the need to report illegal practices to the Ministry of Health and Prevention, health authorities, or police stations in the country. He advised those experiencing side effects to fill out the Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) form available at www.cpd-pharma.ae or contact the following: telephone 04 2301448 / fax 04-301947 / email pv@moh.gov.ae Contact information: Orient Planet PR & Marketing Communications P.O.Box. 500266, Dubai, UAE Contact Person: Eyad Zeidan Phone: 0097144562888 eMail: eMail Web: http://www.orientplanet.com Author: Pratik Karkera e-mail Web: http://www.orientplanet.com Phone: 0097144562888 14.01.2018 05:10:08 - Disclaimer: If you have any questions regarding information in this article please contact the author. Please do not contact Live-PR.com. We are not able to assist you. Live-PR.com disclaims content contained in this article. Live-PR.com is not authorized to give any information about content and not responsible for content posted by third party. Business UNLOCK Blockchain Forum attracts more than 500 participants 60 Blockchain startups, from 39 countries 14.01.2018 13:37:34 - (live-PR.com) - UAE, January 14th 2018 The UNLOCK Blockchain Forum which commenced today at the Ritz Carlton Hotel DIFC and which will continue until January 15th 2018 has proven once again that Dubai is a vanguard when it comes to attracting innovative experts, blockchain start-ups, and forward looking attendees. Al-Iktissad-Wal-Aamal, the organizers of UNLOCK Blockchain forum were not surprised to receive more - UAE, January 14th 2018 The UNLOCK Blockchain Forum which commenced today at the Ritz Carlton Hotel DIFC and which will continue until January 15th 2018 has proven once again that Dubai is a vanguard when it comes to attracting innovative experts, blockchain start-ups, and forward looking attendees.Al-Iktissad-Wal-Aamal, the organizers of UNLOCK Blockchain forum were not surprised to receive more than 60 blockchain start-ups from more than 39 countries, as well as more than 40 prominent expert speakers, and more than 500 participants. HE Dr. Aisha Bint Buti Bin Bisher, Director General of Smart Dubai, the office driving Dubais city-wide transformation delivered her keynote speech at the opening. HE stated, Guided by the example of our nations leadership, we have learned to continually look to the horizon to start creating the future today. And while others were still debating the prospects of this new technology, we got to work. We are making Dubai the blockchain capital of the world, we have 20 public sector Blockchain use cases and its only the beginning. Dubai took the forward-thinking approach and broke ground on the bold Dubai Blockchain Strategy, and by supporting events such as the UNLOCK Blockchain Forum, we are building a platform to share our learnings and prepare Dubai, and the world, for the future of Blockchain. HE added. Walid Abou Zaki, executive director, Al-Iktissad-Wal-Aamal stated, When I first heard the word blockchain I knew it was a game changer, and we at Iktissad Wal Aamal endeavour to learn and understand our topics in-depth because we see ourselves as more than just event organizers. We are proud today to say that our efforts have met with success not only in terms of quantity but the quality of participation and the content being discussed. We believe that the next step in the right direction will entail creating the right regulations for Initial Crowd Funding ICOs as this will attract serious blockchain start-ups as well as position Dubai uniquely. The first session of UNLOCK took a close look into blockchain on the eve of its 9th anniversary. Renowned speakers such as Oliver Bussmann, CEO of Bussmann Advisory, James Wallis, VP Blockchain IBM, Dr. Abdulla Kablan Blockchain Advisor to the government of Malta discussed together which platforms would prevail, what forms of blockchain would take precedence over others and how the future of blockchain platforms would evolve. The second panel at UNLOCK delved into the topic of how to create successful blockchain implementations. Zeina Al Kaissi, Head of Emerging Technology and Global partnerships, Smart Dubai, Andrea Tinianow Director of Global Delaware, Founding Director of Delaware Blockchain initiative, Vincent Wang Chief Innovation officer Wanxiang holdings China and other prominent speakers discussed examples of real hands on blockchain implementation projects and how those projects differed from traditional implementations. They also offered key learnings and advice for those who endeavour to implement blockchain in the near future. Ramez Dandan, National Technology Officer, Microsoft Gulf stated, Investment in blockchain, across the GCC and beyond, is ramping up at an impressive rate, as organisations recognise it for the disruptive digital transformation technology that it is. Microsofts participation in UNLOCK follows its commitment in Feb 2016 to the Dubai Future Foundations Global Blockchain Council because we strongly believe in the technologys immense potential for enterprises of all scales and industries. It allows them to share business processes with suppliers, customers and partners, leading to new opportunities for multi-party collaboration and, eventually, exciting new business models. Hon Silvio Schembri, Parliament Secretary for financial services and digital Economy and Innovation, Prime Minister Office Malta, provided a keynote on what Malta has accomplished so far with Blockchain. Security expert from DarkMatter Mr. Jason Cooper, Blockchain Specialist delivered a keynote on how using Blockchain can streamline government and cities securely. The afternoon sessions at UNLOCK saw two tracks. Panel discussions centered on Blockchain and the utilities sector. Mr. Mahmoud Abu Fadda, Senior specialist Innovation and Future at DEWA talked about DEWAs future plans to create electric vehicles charging using Blockchain. The session also included speakers from Sun Exchange and Ambrosus. The panel session Dubai the next Blockchain startup valley, witnessed an announcement by Ralf Glabischnig, Managing Partner, Inacta; Partner, Lakeside Partners; Co- Founder of Crypto Valley Labs, Switzerland for the intention to open Crypo Valley labs for Blockchain start-ups and entrepeneurs in Dubai. In parallel sessions, startups were showcasing how they successfully built Blockchain solutions to solve the problems facing our societies and economies of today. Blockchain startups ranging from Malaysia, UK, Russia, and even Estonia were among speakers in these sessions. Some prominent startups included Naked Technologies, Credits, threefold, Acorn Collective and Echarge. Other startups sessions centered on what Blockchain was doing for healthcare sector. Curecoin, medicalchain, and Etheal were some of the startups presenting. Day One ended with Mr. Bussmann keynote speech that stressed on how one can stay ahead of the Digital disruption curve. As he stated, The central business logic of today is being replace by Smart Contracts. First Blockchain movers are focusing on selective & existing cases into production with the highest benefit impact. The convergence of emerging technologies will blur the lines between industries in a highly connected real-time world. He also gave many examples of what Blockchain startups are doing in the realm of trade, finance, and food supply. The second day of UNLOCK Blockchain will see interesting panels on Banking, real-estate, smart city Blockchain implementations as well as more startup sessions. For more information on UNLOCK Forum please visit than 60 blockchain start-ups from more than 39 countries, as well as more than 40 prominent expert speakers, and more than 500 participants.HE Dr. Aisha Bint Buti Bin Bisher, Director General of Smart Dubai, the office driving Dubais city-wide transformation delivered her keynote speech at the opening. HE stated, Guided by the example of our nations leadership, we have learned to continually look to the horizon to start creating the future today. And while others were still debating the prospects of this new technology, we got to work. We are making Dubai the blockchain capital of the world, we have 20 public sector Blockchain use cases and its only the beginning.Dubai took the forward-thinking approach and broke ground on the bold Dubai Blockchain Strategy, and by supporting events such as the UNLOCK Blockchain Forum, we are building a platform to share our learnings and prepare Dubai, and the world, for the future of Blockchain. HE added.Walid Abou Zaki, executive director, Al-Iktissad-Wal-Aamal stated, When I first heard the word blockchain I knew it was a game changer, and we at Iktissad Wal Aamal endeavour to learn and understand our topics in-depth because we see ourselves as more than just event organizers. We are proud today to say that our efforts have met with success not only in terms of quantity but the quality of participation and the content being discussed. We believe that the next step in the right direction will entail creating the right regulations for Initial Crowd Funding ICOs as this will attract serious blockchain start-ups as well as position Dubai uniquely.The first session of UNLOCK took a close look into blockchain on the eve of its 9th anniversary. Renowned speakers such as Oliver Bussmann, CEO of Bussmann Advisory, James Wallis, VP Blockchain IBM, Dr. Abdulla Kablan Blockchain Advisor to the government of Malta discussed together which platforms would prevail, what forms of blockchain would take precedence over others and how the future of blockchain platforms would evolve.The second panel at UNLOCK delved into the topic of how to create successful blockchain implementations. Zeina Al Kaissi, Head of Emerging Technology and Global partnerships, Smart Dubai, Andrea Tinianow Director of Global Delaware, Founding Director of Delaware Blockchain initiative, Vincent Wang Chief Innovation officer Wanxiang holdings China and other prominent speakers discussed examples of real hands on blockchain implementation projects and how those projects differed from traditional implementations. They also offered key learnings and advice for those who endeavour to implement blockchain in the near future.Ramez Dandan, National Technology Officer, Microsoft Gulf stated, Investment in blockchain, across the GCC and beyond, is ramping up at an impressive rate, as organisations recognise it for the disruptive digital transformation technology that it is. Microsofts participation in UNLOCK follows its commitment in Feb 2016 to the Dubai Future Foundations Global Blockchain Council because we strongly believe in the technologys immense potential for enterprises of all scales and industries. It allows them to share business processes with suppliers, customers and partners, leading to new opportunities for multi-party collaboration and, eventually, exciting new business models.Hon Silvio Schembri, Parliament Secretary for financial services and digital Economy and Innovation, Prime Minister Office Malta, provided a keynote on what Malta has accomplished so far with Blockchain. Security expert from DarkMatter Mr. Jason Cooper, Blockchain Specialist delivered a keynote on how using Blockchain can streamline government and cities securely.The afternoon sessions at UNLOCK saw two tracks. Panel discussions centered on Blockchain and the utilities sector. Mr. Mahmoud Abu Fadda, Senior specialist Innovation and Future at DEWA talked about DEWAs future plans to create electric vehicles charging using Blockchain. The session also included speakers from Sun Exchange and Ambrosus.The panel session Dubai the next Blockchain startup valley, witnessed an announcement by Ralf Glabischnig, Managing Partner, Inacta; Partner, Lakeside Partners; Co- Founder of Crypto Valley Labs, Switzerland for the intention to open Crypo Valley labs for Blockchain start-ups and entrepeneurs in Dubai.In parallel sessions, startups were showcasing how they successfully built Blockchain solutions to solve the problems facing our societies and economies of today. Blockchain startups ranging from Malaysia, UK, Russia, and even Estonia were among speakers in these sessions. Some prominent startups included Naked Technologies, Credits, threefold, Acorn Collective and Echarge. Other startups sessions centered on what Blockchain was doing for healthcare sector. Curecoin, medicalchain, and Etheal were some of the startups presenting.Day One ended with Mr. Bussmann keynote speech that stressed on how one can stay ahead of the Digital disruption curve. As he stated, The central business logic of today is being replace by Smart Contracts. First Blockchain movers are focusing on selective & existing cases into production with the highest benefit impact. The convergence of emerging technologies will blur the lines between industries in a highly connected real-time world. He also gave many examples of what Blockchain startups are doing in the realm of trade, finance, and food supply.The second day of UNLOCK Blockchain will see interesting panels on Banking, real-estate, smart city Blockchain implementations as well as more startup sessions.For more information on UNLOCK Forum please visit www.unlock-bc.com Contact information: Orient Planet PR & Marketing Communications P.O.Box. 500266, Dubai, UAE Contact Person: Jessy Chami Phone: 0097144562888 eMail: eMail Web: http://www.orientplanet.com Author: Pratik Karkera e-mail Web: http://www.orientplanet.com Phone: 0097144562888 14.01.2018 13:37:34 - Disclaimer: If you have any questions regarding information in this article please contact the author. Please do not contact Live-PR.com. We are not able to assist you. Live-PR.com disclaims content contained in this article. Live-PR.com is not authorized to give any information about content and not responsible for content posted by third party. New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today Scattered clouds with the possibility of an isolated thunderstorm developing this afternoon. High 97F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Mainly cloudy. Low 72F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Luxembourgs highest court on Thursday overturned the ruling against whistleblower Antoine Deltour, who in 2014 leaked documents revealing that the country had given multi-billion tax breaks to multinational companies, according to Deutsche Welle. Deltour had originally been given a 12-month suspended sentence and a US$1,666 fine for what became known as the LuxLeaks. He helped expose a revelatory 30,000-page document from his former employer, PricewaterhouseCoopers, one of the world's largest auditing firms. The document detailed huge tax breaks amounting to billions of dollars given by the Luxembourg government to over 340 companies including Apple, Ikea, Pepsi, Disney and the Koch Industries. Deltour appealed the June 2016 ruling, and in March of 2017 his sentence was reduced to six months. Although the high courts decision determined that Deltours whistleblower status should have offered him protection-- thereby overturning all of the rulings of the lower courts--it upheld a conviction against his fellow leaker, Raphael Halet, according to the BBC. Journalist Edouard Perrin, who first broke the story about the enormous tax breaks in Luxembourg on French TV in 2012, in collaboration with the BBC's Panorama, was acquitted in the original trial. The ICIJ published the documents in 2014, garnering even more public attention and a statement from Jean Claude Juncker, now President of the European Commision, who was Prime Minister of Luxembourg at the time the tax breaks were given. Back in April of 2016, lawyers for Deltour and Halet told POLITICO they intended to go the European Court of Human Rights if their clients were not completely acquitted. Mr Deltour's lawyer, William Bourdon, told AFP news agency that the high courts decision to overturn Deltours conviction "is a significant step in the protection of whistleblowers in Europe." "For the first time in Europe, a high court recognises the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights," he added. Deltour will be given a fresh trial. Antoine Deltour and his lawyers)at the Luxembourg Criminal Court (Photo: Ato Grosso, CC-BY-SA-4.0) occrp.org The federal government has begun accepting requests for renewals under the DACA program again, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The news was announced Saturday after a federal court order was filed. The program will follow the same terms that were in place before it was rescinded Sept. 5, according to a news release Saturday. Requests will not be accepted from people who have not filed for the status before. On Tuesday night, U.S. District Judge William Alsup in San Francisco blocked the proposed cancellation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which protects undocumented people who came to the United States as children, known as Dreamers, from deportation. But the program remains in limbo. The White House has yet to come to an agreement with Congress over what type of program should replace it. Without DACA, around 700,000 people could be deported, according to government figures. Its a position hundreds of thousands of Californians find themselves in. As of the end of March, more than 200,000 people had been initially approved for the program, meaning they could legally work and were protected from deportation. Pratheepan Gulasekaram, a professor at Santa Clara University School of Law, said that while the announcement was welcome news for DACA recipients, much uncertainty remains. The government can still appeal, and a higher court can overrule and stop the process again, he said, adding that Congress could also enact a new federal law covering the Dreamers if negotiations over DACA are successful in the coming weeks. Still, he said, its a good sign and maybe recipients can file and renew immediately before any appeal or new law. Meanwhile, advocates applauded the announcement as they planned ways to help DACA recipients apply for renewals as soon as possible. This demonstrates the power of advocacy of these committed young people and the Americans who support them, said Maciel Jacques, legal services program manager at Catholic Charities of the East Bay. Catholic Charities will resume our weekly DACA renewal clinics and will continue our unconditional support of the DACA community. Lizzie Johnson and Hamed Aleaziz are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: ljohnson@sfchronicle.com, haleaziz@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LizzieJohnsonnn, @Haleaziz BEIRUT - The death of a leading Syrian opposition figure who was wounded in a hit-and-run outside his Damascus home has left his allies shaken and appears to have poisoned an already fractious peace process. Mounir Darwish, 80, was a leading member of Syria's internationally backed opposition movement and a familiar figure at peace talks brokered by the United Nations. He was struck by a car Thursday and died Friday night after surgery on his ankle. Friends who visited him after the operation said he appeared to be recovering well, and was looking forward to going home the next day. The U.N. special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, called for "those involved to be identified and brought to justice," apparently referring to the hit-and-run, and not Darwish's treatment afterward. No official case of death has been offered. De Mistura said late Saturday that Darwish had stayed in Damascus, rather than seek exile, "as he sought peace and a better future for his country." The death did not appear to have been mentioned in pro-government media, and a representative of the Information Ministry could not be reached for comment. Colleagues said friends and family members who had visited the dissident in the hospital on Friday reported that he had been in good spirits and had been awaiting discharge. "He even called me to tell me that he'd need to stay in bed for a month but that he was ready to receive any documents I needed him to read," said Firas al-Khalidi, who heads the Cairo section of Syria's political opposition, of which Darwish was a part. The Cairo bloc is one of three that has signed on to an opposition platform as a way to present a united front at the U.N.-brokered talks in Geneva. The delegates have dropped all preconditions to the peace negotiations, backing down from a demand that President Bashar al-Assad step down. Darwish had been concerned that the Syrian government was growing increasingly hostile to his activities, according to Khalidi. "When I called recently to ask about a meeting in Riyadh, he said he didn't want to leave because he was worried," Khalidi said. "He would tell me, 'Be careful, Firas.' " Six years into Syria's war, a coalition of pro-Assad forces has re-established control over most of the country, with rebel forces hemmed into pockets of the north and south. Although hopes for an opposition breakthrough at the negotiating table are low - the two sides do not sit in the same room -- Western officials say efforts to unify Syria's opposition would increase pressure on Assad's government. "It is about removing the argument that the regime kept on making that it had no opposition to negotiate with," one diplomat said. --- Heba Habib in Stockholm contributed to this report. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X met only once. On March 26, 1964, the two black leaders were on Capitol Hill, attending Senate debate on the Civil Rights Act of 1964. King was stepping out of a press conference, when Malcolm X, dressed in an elegant black overcoat and wearing his signature horn-rimmed glasses, greeted him. "Well, Malcolm, good to see you," King said. "Good to see you," Malcolm X replied. Cameras clicked as the two men walked down the Senate hall together. "I'm throwing myself into the heart of the civil rights struggle," Malcolm X told King. King would say later: "He is very articulate, but I totally disagree with many of his political and philosophical views - at least insofar as I understand where he now stands." The exchange would last only a minute, but the photo remains a haunting reminder of what was lost. They would never meet again before each was assassinated, first Malcolm X and then King. That moment on Capitol Hill would continue to be analyzed by scholars for its import and its potential. Every word would be scrutinized. Some would call it the moment the two leaders reconciled. Others would say they were never that far apart. They both had the same goal: equal rights and justice for black people in America. King and Malcolm X were often seen as adversaries in the black freedom struggle. Malcolm X, who advocated a nationalist approach to equal rights for black people, often taunted King, criticizing him for subjugating blacks to their white oppressors and teaching them to be "defenseless in the face of one of the most cruel beast that has ever taken a people into captivity." In one interview, Malcolm X dismissed King as "a 20th-century or modern Uncle Tom." King ignored the criticism. "We still advocate non-violence, passive resistance, and are still determined to use the weapon of love," King said during a March 22, 1956, news conference in Montgomery. "We are still insisting emphatically that violence is self-defeating, that he who lives by the sword dies by the sword." Although the two men held what appeared to be diametrically opposing views on the struggle for equal rights, scholars say by the end of their lives their ideologies were evolving. King was becoming more militant in his views of economic justice for black people and more vocal in his criticism of the Vietnam War. Malcolm X, who had broken with the Nation of Islam, had dramatically changed his views on race during his 1964 pilgrimage to Mecca. Eight months before their brief meeting on Capitol Hill, Malcolm X sent a letter to King, requesting a meeting. The letter was dated July 31, 1963. The return address was "MUHAMMAD'S MOSQUE NO. 7, 113 Lenox Avenue, New York 26, New York." Malcolm X opened the letter with the greeting "Dear Sir." He called for a united front against racial oppression in the country. "The present racial crisis in this country carries within it powerful destructive ingredients that may soon erupt into an uncontrollable explosion," Malcolm X wrote. "The seriousness of this situation demands that immediate steps must be taken to solve this crucial problem, by those who have genuine concern before the racial powder keg explodes. A United Front involving all Negro factions, elements and their leaders is absolutely necessary." Malcolm X warned that a "racial explosion is more destructive than a nuclear explosion," citing a recent meeting between President John Kennedy and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev. "Despite their tremendous ideological differences," Malcolm X wrote, "it is a disgrace for Negro leaders not to be able to submerge our 'minor' differences in order to seek a common solution to a common problem posed by a Common Enemy." Malcolm X invited King to a rally that August in Harlem to analyze the race problem and a solution. He promised to moderate the meeting and guarantee courtesy for each speaker. He requested that if King could not attend to send a representative, closing the letter with an endearment: "Your Brother, Malcolm X." King declined the invitation and did not send a representative, according to the book, "Malcolm and the Cross: The Nation of Islam, Malcolm X, and Christianity," by Louis A. DeCaro. The next month, on August 28, 1963, King would lead more than 250,000 people in the March on Washington and deliver his now-famous "I Have a Dream" speech. Malcolm X attended the march, but called it "the Farce on Washington." "Yes, I was there," he wrote. "I observed that circus. Who ever heard of angry revolutionists all harmonizing 'We Shall Overcome ... Suum Day ...' while tripping and swaying along arm-in-arm with the very people they were supposed to be angrily revolting against? Who ever heard of angry revolutionists swinging their bare feet together with their oppressor in lily-pad park pools, with gospels and guitars and 'I Have A Dream' speeches? And the black masses in America were - and still are - having a nightmare." The Nov. 22, 1963, assassination of Kennedy led to a push for the Civil Rights Act, a major piece of legislation that Kennedy had supported. In Washington, as King presided over a news conference, Malcolm X sat quietly in the back of the conference room. When the news conference ended, King left through one door and Malcolm X exited another. Malcolm X stopped King in his path. The two shook hands. The following year, Malcolm X went to Selma, Alabama, where he had a cordial meeting with Coretta Scott King and other civil rights leaders. King was in jail at the time but recalled later: "He spoke at length to my wife, Coretta, about his personal struggles and expressed an interest in working more closely with the nonviolent movement. He thought he could help me more by attacking me than praising me. He thought it would make it easier for me in the long run. He said, 'If the white people realize what the alternative is, perhaps they will be more willing to hear Dr. King.'" Only a few days after his visit to Selma, on Feb. 14, 1965, someone firebombed Malcolm X's house in New York, while he and his family slept inside. A week later, on Feb. 21, 1965, Malcolm X was assassinated by Black Muslim extremists during a rally in New York City's Audubon Ballroom. In his Amsterdam News Column, King mourned him. "Like the murder of (Congo Prime Minister Patrice) Lumumba, the murder of Malcolm X deprives the world of a potentially great leader. I could not agree with either of these men, but I could see in them a capacity for leadership which I could respect.'' In a telegram to Malcolm X's widow, Betty Shabazz, King wrote: "While we did not always see eye to eye on methods to solve the race problem, I always had a deep affection for Malcolm and felt that he had a great ability to put his finger on the existence and root of the problem." Three years later, on April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King was assassinated in Memphis. He was the same age as Malcolm X: 39. In northeast Brazil, beyond the resorts and pristine beaches, lie some of the world's best winds for generating electricity. Welcome to Serra Branca. It's a wind generator's heaven, featuring breezes so perfect for spinning turbines that this Brazilian region is capable of churning out more wind energy than any other part of the world. In the latest testament to the region's wind bounty, a French renewable energy company, Voltalia, just won contracts to build more farms there that'll sell the cheapest wind power Brazil has ever seen. "Our strategy is to gain scale in that area," Robert Klein, country manager at Voltalia Brazil said in an interview. "High volume is key to being competitive." Voltalia's buildout underscores just how big Brazil's wind power market stands to get. The country already has almost 11 gigawatts of turbines in operation now and was ranked the No. 5 wind market in the world based on 2016 installations, according to the Global Wind Energy Council. Consistent breezes give the country a capacity factor of 39 percent, the amount of electricity produced compared to its potential output if every turbine was spinning all the time. That's the best in the world. And Rio Grande do Norte state -- where Serra Branca is located -- with higher average speeds and little variation in wind direction, is even better. That's why the state accounts for the most wind-power capacity in Brazil, with 2.7 gigawatts, followed by Bahia, with 1.6 gigawatts. Two of Voltalia's existing wind farms there were rated among the five most efficient in Brazil in 2016, coming in at 60.8 percent and 58.4 percent, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. Brazil "clearly has a strong wind resource, some of the best wind sites in the world, so it's potentially a very strong market," said Gurpreet Gujral, an analyst at Macquarie Bank. The country is seeking to increase installed clean-energy capacity by 19 gigawatts by 2026 to diversify the local grid. More wind translates into more electricity to sell, allowing Voltalia to offer lower prices. The company won contracts to supply energy from five projects with 155 megawatts of capacity in a pair of government-organized auctions last month. In one of the events, it offered to deliver electricity for 96.90 reais ($29.82) a megawatt-hour, a record low. The company expects to invest 867 million reais for the projects, according to Brazil's Electric Energy Trading Board, known as CCEE. They must be connected to the grid in December 2020 for contracts from the first auction. For the second, they must be connected by December 2022. The company is developing a total of 1,000 megawatts of wind farms in the region, and may bid for contracts in the next auction, set for April. Partnering with suppliers such as turbine makers also helps Voltalia keep costs down, Klein said. "Our appetite continues to be high," he said. "Voltalia's bids were surprising," said Helena Chung, an analyst at Bloomberg New Energy Finance. "But the company is a top performer in Brazil, with projects operating at good efficiency rates. And wind turbine prices are falling, given the high competition in the last auctions." Voltalia's aggressive bids were followed by other developers including Enel Green Power, with a bid of 97 reais a megawatt-hour, reflecting pent-up demand after two years without wind-power auctions. The government canceled two auctions in 2016 as an economic recession curbed electricity demand. Now, with the economy starting to recover and electricity consumption rising, interest in new power plants is growing. "The fact that Brazil is resuming doing auctions is very important," Klein said. "The wind industry was halted and now it's reborn in a brilliant way." --- Bloomberg's Anna Hirtenstein contributed. Busy Barbershop continued A third-generation barber, Bigelow revels in local history. He says he gave longtime Ann Arbor News editor Art Gallagher his last haircut before he died in 2010 at age ninety-nine--and that Gallagher told him he'd had his first haircut at the same shop as a young man eighty-plus years earlier. In the 1890s, the shop was in the building next door to the east, in part of the space Kilwin's occupies now. It moved to its current spot in 1907, and from the mid-1920s to the late 1990s it was run first by Leo Haner and then by his son Gene. Around the turn of the century it changed hands a couple times, spending a few years as "Paula & Friends" (Paula's Barber Shop is still open in Ypsi). Mike was still a teenager when he and his older brother, Steve, bought the Liberty St. shop in 2003. They'd been working for their grandfather, Joe Koutz, at King's Men Barbers on Plymouth Rd., and he provided the money and bequeathed the name Varsity from a shop he'd previously owned on State St. The beginning of the school year when you got to show off your new duds, new cars, new looks! Sports! Playing, cheering, watching high school athletics. The arts: Dramatic arts, musical groups and shows, graphic arts groups, debate, etc. The prom! No dancing the night away or punch bowl antics. The daily interactions. Just being with the group, hanging with friends and classmates. Access to college recruiters and advisors its harder to line up higher education. Walking onstage to get a diploma while all the family is watching with everyone elses family. Vote View Results Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Development Fund and Expatriates Chamber of Commerce are some systems to be set in motion by the government to tap investments of NRKs and ensure their support towards progress of the state, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said in Thiruvananthapuram on last day. Speaking at the concluding day of the two-day session of 'Loka Kerala Sabha', a new concept of the government, envisaging cooperation toward progress of the state, he said ECC would keep constant contact with diaspora businessman and facilitate their investments in the state. Expatriates could invest a fixed amount in the Kerala Development Fund and the diaspora, on return to the state, would have the right to get a suitable job in one institution, he said. Schemes would be put in place to attract NRKs investments to the state, he said, adding a single window system would be introduced. NRKs participation would be ensured in development of the Kannur International Airport and the proposed Sabarimala airport, the Chief Minister said. Mumbai: The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of the Maharashtra Police has arrested seven suspected Maoists, working for the Golden Corridor Committee, formed to spread their ideology in Maharashtra and Gujarat, officials said. According to an official, the arrests were made after raids were conducted in the eastern suburbs of the city late last night. Banners related to the Bhima-Koregaon event held recently to mark the 200th anniversary of the Bhima-Koregaon battle in Pune district were seized from two of the accused, sources said. Violence had broken out during the Bhima-Koregaon battle's 200th anniversary celebrations. According to sources, the ATS will probe if the arrested accused were involved in the violence in Mumbai and suburbs. NORTH BROOKFIELD - State and North Brookfield police are investigating after a man was shot in front of his home last week by a person wearing a full-face knit cap, police said Friday, Jan. 12. The incident occurred on Friday, Jan. 5. The victim, a 35-year-old man, was in the process of shoveling the driveway at his residence on Bigelow Street amidst "zero to -20 degrees" temperatures, when he noticed "a person holding a rifle" standing nearby, police said. As the victim turned to look at the person the rifle fired, shooting him in the side. The suspect then fled. The victim was transported to Harrington Memorial Hospital, before being transferred to UMass Memorial Hospital for further treatment of a gunshot wound to the abdomen. Police were notified of the incident Monday, Jan.8, when personnel at Harrington Memorial Hospital notified them of the victim's transfer to UMass. It is unclear why it apparently took the hospital three days to notify police. The suspect was further described as wearing several layers of clothing during the attack--including a dark jacket and the face mask. Police did not give a possible motive in the shooting. The Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Worcester County District Attorney's Office is assisting Brookfield police with investigation into the incident. Anyone with any information about the shooting has been asked to contact either the North Brookfield Police Department at 508-867-0206 or the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit at 508-832-9124. Next year's Massachusetts state budget will estimate that the state will bring in $27.594 billion in tax revenue, or 3.5 percent more than in the current fiscal year. The consensus revenue estimate, which was released Friday, is a first step in setting the state budget. Budget writers in the governor's office, the House and the Senate all agree, based on testimony from economists, on how much money the state will take in in taxes for the coming fiscal year. The budget proposals by Gov. Charlie Baker and the House and Senate Ways and Means Committees are all based on that figure. The $27.594 billion number will be used to craft the state budget for fiscal 2019, which begins in July 2018. Because of the challenge of estimating so far in advance, the figure is not always accurate. In several recent years, the number had to be revised downward either during the budget-setting process or later in the year. "The FY19 forecast reflects modest growth in the Commonwealth's economy, consistent with testimony we have heard from economic experts, and incorporates a conservative view of year-to-date tax revenues," said Administration and Finance Secretary Michael Heffernan in a statement. Heffernan and Ways and Means co-chairs Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, and Jeffrey Sanchez, D-Boston, also added an extra $157 million to revenue projections for the current fiscal year, to $26.661 billion, based on tax collections so far this year. The FY19 figure assumes that the state income tax will be lowered on Jan. 1, 2019 from 5.1 percent to 5.05 percent. Due to a ballot question passed years ago, the state income tax rate is being gradually lowered as the state meets certain economic triggers. The figure includes transfers that are required under state law, such as $2.6 billion to pay for future pension costs, and transfers to the MBTA and school building fund. Once those transfers are made, an estimated $22.982 billion will be available for the general state budget. The Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, a business-backed group, said in an analysis that budget writers "struck a middle ground between conservative and optimistic approaches" in setting the consensus revenue figure. It also notes that the budget estimate does not take into account the potential impact of two proposed ballot questions that will appear on the November 2018 ballot. One would raise the income tax rate on income over $1 million. The other would lower the state sales tax. "Given that the state's current revenue structure may not continue past the next election cycle, it is vital that FY 2019 budget plans include contingencies for a steep drop in tax revenues," the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation wrote. The state budget could also be affected by potential federal action - for example, if Massachusetts loses a large chunk of federal funding for health care. Spilka said in a statement that state budget writers must be cautious when predicting revenue growth, "especially given recent volatility and increased uncertainty for the coming year." Sanchez said, "This is a number that balances the uncertainty at the federal level and elsewhere with the growth we are experiencing in Massachusetts." New guidelines, written by a team at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, aim to mitigate the effects of fatigue by addressing the impact of shift work and scheduling. The guidelines are published in the journal Prehospital Emergency Care. Extended shift work has historically been linked to interrupted sleep patterns and risk of injury, and is a persistent problem for emergency medical services (EMS) personnel who are tasked with delivering acute care under significant pressure. Limiting EMS shifts to less than 24 hours, access to caffeine and the opportunity to sleep when on duty can help reduce fatigue. The guidelines consist of five recommendations: Use of fatigue/sleepiness surveys to measure and monitor EMS personnel fatigue. Limit EMS shifts to less than 24 hours in duration. Give EMS personnel access to caffeine to help stave off fatigue. Allow EMS personnel the opportunity to nap while on duty. Provide education and training in fatigue risk management to EMS personnel. Patterson and his team expect the guidelines to have a wide impact on improving practice and policies to alleviate EMS personnel fatigue, whether when driving an ambulance or caring for patients. "Operating the ambulance is only one aspect of EMS care," said Patterson. "Most of the work EMS clinicians do is actually patient care. Fatigue affects decision-making abilities and overall performance, and with the pressure of delivering acute care, one wrong decision can be detrimental." Source: Eurekalert After review and analysis of more than 38,000 journal articles, conference presentations and other publications, Patterson and his colleagues gathered information on fatigue and shift work to develop the evidence-based guidelines for fatigue risk management and test the impact of the findings to create a biomathematical model for use by the EMS community to aid in shift-scheduling decisions. Use of fatigue/sleepiness surveys to measure and monitor EMS personnel fatigue. Limit EMS shifts to less than 24 hours in duration. Give EMS personnel access to caffeine to help stave off fatigue. Allow EMS personnel the opportunity to nap while on duty. Provide education and training in fatigue risk management to EMS personnel.Patterson and his team expect the guidelines to have a wide impact on improving practice and policies to alleviate EMS personnel fatigue, whether when driving an ambulance or caring for patients."Operating the ambulance is only one aspect of EMS care," said Patterson. "Most of the work EMS clinicians do is actually patient care. Fatigue affects decision-making abilities and overall performance, and with the pressure of delivering acute care, one wrong decision can be detrimental."Source: Eurekalert "The problem of fatigued EMS personnel is widespread and not isolated to one type of EMS operation or category of EMS clinician. Administrators of EMS organizations are not sufficiently equipped to address fatigue in the workplace, in part because of the absence of guidelines for fatigue risk management in the EMS setting," said Daniel Patterson, Ph.D., lead author and assistant professor of emergency medicine at the Pitt School of Medicine. It is natural to feel afraid during and after a traumatic situation. Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique offered significant relief to war veterans. The effect size, which is a measure of the magnitude of a treatment, was 1.91. This is unusually high, with a value of .8 considered to be a strong effect. In addition, the very low p-value (p < 0.0001) indicates these results were probably not due to chance. The study included a 90-day posttest; PTSD symptoms continued to improve."It's remarkable that after just one month we would see such a pronounced decrease in symptoms, with four out of five veterans no longer considered to have a serious problem with PTSD," said lead author Robert Herron.More effective than standard treatmentBy way of comparison, the standard treatment, which entails veterans attending counseling and re-experiencing their trauma as part of the therapy, is typically only partially successful, with approximately two-thirds still suffering from PTSD after being treated."Transcendental Meditation is very easy to do and results come quickly," said James Grant, Director of Programs for TM for Veterans, which provided partial funding for this study. "TM promotes self sufficiency - it's a tool that the veteran can use for life, on his or her own."In addition, research has shown that Transcendental Meditation has a positive benefit for many of the conditions associated with PTSD, such as high anxiety, insomnia, depression, and high blood pressure."Because it works on the neurophysiological level to reduce stress, it has broader impact than cognitively-based therapies," he said.Veterans able to help themselvesAn interesting facet of the study was that the veterans were recruited through media advertising rather than through a veterans hospital."The importance of this study is that it shows that veterans are able to help themselves," said lead author Robert Herron. "After learning about the opportunity to participate in the study, they went to local Transcendental Meditation centers to be instructed in the practice."Dr. Herron said that because of their huge caseload, the Veterans Administration hasn't been able to help all veterans in a timely manner. And veterans are often in desperate need of help."The veterans involved were pleased that they were able to do this on their own, and no doubt the VA hospitals appreciate that there are therapeutic approaches that can be undertaken without the costly intensive care of a therapist that treatment typically entails," he said.Dr. Grant said some veterans are reluctant to go to counseling because of the perceived stigma, but that there's no stigma associated with meditation, which is widely practiced by healthy people.Practiced 20 minutes twice a dayThe participants learned the standard Transcendental Meditation technique, which is practiced 20 minutes twice a day. The study found that the veterans who practiced twice a day as recommended had greater benefits than those who practiced once a day.This approach to meditation, which was introduced in the West by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi beginning in the late 1950s, has been widely researched over the past 50 years, with over 400 peer-reviewed studies. It is unique in that it doesn't entail contemplation or concentration and is easy to learn and effortless to practice."Researchers have been calling for new approaches to PTSD treatments, and Transcendental Meditation seems to be particularly effective," Dr. Grant said. "Veterans who elect to learn Transcendental Meditation themselves can find significant reductions in PTSD. The results are promising and suggest that this is a treatment modality that deserves more rigorous study as a potential treatment for PTSD."DoD supports research on TMThe current study follows four previous studies on veterans that suggested a benefit for PTSD. Because of these promising findings, the U.S. Department of Defense has supported a randomized controlled trial involving 210 veterans that is now nearing completion."The evidence is mounting that Transcendental Meditation is an effective treatment for PTSD," said Colonel Brian Rees, MD, coauthor of the current study. Dr. Rees was the lead researcher on two earlier studies on Congolese refugees suffering from PTSD, and found a significant benefit after just 10 days of TM practice.Watch a video conference held at the US Institute of Peace on Dec 2016, Exploring the Science of Meditation on Trauma, Stress, and the Brain: Military Panel, where leading experts in the field of military and veteran health discussed the benefits of utilizing TM in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder.Source: Eurekalert Trending on Saudi social media last week was a clip of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman promising to go on the offensive against his country's biggest rival and take the fight "inside Iran." The eight-month-old TV interview had taken on a new significance: Violent protests were spreading across Iran. It's not clear whether Saudi Arabia helped stir them up, as the Islamic Republic's leaders claimed. What is clear is that the de facto Saudi ruler has made several regional moves against Iran -- and has yet to score a win. If the prince's enemies aren't sweating it much, his allies are showing signs of alarm. From the Arab Sunni world, the natural sphere of Saudi influence, to the U.S. and Europe, diplomats have dissociated themselves from the kingdom's ventures or come out against them. That made 2017 a mixed year for the leader known as MBS. At home, he shunted rivals aside, cementing an unprecedented rapid rise to power. But in Yemen, Qatar and Lebanon, regional countries where the Saudis seek leadership and perceive a challenge from Iran, his initiatives have foundered. "MBS approaches domestic and regional politics in a similar, bold fashion," said Hani Sabra, founder of New York-based Alef Advisory, using Salman's initials. "Domestically, this has worked well for him. He's outmaneuvered many influential relatives." Abroad, the approach "is creating and intensifying risks," he said. The risk from the war in Yemen has been brought home to Saudi cities. The Houthi rebels, said by the Saudis to have Iranian backing, have fired two missiles at Riyadh since November. While causing little damage, they served as a reminder that after almost three years of bombardment, the enemy -- mostly ragtag fighters wearing sandals and carrying AK-47s -- hasn't been subdued. The Saudis haven't found it easy to draft their allies into that fight. Egypt, for example, heavily dependent on Saudi cash, showed little enthusiasm for sending its soldiers to Yemen -- or for Salman's wider plan to combat Iran. In Lebanon, the prince's intervention was political, not military. The unexpected resignation of Prime Minister Saad Hariri during a visit to Riyadh in November was seen as a Saudi bid to weaken Iran's Lebanese ally, Hezbollah. Hariri, a Saudi client, had been governing in coalition with the Shiite militia; now he denounced it as a mortal threat. The power-play backfired. Hariri ended up returning to his job, and even Lebanese Sunnis were critical of strong-arm Saudi tactics. Allies in Europe and the U.S. weren't happy either. French President Emmanuel Macron intervened directly on Hariri's behalf. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, in an unusual rebuke, said Saudi Arabia should "think through the consequences" of its actions. Tillerson cited Yemen, Lebanon -- and Qatar, the target of a Saudi-led economic embargo since June. The measure was intended to punish the Gulf monarchy for offenses including its cordial ties with Iran. Those relations have only deepened under the boycott; meanwhile Kuwait and Oman, fellow members of the club of Gulf monarchies, have expressed unease at the assertive new style of Saudi leadership. And Turkey, a powerful Sunni country once close to the Saudis, has taken Qatar's side, using the dispute as a chance to forge closer military and commercial ties. Salman, who's called Iran's supreme leader "the new Hitler of the Middle East," has been emboldened by the alliance he's forged with President Donald Trump, based on shared antagonism toward Iran. Yet the Saudi leader runs the risk of overplaying his hand, especially if he tries to use the Iranian protests as an opportunity to weaken the regime in Tehran, according James Dorsey, a Middle East specialist at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University. "Iran would no doubt want to avoid a direct confrontation," but it has the ability to retaliate through proxies in Lebanon and Iraq, and to foment unrest among Shiites in Bahrain and inside Saudi Arabia itself, Dorsey said. Also, the Saudi pushback is dependent on U.S. efforts to contain Iran, he said -- "an increasingly risky strategy" given that Trump has little international support. After recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital, and with a series of deadlines looming that may lead Washington further away from the global consensus on the Iran nuclear deal, the U.S. is becoming isolated. Domestically, Salman has had more success advancing his agenda. He argues that a drastic economic overhaul is essential to end decades of oil dependence. As well as securing his own position as undisputed heir to his father King Salman's throne, the prince has launched an anti-corruption campaign, detaining dozens of elite businessmen. He has relaxed some of the kingdom's strict religious rules and outlined plans to sell state assets, bolster private industry and trim public spending. Similar motives may underlie the new foreign policy. Salman is scrapping a tradition of "checkbook" diplomacy that didn't get results, according to Ali Shihabi, executive director of the Arabia Foundation in Washington, who's close to the Saudi government. "Saudi leaders funneled billions in aid to friends, many of whom used that money to bankroll their own agendas," Shihabi said in an email. In the face of rapidly growing threats, he said, "the king and the crown prince concluded that Saudi Arabia could no longer rely on outdated policies." But the near-absolute power that Salman enjoys in the kingdom doesn't extend beyond its borders. He may not be sensitive to the different approach required in foreign policy, according to Sabra. "MBS is either not acutely aware of, or doesn't care about the details of the domestic conditions in the region's other states," he said. "This is often at the root of the problems." Arab strongmen of the past have found out the hard way that domestic success -- consolidation of power and wealth, marginalization of enemies -- didn't allow them to reshape the Middle East the way they hoped. Egypt's Gamal Abdel Nasser was unable to win a war in Yemen, and then suffered a shattering defeat at Israel's hands in 1967. Saddam Hussein ruled Iraq for decades; his ventures abroad, including the 1980 attack on Iran and the 1990 invasion of Kuwait, ended in bloody failure. Salman, who's 32, may be attempting to differentiate himself from previous Saudi leaders and from his 81-year-old father, according to Paul Pillar, a former CIA officer who's now a professor at Georgetown University. "MBS probably feels urgency to make a mark -- to show that he is in charge, and to show that he is not a young pushover," Pillar said. "This implies a greater need than other leaders might have to take risks. Greater risks means more opportunities for failure." --- Bloomberg's Sarah Algethami and Alaa Shahine contributed. Warning signals should be sounding that we are on the wrong track in the war against Covid-19 pandemic as a week after the new government, as we are not on... Chevrolet introduced the latest model of its best-selling Silverado pickup truck Saturday evening, Jan. 13 to kick off the North American International Auto Show from Detroit's Eastern Market. NAIAS: 2019 Silverado Unveiling Checking out the redesigned 2019 Chevrolet Silverado to kick off the North American International Auto Show: Posted by MLive.com on Saturday, January 13, 2018 The 2019 Silverado made its official debut at the Detroit auto show after an early introduction at an event celebrating Chevy Trucks' 100th anniversary in November 2017 in Texas. The Silverado has a wheelbase that is 3.9 inches longer, is 1.6 inches longer and has 43 inches of headroom which is thought to be the segment's top mark. It has a short-box volume of 63-cubic-feet, high-strength steel bed floor, 21 tie downs and a new power tailgate that can be controlled on the key fob or with controls on the interior. During the Silverado's Saturday evening introduction, Mark Reuss, executive vice president of product development, said the truck's steel frame is specifically 88 pounds lighter and used 80 percent high-strength steel. Chevy used aluminum in the hood, tailgate and on the doors. It will come in 450 pounds lighter altogether by using this mixed material strategy. "The new Silverado also delivers improved capability and performance. For example, a higher-grade alloy is used in the roll-formed, high-strength-steel bed floor, contributing to a bed that is more functional and lighter weight," Chevy announced. "This use of mixed materials and advanced manufacturing is evident throughout the Silverado, resulting in a significant reduction in total vehicle weight and improved performance in many measures." For the first time, the Silverado will be available with a Duramax 3.0-liter turbo-diesel engine in the Silverado 1500 HD and the Silverado medium-duty, which will be revealed in March. Reuss did not comment on diesel statistics, but did say Chevy was "confident we'll have the best performing diesel in the segment, in a comment referring to Ford introducing its first diesel option for its F-150 trucks that comes with an EPA-estimated 30 mph on the highway. Both the 3.0-liter diesel and 6.2-liter engines will come with Chevy's Hydra-Matic 10-speed automatic transmission that it hopes will improve fuel economy ratings, and its overall performance and efficiency. The Silverado can be equipped with six different engine/transmission options and eight different trims. "Truck customers told us they want the perfect truck for them and not a 'one size fits most' truck, compromised for the masses," said Mike Simcoe, vice president of global design at GM. "That insight shaped our design strategy with eight distinct models, each with a unique personality to fit different customers, from the affordable Work Truck to the luxurious High Country." Chevy broke down its eight trim options for the Silverado into three different categories: high value, high volume and high feature. High value is for those looking for only the features they truly need, high volume deals in full-size capabilities and comfort level, and high feature focuses on the luxury elements in addition to capability and toughness. "Chrome has become more polarizing, and more personal than any other aspect of truck design," said Rich Scheer, director of Chevy's exterior design. "Some customers want no chrome at all and only body-color or blacked-out trim. Others feel a truck isn't a truck without a chrome bumper, but feel extra chrome can be too 'flashy.' Others want as much chrome as they can get." The high-value category includes the LT, new RST and LT Trailboss tri; high feature includes LTZ and the High Country; the high value includes the work truck, custom and the new for 2019 Custom Trailboss. The Silverado was the No. 2 top-selling vehicle in the U.S. in 2016. Sales for the popular pickup dropped 4.3 percent, but GM still moved 574,876 trucks. The automaker hopes to gain ground on the Ford F-Series, which saw 820,799 trucks sold in 2016. Before the 2018 NAIAS opens to the public from Jan. 20 to Jan. 28 at the Cobo Center in Downtown Detroit, automakers show off new models and make world debuts in scheduled press conferences. Press preview days are scheduled for Jan. 14 to Jan. 16, which is when to check in with MLive for any breaking news or coverage of fresh reveals. Full auto show coverage here. Update: Ford unveils revived Ranger pickup at Detroit auto show Ford reintroduced its Ranger model to North America by releasing a collection of photos and facts about the midsize pickup truck early Sunday morning, Jan. 14. The Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker announced it would bring back both the Ranger and Bronco models to the U.S. market at last year's North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The release of the photos comes as the 2018 Detroit auto show kicks off this weekend. Ford was expected to hold a press conference Sunday afternoon. Joe Hinrichs, Ford president of the Americas, said at the 2017 auto show that both vehicles will be built at the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne. Ford stopped making the midsize Ranger pickup in North America in 2011. "Ranger has always held a special place in the hearts of truck fans," Hau Thai-Tang, Ford executive vice president of product development and purchasing, said in a news release. "The all-new Ranger is designed for today's midsize truck buyer, delivering even more utility, capability and technology for those who blend city living with more off-the-grid adventures on weekends." Ford has said production will begin later this year and that it will come equipped with a 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine, 10-speed auto transmission and high-strength steel frame backbone, and available in 2WD or 4WD. The 2019 Ford Ranger will come in XL, XLT and the Lariat trims, which will be available with chrome, sport or the FX Off-Road packages in either SuperCab or SuperCrew cab setups. "Ranger's proven 2.3-liter EcoBoost provides a torquetarget on par with competing V6 engines,but with the efficiency of a four-cylinder," Thai-Tang said. "When you pair that with its 10-speed transmission, you've got one of the most versatile, powerful and efficient powertrains in the segment." The automaker says the new Ranger will come with the optional FX4 Off-Road package, which has a terrain management system to the F-150 Raptor's. This means the technology will send power or brakes to each wheel as needed so drivers can keep their eyes on steering while off-road driving. Earlier in the week, Ford introduced its best-selling F-150 truck with an optional 3.0-liter diesel Power Stroke engine that will come with an EPA-estimated 30 mpg later this year. The first-ever diesel engine offered for the F-150 comes as a 3.0-liter Powerstroke with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Ford reports that it is capable of 11,400 pounds of towing, a 2,020 payload, and making 250 horsepower and 440-pounds of torque. Per the estimated EPA fuel economy rating, Ford says the final figures will be released this spring. Ford's auto show press conference is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 14. Before the 2018 NAIAS opens to the public from Jan. 20 to Jan. 28 at the Cobo Center in Downtown Detroit, automakers show off new models and make world debuts in scheduled press conferences. Press preview days are scheduled for Jan. 14 to Jan. 16, which is when to check in with MLive for any breaking news or coverage of fresh reveals. Full coverage here. Shortly after officially announcing its return, Ford showed off its new midsize Ranger pickup at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Sunday, Jan. 14. Ford also had its new Edge ST SUV and the 2019 Mustang Bullitt - based on the 1968 Steve McQueen file - on display during the press conference at the Cobo Center in Downtown Detroit. Before the Ranger was brought onto the stage, Ford had the crowd use key fobs to vote on what they wanted to happen in the video presentation. "Ready to help Ford take our rightful place in the midsize truck segment from a different vantage point?" Raj Nair, Ford President of North America, asked during the presentation. He later added that the midsize truck will come with a steel frame, as "real trucks don't have fascias." NAIAS: Ford Motor Company 2018 Unveiling Ford Motor Company's 2018 Detroit Auto Show event featuring the new Ford Ranger and a surprise Mustang: Posted by MLive.com on Sunday, January 14, 2018 Production will start later this year at the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne. Ford last made the midsize Ranger pickup in North America back in 2011. The Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker announced the Ranger and Bronco would return to North America at last year's auto show. The Ranger is expected in 2019, and the Bronco in 2020. The new Ranger will come equipped with a 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine, 10-speed auto transmission and high-strength steel frame backbone, and available in 2WD or 4WD. The 2019 Ford Ranger will come in XL, XLT and the Lariat trims, which will be available with chrome, sport or the FX Off-Road packages in either SuperCab or SuperCrew cab setups. The automaker says the new Ranger will come with the optional FX4 Off-Road package, which has a terrain management system to the F-150 Raptor's. This means the technology will send power or brakes to each wheel as needed so drivers can keep their eyes on steering while off-road driving. As for the new F-150, it will come with an optional 3.0-liter diesel Power Stroke engine that will come with an EPA-estimated 30 mpg later this year. The first-ever diesel engine offered for the F-150 comes as a 3.0-liter Powerstroke with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Ford reports that it is capable of 11,400 pounds of towing, a 2,020 payload, and making 250 horsepower and 440-pounds of torque. Per the estimated EPA fuel economy rating, Ford says the final figures will be released this spring. View full coverage of the Detroit auto show here. The 2018 North American International Auto Show begins with press previews Jan. 14, 15 and 16. Dozens of vehicle unveilings and news conferences are planned. Industry previews are set for Jan. 17 and 18. The show opens to the public Jan. 20 and runs through Jan. 28. More than 300 exhibitors are expected to fill the Cobo Center for the massive annual auto industry showcase. Michigan is well-positioned to grow jobs in six emerging sectors, according to a recent report looking at economic opportunity in the state. "We've got a chance to play and lead in these growing areas," said John Austin of The Michigan Economic Center, an independent policy and action organization for the state, focusing on its economy. Austin is its director and former chair of the Michigan Board of Education. An Ann Arbor resident, Austin ran for reelection to the board of education as a Democrat and lost in 2016. The report, released January 11, says by focusing state policy on the six sectors, Michigan can replace lost jobs, particularly in manufacturing. The state just recording its 9th straight year of job growth, according to University of Michigan researchers. However, that represents about 80 percent of the jobs lost since the Great Recession and Michigan has 320,000 fewer residents employed now than in 2000. Opportunities in the follow sectors amount to $18.5 trillion as each seeks innovation and solutions for better and cheaper delivery, according to the report: Energy: The clean energy marketplace already worth more than $1.35 trillion globally, and more than $200 billion in the US. Food: Michigan's food and agriculture industry is estimated to contribute about $100 billion. Water: The fast-growing global water technology sector is estimated at more than $1 trillion a year. Transportation and mobility:The revolution in how people and goods are moved is evolving - and competitive among leading tech hubs. Health: Estimated to be 1/5 of the US economy, it includes some of the fastest growing of all global business segments - like medical devices ($400 billion) and health and wellness services ($800 28 billion). IT Data/information: The global sector is estimated to be a growing $3.8 trillion global market, and it affects all other five leading growth areas. "These are the arenas of how we, as a world, have a need and they're the growing sectors of work. "... We have the innovation and ability to lead in these coming sectors that other places just don't have," Austin said. Michigan's automakers and engineering centers already are well on the way to transportation and mobility development. And the state already has 22 percent of its workforce employed in agriculture and food development. Another asset is Michigan's network of universities, primarily the top-funding generators of the University Research Corridor: University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University. However, to further leverage all of that, Austin recommends altering Michigan's economic development platform to invest further in what he called the "innovation ecosystem." "Incentive dollars (to get companies to move to Michigan) are not very effective in economic development," Austin said. Instead, he said, a $20 million shift to create an innovation investment fund could attract four times that amount from private investors - and, with reinvestment, turn into a billion-dollar jobs engine. "That's an easy one to do," Austin said. "The venture and innovation community in Michigan is foursquare behind building this." Funding shifts to benefit higher education also could increase the state's play in life sciences, Austin said. Funding for state universities was cut 15 percent in 2010-2011, and five of the 15 state universities still have state funding levels below what they lost in that cut. Other recommendations, as found in the report: The state should support the buildout of Michigan University Centers of Excellence in water, food, energy, mobility, IT and health care. The state and Michigan communities should set ambitious goals for Michigan's leadership in the emerging economy to stimulate market-driven private sector response and job creation. Make potential polluters pay for expanded Pure Michigan funding and "Green and Blue" community place-making by lifting caps and broadening uses of current Natural Resources, Conservation and Rural Economic Development Funds. The ultimate goal for the report, Austin said, is to help create "a direction and environment that we can grow leadership in these coming fields. "It's mainly about turning loose the private sector, job-creation genius and helping industries thrive." YPSILANTI , MI - Police have identified the victims of what they believe was a robbery-turned-shooting Thursday night at Ypsilanti's University Green Apartments. Marissa Joy Edmunds Marissa Joy Edmunds, 25, was found dead shortly before midnight Thursday, Jan. 11, inside an apartment at 725 Green Road in Ypsilanti by city police officers responding to a report of a robbery and shooting at the apartment complex. Edmunds died of a gunshot wound to the head, police said. A 29-year-old man reported in critical condition after receiving a grazing gunshot wound to the head and another to the upper chest was identified as her boyfriend, Maxwell Flynn Messmore. He was found outside an apartment in a second-floor hallway and transported to an area hospital, where he remained in serious condition. Police are still investigating the incident, which they believe started as a robbery and ended in gunshots as suspects fled the area. According to a statement from the Ypsilanti police released Saturday, Jan. 13, the family of Edmunds is asking for anyone with information "to have the courage to step up and provide information on the person responsible for the murder of their daughter." The family requested the release of Edmunds' name and picture. She was employed by a local pizza restaurant until leaving recently for other opportunities in the Ann Arbor area, her family reported in the police statement. In an email Friday, Skyline High School Principal Cory McElmeel said Edmunds was a former Ann Arbor Public Schools student and a sibling to two current Skyline students. Edmunds attended Forsythe Middle School and Wines Elementary School before graduating from Pioneer High School, McElmeel wrote. "We send thoughts of love and support to the Edmunds/Warren family during this difficult time," McElmeel said. "Our building support team will be available on Tuesday for staff and students who are in need of assistance as they grieve this tragic loss." Police are seeking two and possibly three unidentified people who remain at large in connection with the shootings. Authorities confirmed Saturday that there is no one in custody related to the shooting. Eastern Michigan University Police Department said the victims were not students at the university. Eastern's campus is just south of University Green Apartments in Ypsilanti. EMU police sent out an alert around 2 a.m. to students through its Rave Mobile Safety text messaging service. The statement from EMU police said two or three suspects may be involved in the incident, and described suspects as males in their late teens to early 20s, all around 5 feet 11 inches tall with thin builds. Ypsilanti police believe there were two suspects, who allegedly stole personal items and drugs before fleeing the scene. One of the suspects is described as a black male in his early 20s, dressed in all black with a black backpack. Ypsilanti police do not have a description for the other person. Ypsilanti resident Sean Sosby said it was one of the scariest experiences of his life when he heard gunshots at a building at University Green Apartments where he lives. Sosby said he looked out a window and saw two people wearing ski masks leave a nearby building and get in a parked vehicle, then pull away. He called 911 after someone came out of the apartment building screaming, "They killed her." Sosby said he has lived at the apartment complex at 799 Green Road for just over a year and nothing like this had happened before. "Fights and things, but nothing like this," he said. A GoFundMe page has been set to raise money for funeral expenses for the family of Edmunds. It had collected more than $7,000 of the $15,000 goal. FLINT, MI -- A number of Flint facilities are set to hold events to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday. TheFlint Public Library, in conjunction with the Flint Institute of Arts, is holding activities throughout the day beginning with a community celebration at 1 p.m. Jan. 15 at the library, 1026 E. Kearsley St. A keynote speech by Isaiah Oliver, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, is scheduled to take place at the celebration along with a reenactment of King's famous "I Have A Dream" speech, a performance by vocalist Adam Baker, and a family-friendly "Peace Hands" craft project in the library's Children's Learning Center prior to the celebration. Ja'Nel Jamerson, executive director of the Flint & Genesee Literacy Network, will serve as the master of ceremonies at the event. Following the library event, members of Gamma Delta Kudos and the Kappa Leadership League will take part in a step performance during a reception from 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Jan. 14 in Isabel Hall at the Flint Institute of Arts, 1120 E. Kearsley St. The FIA Art School "will incorporate peace, justice, equality, and change for people everywhere--symbols associated with Dr. King" as part of the free family activity from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Jan. 14 allowing participants to weave a personal reminder on how the civil right leader touched their lives. King pushed for equal rights for African-Americans, but he also spoke out against the Vietnam War and led the "Poor People's Campaign" to move forward on economic change for impoverished people all across the United States. He was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tenn. while assisting striking sanitation employees in securing safer work conditions after Echol Cole and Robert Walker were crushed to death by a malfunctioning truck. A march took place four days later in support of the workers that included King's wife, the late Coretta Scott King. Galleries and admission will be free of charge throughout the day Monday at the Flint Institute of Arts. Free admission is also being offered on Monday at the Sloan Museum, 1221 E. Kearsley St., in Flint, when a new exhibit will open to the public on the history of housing segregation in the city. Titled "An Equal Opportunity Lie," the exhibit uses items from Sloan's collect to examine housing segregation in Flint and efforts made to end discriminatory housing practices. Students, staff, and other faculty members at the University of Michigan-Flint will take part in a day of service to commemorate the day, including organizing the food pantry and donations at Crossover Downtown Outreach Ministry and heading to Genesee County Habitat For Humanity to build benches for bus stops. For additional information on MLK Day volunteer service opportunities, visit the university's website here. FLINT, MI -- The Community Foundation of Greater Flint has announced an $825,000 multi-year grant to actively promote racial healing in Flint. The grant is part of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation's Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation effort, a national and community-based process to bring about transformational and sustainable change to address the historic effects of racism. Flint is one of four Michigan communities to receive a TRHT grant to actively promote racial healing. "Flint is one of the country's most segregated cities," said Isaiah Oliver, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint. "We are engaging community leaders and residents in healing conversations that help us understand the racial dynamics of our city. In doing this work, we hope to heal and build sustainable progress neighbor by neighbor, community by community, to transform Flint so all children can have a brighter future." CFGF is marking its 30th anniversary in 2018 with the theme, "Celebrating Our Common Humanity." The Foundation will engage people from all racial, ethnic, religious and identity groups in a genuine effort to increase understanding, communication, caring and respect for one another. Their efforts will be highlighted on Jan. 16, a national day of racial healing. "We encourage everyone to embrace our common humanity by recognizing the National Day of Racial Healing through social media and the hashtag #NDORH," Oliver added. FLINT, MI -- A 43-year-old woman will serve prison time for her role in a June 1, 2017, robbery at the ELGA Credit Union branch in Burton. Dinisha Nicole Thompson, of Flint, was sentenced to prison time last month in Genesee Circuit Court after pleading guilty in November to one count of bank robbery. Armed robbery and false report of terrorism charges were dropped following the guilty plea, according to court records. The sentence carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison, with a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. Thompson received credit for 168 days served. Officers were called out shortly before 1 p.m. Thursday, June 1 to the bank in the 2300 block of Center Road following the robbery and were told a heavy-set black woman emerged from the bathroom with a multi-colored scarf covering her head. Thompson told an employee there was a weapon in her purse, with her hand inside the bag, demanded money, and left the scene in a vehicle. She made off with approximately $2,000 which has not been recovered, according to Burton police Detective Don Schreiber, the lead investigator in the robbery case. Employees and customers were ushered out of the bank and into an administrative building following the incident. No injuries were reported at the scene. Thompson told bank employees she had placed a bomb in the bathroom, Schreiber said. An explosives dog was brought in from the Genesee County Sheriff's Office to search the building to eliminate any possibility of a device. No device was found by law enforcement. Police then began a search for Thompson that lasted days. She was discovered around 8 a.m. June 17 inside an abandoned home in the 600 block of Dewey Street, between Saginaw and Mildred streets, in Flint after multiple tips from residents. Thompson is ordered to take part in vocational training, substance abuse treatment, and psychological counseling as part of her sentence. PARK TOWNSHIP, MI -- A Lake Macatawa marina situated on property with a complicated history dating back to the 1800s is slated for redevelopment in the fall of 2018. Ottawa County Parks and Recreation expects to spend nearly $2.5 million to downsize a commercial marina and expand a small park along the lake's north shore. For some, it will mark a major improvement along an important stretch of waterfront for Holland residents and summer visitors alike. For others, a major blow to a close-knit community of boaters with decades of history at the location. Parkside Marina operates on one of 12 pieces of property totaling 58 acres known as "Park 12" and later as "Historic Ottawa Beach Parks." Use of the 12 parcels as park land dates back to 1886, when the West Michigan Park Association was first platted. The cottage owners association and Ottawa County later fought a protracted legal battle over the properties, which ended with a 2005 settlement. Ottawa County Parks Director John Scholtz said a number of public projects grew out of that settlement, including the a boardwalk along Lake Macatawa and another that provides access to overlooks of the area from Mount Pisgah. "The marina part kind of waited until last," Scholtz said. Parkside Marina, located along Ottawa Beach Road between the entrance to Holland State Park and the Holland U.S. Coast Guard Station, has been operated as a private marina for decades. Elaine Blouw has been involved in the marina's management since 1981, and has been the sole proprietor since 1985. Displaced boaters When Blouw's current lease with Ottawa County expires on Oct. 15, she expects the county's plans will likely leave many of her seasonal boaters without a slip on the lake. "I don't know where they're going to go," she said. "I don't think there are 80 boat slips available on Lake Macatawa. I just hate to see that all these boaters are going to be without a slip." Parkside Marina leases the property from the county for $15,800 a year, Scholtz said. "They've had this amazing deal for 30-plus years," he said. After years of leasing the land to Blouw on a year-by-year basis, the county signed a five-year contract in 2012 intended to mark an end to the lease. After extending that agreement one more year, Scholtz said the county is now prepared to move forward with its vision. "We want to get more public use of the property," he said. Jay Timmer, who lives in nearby Waukazoo Woods, has rented a slip at Parkside Marina since 2005. Timmer said the county's proposal will break up a close-knit community of boaters, some of whom have spent their summers together for generations. "I have watched children growing up with their parents here," Blouw said. "And now I'm watching them grow up with their children." Since small boat owners often share use of their boats with friends and family, Timmer said the impact will be larger than the number of seasonal slips being eliminated. "There are several hundred families that are going to have their summers ripped out from underneath them," he said. A $2.4 million project As soon as Parkside Marina's current lease expires in October, Scholtz said, the county hopes to launch a $2.4-million project that would upgrade and downsize the marina, eliminating about half of the current boat slips. Also increasing the number of slips to be used only by transient boaters, it would reduce the number available for rent on a seasonal basis from about 80 to 15. Integrating the marina with a small waterfront park and adding a universally accessible kayak launch, the county parks director hopes to fulfill a longtime commitment to provide public parkland at the site. The changes have the added benefit, Scholtz said, of connecting the public Black Lake Boardwalk that currently detours around the marina and its parking lot. "We just think a change needs to be made," he said. "We just want the public to get their maximum enjoyment out of the property." Blouw said she rejected a proposal to run the walkway across the narrow strip of land dividing her home, located in the center of the marina property, from the water. "It would be right by my steps," she said. "I said no to that." Also at play is the appearance of the property, Scholtz said, in connection to onsite boat storage and the condition of some of the marina's infrastructure. "It doesn't look as good as the rest of the site," he said. "The public doesn't get to enjoy it, and the revenues are minimal." Blouw said she also rejected an offer from Ottawa County that would extend her lease if she was willing to install new year-round docks and eliminate the boat storage and launching services. But the combined cost of such improvements and loss of an important revenue source was not feasible, she said. But Blouw contests any characterization of her as resistant or uncooperative with the county. Limited revenue, the lack of stability and permanence afforded by her lease with the county all made it difficult to deliver on requests of county officials, she said. Seasonal slips downsized There are others who have resisted the county's plan. Boaters from Parkside Marina, in particular, have objected to the downsizing of the marina and petitioned the Parks and Recreation Commission to reconsider. Scholtz said he understands how the longtime marina's loyal boaters must feel. "Someone with a boat there is probably thinking, 'There won't be room for me,'" he said. "I get that." Previous plans called for a county-run marina at the site that would have offered boaters 80 slips, close to the current number at Parkside Marina. But from a budgetary perspective, Scholtz said, the county ultimately could not justify such a plan. As part of its agreement with the West Michigan Park Association, Scholtz said, the county is required to provide 15 boat slips for its cottage owners to use. That requirement has been honored in past seasons by Parkside Marina, he said. The final plan for a new marina calls for 15 seasonal boat slips, five seasonal moorings and another 26 slips reserved for transient boaters. Grant funding Setting aside slips for boaters passing through Holland allowed the county to apply for a $643,000 boating infrastructure grant through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. A marina that primarily serves transient boaters makes more sense for a government-run operation, Scholtz said. "The transient marina is something we feel is a better fit for the government's role," he said. The desire for that grant money helps explain why Ottawa County is focused more on transient boaters than seasonal boaters, Timmer said. "Not because there's not room to build a marina with enough slips for the boats, but because Parks and Rec can't get grant money for seasonal slips," he said. Other grants are also expected to help pay for the project, including a $291,000 Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant announced earlier this month and outstanding applications for two other state grants. Ottawa County Parks will invest $484,000 of its own funds, Park Township is expected to provide another $90,000, and the county will borrow another $844,000 -- bond sales that will be paid for with anticipated marina revenue, Scholtz said. The proposed fees for seasonal slip rentals are $3,000 for a 30-foot slip, $4,000 for a 40-foot slip and $4,400 for a 45-foot slip, he said. Blouw said she current charges from $1,800 to $2,300, depending on boat size. Nightly charges for transient boaters will be in line with other marinas in the state system, which set prices for the 2017 season that ranged from $19 to $152, depending on the marina and the size of boat. Scholtz said early estimates suggest that, at roughly 50 percent occupancy, marina revenue will be enough to cover seasonal operating expenses and make payments on the bonds the county plans to sell. Though Ottawa County park millage funds might be used to improve the walkway and install public restrooms at the park property, the director said the county is committed to not supporting marina operations with property tax dollars. Timmer said the proposed changes to the size and number of slips, prices and the new focus on transient boaters will all edge out those with smaller boats. He is skeptical there is enough demand for what the county will offer to provide the necessary revenue to offset operating costs. Larger boats will prefer larger marinas with more services and amenities, Timmer said. Other grants the county is counting on that have not yet been approved include the Michigan Coastal Management Grant ($64,000) and the Michigan Boat Pumpout Grant ($20,000). 'Train has left the station' Acting on a Dec. 6 recommendation from the Parks and Recreation Commission, the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners gave the plan their blessing on Dec. 26. Despite the opposition to the project voiced by some, the motion enjoyed unanimous support from all nine commissioners present for the meeting. Commissioners Allen Dannenberg and James Holtvluwer were absent. One other factor still holding up the process is permit approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The application has been submitted, Scholtz said, but any work on the marina will await the Corps' approval. "We would hope to start construction on Oct. 15, 2018," Scholtz said. "Then kind of work all winter and finish up in spring and take as long as we need to get it done." The goal is to have the new county-run marina operational in time for the start of the 2019 boating season. "We're hopeful that could happen," Scholtz said. Timmer said he's skeptical about the county's timeline, but has resigned himself to the reality that the project is likely moving forward. "The train has left the station," he said. At this point, Blouw said she also feels the county's plan is "inevitable," though she said she wishes county leaders would have seen things from the perspective of her boaters. "I would like them to consider the boaters that have been here for so many years," she said. Timmer has written letters to county commissioners and spoke at meetings in opposition of the plan. He even drove back to Michigan from Texas to speak at a meeting earlier in December, though it was only after he arrived that he learned the issue wouldn't be considered until later in the month. He feels his concerns and those of other boaters impacted by the changes have fallen on deaf ears, in favor of a "greater good" some believe will come out of the current plan for a new county-run marina. Though he's not an opponent to a larger county-run marina with room for the current seasonal boaters, Timmer said the way Ottawa County has gone about the planned transformation of Parkside Marina has left a bad taste in his mouth. "They're willing to flush the 81 years of history down the tube and they're willing to flush the little people with little boats and little political influence down the tubes," he said. "And that's too bad." Scholtz said county officials have felt the pushback against the plan, but remain resolved the smaller, transient-focused marina and park space will ultimately be in the public's best interest. "We think we'll have a much more public-friendly site and one that people will enjoy and, still, we will be serving the marina industry," he said. "We just want the public to get their maximum enjoyment out of the property." GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Police are trying to identify a man who robbed Macatawa Bank on Knapp Street NE on Saturday, Jan. 13. Police released surveillance photos of the robber. Police say the robber entered the bank, at 3177 Knapp, around 11 a.m. and demanded money. He left with an undisclosed amount of cash. He fled in what is believed to be a gray KIA Soul that he took to the bank. He was wearing a gray Carhartt hooded jacket. Grand Rapids police Major Case detectives are investigating. Police asked anyone with information to call police at 456-3604 or Silent Observer at 774-2345 or go online at silentobserver.org The West Michigan community has given much to the Santa Claus Girls of Kent County this year, but the charity is still in need of more than $15,000 to meet its fundraising goal. On Dec. 16, the volunteer-run charity delivered wrapped gifts to the doors of 12,598 children in 5,182 families, ensuring that despite their many troubles, those struggling families would have something to make their seasons bright. Donors have given $184,225.20 so far this season, but with just a couple weeks remaining in the fiscal year, there is still $15,774.80 to go. Since 1908, the community has never failed to come through for the organization as it collects funds for the coming season's delivery. But that record is at risk of being broken this year, according to Mike Ply, treasurer for Santa Claus Girls and vice president of human resources and benefits administration for MLive and Advance Local Communications. "We are concerned that we will not achieve our $200,000 goal this year," Ply said. "Each year since the very beginning in 1908, the Santa Claus Girls have reached the financial goal. That record lives on because of the continued generosity of the people who are part of this heartwarming effort to provide gifts to needy children during the holidays." Donations received by the end of January will be counted toward this year's goal, Ply said. More information about the all-volunteer organization is on their Facebook page. Donations can be made online, by credit card at 616-222-1860, or by mailing a check to Santa Claus Girls, c/o The Grand Rapids Press, 3102 Walker Ridge Drive NW, Walker, MI, 49544. MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI - A man allegedly involved in a shooting near an Oakridge school last year is facing seven felony charges related to drug and firearm possession and resisting police. Landon Onasis Brown, 29, of Muskegon is accused of fleeing police who stopped his vehicle on Dec. 19 because he was wanted on an outstanding warrant and was driving on a suspended license, said Muskegon County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Timothy Maat. When police caught up with him, Brown had drugs in his possession, according to the charges against him. Brown has been charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, a potential five-year felony; possession of less than 25 grams of heroin, a four-year felony; possession of less than 25 grams of cocaine, a two-year felony; committing a felony while in possession of a firearm, a 2-year felony; and three charges of resisting officers from the Michigan State Police, Muskegon Police Department and Norton Shores Police Department, each of which also are two-year felonies, court records show. It's alleged that Brown fled after the vehicle he was driving was stopped at Sanford and Hume streets in Muskegon Heights, and was chased by several officers who found evidence that led to the charges, Maat said. Brown had been charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm in connection to a January 2017 shooting near Oakridge Lower Elementary School. In May, the Muskegon County Prosecutor's Office requested the charge be dismissed, indicating it would be reissued at a later date. The alleged shooting victim testified earlier that he had agreed to loan Brown his car in exchange for drugs. Brown was going to drop the alleged victim off at a friend's house near Wolf Lake Methodist Church in Egelston Township when the two men got into an argument because Brown didn't bring enough drugs, the victim testified at Brown's preliminary exam. The two tussled in the church parking lot and Brown produced a gun, which fired four times as the two wrestled over it, the alleged victim said. Brown fled, and the alleged victim, who ended up with the gun, drove home where he later realized he had been shot in the leg, he testified. The alleged victim admitted he had been using heroin earlier in the day. Brown has previous felony convictions for delivery of a controlled substance in 2006 and resisting and opposing police in 2011 and 2012. He is being charged as a four-time habitual offender in the latest case, which increases his potential penalty upon conviction to life in prison. Sentences are determined by judges based on state guidelines. Representative image A Delhi court has issued summons to a former director of Devas Multimedia Pvt. Ltd. in the Antrix-Devas deal case that had allegedly caused a loss of Rs 578 crore to the exchequer. Special judge Santosh Snehi Mann passed the order after being told that the summons issued earlier could not be severed to Muthgadahali Gangarudaraiah Chandrasekhar since he is now settled in the US. The investigating officer moved an application for the issuance of fresh summons before the court, which was told by the CBI's public prosecutor Manoj Shukla that according to MHA guidelines and treaty between India and US, the process requires at least three months time for execution. "Application for summoning accused Chandrasekhar, as per the treaty between India and US, is allowed. Summons be issued to accused Chandrasekhar," the court said, seeking his presence by April 26. The court passed the order while granting bail to former ISRO chairperson G Madhavan Nair and others, including A Bhaskar Narayana Rao, the then director in ISRO, and K R Sridhar Murthy, the then executive director of Antrix, in the case. The court had on September 16 summoned Nair and others as accused while taking cognisance of the CBI charge sheet which alleged that Nair and other officials of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Department of Space (DoS) wrongfully leased out S-Band, a restricted wavelength of the INSAT satellites, to Devas Multimedia by Antrix. The FIR was filed on March 16, 2015 against Nair and others accusing them of facilitating "wrongful" gain of Rs 578 crore to private multimedia company Devas by Antrix, the commercial arm of the ISRO. The probe agency had on August 11 last year filed a charge sheet against the accused, alleging they had caused a loss of Rs 578 crore to the exchequer by abusing their official position to favour a private company. The case relates to leasing of S-Band, a restricted wavelength of the INSAT satellites to deliver video, multimedia and information services to mobile receivers in vehicles and mobile phones to Devas Multimedia by Antrix. PTI UK . VIX has already stretched higher, which suggests that markets are pricing some deal of volatility. This should mean that surprises, if any, are less likely to break the bullish momentum, Anand James, Chief Market Strategist, Geojit Financial Services, said in an exclusive interview to Moneycontrols Kshitij Anand. Q) It has been a roller coaster ride for the bulls in the second week of January. The index (Nifty) rose to fresh record highs on Friday and index closed with gains of 1.1% for the week ended January 12? Do you think the momentum will continue? We haven't seen any pattern breaks as yet, and all recent moves are in line with bullish continuation. However, Nifty, this month carries the burden of expectation from both Budget as well as earnings. Mid and small cap names have continued sharp rallies but they are far from being in bubble situations. VIX has already stretched higher, which suggests that markets are pricing some deal of volatility. This should mean that surprises if any, are less likely to break the bullish momentum. Q) Do you think the press conference carried out by CJI on Friday will weight on D-Street? While markets gauge the impact of possible political fallout on elections, some knee-jerk reactions may be expected, but that should ease over time, especially as the market has enough to ponder over in terms of oil, budget, earnings and the sectoral stimuli that are flowing in. The stock-specific action will depend on the specific judgments on companies or sectors, if at all any that could be up for scrutiny. Q) How is the market looking on the weekly as well as monthly charts? Monthly charts show that the upside momentum is intact. Standard deviation studies pointing to 10780/860 and 10460 as near-term range extremities. Weekly charts are clearer and the push above recent peak suggests that a flag, which is a bullish continuation pattern is maturing. Volume's initial decline followed by sharp advance during the flag breakout adds further to the bullish conviction. The flag pole gives an 800 point upside objective putting 11300-11370 in sight as the medium term upside target. The break away from flag patterns are usually swift, and hence the upside objective should ideally be achieved earlier than the 6 months that this pattern took to form. Q) What should be the strategy buy on dips or sell on rallies in the coming week? As Q3 numbers flow in, we are certain to bump into pockets of volatility that should give opportunities. It would be prudent not to focus on index moves for the next two months, as moves are likely to be stock specific or thematic. However, there is no reason to rush, and we would recommend preserving some capital for new thematic plays that may emerge beyond February. Q) Top stocks which are looking attractive at current levels based on technical? Here is a list of top two stocks which are looking attractive on technical charts with a time horizon of 1 month: Kwality, which has been a clear laggard in its sector is seeing turnaround signals, eying 125 as likely upside. It has been hitting higher highs and lows ever since turning higher from a 7 month low in September 2017. MAS Financial is another stock that has not only been lagging the sector, but is significantly below listing price, and has begun to show revival signals. It has formed a triangular bullish pattern, setting an initial objective of 689. Both moves are expected to unfold within a 30 day perspective. The views and investment tips expressed by investment expert on Moneycontrol are his own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. The analyst or the company might have a position in the stocks recommended. A roller-coaster ride for investors but late buying by the bulls pushed the index to record closing high on Nifty which resulted in a Dragonfly Doji type of pattern on the daily candlestick charts. Bulls quickly grabbed the opportunity to buy stocks on the first opportunity they got in the trade. The index formed a bullish candle on the weekly charts. A Dragonfly Doji pattern signals indecision among traders but it also points to the fact that bulls managed to bring the index towards the opening level. The index has to sustain above 10600 for the bullish sentiment to continue. Investors are advised to stay long on the index with a strict stop loss below 10,592 levels on closing basis. The momentum is strong and investors should not be too worried about intraday dips. The Nifty50 opened at 10,682.55 and closed roughly at the same level at 10,681.25. The index breached its 5-days exponential moving average to hit an intraday low of 10,597.10 but then bulls came to rescue and pushed the index back above 10,600. It hit a record high of 10,690.40 in trade today. The Nifty50 registered almost a Dragonfly Doji kind of formation in which open, high, low remains same suggesting balance of power between bulls and bears. Usually, this kind of formation is seen at major turning points where bulls and bears try to establish their own supremacy, Mazhar Mohammad, Chief Strategist Technical Research & Trading Advisory, Chartviewindia.in told Moneycontrol. However, if we read the weekly price chart in isolation then it is looking like a consolidation breakout with a decent bullish candle. Hence, a strong follow through in next trading session shall strengthen the bullish sentiment else market will continue its insipid way of trading going forward till it breaks down, he said. Mohammad is of the view that for time being traders can continue their bullish bets with a stop below 10592 on a closing basis and look for a target of 10,750. India VIX fell down by 1.98 percent at 13.73. VIX has to hold below 13-12.50 zones to support the fresh leg of the rally with a smooth ride in the market. We have collated the top fifteen data points to help you spot profitable trade: Key Support & Resistance Level for Nifty The Nifty closed at 10,681.2 on Friday. According to Pivot charts, the key support level is placed at 10,622.07, followed by 10,562.93. If the index starts to move higher, key resistance levels to watch out are 10,715.37 and 10,749.53. Nifty Bank The Nifty Bank closed at 25,749.1. Important Pivot level, which will act as crucial support for the index, is placed at 25,612.73, followed by 25,476.37. On the upside, key resistance levels are 25,830.33, followed by 25,911.57. Call Options Data Maximum call open interest (OI) of 47.26 lakh contracts stands at strike price 11,000, which will act as a crucial resistance level for the index in the January series, followed by 10,700, which now holds 43.16 lakh contracts in open interest, and 10,800, which has accumulated 35.66 lakh contracts in OI. Call writing was seen at a strike price of 11,200, which saw the addition of 2.78 lakh contracts, followed by 11,000, which saw the addition of 2.27 lakh contracts and 10,700, which saw the addition of 2.26 lakh contracts. Call unwinding was seen at 10,600, which saw shedding of 3.26 lakh contracts, followed by 10,500 at 1.42 lakh contracts and 10,400, which saw shedding of 1.1 lakh contracts. Put Options Data Maximum put OI of 82.71 lakh contracts was seen at strike price 10,500, which will act as a crucial base for the index in January series; followed by 10,600, which now holds 63.51 lakh contracts and 10,400 which has now accumulated 58.59 lakh contracts in open interest. Put writing seen at 10,700, which saw the addition of 9.35 lakh contracts, followed by 8.45 lakh contracts at the strike price of 10,600 and 10,200, which saw the addition of 4.12 lakh contracts. Put unwinding was seen at 3.35 lakh contracts at 10,400, followed by 10,300, which shed 1.43 lakh contracts. FII & DII Data Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold shares worth Rs 158.16 crore, while domestic institutional investors bought shares worth Rs 696.25 crore in the Indian equity market on Friday, as per provisional data available on the NSE. Fund Flow Picture: Stocks with high delivery percentage: High delivery percentage suggests that investors are accepting the delivery of the stock, which means that investors are bullish on the stock. 62 stocks saw long build-up: 12 stocks saw short covering: A decrease in open interest along with an increase in price mostly indicates short covering. 100 stocks saw short build-up: An increase in open interest along with a decrease in price mostly indicates short positions being built up. 35 stocks saw long unwinding: Long unwinding happens when there is a decrease in OI as well as in price. Bulk Deals: Smallcap World Fund has sold over 44.6 lakh shares of Hathway Cable at Rs 40 apiece. Adroit Financial services traded over 1 crore shares of Subex at Rs 12 apiece. Ace investor Ashish Kacholia has purchased a little over 1.5 lakh shares of Butterfly Gandhimathi Appliances. For more bulk deals, click here Analyst Meet/Briefings: United Spirits announced that its results conference call will be held on January 23, 2018. Alfa Accurate is meeting the management of PSP Projects on January 13, 2018. The Board of Century Ply will be meeting on February 5, 2018. Balyasny Asset Management met Mahindra and Mahindra on January 12, 2018. Stocks in news: Zenith Birla: Suresh Mitbaokar and Rasika Kadam have resigned as Directors of the company. Infosys: The company reported a whopping 37.6 percent growth in Q3 profit, with retaining its full-year revenue guidance. Profit, which was largely driven by a tax reversal, stood at Rs 5,129 crore against Rs 3,726 crore in the previous quarter. IDFC Bank to buy Warburg-backed Capital First in $1.5 bln stock deal IDFC Bank will acquire Capital First Ltd in a share swap deal valued at about $1.5 billion Shareholders in Capital First will receive 139 shares of the bank for every 10 shares held. V Vaidyanathan will succeed Rajiv Lall as MD and CEO of the combined entity upon completion HDFC: HDFC board has approved to raise Rs 11,301 crore by issuing 6.43 crore shares at Rs 1,726.05 per share to investors. Telecom Stocks: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on Friday cut the termination charge on incoming international calls to 30 paise per minute from 53 paise. Idea Cellular: The National Company Law Tribunal has approved the proposed merger between Idea Cellular and Vodafone -- a move that brings both the companies closer to culminating the deal. Tata Motors: Jaguar Land Rover to recall 8,952 cars over airbag defects in China. The recall was filed by Jaguar Land Rover China to the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, the national quality watchdog has said. Fortis Healthcare: Fortis, RHT Health extend discussion time by 30 days Fortis' board had approved the proposed acquisition of entire portfolio of RHT Health Trust (RHT) for an enterprise value of around Rs 4,650 crore. Narayana Hrudayalaya: Narayana Hrudayalaya completes acquisition of HCCI. The company earlier held 28.6 per cent stake in Health City Cayman Islands through its wholly owned subsidiary Narayana Cayman Holdings Ltd. Shoppers Stop: Shoppers Stop allots Rs 179.26-cr shares to Amazon. According to a BSE filing by the company, it has issued of 43,95,925 equity shares of Rs 5 each at a price of Rs 407.78 per equity share, aggregating around Rs 179.26 crore, to Amazon.com NV Investment Holdings LLC. Gayatri Projects: Societe Generale buys 25 lakh shares of Gayatri Projects. UBS FD Mgnt Switzerland AG on behalf of UBS CH EQTY FD-Emerging A bought 70,00,000 shares of Gayatri Projects at Rs 208. Emami Paper: On January 12, 2018 Ganpati Industrial bought 9,04,000 shares of Emami Paper at Rs 226.29 on the BSE. On Friday, Emami Paper Mills ended at Rs 229.45, up Rs 8.35, or 3.78 percent on the BSE. Hathway Cable: On January 12, 2018 Smallcap World Fund Inc sold 44,60,063 shares of Hathway Cable and Datacom at Rs 40.40 on the NSE. On Friday, Hathway Cable and Datacom ended at Rs 40.60, up Rs 0.30, or 0.74 percent on the NSE. ING Vysya Bank: Markets regulator Sebi today imposed a penalty of Rs 4 lakh on a former official of ING Vysya Bank for disclosure lapses. The order has come following an inspection conducted by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) of trading in the shares of ING Vysya Bank for the period from August 2011 to May 2013. Tata Chemicals: Tata Chemicals on Friday said it has completed the sale of its urea fertilisers business to Yara Fertilisers India for Rs 2,682 crore. The deal included transfer of all assets and liabilities (working capital) of the Babrala plant in Uttar Pradesh. Karnataka Bank: Karnataka Bank on Friday reported a 27.5 percent rise in net profit at Rs 87.38 crore for the third quarter ended December 2017 even though provision for bad loans increased. Unitech: Embattled real estate firm Unitech on Friday sought more time to deposit Rs 750 crore in the Supreme Court but offered to deposit Rs 18 crore by next week. The Supreme Court will hear the matter on January 29. BHEL: State-run power equipment maker BHEL today said it has commissioned a 250 MW thermal power unit at the Barauni Extension project of Bihar State Power Generation Company. Tata Steel: Tata Steel today said its actual saleable steel output in the country during April-December of the ongoing fiscal increased by 12.4 percent to 9.24 million tonnes (MT). SRF: SRF gets the green nod for Rs 4,800-cr expansion project in Gujarat. In a letter issued to Gurugram-headquartered SRF Ltd, the Union environment ministry said it has given the environment clearance to the company's proposed expansion project in Gujarat with some riders Jet Airways: Expanding its probe, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) is looking into the role of some more crew members of Jet Airways for their alleged involvement in the smuggling of foreign currency, officials said on Sunday. Jubilant Life: Jubilant Life gets the green nod for Rs 250 crore pesticide project. In the letter issued to Jubilant Life Sciences, the Union environment ministry has said it has given the environment clearance to the company's greenfield project with some conditions after taking into account experts' views. Vedanta: Vedanta urges govt to resolve retrospective tax issues. Vedanta, which in 2011 bought Cairn India to enter oil business, is facing a Rs 20,495 crore tax demand that was raised using a legislation that gave the tax department powers to raise tax demand retrospectively. Cairn India: Vedanta's oil and gas vertical Cairn India is planning to invest Rs 37,000 crore to ramp up crude production at its Barmer oil fields in Rajasthan. Binani Cement: JSW Cement plans to increase the production capacity in West Bengal from 2.4 mtpa to 3.6 mtpa besides a captive power plant in the same location, a top company official said on Sunday. ONGC: Six bodies including that of all the five ONGC officers and one of the two pilots of ill-fated Pawan Hans chopper, which crashed in Arabia Sea yesterday, have been recovered. Granules India: Increase in FPIs investment limit from 24% to 49% 13 stocks under ban period on NSE Security in ban period for the next trade date under the F&O segment includes companies in which the security has crossed 95 percent of the market-wide position limit. Securities which are banned for trading include names such as Dish TV, Fortis, GMR Infra, HDIL, Jet Airways, Jindal Steel, Jain Irrigation, JP Associates, Kaveri Seed Company, Reliance Communications, Reliance Capital, Reliance Power, and Wockhardt. Volatility is an inherent virtue of markets. An active trader has to learn how to deal with market volatility. If you ask a typical trader what volatility really is, he is most likely to say its the up-down movement of the market. Well, it is not just that. Volatility, as measured by the standard deviation of daily returns of the index (or stocks), represents the riskiness of the market. If the volatility is increasing, it means the market swings are getting wilder and hence the riskiness of the markets. When volatility increases, along with the risk, the opportunity to profit also increases. To profit from the market volatility one has to develop the right point of view on where volatility is heading. To develop such a point of view, one can track the India VIX index and compare it with the historical levels. Also, do bear in mind that whenever any important market events such as the budget, election, corporate result announcement, RBI monetary policy meet is around the corner the volatility always increase. The best way to profit from the variation in volatility is by employing options strategies. The best part of option-based volatility strategies is that you need not be right about the market direction, the market can head either way, and it would not matter. The underlying premise is that the option premium increases when the volatility increases. This is because when volatility increases the probability of the option expiring in the money also increases, hence the premium increases. Conversely, when volatility is expected to reduce, the option premiums are also likely to reduce. Based on your view on the volatility and the time to expiry, here are few option strategies that you can follow - 1. When you expect the volatility to increase it means the option premiums are going to increase as well, hence one needs to be an options buyer. 2. If there are more than 15 days to expiry from your trade date, then build a strangle strategy by employing 1 OTM Call option and 1 OTM Put option. 3. If the days to expiry are less than 15, then buy a straddle by employing 1 ATM call and 1 ATM Put option. This will help you benefit from the increasing premiums. 4. When you expect the volatility to decrease, it means the option premiums are going to decrease as well, hence one needs to be an option seller. 5. Sell naked deep OTM options if there are more than 15 days to expiry from your trade date, else sell OTM options that are slightly away from the ATM mark. In fact when there are less than 15 days to expiry and the volatility is likely to reduce you can benefit in two ways - time decay and drop in volatility. Do remember selling ATM options can be a little risky, hence best to avoid it. Also in the backdrop of an important market event, the volatility would shoot up as the event approaches and would eventually drop after the event unfolds. For example, assume the RBI monetary policy is scheduled to be announced tomorrow. The volatility would start to increase few days prior to the event (or stay at a higher level) till the event day; once the announcement is made the volatility almost always drops, thereby reducing the option premiums. Now in a situation like this, the market will move based on the outcome of the event, hence selling naked options can be risky. Therefore one can sell a straddle and benefit from the falling option prices. Assume you have set up a short straddle in the backdrop of the RBI monetary meet. Let us say RBI decides to cut the rate, this is good for the markets and therefore the markets are likely to go up. What is likely to happen is that the Put option premiums will erode much faster than the increase in call option premiums, hence the short straddle would work in your favour. So, the next time whenever you have a view on volatility, do not just blindly speculate on the market direction instead employ an options strategy! : The author is VP, Educational Services, Zerodha. The views and investment tips expressed by investment expert on moneycontrol.com are his own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accompanied by several ministers and business leaders, will encapsulate the making of 'a new, young and innovative India' when he addresses the rich and powerful from across the world at the snow-laden Swiss resort town of Davos later this month. In his first appearance at the WEF Annual Meeting -- being held this year with a theme of 'Creating a shared future in a fractured world' -- Modi is also expected to talk about his experience with 'cooperative federalism' in India, while urging the world for a collective crackdown on terrorism, economic imbalances, cyber threats and various societal ills. Sources familiar with the draft programme of various sessions of the 48th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) said the Indian leaders, including Modi, will also talk about numerous steps they have taken to make it easier to do business in India, check corruption, clamp down on black money, streamline taxation and boost sustainable growth. Adding further star power, Bollywood king Shahrukh Khan, for a change, would not be seen serenading heroines with his signature 'open-arm' charm on Swiss Alps, but will rather talk about creating a change in India through women empowerment. Another star speaker will be ex-RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan, who has been praised as well as criticised often for his vocal views on everything from politics to economics and is credited for predicting the global economic crisis of 2008. He will speak on the power of economic narratives and how policymakers can address the challenges of the 21st century. The final programme of the five-day event, starting January 22, will be unveiled on Tuesday by Geneva-based WEF, which describes itself as an international public-private organisation working to improve state of the world and has been hosting the confab every year in Davos. Modi is being seen as one of the biggest stars this year, with US President Donald Trump being the other. Those scheduled to attend the powwow also include UK's Theresa May, Canada's Justin Trudeau, France's Emmanuel Macron, Pakistan's Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Jordan's King Abdullah and Queen Rania, Brazil's Michel Temer and Switzerland's Alain Berset. This will be Modi's first Davos visit and also the first by an Indian Prime Minister since the one by H D Deve Gowda in 1997. In case of Trump, he will be the first US President to attend since Bill Clinton in 2000. As many as six union ministers, two chief ministers, over 100 CEOs and several other high-profile attendees from India will be hobnobbing with their counterparts from across the world, while over 3,000 global elite at their annual jamboree would be served Indian cuisine including desi 'chai-samosa' and several Gujarati dishes, among those from various other states, at the opening night welcome reception. As per the draft programme, Modi will deliver the opening plenary on January 23. A day before, he will have a bilateral meeting with Swiss President Berset. Modi is expected to have other bilaterals as well and will also meet global CEOs. Among other Indian leaders, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will have several engagements and will also speak at a session on 'India's role in the world', talking about how the political changes, structural reforms and technology innovations are changing the country's socio-economic context. Union Minister Jitendra Singh will speak at a session on 'From fragile cities to renewal', while Piyush Goyal will talk on 'post-establishment politics' and how a new generation of political leaders has swept into governments and parliaments around the world. Goyal will also speak on disaster resilience in infrastructure and on 'designing for smart mobility'. Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu is expected to meet his counterparts from other countries and discuss the WTO-related issues, among other engagements, while Dharmendra Pradhan will talk about value-chain innovations that can help the industries and governments unlock economic and societal value. M J Akbar, Minister of State for External Affairs, will speak on nuclear threats to international security, as also on securing peace and stability in the Asian century. Among other Indian participants, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion Secretary Ramesh Abhishek will talk about the Asian innovation ecosystem, while NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant will talk about the use of big data in policy making and on implementing strategies for inclusive growth. Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis (Maharasthra) and N Chandrababu Naidu (Andhra Pradesh), as also Telangana minister K T Rama Rao will talk about investment attractiveness of their respective states, while the Indian CEOs, led by industry body CII, would be also pitching the India growth story in addition to exploring potential business deals. This will be the first time that India will host the welcome reception, where yoga will also be showcased along with cuisine from across the country. The prominent Indian businessmen would include Gautam Adani, Mukesh Ambani with wife Nita, Rahul Bajaj with son Sanjiv, N Chandrasekaran with a host of Tata group executives, Chanda Kochhar, Uday Kotak, Naresh Goyal, Anand Mahindra, Sajjan Jindal, Salil Parekh, Sunil Mittal with son Kavin, Salil Parekh, Azim Premji, Ravi Ruia and Prashant Ruia. Besides, several Indian-origin global leaders will be present, including Lakshmi Mittal and son Aditya, Indra Nooyi and Sundar Pichai, who will talk about the age of artificial intelligence, future of the open web and the technology's impact on society. PepsiCo's Nooyi will pitch for urgent steps needed to be taken towards better capitalism. Pawan Hans helicopter carrying police patrols over violence-hit area of Lalgarh live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More The Navy has widened its search operations for the missing crew members of the Pawan Hans helicopter which crashed off the Mumbai coast yesterday. The helicopter with seven people on-board, including five ONGC officers and two pilots, crashed off the Mumbai coast minutes after it took off for the state-owned company's oil installation in the Arabian sea yesterday. Five bodies were recovered yesterday, the Coast Guard and the Navy said in their statements earlier. A Navy spokesperson said today that the two Fast Interceptor Crafts, INS Tarasa and the frigate INS Teg were coordinating the search in the area along with Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Ships Samudra Prahari, Achook and Agrim. The INS Makar (a twin hulled catamaran hydrography ship) from Karwar was also en route to area to augment the search efforts, he said. The ICGS Samrat also sailed out from Mumbai to join the search and rescue operations, he said. Besides, ICG Dornier from Daman, IN Seaking 42 B from Shikra (helibase) and nine ONGC Vessels were also deployed for search in the area, he said. The ONGC vessel TAG 15 undertaking side scan sonar operations has found some debris 600 yards from the wreckage position, the spokesperson said. The diving team from Samudra Sevak vessel is preparing to undertake the search while the team from INS Teg is kept on standby, he said. The Pawan Hans helicopter with five Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) officers, including three of the level of Deputy General Managers, went missing around 10.40 am yesterday. ONGC, Coast Guard and Navy pressed helicopters and speed boats as soon as the information of the chopper going missing was received at the Juhu helibase. ONGC has key oil and gas fields off the Mumbai coast and Pawan Hans helicopters routinely ferry company employees and officers to the oil installations that are situated as far as 160 kilometres from the coastline. The field in the offshore include Mumbai High, the nation's largest oil field and Bassein fields, the largest gas field. The helicopter crash is not the first accident in ONGC's history. In August 2003, an Mi-172 helicopter crashed off the Mumbai coast killing 27 people and pilot on-board. Pawan Hans Ltd said in a statement that the French-made Dauphin SA 365N3 helicopter met with an with an accident and the chopper crash is being probed by the aviation regulation DGCA. Representative Image Rebel Congress leader Ashok Choudhary today caused ripples in political circles when attended a feast hosted by Bihar JD(U) president Bashishtha Narayan Singh, a day after he was conspicuous by his absence at a meeting of legislators belonging to his party. Talking to reporters at the residence of Singh, Choudhary, a former president of Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee said "I have been close to Dada (Singh) for long and I have come here because of our personal relationship. A political colour ought not to be given to everything". However, in reply to a query on the future political scenario, Choudhary who was accompanied by two other Congress MLAs Dilip Choudhary and Munna Tiwari - cryptically remarked: "there are no full stops in politics". Choudhary was a minister in the Grand Alliance government which consisted of the JD(U), the RJD and the Congress and is known to be close to chief minister Nitish Kumar. Congress faction close to Lalu Prasad's RJD has been accusing Choudhary of trying to split the party with the help of his supporters, which led to his removal as the state unit chief a few months ago. Yesterday at a meeting convened by Congress Legislature Party leader Sadanand Singh, Choudhary was conspicuous by his absence, though his close aides maintained that it was because he was out of station and returned to Patna only late in the night. However, party sources also claimed that besides Choudhary nearly a dozen other legislators uncomfortable with the Congress' unflinching support to RJD in the aftermath of Lalu Prasad's conviction in the fodder scam skipped the meeting. Meanwhile, the day witnessed feasts of "chura" (flattened rice) "dahi" (curd) and "tilkut" (a sweet made of sesame mixed with jaggery) organised by various constituents of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. The chief minister attended the one hosted by his party's state president before heading for the Lok Janshakti Party Office where he was received by Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan and LJP Parliamentary Board chief Chirag Paswan. The feast hosted by Paswan was also attended by senior BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi and former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, who heads the Hindustani Awam Morcha. The chief minister also attended another feast organized by BJP MLC Rajnish. gold_99338866 Gold valued at Rs 12.46 lakh has been seized by customs officials from two passengers who arrived at the international airport here from Doha and Dubai. In the first case, two crude gold chains weighing 349.70 grams, concealed in the innerwear of the passenger, were recovered, Customs Commissioner Sumit Kumar said The passenger had arrived from Doha. In another case, gold disguised as buttons of a pant worn by the passenger, totally weighing 55 grams, was seized, he said The passengers had arrived here from Dubai. Earlier this month, gold weighing 3.68 kg and valued at approx Rs 1.1 crore had been seized by Customs Air Intelligence Unit. The Gujarat government's ambitious border tourism project, the "Seema Darshan", is set to get an upgrade. Gujarat Tourism Director Jenu Devan told PTI here that the government planned to build facilities like an exhibition centre and parking arrangement there with an aim to attract around 10,000 visitors every day. "Border tourism or "Seema Darshan" was introduced last year and till now over a lakh tourists have already visited. We plan to build an exhibition centre that will depict the history and role of the security forces in the area. Facilities like parking, toilets and refreshment outlets will be constructed so as to make the visit comfortable," Devan informed. He added that a sum of Rs 25 crore had been approved for the current fiscal by the state government. "Seema Darshan" is carried out at the border at Suigam outpost in Banaskantha district with visitors being taken from Jaloya village to Nedabet Point where Border Security Force (BSF) personnel tell them about the history of the area and the role it played during the 1971 war with Pakistan. One of the highlights planned, he said, is a "Beating the Retreat" ceremony on the lines of the world-famous one at the Indo-Pak border at Wagah. The ceremony at the Wagah border attracts thousands of people, where security personnel, currently from the BSF, have ceremonially carried out the "lowering of the flags" every day since 1959. Border tourism on similar lines to Gujarat's "Seema Darshan" is also held at the Hussainiwala border in Punjab's Ferozepur. Women making a 'Rangoli' in front of their house on the eve of the Makar Sankaranti festival in a village on the outskirts of Agartala (PTI) The three-day Sankranti festivities began in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh today with villages and small towns coming alive as thousands of Telugus travelled to their native places from urban centres. 'Bhogi', the first day of the festival, was celebrated today with traditional fervour. Bhogi 'mantalu' (bonfire) were lit at dawn outside the homes. The bonfire is lit with logs of wood and wooden furniture that is no longer useful. Discarded things at home are also thrown into the fire. The disposal of discarded things symbolises the sacrifice of old habits, vices and attachment to material things. Traditionally, women spray cow dung and water in front of the house and draw colourful 'muggulu' (rangoli) and keep 'gobbemmalu' (cow dung balls) decorated with turmeric, kumkum and flowers on the rangoli. In the evenings, 'Bhogi pallu' (Indian jujube) are showered on children seeking their health and prosperity. The Telangana government is organising a 'kite festival' and 'World Sweet Festival' at the Parade Grounds here on the occasion. People from about 25 states and some foreign countries, who live in Hyderabad, have set up stalls showcasing sweets from their respective places. However, those engaged in sweets business, like caterers and hoteliers are not allowed to take part in the event. Children and youth took to flying kites on apartment terraces and open grounds. Former Union minister and Secunderabad MP Bandaru Dattatreya participated in a kite flying event here. The second day of the festival is 'Makara Sankranti' and the last day is celebrated as 'Kanuma', when livestock are worshipped. Thousands of people living in Hyderabad travelled to to their native places for the festival. A large number of Telugu people living abroad and in other cities in the country are also visiting their native places. The Secunderabad-headquartered South Central Railway said as many as 147 special trains are being run for Sankranti season through which 1.5 lakh additional berths have been generated. The state-run Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) and Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) have also arranged a large number of special buses on the occasion. The Hyderabad-Vijayawada highway witnessed heavy traffic as many people travelled in own cars to their destinations. Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana ESL Narasimhan, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, state Congress president N Uttam Kumar Reddy, state BJP Chief K Laxman and other leaders conveyed their greetings to the people. Benjamin Netanyahu Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told French President Emmanuel Macron today that changing the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers would increase the chances of it remaining in place. Netanyahu's phone call with Macron came a day after US President Donald Trump demanded that European partners work with Washington to "fix the deal's disastrous flaws, or the United States will withdraw". In his conversation with Macron, the Israeli premier said that "Trump's remarks should be taken seriously, and whoever wants to keep the nuclear deal would be wise to fix it", a statement from Netanyahu's office read. Netanyahu also told Macron the free world should "strongly condemn the five crimes of the Iranian regime", listing "efforts to obtain nuclear weapons... developing ballistic missiles... supporting terror... regional aggression" and "the cruel repression of Iranian citizens". On Thursday, Macron told Trump that it was important for all signatories to respect the Iran nuclear agreement. Tehran has rejected the notion of any modification of the 2015 nuclear deal, and has the backing of all of the partners to the agreement - Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the European Union - apart from the United States. Israel says Iran is dedicated to its destruction and supports global terror, in addition to backing Palestinian Islamic militants Hamas and Islamic Jihad and Lebanon's Shiite Hezbollah. The Jewish state is also concerned that the nuclear deal - which it opposed - would not prevent Iran from eventually having nuclear weapons. January 14, 2018 Weekly Review And Open Thread 2018-02 What was behind the false missile attack alarm in Hawaii yesterday. Poynter has some context: One of the big stories in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser Saturday morning was that military "brass" updated island officials on how the military would respond to a nuclear attack from North Korea. Military authorities warned there was a "real" threat. At 8:07 a.m. Saturday, Hawaiian residents saw a terrifying alert message on their phones. It took 38 minutes to correct the "mistake". A missile from North Korea would take 32-35 minutes from launch to impact in Hawaii. But of interest is the newspaper report hyping the "threat" followed by the false alarm. Coincidence? And the "leaking" of the Draft Nuclear Posture Review this week, in which the military demands hundreds of new "small" nuclear weapons to fight North Korea and Russia, is also just a coincidence? Or is all of this part of a public relation campaign designed to increase the acceptance of new nuclear weapons and "limited" nuclear warfare? A preparation for war on North Korea? (Related: Deconstructing the North Korean Threat and Identifying Americas Strategic Alternatives (pdf)) Anyway - here are the Moon of Alabama posts of the last week. Jan 8 - How Mainstream Media Lose Their Reputation - #Fakenews On Iran And Egypt Jan 9 - Afghanistan - U.S. Special Forces Commit Drive-By Murder (Video) The reaction to this scoop was quite interesting: I was criticized for using the word "murder" in the headline even though it is not clear what happened after the gunshot at the truck driver. Well, it is a headline and such have a certain purpose. How do we know this incident did not end deadly? Shooting the driver of a 15 ton truck which is rolling at a decent speed is at least accepting the risk of a deadly accident or even the attempt to cause one. What would a prosecutor accuse the culprit of if such had happened on a U.S. highway? Only on Friday, after other mainstream media had published about it, did the NYT come out with a piece on the issue. It made several wrong or misleading points. I asked if it was plagiarized from my content as it used several sources that had vanished shortly after I published on January 9. I was told that the NYT had the material since late December but that the piece was held back for unknown reasons. Holding back stuff that lets the U.S. military or the government look bad seems to be standing NY Times policy. My tweet announcing my above piece was censored in Germany after someone had contacted Twitter and alleged that its content was illegal. This is a consequence of new law the lunatic social-democratic justice minister Maas had pressed for. Twitter would risk a high fine in Germany if it would not block allegedly illegal stuff. The law is a perfect tool for trolls to suppress any author or content they dislike. (It is also obviously unconstitutional and will soon be discarded by the relevant courts.) Jan 10 - Syria - Army Gains In Idleb - Insurgents To Challenge Foreign Occupiers Jan 11 - Syria - Erdogan (Again) Switches Sides - Delivers New Supplies For Terrorist Attacks Jan 13 - Syria - Volume of Al-Qaeda Propaganda Forecasts Syrian Army Success Two important Syria pieces by William Van Wagenen had earlier escaped my attention. Both take a long term view back and are well founded, quoting from a large number of media reports. They are: These are excellent reference pieces one should recommend to people who were deceived on Syria or have not followed the issue at all. Both are recommended readings. Please use the comments as open thread ... Posted by b on January 14, 2018 at 16:02 UTC | Permalink Comments next page Showing some school spirit never hurt anyone...unless you are Diana Durkin, a 19-year-old from Houston who accidentally ticked off the TSA with her enthusiasm. Durkin is a sophomore at Texas Tech University and has always loved having school pride. After taking a semester off from school to help her family recover from the devastation of Hurricane Harvey, she was excited to finally get a break and take a trip with her best friend before returning to school. ON THE WAY UP: Where Texas schools rank on Forbes' list of Top colleges "Taking a semester off from a University was a hard decision, but one that I needed to make," Durkin told Chron.com. "Texas Tech has such a huge place in my heart, and I am returning for the Spring 2018 semester and could not be more thrilled." According to Durkin, fans of Texas Tech shout "guns up" to other alumni along with making a gun symbol with their hand as a way of bonding over their school. While in the security line at Hobby Airport, Durkin noticed a person wearing a Texas Tech sweatshirt, and without thinking she excitedly threw up the gun symbol to him, which immediately got the TSA's attention. "I throw my hand up in a gun shape...next thing I know, I am being tapped on the shoulder and asked to step out of line and be talked to," said Durkin. "They explained to me why they were pulling me aside, I apologized profusely, showed them my Texas Tech ID and complied with everything they asked me." Durkin said she was terrified the whole time, thinking she was going to be sent to jail. "I've never dealt with a situation like that before," she said. "I am so very fortunate it was not worse, though. They let me off with a warning and I made my plane on time. I know that for others the situation could have been much more serious. I feel very fortunate. The TSA officers know I meant no harm, by the end of it I think they were kinda laughing too!" Take a look through the gallery to see where Texas Tech, other Texas colleges ranked among the richest schools in the world. Daniela Sternitzky-Di Napoli is a digital producer at Chron.com. You can read more of her stories here and follow her on twitter at @Dani_DiNapoli. When the Museum of the Southwest opens its new exhibition of paintings by President George W. Bush on Friday, Gail Norfleet will be taking a close look at his work. In his Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chiefs Tribute to Americas Warriors Bush honored men and women who served in the military, many who returned home with injuries. And as his former teacher, Norfleet likely will be looking with a critical eye and a proud eye. The artist and teacher at Dallas-area colleges helped the former president on his path to painting over the course of two years beginning in 2012. His paintings raised eyebrows at first, but she saw a determination in him. That determination has led Bush to two exhibitions. The first, in 2014, was The Art of Leadership: A Presidents Personal Diplomacy in which he painted portraits of world leaders such as English Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Dalai Lama. Portraits of Courage marks his second. In conjunction with the exhibition, the museum will host Norfleet for a three-day oil painting workshop. She will lead the class on techniques that she taught Bush. In advance of the exhibition opening, Norfleet spoke from her Dallas home about her time with Bush and how a simple white cube led to so much. More for you Lifestyles MSW to host exhibit of Bush paintings MRT: Can you first talk about your approach or philosophy to art in your work? Norfleet: All things I create are what Ii see in the real world. Im trying to show the beauty in whats around us. The ordinary things in life can be seen with more importance if we take the time. MRT: What kind of work are you doing now? More Information "Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief's Tribute to America's Warriors," organized by the George W. Bush Institute, opens Saturday and runs through March 25 at the Museum of the Southwest, 1405 W. Missouri Ave. museumsw.org. See More Collapse Norfleet: Right now Im in flower forms and line drawings. I love the shapes of flowers and its an opportunity to find a line. Also, Im interested in them as a metaphor about life. You can watch its whole life cycle from its budding and blooming to its demise. MRT: Lets talk about the workshop youll be conducting at the museum. Can you break it down for those who will be in attendance? Norfleet: Its a three-day workshop, and on the first day, we are going to be working with oil paint. Im going to start the class in the same way that I start with beginning students. MRT: Is this also the way you started with President Bush? Norfleet: It is. The first project I give and that I gave to him was to paint a white wooden cube. MRT: That is probably not as simple as it seems. Norfleet: It is a tough task. He was rather perplexed. He looked at me asking Im going to make a painting of that? MRT: How did you convince him to move forward with it? Norfleet: I told him that every single one of my students in the beginning accomplish it. Hes very competitive and didnt turn down the challenge. MRT: Why a white cube? Norfleet: That task covers just about everything. The cube is a three-dimensional object. You can quickly see lights and darks and shadows. The geometry can present issues of perspective. But if you can learn to paint the cube, you can paint anything else. And well do some other object painting MRT: Then you move on to portraiture? Norfleet: Yes. So on the second day, we go through color mixing and do some preliminary drawings. Well step into the museum and talk a bit about Bushs portraits. Tell them some stories about his first portrait and how well he did or didn't do. MRT: What was his first portrait? Norfleet: His first was a self-portrait but he didnt like it very much. He abandoned it initially but as he got more involved in portraiture, we both went back to it. MRT: On Sunday the workshop concludes. Understandably, this is an abbreviated version of how you normally teach. Norfleet: Oh, yes, this is very quick. Normally I spend about two weeks per topic, but on Sunday, it will be a little loose. People can finish their works that havent been completed. MRT: When you started with President Bush, what were your initial ideas about his interest? Norfleet: From the beginning, working with him, neither he nor I knew how he was going to progress as a student. He told me he was very competitive and focused and that he liked to succeed. He was hoping this might be an activity that he could do for rest of his life. MRT: You were introduced to him by a mutual friend. When you took on the job, did you see or treat him at all differently? Norfleet: I treated him just like a student. I had to. I put him through all the different exercises I have done with my college students. MRT: What did you see in his paintings while working with him? Norfleet: I didnt know for several months if he was going to be able to have any amount of success. But then, I could start seeing the personality in his paintings. He also did show a lot of bravery with his treatment of paint. He wasnt afraid of it or to make a mistake. That was that determination. MRT: Can you talk about your sessions with him? Norfleet: We met Monday afternoons for three hours, but it was an everyday pursuit for him. He would paint in between sessions and usually had two or three paintings going at once. MRT: Did you get along? Norfleet: Hes a very friendly and easygoing guy. He made me feel comfortable, so after a few sessions, we could easily talk. He was open to criticism and had a lot of curiosity. He was a very good student. MRT: How do you see President Bush -- as a student or former president? Norfleet: What an interesting question. When I was with him of course, he was not the president. My relationship with him and the way I know him is simply as a man who wanted to learn how to paint MRT: How profound this time must have been for you. Norfleet: It was very exciting and to see that become a big part of his life. Laura was very supportive and I think its something she can enjoy with him. --- Oil Painting Workshop with Gail Norfleet All skill levels welcome. Friday Painting a Series of Objects - Life Studies Morning session | 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Afternoon session | 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. Saturday Portrait Painting in Oil Morning Session | 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Afternoon Session | 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. Sunday Final Critique Afternoon Session | 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. Workshop supply list Winsor and Newton Oil colors- 6 color mixing system *Required* - Winsor Lemon 37 mL - Winsor Yellow 37 mL - French Ultramarine 37 mL - Winsor Blue (green shade) 37 mL - Permanent Rose 37 mL - Cadmium Red 37 mL - Titanium White 200 mL Brushes (Princeton Natural Bristle, series 5400) - No. 10 round - No. 6 bright - No. 8 filbert - No. 1 bright Palette Knife for mixing colors - No. 4 by global art (or other brand of palette knife such as Liquitex) Package of vine charcoal, thin and soft Kneaded Eraser 16-by-20-inch stretched canvas or 18-by-24-inch stretched canvas Supplies can be purchased at local craft stores or a course supply list has been set up by visiting dickblick.com/lists/find-blicku/ and search for the Museum of the Southwest. Francisco Merlos is still haunted by the image of Geneva Gomez's lifeless body covered in blood - his ex-girlfriend's arms spread out as though she had been crucified, with a large crucifix on her chest, according to court documents. In 2016 he had come to the North McKinley Avenue house in Oklahoma City to try to win her back two days after they broke up. Gomez's mother, Juanita, answered the door and let him in. Moments later, he saw the body. "I can just see my girl laying in there, like with her arms out, the crucifix right here," he told Reuters Thursday. "You couldn't even recognize her face at all. Like that's not my girl, you know?" On Thursday Juanita Gomez, 51, was found guilty of first-degree murder of her 33-year-old daughter - who died after the mother beat her and forced a crucifix down her throat because she believed her child was possessed. The jury recommended a sentence of life in prison without parole, according to Oklahoma County court officials. Associated Press On Tuesday, Merlos testified that, after seeing Geneva Gomez's body, Juanita Gomez put him in a headlock as he tried to leave and mumbled about the "devil" and "money," according to the Oklahoman. He then called Oklahoma City police, and officers found Geneva Gomez splayed on the floor with marks of severe trauma around her head and face, according to court documents. Emergency responders pronounced Geneva Gomez dead on the scene. Juanita Gomez later told police she believed her daughter was possessed by the devil, and confessed to punching Geneva Gomez repeatedly and forcing a crucifix and religious medallion down her throat until blood spilled out of her daughter's mouth. After watching her daughter die, Juanita Gomez spread the body out in the shape of a cross. She told police she then tried to clean her daughter and other items in the house. Police in court documents noted that Juanita Gomez's hands were swollen and her arms were bruised. "Juanita stated these bruises were from her daughter fighting her attempts to rid Satan from her daughter's body," an Oklahoma City police investigator said in a 2016 court document. Juanita Gomez had pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder. Court records show her defense attorneys planned to offer an insanity defense at trial, but a psychologist found Gomez was feigning memory problems to appear incompetent, the Oklahoman reported. In his brief opening statement Tuesday, Juanita Gomez's attorney, Nick Southerland, asked jurors to pay close attention to the evidence presented in the case and "not just the accusations," the Oklahoman reported. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me at heidi (at) mthopechronicles (dot) com. I would love to hear from you! Some links on this blog contain affiliate codes. I receive a small amount of commission based on sales made through the links. All opinions and recommendations are my own. Thanks for helping support Mt. Hope Chronicles! In Focus with Allison Walker is a 30-minute public affairs program, featuring a roundtable of newsmakers representing a range of perspectives, including local officials and expert analysts as they tackle topical issues of importance to Floridians. In Focus airs Sundays at 11:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m., right after Political Connections. MERIDEN Close to 300 people braved the bitter cold Sunday morning to run from Hubbard Park to Castle Craig, a tradition that began 49 years ago. The Bernie Jurale Memorial Tradition Run draws runners from all over New England. Anne Morenz, of Meriden, and her 19-year-old daughter, Lily, walked the 3-mile, 700-foot elevation course before Lily returned to the University of Connecticut later that day. We love it, Morenz said. Its tradition, pure and simple. Bernie Jurale made the first run solo in 1970 to mark his 70th birthday and promote healthy living at any age. Jurale, a longtime Meriden educator, died in 1998. The Tradition Run is less formal than other events. Theres no professional timer, declared winner or grand prizes, but there are patches. The souvenir patches are available to the first 200 people who finish and claim them, along with a certificate. The patches are a hot commodity, said Vicky Zakrzewski, Meriden parks and recreation facility coordinator. Everyone loves them, she added. Sundays patches featured snowflakes crowning the castle like fireworks, a design by Todd Doornweerd, a part-time parks and rec employee who teaches fourth grade at Nathan Hale School. Tim Beach, of Prospect, added the maroon-and-gold patch to the collection sewn onto his scarf. Its the last patch I need for this side, he said. Ill have to use the back after this. Beach is a member of the Run 169 Towns Society. Since the Tradition Run is one of the few organized winter runs in the area, running clubs have embraced the event. The goal of the Run 169 Towns Society is for members to run a road race in every municipality in Connecticut. Karl Salvati, of North Haven, has only three more towns to go, but returned to participate in the Tradition Run even though Meriden is already checked off on his list. Zakrzewski said most of the runners return year after year. Its nice to see all the familiar faces, she said. LTakores@record-journal.com 203-317-2212 Twitter: @LCTakores MERIDEN Two landmark downtown properties were sold last week to out-of-state buyers. The Meriden Masonic Temple Foundation sold its building at 112-116 E. Main St. to the TienYuen Foundation Inc. for $425,000. The building that until recently served as the campus for Middlesex Community College sold to a Massachusetts investor for $590,000. The three-story historic temple has 20,250 square feet, much more than the current Mason membership requires, said Toby Brimberg, listing agent with OR&L Commercial. The TienYuen Foundation will allow the Masons to continue using the building for a few months while the Masons finalize a deal for a smaller temple in Meriden, Brimberg said. They only need about 5,000 square feet and have a site selected. He said the size and layout of the East Main Street building suited the buyers needs. They plan on making it into an Asian temple, Brimberg said. The building has three kitchens and 70 parking spaces, plus an adjacent parcel for more parking. It is in the citys transit-oriented district. Sean Moore, president of the Midstate Chamber of Commerce, said a temple with a larger membership could draw more foot traffic downtown. Members might visit downtown businesses and use increased rail services. Alan Solomon of East Haddam sold the former Meriden Center campus building at 53-55 W. Main St. to Huong Le of Wellesley, Mass. This was the first time in 25 years the five-story building had been on the market, according to a listing. It had served as the downtown campus for Middlesex Community College for about a decade before the college moved to Platt High School last August. Three floors also housed state Department of Children and Families employees. Those employees moved to 1 W. Main St. when the departments lease expired. According to a commercial listing, the 31,600-square-foot space is now vacant. It has been remodeled several times since it was built in 1889 and is well maintained. It also has access to 80 parking spaces in the parking garage behind it. Middlesex made some improvements that will stay with the building, Moore said. I think its ready for the next tenant. Id be really excited to see that fill up quickly and Ill be happy to help with that. Juliet Burdelski, director of Economic Development, said that she had not been in contact with the new owners. I just saw that both recently closed, Burdelski said. I will be reaching out to see how we can assist. The new owners could not be reached for comment. mgodin@record-journal.com 203-317-2255 Twitter: @Cconnbiz With the federal Farm Bill in need of renewal by the end of September, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy is looking to shift agricultural aid from traditional farms to some of the smaller, innovative ones that are increasingly dotting the Northeast. Murphy is launching a website to get feedback from Connecticut residents as part of his push. On Friday, he visited Trifecta Ecosystems, an indoor farm operating out of a Meriden warehouse, to kick off his listening campaign. Weve got to recast how people think of the farm bill, Murphy, D-Conn., said. Theres no reason why these massive agribusinesses in Iowa should be getting millions of dollars, and these aquaponics companies like this gets crumbs. Congress must reauthorize the Farm Bill every five years. Trifecta Ecosystems CEO Spencer Curry shared Murphys view that the upcoming expiration of the current iteration is an opportunity to shift funding. I think this is the perfect point in time to say, both at the federal level and at the state level, we support this kind of activity, we are willing to put our money behind it, Curry said. Trifecta Ecosystems grows a wide range of crops inside a Pratt Street warehouse. Curry said innovative farming revives abandoned urban buildings and yields locally-grown produce for inner city residents. He added Connecticut is among the worst states when it comes to food inequality, a problem that results in a lack of fresh produce and other healthy food items in cities, due to both a lack of nearby grocery stores and transportation to access suburban locations. Murphy said the Farm Bill allocates funding through two streams, resulting in problems for Northeast farmers. Agricultural aid largely benefits large-scale farming in the Midwest and West, while nutritional aid, such as food stamps, subsidizes the increased cost for consumers on the East Coast. He said he wants Congress to give more equal treatment, for example, to small farmers, including those who farm indoors or in the waters of Long Island Sound. Agriculture Commissioner Steven Reviczky said farming in Connecticut increased by 22 percent between 2007 and 2012, according to the most recent data. The state has used both federal and state funding to promote new forms of agriculture. One benefit, in Reviczkys mind, is the increased availability of fresh, locally grown produce in Connecticut, which has a short growing season for traditional farmers. You go into a supermarket this time of year the peppers are from Holland, the tomatoes are from Mexico, cucumbers are from Canada, he said. We could be growing that stuff right here, reducing the miles that food travel from the farm to the plate. Murphy said New England states need to make it clear they wont support a Farm Bill unless it results in increased aid for local farmers, breaking from past habits of approving versions that simply provide large nutritional subsidies. Anyone who wants to submit comments to Murphy can do so at www.murphy.senate.gov/our-farm-bill msavino@record-journal.com 203-317-2266 Twitter: @reporter_savino WASHINGTON American Airlines is handing out $1,000 bonuses to its employees. So are AT&T, Bank of America and Nationwide Insurance. The same for Comcast, JetBlue Airways and US Bancorp. Such announcements , coming from dozens of companies, have followed the passage of the Republican tax plan that President Donald Trump signed into law last month. The plan slashed the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent. The companies say the bonuses theyve announced are a way to share some of their bounty with their workers. Yet the bonuses are one-time payouts, not the permanent pay raises that Trump and congressional Republicans have said will eventually result from the corporate tax cuts. Over time, bonuses are far less valuable to employees than wage increases. So far, most companies havent said whether permanent pay increases are in the works. And economists caution that the corporate income tax cuts effect on average pay, if any, might not become apparent for several years. As a worker, its great to get a one-off bonus, but that doesnt guarantee anything for the next year, said Stephen Stanley, chief economist at Amherst Pierpont. Youd rather have the raise, because next year youre working off the higher base. Eventually, Stanley thinks the lower corporate tax rates will lead to worker pay raises. He expects companies over the next several years to use some of their windfalls to invest in equipment that would make workers more productive and lead to higher wages. Other economists remain skeptical. They note that the lions share of the corporate tax cut will overwhelmingly benefit shareholders and company owners. That sentiment is one reason stock market indexes are setting new highs almost daily. The bulk of the corporate tax cuts should accrue to people who hold stock in companies, said Ethan Harris, chief economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Workers benefit much more from a cut in taxes on ordinary income. In other words, better to get a direct cut than a spillover from cuts to others. Beyond the worker bonuses that have been announced, typically for $1,000, about a dozen banks have said they will raise their minimum wages. A handful of mostly small companies, including Washington Federal Bank, have announced pay increases for most of their workforces. And a few, including Visa and Aflac , have said they will raise their contributions to their employees retirement plans. In addition, U.S. workers will begin receiving more take-home pay, likely by next month, as lower tax rates for individuals under the Republican plan kick in. The Communications Workers of America, a labor union, asked CEOs of large corporations to give workers the $4,000 average income gain that White House officials said would flow eventually from lower corporate taxes. AT&T, the first company to announce bonuses, said it chose the $1,000 bonus instead. American Airlines, which also employs the communication unions members, similarly decided to bestow a $1,000 bonus. The union said it appreciated the gesture but asserted in a statement that the bonus falls short of the permanent wage increase that working families were promised. The White House has touted the announced bonuses as evidence that the corporate tax cut is benefiting workers, rather than just shareholders, and has dubbed the payouts a Trump bonus. Businesses across America have already started to raise wages, and more than 100 companies have already given bonuses and other benefits to hundreds of thousands of workers as a result of these massive tax cuts, Trump said Monday in Nashville. The conservative group Americans for Tax Reform, which backed the tax cut, has compiled a list of more than 100 companies that have announced some kind of financial benefit for employees resulting from the tax cut. Only a few have announced any broad-based pay increases. One that has is Nephron Pharmaceuticals , based in West Columbia, South Carolina. Nephron said it would give a 5 percent raise to most of its 640 employees. Andrew Chamberlain, chief economist at Glassdoor, said there are practical reasons why most companies would prefer bonuses over pay raises. Its a way for employers to benefit workers without being on the hook for a long-term pay increases, Chamberlain said. In some cases, the companies are sharing only a sliver of their tax-cut windfalls. Bank of Americas bonuses will cost it roughly $145 million only about 4 percent of the $3.5 billion that Goldman Sachs estimates Bank of America will receive from the tax cut. Likewise, KBW, an investment firm, estimates that Wells Fargos commitments to raise its minimum wage to $15 an hour and to boost its charitable contributions will equal about 5 percent of the additional profits the tax cut will provide Wells. Most economists do expect paychecks to start rising faster for most workers this year but for a different reason: The unemployment rate is projected to fall further and could reach a five-decade low of 3.5 percent. A rate that low would likely force many companies to sharply raise pay to keep and attract the workers they need. Economists like Stanley, who expects the corporate tax cut to lift wages over time, think it will happen indirectly as companies channel their tax savings into machinery, computers and software, making workers productive and leading to higher pay. These things arent going to happen right away, but they will gradually follow through in the next several years, Stanley said. A South Texas girl's dream came true during Katy Perry's San Antonio show last week when the star singled her out, and made her a star. When ten-year-old Amanda Mitchell of Laredo opened her Christmas gift in December and saw tickets to Katy Perry's upcoming "Witness: The Tour" stop at the AT&T Center, she had no idea just how special her first ever concert would be. Sitting in row 26, Amanda and her mom Aurora Mitchell, and dad Nicholas Mitchell, were stunned when Katy Perry called the young girl onstage to proclaim Amanda the "shooting star" of her show. RELATED: Fans roar for Katy Perry, Carly Rae Jepsen at San Antonio show Mom Aurora posted a video of her daughter's star encounter to Facebook after the show. "You, you with the beachball dress! I think you should definitely come down here," Amanda recalls Perry saying during the show. Amanda then rushed to the stage, wearing a classic multi-colored skirt outfit, one exactly like Perry wore during a previous tour. "Did you think that this outfit might get you onstage?" Perry asked her. Amanda replied no. "Well it did. It really did." Perry said. Calling a member of the audience up to the stage is something Perry says she does at every concert. "I was so shocked," Amanda excitedly recalled Saturday afternoon. "She asked me all these questions. What I wanted to be when I grow up, what my wish was." Amanda told Perry she wanted to be a nurse when but what really got the star, and the entire AT&T Center going was her wish. Amanda told Perry that her wish was to get accepted to Harvard, to which Perry dropped her mike and started walking around the stage in approval as the AT&T Center roared with cheers and applause. Amanda has since become an instant celebrity at Matias De Llano Elementary in Laredo. "I told my friend and she was so shocked," Amanda said. "The whole school already knew when I got back." Amanda's mom said local radio and television stations are also writing about her daughter's star encounter, so it is a safe bet all of Laredo will soon know. KENT Several Kent residents were evacuated from their homes Saturday because of flooding from the Housatonic River, according to a State Police Troop L dispatcher. They had to be moved because their houses have already been flooded, the dispatcher said around 5:30 p.m. The flooding prompted law enforcement to close Route 7 around 3 p.m. between Route 341 and Bulls Bridge Road, the dispatcher said. He said it was the only road in town officially closed due to flooding Saturday. At 8 p.m., the road remained closed. State Rep. Brian Ohler (R-North Canaan), whose district includes Kent, said the flooding was caused by ice on the Housatonic River. A massive ice jam is preventing the Housatonic River from flowing its original course, said Ohler said on Twitter around 3 p.m. Emergency crews are on scene. The State Police dispatcher said there were no other areas of town evacuated of 8 p.m. Saturday. There were no official emergency evacuation shelters set up Saturday evening, the dispatcher said at 8 p.m. Anyone who called State Police asking where to go for temporary shelter were told to contact fire personnel for assistance. Around noon reports began coming in about several technical rescues done by fire personnel for residents trapped or stranded by flooding. One person was reportedly trapped from flooding near their house at noon on Johnson Road. Around 3:20 p.m., fire personnel carried out additional technical rescues for three people reportedly stranded by flood water on South Main Street. Shortly after 4:40 p.m., Ohler posted a photo on Twitter showing the Kent School hockey rink completely surrounded by water. And roughly 40 miles away in Monroe, police departments are keeping an eye on the Stevenson Dam. The National Weather Service has a site devoted to monitoring the flow of the Housatonic River at the Stevenson Dam. At 2:30 p.m. Saturday the last time a measurement was recorded by the NWS the Housatonic at the dam was recorded to be 10.91 feet deep. At 3:30 p.m., it had reached 10.95. But by 5:30 p.m. had declined to 10.42. The flood stage goes into effect at 11 feet. In Weston, the fire department is warning its residents of flooding from rivers and brooks. The major rivers are very high and going over their banks, the department said on Facebook. There are still some local brooks that are also doing the same and going into the roadways. Be extra careful today as the temperatures are dropping below freezing. The candidates for the 258th District Judge election met for a debate on Jan. 8 at the Coldspring Community Center hosted by the San Jacinto County Republican Party. Candidates John Wells, Shelly Sitton and Travis Kitchens shared their platforms as Nick Carter asked a handful of questions. The first question regarded why the district judge's office is important and the knowledge and qualifications of the candidates. "I have represented people in criminal cases as a prosecutor and as a defense lawyer," said Kitchens. Kitchens studied criminology at Baylor University. "I have a wide variety of all types of practice in all the different areas that are important," he said. Wells also brought up his law experiences as he has handled Children's Protection Services cases, juvenile cases, probate, criminal law and many others. He expressed that the district court touches people in their lives through a number of ways such as when family problems occur that involve the law. "It goes to one of the district courts," he said. Sitton focused on answering why the district court is important. "This court affects our community every single day," she said. "We need a judge that knows their decisions are important." Sitton graduated from the South Texas College of Law and practices law at the Bush Law Firm. Carter asked if the candidates believed in the death penalty. Kitchens responded with both yes and no. "I think there's a good reason that we have that," he said. Kitchens said there are people out there that really have no alternative other than to be punished with the death penalty. However, he noted that the death penalty is costly to local courts and counties. "Anytime you have a death penalty case, it's going to cost you $500,000 to $1.5 million to try that one case," he said. Wells answered that he is for the death penalty. "What else can I say?" he said. "Some people just need it." Wells explained that while he does support the death penalty it is not without its flaws. "The biggest problem is the drain of resources of your prosecutor office," he said. Sitton also agreed that there are cases where the death penalty is appropriate. "I personally believe that there are cases where that is necessary," she said. Another question regarded felons who are back in court on new charges and whether or not the candidates believed it was right or wrong to put them on probation or even double probation. If they are already on probation, then what would the candidate do to handle the case? "They should be forewarned about what the consequences should be," said Wells. Wells did mention that there are cases where a second chance may be order, but this privilege can be abuse. Sitton says she doesn't believe she or the other candidates can give a direct answer as each felon can have a different situation. "Each case you've got to look at the facts and circumstances of that case," she said. Sitton mentioned that probation violations can be caused by simple mistakes such as running a red light. However, she noted that some felons such as drug dealers are not the kind of people the public may want on the streets. "They need to be put in jail," she said. Kitchens also agreed that it is a case by case basis as to making decisions such as these involving felons. "You have to look at each case," he said. The final question asked the candidates if judges should make laws from the bench. Sitton said no. "Judges are there to make certain the laws are applied, not create them," she said. Wells also agreed with this point. "Laws are made in Austin and should not be made at the bench," he said. "It's as simple as that." Kitchens was also in agreement with his two opponents on the topic. "A judge's job is to take the facts of the law and apply them," he said. Nikki Haley keeps delivering for Donald Trump. Whether leading efforts to isolate North Korea or hailing cuts to the United Nations budget, Haley's ability to channel Trump's blunt style is prompting fellow U.N. envoys and foreign policy specialists to wonder whether the 45-year-old former South Carolina governor is laying the groundwork to succeed her boss in the Oval Office. U.N. ambassadors from other nations take Haley's "obvious domestic political ambitions" in stride, said Richard Gowan, a UN expert with the European Council on Foreign Relations. "Most foreign representatives are willing to shrug off her hard-line positions on Israel and U.N. costs as necessary political posturing." The theater of the U.N. podium and the Security Council chambers have long favored officials who can present their cases with flair and a sense of drama: think Colin Powell's ultimately flawed arguments against Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction or, decades earlier, Fidel Castro's tirades against colonialism and capitalism before the General Assembly. Speculation about Haley's future kicked back into gear after the American ambassador's speech to the U.N. General Assembly last month, just before the global body condemned on a 128-9 vote President Trump's decision to declare Jerusalem the capital of Israel and move the U.S. embassy there from Tel Aviv. Haley held a defiant thank-you reception for the small group of nations who voted with the U.S., abstained or managed to be no-shows for the vote. Never mind that much of the world viewed the vote as a rejection of Trump's "America First" foreign policy. That wasn't her audience. Haley's remarks -- in which she said the U.S. had been "singled out for attack" after "exercising our right as a sovereign nation" -- seemed more targeted to Trump and Republican voters than foreign diplomats, according to a Security Council diplomat from a U.S.-allied nation who asked not to be identified discussing the U.S. ambassador to the world body. Even when events don't go her way -- an emergency Security Council meeting she called last week on street protests in Iran turned into a pointed defense of the nuclear accord Trump opposes -- Haley is unfazed. "Those don't bother me," she said of criticism from Security Council members. "We were there for the Iranian people. They were heard. That's what matters." "Haley speaks her mind," said Katon Dawson, an ally of Haley who ran the South Carolina Republican party from 2002 to 2009. "She's got good political instincts." Dawson, who said he hasn't spoken to Haley about her political ambitions, added one more thought that mirrored the speculation at the U.N.: "Nikki's hot politically, she just is." In a written comment, Haley's office said she "tunes out all the political speculation and stays focused on her work at the U.N., passing the toughest sanctions ever on North Korea, highlighting Iranian violations of missile bans and human rights, and standing up for America's interests and those of our allies." Throughout 2017, Haley showed how to use the U.N. platform to her advantage. Her first day in the UN headquarters she warned that the U.S. would be "taking names" of countries that vote against Washington's interests. That style continued all the way to Dec. 24, when she issued a statement emphasizing her role in cutting more than $285 million from the UN's $5.4 billion budget, hinting more reductions were to come. "We will no longer let the generosity of the American people be taken advantage of or remain unchecked," Haley said. In future negotiations, she said, "you can be sure we'll continue to look at ways to increase the UN's efficiency while protecting our interests." While that statement wasn't likely to endear her to the diplomatic community -- which she still needs to rally behind U.S. positions on issues from Iran to North Korea -- it could win her kudos among the Republican primary voters who regard the world body as anti-American. "I sense she's more worried about her next job than this one," said Jeffrey Lewis, director of the East Asia Nonproliferation Program at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, California. "She will be well-positioned in the Republican primaries." If Haley does run for president, she could help lure women back to the Republican party after they defected in 2016 and offer a big-tent vision of the party as the daughter of immigrants from India. "If the Republican party is going to be a nationally viable party for years to come, it has to be more than a party of aggrieved old men -- and that's where people like Ambassador Haley, Marco Rubio and Tim Scott come into play," said Rob Godfrey, a former Haley spokesman from her campaign days, referring to senators from Florida and South Carolina who also represent diversity and relative youthfulness. Haley's choice of advisers and her focus as U.S. ambassador have fueled the political chatter. She has an active Twitter account that ranges from talk about the latest Security Council sanctions to her favorite music playlists. Her closest aide isn't an experienced foreign policy hand but Jon Lerner, the former pollster who helped her win the Palmetto state governor's mansion. Lerner serves as Haley's deputy in Washington, a key job that allows him to serve as her eyes and ears in the capital, taking part in "deputies meetings" with top officials from throughout the Trump administration. One thing her supporters and detractors agree on is that Haley has shown she has the political chops to thrive in the high-pressure setting of the U.N. "Her success as one of the first women and one of the youngest people ever to be governor of a southern state should tell you she's got the moxie to be able do a lot of things," said Dawson. "It's certainly not out of our realm of thinking that a lot of friends of Nikki ought to have calendars kind of free by 2022," giving her enough time to prepare for the 2024 primaries. While Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has had to fend off reports that his retirement is imminent, or that he called the president a "moron" after a national security meeting, Haley has had a more stable public relationship with Trump. That has developed even though she endorsed one of Trump's opponents -- Rubio -- during the Republican primaries and feuded with the future president on Twitter at the time. Her posting in New York gives Haley a balance of access to the president and a safe distance from White House infighting. Asked about a new book that says many of Trump's staff question his mental stability, Haley dismissed the assertion on ABC's "This Week" Sunday, but also said, "I'm there once a week, and I'm there for a day with White House meetings and everything. No one questions the stability of the president." Haley has shown she's "an effective member of the Trump Cabinet -- and that's one of the rarest accolades in Washington right now," Godfrey said. A move from the U.N. to the White House isn't without precedent: George H.W. Bush served as President Richard Nixon's ambassador to the U.N. in the early 1970s before getting to the White House in 1981 as Ronald Reagan's vice president and, in 1989, as president. But given the turmoil of the Trump administration's first year, Haley knows that she has to keep delivering, Dawson said. "She doesn't let her ambition get in the way of her day job," Dawson said. "Nikki's always had impeccable timing and very good political instincts." In cavernous jet hangars in and around Mexico City, Interjet has a secret. Four of the Mexican airline's Sukhoi Superjet 100s -- out of a fleet of 22 -- have been grounded for at least five months because of engine maintenance delays. The Russian-made aircraft, which average just four years old, are now being cannibalized, an industry term for when a plane is slowly scrapped for parts to keep other jets running. A grounded plane is a wasted plane, and Interjet's offline aircraft are symbolic of an airline that's veered off course. Once one of Mexico's hopefuls to bring a new era of competition to the industry, Interjet has muddled along with a questionable strategy while more nimble rivals have appeared on the scene. Now, the stranded Sukhoi Superjets are adding to concerns about whether ABC Aerolineas, the company's formal name, will ever thrive. "There are doubts about the viability of the business," says Carlos Ozores, an air-transport specialist at ICF, a consulting and technology services company based in Virginia. "The only way for an airline to make money is to keep flying." Interjet confirmed the grounded aircraft but said it's in good financial shape. The parked-plane situation can be traced back to a decision Chief Executive Officer Jose Luis Garza made half a decade ago when he agreed to buy the little-known and largely untested Sukhoi Superjets, which are backed by Italy's Leonardo and Russia's Sukhoi. The engines are made by France's Safran and a Russian partner. JSC Sukhoi doesn't have a single maintenance facility in the Americas. Airbus, which services the rest of Interjet's fleet, operates three. That's important because planes need regular and meticulous upkeep. It's like driving a Hummer in a land of Volkswagens. For a time you'll be fine, but once the vehicle requires so much as a tune-up, finding the parts and the labor to fix it will be both tricky and costly. "The supply chain with this aircraft has been a process," Garza says from his office overlooking the Mexico City airport. "But we're getting to where we want to be with them." To ease maintenance problems, a $7 million consignment stock is being set up this year with Sukhoi parts, he said. "The decision to buy them was a technical and economical one," he says, calling the deal an "extraordinary acquisition agreement" the company wouldn't have gotten from Brazilian maker Embraer. Interjet made a splash as Mexico's first airline for the budget-conscious flyer when it was founded in 2005 by the Aleman family, the son and grandson of a former president. The company's regional focus and deeply discounted ticket prices quickly turned it into the No. 2 airline by passengers as of 2011. But in the years that followed, the carrier hit turbulent skies, causing the company's overall market share to stagnate while ultra-low-cost rival Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion, known as Volaris, has seen its stake soar. "It'll be hard for it to survive without a change of strategy," Ozores says. "It's hard operating in the middle." The middle that Ozores is referring to is the point between low-cost carrier and a full-service one. Interjet's original economic model has slowly morphed into a sort of hybrid, so that these days, the carrier is trying to compete on price and service -- and falling short on both fronts. Garza says Interjet has focused its growth strategy on international routes since 2014, almost doubling its share of foreign flights to and from Mexico to about 21 percent as of November from 11 percent in 2014. While that's helped boost the company's dollar income -- a boon for companies battered by a local currency that's lost a third of its value in five years -- Interjet has paid a heavy price to compete with its bigger rivals. Interjet freebies likes snacks and checked luggage put its costs on par with full-service rivals like Grupo Aeromexico. It also boasts of comfy leg room, adapting the seating configuration on its Airbus aircraft so that its planes fly an average 13 percent below capacity. Despite those perks, Interjet's image is still solidly stuck in the domain of budget carriers. But its prices are sometimes more than double those of Volaris, which started operations in 2006. "We're told we're leaving money on the table," Garza says. "Does that mean we should overbook flights and start charging for everything? We don't think so." Meanwhile, Interjet's leverage -- Bloomberg estimates net debt is 7.1 times earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amotization and rent -- tops Aeromexico's ratio of 5.1 or Volaris's 5.2 times. Says Michael Duff, director at data researcher The Airline Analyst: "A relatively high financial risk is how I'd categorize them." It's for that reason that keeping a constant eye on costs is so crucial. For low-cost carriers, that usually means limiting fleets to a single aircraft to save on maintenance-training costs. But Interjet's 22 Superjet 100 planes coexist with its 50 Airbus A320 jetliners as well as six Airbus A321 aircraft. "The most important defining characteristic of a low-cost carrier is an airline that's able to keep costs low, whatever way they manage to do it," says Triant Flouris, an International Air Transport Association flight instructor and academic at the Hellenic American University in Greece. It was about a year ago that CEO Garza's decision to bet on the Sukhoi Superjet first came back to haunt him in a big way. In December 2016 -- peak travel season for holiday flyers -- the Russian aviation authority warned of a defect in a part that helps the aircraft fly straight in the air. After Interjet inspected its own planes, it grounded half its Sukhoi Superjet fleet and was forced to cancel 25 flights, Garza said at the time. Although the planes were back in service by the following month, the damage was done. Some consumers began a social media campaign to pressure Mexico's consumer watchdog to ban Interjet from flying the planes ever again, although nothing came of the requests. "The Superjet hasn't become very popular outside of Russia," Flouris says. "Most of the airlines that I've seen flying this jet are closer to Russia." The 2012 Sukhoi Superjet purchase was the best choice for Interjet given Mexico City's temperatures, altitudes and the routes they were intended to cover, CEO Garza says. It was a bold bet on Russia's first major passenger aircraft since the collapse of the Soviet Union. The single-aisle aircraft sold for about a half of the price of comparable jets from Brazil's Embraer or Canada's Bombardier Inc. During a promotional flight in May 2012 -- just three months before Interjet exercised an option to buy more planes -- one of the first Sukhoi Superjets ever produced crashed into a mountain in Indonesia, killing all 45 aboard. Indonesian investigators said human error was the most likely cause. Sukhoi did not respond to requests for comment. Today, Interjet is Sukhoi's second-biggest customer -- behind only Aeroflot. Interjet board Chairman Miguel Aleman Velasco said at an October event that the company is even considering adding to its Russian-made fleet with the purchase of Sukhoi's twin-engine MS-21s when they roll out in 2019. Interjet has some financial challenges to overcome in the meantime. Financial reports show maintenance costs are rising faster than other expenses, and they now top what Aeromexico pays to keep its planes running, Duff says. Aircraft-leasing firms have boosted deposit requirements for the airline, Bloomberg Intelligence analyst George Ferguson says, adding that "lessors are probably paying close attention to their operations." Out of its 78-aircraft fleet, the company owns 30 and leases the rest. A 3.2 billion-peso cash injection put forth by the Aleman family last year helped the company pay down most of its short-term liabilities. The company's financial debt of about 12.4 billion pesos is made up of 800 million pesos in Cebures -- a type of domestic bond -- and bank loans in dollars with an average maturity of four years, Chief Financial Officer Raul Lopez says. "We paid down short-term debt because that's what had analysts worried," Garza says. Mexico's government has reason to be worried, too. The nation took a major blow when Mexicana de Aviacion filed for bankruptcy and ceased operations in 2010. Mexicana's chairman was charged with alleged embezzlement (the charges were later dropped), and hundreds of pilots and flight attendants saw large chunks of their pension funds shrink. Mexico's aviation market, meanwhile, lost one of its biggest players, opening the void that Interjet, Volaris and Aeromexico would ultimately fill. The Aleman family has flirted with the idea of taking the company public for several years. In 2011, an IPO was scrapped at the last minute after a slumping Mexican market and higher fuel costs weakened investor demand. In 2013, Chairman Aleman Velasco said the company, which holds valuable takeoff and landing rights at Mexico City's crowded airport, planned to raise as much as $1 billion with a stake sale of up to 25 percent. The carrier last year sought to sell an equity stake to a foreign airline such as American Airlines Group Inc. or United Continental Holdings Inc., Aleman Velasco told Bloomberg in an interview in late 2016. No announcement was ever made. Both options -- an equity stake first, then an IPO -- are still on the table and expected by the end of this year or next, Garza says. "The family is going to put as much money into it as they need to keep the lessors financing it," Ferguson says. "At the end of the day, family money is patient." New Braunfels police say a San Antonio man is facing multiple charges after he lead police on a chase across several South Texas counties. According to a New Braunfels news release, 31-year-old Alfred Bow from San Antonio was arrested without incident Saturday after trying to evade police in Comal, Guadalupe, and Bexar counties. The chase happened after New Braunfels police attempted to conduct a traffic stop of a black Dodge Charger at the 800 block of Texas 46 around 12:15 p.m. Bow refused to pull over and continued on on the state highway towards Seguin, at times traveling more than 100 mph, according to the release. He soon exited onto Interstate 10 West and headed for San Antonio, according to police. The release reports several items were thrown from Bow's window during the chase. Officers say they later identified those items as drugs and drug paraphernalia. Officers from multiple police agencies and county sheriffs offices as well as state troopers were involved in the the pursuit. The chase continued through downtown San Antonio when the vehicle exited onto Loop 410 and headed south. The chase concluded in a South Side subdivision when the suspect lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the "rock-faced" decorative entrance of the neighborhood, according to the release. There were no injuries. Bow was transported to the Comal County Jail and is expected to face charges, including evading arrest with a motor vehicle and possession of a controlled substance. aluna@express-news.net | Twitter: alexluna801 A man was killed early Sunday morning after he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a ditch on the South Side, according to police. Officers responded to the 5900 block of S. New Braunfels Avenue, near Koehler Court about 3:04 a.m. where they discovered a vehicle turned over in a ditch. White House staffers have two general objectives: to serve the president and to please the president. The two do not always coincide. I can recall, as a policy adviser to President George W. Bush, sending him articles and columns (including some by the New York Times Nicholas Kristof) savaging the administrations reaction to the unfolding Darfur genocide. Predictably, Bush called me into the Oval Office to vent against the unfairness of the criticism. Just as typically, he ended the meeting by telling me a series of steps he was taking to review and toughen our policy. Or take the example of Bushs Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten. In 2006, Bolten sent clip after clip to the president demonstrating how American strategy in Iraq was failing. A more successful approach the surge was built on this foundation of presidential disillusionment. It is clear that President Donald Trump does not reward this type of service. The way to reach Trump is to flatter him in the extreme. This does not mean that everyone in the administration is always obsequious. But it does mean that all the incentives run toward obsequiousness. It is Trumps form of natural selection: the survival of the servile. White House senior adviser Stephen Miller has risen by climbing this greasy pole. His recent appearance on CNNs State of the Union in which he hailed his boss as a political genius was a master class in toadying. Millers purpose was not to make public arguments but, as Jake Tapper appropriately put it, to please one viewer. And that viewer immediately provided a reward: Jake Tapper of Fake News CNN just got destroyed in his interview with Stephen Miller, tweeted the president. A crass and obvious feedback loop was immediately at work. Miller is not alone. Members of the Cabinet have been trained to burst out in praise of the Great Leader on a moments notice. Members of Congress even past critics have figured out the power of subservience in the Trump era. Media figures such as Sean Hannity get the deal. So do the Chinese and Saudi governments, which have made stroking the presidents ego into an effective tool of diplomacy. The triumph of suck-uppery presents special problems. First, an atmosphere of flattery can exaggerate a presidents worst traits. During Richard Nixons presidency, the cooler heads at the White House tried to ignore his obsession with enemies and schemes of retribution. The yes men, such as (by his own later admission) Chuck Colson, ran with Nixons instincts turning his manias into plans to help consolidate their influence. Miller has done much the same on immigration. Second, sycophancy in the White House makes it more difficult to correct errors. Governing is not a science. It is necessary to make policy adjustments all the time, large and small. If a president does not understand and acknowledge mistakes, he cant learn from them and correct them. The flatterer is thus an impediment to effective governing. Third, obsequiousness creates an anti-empirical culture. Aides are tempted to select and pass along the most positive, pleasing information. They distort reality to stay in favor rather than presenting reality in order to help confront it. This appears to be happening right now with members of Trumps legal team. They seem to be assuring him that special counsel Robert Muellers investigation is nearing an end and that Trumps legal exposure is limited. They should be preparing him for the onslaught of a skilled prosecutor, armed with highly damaging information on collusion, obstruction of justice and (if Steve Bannon is to be believed) money laundering. Fourth, an atmosphere of flattery is often an atmosphere of fear. When staffers set out to win the favor of an egotistical and mercurial boss, they are generally pitted against each other. The ethos is acidic. Trumps main management goal seems to be to keep his employees off balance unsure of his regard in order to motivate conspicuous acts of loyalty. This is a way to gain adulation but also to sow enmity. Trumps style of leadership motivated the competition and contempt that characterized the initial failures of his White House particularly the self-serving leaks. And there is little evidence this dynamic has changed. It wont change, of course, until the president really wants it to. This would require only one simple, impossible thing: for Trump to part with the narrative of his own infallibility. michaelgerson@washpost.com As we celebrate the birth of Martin Luther King Jr. today, we also note that this year marks 50 years since his assassination. While this might not seem very long, in some respects, the passing of King was a lifetime ago. Arguably, the United States has changed markedly since the heady days of the civil rights movement. Most obviously, perhaps, the culture of Jim Crow segregation, while remaining a traumatic memory for African-American elders, is for many others merely something that occupies a fleeting place in the wider national consciousness. In other respects, however, the U.S. today is perhaps not much different from how it was in the 1960s. Its not hard to detect a profound schism in the ways in which a racially divided U.S. both regards and reflects the legacy of Kings civil rights movement. Broadly, white America is more likely to think about how far it has come, how much progress it has made toward racial equity. Black America, on the other hand, is more likely to think about how relatively little real progress has been made, and about the ways in which challenges, such as allegations of police brutality, continue to dominate. But behind this schism lie tensions that are seldom part of the national conversation. In short, many white Americans view the agenda of racial progress in terms of concessions they have had to make. Consequently, a more just and equitable society is not regarded as a benchmark of progress, but is instead indicative of ground conceded or compromises made toward a supposedly more tolerant society. Black Americans, though, are unlikely to see themselves as the beneficiaries or recipients of whatever concessions the wider society thinks it has made, or thinks it has had to make. What might King make of U.S. foreign policy and todays racial state of affairs? King opposed the war in Vietnam, which continued for the greater part of a decade after his murder. Its not hard to imagine him joining forces with those within the U.S. and around the world who stand in opposition to current hostilities. Similarly, we can imagine King urging restraint or advocating caution, resisting the widespread euphoria that heralded the arrival of President Barack Obama as the dawning of a new era in U.S. race relations and progress. And its not hard for us to imagine King speaking from his pulpit against the escalation of setbacks the nation has endured recently. After all, the civil rights movement was itself an encapsulation or a manifestation of the sentiment that Black Lives Matter. But perhaps most importantly, I imagine King would look at America today and be a staunch advocate of the rights of all poor people. Over the course of the 20th century, the notion that poverty was a state of being firmly and exclusively located within the African-American demographic gained ever-greater traction. This has had the catastrophic effect of consigning to the margins of political discourse many issues relating to combatting poverty in the country. Many white Americans live in poverty, but white poverty is by and large unrecognized and unattended to by the nations lawmakers, who perpetuate the presumed link between race and poverty. One of the ways in which King was such a revolutionary was that he offered the dominant power structure nothing for its comfort. He would surely have continued to campaign for a nonracial economic progress in which the riches of a wealthy nation were more equitably distributed, thereby creating a more genuine culture of equal opportunity. With what amounts to widespread economic segregation having replaced racial segregation, the country needs champions of the poor, such as King was, now as much as at any time in our history. To be sure, other energetic and passionate advocates of a more just economic system have come and gone in the years since that fateful day in April 1968. But few can disagree that Kings assassination robbed the world of one of historys most important advocates of humanitys cause. Eddie Chambers is a professor of art and art history at the University of Texas at Austin. By PTI NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra today assured a Bar Council of India delegation that the crisis in the Supreme Court resulting from a virtual revolt against him by four colleagues will be sorted out soon, the council chief said. READ HERE | Justice Loya's death was a natural one; stop harassing us, pleads son Anuj Also today, the son of special CBI judge B H Loya said in Mumbai that his father died of natural causes and not in suspicious circumstances. Loya's death, while he was hearing the politically sensitive Shohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, is the subject of a PIL in the Supreme Court that was one of the triggers for the revolt against Misra. The Indian judiciary was thrown into a turmoil on Friday when four senior Supreme Court judges -- J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, M B Lokur and Kurian Joseph convened an unprecedented press conference to complain about "selective" case allocation by Misra and passing of certain judicial order. Misra had assigned the Loya death PIL to Justice Arun Mishra, a relatively junior judge. In their press conference, the four justices said Indias democracy is at risk unless the wrongs in the Supreme Court are set right. Capping a weekend flurry of activity by jurists, lawyers and politicians, a delegation of the Bar Council of India, the highest body of lawyers in the nation, today met Misra at his residence for 50 minutes. "We met CJI in a congenial atmosphere and he said everything will be sorted out soon," BCI chairman Manan Kumar Mishra, who led the delegation, told reporters. He said that before meeting the CJI, the panel also discussed the crisis plaguing the apex judiciary with other judges including the three out of the four judges who have made the allegations against Misra. Mishra said the panel met justices Chelameshwar, Lokur, and Joseph, who also gave an assurance that the crisis will be resolved. He did not mention whether the panel had a meeting with Gogoi, who is out of town. Gogoi is next in line to succeed Misra as the chief justice. Bar Council of India Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra leaves after meeting Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra at his residence in New Delhi on Sunday. PTI Photo The BCI will hold a press conference tomorrow. Earlier, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Vikas Singh met the CJI and handed over a resolution in which the association has asked for a full court discussion to defuse the present crisis. "I met the CJI and handed over a copy of the resolution. He said that he would look into it and ensure there was congeniality in the Supreme Court at the earliest," Singh told PTI after his 15-minute meeting with the CJI. In another major development today, Anuj Loya, the son of the deceased CBI judge, held a press conference in Mumbai to say his family was "pained" by the recent developments surrounding his father's death. He claimed NGOs and politicians should stop "harassing" his family members over the issue. "My father died of natural causes. Our family is convinced that it was a natural death," the 21-year-old Anuj told reporters, adding that although he and his family had earlier been suspicious about his father's sudden death three years ago, they no longer harboured doubts. "I had an emotional turmoil, hence I had suspicions about his death. But now we don't have any doubts about the way he died," Anuj said. "Earlier, my grandfather and aunt had some doubts about his death, which they shared. But now neither of them has any doubts," he said. The deceased judge's father and Anuj's aunt had alleged foul play in his death. Judge Loya, who was hearing the sensitive Sohrabuddin Sheikh "fake encounter" case, had allegedly died of a cardiac arrest in Nagpur on December 1, 2014, when he had gone to attend the wedding of a colleague's daughter. BJP chief Amit Shah was an accused in the case but has been discharged. New Milford Public Library will hold its next poetry book club led by the towns poet laureate, James Scrimgeour, Jan. 25. The club will meet the third Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Main Street library. Kent Memorial Library will offer a Certified Safe Sitter Training Program for young adults Jan. 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The program is geared toward youths in grade six and up. The library is the only site in Northwest Connecticut to offer this training by Certified Safe Sitter Trainers. The cost is $20 which includes the Safe Sitter Manual. Snacks will be provided; participants should bring lunch. For more information and registration, call the Main Street library at 860-927-3761. Crown Princess Victoria caught a severe cold. She had to cancel her attendance program for Community and Defence National Conference (Folk och Forsvar) which will be held in Salen today and on Monday. Royal Court's information officer, Ulrika Nasholm announced that only King Gustaf will attend the conference. Crown Princess Victoria could not attend information briefing of Ministry of Foreign Affairs held on January 11, at the Royal Palace although her attendance was in official program. It is not known yet that whether Crown Princess Victoria will attend the events relating to official visit of President of Iceland between the dates of January 17-19 or not. A group of diverse but like-minded individuals, the members of ARC have come together in their common desire to fight hatred, bigotry, intolerance and violence because of the harm these antisocial behaviors cause to our society. In that effort, we will not use or sanction the use of illegal actions (such as violence or intimidation) in pursuit of our desired aims and if we learn of anyone who does use these unethical methods we will report those individuals to the authorities. Instead, we will use the guarantees found in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms that ensure freedom of legal speech and expression. On January 13, 2018, Emperor Akihito of Japan and Empress Michiko of Japan visited "90th Year of Kinderbook" exhibition held at Tokyo's Printing Museum in Bunkyo Ward. At the exhibition, about 300 picture books and original drawings are exhibited. Kinderbook which is a monthly picture book and magazine closely related to early education of children at preschool age is one of the longest periodicals of Japan. The magazine began to be published in 1927. Reporter/Columnist Julie Wurth is a reporter covering the University of Illinois at The News-Gazette. Her email is jwurth@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@jawurth). This inaugural entry in our new series looks at 60 years of winter-weather memories the hassles as well as the fun. New Delhi: When a 100 residents of Oxford, United Kingdom agreed to swallow live typhoid bacteria as part of a study, they paved the way for a breakthrough Indian vaccine for typhoid. The first conjugate vaccine for typhoid, by the Hyderabad-based company Bharat Biotech, was prequalified by the World Health Organisation in December 2017 and has caught the attention of GAVI, the international vaccine alliance. India has produced a vaccine that can be administered to children as young as 6 months, unlike previous typhoid vaccines that could only be given to children 2 years old and above. To test this vaccines strength, Bharat Biotech not only did clinical trials in India but undertook a human challenge study in Oxford, an unusual feat for Indian companies, according to Bharats founder and managing director Dr. Krishna Ella. GAVI, said the WHO statement has earmarked $85 million to acquire the vaccine. This, according to Ella, could go up depending on how many doses the alliance wants. We wanted to be innovative and build something from scratch, said Ella, and not just imitate multinational companies, like other Indian companies do. Typhoid is caused by Salmonella serovar Typhi bacteria, and spreads largely through contaminated water. In severe cases it can be life threatening, and in others, can cause long lasting intestinal problems. From work that began in 2001, Ella and his team created a vaccine that would protect a person from the age of 6 months to 65 years. All previous vaccines could only be given to children 2 years old and above, leaving infants, who are especially vulnerable to typhoid, at risk. Bacteria, explained Ella, produces sugar and protein. Older vaccines, the polysaccharide vaccines, were based on sugar, which a babys body cannot pinpoint as a foreign body. Thus, it doesnt produce the needed antibodies. A conjugate vaccine crosslinks the sugar and the protein and can successfully fool a babys body into producing antibodies that will give it almost lifelong immunity. The trials saw 10,000 babies tested in India, a tricky prospect, as first adults, then adolescents and then five year olds have to be carefully tested. Then, volunteers in Oxford were made to drink a high concentration of the bacteria, almost to the tune of one million bacteria (parts per million) in a flask of water. Of the group, some were given the conjugate vaccine, some the older polysaccharide vaccines, and some a placebo, to serve as a double blind. The human challenge, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, took place due to Ellas need to prove beyond a shadow of doubt his vaccine worked. Because of some companies, Indian data is not trusted globally, said Ella. The vaccines efficacy in this challenge, as published in The Lancet, was 87 percent. This will be nearly 100 percent in the filed, where typhoid bacteria isnt found or ingested in such high concentration, said Ella. The polysaccharide vaccines have an efficacy of 65 percent. Though there are conjugate vaccines for other bacteria, such as Pfizers pneumoccocal vaccine, no one conjugated a typhoid vaccine before us, said Ella. This, he puts down to Indian companies tendencies to mimic international vaccines and create generics. We do not innovate here he said. Nor do we, he added, get the benefit of our own technology. GAVI supplies vaccines mostly to countries across Africa. Bharat Biotech donated 50,000 doses to Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan, to vaccinate children, as the population of both Karachi and its neighbouring city of Hyderabad is resistant to third line antibiotics, said Ella. The university is going to buy an additional 3 lakh doses. India, said Ella, will have to wait till the government acquires the vaccine from Bharat Biotech. Priced at Rs 1500 a dose, while not exorbitant, it will still be expensive the poorer patients, who are more vulnerable to the disease. However, Pradeep Haldar of the Union Health Ministry told News18 that were no such plans to acquire the vaccine as typhoid is not a pan India threat. It crops up in hotspots, though, by his admission, there isnt enough surveillance data to clearly map these hotspots. Ella, meanwhile, has refused to approach the government, disenchanted with its pace. The rotavirus vaccine was the first new indigenous vaccine in India, yet its only being used by seven states so far, he said, giving an example. He added that India, Pakistan and Bangladesh had the highest typhoid disease burden, and a mounting antibiotic resistance problem. India specific figures on typhoid are hard to find. A study in the science journal PLOS, from 2016, noted that, there have surprisingly, been very few epidemiological investigations of the incidence of typhoid in India. Figures from 2013 put Indias annual typhoid mortality to 6.1 per 10000 people. A paper in The Lancet, from 2014, showed that of the 5.6 billion endemic population in low to middle income countries, in 2010, 1.6 billion (29%) were at high risk of typhoid. New Delhi: Eleven-year-old Moshe Holtzberg will visit the Chabad House in Mumbai next week, where his parents were killed in the 26/11 terror attacks, and attend a ceremony there with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the country's envoy to India Daniel Carmon said on Friday. Moshe was two-year-old when his parents, Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg, who were serving as Directors at Chabad House, were killed along with six others when the place was attacked by Pakistani terrorists during the November 2008 Mumbai attacks. The attack on Chabad House and other locations like the Taj Hotel left 166 people dead. Moshe was rescued by his nanny and he later moved to Israel, where he stays with his grandparents. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Israel in July last year, had invited Moshe to Mumbai. "He (Moshe) will be accompanying the prime minister (Netanyahu) and there will be a ceremony in Chabad House in Mumbai. There might be other elements of participation of Moshe who has gone through a terrible tragedy and his coming here," Carmon said. There could be a few more elements to Moshe's visit, Carmon added but did not elaborate on it further. The Israeli envoy noted that the 26/11 terror attack was a terrible attack not only against India, but also against Jews and Israelis. New Delhi: Four retired judges on Sunday wrote an open letter to the Chief Justice of India in support of the issues raised the the four senior most members of the Supreme Court. The four judges, including former Supreme Court judge, also said that the crisis needs to be resolved "within the judiciary". The letter by former apex court judge P B Sawant, ex- chief justice of Delhi High Court A P Shah, former Madras High Court judge K Chandru and ex-Bombay High Court judge H Suresh was given to the media. It also went viral on social media. Justice Shah confirmed having written an open letter along with the other retired judges and told PTI, "We have written the open letter which the other judges named in the letter have also consented to." He said that the view expressed by the retired judges is "quite similar to the views of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) that till this crisis is resolved, the important matters should be listed before a five-judge Constitution bench of senior judges". Justice Shah said that earlier he was not sure about the consent given by the other three judges and, therefore, he initially denied having written any letter but now all of them have given consent to it. The letter quoted the judges as having said, "The four senior puisne Judges of the Supreme Court have brought to light a serious issue regarding the manner of allocation of cases, particularly sensitive cases, to various benches of the Supreme Court. "They have expressed a grave concern that cases are not being allocated in a proper manner and are being allocated arbitrarily to particular designated benches, often headed by junior judges, in an arbitrary manner. This is having a very deleterious effect on the administration of justice and the rule of law." The four retired judges said that they agree with the four judges of top court that though the CJI is the master of roster and can designate benches for allocation of work but this does not mean that it can be done in an "arbitrary manner" such that, "sensitive and important cases" are sent to "hand-picked benches" of junior judges by the chief justice. "This issue needs to be resolved and clear rules and norms must be laid down for allocation of benches and distribution of cases, which are rational, fair and transparent," they said, adding that this must be done "immediately to restore public confidence" in the judiciary and in the Supreme Court. The letter further said that "however till that is done, it is important that all sensitive and important cases including pending ones, be dealt with by a Constitution bench of the five seniormost judges of this Court". It added, "Only such measures would assure the people that the Supreme Court is functioning in a fair and transparent manner and that the power of the Chief Justice as master of roster is not being misused to achieve a particular result in important and sensitive cases. We, therefore, urge you to take immediate steps in this regard." (With PTI inputs) Pune: A 56-year-old builder was allegedly shot dead by two unidentified men outside his residence in Deccan-Gymkhana area, police said on Sunday. The assailants fired five rounds at Devendra Shah in front of his son on the plush Prabhat Road around midnight on Saturday. Two of the bullets hit Shah, an official said. Police have retrieved a CCTV camera footage of the area in which the two assailants are seen. The two assailants came near the building in which Shah resided in Lane No. 7 on Prabhat Road and started arguing with a man who runs a laundry business there. "One of the assailants asked the laundry man to summon Shah. The shop owner then called the builder down," Additional Commissioner of Police (South/North region) Ravindra Sengaonkar said. The moment Shah came down with his son, both the assailants fired five rounds at the builder, he said. "Two bullets hit Shah. The assailants then fled from the spot," said Sengaonkar. The builder was rushed to a nearby private hospital where he succumbed during treatment. "We have got the CCTV camera footage in which the two assailants are clearly seen coming," the officer said, adding that the assailants had not covered their faces. Shah's son told the police his father did not have enmity with anyone, Sengaonkar said. The motive behind the killing was yet to be ascertained, he said. The Deccan Gymkhana police registered a case under IPC Section 302 (murder) against the assailants, he said, adding that an investigation was on. Guwahati: Six Rohingya Muslim refugees were detained in Tripuras Dharmanagar area, about 192km from capital Agartala. Five of those arrested are minors, and they were all planning to head to Assam in search of jobs. Dharmanagar railway police official Nanda Lal Baidya told News18, We found them moving around the railway station in a suspicious manner. After interrogation, it was confirmed they entered from Myanmar. They have been handed over to the Dharmanagar Police Station. The six refugees have been identified as Ibrahim Alam (17), Mohammad Jahangir Alam (17), Mohammad Ashan (15), Nur Fatama (16), Jhana Tara (14) and Dilwara Begum (27). Jahangir Alam and his friends had been camping in Tripura since past eight days. The UNHCR card holder asked in fluent Hindi, Where else do we go? In Myanmar, they threaten to slaughter us if we dont leave. In India, we are held as infiltrators. Jahangir Alam worked in Hyderabad for a while. Sources said he had crossed over to India from Bangladesh almost seven times. Both Centre and the state governments in Assam and Tripura face a daunting challenge to check influx of Rohingya Muslims into India from Bangladesh. In September last year, four Rohingyas were pushed back into Bangladesh by the BSF along Indo-Bangla border in Tripura. Eight other Rohingyas were held in Tripura in November 2017. Thousands of Rohingya refugees have sought shelter in countries neighbouring Myanmar, escaping what the United Nations calls a textbook example of ethnic cleansing. An estimated 45,000 Rohingya Muslim refugees from Myanmar have entered India since 2012 while more than 6 lakh fled to neighbouring Bangladesh, according to a report in November 2017. (With inputs from Panna Ghosh) New Delhi: At a time when allocation of important cases among judges in the Supreme Court has resulted in four seniormost judges speaking out openly against Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra, another development may rattle the ranks. On Saturday afternoon, the Supreme Court registry notified eight Constitution Bench cases, which will be heard from January 17. Even though the cases include women-centric issues such as allowing menstruating women to enter Kerala's Sabarimala Temple and making adultery a gender-neutral law, the lone woman judge in the top court doesn't seem to be the part of the adjudication. Justice R Banumathi is presently the only woman judge in the Supreme Court, out of the working strength of 25 judges, but she is not likely to be a member of the five-judge bench, which will decide various issues pertaining to the rights of women. Incidentally, Justice Banumathi was also left out of the previous Constitution benches, which were set up on orders of then CJI JS Khehar and had ruled upon validity of triple talaq and right to privacy. Although right to privacy was a nine-judge-bench matter, she was not included on the bench. And now, she is again not going to be a voice in the eventual rulings in cases such as Sabarimala, adultery and also decriminalisation of homosexuality and the right of women to enter the Fire Temple for Parsis. Notably, holding an unprecedented press briefing on Friday afternoon, four most senior judges Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B Lokur and Kurian Joseph had questioned the CJI's mandate and manner of allocating cases across various benches in the top court. According to a notification by the court registry, the list of eight cases begins with Aadhaar matter and the rest of the Constitution Bench cases have been listed in the same batch. Since Aadhaar is a case which was last heard by a Constitution Bench on December 15, it can be anybody's guess that all eight matters in this batch will be heard by the same Constitution Bench something that has many precedents too. The Constitution Bench in Aadhaar case is headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra and includes Justices AK Sikri, AM Khanwilkar, DY Chandrachud and Ashok Bhushan. Therefore, the same composition of the judges will now hear the eight cases of vital importance for the nation, and for women, without including the only woman judge in the apex court. Judgments in the Supreme Court are presumably delivered on constitutional touchstones, without any consideration of gender, caste or class. Women judges, like all other judges in the court, also follow the same legal and constitutional principles and thus, they don't have to necessarily rule favourably on issues of gender. Yet it is still ironic that an institution that has always upheld the gender rights and has stood up for equality and equal rights for women should put on display an apparent lack of gender diversity on constitution of benches, in particular for such cases. This is also intriguing that the institution, which has only three days ago recommended appointment of another woman as a judge in the Supreme Court, has failed to accommodate the lone woman judge on the Constitution Bench that will arbiter women's rights. The spirit of the law is that "justice should not only be done but seem to be done". And to realise this spirit, gender diversity must be on display. New Delhi: Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra on Sunday met a delegation from the Bar Council of India and the chairman of the Supreme Court Bar Association, assuring them that the crisis in the top court following a revolt by four senior-most judges against him will be resolved soon. After a 50-minute meeting, BCI chairman Manan Kumar Mishra, who headed the delegation, told reporters that the meeting took place in a congenial atmosphere and that Justice Misra assured them that everything would be sorted out soon. "We met the CJI in a congenial atmosphere and he said that everything would be sorted out soon," he said. Mishra added that before meeting the CJI, the panel had also discussed the crisis plaguing the higher judiciary with other judges, including three of the four seniormost judges, who had mounted a revolt at an unprecedented press conference on Friday. He said the panel met justices J Chelameswar, M B Lokur, and Kurian Joseph and that they also assured it that everything would be sorted out. Mishra did not mention whether the panel had a talk with the fourth rebellious judge, Justice Ranjan Gogoi, who had gone out of station after Friday's presser. Hectic parleys took place throughout the day among the apex court judges as well over the crisis that has erupted after the revolt by the judges. Two top court judges - justices S A Bobde and L Nageswara Rao - met Justice Chelameswar, who had led the four judges at the unprecedented press conference, at his official residence here, sources said. The BCI panel also had a brief meeting with Justice Arun Mishra, who is in focus for hearing a PIL seeking a probe into the death of special CBI judge B H Loya. SCBA president Vikas Singh, meanwhile, handed over a resolution on the crisis in the apex judiciary to the CJI. "I met the CJI and handed over a copy of the resolution. He said that he would look into it and ensure there was congeniality in the Supreme Court at the earliest," Singh said after his 15-minute meeting with the Misra. Singh expressed hope that all judges of the apex court would give consideration to its resolution in which the association asked for a full court discussion to defuse the present crisis plaguing the higher judiciary. The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), at an emergency meeting on Saturday, passed a resolution and expressed "grave concern" over the differences of the four judges with the CJI and said the issue should be immediately considered by the full court of the apex court. The SCBA executive committee resolved that all public interest litigation (PIL) matters, including the pending PILs, should be either taken up by the CJI or be assigned for adjudication to four senior judges who are part of the apex court collegium. Sources said that the full court of the Supreme Court in all possibility would on Monday deliberate upon the situation arising out of the controversial presser of the four judges. Full court mechanism is one in which deliberations by all the judges of the top court takes place in-house and not in the open. They said the full court deliberation has become necessary as the four judges, who went public with their grievances, in all probability did not have the support of the other apex court judges. The Supreme Court, at present, has 25 judges including the Chief Justice. The sanctioned strength of the apex court is 31, including the CJI. Lucknow: Three youngsters from Punjab were beaten up by Vishwa Hindi Parishad (VHP) workers in front of police in Uttar Pradeshs Baghpat district. The victims had reached Tehsil court to get married but as soon as the right-wing outfit came to know this, they reached the spot and roughed up the youngsters. The police reached the spot and took the victims away to the police station, but the assault did not stop even while they were being taken away. Later, Hindu Yuva Vahini workers also joined their VHP counterparts and started protesting outside the police station. The couple from Punjab reached Baghpat Tehsil court along with grooms cousins to get married. The couple, along with others, were sitting in a lawyers chamber when VHP workers stormed inside and questioning their purpose of visit. On learning that the girl and the boy belonged to different religions, the right-wing workers started roughing up the couple and created a ruckus before being joined by Hindu Yuva Vahini members. Police reached the spot soon after and took the victims away, but the agitated VHP members continued their assault on the victims, in presence of the police. According to the police, the three youths had been absconding from Punjab for four days and an FIR was lodged in this regard in Barnala. Speaking on the issue, Baghpat Superintendent of Police Jaiprakash Singh said that it was too early to say if this was a matter of love jihad. Investigations are underway and it is not right to link everything to 'love jihad', he said. New Delhi: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu termed his countrys relations with India as a "marriage made in heaven" and asserted that just one negative vote at United Nations will not change the dynamics of the relations between the two nations. Netanyahu, who arrived in India on Sunday for a historic six-day visit, chose to see the bigger picture. "I don't think one vote affects a general trend you can see in many other votes and everything and these visits," he said, when asked to comment on India's vote at UN against US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital. He said that he was disappointed by Indias vote, but predicted the growing friendship to soon reflect in all UN votes soon. This visit is a testimony that our relationship is moving on so many fronts, be it political, technological, tourism, security and so many other areas. Ultimately you see it reflected in all UN votes, not just now but soon," he added. In December last year, India voted in favour of a resolution brought by Turkey and Yemen in the UN opposing the United States' decision recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The resolution was approved with 127-9 at the UN General Assembly. "First of all there is a special relationship between the two countries, between their people and then between the leaders. The partnership between India and Israel is a marriage made in heaven but consecrated on earth," Netanyahu said, adding he respects his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi "as a great leader" because he is "impatient to bring future to his people". Advocating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India to boost and deepen bilateral economic relations, he said: "Israel is changing so rapidly. We are creating industries. We have just created a car industry in just last five years. We have 500 start-ups dealing with automation of car. "And there are other areas like water, agriculture, energy, health, transportsation. There is a whole world that is erupting, exploding. Future belongs to those who innovate... Israel is an innovation nation. India has innovations. In Silicon Valley there are two dialects you hear - Hindi and Hebrew and only a little English." He said that when he visited the iconic Teen Murti war memorial at Haifa circle, he felt "an expression of gratitude" because it was Indian soldiers who fell down while defending the city of Haifa (now in Israel) during WW-I. "It's closing of a circle 100 years later," he said. In a sign of growing importance to the ties with Israel, the government on Sunday renamed Delhi's Teen Murti Chowk as Teen Murti-Haifa Chowk after the Israeli city. Netanyahu is on a six-day visit to India, the first Israeli Premier to visit India after 2003 when Ariel Sharon came. Setting aside protocol, Modi went to personally receive Netanyahu. (With agency inputs) New Delhi: India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Syed Akbaruddin's Twitter account was hacked and later restored on Sunday morning, reported news agency ANI. Two images, one of the Pakistani flag and the other of the neighbouring country's President Mamnoon Hussain, were posted on the verified Twitter handle of the diplomat. The 'blue tick', which denotes the verification of an account by the micro-blogging site, had disappeared during the cyber attack. The identity of the hacker(s) is not yet known. On Sunday, the account was handed back to the diplomat and he tweeted, "I'm back. It will take more than a hack to keep me down. Thanks to @TwitterIndia & many others who helped." Im back. It will take more than a hack to keep me down. Thanks to @TwitterIndia & many others who helped. https://t.co/h9RCJVrU4m Syed Akbaruddin (@AkbaruddinIndia) January 14, 2018 In 2016, a total of 199 government websites were hacked in India, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had told the Parliament. In fact, more than 700 websites under the Indian government have been hacked from 2013 to 2016. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday set aside protocol to receive his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, who arrived in New Delhi for a historic six-day visit, Modi welcomed Netanyahu with a hug upon his arrival. Welcome to India, my friend PM @netanyahu! Your visit to India is historic and special. It will further cement the close friendship between our nations," Modi tweeted in English and Hebrew. Netanyahu, who arrived with his wife Sara, and a high-level business delegation, tweeted, "We have landed in India. Thank you to my good friend Narendra Modi for the warm welcome!" Welcome to India, my friend PM @netanyahu! Your visit to India is historic and special. It will further cement the close friendship between our nations. @IsraeliPM #ShalomNamaste pic.twitter.com/sidgMmA1fu Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 14, 2018 Thank you to my good friend, Indian Prime Minister @narendramodi , who surprised me with a personal welcome at the airport upon my arrival in India. Together we will bring the relations between our countries to new heights! pic.twitter.com/bPZftC4caF Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) January 14, 2018 We are strengthening ties between Israel and this important global power. This serves our security, economic, trade and tourism interests, as well as many other areas. This is a great blessing for the state of Israel," he said. According to Israeli officials, Netanyahu was pleasantly surprised by Modi welcoming him at the airport. "I very much appreciate the gesture," Netanyahu was quoted as saying by officials. Modi and Netanyahu are known to share a warm personal rapport. During Modi's visit to Israel last year, Netanyahu had received the Indian prime minister at the airport. Netanyahu's visit to India is only the second by an Israeli prime minister and comes after a gap of 15 years. Former prime minister Ariel Sharon had visited India in 2003. Modi and Netanyahu later attended a ceremony to rename Teen Murti Chowk in central Delhi as Teen Murti-Haifa Chowk. In the presence of PM @netanyahu, paid tributes to the brave Indian soldiers who fought at Haifa. The spot where we commemorate their sacrifice will now be called Teen Murti - Haifa Chowk. pic.twitter.com/WmXdS6pE7F Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 14, 2018 They also laid a wreath and signed the visitor's book at the memorial. The renaming gesture underscores the special link and the common history between Israel and India, Netanyahu said after the event, according to Israeli officials. EAM @SushmaSwaraj called on @IsraeliPM Benjamin Netanyahu. Warm and engaging conversation on various aspects of our bilateral ties aimed at strengthening our strategic partnership. #ShalomNamaste pic.twitter.com/u50qosUxmM Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) January 14, 2018 External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also called on the Israeli prime minister. During the meeting, Netanyahu told Swaraj that he was overwhelmed by the warmth he received upon his arrival. He also said that his visit can catapult bilateral ties to the next level. Later, Modi also hosted a private dinner for Netanyahu and his wife. Delighted to welcome Mrs. Netanyahu and PM @netanyahu to 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. @IsraeliPM pic.twitter.com/FDI4MJlKBq Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 14, 2018 During Netanyahu's visit, which comes days after India voted against Israel at the UN on the Jerusalem issue, several MoUs, including in the field of defence, oil and gas, renewable energy, amended protocol for airports, cybersecurity, and co-production of films and documentaries are expected to be signed between the two sides. On January 15, Netanyahu will meet the Indo-Israeli CEO forum and address a separate business event. He will deliver a speech at the Raisina Dialogue on January 16. Netanyahu will also call on President Ram Nath Kovind. He will leave for Ahmedabad on the morning of January 17. In Ahmedabad, he will visit the Sabarmati Ashram. Modi and Netanyahu will also visit the Center of Excellence in Vadrad and inaugurate a Center of Excellence for date palms in Bhuj via video conferencing. The Israeli prime minister will have a number of engagements in Mumbai on January 18. The Israeli embassy had said that Netanyahu will meet with Jewish community leaders and select members of the Indian business community in Mumbai. It had said he will reach out to Bollywood in an exclusive "Shalom Bollywood" event. In Mumbai, he will also attend a ceremony at the Chabad House, which will be attended by Moshe Holtzberg. Fondly known as Moshe, the 11-year-old's parents were killed in the Chabad House during the 26/11 terror strike, which had come under attack. Jan 14, 2018 12:40 (IST) Israel PM Netanyahus Remarks Prior to Leaving "This evening I am leaving on an historic visit to India. I will meet with the Prime Minister, my friend Narendra Modi, with the Indian President and with many other leaders. We will sign very many agreements," Netanyahu said in statement. "We are strengthening ties between Israel and this important global power. This serves our security, economic, trade and tourism interests, as well as many other areas. This is a great blessing for the State of Israel," he said. "Indian Prime Minister Modi is a close friend of Israel and of mine and I appreciate the fact that he will accompany me on extensive parts of my visit," Netanyahu said just before leaving for New Delhi. "On this visit I intend to strengthen bilateral relations even more. This visit is an opportunity to enhance cooperation with a global economic, security, technology and tourism power," he added. New Delhi: Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said that Indian Army Chief Bipin Rawat's comments on Pakistan's 'bluff' amounts to 'invitation for nuclear encounter'. Very irresponsible statement by Indian Army Chief,not befitting his office. Amounts to invitation for nuclear encounter.If that is what they desire,they are welcome to test our resolve.The general's doubt would swiftly be removed, inshallah (sic), tweeted Asif. Pakistan's Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor also termed the Indian army chief's statement as "irresponsible" and "unbecoming" of a four-star general. "Should they [India] wish to test our resolve they may try and see it for themselves. We have a credible nuclear capability exclusive[ly] meant for threat[s] from [the] East," said Maj Gen. Ghafoor to PTV World. On Friday, Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said the force was ready to call Pakistan's "nuclear bluff" and cross the border to carry out any operation if asked by the government. "We will call the (nuclear) bluff of Pakistan. If we will have to really confront the Pakistanis, and a task is given to us, we are not going to say we cannot cross the border because they have nuclear weapons. We will have to call their nuclear bluff," Gen. Rawat said. He was responding to a question during a press conference on the possibility of Pakistan using its nuclear weapons in case the situation along the border deteriorates. In reply to another question, he had said that India and the US were deliberating on a proposal to appoint military liaison officers at each other's combatant commands. "We are examining various dimensions of the proposal," he claimed. Kolkata: Three Bangladeshi inmates escaped from Alipore Central Correctional Home on Saturday night, where they were imprisoned for three years. The matter came to light on Sunday morning during the counting of the inmates. The inmates were identified as Mohammad Farooq Haoladar, Iman Chaudhuri and Firdaus Sheikh. They were arrested on various charges including robbery, kidnapping and for illegally infiltrating into India. The jail officials raised an alarm and sniffer dogs were pressed into action. Initial probe revealed that they used bed sheets as ropes to scale the boundary walls to flee through Adi Ganga, police said. Following the incident, five jail officials were suspended for dereliction of duty. The prison superintendent was show-caused. He was asked to give a written explanation of how they managed to flee. Meanwhile, the photographs of the three prisoners were circulated in all the bordering police stations. A team of policemen were assigned to look for them. Chennai: Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Chief Minister K Palaniswami and a host of other leaders on Saturday extended their greetings to the people on the occasion of the harvest festival of Pongal. Stating that the harvest festival brought joy and prosperity in abundance to families, Purohit said "let us resolve to keep up this glorious tradition of celebrating nature, our customs and the greatness of Tamil culture with gaiety and pride." Purohit extended his "heartiest greetings and best wishes," for Pongal and Sankranthi. Chief Minister K Palaniswami extended his greetings to the people, wishing them a prosperous life on the occasion. The State government was providing Pongal gift pack to the people to celebrate with joy the harvest festival, that hails the contribution of farmers, he said. The gift pack to ration card holders includes rice, sugar, cashew and raisins and is being distributed through PDS outlets. Police personnel and Sri Lankan refugees are also eligible to get these gift packs. Stating that Tamil Nadu government followed the footsteps of 'Amma,' the Chief Minsiter highligted several welfare schemes for farmers, including the Farmers Protection Scheme. DMK Working President M K Stalin extended his greetings to the people and urged the cadres to hoist party flags on the occasion. Rival AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran, BJP leader and Minister of State Pon Radhakrishnan, State Secretaries of CPI and CPI (M) R Mutharasan and G Ramakrishnan were among other leaders who greeted the people on the occasion. Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Shia Waqf Board chairman Waseem Rizvi said Sunday he had received a threat call from a man, claiming to be an aide of fugitive mafia don Dawood Ibrahim, who threatened to blow up him and his family. Following Rizvis complaint, the Lucknow police has lodged an FIR and initiated a probe. I received the call last (Saturday) night in which caller took the name of Dawood and threatened to blow me up and my family for my stand on madrassa education and other issues, Rizvi, who has also favoured a Ram Temple in Ayodhya, said in Lucknow. The caller refused to identify himself but asked me to seek pardon from maulanas claiming Dawood Ibrahim was annoyed, Rizvi said. The Shia Waqf Board chairman said he had informed the police and also given the callers phone number. An FIR was lodged at the Sahadatganj police station in old Lucknow city and the matter is being probed, an official said. Rizvi had last week written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath suggesting that madrassas should be shut down as the Islamic institutions bred terrorists. He alleged that education imparted in these Islamic schools encouraged students to join terrorist ranks and sought that madrassas be replaced by schools affiliated to the CBSE or the ICSE which will offer students the optional subject of Islamic education. He said madrassas were mushrooming in almost every city, town and village and were providing misplaced and misconceived religious education and alleged that funds to run the madrassas were also coming from Pakistan and Bangladesh and that even some terror outfits were assisting them. His suggestion, however, did not go down well with the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), whose spokesman Khalilur Rehman Sajjad Nomani said madrassas had played a key role in the freedom movement and by raising questions, Rizvi was insulting them. The Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind went a step further when it served a legal notice on Rizvi for making defamatory remarks about madrassas. The notice accused Rizvi of insinuating that madrassa education system had not contributed to the progress of young Muslims, but had in fact created a sense of fundamentalism in them without any data backing his comments. It sought for a written and unconditional apology from Rizvi and a payment of Rs 20 crore towards damages. In October, Rizvi had met the Art of Living founder in Bengaluru and apprised him of the Shia Boards stand that a Ram temple should be built at the Ram Janmabhoomi site in Ayodhya. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was that time holding mediation talks on the Ayodhya issue. The Shia Waqf Board is drafting the terms and conditions of a mutual agreement, he had said, adding that the board did not want any mosque to be constructed at Rams birth place. Rizvi had also said that the number of mosques in Ayodhya were sufficient for the Muslims residing there and there was no need for a new mosque. Instead it should be constructed elsewhere in a Muslim populated area, he had suggested. Rizvi has also supported the BJP government on the Triple Talaq issue. New Delhi: An unprecedented press briefing by four senior-most Supreme Court judges questioning the office of the Chief Justice of India shook the nation on Friday, setting the stage for structural reforms in the higher judiciary. Attorney General KK Venugopal has dismissed speculations of any rift among the brother judges and has said that the court would function as usual. But are there any other scenarios that may pan out in the Supreme Court. News18 speaks to members of the judiciary to understand what lies ahead. OPTION 1: CHART DOWN THE REMEDIAL MEASURES AND SUBMIT TO CJI FOR CONSIDERATION Former SC judge Justice Gyan Sudha Misra, who had delivered landmark judgment in the Aruna Shanbaug euthanasia case, and is known for her dissenting verdict in the Uphaar fire case holding the management liable for loss of human lives, told News18 that letter which has been written has no remedial measures or measures which can be taken to improve the scenario. There were no suggestions in the letter. The problems too have only been indicated and not highlighted. Perception cannot take place of proof. Allegations cannot be made. The four judges should now prepare a gist of remedial measures and submit it to the CJI for discretion to be exercised in an in-camera proceeding. The judges need to come out with a procedure to remedy the problems cited, said Justice (Retd) Misra. She said it is the prerogative of the CJI to assign particular matters to a bench, but as questions have been raised on functioning and allotment, the judges must have a deliberation among themselves. Whether a collective decision will be taken by the CJI after taking into consideration submissions of all other judges is something which again depends on the CJI and its for him to decide. Legally and technically its the prerogative of the CJI and that is reflected in the judges letter too, said the former SC judge. Justice Misra also said that some line has to be drawn before allegations are made against the CJI. I appreciate the concern of the four judges that they heard their voice of conscience but some line has to be drawn on what basis such allegations have been made. What has been hinted in the letter is that you are selectively assigning the matter to junior judges. But discretion is bound to be exercised and it has happened a lot of times that junior judges have been made to sit in constitution benches, she said. OPTION 2: ISSUE CONTEMPT NOTICE AGAINST THE FOUR JUDGES Justice Prabhat Chandra Agarwal, former Judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court and a senior advocate in the SC, told News18 that all citizens are equal in the eyes of law and hence the CJI can treat the press conference as a contempt of court. Contempt notice can easily be issued by the CJI as the judges at the end of the day are citizens of India and are thus equal in the eyes of law. They are given privileges only in the general public interest. In India, the general public is sovereign. Hence they can be issued a notice of contempt. The way the four judges handled this issue was not the right way. They should have consulted the Chief Justice before meeting the press. The judges should have raised this issue in the meetings of the judges, said Justice (Retd) Agarwal. He also questioned as to how these judges were raising questions on bench formation as this was conflicting. They have no right to say that a particular case should be assigned to them. On one hand, they are saying that CJI is not superior to them, but they are also saying that junior judges to whom the cases have been assigned are not equal to them. How can this happen? A judge can never ask for a case to be listed before him/her The matter cannot be decided by the press now, said Justice (Retd) Agarwal. OPTION 3: TREAT THE LETTER AS A PETITION AND DELIVER A VERDICT TO RID THE CJI OF EXCESSIVE POWER Justice RC Chopra, former judge of the Delhi High Court, believes that the CJI has excessive administrative powers which can be misused by the political establishment. He believes that this change can come if a judge takes suo motu cognizance of the letter as a petition. The time has now come that even CJI and the chief justice of the high courts exercise their administrative power in consultation with the four senior most judges. So that like the collegium system, whatever the CJI wants to do, like setting up the roster or assignment of matters, all should be a result of collective wisdom and should not be left into the hands of a single person. The political establishment has a habit of manipulating everybody. Hence, putting all the powers in the hands of the CJI is not correct, said Justice (Retd) Chopra. Suggesting what could happen next, Justice Chopra told News18, If by the way of a judgment in the Advocates on Record case, they could change the system of appointment of judges. In the same way, the letter written by the four judges can be treated as petition and after taking suo moto cognizance of the case, a verdict can be delivered. Any judge can treat the letter like a petition. That way, it also becomes a law of the land and the matter gets resolved on the judicial side. OPTION 4: JUDGES NEED TO SIT TOGETHER AND FIND A SOLUTION Former SC judge Justice Tarun Chatterjee said that in his six years at the apex court he had never witnessed such an event. I have never heard that a judge had come out in the press and I never expected this. The basic problem is that appointments are made because of their own interests and that is the reason such things happen. There is no remedy by coming out to the press and speaking about this. There are so many debts to the nation, who can solve them? he said. It is the prerogative of the CJI to allot cases to the judges. If there is any problem, they can sit together and solve it. It can be done through a full court. But I do not think there is any case of impeachment of the CJI here. There is no ground for impeachment here, said Justice (Retd) Chatterjee. OPTION 5: HOLD A FULL COURT MEETING Justice Samaresh Banerjea, former Judge of the Calcutta High Court, told News18 that the damage caused to the institution of judiciary could only be repaired by the judiciary itself. Now these judges have to take leadership and the judiciary has to venture into this. A full court meeting has to be called which involves all the judges of the SC. All the judges will have to give their opinion on this issue and the judges need to find a way in the full court meeting. We are no one to judge the CJI or condemn him, said Justice (Retd) Banerjea. He also expressed fear that the press conference may lead to the public losing confidence in the judiciary. The press conference has caused a damage to the institution of judiciary. The four judges have given an explanation that the CJI did not listen to them but that point has not been elaborated. There is nothing to achieve by holding a press conference. Now the problems have been exposed to the public and now public might lose confidence in judiciary which is the most important part, said Justice (Retd) Banerjea. He questioned the fact that a copy of the letter was sent to the law minister. This opens avenue for doubts and questions that there is executive interference in the judiciary, he added. Guwahati: Kazi Neel doesnt go to Jumma, the Friday prayers. The 25-year-old youth from Assams Barpeta district calls himself an atheist. None from Kazi's family made it to the first draft of the updated National Register of Citizens (NRC), published on December 31 midnight, that included 1.9 crore people. My grandfathers name is mentioned in the 1951 NRC and the 1966 Voters list. My father cast his first vote in 1983. But both my parents were declared D-Voters in 1997. My father proved his citizenship, but our names still remain missing in the updated NRC list, he said. Shahjahan Kazis story is known to many. Despite working as a polling officer over eight elections, he wasnt allowed to vote because he was a D-voter. In May 2017, the Foreigners Tribunal cleared him of the Doubtful status, but he still awaits his name in the voters list. But Kazi and his family are only among the countless others whose names are missing from the updated NRC. For the Bengali-speaking Muslims of Assam or the Muslim minority of East Bengal origin, this could be their last chance to prove their citizenship and live a life with dignity. Farhad Bhuyan, a resident of Bahari village in Barpeta, is proud of his community working people, soldiers, police officers, business leaders, doctors and teachers. But he lives in fear and worries he might not be able to stay in this country, the only home he has ever known. He points to the name of his grandfather, Iman Bhuyan, barely visible in blue ink enlisted in 1951 NRC. I have submitted my Legacy Data documents from 1951, 1965 and 1971. My grandfather was marked as 1. INDIAN. We lived in a village called Tarabari in 1961, but it was completely washed away in erosion, after which my family shifted to Bhogdiya in Barpeta district itself, he informed. Bhuyan still has faith in the judiciary and wants no political party to hamper the Supreme Courts decision-making procedures. Over the past few years allegations have often been levelled against the ruling BJP for favouring Hindu immigrants in the matter of granting citizenship. Genuine Indian Muslims have very often been harassed as illegal migrants from Bangladesh. The government first came up with D-Voter tags, what if they now come up with a D-NRC class? Bhuyan said. The state coordinator of the NRC update Prateek Hajela has asked people not to panic, saying that the second draft would be prepared after further verification of the remaining 47 lakh people having doubtful parental linkage. Besides that, 29 lakh married women whose panchayat certificates were recently declared valid by the Supreme Court will also be verified in the second draft. Aman Wadud, a Guwahati-based Human Rights lawyer who has been working closely in the NRC case, said there will be opportunities for claims and objections after the second NRC list is published and before the final list as well. If someones name doesnt appear in the final list of updated NRC, their cases will be sent to Foreigners Tribunal, he said. Currently, about 2,000 Bengali-speaking Muslims languish in six detention centres in Assam after the Tribunal declared them as Foreigners. Although a few got relief from the Supreme Court after they challenged the verdict, many are yet to find hope. A recent study claimed disrespect, discrimination and detention can have long-term physical and psychological consequences on both who observe as well as who experience them. Kazi said he keeps watching TV news to stay updated on NRC developments while Bhuyan pins his hope of making it to the second list. Failing the citizenship test is now the biggest worry for the undocumented lot from the states minority community. For others who are living legally in Assam, its just a matter of pending verification. The news of Kapil Mohans demise last week would have gone unnoticed, unreported, and ungrieved, had it not been someone who was plain grateful for his sweet, memorable days of youth, or who just knew with a keen sense of history what the departed meant to a generation of men who grew up in the 70s and 80s. No legends are made in a day. The quintessential drink, which took the country by a storm in the 70s, looks at its lineage that goes back to Edward Dyer in 1855. The Englishman fathered two strains that struck the country hard the first one disastrous his son Colonel Dyer who oversaw the Jallianwalla massacre on 13 April 1919, but the second one not as ominous as the first a brewery in Kasauli in Himachal Pradesh, from where he launched the Lion brand of beer. The brewery changed hands, first by merging with the British-run brewery Meaking & Co, and with the Indian independence falling into the hands of NN Mohan, an ambitious businessman. The renamed Mohan Meakin Pvt. Ltd flourished in Uttar Pradeshs Ghaziabad diversifying its reach into new fields breakfast foods, fruit juices, and even cold storage. Colonel Ved Mohan who took over the company from his father in the 50s knew where to focus. He had already been inspired by the serene life of Benedictine monks and the drinks they brewed as they led their ascetic life in the mountains where they lived in the continent. He came back from his European journey with a dream. Could he capture the essence of their spirit in a bottle? Finally in 1954, Old Monk, the iconic product of Meakin distillery came out as a tribute to those men whom Ved Mohan saw and read about during his journey. But it was when Kapil Mohan took over the helm of the company in the 1970s with the demise of his brother Ved Mohan, that Old Monks tryst with destiny was made. In a matter of years, Kapil made sure that dark rum had only one synonym in the country Old Monk. It cockily wore the uniform marched in knocking off Hercules as the armys most preferred brand. OM now had a tough image to brandish. Soon a cult began to grew around the drink. Remember. There was no advertising. No marketing. No celebrity endorsements. The word just got around, making Old Monk, the largest single liquor brand in the country, second only to Bacardi if you look at the world scenario. The 42.8% alcohol with its rich vanilla flavour, contained in a squat bulb-shaped bottle had everything to capture the fancies of the youth. Its cheap price when compared to other kinds of drinks the colonial whisky and the womanly gin garnered further dollops of admiration for the colour black. In campuses, where boys had their first taste of spirits, Old Monk became a veritable passage of right all by itself. If you could down a few pegs without batting an eyelid, well inside a ring of seniors with critical eyes watching, you were taken bold, handsome, manly, fit to carry their legacy in the campus. There were further distinctions in the hierarchy. The ever popular popular rum and coke combination must in course of time mature into rum and water combo to reveal your macho side. Outside campuses, artists, writers, filmmakers religiously sat around those squat bulbs in evenings to discuss big ideas. How many classics books, paintings, and films should pay tribute to Old Monk, Bacchus only knows! For the aged, Old Monk was distilled from the sighs and tears of male nostalgia a nostalgia for good old times, good old music and good old women! Soon the whole country (of course not the saintly teetotallers), sang, danced, reeled and fell over Indias most favourite rum in the history of its spirits. Many attribute the heavenly (ask an Old monk fan) taste and success of the spirit to the water that goes into the drink sourced from the springs of Karol mountain in Solan, Himachal Pradesh. Many put it on its army tag. A few others think, it is the bottle which had the shape of a monks head that hit it off with the youth. Whatever be the reason, a love for Old Monk these days, spills out at worst, your age, however hard you try to hide it behind your makeup. Yes, the salad days are over for the quintessential drink of yesteryears. Ever since the country opened its gates to global players who peddle in alcohol, Old Monk has begun its climb down. The adamant stance of the company which bothered to cater only to its traditional followers stood in the way of redefining the drink for the modern times and tastes. Sales might have declined. But not the spirit of those avid fans of the drink who are of course well past the prime of their youth. The volley of response in the social media as the news of the demise of Kapil Mohan slowly spread around, once again brought forth to the surface, the undying passion for the dark drink. Cults do not die easily. Old monks too. (Manu Remakant is a freelance writer who also runs a video blog - A Cup of Kavitha - introducing world poetry to Malayalees. Views expressed here are personal) France's first panda cub made its debut public appearance Saturday, five months after its birth, to rapturous crowds -- some of whom had traveled hours to see the fluffy male. Yuan Meng, which means "making a dream come true" in Chinese, was introduced into his new enclosure in Beauval zoo in central France along with his mother as adoring onlookers ringed the site. "We got up at 3:00 in the morning. My son absolutely wanted to see the cub," said Delphine who had traveled from the Paris region. "We felt we took part in a historic moment. It was very moving," she said. Zoo veterinarian Baptiste Mulot said the cub had been brought to the enclosure over the past 10 days to familiarize himself with the surroundings. Panda reproduction, in captivity or in the wild, is notoriously difficult because the female panda is only in heat once a year for about 48 hours. But the number of pandas worldwide has rebounded since the black-and-white bear was declared an endangered animal in the 1980s, thanks to efforts to protect it and its habitat. China has dispatched its national treasure to only about a dozen countries, using the animal as a symbol of close relations. A female and male mate arrived in Beauval in 2012 after high-level negotiations between Paris and Beijing, but Yuan Meng was born through artificial insemination. Los Angeles: Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe has broken his silence on the controversy surrounding the casting of actor Johnny Depp in Fantastic Beasts movies. Radcliffe opened up about his thought on the casting backlash, which was first sparked after Depp was accused of abusing his ex-wife Amber Heard during their marriage, reports ew.com. Addressing the criticism that writer J.K. Rowling, director David Yates and studio Warner Bros. have faced in keeping Depp as the titular villain in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, Radcliffe said: "It's very hard thing for me." The Harry Potter depicter went on saying that the producers were the ones who "gave me a great start in life and an amazing job". He said: "I can see why people are frustrated with the response that they were given from that. "I'm not saying anything that anybody hasn't already said -- and this is a weird analogy to draw -- (but) in the NFL, there are lots of players arrested for smoking weed and there is other people's behavior that goes way beyond that and it's tolerated because they're very famous players." "I suppose the thing I was struck by was, we did have a guy who was reprimanded for weed on the (original 'Potter') film, essentially, so obviously what Johnny has been accused of is much greater than that," he added. Radcliffe was referring to Jamie Waylett, the actor who played Hogwarts bully Vincent Crabbe, who was dropped from the final Potter film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II, after he was arrested for growing marijuana plants in 2009. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is due out in the United States on November 16. New Delhi: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to welcome his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu who is coming to India on a five-day visit, his confidant Zafar Sareshwala said it was commendable that India was finally shunning the symbolism in its West Asia policy. The Chancellor of Hyderabads Maulana Azad National Urdu University, who was on a recent trip to Israel and Palestine, told News18 it was a welcome step that India has finally dehyphenated Israel and Palestine. Breaking the decades old convention, PM Modi had visited only Israel last year. A separate trip to Palestine could be on the cards, speculated Sareshwala. We dont want symbolism. In the past, I have congratulated the PM for not wearing a skullcap and for not holding Iftar parties. The same symbolism has to be done away with in diplomacy as well, he said. The difference between Congress and Modis style of dealing with Israel is that the Congress would meet Netanyahu behind closed doors, while Modi does it publically, said Sareshwala. Apart from diplomats and government officials, Netanyahus entourage to India will include businessmen with whom Sareshwalas Ahmedabad-based Parsoli Corp is scheduled to sign agreements for water conservation and desalination. Sareshwalas agreements with Israeli firms would continue an age-old association between Gujarati businessmen and Israel. The first Indian politician to visit Israel was former Chief Minister Chimanbhai Patel, who travelled to Israel in 1990, two years before New Delhi and Tel Aviv established diplomatic relations. Talking about his Palestine visit, Sareshwala said he visited Rawabi, Palestines first planned city on the West Bank. Much like his meeting with Anat Berko, his meeting with the citys 35-year-old mayor, Sheikh Rayyan, left an indelible mark. He said only four Indian names are popular in Palestine Salman Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Narendra Modi and Smriti Irani. Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (which starred Irani in the lead role) airs with Arabic subtitles. Many people wanted to know if I had met her, said Sareshwala. Sareshwalas visit to Israel and Palestine came in the first week of October last year, during which he also met four Israeli lawmakers. Among these lawmakers was Dr Anat Berko, a former national security adviser and said to be a member of Netanyahus inner circle. Sareshwala said it was this meeting which left him awe-struck. She was fluent in Quran and Hadith and gave Arabic translations to my quotes on Prophet Mohammad." Sareshwala said he was surprised to see that the Israeli parliament has a higher representation of Muslims than the Indian parliament. Of 116 lawmakers in Knesset, 16 are Muslims. Recalling his address at the iconic Bar-llan University in Israel, Sareshwala rued that the world had wrongly painted all Jews with the same brush, just as all Muslims are being seen as terrorists. The highlight of his visit, Sareshwala said, was a visit to the Biblical city of Nazareth, which is a start-up hub today. Of 39 companies, 19 were owned by Muslims. There is comfortable intermingling among Christians, Muslims and Jews, he said. Lucknow: Congress president Rahul Gandhi is set the visit his parliamentary constituency Amethi in Uttar Pradesh on Monday, his first since taking over from his her mother Sonia Gandhi. Rahul will reach Amethi via Rae Bareli for a two-day visit. He will also be visiting the Hanuman Mandir and eat khichdi, specially prepared for Makar Sankranti. Amethi and Rae Bareli are considered strongholds of the Congress. Currently Aditi Singh, daughter of five-time MLA Akhilesh Singh is the Congress MLA from Rae Bareli. However, BJP emerged on top in the recently concluded civic elections in Amethi and the current MLA of the area is also from the BJP. After leaving from Lucknow Airport, Rahul will be welcomed at Salon by Congress workers where a small interaction is on the cards. After this, he will proceed to Munshi Ganj guesthouse while meeting people and party workers on the way. He will then meet some senior party leaders here before calling it day. After strengthening party in Gujarat, Rahul Gandhi will certainly be looking to strengthen party in Uttar Pradesh, where it is not in a very good position at the moment. Tuesday will be hectic for Rahul with the day starting at Musafirkhana, where he will not just meet people but also hold a roadshow and a padyatra in an effort to reach out to the people of his constituency. After, this Rahul will move towards Gauriganj, Jagdishpur and Mohanganj before finally going back to Lucknow. Of 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, Congress managed to win only from Amethi and Rae Bareli. Currently, Sonia is MP from Rae Bareli. The biggest challenge for Rahul is to strengthen the party in the crucial state with general elections scheduled in 2019. Making things difficult, Samajwadi Party, their ally during the state Assembly elections in 2017, has expressed desire to go their own in the Lok Sabha elections of 2019. SP national president Akhilesh Yadav has already announced that he is more focused to strengthen the party at the moment and has expressed willingness to take the party solo to electoral hustings. At the same time, Union Minister Smriti Irani could once again contest against Rahul Gandhi from Amethi. Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday hit back at those who criticised him for gifting 10 copies of the Bhagavad Gita, costing Rs 3.8 lakh, to guests at a festival, and said his critics didn't know the value of the holy book. The state government came under fire from the opposition after it presented the books to some VVIPs, including the president, on the occasion of Gita Jayanti festival last year. They termed the gesture "a wastage of money". "Those who do not know the meaning or value of Gita could term it as wastage of money," Khattar said while speaking to media persons in Karnal. "The books were bought from a reputed company at a cost of Rs 37,900 as against its price of Rs 38,500," he said. Asked about the fate of the movie 'Padmaavat' in the state, Khattar said, "The Censor Board has made many cuts in this film but any decision about the screening of the film in the state would only be taken after watching the film". Addressing the 4,358 recruited constables of the 84th Batch at Madhuban centre, the chief minister told them they were selected on the basis of merit. "Three years ago, for employment, the youth had to make many visits to the leaders but now the recruitment is done on the basis of merit," said Khattar. "These constables will aptly use their education in the service of society and the state," he said. New Delhi: Congress president Rahul Gandhi will launch the first leg of his party's poll campaign in Karnataka on February 10, the state unit chief of the party, G Parameshwara, said on Saturday. The Karnataka polls are expected to be held in March-April. The dates for polling to the 225-member state Assembly are yet to be announced by the Election Commission (EC). Parameshwara was in the national capital to attend a meeting called by Gandhi to review the party's preparedness and discuss its strategy with senior leaders in the run-up to the Karnataka polls. "Rahulji will visit Karnataka from February 10-12 for the first leg of the (poll) campaign," Parameshwara told reporters after the meeting. Gandhi would start his Karnataka tour from Bengaluru and also travel to the other parts of the state, he said, adding, "Various programmes have been lined up on all three days. Rahulji will address farmers, intellectuals and students among others." Besides Parameshwara, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, state Congress' working presidents S R Patil and Dinesh Gundu Rao, the party's Karnataka in-charge KC Venugopal were also present at the meeting, besides senior Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, K Rahman Khan, K H Muniyappa, Oscar Fernandes and Veerappa Moily. Punjab and Karnataka are the only two big states in the country which are ruled by the Congress. Ahmedabad: A host of world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, have been hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad, ever since he came to power in 2014. On Wednesday, Modi will add Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the list. What makes Ahmedabad so important in PM Modi's scheme of things, making it appear like the second capital of the country? Political observers believe this is the Prime Minister's strategy to showcase development projects initiated by him as the Chief Minister of the state to world leaders and emphasise on decentralisation experiments that he has been working on. In September 2014, pictures of PM Modi and his Xi Jinping on a swing at the Sabarmati riverfront was widely showcased in publications and websites across the world, apart from being beamed live on hundreds of television channels in India and abroad. The following day, both heads of state held a bilateral dialogue in New Delhi but the visuals of the two at Sabarmati riverfront were still running on television screens. In September 2017, when Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited India to lay the foundation stone of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, PM Modis home state was given preference over the financial capital of the country. While visiting the Siddhi Saiyad Mosque in the walled city, Shinzo Abe was driven along the Sabarmati riverfront to get him a glimpse of the project. Most recently, on the last day of campaigning for the Gujarat assembly election, PM Modi again chose Sabarmati River for his seaplane take-off and landing. While the event did attract huge viewership for Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party, it also projected Ahmedabad as a frontline city where an additional avenue for transportation could open. Talking about this shift from convention by the current Prime Minister, senior journalist and political commentator Darshan Desai said, PM Modi's agenda of hosting top international leaders in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar instead of Delhi is a well thought out move. This is about showcasing Ahmedabad and its famous projects as his own model of development as Chief Minister. Desai added that hosting leaders in cities other than Delhi is in line with the decentralisation move. When Modi was Gujarat CM, occasions like Independence Day and Republic Day functions were held in various district headquarters of Gandhinagar. Now that he is PM, he is attempting the same strategy. Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and pressed the importance of maintaining Iran's nuclear accord, the Elysee Palace said on Saturday. "The president spoke of the importance of preserving the Iran nuclear deal, and the necessity for all parties to the agreement to respect the commitments they made," the Elysee statement said. The telephone exchange took place on Friday, but it was not immediately clear whether it came before or after U.S. President Donald Trump gave the nuclear deal a final reprieve whilst warning European allies they had to work with him to "fix the terrible flaws" of the pact or face U.S. withdrawal. Iran says its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes and that it will stick to the accord as long as the other signatories respect it but will "shred" the deal if Washington pulls out. Macron says he wants an uncompromising dialogue with Iran about its ballistic missile program and he told Netanyahu that efforts concerning Iranian ballistics as well as its regional activities should continue. Houston: Prosecutors in Texas will decide in the coming weeks whether to seek the death penalty against the Indian-American adoptive father of 3-year-old toddler Sherin Mathews whose decomposed body was found in a culvert, according to US media reports. A grand jury in Dallas County, Texas, on Friday returned several charges, most notably capital murder, against Sherin's foster father Wesley Mathews. The 37-year-old man from Kerala is accused of killing Sherin in October last year. The indictment says Wesley killed Sherin "by a manner and means unknown to the grand jury," court records show. The indictment for capital murder states that Wesley used a deadly weapon. The tampering with evidence indictment claims he altered, destroyed and concealed a human corpse with intent to impair evidence for a later police investigation. Wesley was arrested on October 7 and charged with felony injury to a child, which carries a sentence of up to life in prison, after Sherins body was found on October 22 in a culvert in suburban Dallas by a cadaver dog after an intense search. Initially, Wesley told police that he put her outside their home at 3 am to discipline her for not drinking her milk. His story changed after her body was found in a culvert, telling police that he "physically assisted" with pouring the milk down Sherin's throat and then moved her body after he realised she had choked and died. Prosecutors in Dallas will decide in the coming weeks whether to seek the death penalty against Wesley, CNN reported. Authorities were tight-lipped at a press conference on Friday, saying they did not want to prejudice a jury and were continuing to investigate the case that attracted much global attention and led to tightening of Indias child adoption policy. "We do want to make certain justice is done on behalf of this little 3-year-old," said District Attorney Faith Johnson. "We will be seeking justice on her behalf." "We are going to be the voice for her in this offense, and do all we can to make sure the fair and just thing is done, said Johnson. The Dallas County Medical Examiners office said last week that while Sherins manner of death was homicidal violence, her exact cause of death could not be determined because of extensive decomposition. Johnson said the result of the autopsy led them to file the capital murder charge. "We have some information as to what might have happened, Johnson said. "But we are still investigating, looking into the facts, trying to make our case look better, and get better as we research, investigate and prepare for trial." Despite the limited details about what actually happened to Sherin, Johnson said she's confident her team will be able to get justice. "We plan to be very tenacious, persistent, prosecute this case to the fullest, do the best we can, Johnson said. Sherin was adopted by the Indian-American couple from Bihar in 2016. Her highly decomposed body was found by a cadaver dog in a culvert beneath a road in suburban Dallas on October 22, two weeks after she mysteriously vanished from their home in Richardson. The medical examiner has ruled that Sherin died from homicidal violence but did not release additional details. "Based on the autopsy report we were able to determine we could seek capital murder in this case," Johnson said. The capital murder indictment against Mathews was a new development in the case, Fox4News.com reported. Wesley previously was charged with injury to a child, a first-degree felony punishable with a maximum 99 years in prison. Friday's indictment adds abandoning a child and tampering with evidence, second-degree allegations punishable by two to 20 years in prison. Sherin's adoptive mother, Sini Mathews, 35, faces one count of abandoning a child. That stems from the couple's decision to leave the girl at home on October 6 while they went out to dinner with their biological child, according to the indictment. Sini, a registered nurse, has maintained her innocence. Autopsy results were pending for several months before the Dallas County medical examiner's office on January 3 ruled Sherin's death a homicide. It did not offer many details on what might have caused Sherin's death. But in March, several months before her death, a doctor found multiple healing fractures on the child. The doctor contacted the Child Protection Services after finding multiple fractures in various stages of healing. Sherin suffered injuries to her upper-arm bones and fractures in her leg bones that were in various stages of healing, according to a court testimony. The doctor, Suzanne Dakil of the Referral and Evaluation of At Risk Children Clinic, testified at a custody hearing involving the couple's biological daughter that she suspected Sherin had been injured at the hands of her parents. "I had no explanation other than this that child had been physically abused," Dakil had testified. The Indian government has barred the operations of Holt International, the US adoption agency involved in placing Sherin with the Mathews family. The firm said it has followed all national and international laws and best practices during the adoption process. Richardson Police Chief Jim Spivey said he is "pleased that we have reached this stage" after the indictments against the parents were announced. "It has been a very intensive case for the Richardson Police Department," he said. Jerusalem: Israel said Sunday it used a combination of air strikes and other means to destroy a tunnel stretching from the Gaza Strip into the country and continuing into Egypt. Israeli military spokesman Jonathan Conricus said the tunnel belonged to Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas and was intended for attacks as opposed to smuggling. Such tunnels have been used to carry out attacks in the past. He said he was not aware of any casualties from the destruction of the tunnel, which was still being built. It ran underneath the main goods crossing between Israel and the blockaded Gaza Strip -- known as Kerem Shalom -- as well as gas and fuel pipelines, he said. According to Conricus, Israeli air strikes late Saturday along with other unspecified means were used to destroy the tunnel. The strikes occurred within the Gaza Strip, while further means were used in Israeli territory. The tunnel began east of the city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip, crossed into Israel some 180 metres, then continued into Egypt for an unspecified length, with no exit point detected, he said. Conricus said Israel had coordinated with Egypt on the operation. The tunnel stretched a total length of around a kilometre and a half, he said. Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said: "Destroying the network of offensive tunnels is an essential component in our policy of systematically damaging the strategic abilities of Hamas." "The message to the Gaza leadership and residents is clear -- invest in life and not burial tunnels," Lieberman said in a statement. Israel says it has been developing a new method to identify and destroy such tunnels, though it does not comment on details. It is also building an underground wall in the area around the Gaza Strip to stop such tunnels. The latest tunnel was the third destroyed since late October by Israel, but it comes at a particularly sensitive time. Tensions between Palestinians and Israel have been high since US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital on December 6. Unrest has included rockets being fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel, with Israel's military responding with air strikes. Conricus said Sunday Israel was defending its sovereignty with the destruction of the tunnel and was not seeking an escalation. Sydney: About 1,500 people are being evacuated from an island off the northern coast of Papua New Guinea (PNG) after a nearby volcano erupted, the local Red Cross said on Sunday. A volcano on the island of Kadovar, located about 24 km (15 miles) north of the Papuan mainland, began erupting on Jan. 5. That prompted the evacuation of 590 people on Kadovar to the nearby island of Blup Blup. After venting ash for several days, the volcano exploded on Friday, blasting out glowing red rocks and sulphur dioxide, the Rabaul Volcanological Observatory said in a bulletin. The PNG government then decided to evacuate Blup Blup as well because of issues with supplying people on the island along with the danger from the eruption. The evacuees are being moved to the mainland and the International Red Cross is providing about 87,000 kina ($26,274) in funding to help them, said PNG Red Cross Secretary General Uvenama Rova by telephone from the capital of Port Moresby. "The people there, as the volcano erupted, they rushed immediately to escape. So they are in immediate need of food, water, shelter and clothing as well," he said. In the latest bulletin issued on Sunday, the Observatory said a dome of lava on Kadover was visible in the sea at the base of thick white steam clouds that are rising to 600 metres (1,969 feet) above sea level. Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop announced on twitter that the Australian Government was contributing A$25,000 ($19,775) worth of humanitarian supplies for those affected. There are no confirmed records of a previous eruption of Kadovar, said Chris Firth, a vulcanologist at Macquarie University, but scientists speculate it could have been one of two "burning islands" mentioned in the journals of a 17th-century English pirate and maritime adventurer, William Dampier. Istanbul: A passenger plane late Saturday skidded off the runway just metres away from the sea as it landed at an airport in northern Turkey, local media images showed. The Pegasus Airlines flight had taken off smoothly from the capital Ankara and landed in Trabzon, but skidded off the runway in the northern airport. No one was injured or killed in the landing. Dramatic images from CNN Turk broadcaster showed the plane dangerously hanging off a cliff several metres (feet) from the Black Sea, its wheels stuck in the mud. Other images from Dogan news agency showed smoke emanating from the trapped plane. Pegasus Airlines confirmed in a statement on Sunday there were no injuries among the 162 passengers onboard as well as two pilots and four cabin crew after they were evacuated. The cause of the incident was not known but an investigation is underway, the Trabzon governor's office said. One of the passengers, Fatma Gordu, panic erupted onboard during the landing. "We tilted to the side, the front was down while the plane's rear was up. There was panic; people shouting, screaming," she told state-run news agency Anadolu. The airport was temporarily shut before reopening on Sunday morning. Moscow: Iran said on Saturday it would retaliate against new sanctions imposed by the United States after President Donald Trump set an ultimatum to fix "disastrous flaws" in a deal curbing Tehran's nuclear programme. Trump said on Friday he would waive nuclear sanctions on Iran for the last time to give the United States and European allies a final chance to amend the pact. Washington also imposed sanctions on the head of Iran's judiciary and others. Russia - one of the parties to the Iran pact alongside the United States, China, France, Britain, Germany and the European Union - called Trump's comments "extremely negative." The ultimatum puts pressure on Europeans, key backers of the 2015 nuclear deal, to satisfy Trump, who wants the pact strengthened with a separate agreement within 120 days. While approving the waiver on U.S. sanctions related to the nuclear deal, Washington announced other sanctions against 14 Iranian entities and people, including judiciary head Ayatollah Sadeq Larijani, a close ally of Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Describing sanctions against Larijani as "hostile action", Iran's Foreign Ministry said the move "crossed all red lines of conduct in the international community and is a violation of international law and will surely be answered by a serious reaction of the Islamic Republic," state media reported. It did not specify what any retaliation might involve. Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had earlier said on Twitter that the deal was "not renegotiable" and that Trump's move "amounts to desperate attempts to undermine a solid multilateral agreement." Iran says its nuclear programme has only peaceful aims and says it will stick to the accord as long as others respect it. But it has said it would "shred" the deal if Washington quit. "LAST CHANCE" Trump, who has sharply criticised the deal reached in Barack Obama's presidency, had chafed at having to once again waive sanctions on a country he sees as a threat in the Middle East. "Despite my strong inclination, I have not yet withdrawn the United States from the Iran nuclear deal," Trump said in a statement, saying the options were to fix "the deals disastrous flaws, or the United States will withdraw." "This is a last chance," Trump said, pushing for a separate agreement and saying the United States would not waive sanctions again to keep Iran in the pact without such an agreement. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov called Trump's remarks "extremely negative", RIA state news agency reported. "Our worst fears are being confirmed, he said. The EU said in a statement it had taken note of Trumps decision and would assess its implications. "It's going to be complicated to save the deal after this," said one European diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity. Britain, France and Germany had called on Trump on Thursday to uphold the pact. Senior U.S. administration officials told reporters Trump would work with Europeans on a follow-on deal to enshrine triggers that the Iranian government could not exceed related to ballistic missiles. Republican Senator Bob Corker said "significant progress" had been made on bipartisan congressional legislation to address "flaws in the agreement without violating U.S. commitments." CONDITIONS Trump laid out conditions to keep Washington in the deal. Iran must allow "immediate inspections at all sites requested by international inspectors," he said, and "sunset" provisions imposing limits on Iran's nuclear programme must not expire. Trump said U.S. law must tie long-range missile and nuclear weapons programs together, making any missile testing by Iran subject to "severe sanctions." The president wants U.S. Congress to modify a law that reviews U.S. participation in the nuclear deal to include "trigger points" that, if violated, would lead to the United States reimposing its sanctions, the official said. This would not entail negotiations with Iran but would be the result of talks with European allies, the official said. A decision to withhold a waiver would have effectively ended the deal between Iran and the other international signatories. The other parties to the agreement would have been unlikely to join the United States in reimposing sanctions. Two EU diplomats said EU foreign ministers would discuss next steps at their next regular meeting on Jan. 22 in Brussels. Washington: Transgender whistleblower Chelsea Manning, jailed for leaking classified information, is seeking election in the US state of Maryland, a document seen on Saturday says. The Federal Election Commission document, filed Thursday, lists Chelsea Elizabeth Manning of North Bethesda, Maryland, as a Democratic candidate for the United States senate. Manning, now 30, was an army intelligence analyst sentenced to 35 years in prison in 2013 for leaking more than 700,000 classified documents related to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The revelations by Manning, then known as Bradley Manning, exposed covered-up misdeeds and possible crimes by US troops and allies. Her actions made Manning a hero to anti-war and anti-secrecy activists but US establishment figures branded her a traitor. Then-president Barack Obama commuted Manning's sentence, leading to her release in May. During her incarceration, Manning battled for, and won, the right to start hormone treatment. On Twitter, she identifies herself as a "trans woman," and carries the slogan: "Make powerful people angry." The Democratic Senate incumbent is Ben Cardin, who was first elected in 2006 and is the senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In elections last year, transgender candidate Danika Roem was elected to the Virginia state House of Delegates, becoming the first openly transgender lawmaker in the United States. US President Donald Trump has labeled Manning a traitor. He also tried to bar transgender personnel from the military, but federal courts ruled against that ban. Washington: The White House has denied and corrected a quote attributed to President Donald Trump that suggested he had good contacts with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. "I probably have a very good relationship with Kim Jong-Un," Trump was quoted as telling The Wall Street Journal in an interview on Thursday, refusing to confirm whether the two had spoken. "I have relationships with people. I think you people are surprised." But Press Secretary Sarah Sanders insisted -- in a Twitter meme -- that Trump was misquoted. "President Trump said, I'D probably have a very good relationship with Kim Jong Un of North Korea. I'D -- I'D -- I'D. NOT I!" the message read, with "I'D" in red ink, under a red banner reading "FAKE NEWS." Mockingly mimicking the newspaper's front page, it then reads "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL -- FAKE NEWS IS AT IT AGAIN! --FALSELY QUOTING PRESIDENT TRUMP." Washington and Pyongyang are in a standoff over North Korea's missile and nuclear programs, which could be used to target the United States and its allies. Trump has repeatedly insulted the North Korean leader, describing him as mad and a "rocket man." Asked if he had spoken to Kim, Trump said "I don't want to comment on it. I'm not saying I have or haven't. I just don't want to comment." Trump suggested his variable position on individuals was part of a broader strategy. But it was not clear how his remarks fit with his self-described policy of "maximum pressure" on Pyongyang. Next week, the United States and Canada are to host a meeting on the nuclear standoff with North Korea in Vancouver, bringing together friendly powers from around the world. THE wife of a prominent Bulawayo businessman reportedly teamed up with their son and confronted and assaulted the latter and his mistress over an affair, a matter that has since spilled into the courts. The businessman, Mr Garikai Matanhire (42) dragged his wife Phathiso Matanhire (43) to court, after she reportedly assaulted him and the alleged mistress in a supposed infidelity row. The matter was heard on 10 January at the Tredgold Magistrates Courts. Mr Matanhire, who owns BMW Service Centre situated at corner 16th Avenue along Matopos Road, opposite the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), dragged his wife Phathiso to court where she briefly appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Franklin Mkhwananzi. Phathiso is facing two counts of physical abuse as defined in Section 3 (1) (a) as read with Section 4 of the Domestic Violence Act Chapter 5.16. According to court documents, in the first count, Phathiso hit her husband with a stone in an incident that occurred on 17 December 2017 at around 8pm, at a local leisure resort centres car park. On the night in question, Phathiso, who was in the company of their son, allegedly trailed Mr Matanhire to the drinking spot, where he was to meet with the alleged mistress. Court documents further state that an argument then broke out between the two, resulting in Mr Matanhire fleeing to his car in a bid to drive off. However, he was blocked by his son, who pulled out the car keys from the ignition. Mr Matanhire is then believed to have confronted his son, asking him why he was behaving in such a manner. It is further alleged that Phathiso went on to grab the car keys from their son, before she picked up a stone and tried to hit Mr Matanhire on the head. Mr Matanhire is said to have blocked her aim and instead was hit on his left hand. In the second count, Phathiso is being charged with assault as defined in Section 89 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23. Phathiso is said to have switched her attention from Mr Matanhire and hit the alleged mistress with a stone on the right leg and on the head. Both Mr Matanhire and the alleged mistress reported the matter to the police resulting in investigations being carried out. The matter was remanded to 24 January. Sunday News THE Government should change traditional chiefs regalia with immediate effect as it does not reflect the countrys cultural values and practices but is a symbol of colonialism, Vice-President General Constantino Chiwenga (Rtd) has said. General Chiwenga (Rtd) made the remarks while introducing President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the Chiefs Indaba held at the Zanu-PF Convention Centre in Gweru yesterday. The Vice-President said the Government should not take longer than a month to change the chiefs paraphernalia and replace it with traditional regalia which reflected African culture. Your Excellency, my grandfather was a chief and during colonialism he was victimised for refusing to don this red gown and that hard hat which the chiefs use as their regalia. It was introduced by our former colonial masters and does not reflect our culture. We have our own traditional regalia which we wear during ritual ceremonies. Your Excellency, my suggestion is that we change this regalia with immediate effect. I dont think it should take us a month to do that, he said. General Chiwenga (Rtd) said President Mnangagwa was an astute leader with unquestionable liberation war credentials. He said the President had shown his commitment and dedication to serve the country from the time of the liberation struggle to post-independence Zimbabwe where he served the nation diligently in different portfolios. Chronicling part of the Presidents history General Chiwenga (Rtd) said, Our President, Shumba Murambwi, was born in 1942 in Zvishavane and his family was sent to the then Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) after exhibiting passive resistance by defying Bantu Commissioners (now District Administrators) during the colonial era. While in Zambia, Cde Mnangagwa underwent military training under Zapu, he was then sent to China where he trained with others from Zimbabwe before returning to the country where he was then arrested for derailing a locomotive. He was sentenced to death but was exonerated by virtue of his young age. He then served 10 years and studied his law degree which he later finished in Lusaka, Zambia where he was sent after he was released from prison. He came back and became the Secretary for Security in the party doubling as Special Assistant to the President. After Independence he served in different capacities before being elected Second Secretary of Zanu-PF and Vice-President of the country before subsequently becoming the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe. Sunday News Zimbabwe imported non-essentials worth a whopping US$10 million in 2017, with toilet paper, chewing gum, dog and cat food topping the list. The overall January to November import bill was US$4,9 billion against exports of US$3, 4 billion, an increase of 40 percent on 2016 outbound sales. Latest Zimbabwe National Statistical Agency information shows US$3, 4 million was spent on tissue paper, US$1,3 million on cat and dog food and US$1,2 million on chewing gum. Toothbrushes worth roughly US$1, 1 million were imported while dish towels, dusters and mutton cloths accounted for US$287 887. An additional US$427 973 was splurged on natural honey, floor sweepers, mops and feather dusters. Cumulatively, over 4 000 types of household and industrial materials were brought into Zimbabwe from 155 countries. Industry, Commerce and Enterprise Development Minister Dr Mike Bimha said authorities were addressing the situation through domestic industry support interventions. I dont have those figures yet, but Governments policy is clear. We are in the process of growing investments and encouraging local content production. So, we are working with various stakeholders to ensure we increase availability of foreign currency. Statutory Instrument 64 resuscitated a lot of companies and even those that did not want foreign currency previously suddenly approached the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to ask for it. Buy Zimbabwe general manager Mr Munyaradzi Hwengwere said, Its an irrational act of exuberance. We need to either substitute imports or increase exports to cover up for the non-essentials we continue to import. The fact remains that if you do not generate well, you remain poor. Even locally-manufactured products require foreign components for their manufacture. These raw materials often make up to 60 percent of the product. Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries president Mr Sifelani Jabangwe added, Local production is important. Incessant importation of raw materials and finished goods at a time foreign currency is scarce here is to blame for basic goods price hikes. In 2017, US$240 million was spent on importing soya bean crude oil which is used in the manufacture of cooking oil. As a country, we have to try and reduce importing goods we are capable of producing on our own, for instance, soya bean crude oil. If we had our own (crude oil), that would have saved the country about 30 percent and that sum would have been used in other sectors that require financial support. Captains of industry are engaging Government over a foreign currency allocation strategy that prioritises essential industries. Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers president Mr Denford Mutashu said, Imports are coming in formally and informally. Some of these products are not under SI64, hence they continue to be imported. Its a mystery that we have stooped so low as to import anything that has a foreign brand on it. There should be a strategy to position our country so that it can produce such trinkets on its own because we have the capacity. To us, retailers, its an issue of consumer choice. We need to create an environment of policy predictability so that those who are able to manufacture such goods will do so knowing that their investments are secure. Its also an issue of machinery. We need to invest in the requisite machinery. Sunday Mail (Newser) On the heels of a renewed hunt for treasure in a tiny French village comes the tale of buried treasure in California. The San Francisco Chronicle takes a look back at one of the state's colorful historical figures: Granville P. Swift, the great-nephew of Daniel Boone who came to the state in the mid-1800s with a plan to be a fur trapper. Gold called his name instead. He found it at Bidwell's Bar, with the paper quoting a fellow prospector as saying Swift was an exceptional miner who "must have made $100,000" in one prospecting season. Indeed, reports at the time indicate he arrived in San Francisco with more than $500,000 in gold, which he had minted into octagonal slugsand began to bury around the Bay Area. story continues below The Vacaville Reporter previously reported that Swift reburied roughly $100,000 in gold after building his mansion in 1858, but the Chronicle reports a "scatter-brained" Swift failed to recall where he had put much of it. He died in 1875 with much of his haul secreted away in forgotten locations. Some was found in the early 20th century, including $30,000 found in 1904 while repairing a chimney on his property. But the last big find was in 1914, suggesting, in the Chronicle's view, there's more out there to be found ... and not much more than unhelpful-seeming clues to go on. The Reporter notes a "list in his handwriting miraculously survived," but the clues are of this sort: "1 tin box & 1 Little Bottle Boath in the saim hoal." (Read more gold stories.) (Newser) An investigation by the Chicago Tribune has found that at least 75 women have been strangled or smothered over the last 17 years, though arrests have been made in just a third of the cases. The newspaper reports that the women's bodies were found in vacant buildings, alleys, garbage cans, and snow banks. Many of the women struggled with drugs or prostitution, while some had no arrest records. Chicago police say they've found no evidence of a serial killer. The newspaper's analysis of medical examiner records and public crime reports also found that the women ranged in age from 18 to 58 and most were African American. Of the 75 cases, 25 have been closed with the arrests of 13 men. That leaves 67% unsolved, reports the AP. story continues below Police wouldn't say if there are active suspects in those cases, but officials reviewed more than a dozen cases after being contacted by the newspaper and referred three to cold case detectives. Autopsies show some women were also raped and beaten. Others were gagged, had plastic bags tightened around their heads, and suffered severe head injuries. "The brutal nature of these crimes is very disturbing," Chief of Detectives Melissa Staples said. The police department had formed a task force when the bodies of dozens of women were found in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The task force solved the slayings of 40 women, but it was eventually disbanded. Staples said she isn't sure the task force needs to be reinstated, but Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx said it was worth considering to raise the "level of urgency" in clearing cases. (Read more Chicago stories.) (Newser) Two of the biggest names in fashion photography have been accused of sexual harassment and exploitation by the models they worked with, and it's already starting to cost them work. The New York Times reports that 15 former and current male models accuse Bruce Weber of engaging in inappropriate and coercive sexual behavior during photo shoots. Weber is famous for his work for such clothing companies as Calvin Klein and Abercrombie & Fitch. In the same article, 13 male models and assistants claim photographer Mario Testino, whose work often appears in Vogue, forced himself on them sexually. Ryan Locke, a former Gucci model who worked with Testino during the 1990s, called the photographer a "sexual predator." story continues below Both Weber and Testino have denied the allegations. Through a statement released by his lawyer, Weber called the accusations "outrageous," and Testino's lawyers raised questions about his accusers' credibility and characters. Response from the fashion industry, however, has been swift. Not long after the story was published, Conde Nast, the publisher of Vogue, GQ, and other magazines, announced that it would not work with Weber or Testino "for the foreseeable future," the BBC reports. And Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour released a statement saying the claims have "been hard to hear and heartbreaking to confront." (Read more Vogue stories.) (Newser) "This system failed miserably and we need to start over." Those are the words of Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz in the wake of a false alarm broadcast Saturday warning residents of an incoming missile. The FCC apparently agrees and says it will open an investigation into the incident, which had Hawaiians mistakenly thinking that a missile was inbound for 38 minutes on Saturday morning. "Emergency alerts are meant to keep us and our families safe, not to create false panic. We must investigate and we must do better," FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel tweeted, per NBC News. Hawaii Gov. David Ige says the alert went out "when an employee pushed the wrong button" during a shift change. A look around at coverage, including accounts from residents who got a scary awakening: story continues below CNN takes a look at Hawaii's three-part warning system, which it began testing in December and which combines outdoor sirens, an Emergency Alert System that utilizes cable TV and wireless cable, and the Wireless Emergency Alert system. It's a system without a lot of leeway: A North Korean missile could hit Hawaii in 20 minutes. Pacific Command needs five minutes to assess a launch, giving people 15 minutes to find shelter. "It's not much time at all," says the state's Emergency Management Agency's administrator. "But it is enough time to give yourself a chance to survive." "So this is what it feels like to believe that you could have a nuclear bomb or an incoming missile about to destroy your world," writes Jon Letman at the Daily Beast. "Something must be done. Not just about the flawed mobile warning system in Hawaii but about a situation in which this scenario is even plausible." At the Washington Post, Allison Wallis recounts frantically searching for the dog, texting her husband, and directing her young daughter to fill up the bathtub. "The fear I felt the first time I heard the nuke test siren, it turns out, is only a modicum of the fear I feel now, cowering in a bathroom with my child." (Read more Hawaii stories.) (Newser) A burning Iranian tanker listing for days off the coast of China after a collision with another vessel sank Sunday, with an Iranian official saying there was "no hope" of survival for the 29 missing sailors onboard. Iranian state television reported that the Sanchi had sunk Sunday in the East China Sea, reports the AP. An anchorwoman on state television also offered condolences on behalf of the nation for the loss. State TV quoted Mahmoud Rastad, the chief of Iran's maritime agency, as saying: "There is no hope of finding survivors among the (missing) 29 members of the crew." President Hassan Rouhani expressed condolences and called on relevant government agencies to investigate the tragedy and take any necessary legal measures. Chinese state-run broadcaster CGTN reported that the ship's voice data recorder, which functions like "black boxes" on aircraft, had been recovered. story continues below The cause of the collision, 160 miles off the coast of Shanghai, remains unclear. Three bodies have been recovered from the sea, leaving 29 crew members unaccounted for. The Chinese freighter CF Crystal, which collided with the Panamanian-registered tanker, had 21 crew members, all of whom were safe. Television footage Saturday showed parts of the Sanchi still aflame, its hull and superstructure completely stripped of paint. Thirteen ships, including one from South Korea and two from Japan, were engaged in rescue and cleanup effort Saturday, spraying foam in an effort to extinguish the fire. The Sanchi was carrying nearly 1 million barrels of condensate, a type of gassy, ultra-light oil that readily evaporates or burns off in a fire, reducing the chance of a major oil spill. (Read more oil tanker stories.) (Newser) A commercial plane that skidded off a runway after landing in northern Turkey ended up dangling precariously off a muddy cliff with its nose only a few feet from the sea, reports the AP. Some of the 168 people on board the Boeing 737-800 described it as a "miracle" that everyone was evacuated safely. Images show the aircraft on its belly and at an acute angle just above the water. If it had slid any further along the slope, the plane would have likely plunged into the Black Sea in the Turkish province of Trabzon. The incident late Saturday created panic among the 162 passengers on board Pegasus Airlines Flight PC8622. The six-member crew, including two pilots, was also evacuated and Pegasus said there were no injuries. Flights were suspended at Trabzon Airport for several hours after the incident before resuming again Sunday. story continues below Passenger Yuksel Gordu told Turkey's official Anadolu news agency that words weren't enough to describe their fear. "It's a miracle we escaped. We could have burned, exploded, flown into the sea," Gordu said. "Thank God for this. I feel like I'm going crazy when I think about it." Another passenger, Fatma Gordu, told private Dogan news agency that there was a loud sound after landing. "We swerved all of a sudden," she said. "The front of the plane crashed and the back was in the air. Everyone panicked." Trabzon Gov. Yucel Yavuz said that investigators were trying to determine why the plane had left the runway. The prosecutor's office launched an investigation. The flight originated in the capital, Ankara. (Read more Turkey stories.) (Newser) President Trump is taking his battle against "fake news" to one of his most reliable supporters. This morning the president started his day by slamming the Wall Street Journal on Twitter for allegedly misquoting him in an interview published Thursday, Politico reports. In the interview Trump is quoted as saying, "I probably have a good relationship with Kim Jong Un," referring to the North Korean leader with whom Trump has been in a war of words for months. But today Trump said the Journal got the quote wrong. "Obviously I didnt say that," the president tweeted. "I said Id have a good relationship with Kim Jong Un, a big difference. Fortunately we now record conversations with reporters..." Trump went on to say that the Journal knew "exactly" what it was doing. "They just wanted a story," he wrote. "FAKE NEWS!" story continues below Saturday night the WSJ released their audio recording of the interview on Twitter, claiming it proves that Trump said "I" and not "I'd." White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders then responded by releasing the "official audio" on her Twitter feed, claiming it proves the opposite. Though Trump has clashed with the press repeatedly during his presidency, he has generally had a good relationship with the Wall Street Journal, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch, who also owns Fox News. (Read more Donald Trump stories.) (Newser) Martin Shkreli owes New York hundreds of thousands of dollars, and to get it back the state's tax office has been seizing and selling some of the most prized possessions of the so-called "pharma bro." On Friday, state tax officials told CNBC they had already auctioned off a rare Enigma machine used by the Nazis to send secret code during World War II. It went for $65,000 at auction after being seized last May. New York also auctioned off an unpublished manuscript signed by Isaac Newton for $38,000 and a signed letter from Charles Darwin describing his research aboard the HMS Beagle for $5500. All told, the state has recouped $134,500, leaving Shkreli's bill at just over $450,000. story continues below Which means New York won't be stopping there. Courthouse News reports that the state filed a forfeiture request on Nov. 30 in Brooklyn totaling $7.3 million. That includes the only copy of a Wu-Tang Clan album, a Pablo Picasso painting, and several investments. The government also wants Shkreli to forfeit his interest in his company, Turing Pharmaceuticals, but his lawyer says that the stake is not liquid and that turning it over would harm employees and shareholders. Shkreli was convicted in August of defrauding investors in two of his hedge funds. He faces up to 20 years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced in February. (Read more Martin Shkreli stories.) Slim Williams mushed from Alaska to the Chicago World's Fair in 1932-33 with his lead dog, Rembrandt. They are standing beside his wheel-equipped sled in an unidentified community in British Columbia. The drawing is based on photos from the Royal BC Museum archives. Let us know what you're seeing and hearing around the community. Submit here New Delhi: Toyota's luxury automobile brand, Lexus, is all set to launch its new Lexus LS 500h in India. The launch is said to take place on January 15. This will be the companys fifth motor in the country as it has already launched four of its automobiles earlier. The Lexus LS 500h made its debut at the 2017 Detroit Motor Show and just after an year, it is set to be launched in India. The expected price at which the motor is set to launch is expected to be around 1 crore. The LS 500h is said to be based on the new TNGA platform which makes it more modern. The car comes with the signature Lexus spindle grille and sleek headlamps. Also Read: Toyota's Luxury brand Lexus enters India with launch of 3 models The luxury sedan gets a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine that works with to electric motors and gives an output of 350 bhp. The Lexus LS 500h gets an eCTV transmission which powers the all-wheel-drive-system of the car. The wheelbase of the LS 500h stands at 3100 mm and the seats will be adjustable with a 48-degree recline for the backrests. The sedan will come with 28-way adjustable electric front seats with heating, cooling and massage functions. The new LS 500h sedan will be in competition with Mercedes Benz S-Class, BMW 7 Series, Audi A8 L and Jaguar XJ L. New Delhi: A 7-member delegation of the Bar Council of India led by its chairman Manan Kumar Mishra on Sunday met Justice Chelameswar, on of the four judges who held the unprecedented press conference. The meeting between the Bar Council delegation and Justice Chelameswar took place at the latter's residence in Delhi and lasted for around one hour. After meeting Justice Chelameswar, the members of the Bar Council refused to share the details and said, "Will react after meeting Chief Justice of India & other three judges in the evening." According to sources, the seven-member delegation is scheduled to meet remaining three judges and Chief Justice of India Dipak Mishra during the course of the day. The BCI had on Saturday formed a seven-member delegation to meet and discuss with the apex court judges issues arising out of the press conference by the four senior-most judges of the top court. Bar Council of India delegation leaves after meeting Justice Chelameswar, member says 'will react after meeting Chief Justice of India & other three judges in the evening' pic.twitter.com/G2bGdXyn74 ANI (@ANI) January 14, 2018 However, Justice Kurian Joseph, one of the four Supreme Court Judges who held the unprecedented press conference, said there was no need for an outside intervention in the matter. There is no need for outside intervention to solve the matter because it is a matter (that) occurred within an institution. Necessary steps would be taken by the institution itself to sort it out, Justice Joseph told reporters in Kochi after the Bar Council decision. On January 12, four senior-most judges of the Supreme courtjustices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, M B Lokur and Kurian Joseph -- had mounted a virtual revolt against the CJI at a press meet in Delhi on Friday raising a litany of problems including assignment of cases. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Mumbai: The son of special CBI judge B H Loya on Sunday said the family was convinced that his father had died of natural causes. My father died of natural causes, our family is convinced it was a natural death... I have made myself clear that we do not have a suspicion... It was a natural death, Anuj Loya told PTI. Asked about the petitions filed before the Bombay High Court and Supreme Court seeking a probe into his fathers death, Anuj said, I do not have anything to say about it. I am no one to talk about it. I am speaking on behalf of the entire family, including my aunt and my grandfather. We are clear about it. On the future course of action the family intended to take, he said they were trying to get things normal. Earlier, at a press conference here, Anuj said although he and his family earlier had suspicions about his fathers death, they no longer harboured such doubts. Anuj, 21, while stating that his family was pained by the things happening over his fathers death, told reporters that NGOs and politicians should stop harassing his family over the issue. I had an emotional turmoil, hence I had suspicions about his death. But now we do not have any doubts about the way he died, the son of the late judge told reporters. Earlier, my grandfather and aunt had some doubts about his death, which they shared. But now neither of them has any doubts, he said. Also Read: Justice BH Loya's death is a serious matter, observes Supreme Court The deceased judges father and Anujs aunt had alleged foul play behind his death. Justice Loya, who was hearing the sensitive Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, had allegedly died of a cardiac arrest in Nagpur on December 1, 2014, when he had gone to attend the wedding of a colleagues daughter. BJP chief Amit Shah was an accused in the case and was subsequently discharged. With tears in his eyes, Anuj told reporters, We faced some pressure from politicians and NGOs. We do not want to name anyone, but please excuse my family from continuously asking about my fathers death. By going through some media reports and everything, (my) family is facing a lot of troubles... because of the all the things happening. We do not have any allegations against anyone. We are really pained... We are trying to get out of these things. I request you people, please do not try to harass or trouble us. I want to convey to you all, he said. K B Katake, retired district judge and a family friend of Loya, who was also present at the conference, said, The 85-year-old father of B H Loya is being harassed by some people, who are asking some questions in respect of the death of his only son and that creates panic in the family. There was no suspicion in the mind of any family member with respect to the death of justice Loya. However, the people are harassing and making the family members panic, he said. His (Anujs) mother is ill. Every day she requires medical treatment. On behalf of Loyas family, I request you all media people to convey to those NGOs, lawyers and politicians not to go to his family, not to meet them and harass them like this with respect to the death of Loya, the former district judge said. Also Read: CBI verdict sentencing Lalu will be challenged: Tejashwi Yadav Katake and Anuj, along with his cousin Pratik Bhandari, spoke to the media at a lawyers office at Nariman Point in south Mumbai. Anuj is a second year student of law in a Pune-based college. Katake said, He (Anuj) is studying in the second year. Many people are visiting him, disturbing his studies. So on his behalf, I am requesting, being a family friend and a colleague of Loya (to stop visiting them). The family can live in peace. They have been suffering for the last three years. Asked about the video statement issued by his aunt and grandfather in the past, Anuj said, Even they are clear about it now. They had some suspicions because of the emotional turmoil at that time. Asked whether he wanted an investigation in the matter, he said, I am no one to decide about it. I do not have any suspicions. Commenting about the letter penned by him in February 2015, wherein he had raised suspicions, Anuj said, It was a period of emotional turmoil. I was 17 at that time. I did not know what exactly was going on. I did not have any information that something was amiss at that time, he said. Bhandari said about Anujs aunts allegations: It is not that we have withdrawn those allegations. But if you are consistently going to ask an 85-year-old man about his sons death, how would he react? Katake said, In this respect, if a sudden death takes place, some people are going to raise suspicions. These people who were emotionally disturbed... they came in the grip of their emotions and made some allegations. The Supreme Court had on Friday termed a serious matter the issue of alleged mysterious death of Loya and sought a response from the Maharashtra government on the pleas seeking an independent probe into it. The Congress had said the PIL concerning the death of Loya must be entrusted with the seniormost judges of the apex court, who should ensure that under their supervision there was a thorough and impartial investigation by an independent SIT. Also Read: Gurgaon court denies bail to 16-year-old accused in Ryan school murder case The Bombay Lawyers Association (BLA) had yesterday claimed that a petition filed in the Supreme Court, seeking a probe into the death of judge Loya, was motivated. Anujs press conference comes two days after four seniormost judges mounted a virtual revolt against the countrys chief justice, raising questions on selective case allocation and certain judicial orders. One of the four seniormost judges, who held an unprecedented press conference on Friday, had said the matter involving judge Loyas death was one of the issues underpinning their differences with Chief Justice Dipak Misra. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra on Sunday assured a Bar Council of India delegation that the crisis in the Supreme Court resulting from a virtual revolt against him by four colleagues will be sorted out soon, the council chief said. Also on Sunday, the son of special CBI judge B H Loya said in Mumbai that his father died of natural causes and not in suspicious circumstances. Loya's death, while he was hearing the politically sensitive Shohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, is the subject of a PIL in the Supreme Court that was one of the triggers for the revolt against Misra. The Indian judiciary was thrown into a turmoil on Friday when four senior Supreme Court judges -- J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, M B Lokur and Kurian Joseph convened an unprecedented press conference to complain about "selective" case allocation by Misra and passing of certain judicial order. Misra had assigned the Loya death PIL to Justice Arun Mishra, a relatively junior judge. In their press conference, the four justices said India s democracy is at risk unless the wrongs in the Supreme Court are set right. Capping a weekend flurry of activity by jurists, lawyers and politicians, a delegation of the Bar Council of India, the highest body of lawyers in the nation, today met Misra at his residence for 50 minutes. "We met CJI in a congenial atmosphere and he said everything will be sorted out soon," BCI chairman Manan Kumar Mishra, who led the delegation, told reporters. He said that before meeting the CJI, the panel also discussed the crisis plaguing the apex judiciary with other judges including the three out of the four judges who have made the allegations against Misra. Mishra said the panel met justices Chelameshwar, Lokur, and Joseph, who also gave an assurance that the crisis will be resolved. He did not mention whether the panel had a meeting with Gogoi, who is out of town. Gogoi is next in line to succeed Misra as the chief justice. The BCI will hold a press conference on Monday. Earlier, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Vikas Singh met the CJI and handed over a resolution in which the association has asked for a full court discussion to defuse the present crisis. "I met the CJI and handed over a copy of the resolution. He said that he would look into it and ensure there was congeniality in the Supreme Court at the earliest," Singh told PTI after his 15-minute meeting with the CJI. In another major development on Sunday, Anuj Loya, the son of the deceased CBI judge, held a press conference in Mumbai to say his family was "pained" by the recent developments surrounding his father's death. He claimed NGOs and politicians should stop "harassing" his family members over the issue. "My father died of natural causes. Our family is convinced that it was a natural death," the 21-year-old Anuj told reporters, adding that although he and his family had earlier been suspicious about his father's sudden death three years ago, they no longer harboured doubts. "I had an emotional turmoil, hence I had suspicions about his death. But now we don't have any doubts about the way he died," Anuj said. "Earlier, my grandfather and aunt had some doubts about his death, which they shared. But now neither of them has any doubts," he said. The deceased judge's father and Anuj's aunt had alleged foul play in his death. Judge Loya, who was hearing the sensitive Sohrabuddin Sheikh "fake encounter" case, had allegedly died of a cardiac arrest in Nagpur on December 1, 2014, when he had gone to attend the wedding of a colleague's daughter. BJP chief Amit Shah was an accused in the case but has been discharged. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be reaching New Delhi as part of the six-day tour to India. Immediately after arrival, Prime Minister Netanyahu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in a solemn ceremony at Teen Murti Memorial to pay homage to the soldiers. The ceremony will also mark the formal renaming of Teen Murti Chowk as the Teen Murti Haifa Chowk. The three bronze statues at Teen Murti represent the Hyderabad, Jodhpur, and Mysore Lancers who were part of the 15 Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade that carried out the victorious assault on the fortified city of Haifa on September 23, 1918, during World War I. In Israel, during PM Modis visit, Prime Minister Netanyahu and Prime Minister Modi laid wreaths at the Indian War Cemetery in Haifa. #WATCH LIVE:Israel PM Netanyahu & PM Modi attend ceremony to mark renaming of Teen Murti Chowk as Teen Murti Haifa https://t.co/nBdwdflzeI ANI (@ANI) January 14, 2018 For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be reaching New Delhi as part of the six-day tour to India. Prime Minister Netanyahu will arrive on Sunday and depart from Mumbai on Friday, January 19. His itinerary includes visits to Gujarat and Mumbai. Prime Minister Netanyahu will hold meetings in New Delhi with President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj. In addition, he will give an inaugural speech at the Raisina Dialogue and meet with the Indo-Israeli CEO forum in Delhi. In Gujarat, both the Prime Ministers will visit the Center of Excellence in Vadrad and inaugurate Center of Excellence for date palms in Bhuj. They will also visit the iCreate innovation campus and center. In Mumbai, Prime Minister Netanyahu will meet Jewish community leaders and select members of the Indian business community. He will also reach out to Bollywood in an exclusive Shalom Bollywood event. Israel Ambassador Daniel Carmon said, The Prime Ministers visit to India is the grand finale to the celebrations of 25 years of Growing Partnership between India and Israel. The visit will focus on the progress made between India and Israel since Prime Minister Modis visit to Israel last summer, and on shaping the next 25 years of relations between our countries and our peoples. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: India known for its traditions, festivals and culture, is indeed a land of diversity. People in the country simply love to celebrate the festivals together with full gaiety and fervour. Every festival in India, be it Holi, Diwali or Makar Sankranti is celebrated with full enthusiasm and zeal. Makar Sankranti is celebrated as a harvest festival, where we thank mother nature for providing us the resources for survival. It is a day to show our gratitude to the farmers who play an important role in growing the food we eat. Makar Sankranti is the biggest festival which is dedicated to Sun in India. The festival is considered sacred as farmers grow their Rabi crops. As the entire country celebrates Makar Sankranti with fervour, we will have a look at the interesting facts about the harvest festival. 1. Significance of the name Makar Sankranti denotes the transition of the sun into the zodiacal sign of Capricon (Makara) on its celestial path. This is the first change in the zodiac after the winter solstice. It is also the first day of the month of Magha. The festival signifies the return of longer days and shorter nights. Temperatures start rising after the festival, leading to hotter days. 2. One festival and different ways of celebration Makar Sankranti is celebrated in India in different ways. This is the beauty of the festival. The festival may have different names in various parts of the country but the spirit remains the same. People in Gujarat celebrate Makar Sankranti as Uttarayan and fly kites in the day. The festival is known as Magh Bihu and Pongal in Assam and Tamil Nadu respectively. 3. A day to gorge on Til and Gud Just like Holi is incomplete without gujiya, Makar Sankranti is also incomplete without til (sesame) and gud (jaggery). One cant imagine the celebration without the til ka laddoo, made with jaggery and sesame. Not many know that jaggery is also a good source of iron. 4. Makar Sankranti Mela Fairs are a must during Makar Sankranti and many melas are organised in several parts of the country. The popular Kumbh Mela, held after every 12 years, starts on the very same day. The festival is considered very auspicious and people take a dip in the holy river as to wash off all their sins. 5. Also known as Thanksgiving Day Not many know that Makar Sankranti draws parallel with western festival, Thanksgiving. Both these festivals mark the beginning of a new harvest season. They are celebrated to show our respect towards food and the famers. Indeed, they are a perfect reason to spend some time with family and friends, a thing which we have lost in the hustle and bustle of our busy life. Read: LOHRI di lakh lakh vadhai: Your favourite television stars wish you happy lohri For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: After leading from the front in the Gujarat Assembly polls that saw his party improving its show, Congress president Rahul Gandhi is now focusing on Uttar Pradesh to galvanise party cadres in the run-up to 2019 Lok Sabha elections. First time after donning the mantle of the party chief, Rahul Gandhi is all set to pay a two-day visit to his Lok Sabha constituency Amethi from Monday. Though party workers are excited by his anointment and have planned a grand reception in Amethi, they are aware that the path for their young leader will not be easy in Uttar Pradesh where its electoral foray in the assembly polls had been anything but encouraging. The new party president knows the state well, has a personal rapport with party leaders and workers in Uttar Pradesh... we are ready to work hard with him in the field, Congress spokesman Amar Nath told PTI. The Congress will definitely work out ways and means to galvanise the party in Uttar Pradesh in order to make a big impact in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, he added. Also Read | Supreme Court crisis: BJP remains cautious, accuses Congress of politicising judiciary The Uttar Pradesh Assembly has 403 Lok Sabha seats. In the last assembly elections, the Congress managed to win just seven seats, its lowest ever in the state. But what came as a bigger shock was its dismal show in Amethi and Rae Bareli, which had long been nurtured by the Gandhi family. The Modi wave stormed into Amethi and Rae Bareli, and Congress was routed in eight of the 10 Assembly seats there. The BJP won six seats in Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhis parliamentary constituencies with two seats going to the Samajwadi Party. In a major embarrassment to the senior leadership of the party, the Congress could manage the victory in only two of the 10 prestigious seats. The party lost all five seats in Amethi and barely saved face by winning in just two of the five seats in Sonia Gandhis Rae Bareli constituency. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. United Nations : The Twitter account of Syed Akbaruddin was hacked on Sunday, with the unperturbed Indian envoy to the UN asserting that it would take more than a hack to keep him down. The unidentified hackers, suspected to be based overseas, posted two pictures and a video, and changed the name of Akbaruddins twitter account from @AkbaruddinIndia to @AkbaruddinSyed. After the hack was noticed, Twitter briefly blocked the twitter handle of Indias permanent representative to the UN. The account was later restored by the micro-blogging site which also launched a probe. Im back. It will take more than a hack to keep me down. Thanks to @TwitterIndia & many others who helped. https://t.co/h9RCJVrU4m Syed Akbaruddin (@AkbaruddinIndia) January 14, 2018 Akbaruddin thanked Twitter and said that it would take more than a hack to keep him down. Im back. It will take more than a hack to keep me down. Thanks to Twitter India and many others who helped, Akbaruddin said in a tweet. Netizens noticed the cyber attack and retweeted the two photos and the video posted from Akbaruddins hacked account. One picture was of Pakistans President Mamnoon Hussain and the other one showed the flags of Turkey and Pakistan. The video song of Bollywood actor Raj Kapoors Awara Hoon was also posted by the hackers. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Students and graduates of high schools across Japan are sitting the annual unified college and university entrance examinations. The 2 days of tests began on Saturday. About 580,000 applicants this year take exams at 695 sites. The start of the exams was delayed by up to one hour at 7 venues due to heavy snowfalls and other reasons. At a University of Tokyo campus in Bunkyo Ward, applicants began gathering shortly before 8 AM. An 18-year-old student accompanied by her mother said she is anxious, but wants to do her best for her parents and teachers. Another 18-year-old said he has is confident as he studied hard. He said he wants to be a civil servant in the field of education administration and needs to be accepted by the universities he has chosen. essay service The National Center for University Entrance Examinations says snow held up the exams at Niigata University and the Nippon Dental University. Delays to trains affected the test at the Yokohama National University and another site. In the northern prefecture of Hokkaido, police ferried 4 students to an exam site by patrol car, as their trains were delayed in a rail crossing accident. The US Navy has deployed to southwestern Japan a new amphibious assault ship that can carry advanced F-35B stealth fighter jets. The USS Wasp entered Sasebo port in Nagasaki Prefecture around 9 AM on Sunday. It is replacing another amphibious assault ship, the USS Bonhomme Richard. The Wasp is about 250 meters long and has a displacement of more than 40,000 tons. It can carry about 1,100 crewmembers, as well as 1,600 Marines. The Wasp has been upgraded to accommodate Osprey transport aircraft and landing craft. It can also land and launch F-35Bs already deployed to the US military base in western Japanese city of Iwakuni. The ship's deployment comes as North Korea continues missile and nuclear provocations, and China enhances maritime activities in the Asia-Pacific region. The US Navy says the Wasp's deployment is part of its long-term effort to position the most advanced and capable assets to the region. It says the ship will allow the operation of F-35Bs at sea and on land, and represents an increase in its military capability. Students listen to a teacher discuss lab protocol in a crowded chemistry lab at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The university is expected to announce budget cuts later this month as it deals with a drop off in revenue. Credit: Rick Wood By of the Mark Mone and his team at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee keep crunching numbers. Over and over, they keep trying to find millions of dollars to cut, while preserving the integrity of their school. There's the issue of tuition. For four years, the Legislature has mandated a freeze on tuition for Wisconsin residents throughout the UW System a major source of campus revenue. There's a good chance that lawmakers will continue this into the next biennium it certainly is popular with parents, who vote keeping UWM's annual tuition below $10,000 for residents carrying a full 12-18 credit load. There's the issue of enrollment. After growing in the mid-2000s, UWM's enrollment last fall alone fell by 3% to 27,156 an estimated one-year loss of $6.5 million in tuition revenue. Since 2010, the campus has lost roughly 10% of its peak head count of 30,470. That's a loss of about $25 million in total tuition revenue. There's the issue of $20 million that evaporated. UWM officials say they were led to believe the state would provide $20 million to put faculty and equipment in the new schools of freshwater science and public health that the state agreed to build. The $20 million never materialized, so UWM had to pull the money from its budget. And then there's the issue of state funding. Theoretically, every student in the UW System should have about the same amount of taxpayer support behind them. But that's not the case. And although UWM officials are politically careful in getting across their points, it's clear that behind closed doors the frustration is building. UWM's share of the $250 million state funding cut to the UW System in the 2015-'17 budget was $30 million. Many suspect there's a good chance more cuts will come in the next state budget. Several key lawmakers and Gov. Scott Walker already have stated that boosting K-12 funding is a high priority presumably a higher priority. UWM additionally faces a structural deficit of about $25 million by the end of this fiscal year, largely due to loss of enrollment and tuition revenue. That's why Mone, the UWM chancellor, is crunching the numbers, preparing to announce millions of dollars in additional cuts in a few weeks. "I'm putting together a plan to get us to a balanced budget by the end of next year," Mone told the Journal Sentinel. The cuts come at a time when the university on Milwaukee's east side is trying to achieve a difficult some would say unique mission. Part of UWM's mission is to serve as an entry point to students particularly urban, particularly minority, particularly African-American who might otherwise not go to a four-year college. This academic year, UWM accounts for 36% of the African-American student population in the UW System and 26% of the Hispanic population in the system. Adding other ethnicities American Indian, Asian, Pacific Islander UWM accounts for about three of every 10 minority students in the UW System. At the same time, UWM is gaining national attention as a serious research institution. A few weeks ago, UWM was elevated to R-1 doctoral research university on the 2015 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education list, placing it among 115 top-tier research institutions in the nation. The only other Wisconsin school on the list: UW-Madison. Both are expensive pursuits. State funds and tuition together cover salaries, benefits, utilities, supplies and services required to educate students everything from keeping the best professors to keeping the lights on. When state money was divvied up last fiscal year among the 13 four-year campuses, UW-Superior received $1.67 per tuition dollar, UW-Parkside got $1.09, UW-Madison got $1.08. And UW-Milwaukee? Sixty-nine cents. No easy answers How is that possible? Is it in any way fair? And is UWM singled out, or is the funding formula unbalanced? All good questions. And there are no easy answers. The division of dollars was set up after the UW System was created in the early 1970s, based on what was considered equitable at the time. Funding since then has been based on whatever each school received the year before, perpetuating a framework that may be antiquated or at least no longer equitable. It doesn't seem to take into account how the campuses and their missions have evolved. It's all but impossible to find a top university official who even pretends to understand how the formula was developed. They just get their percentage of a cut or increase in state funding, and deal with it. Underpinning those questions is a reality that if there is no additional state funding in the next budget cycle, and a tuition freeze continues, campuses could be forced to compete with one another to maximize available dollars. In other words, some may take a hit to keep others afloat. And competition for dollars may inhibit collaboration. There's another politically volatile question that few seem willing to discuss, at least publicly. Does the UW System have too many ships in the fleet? More campuses than it can afford? UW-Superior last year had the equivalent of 2,115 full-time students, and got the second most funding per student in the system a different measure than per tuition dollar behind UW-Madison. UW-Parkside had 3,694 students, and also got more per student than UWM. Granted, all campuses have fixed expenses to keep the doors open, regardless of how many students they educate, so a straight dollar comparison doesn't tell the whole story. However, UWM the state's urban research university appears to be funded on a per-student basis at about the same level as the state's 11 comprehensive four-year campuses. Those universities, which do not include UW-Madison, also do important research, but don't have research as part of their mission. And while all of them make ongoing efforts to nurture diversity, they don't reach underrepresented minorities in the way UWM does. Several of the campuses argue they aren't getting their fair share, either. UW-Whitewater and UW-La Crosse receive the least amount per student, followed closely by the Oshkosh, Stevens Point and Platteville campuses. UW-Whitewater educates more minority students than any of the other comprehensives; UW-La Crosse has the highest ACT average for incoming students. A team of UW System administrators is taking a fresh look at how state funding is divided among campuses to recommend whether it should be changed, and if so, by how much. They have visited all the campuses to learn more about each one's specific mission and needs, and to assess their ability to raise additional funding through other means, such as the nonresident tuition increases that have helped UW-Madison. They are also looking at models used by other public university systems across the nation. A final decision isn't expected until spring 2017, said UW spokesman Alex Hummel. Changes could begin in 2018, but complete implementation wouldn't occur until 2019, he said. Comparing Madison, UWM As for the two research campuses UW-Madison and UWM comparing state funding is "unhelpful and inappropriate," UW System President Ray Cross has said numerous times. "The hair on the back of my neck bristles," Cross told the Journal Sentinel. "It's like saying, 'Mom likes you best.'" UWM is an urban research institution and serves a different purpose than the flagship campus, Cross said. "It needs to be compared to 'like' institutions around the country." UWM has an official peer group of 14 institutions in major metropolitan areas that aren't flagships but offer doctoral level work and have an urban mission. Among them: Georgia State University in Atlanta, Cleveland State University, University of Louisville in Kentucky and University of Illinois-Chicago. For a proper apples-to-apples comparison, you have to pull out expenses unique to UW-Madison, Cross said. For starters, it costs more to educate graduate students UW-Madison accounts for about half the total in the UW System. The flagship also has costly professional schools that other campuses don't have, he said. Cross said the funding gap between Wisconsin's two public research universities in reality may be as little as $104 per student, instead of the $10,688 that a Legislative Fiscal Bureau report came up with. There are different ways to crunch the numbers, Cross said. One could argue that debt service, utilities and the State Laboratory of Hygiene and Veterinary Diagnostic Lab located at UW-Madison are all that should be removed from the equation before comparing per-student funding. For its part, UWM tries to avoid getting into the weeds about particular programs and isn't proposing a specific formula or funding method. "We are committed to continuing to work with UW System through their ongoing review process," UWM Vice Chancellor Robin Van Harpen said. "We understand that there are likely other factors, other than research and access, that also might be considered in a new formula or method." Legislator seeks answers Rep. Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) is among those scratching their heads over how state funds are divided among campuses, even after asking the Legislative Fiscal Bureau to work the numbers. He said he doesn't believe there's an adequate explanation to account for the size of gap between funding for UW-Madison and most of the other four-year campuses. "An initial look at the numbers suggests a disproportionate amount of state support is going for students at UW-Madison vs. Milwaukee or Oshkosh," Hintz said, referring to the campus in his home district. Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills), who co-chairs the Legislature's powerful budget-writing Joint Finance Committee, said she has always been an advocate for UWM to be funded as a research university especially in light of its new designation as a top-tier research university. "I've always contended that the funding gap needed to be addressed," Darling said. "If UWM is to be an economic engine like Madison, UWM should get more funding." That doesn't mean the Republican senator from suburban Milwaukee is willing to consider giving the UW System overall more money, though. Instead, Darling said campuses should explore ways to share costs by collaborating and eliminate duplication of degree programs. Darling commends UWM for achieving an R-1 doctoral research university designation, despite being funded about the same as the 11 comprehensive campuses. She also notes UWM's importance to the state's workforce because about three-fourths of its graduates stay in Wisconsin. Darling acknowledged lawmakers may be forced to look at politically sensitive questions, including whether the state can continue to afford 13 four-year campuses. "For a state our size, we have a tremendous effort put into facilities for higher education," Darling said. "We need to do things more efficiently and better with a greater return." In the meantime, Mone crunches the numbers. Over and over. "The world has changed, the campuses have evolved," Mone said. "The reality is it becomes a win-loss. If we're to grow, someone else loses." With 2018 now in full swing, companies across the nation are looking for fresh talent to fill their offices and you could be one of them. Jobs and recruiting website Glassdoor posted a list of 31 companies currently looking for top-notch candidates for a variety of positions. WASHINGTON A section of Route 47 was closed for under an hour and a half Sunday morning because of an overturned car. The road closed between South Street and Plumb Hill Road just after 5:30 a.m. but reopened shortly before 7 a.m., according to the state Department of Transportation. Its finally beginning to sink in. For years, my Republican colleagues and I have warned that ever-increasing taxes would drive businesses and residents out of the state. Instead of heeding this warning, progressives rolled their eyes. The relationship between high taxes and population trends was a fallacy, a white elephant, they said. You have no proof. Last week, United Van Lines released its annual National Movers Study. For the third consecutive year, Connecticut is among the top five states people are leaving. This is backed up by data from the Internal Revenue Service. It shows that the average adjusted gross income for all taxpayers leaving Connecticut last year was more than $123,000. That is far above the states median income and proves that wealthier residents are the ones leaving. Where are they heading? Connecticut residents took more than $2 billion in income to Florida when they left the nutmeg state between 2015 and 2016. One noticeable difference between the two states: Florida does not have an income tax. This means that Democrats calls for raising taxes on the rich are counterproductive. Not only will the state fail to collect the anticipated revenue, it will push more people to leave. Where will state government get the money from then? In the past few years, major economic engines like General Electric and Aetna have left Connecticuts high taxes. They took well-paying jobs with them leaving an employment void that prevents the state from attracting residents in those upper income brackets. In fact, in September and October of 2017, Connecticut lost more than 8,500 jobs. This doesnt mean that in a decade the state will be a population wasteland with little more than tumbleweeds crossing the roads. The United Van Lines study found that more people moved into the state than out and they moved here for employment reasons. However, tax information showed that those who moved to the state earned an average of $30,000 less than those who left. Its like the overflow drain in a bathtub. You can continue filling it, but you are losing the water at the top. You can add people to Connecticut, but the available taxable income at the top levels continues leaking out. Instead of the tax collections evening out, they continue to shrink. The time for talk of higher taxes is over. The numbers show that the wealthy have reached their limit and are packing their bags. Its a vicious cycle that has been playing out for years and can no longer be ignored. The truth is finally sinking in. Its time to acknowledge the elephant in the room. State Senator Michael McLachlan represents the 24th District, which includes the communities of Bethel, Danbury, New Fairfield, and Sherman. Its not enough for regional theaters such as Long Wharf to produce plays that speak to life outside their doors. They select plays that relate directly to their immediate community, in part, through various outreach programs. At Long Wharf Theatre, its the job of Community Engagement Manager Elizabeth Nearing to unite the citizens of Greater New Haven in awareness and activism through its production of Julia Chos Office Hour. The biggest way I look at it, said Nearing over coffee downtown last month, my job is to connect the work thats on stage with whats happening in New Haven. Its building those bridges, those connections. That takes shape in two different ways. One is long-term partnerships that last a year or more, Nearing said, citing New Haven Public Library and IRIS (Integrated Refugee and Immigrant services) as two current, mainstay partners. The other part is picking two shows a year that resonate most deeply with New Haven and doing a series of programming around them, she said. How can we highlight the works and have this plug into a network of things? For this production, Long Wharf Theatre is partnering with Sandy Hook Promise to offer a series of discussions and programs centered around Office Hour, which runs from Jan. 17-Feb. 11 on Stage II. (Well have more on it then.) Cho sets her play in a university where a creative writing instructor, like her colleagues and the rest of her students, attempts to deal with an enigmatic student whose bizarre writing, ominous appearance and awkward silence terrify all. The play, Nearing said, is essentially about fear and how we handle it. Every character in the show is deeply afraid, Nearing said, adding that Long Wharf also is working with Connecticut Medical Health Center for this production. The big, clear fear that is addressed is: Is this person Im in the room with dangerous? What is the profile of a shooter? What do you do with this fear? What does the teacher do with this fear? Lisa Peterson, the director, said this and Ive become very attached to the phrase: How do you go about being a person in a world where guns exist? Its not a play so much about the gun, but rather trying to be human in a world like that. Its a play that really taps into the culture of fear in society, said Nearing, who said that Long Wharfs May production of Crowns is the second show singled out for similar outreach treatment. Thats something thats so close to home. I know a lot of people are still wrestling with trauma in Newtown, and Sandy Hook Promise has done some pretty amazing work in terms of building empathy and compassion in preventative measures. Sandy Hook Promise is a national, nonprofit organization based in Newtown whose mission is to prevent gun violence (and other forms of violence and victimization) before it happens through education and mobilizing youth and adults on mental health and wellness programs that identify, intervene and help at-risk individuals. Several Newtown community members, including Mark Barden and Nicole Hockley, two parents who each lost children in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, founded it. Some of the outreach activities born of the partnership with Sandy Hook Promise include talkbacks after performances. Earlier this month Long Wharf hosted its Educators Laboratory in association with the theaters Student Theatre Series, which is dedicated to bringing student audiences from all over Connecticut to the theater. This ED LAB focused on the themes of Office Hour and featured The Connecticut Center for Nonviolence teaching Kingian Nonviolent Conflict Resolution through improvisation, music and visual arts components. Sandy Hook Promise gave a brief presentation of its materials at the workshop. On Jan. 19 at 7 p.m, Long Wharf will also host Creative Exchange, a forum to share ideas with members of the theaters education department and other leaders in youth programming. Representatives from Sandy Hook Promise will again participate to discuss the innovative work they do to prevent gun violence. Other events include a story slam on the subject of feeling like an outsider on Jan. 22 at Ives Main Library and a conversation on community resilience at Stetson Library on Jan. 31 (visit longwharf.org and sandyhookpromise.org for more information on related events). Naturally, Long Wharfs outreach endeavors will benefit the theater by cultivating new patrons and engaging current ones. Sandy Hook Promise hopes to create a bigger presence in the Elm City. As a Connecticut organization, they have a big footprint in Newtown and not (in) many schools in New Haven, Nearing said. It is one of the biggest school districts in Connecticut, so getting to reach more people is important. Nearing said that nothing would please her and her colleagues in the education department more than for people to come to a panel discussion at a library and see the show, and have a conversation out of it. Seeing a show is a shared experience people can have, she said, and if that can act as a launching pad to activate conversations about what we can do to build community resiliency throughout New Haven, not only in school violence, but in all manners of violence, that would make me happy. E. Kyle Minor is a freelance theater writer for the Register. MIDDLETOWN - The Connecticut State Police recently promoted 10 troopers to sergeant and recognized them during a ceremony at headquarters in Middletown. Dr. Dora B. Schriro, commissioner of the state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, formally promoted the troopers during the event and state police Col. Alaric J. Fox pinned badges on the new sergeants. Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman also attended and addressed the promotees. The following troopers were promoted: Sgt. Matthew Ewing was promoted from Trooper First Class, where he most recently served as Chester Resident Trooper. As Sergeant, he will be assigned to Troop I in Bethany. During his dozen years as a Trooper, Sgt. Ewing has also served at Troop K in Colchester. He has earned the agencys Medal for Meritorious Service, Medal for Outstanding Service, three Unit Citation Awards and the Wartime Service Award, as well as the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Award. He has been a DARE Instructor, a Field Training Officer and a member of the State Police Honor Guard. Sgt. Ewing holds a Bachelors Degree from Central Connecticut State University and is a veteran of the Marine Corps. He lives in Killingworth with his family. Sgt. Myles Ginley was promoted from Trooper First Class and will now serve as Sergeant at Troop H in Hartford. During his 18-plus years as a Trooper, he served at Troop H in Hartford and as a Community Resource Officer and a School Resource Officer. Sgt. Ginley has been awarded with Medals for Outstanding Service, as well as a Unit Citation Award. He earned a Bachelors Degree from Saint Anselm College. He lives in Plainville with his family. Sgt. Jack Kulig was promoted from Trooper First Class and will be Sergeant at Troop F in Westbrook. He most recently served as a Detective in the State Police Central District Major Crime Squad and previously served at Troop I in Bethany and Troop G in Bridgeport. Sgt. Kulig has been a Trooper for 13 years and has earned an Award for Meritorious Service, a Lifesaving Award and a Unit Citation Award. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice from Westfield State College and lives in Southington with his family. Sgt. Don Chasse Jr. was promoted from Trooper First Class and has been assigned to Troop I in Bethany. He was most recently at Troop A in Southbury and a K-9 handler. Sgt. Chasse has been a Trooper for 11 years and has earned the agencys Medal for Meritorious Service, Medal for Lifesaving, Medal for Outstanding Service and two Unit Citation Awards. He holds an Associates Degree from Briarwood College and previously served as a Police Officer in Plymouth. He resides in Thomaston with his family. Sgt. Patrick Collins was promoted from Trooper First Class and will take a new assignment at Troop H in Hartford; he most recently served at Troop B in North Canaan. A Trooper for two decades, his previous assignments include Troop H in Hartford and the Bureau of Criminal Investigations. Sgt. Collins earned an Associates Degree from Holyoke Community College and a Bachelors Degree from Westfield State College. He is also a state-certified Emergency Medical Technician. He lives in Windsor Locks with his family. Sgt. Richard McDaniel Jr. was promoted from Trooper First Class and has transferred from Troop A in Southbury to Troop G in Bridgeport. A Trooper for more than two decades, Sgt. McDaniel has served at Troop B in North Canaan and served as Troop As first School Resource Officer and Community Resource Officer. He has also served in the Bureau of Criminal Investigations and in the Governors Security Unit. In addition, he has been a Field Training Officer and recruiter for the State Police and has earned an Award for Meritorious Service. Sgt. McDaniel is currently taking classes at Charter Oak State College toward a Bachelors Degree. He lives in Waterbury with his family. Sgt. Robert Olechowski was promoted from Trooper First Class, where he most recently served at Troop L in Litchfield. He will serve as sergeant at Troop A in Southbury. A Trooper for 11 years, he has earned the agencys Award for Outstanding Service and is a six-time recipient of the Mothers Against Drunk Driving award. Sgt. Olechowski earned a Bachelors Degree from the University of New Haven and resides in Farmington. Sgt. Alex Pearston was promoted from Trooper First Class and has been reassigned from Resident Trooper in Burlington to Troop G in Bridgeport. Sgt. Pearston has been a Trooper for a decade and previously served at Troop G in Bridgeport and Troop L in Litchfield, as well as in the Governors Security Unit. He holds a Bachelors Degree from Charter Oak State College and is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He lives in Harwinton with his family. Sgt. Nicholas Tewell was promoted from Trooper First Class and will serve as sergeant at Troop K in Colchester; he is currently assigned to Troop E in Montville. As a Trooper for more than nine years, he has also served at Troop F in Westbrook and has earned an Award for Meritorious Service and a Unit Citation Award. He earned a Bachelors Degree from Salve Regina University and resides in Stonington with his family. Sgt. Gregory Zordan was promoted from Trooper First Class and will now serve at Troop B in North Canaan; his most recent assignment was as Harwinton Resident Trooper. A Trooper for ten years, he has served at Troop A in Southbury and Troop L in Litchfield and has earned a Unit Citation Award. Sgt. Zordan holds a Bachelors Degree from the University of New Haven and has served as a Field Training Officer, a DARE officer and Advisor of the Troop L Cadet Post. He is a certified Emergency Medical Technician and a certified Firefighter. He lives with his wife in Torrington. NEW HAVEN It might not be immediately noticeable to untrained and unaccustomed ears, but Animal Control Officer Joseph Manganiello can hear a slight difference inside the New Haven Animal Shelter. The shelter now has sound-reducing pads added to the ceiling over the kennels, which Manganiello said helps to reduce the echo made by the constant frenzy of dog barks (there was no need for such pads in the cat room). When we walked the architect through and raised those concerns to him, he noted the ceilings were concrete, Manganiello said. Thats why it was recommended to add the sound-absorption panels. The soundproofing can also help reduce the animals stress, and a healthier dog is more likely to get adopted, Manganiello said. Its another step, in addition to playing classical music and whale noises, or ensuring kennels face the sun, that helps keep the dogs healthier in their environment. We try to do as much as we can to make them as comfortable as possible, Manganiello said. These pads were a portion of a major, roughly $130,000 upgrade to the shelter, which was built in 1955 and had last seen a major renovation in the 1980s. The renovations were completed last summer, but Manganiello said he wasnt able to find the time to notify the public at-large with any kind of media release. The renovations included new flooring, painting, a new entryway, an expanded reception area and a visiting space with a sliding door for prospective pet owners. Thats a brand new entryway, because the old one was pretty banged up, Manganiello said, while standing near the entrance. This area was always our visiting area. But they closed it off, so now we can have people have more a private visit, like these folks are doing right here. The upgrades were paid for primarily by a $95,000 grant from the John T. and Jane A. Wiederhold Foundation. The grant was awarded to Friends of the New Haven Animal Shelter, a private nonprofit group that supports the shelter. The shelter also receiveda $7,000 grant from the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven for the upgrades. Additional costs were covered by Friends of the New Haven Animal Shelter, Manganiello said, Were very thankful to the Friends of New Haven Animal Shelter, because theyre the ones who searched out and got the grant money from the Wiederhold Foundation, Manganiello said. They really did a lot of work behind the scenes to get this rolling along and getting us the finances. The same nonprofit was awarded $2,175 from the Shops at Yale last week thanks to an August fundraiser. Manganiello said it is money that will likely be used for medical expenses. On a recent day, Manganiello and his staff found themselves busy. In a 30-minute window, he helped supervise or personally assist four families seeking to adopt animals, including a local firefighter interested in a German shepherd mix dog at the shelter a rarity for the shelter that usually houses pit-bull mixes. Manganiello said the entire shelter currently has between 60 to 70 cats and dogs, which is below its full capacity. Manganiellos staff includes two assistant animal control officers and two kennel workers. The renovations benefited both two-legged and four-legged visitors. The former reception area and main office now houses the cat room and is much more spacious. This area now provides heating and air conditioning for the cats. The old cat room, which is next to the new reception area, is now used as office space for the animal control officers. Now we got our computers and our private area where we could actually do our paperwork and different things like that, Manganiello said. A door was made available to give volunteers who help by walking dogs easier access between the kennels housing adoptable dogs and an outdoor play area for dogs and shelter visitors. Manganiello said it helps avoid traffic inside the narrow halls. Melanie Vallo, of Guilford, recently sat inside the new visiting area with Buster, a 2-year-old Yorkshire terrier mix. Vallo said the space provided her a unique way to meet potential new pets. She used to volunteer frequently to relocate rescue dogs. Its wonderful, Vallo said. Ive been to other shelters where (such a space was) there right outside the kennels. Manganiello said before the visiting area was renovated, there would be foot traffic and dogs jumping over a fence where other dogs were meeting prospective owners. Assistant Animal Control Officer Nicole Minervini helped Vallo meet the dog last week. Minervini said the space makes her job a lot easier. Before, we kind of had a gate, Minervini said, while holding a leash for Buster. So this keeps it secluded. Like Manganiello, Minervini said the new offices have been helpful in allowing them to immediately greet people. The renovations have been extremely helpful, Minervini said. Renovations have made it easier for the shelter to show animals and made it more comfortable for visitors and people interested in adopting animals. Were able to greet our customers now right as they walk into the door, and either direct them over to this room, if theyre interested in cats, Manganiello said, or direct them over to the other side of the building if theyre interested in dogs. So it gives us, really, more control of whats going on in the front of the building, Manganiello said. Reach Esteban L. Hernandez at 203-680-9901 NEW HAVEN Jim Paley has returned to his Sherman Avenue office, working as he has since 1980 to bring affordable housing to New Havens poorest neighborhoods. A major stroke on Nov. 10, 2016, and massive internal bleeding from an ulcer in April 2017 threatened that 38-year record of leading Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven as its founding director, turning more than 250 blighted or newly built houses into homes that not only increase the citys affordable housing stock but transform neighborhoods into safe, secure communities. Paley still shows the effects of the stroke. He doesnt have full function in his right arm and leg. And when he collapsed with a bleeding ulcer at a wedding in Mexico in April 2017, he came close to death. He required a transfusion of 11 pints of blood more than the eight pints the human body normally carries. There was no guarantee that his cognitive abilities would return. When it happened, I had no language, I had no cognitive skills and they gave me a very poor prognosis, Paley said last week. So it was a major event when Paleys recovery was celebrated at Neighborhood Housing Services annual meeting in October at Anthonys Ocean View. When the stroke hit, It was 30 hours after the election of Donald Trump. I was very agitated. I had gotten no sleep that night, then I was on a plane to Atlanta that morning, he said. He was on his way to a meeting of Community Housing Capital, which he serves as board chairman. That night there was a board dinner. The next day, It was 9:30 in the morning and I started feeling dizzy and I said, I think Im having a stroke, Paley said. He was brought to Emory University Hospital, where he spent eight days, followed by a month at the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, part of the New York University Langone Health system. Between Dec. 18, 2016, and March 3, 2017, Paley underwent physical therapy at Montowese Health and Rehabilitation Center in North Haven. New ways Paley, 71, has learned to adapt to his limited use of his right limbs. Im not able to bend my elbow, my knee. The hand is very far behind, he said. I used to be a guitar player, a finger-picker, so thats a big sadness. Hes learned to type one-handed and hes using dictation software. You find adaptations that you wouldnt think it would be possible to make, he said. Hes even had his car retrofitted so my gas pedal is to the left of my brake and I drive with my left foot. Hes even driven into New York City I was formerly a cab driver in New York in my former life, he said. You have to learn how to do things differently. Theres a four-step process to getting into the car. You learn how to adapt. The way back has not been smooth. Im not pleased with the progress that Ive made with walking, Paley said. Im very slow and Im very dependent on a cane to get around. Very fearful of falling. A second life-threatening event In the midst of rehabilitating from the stroke, Paley suffered a major setback. I was at a friends daughters wedding in Playa del Carmen in Mexico, and right after the wedding I began to spit up blood. They found a huge ulcer, he said. Paley said the series of events that followed had to happen exactly the way they did in order to stay alive. The first thing was I had to be discharged from the hospital in Cancun after four days. Luckily, the bleeding had stopped. They made sure my hemoglobin level had come up so they could discharge me and it was barely enough. That enabled him to take a 7 a.m. flight back to the United States. That evening, I told my wife, I said, I feel awful, and I basically collapsed and she called an ambulance. They had a difficult time even getting a blood pressure. The next morning, I began to hemorrhage from the ulcer. They had to give me 11 pints of blood. They had to put a port in my neck. If I hadnt been put in the hospital the night before I wouldnt have survived an ambulance ride. I would have been DOA. Coming back wasnt easy. At first, I couldnt remember things, Jim Paley said. I couldnt subtract. I couldnt access my internet because I couldnt remember my passwords or anything like that. I was not able to speak. I would use hand signals. However, he wasnt at Montowese more than a week when the speech pathologist said my speech was fine and they discharged me from speech therapy. For Paley, 2017 was a year to remember. 2017 was a rough year for me in many respects and I wasnt too disappointed to put it in the books and start a new year. He and his wife, Sharon Paley, spent the new year in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. We got home at the stroke of midnight and had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to celebrate the new year, he said. Through it all, Paley kept working as much as possible. I think Jimmys really inspiring, Sharon Paley said. When Jim was at Rusk at NYU we worked hard to set up the computers for him to get back to work. Sharon Paley said her husband would go to physical therapy in the morning and work in the afternoon. We had set up multiple computers at Montowese, she said. He had his staff come to Montowese. He had his managers come to Montowese. He hired somebody for the agency while a patient, she said. I think therapeutically it was inspiring to get back to the parts of his life he could do. Jimmy loves this town and loves what hes created and it was very important to do, she said. Were used to Jimmy being very active physically and interested in a lot of things. We have a very busy lifestyle always, and I think to slow down was not an easy thing for all of us. Yes, its been hard. Id be lying if I said otherwise, she said. Theres lots of losses attached. We cant do hiking, cant run. We walk slowly. He walks really slowly. However, their trip to see a show in New York was a positive step. Were trying to get our life back in a way. Jim Paley considers himself lucky in a way. These things just happen, he said. Its not cancer, its not Alzheimers, the kinds of things that are debilitating in many ways. A lack of leadership Meanwhile, Neighborhood Housing Services kept up its work, but Paley said his absence hurt some. I wasnt able to have a hand on the pulse of what was going on. Looking at things from afar, the organization suffered from a lack of leadership, he said. However, the work did not stop. We were treading water, I would say, but the departments did their work. I like to view it as a hiccup or a speed bump. The agency only completed four houses in 2017, the lowest number in 20 years, but the goal is to get that up to nine or 10 in 2018, he said. The work has changed over the years, depending on the rise and fall of the housing market and having to assist buyers victimized by all sorts of unscrupulous lending behaviors going on in the 1980s, Paley said. People who had no experience in real estate [were] owning 30 or 40 properties that were basically clustered in low-income neighborhoods. Speculators would prey on these low-income neighborhoods, such as Newhallville. In 2017, according to the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council, residents of that area earned just 38.71 percent of the median income for the Greater New Haven area. The citys population also shrank from more than 160,000 in 1950 to 123,000 in 2000. In the 1990s, then-Mayor John DeStefano Jr. began demolishing blighted housing as prices plummeted. Things are looking up, though. The 2010 census showed an uptick to 129,000 and Im predicting that in the 2020 census were going to see between 135,000 and 140,000, Paley said. By buying foreclosed houses, we were able to control those properties and keep them out of the hands of investors who would not be doing the same kind of work on them as we do. In the 1980s, We were helping with rehabilitation loans and we were proud of the fact that we were dealing with low-income people who wanted to stay in their houses but didnt have the money to fix them up, he said. We made people loans so they wouldnt have to sell their house and figure out what to do with the next stage of their lives. The agency also acted as co-developers for new construction, including the 32 Baldwin Court townhouses at Henry and County streets, on the site of the former Baldwin School. In the 1990s, Neighborhood Housing Services moved more into gut rehabs and buying bundles of houses in Newhallville and the Hill. We acquired in Newhallville a total of 42 blighted houses that would be purchased by first-time homebuyers as a totally renovated house, Paley said. The improvements made a visible impact to serve as a catalyst for private investors, motivating people to invest in their properties, he said. Now, he said, the agency offers loan funds to make it possible for people to undertake rehab projects that they wouldnt previously have considered and might not have been able to afford. And when NHS helps rehab a property, the agency takes into consideration the historical nature of the house, using materials and fixtures that are consistent with the era in which the home was built. Re-creating historic details Since Newhallville is a historic district, We have to be as authentic as possible in re-creating the historic details wherever possible so they are historic representatives of what these houses looked like when they were built, Paley said. Well uncover the artificial siding and well uncover the beautiful woodwork that was underneath. One house on Beers Street has beautiful cedar siding with battens ... and they were in pristine condition. The owner bought the house in 1998 for $85,000 and it now has an appraised value of $225,900. There is no other house like this in New Haven, Paley said. Newhallville is a prime focus, with several houses on Lilac and Newhall streets on the list for rehabilitation. We have about 20 houses left to do and the goal is to complete them in 2019, Paley said. The buyer for the latest, at 152 Newhall St., is awaiting mortgage approval. The goal is to change the perspective, the psychology of the neighborhood. If peoples perceptions are that the neighborhood is coming back, then the economics will follow suit as translated into property values, Paley said. The psychology determines the economics. Our mission is to provide high-quality, energy-efficient, totally rehabilitated houses to low-income, first-time homebuyers, while stabilizing neighborhoods, preserving values and make them desirable places for people to live and raise their families, he said. Paley also wants to launch a real estate agency and lending company, both nonprofit, to better serve the Neighborhood Housing Services homebuyers. Evidence of good work Paleys work is widely admired throughout the area. Bill Casey, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Greater New Haven, has known Paley since Casey joined Habitat in 1995. Its very difficult to run a nonprofit housing organization and to do it as long as he has is remarkable, Casey said. Hes bright, hes dedicated and hes also very outspoken in defending Neighborhood Housing Services and the causes they stand for. Will Ginsberg, president of the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, has known and been a friend of Paley since Ginsberg worked as city development administrator in the 1980s. The evidence of what Jim has contributed is in Newhallville, its in Fair Haven, its in all the inner-city neighborhoods, and so many families have benefited, Ginsberg said. I think hes one of the stalwarts of this community and maybe unsung and unappreciated. Its inspiring the way hes dealt with these health setbacks to see him back at work is just a joy for all his friends and admirers in this community. Contact Ed Stannard at edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com or 203-680-9382. Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom; and a first class traditional ruler in the state, Abu Shuluwa, have condemned the statement credited... Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom; and a first class traditional ruler in the state, Abu Shuluwa, have condemned the statement credited to Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, that people in Middle Belt had all along been killing Fulani herdsmen in their domains.Ortom, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Terver Akase, said there was never a time Benue people raised their hands against Fulani herdsmen.According to him, Tiv people have not been killing Fulani, the whole world knows who has been the aggressor and who has been the victim in these attacks and the victim is Tivland.Governor Ortom further reiterated his stand that anti-open grazing is the global best practice to avert constant clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the country.Also reacting, the first class chief in the state, Tor Zankera, Chief Abu Shuluwa, described the statement as unfortunate.I mean unfortunate for a traditional ruler who is expected to maintain peace, especially in crisis situation, traditional rulers are not expected to fuel crisis.Shuluwa noted that the emir must have been misrepresented considering his roles as a father in the country whose wise counsel was needed during crisis time.I doubt an emir of that status could make such sweeping statement; possibly, he was misquoted, but if truly he said so, then it is unfortunate. Hajiya Aisha Wakil, known as Mama Boko Haram because of her closeness to the members of the sect, tells Punch Newspaper hat the insurgent... People started calling me Mama Boko Haram when insurgency was at its peak in Borno State and the insurgents were bulldozing Maiduguri, killing and maiming everybody in the process. It was during that period that I was invited to a womens conference where the participants pleaded with the terrorists to stop the bombings. Somewhere along the line, I referred to them as my children, and my sons. I also asked them to see me as their mother. That was how people started calling me Mama Boko Haram.My relationship with the group started before the insurgency. My husband is from Shehuri North in Maiduguri, which is very close to the house of Mohammed Yusuf (a. k. a Shekau), the founder of the Boko Haram sect. I also had an Islamic teacher who was also my spiritual father known as Baba Fugu. His daughter, Amina, a friend of mine, married Yusuf. So, I was very close to Yusuf because of my friend, Amina, his wife. Yusuf was a young man who was just preaching and encouraging Muslims and non-Muslims to be closer to Allah and live peacefully together.Anybody can come to the northern part of Nigeria and make it his or her home. I got married to a northerner and I have three kids.Some people allege that you do not have any link to the Shekaus faction of the Boko Haram sect. What is your reaction?If those people know the real Boko Haram, they should tell us who they are. Did they ask Shekau and he told them that he did not know me or that he had never heard about me? Or did they ask members of Shekaus faction and they denied me? Shekau is a kind person, if he does not know me, he would have come out to say it. If he does not have a good relationship with someone, he will come out to deny the person publicly.I really do not know. I know we have Habibs faction. There is Mamman Nurs faction. There is Shekaus faction. There are other smaller groups like Bukar Mainoks faction, among others.I will not answer that question for security reasons.What are they agitating for? Is it the continued killings or is it their mode of prayer that they want to force on everybody? Is it reasonable? Is there any compulsion in Islam? Do you force someone to be a Christian? Nobody can force anybody to accept any religion, principle or ideology. I dont know what they are agitating for. If I know clearly, I would probably know what to say.My understanding of the group is that they are young people who claimed that they were provoked. They said nobody listened to them and that they had to transfer their anger and vent it on innocent people. That is the only thing I can say about them. They were angry. When I heard the rumour about their intention to revolt, I called Mohammed Yusuf. He told me that they were betrayed. Up till now, I do not know what the betrayal was all about. He said they were angry because somebody made them angry and they wanted an apology. They said the trouble started when security operatives shot their members because they did not wear crash helmets. As if that was not enough, they said some security personnel shot at them during the funeral procession of one of their members killed by police bullets.I am still appealing to them, telling them to embrace dialogue because there is no way they can stay inside the bush and expect anybody to listen to their request. It is when they come out of the bush and sit face to face with the government that we can iron out the contentious issues.They said I knew where Shekau was and that they wanted to get the Chibok girls out and resolve the whole issue and that I was not releasing the information at my disposal. I was not arrested; I went on my own to meet them. They heard me, I told them that I was not hiding and that I wasnt hoarding information in my quest for peace. I also told them that even when I went to the bush to meet with those guys and someone asked me about the trip, I always revealed the details of our interaction. But if you ask me where they were, I will not tell you that; I will tell you I do not know. Actually, I do not know because they usually take me there in a blindfold inside a car with strict instructions that I should bow down my head throughout the trip.They would deliberately drive round for hours until they are sure that I have become drowsy and possibly slept off. How do you expect me to know where they had taken me? It is also the same process when they are bringing me back. As a matter of fact, what is the purpose of telling the DSS where they are? Cant they go and look for them? Sometimes, when I go to them in the bush, I spend about three days, and at times, a week. It is a pathetic situation. You see them sometimes shedding tears, anxious to be reunited with the society. They usually confess that they are tired of the life they are living. Anybody who knows my history will know that the boys, when things were still good, were staying in my house. In those days, if you came to my house, the gate was always opened to everybody. I never discriminated against anyone. We were living together, and even whenever I was going somewhere around in Shehuri North then, they would carry my handbag and call me mummy and asked what I had for them.They would tell me what they wanted to eat and I would give them money to go to the market. We would prepare the food and eat. They were like kids to me. Some of them, I did their circumcision when they were boys of just seven years old. So they grew up seeing me as a mother.It is not that I was the one cutting their foreskin. They used to bring the person doing the circumcision but I would carry the children while the pain lasted. And when they removed the foreskin, we would slaughter a chicken for the boy in order to calm him down. I assisted in the healing process too.Salkida was a friend to Mohammed Yusuf. Though I never knew him, I heard from Mohammed Yusuf that he had a journalist friend and that, one day, he would introduce me to him. I was then looking forward to the day that the meeting would take place. He (Salkida) used to follow him around. They were really close.I have never met with Salkida but shortly before they declared us wanted, I spoke to him on the telephone. I drew his attention to what was happening to his friends group made up of young men who I refer to as my children and I asked him how we could resolve the problem.He expressed his dissatisfaction with how the whole thing was handled by the security personnel. I told him that we cannot just give up like that. I then advised that we do something. That was all. We did not speak again until we were declared wanted and we met at the DSS headquarters. I also visited him when he returned from Dubai. That was the first day we actually had an opportunity to discuss. Bolori, who was also declared wanted, is a poor Kanuri boy. I engaged him to help me interpret whatever people say in Kanuri language. I used to take him along whenever I want to talk to the Boko Haram boys. That was the relationship between us. When we went to meet the Chief of Staff (to President Muhammadu Buhari, Abba Kyari), I went with him and that was it.I believe in God and I pray a lot. I believe in prayers. If we pray, these kids are not more powerful than God. I do encourage people to also pray about it. There is one adage in Igbo that says if you drag a stick and the stick drags you, you leave the stick and run for your life. They (Federal Government) keep telling me that they have dragged the stick (Boko Haram insurgents) and that the stick has dragged them and it is now for them to leave the stick. But I keep telling them that this is not a stick but human beings and we have to continue to drag them. These are Nigerians, our children, our brothers and sons. We cannot just leave them like that, because leaving them like that would create more problems. I believe it (the insurgency) will end; they (the insurgents) wanted it to end. Anytime I talk to them, they always ask me when the war would end and would also seek to know how it would end.The shootings and killings have never solved any problem. Very soon, it will be 10 years since the war started. Scores of soldiers have died in the process. I had to involve myself in the peace process when I saw people coming from all over the country and even white men to fight war. Some say only a fierce battle could end the war but I am of the opinion that we should not continue because of our kids.They planned to bomb St. Augustines Church on December 24 last year. One of them called me on that day to find out whether I had travelled. There was a pickup van loaded with explosives in front of the church. I told the caller that I had not travelled and I immediately rushed out and saw the boy that was to carry out the suicide mission. They had already prepared him for the exercise. He had already been given the injection and prepared him for burial. The boy was just moving and murmuring. I quickly called the (Boko Haram) boys and told them that I can see a vehicle parked and that a boy was moving towards it. They told me that the boy was the suicide bomber. They asked why I did not travel again and I told them that my brother, a reverend father, visited Maiduguri and that we would be travelling together after Christmas.I instantly told him that I was right inside the church (targeted for bombing) with my brother because I brought food for him. I told them that I was not ready to leave the church, daring them to do their worse. They were then confused and asked what I wanted to become of the boy they had prepared for the suicide mission, and I asked them to send the boy away to the nearby bush; after all, he had taken the oath to die, so he should go and die alone. They asked me to leave the church premises but I told them that I wouldnt go until they had diverted the boy away. After some time, they told me the boy had left and one of them said, I can see your car driving out but I didnt go with my car. This is to show how God works. God planned this. I do not know where a black car came out from that made them to believe I was around the place. So they drove the pickup van away. When I did a follow-up, I learnt that the boy had died because he had taken an oath and they had given him an injection preparing him for death. If you take the injection, you can never be yourself again. I then warned them that on no account should they target places of worship for bombing again.They do not have that energy anymore. If you look very well, that energy is no longer there. They are gasping for breath and looking for a way out. They are always asking for the road. They are looking for the road to come out. They want trusted roads and not betrayal. If you sit with them and talk, they will tell you. They hardly trust anyone and they say they do not want further betrayal and are willing to remain where they are until they get Allahs help. They have, however, told me that they trusted me because I meant well. I have taken some of those that were declared wanted to certain quarters to negotiate and the outcome of the negotiation was good.Maiduguri in particular has become what they call Makkah, the headquarters of the North-East, and that is why we are experiencing bombings unlike Bauchi, Adamawa and Yobe, where there are pockets of bombings.I have always told them to come down and look for their mallams for peace. They have mallams; they have elders in the area that can talk to them. They have women and other individuals who can talk to them. There are even wheelbarrow pushers that can talk to them. Government officials should come down and meet them. They are ready for dialogue but they want sincere persons, not betrayers, to lead the dialogue.Some government officials are saying Shekau is hardened. Is he not a human being? Shekau is a human being, and if you watch him, he is always calling Allah and believes he is fighting for Allah and this Allah will touch him. Government should follow the right way and the battle will be over.If government can put any amount into the insurgency war, they should go ahead and do just that. It is important that this insurgency ends because it is affecting everybody and once this thing is brought under control, you will see things becoming normal.I cannot but clap for him. At least in Borno, we are sleeping very well. If you had come to Borno when this thing started, you would not be here by now (3pm). Everywhere would be vibrating. But since (President Muhammadu) Buhari took over, we have been sleeping soundly. We are now moving around up till 10pm. We now do our shopping in the night; unlike before that everywhere would be closed by 4pm. Buhari has really tried.I do not know.Of course, government will not sleep. We will also not sleep until the remaining girls, including the university lecturers and the police officers who were kidnapped when they were carrying the corpse of their colleague for burial, are released. Nigerians are not sleeping, nobody is sleeping.I will not answer that question.It is for the rebuilding of the damage done by this war. I believe and hope this would be achieved. But do not underrate human beings; you will still see pockets of saboteurs.I dont know. Am I the Nigeria Army? Ask (Chief of Army Staff, Tukur) Buratai.What can society do? The wounds of World War II healed gradually and it has healed. We too will heal; what can we do? Is it to say we will not forgive and move on? We have to move on. If you fight with any Kanuri, he will tell you to be patient and once that word is used, they cannot do anything. They will look around and say the person that did this is our own blood. Kanuris have kind hearts. They do not hold grudges; they do not want anything to destroy their faith and life. We will heal; we will forgive. I know it may be difficult for some who had lost almost everything, but with time, they will heal.I have gone round to see what could be done to assist the people and to find out what the problem is. I have found out that because of this insurgency, many things have gone wrong; drug addiction is common among other vices. I have come to the realisation that if something is not done now, the situation could get even worse and we may have another problem on our hands. I have been able to talk to the victims and have come to the understanding that, if something is done for them quickly enough, it could take them away from drug addiction and prostitution, among other vices. I discovered that the only way out is to form a local NGO and this is what I have done. And with the way we are going about it, we are going to rescue some people from damage, or at least, complete damage. I am working with the Borno elders and I believe with the assistance of all, we will help heal the wound.It is just to help out, to help internally displaced persons and non-IDPs, victims of insurgency who are not in camps but are worse off than IDPs in camps. My NGOs will go down to uproot them and help them. I do not have problems with stakeholders. They are even rooting for me. One of the elders here, Alhaji Abba Mustapha, even said Aisha is a daughter, a Kanuri born somewhere who later traced her home and made a return. And this is shared by almost all Kanuri. They believe I am one of them. It is only that I cannot speak the language. I am happy the elders are supportive, the traditional institution and government are equally supportive.To insurgents? I cannot but continue to beg them. What is it they want that they cannot come out and say? What is it that is hurting them for eight years, and they cannot come out? They preach to us to forgive; if you see them, they continue to say forgive. Do not hold anger against your brother overnight. What are they holding there? I am begging them, they should come out. The military does not have the intention of killing them. Nobody has the intention of killing them. The military has to do what they are doing in order to save civilians and property. Security want them to come back home for we are not fighting war. Enough is enough. They said if they come up, they want to go for training. Whatever you want, come out and government will provide for you. If government asks that you contribute money to establish them in business, wont you do it? Nigerians will do that; we need peace. Government should look for those they are listening to and talk to them. They will come out. Shekau is a human being. Barnawi is a human being. Nur is a human being. Mainok is a human being. They should talk to them; they will come out. President Muhammadu Buhari will, on Monday, meet some leaders from Benue State over the recent killings in the state. President Muhammadu Buhari will, on Monday, meet some leaders from Benue State over the recent killings in the state.Those expected at the meeting scheduled to hold at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, include political, traditional and opinion leaders from the state.A top government source told journalists on the condition of anonymity on Sunday that the state governor, Samuel Ortom, is expected to lead the delegation that will include federal and state lawmakers, as well as traditional rulers.Security chiefs are also expected at the meeting.The source described the meeting as one of the ways Buhari is responding to the recent violent attacks on communities in the state by Fulani herdsmen.The source said, The urgent meeting is inevitable because of the frequency and scale of such violence and the reactions that have trailed the incidents.The Presidency has been embarrassed by the large-scale loss of lives caused by such repeated violence against innocent people.He also gave an indication that Governor Ortom might be asked at the meeting to explain his role in allegedly arming some militias in the state. Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herders went on a fresh rampage in Kaduna State on Friday night killing 10 people. Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herders went on a fresh rampage in Kaduna State on Friday night killing 10 people.Attacked were Dangaji and Ungwan Gajere villages, both in Birni Gwari Local Government Area of the state.The attacks lasted all through Friday night to yesterday morning, according to reports from the areas. The invaders set houses ablaze as they retreated.Scores of villagers fled into the bush.One of the lucky escapees from Dangaji said: after they penetrated the village, they went to other places and burnt down houses.This morning (Saturday) they went to another village, Kutemechi in Unguwan Gajere where they killed about nine men.The injured were taken to the hospital for treatment.However, one of the injured persons reportedly died on the way to the hospital.Right now, all the villagers have fled and scattered in other communities where they can find shelter, the escapee said.It was also gathered that a week ago, no fewer than three persons people were kidnapped in Dangaji village.Six million was said to have been paid as ransom for their release.Another eyewitness said the hoodlums disappeared before the arrival of military men.The Kaduna State Police Command spokesman, ASP Mukhtar Aliyu did not respond to calls put across to him last night. Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, yesterday, told senators that prior to the crisis that engulfed the state, which led to the killin... Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, yesterday, told senators that prior to the crisis that engulfed the state, which led to the killings by Fulani Herdsmen, President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, and Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, all ignored several warnings of the planned attack on Logo and Guma communities in the state.Making the shocking revelations yesterday, during a meeting with the Senate Adhoc Committee on Security Infrastructure, led by the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, Governor Ortom also blamed security agencies for the continued killing of inhabitants of the state by Fulani herdsmen since 2008.The governor, while lamenting the brutal killing of his people, told the senators that when he got the information of the planned seige by Fulani herdsmen on targeted communities in Benue State, said he immediately wrote a letter to the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, who was acting on behalf of President Buhari, who was away for medical treatment in London.He told the senators that all attempts to get the Vice Presidents attention through the letter fell on deaf ears, as he got no reply whatsoever from him, just as he said thatPresident Buhari, upon returning to the country, was also written to, severally, but no reply was also received from the President on the matter. According to him, additional efforts were made by the Benue State Government to draw the attention of the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, to the threat which was contained in a separate letter addressed to him, but still got no communication from him.In the words of Governor Ortom: We wrote to the Vice President on the planned attack on parts of Benue by Fulani herdsmen, because the word was everywhere on the street, but he refused to reply. And when there was no response, and when Mr. President came back, I personally went and intimated him, and also wrote. The documents are here, I will hand them over to you. I wrote to him on the planned attack by Fulani herdsmen because this threats were on the streets. I intimated Mr. President and it was put into writing. On the same October 7, 2017, I wrote to the Inspector General of Police.I told him of a planned attack on our people when there was no response. October 27, 2017, I reminded him that these people are planning to attack us, we are law abiding, we have disarmed our youths, and we are looking unto security agencies. And the way to do it is to arrest those people who were inciting the herdsmen to combat us, and we knew they were going to come. These people were all over the place; on television, in papers, doing various press conferences, and they eventually took us to court.But we felt that it is a crime for anyone to incite people against us with the purpose of killing or causing harm, destruction. So we expected them (security agencies) to act, but there was no action. Of course I wrote to the Senate President for information, and the Speaker. I also wrote on 7th of October, when I was writing to the Acting President and Inspector General of Police, to the National Security Adviser on this planned attack against Benue people.I also wrote to the Director General of the Department of State Service (DSS). And when there was no action, I followed it up with a reminder on 27th of October, 2017. So, that was it, and I also on the 17th of October, I wrote to the President, I copied the National Security Adviser. There was no response. Of course, the National Security Adviser invited us for a meeting two times but it was put off.This is very sad. Those people who are responsible for these killings, I know. I accuse them and I have evidence against them.They are on newspaper publications, they are on video, they are on audio, and they are known. If I had wanted to buy guns, I wouldnt wait. But if I bought guns and gave to those people, would my people have been killed in the manner they were killed? I disarmed the people. Ive not bought a single gun, Im a Christian. If I bought, I would say yes. On allegations by Plateau Governor, Solomon Lalong, that he was warned against introducing the anti-grazing law in Benue, the Benue governor said: How can you warn me? Am I the governor of Plateau State, Or am I his staff? Do I work for him? Im Governor of Benue State, and my responsibility is to do what my people want.That is what democracy is. So when you and castigate people about because you were induced by someone, and you come out to make those kind of statements, then its unfortunate. Remember, this is the same man, a double standard person, who told me when I visited Jos three weeks ago, he told me that he is under pressure by his people to do the same law that I did in Benue State. He told me this, he never warned me anywhere. Hes just trying to use that to blackmail me, what crime have I committed. Ortom continued: Is this how we want to continue as a country? Where some people are given privilege to be lawless?Earlier, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Security Infrastructure, Senator Lawan, who noted that the intent behind the constitution of the panel was to ensure a review of security infrastructure in the country, said that the leadership of the upper chamber felt this was necessary due to the current rise of insecurity in Nigeria, adding that the way our security apparatus is arranged, citizens are not properly and effectively protected. Blaming the spate of killings around the country on security agencies, Senator Lawan said, I think something is amiss. It is either they have deficiencies or they are not cooperating between themselves.Members of the Senate Adhoc Committee on Security Infrastructure who visited Benue state to investigate the recent killings include: Senators Abu Ibrahim, Sam Egwu, Abba Kyari, Barnabas Gemade, Biodun Olujimi, Joshua Lidani, Emmanuel Paulker and Yahaya Abubakar. The police in Lagos have dismissed two Sergeants and a Corporal attached to Amukoko Division for reckless use of firearms. The police in Lagos have dismissed two Sergeants and a Corporal attached to Amukoko Division for reckless use of firearms.Sergeants Saturday Osaseri (25759), Segun Okun (359075) and Corporal Adekunle Oluwarotimi (496833) were dismissed after an orderly room trial convicted of breaching the Nigeria Police rules of engagement.According to police spokesman, Chike Oti, a Superintendent (SP), the dismissed Non-commissioned Officers (NCOs) committed the offence on January 11, at about 9:30pm at Ifelodun Street, Amukoko.Oti said they disproportionately responded with bullets fired from their weapons at some youths alleged to have hurled stones, sticks and bottles at them.He said the actions of the dismissed NCOs led to the death of one of the youths, while another was injured.Oti said: They were arrested, detained and tried immediately on the orders of the Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi. The guilty verdict was passed on them by the adjudicating officer who considered that the officers did not appreciate the situation critically and ought not to have applied maximum force on the unruly youths.aThe officers would be charged to court next week, while a duplicate copy of the casefile would be sent to the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.Sequel to the above occurrence, the Commissioner of Police has directed all Area Commanders and DPOs in the state to warn their men against misapplication of force. He further warned that officers must abide by the Rules of Engagement (ROE) as stipulated in Force Order 237. Soldiers last night, took over the streets of Makurdi, the Benue State capital, a few hours after the quick intervention of the police a... Soldiers last night, took over the streets of Makurdi, the Benue State capital, a few hours after the quick intervention of the police averted what could have sparked a fresh mayhem in the state.The state had, only 48 hours earlier, buried 73 victims of herdsmen killings.The deployment of the soldiers was ordered by the State Security Council after reviewing the situation in the state.The security meeting also banned commercial motorcycles from the streets between 6pm and 7am until further notice.The police had broken up a protest by youths of Hausa-Fulani stock who were showing their anger over alleged attack on them by Tiv youths on Thursday when the 73 victims were buried.Some Tiv were said to have gone round Wadata, Wurukum, Northbank and Angwan Jukun areas of Makurdi, which are heavily populated by Hausa-Fulani, on that day to enforce the directive of the government that all business premises and markets be closed in honour of the 73 victims.This apparently did not go down well with the Hausa-Fulani youths who decided to go on the rampage yesterday, even as the state played host to a delegation from the Senate which came for an on-the-spot assessment of the Benue killings.The protesters barricaded the busy Ankpa quarters junction and began to smash passing vehicles.Overall, 15 vehicles were set ablaze and several passengers and motorists molested. There were sounds of gunshots.The protesters went as far as Madikpo and Dele Bookshop areas of the city.As the protest spread, shop owners quickly shut down while others ran helter skater.But when some of the rampaging youths attempted to break into electronic shops owned by Igbo traders, the owners launched a fierce resistance and a fight broke out.Another account said the the protest was provoked by an accident in which an Hausa man was knocked down by a car.Governor Samuel Ortom, through his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, condemned the protest and asked security agents to go after the trouble makers.Benue, he said, has had enough blood and now needs peace.It was however gathered that the protest by Hausa-Fulani youths may not be unconnected with the work free day declared on the day 73 persons were buried.The governor, later in the day, addressed a prayer and fasting programme for residents of Makurdi and Guma, organised by the Tor Tiv, Professor James Ayatse.Ortom warned against reprisal attacks by the people of the state, saying such would aggravate the security situation in the state.Vengeance, he said, is of God, adding that two wrongs do not make a right.He said reprisals would only put the lives of innocent indigenes of the state residing elsewhere in danger.Also addressing the gathering, the Tor Tiv appealed to the people to return to God, even as he prayed for prosperity as well as their political and economic advancement in Nigeria. US President Donald Trump appeared to give up for dead a bipartisan deal on immigration Sunday, blaming Democrats as the aftershocks of ... US President Donald Trump appeared to give up for dead a bipartisan deal on immigration Sunday, blaming Democrats as the aftershocks of his vulgar disparagement of African countries and Haiti rumbled Washingtons political battlegrounds.Trump came back on the issue in a pair of early morning tweets three days after reportedly referring to African and Haitian immigrants as coming from shithole countries, triggering global condemnation. DACA is probably dead because the Democrats dont really want it, Trump tweeted, referring to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program at the heart of the immigration impasse. Hundreds of thousands of immigrants brought to the country illegally as children so-called dreamers face deportation unless a compromise can be reached that would grant them rights to stay. A bipartisan deal to resolve the dreamers problem in return for changes demanded by Republicans in the way visas are allocated collapsed in acrimony Thursday with Trumps remarks, which were widely denounced as racist.I think this man, this president, is taking us back to another place, John Lewis, a Georgia congressman who was on the front lines of the 1960s civil rights movement, said Sunday on ABCs This Week. I think he is a racist. Defend the indefensible Senator David Purdue, a Republican from Georgia, called charges that Trump is racist ridiculous and his reported remarks a gross misrepresentation of the White House meeting on immigration. But other Republicans, pained by the turn of events, spoke out against the president as debate over the slur spilled into Sunday television talk shows.I cant defend the indefensible, said Mia Love, a Haitian-American congresswoman from Utah who campaigned on Trumps behalf in the countrys Haitian community. I still think that he should apologize, she said on CNNs State of the Union. I think that there are people that are looking for an apology.And I think that that would show real leadership. Trumps shithole countries remarks were confirmed by Senator Dick Durbin, a Democrat who attended the White House meeting, after it was reported by the Washington Post and other media. But Trump has stuck with a vague denial that he used such language, and so far has made no move to apologize, hurting prospects for a deal on DACA and making life uncomfortable for Republicans as they look ahead to mid-term elections this year. The president sought to shift from the defensive by portraying Democrats as not truly interested in an immigration deal. They just want to talk and take desperately needed money away from our Military, he tweeted.I, as President, want people coming into our Country who are going to help us become strong and great again, people coming in through a system based on MERIT. No more Lotteries! #AMERICA FIRST, he said.\ A deal to be had Senator Jeff Flake, a Republican who has been critical of Trump, said Democrats were serious about a bipartisan deal on immigration. He said the compromise presented to the White House Thursday would end a visa lottery system and so-called chain migration under which legal immigrants can bring in family members. The dreamers would be allowed to stay but not become US citizens, according to Flake. The senator from Arizona said Trumps remarks came in reaction to an element of the deal that would reallocate the visas given out in a lottery to immigrants who are currently in a protected status, like Haitians and the dreamers.I believe there is a deal to be had, he said. Trump announced in September he was scrapping the DACA program but delayed enforcement to give Congress six months until March to craft a lasting solution. On Tuesday, however, a federal judge ordered the government to keep DACA going pending resolution of court challenges to the presidents decision. Meanwhile, dimming prospects for a 2018 spending agreement means lawmakers will have to resort to a temporary funding extension to avert a government shutdown on January 19. The former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday said Nigerians are yet to witness the change campaign promises of the current ... The former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday said Nigerians are yet to witness the change campaign promises of the current administration.Obasanjo disclosed this at the presentation of award to the former Managing Director of Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), Engr. James Olotu, during investiture ceremony of new president of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), in Abuja.The new NSE President, Engr. Adekunle Mokuolu, had earlier commended Olotu for his outstanding performance in delivering all the independent power projects and the power injector substations.He applauded other distinguished Nigerians who have contributed significantly to the power and engineering sector in the country while Obasanjo made the award presentations.But Obasanjo, who was in his cream traditional Agbada attire and a matching cap, quietly asked Olotu on the podium if the projects were actually completed with a response from Olotu.Facing the crowd in the Africa hall of the International Conference Centre, Obasanjo said, If you want to know what I have been asking him, I asked him if all the 10 NIPP has been completed but he said they are 85 per cent completed and the Power Injector Substations have been completed above average.Lets hope that all the 100 per cent of them will be completed and all of them will be feeding power into our homes. Maybe we will see the change.However, Obasanjo applauded the new president for his commitment and tenacity to developing the engineering sector.In his remarks, President Muhammadu Buhari, said the NSE has proven to be good partners to developing the nations infrastructure and the economy.He said the role of local engineers is imperative to really achieving the National Economic Recovery Growth Plan, thus reason the Federal Executive Council approved new policy plan to promote local content.Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonaya Onu said the new policy would be of immense benefit to local engineers.Our engineers are well placed to assist in the realisation of our numerous policy initiatives. The recent guideline on design, planning and execution of projects, programmes and contracts that have science, engineering and technological components is particularly instructive.These policy guidelines which already have been approved by the federal executive council are equipped with great revolutionary potentials of great benefits to the engineers and other professionals in science and technology, Buhari said.Mokuolu in his inaugural speech called for a change in the present procurement process if the nation must be the envy of other countries.He said the absence and inadequacy of infrastructural facilities has led most people to migrate to other countries at a risk through the Sahara desert and Mediterranean Sea.However, he restated commitment of the NSE to ensure the success of all programmes initiated by the President and his administration.Mokuolu disclosed plans to commence initiatives that will increase population of Engineers in the country with special attention on girls to encourage them to flourish in the profession.He assured to increase interactions with the Industrial Trust Fund and the Supervised Industrial Work Experience Scheme.We shall introduce competitions in engineering and technology innovations among students in the first quarter of 2018 and facilitate seamless connect between the Academia and Industry, Mokuolu added.In a new report titled, the Nigerian Infrastructure Report Card, distributed at the event, the study rated the nations infrastructure system (F1) Unfit for Purpose.According to the report, the F1 rating is a further drop by two points from E2 in the previous rating carried out in 2015. "It Occurs to Me That I Am America: New Stories and Art" Edited by Jonathan Santlofer (Touchstone Hardcover, 379 pp, $30) During the Passover Seder - a long, wine-filled meal recanting the Exodus of Jews - we raise our glasses and toast "To freedom." That always hits me on a cellular level. My family barely escaped the pogroms, seeking the glorious promise of freedom of religion in America. As freedoms are threatened, millions protest by taking to the streets. Another reaction is intellectual protest and that's found in this exquisite anthology of fiction and art. "This book represents more than a collection of great prose and beautiful pictures; it represents hope," editor Jonathan Santlofer writes. A wide-ranging anthology that includes many oeuvres of art and fiction as artists and writers examine what it means to be an American. And it does that forcefully, sparking thought and inspiring appreciation and even fear in readers. Artist Jane Kent's copy of the Constitution with most words blacked out illustrates what redacted freedom looks like on paper. A 12-panel cartoon by the consistently terrific Roz Chast chronicles her political evolution, ending with her morphed into Edvard Munch's person in "The Scream" as she watches Trump on TV. Like any anthology, some work is stronger. The three New Jersey authors offer superb takes of an America fading away, one happening now and one of the future. Mary Higgins Clark, of Saddle River and Spring Lake, offers a short and poignant story about sacrifice. A 92-year-old veteran watches a parade from his window on Fifth Avenue. He reflects on life, focusing on his twin brother, Tim, who gave the ultimate sacrifice at Normandy. I dare anyone to read this and remain dry-eyed: "And then as he looked down, he saw what seemed like a battalion of veterans looking up at the window and saluting Tim's Gold Star." The Star-Ledger's columnist Mark Di Ionno has written a nuanced short story about what happens to two families when an accident ends tragically and citizenship is in the balance. For a chilling, nuanced take on what is happening, Star-Ledger columnist Mark Di Ionno writes a short story that could easily sustain a novel. The reader yearns for more about these characters. His protagonist, a defense attorney, represents Frank, who came to the U.S.A. from Paraguay when he was in kindergarten. He is a good guy, and at 22, was driving through Newark one night. He thought he hit an animal. It was a woman and she died. They were the same age, from the opposite economic worlds of New Jersey. He left the scene of the accident and later turned himself in. ICE immediately arrested Frank, locking him up with hardened criminals. Frank's family sought the services of the defense attorney. "When the family came to retain me, I saw who he came from. Good people, humble and now shamed, embarrassed that their son took a life and ran. They sat in front of me, the father in a forest-green janitor's uniform from a local Catholic school, the mother in the smock of a neighborhood day care center. Their hands were clutched, their heads bowed. I was a man in a suit. An authority." Every aspect of this story is a tragedy; two families are shattered. A wonderful young woman, who had too much to drink one night and did not look both ways, was killed. A wonderful young man panicked and is truly repentant. Under the law, Frank must be deported. His parents had overstayed their visa by years. The lawyer understands; his grandfather had also arrived illegally. Later, his oldest son, the narrator's uncle, was a war hero which "helped fast-track his father's citizenship two years later, no questions asked. "Two men, a father and son, on different sides of history. The fate of individuals cannot be divorced from their times." Princeton's Joyce Carol Oates takes readers into the near future when the Constitution no longer rules the land and xenophobia and paranoia have run rampant. Taking the xenophobia, paranoia and authoritarianism of our times into the future, Joyce Carol Oates, of Princeton, writes about a time where people are constantly monitored. In this dystopian nightmare, the Constitution has been shredded. The calendar dates back to The Great Terrorist Attacks of 9/11. An official caste system based on skin tone is codified; the higher-ups are whiter. A teenager, her high school valedictorian, is accused of treason. She is handcuffed and brutally interrogated. It would not be a stretch to say tortured, as the government demands to know who helped her with her graduation speech, one she thought was not controversial since it "consisted entirely of questions - not answers, or accusations." Merely asking questions had her arrested. Her life, as she knew it, is over. As with the rest of the book such censoring should spur readers to ask the most basic of questions: Why? And, what is happening to our republic? JERSEY CITY -- A 19-year-old man was shot multiple times on Summit Avenue Friday night and the alleged shooter has been charged with attempted murder, authorities said. The shooting occurred at about 8:45 p.m. near Gardner Avenue, city spokeswoman Kim Scalcione said. Police arrested Marc Russel, 22, after a foot pursuit following the shooting. A handgun fell from his pocket while he was running from police and he allegedly admitted to possessing the weapon, Scalcione said. The handgun was reported stolen out of South Carolina in April. Russel was charged with weapons offenses, resisting arrest, and attempted murder. Meanwhile, while the victim was being treated by doctors at the hospital, staff found he had drugs in his pocket and police arrested him. The 19-year-old, who was the victim of a shooting June, is in stable condition. Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitlin_mota. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. Temperatures continued to plummet early Sunday morning after a brief reprieve and spring-like weather. On Sunday, forecasters warned the wind chill will plunge parts of New Jersey into the lower single digits or below zero temperatures. The National Weather Service expects a frigid morning with temperatures in the afternoon struggling to reach past the mid-20s. As of 5 a.m. the wind chill in Newark was at 1 degree. Expected temperatures Sunday morning. Lows will range from the single digits to the teens but with the wind chill, it could feel close to -10 degrees in some parts of the state. Newark is forecasted to feel as low as -2 degrees, West Milford could drop to -8 degrees with wind chill and Montgomery to -10 degrees, the National Weather Service said. Forecasters said any standing water will freeze and warned residents to drive and walk with caution. The brutal cold is predicted to remain all week after it briefly warmup on Friday, with temperatures were recorded in the low 60s. A frigid morning with wind chills down into the lower single digits to just below zero in most locations. Bundle up if heading out today, as temperatures this afternoon will struggle to reach only the mid 20s! pic.twitter.com/HMpCs1J7ly NWS New York NY (@NWSNewYorkNY) January 14, 2018 Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook. The same vulgar term President Trump used in a conversation about immigration last week was projected onto his hotel in D.C. on Saturday. Indeed, the term -- "shithole," among other phrases, and poop emojis could be seen on the wall of the Trump International Hotel, according to a video posted online by the person who made the projections. Trump reportedly used the expletive to describe Haiti, El Salvador and African countries when talking about an immigration deal in the Oval Office. The artist, Robin Bell, who posted a video of the projection online, has previously used art to criticize the president, The Washington Post reported. Trump's comments drew national outrage, including strong rebukes from both Democratic and Republican leaders in New Jersey and Gov.-elect Phil Murphy. Murphy called on Trump to read the poem on the base of the Statue of Liberty by Emma Lazarus that calls for America to welcome all immigrants, even the "tired" and "poor." Trump has denied making the offensive remarks on Twitter. 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: The death of a beloved dog or cat is a blow any pet lover understands. Losing that animal companion one hour after you dropped it off for a routine grooming is incomprehensible. But that's what happened at least twice in eight days during the Christmas season just past, according to an investigation by NJ Advance Media - and both times the same chain store was involved. "You expect to see your dog happy and healthy and groomed, and I got a dead dog," says Daniele DiNapoli, who said Scruffles the 8-year-old bulldog was in good health when she left the dog at the PetSmart in Flemington over the holidays. That was at 9:45 on an otherwise ordinary Friday morning. By 11 a.m. the dog was declared dead on arrival at the Flemington Veterinary Hospital. DiNapoli's subsequent post about her experience on Facebook, under the title Justice for Scruffles, attracted more than 16,000 shares and 10,000 likes. It turns out others had horror tales to relate. They included Tara Fiet, whose dog Ranger died two days after being groomed at the same Hunterdon County branch, and David Bolduc, whose shih tzu George was diagnosed with a debilitating back injury under similar circumstances. The dog's condition is only getting worse, Bolduc says. You don't have to be an animal-rights advocate to understand the field of pet grooming - that is, bathing, brushing, clipping or styling a pet for compensation - cries out for rigorous oversight. We're sure the vast majority of these service providers are ethical and compassionate. But without a licensing procedure in place, consumers have no way of knowing what to expect if they leave Abby the golden retriever or Eliza the Siamese kitten to have her nails clipped or her tresses tamed. In 2014, a measure called Bijou's Law, requiring groomers to pass an exam prepared by the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners in order to be licensed, failed to gain traction in the state Legislature. Named in memory of the 6-year-old shih tzu of Rosemary Marchetto of Northvale, the law stipulated that any business offering grooming services must provide proper sanitary conditions, sufficient lighting, an adequate water supply, and structurally sound and clean cages for pets being groomed. Bijou's Law also would have required any pet-grooming service to maintain an incident file to be submitted annually to the state board, listing such matters as injuries sustained at the facility that required veterinary contact, pet escapes and pet deaths. Would such a bill bring back Scruffles, Ranger and George? Sadly, no. But it would force facilities to take proper measures to keep other pets alive and healthy. And it would give legions of New Jersey pet owners the peace of mind they deserve as they care for their four-legged family members. With a new crop of lawmakers in place, now would be a good time to reconsider the fate of future Bijous, and to move ahead on this needed measure. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. After Gov. Chris Christie hands off to Phil Murphy in two days, liberals in New Jersey will be unleashed to do as they please, with unchecked power in all three branches. Part of me rejoices. Murphy will raise the minimum wage, fight climate change, and end the pointless war against pot. His cabinet looks like New Jersey, with a Muslim, a Sikh, and six women, two of them black and two Latino. But I worry. Because New Jersey is broke, and most Democrats don't seem to get that. "That will be a challenge for the new governor," says Tom Byrne, former Democratic state chairman, and son of the former governor. "People will be saying, 'You promised me this. Why didn't you do it already?'" You may go numb when you hear the phrase "fiscal crisis" because it's been a fact of life in New Jersey for so long. The sky has not fallen, so it may seem an empty threat, just numbers in a book in a dusty archive. But it's real, and the symptoms are everywhere. It explains why our transit system is such a mess, why addicts die waiting for treatment, why college kids pay more for tuition, why some poor kids can't get a seat in preschool. Aren't liberals supposed to care about all that stuff? Jersey City recently paid a retiring police chief $512,000 for unused sick pay. Obscene is the only word I can think of to describe that. How many addicts could have been saved with that money? How many kids could be enrolled in preschool? In all, New Jersey taxpayers are on the hook for nearly $2 billion in these payments. Health spending is out of control as well. Yes, public workers in New Jersey have taken a beating in the Christie years, with lower benefits and higher payments. But even now, their health plans would qualify as "platinum" under Obamacare. So, this is an existential moment for Democrats. Murphy will try to raise taxes to soften the pinch, but that won't be enough. If Democrats want progressive government, they will have to cut spending. It won't be easy. Most Democrats hear the word "union" and they think of coal miners fighting ruthless robber barons. But that's way off. Benefits for public workers are paid for mostly by middle-class taxpayers. By what warped logic is it "progressive" to force those families to pay for platinum coverage they can't afford themselves? How many taxpayers are paid for unused sick time? Byrne is the kind of Democrat who is facing hard facts. In 2014, Christie appointed him as the lead Democrats on a bipartisan commission charged with finding a solution. His co-chair was Tom Healey, a Republican who served in the Reagan treasury department. Their core conclusion: The only way out is to scale back those platinum health benefits for public workers, leaving them with "gold" level plans, and invest those savings in the depleted pensions funds. But the report landed with a thud, gaining almost no traction among Democrats. "I went around the state talking to Democratic (county) chairmen, and frankly, no one wanted to hear it," Byrne says. "They looked at me like I had two heads." It now falls to Murphy to devise Plan B. No sign of that yet. He campaigned as if times were flush, offering free community college, subsidized day care, tax credits for the working poor, and unqualified support for everything the public worker unions wanted. But I am keeping hope alive. Murphy is the boss now, and has to make the numbers work. "He did what he had to do to get elected," Byrne says. "Now the test will be whether he is equally good at governing." Byrne once had a heart-to-heart with Richard Ravitch, who brokered a deal to save New York City from bankruptcy in the 1970s. "He said the way it got resolved was by people sitting around a table and doing things they swore they would never agree to do," Byrne said. "We're headed in the same direction." Reset expectations. That's such a nice way to put it. I am a darker soul, perhaps, and would rephrase that for clarity: He's going to have to flip-flop like a fish on a dry dock. Here's hoping he does so. It's the best hope for progressive government in New Jersey. More: Tom Moran columns Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com or call (973) 836-4909. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. Brandon Fregm was sitting with his family in Brogue, Pennsylvania, Friday night when the 30-year-old got the phone call that he said will allow him to go back to work and move on with his life. The 8 p.m. call was from an attorney who told him Gov. Chris Christie had issued a pardon that ends his two-year legal battle in the New Jersey court system over a weapons conviction. "It was a big life-changer," Fregm said in a phone interview Saturday. "Everyone was super excited." The Pennsylvania man was one of 26 people granted clemency days before Christie leaves office. The outgoing governor did not say why he issued the orders hours after the courts had closed for the weekend. Fregm was arrested on March 9, 2015, while driving through New Jersey with a loaded handgun on the back seat of his car, according to court records. He was licensed to carry in Pennsylvania, but not New Jersey. After his felony conviction, Fregm said it was near impossible for him to find work as an ironworker since the majority of the contracts were for work in school or government buildings. "Make sure you know the rules of the state you travel through," he said, reflecting on the charges. "One little thing turned my whole life around." Six others -- Brian Aitken, Hisashi Pompey, Meghan Fellenbaum, Brian Murphy, Adrian Rubio, Antonio Scott, Angel Cordero and Christopher O'Sullivan -- were pardoned for unlawful possession of a weapon. The full details of many of their cases weren't immediately accessible. Pompey, a U.S. Marine, was facing two years in prison last year when Christie commuted his sentence over a nightclub incident in Fort Lee. Fellenbaum, a Pennsylvania resident, was arrested for having a firearm in her trunk. Aitken's case became a symbol for gun-law advocates in the U.S. when he was convicted on multiple weapons charges after police found three unloaded handguns and ammunition in the trunk of the former Mount Laurel man's car in 2009. Aitken had purchased the guns legally in Colorado. The next, year Christie commuted his seven-year sentence to time-served. He was also pardoned of a simple assault conviction stemming from a separate 2009 arrest, the details of which were not known or previously reported. Aitken and Pompey did not immediately respond to calls for comment. Eleven others had their slate wiped clean of drugs charges. Those included Altorice Frazier, a Newark resident who was sentenced in 1999 to 13 years for drug trafficking but since his release has worked to give back his community, working with ex-cons and in parent advocacy. The governor even called him personally, he said. "I was in Wendy's with my daughter, who is five, and I was just stuck," Frazier said in an interview, explaining that he froze up. "It was surreal. So, I put him on speaker phone to say 'Hi' to my daughter. "I really get an opportunity to now write this chapter of my life my way," he said. Anthony Giarratano was also granted a pardon for his 2011 armed robbery of a drug store in Hillsborough. His mother had told the media at the time, Giarratano was on a series of medications after being diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia and was "mentally impaired." Additionally, John Pjeternikaj, who was wrapped up in a firearms raid in 1983 and later convicted of arson and a weapons sales charge, according to media reports from the time, was pardoned. Pjeternikaj and his family have donated more than $10,000 to Christie's campaigns, including two donations to his failed presidential bid, according to state and federal election data. Pjeternikaj and Giarratano could not be reached for comment Saturday. Christie, who leaves office on Tuesday, has given clemency to 55 people during his tenure, according to the governor's office. Here are documents released by Christie detailing the nature of the crimes for which the 26 people were granted clemency. Reporter S.P. Sullivan contributed to this report. Craig McCarthy may be reached at 732-372-2078 or at CMcCarthy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @createcraig and on Facebook here. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Christopher Porrino was five days from starting his new job as chief counsel to the governor of New Jersey in January 2014 when the call came telling him he'd have to start early. "I was asked if I could be up at Drumthwacket by noon," Porrino said, referring to the governor's mansion in Princeton. Minutes earlier, news broke that aides to Gov. Chris Christie had ordered lanes closed on the George Washington Bridge in a political retaliation scheme that would blow up into a national news story. "Sure," he recalled saying. "Where's Drumthwacket?" A relative outsider, Porrino entered Christie's inner circle at the moment the Bridgegate scandal was breaking, quickly becoming a trusted adviser to the Republican governor. His distance from the scheme helped Porrino -- and perhaps the governor -- avoid the fallout. Aided by a reputation as a nonpartisan negotiator, he later won the support of Democratic lawmakers and served as New Jersey's attorney general for 18 months. He leaves the post this week along with his boss as Gov.-elect Phil Murphy takes office. Murphy has named Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir Grewal as his pick for the state's top law enforcement job. Porrino's tenure was marked by a multi-front fight against opioids-- a key priority of Christie's -- from charging doctors accused of unscrupulous overprescription to suing drugmakers and prosecuting drug dealers. Under Porrino, the Attorney General's Office also aggressively went after sex offenders and child pornography distributors, took on distracted driving, brought some high-profile discrimination cases, sought to reduce violent crime in New Jersey's cities and created programs aimed at improving relations between police and the communities they serve. It also faced criticism because of Porrino's close ties to the governor. Christie's controversial settlement with Exxon Mobil came under scrutiny when Porrino served as chief counsel, and a legal battle over the deal stretched on through his tenure as attorney general. Porrino had to recuse himself from matters related to the bridge scandal, which bubbled up again when Christie faced a citizen's complaint for official misconduct. More recently, there was the governor's pre-Christmas pardon of an acquaintance, Joseph Longo, whom the Attorney General's Office had prosecuted for records-tampering. Neither Porrino's office nor the governor has commented publicly about the case, which resulted in a guilty plea three days before Porrino was nominated to his post. In an interview at the attorney general's Newark office, Porrino maintained that while the governor's priorities drove policies at the Attorney General's Office, as is the case in any administration, the office was not influenced by politics. "In the 18 months I was here, there were really not circumstances that I was faced with that I felt I was being driven into a policy position I didn't like or I really disagreed with," he said. As attorneys general in other mid-Atlantic states pursued aggressive stances against federal policies on immigration and civil rights since President Donald Trump took office, New Jersey sat on the sidelines. But New Jersey is different than a lot of states, which elect their top prosecutors, rather than leaving it up to a governor to appoint and a state legislature to confirm them. Some -- including Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno during her unsuccessful run for governor -- have argued that voters should pick the attorney general, but critics of that proposal argue interjecting electoral politics would complicate things even further. "My approach has been, unless there was a legal issue that I thought we needed to take a position on, we tried to stay away from political fights," he said. Porrino said that if you went around and asked a hundred people who was the state's attorney general, "a hundred wouldn't know." Yet the position comes with considerable power. "You could not, given the current structure, have an elected attorney general, because the authority is so vast," he said. Porrino said the state Attorney General's Office serves as "the lawyer for the governor's office" when it comes to civil matters such as lawsuits. "But on the criminal side, the AG's office answers to nobody," he said. When Christie becomes a private citizen on Tuesday, Porrino, too, plans to return to civilian life. Porrino, who spent 20 years in private practice before joining state government, will return to his old law firm, Lowenstein Sandler, as its head of litigation. He said one of the proudest moments of his tenure was the office's Division on Civil Rights taking on the Bergen County town of Mahwah for their efforts to fight eruvs, Orthodox Jewish markers, and other policies that allegedly discriminated against Jews. The legal fight caused an uproar, and Porrino said he received phone calls from people irate at the state for going after the town, which argued the markers violated zoning laws. He compared the calls, which he said complained about the spread of orthodox communities throughout New Jersey, to "the way they talked about African-American people 60 or 70 years ago" in housing disputes. "I don't understand how it's any different, people who say, 'Oh, they're taking over,'" Porrino said. "How can you even say that out loud? "It's the great part of being able, in this job, to do what you think is right for the right reasons, and not having to worry about whether you're going to get elected," Porrino said. S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Gerrit Cole, whom the Yankees chased for years only to watch him land with the Astros, still has the chance to be an ace and will seriously benefit from a change of scenery, a scout told NJ Advance Media this week. The scout, who works for an AL team and has tracked Cole for years, believes the right-hander will also benefit from not being expected to lead a rotation. The scout requested anonymity because he's not authorized to speak about players on other teams. Cole went to Houston in exchange for big-league pitchers Joe Musgrove and Michael Feliz, the Astros' No. 5 prospect Colin Moran (1B/3B), and their No. 15 prospect Jason Martin (OF). Here's what the scout thinks of Cole, who went 19-8 (32 starts) with a 2.60 ERA in 2015 but has just a 4.12 ERA since: "I always thought he was the real deal, and then people were saying he wasn't tough. He's had some minor injuries. I just think that he's at the stage where he needs to (leave Pittsburgh). He has the chance to really be a nice top-end guy. When the (Jake) Arrieta deal happened, he had all the stuff in the world, but we didn't think he'd figure it out. Cole doesn't have nearly the command or control problems (Arrieta) had. You know (Cole) should be a No. 1 starter but, worst-case scenario, he's a No. 3. I'm a big Gerrit Cole fan. I saw him a few times this year and he would have these innings where all of a sudden his breaking ball is up in the zone and they just bang him. ... He used to dominate games. He's just for me, personally, a prime example of a guy who could be really good if he leaves (Pittsburgh). If he ends up playing for a team that's really good. His whole career, he's had to be The Dude. When you put that label on somebody, you expect him to live up to it. He might have it easier and it might not be on his mind so much somewhere else." Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook. The owner of a Magazine Street boutique is asking for the public's help to identify a man who she says stole about a thousand dollars worth of jewelry from her store. The unidentified man pocketed rings from Century Girl Vintage, 2023 Magazine St., New Orleans, on Wednesday (Jan. 10), owner Leah Blake said. An employee said the man entered the store just before closing. In surveillance video, he can be seen casually walking to the rear of the store and grabbing items that he doesn't put back. "He was just picking up rings like you would pick eggs on a farm," Blake said. A relative who was waiting to give the employee a ride home noticed the man enter the store and thought it was suspicious for him to be visiting a women's boutique at closing time, according to Blake. The relative came inside and chatted up the man to make sure the employee was OK, Blake said. "He was really charming and talkative," she said. When asked where he was from, the man hesitated before saying he was visiting from Dallas. However, Blake's employee and the relative noted he had a New Orleans accent and was wearing a New Orleans Saints shirt. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up "He clearly had a New Orleans, kind of y'at accent," Blake said. In sharing details about the theft in a Magazine Street business forum, Blake learned that a shoplifter with a similar description had stolen jewelry from Sterling Silvia, 3110 Magazine St. An employee at Sterling Silvia confirmed Sunday that the business had posted a photograph of the shoplifter on the front door. It's not clear what was stolen from that store. At Century Girl, the shoplifter took a 14-karat gold lion ring with emerald eyes and two vintage silver rings from the 1920s, one with an aquamarine stone and another with a synthetic sapphire, Blake said. "It's just awful when it happens to small businesses," she said. . . . . . . . . Anyone with information about the identity of the shoplifter is asked to call Crimestoppers at 504.822.1111 or toll-free at 877.903.7867. Tips can be texted to C-R-I-M-E-S (274637); text TELLCS then the crime information. Callers or texters do not have to give their names or testify and can earn a $2,500 reward for information that leads to an indictment. Even though William Faulkner's stay in New Orleans was brief, his stories and legacy live on in the city and beyond. Twenty-seven years ago, Rosemary James and Joe DeSalvo founded the Pirate's Alley Faulkner Society to celebrate Faulkner and other authors. Seven years later, the society started the Words and Music: A Literary Feast in New Orleans, which was held this year, Dec. 6-10. Part of the festival is the Faulkner For Fall gala, which dedicated society members such as board chair Anne Simms Pincus decided to be a surprise salute to James and DeSalvo. The party, secretly called (to those keeping the surprise) "A Generation of Heavy Lifting for Literary New Orleans: A Surprise Tribute to Joe DeSalvo and Rosemary James," was held Dec. 9 at the Hotel Monteleone. The cocktail hour proceeded as usual, with music from Fruta Brutal, led by Martin Better, and the announcement of the winners of the Faulkner - Wisdom Creative Writing Competition and the ALIHOT (A Legend in His/Her Own Time): Gold Medal winners included: Timothy Jay Smith, novel; Dave Barnette, narrative non-fiction book; Martha Moffett, novella; Andrew Comenelli, short story; Sean W. Murphy, novel-in-progress; Megan Baxter, essay; Stacey Balkun, poetry; and Abigail Lyman, high school short story; and ALIHOT winners for fiction: Patty Friedmann, Tim Gautreaux, Adam Johnson and Stewart O'Nan, and non-fiction: Resa Aslan and Walter Isaacson. It wasn't until James and DeSalvo got to the gala portion of the night that they realized the true purpose of the party. Among the tributes, Megan Holt of One Book One New Orleans surprised James and DeSalvo with the news that One Book One New Orleans will establish the James-DeSalvo Award, given each year at Words & Music to someone who has dedicated their time and energy to making New Orleans a more literate city. The inaugural James-DeSalvo award went to the couple for their work with the society's Big Read program, a literacy initiative designed to stimulate reading for at-risk teenagers, their parents and other residents of the New Orleans area. At a luncheon the day before, there was a formal announcement that James and DeSalvo were handing over the reins of Words & Music to One Book One New Orleans. The couple will remain involved in the society. With Ray Blount Jr. as emcee, the night continued with a musical tribute to Fats Domino by Craig Adams and a performance by actor Gerald McRaney of a portion from Faulkner's first novel, "Soldier's Pay," which he wrote in New Orleans. McRaney is to star in a new film based on the book. In addition to Words & Music, the Big Read and the Faulkner-Wisdom Creative Writing Competition, the society produces The Double Dealer literary journal, outreach programs for high-school and college students, and literary events. Weather Alert ...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 6 PM CDT MONDAY... * WHAT...Heat index values between 100 and 105 degrees. * WHERE...Portions of southern Mississippi and southeast Louisiana. * WHEN...From 10 AM to 6 PM CDT Monday. * IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses to occur. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1. && US President Donal Trump Whereas the African Union has unanimously and angrily demanded that US President Donald Trump retracts his comments about their countries, reaction on social media seems to indicate that many youth on the continent agree with Trump's description of their countries. It was widely reported on Thursday that Trump, in a meeting with US lawmakers, questioned why his country has to take in more immigrants from Haiti and shithole countries from Africa, rather than countries such as Norway that would offer trade and foreign policy deals to his country. Trump admitted to using tough language in the said meeting but denied using derogatory language. Many youth on the Africa continent, pointing to the corruption, political assassinations, bribery, under development, nepotism, self-inflicted poverty among others in their countries say that Trump is right. Here are some of the reactions. Im a future Doctor. Im a medical student. I have 3 degrees. I speak 3 languages. Im published in Psych-Oncology. Im a member of Zeta Phi Beta. Im from a #ShitHole country! ?? pic.twitter.com/NXeQCjhLTH Senorita ? (@AF_ROdisiac) January 12, 2018 Maybe once and for all Africans can stop looking for the American dream and focus on building the African dream. Guard our resources, be united and good to one another so we don't need these people who continue to disrespect & undermine us #shithole Floridah R Mapeto (@floridahmapeto) January 12, 2018 A lot has gone bad in Africa sister, but I believe we can do something. Our leaders have totally failed us that's why we would always get remarks like this from a very #stablegenius. Africa needs to wake up and take care of itself and YES WE CAN. Big Nitch (@BigNitch1) January 13, 2018 'Shithole' counties stink of corruption, tribalism theft of public resources, electoral fraud n self-imposed underdevelopment. Trump is right about us. Edward Kisiang'ani (@ekisiangani) January 14, 2018 If Kenya is not a shithole, let @KeNHAKenya cancel that $3billion new Mombasa-Nairobi expressway bribe for @BobGodec. Give it to one of Italy, Canada, Japan or China. Better results, less slave-dog treatment. Let Americans go build their heaven. Absorbent Observer (@geonal) January 14, 2018 Trump is Americas problem not Africas. African leaders that do not sincerely love thier countrirs are the enemy. Until Africa falls in love with its self all that wealth will remain abstract.#Africa #Trump #minerals #Kenya #shithole pic.twitter.com/RPORVeE21h Muturi Kanini (@Muturikanini) January 14, 2018 Kenya is a Shithole country.. How is this fact debatable? Joji (@Chemuna_) January 14, 2018 Remember when Trump said Africa has shithole countries and you all blindly attacked him without thinking deep about it. Yes, by shithole he meant Kenya among others. https://t.co/v6kjLJQPav UNDERRATED NINJA (@iamjoseh_) January 14, 2018 If you are in America stop whining and join Trump in calling out the #Shithole country you came from. Were it different you wouldn't be there doing 3 jobs to survive Kenya = #Shithole The Hustle (@MosesMunuve) January 14, 2018 Kenya is not a shithole country. That kinda mentality is the reason Trump and fellow colonialists succeed. By agreeing with them. We should be positive minded and strive to prove we aren't shitholes. Trump is the asshole. D. B. Mubia (@dbmubia) January 14, 2018 But in Kenya we do have a shithole president,shithole government and shithole policies.For once have agreed with president Trump .Its a reality have to accept as a Kenyan Khamati Godfrey( MD.Dr) (@Godfreykham) January 14, 2018 Trump says immigrants from shithole countries are bad for America whereas immigrants from northern European countries would be better. So Obama is from Kenya and Trump is from Germany. You do the math. Lock him up! (@AgentZtheSecond) January 14, 2018 A Shithole Country is a country where 1%of the country's population is richer than 99% and that is Kenya. Don't throw tantrums Kenyans! pic.twitter.com/AfjMfmoSz3 Jahson Makili (@JahsonMakili2) January 14, 2018 Tbh, Photographers paint a picture of a Kenya that is a Las vegas part 2,but fail to paint the real Nairobi which is filthy, dirty, noisy. Kwa ufupi shithole. If I was to chose between living in Kenya and US, I'd go there very fast, like most people. Hii ni inchi ya mashida hii Skinoo (@KIMANI_MOMO) January 14, 2018 Kenya is a shithole country corruption tribalism our politicians. @realDonaldTrump is right about us. Ruthless Hunt (@Ruthless_Hunt) January 14, 2018 Parading our #shithole presidents. Up next the president of Kenya pic.twitter.com/iCgf6qNuEA Edward Simiyu (@Edsimiyu) January 14, 2018 But @realDonaldTrump remarks about Africa are some how true, especially our country Kenya & it's politicians. Where police just kill innocent kids and women, politicians have siphoned taxpayers money through corruption and we still celebrate them. SHITHOLE Clichy Skillz ?? (@Clichy_Skillz) January 14, 2018 I am sure Kenya is not a #shithole WALE (@waleolaN) January 14, 2018 Kenya really is a #ShitHole country where we have the same problems we had at independence only made worse by rampant Tribalism and corruption. BlackandProud (@kungumaina1) January 14, 2018 @realDonaldTrump look at this shithole. Mombasa Kenya looks a mess filled with huts pic.twitter.com/OodPtXfK9M KIRK PRINCE (@kpp243) January 14, 2018 Bilharzia cases on the rise in Mayuge BUT NO, Uganda is NOT a #shithole country. #NTVNews Eye-saac (@Bit20200) January 14, 2018 Girls are mistreated in those arab states working as maids and still other girls are willing to leave Uganda to go work there. But Uganda is not a shithole country? Ok Murungi (@mel_bae101) January 14, 2018 Uganda is not a shithole. Do you know what is found in a shithole? If you say Uganda is a shithole then you are ............ if you live in or are Ugandan. #KafundaTalk https://t.co/DwE61cJzXU Iguma (@GabrielIguma) January 14, 2018 Are Ugandans still upset with President @realDonaldTrump reference to African countries as #Shithole? There is someone who moves with a mobile pit latrine everywhere in Uganda. Isn't that Shithole? #TUBALEMESE with their mobile pit latrine. At least we build latrines on highways Ronald Muhinda (@RonaldMuhinda) January 14, 2018 1/2 Thank you @Smith_JeffreyT for your honest take on the AU statement concerning #shithole statement by DJT.If you do a poll of young people in Africa,they will tell you how Trump in on ??point.look at slavery in Libya,failed Somalia,dictatorship in Uganda,DRC,Ethiopia,Gabon Isaac Kiplagat (@DrKiplagatIK) January 14, 2018 30 years ago Uganda was at the same level with Singapore and Malaysia. Definitely a shithole https://t.co/0E77rIYwAG Arimo? (@AbramRakim) January 14, 2018 @nwscug blames @UmemeLtd for water fluctuations whilst Umeme blames National water for loadshedsing! And @KagutaMuseveni says Uganda produces more power than it consumes. This is a shithole country indeed. Rukirabasaija (@kakwenza) January 14, 2018 I am Yahya Osman, I did a degree from Amoud University, post graduate from Uganda and masters degree from Ethopia. I am a lecturer at Hargeisa and Amoud University. I am from Somalia ?? especially #shithole countries. pic.twitter.com/YM0SuTyjZ6 Yahya (@yahyasomalia) January 14, 2018 Ok.Some Education Minister in #Uganda delegates her power to a country's speaker of parliament to go and start talking as if the duo belong to the country's opposition & then we go on wondering why some Maniac in the states calls us a #shithole country. https://t.co/NkxZ7RM5lD ~Innocent~ (@Innocentt_T) January 14, 2018 I like how he was too honest with the #shithole fact. Just spot on. Does Africa or Uganda have a foreign commercial policy other than getting loans from Asia, that will see us get recolonised in the near future? Dennis Mugabe (@DennisMugabe) January 14, 2018 #3 @realDonaldTrump calling Africa Shithole is out of touch. Uganda led by @KagutaMuseveni has steadily made progress. Brink Ayebaza (@brink_ayebaza) January 14, 2018 The shithole isn't about the beauty of Uganda. It's about the socioeconomic conditions of its people. As it stands, we can't even afford to enjoy that beauty you talk about. As others are progressing, we are getting poorer according to recent reports Bantu Dragon (@DCalyne) January 14, 2018 Did I hear African Union? They can't be serious. Where were they when Uganda's Museveni was changing constitution to become life president, what have they done to DRC, Burundi, Cameroon, CAR and others. Shithole, that is what we are in Africa, simple. Olayinka Mustapha (@Olafocus1) January 14, 2018 No sir! Trump is right. African leaders have destroyed Africa. Our citizens die in Mediterranean sea. No light, no water, no road, no food. It's story of war, hunger, disease and death. Sit tight leaders in Uganda, DRC, Cameroon, Burundi etc. Indeed, Africa is shithole sir. Olayinka Mustapha (@Olafocus1) January 14, 2018 Future Hopeful Rwanda People's President #DianeRwigara is in prison just because she talked about Rwandan reality: #misery, #poverty, organized #assassinations by criminal #shithole Kagame Paul serial! This is what makes Rwanda a shithole forever under a shithole ruthless killer! Muhire (@muhire534) January 14, 2018 Libya is a shithole. Zimbabwe is a shithole. Mauritania is a shithole. Madagascar is a shithole. Liberia is a shithole. Sudan is a shithole. Republic of Congo is a shithole. Democratic republic of Congo is a shithole. Should I continue??? Cameroon, Sierra Leone Rwanda etc LebronLove (@jor689) January 14, 2018 I am black from Africa. I am still support @realDonaldTrump despite what he said. Look at DRC the Clinton with Kagame Rwanda are accountable of 6 millions people to take over coltan. DRC under Kabila is shithole country. Bolingo Ya CONGO (@BolingoCongo) January 13, 2018 South Africa another " shithole " country where blacks oppress blacks and murder and crime and slums are a way of life. See what is there to be seen. michael tarpey (@futureworld104) January 14, 2018 Beautiful and interesting are two different things. South Africa is a beautiful country but its being turned into a shithole by corruption and racism. James Hayes (@LoveJuggernaut) January 14, 2018 yeah... no you're not... South Africa isn't a Shithole country. It has globally recognized universities and a powerful economy. Keep purposely misreading Trump's comment though libtards. Heka (@Heka) January 14, 2018 A Turnbull government minister's public criticism of China's aid funding in the South Pacific escalated on Friday when China's People's Daily ran a prominent editorial accusing Australia of adopting a "sour grapes psychology" because it had competition in a region where it has long been top dog. But the perception of Australia in China's state-sanctioned media this week was a far cry from that of a friendly trading partner. SYDNEY - On a Qantas flight from Sydney to Shanghai last week the Chinese passengers returning home from a sun-drenched break watching Sydney's New Year's Eve fireworks or eating oysters in Tasmania only had praise for their time in Australia. "This kind of arrogance shows Australia has not tolerated other countries having normal cooperation with the Pacific Islands for a long time," the newspaper said in the editorial on page three. It is not unusual for an increasingly assertive China to take Australia to task, but the series of barbs between the two countries over the past week dashed hopes that the relationship could start the new year with a clean slate. Tension between the two countries peaked in the in the final months of last year after the introduction of Australia's new political interference laws and a political storm over Labor Senator Sam Daystari's China connections. International Development Minister Concetta Fierravanti-Wells kicked things off on Wednesday when what appeared to be off-the-cuff remarks to the media escalated into a full-blown diplomatic row with Australia's biggest trading partner. The junior minister told The Australian and the ABC that China's Pacific aid program was a "white elephant" that had saddled small island nations with huge amounts of debt. The publicity around an issue that usually attracts little attention prompted a rebuke from China's Foreign Ministry, which called the comments "irresponsible" and said it had lodged a formal diplomatic complaint. Any hope that peace would reign during the usually quiet period between Australia's Christmas and Chinese New Year next month was dashed. While Australia's role in the Pacific is shaping up to be another headache for the Turnbull government's relationship with Beijing, alongside the South China Sea and the new foreign interference laws, former diplomats and China watchers believe a more serious threat is the impact Beijing's reaction could have on the way Chinese people view Australia. "I was at the Westin [hotel] in Guangzhou the other day and the doorman asked me why don't Australians like China. It never used to be this," Geoff Raby, Australia's former ambassador to Beijing, told the AFR Weekend. "What is clear is that more and more Chinese are developing a view that Australia is hostile and unfriendly to China. The risk for us is that starts to spill into decisions that individual parents might make about sending their kids to study or whether Australia is a good place to go on holidays. "It says something about a government where junior ministers feel like they are free to comment on Australia's most complex and important relationship. There seems to be a lack of discipline around the Australia-China relationship. It needs a circuit breaker and [Malcolm] Turnbull needs to come to Beijing for a bilateral visit." Richard Rigby, executive director of the China Institute at the Australian National University, described Fierravanti-Wells' comments as "undiplomatic, ill-timed and rather out of date". "I am not surprised the Chinese are angry. It doesn't help at a time when we really have some quite serious bilateral issues to work through for this to come in from behind left-field," he said, noting that Chinese aid to the region had become more sophisticated in recent years. Liu Qing, the head of Asia-Pacific research at the China Institute of International Studies, a think-tank under the Foreign Ministry, called the comments "unreasonable and irrational" and was not optimistic about a dramatic improvement in the relationship. "The current Turnbull administration has nearly used up all the hard-earned achievements made in Australia-China relations [in the past]," he said by telephone from Beijing on Friday. Still, there are genuine concerns about Chinese loans to Pacific Island nations and some experts say Fierravanti-Wells raised legitimate concerns, although they were raised clumsily. The events this week are unlikely to significantly damage Australia's relationship on their own, but risk compounding existing anxieties. Even before Fierravanti-Wells' comments were published on Wednesday, China's media was targeting Australia's record on racial discrimination. The People's Daily, in a less prominent comment piece published on Tuesday, suggested racial discrimination was deeply rooted in Australia and cited the now-abolished White Australia policy. On December 27, a survey, conducted by Chinese news portal huanqiu.com, found that Australia was voted by the Chinese citizens surveyed as the "least friendly country to China in 2017", followed by India, the United States and Japan. Q: Is there a minimum amount of assets required before a revocable living trust is advisable? I am retired but my wife is still working. If we do not include our 401(k) plans, our total liquid assets (my wife's monthly salary, my monthly Social Security benefit and my pension check) are below $100,000. We do not own a house or other real estate and do not have any major outstanding loans. We own our only car, a 2009 non-luxury vehicle. Assuming we need a trust, do we still need to make out a will? If so, can we use a state-specific form online or just make out a handwritten will? Lastly, can a will be "until further notice" or do we have to update it each year? It should be obvious that we are trying to save expenses where we can. A: Living trusts allow estates to avoid probate, the court process that otherwise oversees the paying of creditors and distribution of someone's assets. (The sources of income you listed aren't considered assets, by the way, since those will cease upon your deaths and can't be transferred to other heirs.) Living trusts offer privacy, because probate is a public process, and can make it easier for a designated person to take over for you if you should become incapacitated. There's no specific dollar amount of assets for which a living trust becomes a good idea. In many states, probate isn't a big deal, while in others including California probate is expensive enough that the cost of setting up a living trust can be worthwhile. Even in California, smaller estates (those under $150,000) can avoid probate or qualify for a streamlined process that can make living trusts unnecessary. Those with larger estates may be able to avoid probate using other methods. The money in your 401(k)s, for example, will pass directly to the beneficiaries you name. In many states, you also can name a beneficiary for a vehicle right on the registration form so your car could avoid probate. Some states also offer this "transfer on death" option for real estate. "Plan Your Estate," an excellent primer from self-help legal publisher Nolo, details your options. Living trusts typically replace the need for a will, although a lawyer likely would recommend creating a "pour-over" will to include any assets accidentally left out of the trust. If you don't have a living trust, you'll definitely need wills to outline how you want your property distributed. You also should create powers of attorney for health care and for finances, so that someone you name can make decisions for you should you become incapacitated. These documents are probably more important than a will because they can determine your quality of life at the end of your days rather than just what happens to your stuff when you're beyond caring. Do-it-yourself options are fine if your estate is small, simple and unlikely to be challenged by contentious heirs. Each state has specific requirements for making a legal will, which will be detailed in the software or online forms you use. You don't have to update a will yearly but it's a good idea to at least review your estate documents annually to see if any changes might be needed. Q: I gave my daughter $30,000 in 2015. I was fined $5,000. Why? I had not talked with another daughter, who does my taxes, so I was not aware that I could give only $14,000. If I had known, I could have given her the money over two years. Why wouldn't they advise me as such? A: It's not clear whom you mean by "they," but you need to have a chat with the daughter who does your taxes, because it's extremely unlikely you were fined by the IRS for your gift. In 2015, you wouldn't owe gift taxes until you had given away more than $5 million in your lifetime above the $14,000-per-person annual limit. (That lifetime limit, by the way, has been raised to over $11 million, and the annual gift exclusion limit is now $15,000.) If you had to pay an extra $5,000, it was for something else. Let's hope the tax-preparing daughter didn't decide to "fine" you for favoring your other child. Liz Weston is a certified financial planner and personal finance columnist for NerdWallet. Questions may be sent to her at 3940 Laurel Canyon, No. 238, Studio City, CA 91604, or by using the "Contact" form at asklizweston.com. I'm not an accountant, and I can't parse billion-dollar budgets. For me, 101 isn't about whether I trust Oregon state government, it's about social responsibility and ethics. Children in an economically marginalized family deserve penicillin when they get strep throat. There isn't $300 million hiding in a file cabinet in the basement of the Capitol. No, it's hidden in state parks, in roads and bridges, in the Oregon Promise, in public education, in health and human services, in affordable housing, in environmental protection, etc. If giving up the cost of a premium microbrew once a month is going to get a billion dollar match from the federal government, I'll toast to that! Evan Burton, Northeast Portland There is one aspect of U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams' op-ed that couldn't be more wrong -- Congress' "judgment" on marijuana ("U.S. Attorney: A call for transparency and action on marijuana," Jan. 14). No one has talked to more members of Congress than I have on the issue of cannabis. Overwhelmingly, my colleagues on both sides of the aisle agree that marijuana should not be classified as a Schedule I drug. No one believes it's more dangerous than methamphetamine or cocaine. And they've heard from millions of their own constituents of the therapeutic value of cannabis for treating conditions like chronic pain or seizures. In fact, many of my colleagues think marijuana has no place on the list of controlled substances at all. That's why, for the last several years, Congress has passed my provision to prevent the Department of Justice and its U.S. Attorneys from interfering with state-legal medical marijuana programs -- and many of us in Congress are working to expand those protections to adult use. That's also why millions of Americans across the country have added their voices at the ballot box to legalize marijuana. There's no debate: Bad actors should be held accountable. Heavy-handed federal interference will only feed the black market. Legalization and responsible regulation -- like we have in Oregon -- is the answer. Earl Blumenauer, a Democrat, represents Oregon's 3rd Congressional District in the U.S. House. By Barbara Smith Warner and Arnie Roblan More than 550,000 children depend on Oregon's public schools to provide an education that puts them on the pathway to success. While we have examples of success, it's no secret that too many students are not getting what they need. Oregon's K-12 students spend less time in class than their peers in most other states. Our graduation rates are some of the lowest in the nation. Educators have insufficient resources to serve an increasingly complex learning environment. The achievement gap between white students and students of color is unacceptable. That all needs to change. During the last several years we've made gains in many of these areas only to see them wiped out - time and time again - by a volatile funding structure that is overly vulnerable to economic downturns. Our system will continue to fail our students unless we fix this problem and prioritize spending in the classroom. As co-chairs of the bipartisan and bicameral Joint Committee on Student Success, our goal is to forge a path forward that will ensure every child has access to the high-quality schools they deserve. We will talk directly to Oregonians about what is and is not working in their schools and for their students. We can learn about the best practices employed in our most successful schools, as well as understand the gaps that are limiting student success. We recognize that every school and district is different. East Portland is different than Bend. Coos Bay is different from Pendleton. Medford is different from Eugene. Every community is facing different challenges, so we will send the committee across the state to listen to Oregonians about what their schools need. In 2018, our focus is finding solutions to ensure that every student gets a fair shot at success. We know that educators, advocates, business leaders, and community leaders all have different ideas and perspectives on how to tackle this problem - and it will take all of us working together to solve it. The Joint Committee on Student Success will be built on a five foundational goals and principles. Every child in Oregon should have the support needed to be ready to learn when they enter kindergarten - regardless of financial barriers. Oregon instructional days and hours, as well as student attendance, must be on par with those of high-achieving schools around the country. Every Oregon school should provide the support needed for students to graduate and transition into careers or higher education. Students, parents and taxpayers deserve an accountable and transparent school system that is focused on student success at every level. Oregon schools must be provided with stable, sufficient, and accountable resources to meet these goals. This approach has solved statewide issues in the past. Two years ago, with transportation funding at a stand-still, the Joint Committee on Transportation Preservation and Modernization went on a listening tour across the state and developed a plan to get Oregon moving again. After a year of outreach and study by that committee, the Legislature passed the largest, most comprehensive transportation package to support jobs, relieve congestion, improve safety and make the first-ever statewide investment in public transit. It was truly historic, and we can do it again. Oregon's future depends on giving every student an equal opportunity at success. If students are a top priority, state funding and local spending should reflect that. We've set ambitious goals to meet the needs of Oregon's current and future students. They are depending on us to meet that challenge. To do that, we must put them first. Our work begins now. There will be a difference of opinions and a range of potential solutions to explore that come from this listening tour. We need all ideas, we need all minds open, and we need to commit together, as a state of individuals with diverse backgrounds and different ideas, that we will work to chart the path our children deserve - an education that prepares them for school, work and life. Representative Barbara Smith Warner (D-Portland) and Senator Arnie Roblan (D-Coos Bay) co-chair the Joint Committee on Student Success. Share your opinion Submit your essay of 500 to 600 words on a highly topical issue or a theme of particular relevance to the Pacific Northwest, Oregon and the Portland area to commentary@oregonlive.com. Please include your email and phone number for verification. By Tim Nesbitt One thing we tend to overlook in our perennial debates over health care reform is that the strongest opposition to expanding coverage invariably comes from those who have coverage themselves. Statistically speaking, this is unremarkable. More than 90% of Americans and some 94% of Oregonians now have health coverage. So, when it comes to enacting public policies to cover the uninsured, those of us who have coverage must necessarily decide the fate of those who don't. This is why we need to be aware of a bias that affects our thinking when we as insiders in our insurance-based health care system debate the terms by which we should let the outsiders in: We're inclined to reject the better in the name of the best. I observed this dynamic in 2007, when I represented former Gov. Ted Kulongoski in meetings with "stakeholders" over a proposal to guarantee health care for all children. At one such meeting, a physician remarked that it would be irresponsible to expand coverage until we fixed what he called a broken system. Here was a person who was well compensated by the system he called broken and was well aware of the plight of those who need medical care and are unable to pay for it. But, when offered a proposal to cover more kids, he had a different priority. Those of us with coverage tend to think more about improving what we have than about extending it to others. We can be persuaded otherwise, especially when we understand that the costs of charity care for the uninsured show up in the premiums that we pay for our coverage. Even better, we can strive to be more attentive to those who remain outside our insurance-based system. By the end of Kulongoski's term, he and the Legislature were able to offer state-funded health coverage to most kids from families of low and modest incomes. They accomplished this by getting hospitals and insurers to accept a tax on their services, which avoided the need to siphon funds from schools and other programs. Critics objected to this financing scheme. It wasn't perfect. But it worked to extend coverage to 97% of all Oregon children. Lesson learned: We can do better with good enough policies, provided we don't get stymied by endless debates over better versus best. Measure 101, now in the hands of Oregon voters, is the latest illustration of how some of us are quick to play the not-good-enough card when we're dealing with health care reform. Its author, State Rep. Julie Parrish, wants to block the use of new health care taxes to sustain Oregon's Medicaid program, arguing that it's "not whether we should fund Medicaid but whether the legislation proposed was fair." It's a commonplace in politics when dealing with a compelling public purpose to affirm the "what" and reject the "how." In this instance, the "what" would sustain the successful expansion of health coverage for 300,000-plus low-income Oregonians - in a system in which the feds provide multiple matching funds for every state dollar and medical providers deliver more care for our money than in any other sector of our health care system. Critics of the "how" complain that the state chose to pay for all this with taxes that will unfairly affect health care consumers. Consider, though, that the money comes from an expansion of hospital taxes already in place, which leverage more federal funding for healthcare, and a tax on premiums for health plans, which will benefit from continuing reductions in the cost of caring for the uninsured. One criticism of the latter piece, by the way, is that the state failed to tax plans that it has no authority to tax under federal law! Tax fairness is a legitimate concern. But we should also consider what these taxes buy. In this case, I'm more concerned about what will happen if we who have coverage reject the Legislature's plan for those who just got it and will otherwise lose it. I like the analysis of the weekly newspaper Street Roots. It recognizes the shortcomings of the Legislature's funding scheme for Measure 101, while telling the story of the newspaper's own staff members whose lives have been saved by the program that the measure asks us to affirm. In this election, those of us with health coverage should ask: If this were our source of coverage, would we vote to undo it? Tim Nesbitt can be reached at nesbitt.columns@gmail.com. Measure 101 has flaws, but it's much better than putting over 200,000 low-income Oregonians' health insurance at risk. Counting on the current Legislature to come up with something better during an overcrowded short session is wishful thinking. Fortunately, Measure 101 is only a two-year fix, so the next Legislature will need to revisit Medicaid. With new legislators, we should be able to get a better solution during the regular 2019 session. Vote "yes" on Measure 101 now and elect new legislators later this year. Gary Corgan, Lake Oswego The author is a candidate for Oregon State Senate District 19. By Angus Duncan Here on the West Coast we're sharing the general distress at Donald Trump's first frenetic year as president. We're appalled at the Paris Accord opt out. We're working up our "Don't Blame Us" bumper stickers (our three states went 63 percent for Hillary). But what if the next 156 weeks of this administration are no improvement on the first 52? There's always the example of our British cousins who, fed up with Brussels bureaucrats and Syrian immigrants, voted to exercise their Brexit rights and cast off from Mother Europe? Maybe we take a page from Marine LePen's Frexit playbook? Why not Wexit? For the West Coast states, when do the disadvantages of union with the other 47 begin to outweigh the advantages? While much of the post-mortem of the 2016 election has centered on the forgotten in the county's center, they're not the only ones with bones to pick. First, there's the franchise. Hillary outpolled The Donald by 3 million votes out of 129 million cast. That's a lot of disenfranchised voters, and many of them were us. We are reminded that two of the last three presidents have been elected by a popular minority of voters, and we were on the short end of both outcomes. Then there's the Electoral College. Wyoming gets three votes in it. California gets 55. That means Wyoming gets one meaningful vote for president for every 193,000 people, while California gets one for every 718,000. The ratio is a little better for the three coastal states together - one vote for every 690,000 people. Cold comfort. These ratios are driven by Senate and House seat allocation. Each Oregon Senator represents an average 2 million people (for California the number's 20 million), while each North Dakota Senator answers to about 380,000. In 2016, Republicans won 44 percent of the votes for Senate seats in play, and 65 percent of the seats themselves. Theoretically, states containing just 17 percent of the population could elect a Senate majority, a "theoretical" we're advancing toward with alarming speed. And now, when a Republican president appoints Supreme Court justices, a Republican Senate confirms them by a simple majority. Okay, Senate and Electoral College allocations are built into the Constitution. We've learned to live with them. But lately Republican redistricting has also short-sheeted us in the House of Representatives, although the split is closer. In 2016, Republicans won a plurality -- 49.9 percent -- of the popular vote and 55 percent of the seats. A majority of Americans is facing permanent minority status in all three branches of the national government? Second, there's the almighty dollar. Our three "maker" states, with 15.6 percent of the population, contribute 17.2 percent of the gross national product. We regularly send more tax revenues to Washington D.C., than we get back, our dollars often flowing to those over-represented "taker" states griping about federal spending. The Republican tax "reform" bill unabashedly targets blue states that tax income and property to support good schools, public health and safety, roads and buses, and other necessaries of civilized society. Congress just made these choices more costly for Oregonians. Third, and most important, there's policy. The states that presently dominate the House, Senate, the presidency, Supreme Court and Electoral College can override Oregon's work on policies from health care to the environment. Red state legislators own the climate-altering policies affecting Oregon's forests, snowpack, sea levels, public health and much more. The health of our citizens, the progressivity of our taxes, funding for transit and clean energy, local policing of immigrants, incarceration standards and other important priorities are now in the uncharitable hands of the Freedom Caucus, the Koch brothers and the Republican office holders they intimidate in primary elections. No one should assume this country can't come apart if these tribal stresses are not attended to. But there are reasons to hope for better outcomes (like Alabama!). I grew up in southern Oregon's timber-and-pear-orchard country, far from Portland's tech companies and trendy restaurants. Much of what I've learned to value over my career in energy and ecological sciences has come from Wallowa County ranchers and fishing families downriver in Astoria. Most of us along the I-5 corridor think of ourselves first as Americans and second as Oregonians or Californians. We still believe, perhaps naively, that our character as a country comes in equal parts from our common values and our diverse backgrounds and perspectives. We know we need to respect and learn from the views of those with whom we differ -- though we insist that our views are entitled to equal time. We expect the rules governing the exchange of those views to be fair. When they aren't, they need our collective tending to. That's a lot of process work ahead for our country. Little of it is likely in this administration or Congress. Maybe we need a corps of "Re-founding" Mothers and Fathers as diligent and creative and fair-minded as were the Founding Fathers, so heartland and coastal voices can be heard in a manner truly fair and balanced. Angus Duncan serves as chairman of the Oregon Global Warming Commission and is president of the Bonneville Environmental Foundation. Share your opinion Submit your essay of 500 to 600 words on a highly topical issue or a theme of particular relevance to the Pacific Northwest, Oregon and the Portland area to commentary@oregonlive.com. Please include your email and phone number for verification. 13 hydro projects seek IPOs worth Rs3.6b Thirteen hydropower projects have sought permission from the Securities Board of Nepal (Sebon), the securities market regulator, to float shares worth Rs3.6 billion in the primary market. Ethics commissioners who reviewed the investigation into how Cylvia Hayes profited by braiding together her work as a private businesswoman and public official described what they found in direct and compelling words: Profoundly disturbing. Crushing and disappointing. The worst of politics. A case study in what you are not supposed to do in public office. Even more powerful was where Oregon Government Ethics Commission Chairwoman Alison Kean laid blame: "I want to make it really clear that I don't think this is all on one person," she said. "We may just have so much evidence on Ms. Hayes that it's a little easier, but I think also this report is full of evidence that is applicable to the member of her household who was a public official and was the governor." After three years, we finally have the answers to the important questions about the abuse of public office that local media had been asking before John Kitzhaber was elected to his historic, if ever so short, fourth term. They were the right questions. They were questions that weren't always welcome in a state infatuated with its cowboy governor. Or in a state where one party has ruled lately and often seems comfortable sticking with the devil they know. These were basic questions that the pair never asked of themselves. Maybe it was Kitzhaber's hubris. Or Hayes' blind ambition. But when the governor's staff raised these issues, they were shot down by the chief executive of the state. In his February 2015 resignation letter, Kitzhaber wrote that he was confident he hadn't broken any laws. He wrote that "Oregonians will see that I have never put anything before my love for and commitment to Oregon and faithfully fulfilling the responsibilities of the public offices I have held." But he did, whether he'll ever truly recognize that or not. Kitzhaber compounded those violations of our collective trust when he and Hayes defiantly dismissed news stories and fought public records requests, both through stalled processes and in court. (Hayes is currently appealing the $124,837 judgment she still owes The Oregonian/OregonLive after losing her battle to keep her state-related emails private.) Kitzhaber and Hayes attacked The Oregonian/OregonLive and other Portland media, claiming reports were inaccurate and vilifying reporters -- long before it was commonplace to label inconvenient facts as fake news. The commission's report drowns out that wrongheaded drumbeat. In its 154 unyielding pages, the report confirms the allegations raised in various news reports. There was no line between Hayes' private business and her public work. She earned generous contracts thanks to her title and her access to Oregon's highest political official. It was Kitzhaber who put her in that position and, at various points, pushed his staff to help expand her role and reach. Ethics Commissioner Richard Burke hit on one of the more critical points as he and other commissioners deliberated at a meeting last week: Kitzhaber and Hayes should have known better. Burke pointed out that the commission sometimes handles conflict-of-interest violations by volunteer appointees and office-holders in small towns across the state. That wasn't the case with Kitzhaber and his top advisers. "These are sophisticated people," Burke accurately described. "These are people who are capable of swimming in the shark tank. They are very, very sharp. They understand how government is supposed to work." As commissioners discussed, Kitzhaber and his staff identified the potential for ethical lapses and conflicts of interest at several points over the years but never sought guidance from the very agency created to help public officials navigate those waters. For Oregon, there couldn't be a better time for such a confirmation of the need for a strong, vibrant local press and increasingly aggressive watchdog agencies such as the Government Ethics Commission. Without those questions and pressure to produce public documents, the first couple likely would have pushed on with their ambitious plans, which called for further expansions of Hayes' roles and responsibilities. Without this ruling, Kitzhaber and Hayes could have continued on with their misplaced criticisms and disingenuous narrative. The ethics commission cemented its credibility late last year when it rejected a pathetic settlement with Kitzhaber that provided a mealy admission of guilt and a $1,000 fine. In coming months, commission members will revisit his case and decide whether to fine Hayes the maximum of $5,000 for each of her 22 various violations of state ethics and conflict of interest laws - a potential hit to her bank account of $110,000. Oregon will be watching. This is the time to send a clear signal that we value integrity in our government and that ethics mean something in this state. -- The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board Oregonian editorials Editorials reflect the collective opinion of The Oregonian/OregonLive editorial board, which operates independently of the newsroom. Members of the editorial board are Laura Gunderson, Helen Jung, Mark Katches and John Maher. To respond to this editorial, post your comment below, submit an OpEd or a letter to the editor. If you have questions about the opinion section, , editorial pages editor, or call 503-221-8378. Cliven Bundy and his two sons have repeatedly denounced the massive buildup of armed tactical officers, surreptitious surveillance and use of stun guns and police dogs near the family's Nevada ranch in the days leading up to the 2014 federal roundup of their cattle. Now two retired high-level managers with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management are condemning their agency's militarized show of force during that operation. Their criticism underscores deep divisions over how the government handled the case from the beginning all the way up to last week's remarkable dismissal of federal charges against the Bundys. Two members of Congress have seized on the collapse of the prosecution, directing the Bureau of Land Management to respond to their concerns about "systemic issues" within the agency's law enforcement operations and its handling of the Bundy case by a Jan. 24 deadline. The presence of more than 100 federal law enforcement officers was a highly unusual tactic to corral cattle. Many dressed in camouflage and carried rifles. Some took up sniper positions at observation posts near the Bundy ranch. "It was a strategy that certainly was a poor one,'' said Robert Abbey, who served 30 years with the bureau, including eight years as its Nevada state director and then his final three years as national director through 2012. "In hindsight, the agency knew or should have known better.'' Land resource managers or range conservationists traditionally run the roundups of trespassing cattle in eastern Oregon or Nevada with the help of local sheriff's deputies, said Abbey and Mike Ford, who retired in 1999 as the land bureau's Nevada deputy director. "It was never a law enforcement action in the BLM I grew up in,'' said Ford, who worked in the agency for 25 years. "For whatever reason, the BLM elected to turn this Bundy situation into a 100 percent law enforcement operation. That in my opinion was a grievous error. This entire operation was handled poorly from the beginning.'' Compounding the tension was the decision to have the bureau's special agent in charge of the Nevada and Utah region's law enforcement, lead the effort. Dan Love was considered a loose cannon, court and federal investigative records indicate, and escalated the confrontation. He has since been fired for unrelated misconduct. Dennis McLane, former deputy chief of the bureau's law enforcement division, told The Oregonian/OregonLive that he was disturbed when he saw Love on media footage at the Bundy roundup wearing a civilian shirt, his ball cap on backwards and a rifle slung around his neck. When bureau law enforcement officers - who have the authority to make arrests and carry guns - get called in to help the agency rangers, they typically aren't out front like that, said McLane, who retired in 2003 after having served as deputy chief since the mid-90s. He described the approach as "an aberrant operation compared to the normal way the BLM did business," but he didn't denounce it outright. The Bureau of Land Management brought in the FBI for back-up after then-Sheriff Doug Gillespie had the Las Vegas Metro Police Department pull out before early April 2014. The sheriff was concerned about the timing of the impound during the spring when cows were having calves and the failure of the BLM to heed his advice to wait. Efforts to withhold documents outlining the extent of the law enforcement actions before trial ultimately dealt a death blow to the prosecution. On Monday, a judge in Las Vegas threw out the case against the Bundys and barred a new trial, citing flagrant evidence violations by prosecutors. The Bundys had faced conspiracy and assault charges after rallying armed supporters and forcing officers to retreat. Buoyed by that success, Cliven Bundy's sons, Ammon and Ryan Bundy, traveled to Oregon a year and a half later and gathered some of the same followers with guns at their sides to take over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge to protest federal authority. "I have no sympathy for Cliven Bundy and his delusional view of what his rights are as they relate to public lands. He is no hero. He's been operating in defiance of the law,'' Ford said. "Having said that, there is culpability to be shared by the agency.'' 'NONE OF US WANTED TO GET ANYONE HURT' The Nevada bureau office had interacted with Cliven Bundy for decades and handled a lot tougher characters than the 71-year-old rancher, Ford said. "We've dealt with Cliven Bundy for 20, 30 plus years. Bundy himself was never violent, '' he said. "He was bellicose and he was delusional, and he still is, but he never threatened any Bureau of Land Management officers.'' The agency was more concerned about potential violence from his sons, Abbey said, and wanted to make sure it pursued every legal avenue to encourage Bundy to remove his cattle himself. As a result, the bureau delayed for many years enforcing its initial 1998 trespass order citing Cliven Bundy for grazing cattle without a permit on federal land. "In the '90s, there were five or six trespassers on public lands in Nevada," Abbey said. "The agency prioritized these. Mr. Bundy was certainly one of them. We chose to put him on the end of our list. The primary reason for doing so was because of the potential threat of violence. None of us wanted to get anyone hurt." When Abbey left as the Nevada bureau's state director in 2005, "Mr. Bundy was the last remaining trespasser,'' he said. Mary Jo Rugwell, the bureau's district manager for southern Nevada from April 2008 through August 2012, said she was briefed about Bundy's ''continuous trespass'' when she arrived at the office. But the agency still had taken no action against his cattle to avoid a physical confrontation, she testified at the trial before it was halted. She tried to reach out to Cliven Bundy multiple times, she said, and had the sheriff try to seek a settlement to no avail. In 2012, she chose to impound the cattle as "a last resort" based on the 1998 court order, she said. But the U.S. Justice Department recommended waiting to get an updated order, Abbey said. That happened in 2013. Confiscating the cattle was set for the next year. 'IT'S A NEW DAY' Ford and Abbey both said the Bureau of Land Management should continue to document Bundy cattle grazing on federal land, pursue trespass orders and "begin the whole process all over again.'' "Nobody should lose sight of what the core issue is here,'' Ford said. "We're a nation of laws, and frankly Cliven Bundy chose not to follow them and still doesn't.'' Bundy, who owns a 160-acre ranch about 75 miles northeast of Las Vegas, didn't renew his grazing permit in 1993 when the bureau sought to put seasonal restrictions on his cattle grazing to protect the endangered desert tortoise. He has refused to move his cattle or pay grazing fees, and maintains that control of the land rests with the state, not the federal government. If the bureau moves in again to impound the cattle, local authorities must play an active role from the start -- but as support, not leaders, Ford said. That should include the county sheriff, the state of Nevada, the Nevada Cattlemen's Association and perhaps county commissioners and local government "that Bundy purports to recognize,'' he said. "I would think their spirits are pretty high right now and they feel like they're vindicated right now,'' Abbey said of the Bundys. "But I don't think that's the reality. They need to face repercussions if they're still breaking the law. It's a new day, and the agency needs to focus on what it controls.'' Rudy Everson, a spokesman for the Nevada land bureau, declined comment on the case. Megan Crandall, a spokeswoman from the national office, said, "The BLM is not responding to trial or Bundy-related questions at this time.'' Heather Swift, press secretary for the U.S. Department of Interior, also declined to answer questions about the agency's next move or the bureau law enforcement response in 2014. 'VINDICATING BAD BEHAVIOR' Three environmental advocacy groups sent a letter to Interior Department Secretary Ryan Zinke, urging the BLM to remove Bundy's cattle. The Center for Biological Diversity, Western Watersheds Project and WildEarth Guardians signed it. "Now that the court has dismissed charges against the Bundy's, there is no further cause for delay for BLM enforcing the law and rounding up the trespass cattle," the letter read. "Mr. Bundy's cattle are trespassing on public land, and BLM is failing to follow the law unless it acts to remove them. "We urge Interior not to leave this business unfinished. Time is of the essence. Interior must round up these cattle, to ensure that a pattern of lawlessness backed up by violence does not perpetuate itself across the public lands of the Western U.S." At the same time, U.S. Reps. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources, and Bruce Westerman, R-Arkansas, chair of its oversight and investigations subcommittee, are seeking a congressional review of the BLM's actions in the Bundy case. "The failure of prosecutors to achieve a conviction in the Bundy case raises questions about the conduct of BLM law enforcement, and their ability to carry out effective, fair and professional law enforcement investigations,'' they said in a letter to the agency. The U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Professional Responsibility also is investigating the prosecutors' evidence violations and whether discipline is warranted. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has sent an expert to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Nevada office to do a policy review and suggest what steps to take next to make sure prosecutors know the law requiring them to share evidence that may be favorable to the defense. The prosecution's abuses are hard to understand because the Justice Department went through a vigorous review in the wake of the derailed prosecution of former Alaska U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska over similar evidence violations, said former Oregon U.S. Attorney Dwight Holton. In that case, a federal judge in April 2009 excoriated prosecutors for improperly withholding evidence and making false representations in Stevens' alleged corruption case, and dismissed an ethics conviction against Stevens. The review was to ensure evidence guidelines were more thorough and rigorous for federal prosecutors, Holton said. Andrew Goldsmith, the Justice Department's discovery evidence expert, worked to design post-Ted Stevens compliance training. Defense lawyers in the Bundy case noticed Goldsmith in the Nevada courtroom in the final days of the case. "Missing the mark on a case like this can have the unfortunate effect of vindicating bad behavior,'' Holton said. "The message to Cliven Bundy is you can defy federal law and frankly steal from other taxpayers without any consequences, which is both disappointing and dangerous.'' -- Maxine Bernstein mbernstein@oregonian.com 503-221-8212 @maxoregonian Charlie Turner, the former U.S. Attorney for Oregon under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W Bush and who served as prosecutor in the 1985 Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh conspiracy case, died Monday. He was 82. A titan in the Oregon legal community, Turner spent 11 years at the helm of the U.S. Attorney's Office and 25 years as a federal prosecutor in Oregon. He tried conspiracy cases ranging from international drug smuggling rings to an armed and deadly breakout at the Rocky Butte Jail. But Turner was best known publicly for his tough stance on drug and gang crime in Portland and as the prosecutor of the Rajneesh conspiracy case. He was at the forefront of task force development for Portland's quickly developing gang problem in the 1980s and was always known "to do the right thing for the right reason," current U.S. Attorney for Oregon Billy Williams said on Saturday. Turner was a tenacious, prepared and intense lawyer, said Williams, who first met Turner in 1987. "There are people who are good lawyers in their respective careers in their specialties, there are lawyers who never go to court, there are lawyers who aren't very good in court and then there are people like Charlie," Williams said. "Being an effective trial lawyer takes skill beyond what law school you went to or how well you did. It requires preparation and a special skill of being in command of the facts and in command of the courtroom." "That's who Charlie was. I think everyone from fellow prosecutors to opposing counsel would say the same thing." As U.S. attorney, Turner investigated immigration fraud at Rancho Rajneesh, a spiritual encampment in eastern Oregon for Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and 2,000 of his worshippers. The investigation, which later included wiretapping and bioterrorism, resulted in an attempted murder plot against Turner by two members of the commune. Williams described Turner as having an incredible impact on the Department of Justice in the Northwest, helping grow the department from a small office to a "prominent law firm in the District of Oregon." Among his hires was Michael Mosman, the now Chief District Judge of the District Court for the District of Oregon. Mosman described Turner as "the last of his kind," Williams said. "I owe a debt of gratitude to him that I'll never be able to repay for all kinds of reasons and the reality is that's how so many people who have known Charlie longer than I have feel about him," Williams said. Turner retired from the U.S. Attorney's Office in April 1993. He later moved to the Seattle-Edmonds area to be closer to his adult children, Williams said. He was a Chicago Cubs fan and major history buff, particularly with Civil War-era history. Turner is survived by his wife, son and daughter. -- Samantha Bakall sbakall@oregonian.com Follow @sambakall WASHINGTON - Prospects for a bipartisan agreement to protect young immigrants from deportation and prevent a government shutdown later this week faded Sunday as key lawmakers traded sharp accusations and President Donald Trump said hopes for a deal were "probably dead." Negotiators spent last week seeking a solution that would shield young immigrants brought illegally to the United States as children, including the roughly 800,000 who secured work permits under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program created under President Barack Obama. But a tentative deal worked out Thursday by a small bipartisan group of senators crumbled in an Oval Office meeting in which, according to multiple people involved, an angry Trump asked them why the United States should accept immigrants from "shithole countries" such as Haiti, El Salvador and African nations over those from European countries such as Norway. A pair of GOP senators - Tom Cotton of Arkansas and David Perdue of Georgia - who attended the meeting and previously said they could not recall the use of the vulgar phrase denied outright on Sunday that Trump had ever said it. That prompted Democrats to accuse them of impugning a fellow senator's credibility, a development that could further poison the bipartisan talks. "Both sides now are destroying the setting in which anything meaningful can happen," said Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press." Trump offered a vague denial Friday, and on Sunday, he declared the talks to be failing. "DACA is probably dead because the Democrats don't really want it, they just want to talk and take desperately needed money away from our Military," he said on Twitter. Democrats have tied the immigration talks to spending negotiations being held ahead of a Friday shutdown deadline. Republicans are seeking an increase in military spending; Democrats want a DACA deal and a matching increase in nondefense funding. The sole Democratic participant in the Oval Office meeting, Senate Minority Whip Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, told reporters Friday that Trump had used the vulgar word "not just once but repeatedly" during the meeting. A Republican attendee, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, issued a statement that did not specifically confirm the words used but backed up Durbin's account. However, Perdue said in an interview Sunday on ABC's "This Week With George Stephanopoulos" that Trump did not use the word "shithole." "I'm telling you he did not use that word, George," Perdue said, accusing Durbin of making a "gross misrepresentation" of what took place in the meeting: "It's not the first time Senator Durbin has done it, and it is not productive to solving the problem we're having." Cotton said much the same in an interview with CBS's "Face the Nation" on Sunday: "I didn't hear it, and I was sitting no further away from Donald Trump than Dick Durbin was." Cotton and Perdue had previously issued a joint statement saying that they did "not recall the President saying these comments specifically." Both senators on Sunday pointed to a statement Durbin had made in 2013 about comments allegedly made by an unnamed GOP leader during a private White House meeting that were later denied by an Obama administration spokesman. "Senator Durbin has a history of misrepresenting what happens in White House meetings," Cotton said. Ben Marter, a spokesman for Durbin, tweeted a rebuke early Sunday: "Credibility is something that's built by being consistently honest over time," he said. "Senator Durbin has it. Senator Perdue does not. Ask anyone who's dealt with both." Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., forcefully backed Durbin, who has authored a bill to grant young illegal immigrants a path to citizenship and is the leading Democratic negotiator on the DACA issue. "To impugn (Durbin's) integrity is disgraceful," Schumer said. "Whether you agree with him on the issues or not, he is one of the most honorable members of the Senate." The accounts of the meeting, however, have not fallen neatly along party lines. Besides Graham's endorsement of Durbin's account, Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., said Sunday on "This Week" that he had spoken to participants in the meeting immediately afterward - before The Washington Post publicly reported Trump's use of the vulgar term. "They said those words were used before those words went public," Flake said. Another participant, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, said in an interview with "Fox News Sunday" that she did not "recall him using that exact phrase," but she acknowledged he "did use and will continue to use strong language." Host Chris Wallace told Nielsen it "seems implausible" that she would not recall that type of comment. "I don't recall that specific phrase being used," she responded. "That's all I can say about that." The "shithole countries" remark has vexed Republicans, compelling many to make statements criticizing Trump for the remarks. But it has infuriated Democrats who see the comment as evidence of malicious intent in Trump's policymaking. "I think he is a racist," Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., said on "This Week." "We have to stand out; we have to speak up and not try to sweep it under the rug." Sen. Michael F. Bennet, D-Colo., speaking Sunday on "Meet the Press," said, "There's no question what he said was racist. There's no question what he said was un-American and completely unmoored from the facts." But Paul called those accusations unfair and instead accused the media of going "completely bonkers with just ad hominem (attacks) on the president," blaming the potential failure of the talks on the outcry over Trump's remarks. "I do want to see an immigration compromise, and you can't have an immigration compromise if everybody out there is calling the president a racist," Paul told "Meet the Press" host Chuck Todd. Nielsen said that Trump is simply advocating a merit-based immigration system, similar to those in Canada and Australia. "I take a little bit of offense to the suggestion that the president is racist," she said Sunday. While Democrats have expressed openness to a deal that would combine legal status for "dreamers," as the group of young immigrants brought illegally as children are known, with funding for border security measures, Republicans have tried to broaden the talks. They have targeted the abolition of a special program allowing citizens of some countries to apply for visas distributed by lottery as well as rules allowing naturalized U.S. citizens to sponsor family members for legal status - a system Republican critics refer to as "chain migration." The tentative deal unveiled Thursday would give legal status and a pathway to citizenship for dreamers while also providing $2.7 billion for border security - some of which could be used to construct the border wall Trump has proposed. The visas now offered under the lottery system would be reallocated to other immigration programs, such as one offering temporary status to citizens of nations in crisis - like the ones Trump referenced in his Oval Office remarks. Trump said in a second tweet Sunday that he wanted more aggressive measures in any deal: "I, as President, want people coming into our Country who are going to help us become strong and great again, people coming in through a system based on MERIT. No more Lotteries!" Echoing dozens of Democrats, Lewis said he would not vote for any government spending measure until the dreamer issue is settled. Republicans cannot pass a government funding bill without Democratic votes. There are 51 Senate Republicans in a chamber in which 60 votes are needed to pass major legislation, and GOP leaders are also facing problems in the House, where some Republican members have balked at the prospect of passing another stopgap that does not increase military funding. "We must not give up or give in," Lewis said. "We must continue to press on and get a deal." A federal judge in California last week halted Trump's decision to end the DACA program and ruled that participants in the program should retain their legal status. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said late Saturday that it would resume accepting renewal requests from people who had already enrolled in the program. But there is little indication the ruling has helped to defuse the standoff, multiple Democratic aides involved in the effort to secure a compromise said Saturday. On Sunday, the situation's urgency had not changed. Democrats are trained on securing a legislative solution to the crisis ahead of the Friday deadline. Flake, who helped negotiate the deal that Trump rejected, said he was still hopeful it could provide the basis for a broad agreement. "I think that when we get back into town, people will realize there's only one deal in town," he said. "There's only one bipartisan bill, and we need 60 votes, and that bill will be presented with even more Republicans and Democrats than we have right now." (c) 2018, The Washington Post. Mike Debonis wrote this story. The Washington Post's Todd Frankel, Amy B Wang and Anne Gearan contributed to this report. Jamie Francis/The Oregonian by Jamie Hale | The Oregonian, OregonLive There's always a lot going on around Portland every year big floats, beer fests and one very naked bike ride but there are other big events around the Pacific Northwest worth checking out too. From the remote reaches of southeast Alaska, out to eastern Oregon and into the mountains of Idaho, these Northwest events represent a wide range of cultural celebrations, bringing together rural residents, diverse urban populations and those who tend to be relegated to the fringes of society. A lot of these events may feel foreign to people more accustomed to the Willamette Valley bubble, but they're worth traveling to go see or tacking on to existing vacation plans if for nothing else, to gain new experiences, and gain a deeper understanding of the people living just a day's drive away. Don't Edit Courtesy of Stacie Muller 1. Oregon WinterFest Feb. 16 to 18 Bend likes to heat things up in the winter with the annual Oregon Winterfest a wild three-day event that features ice carving, a fire pit competition, a rail jam for snowboarders and skiers, and a music festival headlined this year by Coolio pun perhaps intended. Don't Edit Courtesy of Kristen McPeek 2. Treefort Music Fest March 21 to 25 Now in its fifth year, Boise's Treefort Music Fest has quickly become one of the very best in the Pacific Northwest. This year's lineup isn't finalized, but headliners so far include George Clinton, Andrew W.K. and Zola Jesus. Don't Edit Courtesy of Tillamook County Creamery Association 3. New Tillamook Cheese Factory TBA, summer In 2017, the Tillamook Cheese Factory tore down its beloved visitor center, and in 2018 it will open a new and improved version, rebuilt from the ground up. Opening at an unspecified date in the summer, the new attraction will keep the factory views, ice cream and restaurant, adding new exhibits and increasing the size of the building by 50 percent. Keep an eye on OregonLive for updates this spring and summer. Don't Edit Jamie Hale/The Oregonian 4. Oregon Trail turns 175 June to November This year marks the 175th anniversary of the Oregon Trail that is, the anniversary of when people began flocking to the passage west to the Oregon Country. There are few stretches of the original trail left, but you can still celebrate the anniversary at the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center near Baker City, or by traveling along the Oregon National Historic Trail. Don't Edit Don't Edit AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall 5. Special Olympics USA Games in Seattle July 1 to 6 The Special Olympics turns 50 this year, and the summer U.S. games for athletes with intellectual disabilities will be celebrating the milestone in Seattle. Athletes will compete in 14 sports at venues across the city, with competitions and other events open to the public. Don't Edit AP Photo/Coeur d'Alene Press, Jerome A. Pollos 6. Julyamsh Powwow July 21 and 22 The largest outdoor powwow in the Pacific Northwest, Julyamsh is hosted by the Coeur D'Alene Tribe at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho. The cultural celebration is open to all, but it's important to remember that it isn't organized like events aimed largely at tourists the dancing will begin when the time is right, and the dancing will end when the time is right. Don't Edit Wikimedia Commons/Stefan Ritt 7. Celebration of Light July 28, Aug. 1 and 4 One of the biggest events on the calendar for Vancouver, B.C., the Celebration of Light (nee Symphony of Fire) is a massive, international fireworks competition that hosts more than 1.3 million visitors over three days in the summer. The event's purpose is to "spark togetherness" in the culturally-diverse community, but setting off a ton of fireworks is pretty cool on its own. Don't Edit Jamie Francis/The Oregonian 8. Pendleton Round-Up Sept. 12 to 15 A true celebration of eastern Oregon and one of the state's biggest annual events the Pendleton Round-Up is four days of rodeo action, offering all the bull riding, barrel racing, roping, relays and mutton busting you could ever hope to see. Bring your hat, boots, big belt buckle and strap yourself in for an immersive experience. Don't Edit 9. Trailing of the Sheep Festival Oct. 10 to 14 You'll be hard-pressed to find another event where the sheep seem to outnumber the people in attendance. The Trailing of the Sheep Festival, hosted in central Idaho, honors the heritage of sheep ranching in the region by herding the animals straight through the small town of Ketchum, hosting food, fiber and cultural festivals in nearby Sun Valley and Hailey as well. Don't Edit Don't Edit Wikimedia Commons/Wolfgang Ott 10. Eagle congregation in Alaska October through February Bald eagles have made an excellent recovery after nearly disappearing from the U.S., making big seasonal gatherings of the raptors all the more thrilling. The biggest in the Pacific Northwest is the Fall Congregation in the Chilkat Valley of southeast Alaska, which while hard to get to is home to more than 3,000 bald eagles every fall and winter. Don't Edit Don't Edit Jamie Hale/The Oregonian NORTHWEST TRAVEL GUIDES Northwest Travel Guide: Made your 2018 vacation plans yet? Check out our annual travel guide for some good suggestions. Whales of the Northwest: Thar she blows! Here are the 13 whales you can see of the Pacific Northwest coast. 10 most dangerous volcanoes: Volcanoes are all around us, but how dangerous are they? We round up the most threatening in the Northwest. Don't Edit Don't Edit --Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB Don't Edit SUNDAY "60 Minutes": You don't have to live in Portland to find that the upcoming final season of "Portlandia"provides a reason to ponder changes in the city since the IFC series began in 2011. Plenty of Portlanders have been thinking about ways in which the city has been transformed since Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein and Jonathan Krisel created "Portlandia," and shared a vision of the city as an appealingly quirky place. Now, "60 Minutes" is getting into the act, too, with a segment that examines Portland in transition, asking the question, is Portland still "Portlandia?" According to a press release from CBS, the segment will examine "the city famous for its quirky, liberal citizenry" - that would be Portland - and how "it seems to be changing into an edgier - and more expensive - town than the cuddly one satirized on television." The report by Jon Wertheim will include interviews with Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, Colin Meloy of The Decemberists, and Armisen and Brownstein, of "Portlandia." (7 p.m. CBS/6) "Victoria": Fans of British costume dramas will be happy to know this lavish account of the reign of Queen Victoria returns for Season 2. Jenna Coleman is back as the young monarch, now a new mother, and Tom Hughes returns as Prince Albert. There's more palace intrigue on the way, and let's hope the writing gets a bit more layered and interesting in the new season. Still, now that we've binged through "The Crown" Season 2, "Victoria" at the very least provides a fresh dose of eye-pleasingly sumptuous costumes and settings. (9 p.m. PBS/10) "Divorce": Sarah Jessica Parker and Thomas Haden Church return for Season 2 of the comedy-drama as a couple dealing with the aftermath of their marriage crumbling. (10 p.m. HBO) "Crashing": Pete Holmes is back for a second season of the comedy inspired by his life. (10:30 p.m. HBO) MONDAY "Chain of Command": A new documentary series chronicling what the press release calls "the front lines of the U.S. fight against extremism." (9 p.m. National Geographic Channel) TUESDAY "Black Lightning": Cress Williams heads a strong cast in this new series based on a DC Comics superhero. Like the lead character, the show crackles with energy and is relevant and sharp about taking on how segments of the African American community react to such issues as crime, politics and relations with police. (9 p.m. The CW/3) WEDNESDAY "Riverdale": Everybody's talking about the "Twin Peaks"-y TV take on Archie comics. Here's your chance to hop on the bandwagon. (8 p.m. The CW/3) "The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story": A limited series inspired by the true story of design star Gianna Versace's murder in 1997. Edgar Ramirez, Penelope Cruz, Ricky Martin and Darren Criss star. (10 p.m. FX) "Corporate": New workplace comedy series debuts. (10 p.m. Comedy Central) "The Path": The drama about a cult-like spiritual group returns for a new season. (Hulu) THURSDAY "Beyond": The supernatural series returns. (8 p.m. Freeform) "Scandal": Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) is back in gladiator mode as the political melodrama returns in its final season. (9 p.m. ABC/2) "How to Get Away With Murder": The over-the-top drama returns. (10 p.m. ABC/2) FRIDAY "Real Time With Bill Maher": Bill Maher shouldn't have to work to find contemporary political material to talk about as the show returns. (10 p.m. HBO) "High Maintenance": The bike-riding weed delivery guy and his clients are back for a new season. (11 p.m. HBO) "Grace and Frankie": Lisa Kudrow joins Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin as the new season begins. (Netflix) SATURDAY "Cocaine Godmother: The Griselda Blanco Story": Catherine Zeta-Jones stars in a TV movie about a real-life drug trafficking boss. (8 p.m. Lifetime) "Planet Earth: Blue Planet II": More amazing sights and sounds as the marine documentary begins a second season. (9 p.m. BBC America) -- Kristi Turnquist kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist The final caller to Lars Larson's conservative talk radio show on Jan. 5 was Rachel from Forest Grove. "Our son is a junior at Banks High School," Rachel said. "He informed us this week that he has two teachers in his school that have taken down the American flag and replaced it with a gay flag." Is that grounds for a complaint to the school district? she asked. Larson thought it was, because a teacher was pushing a political message. "Let me spitball this one, Rachel," Larson said. "I'm guessing that the reason the rainbow flag went up is that perhaps the teacher who put it up may be gay or bisexual or whatever." Even if he agreed with the sentiment, Larson said anything political in the classroom is inappropriate. Particularly if, as he speculated, the flag was in support of the teacher. "The school does not exist to meet the needs of the teachers," he said. "The school exists to meet the needs of your children." There are, however, at least two problems with this narrative. The American flag was not taken down. And it was never about the teacher. "It's for the students," said 16-year-old Sam Munda, who brought the rainbow flag to school last month. "It was so students knew Banks High School is supportive of them. Having parents upset, that was not my intention. It's not what I wanted at all." Sitting at the local pizza parlor, a giant American flag hanging behind us, Munda expressed surprise that the LGBTQ flag created such a scandal. Since the radio segment aired, parents have complained publicly to the school board, the superintendent sent out a press release denying any American flags were removed, and insults were hurled across social media. An online petition claims the flag should be removed because it "creates a hostile learning environment." It has more than 100 signatures. On Wednesday, Munda took to a community Facebook page to clear things up. "I am a part of the LGBTQ+ community, and I was the student who had asked to put up the rainbow flag," Munda wrote on the Banks Community Bulletin Board group. The flag wasn't meant to "force any beliefs on any students" or make anyone believe differently than they already do, Munda wrote. It "was not meant in any way to start a war in (Banks), but that is what has happened." The flag was intended to signal a safe space for other kids like Munda who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning. "There are a lot of LGBTQ youth in Banks, which most people don't know about," Munda said. Those students told Munda they're afraid to come out to their parents or friends, "because they are scared that they're going to get bullied or they aren't going to be accepted and they're going to be treated different. And so, having put up the flag, it was a way to say that Banks High School is a safe place and a supportive community." Munda grew up in Banks, a small community in western Washington County home to about 1,700 residents, several Christmas tree farms and a 72-year tradition of truck and tractor pulls. Munda is graduating a year early and will study criminal justice at Ferris State University. Munda plans to become a police officer. Last year, Munda began openly identifying as gender fluid and requesting they/them pronouns. "I wanted people to start using my pronouns and the only way I could do that was to be open," Munda said. "I lost a few friends. I used to go to church and was kicked out of church because I wouldn't change. They wanted me to be a girl and to be straight." Munda bought the rainbow flag at a Portland Pride event last year. In December, Munda asked if it would be OK to hang it in the government and economics classroom, and the teacher said yes. The flag was a bit larger than sheet of legal paper. "There didn't seem to be a lot of space around the classroom so we put it up in front of the class where the projector is," Munda said. "It was next to the American flag." There are now a total of three rainbow flags in three classrooms. Despite some parent complaints, they remain. In email, Banks Superintendent Jeff Leo wrote the district was following legal advice that state law "allows a teacher to display such items as they are supportive of a class of persons protected by Oregon and federal law." Some of the parents objected because the rainbow flag was viewed as taking a political stance. But what stance is that? This flag is only a political issue if you believe equity for LGBTQ students is still up for debate - and in Oregon public schools, it simply is not. Oregon public schools ban discrimination against sex or sexual orientation. Racial equality, women's suffrage and abolitionism are political views, too. We do not debate the worth of these topics in school. We should not debate the worth of gay youth either. For every nasty online comment posted about the flag, there is a teenager who is absorbing those words. Larson is right about one thing: The school exists to meet the needs of the children. And for every adult who heard about the flag and was offended, there was a student who saw the flag and was assured. -- Samantha Swindler is a columnist for The Oregonian/Oregonlive @editorswindler / 503-294-4031 sswindler@oregonian.com Land deal irregularity: CIAA to quiz NOC board members The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), which has been interrogating senior officials of the Nepal Oil Corporation over alleged irregularities in land deals, on Saturday said it would quiz NOC board members shortly. GAME DAY: Montreal Alouettes at Ottawa Redblacks Montreal Alouettes (1-2) at Ottawa Redblacks (1-2) FIVE THINGS to WATCH THE BIG O: Scoring is down league wide, with Ottawa at the bottom. Through 15 games, scoring has averaged just 38 points per game, compared to 49.5 in 2019. Without a pre-season in 2021, the first few weeks have served somewhat as that, but in Weeks 3 and 4, the average rose slightly to 40. The Redblacks have scored just once on offence in 40 possessions, with 23 two-and-outs. Ottawa is averaging just 188.7 yards of net offence in three games the lowest first three-game total since Winnipeg (2005) at 140.3 yards. THE JOY OF SACKS: Interestingly enough, so far this season, no CFL team that has allowed a sack has gone on to score a touchdown on that drive. Over 419 possessions, there have been 64 sacks Allowed (4.27 per game). Both the Alouettes offensive and defensive lines have been good. They are No. 2 in sacks with 11 and have allowed just two. Thats a big plus-9. The Redblacks have allowed 13 sacks, tied for worst (with Hamilton) in the league, and have sacked opposing QBs five times (seventh). Thats a minus-8. TURNING IT OVER: In their first game, the Redblacks defence was flying around making big plays. Two interceptions by Abdul Kanneh (one for a 102-yard touchdown) and one by Randall Evans were all huge momentum changers in the win over the Elks. The defence has remained tough in the Red Zone, but needs to force turnovers vs. Montreal. THE RUN GAME: The Als have the run game, it hasnt really been that way for the Redblacks, who got 35 and 39 yards from Timothy Flanders in Games 1 and 2 before he went down with injury, then 43 yards from rookie Justin Davis a week ago. The Redblacks need to figure out a way to work receivers DeVonte Dedmon and Ryan Davis into the run game as well. HOME DISADVANTAGE: Playing at home hasnt been kind to the Redblacks. After winning just one game at TD Place in 2019, the Redblacks lost again last week. Its time for the team to give its fans something to cheer about. KEY MATCHUP Als RB William Stanback vs. Redblacks defence If Stanback, a 6-foot, 233-lb., bowling ball, gets a head of steam, he eats up big chunks of yardage. The key, as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats showed last week, is getting him running horizontally, not vertically getting his shoulders turned to the side. After weeks of 112 and 82 yards rushing, he was limited to 40 in 12 carries last week by the Ticats. Hes still averaging 78 yards per game. If Stanback, who had 1,048 yards rushing in just 14 games in 2019, gets 100 yards vs. the Redblacks, its probably game over for the home side. NOTEWORTHIES Redblacks QB Matt Nichols has a terrific record as a starter vs Montreal; hes 5-1 with nine TD passes Ottawas defence has held opponents to three TDs in 44 drives (6.8%). The CFL average is 11%. The Als rank first in converting second-down chances at 50% and are No. 2 in ball control with a Time of Possession of 31:22 Ottawa has two pass completions of 20-plus yards, Montreal has seven. Montreal has eight explosive play long gainers, and Ottawa has one The Als have won three of the last four games against the Redblacks, which follows a run of six straight Ottawa wins Changes in Ottawas lineup: OL Andrew Pickett, LB Brad Cowan and DL Reshaan Davis in, DB Gump Hayes and DL Cleyon Laing return. LS Louis-Philippe Bourassa out, replaced by Frederic Chagnon. WR Quan Bray and OL Tony Washington are among those out for Montreal. OUR TAKE Als 23, Redblacks 20 Switched my pick last week, had the Redblacks beating the Lions. Until they win again, Im not picking them sort of the strategy I took in 2019. The Redblacks defence is good, but so is the Alouettes offence if Vernon Adams finds his form. I think the Redblacks offence begins taking bigger steps forward here, a good sign moving forward. Bottom line: Ottawa still ranks last in too many offensive categories. STATS PACK Ottawa Points For 12.7 (9th) Points Against 19.7 (6th) Yards Passing 151 (9th) Yards Rushing 63 (9th) Net Offence 189 (9th) Net Offence Against 402 (9th) Montreal Points For 20.7 (3rd) Points Against 22.7 (9th) Yards Passing 220 (7th) Yards Rushing 127 (1st) Net Offence 337 (6th) Net Offence Against 321 (5th) The Midland Daily News plans to move to a new downtown location by May. The new office will be at 219 Main St., where space is being renovated to accommodate the Daily News' 35 full- and part-time employees. "This new facility will help us continue to move our business forward as we cover the news and help our advertisers in both print and digital platforms," said Daily News General Manager Rebecca Watson. "We're pleased to be remaining in the downtown community where all the exciting change is happening." The new site previously was a temporary home to Northwood Gallery and before that a longtime location of McCandless Hallmark. The new location is being renovated by Shaheen Development. Customers of the newspaper will be able to continue to do editorial, circulation and advertising business downtown. Community leaders said the move is another positive step for the Midland downtown. "It's great that we are keeping our local newspaper at a time when so many across the country are closing their doors. Having the Midland Daily News' office in our downtown area is great for the community. The employees can walk out of their office and right into our restaurant and retail establishments downtown, keeping more money circulating through our city," said Bill Allen, president of the Midland Business Alliance. Mayor Maureen Donker echoed that statement. "The Midland Daily News plays an important role in Midland and has been in our downtown for a long time. I am glad to hear that they are going to continue to be a part of the downtown community." Watson said the move is planned for spring, upon completion of renovations. "We hope to have one of the finest office settings in the downtown community, and our customers will be very welcome to visit our new location," she said. Watson said the newspaper plans to develop a second location as a distribution center for its carriers and rural route drivers, but that would not affect its business customers. The Daily News has spent a part of nine decades at its current location of 124 S. McDonald St. Its predecessor, The Midland Republican moved to McDonald Street in 1928. The Midland Republican became the Midland Daily News in 1937. Shaheen Development successfully completed the H Residence and has plans to improve the former MDN site with a new development that supports the vision of more residential options downtown. Currently there are seven residential condos available for purchase in the H Residence. The future development will support the city's housing study and complement the Midland Area Farmers Market. The Midland Daily News is owned by the Hearst Corp. and is the largest of four daily publications in Michigan, with 9,700 subscribers. Contractors recklessness delays canal construction The delay in construction of one of the crucial subsidiary canals of the Sikta Irrigation Project, a national pride project which aims to irrigate 80 percent of arable land in Banke district, has disappointed farmers who are currently depending on skies to water thousands of hectares of fields. Dial 112 for ambulance service The government has initiated the process to launch common telephone number for ambulance service across the country, said the Ministry of Information and Communications. In 2010, former Army private Chelsea Manning was arrested after she provided nearly 750,000 documents to WikiLeaks that included information about prisoners in Guantanamo Bay and U.S. war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Her case was already politically divisive, but she became in some ways more known for coming out as transgender while in government custody. Today, it's been reported that Manning filed to run for the U.S. Senate in Maryland. She would be challenging Democrat Benjamin L. Cardin, currently in his second term and up for reelection in November. Manning declined to speak about the move, saying, "Our only statement on the record is 'No statement.'" Her filing apparently caught Maryland's political class off guard, and was first reported in a tweet by the conservative media outlet Red Maryland. Manning served seven years of a 45-year sentence that was commuted by president Obama. When she was released last year, she returned to her home state of Maryland and has since appeared at PRIDE events and in the pages of Vogue. Image via Instagram H&M was widely derided this week for putting a black child model in its "Coolest Monkey in the Jungle" hoodie on its website. The Weeknd ended his collaboration with them, and social media in general spurned the retailer for the offensive imagery. Though the child's mother reportedly has no issue with the ad, a group of protestors in South Africa decided to trash an H&M store to show their anger and disapproval. A video below shows the protestors kicking down clothing racks and mannequins. Watch EFF supporter trash H&M store in Sandton City. The EFF are protesting against a recent allegation of racism. : Supplied. @hm pic.twitter.com/ecmkX6I6bs Times LIVE (@TimesLIVE) January 13, 2018 That @hm nonsense of a clothing store is now facing consequences for its racism. All rational people should agree that the store should not be allowed to continue operating in South Africa. Well done to Fighters who physically confronted racism. pic.twitter.com/cgdedYGoOj Floyd Shivambu (@FloydShivambu) January 13, 2018 Protestors in Johannesburg from the Economic Freedom Fighters political party were also seen on video blocking the store's entrance in the Clearwater Mall. ABC reports police used rubber bullets to break up the protest. EFF Members urging to all H & M Customers to cut https://t.co/k3Nrz2sUrk Adolph (@Adolph_89) January 13, 2018 In addition to The Weeknd, other celebrities have taken a stand against the brand, with Diddy offering the young model a $1 million Sean John contract. Fans have also called on Nicki Minaj to cut ties with H&M. The brand has apologized and promised to "thoroughly investigate why this happened to prevent this type of mistake from happening again." Image via Getty After receiving a mountain of criticism for demanding $1 million to reshoot Kevin Spacey's scenes in All the Money following dozens of accusations of sexual harassment and assault against him, Mark Wahlberg has decided to make things better by donating $1.5 million to the Time's Up legal fund in co-star Michelle Williams' name. At the same time, Wahlberg and Williams' agency, WME, has also pledged $500,000 to Time's Up, Deadline reports. Wahlberg received criticism not only for demanding a hefty sum to remove a sexual predator's scenes from the film, but because it was discovered Williams only received a $1000 per diem to do the reshoot. WME said in a statement, "The current conversation is a reminder that those of us in a position of influence have a responsibility to challenge inequities, including the gender wage gap. In recognition of the pay discrepancy on All The Money In The World reshoots, WME is donating an additional $500,000 to the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund in Michelle Williams' name, following our $1 million pledge to the organization earlier this month. It's crucial that this conversation continues within our community and we are committed to being part of the solution." In related news, actress Rebecca Hall announced that she donated her salary from her roll in Woody Allen's upcoming movie, A Rainy Day in New York to Time's Up legal defense fund. The actress, who also worked with Allen on 2008's Vicky Cristina Barcelona, agreed to appear in the film seven months before allegations against Harvey Weinstein first broke. She said in an Instagram post that she regretted the decision and "wouldn't make the same one today," adding that Dylan Farrow's statements on Allen's alleged sexual abuse of her as a child caused Hall to have a full change of heart. A Rainy Day In New York was set to come out later this year, and is reportedly a rom-com starring Jude Law as a middle-aged man who has a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl, Elle Fanning. Call Me By Your Name's Timothee Chalamet also starred in the film, and was criticized for wearing a Time's Up pin to the Golden Globes. Speaking to CNN about his decision to work with Allen, Chalamet said, "It's gonna be really important for me to talk about that. I hesitate to talk about it right now because what I say is only gonna anger people. So when that film comes out, if it comes out, that's gonna be really important to talk about, but that's not the time right now." Sounds like he had a heavy dose of good media training, but the benefit of the doubt also gives the young actor space to reckon with this moment humbly and truthfully, as we all are. Image via Getty Dr KC ends 14th hunger strike Dr Govinda KC, orthopaedic surgeon at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital who has staged a series of hunger strikes demanding reforms in the countrys medical education sector, broke his fourteenth fast on Saturday on the basis of an agreement reached with the government on Friday evening. Tanzanian President John Magufuli will not seek to extend presidential terms in the East African country, his party said. Some members of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) have been calling on Magufuli, 58, to extend presidential terms from the constitutionally mandated five years to seven years. "President Magufuli has appealed to Tanzanians to ignore such calls because the issue of presidential term extension has never been discussed by top organs of the ruling party," CCM said in a statement on Saturday. Magufuli does not plan to make the change "at any time during his presidency", the statement added. Tanzania, one of sub-Saharan Africas most stable democracies, has held five relatively peaceful multi-party elections since 1995, all won by the ruling party. Magufuli was elected in October 2015 for his first term and has not indicated whether he will seek re-election in 2020. If he does and wins, he would be ineligible to contest the vote in 2025. For months, the opposition has alleged a shadow campaign to change the constitution and extend Magufuli's term. Nicknamed "the Bulldozer" for his strict leadership style, Magufuli has won praise for his tough anti-corruption fight. Opponents, however, accuse him of cracking down on dissent and limiting democratic space. He has denied the allegations. Source: Aljazeera Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video WASHINGTON President Donald Trump on Thursday referred to Haiti and African nations as "shithole countries" during a meeting with a bipartisan group of senators at the White House, a Democratic aide briefed on the meeting told NBC News. Trump's comments were first reported by The Washington Post, which said the group of nations referred to also included El Salvador. Two sources briefed on the conversation say that during the portion of the conversation about Haiti which came at the top of the exchange that led to the shithole comment the president questioned why Haitians should be given specific consideration. Why do we need more Haitians, take them out, he said, according to our sources. Someone else in the room responded: Because if you do, it will be obvious why. The comments came as senators huddled in the Oval Office with the president to discuss a path forward on an immigration deal. Trump questioned why the United States would want people from nations such as Haiti while he was being briefed on changes to the visa lottery system. According to the aide, when the group came to discussing immigration from Africa, Trump asked why America would want immigrants from "all these shithole countries" and that the U.S. should have more people coming in from places like Norway. Thursday's meeting came one day after Trump met with Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg at the White House. A source familiar with Thursday's meeting told NBC News the president was particularly frustrated during discussions about the visa lottery system a program Trump has railed against repeatedly in recent months. Another White House source explained the language Trump used as his way of trying to emphasize his support for a merit-based immigration system. The White House issued a statement that did not deny the remarks. "Certain Washington politicians choose to fight for foreign countries, but President Trump will always fight for the American people," White House Deputy Press Secretary Raj Shah told NBC Thursday, as part of a lengthy statement that did not directly dispute the language reportedly used in the meeting. "He will always reject temporary, weak and dangerous stopgap measures that threaten the lives of hardworking Americans, and undercut immigrants who seek a better life in the United States through a legal pathway." Republican congressional reaction trickled in Thursday night, with some statements critical of the reported language calling on the White House to immediately provide an "explanation" or additional "context." But Republican Rep. Mia Love of Utah the daughter of Haitian immigrants herself released a tough statement calling Trump's comments "unkind, divisive, elitist, and fly in the face of our nation's values" and demanding an apology from the president. And Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., said in a tweet that the reported remark "ignores the contributions thousands of Haitians have made to our #SoFla community and nation. Language like that shouldn't be heard in locker rooms and it shouldn't be heard in the White House". Its not the first time reports have surfaced of Trump speaking unfavorably about immigrants, and Haitians in particular. The New York Times reported in December that Trump said Haitian immigrants "all have AIDS," during a summer 2017 meeting about immigration. According to the Times, Trump also targeted Nigerian immigrants during that meeting, complaining that once they came the United States they would never "go back to their huts." The White House vigorously denied the claims in the story at the time. Source: nbcnews.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), an anti-corruption institution, says it expects Mr Martin Amidu, the newly nominated Special Prosecutor to be unbiased, fair and firm to all manner of persons. The Institution urged the Office of the Special Prosecutor to be fair and ensure that corruption was controlled if not eliminated to gain public confidence. He should also allow the rule of law to be the guiding principle of his work. In an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra, Mr Michael Boadi, the Corporate Affairs Manager of GII, said the organisation hailed the nomination of Mr Amidu as good news since it was consistent with the law. According to him, the law prescribed that the individual should not be less than 12 years with the Ghana Bar Association, be a Ghanaian and does not owe allegiance to any other country, must be somebody of integrity and have proven record of fighting against corruption, and these requirements the GII believed Mr Amidu met. The interesting aspect of the nomination is that Mr Amidu is coming from a different political persuasion, which signifies that the countrys governance arrangements or democracy is growing, a further demonstration of maturity in our political dispensation. Mr Boadi noted that, what made the nomination interesting was the fact that Mr Amidu had done some work towards fighting corruption, which is the Woyome case, adding that, what was lacking in the fight against corruption was the investigation and prosecution of offenders. He said the nomination of a Special Prosecutor was to enhance the fight against corruption and the fact that he has demonstrated a commitment to fight corruption was also a welcoming development. We dont expect the office of the Special Prosecutor to be biased towards a certain political party at the expense of another. At the end of his term, we should be able to say that he has made corruption a high risk and a low gain. The Corporate Affairs Manager said the GII expected that within the first year, the office of the Special Prosecutor would intensify the campaign and carry the public along with their programmes, adding that, this would woo the confidence of the citizenry to discharge their duty in an efficient manner. We all have a duty to support the work of the Special Prosecutor to succeed and our Institution expects to see an increased level of transparency in the law and enforcement agencies, especially with regard to the fight against corruption. Mr Boadi urged government to pass the Right to Information Bill and the Conduct of Public Officers Bill to enable the citizens to give their maximum weight to the work of the special prosecutor. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video WILLIAMSPORT -- A federal judge has blocked at least temporarily the deportation of a York County Prison inmate who fears he will be persecuted if returned to his native Honduras. U.S. Middle District Judge Matthew W. Brann Friday granted the emergency stay of deportation sought by Ryan Francisco Amaya Escobar. The judge scheduled a conference call for Thursday that is to include Homeland Security representative to discuss the situation. Escobar, 30, entered the country illegally near Laredo, Texas, about Sept. 11, 2003. His wife entered the country illegally in 2010, they have a minor child who is a U.S. citizen and another one on the way, according to the petition to stay deportation. Escobar was taken into custody by immigration officials in Texas as an unaccompanied minor but the court document is devoid of what occurred between then and 2009 when his case was transferred to Newark, N.J. He was ordered removed from U.S. in 2011 after failing to show for a court proceeding. Escobar did not remain in custody as the petition states he was arrested at his home in Allentown on Dec. 20. Facing deportation Escobar claims he told immigration officials he feared what MS-13 members would do to him if he was returned to Honduras and requested asylum. He was told he would be interviewed on that request, his Allentown lawyer Kevin S. Santos says. But Tuesday, Escobar's deportation and removal officer notified Santos he changed his mind and he would be deported, the court document states. The officer acknowledged Escobar's fear of persecution but said he would be deported nevertheless due to the 2011 removal order, Santos said he was told. Escobar claims his due process rights have been violated by not being given the opportunity to make his case for asylum. Escobar left Honduras when he was 16 because he said he feared of being arrested as a member of a MS-13 gang, an organization notorious for its violence and cruelty. His petition to stay deportation states the following: His mother believed because two friends had joined MS-13 he also was involved so she called the police to try to scare him out of that lifestyle. Police stopped him on his bicycle and frisked him due to suspicion he was a gang member. Escobar told MS-13 he would join out of fear of being tortured and likely killed if he refused gang members. His friends had been summarily executed after being forced to join. He fled to the United States prior to a MS-13 initiation during which he was to be brutally assaulted for 13 seconds. Don't Edit The Top 5 Letters to the Editor of the Week As you might imagine, we get more letters to the editor here at PennLive Opinion than we could ever hope to run. Some are turned down because they're too long. Some don't make the cut because they just don't have that something that makes them worthy of publication. None of these have run on PennLive before. It's a nice way to clear the decks on a Sunday morning before another busy week of news devours our collective attention. Ready? Here we go. Don't Edit Paul Vigna | pvigna@pennlive.com 5. Pa's medical marijuana law will cause more problems than it solves Consider the following: Your company is preparing to launch a new computer program. Logic suggests that you test the program and test it again, to be certain that all the problems have been adequately addressed, however you are counseled that there may be a serious complication, down the road that must be addressed prior to launching the program. You ignore the advice and proceed anyway. Sound like a far-fetched scenario? Not really, because that's just what Pennsylvania did. No, we're not talking about a computer program, but the analogy fits the Medical Marijuana Program being implemented in the Commonwealth. Marijuana, is classified a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance according to the Controlled Substance Act of 1970; nevertheless, Pennsylvania and 28 other states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico are in the process of implementing a Medical Marijuana Program without considering the implications of the federal prohibition. Let's look at the Law: Title 21 U.S.C 801, et. seq., generally prohibits the cultivation, distribution and possession of marijuana. By strict definition this includes the use of marijuana for medical purposes. My personal objections to the use of marijuana aside, one would think that the proponents of the medical marijuana program would have addressed the federal prohibitions before proceeding with the implementation of this program. In my judgment the General Assembly and the Governor have acted in an irresponsible and short-sighted manner and contrary to the best interests of the citizens of the Commonwealth. The Medical Marijuana Programs will ultimately cause more problems than it ever hoped to solve. David J. Bowie, Elizabethtown Don't Edit Lisa Stinnett, Website staff 4. Here's another day that'll live in infamy "Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy" words of President Roosevelt to describe the sneak, early morning, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, while America slept. Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, a date which will live in infamy words which describe the Congressional sneak attack on the American people as the Senate rammed through a massive tax bill at 2 a.m. before anybody had the opportunity to read it, much less to debate it, while America slept. Not one Republican Senator had the integrity to question the haste and secrecy used to pass this bill. They all are complicit in the blatant lie foisted on us by Ryan, McConnell and Trump that this bill would benefit the middle class. They knew it would provide untold millions of dollars to their rich donors. To mask their lie, they tossed a few crumbs of temporary tax relief for 90 percent of Americans. This monstrosity will add more than a trillion dollars to our national debt. They are already planning to slash Medicare, Medicaid and other programs which benefit most Americans. I hope most Americans remember that when they vote in 2018. Jerry Martin, East Pennsboro Township Don't Edit John L. Micek | jmicek@pennlive.com 3. A proud worker: United we will prevail My ancestor fought in the Revolutionary War as a private and I also served, same rank. Two of his genes were passed on to me. We will not bow to a "king." The king's new tax plan will open the flood gates for funding to those politicians and associations that want to weaken, or in fact, eliminate associations that represent workers. They know full well the effect will be to eliminate the standard for wages, benefits, and working conditions for workers in our society. We, the workers, will continue to serve with or without bone spurs. We are aware that regardless of your wealth or social status, we are equal in the voting booth. United we will prevail. We will not be divided by wedge issues. Joseph Crown, Lower Swatara Township Don't Edit Don't Edit AP Photo/Evan Vucci, file 2. Instead of complaining about Donald Trump, the left should be thanking him The left-driven mainstream media hatefest continues unabated against Republicans and against President Trump. As we begin the New Year, are there some benefits which have come from the Trump presidency? First and foremost: Our freedoms to do well are being safeguarded, along with foundations for those freedoms. If this wasn't the case, the stock market wouldn't be rising to all-time highs. More than 1.8 million jobs have returned to (or, been created in) the USA since November 2016. Jobs usually don't return without hope. President Trump promised to abide by the U.S. Constitution. He has been working diligently with his advisers in seeking out the best legal minds for our federal courts -- judges who will interpret the laws of our land, and not invent new laws or policies at their convenience. "Peace through Placation" was President Obama's modus operandi all too often. Our nation's enemies were emboldened by this approach. "Peace through Strength" worked for President Reagan. Apparently, this approach is also working for President Trump. Most Democrats and other lefties will be receiving the same tax breaks as their fellow Republicans. For those who complain about the recent tax reduction package: Will you be sharing with news media about how you contributed your tax break to help pay down the national debt? Instead of complaining, we need to be praying for President Trump to succeed on good course thus far taken. Robert Wertime, Greencastle, Franklin County Don't Edit Associated Press 1. It's time to make U.S. Attorney General an independently elected office The appropriate way for Congress or any president to deal with the attorney general of the United States, and the FBI under the attorney general, is to "request" that the Dept. of Justice look into a possible criminal situation, and why. President Trump has said very clearly that he can do "whatever he wants" with the Dept. of Justice or the FBI, over and above his appointment authority. Not true. That is exactly why the Dept. of Justice is intended to be totally independent from any pressure from any president or Congress. The attorney general is sometimes placed in a position to investigate a senator or a congressman, or even the administration, and that office must be free to do so independently. No president should ever interfere with an investigation of the administration or the president, or order that one be done. For this reason, I believe, to clearly demonstrate to the public no matter who is president or who in Congress is being investigated, that the attorney general of the United States should definitely be an independently-elected office. Then the investigatory agency of the Dept. of Justice being the FBI director, under the attorney general, be appointed by the attorney general who is elected by the voters. This won't stop all the political issues and pressures that are raised, but, it will give much more confidence to the citizens in America, that the office is not being "used" for political purposes. The power of the attorney general of the United States is so tremendous, that we must do our best to keep it from as much political influence, as possible. This is definitely the more appropriate way it is done in Pennsylvania, and many other States. Corky Goldstein, Harrisburg BlackBerry CEO John Chen reveals phones during the news conference for the company's new BlackBerry Classic phone, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014, in New York. BlackBerry Ltd., a company increasingly focused on technology for the self-driving vehicle market, is making an inaugural visit to North America's biggest auto show in Detroit, where CEO John Chen's team says the company will debut a new product on Monday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP,Bebeto Matthews A worker talks on a radio as he stands at the end of a high-rise construction crane with the iconic Space Needle in the background, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, in downtown Seattle, as viewed from the 66th floor of the Columbia Center. Protests, labour unrest and a public feud between Tim Hortons and the premier of Ontario have erupted in the wake of the province's recent minimum wage hike, raising questions about the wisdom of raising the standard by 30 per cent in just two years. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Ted S. Warren Ex-Indian soldier lives in cave Lahure is a common Nepali term that denotes Nepali people serving in foreign armiesIndian or British, and is still considered an attractive career path for Nepalis. Lahures lived a comfortable life due to their lucrative earnings. Their family dynamics, economic status and social prestige stood out in society. Even today, many Nepali youths still want to get recruited in British and Indian army forces for a good life. CSIS director Michel Coulombe waits to appear at the Senate national security committee meeting to discuss Bill C-51, the anti-terrorism Act, in Ottawa, Monday, April 20, 2015. From cryptocurrencies, to artificial intelligence, to the rise of millennials, a top-secret document by Canada's spy agency explores the so-called "mega trends" on its radar and details how they will transform the economy, society and security. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld In this Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018 photo provided by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, Santa Barbara County firefighter Vince Agapito climbs through a Montecito, Calif., home that was destroyed by deadly mudflow and debris early Tuesday morning following heavy rainfall. (Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department via AP) Im fine with it, we need the revenue and it will encourage cycling/public transit Hate it, its too tough on local business/too confusing I dont like it, but its probably necessary Vote View Results Govt rules out epidemic in Jajarkot deaths Even as 13 people have died in Jajarkot in the past week from cold-related ailments, the Health Ministry has ruled out a disease outbreak in the district. The boss at Boeing, which builds V-22 Osprey helicopters at its Ridley Park plant, calls the tax cut passed by Congress and signed by President Trump the single most important thing we can do to support quality jobs Read more The U.S. government collected a little more than a billion dollars a day in corporate income taxes last year. The tax law signed by President Trump would cut that total to around $600 million a day. That ought to save big businesses a trillion dollars over the next 10 years. What will they do with more money? Sen. Pat Toomey (R., Pa.) tells us, "This will result in more investment, more growth." And more jobs, he assured us, meeting reporters on a trip through Montgomery County last week. Which jobs? "Comcast said they will do $50 billion of capital expenditures over the next five years," thanks to the tax cut and looser Federal Communications Commission internet rules, Toomey told us, citing a company statement last month. "That's going to require probably tens of thousands of people. Contractors. A lot of jobs." I reminded the senator that my colleague Bob Fernandez reported Comcast laid off 500 salespeople and supervisors just before Christmas, and that Comcast was already on track for $10 billion a year in capital expenditures even before the tax cut. Installers tell us the big cable and phone companies are feeling pressure to spend more to boost speeds, as users cancel cable TV and switch to fast internet video. Will service companies pass tax cuts to consumers in the form of lower rates? Subsidiaries of Exelon Corp., the dominant Philadelphia-area electric utility holding company, have said they may actually do that, at least in the politically sensitive Washington area. They haven't yet posted projections for Philly-area users. Customers of American Waterworks, the for-profit utility operator based in Voorhees, could see "little to no impact" on their bills, spokeswoman Maureen Duffy told me. Maybe the company will update pumps and pipes with the tax savings, instead of boosting rates to pay for that work. And maybe Walmart or Costco will announce lower prices as a tax-cut bonus, suggested Doug Kugler, senior portfolio manager at the $8.3 billion-asset Chartwell Investment Partners of Berwyn. How much of the corporate tax cuts will go to workers? Comcast, PNC Bank, American Airlines, Nationwide, and some other large employers have awarded workers a one-time $1,000 bonus tied to the tax cut. In Comcast's case, that will cost the company about $100 million. Comcast paid $5.4 billion in income taxes last year. Lower rates could cut that by more than $2 billion a year. So workers should get almost 5 percent of the company's first-year tax cut. PNC, which employs 47,000, is going further, adding an extra $1,500 to workers' retirement accounts. With the cash bonus, that equals almost 20 percent of the bank's roughly $500 million tax savings, for a year. "Our country's new tax structure will have positive long-term benefits for American," Doug Parker, CEO of the airline that dominates Philadelphia routes, said in a memo. American hasn't actually been paying income taxes lately, because it lost so much money in earlier years. Still, with fatter margins, "we will be able to invest even more in aircraft and facilities," Parker pledged. "This is not an action we take lightly when balanced against the returns of our shareholders'/owners' demand," Parker added, feeling a need to explain that "taking care of those who take care of our customers" is an appropriate expense. At Boeing, the jet maker that employs about 4,000 at its war helicopter factory in Ridley Park, the tax cut "is the single most important thing we can do to drive innovation, support quality jobs, and accelerate capital investment," CEO Dennis Muilenburg said in a statement. Muilenburg pledged to spend an extra $100 million on charitable giving and $200 million on training and employee-facility upgrades. As with American, Boeing's past losses will complicate its tax payments over the next few years. A report by Pete Skibitski, stock analyst at Philadelphia-based Drexel Hamilton, suggests Boeing's effective corporate tax rate won't change much over the next few years. The company plans to say more about the tax cut's impact when it reports 2017 income Jan. 31. Whatever companies might spare for workers, charities, or consumers, much of the tax savings "will undoubtedly fall to the bottom line, increasing profits for the companies and their shareholders," says Chartwell's Kugler. Investors will enjoy "higher dividends and greater share repurchases." Policymakers hope these hedge-fund managers, corporate insiders, and 401(k) plan retirees will eventually spend more on U.S. products and services, speeding growth. Will workers pay for the tax cuts in other ways with Congress trimming federal medical spending, leading to higher insurance costs, and cut Social Security? Toomey insisted the tax cuts will pay for themselves, while acknowledging Social Security should be changed for workers currently under 40. Congress is expected to debate medical and retirement spending this year. Meantime, Toomey predicted many workers will better appreciate the tax cuts when personal tax rates drop "and pay goes up" for many Americans in the months ahead. "When people realize it actually is a tax cut, I think it's going to be pretty popular." "This is CNN Tonight, I'm Don Lemon. The president of the United States is racist. A lot of us already knew that." The CNN anchor's ice-cold open to his newscast on Thursday night was stunning and yet 100 percent spot-on and a sign that America has crossed a Rubicon of sorts in our tortured, centuries-long history of how this nation treats race and ethnicity, which is the defining debate in our ever-present schizophrenia over what this nation really stands for. In the Donald Trump era's crack-addled hyperactive news cycle, it was a long time ago a.k.a. Thursday that the 45th president of the United States sat at his desk in the Oval Office and told some 50 lawmakers and aides that he didn't want a flood of immigrants from "shithole countries" in Africa, part of a longer rap in which he denigrated immigration from places where the people are black Haiti, Africa while talking up blond and blue-eyed arrivals from Norway. It's impossible to find the right word to express the inhumanity of Trump's open-for-all-to-see beliefs. Horrific? Morally unconscionable? None seems to express the full outrage. On the weekend when America honors what would have been the 89th birthday of our greatest advocate for human rights, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the nation is now led by a man who clearly judges people not by the content of their character but by the color of their skin. The president of the United States is racist. But as Don Lemon stated with high-def clarity, a lot of us already knew that. When America went to the polls on Nov. 8, 2016, we already knew so much. We knew that the federal government slammed Trump and his dad who'd been arrested in his younger days at a KKK rally for not renting to blacks in the 1970s, that Trump said in the 1980s that he wanted Jews and not blacks counting his money, that he purchased a full-page New York Times ad calling for the death penalty for five young blacks later found to be completely innocent (for which he still won't apologize), that he re-ignited his political fortunes by insisting the first African American president couldn't be a real American, and then ran a campaign centered on a wall to keep out Mexican "rapists," a travel ban based on people's Muslim religion, and punctuated by trafficking in the worst stereotypes about "inner cities." Knowing all that, 62,984,825 Americans scattered in just the wrong combination of states voted for that guy to become our president. And isn't that the bigger problem here? Trump's outrageously racist remark quickly became an international incident, a huge blow to America's image in the world that has already been reeling since the unfortunate events of Nov. 8, 2016, and a rallying cry for the 60 to 65 percent of Americans who already disapproved of what the president is doing. But it also became a rallying cry, of sorts, for a lot of the 36 Percent of Always Trumpers, who heard the phrase "shithole countries" applied to people they also want to keep out of the United States based on their prejudices, and saw a leader who finally spoke for them, doing the dirty work they elected him to do. That is the much bigger problem with Trump's awful words. He's hardly the first racist to occupy the White House in the second half of American history, Woodrow Wilson stands out, with terrible consequences for policy but he's the first racist president to yell his hate speech into our 21st century toxic echo chamber. Within minutes, a network of paid right-wing pundits arrived in our living rooms to say that while they themselves wouldn't have used those exact words, aren't Haiti and most of Africa, in essence, actually s-hole countries? "This is how the forgotten men and women in America talk at the bar," said the Fox News savant Jesse Watters, suggesting that racism is as American as cherry pie and what's so terrible about a president who says that out loud. Maybe that explains why, so far, fewer than a half-dozen GOP members of the House, none of them in leadership, have strongly criticized Trump's words, with their speaker Paul Ryan dismissing them merely as "unhelpful," with the New York Times editorial board adding, "clearly wishing he could return to his daily schedule of enriching the wealthiest Americans." Trump's words only emboldened those on the extreme right. That includes white nationalists like Mike Cernovich "Go move to Haiti. Or Liberia. Oh, you won't? Why is that?" he asked on Twitter as well as former KKK chieftain David Duke and the neo-Nazi Daily Stormer, which said the president's slur "indicates Trump is more or less on the same page as us with regards to race and immigration." Maybe you've heard of "the Overton window" the idea of shifting the window of what ideas or words are acceptable, or even mainstream, in American political discourse and thought. For two years, Trump has been steadily moving the window of language and policies based on racial prejudice, both overtly or implied, to the extreme right, and conservative media and the millions of Americans who watch them are hopping on the bandwagon. That brings real-world consequences that are even worse than a president's poisonous words. When the president can talk about "shithole countries" in the Oval Office and gets away with it, he gives fresh encouragement permission, really to the perpetrators of the so many hate crimes across America, and especially to all the impressionable kids who now delight at chanting "Trump, Trump, Trump" at mostly black or Latino schools, scrawl swastikas in school bathrooms, or yell "go back to your country" to immigrant kids. The grim future of intolerance in America. When the president spews racism from inside "the people's house," he is not just showing off his own ignorance, but driving U.S. policy on immigration issues that are literally life or death issues for hundreds of thousands of people the 800,000 young "Dreamers" who've done everything America could ask of them but now live in fear of deportation to countries they barely know, the 200,000 Salvadorans and 60,000 Haitians who fled both natural disaster and the man-made disasters of murder and drugs, now stamped with "Return to Sender" by an America that no longer is a beacon. When the president uses vulgarity to dismiss entire nationalities that don't look like him or his supporters, it is the embodiment of his first year of policies that are designed to harm black and brown people whether it's expanding the GOP's war on voting rights, deciding to look the other way on segregation in public housing, or bringing back marijuana arrests that disproportionately target African Americans. When the president signals that hate has a home at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., he's also sending a message that it's open season for human rights abuses to all the ICE officers who've decided they can "take the gloves off" in the Trump era and bust into courtrooms and schools in their search for the undocumented, to the Border Patrol agents who detained the 10-year-old girl returning from surgery, and to all the police officers who now know that if they shoot an unarmed black man, Jeff Sessions and his Justice Department will have their back. When the president struts his racism on the eve of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, it's a stark reminder that America is led by a man who is taking a crowbar to the arc of the moral universe and twisting it away from justice. That is the dangerous line that we've just crossed. When Trump says something outrageous like he did on Thursday, there's a tendency to proclaim that this is not us, that this is not America. The actual truth is more complicated. The nation that authored a progressive Bill of Rights with freedoms that were radical for their time, that welcomed millions of political and economic refugees and that sacrificed so much to help defeat fascism in the 1940s is also the nation that replaced slavery with Jim Crow and then mass incarceration, that has historically excluded immigrants based on their race and that elected Donald Trump in 2016. The America so repulsed by a president's rant against "shithole countries" is the same America that talks just like Trump at the bar. The question for 2018 and beyond is, which America is going to prevail? No question, Philadelphia School District officials say: A school police officer should never have removed an 8-year-old from class and allegedly assaulted and berated the boy over a routine classroom issue. But the third grader's parents and other education activists are raising a larger point, questioning the presence of police in Philadelphia schools, especially elementary schools. "Why are these people in our schools in the first place?" asked Julien Terrell, executive director of the Philadelphia Student Union, a youth organizing group. "We want a long-term commitment to phasing school police out." Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. would not go that far, but he said he thought the district's definition of what a school police officer's job is should be "continually evolving." Across the U.S., the number of school police has risen since 1999, when the Columbine school shootings occurred. At first, that growth was primarily centered in middle and high schools, said Mo Canady, executive director of the National Association of School Resource Officers. After 2012 and the Sandy Hook massacre, more elementary schools began adding police, Canady said. (Philadelphia's school police operate independently of the Philadelphia Police Department. They do not carry weapons or have arrest powers.) School police, in the ideal scenario, "bridge the gap between law enforcement and youth," said Canady. "Officers who are working under the right foundation, proper selection and training, make a very positive impact. If done the right way, we believe that the officer-student relationship can lead to change for the next generation in terms of how communities and law enforcement relate to each other." Hite said that squares with his personal belief officers should be "supporting, educating, problem-solving." And while the superintendent still stands by a recent promise he made to the Philadelphia Student Union to not have more school police than counselors in any school, "I don't ever see us taking all police out of schools," he said. "I still have to guarantee to all families and children that we're going to have safe environments. In some of our communities, I have people calling for a larger police presence." In a perfect world, schools wouldn't need officers, said Royce Merriweather, president of the district's school police union. In this one, they do. "Some of the things that you see out here in society, we see inside the schools," Merriweather said. "Our guys constantly put themselves in harm's way to keep kids and staff safe." The larger conversation has been sparked by an incident involving Isaac Gardner Jr. at Solis-Cohen Elementary. On Oct. 20, an officer forcibly removed the boy from his classroom, took him into a nearby faculty bathroom and shut the door, his parents say. The officer threw the child to the ground, cursing at him and calling him names, they say all for refusing to leave his art class after he had words with some classmates. Although school officials did not notify his parents, Isaac Sr. and Lauren Gardner, about the incident, the family eventually filed a police report and, after consulting with a local education advocacy group, a School District complaint. Isaac Gardner Sr. said he got no answers until he held a news conference at School District headquarters and testified at a School Reform Commission meeting. District officials now say that they dropped the ball by not following up on the police complaint in a timely manner and not communicating policies to employees effectively. "We made a bad situation worse," district spokesman Lee Whack said in a statement. "Officers are not to be utilized for classroom management purposes under any circumstances, and individuals at the school did not meet the district's expectations on Oct. 20," Whack's statement said. The officer in question was removed from Solis-Cohen and the incident investigated; citing the personnel matter, Whack would not specify the outcome of the investigation. Merriweather, who initially said that the officer had been cleared by the Department of Human Services and district, said he could not comment on the state of the investigation. Since he went public with the incident, Gardner, an activist who has been a vocal critic of city police, particularly around the death of David Jones, said a number of parents have reached out to him to say their children have also been victims of rough treatment by school police officers, but they weren't aware there was any recourse. "This is not just about my child," said Gardner. "So many parents are frustrated. They need to know their rights, and that their children will be safe." Gardner says that while he is glad the district acknowledged its employees acted improperly, its mea culpa did not go far enough. He has, however, agreed to work with school system officials to review the role of school police in Philadelphia. Terrell and the Philadelphia Student Union have worked closely with the Gardners on the school policing issue. PSU has pushed the district on school policing, particularly since a 2016 incident when a student at Benjamin Franklin High was allegedly assaulted by a school police officer there after the young man attempted to use the bathroom, Terrell said. Video of the incident shows a student in a chokehold by a school police officer. A witness shouted, "He's not even resisting!" After the Ben Franklin assault, PSU worked with the district to develop the formal school police complaint process. PSU modeled its work on Oakland's. The organization also asked Hite to agree to certain points including that schools should not have more police officers than guidance counselors, which is the case in some buildings. The superintendent made that commitment. No doubt there are safety issues in many schools, Terrell said. "But there should be an investment in developing alternatives to dealing with safety," Terrell said. "Are you looking at de-escalation? Are you investing in staff?" No matter where his career takes him, Ignat Solzhenitsyn will always be a Philadelphian. At least, that's how his fans hear him, listening through the lens of his onetime tenure as leader of the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia or, even, from his school days at the Curtis Institute. Does it matter? In a way it does, and it did Friday night, when the pianist returned to town for a Philadelphia Chamber Music Society recital at the American Philosophical Society. If raising questions is the artist's job, Solzhenitsyn succeeded. The playing itself was enigmatic. But the question I kept returning to in a recital of just two composers was just how different his slightly odd-mannered playing would be received in another city, one that doesn't know his pedigree the way this one does. In a blind test, would the same warm vibe have filled the room? This sold-out crowd gave him a standing ovation, and, after a recital of just two composers Shostakovich and Schubert he gave them more Schubert. The D. 817 Hungarian Melody was played simply and beautifully, with the kind of lovely tone Solzhenitsyn obviously knows how to get when he wants it. I was eager for his thoughts on the Piano Sonata in B Flat Major, D. 960, the recital's entire second half, after having heard the pianist's majestic recording of the unfinished D. 840 in C Major. But it was hard to account for a lot of his decisions in the D. 960's sprawling first movement. The performer shapes meaning in a thousand small ways not just general tempo, but also in where to insert tiny pauses, which notes to connect to each other and which to make separate, where and to what degree to move through a phrase as if fighting gravity. There was a lot of gravity in Solzhenitsyn's interpretation, a lot of reaching for profundity. But the magic of this Schubert is in the contrasts the floating, carefree song of the first movement's opening soon interrupted by that worrisome low trill. Solzhenitsyn generally preferred chewiness to fluidity. This is the way he hears the music, and that's why we keep listening for thoughts different from our own. But the logic of some decisions escaped me altogether, like the way he slammed the high "F" at the end of the first section. The strengths of the pianist found an expressive home in Shostakovich. Solzhenitsyn chose four of the Preludes and Fugues, Op. 87, and each was of such boldly different character that they formed a satisfying portrait of the pianist. That golden tone drew you in at the start of the fugue in the No. 1 in C Major. This was the pianist as beauty. No. 8 in F Sharp Minor was about how making a circus of somber events can somehow just make a moment all the more inconsolable. The knotty chromaticism of No. 19 in E Flat Major gave Solzhenitsyn a powerful chance to contrast the proud chorale-like prelude with a fugue of fearsome clusters. He ended with No. 24 in D Minor, whose Brahms-like beginning didn't last, and which seemed to evolve the pianist into an artist of fearsome intensity. Peter DeLaurier, Alda Cortese, Janis Dardaris, Marcia Saunders, and Carla Belver in Mornings at Seven, at Peoples Light in Malvern. Read more American theater teems with characters worth despising, from such losers as Willy Loman and Tom Wingfield to such thugs as Billy Bigelow and Stanley Kowalski. Paul Osborn's Morning's at Seven, now in a delightfully charming production at People's Light, could add a few entries to the list. Osborn's 1938 play opens on the daily routines of Theodore and Cora Swanson (Peter DeLaurier and Marcia Saunders), married nearly 50 years and living almost all of them with Cora's sister Aaronetta (the brilliant Janis Dardaris). Right next door resides their third sister, Ida (Alda Cortese), her husband, Carl (Stephen Novelli), and their 40-year-old bachelor son, Homer (Pete Pryor). Carl despairs over his life choices, Aaronetta pines for a decades-old unrequited love, and Homer can't let go of his mother's metaphorical apron. Fourth sister, Esther (Carla Belver), lives up the street with hubby David (Graham Smith), who derides his gossipy, insular extended family as "morons." "Fences make good neighbors" (as Osborn's lifelong friend Robert Frost once penned), but no fence physical or psychological segregates the intertwined sufferings of these family members. When Homer brings home his fiancee of seven years, Myrtle (Teri Lamm), to finally meet the family, her visit serves as a catalyst for these near-septuagenarians' finally coming to terms with the frustrated longings and unfulfilled desires that have plagued them for the majority of their adult lives. Put like that, it sounds boring and devoid of real consequence, and without Osborn's folksy humor and the magnificent performances of this ensemble, the play probably would have put a scowling face atop a pair of folded arms for the bulk of my evening. Instead, I laughed heartily at the futility and smiled bright-eyed at the simple charm these actors evoked. Osborn's play blends story elements and the themes of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya (minus the earnest striving) and the hokey existentialism of Thornton Wilder's Our Town. Abigail Adams' direction layers thick humor over the disappointment of denied ambition. Dennis Parichy's lighting setting up a simple summer day and night ennobles even lifelong despair with the kind of soft, sympathetic tones meant for thwarted youth. Pryor and Novelli excel in their depictions of a father and son sharing similar strategies to stave off anguish. Lamm endears, despite Osborn's lines that require her to burst with trite generalities and platitudes. I imagine that Osborn, a Midwesterner like these characters, intends to evoke sympathy and perhaps shared feelings. This cast might have elicited that from some on Saturday's opening. For me, it was simple enjoyment. Philadelphia police said an officer shot a passenger during a traffic stop Saturday night in Kensington after the man pulled a gun from his waistband. Police provided the following account: Officers had stopped a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe in the 2800 block of Kensington Avenue after seeing it traveling in the wrong direction nearby on Hart Lane shortly before 11 p.m. While one officer talked to the driver, a 26-year-old man, another questioned the passenger, a 22-year-old man, and noticed "a bulge" in his waistband. In patting it, the officer determined it was a handgun and drew his own gun. The passenger got out of the Santa Fe and pulled a gun from his waistband. As he ran from the vehicle, the officer who had been questioning him fired once at him. Another officer who had arrived and saw the passenger holding a gun shot at him four times, hitting him in the torso and face, causing him to drop a 9mm semi-automatic pistol loaded with 33 rounds and fall to the ground. The man was arrested and taken to Temple University Hospital, where he was in critical condition Sunday, police said. It was not clear whether charges had been filed against him. Police said only that the driver had not been charged and that the investigation was continuing. Police did not release the identities of the passenger or driver. A man fatally shot himself in Southwest Philadelphia on Sunday after shooting a woman and then barricading himself in a home, police said. Police responded just before 5:30 a.m. to the 2600 block of Holbrook Street. The woman, 61, was taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center by police and was in stable condition, police said. A SWAT team went into the home just before 7 a.m. and found the man, 37, inside a second-floor bedroom with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police not not release his identity. A pile of discarded police crime tape sits on top of a trash can Monday, March 19, 2007 near the scene of shooting that took place around 2a.m. near 15th and JFK Boulevard. The victim, who was identified as Kenny Philogene, 22, of Kensington, was found shot in the chest, stomach and left shoilder, police [] Read more A man and woman have been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of a 26-year-old Vineland resident during a fight at their South Jersey apartment complex, authorities said Saturday. Shane Davis and Jada Coley, both 19, were arrested Saturday shortly after the 3:45 p.m. shooting of David Dibraccio at the Edgewater Manor Apartments in Edgewater Park, Burlington County, where the two lived, according to a statement from the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office. The shooting followed a fight between the defendants and Dibraccio in his girlfriend's apartment, during which Dibraccio was assaulted with a shovel by Coley before being shot by Davis, officials said. Dibraccio was pronounced dead just after 5 p.m. Saturday at Cooper University Hospital in Camden. Davis was charged with first-degree murder, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. Coley was charged with three counts including aggravated assault. The downtown Auburn brewpub's winter release schedule includes Puff Puff Shiv, the Cocoa Puff-flavored brown ale and bane of Maeso's existence, in mid-February. Around that time, Prison City will also release a limited amount of bottles of Wham Whams, its bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout with toasted coconut and vanilla beans. In March, the brewpub will hold another Mass Riot can release, as well as more of its rotating hop series 4 Piece Pale Ale. The brewery will also host a Founders beer lunch Jan. 28, and pour at both the CNY Brewfest and New York Beer Week in New York City Feb. 24. Prison City beer will also be coming to the Schulzes' other restaurant, The Copper Pig BBQ & Taproom, as will a new list of rare and special bottles. And on Jan. 19, the 10 E. Genesee St. Restaurant will expand its hours to 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. A woman holds up a sign outside the Capitol in support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program Tuesday on Capitol Hill in Washington. Read more Republicans held out hope Sunday that a deal can be reached allowing young undocumented immigrants to remain in the U.S., despite President Donald Trump saying the effort is "probably dead" amid growing tensions about keeping the government funded past Friday. Trump escalated his rhetoric on immigration in a pair of early-morning Sunday Twitter messages that appeared to move away from what a few days ago seemed to be a potential deal with Democrats and moderate Republicans on legislation to continue the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. "DACA is probably dead because the Democrats don't really want it, they just want to talk and take desperately needed money away from our Military," Trump tweeted on Sunday from Florida, where he's spending the weekend at his club. "I, as President, want people coming into our Country who are going to help us become strong and great again, people coming in through a system based on MERIT. No more Lotteries!" Trump said. His comments followed four tweets on the same topic on Saturday. The immigration debate involving young undocumented immigrants brought to the country as children and Trump's demand for funding to build a wall on the southern U.S. border is playing out days before a potential government shutdown as soon as the end of this week. Shortly after Trump's tweets, he was contradicted by key Senate Republicans and even his own Homeland Security Secretary, Kirstjen Nielsen, who said on "Fox News Sunday" that there's still hope for a solution if Democrats would agree to close immigration loopholes. "I do not believe DACA is dead," Nielsen said. She said the Trump administration and congressional Republicans want "a security-immigration deal." She also said it would be "completely irresponsible" for Democrats to demand that a deal be tied to keeping the government funded. Republican Sen. David Perdue of Georgia also expressed optimism on ABC's "This Week" about finding a fix for DACA, but only if "the Democrats get serious about negotiating" on securing U.S. borders and family reunification or "chain migration." Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona, also a Republican, said senators from both parties support a proposed compromise on legislation that he has helped write. "We're working now to add more Republicans to that list, and we will have more this coming week," Flake said on ABC. He said his bill was the only way to get the 60 votes required for passage in the Senate. Flake also rejected the president's claim that "Democrats don't really want" a deal. "I've been negotiating and working with the Democrats on immigration for 17 years," he said. "The Democrats are negotiating in good faith." The immigration debate is taking place against a backdrop of controversy after Trump reportedly called Haiti, El Salvador and African nations "shithole countries" during an Oval Office meeting with senators. Trump denied making the comment in a Twitter posting on Friday, although the White House didn't dispute the quotations after they were widely reported on Thursday. Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois, the second-ranking Democrat, said the denial was "not true." Perdue of Georgia attended the meeting and called the comments as reported "a gross misrepresentation." "He did not use that word," said Perdue, a top ally of Trump. Nielsen was also in the meeting but said she didn't recall that specific phrase being used. Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas also said on CBS' "Face the Nation" that he didn't hear Trump use the word in the meeting, and that Durbin "has misrepresented what happened in White House meetings before." An email message seeking comment was left with Durbin's office. Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer of New York said on Twitter that to impugn Durbin's integrity was "disgraceful," and that "whether you agree with him on the issues or not, he is one of the most honorable members of the Senate." Flake said he was in a meeting immediately following the one in which the president made the alleged comments, with some of the same participants. "They said those words were used before those words went public," Flake said. Asked on CNN whether Trump's comments were racist, Republican Rep. Mia Love of Utah, a child of Haitian immigrants, paused and said, "yes." She also said, "I can't defend the indefensible." But Love, who's called on Trump to apologize, said the episode can't derail efforts to address DACA and leave families in limbo. "The worst thing that can happen right now is for there not to be a fix at all," Love said on "State of the Union." "We need to make sure that both sides aren't using this for political gain and we do our job and fix this issue." Less than a week ago Trump said during a televised, bipartisan meeting with lawmakers that he wanted a "bill of love" on immigration. He appeared to endorse a "clean DACA" bill sought by Democrats. Since then, a hard-right flank of the Republican Party, led by White House senior adviser Stephen Miller and Cotton, pulled the president back from the center. Even so, 70 percent of Americans favor continuing DACA, including a slim majority of Trump's backers, according to a CBS News/YouGov poll released Sunday. In follow-up polling, 76 percent said Trump's comments on U.S. immigration from Africa and Haiti were inappropriate. Republican Sen. Cory Gardner of Colorado said he still thinks a deal can be struck. While some members of both parties may want to continue fighting, "that's not where a lot of the Democrats that I've been working with are, that's not where the Republicans that I've been working with are. Where we are is trying to find a real solution," Gardner said on CBS' "Face the Nation." The bodies of a 57-year-old woman and 66-year-old man were found by police Saturday afternoon in a home near St. Mary's Medical Center in Bucks County, officials said. Middletown Township Police Lt. Steve Forman, who did not identify the man and woman, said in an interview that there was no sign of foul play. The bodies were found in the house on the 1300 block of Langhorne Newtown Road by police responding to a request by a friend who had been unable to contact the woman, who owns the home, Forman said. The two appeared to have been deceased for several days when officers arrived after receiving the call at 1:41 p.m., he said. Coroner's officials are expected to begin examining the bodies Sunday and will look for signs of carbon monoxide in their blood, Forman said. While fire department officials did not detect high carbon monoxide levels in the home, the house had "multiple different types of heating systems" and its door had been open for a while when they tested for the gas, he said. Volunteerism has existed in the United States since colonial times. Early settlers practiced "barn-raising," a preindustrial custom where communities banded together for the benefit of one of its members with the tacit understanding that each individual would receive the same support under dire circumstances. These benevolent cultural practices were in some ways a corollary to those of the sharing societies of Native American tribes, whose own traditions of mutual assistance predated the arrival of Europeans. During the 18th century, volunteerism as it is known today began to take shape. Benjamin Franklin famously paved the way for volunteer societies with the formation of the Union Fire Company in 1736. Other Philadelphia-based organizations ushered in the era of institutional philanthropy and advocacy, such as the Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons, which lobbied for prison reform. The social conditions stemming from industrialization resulted in the proliferation of volunteer societies and charity organizations, as increasingly entrenched class divisions created a disparity of wealth and leisure time. During this time period, a number of organizations that exist to this day began operations, notably the YMCA and the Salvation Army in England. While women played an important role during this era of volunteerism and charity (especially in the realm of medical care, perhaps best illustrated in the United States by the American Red Cross founder Clara Barton), the philanthropic activities of women's societies were underreported in historical records of the time. This would change with the turn of the century, when the scope of work of one women's volunteer organization was too large to ignore. In 1912, a group of women from prominent Philadelphia families including Constance E. Biddle, Sarah Lowery, Margaret Newbold, and Gertrude Ely founded the Junior League of Philadelphia (JLP), among the earliest expansion chapters of the storied women's service organization. The first Junior League began in New York City in 1901, launched by wealthy women who banded together to create settlement houses to provide basic-needs services for poor immigrant workers. JLP brought this mission to Philadelphia, setting up service houses that bridged social classes while offering poverty relief for the city's working-class neighborhoods. Within JLP's first decade, the organization rapidly expanded its areas of focus. During World War I, volunteers from the organization offered vital services as nursing aides in Philly hospitals; the organization sponsored arts and cultural events for the enjoyment of injured servicemen returning from Europe. Following the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, JLP integrated civic engagement and advocacy into its programs. Volunteers offered training and educational resources for women who were preparing to vote for the first time, striving to ensure that women made their political voices heard. Over the next two decades, JLP had an enormous impact on a number of communities. Throughout the tribulations of the Great Depression, the organization supported homeless shelters and ran unemployment relief programs. Throughout the 1940s, JLP contributed greatly to the war effort by gathering and physically preparing medical bandages for the Red Cross, raising money for the purchase of hospital aircraft and penicillin, and serving in an advisory capacity in the Civilian Defense Office. From raising money for children's health care to running initiatives to make produce more accessible to underserved communities, JLP has consistently run charitable programs in Philadelphia for more than 100 years. Despite this history of service, the organization has suffered from what one member referred to as a "pumps and pearls" image problem, which pigeonholes the group as a social club for self-congratulatory wealthy women. Whatever the motivations of individual members who have passed through this historical organization over its many years of operation, JLP has benefited countless people, ranking it among the most notable, impactful charity organizations in Philadelphia history. Patrick Glennon is a communications officer at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. pglennon@hsp.org 821 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard ZURICH (Reuters) Anti-globalisation demonstrators took to the streets of the Swiss capital on Saturday to protest against a planned visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to the World Economic Forum this month. Trump announced last week that he would attend the WEF in Davos, an annual meeting of global business and political leaders. Some have suggested that Trumps polarizing persona could resurrect the violent anti-WEF protests seen in the early 2000s. An online petition is circulating telling Trump he is not welcome. On Saturday, around 500 anti-globalisation protesters marched peacefully past the Swiss parliament in Bern. Some were clad in black and carried placards saying No future for capitalism, Eat the rich and Kill Trump, also setting off flares. Up to 5,000 Swiss soldiers have been drafted in to guard Davos along with 1,000 police, while a no-fly zone will also be put in place to protect delegates. (Reporting by John Revill and Arnd Wiegmann; Editing by Kevin Liffey) 3.3k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard After Hawaii was sent into panic early Saturday morning by a false alert stating that a nuclear missile had been launched in the states direction and that residents should seek refuge, the first tweet any person other than Donald Trump would have published after the incident would have been addressing what happened. Instead, Trump completely ignored the situation and opted to, for the umpteenth time, rail against the media. So much Fake News is being reported. They dont even try to get it right, or correct it when they are wrong. They promote the Fake Book of a mentally deranged author, who knowingly writes false information. The Mainstream Media is crazed that WE won the election! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 13, 2018 So much Fake News is being reported, he wrote. They dont even try to get it right, or correct it when they are wrong. They promote the Fake Book of a mentally deranged author, who knowingly writes false information. The Mainstream Media is crazed that WE won the election! Its unclear what exactly triggered this particular outburst; given the fact that he reportedly watches up to eight hours of television per day, it might have just been the latest news segment he watched in which he wasnt showered with praise. Instead of lashing out about negative coverage, the first thing Trump should have done was confirm that no U.S. state was under attack. While other legislators in lower offices, such as Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz, reassured Hawaiians and Americans as a whole that there was no attack, Trump should have acted like the leader of a country and done the same. Especially since his petty attacks against North Korean leader Kim Jong-un are largely to blame for the constant fear the world feels about the possibility of nuclear war. The great white electronic wailer known as Moby was in the news this week, advocating the claims of the Steele/Trump dossier in the course of a radio interview with WFPK in Louisville. Moby has been on the case since this past February, when he first posted an advisory after meeting with friends in DC. He conveyed his advisory on Instagram here to create a public record beforehand of events to come. According to Mobys friends, Trump is in collusion with the Russian government and has been since day one. And thats not all. Moby had words of wisdom for those who fear and revile the GOPe. Moby warned that there are right wing plans to get rid of trump. hes a drain on their fundraising and their approval ratings, and the gop and koch brothers and other u.s right wing groups are planning to get rid of trump. This, remember, according to Mobys DC friends. In the current interview that is in the news, Moby noted that his February advisory derived from active and former CIA agents whom he has befriended in the course of his professional pursuits. They asked him to asked him to advertise their intelligence to his social media following. Elaborating on his advisory, Mr. Moby asserts of President Trump: This is the Manchurian candidate. In his update he asserts that there is so much evidence that the Trump administration is really in bed with the Russians in a very pernicious way. He says: Its really dark. It must be a conspiracy so immense. Have General Kelly, General McMaster, and Secretary Mattis got the memo? To what extent theres collusion, I dont know, Mr. Moby conceded, but where theres smoke theres fire. What is to be done? He reposes hope for the future in Rep. Adam Schiff. Cooler heads might reason that if this is a crisis Adam Schiff can resolve, it must not be as serious as advertised. I dont think the CIA needed Moby to get out the claim of Russian collusion with the Trump campaign or with President Trump. If the CIA was on this particular case, it had all the help it needed from Democratic politicians and their media adjunct. It didnt need Moby. And Im sure his fans were already on board at the time he issued his advisory in February 2016. Pitchfork has posted audio of Mobys radio interview here. Doing the right thing, Pitchfork has reached out to Mobys representatives for further comment. Low price worries ginger farmers in Dhankuta Farmers in Dhankuta have been worried after not getting suitable market price for their ginger as it is considered as an attractive cash crop. David Letterman asked former president Obama what he considers the more dangerous threat to a democracy, the president demeaning the press or a foreign power sabotaging the voting process. Obama must think its the latter, because in his answer he demeaned the news media. Obama stated: One of the biggest challenges we have to our democracy is the degree to which we dont share a common baseline of facts. If you watch Fox News, you are living on a different planet than you are if you are listening to NPR. I have some questions and comments. 1. How does Obama know this? Does he watch Fox News these days? Does he watch Bret Baiers Special Report, the Fox News program that presents a baseline of facts? 2. Obama has it backwards. Having a common baseline of facts supplied by a monolithic media is more deleterious to democracy than the situation Obama describes. Residents of the Soviet Union had a common baseline of facts. Dictatorships are like that. 3. To a far greater extent than conservatives, liberals are living on their own planet. Most conservatives who follow current events are aware of the facts liberals subscribe to. They probably get them from at least one mainstream media outlet (in my case, mainly the Washington Post). They may get them from a conservative blog like Power Line. The starting point or baseline, if you prefer for much of what I write is an account from the liberal mainstream media. Typically, I critique that account, often harshly. But the reader knows what facts the mainstream media outlet is presenting on the subject. 4. Few liberals are aware of what conservatives are reporting or saying. They probably dont watch Fox News or read the Washington Times or Examiner. Its very unlikely that they listen to conservative talk radio or read conservative blogs. Recently at a social gathering, someone asked me what I was writing about on our blog. I mentioned Fusion GPS. None of the liberals in the room, all of whom follow the news, knew what Fusion GPS is. 5. Is Barack Obama really as shallow a thinker as he appears to be? Today on ABCs This Week, Senator David Perdue, who was present, flatly denied that President Trump referred to any countries as s***holes during a meeting with a small group of legislators: Republican Sen. David Perdue (Ga.) on Sunday said President Trump did not use the word shithole to refer to African nations, Haiti and El Salvador during a White House meeting with lawmakers. *** Im telling you he did not use that word, George. And Im telling you its a gross misrepresentation. How many times do you want me to say that? Perdue said after host George Stephanopoulos pressed him for an answer. *** The gross misrepresentation was that language was used in there that was not used and also that the tone of that meeting was not contributory and not constructive, the Georgia Republican said. The Hill adds this, seeking to undercut Perdues denial: The White House last week did not deny that Trump made the comment. That, I think, is just wrong. President Trump tweeted: The language used by me at the DACA meeting was tough, but this was not the language used. What was really tough was the outlandish proposal made a big setback for DACA! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2018 Never said anything derogatory about Haitians other than Haiti is, obviously, a very poor and troubled country. Never said take them out. Made up by Dems. I have a wonderful relationship with Haitians. Probably should record future meetings unfortunately, no trust! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2018 Paul made the most relevant point on Friday. Even if you assume Trump used the word that he and Senator Perdue deny, the villain in this story is Dick Durbin: I dont know whether President Trump called any countries s***holes yesterday. However, I wouldnt be surprised if he disparaged certain countries, as is his wont, and he may well have done so profanely. If he did, and if doing so hurt America, then Sen. Durbin and others in the room should have kept Trumps statement to themselves. No patriotic American would hurt this countrys international standing just to embarrass the president or in the hope of gaining a little leverage in negotiations (which, Im pretty sure, Durbin has failed to do). But patriotism has never been Dick Durbins long suit. This story is a good illustration of the bizarre times in which we live. Trump made a good point in a private meeting with a small number of legislators. He may have used profanity while doing so, but he wasnt making a speech. His political enemy, Dick Durbin, then ran to the press to damage Trump by quotingprobably misquotinghis private comments. The press jumped on the story eagerly, assuming Durbins account was correct and happily damaging Americas interests, as Democrats and Democratic reporters smugly told us was happening. Lost in the shuffle was the fact that Trump is right about immigrationchain migration and the lottery are crazy and need to go, in favor of a merit-based systemand a large majority of Americans agree with him. Years ago, some of the lawyers in my office had a series of cases around the country in which they were opposed by another Twin Cities law firm. The lawyers in that law firm were so dishonest, and so given to misrepresenting their conversations with my partners in various courts, that eventually my partners refused to have any telephone conversations with them unless a court reporter was on the line, and a transcript was prepared. President Trump is perhaps at the point where he should take similar measures to prevent Democrats (and perhaps some Republicans) from lying about his conversations with them. UPDATE: I promise I will never write another post that includes the word s***hole, but I cant resist this addendum, courtesy of Jenna Jameson and via Twitchy. A preface: all porn performers are described as porn stars, much as all models now seem to be supermodels, but Jameson really was a star. As such, she made a lot of money, got married and had a kid or two. And she turns out to be a conservative who is active on Twitter. So: Sally Kohn, who I take it is a somebody on Twitter, tweeted this: Trump is kicking 200,000 Salvadorans out of the United States and forcing them back to a gang violence-ravaged and impoverished disaster zone. https://t.co/7617vDOuK7 Sally Kohn (@sallykohn) January 9, 2018 To which Ms. Jameson retorted: You misspelled shithole https://t.co/aRbx8J5Ave Jenna Jameson (@jennajameson) January 14, 2018 Which is a rather brilliant exposure of the liberals contradiction: they want to keep refugees or emigrants from certain countries here, precisely because the places to which they would otherwise be returned are so awful. But if you describe such a hideous place, where no one apparently should live, as a s***hole, its fainting couches all around. Going with the wind Many students are pursuing higher studies without future plans in mind Nepse sees strong growth, up 16.46pts Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse) index increased 16.46 points to close at 1,440.29 points last week as investors were buoyed by news of the governments plan to funnel a portion of its surplus into the banking sector. If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here When a restaurateur is interested in buying or selling a restaurant, it is imperative to look for a trusted professional who can get the job done. Bielat Santore & Companys 35+ years of success is highly credited to their hardworking team of professionals who have helped guide clients through positive transaction experiences. In 2018, Bielat Santore & Company would like you to Meet the Salesmen. Professional profiles introducing two of the companys salesmen, Joseph Denker and Robert Gillis will be released in January 2018. The profiles will include background information, industry experience, career highlights and direct contact information allowing interested parties to get to know the salesmen who are servicing their area. For more on Meet the Salesmen, visit Bielat Santore & Companys blog at https://bielatsantoreandcompany.wordpress.com/. About Bielat Santore & Company Bielat Santore & Company is an established commercial real estate firm. The companys expertise lies chiefly within the restaurant and hospitality industry, specializing in the sale of restaurants and other food and beverage real estate businesses. Since 1978, the principals of Bielat Santore & Company, Barry Bielat and Richard Santore, have sold more restaurants and similar type properties in New Jersey than any other real estate company. Furthermore, the firm has secured in excess of $500,000,000 in financing to facilitate these transactions. Visit the companys website, http://www.123bsc.com for the latest in new listings, property searches, available land, market data, financing trends, RSS feeds, press releases and more. Associate Alexis Handrich has joined the Executive Committee of the Workers Compensation Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association as 2018 Co-Chair. She has been an active leader in the organization for nine years. Ms. Handrichs first role with the Philadelphia Bar Association was crafting updates that impacted workers compensation law as Legislative Liaison to the Executive Committee. She joined the Diversity and Inclusion Committee and helped launch an initiative aimed at Philadelphia students interested in the legal profession. Through the program, eight middle- and high school-aged students have received scholarships and performed clerkships for prominent judges over the past two years. Ms. Handrich also served on the Arts in the Court Committee, and helped commission a local artist to complete eight large paintings depicting various icons of Philadelphia industry and commerce. The works illustrate the importance of labor in Philadelphias history, and can be seen hanging at the Philadelphia Workers Compensation Office of Adjudication. I am honored to have been involved with the Workers Compensation Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association in many capacities over the years. I am excited to join my fellow Co-Chairs in leading the organization, Ms. Handrich said of her new role. Together, we will make a difference for injured workers and for our members in their daily practices. In her latest article for The Legal Intelligencer, Do Software Limitations Trump the Act? Pond Lehocky Attorney Maureen Morty Cassidy explains how workers rights are impacted by Forms Solutions in the Workers Compensation Automation and Integration System (WCAIS). In 2013, the WCAIS went live in Pennsylvania, allowing electronic exchange of transactions between companies and the Commonwealth. Large amounts of accident and injury information can now be transferred between companies and the state digitally - much faster than on paper. In 2016, the WCAIS added Forms Solutions to help streamline compensation approval or denial for a work injury, including medical benefits and wage loss. If a carrier chooses to accept a claim for medical benefits only, or to deny the claim altogether, they have to issue a Notice Stopping Compensation. Yet in the most recent Forms Solution update, the middle step is eliminated and no Notice Stopping is being issued when the carrier chooses to deny the wage loss but accept the claim for medical purposes, leaving injured workers with an illegal cessation of wage loss benefits and employers that refuse to reinstate those benefits without any legal basis, Ms. Cassidy reveals. Employers are claiming that because the WCAIS systems software limitations dont allow them to generate a Notice Stopping, their actions are somehow defensible. Ms. Cassidy argues that money saved by going electronic should not come at the cost of an injured workers rights. In an already confusing claims process, this is another step to discourage injured workers from receiving benefits that may be entitled, without notice, Ms. Cassidy explains. Lawton Marketing Group (LMG) was honored in the 13th Annual Davey Awards by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts in the Integrated Campaign-Promotional Branding category. With nearly 4,000 entries from across the US and around the world, the Davey Awards honors the finest creative work from the best small agencies, firms, and companies worldwide. The Davey Awards is judged and overseen by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts (AIVA), a 700+ member organization of leading professionals from various disciplines of the visual arts dedicated to embracing progress and the evolving nature of traditional and interactive media. Current membership represents a "Who's Who" of acclaimed media, advertising, and marketing firms including: Code and Theory, Conde Nast, Disney, GE, Keller Crescent, Microsoft, Monster.com, MTV, Push., Publicis, Sesame Workshops, The Marketing Store, Your Majesty, Yahoo!, and many others. The Davey Awards exclusively honor the Davids of creativity. David defeated the giant Goliath with a big idea and a little rock - the sort of thing small agencies do each year. The annual International Davey Awards honors the achievements of the "Creative Davids", who derive their strength from big ideas rather than big budgets. The Davey Awards is the leading awards competition specifically for smaller agencies as they compete with their peers to win the recognition they deserve. A full list of winner can be found at http://www.daveyawards.com. The agencies awarded this season truly reflect the notion that small agencies produce big ideas. The work entered into this year's Daveys portrays the smart approach to creativity that embodies the capabilities and talents of small firms from across the world, noted Derek Howard, Executive Director of the AIVA. He added, On behalf of the Davey Awards and our Academy, we want to applaud this years entrants for their dedication and commitment to their craft. We offer our congratulations once again to those selected as winners for the exceptional work they submitted. LMGs award submission included an example of a social media campaign they did for Cameron University last year. The agency is owned by Lawtonians Coby and Kelly Edwards, and employs 14 full-time staff members. Coby and I are really excited to win our first Davey award, especially in the social media category because we are so passionate about using it to help grow our clients businesses, stated CEO Kelly Edwards. Were really proud of the work that we do, so its pretty amazing to be recognized for it on an international level. Lawton Marketing Group is a full-service advertising agency based in Lawton, Oklahoma with clients in 48 states. They specialize in website development, app development, social media marketing, search engine optimization, logo design, branding, print design and more. The company serves clientele marketing to mainly affluent customers in highly-regulated industries including healthcare, financial services and insurance. ### Accuform, a Facility Identification Manufacturer, and Exhibitor Media Group, the award-winning leader in trade show and corporate event marketing education, today announced that Samantha Heckman has joined the ranks of the trade show industrys top talent by earning her EXHIBITORs Certified Trade Show Marketer (CTSM) credentials. The CTSM designation is awarded by EXHIBITOR in affiliation with Northern Illinois University Outreach and reflects adherence to the highest educational standards of trade show and event marketing. http://www.ctsm.com Samantha Heckman will be recognized at the annual CTSM graduate awards ceremony at EXHIBITORLIVE in February 2018. About EXHIBITORLIVE EXHIBITORLIVE, the 29th Annual Conference for Trade Show and Corporate Event Professionals will be held February 25-March 1, 2018, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. Full registration for its top-rated EXHIBITORLIVE conference and exhibition is available at http://www.exhibitorlive.com. About Accuform Founded in 1976 by Ron and Veronica Johnson, Accuform began as a small venture in Port Richey, FL. The original three-employee start-up has grown to a team of 300 people and counting. Now located in Brooksville, FL, the family-owned-and-operated company sells facility identification products to a network of distributors throughout North America, South America, and Europe. Specializing in custom safety signs, safety tags, safety labels, traffic safety, 5S lean manufacturing, and award-winning lockout/tagout devices, Accuform provides products and sales support to tens of thousands of customers worldwide. About Exhibitor Media Group The leader in trade show and corporate event marketing education, Exhibitor Media Group publishes the award-winning EXHIBITOR magazine, a monthly publication featuring best practices in trade show marketing. EXHIBITORS Learning Events include: EXHIBITORLIVE, the industry's top-rated conference and exhibition for trade show and corporate event marketing; EXHIBITORFastTrak accelerated learning conferences; and EXHIBITOR eTrak, professional online learning. Exhibitor Media Group is the founder and sponsor of CTSM (Certified Trade Show Marketer), the worlds only university-affiliated professional certification program. (http://www.ExhibitorOnline.com) Follow EXHIBITOR on Facebook, Twitter (@EXHIBITOR) and join EXHIBITORs LinkedIn discussion group. Blockchain for the mobile gig economy. An easy way to record location-dependent jobs during the day. As part of their jobs, workers often are required to prove that they are in a specific location at a particular time on the day in question. Security guards currently use apps that connect to sensors at a set location where the sensors have been installed. Using their unique linket identity and the GPS and camera on their phones, workers can upload this information onto a blockchain creating a verifiable record of their location at a particular time. In contrast to employee tracking this is not an invasion of privacy, it simply is a location and identity verification. This can also be used for Augmented Reality (AR) gaming and geocaching events, to minimize cheating. To extend the validation capabilities when combining linkets and blockchain, mobile notary services can be executed. By entering your location (via phone GPS) into a notary app, it lets you find a notary in your vicinity. The notary uses your linket identity along with your location information and possibly photographic evidence of you meeting with the notary (selfies), and other job-related data, to upload a notary record to the blockchain. Linket provides the personal identity validation that when used with location and photographic evidentiary information constitutes a valid legal record of work performed. The patent pending is "Blockchain, notary and linket for mobile users". Filed on 1 Nov 2017, #15/732368. It was written by COO Louise Falevsky and CEO Wesley Boudville. She is distinguished by co-authoring the patent pending "Discovery and publishing among multiple sellers and multiple buyers" (http://bit.ly/2DclTHY) with Professor Len Kleinrock. He made the first Internet connection in 1969. (http://bit.ly/2CXKJrZ) The blockchain pending is part of a blockchain technology portfolio. Along with patent 9,792,101 (http://bit.ly/2AlMNZO) and the pending "Blockchain and deep links for mobile apps" #20170031874 (http://bit.ly/2mrmBXm), which are used to make a verified social network via a blockchain. Linket Corp. is a Delaware C Corporation based in Los Angeles. http://linket.info. A whitepaper explaining the 3 inventions MAY be available to interested readers. For more information, please contact the CMO, Susan Kessler ( susan(at)linket(dot)info ) or call (626) 656-3309 Opposition the best option By staying away from power, NC has the opportunity to resolve internal issues and regain its lost glory We feel our efforts should extend beyond our clients and into our communities. By supporting charities through corporate donations and fundraising efforts, we are able to do so." Joe Dendy, Chief Marketing Officer In 2017, Symmetry Financial Group contributed over $250K to charities across the country. This amount, which was raised through corporate contributions and fundraising efforts, supported important organizations such as Make-A-Wish Foundation, Brother Wolf Animal Shelter, Our Voice, Manna Food Bank, Bounty and Soul and Asheville Arts Council. One of Symmetry Financial Groups largest fundraising events was its Symmetry Challenge in November 2017. Participants took part in a 5K or 10K walk/race in the mountains of Western North Carolina. To participate in this event individuals had to raise a minimum of $1,000. The total raised from the Symmetry Challenge was $119,000. In addition, Symmetry Financial Group staff members participated in The Trailblaze Challenge in May 2017. This event was hosted by Make-A-Wish and challenged participants by providing training sessions in preparation for a one day 28.3-mile hike. The companys team raised over $28,000 for this event. As a whole, The Trailblaze Challenge helped make over 300 wishes come true for children battling life-threatening medical conditions in the community. We are in the business of helping people. It is a part of our core values and we strive to have this reflected in all that we do. Whether it is by providing access to the best possible life insurance solutions or helping someone prepare for the future, we protect our clients journeys, said Joe Dendy, Chief Marketing Officer. We also feel our efforts should extend beyond our clients and into our communities. By supporting charities through corporate donations and fundraising efforts, we are able to do so. This is who we are and what we believe. In 2018, we hope to exceed our efforts from last year, Dendy said. In addition to this, we are introducing service days where our corporate staff will have the opportunity to volunteer as a team at local charities. Headquartered in Asheville, N.C., Symmetry Financial Group provides life insurance policies to protect individuals and their families from lifes unexpected moments. Visit http://www.sfglife.com/ for more information. Rs52 million compensation recovered for 31 migrants who died in Kuwait The Nepali embassy in Kuwait last year dispatched more than Rs52 million meant to be issued to the families of deceased migrant workers in compensation, insurance payment and outstanding salary and allowance from their companies. According to him, Mr. I had been dating Ms. I since 2008, he was in the university then, 200 level to be precise, whilst she was about finishing secondary school. And like many young lovers, everything was good and going fine except the usual childish mentality from both parties of course. Things kept blossoming, everything soft and nice. She got into the university, a private Nigerian university, fortunately for Mr. I, it wasnt one of those universities where phones werent allowed, so they kept communicating and in fact, since the relationship gradually started maturing, their love kept shinning bright like a diamond.. So bright that other male chykers couldnt approach Ms. I because almost everyone in campus knew she was bae-gaged. Yes, she was that proud of her bae then. Mr. I never missed the opportunity of leaving his university to visit her every weekend, notwithstanding the distance.. Oh, I forgot to tell you, he schooled in far away East, whilst she schooled in the West. And the journey from his university to hers took him 7-8 hours by road and of course, he always used road except extreme cases where he decided to use flight. Not only did he risk his life plying bad roads every weekend just to see bae, he also made sure he got stuffs for her, food stuffs and sometimes money (He took it upon himself to bring provisions and money two weekends out of four, monthly). Indeed, bae was balling, no wonder she was so bae-gaged! And whenever they were on break, back to their respective homes (fortunately they both lived in Lagos), he was with her almost every other day. In fact, both parents knew they were dating. Yes, and they both approved of it. Indeed, Mr. I was happy, he had the acceptance of baes family members and of course, the heart of bae (So he thought). A couple of times, when bae resumed a new semester and Mr. I was still home, boss-man will take it upon himself to fuel his car and drive his woman to her uni, not only that, sometimes took provisions to baes siblings schools too. Mr. I was in love, so he just wanted to make her family members love him more.. Every guy who has truly loved, will know this feeling.. Mans was usually broke in school because of bae, you know, bae schooled in a private university and lifestyle was more expensive there. Of course, to please bae and make her family know he was man enough, Mr. I usually soaked garri in his hostel whilst he sent the food stuffs given to him by his parents to his girl.. Love nwantiti right? Fast forward to his graduation, he got a job which wasnt well-paying like that, but always made sure 50% of his salary went to baes account. Yes a whole 50%.. (It was at this point I literally started tearing up. A tear dropped from my eye and I am certain my friend saw this. If only he knew that I was tearing up because I couldnt really fathom how mans was so in love that he forgot there is a difference between a girlfriend and a wife). Worst still is, he hadnt even engaged her yet! Oh my gosh!!!! Well, love was still there (so he thought). All through the years of dating, spending, killing himself to please she and her family, he never for once had any sexual relation with her. Never for once, because she claimed to be a virgin. The best he ever got was a kiss.. A kiss bruh! Fast forward to when she graduated from university, Mr. I threw a big party for her. Hosted over 30 people (friends and family). Spent close to N650K on the bash (Unbeknownst to his siblings, he borrowed a huge sum of money from his friends so as to make the party a huge success) And a huge one it was (At this point I started thinking, If only he had engaged her at the bash he threw for her, maybe things would have turned out differently) Well, who knows, right? Months after she graduated, he lost favour from his employers, so he was sacked. Things dwindled from his end so his usual 50% to his bae, stopped. 3 months after he lost his job, bae informed him she was going to study abroad, going for her masters program in Russia. (Funny thing is, she never told him when she even applied nor got accepted). Well, she apologised, he forgave and they were still chilling. Weeks later, it was time for her to travel, he dropped her off at the airport, they did the usual (kissed and bid themselves goodbyes right in front of her fam.. Yes, they were that close you know!). Chatting, skyping, doing all sort of things, all these lasted for 3 to 4 months of her stay in Russia. Things became bad afterwards, communication not only dwindled but it dissolved, mans was no longer getting attention, mans was confused yet still going to baes house to help out in one or two errands for fam. To cut the long story short.. Few weeks before she was done with her programme, she sent a text, which read, We cant be together anymore, I am sorry. . That was all, 8 years and thats all she sent. No explanation as to why she wanted to call quits. (Cold right?) Mr. I lost it at this point, became severely depressed, in fact, he was almost going insane. He had to be on drugs. Severally tried suicide but luckily for him, his younger brother came to the rescue. He was eventually admitted in Lagoon for 5 weeks. This was the period bae came back. Bad thing is, she didnt even bother informing him she was coming back and worst thing is, when she eventually heard he was hospitalised, she didnt step her foot in Lagoon hospital.. A cruel world right? Right as we speak, Mr. I has been in and out of hospital, going through one or two crisis. He has lost touch of reality and become a shadow of himself, whereas Ms. I hasnt bothered seeing him since she came back to Nigeria and in fact, is about to be wed in April 2018. Love is a beautiful thing only and when it is true and mutual so children of the world, love with your heart, but use your brain! LONDON UKIP has suspended its leader's girlfriend over a series of racist text messages she apparently sent about Prince Harry's fiancee Meghan Markle. Jo Marney, who is currently in a relationship with UKIP leader Henry Bolton, said Markle would "taint" the Royal Family and had a "tiny brain," in messages published by The Mail On Sunday. She also described Markel as a "negro" and said that black people were ugly. Marney has apologised for the remarks but insisted they had been taken out of context. Bolton has so far refused to comment. Marney sent the messages around three weeks before she entered a relationship with the current UKIP leader, the Mail On Sunday adds. Here are Bolton and Marney: Scandal-hit Ukip leader Hen... @ nzherald In the messages, Marney also describes Markel as a "dumb little commoner" and says "just don't like her... she's a black American." She adds: "Not wanting other races and cultures to invade your own culture doesn't mean I hate their race. Just means I don't want their cultures invading mine." "I apologise unreservedly for the shocking language I used," Marney told the Mail On Sunday. "The opinions I expressed were deliberately exaggerated in order to make a point and have, to an extent, been taken out of context. Yet I fully recognise the offence they have caused." Peter Whittle, the party's former deputy leader, has called for UKIP to kick Marney out of the party. "These are disgraceful remarks. "This person should not just be suspended... but expelled altogether," he said. UKIP MEP Bill Etheridge called on Bolton to resign on Sunday morning. He tweeted: Otunba Gani Adams who is the National Coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) is now the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo. The last Aare was late politician MKO Abiola. ALSO READ: Oyo monarch says Gani Adams is a symbol of Yoruba unity Punch reports that the Alaafin of Oyo and the Aare arrived the venue of the installation in a chariot which was followed by a convoy of vehicles amidst chanting of Iku Baba Yeye from the crowd who followed them. According to the reports, Adamss wife, Kemi and her daughter were among the prominent personalities seated at the front row which include the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran and White Cap Chiefs from Lagos State. ALSO READ: Top monarch squares up to ABU welterweight champion in the ring The programme that took place yesterday, Saturday, January 13, was scheduled to start immediately after the arrival of the Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, at the venue. At the installation Adams wore a jacket made from a lion's skin. He was presented with the staff of office of Sango (the Yoruba god of thunder). The governor said that going to heaven was more important to him than anything on earth, adding that he did not mind losing everything but his soul must meet with his maker on the last day. You can have all kinds of problems. Sickness, wants, needs and challenges may come but know that all of them are designed to take your attention away from your redeemer who is coming soon, the governor said. The President, SDA, West Central Africa Division, Pastor Elie Weick-Dido said the summit was to address the churchs needs in the last days. He said that the church was preparing to reach out to the unbelievers with Gods word in preparation for the imminent return of Jesus Christ to take Christians home. He said things would not get better in the world again and urged Christians to brace up and be more committed to Gods works to quicken the return of the Lord. The President, Eastern Nigeria Union Conference (ENUC), Pastor Bassey Udoh said the programme was aimed at empowering its members for evangelism. According to Guardian, Ortom said that he wrote to Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo to inform him of the security tip, while President Buhari was away on medical vacation. The Benue state Governor also revealed that he wrote another letter to Buhari when he came back, and also tried to get the attention of the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno. Ortom made the revelation in a report which he submitted to the Senate Ad hoc Committee on Security Infrastructure. The Governor also said We wrote to the Vice President on the planned attack on parts of Benue by Fulani herdsmen, because the word was everywhere on the street, but he refused to reply. When there was no response, and upon the return of Mr. President, I personally went and intimated him, and also wrote. The documents are here, I will hand them over to you. I wrote to him on the planned attack by Fulani herdsmen because these threats were on the streets. I wrote to the Inspector General of Police, I told him of a planned attack on our people. When there was no response, on October 27, 2017, I reminded him that these people are planning to attack us, and that we are law-abiding people; we have disarmed our youths, and we are looking onto security agencies. And the way to do it is to arrest those people, who were inciting the herdsmen to combat us, and we knew they were going to come. These people were all over the place; on television, in the papers doing various press conferences, and they eventually took us to court. But we felt that it was a crime for anyone to incite people against us for the purpose of killing or causing harm and destruction. ALSO READ: So we expected them (security agencies) to act, but there was no action I also wrote to the Director General of the Department of State Security (DSS). And when there was no action, I followed it up with a reminder on October 27, 2017 Of course the National Security Adviser invited us for a meeting twice, but the meetings were put off, he added. Herdsmen warn of more bloodshed in Benue Meanwhile, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has warned that there will be more bloodshed in Benue if the anti-grazing law is not modified. The group also accused Governor Ortom of blocking an international grazing route that goes from Niger to the eastern part of Nigeria. Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, Lalong said his comments were never intended to cause disaffection, adding that they were misconceived. Lalong reportedly told State House correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday that he warned Ortom against implementing the anti-grazing law in Benue. Concerning my comment in respect to the crisis in Benue state, I humbly apologise for my comment because Ive seen that it was really misconceived and misinterpreted, that generated a lot of social media write ups here and there. So I apologise for that, because either argument for or against does not help the matter, because it involves loss of lives. I have great respect for unity of the middle belt, I would not want to say Plateau is fighting Benue state at all, we are all brothers and sisters. Benue was created out of Plateau; Nasarawa was created out of Plateau, we still remain brothers and sisters in Benue state. The governor also prayed that God grants Benue and all Nigerians the fortitude to bear the loss, calling on citizens to team up and ensure unity in the country. Let me use this opportunity to once again extend our condolences to the people of Benue State over this great loss. My prayer is that God will continue to give them and every Nigerian the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss. In a statement signed by the Adeosuns Special Adviser, Media and Communication, Mr Oluyinka Akintunde, on Sunday in Abuja, the minister would serve a one-year term effective from January 1, 2018. According to the statement, UN Under-Secretary-General, Jan Beagle, in a letter said that the appointment was ratified at the 55 meeting of the 77th session of the General Assembly. The General Assembly decided to appoint you as an ad-hoc member of the Investment Committee for a one-year term of office, beginning from 1 January, 2018. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on your appointment and wish you success in your work, he said. Also, the representative of the UN Secretary-General on the Investments Committee, Ms Carolyn Boykin, congratulated the minister on her appointment and welcomed her to the committee. Boykin said that the purpose of the investments was to secure the pension entitlements of the international civil servants participating in the Fund. The fiduciary responsibility is to all parties concerned and it is the responsibility of the Secretary-General to ensure that those investments are managed to preserve the capital of the Fund. And to also obtain a long-term real rate of investment return that is in line with the actuarial assumptions, without jeopardising the capital of the Fund by taking excessive risks, she said. The UNJSPF provides pension, death, disability and the other related benefits for staff of the United Nations and other organizations admitted to membership in the Fund. It is a multiple employer defined benefit plan governed by the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board, the Staff Pension Committee for each member organization, and a secretariat. The Fund was established through UN General Assembly resolution 248 (III), passed in December 1948 and came into effect on January 23, 1949 as a permanent retirement scheme. It currently serves 23 member organizations, with 128, 262 active participants and approximately 75,000 retirees in nearly 200 countries. The earthquake struck in the Pacific, 31 kilometers (19 miles) from the seaside town of Acari in the region of Arequipa, according to the US Geological Survey. "There are two fatalities in the region of Arequipa and so far 65 injured have been reported," said General Jorge Chavez, head of the National Civil Defense Institute. Chavez said military planes were delivering humanitarian aid including tents to affected areas. An emergency will be declared in most of the stricken areas so that reconstruction of homes and roads can begin immediately, said Mercedes Araoz, president of the Council of Ministers. One person died in the Yauca district and another in the Bella Union district, both in the Arequipa region, where rescue workers were trying to help those affected, Peru's Civil Defense said. Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski traveled to the region and flew over the quake zone. Speaking to reporters, he attributed the two deaths to adobe houses collapsing. About 47 percent of homes in Peru, or 3.6 million, are made of clay, earth, stone or wood materials that are vulnerable in earthquakes, according to government statistics from 2014. The Peruvian navy and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii ruled out the threat of a tsunami. Adobe houses were leveled in the coastal town of Lomas and elsewhere in the surrounding area, Santiago Neyra, the mayor of the nearby town of Caraveli said. Electricity was out in several municipalities and many roads were closed or passable in only one direction, the mayor said. Structural damage was reported to a bridge in Arequipa, said the head of the region's highway police, Major Alberto Rojas. In the city of Arequipa, residents ran into the streets after the quake struck at 4:18 am (0918 GMT). It was even felt in the capital Lima, hundreds of kilometers away. "Here at the clinic the tremor felt super long," a patient in a Lima private hospital told AFP. The earthquake rocked Peru just before Pope Francis is slated to arrive Thursday for a three-day visit after touring Chile. Peru lies on the so-called "Ring of Fire" -- an arc of fault lines that circles the Pacific Basin and is prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The South American country records about 200 earthquakes a year, most of them going unnoticed by the public. The last major earthquake to shake Peru hit in August 2007, killing 595 people. "I will do my utmost so that this person, who, in addition to criminal offences has harmed the international image of Kosovo, is brought to justice for these acts," said Justice Minister Abelard Tahiri on Facebook. Police announced his arrest in Cyprus last week. Harel has been hunted by the authorities for almost a decade for exploiting victims, often recruited from poor areas in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, by promising 15,000 euros ($18,000) for their organs. Recipients, mainly Israelis, would pay up to 100,000 euros for the transplant. The organ trafficking network came to light in 2008 after a Turkish man collapsed at Pristina airport after having a kidney removed. Police raided the Medicus clinic, which shut following the scandal. In 2013, an EU-led court in Kosovo sentenced five Kosovan doctors to up to eight years in prison for organ trafficking in the country. Donors, whose organs were illegally removed, were left without proper medical care and treated "like waste," prosecutors said at the time of the trial. But the Supreme Court of Kosovo annulled the verdict in 2016 and ordered a new trial, which is ongoing. But Press Secretary Sarah Sanders insisted that Trump said "I'd," not "I" as the newspaper reported. Both The Wall Street Journal and the White House posted audio recordings of Trump's remarks on Twitter. These, while not completely clear, appeared to support Sanders' account. Sanders had earlier tweeted a written message disputing the newspaper's article. "President Trump said, I'D probably have a very good relationship with Kim Jong Un of North Korea. I'D -- I'D -- I'D. NOT I!" the message read, with "I'D" in red ink, under a red banner reading "FAKE NEWS." Mockingly mimicking the newspaper's front page, it then reads "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL -- FAKE NEWS IS AT IT AGAIN! -- FALSELY QUOTING PRESIDENT TRUMP." Washington and Pyongyang are in a standoff over North Korea's missile and nuclear programs, which could be used to target the United States and its allies. Trump has repeatedly insulted the North Korean leader, describing him as mad and a "rocket man." Asked if by The Wall Street Journal if he had spoken to Kim, Trump said: "I don't want to comment on it. I'm not saying I have or haven't. I just don't want to comment." Trump suggested his variable position on individuals was part of a broader strategy. But it was not clear how his remarks fitted with his self-described policy of "maximum pressure" on Pyongyang. Saving lives during disasters Without proper education on sanitation and their use, milk substitutes do more harm than good, especially in disaster-hit areas Property details: Begin investing in affordable land!! The housing market is forecast to accelerate! Get your parcel of land now! they are not making any more of it.NO RESERVE AUCTIONHIGH BID OWNS THIS LOT Michigan's Lakeside Paradise Bike 2.5 To The Beach/Shore While known today as the twin to its more resort-town sister, St. Joseph, Benton Harbor has strong roots to an agricultural past and is fulfilling a promising future as an arts and shopping district. In the 1930's, the Benton Harbor Fruit Market was the l... Price: $ 364 Seller State of Residence: California State/Province: Michigan City: Benton Harbor Type: Homesite, Lot Zoning: Residential Zip/Postal Code: 49022 Property Address: 1268 Ogden Ave Location: 490**, Benton Harbor, Michigan You will be redirected to eBay Nearby 1268 Ogden Ave Sinjali nabbed after being deported by Qatar Police arrested a member of a gang operated by Manoj Pun from Qatar with the help of Interpol. Devotees from across India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh took a dip at the confluence of the Ganga and the Bay of Bengal. The Sagar Island or Sagardwip lies in the Ganga Delta. Photographs: PTI Photo. With prayers on their lips, nearly 20 lakh devotees from across the country as well as from neighbouring Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh jostled for space since early hours today to take a dip in the holy water at Ganga Sagar, also known as 'Sagardwip'. Every year, on Makar Sankranti day, an ocean of pilgrims gather here to take a dip at the confluence of the River Ganga and the Bay of Bengal and offer prayers in the Kapil Muni Temple. "Last year, around 15 lakh pilgrims had visited the Ganga Sagar. This year already we have crossed that mark and nearly 20 lakh people are here. We have made all arrangements for them so that they can have a memorable outing here," South 24 Parganas district magistrate Y Ratnakara Rao told PTI. The Ganga Sagar Mela is held at the southern tip of the island, where the Ganga enters the Bay of Bengal. A thick blanket of security cover was arranged for the day. The West Bengal government installed 500 CCTV cameras along the over 100 km route from Babughat in Kolkata to the Sagar Island, deployed around 3,000 policemen and pressed into service seven security drones as part of its security coverage. For the first time, the state government equipped its officials with satellite phones to ensure uninterrupted connectivity during the Mela. "These satellite phones will ensure that communication is not hampered even if there is an earthquake or a tsunami, among other things," another senior official of the state government told PTI, adding that 16 satellite phones have been given to officers on duty at critical locations. The West Bengal government also introduced the Sagar Sanjog Scheme, for providing real-time information regarding the movement of transport facilities for people and vehicles too. The state disaster management department made arrangements to get live feed from the mela area to help effectively monitor the proceedings. A real-time monitoring system, the Tirtha Sathi, was used to allow senior administrative and police officers "to watch live footage of all transit and other crucial points, relayed via CCTV cameras, on their mobile phones," Rao said. Apart from this, two battalions of the NDRF were deployed at Ganga Sagar with NDRF boats and deep divers patrolling round-the-clock. The Coast Guard and the marine police were deployed too. "This year, a total of 85 personnel of 2 BN NDRF are deployed at three different places. One team is deployed at Lot 8, one deployed at Kachuberia and one at Sagar. Each team is well equipped with inflatable boats, deep diving sets, deep divers and flood rescue equipment," battalion commandant Nishith Upadhyay said in a statement. The Ganga Sagar Mela is considered the second largest congregation of mankind after the Kumbh Mela. For the pilgrims, 60 giant LED screens were placed at different points for updates about the timings and tariffs of trains, buses and ferries, tide timings as well as safety precautions. The information was provided in three languages -- Bengali, Hindi and English. Elaborating on the arrangements, Rao said the carrying capacity of barges plying from Lot 8 on the mainland to Kachuberia at the Sagar Island was doubled this year. As part of the rituals on Makar Sankranti, devotees offer prayers at the Kapil Muni temple. Meanwhile, the Shankaracharya of Puri, Swami Nischalananda Saraswati, who was there for the Makar Sankranti celebrations, backed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's demand that the annual Ganga Sagar Mela be treated on par with the famous Kumbh Mela: "I thank and welcome the demand of West Bengal chief minister". Pilgrims dry their saris after their holy dip. Amid the ongoing rift between the Chief Justice of India and four senior-most judges over assignment of cases, the Supreme Court's five-judge constitution benches will commence hearing on eight critical matters, including the validity of Aadhaar, from January 17. The information was uploaded on the website of the apex court. Besides the challenge to the constitutional validity of the Aadhaar Act, the constitution benches, the composition of which has not been uploaded so far on the court's website, will also deal with a challenge to its 2013 judgment, re-criminalising gay sex between consenting adults. The constitution benches would hear the contentious issue relating to the ban on the entry of women between 10 and 50 years of age in Kerala's Sabarimala temple and also resume the hearing on a legal query on whether a Parsi woman would lose her religious identity if she married a man from a different religion. Another contentious matter relates to the challenge to the validity of a penal law on adultery, which only punishes a married man for having an extra-marital sexual relationship with a woman married to someone else. The other issues which would be dealt with by the constitution benches include a plea as to when will a lawmaker, facing a criminal trial, stand disqualified. All these matters were earlier referred to larger benches for adjudication on important legal issues by separate benches of the apex court. These matters will come up for hearing from January 17. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on a six-day visit to India during which the two nations hope to deepen ties in trade and defence. Netanyahu arrived on Sunday and his engagements began immediately. Heres a look at what the Israeli PM did on day 1 of his visit. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi put protocol aside and received his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu at the airport in New Delhi. On Twitter, the PM wrote, ""Welcome to India, my friend PM @netanyahu! Your visit to India is historic and special. It will further cement the close friendship between our nations." Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived on Sunday on a historic six-day visit during which he will hold extensive talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, who received him at the airport, setting aside protocol. Modi welcomed Netanyahu with a hug upon his arrival. IMAGE: Netanyahu's visit -- the first by an Israeli premier since Ariel Sharon in 2003 -- is seen as an effort to build on the decision taken last July to elevate ties to a "strategic partnership". Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters Welcome to India, my friend PM @netanyahu! Your visit to India is historic and special. It will further cement the close friendship between our nations, Modi tweeted in English and Hebrew. Netanyahu, who arrived with his wife Sara, and a high-level business delegation, tweeted, We have landed in India. Thank you to my good friend Narendra Modi for the warm welcome! Ahead of his departure from Israel, Netanyahu said, We are strengthening ties between Israel and this important global power (India). This serves our security, economic, trade and tourism interests, as well as many other areas. This is a great blessing for the state of Israel, he said. IMAGE: The two leaders share a close rapport, which was very evident during Modi's visit to Israel back in July, last year. Photograph: Press Information Bureau According to Israeli officials, Netanyahu was pleasantly surprised by Modi welcoming him at the airport. I very much appreciate the gesture, Netanyahu was quoted as saying by officials. Modi and Netanyahu are known to share a warm personal rapport. During Modis visit to Israel last year, Netanyahu had received the Indian prime minister at the airport. Netanyahus visit to India is only the second by an Israeli prime minister and comes after a gap of 15 years. Former prime minister Ariel Sharon had visited India in 2003. IMAGE: The Israeli PM, along with his wife Sara, and Mod then made their way to Teen Murti Memorial to mark the formal renaming of Teen Murti Chowk as the Teen Murti Haifa Chowk, after the Israeli city of Haifa. Photograph: Press Information Bureau Modi and Netanyahu later attended a ceremony to rename Teen Murti Chowk in central Delhi as Teen Murti-Haifa Chowk. They also laid a wreath and signed the visitors book at the memorial. The three bronze statues at Teen Murti represent the Hyderabad, Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers who were part of the 15 Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade. The brigade carried out the victorious assault on the fortified city of Haifa on September 23, 1918, during World War I. The renaming gesture underscores the special link and the common history between Israel and India, Netanyahu said after the event, according to Israeli officials. IMAGE: The three bronze statues at Teen Murti represent the Hyderabad, Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers who were part of the 15 Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade. The brigade carried out the victorious assault on the fortified city of Haifa on September 23, 1918, during World War I. Photograph: Press Information Bureau External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also called on the Israeli prime minister. During the meeting, Netanyahu told Swaraj that he was overwhelmed by the warmth he received upon his arrival here. He also said that his visit can catapult bilateral ties to the next level. IMAGE: PM Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu lay a wreath at the memorial at Teen Murti. Photograph: Press Information Bureau/PTI Photo Later, Modi also hosted a private dinner for Netanyahu and his wife. During Netanyahus visit, which comes days after India voted against Israel at the United Nations on the Jerusalem issue, several MoUs, including in the field of defence, oil and gas, renewable energy, amended protocol for airports, cyber security, and co-production of films and documentaries are expected to be signed between the two sides. India had last month joined 127 other countries to vote in the United Nations General Assembly in favour of a resolution opposing the recent decision of US President Donald Trump to recognise Jerusalem as Israels capital. IMAGE: Netanyahu signs the visitor's book at the memorial, followed by PM Modi. Modi's inscription in the visitor's book reads: One of these pages was written 100 years ago, in the sacrifice of Indian soldiers at Haifa. The sacrifice commemorated at Teen Murti observes its centenary. Naming spot as Teen Murti - Haifa Chowk, marks this historic occasion. In presence of the Prime Minister of Israel, we pay homage to the brave soldiers. Salute to the great Indian traditions of selfless sacrifice and penance. Photograph: @MEAIndia/Twitter During his stay, Netanyahu will also visit Gujarat and Mumbai. On January 15, Netanyahu will meet the Indo-Israeli CEO forum here and address a separate business event. He will deliver a speech at the Raisina Dialogue on January 16. Netanyahu will also call on President Ram Nath Kovind. He will leave for Ahmedabad on the morning of January 17. In Ahmedabad, he will visit the Sabarmati Ashram. Modi and Netanyahu will also visit the Centre of Excellence in Vadrad and inaugurate a Centre of Excellence for date palms in Bhuj via video conferencing. IMAGE: Netanyahu took to Twitter, writing, "Thank you to my good friend, Indian Prime Minister @narendramodi , who surprised me with a personal welcome at the airport upon my arrival in India. Together we will bring the relations between our countries to new heights." Photograph: Press Information Bureau/PTI Photo The Israeli prime minister will have a number of engagements in Mumbai on January 18. The Israeli embassy had said that Netanyahu will meet with Jewish community leaders and select members of the Indian business community in Mumbai. It had said he will reach out to Bollywood in an exclusive Shalom Bollywood event. In Mumbai, he will also attend a ceremony at the Chabad House, which will be attended by Moshe Holtzberg. Fondly known as Moshe, the 11-year-olds parents were killed in the Chabad House during the 26/11 terror strike, which had come under attack. By July, Modi could decide to call an early Lok Sabha election in December 2018 along with 20 state assemblies where the BJP is sure of winning, reports R Rajagopalan. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra D Modi at an election rally in Gujarat. Photograph: PTI Photo After a closely fought battle in Gujarat in December, Prime Minister Narendra D Modi seems to have kick-started preparations for the next round of assembly elections this year and the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Modi met with Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit A Shah and his team this week to plan the critical electoral battles ahead. Lasting over three hours, the dinner meeting saw Modi urge BJP leaders to employ fresh communication strategies in election-bound states. "The PM has reiterated the importance of millennial voters in his speeches, and the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha has begun making plans for that," a source privy to the meeting said. By July, Modi could decide to call an early Lok Sabha election in December 2018 along with 20 state assemblies where the BJP is sure of winning. In the normal course, assembly elections are scheduled in three north eastern states -- Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura -- by March. Karnataka is scheduled to go to the polls in April-May. Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram go to the polls by December. At a recent Niti Aayog meeting, Modi tossed up the idea of holding simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections. Modi has been asking searching questions of the ministers who enjoy his confidence -- Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, Minister of State for Railways Piyush Goyal and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman -- about the desirability of an early Lok Sabha election. Last week, Modi put this question to two governors whom he respects for their analytical approach. The PM feels emboldened to announce an early general election along with state assemblies as he believes he does not face any opposition either inside or outside his party. The Modi-Shah combine faces no discernible opposition within the BJP. Even the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, which has a history of interfering in previous BJP-led governments, has virtually no say in the Modi-led National Democratic Alliance government. The main Opposition party, the Congress, is still settling down under its new president Rahul Gandhi. Even though Modi enjoys the cushion of his popularity, the main obstacle to an early general election is the unpredictable monsoon. A bad monsoon can easily ruin Modi's plans. If the rain gods don't play ball, Modi's plan B is to win over farmers with a soft Budget. He wants to get the monsoon session of Parliament going and ensure that the nation debates the holding of simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. A final political call is likely to be taken by July, by all available indications. But it's not that the Modi-Shah plan faces no problems. According to reports, some BJP MPs do not attend Parliament over reports that the leadership is not interested in giving tickets to at least 50% of sitting MPs. There is also the matter of clashes between ministers, including those who are seen as close to Modi. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari sparred over the latter's statement that 'not an inch' of land would be given for naval housing in south Mumbai and that naval personnel should instead be deployed at the Pakistan border. Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani faces the wrath of officials in her department after she transferred some 125 officials this week. RSS leaders are unhappy with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's 'soft handling' of his predecessor P Chidambaram's cases. Incidentally, the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, buoyed by its India Shining campaign, had advanced the 2004 Lok Sabha election, apparently against the then prime minister's wishes. Much to the BJP's shock, the Congress and its future allies -- what came to be known as the United Progressive Alliance -- won the 2004 election, and the one that followed five years later. R Rajagopalan is a senior journalist based in New Delhi. Flu activity has rapidly increased in Connecticut over the last few weeks with more than 1,000 confirmed flu cases in the state, according to the Connecticut Department of Public Health. To monitor circulating flu viruses through the year, the DPH uses multiple surveillance systems to gain preliminary insight into the spread of influenza across the state. Surveillance began in Oct. 2017 and will continue through May. From Aug. 27, 2017, to Jan. 6, the DPH said there have been a total of 1,015 laboratory samples that tested positive for the flu. Of those 1,015 tests, 256 came from Fairfield, 367 from Hartford, 229 from New Haven, 58 from New London, 38 from Tolland, 31 from Middlesex, 23 from Litchfield and 13 from Widham County. This years flu virus appears to be affecting older persons especially hard, said DPH Commissioner Dr. Raul Pino. It is not too late to get a flu shot, and some people who are sick with influenza may need to be treated with an antiviral medication. As of Friday, the DPH said there have been 15 flu-associated deaths so far this season in people over the age of 65. The DPH said 70 percent of all patients hospitalized with the flu this season have been age 65 and older. A total of 456 patients have been hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed flu between Aug. 27, 2017, and Jan. 6. At 10:30 a.m. Friday, Pino and Dr. Matthew Cartter a state epidemiologist held a press conference in Hartford to address the seriousness of this seasons flu cases. The press conference had a focus on the impact of the flu on older Connecticut residents. In the midst of a troubling increase in flu hospitalizations, I strongly urge all Connecticut residents to remember to get their flu shot, said Gov. Dannel P. Malloy in a statement Friday. We are just a few weeks away from peak flu activity, so everyone especially those aged 65 years or older should take the necessary precautions. Peak flu activity, according to the DPH, is expected to be in mid-February. If the opioid epidemic was simply a problem of supply - people being able to access drugs too easily - than a targeted new effort in Appalachia announced by Attorney General Jeff Sessions this week would be a huge stride toward combating the crisis. The problem with this approach, however, is that experts agree the opioid epidemic is all about demand. Far too many Americans rely on opioid painkillers, creating a huge customer base for illicitly gained prescription drugs and more serious street drugs, such as heroin and fentanyl. Sessions's new plan involves sending more Drug Enforcement Agency agents to the areas where opioid abuse is most rampant. But those fighting the epidemic on the ground say the law enforcement strategy must be coupled with medical help for those suffering from addiction, or the Trump administration won't get very far in its efforts. "This is a demand-driven problem and we are trying to apply supply-restricting solutions," Michael Brumage, executive director of the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department in Charleston, W est Virginia, told me (West Virginia is the state hit hardest by the crisis). "That's what we tried on the war on drugs, and that failed." Sessions is creating an entirely new DEA division overseeing the Appalachian region to help local law enforcement combat drug abuse, especially of prescription opioids, The Washington Post's Sari Horwitz and Matt Zapotosky report. He also announced $12 million in new grants and the designation of an opioid coordinator to work with prosecutors to better manage prosecutions. "Today, we are facing the deadliest drug crisis in American history," Sessions said at a news conference Wednesday. "Based on preliminary data, at least 64,000 Americans lost their lives to drug overdoses last year. That would be the highest drug overdose death toll and the fastest increase in that death toll in American history." The new Louisville Field Division will unify drug trafficking investigations in Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia, with a focus on the Appalachian Mountains, officials said. It will include about 90 special agents and 130 task force officers. Washington Examiner's Kelly Cohen tweeted "sessions also directs all US attorneys to designate an 'opioid coordinator' by 12/15 to facilitate cases in each district. each coordinator must also revise each district's opioid epidemic strategy by february 2018." At least in terms of geography, Sessions is spot on. A few weeks ago, I wrote about the prevalence of opioid abuse in the Appalachian region - and how it gets worse and worse the closer in you get to West Virginia (which is basically the epicenter of the crisis). If you look at what researchers call "diseases of despair" (drug and alcohol overdose, suicide and alcoholic liver disease), they have a stronger foothold in the center of Appalachia than on the fringes. In central Appalachia, those maladies led to 94.4 deaths per 100,000 people, but the rate is 52.3 deaths per 100,000 in southern Appalachia. But law enforcement officers will tell you that keeping an area free of drug dealers for any length of time is a steep task. Brumage called the new DEA forces a "step in the right direction," but his enthusiasm is tempered. "Once you bust everybody in a particular area, you have a temporary lull but it lasts only a few days," Brumage said. "There are always people and supply willing to fill the void." Activists who watched the uphill and international "war on drugs" of the past several decades also fear the Trump administration will halt its efforts with beefing up law enforcement, instead of also pouring more resources into helping Americans break free of their drug addictions. "The emphasis continues to be punishment, so I think it's very concerning," said Gabrielle de la Gueronniere, director of policy for the Legal Action Center, a nonprofit organization that fights discrimination against people with a history of addiction. "We're not really treating this as an illness. There's a huge treatment gap." Sessions also announced that White House counselor Kellyanne Conway will continue to help lead the opioid effort. Several reporters clarified that the Trump administration isn't creating a new "drug czar," as some reports suggested. Politico's Brianna Ehley tweeted "Sessions was just describing her current role/what she has been doing for months. Nothing new and 'opioid czar' is not a real title " Politico's Sarah Karlin-Smith tweeted "White House tells Politico's @Briannaehley Buzzfeed story incorrect. Sessions just reiterating Conway's current role. WH has no plan to name an opioid czar. " On a related topic, Sessions said he's "dubious" of a law restricting DEA's enforcement powers, which The Post detailed in a recent investigation. The Post's Sari Horwitz tweeted "Sessions says he was "dubious" of law gutting DEA enforcement abilities in #OpiodCrisis. AG says he'll support new leg to give DEA enforcement tools back. This was in response @mattzap ? regarding WaPo investigation by @ScottHigham1 & @LennyMBernstein" --- We're two-thirds of the way through the 2018 Healthcare.gov enrollment period. The initially rapid pace of signups on the federal health insurance website has slowed, with 37 percent fewer people enrolling during week four than in the previous week, according to the weekly snapshot provided Wednesday by the Health and Human Services Department Just over half a million people selected plans during the past week, compared to just under 800,000 people the week before. A few numbers to keep in mind over the final two weeks of open enrollment: --So far, 2.78 million people have selected plans in the 39 states that use Healthcare.gov, more than in the first four weeks of enrollment last year. --But because the sign-up period has been halved, signups would need to spike dramatically in the next two weeks for them to be anywhere near the final totals for 2017. At the end of the last sign-up season, 9.2 million people had selected plans on Healthcare.gov. The year before that, the total was 9.6 million. ABC News(NEW YORK) -- A Republican senator said President Donald Trump did not use the word "s---hole" in reference to immigrants from Haiti and Africa in a meeting at the White House last week. Senator David Perdue of Georgia told ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos that reports have misrepresented the president's comments during a meeting on immigration on Thursday. Im telling you he did not use that word, George, said Perdue, who was among the senators at the meeting with Trump. And Im telling you its a gross misrepresentation. Stephanopoulos pressed Perdue, saying that multiple sources have confirmed the presidents language, of whom the most outspoken has been Senator Dick Durbin, D-Illinois. Multiple sources? There were six of us in the room, Perdue responded to Stephanopoulos. I havent heard any of those six sources other than Senator Durbin talk about what was said. Perdue also seemed to question Senator Durbins intentions, saying it is not the first time that the Illinois senator has accused someone of inflammatory language. In 2013, Senator Durbin also made the same accusation against a Republican leader in a meeting with President Obama, and said that ... he chewed out the president, it was so disrespectful to President Obama, we couldnt even have the meeting, Perdue said. Thats what he (Durbin) said in 2013. Later that day, the presidents own press secretary came out and said, and I quote, 'It did not happen.' This is about a gross misrepresentation. Its not the first time. Durbin's communications director tweeted a response to Perdue's apparent questioning of the credibility of the Illinois senator's account of what Trump said. Credibility is something thats built over time, Durbin spokesman Ben Marter tweeted. "Senator Durbin has it. Senator Perdue does not. Ask anyone whos dealt with both." Perdue maintained on "This Week" that the focus on what Trump allegedly said was being used to prevent any deals on immigration. These people have been trying for 35 years to solve this immigration problem without success, for one reason, and that is I dont believe theyre serious about trying to solve that right now, Perdue said. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Jan. 14, 1998 AUBURN U.S. Sen. Alfonse D'Amato made a rare trip to Auburn Tuesday. The Republican senator from Long Island made a special trip to central New York for a press conference announcing a 14,000-square-foot expansion to 4-M Precision Stamping. The custom stamped metal tool and die maker needs more space to serve its current contracts and to attract new business, said Stephen Morin, vice president of the family-owned business founded by his parents in 1968. 4-M's $1.4 million expansion is made possible through a $901,000 loan from the Grow America Fund, a non-bank lender operated by the National Development Council. The loan is 75-percent guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration. In addition to the Grow America loan, 4-M's expansion is funded by a $420,000 loan from Cayuga Bank and $100,000 from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development's Community Development Block Grant program administered by the city of Auburn. "In order for the upstate economy to recover it will take government at all levels working with the private sector," said Auburn Mayor Christopher DeAngelis. Compiled by David Wilcox Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Woman found dead with body scars on temple premises A woman was found dead Sunday on the premises of Bhawaneshwor Temple of Kathmandu Metropolis-14. A qualified Chartered Account, Dev Shetty heads Fura Gems Inc as President and CEO, who has recently developed worlds largest emerald mine in Zambia and worlds largest ruby mine in Mozambique. Dev started his career in India but moved to the UK in 2006; joined Pallinghurst Advisors LLP, a private equity firm which made him Gemfields Group CFO and executive director; and eventually, Dev was responsible for overall operation of Gemfields plc. Dev's experience ranges from a project and operational management, strategic formulation, business turnaround, mergers and acquisition, budget and business plan formulation including the setting up fund structures in different jurisdictions and more. In January 2017, Dev partnered with Forbes and Manhattan, a Canadian private merchant bank to incorporate, Fura Gems Inc, Toronto listed (FUR.V) gemstone mining and marketing company. In an interview with Rough & Polished, Dev Shetty talks about his expansion plans through Fura... Some excerpts: Please brief us on Fura Gems Inc for the benefit of our readers, including details of the newly acquired emerald and ruby projects, funding of the projects in India, etc. Fura Gems Inc. is a gemstone mining and marketing company which is engaged in the mining, exploration, and acquisition of gemstone licences. Group company of Forbes and Manhattan (F&M), Toronto based resource-focused private merchant banking group, Fura is headquartered in Toronto, Canada and its administrative headquarters is in the Almas Tower, Dubai. Fura is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker symbol FURA. Fura has entered into a purchase agreement to enter the exploration and mining of rubies in Mozambique through the proposed acquisition of an 80% effective interest in the four ruby licences (4392, 3868, 3869 and 6811) and the submission of an application for an additional ruby licence. Fura recently announced the acquisition of the iconic emerald mine in Colombia, Coscuez. Fura is engaged in the exploration of resource properties in Colombia and owns a 100% interest in the emerald licence ECH -121. What are Fura's plans in India and when exactly will it be launched? Besides coloured gemstones, will Fura be acquiring diamond mining projects as well? Fura Gems Inc plans to pursue various gemstone mining projects in India and will market its global coloured gemstone portfolio in India. At this moment in time, we have a team of 4 people who are looking at various projects in 3 states in India. India has the potential to become a mining hub for various gemstones asset. India has good reserves of diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires. In fact, the world-famous Kashmir sapphires come from India. The diamond project in Bunder is surely very interesting and would love to be associated with it provided it makes business sense. We are in the process of setting up a marketing office in Mumbai, early next year, which will be responsible for consumer, trade education, research, advertising and brand building. With the history of diamond mining projects being stalled due to environmental issues, how do you plan to begin operations in India? It is way too early to comment. Once our team on the ground finishes their study, we will have a clear understanding of what projects to go for and what to avoid. Given the fact, both the government of India and the state government are actively looking at FDI in the mining industry, we are quite confident that if we do decide to mine in India, the government would support with the licences and other clearances. I must mention here that we at Fura have the highest regard for the environment in all the geographies that we mine in. We work in tandem with the local community and the government and ensure that there is complete regard for the countries environmental policies. Are you looking at any JVs in the mining projects, both in coloured stone and diamond? In most places where we mine, we do have local partners. I think we will do the same in India. Depending on the licences that we want to apply for, we might want to bring some local partners into the business. We are open for the JVs with the like-minded people who support FURAs vision for the development of the gemstone sector. In the marketing scenario, what will be your contribution? Will you go solo or join the Indian trade members? Given that Indian industry has been handling marketing fairly well, what further steps will Fura be taking to strengthen the marketing initiatives? Fura is a mining and marketing company, so for us, marketing is as important as mining. That said we are in a happy space. Colombian emeralds have remained one of the most aspired product in the world and we are certain that the aspiration will only grow over the period of time. With Fura marketing efforts, especially training both at the trade as well consumer level will further enhance the aspiration and demand for Colombian emeralds. Talk to a wealthy Indian lady today and the moment you say Colombian emeralds, they just drool. We will also be promoting both our product categories (Colombian emeralds and Mozambican rubies) through PR and social media promotion. Once we have our products in the marketplace we will build further demand through advertising and sponsorships. We have appointed Rupak Sen as Vice President, Marketing & Sales in early November 2017, who will be based in our administrative headquarters in Dubai and will be responsible for our global marketing platform. Fura will have a dedicated Marketing Manager for India based in Mumbai from early next year. How do you think your experience at Gemfields plc will help you in taking Fura to greater success? The eight odd years in Gemfields gave me immense learnings. Prior to Gemfields, there was no organised player in the colour gemstone mining industry. So, a lot of the learnings were as an industry first. During my tenure in Gemfields, I and my team built the worlds largest emerald and ruby mine. Through our marketing platform, we were able to put Zambian emeralds and Mozambican ruby on a global arena. We are putting a lot of those learnings into place in Fura. At Fura our vision is as a progressive and imaginative company, we aim to set the new precedent for best practices in the gemstone industry by transforming current standards into the premiere example of employee-friendly, sustainability-driven, community-centered enterprise. Aruna Gaitonde, Editor-in-Chief of Asian Bureau, Rough& Polished Zimbabwe is set to convene a mining investments conference late next month as it tries to build a future without former president Robert Mugabe, who was elbowed out last November in a de-facto military coup. The event, organised by Mining Report, would run from 27 to 28 February in the capital, Harare. Zimbabwe is open for business, screamed a statement issued by the organisers as they implore investors to make their way to Harare for the conference, which would be graced by government officials. Zimbabwe had investment opportunities in diamonds, gold, platinum, coal, chrome, nickel, copper, lithium, tin, tantalite, iron ore, coal bed methane, natural gas, among other minerals. The country had the second largest deposits of platinum in the world and was previously said to have about 30 percent of global known diamond reserves. About 60 percent of the countrys land is said to comprise on ancient rocks renowned worldwide for hosting rich varieties of minerals resources including platinum, diamonds, gold, base metals (for example nickel, copper, zinc and lead) and industrial minerals (limestones, phosphates, clay and dolomites), noted Mining Report. Zimbabwe has a huge and highly diversified mineral resource base dominated by two prominent geological features namely the famous Great Dyke and the ancient Greenstone Belts, also known as Gold Belts. Zimbabwe said last month that it would amend its empowerment law, but diamonds and platinum would remain confined to the 51/49 indigenisation threshold. Mining contributes about 50 percent of the countrys total export earnings. Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished By SA Commercial Prop News Auction Alliance CEO Rael Levitt. Investing in repossessed properties, which in South Africa are known as PIPs (properties in possession), has become one of the leading ways to make money in the current economy. This is because of a near-historic rate of foreclosures across the nation has resulted in depressed prices being reflected in the residential market. A Brief Look at PIP The term PIP is used in the industry to denote homes that are possessed by the bank which owns the bond for the property. When a homeowner goes through a sale in execution through the courts, the bank may protect its outstanding bond and thus bid and buy the property into its possession at the no reserve judicial auction. Once it owns the property it will attempt to unload the property at, or near its assessed value. When no one is willing to purchase the home at the sale in execution (which is frequent, since these sales achieve such weak prices on stringent terms) the bank seeks to sell it through the market. Taking advantage of Pips on the open market is about obtaining a home on the market versus the auction and obtaining possible discounts in price. Finding PIP Buying and selling Properties in Possession entails first finding possible properties for purchase. You can find PIPs through estate agents and auctioneers, but the best place to look is in dedicated PIP websites such as MyRoof.com. These listings are made available by these web sites and contain descriptions of these properties in suburbs across South Africa, along with suggested prices. Benefits of PIP The main advantage of finding PIPs is buying homes at discounts. In a perfect world, a bank will prefer to sell the home at its current assessed market value. In a depressed market or a buyers market Pips are usually well below the assessed value. Another major benefit is that there is no transfer fee payable when purchasing a repossessed house which presents a significant saving for the buyer, although bond registration and the usual attorney fees still do apply. A bank repossessed home, therefore, represents a potentially valuable asset being sold at an inexpensive price. The goal for an investor is to purchase the depressed property, renovate it if necessary, and then sell it immediately or rent it out and keep it until after the market has recovered (or the offered price has risen) for a profit. Many speculators are holding onto these homes because demand for rental property in South Africa is strong and if the purchaser puts up a 10% deposit, the property can wash its face (i.e. the rental will cover the bond installment) from day one. Funding PIPs A purchaser can get funding from banks and on the web site MyRoof, the purchaser can bid subject to funding. Buying in Bulk You can take the process a step further and buy bank PIPs in bulk. The disadvantage of this is that large amounts of capital are needed, since you are investing in multiple properties at once. The advantage is that you can make an impressive profit margin off of one bulk sale. In a good real estate deal, you make your profit when you buy. I highly recommend that you get reliable data so that you can properly analyse the current and future value of a deal, as knowing the value of the property before you buy is always the best way to be successful in real estate investing. comments Rael Levitt, CEO of Auction Alliance. Search engine Google on Sunday dedicated its doodle to noted author and social activist Mahasweta Devi on her 92nd birth anniversary. Born on January 14, 1926 in Dhaka in present day Bangladesh, Mahasweta Devi was a Bengali fiction writer who was honoured with various literary awards such as the Sahitya Akademi Award (Bengali), Jnanpith Award and Ramon Magsaysay Award along with Padma Shri and Padma Vibhushan. She died on July 28, 2016 in Kolkata. Some of her famous literary works include "Hajar Churashir Maa", "Rudali" and "Aranyer Adhikar". Mahasweta Devi wrote over 100 novels. Her first novel, "Jhansir Rani", based on the life of Rani of Jhansi Lakshmibai, was published in 1956. In 1997, she was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay award in journalism, literature and creative communication arts. She was also awarded the prestigious Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Orders of Arts and Letters) in 2003 for her contribution to literature. _ _SHOW_MID_AD__ BCI delegation A seven-member delegation of the Bar Council Of India (BCI) on Sunday met two Supreme Court judges in an attempt to persuade them to resolve the crisis facing the highest judiciary. The delegation met Justice R.K. Agrawal and thereafter Justice A.M. Khanwilkar, two days after four senior-most judges of the court went public with their differences with Chief Justice Dipak Misra. The BCI on Saturday decided that a delegation would meet a majority of Supreme Court judges on Sunday so that the crisis can be resolved at the earliest. "The council is of the unanimous view that it is an internal matter of the Supreme Court. The Council has hope and trust that the judges of the Supreme Court would realise the seriousness of the issue and in future they may avoid any such situation which the politicians or political parties could take undue advantage and or which could cause harm to our judiciary," the BCI said in a statement on Saturday. The council has requested political parties and politicians not to criticise the judiciary or make it an issue as it would weaken the independence of judiciary, which is the protector of democracy. BCI President Manan Mishra has said that it was "most unfortunate" that four senior judges held a press conference, sending out a message that all was not well with the Supreme Court and that the issue should have been "sorted out internally". Mishra has also said it was a "family dispute" and should be resolved within the judiciary. But he felt the judges should not have gone to the media with their complaints. The four judges -- Justice J. Chelameswar, Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Kurian Joseph -- on Friday took on the Chief Justice over allocation of cases, saying the administration of the top court was "not in order". Are you serious? I had to ask again. It happened two weeks ago when the Samoa Culinary Association contacted me to be a Judge for this years Oka Festival, which was held at Home Cafe on Saturday. Now Ive done a few things in this life including judging different competitions in Samoa and abroad - but being asked to be a Judge of a competitive Food Festival involving all those highly decorated chefs from all the hotels, fancy restaurants and resorts in Samoa, thats something else. It doesnt help that from time to time, I do catch an episode or two of My Kitchen Rules and regardless of whether its the UK, Australia or New Zealand version of the show; weve seen how serious those chefs take their business. When it comes to food, they dont muck around. Its serious business. With that in mind, to say I was nervous about being asked to be a Judge is an understatement. Thankfully, it was only after they told me there would be five other Judges that I finally said yes. Besides, its only a oka competition, right? Fish, coconut oil, a bit of lime, what could possibly be so hard about picking the best oka, I thought as I tried to psyche myself up. On Saturday, let me tell you I was wrong. The competition was something else and judging was extremely hard. I am grateful there were other judges who obviously all agreed that Rokos oka continues to be the best in Samoa, for three consecutive years. Ill tell you a little bit more about that later. But let me say something about what a fantastic atmosphere there was and yes thank God for the great weather - which allowed so many people to come out and enjoy themselves. While the oka competition obviously took centre stage, there was something for everyone. There were other food stalls, handicrafts stalls and so much more. It was a family day out kind of atmosphere and the kids including the grown up ones - had a ball. There was live music and believe it or not, Danny Malala the barber and his toko from Tonga were there and the place was pumping. There was so much more. The organisers the Samoa Culinary Association - and all the sponsors deserve a pat on the back for persevering with the Festival. The vibes were so positive, the atmosphere was festive and there is absolutely no doubt that Samoa should look to host these kinds of events every so often to bring together the community and encourage local creativity, originality and competition. Which is perhaps the best thing about the Oka Festival. The dish is a simple local favourite and everyone can make it. As Samoans, we are all self-confessed oka experts especially when it comes to tasting it. Which was my only qualification by the way and it served me well on the day. I needed to because the competition was that tough it blew me away. The details and the length some of the competitors went through to prepare and present their oka was extraordinary. The awareness about hygiene standards, presentation, colour, balance and texture was amazing. It was beautiful to watch the teamwork from the crews that took part. As for new ideas, well there were many and I hope we will see many more variations in the future. I thought the Taumeasina Island Resort dish was quite unique with the addition of the palolo. Keep in mind that it wasnt just the oka being judged, the teams came up with different variations of accompaniments like fried talo, banana chips and so many different bits and pieces - inluding live corals. The Scallini team even had a shot of Malibu (I think) to go with their oka. The competition between the two Sheratons was intense and I thought the final presentation from the Sheraton Samoa Resort was fabulous. But food and winning entries come down to taste and texture. And it is why Im so glad I did not chicken out and turn down the invitation to be a Judge. When the judging was done and without knowing how things would turn out - I quietly whispered to a fellow judge that I think Rokos would win again. Why, he asked. As a Samoan, we like our oka quite simple, I said. We want fresh fish, we want to taste the lime, a little bit of salt and to make sure there is enough kick in that coconut cream to help you snooze in the faleoo. In the end, Rokos won, which means the majority of the Judges, agreed with me. Today, well at least I can say I know what a good oka tastes like. Congratulations to the Samoa Culinary Association, Joe Lam, Horace Evans, all the participating teams and every one who made the Festival possible. Now when can we have the faausi, koko alaisa and sua fai festivals? Have a wonderful week Samoa, God bless! Dear Editor, There have been obvious talks by Unasa Iuni Sapolu and her S.S.I.G. team about their next move. They had already done their first move where they bravely marched the street of Apia with their banners against the govt and the Land Titles Registration Act 2008 (L.T.R.A). It seems like a success in their own books because they did deliver on the street of Apia the march that they had promised us on social media. Now they have another move. Unasa and her S.S.I.G. are planning to launch a petition to Parliament. I take it that this proposed petition would be another form of voice of objection by a group of individuals against the L.T.R.A. This is another expedition move by the S.S.I.G. in their effort to see Parliament and the Government have a change of heart and mind to disarm this L.T.R.A. The S.S.I.G. supporters in Samoa and afar continue to sustain and praise Unasa for her valiant act. Now I do give credit to Unasa for her courage in this fight against the government given the lack of an opposition party in Parliament. It takes a lot of courage to lead the S.S.I.G. and walk the streets of Apia and demand changes to the government of the day. Yes, we may argue against Unasa or agree to disagree with her on her stands but she still deserves some credit for her brave effort. Now I do not mean to be pessimistic and dishearten towards Unasa and her course but I have been contemplating a lot about her next move. I have been thinking on whether this upcoming petition is the right option. I am saying whether going to Parliament with a petition is the best recourse? In saying that, I am mindful of the fact that this is a fight against a piece of law that was passed by Parliament or basically the Government of the day. This is a fight against government politicians and since the H.R.P.P. controls the inside of Parliament with their one side ruling party then I think the fate of the petition is inevitable. The move seems a bit immature at this stage. Presenting this petition to Parliament or going to the same people who voted and elected the L.T.R.A. is like trying to tame a venomous snake and hoping for the snake to be your friend so it wont bite you back. But the reality is inevitable; the venomous snake will always bite because of its nature. The snake will be very territorial and defensive when its under attack. So taming a venomous snake may require training, time, efforts and professional skills. Similarly the taming of the snake concept can be used in Unasas petition to Parliament. I ask myself, how can Unasa tame the Parliament? How can Unasa convince the heart and mind of sTui and the Parliament with her petition? Does Unasa have the professional and diplomatic skills to pull this through? Does she have the political will to make this happen given the lack of opposition in Parliament? Does Unasa have the political skills to maneuver the political minds and hopefully tame sTui and the H.R.P.P. to be her friend and not a foe? In addition to that, will sTui and his government or Parliament be territorial and defensive in this form of attack or petition? Will the government maintain its position or will they give in and make amends or repeal the L.T.R.A.? Can the Parliament accept the petition? Now, we all know sTui, once his mind is set then there is no going back. I mean think about the many changes that already came to pass despite challenges and petition from a group of protesters and even opposition but still it went ahead, for e.g the P.A.S.S. and the road switch. Perhaps this is one of the main reasons why Unasa and her S.S.I.G. followers and other non-followers of S.S.I.G. strongly dislike sTui because of his unwavering position. It seems arrogant to many of us but thats the same sTui we know from 30 years ago. One can foresee the fate of this petition especially so when Unasa Iuni Sapolu and her SSIG and OLP supporters have been calling sTui and his government with many many impolite and untidy names on social media. And now she is going to Parliament with a petition to tame and beg sTui and the Parliament to change his heart and mind. Surely sTuis heart is tough and probably boiling so I wont be surprised if Unasas petition is rejected by Parliament. There are also Parliament rules that Unasa needs to consider. I still think that the best legal option is the Supreme Court and then petition can be done later if there is no remedy from Court. So there quite a lot of hurdles for Unasas petition. Now sTui also didnt mince his words when it comes to Unasa and her campaign. The P.M. has been very strong on his responses towards Unasa and her S.S.I.G. and OLP supporters. His words can be untidy and impolite but its a clear preconceived reflection of sTuis reaction to this petition. Now, Im not saying that Unasa should reconsider her next move or change how to approach the Parliament. All I am saying is whether the petition is the right move given the challenges and its inevitable fate. Ae aua le foi Unasa ae alu pea iaie leai foi se leaga ole fusu masalosalo e velovelo a lima kei maua se laki. lol..o ou mama na. Manuia lavasiga o lenei aso Samoa. Fale J Galuefa (FjG) Multiple criminal charges will be filed against the man accused of stabbing his estranged wife in broad daylight at the heart of Apia on Friday. This was confirmed by Police Superintendent and Media Spokesperson, Auapaau Filipo Logoitino, who said the Police are continuing their investigation. The man and woman are recovering well after being operated upon at the hospital, said Auapaau. The Police will wait until they are officially discharged from hospital to continue their investigation and finalised the charges. The man and woman were taken to the Motootua Hospital early Friday morning. The woman suffered stab wounds to her face and stomach while the man allegedly stabbed himself. An eyewitness said the man came out of nowhere and started stabbing her multiple times in public. The victim is an employee for one of the government ministries housed at the A.C.C. Building, one eyewitness told the Weekend Observer. He was waiting for the victim to come to work because it was around 8oclock in the morning that the incident occurred. When members of the public rushed to her rescue, he ran away. He ran towards the Mulivai Bridge because a taxi driver was chasing after him. He jumped into the sea and he went inside a pipe that is under there. However, when he decided to come back out, the knife that he used on his partner was lodged in his chest. The Police arrived at the scene and the ambulance was called. They were both taken to the hospital and they underwent operation. A paramount Chief of the village of Vaiala, Patu Ativalu, has deflected criticisms of the way he and another senior matai pushed the appointment of a new Church Minister for the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa in the village. Whatever Tofaeono and Patu say, that is the voice of Vaiala, Patu told the Samoa Observer. His comments were sought following complaints from some village members who were unhappy about the process adopted to choose a replacement for their long serving Church Minister, who recently retired. The village members asked for their names to be withheld because they could be banished from the village if they are identified. One of them said the decision should not be made by one or two people in the village. But this is exactly what happened two Sundays ago when the Church met to consider a replacement Pastor. We were just told that the decision has been made by Patu and Tofaeono, the church member said. The announcement was followed by directions to members of the parish about what each matafale (family) has to contribute when we welcome the new Minister. The church member accused the senior chiefs of being dictatorial and authoritative. She said many church members are not happy but they are afraid to speak up for fear of repercussions from the Village Council. Asked for a comment, Patu Ativalu denied that the appointment was dictatorial. He explained that the people of Vaiala would not question the decision because they know the proper protocols in their village. We dont have to select or consult about who our next pastor should be, he said. What comes from Patu and Tofaeono, thats where everyone should follow. Besides, the former Member of Parliament said there was always an opportunity for people to voice their disagreement. Weve also given the chance to the church members to say if someone was against it but no one dared to stand up and say something, he said. So as far as we are concerned, we will go on with our decision. At Vaiala, there is only one denomination and that is E.F.K.S. Their former Pastor is long-serving Minister, Reverend Elder Lotu Uele, who retired last year after 22 years in the village. The Samoa Observer has been told that his son, who had recently graduated from Malua Theological College, will be his replacement. A New Zealand government Minister and a tourist have both called for more public information about a dengue outbreak in Samoa. The Minister for Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio, told Radio New Zealand he wants more dengue warnings to reach travellers leaving from New Zealand and Australia. The Ministry of Health says nearly 2500 people contracted the mosquito-borne disease in the last three months of last year, and five of them died of it. Aupito William Sio, who is in Samoa, says that on his way there he didnt notice much information for travellers about the disease. Im not quite sure what the best way of getting the message out, he said. But I suspect probably having messages at the airport before people leave and at the airport when people arrive, whether it be Samoa or any other part of the Pacific, would be very useful. A New Zealand tourist who has just returned from Samoa agrees that more needs to be done to keep people informed about the dangers of dengue. Vao Muller said she learned about the outbreak prior to travelling and on arrival visited many popular tourist spots and villages. Having contracted dengue before, she said she took precautions for her family including the use sprays and mosquito bracelets. But Ms. Muller said she was shocked to see no warning signs at the airport or accommodation facilities. She said there was also little in local media about the outbreak. Ms. Muller said Samoans she met seemed quite blase about dengue. I kind of expected that people there would be more aware of what was going on, but they werent. From the lack of information that was available over there, I would hope that they are taking it seriously, but from what we could see, there was no evidence of that, she said. New Zealands Auckland Regional Public Health Service said it had seen a rise in the number of dengue fever cases in recent months, 70 percent of which could be traced to Samoa. The Ministry of Health issued an update about the state of dengue fever last week. This is what it said: The Ministry of Health has confirmed five deaths related to dengue as of 31 December 2017. Dengue fever was declared an outbreak by the Ministry of Health in the last week of October 2017. Over the past 5 months, a total of 2,446 Dengue related cases - both clinical and confirmed dengue Serotype 2 has been recorded by the Ministry. From these numbers, 51 percent (1,249 cases) are male with the remaining 49 percent (1,197cases) female. There have been cases throughout all age groups from 1 year old to 65 and over, however, the most affected age groups have been identified to be from 19 and below with the highest number of cases in children between 5 9 years old. The Ministry of Health has also identified Dengue Fever Attack Rates by villages and some by districts naming the most affected areas to be Faleata, Vaimauga, Leauvaa, Anoamaa, Sagaga, Vaa o Fonoti and Lotofaga Aleipata. The Ministry of Health confirms ongoing surveillance on monitoring the situation and is continuing to advocate and implement control measures for mosquito-borne diseases. The Ministry urges the public to take special precautions with young children as well as visiting families from overseas. The Ministry of Health continues to encourage the public especially the highly affected areas to reduce or remove all mosquito breeding sites during this rainy season. Other usual preventative methods to avoid illness are also advised by the Ministry as well as urging the communities and organizations to continue to work with the Ministry of Health in combatting Dengue Fever. Natural gas has overtaken coal as the nations No. 1 source of electricity and the gap appears to be getting wider each year. Even in California, natural gas is at the top. Why has it grown so quickly? Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and horizontal drilling techniques have made natural gas abundant, which has driven down its price. The costs of renewable energy sources like wind and solar are dropping too and in an ironic twist, adding renewables to the grid often requires natural gas to fill in the gaps. But natural gas faces headwinds from environmental groups and a growing school of thought theres a glut of natural gas in Californias power system. A number of energy companies like San Diegos Sempra see shipments around the world of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a big money-maker. The rise of natural gas and its cloudy future: Heres the full story King Coal has been kicked off the throne. Advertisement Natural gas is now the nations leading source of electricity. It is abundant and cheap, which has not only crippled the coal industry but has also impacted virtually every other source of power that makes up the energy grid. Some have estimated there is enough natural gas in the U.S. to meet the countrys energy needs for about 200 years. But King Gas has its critics especially among environmentalists and Californias fast-changing energy landscape offers hints that a long, smooth reign for natural gas is far from assured. The nat gas revolution As late as 1986, natural gas made up just 10 percent share of the countrys power. By 2016, that figure leaped to 34 percent, supplanting coal as the No. 1 source of electricity. The U.S. Energy Information Administration last week projected the nations use of electricity from gas will exceed coal by 6 percent by next year. What changed? The combination of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and horizontal drilling techniques in shale formations such as the Barnett in Texas and the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania and parts of Ohio and West Virginia allowed producers to unlock vast amounts of natural gas. Just a few years ago, the U.S. had to import natural gas from other countries to meet its needs. Today, there is so much the equation has been turned around: American producers now export natural gas to places like Mexico. Advertisement Burgeoning supplies caused the price of natural gas to drop. At some periods between 2003 and 2008, the price approached $14 per million BTUs. Since the fracking boom, prices averaged less than $3.20 between 2012 and 2016. Despite the recent deep freeze in large parts of the country, the price on the natural gas futures market remained below $3 per million BTUs. Low prices, combined with the flexibility afforded by natural gas combined-cycle gas plants have the ability to ramp up power very quickly makes it very attractive to utilities. In addition, natural gas burns twice as cleanly as coal. Advertisement The biggest, most disruptive innovation in the energy sector in the last 30 years is unconventional natural gas, said Frank Wolak, professor of economics and an energy expert at Stanford University. There is no doubt that if that innovation had not occurred, we would be burning even more coal and coal would probably be an even greater share of the U.S. electricity mix than it was even in, say, 2000, before the shale gas boom. A ripple effect on other energy sources Even major oil companies are focusing more on natural gas. For example, of the 16 new projects BP plans to complete by 2021, 12 of them involve natural gas instead of oil. Diesel is also feeling the impact. An increasing number of city governments have transitioned their fleet of metropolitan vehicles, such as buses, from diesel to natural gas. In San Diego, diesel-powered garbage trucks are in the process of being replaced by trucks running on compressed natural gas. Advertisement Low natural gas prices have delivered a body blow to nuclear power, eating into their revenues. An analysis by Bloomberg New Energy Finance said more than half the reactors in the country are losing money. The San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station shut down in January 2012 and the sole nuclear plant left in California, Diablo Canyon, is slated to begin to closing its doors in 2024. It appears nuclears losses equals gains for natural gas. When San Onofre closed, the percentage of natural gas as a percentage of Californias in-state generation ballooned from 45.4 percent in 2011 to 61.1 percent in 2012, according to figures from the California Energy Commission (CEC). Advertisement The renewables/nat gas rivalry But the price of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind is falling, too. And lower costs plus aggressive mandates from state policymakers have resulted in California becoming a leader in integrating renewables into the states power mix. In the CECs most recent figures, the percentage of in-state generation from renewables reached 27.9 percent in 2016 nearly twice as much generated in 2009. Advertisement No other single energy source in California other than renewables can rival natural gas. But in a world where the push-pull between fossil fuels and renewables is often just as polarized as the current political climate, an irony has played out: Growth in wind and solar is often linked to, not separate from, growth in natural gas. Thats because wind and solar have problems with intermittency that is, solar production slips when the sun doesnt shine and electricity generated by wind wanes when breezes dont blow. Supplies of natural gas smooth out the gaps. Advertisement Mark Zoback, director of the Natural Gas Initiative at Stanford University, said the relationship between renewables and natural gas is not an either/or proposition. Theyre naturally complementary, Zoback said. When you have a lot of renewables, if the sun is really shining, which is mostly in the afternoon, or the wind is really blowing, which is mostly at night, you can cycle the natural gas plants to compensate for what the renewables are or are not doing. Zoback said the long-term future of energy will belong to renewable sources but theyre not there yet and abundant supplies of natural gas will help foster the transition. The opposition Advertisement Environmental groups, which consider fracking anathema, are uniformly opposed to natural gas. While cleaner than coal, natural gas is nonetheless a fossil fuel that emits greenhouse gases. Natural gas is mostly made up of methane and there are concerns about leaks because methane, if released into the atmosphere, is about 30 times more potent than CO2. Many green green groups consider every new gas well as a roadblock in the path toward an energy future powered completely by renewables. Natural gas has always sounded clean because it has the word natural in it, said Dan Jacobson, state director at Environment California, but when you take into account the environmental impacts and the dangers of climate change associated with natural gas it might be natural but its not good for the environment. Advertisement And in California, theres a growing school of thought there is too much natural gas in the system. A Los Angeles Times investigation last year reported a growing glut of power in the state. California power plants, based on estimates, were on track to produce at least 21 percent more electricity than needed by 2020. The $300 million Sutter Energy Center north of Sacramento closed in 2016 because the power it produced was no longer needed. Weve been building up our gas-fire infrastructure at a rate that we could turn off every solar panel and every wind turbine right now and we wouldnt skip a beat, said Bill Powers, an engineer and consumer advocate based in San Diego. We have built so much gas-fired capacity that we dont need any of that to operate our grid reliably. Advertisement Powers believes the $2.2 billion, 558-megawatt Carlsbad Energy Center, scheduled to be completed by the end of this year, is not needed. San Diego Gas & Electric officials have called it the new workhorse for the region and say it will help California meet its target of 33 percent clean-energy generation by 2020 and 50 percent by 2030. A relief well being drilled in 2015 at the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage after a massive leak was discovered that led to the evacuation of many residents of the Porter Ranch neighborhood in Los Angeles. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times ) Others point to the fact the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility was offline for 17 months but Southern Californians did not experience serious power outages as evidence the facility is not critical to grid reliability. Aliso Canyon is the site of the largest methane leak from a natural gas storage facility in U.S. history and forced the evacuation of more than 8,000 households in the Porter Ranch neighborhood of Los Angeles County. Advertisement Gary Ackerman, executive director of the Western Power Trading Forum, an organization based in Sacramento whose 90 members in the West buy and sell power, said concerns about an over-supply of natural gas can be misleading. One could point the finger at any supply source, such as solar (yes, we export solar-generated power outside of California), hydro, or even imported power from the Pacific Northwest into California, Ackerman said in an email. When it comes to building too much, then everything is too much, not just out-of-the-money gas-fired power plants. Gas critics point to flattening power demand in the state in recent years due in part to greater energy efficiency measures, such as the use of LED lighting. The development of energy storage systems powered by batteries may also pose a challenge to natural gas. Advertisement Right now, gas peaker plants are fired up to meet energy demands, such as when large numbers of utility customers fire up their air conditioners during heat waves. But supporters of battery storage see a day when peaker plants will be replaced by storing up energy when, say, wind and solar are producing at their maximum amounts and then deploying that energy when wind and solar production ebbs. Storage systems are considered more expensive than natural gas but costs are falling and in an effort to grow the market, state policymakers in 2013 ordered the states three investor-owned utilities to buy a required amount of storage by 2020. California is a harbinger because we have the most aggressive targets for green power but the real story in the background is the price for solar continues to drop to levels that people just couldnt believe we would reach at this point in time, Powers said. Battery storage is following the same trend. Advertisement Construction from mid-July 2017 on Sempra Energys Cameron LNG facility in the Louisiana Gulf Coast. (Photo from Sempra Energy ) LNG on a roll At the same time, a growing number of U.S. energy companies including San Diego-based Sempra Energy are placing big bets on a sector of the natural gas market with global reach. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) results from gas being cooled to minus-260 degrees Fahrenheit and being condensed into liquid form so it can be transported. Until just a couple of years ago, LNG shipments chiefly came from countries such as Qatar and Australia. Advertisement But in 2016, Cheniere Energy became the first U.S. company to export LNG to foreign markets. Its been a big success, with Cheniere reporting a tripling of revenue last year. At least four other companies are right behind. Along with partners in Japan and France, Sempra is constructing a $10 billion LNG facility in Louisiana called Cameron. Its expected to be finished in 2019. Sempra is looking to build another LNG facility near Port Arthur, Texas and has also completed feasibility studies to add an export component to its LNG import terminal in Ensenada, Mexico. In a call with financial analysts last April, Sempra president of infrastructure businesses Joe Householder projected distributions after debt service for Cameron of more than $11 billion during the projects 20-year contract period. Advertisement Were going to get a mountain of cash, $11 billion in cash, Householder said. The U.S. Department of Energy projects LNG production capacity will quadruple by the end of next year and the International Energy Administration predicts the U.S. could become the worlds largest source of LNG within a decade. LNG boosters say it can act as an economic cudgel over leaders such as Russias Vladimir Putin, whose state-run gas company Gazprom dominates energy markets in Europe. Natural gas is so plentiful in the U.S., its backers say, that the market can absorb what will be shipped overseas without resulting in spikes in utility bills for domestic customers. Critics counter by saying natural gas has a history of price fluctuations and are not so sanguine that profits from LNG investments will be a slam dunk. Advertisement The future Powers said natural gas dominance is no sure thing, pointing to falling prices for alternative energy sources. If in a few years you can produce power at $25 a megawatt hour from a solar field or buy it at a gas plant at $35, just on cost alone a lot of solar is going to be built, even in states where theres no green mandate and no pressure to go green, Powers said. Zoback isnt so sure. Advertisement Im 69 years old. Im not going to be able to test these theories but my sense is that were going to see expanded use of natural gas for the next 20 years, Zoback said. In the following 20, it will have a useful decline and 40 to 50 years from now I think we will be using very little natural gas. Well largely have renewable sources. Advertisement Business rob.nikolewski@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1251 Twitter: @robnikolewski Maybe if he had regained his ability to talk, hed still be leading meetings of the Oceanside City Council. But Jim Wood could not overcome the speech impairment that resulted from the stroke he suffered in May and that made it impossible for him to perform his duties as mayor of the countys third-largest city. Some people cant understand me, Wood said in a halting voice during an interview at the Oceanside home where hes lived since 1981. Thats the reason Im retiring. Wood, who turns 70 at the end of this month, sat at the dining room table while his wife of 40 years, Pam, was nearby in the kitchen. His former council aide, Debbie Mikulay, Pams sister, sat beside Wood to clarify his sometimes difficult-to-understand words. The Woods two papillon dogs, Charlie and Lulu, were shooed out to the backyard during the interview. Advertisement I wanted to come back, but even I should know I cant do it, he said. Re-elected by a wide margin in 2016, he had barely begun his new term when the stroke, his fourth, put him out of action. A month in the hospital, followed by more months of physical therapy, and the support of long-time friends and family were not enough to get him back on his feet. He arrived in a wheelchair to try leading a council meeting Dec. 6, but was dismally disappointed with the results, and finally submitted his resignation Dec. 13. Hes received hundreds of letters of support, he said. People encouraged him to stay, and said he was the most-loved mayor the city has ever had. Its hard to quit, he said. But I realize I cant do this ... Its changed my life. Slowing down is tough for someone whos been so active for so long. Wood moved to Oceanside when he was 5 years old. His family lived in a trailer park near the beach, where his parents hosted dances every Friday night. I loved it, Wood said. Visitors would camp in tents on the beach. That was before the city built its harbor, and there was only a wide beach with sand dunes south of Camp Pendleton. Advertisement We called it tent city, he said. He was often around police officers growing up, he said, so it seemed like a natural job for him. Oceanside had a tough reputation in the early 1970s, and joining the Police Department seemed like a way to help clean it up. With the Vietnam War at its peak, and the Marine Corps base right next door, downtown Oceanside teemed with young military men ready to ship out or just home from combat. Also, the town was a focal point for the huge anti-war movement. Sooner or later, you would have trouble, Wood said. We often had to break up fights. Advertisement Still, he enjoyed the job and believed he was making Oceanside a better place. After being in the department for a while, he learned to work with the City Council members. He supported them, and they supported the Police Department. He continued to follow that policy after he was elected. The person I tried to follow was Melba Bishop, Wood said. Bishop, who died in 2015, only served two terms on the council, from 1980 to 84 and 1988 to 92, but she had a long-lasting influence on the city. She helped enact the citys mobile-home park rent-control ordinance in 1982, led many people to get involved in local politics, and a city park and recreation center bear her name in her old neighborhood on North River Road. Advertisement She helped me a lot politically, Wood said. If I had questions, Id go to Melba. Police and fire department workers have always backed Wood on the council, for obvious reasons, as have senior citizens. Those people, once they like you, especially the seniors, they never leave you, he said. Members of the citys large mobile-home population say Wood returned the favor. Advertisement He rarely turned town an opportunity to speak to our group, said Bob Markley, president of the Oceanside Manufactured Homeowners Alliance, and a resident of Rancho San Luis Rey, the citys largest mobile-home park. Hes always been polite and has a good sense of humor, Markley said. Wood absolutely, no question supported mobile-home residents over the years, Markley said. As mayor, Wood backed residents when a majority of the council tried to overturn the citys mobile-home rent control ordinance in 2011. Residents got a referendum to overturn the council, went to the polls and voted to keep their rent control. We are kind of sorry to seem him go, Markley said, though he added that he understands its a health issue for Wood. Advertisement Former Oceanside Mayor Terry Johnson, whom Wood defeated for the job as mayor in 2004, set aside any lingering animosity last week and praised Wood for his years of service in the Police Department and at City Hall. Police work is a dangerous and difficult job to do, and that needs to be respected, and he served well in his time on the council, said Johnson, an Oceanside native who completed two terms on the council and one as mayor. As difficult as the decision to resign may have been, he said, Wood made the right choice. His family and his health are more important than anything else, Johnson said. I truly wish the best for Jim and his family. The community is grateful for his service. Its not an easy job. Advertisement When he resigned as mayor, Wood recommended two people as possible appointees to fill out his term: City Clerk Zack Beck and former City Manager Peter Weiss. Both are well qualified and capable, he said, but its a long shot that council members could agree on one of them. They dont get along, he said of the council. Beck, in a two-page letter released late Thursday, announced that after careful consideration he would prefer to remain the city clerk. Wood has been following the councils work over the past year, even though he was unable to attend most of the meetings. Advertisement He worries about whats ahead for controversial issues, such as Oceansides proposed legislation to legalize medical marijuana. A draft ordinance is expected to go to the council later this year. He opposed legalization, he said, though he can see how cultivation could be a benefit to commercial farming in the citys Morrow Hills area. The areas traditional crops such as tomatoes, avocados and cut flowers are being pushed out by the increasing costs of water, labor and property. Whatever happens, Wood said, cannabis will continue to be a problem for the Police Department. I see marijuana as a starter drug, he said. My concern is that no matter what California does, under federal law its still a violation. Advertisement Still, the citys future is no longer in Woods hands. He cited a long list of accomplishments during his service: new businesses, stores and hotels, better streets parks and bridges, less crime, a new fire station, a renovated library and new jobs. But he gave a lot of credit to city employees. Ive done a lot, but the city manager and all the staff have always made it easy for me, he said. Advertisement philip.diehl@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @phildiehl Encinitas thriller writer Christopher Reichs new novel, The Take, features a mobster-turned-fixer who finds himself chasing after a stolen letter so sensitive it could upend the worlds balance of power. Reich (Numbered Account, Rules of Deception) will be at the Gordon Biersch Brewery in Mission Valley on Thursday at 6 p.m. for a ticketed event through Adventures By the Book. Q: What got you thinking about the new book? A: Several things. Ive spent my career writing what some people would call these globe-trotting, loyalty-blurring, fast-paced conspiracy thrillers that were deeply rooted in the days headlines and always took as a flash-point some political or moral crisis. Advertisement As time passed, I noticed there were so many of these stories in the news that I was just overwhelmed. I thought real life was getting ahead of fiction. I wanted to go in a totally different direction. I wanted to do something thats lighter, thats more fun, thats more like how I really am. So I started trolling about for ideas. I was drawn to several past characters and one was John Robie, the cat burglar in To Catch a Thief, the Alfred Hitchcock movie. I thought that was such a great character but he was way too nice. I wanted to have that kind of character but with a real edge to him. The other area that interested me is private spying. The easy and mass availability of the most sophisticated surveillance tools, which used to be limited to the top intelligence agencies of the richest countries in the world, are now available to private citizens. Boy, does that empower the everyman to do what a superman can. From that came the character of Simon Riske. Q: Tell me a little more about character development. How does your imagination work? A: I never think about how they look. I always think about their character strengths and why I would look up to someone like that. With Simon Riske, I wanted someone who was classy, intelligent, presentable and someone who came to be that way after suffering through a lot of hard knocks. A guy with real gravitas at his center. Q: We get introduced to him at an auction where he is getting ready to pick someones pocket. A: When I start to write a story, I draw on places Ive been and experiences Ive had. Ive been on tour to London and Ive been there at a time when they were having a big Sothebys auction. Its always so eye-popping and glittery and I thought that would be a great place to set something. Advertisement I didnt quite envision it would be a watch theft, but it kind of just came to me and with it I then endowed Simon Riske with this ability to pick peoples pockets. Q: Do you worry about making him too skillful and therefore unbelievable? A: When I decided I wanted him to be able to lift watches, I read an article in the New Yorker about a thief who was working in Las Vegas who then went over to the good side and was helping police. He was incredibly gifted at taking watches and picking pockets. There was a video on the New Yorker website and you literally could not see him do it. So I decided it was a skill people can have. I never, ever want my characters to be super-human. If anything, I am dialing back their skill-sets as I become a more mature writer. Im trying to keep it as believable as possible. Advertisement Q: Not every writer is able to avoid the temptation. A: For me, that kills the real suspense. Weve read too many of those books where the hero keeps dodging the bullets or theres ten against one and somehow he overcomes the stratospheric odds. Im just done with that. I want it to be that when Simon gets cut, it hurts; when he gets punched in the face, you see the mark. I want it to be real. Q: The new book is set mostly in France. Why there? A: The original idea for the story came when I read in the Herald-Tribune, now the International New York Times, about the real-life robbery of a Saudi prince in his convoy. So that first scene really happened, and I wanted to use it for my own purposes. Advertisement Of course there wasnt a briefcase with a letter in it, but there was a 16-car convoy that was expertly robbed at gunpoint in 60 seconds with no shots fired. I saw that and I thought, This actually happened? Wow. As an investment banker, I had stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel George V (where the prince was before getting into his convoy). I lived in Paris, I know the city well, so I decided this is where I wanted to set my book. Q: Youve written nearly a dozen books now. What do you like about writing thrillers, and has that changed over time? A: The first thing, sadly, is that it doesnt get any easier. Thats kind of a bummer. But thats also the challenge. Im trying to write better. Im trying to write clearer, more succinct prose. And Im always trying to tell a better story with engaging characters, in interesting locales, and put them in situations the average reader will find exciting and way outside what they are used to seeing. Q: What changes over the years have you noticed in the thriller genre? Advertisement A: When John le Carre wrote Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, spying was a very mysterious, nebulous world. We didnt know what spying was. We didnt know what they did. Now we know too much of who they are and what they do. So I think the interest in that area has kind of disappeared. Of course, theres been a big rise in the unreliable narrator epitomized by Gone Girl and Girl on the Train. Thats a whole area that has sprouted up like mushrooms and is very fertile ground for authors, which I think has left the landscape open for a character like Simon Riske a little bit old school, a little bit cinematic, trying to do the right thing. Q: Youre hoping this will be a new series? A: Im well into the second book, which opens up with Riske at a casino in Monte Carlo. Thats the area Im looking at: aspirational thrillers set in ritzy locales, but with very shady characters. Advertisement Advertisement john.wilkens@sduniontribune.com; (619) 293-2236 Entering the Jacobs Music Centers Copley Symphony Hall on Saturday night, it was impossible to escape the feeling that something different was about to happen. Dozens of percussion instruments stretched out across the stage in front of the orchestra seats. In over three decades of attending San Diego Symphony concerts, I dont recall seeing so much percussion downstage of the conductors podium. From the large marimba and xylophone on the far right to the vibraphone, glockenspiel and Caribbean steel drum on the other side of the stage, with a cluster of tom-toms, bongos and congas in between, the set-up on stage appeared ready to accommodate four or five musicians. But no, all those instruments were for one player, the remarkable Steven Schick, who gave the San Diego premiere of Roberto Sierras Con madera, metal y cuero, accompanied by the San Diego Symphony under the flamboyant baton of guest conductor Rafael Payare. Advertisement It was part of the opening symphony concert in the monthlong multi-organization festival curated by Schick, called Its About Time, and presented by the San Diego Symphony. The concert itself was dubbed Fascinating Rhythm, opening with Berliozs boisterous Roman Carnival and ending with the triumphant outbursts of Prokofievs Symphony No. 5. Their connection to the programs theme seemed tenuous, but Sierras audacious percussion concerto and Schicks irreproachable virtuosity were justification enough for the title. Con madera, metal y cuero is a half-hour-long roller coaster of a piece with no pauses. The title translates With wood, metal and skin, an allusion to the three categories of percussion that respectively dominate each section of the work. Sierras music comes charging out of the gate with a syncopated thicket of notes and never lets up until the pounding conclusion where the soloists drums punctuate ecstatic roars from the orchestra. The Puerto Rican composers rhythms suggest Latin popular and folk music, but refracted through a modernist prism. The forward momentum is unstoppable, accomplished without any repetitive grooves. Maintaining such an unrelenting stream of music is a compositional challenge. After minutes of nonstop sixteenth notes, a sonic fatigue can set in, no matter how loud and fast the music. Sierra somehow avoids this, mixing up accents and harmonic rhythm enough to keep the listener engaged. Indeed, this is a work that reveals its many layers only on multiple hearings, and if one cant take it all in the first time through, the propulsive rhythms and intriguing textures dazzle regardless. The harmonic language of this 1998 work is uncompromisingly dissonant, orchestrated with bracing, powerful sonorities. Payare led the orchestra through this challenging music with panache. While all of the musicians deserve praise, none stood out more than the six percussionists who seemed almost as busy as Schick. The solo part kept Schick in constant motion, playing his mallet instruments brilliantly, while working his way across the stage from one instrument to the next. If you had any doubts that Schick is one of the greatest percussionists in the world today, they would have vanished after seeing him brilliantly perform. The audience jumped to its feet immediately after the piece concluded as video monitors flanking the stage displayed the festivals name while Schick took well-deserved bows. Advertisement Schick has lived and worked in San Diego for over a quarter-century. He has curated festivals around the world. Yet somehow he never soloed on a San Diego Symphony subscription concert before this. ITS ABOUT TIME. Advertisement Hertzog is a freelance writer. If youve somehow missed the huge warnings so far, we beg of you: Do not eat romaine lettuce. Theres no official government recall in the United States - yet. But with two dead and many more sickened in the United States and Canada, major health organizations are advising you avoid the stuff. This all began in December, when the Canadian Government warned consumers to avoid romaine due to potential contamination with E. coli. The government issued an official warning and recalled all bagged and fresh stores of romaine lettuce, but the bacteria still managed to sicken at least 58 people so far in the U.S. and Canada. Thirteen U.S. states have been affected, prompting a stern warning from Consumer Reports earlier this January. The latest authority to speak out on the dangers romaine is posing to the public is the Sudbury and District Health Unit, which serves the most populous metropolitan area in Northern Ontario. Rylan Yade, an environmental support officer with the Sudbury and District Health Unit, explained the agencys request to CBCNews of Sudbury. Advertisement They know that romaine lettuce is the source of the E. coli outbreak, but theyre not sure what the cause of contamination is, Yade said of Canadas progress in investigating the product. You cant taste, smell or see E. coli, which is what makes it so dangerous. Yade explained that with all vegetables you take home, you should take precautions to protect your family from disease. Rinsing produce with cool water is a good way to protect against any bacteria lingering on the surface - though not a surefire solution to product contamination. The warnings have been clear and numerous enough that theres just no reason to risk getting sick from lettuce at the moment. Friends dont let friends eat romaine - at least not until this mess is settled. This food recall is turning out to be big enough to go down in history. View slideshow related stories A mysterious disease is spreading through Kyoko Hibinos neighborhood, but youd never know it by glancing at her sunny, tree-lined Southern California community, she says. The Porter Ranch resident has suffered bronchitis, heart palpitations, headaches and nosebleeds, none of which amount to a diagnosis by doctors. Hibino said her cat also started getting nosebleeds, and now has cancer. We are slowly being killed, she said, noting that the air near her house is clear, making the problem hard to spot. Its not dramatic enough. Three years after a massive gas leak at the Southern California Gas Co. storage facility at Aliso Canyon the largest methane leak in U.S. history nearby residents say theyre still suffering health problems from toxins in the air. Advertisement Outside USCs Bovard Auditorium, where candidates for governor were minutes away from a town hall debate Saturday morning, advocates called on leaders to commit to permanently shutting down the site. Though not government-owned, Southern California Gas is subject to state regulations. The candidates did not discuss the topic during the forum. This is our health! This is our air! This is not just in the Valley! The wind blows, and it blows everywhere, said Jane Fowler of nearby Granada Hills. Some of you dont even know youve been affected. Fowler, 58, said she had to stop working in elder care and driving an Uber due to unpredictable dizziness, blackouts and other ailments that she says are tied to the smelly leak. She said the emissions killed her dog and sickened her cats. A broken well at the Aliso Canyon site forced about 8,000 families in the northwest San Fernando Valley to evacuate starting in 2015. After a state appeals court lifted a temporary ban on operations, Southern California Gas resumed injections at the facility this past summer and has been conducting safety improvements. Use of the facility is now allowed on a limited basis, but opponents want the site shut down entirely. Alexandra Nagy, a senior organizer with the environmental group Food and Water Watch, said there are still small leaks every day at the site which seep into the air. She noted that methane emissions add to greenhouse gases that exacerbate climate change. Southern California Gas says methane is nontoxic when inhaled in limited quantities and that the Aliso Canyon leak doesnt pose continued health problems. Advertisement All of the extensive data collected and analyzed by public health officials over the last two years have shown that there was and is no long-term risk to public health or safety from the gas leak, the company said in a statement. During the leak and for months afterwards, thousands of indoor and outdoor air, dust, soil, and mud samples were tested during and after the leak, by multiple public health agencies, including the Los Angeles County Department of Health, the South Coast Air Quality Management District, the Air Resources Board, and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, and the data demonstrates that Porter Ranch is safe, the statement said. Staff writer Seema Mehta contributed to this report. maya.lau@latimes.com Advertisement Twitter: @mayalau Authorities are searching for those responsible for vandalizing a 129-year-old Pasadena church early Saturday and setting it on fire. The fire was reported at about 2:20 a.m. at the Church of the Angels at 1100 N. Avenue 64, said Lisa Derderian, a spokeswoman with the Pasadena Fire Department. The Los Angeles Fire Department initially responded and put out the fire because of confusion over the address, she said. The vandals broke a stone statue in front of the church and sprayed graffiti on its exterior walls, Derderian said. The church sustained smoke damage, including to some pews, and a solid oak statue that was part of the church when it was built was badly damaged, she said. The fire was started inside the building, she said. Advertisement Authorities are not treating the incident as a hate crime, Derderian said, but there was a break-in, a burglary and vandalism. No arrests have been made and it appears that more than one individual was involved, she said. The Episcopal church has been used for the filming of movies over the years and there was a shoot scheduled for Saturday morning that had to be canceled, Derderian said. It was unclear whether the church would be open for services on Sunday. Its very sad, she said, because this was a historical landmark that cant be replaced or replicated. carlos.lozano@latimes.com UPDATES: 4:50 p.m.: This article was updated with new information from fire officials. This article was originally posted at 2:05 p.m. Political intrigue swirled around San Diego-area Reps. Darrell Issa and Duncan Hunter this past week amid developments that raised questions about their futures. Heres a recap of what happened and a look at what may be coming next. Issa, a nine-term congressman, announced he is not running for re-election. Why? Issa once seemed as safe as any incumbent around, but that changed with Donald Trump. Issa became an early Trump supporter, but that backfired on him and triggered a broad political movement against him in his 49th District. He nearly lost the 2016 election to a little-known Democrat and his outlook was worse this year. Nothing he tried improved his prospects in the 49th, which straddles northern San Diego and southern Orange counties. So he decided not to run again. How does that leave the race in the 49th District? Advertisement Its an absolute free-for-all now. A small handful of Democrats already were running, but Issas exit changed the dynamic of the campaign. Now several Republicans are contemplating getting in and they dont have the ties to Trump. Republicans still have a voter-registration advantage, but the 49th has been trending Democratic for some time. Issa said he wouldnt run in the 49th District. Is he retiring from Congress? Actually, he never said that, but thats what we all assumed. The day after his announcement, The Hill, which covers Congress, reported that sources said Issa was considering running in the neighboring and more solidly Republican 50th Congressional District, which covers east and north inland San Diego County. That speculation has been out there for a while, but it picked up steam with this latest report. Still, such a move would only happen if incumbent Duncan Hunter stepped down. Why would Hunter do that? Hunter for months has been under criminal investigation by the FBI for personal use of campaign funds. Hes admitted doing so, but says it was an innocent credit-card mix up and repaid the campaign some $60,000. So alls well? Hardly. The investigation is continuing and may be intensifying. The Union-Tribunes Morgan Cook this past week reported a federal grand jury has been convened to look into the matter and has issued at least one subpoena. Hunter could get indicted and step down from office as part of a plea deal. He says it wont come to that and maintains he has done nothing wrong other than make some innocent mistakes. So what was Hunters reaction to the news that Issa was eying his seat? Advertisement He said hadnt heard about it or talked to Issa about it. But he seemed OK with the idea. Heres how he put it to The Hill: If I was to blow up in the air, then he would be running for it. If I was to blow up, then he would run for the seat. If I blow up, yes. Why wouldnt he run for my seat if I was to blow up in the air? Did Hunter do anything about it? Advertisement He announced he was running for re-election the next day. That seemed to be a given, but all the hubbub apparently made him think that would be a wise thing to do. What happens next? The filing deadline to become an official candidate for Congress is in the coming weeks. That should bring clarity to all this. Mayor Kevin Faulconer says San Diego has taken the wrong approach on homelessness and needs to change. The question is, can he? In his annual State of the City address Thursday, Faulconer took ownership of the homeless crisis, acknowledged attempted solutions havent worked and promised a more forceful effort to resolve it. If he follows through, not everybody will like it. Advertisement For decades, local leaders myself included have taken the same approach to homelessness. We pursued universal consensus while homelessness continued to rise. We tried to please everyone at the risk of helping no one. Those days are over. Let me be clear: Things are different now. Seeking consensus is part of Faulconers political DNA. His is collegial, not confrontational. Hes willing to let others take the lead on some issues if that will help reach the goal. He certainly knows politics and how to maneuver quietly. On those rare occasions where he flexes mayoral muscle in a purely political way punishing council members with office budget cuts, for instance it looks awkward. Before his election as a City Council member and then mayor, Faulconer was a civic-minded public relations executive. In that line of work, you promote a business, sell a product, put a positive spin on things, try to make people feel good. Those are useful talents for a politician. So is a willingness to butt heads, raise an elbow or anger people when necessary. Thats not part of Faulconers professional background or personality, at least publicly. This isnt to suggest he needs to become an iron-fisted mayor like the late Richard Daley of Chicago. It just wouldnt fit. Besides, even if he wanted to, the current political dynamics and structure of San Diego government wouldnt allow for it. But Faulconers tone Thursday suggests a determination to change the political equation following the homeless crisis and related hepatitis A outbreak and the harsh national spotlight they put on his leadership and his city. Faulconer rightly deserves blame, but he wasnt solely responsible for this mess. Yet he became the lightning rod for criticism. Advertisement So its understandable that go along to get along is not part of the future he envisions. For homeless people, hes already taken a carrot-and-stick approach. The city has expanded outreach, shelter beds and services. If people on the street dont fall in line and accept help, he promises they will be dealt with sternly. Americas Finest City will no longer tolerate the use of a sidewalk, a riverbed or a tarp as a home, he said. Advertisement The city for months has been disrupting unauthorized homeless camps on 17th Street downtown and along the San Diego River bed. Some critics have called these tactics heartless, but I suspect most San Diegans agree with what hes doing. People cant simply choose to live on the street because they dont want to abide by the rules linked to the help being offered. To be sure, most homeless people seem willing and thankful to take the citys extended hand. Dont confuse our resolve with a lack of compassion, he said. However, there still arent enough services, beds and housing for everybody. Some experts believe its as much a matter of available resources as how to marshal them. Advertisement Faulconer faces the difficult task of revamping the entrenched system of how government and nonprofit agencies provide assistance to the homeless. Hell have to be willing to upset some storied organizations that have worked long and hard to help people on the street. Former Houston Mayor Annise Parker has experience on this front, having ruffled many feathers to improve life for homeless people in her town. What most large cities have is a lot of really good nonprofits doing great work with the homeless, she told former Union-Tribune columnist Dan McSwain a year ago. But they all want to hold onto their piece of cheese. Everybody works in parallel. I had to be willing to be unpopular with some great organizations. Houston created incentives for chronically homeless to accept new help the city was offering, McSwain wrote. Advertisement We also did some tough-love things. Parker said. I got vilified from coast to coast. We passed some ordinances that limited the ability of people to feed the homeless. If youre going to feed more than six people, you need a permit. I had pastors coming down to council for weeks telling me I hated the homeless. Neither Faulconer nor anybody else likes being in that position. Its a stretch to find any silver lining in our homeless/hepatitis crisis. But if there is one, maybe its this: Faulconer was relentlessly vilified for something very bad that happened on his watch. He sounds like hes willing to take that kind of heat to try to turn things around in a big way. Were doing things differently now, he said Thursday night. Advertisement Tweet of the Week Goes to Greg Dawson (@DawsonNBC), vice president at NBC 7, responding to an assertion that if news organizations didnt use the actual word President Donald Trump said to describe certain countries, they didnt think it was news. Thats not true. The news value is that he used a vulgar, demeaning phrase to describe the countries. The actual word choice is secondary. A new awareness campaign in the region is highlighting the methods sex traffickers use to target and recruit young victims, including online. The Disrupt Sex Trafficking campaign will feature public service ads on a billboard, 10 transit shelter displays, large posters and on the radio, according to the District Attorneys Office, which is teaming up with the countys Heath and Human Services Agency and the nonprofit Abolitionist Mom for the campaign. The ad that debuted last week shows a teenager using a cellphone. Underneath, the message reads: Sex traffickers love technology too. One of the posters will focus on how traffickers lure victims into false relationships, then coerce them into the sex trade, the District Attorneys Office said. Advertisement This awareness campaign gets to the heart of the real threat: the stranger posing as a friend with the intent of selling kids for sex, District Attorney Summer Stephan said in a news release announcing the campaign last week. Health and Human Services director Nick Macchione said in the news release that it is critical for the community to understand the various ways that children are lured into the sex trade. In a phone interview Friday, Genice Jacobs, founder of Abolitionist Mom, said one message of the campaign is that any kid can meet a trafficker online. The main thing is we really want people to talk to their kids about this, Jacobs said. She added that its difficult for parents to control their childrens online activities so your kids have to be aware that this is a real threat. The campaign is starting in January, which is human-trafficking awareness month. Health and Human Services spokesman Craig Sturak said the campaign will include one billboard, 10 transit shelter displays, seven ecoposters measuring about 10.5 feet by 22 feet. The billboard and shelter displays went up last week and will stay up for four weeks. The radio ads started Friday, and will run through the end of the month. They will be on seven stations, including KHTS, KSSX, KMYI, KOGO, KIOZ, KLSD and KGB. Advertisement teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com (760) 529-4945 Advertisement Twitter: @TeriFigueroaUT The death of a woman thought to be about 30 years old whose body was found in a ravine in Encanto on Saturday is being investigated as a homicide, San Diego police said. Police said the woman had significant trauma to her upper torso and likely died as the result of those injuries, although the cause and manner of death will be determined by the Medical Examiners Office. The body was found by a man and his daughter walking a dog off South 66th Street near Skyline Drive about 2:30 p.m. The man contacted police officers at a recruiting event in nearby Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park. Police said the body was about 12 feet off a dirt path on a steep slope, which made it difficult to retrieve. The woman, who was Hispanic, has not yet been identified. Advertisement Police are asking anyone with information to contact the homicide unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. Business phillip.molnar@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1891 Twitter: @phillipmolnar A man who claimed he was an anesthesiologist at Sharp Grossmont Hospital and a graduate of Harvard Medical School was arrested Thursday on an impersonation charge after he was found in the hospitals doctors lounge, according to police and hospital officials. When hospital security approached Zaid Bassam Jeorge, 27, in the lounge, he was dressed in blue scrubs, a white physicians coat bearing the Sharp logo and the name Zaid Jorge, MD Anesthesiologist, according to a hospital security alert obtained by the San Diego Union-Tribune. He also had with him a stethoscope, a cellphone with Arabic messages on the screen and a set of rental keys to a Mercedes-Benz. He could not provide any credentials, and he explained that he was a student in Sweden here as part of an apprenticeship, according to the memo. When asked if he had a sponsor, he gave the name of a doctor at the hospital. But the doctor denied it, saying Jeorge seemed to have latched onto him a few weeks ago after he accepted a connection request from him on LinkedIn, the memo states. No other doctors seemed to know Jeorge either. Advertisement His LinkedIn profile said he was a graduate of Harvard and had been a physician at Sharp for more than a year. The profile also included photos of Jeorge appearing to work at a computer in an unknown Sharp facility. Other photos found online show him in a Sharp doctors coat standing outside the hospital. The summary of his Instagram account, set to private, also makes similar claims. La Mesa police responded and searched Jeorges rental car, which had been parked across the street in Grossmont Center. Inside they found two passports and an El Cajon address. Jeorge was arrested on suspicion of false impersonation and attempting to practice without a license, according to jail records. A psychiatric evaluation was done and it was determined that he did not meet the threshold for hospitalization. San Diegos Joint Terrorism Task Force was also notified. La Mesa police Lt. Greg Runge said Saturday that his department is working with hospital investigators on the case and he declined to release further details. Advertisement kristina.davis@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @kristinadavis North County resident Janis Newland faces a potentially tough decision in Novembers midterm election. Her preferred candidate for congress, Darrell Issa, announced this week that he would join the more than 30 House Republicans not seeking re-election. Most, including Issa and California Rep. Ed Royce, represent districts carried by Hillary Clinton in 2016. Newland voted for Issa and Donald Trump, but much like the 49th District she lives in, her politics are hard to pin down. Im a registered Democrat but that doesnt mean anything, said the 66 year old. I dont trust anybody right now. Advertisement The district which stretches from La Jolla in San Diego up the coast to Dana Point in Southern Orange County still has more Republican voters than Democrat. But the GOPs advantage has been shrinking for more than a decade, and to complicate things, more and more people are registering no party preference. Newland said shes seen the same pattern play out on Oro Grande Street in Oceanside, where shes lived for the last 28 years. Young families with liberal values have over time replaced many of the aging conservatives that used to live on her small cul-de-sac. People moving in, people moving out, the way things are going nowadays, its just completely changed, she said, I know some younger people arent happy with the way things are going. Carrie Jaffe and her wife moved down the street from Newland in 2006, and they have no question in their mind how to vote in the upcoming election. The way I see Republicans right now is that weve talked about leaving the country, said the 56-year-old. Seriously, it feels to us that its going backwards in such a way that it may not be recoverable for a very long time. Advertisement For years, Issa was able to navigate the evolving politics of the 49th District. When redistricting in California redrew the lines six years ago to include more of the coast, many Democrats thought they would retake the seat. Issa proved them wrong, winning by wide margins in 2012 and then again in 2014. Despite the shifting demographics in the district, his popularity soared with regular appearances on national television attacking then-President Barack Obama. A large crowd of people gathered outside district offices on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018 to a rally and celebrate Congressman Darrell Issas announcement he will not seek re-election in the 49th District of the U.S. House of Representatives. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune ) Advertisement However, with Trump on the ballot in 2016, Issas run nearly came to an end when he squeaked out a victory over political neophyte Dough Applegate by less than a percentage point. Since then, the political context in California has only become more challenging for Republicans such as Issa, according to Thad Kousser, chair of the political science department of UC San Diego, who also lives in the 49th District. Donald Trump has so badly damaged the Republican brand in California that its almost impossible for any politician to escape that and not be wounded by association, he said. Issas spokesman Calvin Moore agreed that Trump would have made it harder for the congressman to win re-election. Advertisement Its not a secret that Trumps unpopular in the district, he said. Anytime you have a top of the ticket thats unpopular that can be a challenge in your district. Kousser said that in recent decades many Republican voters have left coastal California for jobs inland or in other states. The voters who replaced them, he said, are not just more liberal, theyre often the children of Latino immigrants who take personal offense to the presidents inflammatory rhetoric. Latinos have become more and more engaged in California politics in the last decade and have become this driving political force in California, he said. The 49th has a lot of voters who are mad at Donald Trump. Today, Latinos make up 27 percent of the district, which trends significantly more liberal in San Diego County than Orange County. Advertisement Democratic contenders appealing to those and other voters in November include Applegate, an attorney, Paul Kerr, a real estate businessman, Sara Jacobs, head of an international nonprofit and granddaughter of Qualcomm co-founder Irwin Jacobs, and Mike Levin, an energy attorney. Still, Republicans said they arent backing down, arguing that the strong economy and a potentially bloody Democratic primary will ensure victory for conservatives. At the end of the day, this is a Republican district, said Jack Pandol, regional press secretary for the National Republican Congressional Committee. With the right candidates in the field, we have every confidence that were going to be able to hold onto his seat no question. State Assemblyman Rocky Chavez of Oceanside is hoping hes that right candidate. The former Marine and Latino Republican announced he would run on Thursday. Advertisement Its time we come together and focus on progress, not partisan politics and gridlock, Chavez said in a statement announcing his intention to run. Much of the fury against Issa has been driven by his partisan support for Trump, especially on the issue of immigration. Protests have continued outside the politicians office nearly every week since Trumps election, and a grassroots campaign to unseat him, named Flip the 49th, has drawn support from the Democratic Party, organized labor and even celebrities such as Jane Fonda, Leonardo DiCaprio and Ted Danson. Now, with Issa gone, activists such as Cipriano Vargas, field organizer for Flip the 49th, may have to work extra hard to get progressives out to the polls in November. Advertisement We have a growing population of Latinos, and we know that many of them do not vote in the midterm elections, so thats something that we speak to them about, he said. But because we have been doing our due diligence mobilizing, were confident that well get people out to vote. At the same time, Republicans candidates may likely try to distance themselves from President Trump. Former State Assemblywoman and current Board of Equalization Representative Diane Harkey has also thrown her hat in the ring, saying on her campaign website that she plans to focus on tax reform. Asked about her position on the policies of the president, her campaign manager Dave Gilliard offered this: I dont know if anybody in their right mind would have a position on Trump, so to speak. If its a Donald Trump idea, thats fine. If its a Nancy Pelosi idea, thats fine too, as long as its good. Shes not tied down to any candidate, which is to her advantage. Advertisement If Republicans do manage to hold onto the district in November, itll likely be a temporary victory, said Carl Luna, a political science professor at San Diego Mesa College. Old white voters who used to define San Diego are less of a force, he said. Its becoming in California a perfect storm against Republicans. They have to figure out how theyre going to surf that storm or risk becoming irrelevant. Since 2000, Republican registration in California has dropped from about 35 percent to just 26 percent. In that time frame, the percentage of registered Democrats has remained around 45 percent, while those declining to state a party preference jumped from 14 percent to 24 percent. Advertisement Twitter: @jemersmith Advertisement Phone: (619) 293-2234 Email: joshua.smith@sduniontribune.com Ask Roxana Velasquez about the San Diego Museum of Arts Modern Masters From Latin America: The Perez Simon Collection exhibition, and she has one word to describe it: remarkable. The private collection, on display publicly for the first time, is quite a coup for the Balboa Park museum. We are honored to bring this private collection of Latin American works from Mexico for the very first time, and to share it with the San Diego community and its visitors, said Velasquez, executive director of the museum and curator for the exhibition. The exhibition which will be on view through March 11 is a visual representation of the appropriation and reinvention of modernism in Latin America, and brings together a remarkable selection of artists, Velasquez said. Advertisement The exhibition is part of the Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA initiative, a regional effort with more than 70 Southern California cultural institutions participating. SDMAs show features nearly 100 pieces by modern masters from many Latin American countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. Its a whos who of modern artists from Frida Kahlo and Rufino Tamayo to Diego Rivera and Jose Clemente Orozco, to name just a few. We asked Velasquez to share her thoughts on five of the artists featured in the exhibition. Fernando de Szyszlo Fernando de Szyszlo is considered the most important Peruvian visual artist of the modern times. His abstract technique and applying vibrant colors distinguish his work. For him, its about the expression of strong colors in combination with the history of the Peruvian region. Jose Clemente Orozco Orozco is one of my absolute favorite artists. While Diego Rivera could be considered having a positive perspective on humankind, Orozco was skeptical. Frida Kahlo Frida Kahlo is best known for her self-portraits and Surrealist imagery. The subject of the painting, Girl from Tehuacan, Lucha Maria (1942), is not the artist herself, but a girl from Tehuacan, in the Mexican state of Puebla. The paintings meaning is wrapped in symbolism. Ricardo Martinez de Hoyos Probably the most impressive and surprising paintings of the show are those by Ricardo Martinez de Hoyos. They illustrate the monumental scale of mystery and strength. The combination of color adds vibrancy to the works. Advertisement Joaquin Torres-Garcia The Uruguayan Joaquin Torres-Garcia is strongly represented by two major pieces that are emblematic of his mastery. He created a unique language of constructivism by condensing subjects into figures of primary colors or a monochromatic palette, forming his own schematic communication. Modern Masters from Latin America: The Perez Simon Collection When: Through March 11 (PLEASE NOTE: The two paintings by Frida Kahlo, Girl from Tehuacan, Lucha Maria or Sun and Moon (1942) and Survivor (1938) will be leaving the exhibition early; the last day to see them is Monday, Jan. 15.) Where: San Diego Museum of Art, 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park Tickets: $8-$15 Advertisement Phone: (619) 232-7931 Online: sdmart.org Advertisement temecula@sduniontribune.com A transient is facing a murder charge for allegedly stabbing a 29-year-old Poway man to death early Sunday outside a Pomerado Road convenience store. The victim has been identified as Zubayr Phahez, a married father of two young children who, according to family members, had recently completed a management training course for 7-Eleven. He was reportedly raised in Rancho Penasquitos. Sheriffs Lt. Rich Williams said deputies responded to a 911 call of a stabbing near the store at 1:32 a.m. Sunday and found the victim in his car. He was treated by paramedics and taken to a local hospital, but did not survive, Williams said. A short time later Kevin Talbott, 30, a transient from the Poway area, was arrested near the scene and booked at the county jail on suspicion of murder. Williams said Talbott and Phahez did not know each other. Investigators have a possible reason for the confrontation but are not disclosing it at this time, Williams said. Talbotts arraignment was scheduled for today (Thursday.) Williams said he did not think that Phahez was employed by the 7-Eleven store on Pomerado Road. A family member was quoted on Channel 10 as saying Phahez had stopped by the stores gas station for fuel on his way home. Email: editor@pomeradonews.com On Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, it is this last point that I would like to focus on in the closing paragraphs: According to the New York Civil Liberties Union, Black New Yorkers are 4.5 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana offenses than whites. Just down the road, in Onondaga County, they are nine times more likely to be arrested than whites. As Unitarian Universalists, we affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every person, regardless of their race, as well as regardless of whether they choose to use marijuana. By pursuing people of color in disproportionate numbers (studies show that whites are actually slightly more likely to use marijuana), blacks and Latinos are not only more likely to populate our prisons, they are also more likely to bear the long-term economic consequences that result from arrests, as well as convictions. They are also more likely to be denied housing, both public as well as from private rentals. It is time for our state Legislature to remediate this inequity. A first step would be to join the 10 other states in which marijuana can be used recreationally, as long as certain guidelines, such as restrictions on sales to children, and prohibitions against its use while operating motor vehicles, are followed. A second step would be to establish a safe, legal and accountable distribution network. When legal networks exist provide for its distribution, cartels from beyond our borders are deprived of revenues that can be used to finance other crimes. Finally, I would call on Gov. Cuomo, along with the Department of Corrections, to issue pardons and immediately release those who are currently incarcerated for minor drug offenses. We have better uses for our state revenues than funding a criminal creation system composed of our fellow citizens. That is, indeed, a case of reefer madness. The Rev. Dr. Stan Sears is a minister with the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Society, which was founded in 1833 and is located at 607 N. Seward Ave., Auburn. Services are held at 10:30 a.m. Sundays. All men, women and children of every race, religious creed, political conviction and sexual orientation are welcome. Love 5 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 1. Yes. The bus service is underfunded, and the money will ensure another route. 2. Yes. Its COVID relief money, and plenty of people depend on public transportation. 3. No. The COVID funds are a short-term fix. The city cant afford a big outlay next year. 4. No. The city isnt getting much for its money. Another transit solution is needed. 5. Unsure. Its a hard to say whether HOP ridership will validate the expenditure. Vote View Results The mayoral machinations at San Francisco City Hall have turned into trench warfare between the moderates and the progressives with neither side able to amass the needed six votes on the Board of Supervisors to make a move. After more than a month on the job, acting Mayor London Breed is still one vote short of what she needs to be designated interim mayor until the June election. Breed has a vote as board president, but city rules prohibit supervisors from voting for themselves. Nor are there six votes for any of the other declared June candidates or possible caretakers whose names have been floated, such as former Mayor Art Agnos and former Assemblyman Tom Ammiano. In fact, there is not even consensus among supervisors on when they might hold a hearing to start talking openly about the mayoral succession. Supervisor Aaron Peskin called for a special meeting on the matter for this Tuesday, so that we can have an open discussion where members of the public can come and tell us what they are thinking. But what with the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday upon us and with the board not scheduled to meet this week the call fell flat. Breed says shes up for a hearing and a vote, and has been polling the supervisors to find a date that works for all of them. But its been extremely difficult to line up anything before the next scheduled board meeting Jan. 23, Breed said. Its a good time for the supervisors to be unavailable, because chances are that no matter the outcome, some people will be unhappy. Progressives dont want the moderate Breed to have the advantages of incumbency. Two June candidates, former state Sen. Mark Leno and former Supervisor Angela Alioto, want a caretaker. But moderates worry that someone like Agnos would work to roll back the policies of the late Mayor Ed Lee, and they see Breed as the best alternative. Which brings us back to where we started in a stalemate that none of the one-on-one meetings among supervisors at the bar at Original Joes in North Beach has resolved. It appears to be 5-5 on everyone and everything, said Supervisor Jeff Sheehy, who has yet to back a candidate in the race. And as long as the stalemate lasts, Breed stays put as acting mayor which is just fine with her. Im doing the job, she said, and I want to continue to do the job. Winfreys the one: If Oprah Winfrey ran for president against Donald Trump, shed win hands down at least in California, according to a new KPIX-SurveyUSA poll. Jacquelyn Martin/Associated Press The talk show host and media mogul bested the former reality TV star-turned-president by 24 points, 56 to 32 percent, in the phone poll of 909 California voters conducted Jan. 7-9 after Winfreys tour de force speech at the Golden Globe Awards ceremony. Actor Tom Hanks whom Globes show host Seth Meyers jokingly suggested could be Oprahs running mate would whomp Trump in California as well, 56 to 31 percent, according to the survey, which had a margin of error of 3.3 percentage points. Both Winfrey and Hanks ran better in their fictitious California matchups than a field of possible Democratic candidates, including Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren (53 to 32 percent over Trump); California Sen. Kamala Harris (53 to 33 percent); and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti (46 to 32 percent). Proving once again, celebrity sells. Like mom, like son: Former San Francisco Supervisor Angela Alioto, who is running for mayor in June, isnt the only member of her family seeking elective office her son is looking to challenge District Attorney George Gascon in 2019. Gabrielle Lurie / Gabrielle Lurie / Special to The Chronicle 2016 Joseph Alioto Veronese, a onetime member of the San Francisco Police Commission who practices law in the same Montgomery Street office as his mother, quietly took out papers Dec. 18 that allow him to start raising money for a possible run as the citys top prosecutor. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Its no secret that the Aliotos are a family of public servants, and I can no longer sit on the sidelines while our city continues to deteriorate and the criminal justice system plays a major role in that, said Veronese, now a member of the Fire Commission. In particular, Veronese said, the relationship between the district attorney and police is at a low it hasnt seen in decades. For certain crimes, you have a 1 percent chance of being caught and even when you stipulate to a homicide, as we saw in the (Kate) Steinle case, our D.A. is incapable of convicting you, he said. Gascons political spokesman, Dan Newsom of SCN Strategies, told us, Were looking forward to a robust, substantive, issue-based and hopefully factual campaign next year. Veronese, grandson of the late Mayor Joe Alioto, has campaigned for elective office before making an aborted run for the state Senate in 2008. So far, no other candidates for district attorney have announced. San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX-TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call (415) 777-8815, or email matierandross@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @matierandross President Trump has a talent that many people would love to possess: the ability to edit an outrageous action out of ones memory and believe it never happened. Thats a laudable trait for, say, a relief pitcher who coughs up a home run. But its a scary trait in the supposed leader of the free world, at least when he uses it to spin the most racist of statements into a he-said-she-said dispute. But thats who he is, and thats where we are. Trump isnt the first politician to say something outlandish behind closed doors. Politicians are human beings, some with only limited mental capacities. When they get into a heated exchange, they sometimes cross the line. It rarely becomes public. When it does, they first try to explain their way around it. If that doesnt work, they try to spin the interpretation. And then, if all else fails, they just give up and ask for forgiveness. Trump, however, does not have the forgiveness gene. He can only insist or deny until we get worn down and move on to the next outrage. The irony in Trumps nakedly racist comment about people from Haiti and Africa is that he may well have been on the verge of an immigration victory when he shot his mouth off. He might even have managed to get funding for the wall in return for allowing the Dreamers to stay in this country, something he would like to take credit for as well. Instead, he has reporters shouting questions at him about whether he considers himself to be a racist. Thats a scene none of us is likely to forget. A real hero: We said goodbye to a real trailblazer last week when we laid former California Secretary of State March Fong Eu to rest in Oakland. In 1974, Fong Eu was the first Asian American in the U.S. to be elected to a state constitutional office. Before that, she was with me in the Assembly, where one of her first causes was to abolish pay-toilet stalls for women. Hard to believe, but back in the 60s mens rooms were free, while women usually had to pay a dime to use a toilet. Another reminder of what women have been through. My favorite memory of March was back in 1974, when I first ran for Assembly speaker. My then-roommate in Sacramento, Leon Ralph, was supposed to put my name in nomination when the Democratic caucus met. What I didnt know was that Leon had cut a deal with my rival, Leo McCarthy of San Francisco, to get a committee chairmanship in return for double-crossing me. When the nominations opened, Leon just sat there. March, who was sitting behind him, instantly realized he had sold me out and starting beating him over the head with her purse and yelling, You lying bastard! I lost the election. But the memory of seeing March in action was almost worth it. Basic black: I heard it through the grapevine: Democratic women in Congress will take a cue from Oprah Winfrey and her #MeToo colleagues in the Golden Globes crowd, and wear black to President Trumps State of the Union address Jan. 30. Movie time: You have got to see The Post, the story of how the Washington Post did battle with President Richard Nixon to publish the Pentagon Papers. It was a powerful moment for freedom of the press in this country, but for me, the movie is also about the birth of the womens movement. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Post publisher Katharine Graham, played by Meryl Streep, found herself in charge when her husband died. Her treatment by the men of the time and media, which ignored her, is a great reminder of the history behind todays #MeToo movement. President Oprah? Dont laugh. Oprah Winfrey making a bid for the White House is not as out-of-this-world as you may think. Weve entered an age when celebrities have inherited the credibility that politicians have lost. People have welcomed Oprah into their homes for years, figuratively speaking. She comes off as sane. These days, that counts for a lot. Plus, you cant help but love someone who for years has given away everything from cars to refrigerators to people in need. And with her reading list, she has helped sell books by deserving authors to people all across America. A skill like that is guaranteed to win votes. Want to sound off? Email: wbrown@sfchronicle.com KIGALI, Rwanda Enough was enough. After years of watching the Miss Rwanda beauty pageant overtake the nation, a group of young women decided they were sick of it. With the pageant playing on a TV nearby, they looked around the room at each other. All of them were successful and smart. Most worked in tech, some had started companies. Why are we still praising people just because theyre beautiful, the women asked each other. Frustrated, they began to brainstorm alternatives. We should have someone called Miss Geek instead, one said. We should value them because of their brain. Soon, they devised their own contest a pitch competition for female entrepreneurs they called Ms. Geek Rwanda. It was streamed on YouTube, and they began to build a following. The idea was to make the notion of a technology career real to young women, said Esther Kunda, 27, the programs and operations coordinator at the Next Einstein Forum and one of the founding members of Girls in ICT, the group responsible for the Ms. Geek competition. Marissa Lang/Special to the Chronicle Over the past two decades, Rwandan women have risen from the ashes of a nation decimated by genocide to assume positions of leadership in government, industry and education. And though there are no national statistics on women in the countrys blossoming tech sector, many leading tech companies report high female representation, with some clocking in at more than 50 percent. Unlike at firms in the U.S. and other developed nations, being inclusive of women is more than a goal at Rwandan companies it is a requirement. For years, the country has used quotas, mentorship programs, internships and national campaigns as part of the singular mission of getting more women into the tech industry. And its working. The country has been so successful that several U.S. advocates of women in tech said Silicon Valley would do well to take notes. Rwanda has lessons for us, said Swanee Hunt, an activist and former U.S. ambassador to Austria who recently wrote the book Rwanda Women Rising. They have figured out a lot of things that we haven't. Women hold only about a quarter of U.S. computing and mathematical jobs by most estimates a figure that has fallen over the past 15 years. Theyre hired less frequently and leave tech jobs nearly twice as often as their male counterparts. The tech industry, long mired in its image of bros in hoodies crushing code, has made attempts over the past several years to address its diversity problem. Companies have hired diversity coordinators, invested in mentorship programs, released diversity statistics and required managers to undergo training. And yet, four years after the first diversity reports were released, theres been little movement in the way of female representation. Meanwhile, half a world away, in a tiny East African nation, Rwandan women are joining tech companies and signing up for coding classes at unprecedented rates. Companies held to government-issued diversity quotas report not only meeting those expectations, but shattering them. If a woman and a man were equally qualified for a position, several executives said, the job would almost always go to the woman. Its a really good place to be when youre a woman and have ambitions, just because theres a push to get women into all sectors, Kunda said. Rwanda is landlocked, densely populated and surrounded by countries that dwarf it in size and resources. In the spring of 1994, the country was consumed by unimaginable violence. Under orders from the government to exterminate an ethnic minority known as Tutsis, neighbors turned on neighbors. Colleagues killed colleagues. Family members murdered their own. Roughly a seventh of the population more than 800,000 people by some estimates was slaughtered in just 100 days. Infrastructure was ravaged, homes and businesses ransacked. The economy was left in shambles. Hundreds of thousands of people were traumatized, wounded or orphaned. More than 250,000 women had been raped. Thousands of ethnic Hutus, the majority group, fled the country. More than 2 million of those who stayed were indicted for their participation in the massacre. Rwanda had to begin again from zero. In an ambitious turn, President Paul Kagame set his sights on building a knowledge-based economy, the Silicon Valley of East Africa. When its dark, theres an opportunity, said Pierre Kayitana, 31, director of operations for RwandaOnline, a company that works to digitize government services in the country. Rwanda knew (technology) would create hundreds of thousands of jobs and opportunities. It was a way forward. Women made up 70 percent of the Rwandan population when the killing stopped. Turning decades of patriarchal rule and strictly enforced gender norms on their head, Rwanda thrust women into roles as village leaders, community health workers and purveyors of justice. Soon, women were ascending to the very top of government and industry. In 2008, women tipped the scale in Parliament, the countrys elected legislative body, becoming the majority. A rapid overhaul of laws followed, making those changes permanent: Women were granted the right to inherit and own land. A quota system was instituted for all public offices, mandating that 30 percent of positions be held by women. Abuse of women and girls was outlawed. So was discrimination. Today, one of the most frequently cited statistics about Rwanda is this: Sixty-four percent of the seats in Parliament are held by women. No other nation in the world comes close. In the U.S., women occupy less than 20 percent of the seats in Congress. If we could do what Rwanda did in their first election and get 42 percent of our Congress to be women, just imagine how different that would be, Hunt said. We forget that we can do this, that this is possible for us, too. Instead, people say, Oh well, its just our society. Its different. But I think what Rwanda shows us is any society any society can figure this out. More than 52 percent of Rwandan students at private universities are female, according to national statistics from 2015. Administrators say that when theres a gender imbalance in tech classes, its because more women than men signed up. Kigalis Akilah Institute, the first college in the country built exclusively for women, began offering a degree in ICT, or information and communications technology, in 2014 to a class of 10 women. Now, more than 60 are enrolled. The Rwandan governments unyielding support of women is rooted as much in President Kagames hope for the future as his fear of repeating the past. Jacobia Dahm/Special to the Chronicle He wants women in power because theyre not going to start wars or plot slaughters the way men do, Hunt said. Context matters. Hes looking at women empowerment from the viewpoint of someone who has seen his country consumed by genocide. Still, life for Rwandan women remains far from utopian. Many girls are taught young that being a good Rwandan means keeping quiet, being deferential and pliant, Rwandan women say. Some are taught, too, to fear violence if they dont obey. Domestic violence often goes unreported. At school, girls can be teased for being too pushy, too bossy, too muzungu, a term used to connote Westerner, foreigner, someone who does not belong. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes And women still face pressures to marry and have children, regardless of their careers. Even so, Rwandas government has used its long reach into private industry to promote women in the workplace. It has set mandatory minimums for female hires that companies have been expected to maintain. For tech firms like DMM.HeHe, one of Rwandas most successful startups, the mandatory target was 13 percent. Soon the company had crossed 50 percent. Its actually quite interesting that when we saw we were at 53 percent female, we were like, Huh? How did we get to that? DMM.HeHe spokeswoman Bridget Uwineza said. Hiring quotas are, of course, illegal in the United States. So, instead of quotas, some companies have instituted hiring goals with financial incentives. Intel, for example, set a goal of having 40 percent of all new hires in 2015 be female or underrepresented minorities. Meeting that goal meant the Santa Clara company would award a bonus to all its employees. That year, Intel not only met, but exceeded its goal: 43 percent of new hires were women or underrepresented minorities. Last year, the company moved the mark to 45 percent and met it again. Intel saw its share of female workers creep up from 23.5 percent in 2014 to 26 percent in 2017 a significant shift for a company with a workforce of 100,000 worldwide. Thats effective, and thats great, but theres also something that needs to be added and that is retention, said Gloria Feldt, the president of Take the Lead, a nonprofit that aims to get women into positions of leadership in the tech sector. Retention is where (companies) lose high performing women who should be making it into the upper leadership ranks. At DMM.HeHe, a company that builds online strategies and mobile-friendly websites for small businesses, Chief Executive Officer Clarisse Iribagiza, one of Rwandas most high-profile entrepreneurs, has drawn from her own experience to build a workplace where women not only feel valued but also that their needs are being met. A generous maternity leave policy, after-work chats about work-life balance and more help instill a feeling of community, said Fileille Naberwe, 20, a fellow at DMM.HeHe and student at the African Leadership University in Kigali. Its such a nice environment, Naberwe said. Another draw is seeing (Iribagiza) in one of the biggest positions, and seeing her handling it like a boss. Role models and mentors make a tangible difference in the success of women in business, tech and other sectors, studies have shown. And yet, women tend to have a harder time finding mentors than men do. That, Kunda said, was the driving force behind Ms. Geek and why it has taken off. If you have career guidance plus role models, it shows kids, Hey, you guys, if you want this particular cool job or this career, these are the things you should be focusing on, Kunda said. Most of us always say for us to reach wherever we are, weve had role models so we want to give back whatever was given to us when we were young. The strategy adopted by her organization, Girls in ICT, is, in many ways, similar to efforts under way in Silicon Valley. The group urges young women to specialize in math, computer science and engineering in school; supports women already in the workplace; provides mentorship; and creates a path for female professionals to become leaders, executives and board members. To some advocates of female inclusion, the notion of a national competition on the level of Ms. Geek which has grown into Ms. Geek Africa after its start in Rwanda in 2014 seems inspired. Those kinds of contests highlight people whove done great things, Feldt said, adding: Girls are getting inspired by this, and its actually moving the needle. Rosine Mwiseneza, a past Ms. Geek Rwanda victor, said one of the most rewarding aspects of winning is being able to be that role model for young women and girls who may have ideas of their own but no one to show them the way. Seeing another woman achieve things you would like to achieve, gives you hope, creates a strong connection having that person, Mwiseneza said. It gives you strength and motivates you to think, Why not me? Why cant I do it? Marissa Lang is a former San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. She traveled to Rwanda with assistance from the International Womens Foundation, a nonprofit that seeks to support the work of female journalists. Email: business@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Marissa_Jae April 4, 1968, was a Thursday, and Martin Luther King Jr. was shot to death just after 6 p.m. in Memphis, 4 p.m. Pacific time. People here are more likely to remember the moment they heard the civil rights leader had been murdered, at age 39, as opposed to when Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, 42, was shot two months later in Los Angeles after midnight. In advance of Martin Luther King Day, Monday, and the upcoming 50th anniversary of his assassination, we talked to a half-dozen cultural figures in the Bay Area black community about the life, death and legacy of King. The Rev. Amos Brown, San Francisco, pastor at Third Baptist Church. When I was only 15 years, old I drove with Medgar Evers from Jackson, Miss., to San Francisco to the national convention of the NAACP. On Youth Night, Dr. King spoke, and from that night on I followed him all the way. I went to Morehouse College in Atlanta because Dr. King had gone there. He taught only one class in his lifetime and that was at Morehouse in 1962. It was a seminar in social philosophy, and I was a junior. There were eight of us in the class. We met once a week for an hour and a half or two hours. I learned who he was. Even though he was catapulted into office as a great leader, he was very humble and approachable. When Dr. King died, I had just delivered a eulogy at St. Pauls Baptist Church in West Chester, Pa. We were about to recess out of the church, one of my choir members leaned over and told me that she had just gotten the word that Dr. King had been shot down in Memphis. I announced it to the church that night. I was involved in the movement for civil rights before he died, and I still am. His death didnt stop me at all. It compelled me to continue the struggle as he would want me to. Michael M. Santiago/Special to The Chronicle Mildred Howard, West Oakland. Artist and social activist. I remember it as if it were yesterday. I was working at UC Berkeley at the Center for Research and Development in Higher Education. I was in the office, and someone said Martin Luther King is dead. I got up and I left work. I was living a mile and a half away, in West Berkeley. I can remember walking home down University Avenue feeling so terribly sad. I called my mother and talked about it. Everyone was crying. I was crying, and I was angry at the same time. I never met Martin Luther King, but I saw him speak in Oakland. He was such a great orator, and he was able to impact the world. When you hear his talks today and some of his quotes, it brings me to tears with how relevant it is. Im more sad and disgusted now. Look what has happened in the last year in this country. It is as if all of the work done in this country over the last 50 years has been erased. The United States has deep issues of racism woven in the fabric of that flag. Im just trying to find hope amidst the craziness. Because without hope there is nothing. Now Playing: Marching with Martin Luther King Jr. Video: SFChronicle The Rev. Cecil Williams, 88, San Francisco. Founder and minister of liberation at Glide. I met him here in San Francisco. He had come to Richmond when he was in his embryonic stage. It was before 1963. I didnt know who he was. I went over there and found out. I was invited by the minister. He was very cool and calm and collected. He knew what he was trying to do, and he came across as a sensitive and courageous person. He had a flair about him. You could tell he was a Baptist preacher. We predicted that he would go far because he had that swagger about him. You could tell he had confidence. On the day he was shot, I was right here at Glide. Somebody came in and told me King was shot. I got in my car and drove to Bayview-Hunters Point. When I got out of my car there was a policeman. He said, Theyre going to turn our city upside down. I thought about what could I do and said, Lets get these kids together and see about what theyre going to do. There were about 15 of them, and they were getting ready to throw rocks and everything else. We went and talked to them. We were trying to avoid violence. We got some food and brought it out to the Bayview that same day, and we ate and talked and ate and talked and finally it began to ease off. I saw some of the fellas that were in that episode just the other day. A month after King died, his widow, Coretta, came out to Glide. She became very close to us. Mike Kepka/The Chronicle Jerry Varnado, 73, East Oakland. Business consultant and co-founder of the nations first Black Student Union at San Francisco State College. I saw Dr. King speak in 1961 at the Masonic auditorium in Jackson, Miss., where I grew up. I was 15 or 16. I couldnt tell my parents or brothers and sisters I was going to listen to Martin Luther King. My mother and father could have lost their jobs. There was a state-sponsored group called the Sovereignty Commission that was like the Nazi secret police. I told my parents I was going to a movie and walked by myself to the speech. I had $16 in savings that I brought with me, and after I heard his speech I put all of my money in the collection plate. Thats the sort of impact he had. I came to California and enrolled at San Francisco State. I was sitting in the Black Student Union office with other people when someone came in and said that Martin Luther King had been killed. Everybody stood up in shock. We really had to absorb what had happened. We felt so bad because he had been humanized. We knew of his wife and his children. We probably stayed in that office for seven or eight hours just talking about it. The Black Student Union was the best place to be. In 1994, I went to Memphis to see the Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel. You could just walk right up the stairs to the room where he was shot. The room was in the exact same condition as when he stepped out on the balcony and was shot. I cant put into words what it felt like going into that room. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle David Johnson, 91, Greenbrae. Photographer and subject of A Dream Begun So Long Ago: The Story of David Johnson, Ansel Adams First African American Student. Dr. King visited San Francisco when I was a student of photography at the California School of Fine Arts. He was speaking on Fillmore Street and I went. It was very important for me to be there to get a chance to take a photo, but I was shy about going up front and taking a picture of him so I missed that. On the day of the March on Washington (Aug. 28, 1963) I went as a delegate from the San Francisco chapter of the NAACP. I photographed the march but never photographed Dr. King. I never got close enough. For 10 or 15 years, I photographed the Civil Rights Movement. On the day he was assassinated, I was working at the University of California medical center in the personnel office. There was a large community of black people who worked there. It was word of mouth throughout the entire community of UCSF. Dr. Kings been assassinated. What are we going to do now? I thought about that picture I missed. He made the sacrifice. He gave his life for the struggle. Dustin James, 30, San Francisco. Dancer, Smuin Ballet. I first learned about Martin Luther King in elementary school in Houston when I was 6 or 7. I began my training with the Houston Ballet Academy and later got hired by a company called Dance Theatre of Harlem. It was created by Arthur Mitchell after Martin Luther King was assassinated. At the time African Americans were not accepted as ballet dancers. They were considered not to have the appropriate body type or the mental ability to focus on ballet as a technique. It was a stereotype held against African Americans. Without Martin Luther King, I dont know if I would be dancing. There might not have been a Dance Theatre of Harlem, which gave me an example so that I could also follow my dreams. Gabrielle Lurie/Special to The Chronicle Erica Deeman, 40, San Francisco. Photographer of the African diaspora. Martin Luther Kings name was not in my history lessons in Nottingham, England, where I grew up. There was no bank holiday named after him, roads or institutions which would have led to a natural discussion of who he was and the ideals he represented. I heard of him in the early 1990s, when I was around 13 or 14 and there was a renewed focus on 1960s America and the assassinations of JFK, Malcolm X and Dr. King by the British media driven by films that were released around that time. Coming to the United States has given me a deeper understanding of Dr. King and the importance of the Civil Rights Movement. His drive for equality, respect and understanding resonates within me and in the message of my photography. His message should connect us all. Sam Whiting is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: swhiting@sfchronicle.com Instagram: @sfchronicle_art A little more than a week after former employees filed an explosive lawsuit alleging sexual assault and harassment against popular Bay Area coffee roaster Four Barrel and its founder, Jeremy Tooker, the lawsuit has been settled, according to parties involved. Umeko Motoyoshi, one of eight former Four Barrel Coffee employees who came forward in the lawsuit, said their goal wasnt to pursue a jury trial. Rather, it was to prompt change within the companys ownership and management ranks and also lay groundwork for creating a safer workplace environment for current employees. In this capacity, she said, the lawsuit was a success for the group. In the days after the lawsuits filing, Four Barrel announced that Tooker had vacated his role as CEO quietly in November. The company said he would divest immediately from Four Barrel, relinquishing his shares that represented 50 percent of ownership. Tooker has not responded to requests for comments Remaining partners Tal Mor and Jodi Geren have said they are working with an outside human resources firm to develop procedures so employees can report concerns. They also said they, too, would divest from the company, eventually turning it into a 100 percent employee-owned entity. Four Barrel, which has a wholesale coffee business and operates three cafes in San Francisco, has changed its name to the Tide for the foreseeable future. The legal part is over. Were moving forward, Motoyoshi said. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed. In an email to The Chronicle, Mor said that he and Geren met with the women Thursday, and they agreed to settle the suit. He said he apologized to each of the women personally and let them know that we are learning every day from their bravery. The two plaintiffs in the lawsuit Megan Kepnach and Karley Webb were originally seeking damages and a jury trial, according to the filing. Together with the six other women, they described a toxic workplace culture that was never appropriately addressed by management. Kepnach and Webb declined to comment. The accusations in the lawsuit, filed Jan. 5, spanned multiple years but focused on two company parties in 2015. Court documents contained these allegations: Tooker kissed multiple women against their will at these events, sexually assaulted another in a hotel room, made lewd speeches to the employees, imitated sex acts on others and forced partygoers to play a game called kiss or slap, wherein he forced participants to either kiss him or slap him. In extensive interviews with the Chronicle, 10 former employees said that both Geren and Mor were aware of Tookers behavior yet did nothing to address it. Molly Flynn, a coordinator with CoffeeToo, an organization seeking to combat harassment in the coffee industry, applauded the former Four Barrel employees for their efforts over the past week. The victims were told to not talk s and not start drama, Flynn said, referring to allegations and language in the lawsuit. But by speaking out about the treatment they endured, they paved the way for all three owners leaving the company, the Four Barrel brand being dismantled and the workers taking over the business. Motoyoshi said the legal resolution still does not absolve Geren and Mor of their involvement in not only creating, but also perpetuating Four Barrels toxic culture detailed in the lawsuit. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. Others said that true change at the company will come only once Geren and Mor have vacated their ownership roles. I would like for Jodi and Tal to divest now, not eventually, said Britta Leijonflycht, another former employee named in the suit. All we ever wanted was for the workers to feel safe and for the owners to know that their actions have consequences. However, as long as two out of the three owners still run the company, I am skeptical. Emily Haddad, a former Four Barrel employee who also provided testimony in the suit, said it was startling to see how much of an impact the groups stories could make on the insular specialty coffee community. She said the Tide becoming 100 percent employee-owned was the best possible outcome. The workers have always been the best of that company, Haddad said. Justin Phillips is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jphillips@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JustMrPhillips Evolution of immigration standards The United States has always attracted large numbers of immigrants, often driven by economic and political events at home and abroad. Large expansions are usually followed by restrictions and retrenchment. U.S. laws often have led to unanticipated changes in the nature and composition of immigration flows. Open borders: From the founding until the 1880s, borders were open under the Naturalization Act of 1790 that said, Any alien, being a free white person, may be admitted to become a citizen of the United States. The Irish Potato Famine of the 1840s and 1850s and the California Gold Rush in 1849 drew many. From 1820 to 1880, Germany sent 3 million, Ireland 2.8 million and Britain 2 million. Chinese laborers began to arrive through San Francisco in the 1850s to build the railroads. The Great Wave of European migration peaked from 1900 to 1910, before the outbreak of World War I. From 1880 to 1930, 4.6 million arrived from Italy, 4 million from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, 3.3 million from Russia, 2.8 million from Germany, 2.3 million each from Canada and Britain, and 1.1 million from Sweden. Immigration Act of 1882: Along with the 1907 Gentlemens Agreement with Japan and the Alien Contract Labor laws of 1885 and 1887, this law banned Asian laborers from the United States. Congress also enacted a 50-cent head tax on all immigrants and banned entry of any convict, lunatic, idiot, or any person unable to take care of him or herself without becoming a public charge. Immigration policy US & World Trump opens new front on legal immigration National origins quotas, 1924-64: These restrictions were enacted during an isolationist period after World War I and a backlash to the Great Wave of Southern and Eastern European migration. Quotas for each nationality were set at 2 percent of the number of foreign-born persons of that nationality residing in the United States in 1890. All but 14 percent of the quotas went to Northern and Western Europe. The Western Hemisphere was exempt. Many Mexican laborers entered during this time to expand and maintain the railroads. The ban on immigrants from the Asia-Pacific Triangle continued until China became a U.S. ally in World War II. In 1952, many countries in Asia and Africa were given token allotments of 100 visas. Bracero program, 1942-64: Intended to meet farm labor shortages during World War II, the program lasted 22 years and brought in 4.5 million workers from Mexico. It reached an annual peak of 450,000 workers in 1956. It proved unwieldy as well as harsh, and is widely believed to have laid the foundation for illegal Mexican immigration. It also gave birth to Cesar Chavez's United Farm Workers of America. Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965: Enacted shortly after the 1964 Civil Rights Act and 1965 Voting Rights Act in an era of liberalization, it abolished the national-origins quotas. The Civil Rights Act includes the phrase national origin as a prohibited class of discrimination. Initiated by President John Kennedy, who wrote the pamphlet, A Nation of Immigrants, it was carried to enactment after his assassination by his younger brother, Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy. The act created the structure of today's immigration system based on preferences for family reunification and to a lesser extent job skills. It also established the first quotas on Western Hemisphere immigration. Sponsors expected the measure's family unification provisions to open immigration to Italians, Poles and other Europeans excluded by the national-origins system. Instead, immigration shifted to Asia and Latin America. Refugees: They were used as a foreign policy tool during the Cold War and in response to wars. President Dwight Eisenhower applied his parole power to admit 30,000 Hungarian refugees in 1956. President Lyndon Johnson welcomed Cubans upon signing the 1965 act the same day he said, The days of unlimited immigration are over. President Ronald Reagan spurned refugees from El Salvador and Guatemala, where Marxist rebels were battling pro-U.S. governments, but welcomed Iranians. After the Vietnam War, more than 1 million Vietnamese, Laotians and Cambodians were admitted. In 2016, nearly 85,000 refugees were admitted, with the largest numbers coming from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Syria, Myanmar and Iraq. Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986: Backed by President Reagan, this law was intended to reduce the number of undocumented immigrants, whose population had reached 5 million, through a combination of amnesty and sanctions against employers who hired them. Debate extended over a decade. Employer sanctions soon failed because of rampant document fraud and a general unwillingness to enforce them. A special, looser amnesty for agriculture provided five times more legalizations than anticipated. Many of the farmworker applications were believed to be fraudulent, but immigration agents were too overwhelmed to check. No allowance was made for future flows, leading to further illegal entries. Many families remained in a mixed status, partly legal immigrants and partly those who had entered the U.S. illegally. Congress extended the amnesty in 1990 to include immigrants' family members. Immigration Act of 1990: The act amounted to a significant overhaul that increased legal immigration by about 40 percent, adding several employment-based visas while keeping family preferences largely intact. Many of todays well known work visas such as the H-1B for the technology industry were created by this law. Diversity lottery: An obscure provision of the 1990 overhaul, the diversity visa was intended to correct the exclusion of Irish and Italians by the 1965 act. By the time the law passed, however, Italians had lost interest in emigrating. The day it took effect, the Merrifield Post Office in Virginia, where applications were sent, received 1 million applications for 55,000 slots. A few years later, the Irish also lost interest as their economy boomed. Now used mainly by immigrants from Africa and Central Asia, the program works on a random lottery limited to countries that do not send large numbers of immigrants through other programs. Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996: A tough border crackdown initiated by the Republican-led Congress and signed by Democratic President Bill Clinton, the 1996 law was a backlash to the amnesty enacted 10 years earlier. Spending on border enforcement soared. Combined with 1986 border measures, border enforcement spending rose from $1 billion to nearly $5 billion a year. Spending for detention and removal grew more than 750 percent. Barriers were erected in San Diego and El Paso, Texas. The law had the unanticipated result of interrupting circular migration patterns and trapping Mexican immigrants in the United States. Illegal immigration continued to rise until the Great Recession in 2008. Since then, unauthorized immigration from Mexico has declined, while increasing from other regions of the world, especially Central America and Asia, leaving the overall level roughly unchanged. Secure Fence Act of 2006: Passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, the law added about 700 miles of fencing and walls to earlier physical barriers constructed in San Diego. Critics said the law militarized the southern border and fragmented habitats, while migrants skirted the fence by using more dangerous desert routes or by breaching, tunneling under or scaling the barriers. Sources: Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; David Reimers, Unwelcome Strangers: American Identity and the Turn against Immigration; Philip Martin, UC Davis; Migration Policy Institute; Pew Research Center. A raft of retirements, difficulty recruiting candidates and President Donald Trump's continuing pattern of throwing his party off message have prompted new alarm among Republicans that they could be facing a Democratic electoral wave in November. The concern has grown so acute that Trump received what one congressional aide described as a "sobering" slide presentation about the difficult midterm landscape at Camp David last weekend, leading the president to pledge a robust schedule of fundraising and campaign travel in the coming months, White House officials said. But the trends have continued, and perhaps worsened, since that briefing, with two more prominent Republican House members announcing plans to retire from vulnerable seats and a would-be recruit begging off a Senate challenge to Democrat Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota despite pressure from Trump to run. And by the end of the week, many Republicans were scrambling to distance themselves from the president after he spoke of "shithole countries" during an Oval Office meeting with lawmakers about immigration policy. Rep. Mia Love, R-Utah, a rising star in the party who faces a strong Democratic challenge this year, quickly denounced Trump for apparently denigrating Haiti, the birthplace of both her parents, during the Oval Office discussion. "The president must apologize to both the American people and the nations he so wantonly maligned," Love demanded - creating a model, perhaps, for Republicans in competitive races to try to separate from Trump as a survival strategy. In the Camp David presentation, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., described scenarios to the president ranging from a bloodbath where Republicans lost the House "and lost it big," in the words of one official, to an outcome in which they keep control while losing some seats. McCarthy outlined trends over recent decades for parties in power and spotlighted vulnerable Republican seats where Hillary Clinton won in 2016. Eight years ago, before the 2010 midterms swept the GOP to power, he had drafted a similar presentation with the opposite message for his party. Republicans hold the advantage of a historically favorable electoral map, with more House seats than ever benefiting from Republican-friendly redistricting and a Senate landscape that puts 26 Democratic seats in play, including 10 states that Trump won in 2016, and only eight Republican seats. But other indicators are clearly flashing GOP warning signs. Democrats have benefited from significant recruitment advantages - there are at least a half dozen former Army Rangers and Navy SEALs running as Democrats this year, for example - as Republicans struggle to convince incumbents to run for re-election. At least 29 House seats held by Republicans will be open in November following announced retirements, a greater number for the majority party than in each of the past three midterm elections when control of Congress flipped. The president's own job approval, a traditional harbinger of his party's midterm performance, is at record lows as he approaches a year in office, according to Gallup. Polls asking which party Americans want to see control Congress in 2019 show a double-digit advantage for Democrats. "When the wave comes, it's always underestimated in the polls," said a conservative political strategist who has met with GOP candidates. "That is the reason that Republicans are ducking for cover." RELATED VIDEO: Now Playing: President Trump on Sunday lashed out at the Wall Street Journal over his remark about having a "good relationship" with Kim Jong-un. Video: GeoBeats Amid the onslaught, Republican strategists say they continue to pin their party's electoral hopes on the nation's still-rising economic indicators, the potential effects of the recent tax-reform bill and Trump's ability to rally the conservative base. "The monthly metrics are bad, from the generic ballot to the Republican retirements to the number of Democratic recruits with money," said one Republican political consultant, who works with major conservative donors involved in the midterms and asked for anonymity to speak frankly. "The big question is: Is everything different with Trump? Because the major metrics point to us losing at least one house of Congress." That sliver of optimism extends to the top of the Republican leadership who are hopeful that Trump's disruptive effect on the political landscape can once again surprise the nation this fall. "Who knows what 2018 will be like? Nobody called 2016, right?" said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, the second-ranking Republican in that chamber. "Everybody thought Hillary Clinton was going to get elected and that Chuck Schumer was going to be the majority leader. And none of that turned out to be true." In private conversations, Trump has told advisers that he doesn't think the 2018 election has to be as bad as others are predicting. He has referenced the 2002 midterms, when George W. Bush and Republicans fared better after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, these people said. But his ability to shape the midterm field has repeatedly been frustrated. Trump worked hard to recruit two 2018 Senate candidates, Rep. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., and incumbent Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, R-Utah, both of whom announced in recent weeks that they would not run. Those decisions strengthened the hopes of Heitkamp, who is running for re-election in a state that Trump won by 36 points in 2016, and provided an opportunity in Utah for a Trump antagonist, former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, to launch a Senate bid of his own. In other cases, Republicans have struggled to narrow their Senate fields, with big and sometimes-nasty primary fights shaping up in Indiana, Montana and Arizona. The recent announcement that former Phoenix-area sheriff Joe Arpaio would run for the Senate has raised some Republican concerns about holding onto the seat of retiring Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona. Republican leaders feel better about Trump's ability to elevate Missouri candidate Josh Hawley, the state attorney general, who greeted the president on a recent visit. The White House is also pushing Florida Gov. Rick Scott to run against Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., although associates of Scott are of mixed opinions on the likelihood that he will do it. In a move White House aides described as unrelated, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke recently granted Florida an exemption from the president's new plan to open the nation's coastlines to offshore drilling. In Ohio, state Treasurer Josh Mandel also made a surprise announcement on Jan. 5 that he would abandon his own Senate campaign, which had broad national support, because of his wife's health. The White House political operation helped push Rep. James B. Renacci, R-Ohio, who had launched an outsider bid for governor, to instead challenge Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio. Trump continually reminds advisers that he remains popular in a number of states, including West Virginia, Montana and North Dakota, according to aides. But slow fundraising and anemic candidate recruitment have caused tensions between the White House and the National Republican Senatorial Committee, White House advisers said. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Still, two people with direct knowledge of that relationship said it has improved considerably in recent months. One person said "there is an active effort to professionalize the operation," and "coordination has improved." A Republican familiar with NRSC operations said there was a noticeable fundraising uptick in December, when the GOP tax bill passed, which helped smooth out relations after a rough period that included a stinging special election defeat in Alabama that cost the party a Senate seat. These days, the Republican said, White House aides are in frequent contact with committee officials and the favorable map is a main driver of hope. An NRSC representative declined to comment. White House officials said they expect a full plunge in upcoming weeks into a special House race in Pennsylvania, with trips from Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and Cabinet members. The race has taken on a larger-than-life role in the White House because officials want to stem the tide of the losses they suffered last year in Virginia and Alabama. White House officials also said they are interested in progress on infrastructure, which polls well across the country, particularly in swing districts. And they have begun exploring ways to inject "wedge issues" that could trouble Democrats in more conservative states. Those could include immigration votes, requirements for welfare, sanctuary-city reform and revisions to the guest-worker program. Despite all that, political handicappers have gradually increased the odds that Democrats will retake the House, where they need to pick up 24 seats to do so. Democrats must net two seats to take control of the Senate, a harder task given the number of competitive states where Trump won in 2016. Among the recently announced Republican retirements are Rep. Darrell Issa of California and the surprise decision by Rep. Edward R. Royce of California, who had previously told party leaders that he was committed to re-election. Both seats are now seen as potential Democratic pickups. Hopes of recruiting other top-tier candidates have been frustrated. In Tennessee, Democrats recruited former Gov. Phil Bredesen to run for the Senate seat left open by the retirement of Republican Sen. Bob Corker. But Republican efforts to recruit the current governor, Bill Haslam, fell short. One prominent GOP donor said rumors that former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty would jump into the race are unfounded. "He's told me unequivocally he's not going to run for the Senate," the donor said. Pawlenty did not respond to a request for comment. Republican strategists said they want to spend the next eight months talking about the economy. "I think it's far less challenging now that we've got tax reform behind us," said Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., the vice chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, echoing the hopeful line. "The discussion we were having with candidates last year is we've really got to produce a result. We've got to have something to run on." But maintaining that message can be a challenge, as the president showed this week when his vulgar comments about some developing countries sparked international outrage. Dave Hansen, a political adviser to Love, the Utah congresswoman, said such conflicts are unavoidable during the Trump presidency. "It's certainly not like running with Ronald Reagan, that's for sure," Hansen said. "What a candidate has to do in a situation like this is, you can't be all in for the guy. Basically, you support him when you think he's right and oppose him when you think he's wrong." For more than a year now, Ive been hearing from people in the inner circles of official Washington GOP lobbyists, Republican pundits, even a few Republican members of Congress that Donald Trump is remarkably stupid. I figured they couldnt be right because really stupid people dont become presidents of the United States. Even George W. Bush was smart enough to hire smart people to run his campaign and then his White House. Several months back, when Secretary of State Rex Tillerson reportedly called Trump a moron, I discounted it. I know firsthand how frustrating it can be to serve in a presidents Cabinet, and Ive heard members of other presidents Cabinets describe their bosses in similar terms. Now comes Fire and Fury, a book by journalist Michael Wolff, who interviewed more than 200 people who dealt with Trump as a candidate and president, including senior White House staff members. In it, National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster calls Trump a dope. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and former Chief of Staff Reince Priebus both refer to Trump as an idiot. Rupert Murdoch says Trump is another kind of an idiot. Trumps chief economic adviser, Gary Cohn, describes Trump as dumb, explaining that, Trump wont read anything not one-page memos, not the brief policy papers, nothing. He gets up halfway through meetings with world leaders because he is bored. When one of Trumps campaign aides tried to educate him about the Constitution, Trump couldnt focus. I got as far as the Fourth Amendment, the aide recalled, before his finger is pulling down on his lip and his eyes are rolling back in his head. Trump doesnt think hes stupid. Actually, throughout my life, my two greatest assets have been mental stability and being, like, really smart, he tweeted last weekend. In October, he said, I went to an Ivy League college. ... I did very well. Im a very intelligent person. Trump wasnt exactly an academic star. One of his professors at the University of Pennsylvanias Wharton School purportedly said that he was the dumbest goddamn student I ever had. Trump biographer Gwenda Blair wrote in 2001 that Trump was admitted to Wharton on a special favor from a friendly admissions officer who had known Trumps older brother. But hold on. It would be dangerous to underestimate this man. Even if Trump doesnt read, cant follow a logical argument and has the attention span of a fruit fly, it still doesnt follow that hes stupid. Theres another form of intelligence: emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence is a concept developed by two psychologists, John Mayer of the University of New Hampshire and Yales Peter Salovey, and it was popularized by Daniel Goleman in his 1995 book of the same name. Mayer and Salovey define emotional intelligence as the ability to do two things understand and manage our own emotions, and recognize and influence the emotions of others. Granted, Trump hasnt displayed much capacity for the first. Hes thin-skinned, narcissistic and vindictive. As dozens of Republican foreign policy experts put it, He is unable or unwilling to separate truth from falsehood. He does not encourage conflicting views. He lacks self-control and acts impetuously. He cannot tolerate criticism. OK, but what about Mayer and Saloveys second aspect of emotional intelligence influencing the emotions of others? This is where Trump shines. He knows how to manipulate people. He has an uncanny ability to discover their emotional vulnerabilities their fears, anxieties, prejudices and darkest desires and use them for his own purposes. To put it another way, Trump is an extraordinarily talented con man. Hes always been a con man. He conned hundreds of young people and their parents into paying to attend his near-worthless Trump University. He conned banks into lending him more money even after he repeatedly failed to pay them. He conned contractors to work for him and then stiffed them. Granted, he hasnt always been a great con man. Had he been, his cons would have paid off. By his own account, in 1976, when Trump was starting his career, he was worth about $200 million, much of it from his father. He said recently that hes worth some $8 billion. If hed just put the original $200 million into an index fund and reinvested the dividends, hed be worth $12 billion today. But hes been a great political con man. He conned nearly 63 million Americans into voting for him in November 2016 by getting them to believe his lies about Mexicans, Muslims, African Americans, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and all the wonderful, beautiful things hed do for the people who supported him. And hes still conning many of them. Political conning is Trumps genius. This genius combined with his utter stupidity in seemingly every other dimension of his being poses a clear and present danger to America and the world. The 25th Amendment must be invoked before its too late. 2018 Robert Reich Robert Reich, a former U.S. secretary of labor, is professor of public policy at UC Berkeley. He blogs daily at www.facebook.com/rbreich. To comment, submit your letter to the editor at SFChronicle.com/letters. There were lots of signs that Californias race to replace termed-out Gov. Jerry Brown began in earnest Saturday during a forum at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. With the top finishers in the June 5 primary, regardless of party, advancing to the November election, the candidates started swinging hard in an effort to stand out in the crowded field: Both of the two Republicans onstage and two of the three other Democrats attacked early poll front-runner, Democrat Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom. The two Republicans businessman John Cox of Rancho Santa Fe (San Diego County) and Assemblyman Travis Allen, R-Huntington Beach (Orange County) sniped at each other for everything from being immature to contributing money to Democrats, and each claimed to be doing more to support a proposed ballot measure to repeal Californias new gas tax. The field neatly cleaved into those who support President Trump (Republicans) and who dont (Democrats.) And kind of like it is in California where 66 percent of voters disapprove of Trump, according to a Berkeley IGS Poll there was no middle ground. WATCH: Forum for the Democratic candidates in California's gubernatorial race (story continues below) Now Playing: Forum between the Democratic candidates for California Governor - Gavin Newsom, Antonio Villaraigosa, John Chiang, Delaine Eastin. Video: KTVU Clearly hes a racist, said former state schools chief Delaine Eastin, the self-described optimist and only candidate on stage not to attack a fellow candidate. But in response to the same question from a moderator about what they thought of Trumps vulgar comments last week questioning the need to accept immigrants from Haiti and African countries, neither Cox nor Allen criticized the president. I dont have a racist bone in my body, Cox said. But as a lifelong businessman, I dont have the luxury of calling somebody a name and then deflecting the issue. Weve got to focus on things that will make life quality for the people of California, not demonize the president. Cox supported Trump on immigration, saying We need to build a wall. Allen also declined to criticize Trump and drew a smattering of boos when he said California must never be a sanctuary state. These are people who came into the country illegally and are in our communities committing crimes, Allen said. They are now going to be sheltered by Jerry Browns sanctuary state Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa tore into Allen, pointing to a National Academy of Sciences study that found immigrants commit fewer crimes per capita than native-born Americans. What you say is absolutely wrong, Villraigosa said. Nearly all of the candidates, save for Eastin, found a more common enemy in Newsom, who led a December Berkeley IGS Poll with 26 percent of the vote over Villaraigosa with 17 percent. Allen and Cox each had 9 percent, Eastin and state Treasure John Chiang, each had 5 percent. A seventh candidate, former Sacramento-area GOP Rep. Doug Ose, just entered the race and wasnt measured in the poll. The other candidates focused on Newsoms support for single-payer health care. Villaraigosa said that while he is philosophically for it, that as someone on Medicare, he worried about abruptly switching health care systems without a plan to guide the transition. Turning to Newsom, he said, You dont have a plan. Youve got to have a plan, everybody, Villaraigosa said. Anybody who is telling you that we should do it without a plan is selling you snake oil. Newsom countered, saying that Antonio just mentioned that hes on Medicare. Isnt that interesting (Medicare is) a single-payer plan in this country that is working. That brings down the costs. That allows government to use its leverage and purchasing power. Eastin offered unequivocal support for a single-payer plan, saying she would convene the best minds to make the system work. Its about having will, she said. I have the will to make this happen. Chiang said he supports such a plan, but chided Newsom for not offering details. You have to ask Gavin, Hhow much are you going to increase payroll taxes? Chiang said. Are we going to support businesses in the state of California? Are we going to make it difficult to do business in California? Cox and Allen wholly opposed a single-payer plan. Why stop at health care? Why dont we have single-payer food? Why dont we have single-payer housing? Cox said. Ill tell you why. Because the free market is absolutely the best way. Eastin continually returned her focus to how improving the states education system would solve other problems, including the high incarceration rate. Cox criticized Newsom for receiving the endorsement of the states teachers union, saying it is an example of the cronyism that cripples Sacramento. While Newsom touted San Franciscos schools as being the best urban district in the state, Villraigosa pointed out that the achievement gap between African American students and others is the worst in the state. We actually have a real achievement gap, there, he said. Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli WASHINGTON Expressing a fondness for Norwegian immigrants and disdain for those from poor and swarthy nations, President Trump seemed last week to be channeling the infamous national-origins quotas that sharply reduced U.S. immigration from 1924 to 1965, all but blocking arrivals from anywhere but Northern Europe. If the president thinks Norway is the ideal, then it fits perfectly into that, said Daniel Tichenor, a University of Oregon expert on the history of U.S. immigration policy. Trumps outburst Thursday arrived amid an intense new GOP drive to restrict legal immigration, which currently admits 1.2 million people to the United States each year. The administration is negotiating limits on two visa categories in exchange for providing legal status to roughly 700,000 young immigrants known as Dreamers who arrived in the country as children without authorization. At the center of the firestorm are family-based visas that have been the foundation of U.S. immigration policy since national-origins quotas were abolished in 1965, and a quirky diversity visa lottery, created in 1990 to help Irish citizens but now a major immigration path for Africans. The family-based visas were introduced as part of three landmark civil rights laws and have transformed the nations racial and ethnic composition. Experts said the newly emerged GOP strategy to restrict them is a sharp departure from decades of political focus on ending unauthorized border crossings. This administration has ushered in whats pretty new in our political sphere, which is heavy skepticism of legal immigration, said Julia Gelatt, a senior policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, a research group in Washington, D.C. Over past decades weve had big debates over illegal immigration, but theres been a reasonable bipartisan consensus that legal immigration is part of our national heritage and good for the country. The shift reflects the emerging influence of the GOPs restrictionist base over the partys business wing, which for decades has sought and won more employment-based visas. But such movements are nothing new in U.S. policy, which has lurched between bouts of expansion and restriction, from the open borders of the nations founding to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, from the proliferation of new work-based visas in 1990 to a harsh border crackdown in 1996. Our policies have always reflected a mix of opening and closing the gates for different kinds of immigrants, Tichenor said. Anxieties about the racial composition of newcomers, not to mention religious and ethnic identities, is a constant in the American tradition. Under current law, legal permanent residents, or green-card holders, may sponsor their spouses, minor children and adult unmarried children. If they become citizens, they can also sponsor their parents, siblings and adult children, single or married. These visas holders may then, in turn, sponsor their family members. The basic contours of family-based immigration were created under the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, which lifted the national-origins quotas that had been imposed during a backlash to a historic immigration wave at the turn of the last century. We largely barred Asians and Africans during that period, and we also had really stringent limits on Southern and Eastern Europeans, Tichenor said. And we did so very much based on notions of eugenics and other kinds of racist pseudosciences, so by the time we got to the 1960s, immigration reform really placed an emphasis on dismantling these explicitly racist policies. The 1965 law emphasized family ties, admitting more than two-thirds of all immigrants on that basis. Its sponsor, the late Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass, thought that the new law would still favor Europeans, given their existing family ties to the United States. But newly prosperous Europeans werent interested. One of the unintended consequences of the law was that by the late 1970s it was clear that the vast majority of legal immigrants with family ties were from Asian and Latin American countries, Tichenor said. Immigration scholars have long used the term chain migration to describe how immigrant networks become established. Restrictionists adopted the term to characterize family migration as an out-of-control, endless migration that the country cant stop, Gelatt said. But the concept of a family multiplier effect, and efforts to restrict family visas by eliminating the adult child and sibling categories, is not a new idea, said Lindsay Lowell, former director of research at the U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform, a body created by Congress in 1990 that recommended ending the adult child and sibling categories. The commission, headed by the late Texas Rep. Barbara Jordan, found that every new adult immigrant on average sponsors about three more people. Migrants coming to the U.S. whose motivation is to come to work often self-select as very skilled or at least very motivated, Lowell said. The commission thought that allowing those migrants to sponsor siblings and adult children would weaken that effect, he said. The diversity visa lottery was enacted in 1990 to try to counteract the unintended effects of the 1965 law. Again sponsored by Kennedy, its aim was to open a new avenue for Italians and a growing population of unauthorized Irish immigrants whose U.S. family connections had dissipated. People from countries that sent few immigrants to the United States could apply, and be selected by lottery. But Italians showed little interest, and Irish migrants soon dwindled as Irelands economy boomed. In 2016, the last year for which data are available, the top 10 countries using the diversity visa were Algeria, Uzbekistan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Benin, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Liberia, Belarus and Togo. About 40 percent of the visas go to Africans, Gelatt said, 31 percent to Asians, mainly from Central Asia, and about 20 percent to Europeans, primarily from Eastern Europe. The administration wants to eliminate the visa. Trumps eruptions came in response to a bipartisan proposal floated last week that instead of eliminating the category, would shift some of the visas to migrants from Haiti and El Salvador whose temporary protected status was revoked by the administration. What hangs in the balance is permanent legal status for the 700,000 young immigrants, raised as Americans, who enrolled in the Obama administrations Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA. About a third live in California. Trump canceled the program last fall and gave Congress until March 5 to devise a legislative fix. There is strong bipartisan support to do so. As a political maneuver, the Trump administrations cancellation of the DACA program turned the Dreamers into a potent bargaining chip for reductions in legal immigration. Republicans appeared to be gaining considerable leverage, until Trumps outburst cast the effort as racist and strengthened the hand of Democrats, who want no part in restricting legal immigration. The Republicans can only absorb so much in terms of public punishment, and letting the DACA kids fall through the cracks I think would not sit well, Lowell said. The question is what will they do in terms of a trade-off on immigration policy. Carolyn Lochhead is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: clochhead@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @carolynlochhead Ronn Owens has had three presidents and local, national and international celebrities sitting across the desk from him, and taken listeners calls for 42 years as the top talk show host on KGO-AM radio. As of Monday, The Ronn Owens Show has ended, making way for the debut of The Ronn Owens Report the next day. Owens delivered the news himself Friday at the end of his last show, prompting a steady stream of shocked colleagues, many in tears, as he left the Ronn Owens Studio after his engineer played Earth, Wind & Fires Thats the Way of the World. The new, 10-minute show, premiering Tuesday, will air weekdays at 12:50 p.m. and cover whatever topics Owens finds interesting that day. A test version included commentary on President Trumps vulgar reference to Haiti and African nations, as well as whether a work requirement should be imposed on able-bodied food stamp recipients. While Trump is a reliable source of commentary, Owens said he will work a broader playing field. My goal is to be a 2018 version of Paul Harvey and Andy Rooney, he said in an interview in his KGO office after his final show. The decision to end the talk show was made by KGOs financially strapped owner, Cumulus Media, the nations second-largest radio operator. Although the company filed for bankruptcy in November, the decision on Owens future had to do with the fact that his most recent contract ended in December and he didnt expect it to be renewed at the same salary level. He declined to reveal his salary, but said, Fortunately, Im at a point in my life where I do know where my next meals coming from. As of this week, Ethan Bearman will move to the 10 a.m. slot vacated by Owens. Owens said the decision is a win-win for him and the station. They get the credibility of still having me, and it helps me because Ronn Owens KGO Radio gets me a better table than just Ronn Owens. In a more serious tone, Owens said hes pleased with the decision because he isnt retiring. I cannot stand the word, he said. I dont want to hear the word. What this is for me, its a perfect transition to retirement. Owens worked radio gigs elsewhere before landing at KGO in 1975. Over the years, the station has had a variety of owners, including ABC, Capital Cities, Disney and then Citadel, which Cumulus bought in 2011. In addition to KGO, the company owns KSAN, KSFO, KNBR, KFOG, KCTC and KFFG in the Bay Area. Asked to name his most memorable guests, Owens was at a loss for a few minutes, joking that I cant remember who I had on today. (It was Rep. Eric Swalwell.) But the show many listeners recall the most is when he interviewed Burt Reynolds, who was on a publicity tour for his memoir, My Life, which was published the same year he and actress Loni Anderson divorced. It was hot news, so of course, Owens quizzed him on the divorce. He was uncomfortable, but he answered, Owens recalled. After a third question about the divorce, Reynolds blew up and ask why Owens is focusing on the divorce. Because its in your book, Owens fired back. He went nuts on me, and I went nuts on him, Owens laughed, adding that the actor immediately canceled the rest of his national book tour. This isnt the first time Owens has faced a major career transition. In 1997, Owens agreed to broadcast from KABC in Los Angeles. At the time, Disney owned both KABC and KGO. Although hed signed a contract for five years, the experiment didnt work. He candidly admits the L.A. audience hated me, and he headed back to San Francisco. Two years ago, Cumulus announced it would move Owens to KSFO, at the same time it laid off more than 20 staffers at KGO and KFOG. Cumulus changed its mind a month later. Owens, 72, has not only survived multiple bosses, and the diminished profile of AM radio, but major health issues as well. In 2014, he revealed first to The Chronicle and then to his listeners that he had been battling Parkinsons since 2001. He had looked on it at first as a death sentence, but learned to manage the disease with medication. In 2015, he underwent a procedure called deep brain stimulation, which even further reduced the movement restrictions caused by the disease. Owens, inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2015, holds two Marconi Awards from the National Association of Broadcasters as major market personality of the year. He is married to former news anchor and talk show host Jan Black and is the father of two adult daughters. Hell be at the station a few hours a day to work on the new show, but Owens said his biggest concern is what to do with his free time. I love what I do. I have always loved what I do, he said. 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 Placer County sheriffs deputy shot and seriously injured a man early Sunday in the Lake Tahoe community of Carnelian Bay after the man refused commands to drop a barbecue skewer and lunged at the deputy, authorities said. Deputies responded about 4 a.m. to a home on the 600 block of High Street in Carnelian Bay for a welfare check on a resident who was acting bizarre, said Lt. Andrew Scott of the Placer County Sheriffs Office. There was a great deal of gossip in San Francisco when Mrs. Jane Stanford suddenly left her Nob Hill mansion for Hawaii on February 15, 1905. Ill health was one theory. Low spirits another. But, most shocking of all, the persistent rumor that, one month prior, someone had tried to murder the co-founder of Stanford University. A few days after her departure for Honolulu, San Francisco newspapers began reporting that Mrs. Stanford, then 76 years old, had been the subject of a nefarious murder attempt. Since the death of her husband Leland 12 years before, Mrs. Stanford had lived alone in their palatial home with just a few trusted servants. January 14 was an ordinary evening at the Stanford residence; Mrs. Stanford had gone up to her bedroom after dinner and the servants, including maid Elizabeth Richmond, were relaxing in the living room. Around 9, San Francisco newspapers reported, Mrs. Stanford began frantically calling for Richmond. "Come and see what is the matter with the Poland water!" she said. "I drank some, and it nearly choked me. It burned me so that I ran my fingers down my throat and threw it all up." Richmond took a sip from the bottle of mineral water and immediately spit it out, choked by the intense bitterness. Mrs. Stanfords private secretary Bertha Berner was fetched to corroborate their suspicions. She, too, noted the waters taste. In the morning, Richmond and Berner took the remainder to Wakelees drug store in the Financial District. There, a chemist who tested the bottles contents came back with a grim diagnosis: The water had been poisoned with enough strychnine to kill an elephant. Deeply shaken, Mrs. Stanford quickly planned a trip to Hawaii to leave the city and the assassination attempt behind her. When news of the poisoning broke, shed been at sea for four days. In her stead, Stanford president Dr. David Starr Jordan gave an emphatic statement to reporters. The fact is that Mrs. Stanford was threatened with pneumonia and her physician advised a warmer climate than San Francisco, he said. It was for this reason alone that she started on her trip. She did, however, tell me a month ago that she had been served with a bottle of mineral water which had a peculiar taste, but she did not drink it. She did not think for a minute that any attempt was being made to poison her, and I do not believe there was. Mrs. Stanford was not quoted in the story, nor was she ever reached for her thoughts on the poisoning. The next San Francisco heard, she was dead. --- Public Domain Jane Lathrop was born in Albany, New York in 1828, the daughter of a local shopkeeper and his wife. When Jane was 22, she married fellow New Yorker Leland Stanford, a lawyer from a well-to-do farming family. The couple moved to Sacramento in 1856, where Stanford built up a lucrative mercantile business. With the profits, he invested in the newly formed Central Pacific Railroad, and within the decade hed become one of the richest men in the country. But personal happiness eluded the Stanfords, who longed for a child. For nearly 18 years, the Stanfords were barren. Then, the miracle theyd prayed for happened: Jane, at 39 years of age, was pregnant. Their son, Leland Stanford Jr., was born in 1868 and, for a time, it seemed the Stanfords happiness was complete. As he approached his 16th birthday, Jane and Leland planned a Grand Tour of Europe to celebrate. Not long into the trip, though, young Leland fell ill. While in Athens, he was diagnosed with typhoid. He was sent to Italy for treatment, but doctors could do nothing to aid him. He died, two months shy of his 16th birthday, on March 13, 1884. The Stanfords brought their sons body back to California and tried to plan for a future without him. Although their dream of raising a family had died with him, there was one thing they could do. The children of California shall be our children, Stanford told his wife. And, with that, they planted the seeds of what would become Stanford University. The school opened in 1891, the pride of the Stanfords and the state, with Father Leland and Mother Jane at the helm. Two years later, Leland Stanford died, joining his son in the family mausoleum on the university campus. Jane was left alone to run the school and the family estate. Although tremendously popular with the students, Mrs. Stanford was rumored to sometimes clash with the universitys board of trustees. There were even murmurs that some members of the board would prefer to run the university without her influence, a wish they were granted in 1903 when she transferred all rights as a co-founder to the board. --- By all accounts, Honolulu was just what Mrs. Stanford needed. She seemed to be shaking off her earlier melancholy and had enjoyed a charming picnic on the afternoon of Feb. 28. Held on the grounds of the Moana Hotel, Mrs. Stanford partook in the hotels packed lunch of cucumber sandwiches and gingerbread. She ate so heartily that, come dinnertime, she still wasnt hungry. She asked her secretary Bertha Berner to bring her a laxative and bicarbonate of soda at 8:15 p.m., and retired to bed soon after. Buyenlarge/Getty Images What happened next was analyzed for months by detectives, the curious public and an official coroners inquest. According to Berner, she was sound asleep when she was awoken by the moans of her employer around 11 p.m. Berner looked up to see the outline of Mrs. Stanford clinging to the door frame. I have got no control of my body, she said. I think I have been poisoned again. Berner helped Mrs. Stanford back to her room, by which time she was undergoing full-body spasms. A doctor also staying in the hotel was called. Bertha, Mrs. Stanford gestured to her secretary. Tell the doctor what happened. Berner took her to mean the earlier poisoning attempt, and she informed the doctor of it. He had a stomach pump fetched, but it was too late. Mrs. Stanfords body twisted with back-breaking convulsions for three straight minutes. During a brief break in the suffering, she groaned, What a horrible death to die! At 11:30, Jane Stanford shuddered once more and died. --- As the rest of the hotel guests slept on, police descended on the crime scene. In Mrs. Stanfords room, they found a bottle of cascara capsules a laxative and the glass of bicarbonate of soda, a common treatment for indigestion. Police speculated one or both were poisoned with strychnine and had them bagged up to be analyzed by a chemist. An autopsy was also ordered. ALSO: 12 unsolved Bay Area mysteries you've never heard of The [Honolulu] officers are satisfied Mrs. Stanford was poisoned, the Press-Democrat reported, but whether it is murder or suicide they are unable to solve. As was customary, Hawaiian officials called an inquest. Dr. C.B. Wood testified before a coroners jury that the symptoms he found at the autopsy were typical of strychnine: extreme rigidity of the limbs, a locked jaw and purple discoloration of the corpse. Tests done to Mrs. Stanfords organs revealed the presence of strychnine, and an analysis of the laxative pills also showed the poison. When asked for an official cause of death, Wood confidently stated it was strychnine poisoning. SFC Bertha Berner was also called to testify, although she was less enthusiastic about the murder theory a reaction no doubt influenced by the fact she was the only person present at both poisonings. If she had been schooled for the stand she could not have done better, and there can be no question that she has schooled herself carefully during the time that has elapsed since the death of her patroness, the Call reported. Miss Berner had not left her own room until today since the tragedy occurred. Berner confirmed details of the earlier San Francisco poisoning and admitted the prescription for the cascara capsules was hers; shed filled it in San Francisco for years, often for her own personal use as well as Mrs. Stanfords. At the end of the inquest, the jury didnt take long to come back with its verdict: Mrs. Stanford, they concluded, had been murdered. She died from strychnine poisoning, the signed verdict read, said strychnine having been introduced into a bottle of bicarbonate of soda with felonious intent by some person or persons to this jury unknown. --- Back home in the Bay Area, Stanford officials and San Francisco police were already feverishly disputing the police findings. When reporters asked President Jordan about the inquest, he dismissively said he knew all about them and their work. Mrs. Stanford had died of natural causes, Jordan assured the public. Despite exhibiting no known symptoms of a heart condition, his analysis of the autopsy report led him to conclude that the layer of fat around her heart exacerbated by the full meal of picnic sandwiches and treats earlier that day had killed her. I do not care what the people think nor what the constables say, Jordan told the Chronicle. I am firm in my opinion. Detective Reynolds of the SFPD, who had been sent to Honolulu to investigate Mrs. Stanfords death, was in agreement. I believe the examination will show that Mrs. Stanford died from natural causes, Reynolds told the Chronicle, rejecting entirely the autopsy done by Hawaiian officials. He explained her twisted, tortured corpse as a side effect of the existing deformity in her limbs and maintained, like Dr. Jordan, that she died of a heart condition. But after so completely dismissing their findings, he hedged himself. Im not a doctor, Reynolds admitted to a reporter. I dont know. On March 21, Mrs. Stanfords remains arrived in San Francisco. The flags of every vessel in the bay were at half-mast. As her hearse traveled down the waterfront, thousands lined the sidewalks to pay their respects. At Stanford, the halls and classrooms were quiet. All activities were canceled for a week. She was buried in the family mausoleum, reunited with her beloved son at last. --- For the next century, Dr. Jordans opinion became the official story. Talk of her poisoning quieted, people forgot, and all accepted the universitys stance that Mrs. Stanford had died of heart failure while on vacation in Hawaii. Her murder only re-entered the public consciousness in 2003 when retired Stanford neurologist Robert Cutler published The Mysterious Death of Jane Stanford. In it, Cutler lays out the case for her murder and the subsequent cover-up by Stanford officials. Los Angeles Herald From clinical grounds alone there can be little doubt that Mrs. Stanford died in the suffocating grip of a tetanic spasm characteristic of strychnine poisoning Cutler writes. The conclusion that Mrs. Stanford was murdered is difficult to avoid... It seems remarkable today that the considered opinions of the attending and autopsy physicians, the toxicologists, the Honolulu police department, and the coroner's jury could be so easily dismissed on the basis of a brief declaration by President Jordan. Although the book makes a compelling case for her murder, it leaves the greatest mystery of all unresolved: Who killed her and why? Without a thorough police investigation and with all the participants long dead the unsatisfying truth is that its impossible to know for sure. Although theres no doubt he orchestrated the cover-up, it seems unlikely Dr. Jordan had a hand in the actual murder. Rather, he was hoping to keep the young university from descending into scandal. Theyd recently endured several highly publicized spats with faculty members and losing their founder to a grisly murder was hardly the press they needed. By whitewashing her gruesome end, maybe Jordan also hoped to preserve the memory of the schools beloved founder, free of sorrow and controversy. The most obvious suspect really, the only one is Bertha Berner, Mrs. Stanfords longtime personal secretary and the only person present at both poisonings. ALSO: The tale of the 'Demon of the Belfry,' San Francisco's forgotten Jack the Ripper Berner was born in Wisconsin in 1861 to German immigrant parents and moved to California in her late 20s. She was hired by Mrs. Stanford in the 1880s to a position that would take her around the world and ensure her lifelong financial stability. As Mrs. Stanfords secretary, Berner accompanied her on business and pleasure trips, helped run the household and maintained a close personal friendship with the solitary widow. Unmarried and childless, Berners world revolved around Mrs. Stanford. After Mrs. Stanfords death, the papers announced she had left $15,000 to Berner in her will almost $400,000 in todays money. I give and bequeath to Miss Bertha Berner, secretary and devoted friend to me through nineteen years of trial and sorrow, the sum of fifteen thousand dollars, the will stipulated. With the money, Berner built herself a lovely two-story home in Menlo Park; she lived there until her death in 1945. Over the years, Berner's story changed multiple times, both in interviews with Hawaiian and San Francisco police and in public statements. Her final written account of Mrs. Stanford's last day included the claim Mrs. Stanford ate four Swiss cheese sandwiches, two tongue sandwiches, two lettuce sandwiches, two or three large pieces of gingerbread, two cups of cold coffee, and 12 or 14 pieces of French candy at lunch, a dubious-sounding justification of the "heart-failure-by-overeating" theory. There is no question Berner had the means and ability to commit the murder. She filled Mrs. Stanfords prescriptions, had unrestricted access to her food and drink, and could come and go in her private quarters without suspicion. Her motive is more mysterious. Berner was already living comfortably with Mrs. Stanford. Perhaps, in a moment of weakness, Berner grew impatient for the payoff she knew was coming. Poison does, after all, have the reputation as a womans weapon. --- A decade before her death, Berner published a biography of Jane Stanford. It was not particularly well-received. A review in the San Francisco Chronicle criticized its lack of detail, especially when dealing with the circumstances around Mrs. Stanford's final weeks. "That over 200 closely packed pages of incidents, dates and names could go almost completely without blessing of comment or observation is a credit to the author's reputation as a secretary," the Chronicle wrote, "but unfortunately not as a biographer." Berner concluded in the work that Mrs. Stanford died of heart failure, brought on by overeating at the afternoon picnic. Of her own role in the mystery, she had nothing more to say. "It seems a tragic waste of such a wealth of memories," wrote the Chronicle. "... Incident after incident simply cries out for elaboration while the readers is left with curiosity aroused and unrelieved." It seems only fitting, in the end, that Bertha Berner's last tribute to the woman leaves us all eternally wanting. Katie Dowd is the SFGATE managing editor. Email her: katie.dowd@sfgate.com | Twitter: @katiedowd WASHINGTON American Airlines is handing out $1,000 bonuses to its employees. So are AT&T, Bank of America and Nationwide Insurance. The same for Comcast, JetBlue Airways and US Bancorp. Such announcements, coming from dozens of companies, have followed the passage of the Republican tax plan that President Trump signed into law last month. The plan slashed the corporate tax rate from 35 to 21 percent. The companies say the bonuses theyve announced are a way to share some of their bounty with their workers. The bonuses are one-time payouts, not the permanent pay raises that Trump and congressional Republicans have said will eventually result from the corporate tax cuts. Over time, bonuses are far less valuable to employees than wage increases. With the exception of Walmart, most companies havent said whether any permanent pay increases are in the works. Economists caution that the corporate income tax cuts effect on average pay, if any, might not become apparent for several years. As a worker, its great to get a one-off bonus, but that doesnt guarantee anything for the next year, said Stephen Stanley, chief economist at Amherst Pierpont. Youd rather have the raise, because next year youre working off the higher base. Eventually, Stanley thinks the lower corporate tax rates will lead to pay raises. He expects companies over the next several years to use some of their windfalls to invest in equipment that would make workers more productive and lead to higher wages. Other economists remain skeptical that workers stand to receive sharp wage increases. They note that the corporate tax cut will overwhelmingly benefit shareholders and company owners. That sentiment is one reason stock market indexes are setting records almost daily. The bulk of the corporate tax cuts should accrue to people who hold stock in companies, said Ethan Harris, chief economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Workers benefit much more from a cut in taxes on ordinary income. In other words, better to get a direct cut than a spillover from cuts to others. Beyond the worker bonuses that have been announced, typically for $1,000, about a dozen banks have said they will raise their minimum wages. A handful of mostly small companies, including Washington Federal Bank, have announced pay increases for most of their workforces. And a few, including Visa and Aflac, have said they will raise their contributions to their employees retirement plans. In addition, U.S. workers will begin receiving more take-home pay, likely by next month, as lower tax rates for individuals under the Republican plan kick in. The Communications Workers of America, a labor union, asked CEOs of large corporations to give workers the $4,000 average income gain that White House officials said would flow eventually from lower corporate taxes. AT&T, the first company to announce bonuses, said it chose the $1,000 bonus instead. American Airlines, which also employs the communication unions members, similarly decided to bestow a $1,000 bonus. The union said it appreciates the gesture but asserted in a statement that the bonus falls short of the permanent wage increase that working families were promised. The White House has touted the announced bonuses as evidence that the corporate tax cut is benefiting workers, rather than just shareholders, and has dubbed the payouts a Trump bonus. Businesses across America have already started to raise wages, and more than 100 companies have already given bonuses and other benefits to hundreds of thousands of workers as a result of these massive tax cuts, Trump said last week in Nashville. The conservative group Americans for Tax Reform, which backed the tax cut, has compiled a list of more than 100 companies that have announced some kind of financial benefit for employees resulting from the tax cut. Only a few have announced any broad-based pay increases. One that has is Nephron Pharmaceuticals, from West Columbia, S.C. Nephron said it would give a 5 percent raise to most of its 640 employees. Andrew Chamberlain, chief economist at Glassdoor, said there are practical reasons why most companies would prefer bonuses over raises. Its a way for employers to benefit workers without being on the hook for long-term pay increases, Chamberlain said. In some cases, the companies are sharing only a sliver of their tax-cut windfalls. Bank of Americas bonuses will cost it roughly $145 million only about 4 percent of the $3.5 billion that Goldman Sachs estimates Bank of America will receive from the tax cut. Likewise, KBW, an investment firm, estimates that Wells Fargos commitments to raise its minimum wage to $15 an hour and to boost its charitable contributions will equal about 5 percent of the additional profits the tax cut will provide Wells. Most economists do expect paychecks to start rising faster for most workers this year but for a different reason: The unemployment rate is projected to fall further and could reach a five-decade low of 3.5 percent. A rate that low would likely force many companies to sharply raise pay to keep and attract the workers they need. Economists like Stanley, who expects the corporate tax cut to lift wages over time, think it will happen indirectly as companies channel their tax savings into machinery, computers and software, making workers productive and leading to higher pay. These things arent going to happen right away, but they will gradually follow through in the next several years, Stanley said. Christopher Rugaber and Josh Boak are Associated Press writers. A man was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries early Sunday after a shooting in San Franciscos Tenderloin district, authorities said. The shooting occurred about 4:40 a.m. on the 300 block of Mason Street near OFarrell Street said Officer Robert Rueca of the San Francisco Police Department. WASHINGTON Late last year, lawyers for President Trump expressed optimism that special counsel Robert Mueller was nearing the end of his probe of Russias interference in the 2016 election. But if there was hope in the White House that Trump might be moving past an investigation that has dogged his presidency from the start, 2018 is beginning without signs of abatement. In fact, the new year set off a flurry of developments in the probes by Mueller and Congress ranging in importance from the minor to the ominous. In a remarkable broadside against a fellow conservative, two Republican House members called on Attorney General Jeff Sessions to resign, criticizing his Justice Department for not cooperating with Congress and for leaks related to its Russia investigation. Reps. Mark Meadows of North Carolina and Jim Jordan of Ohio criticized Sessions in an opinion piece published Jan. 4 on the Washington Examiners website. The headline said: Its time for Jeff Sessions to go. They wrote that Sessions has recused himself from the Russia investigation, but it would appear he has no control at all of the premier law enforcement agency in the world. Sessions, who was part of Trumps presidential campaign, stepped aside last year from the departments investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. Sessions deputy, Rod Rosenstein, later appointed Mueller to take over the probe. A Sessions resignation would allow Trump to appoint a new attorney general, who would assume oversight of the probe from Rosenstein. A day after the lawmakers opinion piece, it emerged that Trump had tried to keep Sessions from recusing himself. The report that Trump directed his White House counsel, Don McGahn, to press Sessions just before he announced he would step aside added a new layer for the investigation. The episode is known to Mueller and his team of prosecutors and is likely of interest to them as they look into whether Trumps actions as president, including the May firing of FBI Director James Comey, amount to improper efforts to obstruct the Russia investigation. Investigators recently concluded a round of interviews with current and former White House officials, including McGahn. Last week, it emerged that Muellers team has broached the prospect of an interview with Trump, prompting speculation about when, or if, that might happen and under what terms. The Associated Press and other news organizations reported that Mueller had indicated interest in eventually speaking with Trump as the team investigates possible coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign and the potential of obstruction of justice. Although White House lawyers have pledged their cooperation in the past several months, Trump said last week that it seems unlikely that hell be interviewed and that well see what happens. In a sign that congressional probes are becoming ever more partisan, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee broke with the panels Republican chairman Tuesday by releasing on her own the transcript of a closed-door interview with Glenn Simpson. He is the co-founder of a political research firm that commissioned what became a dossier of allegations about Trumps presidential campaign and Russia. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said she acted because the American people deserve the opportunity to see what he said and judge for themselves, though committee Chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, called the move confounding and said it could undermine attempts to interview additional witnesses. According to the transcript, Simpson said the former British spy who put together the dossier essentially a compilation of memos brought the document to the FBI in July 2016 because he was worried about whether a political candidate was being blackmailed. According to Simpson, ex-spy Christopher Steele flew to Rome to meet an FBI agent stationed there for his second debriefing before the November election. He said the FBI contact told Steele that there was renewed interest in his research because the bureau had corroborated some of the material. That testimony undercut Republican allegations that the dossier initiated the FBIs Russia probe. Trump has dismissed the dossier as false and a political hit job, and several Republican-led congressional committees are investigating the role the dossier played in the initial stages of the FBIs investigation. In a tweet Wednesday, Trump accused Feinstein of being underhanded and a disgrace for disclosing details of Simpsons testimony about the dossier and its allegations about his ties to Russia during the presidential campaign. Desmond Butler is an Associated Press writer. An emergency alert mistakenly warning of an incoming ballistic missile attack was dispatched to cell phones across Hawaii early Saturday, setting off panic in a state that was already anxious over escalating tensions between the United States and North Korea. Officials recalled the alert, sent out by the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, 38 minutes after it was issued in a scramble of confusion over why it happened. Outrage was immediately expressed by state officials and among people who live in what is normally a famously tranquil part of the Pacific. Officials said the alert was the result of human error and not the work of hackers or a foreign government. The mistake occurred during a shift-change drill that takes place three times a day at the emergency command post, according to Richard Rapoza, a spokesman for the agency. Someone clicked the wrong thing on the computer, he said. It was erroneous. At no time, officials said, was there any indication that a nuclear attack had been launched against the United States. The public must have confidence in our emergency alert system, Gov. David Ige said. I am working to get to the bottom of this so we can prevent an error of this type in the future. The alert went out at about 8:10 a.m., lighting up phones of people still in bed or up for an early surf. BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL, it read. People flocked to shelters, crowding highways in scenes of terror and helplessness. I was running through all the scenarios in my head, but there was nowhere to go, nowhere to pull over to, said Mike Staskow, a retired military captain. Around the Koa Kea Hotel at Poipu Beach on the island of Kauai, guests looked quizzically around, wondering aloud if the alert was real. Many made their way to the main lobby, where they were invited by hotel staff to shelter in the basement parking garage. Word spread quickly after Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii tweeted at 8:19 a.m. that the alert was a false alarm. What happened today is totally inexcusable, said Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii. There needs to be tough and quick accountability. Adam Nagourney, David E. Sanger and Johanna Barr are New York Times writers. WASHINGTON The Supreme Court agreed Friday to wade into the issue of sales tax collection on Internet purchases in a case that could force consumers to pay more for certain purchases and allow states to recoup what they say is billions in lost revenue annually. Under previous Supreme Court rulings, when Internet retailers dont have a physical presence in a state, they cant be forced to collect sales tax on sales into that state. Consumers who purchase from out-of-state retailers are generally supposed to pay the state taxes themselves, but few do. A total of 36 states and the District of Columbia had asked the high court to revisit the issue. DUBLIN (BCN) The death of a student in the Dublin Unified School District is being investigated by the Alameda County Public Health Department, health officials told the school district Friday. School district officials posted a notice of the investigation and a statement of their own Friday at 4:38 p.m. on Facebook. The student who died went to Kolb Elementary School at 3150 Palermo Way in Dublin. "Based on our investigation, we do not believe that members of the Kolb Elementary School community were exposed on site or are at risk for getting this disease from the ill student," heath department officials said. "We do not recommend any specific preventive actions at this time to the Kolb Elementary School community." School district officials said they offer their sincere condolences to the family and the Kolb Elementary School community. "We are deeply saddened by this tragic news, and we extend our deepest sympathy to the child's family and loved ones, as well as the entire Kolb Elementary School community," school district officials said in a statement. The name of the child has not been released and school district officials are referring requests for further information to the health department. School district officials said starting Tuesday morning counselors will be available to staff and students who need help coping with the death. The counselors will be available all week. A man accused of stealing three trucks, two trailers, a box truck and a tractor is sought by Santa Cruz County sheriff's deputies, law enforcement officials said. Ryan Ellis Roby, 30, of Corralitos in Santa Cruz County, is accused of crimes including vehicle theft, possessing or receiving stolen property and evading a peace officer in the performance of duty, according to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff. WALNUT CREEK (BCN) Police Saturday afternoon arrested a man who allegedly assaulted and injured a woman last week on the Iron Horse Regional Trail in Walnut Creek. On Saturday at 12:45 p.m., a Walnut Creek police officer was conducting routine duties in the area of the Safeway store at 600 S. Broadway when he saw the suspect loitering in front of the store. The officer called dispatch and another officer responded to the scene to detain the suspect. The suspect was identified as 35-year-old Jeremy Mickens of San Francisco, police said. The victim of the alleged assault positively identified Mickens as the suspect, police said. Mickens was arrested and booked into jail on suspicion of multiple felony offenses in connection with the case, police said. According to police, the assault occurred Thursday around 5:30 p.m. on the trail just south of Newell Avenue in Walnut Creek. That's where the victim said she was walking when the suspect crept up from behind and assaulted her. She told police that from his actions and comments, it was clear that he intended to sexually assault her, police said. The suspect then fled north on South Broadway, police said. The victim received treatment for injuries that were not considered life-threatening, police said. Walnut Creek police and East Bay Regional Park District police worked together to investigate this case. Santa Cruz County sheriff's officials are seeking the public's help in locating a missing man. According to sheriff's officials, Rene Delatorre left his home in Watsonville around 1 a.m. on Friday and has not been seen since. Pittsburg police Friday night shot to death a 43-year-old Antioch man outside a restaurant in Pittsburg who was allegedly reaching for a gun, police said. The case began around 10:45 p.m. when officers were called to the Nation's Giant Hamburgers restaurant at 3789 Railroad Ave., according to police. A community member reported that he had seen what seemed to be a drug deal between two people in the parking lot - one person who had just driven away, and another person, who was still there in a car in the parking lot when police arrived, police said. As the two officers approached the car, they saw a man in the driver's seat and a handgun in the center console, police said. Both officers told the man to put his hands up and not touch the gun, according to police. Initially the man did as instructed, placing his hands on the steering wheel, but then he dropped his right arm in an alleged attempt to retrieve the handgun from the center console, according to police. As the man began to raise his hand back up, one of the officers fired his service weapon, police said. The man was struck, and the officers immediately removed him from the car and gave him first aid until an ambulance arrived, according to police. The man died at John Muir Medical Center, police said. Police are waiting to release the man's name until his family is notified. The Contra Costa County Officer-Involved Fatal Incident Protocol was enacted, and the Pittsburg Police Department is conducting a joint investigation into the shooting with the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office. The death of a student in the Dublin Unified School District is being investigated by the Alameda County Public Health Department, health officials told the school district Friday. School district officials posted a notice of the investigation and a statement of their own Friday at 4:38 p.m. on Facebook. The student who died went to Kolb Elementary School at 3150 Palermo Way in Dublin. "Based on our investigation, we do not believe that members of the Kolb Elementary School community were exposed on site or are at risk for getting this disease from the ill student," heath department officials said. "We do not recommend any specific preventive actions at this time to the Kolb Elementary School community." School district officials said they offer their sincere condolences to the family and the Kolb Elementary School community. "We are deeply saddened by this tragic news, and we extend our deepest sympathy to the child's family and loved ones, as well as the entire Kolb Elementary School community," school district officials said in a statement. The name of the child has not been released and school district officials are referring requests for further information to the health department. School district officials said starting Tuesday morning counselors will be available to staff and students who need help coping with the death. The counselors will be available all week. San Francisco police have identified a suspect in the fatal shooting of LGBTQ activist Anthony "Bubbles" Torres, and are asking the public for help in finding the suspect. Hieu Trung Nguyen, 30, of San Francisco, has been identified as a suspect, police said. He is six feet tall, about 190 pounds, with dark hair and dark eyes, according to police. The suspect is considered armed and dangerous, and an arrest warrant has been issued with a bail of $15 million, police said. Torres, 44, was shot shortly before 3 a.m. Sept. 9 in the area of Myrtle and Larkin streets, according to police. Torres was a popular LGBTQ activist, disc jockey and gender-nonconforming performer. Police in San Francisco have arrested a man in connection with a stabbing death that occurred Thursday in the city's Mission District. Jesus Ramirez, 48, was arrested Friday on suspicion of murder, according to the San Francisco Police Department. On Thursday at 8:14 p.m., officers responded to the 1200 block of Potrero Avenue on a report of a man who had been stabbed and was bleeding from the neck and torso, police said. The victim, identified as Mark Camacho, 59, was transported to the hospital and later died. Investigators were able to identify Ramirez as the suspect, and he was taken into custody Friday. Santa Rosa Junior College District Police arrested a Rohnert Park man on suspicion of burglary of a campus building Wednesday. Laurence Patrick Buckley, 26, was in possession of new office supplies taken from a storage cabinet in Carl Hall on the campus, SRJC police said. A SRJC police cadet saw a man later identified as Buckley climbing onto the roof of Carl Hall around 11 p.m. Wednesday. The cadet called a police dispatcher and officers found Buckley walking on the roof, according to police. Buckley was on probation in Sonoma County for resisting arrest and drug possession. Officers found several of the building's windows had been tampered with and interior rooms were ransacked, police said. Buckley was arrested and booked in the Sonoma County Jail for burglary, resisting arrest, vandalism, and violating probation. Coyotes are frequenting the Southern Hills area of Daly City, and police are advising people to avoid the wild animals without running away from them. A woman who lives on Southridge Way next to San Bruno Mountain Park sent police photos of coyotes she took from her window one afternoon last week, police said Thursday. Coyotes are actually fairly common in urban areas and suburbs, according to police. They resemble a small German Shepherd Dog or a large fox, police said. While coyotes usually prefer not to interact with humans, sometimes problems do occur, according to police. To avoid such problems, people should not approach coyotes or encourage coyotes to approach them, police said. At the same time, it's not a good idea to flee from the coyotes, as this may trigger a hunt or play instinct, according to police. Rather, people should raise their arms over their head and yell, police said. If the coyote doesn't run away or acts aggressive, police suggest waving a stick or throwing an object, picking up children or small pets and moving to an area of increased activity. Pets should be kept inside from dusk to dawn, and pet food should not be left out overnight, according to police. Also, people should take care when walking dogs during dusk and dawn hours. The highly anticipated 2018 Mavericks Challenge surf contest near Half Moon Bay will not be held Tuesday because of expected unfavorable surf conditions, organizers said Saturday. The competition, which started in 1999, draws top surfers from around the world for a day of surfing off the coast of Pillar Point Harbor. The window for this year's event goes through Feb. 28, so there is still plenty of time for the event to be held. "After much research and analysis into the forecasts, we are calling the World Surf League Big Wave Tour Mavericks Challenge off for Tuesday, January 16," said Mike Parsons, big wave tour commissioner with the surf league. "We are specifically concerned about the south, south-southwest winds that are projected to come in on Tuesday morning," and the models are showing a slight decrease in the swell size, Parsons said. "We still have the rest of January and all of February to get a better opportunity to run the Mavericks Challenge and will continue to closely track the conditions to hopefully run this season," Parsons added. If organizers declare conditions are right, the field of 24 men and six women will come to Mavericks to vie for part of the $130,000 purse. The event is being run by the World Surf League this year and didn't take place last year, when previous organizers Titans of Mavericks LLC and Cartel Management Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This would be the first year in the history of the competition that women have competed. A Bay Area scientist is the first veterinarian to be chosen as a TED Fellow, officials with her employer the Marine Mammal Center in Marin County said. A TED Fellow is a young innovator who displays outstanding achievement and exemplary character. "It is absolutely a dream come true," Dr. Claire Simeone, 32, conservation medicine veterinarian at the Marine Mammal Center, said Friday. Simeone is one of the newest class of 20 TED Fellows from four continents who will give talks at TED2018 in April in Vancouver. Simeone's work largely focuses on the connection between marine mammal health and the health of humans and the health of the ocean. For example, understanding cancer in California sea lions may lead to a better understanding of cancer in humans. Simeone said sea lions could develop a certain type of cancer that is similar to cervical cancer in women. "What is happening to marine mammals is connected to the greater health of the ocean, the planet and all of us," TED Fellows director Shoham Arad said. "We are compelled by Claire's holistic approach to ocean health and the way in which her work can contribute to the Fellows community." Simeone said she is still preparing her talk for TED2018 but it will involve the intersection between marine mammal health, ocean health and human health. "I'm super excited," she said. Simeone work obviously involves caring for marine mammals but also includes research. In a paper published last year in Veterinary Ophthalmology, Simeone and others studied how a thermodynamic gel used in human medicine can keep an antibiotic in place on sea lions suffering from eye ulcers. Simeone said using the gel can help sea lions heal without having to be treated as frequently since they don't like to sit still. "It's really revolutionized how we treat eye ulcers in marine mammals," Simeone said. The TED Fellows program started in 2009 and includes 453 fellows from 96 countries. Talks by the fellows have collectively been viewed more than 178 million times. Firefighters this evening performed a technical rope rescue to rescue a person from a cliff on the coast of San Francisco, fire officials said. At 6:55 p.m. firefighters said the victim was safe at the top of a cliff near Baker Beach and appeared to be okay. SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) A man was injured in a shooting early this morning in San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood, a police spokesman said. At 4:40 a.m., police received a report of a shooting in the 300 block of Mason Street near Union Square, according to San Francisco police spokesman Officer Robert Rueca. Officers arrived at the scene and found a man suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to a hospital with a life-threatening injury, Rueca said. No suspects are in custody, Rueca said. Officers are on the scene investigating. Further details were not immediately available. The poetry of Marga Gomezs Latin Standards is that of beginnings and endings. Time so swirls in the comedians solo show, in which she parallels two big show-biz opportunities one hers, the other her fathers that every detail has at once the first blush of discovery and the faraway sepia tones of nostalgia. Everything in a lifetime seems to happen at the same time; you greet only to immediately bid farewell. The shows Saturday, Jan. 13, opening night also mixed debut and swan song. Its the first production in Brava Theater Centers intimate, stylish cabaret theater, part of a $2 million renovation of the companys long-shuttered but newly reopened 24th Street storefront. Yet for Gomez, Latin Standards is her final solo show (though she clarified in an email that shell continue to perform stand-up and the solo shows already in her repertoire, as well as undertaking things I havent tried writing for two or more actors perhaps). Directed by David Schweizer, Latin Standards is structured as a series of freewheeling exegeses of songs written by Gomezs father, the all-around entertainer Willy Chevalier, who worked in television, radio and Latino nightclubs, where he hosted the likes of Tito Puente and Celia Cruz, in 1960s New York City. From a Chevalier title like Una Mesa y Dos Sillas (One Table and Two Chairs), which is on the surface about a lost romance, Gomez unpacks a pain more heartrending for its specificity to her father and the oblique way he expresses it the pain of keeping butts in seats, of trying to get audiences to keep coming to a venue whose glamour had faded. Its a pain Gomez understands implicitly. The song takes her to her own butts-in-seats campaign: that of creating a comedy night at Esta Noche, the Mission Districts now-closed gay Latino nightclub. If a pall colors both stories Chevalier fell victim to changing tastes, while gentrification claimed Esta Noche Gomez also limns the two portraits with the implacable zeal of each artists creative spirit. You get the sense, watching Latin Standards, that we are our most genuine selves when we spout ideas, as when at a TV studio Chevalier rattles off pitch after pitch for a coffee commercial (each with disaster movie melodrama or Gothic grotesquerie, all with gratuitous female nudity) or Gomez herself instantly leaps, in her imagination, from a comedy night theme idea to having a documentary film crew follow her around. Gomez as performer doesnt always match Gomez as writer. She brings an agitated energy to a densely layered narrative, launching into particular threads without utter clarity of purpose and then rejiggering their character midway through. A bit of stand-up at the shows beginning, while deftly pointing out the mismatch between our new marijuana laws and the drugs legacy outlaw appeal, only saps the opening of its momentum. Still, Gomezs characterizations are impossible to resist. As her mother, she hisses a can of hair spray around her body as might a cobra coiling to lunge. As Esta Noches owner Manuel, she speaks with jaw so slack its liable to unhinge. Gomez says her fathers all charm, but when she embodies him, its not a superficial charm its a kind of congenital affability, a deep-seated delight in life. Its as if that gold jacket she wears (and that works sparkly wonders with the magentas and turquoises of Cathie Andersons lights) werent just a showmans costume, but the very nature of father and daughter alike. Lily Janiak is The San Francisco Chronicles theater critic. Email: ljaniak@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LilyJaniak Latin Standards: Written by Marga Gomez. Directed by David Schweizer. Through Jan. 28. 85 minutes. $20-$50. Brava Theater Center, 2781 24th St., S.F. (415) 641-7657. www.brava.org To see a segment of Gomezs Not Getting Any Younger: www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6PwHwjxkGM To see excerpts from Gomezs Pound: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zudJlkcbrqQ To hear Gomez on Marc Marons WTF podcast: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwepkBwQcjY An Islamic State group offshoot is claiming it carried out the attack in Niger that killed four U.S. soldiers and four Nigerien troops in October and sparked questions about U.S. military involvement in West Africas vast Sahel region. The Mauritanian Nouakchott News Agency reported Friday that Abu al-Walid al-Sahrawi with the self-professed affiliate claimed responsibility for the Oct. 4 ambush about 120 miles north of Nigers capital, Niamey. The news agency has carried messages from the affiliate before, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadist websites. The U.S. Africa Command has been investigating the October attack, which also wounded two U.S. and eight Nigerien troops, and a final report is expected to be released this month. A 12-member Army special forces unit had been accompanying 30 Nigerien forces when they were attacked in a wooded area by as many as 50 militants traveling by vehicle and carrying small arms and rocket-propelled grenade launchers. The Pentagon has declined to release details about the commando teams exact mission. U.S. officials have said the joint U.S.-Niger patrol had been asked to assist a second American commando team hunting for a senior Islamic State group member. The team had been asked to go to a location where the insurgent had last been seen. After completing that mission, the troops stopped in a village to get food and water, then left. The U.S. military believes someone in the village may have tipped off the attackers. The U.S. has approximately 800 troops in Niger, and U.S. special operations forces have been working with Nigers forces in a growing effort in recent years, helping them to improve their abilities to fight extremists. Multiple military efforts exist against extremist groups, including Boko Haram and al Qaeda affiliates, that roam the Sahel, the sprawling, largely barren zone south of the Sahara desert. The growing fight includes Frances largest overseas military operation, a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali and a five-nation regional force called the G5 Sahel that launched last year. The Mauritanian news agency also reported that the extremists claimed responsibility for an attack Thursday on a French military convoy, and for a series of attacks in Niger and border areas with Mali and Burkina Faso. TEHRAN A burning Iranian oil tanker exploded and sank Sunday after more than a week listing off the coast of China, as an Iranian official acknowledged there was no hope of missing sailors surviving the disaster. The collision and disaster of the Sanchi, which carried 30 Iranians and two Bangladeshis, had transfixed an Iran still reeling from days of protests and unrest that swept the country at the start of the year. Families of the sailors wept and screamed at the headquarters of the National Iranian Tanker Co. in Tehran, the private company that owns the Sanchi. Thirty-two people died without a funeral and without coffins! They burned to ashes while their families were wailing here! cried one woman who didnt give her name. State TV earlier quoted Mahmoud Rastad, the chief of Irans maritime agency, as saying: There is no hope of finding survivors. Three bodies have been recovered from the sea, leaving 29 crew members still unaccounted for. President Hassan Rouhani expressed his condolences and called on government agencies to investigate the tragedy and take any necessary legal measures, according to state TV. In a message, Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also offered his condolences to the victims families, his website, Khamenei.ir, reported Sunday. The government declared that Monday would be a nationwide day of mourning. The cause of the Jan. 6 collision between the Sanchi and the Chinese freighter CF Crystal, 160 miles off the coast of Shanghai, remains unclear. The CF Crystal had 21 crew members, all of whom were reported safe. But the Sanchi, carrying nearly 1 million barrels of an ultralight oil bound for South Korea, burst into flames. Chinese officials blamed poor weather for complicating their rescue efforts. Thirteen ships, including one from South Korea and two from Japan, engaged in the rescue and cleanup effort. But around noon Sunday, Chinese state media reported that a large explosion shook the Sanchi, and the ship then sank into the sea. The Chinese say the ship left a 3.8-square-mile area contaminated with oil. However, the condensate oil the ship was carrying readily evaporates or burns off in a fire, reducing the chance of a major oil spill. Amir Vahdat is an Associated Press writer. WASHINGTON The Trump administration is preparing to withhold tens of millions of dollars from the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, cutting the years first contribution by more than half or perhaps entirely, and making additional donations contingent on major changes to the organization, according to U.S. officials. President Trump hasnt made a final decision but appears more likely to send only $60 million of the planned $125 million first installment to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Future contributions would require the agency, facing heavy Israeli criticism, to demonstrate significant changes in operations, they said, adding that one suggestion under consideration would require the Palestinians to first re-enter peace talks with Israel. The State Department said Sunday that there are still deliberations taking place. The administration could announce its decision as early as Tuesday, the officials said. The plan to withhold some of the money is backed by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who offered it as a compromise to demands for more drastic measures by U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, the officials said. Haley wants a complete cutoff in U.S. money until the Palestinians resume peace talks with Israel. But Tillerson, Mattis and others say ending all assistance would exacerbate instability in the Mideast, notably in Jordan, a host to hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees and a crucial U.S. strategic partner. The U.S. is the agencys largest donor, supplying nearly 30 percent of its total budget. The agency focuses on providing health care, education and social services to Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians either fled or were forced from their homes during the war that led to Israels establishment in 1948. Today, there are an estimated 5 million refugees and their descendants. Gaza would be particularly hard hit by a cut in funding. Some officials warn it might push people closer to the militant Hamas movement, which controls Gaza. Matthew Lee and Julie Pace are Associated Press writers. "I think this order is trying to do something more to protect innocent people from being convicted, but I don't know how it's going to do it," Elkovitch said. "I think that one provision the timely fashion is actually going to be a detriment. ... (Thirty days before trial) doesn't give the defense attorney enough time to investigate, interview people and do what he's supposed to do." In response, Judge Leone said he is aware of some defense attorneys' concerns and hopes the prosecution will disclose material as soon as it becomes available. "It would certainly be my hope that the prosecutor handling a particular case would turn over Brady material to the defense attorney as soon as they are made aware of it, regardless of the 30-day requirement," he said in an email to The Citizen. "In the alternative, if a defense attorney receives Brady material in accordance with the new rule and he or she requests more time to prepare for trial ... then I would certainly grant an adjournment." Similarly, Judge Fandrich said he would be open to hearing any concerns from local defense attorneys regarding the new definition of timely disclosure. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) You know Tina. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Tina Martello keeps over 60 whiskeys in the inventory at Tina's Whiskey Bar on the South Shore. And she's developed a whiskey flight to show off the spirits alongside select beers. The bar, which features a constantly rotating pub grub menu, can be found at 4060 Hylan Blvd., 718-554-4470, next to Frank & Sal's Italian specialty store in Great Kills. It is open daily from 11 a.m. to 4 a.m. Don't Edit (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) The bar is open 365 days a year. "We never close," said Tina. In fact, she prides the business on being a neighborhood meeting spot, even with customers who come not necessarily for the booze but the company and food. She and business partner/fiance Scott Rogers even put out food on major holidays for patrons who have no family with whom to celebrate. Don't Edit (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) Scott and Tina started the bar about two years ago. Tina tended bar for decades either at Scooby's and Mugshots in Travis. "Both of us bartended for 25 years or so," said Tina. And, therefore, says Scott, they developed a strong following of Staten Islanders. Scott's world before tavern ownership was PJ's Pub, the Ground Round once at the Mall, Carmen's formerly of Huguenot, Curly Wolf Saloon of Annadale and Lily Red's at the bottom of Sequine Avenue. Don't Edit (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) Why not own the place? Why work for everyone else when we can work for ourselves," said Scott. So he and Tina decided to open a place together. "Whiskeys are hot, theyre in big demand. It was one of those why dont we open a whiskey bar," said Tina with an infectious smile. Don't Edit (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) When Tina pours a shot... Don't Edit Don't Edit (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) ... she says, 'Giddy up!' Don't Edit The crowd at Tina's Whiskey Tavern, Great Kills. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) She keeps the crowd convivial. "Entertainment is the pool table, darts. Sometimes we get music in here," said Tina. "Monday's the pool league, Tuesday's the dart league," she explained. Don't Edit (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) Tina's Whiskey Tavern features 14 beers on tap in the Great Kills neighborhood pub. Don't Edit (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) "There's no riff-raff," said Mike, a regular who sat at the bar Saturday afternoon. As fellow patrons chatted about fishing, like about black fish and striped bass in the nearby Great Kills Harbor, Tina brought out a flight of whiskey and beer. Beer alone costs $12 for such a sampler. Add the whiskey and depending on the selections the price can be $20 or more. Don't Edit (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) Regulars love to sample new whiskeys. Whiskey on the back bar, Tina's Whiskey Tavern, Great Kills. Don't Edit Don't Edit But the most popular is Jameson's. The most expensive whiskey is Johnny Walker Blue for $30 neat. Don't Edit (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) Meanwhile, Joe Pollari whips up pub grub. Don't Edit (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) Let's have a look-see at what he's serving. Wings come as hot, mild, medium, barbecue, Korean BBQ, garlic-parmesan and mole sauce. And every day is a different hearty special from $8 to $10. Don't Edit (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) Mondays are meatloaf. Tuesdays see corned beef and cabbage. Corned beef is a Tuesday special for $8. Don't Edit (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) Wednesdays show off 'Latin Lunches.' Enchiladas with melted cheese and Spanish rice could be one of Joe's features for humpday. Don't Edit Don't Edit (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) Pernil with Spanish rice and plaintains is an occasional Wednesday special. Don't Edit (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) Thursdays are ribs. St. Louis-style ribs with house-made cole slaw by Pollari are $10 an order. He presents Fish 'n' Chips, hand-battered cod with fries, every Friday. It's a very popular item. Don't Edit (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) On weekends, Joe has fun with the burgers. Here is "The Islander Burger" with lettuce, tomato, melted mozzarella, roasted red peppers and balsamic glaze. Don't Edit (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) Big Texan Burger with 7 ounces of ground beef loaded with fried onions, cheddar, smokey barbecue and an over-easy egg at Tina's Whiskey Tavern. Don't Edit (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) Pizza burger sliders come on garlic knots. Don't Edit Don't Edit (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) Chicken-bacon-ranch quesadillas are on the weekend specials through January. Don't Edit (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) A double pretzel dog loaded can be loaded with cheddar and honey mustard. Don't Edit (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) Chimichurri steak sandwich comes with seasoned fries. Don't Edit (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) Hanging out at Tina's Whiskey Bar in Great Kills. Don't Edit When the weather warms up... Don't Edit Don't Edit (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) ... the patio is a fine place to enjoy Joe's food with a beer or spirit. Outside in warm weather: The patio at Tina's, which is open to neighbors with dogs. Don't Edit Courtesy of Joe Pollari At night, it's a place to hang out and smoke. Joe caters parties out here year round. The space can fit up to 30 guests. Don't Edit (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) So come on down for a flight of warm cheer. Come rain, snow or frigid forecast, Tina, Scott and crew will be waiting to serve you. Staten Island Advance photo Donovan explains why he voted 'no' They made it clear that this legislation will harm, not help, our community. More of our hard-earned money will go to Washington to subsidize tax cuts for the rest of the nation. Thats why I voted no, Rep. Daniel Donovan said during a press conference at his New Dorp office. Donovan has consistently cited the loss of the state and local tax deduction, also called the SALT deduction, as one of the reasons he voted against the bill, as well as the elimination of the personal exemption. Donovan was joined by Sandy Krueger, CEO of the Staten Island Board of Realtors, and Laura Farrell, accountant and professor of accounting and finance at the College of Staten Island, to discuss the negative impact the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will have on Staten Islanders. "I could never support legislation that cuts taxes for everybody in the rest of the country and gives the bill to the people of Staten Island and Brooklyn," Donovan said. Don't Edit Staten Island Advance photo Tax reform bill impacts 2018 tax year The $1.4 trillion tax bill -- officially called the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act -- passed the House of Representatives on Dec.20 by a 224 to 201 vote. The bill passed the Senate, 51 to 48 votes. No Democrats voted for the bill in either house. The new tax code will affect your 2019 filing for your income beginning in 2018. President Donald Trump signed the tax bill into law before leaving for his Christmas break in Florida. It's the first significant change in the U.S. tax code since President Ronald Reagan signed the Tax Reform Act of 1986 to simplify the income tax code, broaden the tax base and eliminate many tax shelters. Don't Edit Borough accountant says bill is a 'slap in the face' This is a slap in the face to the working people, Laura Farrell told the Advance. William DeLuccio, a certified public accountant from Great Kills, said he felt that the "average person" on Staten Island would come out better than before, but Farrell feels otherwise and has numbers to support his position. DeLuccio said the increased Child Tax Credit, reworked tax brackets and doubled standard deduction can offset some of the loss from the elimination of the personal exemption, SALT and miscellaneous deductions. What about people who dont have children? Farrell said. Don't Edit AP Photo Not all families are eligible for some deductions Farrell said DeLuccio and many others are focusing their impact analysis on families who have children under the age of 17 who are eligible for the Child Tax Credit and leaving out an entire chunk of borough residents who do not have children or have children who are over the age limit. Under the new bill, the Child Tax Credit was increased from $1,000 to $2,000 for each dependent under 17 years old. DeLuccio said the credit could help offset some of the loss from the elimination of the personal exemption, however, those without children or children over 17 years old would not reap the benefits of the credit. Don't Edit Almost a $7K tax increase for married couple with $200K income Farrell provided a copy of a 2016 income tax return for a married couple, without children, who had a combined income of $199,036. The couple had $23,794 in state and local income taxes (SALT), as well as $3,104 in miscellaneous expenses which were eligible for deduction under the old tax plan. This left the couple with $142,814 in taxable income, which resulted in a $13,941 refund Calculated under the new plan, the couples SALT deduction was capped at $10,000 and their $3,104 miscellaneous expense deduction was eliminated. That left them with $167,812 in taxable income, which resulted in a $7,214 refund -- $6,727 less than they received under the old plan. Don't Edit Don't Edit Staten Island Advance photo SALT cap, miscellaneous deduction and personal exemption eliminations are biggest hit Farrell agrees with Donovan that the cap on the state and local tax deduction is going to be the biggest hit to Staten Islanders. She said that the elimination of the personal exemption -- despite the doubling of the standard deduction -- and the miscellaneous deductions will cause more harm than people may realize. Don't Edit Donovan: Why wasn't SALT capped for corporations? "The SALT deduction is a critical component of our tax system and were being told that with the lowering of the brackets that SALT is no longer needed. If that is true, I ask why is the deduction remaining in the corporate portion of the tax bill in its entirety? Why is that deduction permanent when the capping of that deduction is only temporary in the individual portion of the bill? " Donovan said. Don't Edit Shutterstock image Doubling of the standard deduction If your itemized deductions exceed the standard deduction, then it pays to itemize, DeLuccio told the Advance. The standard deduction has been increased under the bill to $24,000 for a married couple filing jointly, and $12,000 for single filers. What good is doubling the standard deduction to $24,000 if your miscellaneous expenses and other deductions would have been $48,000? Farrell said. Youre still losing out, she added. Don't Edit Impact on homeowners and local housing market Sandy Krueger said the way the tax bill has been for over 100 years has always encouraged homeownership and the new bill is taking that away. "Everything seems to be working in this tax bill against homeownership, which is something that we're obviously worried about," Krueger said. He made the argument that homeowners invest in their communities and their own properties, for example, by hiring a local contractor to remodel a kitchen or upgrade a bathroom. "People might not have the money to do that anymore," he said. Additionally, he's worried about the potential first-time home buyer who may no longer consider buying when they can continue to rent for the same price as a monthly mortgage payment now that they're not getting the added benefits of deductions from owning a home. Don't Edit Staten Island Advance photo How will it impact you? Try an online tax calculator So how will the new tax code impact you? Everyone is asking the same question: Will my taxes go up or down? Every tax return is different and the results will vary depending on a number of key issues, including source of income, are you itemizing or taking the now larger standard deduction, do you have a mortgage and how much interest do you pay, number and age of children -- there are many variables. For individuals tax filers whose main source of income is their paycheck, some preliminary estimates can be made. Several online sites offer calculators to give you an idea of what the impact will be when you file in 2019. For CNN's, click here. For the MarketWatch version, click here. Don't Edit STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- With peak flu season upon us, the city Health Department is reminding New Yorkers to get their flu shots. "As we have seen in many other years at this time, flu activity is on the rise," said city Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett. "The good news is that it's not too late to get a flu shot. "Getting the flu is miserable, and it can be deadly for certain New Yorkers." According to the Health Department, the majority of flu-related deaths involve people with diabetes, heart or lung disease, people over the age of 65, and children under the age of 5. During the 2016-17 influenza season, there were 106 influenza-associated pediatric deaths nationally, including six in New York City. The flu season usually peaks from January through March, but can start as early as November and continue through late spring. Flu and pneumonia kill more New Yorkers than any other infection, the Health Department said. In 2015, more than 2,200 New Yorkers died from the flu and pneumonia. In October, the Health Department launched a citywide awareness campaign, "I Got My Flu Shot...Not the Flu," reminding New Yorkers that the flu vaccine is the best protection. Flu vaccines are made from killed viruses. Mild symptoms such as nausea, sleepiness, headache, muscle aches and chills can occur. The most common side effects are pain and tenderness at the site of injection. The vaccine is widely available at commercial pharmacies, doctors' offices and city clinics; it's typically free or covered by a co-pay. To get a flu vaccine, check with your medical care provider. For more information about where to get vaccinated, call 311, visit nyc.gov/flu for the Flu Vaccine Locator or text "flu" to 877877. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The city Police Department (NYPD) is asking for the public's help in identifying a man sought for questioning in the theft of $1,150 worth of equipment from a Mariners Harbor car wash. On Dec. 18, 2017 at approximately 1 a.m. an unidentified man allegedly entered Empire Car Wash at 2409 Forest Ave. through a closed gate and removed property from a shed, police said. The items reported stolen were: a detailing cart, vacuum, and buffer and extension cords, said police. The total value of the stolen equipment is estimated to be $1,150, police said. The man fled in an unknown direction, police said. The alleged thief is described as a Hispanic male in his 20s, police said. He was last seen wearing a black hoodie, green coat and black pants, police said. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential. FOLLOW TRACEY PORPORA ON FACEBOOK STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Ten alleged mobsters -- including the acting boss of the Bonanno crime family -- were charged with racketeering and other offenses, officials announced. Eight alleged members of the Bonanno family -- Joseph (Joe C) Cammarano Jr., 58; John (Porky) Zancocchio, 60; Joseph (Joe Valet) Sabella, 52; George (Grumpy) Tropiano, 68; Albert (Al Muscles) Armetta, 48; Domenick Miniero, 85; Joseph (Joey Blue Eyes) Santapaolo, 66, and Simone Esposito, 47 -- were charged with racketeering conspiracy involving a wide range of crimes, including extortion, loansharking, wire and mail fraud, narcotics distribution, and conspiracy to commit murder, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District. Alleged Genovese family member Ernest (Butch) Montevecchi, 72, was charged with participating in the conspiracy as well, the release said. Several of the defendants and Luchese family member Eugene (Boobsie) Castelle, 57, were charged with conspiracy to commit extortion, according to the release. Armetta was also charged with assault resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering, and aiding and abetting the same, federal prosecutors charge. Cammarano is a captain and the acting boss of the Bonanno family, officials allege. If convicted, the men face a maximum of 20 years in prison for each count against them. Raids on Staten Island, including one at Xcess Gentlemen's Club in Charleston, led to the arrests, according to a report by NBC 4 New York. Homeland Security Investigations worked alongside NYPD, Diplomatic Security Service and other law enforcement on the case, officials said. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein. Best Canadian Blog 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 About Kate Why this blog? Until this moment I have been forced to listen while media and politicians alike have told me "what Canadians think". In all that time they never once asked. 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A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! Alice in Wonderland. Adapted by Jason Pizarello from the book by Lewis Carroll. Directed by Jordan Best. Original music by Peter Best. Ickle Pickle Productions. Belconnen Theatre. Until January 20. canberraticketing.com.au or 6275 2700. Ickle Pickle Productions has come up with an intelligent, absorbing and lively look at Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. Under Jordan Best's assured direction a large and mostly youthful cast recreates Carroll's world with style and understanding on the small Belconnen Theatre stage. William Best (left) as the Dormouse, Jim Adamik as the Mad Hatter, and Oliver Johnstone as the March Hare in Ickle Pickle's Alice in Wonderland. And what an eccentric, topsy-turvy world it is. Through the Looking Glass is raided for a few bits and there are a few omissions from the original Wonderland but Carroll's universe is all of a piece and this version will serve as a good introduction. It's an economical show too, with a cleverly basic black and white set (Steven Galinec, from an original design concept by Wayne Shepherd) that may echo the original Tenniel illustrations. The rabbit hole has seldom been so simply done. Morning, Canberra! Hopefully you're feeling refreshed for your first day of the working week, after that overnight low of 8 degrees. We're in for a partly cloudy one today with a top of 26 degrees - a welcome change after last week. Here are your Monday headlines. Company behind proposed plastics-to-fuel plant sells up Work on two two-storey homes on a former Mr Fluffy site in Chapman has come to a halt after local residents say an "error" was found with the height. Russell Johnson, whose home is behind the development at 3 Tudawalli Place, Chapman, said surrounding residents were approached by the designer, VRD Design, which told them work had stopped because the structures were 1.53 metres higher than originally planned. Residents John Hill, Alexandra Geue, Russell Johnson, Joan Johnson, Margaret Cooper and John Cooper are concerned about the construction of a building on a former Mr Fluffy site. Credit:Dion Georgopoulos The problem was put down to a "mistake", Mr Johnson said. "A retaining wall which was not on the original plan was built to cater this huge mistake and this alteration in the building now means that that we have a privacy issue with the bottom and second floor." The old Woden bus depot will be demolished to make way for a new storehouse for Canberra's buses, due to overcrowding in the Belconnen and Tuggeranong depots. The Phillip depot was decommissioned in the mid-1990s but still houses derelict buses and Transport Canberra's community buses. The Dundas Street Woden Bus Depot in 2012 Credit:Jay Cronan However an increase in demand for public transport, particularly in peak times, has caused the fleet to expand significantly, tender documents for the old depot's demolition said. "The size of the fleet required to effectively meet the needs of the travelling public has grown significantly and the two existing depots are now operating well above their design capacity," it reads. A Canberra tenant was shocked to come home not once but twice to find a bird in her dining room, a tribunal has heard. The uninvited visitors - more specifically, allegations they had entered the property through damaged heating ducts - were behind one of a litany of complaints the tenant later made against her landlord. Birds in the dining room were one reason this rental agreement turned sour. She took the landlord to the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal, asking that it order the man compensate her more than $4800 on six grounds. She was only partially successful. In recent years, almost all companies selling things to consumers have rushed to build a presence on Facebook, which attracts two billion users around the world each month. The news industry is no exception. Loading Since 2015, Facebook has been a bigger source of traffic for publishers than Google (though Google appeared to reclaim the mantle at the end of last year). Newer outlets (think BuzzFeed, or the Betoota Advocate) and brands (think online mattress sales companies, and millennial themed investment products); have been able to rapidly scale their businesses by mastering the intricacies of the platform. Older news outlets charged headfirst onto Facebook as well, in the hope of boosting digital revenue to make up for declines in print. The idea was to maximise audience, and by extension, generate more money from online ads. The problem was, the platform everyone was posting their stories on, was the same platform responsible for a sharp decline in digital advertising rates - and a direct competitor for money from brands. So while Facebook might have helped some publishers grow their traffic, the ad dollars never really followed. The news industry didn't react well to Facebook's announcement last week. Yet, neither did Wall Street. Facebook shares crashed 4.5 per cent, costing CEO Mark Zuckerberg billions, as investors struggled to digest the news. "We think the actions the company will take pose a headwind to growth for the business in the near-term," Brian Wieser, an analyst at New York based Pivotal Research told clients after the announcement. So, what is really going on here? Zuckerberg tried to frame the move as being designed to ensure Facebook is a force for good in the world. But business considerations were almost certainly part of the motivation. Facebook's growth is showing alarming signs of stalling, Wieser argues. While the platform continues to attract more users, these users are spending less time on Facebook than they used to, he estimates. Facebook saw declines in time spent per user of 7.0 per cent and 4.7 per cent in August and September, according to Wieser. These figures exlude Instagram, which is owned by Facebook. The decline might be due to the nature of the content dominating Facebook these days. (Too many annoying videos? Too many annoying posts from brands?) Whether boosting content from friends makes Facebook a nicer place to spend time remains to be seen. Friday's announcement is not the kind of overture from Facebook that many publishers might have been expecting, though. Facebook is one of the most common habitats of internet trolls. The giant social network suffered mass criticism last year, among other things, for failing to stem fake news, and selling ads to Russian trolls that reached millions of Americans. Australia's competition watchdog is also investigating the company (and Google) for its dominance of the local ad market. Yet the changes, which only came with a little forewarning, might not have the impact many publishers (and brands and small businesses) fear. Content shared by friends and family that trigger 'meaningful interactions' will still spread on Facebook. This obviously could still include news stories. And the company is reportedly testing a system to boost credible publishers content in its algorithims (although this wasn't part of last week's announcement). The reality is, everyone should have seen this coming from a mile away. Facebook has been heading in a 'pay for play' direction for a while now. It's a business first and foremost, after all. Brands and media companies used to be able to get their content in front of lots of eyes by mastering the dark arts of Facebook. They can still achieve this. They will just have to pay for it. For publishers, relying on Facebook always looked unsustainable. The University of NSW has signed an agreement to become fully solar powered. UNSW has signed a 15-year agreement with solar company Maoneng Australia and energy company Origin for a solar corporate power purchase agreement (PPA). The agreement will see solar energy from Maonengs Sunraysia solar farm provide 100 per cent of the campus energy. UNSW President Ian Jacobs said the agreement is part of the university's goal to be 100% carbon neutral. Credit:UNSW Sunraysia, which will be constructed near Balranald in NSW, will be the largest solar farm in Australia, generating at least 530,000-megawatt hours of electricity annually. From how to get us to save for retirement to fixing the obesity epidemic, much of it hangs on this simple instinct for the short-term over the long-term. Credit:Glenn Hunt If you were given the choice between $100 today and $110 in a years time, which one would you pick? This simple experiment, which has been undertaken countless times in many variations by behavioural economists and psychologists, is about how we perceive the value of the present rather than the future. The outcome is that most of us value today rather than tomorrow, at varying rates, and its this invisible bias thats behind many problems policymakers are facing. From how to get us to save for retirement to fixing the obesity epidemic, much of it hangs on this simple instinct for the short-term over the long-term. The reasons for this arent necessarily because were greedy or have an inability to plan ahead, though the outcomes can cause significant problems, but are typically grounded in three main considerations. The first is risk and uncertainty. As an extreme example, you know you are alive now but you arent 100 per cent certain youll be around in the future. The longer the time period, the higher the risk that you wont ever benefit from that money so the less you value receiving it in the future and the more likely you are to want it now. More precisely, they pose the question: "In general, would you say life in [your country] today is better, worse, or about the same as it was fifty years ago for people like you?" Think about it. What would you say? I think most people have an instinctive response, but let's run through the potential pros and cons. Let's start with the cons. Today, the leader of the free world is a tangerine-tinted bloated bloviate. North Korea has its finger on the button. Terrorism is a scourge in our most treasured global cities. Global leaders have failed to find an effective solution to the climate-changing effects of the pollutants we've been belching and continue to belch into our atmosphere. An increasingly interconnected world means the risk of global pandemics has increased, while overuse of medicines, including antibiotics, risks rendering them becoming newly ineffective as a response. Rapid technological changes have displaced many workers, while shackling most of us, herd-like, to the glowing screens of our smartphones, which seem to act as lightning rods for an emerging culture of outrage and offence. OK. What about the pros? Rising life expectancy must surely top the list, fuelled by advances in medical technology and greater understanding of how to cure our major maladies. In Australia, we're better educated than ever before, and living standards have risen appreciably. We're richer, the past quarter-century having marked a period of continuous growth, unscathed by the pockmarks of large rises in unemployment. It's never been easier, or cheaper, to enjoy world travel, while advances in communication technologies, such as the internet, mean it has never been easier to connect with loved ones and strangers alike. The same iPhones that so vex us, also offer up a hitherto unimaginable cornucopia of knowledge and connection. As a woman, it's hard not to want to considerably extend this list with no-fault divorce, career opportunities and safe and legal abortions. So, do you have your answer. Let's see how it compares. When researchers put the question to Australians, exactly half of us declared life "better" than 50 years ago putting us slightly ahead of the global average of 43 per cent. But fully a third of us 33 per cent answered "worse", which was, granted, lower than the global average of 38 per cent. A further 12 per cent of us thought life was "about the same" and 5 per cent didn't know or didn't say. Clearly, not everyone is feeling better off. Globally, people with lower levels of education were less likely to feel life had improved, presumably reflecting the changing job market towards knowledge-intense jobs. Older people were also more likely to be nostalgic for the past. In Australia, 63 per cent of people aged 18 to 29 rated life as better now, as did 55 per cent of people aged 30 to 49. Only 41 per cent of people aged over 50 thought the same. This dispersion between the answers of old and young was among the widest in the global survey. Whether you believe life is getting better seems very much to depend on who you are. For women, minorities and sexually diverse people, it's hard to deny the progress that's been made. As a woman, I find it hard to deliver any other verdict than a resounding "better". Sure, women today juggle a lot of competing pressures of work and family life. But better to have the choice. We are fortunate in Australia to have a number of selective schools as an option to address the educational and related needs of gifted and high-ability students. In particular, the NSW Department of Education should be applauded for its initiative not only in establishing and maintaining almost 50 of these schools, but also for their diversity. Selective schools are located in both urban and non-urban areas, enrol varying percentages of students of non-English-language backgrounds, and are found in both socio-economically privileged and disadvantaged parts of the state. In fact, many of the most recently established selective schools in NSW are in rural areas and/or have Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA) scores that are below the average. Students sitting exams for entrance to selective schools. Credit:Craig Abraham It is unfortunate that some members of the community choose to use individual schools within the selective school system to make arguments against the entire system. The diversity also exists with respect to whether selective schools accept local students. In fact, most of the selective schools in the state are partially selective, which means local students are already accepted into more than half of the existing selective schools. For those parents who wish to send their children to selective schools, but have a concern about the need for interaction with non-gifted students who also attend the same school, they have 25 schools across the state to choose from. For those parents who encourage their children to take advantage of the multiple opportunities that exist outside of school for interactions with those who are non-gifted, a smaller number of fully selective schools exist. This diversity, and the associated choice it offers, is one of the best features of the selective school system in NSW. Nevertheless, no system is perfect. There has recently been an acknowledgement from the NSW Department of Education that the selective school entrance examinations may give some advantage to students who come from families of high socio-economic status backgrounds. Consequently, a review of the entrance examinations appears to be imminent, with the aim of making selective schools more accessible to students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. This is a welcome development, and one that may alleviate some community concerns relating to the inequality of educational opportunity for students of diverse backgrounds. In conducting the review, and any subsequent amendments to the selective school entrance examinations, the Department of Education is encouraged to seek the expertise of scholars and practitioners from the fields of gifted education and assessment, as it has done during its current review of the state gifted education policy document. While many gifted and high-ability students are highly suited to selective schools, and indeed thrive in such environments, it must be recognised that selective schools are not for everyone. For some students with advanced abilities, options such as academic acceleration, in one or more subjects or year levels, may be more appropriate; for others, special provisions within the mixed-ability classroom in a comprehensive school are perfectly fine. Still others may benefit from one of the other educational interventions, such as mentoring from experts, that the research has demonstrated to be suitable for different sub-groups of gifted and high-ability students. We didn't know, but the Brexit referendum in June 2016, in which Britons elected to leave the EU, marked the dawn of a period of nativist populism that climaxed five months later with the election of Donald Trump. Our contribution to this lamentable season was the decision by voters in three states to give a long-running soap-opera, otherwise known as Pauline Hanson's One Nation, a new lease of life in the Senate. And hasn't it all worked out splendidly. The common thread among these movements is that, while they address issues of inequality and insecurity and dislocation that have been too long overlooked, the solutions they offer can only make things worse. An anti Brexit demonstrator. Credit:AP With Brexit, as with Mr Trump, it appears the fun is just beginning. British Prime Minister Theresa May has gained parliamentary approval to begin the Brexit process, and talks have begun ahead of a proposed exit on March 29, 2019. That deadline has a reassuring solidity, but for Britain, and for Mrs May, there lies a sea of trouble and uncertainty ahead. As far as messy divorces go, Brexit promises to beat them all. The issue of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland has emerged as an early flashpoint. Mrs May has had to promise no "hard" border will be established on the island of Ireland, but also that there will be no extra barriers imposed between Northern Island and the rest of Britain. If you think summers are getting hotter, you're right. Just look at Australia's gas and coal power plants, which struggle to cope in the heat. Here's why extreme heat is the greatest threat to the security of eastern Australia's electricity supply. First, global warming means extreme heat events are the new normal for Australia. The Bureau of Meteorology says the number of days each year when Australia's average temperature is "extreme" is increasing. We're talking the types of days where parts of the Hume Highway literally melt in the heat. In 2013, there were 28 extreme-temperature days; before 1950, more than half the years had zero extreme days. Without the effects of global warming, the record-breaking February 2017 heatwave would be considered a one-in-500-year event. If global temperatures reach 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels, possibly as early as 2050, summers this hot will become a one-in-five-year event. And with Australia's emissions rising for the third year in a row, the Coalition government isn't doing anything effective to address our contribution to global warming. So we can expect extremely hot days more frequently. Second, like polar bears, gas and coal-fired power stations don't cope well with the heat. Thermal electricity generation, including thermal coal and combined cycle gas, require cooling to function. In heatwaves, cooling obviously becomes difficult and many power stations fail to produce at their full capacity, or they "trip" and fail in part or in full. On Monday, Australian time, we saw the Golden Globes red carpet bathed in a sea of black, as part of the #TimesUp initiative against sexual abuse and discrimination. For people like myself (that is, fashion editors), it was a tightrope walk between talking too much about the clothes, and not talking about them at all, when they were such a big part of the message on the night. Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones put it perfectly when she told a reporter that nowhere in the manifesto did it say anything about actresses not looking their best. And so, cloaked in the meaning of the moment (or movement, quoth Eva Longoria) actresses, and the designers who dressed them, created looks that were on message, and equally on point. Because, you see, whether certain people involved with the cause like it or not (I'm looking at you, Debra Messing), the red carpets during awards season set trends that trickle down to the chain stores. Now I've gone on the assumption that your son has claimed another property since May 2012 as his main residence. If, in fact, he went travelling, he would have had six years in which he can continue to claim the unit as his main residence. Since he sold it in 2017, within that six-year period, he would then not be liable for CGT. Let's say this was $560,000. Your cost base is this plus any capital expenses that have not been depreciated while the property was rented. Let's say he put in a new water heater at a cost of $1000, your cost base is thus $561,000. The capital gain is ($800,000-$561,000=) $239,000. Let's also say your son has capital losses from bad share investments of $9000. These can be used to reduce his capital gain to $230,000, of which 50 per cent or $115,000 is then added to his taxable income that year. Not quite. If you start using part or all of your main residence to produce income for the first time after August 20, 1996, then, under a special rule, you are taken to have acquired the dwelling at its market value at the time. My son purchased a one-bedroom unit for $400,000 in October 2009, and obtained the first home buyer grant. He lived in the unit until May 2012, when it was valued at $560,000 by the local real estate agent. The unit was rented until August 2017 when it was sold for $800,000. Am I correct in calculating that the capital gains tax will be 50 per cent of $240,000, that is $120,000? Can he offset this against his accrued capital losses? P.D. We are ready to retire but would like some advice on the best way to go about it financially. I am 66, with NSW First State Super and still work full time. I earn about $88,000 a year. Between my employer contribution and my salary sacrifice, the amount going into my super before tax is just under the $25,000 limit. My super balance is $510,000. I believe that with my fund I can roll my super into an allocated pension or something similar. I have about six months combined annual and long service leave owing. My wife is 60 and is in the SASS fund. She also works full time and earns around $97,000 a year. Besides her employer contribution, she salary sacrifices 9 per cent, which is her total allowed amount. Her super balance is $614,000. My wife's benefit payment is to be paid out at retirement, so she will have to make arrangements to open an allocated pension or similar fund, on retirement. My wife has about seven months' combined annual and long service leave. We own our house in the country valued at about $450,000, have about $35,000 in savings and will be receiving around $40,000 from a will. We have no debts. We would like to move to the coast when retired, but expect to pay around $670,000 to $730,000 for a house there. If we retire now and have our leave paid out, what amount of tax would we pay? We are probably inclined to use our leave which will take us up to the start of the new financial year and then retire. Because my wife cannot receive any government pension until she is 67, we need to know the best way to make her super last. Can I roll some of my super into her super, or similar, or would I be best to purchase a coastal property from my super and sell our house? Do we sell our house now, put the money into savings, or similar, and have six months to purchase a coastal home and then retire to it? Would I be entitled to a part government pension then? M.M. The optimum strategy, I suspect, would be to wait until you retire before buying a home up the coast. Life is full of changes of opinions, as well as major unexpected events, and it is best to wait until you are certain as to where you want to live before making such a large purchase. You don't mention the value of your current home but, if in Sydney, it is likely to be at least equal to the value of any home you wish to buy up the coast, which is important, because I would hate to see you use much or all of your superannuation savings and then find yourself unable to replace it, given the current caps on superannuation contributions. Being over 65, all your super benefits are "non-preserved" and can be withdrawn at will and hence you can withdraw, say, $300,000. Your wife, being under 65, and having less than $1.4 million in super, can "rollup" three years worth of non-concessional contributions and thus contribute the $300,000 into a new super fund in 2017-18, but then make no other NCCs until July 1, 2020. (SASS being a defined benefit fund won't accept additional contributions beyond its stated limits.) Then, if you wish, she can repeat the exercise while still being under 65. The advantage of this is that your wife's superannuation is ignored by Centrelink's means test until she reaches age pension age, This would possibly allow you a part age pension until she does, assuming you both retire and don't have a sizeable excess amount left over after the sale of your Sydney and the purchase of a new home. The assets test currently cuts out the pension for combined assets of $830,000 for a couple and the test would count a second home while you still lived in the first. Danielle Smith was standing on a beach in Hawaii with her husband and two children when a sea of mobile phones around her buzzed with the news that a ballistic missile attack was imminent on Saturday morning. A moment of dazed silence ensued as those on the beach processed the news, followed by a terrifying scramble for shelter. "Suddenly about 50 phones went off around me on the beach," Ms Smith said from Hawaii on Saturday afternoon. "Everyone's just looking around me going, 'What do you do? What do you do?'". Brian Lee, 29, has been charged with murder following the fatal stabbing of 56-year-old Klaus Petr near Hurstville train station in the early hours of Saturday morning. Police were called to the Forest Road entrance of Hurstville station in Sydney's south just after 6am, following reports that a man had been stabbed. Mr Petr staggered at least 20 metres before collapsing, and was discovered by a group of women doing Tai Chi in a park, police said. He suffered "major trauma" and severe lacerations to his body and could not be saved by police and paramedics who rushed to the scene. Amid Sydney's latest batch of transport woes it can be easy to overlook that sometimes the best-laid plans work out tolerably well. When construction started on Sydney's light rail line two years ago, authorities were keen to foreshadow the worst. The state government and City of Sydney have established a free "courier hub" for courier companies to use out of the Goulburn Street car park. Credit:Louie Douvis Traffic would be slower; the roads would be a nightmare; it might be best to delay your trip. The thinking behind the campaign was to try to convince Sydney residents to avoid driving into the city centre whenever they could. Alina Tooley never considered herself a forgetful person then she got pregnant, and found herself putting the margarine away in the pantry instead of the fridge. "Baby brain," she says, explaining the vagueness and memory lapses. Alina Tooley is sure "baby brain" is behind her memory lapses. Credit:Paul Jeffers The 42-year-old recently spent almost an hour wandering through the Chadstone Shopping Centre car park in Melbourne as it heaved with Christmas shoppers, looking for her lost vehicle. Even when she eventually did find it, on the verge of tears, she could not conjure any memory of ever parking it there. A strategy to double exports to India in the next decade has been revealed by Victorian premier Daniel Andrews as he heads off on his first official visit to the country. The new strategy aims to double the value of goods exports including food and manufacturing items to India from an annual average of $500 million to $1 billion. The Venkatachallam family pose with Premier Daniel Andrews after the premier addressed members of Melbourne's Indian community at Melbourne University. Credit:Mathew Lynn The premier also wants to increase the number of Indian postgraduate research students by a quarter by 2027. "This blueprint is all about expanding our footprint in one of the world's leading economies, which will boost Victorian businesses and create jobs for locals," Mr Andrews told reporters on Sunday. A bushfire which was threatening lives and homes in the Mundaring Weir Village, east of Perth, has been contained after rain set in on Monday morning. The Department for Parks and Wildlife renewed a bushfire advice at 9am on Monday for people 10 kilometres south of Great Eastern Highway near Gorrie Road, Chambers Road and Firewood Road and in and near the Mundaring Weir Village, near Mundaring Weir Road between Firewood Road and Lockwood Road. From a Shenton Park backyard. Credit:Michael Momsen The efforts the firefighters at the Sawyers Valley blaze were helped by rain forecast to hit the metropolitan area over the next few days thanks to ex-Tropical Cyclone Joyce. The cyclone has been downgraded to a tropical low, but the Bureau of Meteorology has warned it could still bring severe weather including thunderstorms and flooding. A Turkish passenger plane has veered off the runway and over the side of a cliff, coming to rest just metres from the Black Sea. The Pegasus Airlines aircraft landed Saturday evening at Trabzon Airport on Turkey's Black Sea coast in the north east. Authorities have not said what caused the plane to skid off the runway after it landed. In a brief statement, the budget airline simply described what happened as a "runway excursion incident." The plane's 162 passengers, two pilots and four cabin crew members all got out of the aircraft safely, Pegasus Airlines said. London: The girlfriend of UKIP leader Henry Bolton has been suspended from the party after reportedly making racist remarks about Prince Harry's fiancee Meghan Markle. Jo Marney, 25, whose relationship with the 54-year-old party chief emerged earlier this month, sent a series of messages to a friend in which she made offensive comments about Markle and black people, The Mail on Sunday reported. Meghan Markle arrives at the Christmas Day service. Credit:AP Mr Bolton, whose relationship with Ms Marney is under investigation, has not commented on the messages, although he took to Twitter in the early hours of Sunday morning to deny other allegations about their relationship. A UKIP spokesman told the Press Association Ms Marney had been suspended from the party. The number of high-school-aged teens who are having sex dropped markedly over a decade, a trend that includes substantial declines among younger students, African-Americans and Hispanics, according to a government report released Thursday. The survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed especially steep declines in the past two years. It adds to evidence about ongoing progress in reducing risky behavior by teenagers, who are becoming pregnant, smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol and using marijuana at lower rates than younger people before them, according to public health surveys. "Early initiation of sexual activity is associated with having more sexual partners, not using condoms, sexually transmitted infection and pregnancy during adolescence," the report noted. It called the falling rate of sexual activity among 9th- and 10th-graders "especially encouraging." The researchers said they could not attribute the trend "directly to any specific intervention," but experts have previously cited a number of factors, most importantly access in school and online to straightforward information about sex and contraception. Laura Lindberg, principal research scientist at the Guttmacher Institute, a nonprofit organization that studies reproductive rights and health, noted that the vast majority of the decline occurred between 2013 and 2015. "So we need to see if this is a short term blip or this is something that is going to continue," Lindberg said. "The drops are very large in 2015, and that raises questions of survey value." The results differ from another national survey conducted in teenagers' homes, which shows little change in sexual activity. The National Youth Risk Behavior Surveys cited in Thursday's report are conducted in school. Still, she said, the finding that ninth- and 10th-graders are delaying sexual initiation is a welcome development that most likely results from the end of federally funded school programs that taught abstinence until marriage. In 2010, she said, the Obama administration replaced that curriculum with "medically accurate" information about sex and contraception. In July, the Trump administration cut funding by more than $200 million for groups across the U.S. that work to prevent teenage pregnancy. "The big takeaway for me here is that even with the observed delay in sex, by the time they graduate high school, it's still the case that more than half of student have had sex," Lindberg said. "So we need to do what we can to encourage delay and support healthy choices" when teens begin having sex, she said. Overall, 41.2 percent of high school students reported ever having sexual intercourse in 2015, down from 46.8 percent two years earlier, the same rate found in 2005, according to the CDC's National Youth Risk Behavior Surevey. More strikingly, 48.5 percent of black students in the survey said they'd had sex in 2015, a steep drop from 60.6 percent just two years earlier, and 67.6 percent in 2005. Over the same two years, sexual activity among Hispanic high-schoolers fell from 49.2 percent to 42.5 percent. Among whites, there was a smaller decrease, from 43.7 percent to 39.9 percent. Among ninth grade boys, 27.3 percent said they had had sex, down from 32 percent in 2013 and 39.3 percent in 2005. For ninth grade girls, 20.7 percent had begun having sex in the 2015 survey, a sharp decrease from 28.1 percent in 2013 and 29.3 percent in 2005. The CDC report looked at data from 29 states that had conducted the survey and found some disparities among them. But only two--Wyoming and North Dakota--found no decline in high school sexual activity over the decade. Other reports show that teenage pregnancy and smoking hit all-time lows in 2016, with just 11 percent of teens saying they had smoked a cigarette in the previous month. Alcohol and marijuana use has also declined in recent years, though not as sharply. STAMFORD Police arrested two people Saturday night in downtown Stamford after responding to reports of a brawl in the street. Stamford Police Sgt. Sean Boeger said about half a dozen officers responded at about 11:30 p.m. to the area of Bedford and Spring streets after receiving reports of multiple people fighting in the street. When the officers arrived, Boeger said the fights had broken up but tempers were still running hot and skirmishes soon flared up again. One officer, Boeger said, observed a white female who was later identified as Amanda Angers, 21, of New Britain getting into another womans face. When the officer tried to intervene, Boeger said Angers slapped the officer across the face with an open hand and swore at him. At the same time, Boeger said another officer was dealing with a skirmish between two men. Boeger said the officer observed a man, identified as Brajan Cano, 22, of Berlin, grab an unidentified male and throw him down into a snow bank. The officer intervened and separated the two men before helping to detain Angers. Once Angers was in custody, Boeger said the officers observed Cano getting in another altercation. He was also taken into custody. Boeger said Angers and Cano are a couple. Angers was charged with assaulting a police officer, a felony, second-degree breach of peace and resisting arrest. Her bond was set at $25,000. At the jail, Boeger said Angers again became uncooperative, refusing to go to a cell and forcing officers to carry her. Cano was charged with second-degree breach of peace. His bond was set at $400. kat.russell@stamfordadvocate.com SENNETT The sound of hammers bashing against metal was the soundtrack of a toolmaking event in Sennett Saturday. The event, hosted by the Western New York Farrier's Association, was taught by Riley Kirkpatrick, who flew in from Oregon. Kirkpatrick showed participants how to make their own equipment. The association consists of people who make horseshoes, and many of the participants were association members. The event was held in a barn owned by Claire Affleck, the girlfriend of association member Matt Rice. Kirkpatrick, who makes horseshoes by trade, began creating tools five years ago when he was "young and broke," and starting his own business. He thought the high-quality tools he needed were too expensive to buy, so he created his own. The drifts pointed objects used to make other tools the event's participants made that morning would cost around $300, Kirkpatrick said, while the metal the drift is made from normally costs around $10. By forging their own tools instead of relying on and paying sellers, the participants are taking the initiative to "own their trade," Kirkpatrick said. "(The participants) really want to take a hold of their own lives," Kirkpatrick said. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} CareerMe offers a lifeline for students By Alvin Sallay View(s): View(s): Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor? Or was it doctor, proctor, engineer, accountant as was usually the case of career paths open for teenagers in the good old days in Sri Lanka? We are reminded of this as we walk into careerme.lk a new start-up which gives answers to the burning question which every teenager faces in his or her life. In the past only the lucky few had guidance from their parents or elders, most were left to strike their own path with only fate as a guiding hand. Not so for children who have finished their A-levels or O-Levels today for CareerMe, a student-focused web portal provides personalised direction to make career and educational choices. We help young people to get to know who they are, through a personality test, and then plan the most-suited educational pathway. We offer them a career action plan, a road map to their future, explains Anjana Kulasekara, CareerMe director, operations. The usual scenario for children in Sri Lanka is to select subjects for O-Levels and A-Levels, and then university. After finishing their studies, they then look at what they can do. By the time they reach this stage they have spent the best part of their student life only to realise in most cases that what they have studied is not what they are really interested in or suited for them. Realising that choosing the right career is one of the most crucial decisions of a students life, Anjana, an old girl of Lyceum and alumni of University of Hong Kong, returned from a stint working in Singapore to helm this project which began with the turn of the new year. The paint is still fresh in the Bambalapitiya offices as Anjana takes us through the process. Students have to first undergo a career test so they can get a personalised report about what their personality is and what type of career is best suited for them. Once this report is done, CareerMe invites them to sit down with an advisor and have a discussion about personal circumstances, personal preferences and get advice. We try to give the student as much information as possible, the pros and cons of taking each choice before finally we build a career action plan, Anjana reveals. Nandana Kanakaratne is a senior career adviser. An HR specialist, who worked for Unilevers for 20 years, he points out that CareerMe is not only a shoulder to lean on for students but also for those already employed and who are unhappy with their lot. While we are the bridge that helps students to leave the world of education and enter the world of work, we can also help the thousands who are under-employed, says Nandana. The main focus at the outset will be on schools, however. A current government study reported that while the unemployment rate was 4.4 per cent youth unemployment figures was a drastic 21.6 per cent in 2016. Lots of children need support, Nandana stressed. And this guidance needs to be institutionalised. CareerMe has approached the government and the Education Ministry as Sri Lankas pioneer professional career guidance body and hopes are high that the establishment will back them. Figures show that 43 per cent of females who have done A-Levels are presently unemployed while 56 per cent of both boys and girls who have done O-Levels also fall into this bracket. Apart from, perhaps going on to become a member of parliament (it was reported that 94 MPs in the current parliament had failed their O-Levels), most children grab whatever work opportunity that comes their way first rather than planning out their career. It is not the end of the world if you fail in your A-Levels or O-Levels. This week a newspaper reported that 22,000 children had failed all their subjects at A-Levels. Is there any effort by anyone to support them? asks Anjana. With the construction and hospitality sectors facing a dire shortage of bodies, CareerMe says not only can they point people in the right direction but also away from occupations which are quickly becoming redundant mainly due to the rapid growth of technology. Career guidance will help students make a smooth transition to the working world. By matching individual skills and talents with employers demands, unemployment can be lowered, says Anjana. National growth depends on productivity and productivity is a product of employment. Choosing the right career is one of the most important decisions a student must take and we can help them do that, she added. Doctor, proctor? CareerMe offers far more choices, and those best suited for you. Economics of the double tongue View(s): Recently, one of my colleagues, an Economics Lecturer, Indrajit Aponso, was explaining to me how disciplined drivers lose against reckless drivers. It is customary that road indiscipline has become a hot topic so that everyday many including all types of media have something to say about it. I remembered speaking on the same subject to another friend, Dr. Nirmal Ranjith who happened to tell me about his observations. Motorists are confused because a rule is enforced one particular day and, then its kept aside for many months being tolerated and even encouraging its breach of conduct. When the authorities fail to enforce road rules particularly in a systematic and consistent manner, the motorists who follow the road rules fall back while those who dont follow them proceed forward. This is a simple example to illustrate how the upright lose and, the wicked win, when the law enforcement is deteriorates. This principle is valid for application to your day-to-day life issues as well as to big national issues. Wavering on law enforcement Although the sale of tobacco was banned a few months ago, a grocery shop near our neighbourhood continued to have its tobacco leaf business as usual. After seeing this, one day I asked the business owner: Isnt the sale of tobacco banned now? With a sarcastic smile on the face, he replied: Talk only. I realised that one of the biggest national problems of this country was embodied in these words: Lack of the rule of law. Let me explain the economic implications of the lack of law enforcement. There have been many rules and regulations passed or proposed by the government in the past. But on many occasions, the public has later observed the governments wavering attitude towards enforcing them. As a result, public opinion and reaction to such initiatives are also uncertain. I take the most recent polythene ban which became effective just a few days ago, only as an example to illustrate my economic tutorial; otherwise, according to the reports it is going to be strictly enforced. Polythene ban In a bid to make Sri Lanka a polythene-free land and to find a sustainable solution to solid waste management, the government banned the production, the importation and, the use of polythene with effect from September 1, last year. But later, allowing for a period of adjustment the effective date of polythene ban was extended by four months to January 1, 2018. During the period of adjustment, I noticed two types of responses in the market: The first type was the preparation by some of the firms and businesses to use environmentally-friendly, alternative packing materials. The second type was the other group of firms and businesses which showed absolutely no response to the government notification. The first group might have thought that the polythene ban would be implemented so that they would be prepared for the change. The second group did not anticipate the enforcement of the polythene ban so they continued with business as usual not taking the government announcement seriously. What a contrasting and contradictory response to the authorities! According to the theory of rational expectations, public responses to government policies vary how they process information from past experience. Therefore, the response by the second group was not surprising, as they perceive that law enforcement is just talk only. Costs and Risks Let us take a moment to understand economic implications of the above problem when these two types of businesses are operating in the same market. We assume a competitive market where the first and the second types of businesses are competing with each other. The two types are represented by Firm A and Firm B as follows: Firm A represents the first type of companies. These firms initiated policy measures to switch into environment-friendly packing materials. This preparation incurs additional costs to the firm, but it does not matter when it is applicable to everyone. Firm B represents the second type of companies. They did not bother about the government notification and, continued with the same as business as usual. This is risky if the polythene ban is enforced. The difference between Firm A and Firm B is the cost and risk of compliance to the law enforcement. Compliance is costly and, non-compliance is risky, but it all depends on how effective would be the law enforcement. Economic tutorial For the analysis, let us assume that initially both Firm A and Firm B have the same cost structures and are equally competitive in the market. Being competitors, they both are price takers; the price is determined in the market, while they individually do not have price-making power. They both are producing an identical commodity, using polythene as the packing material. Each firm is supplying, for example, 500 million units to the market. Therefore the market supply is the sum of both firms production, which would be 1000 million units, sold at Rs. 100 each. If the law is not enforced, what would be the market adjustment? What would be the implications on businesses? Switching is costly As the government announces a polythene ban and its effective date, Firm A responds positively, undertaking following initiatives to change the packing material: Research and development (R&D) spending on alternative packing materials Market research on consumer responses to the new packing materials Assessment of the resulting change in the firms cost structure Replacing the polythene with the new packing material Launching a promotional and awareness campaign Preparing a new business plan for the entire change Firm A, after spending on all above activities, started getting ready to introduce an environmentally-friendly alternative packing material by the effective date of the polythene ban. Because this adjustment is costly, the new cost structure of Firm A becomes higher than before. Firm B, on the other hand, finds even a lower cost structure than before, because polythene supply is now cheaper than before due to the fall in its demand. Market adjustment When law enforcement is weak, Firm A becomes a high-cost producer and, Firm B a low-cost producer. Given the profit-maximising economic principles, Firm A faces a fall in its output sales and, hence its market share. In contrast, Firm B increases its output and market share. Given the market price of Rs. 100 per unit of the product, now Firm A makes short term losses as it has to sell the product at Rs. 10 less than unit cost. Firm B makes short-term uncompetitive profit as it can sell it at Rs. 10 more than its unit cost. While there might be different scenarios about the long-term market adjustment, one of the most common outcomes would be that the loss-making firms which comply with the polythene ban will leave the market. They can even reverse their intended compliance to the law, if they wish to remain in the market. Perhaps, the market power of Firm B could even increase as the market moves away from competition. Another possibility would be the market differentiation, provided that there would be customers concerned with environmental implications of the packing materials who will be willing to pay a higher price for Firm A products. In this case too, however, Firm B continues to remain in an advantageous position due to its low cost structure. Business environment More importantly, the wavering of law enforcement adversely affects the business environment. As there are risks and uncertainties in the market, new investors find it difficult to execute their business plans; they do not know which is right and which is wrong! Isnt this an important reason to suggest why the business environment in Sri Lanka is not attractive to investors? (The writer of this weekly column in the Business Times dealing with economic issues is Professor of Economics at the Colombo University) Going to the UAE for work? Need good conduct certificate View(s): Authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have imposed a new rule for foreigners seeking work a certificate of good conduct effective from February 4, according to media reports. A Gulf News report said that the UAE Coordination Committee has approved a Cabinet resolution issued in 2017 stipulating that UAE work visa applicants must first obtain a certificate of good conduct as part of new rules that take effect from February 4. The issue of work permits, for many Sri Lankans seeking work there, will be subject to furnishing this good conduct certificate. In Colombo, a senior official at the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment said they are checking these reports, having also heard of it independently. The UAE Embassy promised to return a call from the Business Times on this matter, but did not do so. The reports said the certificate must then be attested by UAE diplomatic missions, or oversees Customer Happiness Centres at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. It said the rule stems from the UAEs belief in the importance of protecting community members and ensuring that they enjoy a safe life, making the UAE as one of the most secure countries in the world. Lalith Obeyesekere takes over as PA Secretary General View(s): The Planters Association of Ceylon (PA) has appointed Lalith Obeyesekere as its Secretary General, effective from January 1. A respected, plantation industry professional and an active member of the PA, Mr. Obeyesekere headed the Association as its Chairman from 2010 to 2013 and has played a vital role in promoting the collective interests on all issues concerning the Plantation Industry. He takes over duties from industry veteran, Malin Goonetileke, who retired as Secretary General, a position he held for 16 years, since 2001, the PA said in a media announcement. As Secretary General, Lalith Obeyesekere will serve on several national and industry related Boards and committees, representing the PA and its membership. He will also play a key role in liaising with Government and trade bodies in promoting the interests of its membership and the industry in general. Obeyesekere has over four decades of experience in the plantation sector, having commenced his career as a Management Trainee at Mackwoods Estates and Agencies Ltd in 1973 and retired as the Director/CEO of two RPCs. Obeyesekere will continue to assist the membership of 21 Regional Plantation Companies in maintaining healthy industrial relations amongst all stakeholders, it said. LAUGFS Hambantota Terminal issue in limbo By Duruthu Edirimuni Chandrasekera View(s): View(s): Despite numerous discussions with the countrys topmost officials, the issue on LAUGFS LPG import and export terminal remains unresolved. LAUGFS Holdings Chairman W.H.K. Wegapitiya told the Business Times that on Friday he met with President Maithripala Sirisena and earlier in the week he had met with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and all the officials downwards but so far nothing has happened. Laugfs Terminals Ltd (LTL) is constructing a US$ 80 million LPG terminal in Hambantota Port which was verbally directed to be halted by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA). The SLPA had written to the company mid last year saying that according to the agreement between SLPA and China Merchants Port Holdings Company who are the majority stakeholders in the Hambantota Port, theres a condition precedence that requires the SLPA to transfer, novate or assign agreements between LAUGFS and SLPA to China Merchants Port Holdings Company. When we started this terminal, we signed a lease and business agreement with SLPA. The China Merchants Port Holdings Companys agreement with the SLPA has 27 condition precedences that SLPA had to fulfill. In these, there are two precedences pertaining to the LAUGFS lease and business agreements. When SLPA wrote to us on this, we wrote back requesting the SLPA to disclose their agreement with China Merchants Port Holdings Company to us as we too need to understand it, Mr. Wegapitiya explained. He said that following this exchange the SLPA Chairman Parakrama Dissanayake had summoned him and other LAUGFS officials to SLPA in August last year and had requested them to novate and assign their two agreements. Mr. Wegapitiya had wanted to peruse the agreement between SLPA and China Merchants Port Holdings Company but Mr. Dissanayake had declined to show the agreement. We returned and went about construction and about a week ago an officer-in-charge at the SLPA had verbally informed them to stop building the pipeline that connects the import and export terminal to the main pier. He said that a few days ago the Board of Investment (BOI) had mediated but nothing concrete happened. Currently LTL has been assured by the BOI and relevant ministry concerned that this matter will be resolved shortly through their intervention, LAUGFS said in filing to the Colombo Stock Exchange on Thursday. Only after the meetings with the BOI did I meet with the President and the PM. Mr. Wegapitiya was critical of the way local industrialists are treated. Now the SLPA says that we dont have a right to the lease agreement with the SLPA which is incredulous. Last December the formal handover of the strategic port of Hambantota to China Merchants Port Holdings Company which will take control of the facility on a 99-year lease was completed. SLPA officials for not immediately available for comment. Strong faith the bedrock of success for Ramya Weerakoon View(s): In April, it would have been 47 years since that fateful day which changed the life of Ramya Weerakoon forever. She recollects vividly every detail in minutiae of how her world fell apart, and then, how she picked up the pieces and created a business empire through sheer courage and determination. Its been an awe-inspiring journey for the 73-year-old matriarch of Ramya Holdings Pvt Ltd, a company which today has a turnover of billions of rupees annually all created from scratch and despair. Ramya puts it down to strong convictions and the importance of having a firm resolve: It is important to have faith in something that will give you courage to overcome any difficult situation. Her cornerstone has been the Dhamma, the truth taught by Buddha, which has helped her transform tragedy into triumph which is also the title of her biography something which she did on the insistence of her peers who were inspired by her story which we will now delve into again just so that it might continue to inspire others, especially the young. Present generation The present generation is totally disoriented, Ramya points out as she sips a coffee. Im very sorry to see them. We have so many young girls and boys working for us and who have no idea what their future is going to be, just living for the day. They get a good salary but they spend it in a weeks time. It is very pathetic. I hope people can take a lesson from my life. Im a practising Buddhist. Through this philosophy I have got a lot of courage and strength which made me not worry about any situation and helped me overcome all obstacles. I was focused, adds Ramya. We agree wholeheartedly with Ramya that the young generation needs to be constantly reminded of the old-fashioned virtues of remaining focused on your goals. Hard to do in these abrupt days of twitter and Instagram where the world whizzes by in a jiffy. Ramyas world fell apart in pieces on April 8, 1971, the day her husband Noel Weerakoon, a captain in the Sri Lankan Army was killed by the JVP. Posthumously promoted to Major, Noel Weerakoon was the first Sri Lankan Army officer to be killed in the line of duty. I was feeding my baby when I heard my father answering a phone call and then my mother howling and crying. When I rushed and asked why, my father said Noel has met with an accident and taken to the hospital, Ramya relates. Lets back-track a little bit, to put it all into perspective. As a young girl, Ramya, the eldest of three lived a sheltered life in Kurunegala where she went to school at Holy Family Convent. She and her sister and brother were brought up in a happy environment where everything was taken care for. She wanted for nothing. I was very timid. My parents protected me, reveals Ramya. An ambition to become a doctor was shelved as mum and dad felt it was time for their eldest daughter to get married and not pursue her studies. An arranged marriage was made with Captain Noel Weerakoon. He won my mothers heart on a trip the family made to Trincomalee. We went to have a bath at the famous hot springs wells and Noel drew 40 buckets of water for my mother so that she could have a bath. Then on another occasion, we were on a boat trip to Seruwila. My father had brought along a bunch of thambili but unfortunately no one had packed a knife. Frustrated, my father told Noel to throw the thambili overboard but Noel found a corkscrew and made holes in each coconut and gave it to all of us. Those two incidents convinced my parents that Noel would be the man for me and that he would take care of me, Ramya recounted. Fatal day Fast-forward to that fateful day, three years and 10 months after marriage.Ramya was feeding her two and-a-half year old daughter Thushari and she was pregnant with her second daughter Mahika. We were living in the Army quarters at Panagoda. But with the JVP insurrection on, there was no electricity at the camp. The fans were not working and it was very hot and Noel felt it was best that I go back home to Kurunegala until things turned to normal. Her father came to pick her up and they left on of April 7, 1971. That night, all alone in his quarters, Noel decided to go to the Officers Mess for dinner. There he met the commanding officer who was looking for an enlisted officer to take a group of soldiers and arms and ammunition to Anuradhapura. Two officers who were on duty call cried off due to other engagements, Noel put his hand up since he was free of commitments. They flew in a Dakota to Anuradhapura but on arrival, the JVP who had got wind that an arms consignment was coming, started to strafe the aircraft with rifle fire. The landing was aborted and the plane diverted to Vauniya. The arms and ammunition were loaded in a lorry and his platoon of 26 soldiers also got on board. Captain Weerakoon, a bombardier and a driver led the way in a jeep. He was advised not to travel at night but Noel had insisted that the arms were needed urgently in Anuradhapura and left immediately, Ramya narrated. The JVP waited in ambush near the Weli Oya bridge. It was laid with planks and one plank had been torn loose. Noel in the jeep, saw that and got down to put it back into place. He was getting back in when a shower of gunfire rattled from the jungles fringing the road. Noels body was riddled with bullets. One hit him in his head. When my dad received the call, he knew Noel had been killed but he didnt tell me. He just said that Noel had been taken to hospital in Colombo. I wanted to go immediately but my father said that since there was curfew, we would go early, the following morning. I had a sleepless night but after getting ready to go, I went to wake my father. I found him sitting on the verandah in a pensive mood. I asked him what was wrong, and he pulled me into his arms and told me that Noel had died. My world collapsed around me, Ramya remembers. Tough times It was tough for a girl who had been brought up in a sheltered way. With two young girls Mahika was born a few months after the tragedy Ramya found the world overlooking her. Having held no previous responsibilities, everyone regarded the young widow with two baby girls as incapable of standing on her own two feet. Only long after did I realise how society put me down. I had all these ideas in me but I was discouraged, Ramya smiles. Once, before all the heartache, she had seen an advertisement for batik classes and she had taken them. Against her fathers wishes to start studies again, Ramya decided to start a small cottage industry making batik garments mainly for women. By trial and error, she learned. I told my father I will do batiks on a commercial scale but he was not encouraging. So, I went on my own got a few girls and started supplying ladies wrap-around skirts, kaftans, shorts, shirts and some wall hangings to tourist shops. Her big break came when she applied to an advertisement for garment exhibitors for a fare in Frankfurt. She was picked, accompanying the big names in the local batik industry. At that time, 1976, my parents were in New Zealand with my sisters family. I organised everything and then told them I had got my travel documents and I had been selected. I told them I was going and if they could return home to look after my two kids. They arrived just a week before I left. My father couldnt say anything as I had done everything and was ready. If I had asked for permission, I knew I would have not been allowed to go, grinned Ramya. She learned hugely from that experience. But more than finding out the ins-and-out of the export trade, Ramya made useful contacts, people who still keep in touch with her. The hidden talents of a person come out when an opportunity crops up. That is what happened to me. I got the courage. I still have the same friends I met in 1976! Five years later I asked them how did you feel when I was trying to sell my stuff was I a novice or an experienced person? They said they felt I was a newcomer but one who was persevering and hard-working. They knew I was a genuine person. I still keep in close touch. They gave me business and through them I expanded. In 1982 when I went to Europe with my girls, I didnt have to stay in a hotel. I visited five countries and I was invited into the homes of my business associates. For me it was more than just business, I was creating a long-standing relationship. But I also made good money. By 1978, Ramya switched to handicraft for she knew the batik trend would not last. She had a knack for trends. Soon after, in 1988, she got into apparel, starting with 35 machines and 54 workers in the back room of her house in Kadawatha a house built on one-and-a-half acres and bought for one million rupees in 1982, all from the profits of her early venture. I never took a loan to build my house. My initial requirement after my husband died was to have a house and an income to educate my children. I went into all this for them, she said. Business today Today eldest daughter Thushari handles Ramya Horticulture exporting ornamental plants and foliage while Mahika is managing director of the apparel side of the business. More than 5000 people are dependent on Ramya Holdings which also has a leisure arm with The Plains, an eco-resort in Ambewella. Entrepreneurship was in me. I had it but didnt have the chance to show it. After Noels death, I wanted to find out what had happened to my life and I couldnt understand it, until I began reading the Dhamma. Everyone needs to have faith, this will help you through hard times, she promised. Ramya has won many awards for her entrepreneurship including the Priyadarshini Award from New Delhi in 1997. A parliamentary circus side-show and the law View(s): Could right-thinking people of Sri Lanka be blamed for asking themselves as to whether no one will rid us of these troublesome politicians following this weeks depraved fisticuffs on the floor of the House? Is this where the Sovereignty of the People resides, as mandated by Articles 3 and 4 of the Constitution? As national legislators assaulted each other, (some unpardonably boasting about this later) and shouted obscenities with others fainting in the well of the House, two questions become paramount. Why indeed are citizens trooping to the polls to elect members to local government bodies in a few weeks when the apex legislative assembly conducts itself in such an ugly manner? Of what use are massive public funds extracted from taxpayers being expended to maintain these assemblies, central, provincial and local when minimum decency cannot be observed in their deliberations? A countrys collective shame Certainly this is not to echo in quite the same way or expect the same consequences as what followed that medieval cry will no one rid me of this turbulent priest? commonly attributed to King Henry II after being angered by the Archbishop of Canterbury. This resulted in one of historys greatest infamies when, consequential to the Kings frustrated complaint, the Archbishop was killed by several of the Kings knights at the altar of the Canterbury Cathedral. But even with a definitive caveat regarding the absence of a murderous intent as it were, it is a matter of the utmost disgust that the Parliamentary debate on Central Bank treasury bond scandal which should have been conducted with the greatest propriety and solemnity as befitting its gravity, disgracefully dwindled to a typical circus sideshow. For that, the members of the self-styled Joint Opposition (JO) and those in the ranks of the ruling United National Party must be fairly and squarely blamed. As shouts of hora, hora (rogue, rogue) reverberated in the chamber, it was to this countrys collective shame that a former President and an incumbent Prime Ministers names were interchangeably used by each group of rowdy shouters to their advantage. Meanwhile Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghes loud call of kowda hora?,(who is the rogue?), while broadly smiling and flinging his hands up in the air was far from reassuring. Who casts the first stone? The jeering on the opposing side of the House may have been aggravating to the Prime Minister as he read out a statement during a debate most idiotically called for by the Joint Opposition, even though the report of the Commission of Inquiry on the treasury bond scam had not yet been released to Parliament by President Maithripala Sirisena. Regardless, this was not the opportune response on the Premiers part, if one is to understate the matter. Denunciations came thick and fast. Leading the charge was President Maithripala Sirisena who remarked in a public speech on the same day that the brawl in Parliament reminded him of the proverbial story in regard to the robber who snatches a wallet and runs through the crowd screaming thief, thief even as his unfortunate victim runs in hot pursuit after the robber, also screaming thief, thief. But rhetoric cannot absolve the President of his own responsibilities. To put the matter bluntly, the image of being cleaner than the others sought to be portrayed to the public by the President and his faction in the SLFP begs the question as to why that principle is not demonstrated in practice. Later in the week, the President stated that he would not allow any local government member elected under his wing to commit wrongdoings and stressed the importance of electing decent candidates. But the question is if these injunctions have been followed in the SLFPs appointment of organisers and candidates? In mid-October last year for example, a provincial councilor of the North-Western Province who had been handed down a suspended jail term in 2014 after being found guilty of forcing a school teacher to kneel before him, was appointed as the organiser for Anamaduwa by the President. Resigning ourselves to legislative depravity In fact, there appears to be an uncommonly peculiar predilection on the part of politicians in wanting teachers to kneel before them. Just a few days ago, it was reported that the Uva Provincial Council was in turmoil due to allegations that the Chief Minister of the Uva Province had threatened and forced a principal of a Tamil girls school in Badulla to kneel in this same way. Perhaps it is time that civil society organisations throw away all their demonstrably useless Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) entered into with politicians on lofty principles of good governance and the like. Instead, they may be better advised to enter into a national campaign to compel all politicians to kneel down at Parliament if not Galle Face Green or their respective provincial/local assembly grounds, firstly in meditation on the temporal nature of political power and secondly in pledging their allegiance to actually serve the public as they are meant to do. But the likelihood of that scenario is as remote as the possibility that no ugly fisticuffs will erupt in Parliament again. Indeed, these are spectacles that we may need to resign ourselves to seeing on a daily basis. It is reported that a record number of candidates with dubious backgrounds have come forward to contest the forthcoming local government polls where the numbers in the councils have also significantly increased. This is an irony of the cruelest kind. What will happen in these councils once the elections are over is anybodys guess. It is safe to predict however that local government, from efficient disposal of garbage to local administration will not be on the minds of a majority of the newly minted councilors. Dramatics cannot take the place of substance In any event, this careful choreographing of various political dramas as the local government elections draws near is so transparent as to be ridiculous. Legal consequences must be visited on politicians having the necessary accountability as well as the public servants who collaborated in a grave fraud involving Sri Lankas premier financial institution as detailed in the Commission of Inquiry report. Measured steps are necessary in accordance with the caution that hasty disciplinary action taken against public servants consequent to findings of Commissions of Inquiry have been struck down by the superior courts on the basis that fundamental principles of natural justice have been violated. That does not mean however that the uproar over this Commission report must last only the length of the pre-election period, to be quietly shelved thereafter, with the culprits escaping scot-free. Indeed, that would be absolutely unacceptable. Rs. 5 million spent on most disgraceful brawl in Parliament View(s): Party leaders met on Wednesday after the dishonourable conduct displayed by some honourable members of Parliament to discuss whether disciplinary action should be taken against those who were seen to be behaving in a rowdy way. No decision was taken, but Parliament sources say Speaker Karu Jayasuirya is likely to warn some MPs when Parliament meets next. Wednesdays ugly scenes once again raised questions about the colossal amount of public funds that go into each parliamentary session, only to have MPs behave in an unruly manner. The Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) pointed out that Wednesdays multi-MP brawl was the latest in a long line of such incidents. Interestingly, former minister Gamini Lokuge, one of the chief actors involved in Wednesdays fracas, was part of a group that roughed up leftist leader Vasudeva Nanayakkara in a similar incident around 1992-1993, while Mr Nanayakkara was trying to make off with the Parliament Mace. In an example of turncoats and political fickleness, Mr. Lokuge and Mr. Nanayakkara now find themselves on the same side in the Joint Opposition (JO). CaFFE also accused the Government of orchestrating the brawl with the aim of diverting attention from the Treasury bond issue. It also alleged that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had directly supported the action. Some MPs who did not get involved in the brawl voiced concern on social media. United National Party (UNP) MP and Deputy Minister Harsha de Silva said he had been told that never in history had there been such a brawl in the Chamber as the one witnessed on Wednesday. Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake said that about Rs.5 million in public funds was spent to run Parliament on a daily basis. They dont care, they will leave even after taking the daily attendance allowance, he said, adding that he was referring to all MPs who make trouble, irrespective of the party. Wednesdays special sitting was supposed to see the tabling of the report compiled by the Commission of Inquiry into the Treasury bond issue. With the Presidents office informing the Speaker that copies of the report would not be available till next week, tempers, which had already been running high, exploded when Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe rose to make a special statement. In the end, fists, missiles and filthy language were thrown in abundance as UNP and JO MPs got into a free-for-all in the well of Parliament. Shouts of Hora Hora, Ranil Hora (Thief, thief, Ranil is a thief) from the JO elicited the response Hora Hora, Mahinda Hora (Thief, thief, Mahinda is a thief) from the UNP. The shouting match ultimately resulted in a brawl. MPs also hurled books, pens and files. Among those seen to be involved in the brawl were MPs S.M. Marikkar, Chaminda Wijesiri and Hector Appuhamy from the UNP and Gamini Lokuge, Prasanna Ranaweera and Prasanna Ranatunga from the JO. A number of MPs from both sides received minor injuries. Several female MPs too became unwittingly caught up in the melee while trying to calm down their male colleagues. Dappula gets a Benz Senior Additional Solicitor General Dappula de Livera who had been in the news recently has been given a Mercedes Benz car. Mr. de Livera hit the headlines when he appeared for the Attorney Generals Department at the Bond Commission sittings and mainly when he aggressively cross examined former minister Ravi Karunanayake. The Benz was given to replace the Toyota Corolla three number series car that Mr. De Livera had been using. The Mercedes Benz has been used by several former AGs and is about seven years old. The serving AG has been given a new hybrid car. Long-standing traditions chewed and spat out over political rivalry With less than four weeks for the local council elections the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) campaigning under the leadership of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is having second thoughts about using betel leaves to welcome their leader and chief speakers at election meetings. This comes after complaints from some of the party organisers and supporters who claim that the use of betel leaves may give the impression that they were campaigning for the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA), whose symbol is the betel leaf. SLPP frontliner and Dehiwela-Mount Lavinia former mayor Dhanasiri Amaratunga said they had suggested that the SLPP leaders be welcomed with lotus flowers, because the lotus bud is the symbol of the party. Political observers say political rivalry is so bitter that even long-standing traditions are being chewed and spat out. The overloaded ass: 750,000 cases pile up in courts The laws delays are widely known to have reached staggering proportions in Sri Lanka, but the latest figures released are shocking and show how justice is being delayed and denied because of the long drawn-out procedures. About 750,000 cases were pending in courts as at September, 2016, with the largest number of some 535,000 cases in Magistrates Courts, according to statistics released by the Justice Ministry. The ministry says 3,486 were pending in the Supreme Courts, 4,817 inthe Court of Appeal, 5,890 in Civil Appellate High courts (5890), 16,811 in High Courts, 167,945 in District Courts, 535,644 in Magistrates Court, 5,048 in Labour Tribunals, 175 in Board of Quazis and 5,376 in Quazi Courts. Eelam song at SLFPs Jaffna meeting Political parties appear to be ready to pull any stunts to secure votes and draw big crowds for their campaign meetings. One such stunt was staged in Jaffna on Friday when the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), which is fielding its own candidates in the North, played a Tamil Eelam song to draw a bigger crowd for a ceremony held in a hotel to release its manifesto. The song referred to the military occupation of lands belonging to the Tamils and the oppression. The song begins with the words, Niththiraya Thamila, Nimirnthu Paarada or (Tamils, are you sleeping? Awake). The song sung by the late S.G. Shanthan was played before the meeting. The song referred to how lands belonging to Appu and Aachchi (a reference to Tamil ancestors) had been taken over by Appuhamy, a reference to a Sinhala person. The event was organised by SLFPs Jaffna Organiser and parliamentarian Angajan Ramanathan, but some party members were taken aback when they heard this song. A separate manifesto focusing on rural development for the Northern Province was also released at the event. Candidates translated gibberish: If you choose me You choose You to do You The new electoral system was supposed to do away with the war for preferential votes. Old habits though, die hard and many candidates continue to go about pasting cut-outs and posters of themselves, knowing full well that authorities would remove them. Social media is a different political scenario altogether. With no means of policing propaganda on the web, candidates are making full use of social media to market themselves to eligible voters, though the campaign needs to be carried out in a limited area or more specifically a ward. The fact that they need to only market themselves to the voters of their wards makes no difference. Facebook pages of political parties too are promoting various candidates. Some of them also get rather carried away when it comes to catchy slogans for themselves. This can produce some rather hilarious results. A case in point is a post being shared on social media of one unfortunate candidate contesting in Matara from a major political party. The candidate had evidently made a direct translation of his slogan from Sinhala to English. The slogan in English reads If you choose me You choose You to do You. What the original message said in Sinhala was: if you elect him you would be doing a service to yourself. It didnt take long for the image to go viral, with people pointing out the obvious unintended implication of the slogan. The post has now been taken down from the candidates Facebook profile, but is already widely available all over social media. One step back, two steps forward View(s): It is now official; the President has no intention of abolishing the Executive Presidency till 2021, if he can help it. In our last editorial for 2017, we said: Already, we hear there is a debate on not just whether there will be another Presidential election should the Executive Presidency continue, but if there is one, whether the Presidents term of office is for six years (2021) or five (2020) depending on the way the 19th Amendment to the Constitution is interpreted. This week, on a request for an opinion from the Supreme Court, the President asked if the 19th Amendment, which he often boasted about for being the only President in the world to have voluntarily shed some executive powers, would stand in the way of him continuing to hold office till 2021. He was elected to a six-year term but this was cut short to a five-year term (2020) by the Amendment. To hell with the solemn promise before the election to abolish the Executive Presidency within 100 days of him being elected, a promise he reiterated by the bier of the late Venerable Maduluwawe Sobhita Thera who spearheaded the campaign of like-minded people to dislodge then President Mahinda Rajapaksa and instal the incumbent President. Real-politik has now taken over. President Maithripala Sirisena is not the first to have ridden to office on the promise of dismantling the Executive Presidency, only to break it once safely ensconced in power and place. President Chandrika Kumaratunga also gave such a promise through her then Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris going so far as to give a specific deadline July 15, 1995 to abolish the Executive Presidency, only to teargas and baton charge those who took to the streets on that date asking what happened to the promise. The then Minister is now the de-facto leader of an Opposition political party mouthing platitudes about this Government not keeping to its promises. So, with the within the 100 days promise already shattered, and all signs that the promise to abolish the Executive Presidency within his first term is not going to happen, the next question that arises is whether the country will see another Presidential election either at the end of next year (2019 for 2020) or the year after that (2020 for 2021). The 19th Amendment speaks of the term of a President being for five years. It does not say whether this President would be an Executive President like we have today, or a ceremonial Head of State President like before 1978. From the looks of it, President Sirisena is not only going to retain the Executive Presidency, but go for a second term as well as an Executive President. Basically, it means that he is not in line with the spirit of the 19th Amendment, whatever the legal and constitutional aspects are. In spirit and in law often go together when interpreting matters, especially of a political nature and even more so, when one has boasted that no other President in the world clipped his own wings voluntarily. The fact that there are arguments for retaining the Executive Presidency is indisputable. One argument trotted out is that a strong Executive President is required when a Provincial Council system exists. This is put forward by the JHU to check any indiscretions by the Northern Provincial Council. Minority parties seem to favour this system, and of course, those who have the ear of the Executive President will also want it. The irony is that those who initially opposed the Executive Presidential system of Government (SLFP) as being the road to a dictatorship are now its fiercest defenders and those who introduced the system (UNP) want executive powers of government returned to Parliament. While the politicians haggle and argue their case depending on which side they sit, the public at large are at best, indifferent to the system or at worst, vehemently opposed to it. Either way, it has been an election issue since the 1994 Presidential election and no candidate who eventually sat on the hot seat ever said he or she was going to continue with the Executive Presidency. Without exception, they all said they would either abolish the system (as President Sirisena said) or amend it, only to renege on their pledges, typically. One of the suggestions on the table is a via-media that will allow President Sirisena to continue for a second term (if re-elected by the people or elected by Parliament), albeit sans much of his executive powers. He will be Head of State and Commander-in-Chief. But this is the problem with Constitution making in Sri Lanka. Everything is done just to accommodate those in power today and to ensure their political longevity rather than the long-term interests of the nation. President Sirisena is not upfront and candid about his own intentions. He has stopped speaking about abolishing the Executive Presidency and allowed his SLFP Ministers to speak of continuing with the system without reining them in. In private, when asked, he says he hasnt changed his original promise, but his actions speak otherwise. Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely that famous late 19th century quote of British historian Lord Acton rings true in the 21st century too. Celebrating Pongal Today is Thai Pongal, the day Tamil-Hindus the world over celebrate the harvest festival. Unfortunately, there is no harvest to celebrate this year, especially in the North, partly due to the 10-month long drought and the rainy season being inconsistent possibly due to global climate change and also, the other man-made disaster locally the delay in issuing fertilizer at the correct time. The hapless farmers woes are compounded by the high cost of transportation of agricultural produce, poor connectivity between towns due to bad rural roads, weak rail links to get perishable vegetable and fruit produce to markets and lack of mass outlets. All these contribute to making the middle man king not the farmer whose margins are low, nor the consumers who must dig deep into their pockets. Additional costs of production include machinery for tilling with the farmer cultivating land belonging to someone in Colombo, London or Toronto. Theres a whole lot more to the plight of the Northern farmer. This needs further elucidation probably next week in this space. These are not issues uncommon elsewhere in the country too affecting the farming community, but the farmers of the harsh terrain of the North deserve special attention as they try and celebrate a longstanding festival today. Classical Guitar Concert View(s): After an overwhelming response at his Sri Lanka debut a year ago, Aditya Gandhi is back in Colombo with a full length solo concert at the Russian Centre on January 20, 2018. This concert is a display of the variety of cultures and styles around the world: presenting music from Latin American countries, Africa, Scotland and France to name a few. Titled Solidarity with Cuba and Venezuela, the concert will focus on the Cuban work El Decameron Negro (The Black Warrior) by Leo Brouwer and Venezuelan Waltzes by Antonio Lauro. He will also perform some audience favourites from his last visit to Sri Lanka such as Out of Africa and Sueno en la Floresta. Like all his concerts, the music is presented in a very accessible manner, with narratives (and humour) to accompany the musical storytelling. Aditya Gandhi is a graduate of Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and the Chicago College of Performing Arts under world renowned guitarist Denis Azabagic. He has performed across India, Sri Lanka, Scotland and the United States. Most recently, he was touring across India with a series of solo concerts. He is revisiting Sri Lanka after being a part of Guitar Fest 2017, which saw him performing seven concerts. Log onto www.adityaguitarist.com for more details. Airport touting a punishable offence By Chandani Kirinde View(s): View(s): Touting of passengers in the airport premises will be a punishable offence in terms of amendments to the Civil Aviation Act. The amendments have been gazetted by Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva. They will empower police officers in the airport premises to arrest any person touting for any incoming or outgoing passengers. Those engaged in providing Aviation Security Services will also have the power to arrest such persons and hand them over to the Police. If found guilty of the offence of touting, after a prosecution before a Magistrates Court, the offender will be liable to a fine of upto Rs. 25,000 or a jail term of upto six months or both. However, rendering any service such as arranging transport, accommodation, loading or unloading any baggage or other articles into or from any vehicle for any passenger by any member of the family or friend of such passenger or an authorized person, a concierge or a representative or agent of the hospitality trade shall not constitute an offence. Touting has been defined in a new amendment to the Civil Aviation Act as canvassing with a view to arranging transport or accommodation for an incoming or outgoing passenger or loading or unloading his baggage or other articles into or from vehicles or offering any similar service, for a valuable consideration or otherwise, without being duly authorised to do so. Meanwhile, the minister recently made an order to transfer and vest in the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka the Katunayake and Ratmalana Airports, the aeronautical facilities and land belonging to them. These include the Civil Aviation Training Centre at Ratmalana; the Aeronautical Communication Transmission Station at Attidiya in Ratmalana, the Radio Navigational Aid for BIA at Madampella in Gampaha, the Radio Navigation Aid for BIA runway at Pamunugama in Gampaha, the Radar Station at Mount Pidurutalagala, the land at Pidurutalagala in the Nuwara Eliya District where the holiday bungalows for aviation staff have been constructed and a 0.125 hectare land in Anuradhapura New Town. Crawling Kelaniya flyover overhaul cant set the record straight By Kasun Warakapitiya View(s): View(s): Renovation work on the Kelaniya flyover bridge has been crawling along for more than five months and some parts are being reused by the government to save costs. Road development officials say handling steel bridges is a new undertaking for Sri Lankans. But steel bridges have existed in Sri Lanka for decades. When the flyover was opened, the Rajapaksa government and the state media rejoiced that it had been built in record time. Critics say that the bridge built in record time, needs an overhaul in its brief existence. The prefabricated flyover was built by a joint-venture exercise involving British firm Mabey & Johnson and Sri Lankas Access Engineering. The contract value was Rs 1.9 billion, or 9 million in 2008. It was supported by the British Governments Export Credit Guarantee Department. The loan was from the HSBC, together with the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation in Sri Lanka. At the time, Jeyaraj Fernandopulle was Minister of Highways and Road Development. He was later assassinated by the LTTE. Renovation work on the two lanes towards Kandy from Colombo were scheduled to take three months, but has been extended by another three months. Traffic congestion is causing immense anxiety. Mostly office workers returning home are stuck in traffic for hours. A retired school principal, Reginald Liyanage, who lives in front of the bridge, said it was built by the previous regime. The bridge has started to corrode even though it was painted with anti-corrosive paint. The nuts and bolts which keep the bridge in place started falling after a few years. The bridge trembles and ground shakes when vehicles go over it. He said residents worry day and night. Maintenance had not been done during the past two years, he said. He added that even after the contractors started repairs five months back, they were unable to fix the bridge as promised in three months. He claims that a few workers first struggled to remove the panels and were new to the job. Another resident, businessman Chaminda Dissanayake, said that the government should be ashamed of its incapability. Even the previous Rajapaksa government should be blamed since they rushed the construction work. The previous government created records when they built it. The bridge also needed renovations in record time. It has rapidly deteriorated, he said. Mr Dissanayake raised safety concerns, noting that workers are fixing beams and welding new structures using different materials. We dont see engineers, we only see some workers grinding rust. This is a waste of time and endangers the public, he said. He added that the beams have been secured with just two bolts and nuts. He had not seen any government engineers on the site. Shop keepers, restaurant managers and an owner of a garage, said that they have been losing customers from the day the road was closed. They had agreed to bear losses for three months and no longer. They said their parking spaces also had been taken over a few months back. Meanwhile, the Sunday Times learned that the sub contractor is not bringing in more workers due to lack of government funding. Heavy traffic and long lines of vehicles on one side of the bridge have become a common occurrence. The Sunday Times has learned that the Peliyagoda police requested the contractors to speed up work to ease traffic congestion. When a team from the Sunday Times visited the location on Thursday less than 10 individuals including a technical officer were on site three men were on the scaffolding, while three men were welding a steel deck. More than half the bridge panels had been removed and those that had been refitted, appear to be in the wrong place. A spokesperson for the sub contractor said renovation is challenging because parts have to be dismantled, and damage has to be identified before repairs are done. Its unfair to compare the time spent on construction and the renovation. The construction was easy, the workers just install the pieces of the bridge. We have to examine as we proceed with the renovation to ensure there are no defects, he said. He said that the other part of the bridge also needs to be renovated and that it can be completed also by March. The spokesman said the areas that needed repairs had been identified during the four months. He would not comment on the material used, but said improvements are being made. He said workers would not rush and risk the safety of the bridge. We cant rush work and endanger peoples lives, he said. Meanwhile, the Road Development Authority director of maintenance and management, K Amaraweera, admitted to reusing usable components of the bridge to cut costs. We can save money this way. It will only cost 70 million rupees for the renovation if we repair the remaining parts. We have decided to use 100 metal decks after repairs and another 200 new decks, he said. He explained that deck replacement was done under the supervision of the engineers. Mr Amaraweera would not comment on claims about poor maintenance. He said the RDA will speed up work through another contractor. Meanwhile, the chairman of the Road Development Authority, N R Suriyaarachchi said renovating steel bridges is a new challenge for Sri Lankans and as a result, progress is slow. Everyone can criticise, but carrying out special maintenance is time consuming, he said. Huge Korea-backed project for 1m tons of LNG a year By Namini Wijedasa Experts question Swiss Challenge method for massive annual contract; best price terms cannot be obtained View(s): View(s): The Government will open for procurement under the Swiss Challenge method a South Korean proposal for a free-of-charge floating Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal tied to an annual order of 1mn metric tonnes of LNG for two decades at international market pricesthe most expensive tender ever to be floated in Sri Lanka. But industry and procurement experts insist that any tender for a terminal and for LNG, especially in such vast quantities, must be in keeping with the principles of open international competitive bidding to ensure Sri Lanka gets the best prices and widest participation of global players. They say Swiss Challenge is one of the least-used methods of procurement in the world, a fact well-documented on the internet. Credible international bidders are usually reluctant to respond to a Swiss Challenge because it comes on the back of an unsolicited proposal, said Saliya Wickramasuriya, an independent consultant and former Director General of Petroleum Resources. They dont know if it has been informally solicited, and is simply being laundered via a Swiss Challenge process. A Swiss Challenge usually grants an advantage to the original proposers and often gives them an opportunity to match whatever anybody else tenders. If the structure of the Swiss Challenge is bad, it carries little incentive for serious players to make the effort to compete. It is not a competitive process, although it may appear to be, Mr Wickramasuriya said. It is not a smart procurement method typically only used to shift State assets in which few have expressed interest. It is hardly ever used to select partners for strategic projects. The long-term gas supply to Sri Lanka is a quantifiable, strategic national project. if anything ever was. We dont need to embark on selecting a partner for that on the basis of one unsolicited proposal. The Government should welcome the various unsolicited proposals and then go to the market with a proper RFP, not a Swiss Challenge, Mr Wickramasuriya said. A far better way to handle the high level of interest Sri Lankas natural gas market has generated would be to compile a proper tender document, with specific timelines, prices and volumes, and offer it to the entire market place. This way we can compare apples-to-apples, as it were, and avoid the question mark on optimum value addition that Swiss-challenging one particular proposal will inevitably bring, he said. A Swiss Challenge is defined as an offer made by the original proponent to the Government ensuring his process to be the best (in terms of cost and time effectiveness) by his initiative as a result of his own approach or on the demand of the Government to perform a certain task. The system allows third parties to make better offers (challenges) for a project during a designated period with a simple objective of discouraging frivolous projects or to avoid exaggerated project development costs in a transparent manner. The original proponent then gets the right to counter-match any superior offers given by the third party. The bid from the Korean Government-backed SK E&S Companyan integrated gas and power companywas first submitted by President Maithripala Sirisena, according to a letter Power and Energy Ministry Secretary B.M.S. Batagoda sent last month to the Chairman and General Manager of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB). The Sunday Times saw a copy of the letter. A joint memorandum was then put forward by Power and Energy Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya and Special Assignments Minister Sarath Amunugama to expedite and request Cabinet approval for the CEB to call the tender based on the Korean proposal under a Swiss Challenge concept. Dr Batagoda said the Cabinet of Ministers has now given approval for the CEB to call tenders for the purchase of LNG for existing power plants and upcoming 300MW power plant based on a Swiss Challenge concept using the Korean proposal. Since this is (a) new experience for the CEB, we suggest that that the CEB shall create a new unit under the thermal complex to purchase LNG for thermal power plants, he noted. The CEB will only purchase LNG. Terminal management structure can be decided separately. The Secretary also instructs the CEB management to appoint a Technical Evaluation Committee for the proposal. But the Sunday Times confirmed this week that it has not yet been done, amidst internal fears that the large number of LNG proposals before the Government will lead to dumping. There are at least three separate unsolicited bids for LNG terminals under consideration. The joint Siyambalapitiya-Amunugama cabinet memorandum sought Cabinet approval to call international bids by the CEB for procurement of natural gas for power plants of 1,000mw by adopting the Swiss Challenge procurement method based on the proposal submitted by SK E&S Company backed by the Korean Government. It also sought approval to invite the Japanese and Indian companies which have submitted proposals for the construction of LNG terminals in Sri Lanka; and the proposed Sri Lanka, India and Japan joint venture company to be established to participate and submit proposals to this tender under Swiss Challenge method collectively or separately. Finally, the Cabinet has already sanctioned the building of a 400mw LNG power plant and terminal in Hambantota as a combined project by China Machinery Engineering Corporation and the CEB. The Korean proposal has the suggested starting date for the LNG sale and purchase agreement (SPA) as the second half of 2020, ending on March 31, 2040. The annual contract quantity is specified as either 500,000mt a year or one million mt. The primary sources of LNG will be the sellers global LNG sourcing portfolio. The floating storage regasification unit (FSRU) will be provided free-of-charge; the LNG pipeline will be funded by the Sri Lanka Government and, if necessary, SK E&S will provide technology for pipeline engineering, construction and operation. The LNG price is to be at competitive level, considering that FSRU is free of charge. The terms of the contract will be Take or Pay: The buyer either takes the product from the supplier or pays the supplier a penalty. The SK E&S proposal says, If Buyer fails to take any scheduled cargo, Buyer shall pay Seller an amount equal to the Contract Price multiplied by the quantity which Buyer failed to take. Major investment to upgrade railway system By Damith Wickremasekara View(s): View(s): Sri Lanka is making a major investment in upgrading its railway system by importing new engines and wagons from Chinese and US companies, according to a top official. Sri Lanka Railways General Manager S.M. Abeywickreme said a Chinese company had been awarded a contract for US$ 80 million (Rs 12 billion) to deliver nine multiple units, each comprising an engine and eight to nine compartments with air-conditioning facilities. The compartments would have monitors displaying the next station and the time to reach the next destination. The delivery is expected by November this year. The engines and compartments will have a two-year warranty for mechanical parts and five year warrant for electrical parts. The Chinese company was selected by a worldwide tender. The Railways Chief said a second contract to buy 12 engines, each of them costing more than US$ 4 million, would be awarded to a US company. The project would cost about US$ 48 million (Rs seven billion). The delivery of the engines is expected within a year. He said these purchases were in addition to the purchase of six power sets, 10 engines, 30 oil tankers and 20 container type wagons to transport coal and flour and 160 compartments under a Indian credit line costing US$ 105 million (Rs 15.7 billion). The delivery of the engines and wagons is expected within this year. He was on the brink of celebrity, of being an animal A-lister - a poster-boy for his kind. But sadly Devins been robbed of that. And we have been robbed of him. He has been taken, gone, and penguin-dom has lost a beautiful personality. Julia Graham is angry and sad at the same time. Its one thing to euthanise an animal for genuine natural causes, says the Western Bay Wildlife Trust officer, but when you know its completely avoidable, it hurts. Its terrible. Thats because Julia Graham and a vet had to take the decision to put Devin down Devin the little blue-eyed penguin that had more than likely been savaged by a dog on Papamoa Beach. He had a flipper wrenched from his body and was missing one and a half toes. The passionate conservationist has her dander up. You have a beautiful breeding penguin, a fine, healthy strong penguin who knows how to hunt, knows how to do stuff, and would have lived a long, healthy and productive life. And it hurts to know that something as simple as keeping your dog on a lead, or keeping a closer eye on your dog, could potentially have saved this bird. Its a tired message but one that seems not to be getting through. Some dog owners just dont care. We come across them all the time. And this despite all the trusts advertising, education and promotion. There are some beautiful dog owners who do care, but there are some who just dont. Devin wallowed his way into our hearts on the eve of the big storm last week. He was trying to get back out to sea, but the waves were so big and strong, they just kept dumping him back onshore, says Joanne Rostron. She and her family were wandering along Papamoa East Beach when daughter Megan spotted Devin - Devin with the i because it seemed like a good name. Joannes son Nathan chose it and it was androgynous. Thirteen-year-old Nathan and 15-year-old sister Megan climbed into the surf to rescue Devin, and when they noticed he had a flipper missing they took him home wrapped in a t-shirt. He seemed quite spritely, not frightened, and he was looking around. Joanne then raised the penguin alarm and the Wildlife Trust responded. Possibly a shark, possibly a propeller, more than likely a dog, says Julia Graham. Devin was coming out of moult. Its a tough time for a little blue. Theyre virtually land bound for two or three weeks because they dont have the insulation of their feathers to stay at sea and feed. For a penguin to come out of moult in such great condition made him pretty much an Olympian penguin, says Julia. Above all, he was a nice bird. Good natured, placid and nice. Other penguins want to rip your face off, but not this one he was wonderful and friendly. And those personality traits could have set Devin up as something quite, quite special. We thought he would be a wonderful advocate for penguins. Julias talking about a plan to make Devin a poster boy for controlling dogs on the beach, making people aware that little blues will rock up on our shores and they cant fly away when danger approaches. Like Sparky and Snoopy, the one legged Kiwis, who became flightless apteryx ambassadors travelling schools and public forums promoting wildlife conservation and the case against gin traps. Wellington Zoo was sorted as a potential new home for Devin - a one-flippered penguin which couldnt go back to sea, which couldnt swim properly, which couldnt feed and fend for itself. But briefly, he was destined for the bright lights. He didnt quite make it. And the message is he died needlessly. Devin developed an infection and his condition deteriorated rapidly. Its deeply disturbing to put down an animal that is healthy in all respects other than it has got just one flipper, says Julia. A dog, even if its a nice dog, will walk up and sniff a penguin. The penguin will bite its face and then the dogs instinct is to defend itself. And as we have discovered again and again, the consequences can be quite sad. Sad says the beach walker Joanne Rostron who gave Devin a chance. So, so sad. Devin was with us briefly. Hopefully his message lives on. Picnickers in Sydenham Botanic Park in Brookfield over the summer are warned to be wary of lizards in the undergrowth - great big ones. A meat-eating Tyrannosaurus Rex and the giant plant-eating Titanosaurus will be among the pre-historic giants stomping through the park for from January 25-28 for DinoFest. Sydenham Park will be dialling back the clock 70 million years for the fundraiser, brought to the park by Eventosaurus and Sydenham Botanic Park Trust, in partnership with Tauranga City Council. We tell the story of Gondwana, the ancient supercontinent that once included the land that is now New Zealand, says DinoFest event organiser Laurence Taylor. The pine trees and cycads in the park are the perfect setting, with the ancient bush making an excellent prehistoric dinosaur trail. DinoFest will open for three hour-long sessions on each of the four days, starting at 10.30am, 1pm and 3pm. Tickets are available on Eventfinda. The event includes the Dino Dig and Feel a Fossil palaeontological activities as well as kids dinosaur tattoos, sieving for fossil shark teeth, art activities and a Jurassic bush trail. Dinofests second year at the Sydenham Botannic Park is promising more dinosaurs, more roaring, and more chomping. The dinosaurs fit right in at the botanic park which boast the largest outdoor collection of kauri, a tree dating back to dinosaur times, along with the cycads - the tree ferns that are thought to have been lunch for the herbivorous. Ancestors of the kauri first appeared in the Jurassic Period 190 135 million years ago. The kauri podocarp or cone bearing forests are among the most ancient in the world. Sydenham Botanic Parks kauri collection contains 14 of the 21 known species of which the New Zealand kauri, Agathis Australis is only one. Part of the proceeds from Dinofest goes to the Sydenham Botannic Park Trust The three hectare park in Brookfield was donated free to the city as long as it was kept as a park. Click the image above to watch the video Tauranga residents are promised an action teaser for this weekends Classics of the Sky Tauranga City Airshow, with the early arrival of the RNZAF Black Falcons aerobatic team. Flying the Beech Texan T6Cs, the team is expected to arrive on Friday afternoon, announcing their arrival with low pass and a circuit of the town. Later they are expected to be rehearsing for the Saturday show. From 2pm onwards they should be overhead, says Classic Flyers CEO Andrew Gormlie. The gates open on Saturday at 1.30pm with flying starting at 3pm. It should be finished 6pm -6.30ish. In addition to the five flying Texans, which are putting on an aerobatic display for the first time in Tauranga, the RNZAF will have a ground display Texan aircraft and the NH90 helicopter also on display, with the helicopter possibly open to closer inspection. Among the excellent line-up of ex-military and aerobatic aircraft will be another crowd favourite at the show, the Roaring Forties Harvard aerobatic team. With their trade mark spinning propeller snarl and the bark of big radial engines operating at high speed. Classic Flyers have acquired yet another Grumman Avenger restoration project to be rebuilt alongside their current Avenger exhibit from Gisborne. The show brings together three Avengers for the first time since the 1950s. The airworthy example will perform a bombing run and flying display, plus a second Avenger completely restored to static display status and a third aircraft in the early stages of restoration. Joining the Avengers on the day will be other Classic Flyers static and operational exhibits including engine runs from the Aermacchi jet and P40 Kittyhawk. Dave Philips will be back for yet another of his spectacular Tiger Moth displays. Look out too for the impressive Czech built L-39 Albatross jet. Steve Geard, of international aerobatic fame, will once more impress with his Yak 55M performing unbelievable stunts and racing a car on the runway. The military re-enactors are bring a host of military vehicles will be on display along with more pyrotechnics and explosions. Plenty of pyrotechnics are promised. There is a possibility the pyrotechnics may get out of hand and require some extraordinary aerial fire-fighting. Visitors are welcome to bring their own picnic or they can purchase food and drink from the many food vendors on site. Classic Flyers will have a limited bar facility for those who might like an alcoholic beverage while watching the show. People are not permitted to bring their own alcohol or pets and smoking is prohibited. Gates open at 1.30pm with the airshow starting at 3pm. T-6C Texan II specifications Manufacturer: Beechcraft Length: 10.16m Wingspan: 10.19m Gross weight: 2858kg Cruise speed: 515kmh Max range: 1667km Source: RNZAF Sometimes when I watch a farce written before, say, 1995, I can't get it out of my mind that this show wouldn't exist if the characters had smart phones. A surreptitious call, a text, or even googling a fact would have some flustered fellow onstage just say, "Never mind. I've got it covered." No more missing connections, absurd misunderstands, and surprise arrivals to create theatrical mayhem. But in that case we wouldn't have "Boeing Boeing," the intoxicating and exhausting confection now enjoying an energetic run at the Central New York Playhouse. Marc Camoletti's "Boeing Boeing" has had a long onstage life. After premiering in Paris in 1960, an English translation took London by storm, running for seven years. Tony Curtis and Jerry Lewis starred in an American film version, and a West End and Broadway revival brought theatrical man for all seasons Mark Rylance his first Tony. Like most farces, "Boeing Boeing" is basically a schematic plot about doors carried out by stereotypical characters. In the world of 1960s swinging bachelorhood, American businessman Bernard (Derek Potocki) seems to have it made. Living in Paris, he's carrying on with three stewardesses from different airlines whose flight schedules make it possible for him to enjoy their charms in his spacious apartment without any of them knowing about the others. He's got it all worked out. That is (of course) until they all start flying new faster planes (the Boeing connection) making their ETAs dangerously close. Robert, an old friend from the states (Christopher Lupia), gets drawn into the maelstrom, and Bernard's love life experiences extreme turbulence. Soon all those portals that propel farce are slamming or opening unexpectedly to reveal comely near disaster behind door number one, two or three. One of the great joys of the CNY outing is that all those doors and quick reveals work. Under the steady direction of Noelle Hedgcock, the action flies, and her eager cast revels in the hairpin timing so important to farce. Potocki has the put-together look and sound of the moneyed rake. Suave and debonair, he's amusing as an amateur air traffic controller juggling the amorous take-offs and departures, but he really comes into his own in the second act scenes with Robert, as they try to keep all the women from discovering each other and panic attacks crack his facade. Lupia's Robert, who arrives in Paris a hayseed from Wisconsin, soon succumbs to the temptation to earn his wings with his buddy's girl (at least with one of them) and then play the innocent again. That's a rough set of transitions for an actor, but farce doesn't always demands logic. Luckily, Lupia understands the physicality of comedy. Leaping about the stage or stuttering and whining weird explanations for the problem at hand, he brings high anxiety to high art. Logic be damned. Each of the three flight attendants, American Gloria (Jessica Dobryznski), Italian Gabrielle (Elizabeth Klink), and Gretchen (Liz Stanistreet) has a fine comic moment, often hinged on national stereotypes. Chelsea Lembo anchors the production as Berthe, the maid and behind the scenes ringmaster. With a withering scowl and a weary French-accented groan, she goes about cleaning up after the happy-go-lucky Bernard. Underplaying, with the roll of her eyes and a knowing Gallic shrug, she appears totally, as the French say,"comfortable in her own skin." That brings me to a caveat. Farces are delicate creations about gross behavior. Occasionally at CNY Playhouse the cast seems intoxicated by the genre and pushes a bit too hard, becoming shrill or calculated. But all is forgiven when those doors fly open and--well, you know--it's farce. The Details: What: "Boeing Boeing" produced by Central New York Playhouse. Where: Cental New York Playhouse, Shoppingtown Mall, DeWitt. When seen: January 13. Attendance: About 40. Length of performance: 2 hours 20 minutes with one intermission. Family guide: A farce is about sex, but it is a cartoon of sorts. Mature high schoolers should be able to handle it. Runs through: January 27. Information: 315-885-8960, www.cnyplayhouse.org. CNY Theater Guide SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Marcellus band Churches and Graveyards won the 16th annual JCC Battle of the Bands on Saturday night. Five high school bands battled for cash, prizes and bragging rights at the event. Bob Staffa of 95X Radio emceed and each band had 30 minutes to play. Churches and Graveyards split the $200 cash prize among its six members. They will receive eight hours of studio time at More Sound Recording Studio in Syracuse. They will also take the headline slot at this year's TeenFest and will have the opportunity to play in a JCC 2018 Spring Showcase concert. All bands/artists who performed were: Vivid Recall (Liverpool High School, Baker High School) Sydney Irving (Jamesville-DeWitt High School) Churches and Graveyards (Marcellus Sr. High School, Westhill Sr. High School) FM All (Fayetteville-Manlius High School, Nottingham High School) Decent (Lafayette Junior-Senior High School) The classic rock sextet Churches and Graveyards includes Tyler Wetherell, Colin Arnett, Dan Balman, Ben Carranti, Jackson Masters and Cristian Malone (the sole member from Westhill). The band played both original songs and covers, like "The House of the Rising Sun," a folk song popularized by The Animals. Arnett stood out for his rollicking solos on the keyboard, saxophone and keytar. The members said they started the band because they love their hometown. Even the band's name represents Marcellus. "There are four churches and three graveyards with a mile of each other," said Balman, the band's bassist. Churches and Graveyards started playing together just three months ago. It was their first time playing original songs in public as well. They plan to continue performing together in coming years. "It all comes from a love of music," said Carranti, one of the band's vocalists. "We all have outside passions for music and we all play music in school." The Marcellus-based band won by a point, thanks to the audience votes. Friends, family and girlfriends drove out in the snow and ice to support them at the event. Vivid Recall took second place and Sydney Irving took third. Last year's winner was the classic rock band Posted, also from Marcellus Sr. High School. Judges for the 2018 Battle of the Bands were Jose Varona of More Sound Recording Studio, Bob Staffa of 95X, Greg Minix of the Syracuse New Times and Katrina Tulloch of The Post-Standard and syracuse.com, along with Dan Wrona, Josh Winoski and Nate Murphy of last year's winning band Posted. Katrina Tulloch writes music and culture stories for Syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Contact her: Email | Twitter | Facebook Syracuse, N.Y. - Three teens chased and threatened a man with a knife late Saturday night near the 700 block of West Genesee Street, according to city police. They wanted his backpack. In the end, they got the bag - which held some clothes and a Dinosaur Bar-B-Que sandwich - and a serious charge of felony robbery. Those arrested are: Chad Bessett, 19, of Syracuse, Aldo Hamm, 18, of Syracuse, and William Sass, 16, of Liverpool, according to a news release from the Syracuse Police Department. All three were charged with first-degree robbery, which is a B felony that can carry a maximum sentence of up to 25 years. Additionally, Bessett was found to be in possession of the knife used in the incident as well as the victim's sandwich, according to police. Bessett also faces the charge of fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, which is a misdemeanor. All three were lodged at the Onondaga County Justice Center awaiting arraignment, according to a news release from city police this morning. The owner of the backpack was not identified; he was not injured, according to city police Sgt. Julie Shulsky. Sometime around 11 p.m. Saturday, a man was approached by three people who demanded his backpack, police said. The three chased the man, who later told police they pulled out a knife. At one point, one of the suspects put the knife to the man's neck and threatened to kill him if he didn't give up his backpack, the man told police. The man gave the three the bag, and the three men ran away toward VanRensselaer Street, according to police. Syracuse police Officer Chad King found the suspects near VanRensselaer and Spencer streets, and the three were taken into custody without incident. NBC video still by Geoff Herbert | gherbert@syracuse.com Don't Edit 'SNL' highlights: Bill Murray as Steve Bannon, more "Saturday Night Live" returned for its first episode of 2018, and it didn't disappoint. Bill Murray made a cameo as former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, disputing comments he made about President Donald Trump's son Don Jr. in controversial new book "Fire and Fury." Former "SNL" cast member Fred Armisen returned to play author Michael Wolff, who interviewed Bannon, Trump and others in the administration for the book. Murray's role as "the Bannon Cannon" in the cold open follows other recent popular political skits, featuring Alec Baldwin as Trump, Melissa McCarthy as Sean Spicer and Kate McKinnon as Jeff Sessions. Bannon was previously portrayed as the Grim Reaper, which McKinnon joked about while playing "Morning Joe" co-host Mika Brzezinski. "My God, Steve, I always thought you looked like death, but this is death warmed over," she said. See the skit, and more highlights from the Jan. 13 episode of "Saturday Night Live": Don't Edit Don't Edit Sam Rockwell drops F-bomb Rockwell accidentally dropped an F-bomb during a PBS spoof. The "Moon" and "Iron Man 2" actor, who recently won a Golden Globe Award for his role in "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri," played educational host "Mr. Science" teaching obnoxious children -- Cecily Strong and Mikey Day -- about science. "You cant be this f---ing stupid," he yelled, before quickly realizing his error. According to TVLine, the mistake was bleeped out for West Coast viewers and in the video posted on YouTube, but videos of the F-bomb on the East Coast have still made the rounds on social media. Don't Edit Props, I guess, to Cecily Strong and Mikey Day for rolling with Sam Rockwells f-bomb pic.twitter.com/ZcqrzoeG1U Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) January 14, 2018 Don't Edit Don't Edit Don't Edit Weekend Update "Weekend Update" hosts Colin Jost and Michael Che covered President Donald Trump's "s---hole countries" comment, 2020 speculation about Oprah Winfrey and H&M showing a black child model in a "monkey" hoodie. Aidy Bryant may have stolen the show with her commentary on reports Mark Wahlberg was paid $1.5 million for "All the Money in the World" reshoots while his co-star Michelle Williams received just $80 a day. Wahlberg announced earlier Saturday he supports the "fight for fair pay" and donated his $1.5 million paycheck to the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund in Williams' name. Don't Edit Don't Edit Don't Edit Fashion Panel Rochelle Koontz (Cecily Strong), Dean Swizz (Sam Rockwell), Angelo Dolphintuna (Kenan Thompson), Silvia Nunez (Melissa Villasenor) and Frances McDormand (Kate McKinnon) discuss Golden Globes fashion, with references to the gender pay gap and the Time's Up movement. Don't Edit Don't Edit Don't Edit Halsey performs Musical guest Halsey, the voice of The Chainsmokers' hit "Closer," performed two songs from her new album, "Bad at Love" and "Him & I" with boyfriend G-Eazy. Don't Edit Don't Edit Don't Edit More Don't Edit Don't Edit Weather Channel field reporting mainstay Mike Seidel hit a personal milestone right here in Upstate New York this weekend, when he did his 20,000th live shot in the snow in Rochester. Extreme shifting weather and heavy snowfall brought Seidel, 61, to the Upstate NY city where he broadcast live into the homes of viewers across the country. Watch the video from Seidel's 20,000th live shot below. Its always great to see our city highlighted on The Weather Channel when we have a big snow storm, but last night was no ordinary night for Meteorologist Mike Seidel in Rochester! Mikes report from Downtown was his 20,000th live shot of his 26 year-long career covering weather events is nearly every state. Communications Producer Tiana Stephens tracked down Mike on the Court Street bridge to surprise him by delivering a Proclamation from Mayor Lovely Warren declaring Mike Seidel Day in Rochester and to congratulate him on this amazing milestone! Were thankful for the Weather Channel, all of our local members of the media and of course our Department of Environmental Services plow truck drivers and crews for a wonderful job getting us through this storm! Posted by City of Rochester, NY - Mayor's Office on Saturday, January 13, 2018 Seidel began broadcasting from downtown Rochester around 9 p.m. on Friday, when abnormal, 50-degree weather had already begun plummeting more than 40 degrees. Then he got up Saturday morning and did another shoot from a changed landscape, now blanketed in white. Up to 16 inches of snow fell in some places around the Rochester area. The city was chosen for Seidel and his crew to broadcast from due to the certainty of heavy snow fall in the forecast. "This is how I see the country, one blizzard at a time," Seidel's producer, Mike Fomil told the Democrat & Chronicle. He called the the veteran weatherman "a road warrior." The City of Rochester showed its appreciation for Seidel's presence by declaring January 12 "Mike Seidel Day." Tama County Ag Outlook, Sept. 3 August rain grows the grain. Throughout the last half of August, northeast and central Iowa has been blessed with timely rains just as the ... A group of doctors wrote an urgent letter to the White House chief physician urging him to conduct basic mental health examinations on the President to ensure his and the country's well-being. It is unclear whether the examinations were made but the doctor announced that the president is in "excellent shape" after the said examinations. An Urgent Letter To Rear Admiral Jackson In the letter, the group of doctors that include psychiatrists, psychologists, and therapists among others, advised Dr. Ronny Jackson to conduct the President's physical examination as per the standard procedure for patient 66 years old and above. This means that the physical on the 71-year-old President must include neurological, mental, and cognitive health tests, basic tests that are given to millions of Americans covered by Medicare. Increasing Concerns The doctors state that there has been increasing concerns over the President's well-being especially with their observations of indications such as rambling speech, slurred speech, frequent repetition of the same concepts, inability to recognize old friends, impulse control problems, and declining vocabulary. As such, they recommend the doctor to conduct basic dementia screenings as a part of his duty to the President and to the country. It's worth noting that presidents are not required to undergo physical or medical check-ups, as it is an entirely voluntary examination. Though the letter does not specifically state where their concerns are coming from, they do state that it is important for Americans to be aware of their President's health and well-being. The concerns, perhaps, are compounded by a recently published controversial book which opened questions regarding the White House as well as the President's stability, a notion that had the President tweeting in defense of his mental health. ....Actually, throughout my life, my two greatest assets have been mental stability and being, like, really smart. Crooked Hillary Clinton also played these cards very hard and, as everyone knows, went down in flames. I went from VERY successful businessman, to top T.V. Star..... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2018 Not A New Concern The doctors' concerns are not new. In fact, in February of 2017, a group of mental health professionals also made their concerns known through a petition wherein they called for the removal of President Trump from office for exhibiting signs of a serious mental illness, making him incapable of carrying out his duties as the President. However, despite the support that the petition garnered, other mental health professionals cautioned their colleagues on diagnosing the President based on television appearances or Twitter account without the proper procedure. They stated then that labeling the President as "crazy" negatively adds to the stigma that prevents people from seeking for mental health treatments. What's more, they also state that labeling people who make morally questionable decisions with a mental illness trivialize the seriousness of their actions and its consequences. As of now, the chief physician has declared that the President is in "excellent condition" and is expected to give a more detailed assessment of the President's health. Whether he followed the advice of the doctors and exactly which test results he will and will not make known to the public remains to be seen. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. File Advocate photo by CHRISTINE MORGAN -- Attendees, from left, Karmesha Gilmore, of Denham Springs; Bryton Dixon, of Denham Springs; and Rudolph Johnson, of Denham Springs; bow their heads in prayer Jan. 19, 2015 before the march during the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Annual Celebration. More than 300 people attended the annual march and program. Gov. John Bel Edwards laughs as he fields a question Wednesday, March 29, 2017, flanked by La. Dept. of Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson, left, at a press conference to announce details of his tax and budget reform proposals for the 2017 regular legislative session. Its always depressing to read a glaring example of the straw man fallacy, but its particularly so when written in a newspaper of record by a Advocate staff photo by JOHN BALLANCE -- A line forms to vote at the Louisiana School for the Deaf in Baton Rouge on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2016. Officials at the chemical plant in St. John the Baptist Parish that has come under scrutiny for emissions of a chemical called chloroprene report they have finished installing equipment that should cut the plant's emissions significantly. The company, Denka Performance Elastomer, said that as of early this month it had completed a four-stage retrofitting at a cost of almost $30 million, nearly twice what the LaPlace plant said it intended to spend on the project when it was first announced in 2016. The goal is to reduce chloroprene emissions deemed a "likely carcinogen" by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency by 85 percent. The strategy was mandated in a voluntary consent agreement signed last January by the company and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. On Friday, company spokesman Jim Harris said Denka doesn't have enough data yet to say whether the work will meet the goal, but he cited a "downward trend" in emissions. "You occasionally have anomalies, but the trend is definitely on a downward turn," Harris said, referring to a graph charting the trajectory of monthly average chloroprene emissions between August 2016 and December 2017. "Our voluntary emissions reduction plan represents Denka's commitment to our community," said Jorge Lavastida, Denka's plant manager. Local environmentalists, however, have been saying for months that Denka's plan to reduce emissions is inadequate, even if it meets the goal of an 85 percent reduction. Wilma Subra, a scientist with the Louisiana Environmental Action Network, said the latest data showing the area's ambient chloroprene levels seem to confirm that Denka's reduction strategy won't be enough to satisfy a public health recommendation issued by the EPA. "From the perspective of the community, were still very concerned about the exposure of that chemical," Subra said. She added that residents constantly complain of feeling ill, reporting symptoms ranging from respiratory issues to dizziness and nausea. The plant, which uses chloroprene to make the synthetic rubber neoprene, has been operating for decades, though it was not acquired by Denka until 2015. That was the same year the EPA released a study showing local residents were at a heightened risk of cancer because of the plant's emissions. The company's own data show emissions have been declining over roughly the past year and a half, though with big spikes during certain months. Average monthly emissions from August 2016 through December 2017 ranged anywhere from about 1 microgram of chloroprene per cubic meter of air to nearly 11 micrograms per cubic meter. Those numbers fall far below the 857 micrograms per cubic meter currently allowed in Louisiana, but they are anywhere from 5 to 55 times what the EPA says could be dangerous over prolonged periods of exposure. As state experts continue to study the chemical, plant officials are waiting to see what the data show after installation of a regenerative thermal oxidizer, which uses heat to destroy pollutants. That was the final and most important piece of equipment in Denka's multi-step plan to dramatically reduce the amount of chloroprene released into the air. Once the data are in, state and federal officials will decide whether they should force the company to lower emissions of the chemical still further, according to Chuck Brown, secretary of the Louisiana DEQ. "Whatever we end up doing, it will be protective of human health and the environment," Brown said recently, adding that the limit must also be "enforceable" on industry. Finding itself at the center of a worldwide media storm is, to put it mildly, an unfamiliar experience for the Vermilion Parish School Board. The strain must have been great for its president, Anthony Fontana, who might have sought to relieve it by throwing Reggie Hilts under a bus. It is not unheard of for a politician to concentrate on saving his own skin and Fontana must have known he would turn off many a registered voter by backing Hilts, a sergeant in the Abbeville City Marshal's office, to the hilt. There was no need for Hilts to explain why, in his secondary capacity as the board's "resource officer," he gave Deyshia Hargrave the bum's rush for expressing an opinion during the public-comment section of last week's board meeting. Fontana allowed that Hilts was just following orders. While it is not easy to attach any meaning to Hilts' title, a videotape of the incident suggests that a resource officer in Vermilion Parish would not feel out of place in the paramilitary force of a dictatorship. Even there, perhaps, a burly specimen such as Hilts would hesitate to rough up a diminutive and unoffending female. After she accompanied Hilts from the meeting room, Hargrave was wrestled to the floor, handcuffed and bundled into a paddy wagon. Once at the jailhouse, she was booked with refusing to leave the meeting she just agreed to leave and with resisting arrest. It is true that she can be heard on videotape screaming What are you doing? as she wriggles on the floor while Hilts towers over her, but he manhandles her at will. Any citizen roughed up by a uniformed goon will be charged with resisting arrest; that is standard procedure all over the country, but, in the age of viral videotape, the bum rap won't stick. Abbeville City Attorney Ike Funderburk duly refused all charges against Hargrave. By then it was clear that any other course of action might have led to a diplomatic crisis, because the video quickly racked up a couple of million hits on Youtube, and everyone who saw it seems to have taken Hargrave's side. Indeed, so widespread was the sense that her treatment was an outrageous overreaction, that death threats poured into Abbeville from every corner of the globe. The whole brouhaha began when Hargrave rose at the meeting to protest a pay raise granted to Superintendent Jerome Puyau by a divided board. Hargrave was measured and polite but, when she continued to argue it was unfair to reward Puyau when teachers had not had a raise for years, Fontana told her to stop because her remarks were not germane to the topic under discussion. Of course, they were, as she noted, but Hilts was wheeled out to get in her face and tell her to leave the room. Although there was a brief delay before she complied, Fontana was surely alone in seeing any justification for her arrest, let alone the violence that preceded it. If springing to Hilts' defense was politically unwise, Fontana can only have alienated voters further by explaining that he regards them as naughty children. "If a teacher has the authority to send a student, who is acting up and she can't control, out of the classroom to the principal's office, under our policy we have the same rules," he said. Hilts was doing exactly what he was hired to do, Fontana said. Evidently so, for the board must have known that its new resource officer was no stranger to violence. Last year a settlement was reached in a suit that accused Hilts of a brutal assault on an elderly and ailing civilian in his days with the Scott Police Department Hargrave is the one who made the choices that got her arrested, Fontana said. Now the whole world knows that speaking your mind when invited to do so can land you in the Abbeville pokey. Email James Gill at Gill1407@bellsouth.net. People who are not religious still have convictions. They are also entitled to freedom of conscience, irrespective of whether they are in a majority or minority. As a strong proponent of removing the government's power to tell us who we can marry, I applauded the move to legalise same-sex marriage. However, I was disappointed that amendments to respect those who hold a different point of view were rejected. Former federal minister Phillip Ruddock was appointed to conduct the review into religious freedom. Credit:Nick Moir In a free society, the majority does not impose its views on the minority. Rather, it protects the right of us each to have our own opinion as long as our actions do not harm others. And just to be clear, taking offence does not qualify as harm. In an effort to mollify those opposed to same-sex marriage, the Turnbull government established an expert panel to examine religious freedom, chaired by Philip Ruddock. The inquiry, which began this week, will examine whether current legislation is robust enough to protect all those with religious objections from being forced into dealing with same-sex marriage. A large bushfire burning near Newcastle, which forced the city's airport to close and caused residents to shelter in their homes, was downgraded in severity to "watch and act" on Sunday evening. Though the fire had begun to subside with crews "slowly gaining the upper hand", strong southerly winds were expected overnight, pushing the fire north. On Monday morning the fire was downgraded to 'advice' and was being controlled by the Rural Fire Service. The Bureau of Meteorology had on Sunday issued a severe weather warning for damaging winds to Newcastle, with gusts averaging 60 to 70 km/h, while peak gusts could reach 90 km/h. Chelsea Manning, the transgender former Army private who was convicted of passing sensitive government documents to Wikileaks, has filed to run for the US Senate in Maryland, according to federal election filings. Manning, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment, would be challenging Democrat Senator Ben Cardin, who has served two terms in the Senate and is up for re-election in November. Cardin is Maryland's senior senator and is considered an overwhelming favorite to win a third term. Manning, 30, who is formerly known as Bradley Manning, was convicted in 2013 of the largest leak of classified documents in US history and was sentenced to 35 years in prison. Last year, then-President Barack Obama commuted Manning's sentence to time served, and she was released from a military prison in Kansas. Chelsea Manning addresses a forum in Nantucket in September 2017. Credit:AP The news of Manning's filing caught Maryland's political class by surprise Saturday afternoon. It was first reported in a tweet by conservative media outlet Red Maryland. There are concerns about rising Islamic conservatism and religious intolerance, with the former Chinese-Indonesian Christian governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama known as Ahok jailed for blasphemy last year and an unprecedented crackdown on the nation's LGBT community. But there are also unsung heroes everywhere. The Sumatran school doing its bit to tackle the national rubbish crisis by allowing parents to pay fees with recycled rubbish, the Muslims who provide security outside churches at Christmas, the women of Rembang who planted their feet in blocks of concrete outside the presidential palace to protest against the environmental damage caused by a cement factory, the Acehnese fishing communities who welcomed Rohingya refugees when the rest of the world turned its back. Struggling to articulate Indonesia's contradictions, I find myself craving my favourite comfort food, martabak manis, a sweet pancake stuffed with chocolate and grated cheddar cheese. It's a much loved food combination here I once thought disgusting. Now I snap: "How is chocolate and cheese any different to caramel and sea salt?" But unlike my friend's instant crush on Indonesia, my relationship with the country was a complicated slow-burner. Jewel Topsfield interviewed Indonesian President Joko Widodo, centre, with Fairfax Media's Peter Hartcher, left. Credit:Jefri Tarigan Within days of my arrival, Indonesia's president, Joko Widodo, rejected the clemency pleas of Bali Nine heroin smugglers Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, despite their remarkable rehabilitation. From this moment their death by firing squad seemed inevitable. Reporting on the lead-up to the executions was like watching a film, heart in mouth, that you already know ends tragically. I barely slept for weeks. Relations between the two countries soured, exacerbated by Tony Abbott's disastrous reminder of the billion dollars in aid Australia had donated after the 2004 tsunami. "Australia and Indonesia are like divorced parents who have to stay together for the sake of the children," one Indonesian official told me. The anger some Australians felt towards Indonesia at the time was visceral. I deplore the death penalty now more than ever but felt a responsibility not to fan the flames of hate. Many Indonesians see drug smuggling through a different prism to Australians; a crime akin to cold-blooded murder or terrorism because it can lead to the deaths of addicts. And there were also Indonesians who were deeply affected; among them the guards and fellow prisoners who became close to Chan and Sukumaran and their indefatigable lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis, who has been fighting to end the death penalty in Indonesia since 1979. Mulya would later describe the night the Australians were shot as the darkest moment of his life. "I failed. I lost," he tweeted, heartbroken, at 4am. For a long time I didn't let myself acknowledge the executions had affected me. It seemed nothing in the face of the grief faced by Chan and Sukumaran's loved ones. But I was haunted by photos of them as children, Sukumaran with a broad toothy grin and Chan an impish smirk. For weeks afterwards I dreamed my son, 18 months old at the time, fell into a swimming pool. I would dive in and try to rescue him but each time his slippery, muscular body would squirm out of my hands until I realised I was powerless to save him. I would wake soaked in sweat, again and again. I remember reading former Melbourne radio journalist Brian Morley's account of witnessing the hanging of Ronald Ryan in Melbourne and how it changed him. I marvelled he was still alive to tell the story. The last execution carried out in Australia seemed so long ago although it was only 1967. Jokowi last year suggested Indonesians would eventually change their minds on execution laws, as citizens of other countries have done in the past. I hope one day to write a retrospective piece when the death penalty seems as remote and archaic in Indonesia as it does in Australia. Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed in 2015. Credit:Anta Kesuma I still have to pinch myself I got this job. I was terrified when appointed that I would never live up to the previous Fairfax Indonesia correspondents. I poured out my heart to a mentor. "No two correspondents are the same," she said. "Follow the stories that interest you." It sounds so obvious but it is among the best pieces of career advice I have received. Fairfax Media is blessed to have two superb Indonesian journalists Karuni Rompies and Amilia Rosa who are gutsy, charming, dogged, unflappable and insatiably curious. Accompanied by either one of them, I criss-crossed the archipelago in search of stories that interested me and (I hope) gave readers some insight into the complexity and wonder of one of Australia's closest but least understood neighbours. It can be difficult for foreign media to access Papua (the independence struggle here is one of the most sensitive topics in Indonesia) but we reported on the mysterious disappearance of Papuan Martinus Beanal as conflict simmered around the Freeport mine. The area surrounding the mine, which many indigenous Papuans see as the root of their oppression, has long been the site of a low-level insurgency. We wrote about the "real estate deal of the millennium": the forgotten Indonesian island of Run in the Banda Sea that was swapped for Manhattan 350 years ago. Run Island, famed for its nutmeg, was once exchanged for Manhattan. Credit:Jefri Tarigan The man expected to challenge Jokowi for the 2019 presidential election, Prabowo Subianto usually referred to as a "former military strongman" told us over breakfast that his love for animals meant he had to negotiate with ants. We explored Indonesia's struggle to come to terms with one of its darkest chapters the massacre of an estimated 500,000 people suspected of left leanings in 1965 and 1966 and the surreal paranoia about a resurgent red peril. We met terrorist attack survivors, women who formed a support group for those who wear the niqab, religious leaders, fans of Indonesia's weird architecture in the 50s and 60s and the president of Indonesia. The access we were granted was extraordinary. In June 2015, Amilia and I travelled to West Timor to investigate vague but potentially explosive claims an Australian official had paid people smugglers to return a boat of 65 asylum seekers to Indonesia. I was highly sceptical. Then prime minister Tony Abbott had described people smuggling as an "evil trade". Surely Australia would not reward criminal activity? We were ushered into a room at Kupang police station. I was astonished General Endang Sunjaya, the then police chief of East Nusa Tenggara, had agreed to even meet with us. He told us the six crew members on the people smuggling boat had all sworn under oath they received about $US5000 from an Australian official to return to Indonesia. Their accounts were corroborated by asylum seekers who were separately interrogated. "The money is now being kept as evidence that this was not a made-up story," General Endang told us. "This is very unexpected. If it happened in Indonesia it would constitute a bribe." I was pouring with sweat and my eyes were beginning to bulge. I frenziedly scribbled a note to Amilia: "Let's get out of here before he changes his mind and says this is all off the record!!!!!". Amilia calmly ignored me and sipped her tea. "Could you show us the money sir?" she asked sweetly. "Boleh," the general replied and showed us photographs of piles of crisp US dollar notes. Later Amilia, bemused by my shock, asked if the Australian government was likely to respond. I said it would almost certainly not comment "on water matters". Sure enough Abbott refused to comment on "operational matters", although he never denied Australia had paid the people smugglers. "What we do is we stop the boats by hook or by crook," he said. "I just don't want to go into the details of how it's done." Amusingly, Indonesian journalists were not familiar with the idiom "by hook or by crook" and translated it literally. "Abbott simply insisted that he would 'stop the boat by inducement or with criminals' and refused to elaborate on 'how it is done'," Antara news reported. I'll always be grateful for the refreshing and generous level of access that Indonesian officials have provided to us over the past three years. It is a world away from the team of media flacks employed to massage the message back home. We won a Walkley Award for our coverage of the cash for boat turnbacks scandal and it triggered a Senate inquiry. From left, seated: Captain Yohanis Humiang with head of the people smuggling division of Nusa Tenggara Timur, Ibrahim, and Rote police chief Hidayat. Analysts have claimed Indonesia has been at a crossroads for so long it has been parodied by The Simpsons. "Look at me, I'm reading The Economist. Did you know Indonesia is at a crossroads?" Homer asks, after ordering a steak on a plane. "Nooooo," deadpans Marge. But once again things seem precarious. Identity politics in Indonesia (and other southern Asian countries) has been named one of the top global risks for 2018 by US risk analysis organisation the Eurasia Group. Islamists' increasing sway over Indonesian politics was demonstrated in the lead-up to last year's gubernatorial election, with massive street protests denouncing the reformist Chinese-Christian governor Ahok. The allegations Ahok had insulted Islam and his subsequent blasphemy trial proved catastrophic for his re-election bid despite polls showing that Jakartans were overwhelmingly satisfied with his performance in office. Former Jakarta governor Basuki ''Ahok'' Tjahaja Purnama. Credit:AP The 2016 and 2017 Islamist mobilisation has been recognised as an important shift in Indonesian politics. A new paper by Australian National University academic Marcus Mietzner and others says opposition to non-Muslims holding political office has hardened. All eyes will be on the 171 provincial elections in June which are likely to be a bellwether of the 2019 presidential elections. Already there are fears religion, ethnicity and race will be used to sway voters. I will be watching with bated breath. After three years reporting on politics I feel personally invested. I recently met a man who had a map of Indonesia tattooed across his face to reflect his love for his country. He was an environmental activist working in a remote village in Bogor regency to turn plastic rubbish into fuel. This powered a generator and provided electricity for the village. I thought it would make a great story. The tattooed man who loved his country trying to tackle Indonesia's trash crisis. And then it struck me I had run out of time. Iran's Foreign Ministry says that it would not agree to any changes to the nuclear deal, as President Donald Trump has demanded, and it vowed a "serious response" to new US sanctions that it said crossed a red line. The countries that negotiated the multilateral 2015 agreement with the United States were thrown into confusion, anger and disapproval over Trump's ultimatum Friday to withdraw from the deal within months if his conditions are not met. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Russia lon 10 January 2018. Credit:AP Trump is insisting on changes to the nuclear deal and US law that would be difficult if not impossible to finesse. He wants Iran to allow the immediate inspection of all sites as requested by UN inspectors, and he demands no lapse of the "sunset" provisions imposing curbs on Iran's nuclear program. He also wants Congress to modify US law to link missile tests and nuclear weapons programs, as well as impose trigger points that would automatically snap sanctions back into place. Russia called Trump's remarks "extremely negative." China said the deal now faces "complicating factors." And the European Union said it would "assess" the implications. Investors looking for larger than life returns shy away from blue chip stocks that have stood the test of time, but have limited room to grow. Instead, these investors opt for whats hot in the minds of the investment community. One of the current hot spots is disruptive technology stocks. The term disruptive technology is relatively new, originating in 1997 in a Harvard Business School professors book, The Innovators Dilemma. The author, Clayton M. Christensen, noted key differences in technology innovations. Sustaining technology introduces enhancements to established technologies while Disruptive technology introduces new ways of doing things with no proven performance track record and as such, limited appeal. Over time the term has morphed into a more succinct definition as products or processes that change the traditional ways of getting things done. This shift is unfortunate in that it steers would-be investors into focusing on the purportedly disruptive product or processes at the expensive of considering the potential size of the market about to be disrupted. To illustrate, consider the rise of an early disruptor, the Blackberry smartphone introduced by Canadas Research in Motion. The hardware and software platforms were revolutionary for their time, enabling on the go communication. But to the most astute investors, the potential was not the product, but the market it served. Literally every department in every organization on the planet benefited from what Blackberry introduced. Contrast that with two recent ASX failures, once hailed as purveyors of disruptive technology the defunct 1-Page Limited, and the failing Reffind Limited (RFN). Both targeted niche functions in Human Resource operations in businesses. Consider also that Human Resources is generally not at the top of the corporate wish list for capital expenditures. The Blackberry story also brings into focus another factor to consider when researching disruptive technology stocks competition. While in the early stages disruptors may have a market to themselves, success breeds competition. Blackberrys undoing was managements failure to recognise the threat posed by a new disruptor the Apple iPhone. There are three rock-solid ASX stocks that began as major disruptors in a time when few investors had even heard the term. It may surprise some younger investors to know back in 1997 the Internet was in its infancy, with a sizable percentage of the global population unaware of its existence. Amazon was still largely an online book-seller. Here in Australia, managements at Seek Limited, (SEK), REA Group Limited (REA), and Carsales.com (CAR) saw the potential of digital technology via the Internet as a vast improvement over the traditional means of searching for jobs, cars, or properties at that time print advertising. The expanded information available digitally and the ease of searching and comparing offerings must have set the hearts of early investors pounding in anticipation of things to come. While what these companies did was truly disruptive, would they have seen the same success has they been addressing some niche market? Everyone at points in their lives looks for jobs, cars, and homes. The three stalwarts have been around a long time, with Carsales.com being the newest ASX listing coming on in 2009 although the company began in 1997. The following table shows the historical performance of the three. >> BACK TO THE NEWSLETTER: Click here to read other articles from this weeks newsletter Judith Baker goes to Guatemala and discovers an intriguing history and luxury and relaxing accommodation Rising out of the jungle in the steamy afternoon heat with the shrieks of howler monkeys in the background is a towering black temple; marked by age and worn by climbing feet over thousands of years. This is my first glimpse of the ancient Mayan ruins at Tikal, Guatemala, one of the wonders of the Americas. We stay until sunset as the sky turns pink over the five magnificent temples and return the next morning at sunrise with the toucans, macaws and parrots. I am told that jaguars and ocelots lurk in the surrounding forest, but we only spot a cheeky coatimundi or racoon like creature scurrying past. Tikal is one of the oldest Mayan sites with the earliest evidence of human habitation here around 700 BC. There are five temple pyramids which soar above the forest canopy, with carve stelae and altars in the central plaza. We spot masks carved in the stone as we learn the history of this amazing place with its stories of rulers buried in tombs with precious jade, human sacrifices and royal palaces which at one time were painted in bright colours. La Lancha After a long day getting to know the Mayans, my experience is made even more magical when I head to my accommodation for the duration of my stay. Just a short drive away is the fabulous La Lancha rainforest lodge, tucked away in the rainforest high above the clear waters of Lago Peten Itza the second largest lake in Guatemala. La Lancha is part of the Family Coppola Hideaways group, owned by film director Francis Ford Coppola and his family. He fell in love with the jungle while filming Apocalypse Now in the Philippines. In Belize Francis Ford Coppola established 2 hideaways, one in the rainforest and the other on the Caribbean coast, and most recently a private island off the coast of his beach hideaway, Turtle Inn, called Coral Caye. It is easy to see how he was captivated by this lush, exotic part of the world where every turn brings breath-taking scenes worthy of the most dramatic movie set and where the monkeys, toucans and parakeets provide the soundtrack. Ten thatched suites and rooms are dotted around La Lancha. My room is a Lakeview villa a pretty treehouse filled with Guatemalan artefacts and crafts, from colourful throws on the beds to the animal masks and huipils (traditional Mayan womens dresses) hanging on the walls. The wooden furniture is Balinese in style and, as in all the rooms here, there is a terrace with hammocks and chairs which look out to the calm and beautiful lake. La Lancha is proud of its eco credentials and the spacious bathroom is stocked with handmade, locally sourced toiletries. Exploring the winding paths around the property I find the two-level swimming pool and the Mirador or look-out deck, complete with huge comfy recliners from which to look over the lake, listening to the birds and monkeys. La lancha has a number of eccentric touches, such as the Shellphone a pink conch shell which is actually a telephone for guests to pick up and order a cocktail, food or coffee wherever they are in the property. Later its time to detox at the Temazcal, a traditional Mayan sweat lodge or sauna for cleansing and relaxing with copal incense burning. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in La Lanchas lovely open-air restaurant under the thatched roof of the Main Lodge with fabulous views over the rainforest to the lake. In the evening meals are cooked on an open parilla or grill. Food is a combination of traditional and Guatemalan dishes including fresh fish from the lake and Suban Ik (Gods meal), a traditional dish containing chicken, beef, rice and spices. Top class wines are from the Francis Ford Coppola Winery in California and drinks are on offer at the rooftop bar and library or down at the enchanting lake-view bar accessed by a quirky funicular. Adjacent to the Restaurant is an authentic tortilla hut, where local staff make fresh, homemade tortillas and encourages guests to join them in the tradition. As well as visits to Tikal, the hotel can arrange rainforest experiences including zip-lining, aerial walkways and canoeing or kayaking on the lake. Fact Box La Lancha Aldea Jobompiche San Jose, Peten Guatemala www.thefamilycoppolahideaways.com/en/la-lancha 00 (502) 30450817 How to get there: La Lancha sits deep in the rainforest above the shore of Lago Peten Itza in Guatemala. The prettiest way to arrive is to cross the lake by boat from the charming Spanish colonial town of Flores (about 45 minutes) but the lodge can be accessed by road from the Belize border or from Guatemala Citys La Aurora airport (about one hours drive) which is served by a number of international airlines including American Airlines, Copa and Delta which all have connecting flights to the UK. La Lancha is about 45 minutes drive from the Mayan ruins of Tikal. www.TheFamilyCoppolaHideaways.com NORWALK The Maritime Rowing Club learned this month that it has little maneuvering room to squeeze into a temporary home at Veterans Memorial Park. The rowing club, which has trained Olympians, must vacate its current home on Goldstein Place by March 31 to make room for the Walk Bridge replacement. And it must secure U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection approvals to operate temporarily from the East Basin at Veterans Park. Roman Vengerovskiy, general manager at Maritime Rowing, said the club has engaged RACE Coastal Engineering to secure permits and approvals for the temporary relocation, which he noted isnt by choice. Were not relocating because we want to. Were relocating because the state of Connecticut Department of Transportation is requiring us to move, Vengerovskiy said. Were put in a very precarious situation at this point, because if we cant have a home to go to it wont look good for us but were confident. Clock ticking Maritime Rowing is now located at 11 Goldstein Place, in the shadow of the Walk Bridge, which the DOT plans to start replacing next year. Vengerovskiy said Maritime Rowing has secured the approvals to build a new clubhouse upriver at 1 Jennings Place but added it wont be complete until July. As such, the rowing club has requested city permission to use the East Basin at Veterans Park, from Feb. 1 until July 31. The Common Council approved a similar six-month usage last year but the club wasnt ready to make the move at the time. On Tuesday evening, the Common Council tabled action on a similar agreement for this summer after learning from the Norwalk Harbor Management Commission that the rowing club needs approvals from the DEEP and Army Corps. The issue is that, first of all, the rowing club does have to get permits from the Army Corps and the DEEP for use of that dock, because the city owns that dock and its in the federal anchorage channel, NHMC Chairman Anthony Mobilia told the council. The use of the dock is for private/public use, and a special grant was given to the city to have that dock in the anchorage channel, so any changes to that dock has to come back before the Army Corps and DEEP. If permits are issued by those entities, the NHMC must review whether the rowing clubs use of the East Basin would be consistent with the citys harbor management plan, Mobilia added. Councilman Michael Corsello, an at-large Democrat, said the NHMC brought the approval requirements to the attention of the citys law department. The department then advised making usage of the East Basin subject to Maritime Rowing procuring all appropriate approvals, including but not limited to approvals from the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Environmental Protections Land and Water Resources Divisions. Corsello, an attorney, expressed doubt that the rowing club can secure those approvals by Feb. 1, but he added that the sign-offs are required under the law. They wanted to start doing this on Feb. 1 and, from my information, thats an impossibility to obtain all the necessary approvals if theyre able to obtain them at all, Corsello said. I just think everybody should know the significance of this amendment but its the law. The approvals arent the only unresolved issue. Safety is another concern as noted by Mobilia and Norwalk Shellfish Commission Chairman Pete Johnson, who has a 35-foot boat in the East Basin channel. Johnson said the channel is less than half the size of the west channel. Im backing out of my slip, I cant stop on a dime, Johnson said. There is no room Find another area for them to go because somebody is going to get hurt. Mobilia said rowers cannot use navigation channels for practice they must practice outside the channels. He described the East Basin as a sensitive area. In that particular area, the channel narrows down quite a bit and so there is a safety concern, Mobilia said. We can look at it once the permits have gone to the Army Corps and the DEEP. Councilman Douglas Hempstead, an at-large Republican, asked if DEEP and Army Corps approvals were secured when the council approved use of the East Basin last summer. As far as I know, they didnt and it did not come before the Harbor Management Commission, Mobilia said. London luxury department store Harrods said Saturday it was taking down a statue of the late Princess Diana and her boyfriend Dodi Al Fayed and returning it to former owner Mohamed Al Fayed. Al Fayed commissioned the bronze statue, which shows his son and Diana holding hands and releasing a bird, after they were killed in a Paris car crash in 1997. It remained there after he sold Harrods to the investment arm of Qatar's sovereign wealth fund in 2010. But the store's managing director, Michael Ward, said it was now time to return it, noting that Diana's sons Princes William and Harry were commissioning their own statue to their mother at Kensington Palace. Read also: Diana still wreaking revenge on Charles: Biographer "We are very proud to have played our role in celebrating the lives of Diana, Princess of Wales, and Dodi Al Fayed at Harrods and to have welcomed people from around the world to visit the memorial for the past 20 years," he said. "With the announcement of the new official memorial statue to Diana, Princess of Wales at Kensington Palace, we feel that the time is right to return this memorial to Mr Al Fayed and for the public to be invited to pay their respects at the palace." Al Fayed has accused the royals of masterminding the death of Diana and his son, and as a result Harrods lost its royal warrant in 2000. A spokesman for the Al Fayed family told The Times newspaper it was "grateful" to Qatar Holdings for preserving the memorial of the couple, adding: "It is now time to bring them home." Between 1950 and 1970, Pedan district in Klaten, Central Java, was the only production center of woven lurik (traditional striped fabric) in Indonesia. With 500 home industries that housed about 10,000 workers, the industry grew with the help of the traditional manual loom. Suhardi Hadi Sumarto pioneered the lurik home industry in 1938 after completing his education at the Textiel Inrichting Bandoeng (Bandung Textile Institute) in West Java. Rachmad, a lurik businessman in Pedan who survived the rise and fall of the industry, says that Suhardi did more than just produce lurik. He also taught his neighbors the process of making [lurik]. My father, Atmo Prawiro, was one of his students, he explains. Today, Rachmad is one of the few lurik businessmen in Pedan who still owns about 50 oklak (manual looms), although only 15 are regularly used. One oklak can produce about 10 meters of woven lurik in one go, or about 250 to 300 meters woven lurik per month. Read also: Designer Edward Hutabarat preserves lurik in his latest exhibition The golden age of manually woven lurik has passed, but I hold on [to it] because it is my choice to preserve the art. For me, this is not about the money, Rachmad says. Only three manually woven lurik home industries have survived the changing decades. One belongs to Rachmad, consisting of 30 workers. Another belongs to Ibu Sudiro, with fewer workers, and the third belongs to Arif Purnawan, who is Rachmads eldest son. Rachmad said the Pedan lurik industry merely exists to help the workers survive. However, he doesnt dismiss the influences of modernity and thinks the industry must adapt to the times. If we hold on to conventional motifs in this traditional production [method], we wont sell. This is why we need to experiment often, he says. One of Rachmads weavers, Saryati, 67, can weave about seven meters of lurik per day at a fee of Rp 5,000 (3 US cents) per meter, which she can collect daily or weekly. She has been working for Rachmad since she was a young girl. Read also: The making of colorful 'lurik' The remains of the lurik glory days are still neatly kept in Rachmads house/workshop at Tlingsing village, Pedan. His son Arif showed The Jakarta Post order forms for lurik dated between 1950 and 1970 from several countries, such as the United States, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and the Netherlands. Rachmads business survived due to his openness to explore new materials, which resulted in new innovations in his products. With the help of his children, Rachmad now creates woven lurik using cotton and silk yarns combined with natural fibers. Arif combined the classical black and white udan liris motif with turquoise or maroon. He was also brave enough to include batik ornaments to classical motifs such as klenting kuning, sodo sakler, lasem, tuluh watu, lompong keli, kinanti or kembang tela. In the past five years, my father and I have been giving free weaving workshops, manual looms and capital loans to those who are serious about doing this business. Its not much, but this is our effort to preserve lurik and encourage the emergence of new lurik artisans, Arif says. The father-son effort seems to be successful as new lurik businessmen have emerged in Cawas, Klaten and Weru districts, Sukoharjo regency. Though theyre success is still a far cry from that of Pedans glory days, the new businesses have been able to sell their products to various cities. (asw) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, January 13 2018 The fourth round of the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (I-EU CEPA) is scheduled to be held in Surakarta in February, according to an EU Commission statement. This round will deal with, among others, Indonesias regulatory side that was not up for discussion in the previous rounds. The EU, meanwhile, has presented 17 text proposals. Exchange of tariff offers will take place, in which the EU will keep commonalities with Vietnam and other ASEAN members. Rough topics like Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures to protect humans, animals and plants from diseases, pests or contaminants public procurement and state enterprises will continue to be tapped, the statement said. Indonesia and the EU have announced a CEPA conclusion target in 2019 that is expected to be implemented in 2021, but the latter focused on the qu... Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Tehran, Iran Sun, January 14, 2018 20:54 1331 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c11b95f 2 World Iran,unrest,death Free A total of 25 people were killed in the recent unrest that hit several towns and cities across Iran, the judiciary said Sunday, with 465 still under arrest. "Twenty-five people, ordinary citizens and our own forces, were killed during the recent troubles," said judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejeie, according to the Mizanonline news agency. "None were killed by shots from the security forces because they were ordered not to use their weapons," he added. He provided no details on how the members of the security forces or civilians were killed, including six protesters who died while trying to storm a police station in the central province of Isfahan. The figure was four more than the death toll announced during the unrest that spread across the country between December 28 and January 1. "At most, there were 465 people under arrest across the country as of yesterday, while a certain number have probably been released since then," Ejeie said, adding that the number included 55 in Tehran. Reformist lawmaker Mahmoud Sadeghi had said on Tuesday that 3,700 people were arrested during the protests, without saying how many were later released. The unrest began over economic issues, but quickly grew into protests against the Islamic regime as a whole, with attacks on government and police buildings. The government has said a total of 42,000 people participated in the unrest -- a figure that is hard to verify due to limited information from the provinces where most of the unrest took place. Read also: CIA chief denies agency role in Iran unrest, predicts new violence Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Paris, France Sun, January 14, 2018 10:30 1331 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c10a682 2 Business milk,France,milk-poisoning,CEO Free A salmonella scandal at French dairy group Lactalis has affected 83 countries, where 12 million boxes of powdered baby milk are being recalled, the company's CEO said Sunday in an interview with French media. Emmanuel Besnier, scion of the secretive family behind one of the world's biggest dairy groups, was speaking publicly for the first time since an outcry erupted over claims the company hid the salmonella outbreak at a plant making the product. "We must take account the scale of this operation: more than 12 million boxes are affected," he said, adding that distributors would no longer have to sort through the produce to find the contaminated powder. "They know that everything has to be removed from the shelves," Besnier said. Besnier, who was summoned to the French finance ministry on Friday, promised compensation for all the families affected. He said that the consequences of this health crisis for consumers, including babies under six months, were at the forefront of his mind. "It is for us, for me, a great concern," he told the Journal du Dimanche. Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed against the group by families who say their children got salmonella poisoning after drinking powdered milk made by the company. So far French officials have reported 35 cases of infants getting salmonella from the powder, while one case has been reported in Spain and another is being investigated in Greece. An association representing victims says the authorities are underestimating the number of cases. "There are complaints and there will be an investigation with which we will fully collaborate. We never thought to act otherwise," Besnier said. Created in 1933 by Besnier's grandfather, Lactalis has become an industry behemoth with annual sales of some 17 billion euros ($20.6 billion), with products including Galbani ricotta and mozzarella in Italy. With 246 production sites in 47 countries, its list of products also features household names like President butter and Societe roquefort. Two of those brands, Picot and Milumel baby milk, were the subject of chaotic international recalls issued in mid-December after dozens of children fell sick. The scandal deepened this month when French investigative weekly Le Canard Enchaine reported that state inspectors had given a clean bill of health to the Lactalis site in Craon, northwest France, in early September. They failed to find the salmonella bacteria that had been detected by Lactalis's own tests in August and November, which were not reported to the authorities. The company said it was not legally bound to report the contamination. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Eugene Tanner and Maggy Donaldson (Agence France-Presse) Honolulu, United States Sun, January 14, 2018 09:46 1331 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c107515 2 World Hawaii,missile-launch,alert-status,false-alarm Free An alert warning of an incoming ballistic missile aimed at Hawaii was sent in error Saturday, sowing panic and confusion across the US state -- which is already on edge over the risk of attack -- before officials dubbed it a "false alarm." Emergency management officials eventually determined the notification was sent just after 8:00 am (1800 GMT) during a shift change and a drill after "the wrong button was pushed" -- a mistake that lit up phones across the archipelago with a disturbing alert urging people to "seek immediate shelter." The erroneous message came after months of soaring tensions between Washington and Pyongyang, with North Korea saying it has successfully tested ballistic missiles that could deliver atomic warheads to the United States, including the chain of volcanic islands. "I deeply apologize for the trouble and heartbreak that we caused today," said Vern Miyagi, administrator of Hawaii's Emergency Management Agency. Weird, I don't hear any of the Democrats who are blaming Trump for the false alarm in Hawaii speaking up this loudly now that we know the fault is placed on the Hawaiian government. (Democrats) pic.twitter.com/GfGV4bZ6su Andy Hortin (@AndyHortin) January 14, 2018 "We've spent the last few months trying to get ahead of this whole threat, so that we could provide as much notification and preparation to the public. "We made a mistake," he told journalists. "We're going to take processes and study this so that this doesn't happen again. "The governor has directed that we hold off any more tests until we get this squared away." As social media ignited with screenshots of the cell phone emergency warning, Representative Tulsi Gabbard quickly tweeted that it was a "FALSE ALARM," with Hawaii's EMA confirming "there is NO missile threat to Hawaii." US military spokesman David Benham later said US Pacific Command "has detected no ballistic missile threat to Hawaii. Earlier message was sent in error." The warning -- which came across the Emergency Alert System that authorities nationwide use to delivery vital emergency information -- read: "BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL." A corrected message indicating that "there is no missile threat or danger to the state of Hawaii" was not dispatched to phones until nearly 40 minutes later. "There was no automated way to send a false alarm cancellation," said Governor David Ige. "We had to initiate a manual process. And that was why it took a while to notify everyone." "I know firsthand that what happened today was totally unacceptable," Ige said of the alert, which was also broadcast on some local television stations. "I'm sorry for that pain and confusion that anyone might have experienced." Both the governor and Miyagi assured no single person would be capable of making such a mistake in the future, and the Federal Communications Commission said it was launching a "full investigation" into the incident. The White House said US President Donald Trump had been briefing about the incident, calling the alert "purely a state exercise." Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii, echoing stances of outrage taken by several other of the state's politicians, called the mistaken notification "totally inexcusable." Though the alert was quickly deemed false, many Hawaii residents heeded the nerve-wracking warning, scrambling to take refuge in hallways and basements. Lauren McGowan, on holiday in Maui with family members and friends, was on her way to breakfast when her phone blared the alert. She and her family quickly returned to their hotel, where staff ushered them along with some 30 people to a basement cafeteria and distributed water and food. The alert and rush to shelter caused "confusion," McGowan said, particularly for the children in the group. "No one had any idea what was really going on," the 28-year-old from New York told AFP, explaining they had no cell service underground. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Yudith Ho (Bloomberg) Jakarta Sun, January 14, 2018 16:25 1331 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c117541 2 Business Bitcoin,BankIndonesia,warning Free Bank Indonesia is taking a firm stance against cryptocurrencies as it urges all parties to refrain from owning, selling or trading the tokens. Owning virtual currencies is very risky and inherently speculative, the central bank said in a statement Saturday. The digital tokens are prone to forming asset bubbles and tend to be used as method for money laundering and terrorism funding, so it has the potential to affect financial-system stability and harm the public. The move highlights the challenge faced by regulators as they seek to manage potential risks from the global cryptocurrency mania while lacking the authority to prohibit its use. South Koreas central bank banned employees from trading cryptocurrencies on the job last week, while China has outlined proposals to discourage bitcoin mining, the process by which the virtual currency enters circulation. Bank Indonesias statement follows its earlier ban on financial technology companies using cryptocurrencies for transactions in January, which doesnt prohibit trading of the digital tokens itself. While the authority reiterates an existing ban on payment-system providers under its watch from processing transactions using digital currencies, PT Bitcoin Indonesia, a virtual-currency exchange that boasts more than 940,000 members, doesnt fall under its supervision. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Tehran, Iran Sun, January 14, 2018 15:41 1331 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c114fe1 2 World Censorship,Iran,demonstration Free Iran has lifted restrictions imposed during recent protests on the country's most popular social media app Telegram. AFP journalists were able to access the service on Sunday and officials confirmed it has been restored. "The information concerning the end of filtering on Telegram is correct," a spokesman for the telecoms ministry told AFP. Telegram, which counts some 25 million users in Iran, was blocked on mobile phones during the five days of unrest that hit dozens of cities over the new year. The semi-official ISNA news agency said the restrictions on Telegram had been "entirely lifted under orders of (President Hassan Rouhani)." The government accused "counter-revolutionaries" and foreign groups of inciting violence via social media during the unrest, and also temporarily cut mobile access to photo sharing app Instagram. They also blocked some VPN privacy apps, which are commonly used to get around longstanding bans on sites such as Twitter, YouTube and Facebook. Rouhani said during the unrest that the restrictions were necessary, but should not be "indefinite". He accused conservative opponents of using the protests to impose widespread censorship. "You want to take the opportunity to shut down this social media for eternity. You might sleep well, but 40 million people had problems... 100,000 people lost their jobs," Rouhani said on January 9, referring to complaints that many businesses were hit by the Telegram shutdown. The head of the country's cybercrime committee, Abdolsamad Khoramabadi, had earlier criticised the government for not blocking Telegram sooner, and said officials should be "punished" if it was found they deliberately failed to act against online "trouble-makers and enemies". Conservatives have also called for the development of local apps to replace Instagram and Telegram. Rouhani's support for temporary restrictions still represented something of a reversal for a president who has vowed to end all online censorship. Just three weeks before the unrest, on December 19, Rouhani told the country's first conference on civil liberties: "We will not seek to filter social media. Our telecoms minister promises the people he will never touch the filtering button." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Washington, United States Sun, January 14, 2018 20:01 1331 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c11b393 2 World trump,immigration,protest Free The word "sh*thole" -- which President Donald Trump allegedly used to describe countries from which he does not want immigrants coming to the US -- has been projected along with other messages onto his Washington hotel. Trump is said to have made the remarks -- which he has denied but which a US Senator who was present confirmed -- at a meeting with legislators, setting off a firestorm of criticism when they became public. "NOT A DC RESIDENT? NEED A PLACE TO STAY? TRY OUR SH*THOLE. THIS PLACE IS A SH*THOLE," read successive messages projected over the entrance of the Trump International Hotel in central Washington, according to a video posted on social media. An activist projected an expletive President Trump used to describe other countries onto his hotel in DC. https://t.co/Y9zRq9mSol Twitter Moments (@TwitterMoments) January 14, 2018 A flood of grinning feces emojis then stream out of the hotel's entrance as "SH*THOLE" appears in larger text above it. Another clip shows the word "SH*THOLE" over the entrance along with an arrow pointing to the door. The videos were posted on the Twitter account of Robin Bell, who has staged other projection protests and been likened to a "hit-and-run editorial writer" by The Washington Post. The alleged expletive emerged out of a Thursday meeting between Trump and legislators. The topic? Immigration reform. After lawmakers raised the issue of protections for immigrants from African nations, Haiti and El Salvador, the president reportedly demanded to know why the United States should accept immigrants from "sh*thole countries," rather than -- for instance -- wealthy and overwhelmingly white Norway. Trump on Friday tweeted a convoluted denial about the comments, which were reported by The Washington Post and The New York Times. But Democratic Senator Dick Durbin said Trump had specifically asked, "Do we need more Haitians?" before launching into a diatribe about African immigration. Trump then "said things which were hate-filled, vile and racist," Durbin said, adding that "sh*thole" was "the exact word used by the president, not just once but repeatedly." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Kaouther Larbi (Agence France-Presse) Tunis, Tunisia Sun, January 14, 2018 12:15 1331 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c111cdf 2 World Tunisia,protest,reform-era Free Tunisia's government on Saturday announced an increase in aid to the needy and improved health care as part of social reforms following a week of unrest triggered by austerity measures. Social Affairs Minister Mohamed Trabelsi told reporters that monthly aid to needy families would rise from 150 dinars (50 euros) to between 180 and 210 dinars (60 and 70 euros). He said reforms which have been in the pipeline for several months would guarantee medical care for all Tunisians, without elaborating, and also provide housing to disadvantaged families. The announcement came after President Beji Caid Essebsi consulted with political parties, unions and employers. The North African country has been shaken by a wave of protests over poverty and unemployment during which hundreds of people were arrested before the unrest tapered off. "It's a very advanced legal project, which was submitted to parliament and will be discussed over the next week," said a government source who requested anonymity. At the opening of his consultations, Essebsi accused the foreign press of "amplifying" the social unrest and damaging the country's image in its coverage of protests. The president said he would visit a disadvantaged neighbourhood of Tunis that had been the scene of street protests. Tunisia, whose economy has been hit by a collapse in tourism revenues following a wave of jihadist attacks in 2015, has secured a 2.4-billion-euro ($2.9-billion) IMF loan in return for a reduction in its budget deficit and financial reforms. The two-hour crisis talks at the presidential palace brought together Essebsi, representatives of political parties, the powerful UGTT trade union and the UTICA employers' federation. "We discussed the general situation in the country and the reforms, especially socio-economic, that must be adopted to overcome the current problems," UTICA head Wided Bouchamaoui told reporters. Proposals were raised "to pull out of this tension" without scrapping a contested 2018 budget, said Rached Ghannouchi, head of the Islamist movement Ennahda in Tunisia's ruling coalition, without elaborating. UTICA and UGTT shared the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize for their work during Tunisia's transition towards democracy after the revolution. The demonstrations broke out ahead of Sunday's seventh anniversary of the toppling of veteran dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in a revolt that sparked uprisings across the Arab region. The trigger for the protests on January 7 was the budget imposing tax hikes after a year of rising prices. A man in his 40s died in unrest on Monday night in the northern town of Tebourba, though police have insisted they did not kill him. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Washington, United States Sun, January 14, 2018 11:25 1331 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c10ff68 2 World social-media,White-House,trump Free The White House on Saturday denied and corrected a quote attributed to President Donald Trump that suggested he had good contacts with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. "I probably have a very good relationship with Kim Jong-Un," Trump was quoted as telling The Wall Street Journal in an interview on Thursday, refusing to confirm whether the two had spoken. "I have relationships with people. I think you people are surprised." But Press Secretary Sarah Sanders insisted -- in a Twitter meme -- that Trump was misquoted. "President Trump said, I'D probably have a very good relationship with Kim Jong Un of North Korea. I'D -- I'D -- I'D. NOT I!" the message read, with "I'D" in red ink, under a red banner reading "FAKE NEWS." Mockingly mimicking the newspaper's front page, it then reads "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL -- FAKE NEWS IS AT IT AGAIN! -- FALSELY QUOTING PRESIDENT TRUMP." Washington and Pyongyang are in a standoff over North Korea's missile and nuclear programs, which could be used to target the United States and its allies. Trump has repeatedly insulted the North Korean leader, describing him as mad and a "rocket man." Asked if he had spoken to Kim, Trump said "I don't want to comment on it. I'm not saying I have or haven't. I just don't want to comment." Trump suggested his variable position on individuals was part of a broader strategy. But it was not clear how his remarks fit with his self-described policy of "maximum pressure" on Pyongyang. Next week, the United States and Canada are to host a meeting on the nuclear standoff with North Korea in Vancouver, bringing together friendly powers from around the world. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, January 15 2018 Jakarta Deputy Governor Sandiaga Uno has expressed commitment to patterning the Thousand Islands after the Maldives as part of an effort to develop the regency into an international tourist destination. We want to have two to three world-class resorts in the Thousand Islands. Its not impossible to imagine the place will turn into something like the Maldives in the next five years, Sandiaga said at Public Service Mall in Kuningan, South Jakarta, on Friday. In a bid to realize the plan, Sandiaga said he would spend one day every month working in the regency to ascertain any problems hindering growth in the area. Sandiaga said he wanted to revitalize infrastructure facilities on Panjang Island and improve the water supply in the regency. The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry would further work to improve the maritime and fishing industry in the ... National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia announced Sunday it will open a direct flight from Makassar, South Sulawesi, to Palembang, South Sumatra, starting Jan. 17. The airline's marketing and information technology director, Nina Sulistyowati, said in a press release the move was part of Garuda Indonesia's strategic plan to expand its market and develop the domestic network, especially since Makassar and Palembang serve as key economic hubs. "Hopefully this service will also boost tourism in Indonesia, which is part of our commitment to continue to support the government's program of attracting 20 million tourists in 2019," said Nina. Read also: Garuda Indonesia to offer new routes from Bali to Zhengzhou, Xi'an The flight will be available four times a week every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday using the Bombardier CRJ 1000 aircraft, which can accommodate 96 passengers. The flight from Makassar to Palembang is scheduled to depart at 5:55 p.m. and arrive at 7:35 p.m., while the flight from Palembang to Makassar will depart at 8:15 p.m. and arrive at 11:55 p.m. Garuda Indonesia has currently served a Medan-Makassar direct flight since December, also using the Bombardier CRJ 1000. (kes) hospital workers nursing home workers teachers all or most of the above let employers decide the vaccine should not be mandated anywhere Vote View Results Brad Millington, University of Bath Have you recently taken ownership of a shiny new activity tracking device? For many people, the essential fitness kit now includes gadgets designed not for sitting and staring at a screen, but for encouraging users to get up and move. And they even come with political recommendations. For the UK Government, apps like MapMyRun and Strava and wearable technologies made by Fitbit and Jawbone are the future. According to one official document : [They] will define the world of sport and physical activity in the coming decade. But health and fitness technologies also have a long history. At the beginning of the 20th century, physical activity was seen by some as a bulwark against the ills of modernisation, such as the increasingly sedentary nature of work. As the American educator Dudley Sargent put it in his 1906 book Physical Education A large portion of the population never use half their faculties, and if they pursue the same employment for a term of years they are apt to acquire defects of structure, if not of constitution and character, that are transmitted to the next generation. Physical activity as a leisure pursuit became highly significant. Mechanical apparatus such as wall-attachable weight-pulley devices were designed to guard against such defects of structure and of character, too. In other words, the point was to bolster the body and mind. According to some, this would ensure the well-being of the population. These were not just devices for men. The 1904 book Physical Culture for Women, authored by the world champion woman bag-puncher Belle Gordon, featured an advertisement for the Fox Exerciser weight-pulley machine. As a resistance training device, the Fox Exerciser was similar to exercise equipment promoted by other proponents of physical culture, such as famous strongman Eugen Sandow Nearly a century later, another movement was afoot: the fitness boom of the 1970s and 1980s. At this point, electronic technology became especially important in combating the sedentary nature of modern living. Electronic technology meant communication devices like the VCR (videocassette recorder). Actress Jane Fondas exercise videos modelled what an ideal body looked like and how it might be attained . And they sold in their millions. Meanwhile, devices such as electronic treadmills and exercise bikes became staples in fitness gyms, and were also widely available as home equipment. In its July 1989 edition, outdoors magazine Field and Stream highlighted the merits of these electronic devices, claiming they were smoother and quieter, more convenient to use than most mechanical systems, and provide a workout customised to your fitness level. The future of fitness Today, digital and wearable health and fitness technologies are seamlessly integrated into our everyday lives. Your smartphone itself is a fitness tracking device . So what makes our present day technologies unique? For one thing, their personalisation. The health and fitness entrepreneurs of the early 1900s spoke to the masses, but while the treadmills of the 1970s and 1980s marked an important step towards customisation, todays wearable devices and health and fitness apps are deeply personal. They track and monitor seemingly everything, from what we eat, to how we sleep, to how often we move, to the composition of our bodies. Then theres portability. In the late 1800s, the American orator, preacher, and educator Charles Wesley Emerson lamented that while exercise equipment such as dumb bells had value , they hindered mobility: We cannot carry gymnasiums about with us. Even near the end of the 20th century, health and fitness practices were largely confined to the gymnasium and the home. Todays technologies are for anywhere and anytime. They travel with us wherever we go . Technology facilitates, rather than hinders, mobility. A final factor is commercialisation that is, beyond the simple selling of Fox Exercisers and Jane Fonda workout videos. Whereas in the past it was just the technologies themselves that were sold for profit, today, so is our data. A study by the US Federal Trade Commission found that 12 health and fitness apps shared user data with 76 third parties, advertisers among them. Or, as a Wall Street Journal report bluntly put it : Your apps are watching you. So where next? We should expect the health and fitness technologies of the future to be even more personalised in assessing our bodies and daily habits. We should also expect them to be further integrated into our daily lives, to the point where their presence is undetectable. And we should expect technologies to be more sophisticated than ever in producing data from which value can be extracted (such as helping companies know consumer habits and preferences). For the UK government, the future of health and fitness technology is cause for optimism. But ever more personalisation should not overshadow what we know about the social determinants of health , meaning the wider conditions in which people are born, grow, live and work. The combination of ever more intimate data and the profit motive to mine these data is also cause for concern when it comes to The combination of ever more intimate data and the profit motive to mine these data is also cause for concern when it comes to privacy and security . So while trackers might make us feel like we have more control and a more personal relationship with fitness, a degree of scepticism would be healthy. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. As COVID-19 cases increase, hospitals handle the patient load The vast majority of patients admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 have not been vaccinated. As cases increase, so area hospitalizations. THE NEW GREAT GAME Now I shall go far and far into the... Of Miles and Me is Nipun Nayyars photo exhibition that is currently underway at Mumbais Jehangir Art Gallery. Nayyar calls it a photo travelogue which is in its second edition for which he has travelled extensively. Whether it is random stays in villages in Himachal Pradesh, Dominican Republic or Tasmania, the colours, sights and pregnant sounds all seem to come alive with every photograph. Nayyar, a travel photographer, focuses mainly on landscapes, portraiture and street photography. Using a Cannon 5D Mark III and 28 mm 1.8 lens, he does a fabulous job capturing numerous moments as well as emotions. Whether it is the innocence of childhood that you want to escape into or burgeoning youth which you dont wish would slip away or old age in the form of gnarled hands and wrinkled faces, Nayyars work comes from a kindhearted place and truly captivates. Nayyar, who finds portraits interesting, says that he holds his camera really close to peoples faces while taking his pictures. I do portraits really close and it can be intimidating for people. Shooting portraits is very dynamic, he says. Living proof of it is a beautiful woman from Himachal Pradesh he has managed to capture through his lens in all her old-age regal glory. There is also another photograph taken during his journey from Lahore to Karachi which is of the first namaz (prayer) of Ramzan. Nayyar, an Indian, travelling from the US to Pakistan, on a train, says that while he didnt want to intrude, he is quite proud of it. Thats a unique photograph within my portfolio as well. It was an unfamiliar setting and there was an unknown sort of fear, it was awkward but as an experience, it was wonderful. The challenge was creating the distance of approximately three and a half meters but it was spontaneous, he says. Nayyars exhibition has landscapes too and they are so gorgeous that you will feel that theyre going to be snapped up by Apple for their next batch of screenshots. Each photograph is so nuanced that you can actually count the number of protruding peaks on the mountains or count the bubbles in the waves of the ocean that he shoots. Then there are those pictures which he shoots that have an almost mystical and dream-like quality to them, half hidden either by a mist or fog and they sure are bound to enhance any living space. There are several landscapes which have also been shot in a lot of snow and Nayyar manages to captures the snows sheen supremely well. Among his finest work is squares and this series is all about symmetry and geometry. He says that he loves the light there. I figured out what neighbourhoods within New York have a particular light in summers, have a particular light in winters, from 8 am -10 am in the morning and from 4 pm -6 pm in the evening. Then, everyday, I would go there, walk around and shoot and thats how it happened. Within street photography, Nayyar tries for a minimalistic aspect. There is a design sensibility which is both visually and conceptually minimalistic along with an aspect of being alone in the visual. I try to capture just one person, and try and keep it uncluttered, he says. However, that can be challenging in India and New York, because here street photography comes out with many people on the streets. But thats the process that I enjoy when I am with my camera, as a photographer; the patience of waiting for that particular person who would suit that moment of the frame, the light and everything. Nayyar, who shot the photographs over a period of four years visiting eight countries, 26 states in the US of which 15 states he visited solo, is very picky with his prints and admits that he wasnt too happy with either matt or glossy paper until he saw the magic of canvas and how it transformed pictures. He prefers his snow pictures on gloss because the white aspect shines, he says. Nayyar, like most artists, fights a battle between the artistic side and the commercial side inside of him, and he often has a tough time deciding what size the photographs are going to be. While most of it is about the artistic eye, there are some for which he says, there are no particular rules, it just speaks to you and it says, Id look good if I am big. But then theres also the business side of it. From past exhibitions and peoples logic, I feel I have come up with a concept that if someone is to put up a frame in their office or in their living room, they usually go for landscapes or abstracts. And if Im going for a landscape, the bigger it is the better. I can customise the sizes of portraits, if art galleries are interested in buying. I usually go for five editions for the bigger ones, for the smaller ones I go for ten, he says. Nayyar will be in Delhi, next month, so all those who want to catch the magic of his photography, dont miss out on your chance to do so there. Hospital wards on Merseyside are a long way from the soulless London offices where bankers and politicians have this week been deciding the fate of one of Britains biggest construction groups. But what happens to Carillion is crucial to the people of Liverpool, where the crisis-ridden firm is building the new 335 million Royal Liverpool Hospital with its 18 operating theatres, 646 in-patient bedrooms and 23 wards. It is ten months behind schedule and Aidan Kehoe, head of the local NHS trust, has no idea when if ever Carillion will complete the building. The Royal Liverpool Hospital is ten months behind schedule with no completion date in sight (stock image) For the firm is itself on the critical list, at risk of suffocating under the weight of its debts. It is desperately trying to hammer out a rescue deal with lenders. And, given the importance of some of its projects, including hospitals and other vital infrastructure, the Government may need to administer life support. 'If Carillion fails it will incapacitate the nervous system of the country as its involved in so many projects, says City expert Justin Urquhart Stewart, of Seven Investment Management. We cannot afford for it to fail. Today, Whitehall officials are holding a last-ditch rescue summit to try to save the firm, and protect its projects. If it does fail, the repercussions will not only be felt in the NHS. The new 335 million Royal Liverpool Hospital, pictured, with its 18 operating theatres, 646 in-patient bedrooms and 23 wards remains uncompleted Carillion is involved in building roads, the HS2 rail line and housing, as well as catering for the military and maintaining prisons. In all, the Wolverhampton-based group receives more than 1 billion of taxpayers money each year. So critical is the firm that former Business Secretary Vince Cable has accused the Government of feeding it contracts to keep it going, because it is too big to fail. If the Government was trying to throw a safety net under Carillion, it didnt work. Accountancy giant EY is this weekend on standby for an administration. And Oliver Dowden, parliamentary secretary at the Cabinet Office, confirmed the Government has contingency plans. Rescue measures include taking some of Carillions loss-making contracts back into public sector hands, or re-tendering them to rivals. The Government could also offer guarantees to lenders or, as a last resort, give Carillion emergency cash. Carillion, which has 900 million of net debt and a 587 million black hole in its pension fund, was brought to its knees under former chief executive Richard Howson. Once worth 2 billion, its stock market value is now 61 million, after it grossly overestimated the value of a string of major contracts. IN THE MONEY: Ex-Carillion chief executive Richard Howson, pictured, is still being paid despite the firm's 900m debt FAT CAT 1 Acting chief executive Keith Cochrane is scrabbling to find 300 million by the end of the month to avoid breaching terms of debts with lenders, including RBS, Barclays, HSBC and Santander UK. If that werent bad enough, Carillion is being investigated by City watchdog the Financial Conduct Authority over allegedly misleading statements to the stock market. Yet since becoming chief executive at the start of 2012, Howson, 49, who lives in a 2 million luxury gated home near Skipton, North Yorkshire, has received total pay and bonuses of 6 million. As late as 2016, when the clouds were darkening over the firm, he earned 1.51 million, including a 245,000 bonus in cash and shares and a 231,000 pension contribution. Howson stepped down as chief executive in July last year, but continued to serve in a senior position as chief operating officer. Initially, he intended to carry on in that role for a year, but finally quit in September 2017. He is still being paid his 660,000 base salary until his notice period expires in nine months time, plus 28,000 worth of perks. Leading shareholders are understood to have called on the firm to claw back some of Howsons bonus payments. Coincidentally or not, Carillion recently changed the wording of its pay policy so bosses bonuses are protected in circumstances of corporate failure. While Kehoe says the new Royal, being built next to the existing hospital, will be completed by another contractor if Carillion goes bust, Rehana Azam, national secretary of the GMB union, says: 'Handing Carillion bosses a blank bailout cheque is completely unacceptable. They should not be rewarded for failure with public money. Doctors and patients in Liverpool, waiting for their long-promised hospital, may echo that sentiment. FAT CAT 2: HSBC head set for 2 million bonus because bank didnt break the law HSBC chief executive Stuart Gulliver is on course to receive a 2 million bonus for staying on the right side of the law in the US. Gulliver, who is standing down in February, is in line for the payout due to the expiry of a Deferred Prosecution Agreement. Under the DPA, the lender was allowed to keep its licence in the US provided its behaviour supervised by an independent monitor stayed within the rules. FAREWELL: HSBC Boss Stuart Gulliver, pictured, quits next month and is on course to receive a 2 million bonus HSBC paid $1.9 billion in 2012 to settle allegations it had helped Mexican drug cartels launder money and that it had breached sanctions on Iran. To avoid a criminal record in the US it agreed to the five-year deal. Any more alleged criminal misbehaviour could have seen the DPA extended, or dropped in favour of criminal charges for the original offence. The DPA concluded in December, meaning Gulliver will be able to get his hands on 1.2 million awarded to him in 2012 but held over until the DPA ended. The lifting of the DPA should also net Gulliver 25 per cent of a 2017 long-term incentive plan worth up to 4 million. An HSBC spokesman said: No decision on 2017 pay awards has been made yet. FAT CAT 3: IoD under fire for saying Persimmon chief within his rights over 130m pay STORM: Jeff Fairburn, pictured, said bonus was a private matter The head of an influential business group faced criticism last night for defending Persimmon boss Jeff Fairburns 130 million bonus. The construction chief has been beset by calls to give part of the payout to charity. Critics argue the bonus, which is linked to Persimmons share price, has been boosted by the taxpayer-funded Help to Buy home loan scheme. But Stephen Martin, head of the Institute of Directors, said Fairburn was within his rights to take the bonus. Martin, who ran construction firm Clugston, added: After all, the scheme was set by the board and approved by shareholders. Fairburn responded to questions on his bonus for the first time last week, but only to say it was a private matter. Catherine Howarth, chief executive of ShareAction, said: This is the kind of thing that makes people think the senior echelons of British business are really only out for themselves. Its of huge public interest and its of interest to groups like the IoD. Stefan Stern, director of the High Pay Centre, called Martins stance odd compared to the more critical view of previous IoD chief Simon Walker on pay, who said in 2016: At this point the need for change is a pragmatic one, even more than a moral one. GKN boss Nigel Stein, pictured, speaking at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders press conference in London The former boss of GKN stands to make 9 million from a takeover of the car and plane parts manufacturer. Nigel Stein who left the FTSE 100 company last month after more than five years in charge could receive the windfall from his shares after turnaround specialist Melrose Industries made a 7 billion bid for the business. GKNs shares jumped 26 per cent on Friday following the approach. They had previously been slowly recovering from a shock profit warning in October which Stein said had left him feeling mugged. GKN, which traces its roots back to 1759, rejected the bid which it described as opportunistic because the terms fundamentally undervalue the business. But Melrose, a London-listed firm with a reputation for turning around ailing industrial businesses, is expected to push ahead with a hostile bid. In response, GKN laid out plans to split its automotive business, which makes driveshafts for Ford and Volkswagen cars, and its aerospace arm, which makes parts for Boeing. Investors have long been calling for their separation. Wanted: GKN makes parts for fighter jets, including the F-35, pictured, as well as Audi and BMW cars, Airbus planes, the Boeing 737 and Black Hawk helicopters Melroses offer is partly in cash but mainly in shares. It means Stein would cash in 1.7 million from a sale at the amount offered and would be sitting on another 7 million in shares in the merged company. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable said he would ask Business Secretary Greg Clark to intervene, arguing that the takeover would be a massive blow to our industrial strategy. ALERT: Justice Secretary David Gauke, pictured, to look into the RBS Shareholders Action Group The Government is being urged to probe a controversial group that represented thousands of small investors in Royal Bank of Scotland. Bob Neill, chair of Parliaments Justice Select Committee, has asked Justice Secretary David Gauke to look into the RBS Shareholders Action Group, following an investigation by The Mail on Sunday. Mr Neill wants to ensure that such action groups are regulated in the future. This could pave the way for criminal investigations if serious wrongdoing is suspected. RBS Shareholders Action Group was a company set up to win compensation for investors who claim they were hoodwinked into buying shares in the bank at the height of the financial crisis in 2008. Last year, Manx Capital an investment vehicle of tycoon Trevor Hemmings, who lost money on his shares took control of the claim from RBS Shareholders Action Group. The action group was co-founded in 2009 by Irish businessman Gerard Walsh, described as a fraudster by Jersey Royal Court in 2014. Last June, the investors won a 200 million payout from RBS. But they are still awaiting their money. Investors had been told to expect around 100 million. But Signature Litigation the lawyers acting for investors and instructed by Manx Capital now say they do not know how much will be left after costs. In letters to investors, seen by The Mail on Sunday, Signature blames the action group, and complications resulting from the way it was run. Its concerns include 90 million phantom RBS shares that appear not to exist and a 2015 deal by the action group to pay 20 million to undisclosed beneficiaries via a company called Evalusafety Ltd. Directors of the action group deny any responsibility for phantom shares or any complications. Experts say action groups should be regulated, either by the Ministry of Justices Claims Management Regulator, or by the Financial Conduct Authority. RBS Shareholders Action Group was a company set up to win compensation for investors who claim they were hoodwinked into buying shares in the bank at the height of the financial crisis in 2008 Mr Neill said: The Mail on Sundays story raises an important point about the oversight of groups such as this. 'I have written to the Justice Secretary asking him to examine this case and to consider bringing this and similar groups within a proper regulatory framework. 'It cant be right that people who have lost out in cases like this have no regulatory protection. The rules should be tightened up. David Golten, of law firm Wedlake Bell, said: The solicitors acting in the case are tightly regulated, as is the bank. It is an anomaly that the action group isnt. Lawyers for the action group said they were unaware of Mr Neills concerns. They added: 'The action group denies any allegations of impropriety or otherwise in the way it was run. Mr Walsh denies any wrongdoing. Sources close to him say that he was neither a witness nor a defendant in the Jersey case and he did not have an opportunity to contest the findings. The Government should tighten rules on foreign takeovers to avoid the country being held to ransom, according to an influential business group. Ministers should look at the hardline approach of Australia on foreign buyouts and control of critical infrastructure by countries such as China according to the EEF, which represents 5,000 UK firms. The call follows The Mail on Sundays revelation last week that Chinese investors had quietly seized control of Global Switch, a London company that stores large amounts of sensitive data. Chinese investors have seized control of Global Switch, pictured, a London data storage company Citing concerns over security risks, the EEF cautioned that this leaves the UK more open to retaliation or being held to ransom, especially given the growing geopolitical tension seen over the past few years. It added that both Australia and the US have significantly tightened their regimes in light of increased Chinese investment. A toxic mix of bank branch and cash machine closures could soon create cashless deserts across swathes of the country. This warning, from consumer group Which?, comes as the major high street banks, led by Lloyds and Royal Bank of Scotland, continue to close branches in droves. Already 300 branches are earmarked for the chop this year, following nearly 900 closures last year one in ten of the total network. OUT ON A LIMB: Duncan Passmore, pictured, teaches tai chi and is incresaing frustrated with banks closing On top, a change in the way cash machine operators are remunerated could see thousands of ATMs axed as they become unprofitable to run, leaving some communities especially rural ones cashless. A decision on the new charges ATM suppliers can levy on rival banks whose customers use their machines is imminent. Businessman Duncan Passmore, pictured, suffered major inconvenience when his bank closed Such a frightening withdrawal of banking facilities from the high street has caused hundreds of readers to contact The Mail on Sunday in recent weeks to complain about the loss or imminent closure of their local branch. This followed our interview last month with Jane Howard, head of retail banking at Royal Bank of Scotland, in the wake of her controversial decision to order the axing of 259 branches across both its RBS and NatWest brands. She said the closures were driven primarily by a desire among customers to bank online. But readers accuse Royal Bank of Scotland and other mainstream banks of pandering to dividend hungry shareholders rather than the needs of customers and forcing people to bank online, even when broadband coverage is at best patchy. They also believe the banks are helping kill the high street and ignoring the banking needs of the elderly and small businesses who prefer or need to use a branch. For the past two decades, The Mail on Sunday, alone among national newspapers, has highlighted the carnage caused within communities by bank branch closures. In April 2000, we exclusively reported on Barclays alarming decision to close 172 branches on one single day. We have also long campaigned for shared branches as an alternative to banks withdrawing en masse from communities. The idea has been continually pushed away on competition grounds. The latest wave of closures paints a picture of a future where communities become cashless deserts. Gareth Shaw, a money expert at Which?, says: There is no doubt the amount of customer footfall at bank branches has shrunk. But there are still millions of people who are reliant on cash rather than plastic and rely on their local bank branch. He says those hardest hit by the march towards cashless deserts include small businesses which are cash generative and cannot afford to move to a card payment-only world as well as people who do not want to engage with online banking, either because they do not trust it or because the internet reception where they live is poor. One businessman increasingly frustrated by the cost-cutting focus of the banks is 58-year-old Duncan Passmore. After a successful career in international banking, he now teaches tai chi and qi gong in Rutland and Leicestershire. But his bank NatWest is making life hard for him and his company Tai Chi Rutland. The community of Bingham, Nottinghamshire, will be bankless when its Lloyds, pictured, closes in May. Its NatWest branch shut last year He says: When NatWest closed my local Oakham branch in the spring of last year, it was a major inconvenience. I run a business where customers pay by cash or cheque and I need to bank this money on a regular basis. It has meant me travelling 11 miles to Stamford to do my banking. FURIOUS: Frances Latty, pictured, is having her branch of Lloyds close 'Now NatWest has said it is shutting that branch in May, which means I am going to have to travel even further to Leicester, Melton Mowbray or Peterborough to bank my takings. Although NatWest has suggested he use his local post office, he says the queues in the Oakham branch are awful. It also takes longer for his takings to be credited to his account. He adds: The banks are treating us like pariahs. They are creating a real problem, a social one. Frances Latty is furious that her Lloyds branch in Bingham, Nottinghamshire, is due to close in May. When it goes it will leave the community bankless the NatWest branch shut last year. A former prison service administrator, 72-year-old Frances told The Mail on Sunday: I am furious. The bank tells me to do my banking online but with todays ever-increasing cyber-crime, I would not trust it as far as I could throw it. Royal Bank of Scotland says branch usage countrywide has fallen 40 per cent since 2014. Lloyds says its decision to close branches is based on customer usage. The most convenient aspect of having Temporary Protective Status for Elsa Martinez was being able to obtain a drivers license. Martinez arrived in the U.S. as an undocumented immigrant at the age of 18 in 1989, fleeing the civil war in El Salvador. In 2001 she received Temporary Protective Status, or TPS, a program created by Congress in 1990 that allows individuals from countries with unstable conditions such as war or environmental disasters to reside in the U.S. legally, and temporarily. TPS recipients are able to work, drive and in some cases even travel; however, they do not receive federal welfare benefits. With a drivers license and car, Martinez who lives in Hudson is able to provide financial support for herself and her five children as a self-employed housekeeper, driving herself to her clients homes. Plus, the car is convenient for the familys shopping and personal use. (TPS) also gave her power in not being afraid, said Gloria Martinez, Elsas 27-year-old daughter and co-founder of the Columbia County Sanctuary Movement. She was given a sense of security with her documentation. That sense of security has evaporated after an announcement last week from Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen to terminate TPS for immigrants from El Salvador. TPS status had been most recently based on a natural disaster that happened in the Central American country 16 years ago. Based on careful consideration of available information, including recommendations received as part of an inter-agency consultation process, the Secretary determined that the original conditions caused by the 2001 earthquakes no longer exist, the Department of Homeland Security stated in a press release Monday. But the decision didnt come as a surprise to many Salvadorans, as it was preceded with the termination of TPS for immigrants from Sudan in September, and Nicaragua and Haiti in November. We knew that it was coming our way, said Nelson Flores, a Salvadoran and vice president of the Albany Latin Festival Association. His downstate cousin has TPS. Just from the rhetoric from (President Donald) Trumps campaign, and all the changes he started making with DACA, everybody suspected that it would trickle down the line. Congress currently is wrestling with whether, or how, to reinstate Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, which allowed children brought to the U.S. not of their own free will to stay in the country. Despite seeing it coming, Salvadorans still feel disappointment and fear. You feel let down in a way, because theres a point where you feel maybe you can stay and change your status, Flores said. Its a lot of anxiety, Gloria said. I dont have to worry about myself, but I have family and community members that are facing these struggles and it really makes me frustrated. Anu Joshi, immigration policy director of the New York Immigration Coalition, said its not only the Salvadoran community that is going to be affected by this decision, but the U.S. in general particularly New York. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Joshi said that of the nearly 200,000 Salvadorans living in the U.S. under TPS, 16,500 live in New York (many on Long Island), 4,100 of those in New York have mortgages, 13,500 are workers, and over 15,000 U.S. citizen children have at least one Salvadoran TPS recipient parent. When you think about the impact this decision will have on New York state and local economy, but also on New York families its pretty unconscionable what the administration has done, Joshi said. Whats becoming increasingly clear is these decisions were not based on the statutes, which require a careful assessment of country conditions, but rather on this administrations determination to pursue an extremist anti-immigration agenda. Theres still some hope for Salvadorans, though, as well as other TPS recipients whose programs were terminated. If youre somebody whos on TPS right now and lucky enough to have a lawyer you can talk to, you should be talking to them about other statuses you can apply for, said Andrew Ayers, professor and director at Albany Law School. But TPS is one of the less desirable forms of status, so if somebody had another basis my guess is they already would have been applying for it. The Martinezes are working with a lawyer on other options. Were in limbo, Gloria said. My mom always talked about how she would love to go back to visit her country, and this is not the way she imagined going back at all. Albany Some of the Capital Region's most advanced technology employers would suffer disproportionately from a tightening of immigration rules, local officials say. And that impact could slow or stall growth here as the region's major economic sectors education, health care and technology cope with a loss of talent. "It not only (affects) our ability to be at the forefront of innovation, it also impacts our ability to have a diverse workforce in our region," said Andrew Kennedy, CEO of the Albany-based Center for Economic Growth, a private economic development organization. The new administration in Washington is seeking to tighten immigration standards. Bloomberg News reported in November that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services was challenging H-1B visa applications more frequently, asking for additional paperwork. The H-1B visa allows highly educated foreign citizens to fill science, engineering, technology and mathematics positions in the U.S. The number of challenges was up 44 percent in 2017 from a year earlier, Bloomberg reported, citing USCIS figures. H-1B visas are valid for three years and can be extended to a maximum of six years, according to the American Immigration Council. As long ago as 2012, research from the Brookings Institution found the region ranked 39th in overall demand for H-1B visas out of 106 metros and second among the state's metros behind New York City. If anything, it's likely that demand has increased as the region's technology sector continues to grow. One website, myvisajobs.com, charts Labor Condition Applications, required to get H-1B approval. It found 922 LCAs for GlobalFoundries positions at Malta, although it's not clear how many resulted in visas being granted. GlobalFoundries didn't respond to a request for comment. The data also showed 103 LCAs at General Electric's Global Research Center in Niskayuna. While the company wouldn't say how many employees have H-1B status, spokesman Todd Alhart said the figure was much smaller than 103. "GE uses the H-1B program as it is intended to selectively hire the best and brightest engineers and scientists, and employ the best global talent in the U.S.," Alhart said. The University at Albany, which has 47 employees with H-1B status, also said the program helped it "secure highly skilled employees. "It enables us to work with international professionals that possess specialized expertise and ensures the most qualified candidates are being hired," spokesman Mike Nolan said. "We are closely monitoring potential alterations to the program." H-1B visas are capped at 65,000 a year, with another 20,000 reserved for graduate degree holders from U.S. universities. Local officials have decried the loss of talent as graduates of such schools as Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the University at Albany are unable to remain here for lack of a visa. "The entrepreneurs who have been successful in this region many of them have come through our college and university systems," Kennedy said. "You miss that opportunity" when they can't stay. "New York state is doing a lot as a state to compete effectively for both startup companies and human capital," said Noa Simons, executive director of the Upstate Capital Association of New York. "We're attracting anywhere from 15 to 30 new companies every year with these programs." But, "if you make it more challenging to stay ... you're creating potential barriers for successful companies." Simons mentioned efforts to create an "entrepreneurial visa" program, a startup visa that had bipartisan support and was to have gone into effect July 17, according to Quartz, an online news site. But the U.S. Department of Homeland Security delayed the program until March to "make sure the policy is consistent with President Donald Trump's executive order calling for increased immigration enforcement," Quartz reported. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Unlike the H-1B, which requires a sponsoring employer, the startup visa would go directly to the entrepreneur. Such a visa would "give the investor confidence that the person is going to be around to run" the company, Simons said. A court overruled DHS, and USCIS said it has begun accepting applications. The Upstate Capital Association of New York plans a program on immigrant entrepreneurship Feb. 7 at Cornell University. Details are available at upstatecapital.org. Uncertainty over the H-1B visa program predates the Trump administration. But its move to tighten regulations has only increased the uncertainty, with the outlook changing almost daily. "Even before the current administration was in office, we were getting concerns from area businesses" about the program, said Mark Eagan, CEO of the Capital Region Chamber of Commerce. "We're hearing about the need to have true immigration reform." It's not just technology employers facing visa challengers. Albany Symphony Orchestra holds "blind" auditions, with candidates seated behind a screen to perform. "The auditions are very competitive," said Anna Kuwabara, the symphony's executive director. One position, she said, may attract as many as 70 applicants from such schools as Juilliard and the New England Conservatory. It's only after they've chosen the most talented performer that they'll learn the person's identity, and occasionally, that the musician will need to secure a visa. The symphony has three musicians with visas, and each took a considerable amount of paperwork to secure. "It's a very real challenge and fear that your visa status isn't going to be extended," Kuwabara said. "The desire is to get the green card. They would love to stay" in the United States. eanderson@timesunion.com Pasadena, Calif. Do the intersecting lives of a fashion designer and the serial killer who murdered him add up to a political saga? Absolutely, says Ryan Murphy, the powerhouse executive producer of "The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story," season two of the FX showcase that debuted with 2016's Emmy-winning "The People v. O.J. Simpson." "It was a political murder," Murphy said, defending the striking use of "assassination" in the title of the 10-episode series that begins airing at 10 p.m. on Wednesday. The 1997 shooting by Andrew Cunanan of the groundbreaking Italian designer is enveloped in social issues that resonate today, Murphy and series stars Edgar Ramirez and Ricky Martin said. Cunanan ("Glee" star Darren Criss) was a "person who targeted people specifically to shame them and to out them, and to have a form of payback for a life that he felt he could not live," Murphy said during a Q&A with reporters. Ramirez, who plays the adult Versace, and Martin, who portrays his longtime partner, Antonio D'Amico, concurred in separate interviews with Murphy's assessment. Versace, who was 50 and reaching new heights of success when he was gunned down in front of his lavish Miami Beach estate, died because of prejudice, said Ramirez (who, with weight added and hair dyed and thinned for "Versace," is unrecognizable as the actor who appeared in "Zero Dark Thirty" and "Carlos"). Although Cunanan was on the FBI's most-wanted list and circulated openly in Miami Beach before Versace became his final victim in a cross-country rampage, he wasn't stopped because of his gay connections, Ramirez said. Cunanan, 27, fatally shot himself about a week after Versace's murder. "The underlying subject is homophobia and how homophobia killed him," Ramirez said. "That's something that comes up over and over when we look into the investigation. ... Cunanan was on the news every night, on the most-wanted list, and for some reason all the law-enforcement authorities couldn't get him." The California-born Cunanan, portrayed as a deeply disturbed con man, had cultivated relationships with wealthy older men and reportedly had been lovers or friends with two of the five men whose deaths are blamed on him. The other victims included a wealthy Chicago developer and a New Jersey cemetery caretaker. Illuminating anti-gay bias is important because the LGBTQ community still must fight it, Martin said. As a member of the community, the pop star-actor said, he feels compelled to use his fame to combat hate and discrimination. "If I don't use the power that that music gives or, in this case, a character like this gives me, I'd be allowing the crime to happen," Martin said. His friendships with Ramirez and Penelope Cruz, who plays Donatella Versace, were other inducements to join the series, as was its depiction of the Versace-D'Amico relationship. Their attachment was illuminated in a conversation Martin had with D'Amico, who in the show's opening scene is shown discovering Versace's body immediately after the shooting. "Ricky, my love for Gianni, our love, was open,'" Martin quoted D'Amico as saying. "And I've lost him and I've never been the same." The series unfolds back in time from the murder, finally detailing the journeys of Versace and Cunanan from humble roots to, respectively, fame and infamy. In a pivotal scene, Donatella confronts her brother about his intention to come out in the late 1980s. She argues the nearly unprecedented move could wreck their business empire, one built on Versace's talent for combining the glamour of couture with the sexiness and excitement of celebrity. Versace stands his ground, backed by D'Amico. Based on the book "Vulgar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, Gianni Versace, and the Largest Failed Manhunt in U.S. History" by journalist Maureen Orth, the drama has drawn fire from Versace's family. In a statement, it was dismissed as "a work of fiction" because family members didn't authorize the book or participate in the screenplay. The series' producers and the publisher of the 1999 book defended it. Orth's book is "a carefully reported and extensively sourced work of investigative journalism," Random House said in a statement, and FX Networks and Fox 21 Television Studios said they stand by Orth's "meticulous" reporting. While details of private conversations were unavailable for the dramatization, as with the O.J. Simpson series, the "Versace" screenplays by Tom Rob Smith are "very emotional and accurate at the same time," Murphy said. A scene with one victim, who is portrayed as begging for his life before Cunanan kills him, is based on the body's injuries, Smith said. "What was that conversation like? So you have these tiny points of truth, and you then try to connect the tissue between it. But I would never use the word 'embellishing' or 'making up.' It's trying to join those pinpoints," Smith said. Albany Gov. Andrew Cuomo has a reputation for making very frequent phone calls. But you wouldn't be able to tell from public records. During the first seven months of 2017, only 102 phone numbers dialed by Cuomo an average of one call every two days came up in a public records search. Those calls were listed in a state response to a Times Union open records request, which sought the phone numbers Cuomo dialed on any government-funded phone during that period. So if the governor's not personally calling people from government phones which would leave a public trail of his contacts how is he conducting state business? According to Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi, Cuomo's calls are transferred to him by staffers, who often call New York political figures at his request. "Like virtually every executive, the chief executive has aides place phone calls for him, but of course not every one of the aide's calls has the governor on it," Azzopardi said. "It's the same basic phone system that the last several administrations have used and I imagine phones worked the same exact way then as they do now." The records provided by Cuomo's office listed only two numbers he was making calls from, landlines in New York City and Albany. Cuomo has no publicly funded cellphone, according to Azzopardi. He does have a private one. "As has been previously reported, the governor does not have a taxpayer-funded smartphone, nor did any other governor going back at least to 2001, and I doubt one would have been issued prior to that," Azzopardi said. Asked if Cuomo used his private cellphone to conduct government business when staffers weren't around communications that would not produce public records Azzopardi said most calls happened in an office environment. The upshot is that there are few public records in any form indicating to whom Cuomo is speaking. In 2012, the Daily News reported that Cuomo refused to communicate with staff via email, and that if aides couldn't talk by phone or in person, they would use the BlackBerry PIN-to-PIN messaging system, which leaves no lasting trail because it bypasses email servers. Indeed, reporters' open records requests for Cuomo's emails in the past have turned up no results. "His primary mode of communication is talking on the phone, as has been widely reported for years," a then-spokesman for Cuomo told the Daily News in 2012. A directive issued in 2014 by the state Office of Information Technology Services stated that personal email accounts were not to be used for public business unless such use was "explicitly authorized." (Recent court filings show lobbyist Todd Howe, who has pleaded guilty to corruption charges, frequently emailed top Cuomo officials about government business on their personal email accounts; the court records don't show if they responded.) The ITS policy does not specifically discuss the use of private phones for public business. Robert Freeman, executive director of the Committee on Open Government, said the rationale behind the restriction on using personal email for government business would seem to apply to private phones as well. An ITS spokeswoman declined to comment on the question. But Azzopardi said conducting government business on private cellphones was allowed. Emails and phone calls are different, he said, because the former captures actual content of a conversation. Phone records only show phone numbers called and call durations. To the extent Cuomo has used his government phone to directly make calls, much of the activity appears to have been for personal business, according to his office. In response to the Times Union's records request, the governor's FOIL counsel blacked out nearly half of the 102 phone numbers Cuomo called. The counsel cited an exemption in the law that publicly disclosing the information would "constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy." Azzopardi said some of these were personal calls to family numbers Cuomo had memorized. The Cuomo calls that weren't blacked out often showed calls to newspapers, including The New York Times, the Daily News, Buffalo News and Newsday. Several sources told the Times Union that in order to reach Cuomo by phone, one frequent point of contact was Stephanie Benton, whose title is director of Governor's Offices. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. According to Benton's own phone records from the first three months of 2017 which were far more voluminous than Cuomo's she often called significant New York and national political players. Those included Mario Cilento, president of the New York AFL-CIO; Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers; and Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney. The records also show calls to Rhona Graff, a longtime assistant to President Donald Trump, who is known as his gatekeeper and a reliable person to get Trump himself on the phone. The calls were in the weeks ahead of Trump's inauguration. Other Cuomo aides said by sources to be able to quickly get the governor on the phone include Secretary to the Governor Melissa DeRosa and Executive Deputy Secretary Jill DesRosiers. Rob Barchiesi, a member of Cuomo's police protection detail from his days as attorney general through the 2016 governor's race, said he did not recall Cuomo speaking on the phone all that frequently. Often Cuomo and the handful of aides he needed to consult could fit in the same Suburban and talk on the way to meetings or events. Cuomo himself, however, has stated his affinity for making frequent phone calls. In 2010, when Cuomo was about to assume the governorship, The New York Times reported that he was known to make calls from 6 in the morning until 10 in the evening. Then-New York City Public Advocate Bill de Blasio told the paper that Cuomo had a "genetic attachment" to the phone. More Information Governor's calls by the numbers Records from Andrew Cuomo's office shows two phone numbers the governor uses. He has a private cellphone. Calls Date made 1/1/172 1/2/171 1/3/172 1/10/172 1/13/175 1/19/171 1/20/171 1/25/172 1/30/173 2/1/171 2/2/171 2/3/171 2/8/173 2/10/171 2/24/171 3/2/172 3/6/171 Calls Date made 3/8/1743/12/171 3/13/171 3/14/174 3/15/171 3/16/175 3/17/173 3/20/174 3/21/175 4/10/171 4/12/171 4/17/172 4/20/171 4/24/172 4/28/171 5/5/173 5/17/173 Calls Date made 5/18/175 5/19/172 5/22/171 5/23/175 5/31/172 6/5/173 6/8/171 6/9/175 6/13/171 6/15/171 6/22/171 6/26/171 6/28/171 6/29/171 Total102 See More Collapse Cuomo told the Times he liked to be able to engage directly with players in the New York political world at the relentless pace enabled by the phone. "I am not an e-mail person," he told the Times. "You don't get context, you don't get emotion and you don't get a connection." cbragg@timesunion.com 518-454-5303 @chrisbragg1 SCHENECTADY Residents in the historic Stockade neighborhood on the Mohawk River woke up Sunday to frozen streets after ice floes forced water over the river's banks Saturday night. The river usurped its banks, but then froze overnight as temperatures dropped leaving ice covering Riverside Park, Ingersoll Avenue and the area around Jumpin' Jacks in Scotia. Schenectady firefighters were carefully traversing the iced-over streets on foot Sunday morning, checking on residents. Most of the flooding seem concentrated between North Ferry Street and Ingersoll Avenue, which was closed because most of it was iced over. A Schenectady firefighter said most residences sustained no damage. But at least one home lost heat when ice broke through a basement window, causing minor flooding. On Ingersoll Avenue, Lauren Hagerty and Owen Harris, brought their Pomeranian, Sprinkles, out to the iced-over tennis court at Riverside Park. Hagerty ice-skated over the court, holding Sprinkles. Harris said Saturday night they were preparing to have guests over around 5:45 p.m. when he noticed water lapping over the banks of the Mohawk. He moved his car and told Hagerty to move hers as the water quickly filled the street. By the time she moved her car it was up to her knees, he said. It wouldnt start this morning. Eric Laugen said it was the worst winter flood hed seen in the 18 years he lived on Ingersoll Avenue. We got really lucky, he said. It couldve been a lot worse. The area has been a flooding concern for years. The state has repeatedly said that nature is to blame. But residents have argued that a century-old concrete dam at Lock 7 makes the flooding worse because it can't be raised when waters rise. A flood warning for east central Schenectady County is in effect until 9 p.m. Monday night. Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy said the situation was stable Sunday night. "There's a lot of ice in the river," he said. "It's more of an inconvenience than a problem." McCarthy said the city had scrapped off the ice of the streets, put down salt and sand and that officials would periodically monitor the situation. Ice jams in the Hoosic River could cause flooding in the Buskirk area. The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning until 11:45 p.m. Monday for south central Washington County and north central Rensselaer County because of the Hoosic. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. The area between Thurman and Warrensburg in Warren County is also under a flood warning until 10 a.m. Monday as ice is blocking the Hudson River there. The National Weather Service said Sunday that yards and basements were also flooded on Schonowee Avenue in the village of Scotia. But a check there by the Times Union showed no apparent signs of home damage Sunday afternoon. The concern overheard from firefighters at the scene is what will happen to the Stockade as temperatures warm into the work week and the Mohawk is still filled with ice jams. But the temperatures should remain below freezing at least until late this week, according to the National Weather Service. That should keep the encroaching ice in its place, for the time being. Temperatures will not crack the mid-30s until Friday. The coming weekend will then see temperatures warm into the 40s. Emergency management officials in the area spent Sunday surveying the ice along the regions waterways. Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple posted a photo to Instagram Sunday morning that showed that a sheriff's office drone was used to evaluate Hudson River ice underneath a bridge over in Warren County. Fifteen families were evacuated in Warren County, Apple said in his Instagram post. The state Office of Emergency Management later requested the drone to survey the ice jams along the Stockade and near Lock 7 on the Erie Canal, Apple said Sunday. Montecito, Calif. The death toll from the mudslides in a California coastal town rose to 19 on Saturday but a man who had also been on the list of missing persons was located alive, authorities said. The body of Morgan Christine Corey, 25, was found in mud and debris in Montecito, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said. Her 12-year-old sister, Sawyer, had been found dead earlier. "We ask that you keep this devastated family in your thoughts and prayers," Brown said. Another person who had been on the list of missing, 62-year-old Delbert Weltzin, was found alive and well, Brown said without elaborating. The two developments reduced the number of missing from seven to five. "While every hour it remains less likely that we will find anyone alive, there is always hope," the sheriff said. The army of searchers and recovery workers in Montecito swelled to more than 2,000 five days after a powerful storm swept in from the Pacific and dumped a deluge on mountain slopes above the coastal enclave that were burned bare by a huge wildfire in December. The backbreaking work went on in the summerlike weather. "We have to do whatever it takes," said Capt. Tom Henzgen, leader of a team from the Los Angeles Fire Department. Long-range forecasts gave the crews about a week before the next chance of rain and potential new mudslides although the precipitation was expected to be disorganized and light. Another system was possible two days later. Crews worked throughout the day Saturday to clear debris basins and officials said there was still a lot more work to be done. But Tom Fayram, the deputy director of the county's flood control district, said the crews were making great progress and he was confident that at least a base level of water would be able to pass through the creek channels. Much of the community of about 9,000 remained under mandatory evacuation orders, even unscathed areas, as crews both removed debris and worked to restore water, sanitation, power and gas. All warnings and orders for neighboring Summerland and Carpinteria were lifted. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Brown urged anyone in mandatory evacuation areas to leave immediately. "It is not a safe or convenient place to be right now," he said. Tanker trucks sucked muddy water from flooded sections of U.S. 101, the only direct major artery between Los Angeles and the Santa Barbara region. The California Department of Transportation abandoned an estimate of reopening the highway on Monday and said it was not known when the closure would be lifted. Amtrak, which began restoring rail service two days after the flood, was adding cars to trains because of heavy demand. Two boat companies that normally take tourists out to Channel Islands National Park and on whale-watching excursions were ferrying people between the Ventura and Santa Barbara harbors. Santa Barbara County said authorities were testing the ocean waters. Down the coast in Ventura County, environmental health officials warned that storm runoff can carry disease-causing bacteria and warned the public to avoid contact with ocean water until tests are reviewed next week. An early-morning emergency alert mistakenly warning of an incoming ballistic missile attack was dispatched to cellphones across Hawaii on Saturday, setting off widespread panic in a state that was already on edge because of escalating tensions between the United States and North Korea. The alert, sent by the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, was revoked nearly 40 minutes after it was issued, prompting confusion over why it was released and why it took so long to rescind. State officials and residents as well as tourists immediately expressed outrage. "What happened today was totally unacceptable," said Gov. David Y. Ige. "Many in our community were deeply affected by this. I am sorry for that pain and confusion that anyone might have experienced." Officials said the alert was the result of human error and not the work of hackers or a foreign government. The mistake occurred during a shift-change drill that takes place three times a day at the emergency command post, according to Richard Rapoza, an agency spokesman. "Someone clicked the wrong thing on the computer." State officials said the agency and the governor began posting notices on Facebook and Twitter announcing the mistake, but that a flaw in the alert system delayed sending out a cellphone correction. As a result, they said a "cancellation template" would be created to make it easier to fix mistaken alerts. A new procedure was instituted Saturday requiring two people to sign off before any such alert is sent. At no time, officials said, was there any indication that a nuclear attack had been launched on the United States. The Federal Communications Commission announced that it had begun "a full investigation into the FALSE missile alert in Hawaii." The alert went out at 8:10 a.m., lighting up phones of people still in bed, having coffee by the beach at a Waikiki resort, or up for an early surf. "BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL," it read. Hawaii has been on high emotional alert since President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, began exchanging nuclear threats. Estimates vary, but it would take a little more than half an hour for a missile launched from North Korea to reach Hawaii. State officials said that residents here would have as little as 12 minutes to find shelter once an alert was issued. Within moments of the first announcement, people flocked to shelters, crowding highways in scenes of terror and helplessness. Emergency sirens wailed in parts of the state, adding to the panic. In Washington, Lindsay Walters, a deputy press secretary, said that President Donald Trump had been informed of the events. "The president has been briefed on the state of Hawaii's emergency management exercise," she said. "This was purely a state exercise." Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii said the mistake was "totally inexcusable." "The whole state was terrified," he said. "There needs to be tough and quick accountability and a fixed process." While the cellphone alerting system is in state authorities' hands, the detection of missile launches is the responsibility of the U.S. Strategic Command and Northern Command. It was the military not Hawaiian officials that was the first to declare there was no evidence of a missile launch. The false alert was a stark reminder of what happens when the old realities of the nuclear age collide with the speed and the potential for error inherent in the internet age. The alert came at one of the worst possible moments when tension with North Korea has been at one of the highest points in decades, and when Kim's government has promised more missile tests and threatened an atmospheric nuclear test. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency has been holding "are you ready" drills. As a chain of islands, Hawaii is subject to all kinds of threats hurricanes, volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis but officials have made clear that none is more urgent now than the threat of an attack by North Korea, given how little time there would be between an alert and the detonation of a warhead. The fifth page of an emergency preparation pamphlet issued by the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency features a picture of a rocket lifting off: "Nuclear Threat Unlikely But Cannot Ignore." Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Vern T. Miyagi, the administrator of the agency, said that during the drill, an employee whom he did not identify mistakenly pushed a button on a computer screen to send out the alert, rather than one marked to test it. He said the employee answered "yes" when asked by the system if he was sure he wanted to send the message. Miyagi, going through a detailed timeline of the events at an afternoon news conference, said the agency tried to correct the error on social media. It took 38 minutes to send out a follow-up message canceling the original alert, which he acknowledged was a shortcoming with the alert system that the agency would fix. Rapoza said he did not know if anyone would be disciplined for the mistake. "At this point, our major concern is to make sure we do what we need to do to reassure the public," he said. "This is not a time for pointing fingers." The panic that followed the alert gripped the islands. There were reports of people seeking shelter by parking their cars inside a highway tunnel that cuts through a mountain. When the announcement was rescinded, a digital highway sign read: "Missile alert in error: There is no threat." People in Hawaii tend to know what to do to protect themselves to threats of a tsunami or a hurricane. The prospect of nuclear annihilation was entirely new terrain. "So this was the most terrifying few minutes of my LIFE!" Paul Wilson, a professor at Brigham Young University-Hawaii, said on Twitter. "I just want to know why it took 38 minutes to announce it was a mistake?!?" Chris Tacker, a veteran who lives in Kealakekua, said the mistake had left her angry and frustrated. "I didn't know where to go," she said. "Anyone try to dig a hole in lava? Good luck trying to build a shelter. I'm stocking my liquor cabinet." Still, she added, "If we don't have our sense of humor about this, it's all over." THE ISSUE: A citizen critical of Cohoes Mayor Shawn Morse is arrested by city police. THE STAKES: This may seem like small town corruption, but violating people's rights is no small thing. Sometimes corruption is so right-under-your-nose, so unabashed, that it's hard to believe anyone would be that brazen. That might well be why some people still aren't quite sure what to make of how Mayor Shawn Morse is running Cohoes. To put it plainly: Mr. Morse is running Cohoes like a small town tyrant, and so far with impunity. It's time outside authorities stepped in. We last wrote about Mr. Morse when he lied about a domestic violence call to his home lied, even, about a scratch on his face of which there was photographic evidence. That alleged attack, which may have been whitewashed by Mr. Morse's police force he functions as the city's police commissioner, as well as mayor is under investigation by State Police. Now we find Mr. Morse abusing his power well beyond the confines of his home, using the Cohoes Police Department and City Court to, it appears, intimidate a city resident who quite understandably doesn't think the mayor is fit for his job. For voicing that opinion more persistently than the mayor seems to like, Jeffrey Bagley was arrested. His crime? Exchanging annoying messages with the mayor's cousin Barbara Borden on Facebook. And to be clear, Mr. Bagley wasn't charged with a crime. He was accused of harassment, a violation for which police usually call a person and ask them to come to the station to pick up an appearance ticket for court. Not in this case. Armed with a warrant signed by City Court Judge Andra Ackerman, police went to Mr. Bagley's home and hauled him off in handcuffs. He was taken to the police station, where Sgt. Anthony Pucci a friend of the mayor's issued him an appearance ticket. It doesn't take a legal expert to know this is way, way over the top. Ms. Borden could have eliminated whatever annoyance Mr. Bagley might have caused her by blocking him, and for extra measure, she could have complained to Facebook, which might have suspended his account. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. But bringing the weight of the Cohoes criminal justice system down on him? That's not, as Mr. Morse wants to portray it, a problem between Mr. Bagley and Ms. Borden, any more than Mr. Morse's alleged assault on his wife is just a private family matter. This is about Mr. Morse and the public officials who seem to be doing his corrupt bidding. This may be small town corruption, but it's no small thing. District Attorney David Soares should investigate whether this apparent abuse of power violated any laws. If he feels too close to the matter to investigate a local police force, he should ask for an independent or outside prosecutor to investigate. Separately, the Commission on Judicial Conduct should look into whether Judge Ackerman's issuance of an apparently vindictive, needless warrant was appropriate. The U.S. Justice Department should investigate whether there are civil rights violations going on in Cohoes. And it's time that some people with clout in the Cohoes and Albany County Democratic establishments have a talk with Mr. Morse. It needn't be long. One word, even: Resign. Staff at the Ecuadoran Embassy in London grew tired of whiffing WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who reportedly does not attend to his own personal hygiene. Its that lack of cleanliness, among other things, that fueled Ecuadors recent attempts to end his five-year standoff at the Knightsbridge embassy, the International Business Times reported. It seems he doesnt wash properly, a well-placed source told the news outlet, noting the issue has prompted repeated complaints from staff at the embassy. Assange reportedly complained of noise from a loading bay near his hideout, which resulted in a female restroom being converted into a bedroom for him. The move left Assange sharing a single restroom with embassy staff. And its not the first time people around him have complained of Assanges questionable hygiene practices. 3 1 of 3 Frank Augstein/Associated Press Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire/MBR Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Julian ate everything with his hands, and he always wiped his fingers on his pants. I have never seen pants as greasy as his in my whole life, one of his closest aides, Daniel Domscheit-Berg, told the Times. Jeremie Zimmermann, a friend and former colleague, wrote in 2012 that unless the people around him force him to shower, he might not change his clothes for days. The WikiLeaks founder was made an Ecuadoran citizen last month, the nations foreign minister revealed Thursday, in a bid to resolve the diplomatic impasse created by Assanges presence. Earlier last week, the British Foreign Office revealed it dismissed requests from Ecuador for the Australia native to be made an accredited diplomat. Ecuador officials hoped it would allow for Assange to leave the embassy and Britain without arrest. Assange fled to the embassy in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden for questioning on rape and sexual assault allegations and was granted asylum there. The case in Sweden was dropped after prosecutors questioned him at the embassy. Assange could still be arrested for skipping bail and faces jail time should he leave the embassy. U.S. officials told the Times that arresting Assange remains a priority, though they did not confirm whether the government would request his extradition should he be arrested in Britain. Assange previously said U.S. authorities already have prepared an indictment and made plans to extradite him for espionage after WikiLeaks disclosed hundreds of classified military documents. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Jessica Schladebeck is a New York Daily News writer. The authorities are investigating after a woman was assaulted in the area of Indian Creek Drive and Lamar Avenue in Overland Park. The incident happened on a trail there at about 6:30 a.m. while she was jogging. A white man in his late 30s or early 40s assaulted her. OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -- Police said Saturday evening that a report of an assault on a jogger early Saturday morning was unfounded. "The Overland Park Police Department has determined after intense follow up, the sexual assault on the Indian Creek Trail near Lamar is unfounded. Kansas City Snowflake Update Slick conditions reported on area roads and interstates Use caution if you plan on venturing out of the house Sunday morning. Slick roadways have been reported due to overnight snow in the Kansas City metro area. That snow is expected to continue until around midday. As of Sunday morning, several incidents have been reported on area interstates. Local Career Move From MBA to MD, a change in career was just what this doctor ordered The KMBZ Cover Story, "A Night in the ER," concludes Friday with a story about a man who decided in his 30s that he was dissatisfied with his career and embarked on a new path in emergency medicine. One of the attending doctors at 1 a.m. Morning Blaze Aftermath Two people displaced, dog dies in Shawnee house fire SHAWNEE, Kan. -- Two people are displaced after an electrical fire at a home in the 7100 block of Widmer Rd. Firefighters were called to the home by neighbors around 5 p.m. Saturday. The residents weren't at home when the fire started. First responders say they saw fire showing from the roof of the home when they arrived. KC Gamer Holding Tank The Man Who Made The Deadly 'Swatting' Call Over A Gaming Feud Has Been Charged Tyler Barriss has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, interference with law enforcement, and making a false alarm after his "prank" call led a Swat team to a house in Wichita Kansas where 28-year-old Andrew Finch was killed when he answered the door. Kansas City Lady Fight Aftermath Invicta FC 27 results: Sarah Kaufman rolls in return against Pannie Kianzad, calls for title shot It's been eight years since Sarah Kaufman was the Strikeforce women's bantamweight title. After Saturday night, she could be in line for more gold. The veteran Canadian fighter was dominant in beating Pannie Kianzad via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) in the main event of Invicta FC 27 in Kansas City. Home Team Season Ahead Kansas City Royals: Prospects who could make an impact in 2018 This is something that Kansas City Royals fans haven't had to do for several seasons, as the boys in blue were actually relevant. Fans weren't waiting for the next guy to get called up because the core group was already together and taking at bats in the big leagues. Kansas City Fanboy Confessional In defense of Andy Reid From the FanPosts -Joel After yet another playoff loss many people are blaming Andy Reid, saying he's a playoff choker. I for one couldn't be happier. The more blame that goes on Reid the higher Alex Smith's trade value, and the main goal this offseason is to trade Smith for as much as possible. Right now,inspires this quick look at some of the top Kansas City stories right now. Take a peek:is the song of the day and this is thefor right now . . . The results of the excavations carried out by the Archaeological Society at Iklaina in Messinia have led us to revise our knowledge about the Mycenean states, with truly unexpected findings, the chief archaeologist in charge of the dig Prof. Michalis Kosmopoulos of Missouri-St. Louis University unveiled in an interview with the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA) published on Saturday. He revealed that digs at Iklaina have revealed one of the capitals of the Mycenean kingdom of Pylos but the finds have radically changed what archaeologists believed until that time. Cyclopean architecture, developed urban structures (paved roads and plazas, water supply systems, central sewage), linear B signs, exceptionally aesthetic murals. On the basis of what we knew until now about Mycenean Greece, such finds were confined to the big palaces (Mycenae, Tirynth, Thebes, Pylos). The finds at Iklaina force us to reexamine the existing evidence from a new angle, he noted. The discoveries also showed that Iklaina was at some point violently taken over by the nearby kingdom of Pylos while others indicated that it may have been part of an early federal state, like the current United States of America. Based on the linear B archives found in Ano Eglianos, which is considered the central capital of the Mycenean kingdom of Pylos, even though Iklaina was a secondary capital of the kingdom and under the authority of the central capital, it had some autonomy. For example, its own governor and its own economic production. Based on existing evidence, this system of governance was the most ancient version of a two-tier governance system: in other words, a central authority and subject semi-independent regions, Prof. Kosmopoulos clarified. He added the Minoan and Mycenean kingdoms of ancient Greece were the first certified states of the western world and marked the transition from a world without states to a world where the state was the prevailing political institution. What may (or may not) be a bath at the Palace of Nestor in Pylos. Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: Alun Salt License: CC-BY-SA History of Pylos Pylos has a long history, having been inhabited since Neolithic times. It was a significant kingdom in Mycenaean Greece, with remains of the so-called "Palace of Nestor" excavated nearby, named after Nestor, the king of Pylos in Homer's Iliad. In Classical times, the site was uninhabited, but became the site of the Battle of Pylos in 425 BC, during the Peloponnesian War. Pylos is scarcely mentioned thereafter until the 13th century, when it became part of the Frankish Principality of Achaea. Increasingly known by its French name of Port-de-Jonc or its Italian name Navarino, in the 1280s the Franks built the Old Navarino castle on the site. Pylos came under the control of the Republic of Venice from 1417 until 1500, when it was conquered by the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans used Pylos and its bay as a naval base, and built the New Navarino fortress there. The area remained under Ottoman control, with the exception of a brief period of renewed Venetian rule in 16851715 and a Russian occupation in 177071, until the outbreak of the Greek War of Independence in 1821. Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt recovered it for the Ottomans in 1825, but the defeat of the Turco-Egyptian fleet in the 1827 Battle of Navarino forced Ibrahim to withdraw from the Peloponnese and confirmed Greek independence. Pylos has evidence of continuous human presence dating back to the Neolithic Age. In Mycenaean times, it was an important centre often referred to as Nestor's kingdom of "sandy Pylos" and described by Homer in Book 17 of the Odyssey when Telemachus says: "we went to Pylos and to Nestor, the shepherd of the people, and he received me in his lofty house and gave me kindly welcome, as a father might his own son who after a long time had newly come from afar: even so kindly he tended me with his glorious sons." The Mycenaean state of Pylos (16001100 BC) covered an area of 2,000 sq km and had a minimum population of 50,000 according to the Linear B tablets discovered there, or even perhaps as large as 80,000120,000. It included the important regional capital of Iklaina (ca. 1600-1100 BC). The Pylos site was excavated by Carl Blegen between 1939 and 1952. It is located at modern Ano Englianos, about 9 km north-east of the bay 37.028N 21.695E. Blegen identified the remains found there as the great "Palace of Nestor" described in the Homeric poems. Linear B tablets found by Blegen clearly demonstrate that the site itself was called Pylos by its Mycenaean inhabitants. This site was abandoned sometime after the 8th century BC and burned to the ground. The ruins of a crude stone fortress on nearby Sphacteria Island, apparently of Mycenaean origin, were used by the Spartans during the Peloponnesian War. (Thucydides iv. 31) The Pylos Combat Agate, an ancient object found in Pylos, Greece and created around 1450 BCE. Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: BrendonTheWizard License: CC-BY-SA Classical Pylos According to the Greek historian Thucydides in his History of the Peloponnesian War, in the 5th century BCE the area was "together with most of the country round, unpopulated". The ancient city was not located at the modern Pylos, but north of the isle of Sphacteria. In 425 BC the Athenian politician Cleon sent an expedition to Pylos where the Athenians fortified the rocky promontory now known as Koryphasion or Old Pylos at the northern edge of the bay, near the Gialova Lagoon, and after a conflict with Spartan ships in the Battle of Pylos, seized and occupied the bay. A little later the Athenians captured a number of Spartan troops besieged on the adjacent island of Sphacteria (see Battle of Sphacteria). Spartan anxiety over the return of the prisoners, who were taken to Athens as hostages, contributed to their acceptance of the Peace of Nicias in 421 BC. Modern day Pylos with Sfaktiria port. Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: Dnalor 01 License: CC-BY-SA 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: License: CC-BY-SA InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of the worlds leading hotel companies, has announced the opening of Holiday Inn Algiers Cheraga Tower in Algeria. This opening marks the companys debut in the country and with this addition, IHG now has 25 operational hotels across nine countries in Africa. Featuring 242 well-equipped rooms, Holiday Inn Algiers Cheraga Tower is strategically located west of Algiers and is in close proximity to international business centres and embassies. Additionally, guests staying at the hotel will have easy access to popular tourist spots such as Downtown, Hydra District, the Opera and Sidi Fredj Marina. Set in front of the beautiful Dounia Park and overlooking the city and the ocean, the hotel can be conveniently accessed from all major motorways. Situated 30 minutes from the international airport Holiday Inn Algiers Cheraga Tower boasts of being the tallest building in Algiers, offering a unique, panoramic view of the city. Featuring quality amenities and top service standards associated with the brand, Holiday Inn Algiers offers a selection of family friendly dining options with two restaurants including Le 101, which is located at the top of the hotel and provides a scenic view of the city and an all-day dining restaurant Ikosium. Additionally, guests can enjoy an array of beverages and snacks at LLB (lobby lounge bar) and La Terrasse. The hotel also offers Holiday Inn brands signature Kids Stay and Eat Free programme, where kids under the age of 12 can stay and dine for free making it an ideal choice for Algerian families visiting the hotel and international business visitors alike. Guests at the Holiday Inn Algiers will also have access to a wellness floor consisting of a fitness centre, an indoor pool, an outdoor pool, Hammam, sauna and a treatment and massage centre. Catering to Mice and corporate guests, Holiday Inn Algiers also has four meeting rooms, a large banquet hall and an expansive indoor parking on three levels. Commenting on the announcement, Pascal Gauvin, MD, IMEA, IHG: We are thrilled to establish a footprint in Algeria in collaboration with our eminent partner, S.A.R.L Modern Towers and expand our presence in Africa. The opening of Holiday Inn Algiers Cheraga Tower is a strategic move for us as Algerias proximity to Europe, airline connectivity, strong culture and heritage along with substantial business links creates a strong demand for international branded accommodation and a need for world-class hospitality. He also added, The Holiday Inn brand is one of the worlds most recognisable brands and continues to be IHGs growth engine. It is the perfect brand for us to enter the country with, as it offers friendly service and quality amenities at an affordable rate, which allows us to cater to both domestic leisure and international business travellers, said Omar Ramdane, co-manager, S.A.R.L Modern Towers said: It is a privilege for Modern Towers to partner with IHG for its first hotel in Algeria, the beginning of a relationship of mutual trust and professionalism. I am confident that Holiday Inn Algiers-Cheraga Tower is a first step. We hope to develop similar projects in the future that will meet both IHG's expectations and the ambitions of Modern Towers," he said. - TradeArabia News Service editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 13 Since the CBSE examination schedule for Class XII students manifests no or little gap between certain papers, educationists have advised students not to get themselves in a fret and keep calm besides believing in hard work. The Central Board of School Education (CBSE) had released its datesheet on January 10. The examination is going to begin from March 5 across the country for both classes. The schedule has left the students across the country worried. There is only one day gap between English (March 5) and physics (March 7) exams. No gap is there between history and mathematics papers falling on March 20 and 21, respectively, but it will not affect the majority of the students as those opting for humanities stream seldom opt for maths. Political science and psychology exams fall on April 5 and 6. The teaching fraternity has asked the students to start preparing right away in accordance with the date sheet. Anjana Gupta, Principal, DAV International School, said, It is not about a day, but the hard work throughout the year. Though the date sheet is a little tricky, every institute does help students prepare for the examination. Students should believe in their year-long hard work rather than focusing on one day. Make notes for exams of such subjects having a little gap in between. Teachers said some of the subjects are lengthy for which solving sample papers or focusing on important points can bring a great relief. A single register should be maintained for such subjects. The students can also make power point presentation or take help from the internet in a constructive way. Students can maintain a single register having all important point from all the subjects. At the end, the single register can be used for revision on the final day, said a teacher. Rajiv Kumar Sharma, Principal, Spring Dale School, said, Students need to be well prepared. There is no point in stressing oneself about the question papers. Attempt exams with a relaxed mind. pardeepdhull@gmail.com New Delhi, January 14 Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday launched options trading in guarseed on the commodity bourse NCDEX and asserted that the new initiative will benefit farmers and ensure better prices in the coming days. Higher production has led to fall in prices of some agri-commodities in some places, he said, adding that options trading is one of the major steps towards taking farmers out of this situation. NCDEX is the second exchange after MCX to launch options trading in commodities. In October 2017, MCX had launched gold options. Guarseed is the first agri-commodity options. Options are derivatives which give a buyer the right but not the obligation to buy or sell an underlying asset or instrument at a specific price on or before a certain date. I hope this initiative will provide huge benefit to farmers in the coming days, Jaitley said at the launch event. Lauding the contribution of farmers, he said they have left no stone unturned to serve the nation. They have worked hard to turn a food shortage country to a surplus now. However, due to higher production, they are now faced with falling prices, he said. We see in some places the problem of falling prices because of higher production. Farmers are not getting the price for their produce. Many steps have been taken in the last few years to take farmers out of this situation. There has been some impact, he said, adding that options trading is a step in that direction. In the beginning, options trading may look like a small step but when its awareness increases in the coming days, it is will benefit farmers, he added. Speaking on the occasion, NCDEX MD and CEO Samir Shah said, The option trading is a powerful tool to hedge price risks...we are confident that this will boost the development of the agri-commodity market. Options will protect farmers from downward price movement as well as give them an opportunity to sell their produce at higher prices in case of price increase, he said. NCDEX launched guarseed options as it is one of the most liquid contracts on the exchange platform. Around 15 lakh farmers are associated with this commodity. This is partial fulfilment of the Budget announcement. We are expecting more. I hope the Finance Minister will announce more for this sector to carry forward the growth, NCDEX Chairman Rabi Narayan Das said. Niti Aayog member Ramesh Chand, Nafed Managing Director Sanjeev Kumar Chadha as well as senior finance ministry and Sebi officials were present at the event. According to NCDEX, three options contracts in guarseed that will expire in February, March and April of this year have been made available for trading. While market regulator Sebi had allowed exchanges to launch options in September 2016, it was only on April 26, 2017, that it clarified that the options would have futures as underlying for settlement. PTI editorial@tribune.com Ramkrishan Upadhyay Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 14 Buildings at the Capitol Complex, which have been declared world heritage by Unesco, have failed to meet fire safety norms. Sources said glaring lapses had come to the fore in a report prepared by a Mumbai-based heritage architect, Abha Narain Lambah, who had been given the task of preparing a conservation and management plan for the Capitol Complex. The sources said the consultant, in her report on fire safety of buildings, had mentioned the fire safety audit of the buildings conducted by the fire department of the Municipal Corporation. The Capitol Complex comprises three buildings the Secretariat, the Assembly and the High Court. Monuments such as Geometric Hill, the Tower of Shadows, Open Hand and Martyrs Memorial are also part of the Capitol Complex. The consultant mentioned that despite glaring shortcomings in the fire safety audit of the MC, nothing was done to remove these. It has recommended immediate remedial steps to remove the shortcomings. Shortcomings were noticed in all buildings. At the Punjab and Haryana Civil Secretariat, it was noticed that the fire control room was not equipped with the required accessories. Almirahs and other material were lying in balconies, which could create obstruction in firefighting/rescue operations in the case of a fire. Yard hydrants were found non-functional during the inspection. The report mentioned that a fire control room had not been set up on the ground floor and loose electrical wires were found during the inspection at the Assembly buildings. Besides, the automatic sprinkler system had not been installed in the basement. Illuminated exit signs were also found missing in the buildings. An officer said though the Administration had removed large-scale violations in the Secretariat buildings, a lot more was required to be done on the fire safety front. singhking99@yahoo.com Chandigarh: Lohri is a popular winter Punjabi folk festival. It marks the end of winter season. The festival is observed a night before Makar Sankranti. People enjoy the celebrations by having Lohri delicacies such as gachak, groundnuts and til. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM CP Bhambhri Professor Emeritus, Centre for Political Studies, JNU Deep cleavages of the Indian society came into the open as violent clashes broke out when the Dalits were attacked in villages around Bhima Koregaon on January 1, 2018. They sparked angry Dalits to launch strong protests all over Maharashtra, which also spread to Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Opposition parties and leaders blamed the BJP governments of these states, alleging that they had failed to protect the life and property of Dalits. However, political blame game does not help identify the real causes of the deep social unrest and anger which exists, especially among the millions of deprived, exploited and suppressed classes like the Dalits, the rural and urban poor labour classes and small shopkeepers in every village and town. More than 500 million poorest of the poor Indians are engaged in a struggle for sheer survival, and to keep the kitchen fires burning. The Wretched of the Earth, as Fanon calls them, come on the streets to protest when they feel angry and frustrated with their living situation. A few facts need be highlighted about the unjust and unequal social order in which the majority of the labour classes feel completely left out and disempowered. 1First, independent India inherited poverty, backwardness and underdevelopment. The Royal Commission of Inquiry on Rural Indebtedness and eminent economists like Jathar and Berry, Gyan Chand, Brij Narain, AR Wadia, JJ Anjaria and others have informed us that on the eve of Independence, the villagers lived in poverty and the poor Indians were born in debt, lived in debt and died in debt. If on the one hand India inherited poverty and underdeveloped sectors of economy, on the other, it also inherited an unequal social order which was dominated by zamindars, jagirdars, feudal landlords, rich merchants and big traders and industrialists. Thus the absolute majority of poor co-exist with the minority of socially and economically prosperous and dominant castes and classes. However, this inherited inequality should not have continued till today, 70 years later, because every government and party which has come to power had committed to eradicate poverty and establish a just and equal social order. India continues to remain an unequal society. An economic survey shows: (i) Between one-third and one-fourth of Indians live in absolute, subhuman poverty. How can social harmony remain intact in a country where more than 350 million people 'live in below poverty line' defined by the government? (ii) The Global Wealth Outlook (2014) informs that top 1 per cent people held 37 per cent of the wealth of the country which increased to 53 per cent by 2016. This concentration of wealth exists because there is no public policy of 'redistribution of wealth'. (iii) Post-Independence India did not have any 'billionaire' and only one was identified in 1991. However, the Forbes List and Oxfam inform that in 2017, India had 84 billionaires with a collective wealth of $248 billion. The rising social group - which is about 300 to 350 million - consists of professionals, entrepreneurs, technocrats, middle and upper middle classes, capitalist farmers and surplus owning rich peasants. This reveals how the uneven distribution of income and wealth among different segments of society has led to an increase in the levels of absolute inequality and those at the "bottom" of this social hierarchy are the absolute majority of the labour classes. 2Second, if on one hand Indians have to face the reality of existing social order based on economic inequality on the other, caste-based inequality is also a cruel fact of society. The Dalit castes and marginalised backward castes whose status is 'lowest' in caste hierarchy especially are victims of both poverty and caste-based discrimination. How can such an unequal society be at peace with itself? How can such a society of deep social cleavages be conflict- and violence-free? Despite the 'changing' character of the caste system because of modernisation and democratisation, the essential feature of inequality on which caste system had been built remains intact because economic inequality has strengthened the system of caste-based inequality. The Dalits and Other Backward Caste labouring sections of society are not only victims of 'economic deprivations' they are also victims of 'caste-based coercion and atrocities'. Hence, they are learning to fight for their rights and dignity. 3Third, the present party-in-government is responsible for creating a serious crisis situation by following wrong economic policies. The demonetisation in November 2016 directly hit the daily wage earners, small shopkeepers in the villages and small towns and informal sector of economy which constitutes the major component of Indian economy. The spectre of unemployment haunts the Indians, whether skilled and trained engineers and craftsmen or the unskilled or semi-skilled labour classes. There has been a great loss of employment opportunities for 'daily wage earners' because important sectors of employment generation have come to standstill after demonetisation and the falling rate of economic growth has further blocked employment opportunities for the youth who are in the job market. What is the explanation for the dominant Jat caste of Haryana, or Patidars of Gujarat or Marathas of Maharashtra or Gujjars of Rajasthan to launch aggressive struggles in support of their demand for reservations in public institutions of education? The job opportunities are shrinking and the dominant backward peasant caste and their children want assured entry to public institutions for jobs and education. 4Finally, it is a historically validated sociological insight that economic crisis creates situations of social conflict and disruption. The real burden of economic crisis is borne by the most vulnerable strata because they do not have any safety net or social security. Only a democratic government which is responsive to the felt needs of the poorest of the poor can intervene to help the deprived to face the challenges of poverty and unemployment. This does not seem to be happening and that is the reason that the suffering people have decided to come on the streets. The daily wage workers and migrant labourers observe the richness and prosperity of a section of the elite and it makes them react and, sometimes, violently. sanjiv@tribunemail.com Houston, January 13 The Indian-American foster father of Sherin Mathews, a three-year-old Indian girl whose body was found in a culvert near their suburban Dallas home in mysterious circumstances last October, was today indicted for capital murder by a grand jury. The murder charge, which could carry the death penalty, was filed against Wesley Mathews, 37, after an autopsy in the death of the toddler adopted from an orphanage in Bihar showed that she died of homicidal violence. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Sherins foster mother, 35-year-old Sini Mathews, was also indicted on a charge of abandoning a child. The punishment for that ranges from two to 20 years in prison, with a fine up to USD 10,000. Authorities have not said what happened to Sherin, and court documents only allege that Mathews caused his daughters death using a deadly weapon by a manner and means unknown to the grand jury. We cant go into details, but based on that autopsy report, we were able to determine that we can seek capital murder for this case, Dallas County District Attorney Faith Johnson said. PTI ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Once, the Indian passport barred its holder from travelling to South Africa and Israel. South Africa reversed its status as a global pariah by turning its back on apartheid but Israel was forced to claw its way into the world mainstream by playing on its strengths. Though left and Muslim organisations have geared up to provide token opposition to the six-day visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, it has become obvious that the protest has no edge. For, Israel has proved its usefulness in meeting niche requirements for the Indian security establishment across regimes of all ideological hues. Ever since PV Narasimha Rao opened diplomatic relations with Israel, Tel Aviv has frequently bailed out India from difficult situations, notably during the Kargil war and in Jammu & Kashmir. However, Israel is extra special for the BJP government because both view the Muslim from an antagonistic lens. This mutual antipathy to a common enemy has made the pro-Hindu BJP instrumental in forging even closer ties with Israel. PM Modi brushed off conventional inhibitions about visiting Israel, unthinkable with all previous regimes. His political reflexes were in tune with the rest of the world: Moscow recently opened its doors to Netanhayu while Israel and Saudi Arabia exchange intelligence about Iran, their common foe. India can hardly hope for a less demanding partner than Israel New Delhi accounts for about half of the total Israeli exports of arms and equipment. The dark side of this relationship is in the eagerness of BJP zealots to emulate Israels heavy-handed approach to militancy. As Indias vote at the UN against Israel on the issue of Jerusalem demonstrated, this partnership has its limits. Otherwise, PM Modi wouldnt have visited Arab countries before embarking for Israel. The world is too complex to lend itself to easy takeaways. Cooperation with Israel does beef up the Indian security establishment but the lesson from its unending battle against violence is also salutary: troubles dont go away just because you have the most lethal equipment in town. The staid across-the-table conversation still remains the best antidote to violence. uttara@tribuneindia.com Vishal Joshi Tribune News Service Kurukshetra, January 14 The district police have detained six youths from Jhansa village in Kurukshetra for their suspected involvement in the murder of a minor Dalit girl. SP Abhishek Garg said the main suspect was a student of class 12 and the special investigating teams were gathering evidence. The key suspect was known the victim and age of other suspects were being verified for the further legal course, he added. Garg said it was still being investigated if the body that was found near a canal at Budhakhera village in Jind on Friday night was dumped by the accused at that site or it flowed in the canal water there. The postmortem report says the private parts of the girl were mutilated. Injuries marks were also found on her body. It appears the girl died due to smothering or drowning. Only viscera report or swab test could confirm if the victim was subjected to sexual assault, said the SP. Student of class 10, the Dalit girl went missing under the mysterious circumstances from her native village on January 9. Subsequently, a police report was reported at Jhansa police station. As the body reached here today, the family member refused to cremate till their demands of a CBI investigation, armed security and action against officials of Jhansa police station were not met. The victims father alleged the SHO Ram Lal failed to act on his complaint to trace the girl. Dalit activist and a lawyer Rajat Kalsan said the victims parents should be awarded a compensation of Rs 50 lakh and a government job to a family member. The villagers and activists staged a protest outside the mortuary. Later, Minister of State for Social Welfare and Empowerment Krishan Kumar Bedi reached to pacify the protesters. He assures that the state government would empathically consider their demands, including maximum compensation. Bedi assured till the CBI did not take over the investigation, a SIT would continue the probe. Following the assurance by the minister, the family performed the last rites in the evening. Meanwhile, the SP confirmed that Jhansa SHO Ram Pal had been transferred to the police lines and a departmental inquiry had been ordered to find his role in the case. Besides a police security to the family, the police also assured to grant an arms licence if the aggrieved apply for the same, said the SP. Meanwhile, the official spokesperson of Jind district police said a coordinated probe was underway. editorial@tribune.com Sushil Manav Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 14 The Cabinet, slated to meet under CM Manohar Lal Khattar on January 16, is set to take a call on a proposal to float a corporation to control the wholesale trade of liquor. Though the Excise and Taxation Department has already begun spadework in view of the proposal, sources say the Cabinet will take a call on whether to go for it at all and if yes, whether the government should control the wholesale business of the Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) alone or should take over the trade of the country-made liquor too. The Tribune has learnt that Khattar as well as Excise and Taxation Minister Captain Abhimanyu have already given their approval for the project. However, sources said that pressure was being built on the government against this move since several political leaders, both in the government as well as in the opposition, have their stakes in the liquor trade. Sources said that the government was of the view that the move would not only bring transparency in functioning but also add to the revenue. With receipts of Rs4,800 crore (approximately) from licence fees, Excise Duty and VAT on liquor in 2016-17 and prospects of earning Rs 5,600 crore in 2017-18, Haryana is one of the highest earning state from liquor in the region. Sources said that while states like Punjab and Himachal Pradesh lost 15 to 20 per cent of their revenue from liquor due to the SC order banning opening of liquor vends in the vicinity of the highways, Haryana is likely to end up with addition of Rs 600 to 700 crore more revenue than what the state earned last year. Excise and Taxation Commissioner Ashima Brar has constituted eight committees for drafting of requisite amendment in the Act/Rules, constitution of the corporation, preparing norms for hiring warehouses, preparation of regulations for sale of liquor, drafting of excise preventive force, deputation and re-employment committee and IT committee. They will submit reports by January 23. editorial@tribune.com Lalit Mohan Tribune News Service Dharamsala, January 14 The four-day winter session of the state Assembly, which concluded on January 12, witnessed a congenial atmosphere. The sessions in the last five years of the Congress rule were marred by heated exchanges. The House had to be suspended midway on several occasions due to pandemonium. However, this time both the government and the Opposition resolved to work together. The Chief Minister answered each and every query of the Opposition. Even the government listened to the criticism of the Governors address by Congress MLA Asha Kumari without any disruption. The new BJP government tried to project its vision for the state, while the Opposition sounded a conciliatory note. There were 22 first-time MLAs in the House and many names that dominated the political scenario of the state for the past two decades were missing. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur extended an olive branch to the Opposition that political vendetta would not be the new governments agenda and rather he would welcome suggestions from the Opposition for the development of the state. The expectations of people from the new Chief Minister were high. Large number of people and delegations met him at the Circuit House and the Vidhan Sabha. Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader Mukesh Agnihotri stated that politicians should act as a community rather than indulging in mud-slinging. He also proposed the name of Rajeev Bindal for the post of Speaker despite reservations by a section of Congress members. The CLP leader was, however, critical of bureaucracy and said it wanted to take the new government on the path of political vendetta. The new ministers were busy meeting supporters from their constituencies, ordering transfers in their respective departments and holding meetings with the secretaries. The CM also organised a presentation by officials regarding the current state of affairs for the ruling party legislative members. The Secretary, Finance, gave a presentation on the financial status of the state. However, some of the ruling party legislators were critical of the move. They said these were the same officials who were running the show without any complaint for the last five years. What has happened suddenly in the first month of the new government that the bureaucrats were talking of financial crises now, they asked. The validity of holding the four-day Assembly session at Dharamsala, a tradition started by former CM Virbhadra Singh, also came under debate. Initially, pro tem Speaker Ramesh Dhawala said there was no logic in holding the session at Dharamsala and that it was wastage of funds. However, BJP MLA from Nurpur Rakesh Pathania said it was a representation to the people of Kangra and other lower areas of Himachal. It provided an opportunity to people to meet the government at their doorsteps. editorial@tribune.com Bhanu P Lohumi the race for the Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) Vice-Chancellor has again hots up with the formation of the new government and several names have emerged. About 15 applications have been received for the post while more applications are pouring in as the last date for applying for the post is January 21. The names of two former Vice-Chancellors of the HPU are also taking rounds. Some junior professors, who did not have requisite experience as professor and also lack the administrative experience but have strong political connections, have also entered the race, sources in the university said. Some academicians, who worked for candidates of their parties in the assembly polls, are also in the race but the UGC guidelines bar such persons from holding the top post. The scrutiny committee will have hard task at hand as the SFI has recorded the speeches of some teachers and threatened to move the court if they are selected for the post. The post of VC is lying vacant since May 25 last year following the expiry of term of Prof ADN Bajpai and Pro-Vice-Chancellor RS Chauhan is the acting VC. The decision-making in the university has come to a standstill and the search committee formed by the Chancellor was yet to submit the panel of names. GST on mess charges The hostlers of the HPU are up in arms against the Union Government for imposition of 5 per cent GST on mess charges and are demanding its withdrawal as it has increased the mess bills. While there was no check on prices, the increased mess bills are huge burden on students and should be condemned in strongest terms, said SFI state President Vikram Kaith. The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) had issued a clarification in view of queries regarding the tax liability and the rate of GST to be levied on services provided by a college hostel mess but the GST on mess charges stayed, he added. The SFI has also taken a strong exception to decisions of the Executive Council to allow admissions to PhD to favourites of VIPs under a special provision and demanded a probe into all such cases in which admissions had been given in violation of the UGC guidelines and action against those responsible for irregularities. Researcher awarded Hailing from Kullu, Kishori Lal was honoured with the Prof Sudhir Ranjan Dass Memorial National Award at the 78th History Congress held at Jadavpur University, Kolkata, from December 28 to 30. He is pursuing his doctorate under the guidance of Prof Laxman Singh Thakur. A research scholar in the History Department of the HPU, Kishori Lal has been awarded and honoured by the Indian History Congress for decoding the Tankri script in the coins of gods and goddesses of Kullu district and research work. The award has been given for his research paper in the archeological section Mask inscription of the Western Himalayas: A case study of inscribed Mohras (coins) from Kullu. The researcher has also translated the Tankri script and highlighted its historic and archeological importance. This will also help in chronological study of history of Kullu with documentary evidence. RUSA now haunts BJP The roll back of RUSA, fee hike and restoration of direct elections to the Students Central Association (SCA) are back in the HPU to haunt the new government. In the past, these issues were raised by both SFI and ABVP and the BJP had promised roll back RUSA. But the BJP is dithering on the issue of RUSA rollback and the university is heading for fresh turmoil with the SFI on a war path. editorial@tribune.com State Public School, Jalandhar Cantt, celebrated Lohri with exuberance and fanfare. The mood on the campus was upbeat. Students attired in traditional dresses, were absorbed in the festive spirit. The function commenced with speeches, highlighting the importance of the festival, which ushers in the cheerful spring season, bidding adieu to the winters. Principal of the school, Savina Bahl, along with teachers, vice-president Dr Gagandeep Kaur, lit the bonfire and children had a gala time as they danced around the holy bonfire, offering prayers for the prosperity of the nation. BD Arya Girls College BD Arya Girls College, Jalandhar Cantt, celebrated Lohri by lighting the ceremonial bonfire and seeking the blessings of the Almighty. Principal Dr Sarita Verma emphasised on the cultural relevance of observing the festival. She felicitated students who performed cultural items. The institution gave the message of women empowerment, thereby promoting gender equality in the society. Govt Primary School, Mianwal Dhiyan Di Lohri was celebrated at the Government Primary School, Mianwal. The programme was inaugurated by head master Parkash Chand, master Harjinder Singh Khaira, Hardeep Kaur Bajwa, Amanpreet, Harpreet Kaur, Balraj Singh and the SMC committee members by lighting the Lohri fire. Children presented a cultural programme. Gachak and reoris were also distributed among the students. Kanya Maha Vidyalaya At Kanya Maha Vidyalaya Lohri celebrations were dedicated to women education and empowerment. Dr Sushma Chwala, vice-president, KMV management committee, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The guest of honour was Dr Satpal Gupta. Principal Atima Sharma Dwivedi welcomed the guests and wished all success and prosperity. Children from economically backward sections were presented gifts. Students presented cultural songs and infused the whole environment with joy and energy. Apeejay College Student Welfare Association of Apeejay College of Fine Arts celebrated Lohri in a unique way with the kids of an orphanage of Jalandhar. Students of the college spread smiles on the lovely faces of young buds living in the orphanage. The college members distributed track suits, sweets, caps and peanuts to kids. College students played fun games with them. Principal Dr Sucharita congratulated everyone. Eklavya School Lohri was celebrated at Eklavya School with fanfare. The theme of the celebration was Kuria di Lohri. Lohri is the harvest festival of Punjab, famously known as the bread-basket state of the country. This harvest festival is celebrated to mark both celebration and sharing. The function kicked off with the speech by educator Inderpreet Kaur, highlighting the importance of the festival. Director, Seema Handa lit the traditional bonfire and staff performed the rituals and also danced around the bonfire. Chairperson JK Gupta, offered warm wishes to everyone. Director, Seema Handa threw light on the festival of Lohri and said the festival marks the victory of good over evil. Principal, Dimpal Sharma greeted Eklavyans and encouraged them to value their cultural heritage. Lyallpur Khalsa College Lohri was celebrated with full colour and zest at the Lyallpur Khalsa College. Various colorful facets of Punjabi culture and lifestyle were at display in this impressive programme put up by the joint efforts of college governing council, principal, teaching and non-teaching staff. College principal Dr Gurpinder Singh Samra inaugurated the programme by lighting up the festivities as per the traditions of the festival, adding warmth into the atmosphere. TNS editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Jammu/Reasi, January 14 Batting for resumption of dialogue between India and Pakistan, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today said the confrontation between the two countries was the biggest challenge for the people of J&K who had been the worst victims of their bitter relations. She, however, hoped that the two countries would stop their tit for tat policy and go back to the days of friendship, amity and reconciliation witnessed during the regime of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The biggest challenge for the people of the state is the confrontation between the two countries. It is the people of J&K who have been suffering because of the bitter relations between India and Pakistan. This is injustice with the people of J&K. I hope the present acrimonious discourse between the two neighbouring countries will give way to a discourse of harmony, peace and friendship, she said. Mehbooba was addressing the attestation-cum-passing out parade at Subsidiary Training Centre in Talwara, Reasi. She said people of the state had suffered a lot due to the continued violence over the past 30 years. At a time when we should be providing people good schools, hospitals and other amenities of modern life, the demand from the border areas comes for the construction of bunkers. This situation has to be changed and the pain and agony of the people of the state should be heard, the CM said. Asking the police to play an active role in furthering the reconciliation process in the state, the CM asked the officers and jawans to be more humane while enforcing law. She said her government was sensitive to the problems and difficulties of the police force and already several major steps like the KPS cadre review, enhancement of ex gratia, increase in the promotion quota of constabulary had been taken by the government. Earlier, in his address, Director General of Police Sheesh Pal Vaid thanked the CM for the historic steps taken by her government for the welfare of the police force. As many as 911 jawans passed out today from the Subsidiary Training Centre after completing the basic training course for recruiting constables. editorial@tribune.com New Delhi, January 14 Political initiative must go hand in hand with military operations in Jammu and Kashmir to bring peace, Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat said today, and favoured ramping up the military offensive to pile up heat on Pakistan to stop cross-border terrorism in the state. General Rawat said the armed forces operating in the state cannot be status quoist and must evolve new strategies and tactics to deal with the situation, which he feels is marginally better since he took over a year ago. In an interview, the Army Chief asserted that there was room for ramping up heat on Pakistan to cut the flow of cross-border terror activities, clearly indicating that the Army will continue its policy of hot pursuit in dealing with militancy. The political initiative and all the other initiatives must go simultaneously hand in hand and only if all of us function in synergy, we can bring lasting peace in Kashmir. It has to be a politico-military approach that we have to adopt, the Army Chief said. In October, the government had appointed former Intelligence Bureau chief Dineshwar Sharma as its special representative for a sustained dialogue with all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir. When the government appointed an interlocutor, it is with that purpose. He is the governments representative to reach out to the people of Kashmir and see what their grievances are so that those can then be addressed at a political level, the Army Chief said. Asked whether there was room for ramping up pressure on Pakistan to force it to stop sending terrorists to the state, he said, Yes, you cannot be status quoist. You have to continuously think and keep moving forward. You have to keep changing your doctrines and concept and the manner in which you operate in such areas. General Rawat said the Army would have to evolve new strategies and new tactics to deal with the situation. At the same time, he said an overall approach was required to deal with the Kashmir issue. Since the beginning of last year, the Army pursued an aggressive anti-terror policy in Jammu and Kashmir and, at the same time, forcefully responded to all ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control with a tit-for-tat approach. Military is only part of the mechanism to resolve the Kashmir issue. Our charter is to ensure that the terrorists who are creating violence in the state are taken to task and those who have been radicalised and are increasingly moving towards terrorism are prevented from doing so, he said. The Armys aim is to ensure that it continues to maintain the pressure on the terrorists and those fomenting trouble there, General Rawat said. But at the same time, we have to also reach out to the people. Asked whether the situation in Kashmir has improved since he took over as the Army Chief a year ago, General Rawat said, I am only seeing a marginal change in situation for the better. I do not think it is time to become overconfident and start assuming that the situation has been brought under control because infiltration from across the borders will continue. According to official figures, 860 incidents of ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops were reported in 2017 as against 221 the year before. PTI editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 13 The police claimed to have recovered around 29-quintal poppy husk which was packed in 85 bags during an inspection of vehicles near a bridge in the area under Sherpur Kalan in Ludhiana district. While addressing a press conference at Jagraon, Arpit Shukla, IGP/ Zone-2, Jalandhar, and Gursharan Singh, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Ludhiana Range, gave the information about the recovery of poppy husk. Jagjeet Singh, SHO at Sadar police station Jagraon, said a blue tractor along with a trolley was seen coming from Sherpur Kalan village when they were checking vehicles. The driver stopped the vehicle on seeing the police. Leaving the vehicle behind, the driver and three others fled after taking the advantage of fog around 7:30 am on Friday. When the police searched the vehicle, 85 bags of poppy husk weighing 29.75 quintal were recovered. Each bag was 35-kg in weight, he said. He said the accused have been identified as Harmail Singh of Hathoor village; Gurparamjit, alias Paramjit Singh, of Sidhwan. Both were identified by ASI Sayd Shakil, in charge police post at Galib Kalan and HC Darshan Singh, he said. A case under Sections 15, 25, 61, 85 of the NDPS Act has been registered at Jagraon Sadar police station against the accused. Surjeet Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Ludhiana Rural, said raids were on to nab the remaining accused. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Smita Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 14 Putting aside the Jerusalem vote row New Delhi voted in favour of a United Nations General Assembly resolution rejecting US recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel India and Israel today forged closer ties. Edit: Netanyahu comes to Delhi In departure from protocol and reciprocating his Israeli counterparts gesture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara at the airport. Both leaders shared a warm hug. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) This is the first official visit to India by an Israeli Prime Minister since Ariel Sharons in 2003. Your visit is historic and special. It will further cement the close friendship between our nations, PM Modi wrote on Twitter. Soon afterwards, the two participated in a ceremony at the Teen Murti Memorial marking the formal renaming of Teen Murti Chowk as Teen Murti Haifa Chowk. They paid homage to 44 Indian soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice for the liberation of fortified Haifa city on September 23, 1918, during World War I. The then 15 Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade, including Hyderabad, Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers, represented by three bronze statues at Teen Murti Haifa Chowk, had led a victorious assault on the joint forces of Ottomans, Germany and Austria-Hungary. The capture of Haifa cleared the sea route for supplies for Allies. Each year, 61 Cavalry celebrates September 23 as its Raising Day or Haifa Day. Modi wrote in Gujarati in the visitors book: The sacrifice commemorated at Teen Murti observes its centenary. Naming this spot as Teen Murti Haifa Chowk marks this historic occasion. We pay homage to the brave soldiers. Salute to the great Indian tradition of selfless sacrifice and penance. We are deeply moved and honoured as we remember the brave Indian soldiers who helped liberate our land and Haifa, wrote Sara and Benjamin Netanyahu, who were hosted for a private dinner by PM Modi tonight. Modi and Netanyahu had laid wreaths at the Indian War Cemetery in Haifa during the historic first-ever visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Israel last year. Tomorrow, Netanyahu will receive the ceremonial guard of honour and hold formal restricted and delegation talks with Modi. He will travel to Agra, Ahmedabad and Mumbai with Modi accompanying him for a large part of the visit. Netanyahu is accompanied by a 130-member business delegation. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM New Delhi, January 14 The government is planning to raise 15 new battalions in the countrys two important border guarding forcesthe BSF and the ITBPto fortify defence along the strategic frontiers with Pakistan, Bangladesh and China. A senior official in the Union Home Ministry said it was actively considering raising six fresh battalions in the Border Security Force (BSF) and nine in the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) force. Each battalion of these forces comprises about 1,000 operational jawans and officers. Sources in the BSF said the force had projected enhancing manpower by sanctioning of new units so that they could be deployed in the Assam and West Bengal flanks of the Indo-Bangladesh border even as a similar addition in numbers was required to effectively guard the India-Pakistan International Border (IB), especially in Punjab and Jammu regions, in the near future. The exact locations for the new battalions could be gauged as and when they are raised but a few areas along Bangladesh and Pakistan will remain a priority owing to their vulnerability profile such as infiltration, drugs smuggling, human trafficking and illegal migration, a senior BSF officer said. Similarly, the ITBP has been trying to reduce the inter-BoP (border out post) distance at the 3,488-km long icy frontier that it is tasked with guarding. The original projection was to have 12 fresh battalions for the ITBP but the force requires nine such units in the near future, a senior ITBP officer said. PTI ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM KV Prasad Reading maketh a full man... by Francis Bacon is often quoted in the context of how the habit of immersing into the world of books expands horizon. The New Year opened to one of the most awaited fairs, the World Book Fair, and extending its diplomatic outreach was European Union as guest of honour. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The nine-day event, that ended on Sunday, saw the participation of several well-known authors, publishers, illustrators and artists from the 13 EU member states Austria, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland. To keep up the tempo, the EU, along with its participating member states, organised over 30 events comprising book readings, workshops for children, debates, panel discussions, book launches, poetry and translation slams, holding more than one event each day. Books by celebrated authors, ranging from art-illustrated books to comics and fiction, were on display for the visitors to browse, but there was a catch, these were not on sale. Yet, it did not deter bookworms to savour the variety at display. Interaction with some famous names added flavour. Reading books has always been my safe haven and while growing up, it helped me avoid questions from grown-ups on what I wanted to do. Books gave me secret powers, is how Greek author Kalia Papadaki, a recipient of the 2017 EU prize for literature, told the audience. Another awarding-winning EU author, Jasmin B Frelih, spoke on how to brush up writing skills with a session on what it takes to write a gripping book. Environmental concern came up in the form of Hungarian artist Csilla Gevai conducting an interactive drawing workshop, underscoring the importance of environment and waste management for future generations. Another well-known author, JL Morin, discussed EUs contribution in combating climate change and about her experience in the city among the multitude of people. Children received special attention. One of the memorable events was release of the Hindi version of Swedish childrens books by renowned author Jujja Wieslander, whose The Mamma Moo series is about a talking cow and her best friend, a crow from the nearby woods. Swedish children books in Hindi are not new to India. This year, we are celebrating 20 years of Mamma Moo in Hindi, Klas Molin, Swedens Ambassador, said at the event marking the release of three more childrens books. Russian masquerade On Friday evening, Russian Ambassador Nikolay Kudashev and his wife Elena hosted the annual Traditional Masquerade of the Russian Orthodox Christmas Week, where members of the Russian Mission and many guests turned up in different attire, some donning masks. A fancy ball dancing to live performance by Oscar Band flown from Moscow kept the invitees literally on their feet while the Embassy complex shimmered in colourful lighting. pardeepdhull@gmail.com New Delhi, January 14 The government is planning to raise 15 new battalions in the countrys two important border guarding forces the BSF and the ITBP to fortify defence along the strategic frontiers with Pakistan, Bangladesh and China. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) A senior official in the Union Home Ministry said that it is actively considering raising six fresh battalions in the Border Security Force (BSF) and nine in the Indo- Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) force. Each battalion of these forces comprises about 1,000 operational jawans and officers. Sources in the BSF said the force has projected enhancing manpower by sanctioning of new units so that they can be deployed in the Assam and West Bengal flanks of the Indo- Bangladesh border even as a similar addition in numbers is required to effectively guard the Indo-Pak International Border (IB), especially in Punjab and Jammu regions, in the near future. The exact locations for the new battalions could be gauged as and when they are raised but a few areas along Bangladesh and Pakistan will remain a priority owing to their vulnerability profile such as infiltration, drugs smuggling, human trafficking and illegal migration, a senior BSF officer said. Similarly, the ITBP has been trying to reduce the inter-BoP (border out post) distance at the 3,488-km-long icy frontier that it is tasked with guarding. The original projection was to have 12 fresh battalions for the ITBP but the force requires nine such units in the near future, a senior ITBP officer said. The frequent instances of transgressions and confrontations with the Chinese army at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) are being seen as the major reason for the ITBP to enhance its numbers. The mountain-trained force has recently got sanctions to set up at least 47 new BoPs along the border for effective control of the Himalayan border area. The home ministry official said the new battalions would also help the two border guarding forces better rotate troops from forward locations to units in the mainland. While most of the BoPs of the ITBP are in highly arduous terrain and it is difficult and time-taking to reach them, many of the BSF locations at the two borders are also in high-altitude and harsh climate regions. While the BSF is the countrys largest border guarding force with a strength of about 2.5 lakh, the ITBP is about 90,000-personnel strong. The home ministry has three such forces under its command, the third being the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) that is tasked with guarding Indian borders with Nepal and Bhutan. PTI amansharma@tribunemail.com Ahmedabad, January 14 The Gujarat government on Sunday issued a notification banning the screening of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's upcoming period drama "Padmaavat" across the state, saying the step was necessary to maintain law and order. Before the Assembly polls in Gujarat in November last year, the state government had banned the movie, which was earlier titled as "Padmavati". While issuing the notification today, Minister of State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja said the ban on the movie was necessary to maintain law and order. As per the notification, the ban was imposed as per the provisions of the Gujarat Cinemas (Regulation) Act of 2004. "In exercise conferred by sub-section 1 of section 6 of the Act, Government of Gujarat hereby imposes the ban on Hindi feature film 'Padmaavat'...No cinema owners or distributors shall exhibit the said movie in any cinema/multiplex/ video cinema/touring cinema within the jurisdiction of Gujarat," the notification said. It added that the ban was imposed "in public interest and to maintain law and order situation in the state". While talking to reporters here, Jadeja said the act had a provision wherein the state can ban a movie if it has the potential to dilute the law and order situation and public order. "We have learnt that the movie, originally named as 'Padmavati' will be released with a new name 'Padmaavat'. However, people across the country are against the movie, as they feel that history has been distorted. With this notification, the movie will be considered as a non-certified one and will not be screened in the state," said Jadeja. The notification was issued days after the Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani announced that the ban on the movie will continue despite the change of name. PTI ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 14 After a stormy Friday, it was a hectic Sunday for the Bar and the Bench as judges and Bar leaders in the capital held parleys until late evening to get over the crisis created by a judicial mutiny by the four seniormost judges of the Supreme Court against Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra. As decided in its emergency meeting on Saturday, a seven-member delegation of Bar Council of India (BCI), led by chairman Manan Kumar Mishra, met the CJI and several other judges in an attempt to find an amicable solution to the problem. The BCI maintained that the issue should not be politicised. Mishra could not be reached for his comments. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Supreme Court Bar Association president Vikas Singh met the CJI and gave him a copy of a resolution passed in an emergency meeting of its executive committee. The CJI has told us that he would try to ensure congeniality in the Supreme Court at the earliest, Singh told The Tribune after meeting the CJI. In a resolution adopted on Saturday, the SCBA executive committee had said all issues raised by the four seniormost judges be discussed in a Full Court i.e. all the judges of the Supreme Court. It had also resolved that all PIL matters, including those listed on January 15, should be heard by the CJI or other top four judges.. In an unprecedented move, Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, MB Lokur and Kurian Joseph had on Friday left their pre-lunch judicial work mid-way and assembled at Justice Chelameswars residence for the press conference at 12.15 pm. The situation in the Supreme Court was not in order and many less than desirable things had taken place in the last few months, they had said. On Sunday, two Supreme Court judges Justices SA Bobde and LN Rao reportedly met Justice Chelameswar, sources said. Justice Gogoi had on Saturday said there is no crisis while Justice Jospeh had said that there was no need for an outside intervention. Meanwhile, four retired judges wrote an open letter to CJI Misra expressing their agreement with the issues raised by the four apex court judges over allocation of cases. They said the crisis needed to be resolved within the judiciary. The letter by former SC judge PB Sawant, former Delhi High Court Chief Justice AP Shah, former Madras High Court judge K Chandru and former Bombay High Court judge H Suresh was released to the media. Coordination Committee of All Delhi Bar Associations said the CJI should have kept his house in order and the grievances of the four senior judges should have been addressed immediately. However, it condemned the act of the four senior judges, saying they should not have brought the internal matters of the judiciary in public domain. Was suspicious about death, no longer: Loya son Mumbai: The son of special CBI judge BH Loya on Sunday said he had earlier been suspicious about his fathers sudden death, but now no longer harboured doubts. Anuj Loya, 21, said he did not have any doubts about the way his father died three years ago. Judge Loya, who was hearing the sensitive Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, had allegedly died of a cardiac arrest in Nagpur on December 1, 2014, when he had gone to attend the wedding of a colleagues daughter. He also urged NGOs and politicians to stop harassing his family. PTI Hectic Sunday in capital pardeepdhull@gmail.com Smita Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 14 Putting aside the Jerusalem vote row at the UN, India and Israel on Sunday forged closer ties. In departure from protocol and reciprocating his Israeli counterparts gesture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Benjamin Netanyahu and wife Sara at the airport. Both leaders embraced in warm hugs. This is the first official visit to India by an Israeli Prime Minister since Ariel Sharons visit in 2003. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Welcoming the guests, Modi wrote on Twitter, Your visit to India is historic and special. It will further cement the close friendship between our nations. Soon afterwards, Netanyahu and Modi participated in a ceremony at Teen Murti Memorial marking the formal renaming of Teen Murti Chowk into Teen Murti Haifa Chowk. The two prime ministers paid homage to 44 Indian soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for liberation of fortified Haifa city on 23 September, 1918, during World War I. The then 15 Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade, including Hyderabad, Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers, represented by three bronze statues at Teen Murti Haifa Chowk, led a victorious assault on joint forces of Ottomans, Germany and Austria-Hungary. The capture of Haifa cleared the sea route for supplies for Allies. Each year 61 Cavalry celebrates 23rd September as its Raising Day or Haifa Day. Modi wrote in Gujarati in the visitors book, The sacrifice commemorated at Teen Murti observes its centenary. Naming this spot as Teen Murti Haifa Chowk, marks this historic occasion. In the presence of the Prime Minister of Israel, we pay homage to the brave soldiers. Salute to the great Indian traditions of selfless sacrifice and penance. We are deeply moved and honored as we remember the brave Indian soldiers who helped liberate our land and Haifa, wrote Sara and Benjamin Netanyahu who will be hosted for a private dinner by Modi tonight. The two leaders had laid wreaths at the Indian War Cemetery in Haifa during the historic first ever visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Israel last year, also without a hyphenated tour to Palestine. On Monday, Netanyahu will receive ceremonial guard of honour and hold formal restricted and delegation talks with Modi. He will travel to Agra, Ahmedabad and Mumbai with Modi accompanying him for a large part of the visit. Netanyahu is accompanied by 130-member strong business delegation, including senior officials from Aeronautics Defense Systems, a drone making company under criminal investigations back home as per Israeli media. MoUs are likely in areas of agriculture, innovation and water management. Defence technology transfer and Indias support to two-state solution for Palestine will be tricky areas in the conversation. amansharma@tribunemail.com Mumbai, January 14 The son of special CBI judge B H Loya said on Sunday that although he and his family had earlier been suspicious about his father's sudden death three years ago, they no longer harboured doubts. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Anuj Loya, 21, while stating that his family was "pained" by the things happening over his father's death, also said NGOs and politicians should stop "harassing" his family members over the issue. "I had an emotional turmoil, hence I had suspicions about his death. But now we don't have any doubts about the way he died," the son of the late judge told reporters here. "Earlier, my grandfather and aunt had some doubts about his death, which they shared. But now neither of them has any doubts," he said. The deceased judge's father and Anuj's aunt had alleged foul play in his death. #WATCH: Anuj Loya, Justice Loya's son says, 'we are convinced that his was a natural death. We do not have any suspicion about it.' pic.twitter.com/WqghpxvXGx ANI (@ANI) January 14, 2018 Judge Loya, who was hearing the sensitive Sohrabuddin Sheikh "fake encounter" case, had allegedly died of a cardiac arrest in Nagpur on December 1, 2014, when he had gone to attend the wedding of a colleague's daughter. BJP chief Amit Shah, an accused in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case, had been discharged. With tears in his eyes, Anuj said, "We faced some pressure from politicians and NGOs. We don't want to name anyone, but please excuse my family from continuously asking about my father's death." Anuj is a second-year student of Law in a Pune-based college. "By going through some media reports and everything, (my) family is facing lots of troubles...because of all the things happening. We don't have any allegations against anyone. We are really pained to...like...we are already trying to get out of these things." "...I request you people, please don't try to harass us or trouble us. I want to convey to you all," he said. K B Katake, a retired district judge and family friend of Loya, who was also present at the conference, said, "The 85-year-old father of B H Loya is being harassed by some people, who are asking some questions in respect of death of his only son. And that creates panic in the family." "There was no suspicion in the minds of any family member in respect of death of justice Loya. However, the people are harassing and making family members panic," he alleged. "His (Anuj's) mother is ill. Every day she is required to take medical treatment. On behalf of Loya's family, I request you all media people to convey to those NGOs, lawyers and politicians not to go to his family, not to meet them and harass them like this, in respect of death of Mr Loya," the former district judge said. Anuj's press conference comes two days after four seniormost judges of the Supreme Court mounted a virtual revolt against the Chief Justice of India, raising questions on "selective" case allocation and certain judicial orders. One of the four senior-most judges, who held an unprecedented press conference on Friday, had said the matter involving judge Loya's death was one of the issues underpinning their differences with Chief Justice Dipak Misra. PTI ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Shubhadeep Choudhury 2018 is the centenary of the end of World War I. More than a million Indian soldiers took part in the war on behalf of Britain. Over 72,000 of them were killed. Among them was Indralal Roy, the first Indian to be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) by the RAF for his daredevilry in the skies. In two weeks from July 6 to July 19 (1918) Kolkata-born Roy had shot down 10 enemy aircraft in just over 170 hours of flying. Flying the British fighter plane SE5, he shot down three German aircraft on July 8 and two each on July 13 and July 15 a terrific run of success. Roy became the first Indian fighter ace. On July 22, he ran out of luck. His aircraft was shot down during a dogfight. He did not return from his mission. It was not until September 18 that it was officially assumed that he had been killed in action. In the end, the body of the 20-year-old was found and given a burial in a cemetery in France. Three days after he was officially declared dead, Roy was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery. Jolted by celebrations Unknown Indian Nirad C Chaudhuris knowledge of things European (with the exception of his reading of classics of French pornography) had almost entirely come from Kolkatas National Library (formerly known as the Imperial Library). Having faithfully served bookworms for more than a century now, the library was jolted out of its reverie by raucous celebrations by a section of its employees. Members of the BJP-affiliated employees association organised a picnic in the library premises and invited a DJ too. Readers were shocked to hear the loud music. Nothing was done to stop this. Till date no action has been taken on the matter. The library is run by the Union Ministry of Tourism and Culture. Kids to the fore One has read about such children in books or saw their acts re-enacted on the celluloid. But Rupa, Anil and Suvo, whose common sense and courage averted major railway mishaps, can be met in person. The trio, children of railway employees, noticed a fracture on the raily track between Simlagarh and Pundooah on the Bandel-Barddhaman section of Eastern Railway and alerted the guard with the help of Rupas mothers red shawl. The guard informed the Pundooah Station Master, who stopped the trains on either side. Track supervisors and maintainers rushed to the site and found a rail fracture. The presence of mind these three children averted a possible mishap. This is a brilliant example of public participation to ensure the safety of train operations, remaorked RN Mahapatra, CPRO, Eastern Railway. Eastern Railway acknowledged their gratitude to the children by handing them over cash awards of Rs 3,000 each. The children have been invited to a free visit of the Rail Museum with unlimited joyrides on a toy train. A school kit has been gifted to each of the three children. Bharati Ghosh Till the other day, she was the blue-eyed cop of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. It is not too clear what led Bharati Ghosh, the high-profile woman SP of West Midnapore, to displease the CM. After a dream run, Ghosh suddenly found herself transferred from the SPs job and posted as Commandant of a state armed police battalion. An aghast Bharati submitted her resignation from service which was promptly accepted. Her resignation has been followed by a series of transfers of police officials known to be close to her. Ghoses former colleagues, who had once flaunted their proximity to her, are now too scared to take her call. pardeepdhull@gmail.com New Delhi, January 14 Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra on Sunday met a seven-member delegation of the Bar Council of India (BCI) and assured it that the crisis following a virtual revolt by four seniormost Supreme Court judges against him would be sorted out soon. After a 50-minute meeting with the CJI, BCI chairman Manan Kumar Mishra, who headed the delegation, told reporters that the meeting took place in a congenial atmosphere and that Justice Misra assured them that everything would be sorted out soon. "We met the CJI in a congenial atmosphere and he said that everything would be sorted out soon," he said. Mishra added that before meeting the CJI, the panel had also discussed the crisis plaguing the higher judiciary with other judges, including three of the four seniormost judges, who had mounted a virtual revolt against Justice Misra at an unprecedented press conference here on Friday. He said the panel met justices J Chelameswar, M B Lokur, and Kurian Joseph and that they also assured it that everything would be sorted out. Mishra did not mention whether the panel had a talk with the fourth rebellious judge, Justice Ranjan Gogoi, who had gone out of station after Friday's presser. He added that the media would be informed about the BCI's daylong parleys with the Supreme Court judges at a press conference tomorrow. Hectic parleys took place throughout the day among the apex court judges as well over the crisis that has erupted after the virtual revolt by the four seniormost judges of the court against the CJI. Two top court judges -- justices S A Bobde and L Nageswara Rao -- met Justice Chelameswar, who had led the four judges at the unprecedented press conference, at his official residence here, sources said. The BCI panel also had a brief meeting with Justice Arun Mishra, who is in focus for hearing a PIL seeking a probe into the death of special CBI judge B H Loya. Loya, who was dealing with the Sohrabuddin Sheikh "fake encounter" case, had allegedly died of a cardiac arrest in Nagpur on December 1, 2014. The four rebellious judges had raised a question over the allocation of Loya's case to Justice Mishra. The four judges had flagged a litany of problems, including the assigning of cases in the apex court, and said there were certain issues afflicting the country's highest court. PTI editorial@tribune.com Mumbai, January 13 In yet another selfie-related tragedy, four students drowned and as many went missing on Saturday after their perfect selfie pursuit led to capsizing of a ferry carrying 40 students, off the Dahanu coast, 110 km from Mumbai. Two of the dead have been identified as Sonal Bhagwan Surti and Jhanavi Harish Surti. Both of them were 17 years old. According to the Palghar police, the incident happened around 11.30 pm shortly after the students from KL Ponda High School and Babubhai Junior College boarded the ferry. The ferry had moved 5 km from the shore at Parnaka when it suddenly capsized, throwing its occupants into the Arabian Sea, Palghar Superintendent of Police Manjunath Shinde said. Those who survived the mishap said several students gathered on one side of the ferry and in order to take selfies which disturbed its balance and caused it to tilt on side before capsizing. While the fisherfolk nearby pulled out 32 students, the bodies of four were recovered later in the afternoon. The Navy and the Coast Guard have diverted their ships and helicopters to join in the rescue effort, Shinde said. TNS editorial@tribune.com Ashis Ray London, January 13 India appears to have asked the British authorities to consider taking action against the anti-India, pro-Khalistan Sikh Federation UK, including proscribing the organisation. Effectively evolved from the International Sikh Youth Federation, the federation had last week announced a ban on officials of the Indian High Commission entering gurdwaras, which Indian diplomats promptly defied. The request for undertaking steps to contain the federation was according to a first-hand account made during a meeting between the Indian Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju and his British counterparts on Thursday. It was further pointed out to the UK that gurdwaras are trusts and fall under the ambit of the Charity Commission in the UK. Britain is said to have assured Rijiju that they were keeping the federation under check, but pleaded they had to follow a system to proscribe it. It, though, agreed there was a need for more cooperation between the two countries. To proscribe an outfit under the UKs Terrorism Act 2000, the British Secretary of State for Home Affairs can at his or her discretion take into account, among other factors, the need to support other members of the international community in the global fight against terrorism. In other words, arguably, hostility towards India cannot be ignored by Britain. Rijiju signed a memorandum of understanding with Britain under Co-operation and the Exchange of Information for the Purposes of Combating International Criminality and Tackling Serious Organised Crime. Clause 1.1 says: The aim of this Memorandum of Understanding is to establish a framework for the participants (meaning the two countries) to pursue options for strengthening cooperation and exchanging information in the areas of combating international criminality and tackling serious organised crime. The British Foreign Office is concerned the federations activities could jeopardise the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which Indian PM Narendra Modi is slated to attend, and bilateral talks on the same visit in April. This was indicated in confidence by a British diplomat directly engaged with the upcoming events. In the uncertain post-Brexit scenario, Britain is trying to entice India to play a leading role in creating a preferential trading and investment arrangement within the Commonwealth, with a secretariat headquartered in India. The immediate trigger for the federations diktat is assessed to be the detention and questioning in Punjab of UK-based Jagtar Singh Johal, suspected of being involved in killings in the state. It is obvious the federations writ doesnt run beyond gurdwaras, who are either afraid of or aligned to it. So as not to fall foul of the law and perhaps also conscious of its limitations, it cleverly worded its edict, saying high commission officials are barred from indulging in political activity at the temples. In the past year, the Indian Missions outreach to the Sikh community has dwindled the ranks of Sikh militants. The federation was proscribed by the British Government between 2001 and 2016. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Muktsar, January 14 Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal today announced some projects for this historic town, which included the release of first instalment of funds for the construction of a railway over bridge on the Jalalabad road, upgrading a stadium and Panjab Universitys Regional Centre here. In town to pay obeisance at Sri Muktsar Sahib gurdwara on the occasion of Maghi, Manpreet also announced the repair of memorial gates built on the outskirts of the town and Mukte Minar. Those accompanied him included Deputy Speaker Ajaib Singh Bhatti, Gidderbaha MLA Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and former Muktsar MLA Karan Kaur Brar. Replying to queries, Manpreet said the state government had fulfilled 125 of the total 428 promises listed in the poll manifesto, which had no financial implications, in the first go. The Congress government is doing its best to bring the states economy back on track. From our fourth Budget onwards, the state will become revenue surplus, he claimed. About the Congress not holding the conference this year, he said: Religious functions should be free from politics. The Congress had followed the directive of Akal Takht by not holding any conference at Shaheedi Jor Mela and now at Muktsar. Helipad made, but CM fails to turn up The administration had prepared a helipad for the arrival of CM Capt Amarinder Singh, but he did not turn up. Taking a dig, Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia said: The CM did not come as his chopper ran out of fuel. But when it comes to leisure trips, there is enough fuel. uttara@tribuneindia.com Washington NASA scientists have spotted the farthest known galaxy in the universe, a primitive cluster of stars just 500 million years old. An intensive survey deep into the universe by NASA's Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes has yielded the image of the galaxy named SPT0615-JD, stretched and amplified by a phenomenon called gravitational lensing. Though a few other primitive galaxies have been seen at this early epoch, they have essentially all looked like red dots given their small size and tremendous distances. However, in this case, the gravitational field of a massive foreground galaxy cluster not only amplified the light from the background galaxy but also smeared the image of it into an arc. "No other candidate galaxy has been found at such a great distance that also gives you the spatial information that this arc image does," said Brett Salmon of the Space Telescope Science Institute in the US. "By analysing the effects of gravitational lensing on the image of this galaxy, we can determine its actual size and shape," said Salmon. First predicted by Albert Einstein a century ago, the warping of space by the gravity of a massive foreground object can brighten and distort the images of far more distant background objects. Astronomers use this "zoom lens" effect to go hunting for amplified images of distant galaxies that otherwise would not be visible with today's telescopes. SPT0615-JD was identified in Hubble's Reionization Lensing Cluster Survey (RELICS) and companion S-RELICS Spitzer programme. "RELICS was designed to discover distant galaxies like these that are magnified brightly enough for detailed study," said Dan Coe, Principal Investigator of RELICS. By combining the Hubble and Spitzer data, Salmon calculated the lookback time to the galaxy of 13.3 billion years. Preliminary analysis suggests the diminutive galaxy weighs in at no more than 3 billion solar masses. It is less than 2,500 light-years across The object is considered prototypical of young galaxies that emerged during the epoch shortly after the Big Bang. The galaxy is right at the limits of Hubble's detection capabilities, but just the beginning for the upcoming NASA James Webb Space Telescope's powerful capabilities, said Salmon. "This galaxy is an exciting target for science with the Webb telescope as it offers the unique opportunity for resolving stellar populations in the very early universe," he said. PTI Rajeev Jayaswal Rajeev Jayaswal ON December 19, 1954, at the erstwhile Dyer Meakin Breweries in India, a dark rum was born, which was fondly called Old Monk. Nurtured under a strict disciplinarian, Brigadier Kapil Mohan (rtd), it was destined to become a personality cult velvety, silky, chocolaty-brown guru of spirits that releases an intoxicating aroma that reminds of lovely vanilla known for its consistency. The custodian, Kapil Mohan, instilled steadiness in Old Monk that remained its character even after six decades. Nothing changed, not even its short-stocky shape, but its curator is no more. Mohan died on January 6. Social media mourned the death of the teetotaler who knew what exactly excited the tipplers. People from all walks of life including students, actors, unknown executives, struggling artists and not-so-popular journalists shared their grief on twitter. The old monk ruled hearts mainly because of its affordability and character of defiance. Snobs are those rich and powerful who drink single malt whiskies distilled in the Scottish valleys. I have witnessed the height of snobbery, when an influential, but not a rich person (identity withheld) insisted on having Old Monk with coke at an elite party. There are instances when journalists braved the chilling winter of Davos (Switzerland) during the World Economic Forum, with the help of Old Monk. Interestingly, they carefully carried their supply all the way from India. Indeed, Old Monk has made Kapil Mohan immortal. According to the companys website, Old Monks lineage is traced back to Edward Dyer, who had set up a brewery at Kasauli in 1855 under the banner of E Dyer & Co. He was the father of Colonel Reginald Edward Harry Dyer, the notorious butcher of the Jallianwala Bagh. During the same period, HG Meakin, another enterprising man, founded Meakin & Co Ltd and built breweries at Dalhousie, Ranikhet, Chakrarta and Darjeeling. They both joined hands to form Dyer Meakin & Co Ltd. Later, in 1949, NN Mohan took control of its affairs. The company was rechristened as Mohan Meakin Breweries Ltd on November 1, 1966. It is now known as Mohan Meakin Ltd. NN Mohan set up a big industrial hub Mohan Nagar near Ghaziabad, UP, and his family exerted considerable influence in the state politics. The company grew to become a Rs 400-crore venture under the stewardship of Kapil Mohan, who ran it in his unique way. He was against any advertisement either in print or electronic. He was confident that products from his company Old Monk, Golden Eagle and Solan No.1 did not require any advertising push. Initially, he saw success. Old Monk became the No. 1 rum brand in India and the No. 3 in the world by selling around 8 million cases. But, the conservative marketing strategy could not withstand the new wave that needed bubbly, young and agile brand image. Old Monk slipped to about 3.5 million cases and lost its top position to Bacardi. For almost a decade, the company has been making efforts to re-establish its lost glory under Kapil Mohans successors Hemant and Vinay Mohan. They have been able to push the sales of iconic Old Monk to 5 million cases. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM LORD Northcliff, head of the British War Mission to America, sent an inspiring message to Reuter a few days ago. "Linking up all efforts and resources, not only between Great Britain and her Allies," he said, "but also between the various great dominions and the Motherland is essential to a speedy victory." Again: "I urge closer and more intimate co-ordination not only between the Allies but Australia, New Zealand, South Africa of the Empire, for I am convinced that closer and yet closer companionship between all that the British Empire means and the United States of America is the only thing that can save civilisations." He does not give specific details of what he wants, but no one can doubt that he utters a great truth, of which the full force and meaning has yet to be realised. And it will never be realised adequately so long as papers like the Globe, which are perpetually pandering to the worst racial passion, will continue to obtain a hearing. sanjiv@tribunemail.com Tribune News Service Dehradun, January 14 Following the arrest of four notorious criminals from Punjab from the posh-Rajendranagar locality of Dehradun, the capital city has yet again become a safe haven for criminals from outside the state. The Dehradun police along with Punjab Police on Saturday evening arrested four notorious criminals from Punjab, including Harsimrandeep Singh alias Simma, who carried a reward of Rs 2 lakh on his head and is linked to five murder and several extortion cases. The criminals were staying in a rented house with landlord having little knowledge of their antecedents. The landlord had even failed to undertake the mandatory verification of the tenants, who turned out to be criminals. Landlord Harish Bhatia, who was questioned by the local police asserted that he had rented house to Harsh only three months back and was about to undertake the verification process. This is not the first time that criminals from outside the state have found safe haven in Uttarakhands capital Dehradun. Two years ago, the conspiracy of infamous Nabha jailbreak was hatched in Dehradun. Gangster Palwinder Singh had made the entire jailbreak plan in Dehradun. Similarly, in 2017, a dreaded criminal from Jharkhand was found staying at Aman Vihar locality of Dehradun, who was later arrested by the police. Punjab criminals held The Dehradun police, along with the Punjab Police, on Saturday arrested four notorious criminals from Punjab, including Harsimrandeep Singh, alias Simma, who carried a reward of Rs 2 lakh on his head and is linked to five murder and several extortion cases. sanjiv@tribunemail.com Tribune News Service Dehradun, January 14 Hundreds of ex-servicemen from the state celebrated the second Veterans Day at Uttarakhand sub-area here today. The day began with a march-past by veterans with the army band at the Mall Road, Garhi Cantt Dehradun. The march culminated at the Lal Gate War Memorial where a wreath laying ceremony took place in the remembrance of martyred soldiers. Uttarakhand sub-area GOC Maj Gen JS Yadav honoured 48 ex-servicemen above 80 years of age, included 20 disabled, four war widows and 24 veterans. Maj General Yadav said the basic objective behind the celebration was to honour ex-servicemen as well as to resolve the problems they were facing, post retirement. The information useful to the veterans was shared on the occasion in the form of various organised lectures by military hospital, Pay and Pension Cell, ECHS and Rajya Sainik Board. gspannu7@gmail.com Vatican City, January 14 Pope Francis called today for hospitality towards migrants, calling it a sin to give in to fear of the other as he marked the World Day of Migrants and Refugees. It is not easy... to put oneself in the shoes of people so different from us, the pontiff said during a solemn mass at St Peters Basilica. Local communities are sometimes afraid that the newly arrived will disturb the established order, will steal something they have long laboured to build up, Francis said. While such fears are not a sin, said the spiritual leader of the worlds 1.3 billion Roman Catholics the sin is to refuse to encounter the other, the different, the neighbour. The sin is to allow these fears to determine our responses, to limit our choices, to compromise respect and generosity, to feed hostility and rejection, Francis said, adding: We often refuse to encounter the other and raise barriers to defend ourselves. The 81-year-old pontiff, himself the son of immigrants to Italy from Argentina, has championed the cause of migrants and asylum seekers since his election in 2013. His first official trip outside Rome was to the tiny Italian island of Lampedusa, which was at the time the first point of arrival in Europe for thousands of migrants. In April 2016, Francis visited the Greek island of Lesbos, a main entry point to Greece for migrants travelling from the Turkish coast, and returned home with three families of Syrian refugees aboard the papal plane. Every stranger who knocks at our door is an opportunity for an encounter with Jesus Christ, who identifies with the welcomed and rejected strangers of every age, Francis said today. Tomorrow Francis will begin an eight-day tour of his native South America, visiting Peru and Chile. AFP pardeepdhull@gmail.com Sydney, January 14 When Australia said this month it would allow exports of medicinal cannabis in a bid to dominate a global market set to be worth $55 billion by 2025, investors scrambled to buy shares in marijuana companies pushing several of them, and the sector as a whole, to record highs. But convoluted and restrictive licensing demands, substantial finance requirements and a guarded medical profession means even Australias largest marijuana companies are at least a year away from a commercial crop. And doubts linger about the prospects for smaller entities, belying the governments ambitious plans to be the worlds leading exporter. There will be more cannabis used in Australia and overseas over the next 10, 20 and 50 years but it is not clear that any of the local market can capture that, let alone make money from it, said Scott Phillips, director of research at investment company Motley Fool. Look at the gold rush: sure, some made money, but the biggest winners were the sellers of the shovels. Australias medicinal cannabis sector, with 12 listed companies, produces a range of products that include chronic pain management and acne creams with extracts of marijuana to aid acne. The businesses acknowledge some barriers to growth but say they are primed to profit from a maturing market. Australia already produces 50 percent of the worlds legal poppies, which are processed into pharmaceutical opiates such as morphine and codeine. Last year, it expanded its legal drug market by legalising medicinal marijuana use, a move that spurred a wave of IPOs and backdoor listings on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX). Contradicting the hype, however, only several hundred patients in Australia have so far been prescribed medical cannabis, data from the countrys Ministry for Health show, as local doctors remain wary of the benefits of marijuana. The reluctance of doctors has curtailed the growth of Australias cannabis market. Australian law requires the seven companies licensed to grow medicinal cannabis to produce only enough to meet domestic demand. But when the Australian government said it planned to allow medicinal cannabis exports - perhaps within months - the three largest companies, AusCann Group, Cann Group and Hydroponics Company immediately looked for ways to expand production. Cann Groups chief executive, Peter Crock, said the company hopes to complete a new 16,000- to 20,000-square-metre medicinal cannabis facility this year, while Hydroponics Companys chief executive, David Radford, said a new production site to produce enough marijuana for 16,000 patients was 95 percent complete. Even once the facilities are built, however, both companies might not be allowed to grow an exportable crop right away. Australia said it will only allow exports of processed or manufactured cannabis products such as oil extracts, which require a separate manufacturing licence. Obtaining a licence is an exhaustive and complicated process, Crock said. Cann Group hopes to have full regulatory approval by the time its new facility is ready at the end of 2018. Only AusCann Group has all required licences. But the company has not yet finalised its production plans, managing director Elaine Darby told Reuters. Growing market Despite licensing issues, Australias largest medicinal companies say they have secured sufficient capital for expansion. Analysts warn that capital restraints could hamstring the smaller players as a wave of IPOs, which fuelled the growth of Australias medicinal cannabis industry in the past year, may be threatened by U.S. regulatory uncertainty. The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has moved to allow federal prosecutors to more aggressively enforce marijuana laws. That throws uncertainty into what is expected to be the worlds most lucrative market. The ASX in December said it would require would-be public marijuana companies to provide evidence that their business could be lawfully carried out in the United States, under both federal and state law. Lawyers said that could deter potential listings. The newfound U.S. government resistance to cannabis bucks a global trend, as a growing number of countries not only legalise its use but also take aim at the export market. Canada dominates global production and exports, worth C$6.2 billion in 2015, according to the countrys statistics office. But recent moves to legalise recreational cannabis could create opportunities for other countries to capitalise. Australia will join Uruguay, Israel and the Netherlands in looking to fill the potential shortfall in supply. With demand skewed toward North America and Europe, Australias export supplies will face a freight disadvantage. But like the countrys agriculture sector, it is positioning itself as a producer of a premium product. The Australian cannabis market is akin to the wine industry: youll have your premium, Grange hermitage wines, and then you will have goon bags. We will at the premium end, said Radford, referring to the difference in price between one of the of the worlds top vintages and cheap, boxed wine. Reuters vermaajay1968@gmail.com Tunis, January 14 Tunisians today marked seven years since the uprising that launched the Arab Spring, with more protests after days of unrest over persisting poverty and unemployment. The North African country is seen as having had a relatively smooth democratic transition since the January 14, 2011 toppling of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali after 23 years in power. But seven years later, anger has risen over new austerity measures after a year of rising prices, with protests again chanting the 2011 slogans of Work, Freedom, Dignity. Today, hundreds gathered in the capital Tunis, responding to calls to protest from a powerful labour union and several political parties. Security was tight as protesters poured through checkpoints into the capitals Habib Bourguiba Avenue, which was the epicentre of the 2011 protests. Demonstrators chanted against poverty and hunger as they marched up the avenue, accusing thieves of having stolen the country. A wave of peaceful protests and night-time unrest hit cities and towns across the country this past week, after hikes in value-added tax and social security contributions introduced in early January. The interior ministry says it has arrested more than 800 people suspected of taking part in violence, theft and looting since the start of the unrest. Today, more than 1,000 people gathered outside the offices of the UGTT union. Tunisia has been praised for its steps towards democracy in the years since, compared to countries now wracked by war such as Syria or Yemen. But authorities have struggled to redress Tunisias economy, including after deadly jihadist attacks in 2015 dealt a major blow to the key tourism sector. AFP vermaajay1968@gmail.com Washington/Honolulu, Jan 14 A false alert warning of a ballistic missile aimed at Hawaii today triggered panic in the US territory, forcing authorities to apologise for the human error, amidst fears of an attack by North Korea. At around 8.07 am local Hawaii time, an emergency alert was sent to all cell phones in caps. Ballistic missile threat inbounds to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill. About 10 minutes later, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency tweeted that there was no such threat. No missile threat to Hawaii, it said. The second emergency alert went out at 8:45 am. There is no missile threat or danger to the State of Hawaii. Repeat. False Alarm, it said. Hawaii Governor David Ige said human error caused the alert to go out. It was a mistake made during a standard procedure at the change over of a shift, and an employee pushed the wrong button, he was quoted as saying by CNN. Ige also tweeted that he is meeting with top defence and emergency management officials from the state to determine what caused this mornings false alarm and to prevent it from happening again. Ige said the emergency management agency after the incident ordered a change in its procedures requiring two employees, not just one, to send out such an alert in the future. He said such shift changes occur three times a day every day of the year. US Pacific Command in a separate statement said it detected no ballistic missile threat to Hawaii. Earlier message was sent in error, it said. Wireless emergency alerts are usually dispatched during critical emergency situations and are a partnership of the Federal Communications Commission, Federal Emergency Management Agency and the wireless industry. Shortly after the false alarm, FCC chairman Ajit Pai said the commission was launching an investigation into what happened. Hawaii Senator Brian Schatz also took to Twitter yesterday in the wake of the false alarm. There is no missile threat, the Democratic senator tweeted. It was a false alarm based on a human error. There is nothing more important to Hawaii than professionalizing and fool-proofing this process. White House Deputy Press Secretary Lindsay Walters said President Donald Trump has been briefed on the state of Hawaiis emergency management exercise. The alert came when tension with North Korea has been at one of the highest points in decades, and when North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un has promised more missile tests and threatened an atmospheric nuclear test. Less than two months ago, Hawaii reinstated its Cold War-era nuclear warning sirens amid growing fears of an attack by North Korea. If a missile were launched by North Korea toward Hawaii, the 1.4 million residents of the islands would have only about 20 minutes notice before it hit. Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard said the people of Hawaii just got a sense of the stark reality of what a nuclear strike on Hawaii would be. Hawaiian residents and tourists described an island paradise turned upside down as people crawled under tables in cafes, were ushered into military hangars and huddled around televisions to watch the news for the latest developments after the alert was issued. PTI Just got a sense of stark reality of N-strike "Over a million of Hawaiis people were faced with the immediate reality of having 15 minutes to find a place to take shelter, wondering where do I go? What shelter is going to protect me & my family from a nuclear bomb? But theres nowhere to go, nowhere to hide. Everyone in America needs to understand that if you had to go through this, you would be as angry as I am-I have been talking about the seriousness of this threat for years." Tulsi Gabbard, Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii pardeepdhull@gmail.com Hong Kong, January 14 The Hong Kong police arrested a South Korean man on suspicion of murder on Sunday after his wife and seven-year-old son were found dead in a room at the five star Ritz-Carlton hotel. Officers found the bodies after being called to the luxury hotel at 8:30 am to investigate a reported assault, police told Reuters. The man appeared drunk and injured when he was arrested, police said, and he was sent to hospital. Ritz Carlton did not immediately respond to requests for comments by phone and by email, and the South Korean consulate could not be reached as it was outside office hours. No further details are immediately available. The Ritz-Carlton is located on the top 15 floors of Hong Kongs tallest building, the International Commerce Centre, and overlooks the Victoria Harbour. Reuters pardeepdhull@gmail.com GAZA, January 14 The Israeli military said on Sunday it had destroyed a cross-border attack tunnel that ran from Gaza into Israel and Egypt, dug by the Hamas, the Islamist group that controls the Palestinian enclave. Residents in Gaza said Israeli jets bombed an area east of the southern town of Rafah, by the Egyptian and Israeli borders, late on Saturday night. Israel confirmed the attack immediately after, but gave no details until Sunday. "We understand this was a terror tunnel because it runs underneath strategic facilities," Israeli military spokesman Colonel Jonathan Conricus said, referring to gas and fuel pipelines, as well as an army position it ran under. "It could also have served to transfer terrorists from the Gaza strip into Egypt in order to attack Israeli targets from Egypt." Hamas did not comment. Conricus said the tunnel destroyed Saturday was dug by key operatives of Hamas and was 1.5 km long (about one mile), penetrating 180 km under the Kerem Shalom border crossing into Israel and into Egypt. "It is definitely a possibility that an attack was imminent," Conricus said, but would not elaborate further. Kerem Shalom, the main passage point for goods entering Gaza, was shut down on Saturday before the Israeli attack. Tensions have risen in the region since President Donald Trump reversed decades of US policy on December 6 by recognising Jerusalem as Israels capital. Palestinians in Gaza have launched 18 cross-border rockets or mortars and 15 protesters and two gunmen have been killed by Israeli fire. Escalation could easily occur, even though both sides have signalled they do not want that to happen. During the last Gaza war, in 2014, Hamas fighters used dozens of tunnels to blindside Israels superior forces and threaten civilian communities near the frontier. The Israeli military said it has destroyed three such tunnels in the past two months, but that it was not seeking escalation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the tunnel was a "major terrorism infrastructure belonging to Hamas in the Gaza Strip. "Hamas must understand that we will not allow these attacks to continue and that we will respond with even greater force," he told reporters before boarding a flight to India. Israel has been constructing a sensor-equipped underground wall along the 60-km (36-mile) Gaza border, aiming to complete the $1.1 billion project by mid-2019. Reuters vermaajay1968@gmail.com Vikas Datta An abiding image of much of the Arab world now would be members of an indiscriminate and unconscionable violent Islamist terror group, but it was not always like that. A few decades ago, the model was a hugely charismatic and genuinely popular ruler (despite coming to power by revolution) who inspired hope and dignity in his own countrymen and the region-but was reviled and undermined by the West. Egypts travails may have started under the rule of Gamal Abdel Nasser (1918-70), whose 100th birth anniversary is on January 15, but he also deserves credit for ending the rule of a ruinous foreign elite, finally evicting the British colonisers (and cutting them to size) and striving for social justice, modernisation, and a cultural revival-a famous TV clip shows him laughing at the Islamist demand that women should be compulsorily veiled. During his nearly decade-and-a-half rule, he was always accessible to all, at home among the people in a way that his contemporaries-or even present statesmen-can rarely imagine. Nasser made mistakes too, like laying foundations of authoritarian rule but especially leading his country and the Arab world into a ruinous war in 1967, subsequently seen as the root of West Asias problems-but, to be fair, it was one he never wanted. And while his legacy was long sought to be discredited by his successors as well as detractors in West Asia and elsewhere, it has endured. During the Arab Spring, protesters not only in Cairo but other Arab capitals too brandished his pictures-making him possibly the only Arab statesman to be so honoured. Born in Alexandria in the family of a postal employee, Nasser was politically active from his student days, getting injured while leading a protest in 1935. Due to his police record as an agitator, his first application, in 1937, to enter the army was rejected but he succeeded the second time. He saw action in the First Arab-Israeli War of 1948, in which the performance of his unit in the battle of Falluja pocket-where he was also wounded-cemented his reputation and led him to be promoted. He was a prominent leader of the Free Officers, though the more well-known General Mohammed Naguib was its face that deposed King Farouk and proclaimed Egypt a republic. He himself came to the forefront after the October 26, 1954, assassination bid on him by a Muslim Brotherhood activist in Alexandria when he was delivering a speech, broadcast across the Arab world, to celebrate the British withdrawal. The gunman, who was only a few feet away, fired eight shots at him, but all of them missed. Amid the tumult, Nasser remained composed, and loudly appealed for calm and emotionally said: My countrymen, my blood spills for you and for Egypt. I will live for your sake and die for the sake of your freedom and honour. Let them kill me; it does not concern me so long as I have instilled pride, honour, and freedom in you. If Gamal Abdel Nasser should die, each of you shall be Gamal Abdel Nasser... Gamal Abdel Nasser is of you and from you and he is willing to sacrifice his life for the nation. That was a turning point. Naguib was soon placed under house arrest (though he ended up outliving his junior) and his supporters sidelined. Under Nasser, Egypt made enormous strides-the Aswan Dam and Helwan City, and his Pan-Arabism united the region, or most of it, quite effectively-and the 1956 Suez Crisis made him a global figure. But it was 1967 that finished him off-though Nasser angled for a political resolution to the Palestine issue despite his assessment of Israeli obduracy, his sabre-rattling led to a war that thoroughly tarnished all modernist, secular nationalist Arab leaders and left the way open for radicals and Islamists. The final nail in his coffin came when Nasser attempted to broker an end to the Palestinian-Jordan infighting at the Arab League summit in 1970, despite the intransigence of both sides. His deputy (and successor) Anwar el-Sadat recalled him upbraiding Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat that I havent done all this for you... wrecked my health in this manner... to be rewarded with such ingratitude. He was soon dead of a massive heart attack, aged only 52. IANS Today is 100th birth anniversary of man who modernised Egypt gspannu7@gmail.com London, January 14 The UK Independence Party has suspended the membership of the girlfriend of the partys leader after she reportedly made racist remarks about Prince Harrys fiancee, American actress Meghan Markle. In a statement, Jo Marney apologised for the shocking language she used in a series of text messages to a friend, but said her words had been taken out of context. The Mail on Sunday reported that the 25-year-old Marney made offensive comments about Markle and black people, including calling them ugly. Markle, who will wed Harry in May, has spoken publicly and written about being biracial, including how it affected her acting career. Party leader Henry Bolton said Marneys membership in UKIP was suspended immediately. Marney doesnt hold an official post in the party. AP Lucknow, Jan 14 (UNI) The toll in Barabanki hooch tragedy has soared to 14 after death of one more person in hospital during treatment. Police sources here on Sunday said Shiv Prakash Gautam (40), admitted after consuming spirit alcohol, died during treatment in district hospital. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had expressed profound grief over the deaths in the hooch tragedy in Barabanki and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the family of each of the deceased. However, District Magistrate Akhilesh Tiwari had submitted his report to the administration confirming only three deaths due to consumption of spirit alcohol. The DM said besides three deaths due to liquor, one person died due to heart attack, two after being taken ill due to cold and five others died due to different diseases. He said the families of deceased told that they were taken ill after consuming spirit and were rushed to a hospital where they died. UNI JDM AE 1401 There have been reports of 35 French children getting salmonella poisoning after drinking contaminated milk powder made by diary giant Lactalis AFP/DAMIEN MEYER There have been reports of 35 French children getting salmonella poisoning after drinking contaminated milk powder made by diary giant Lactalis AFP/DAMIEN MEYER Emmanuel Besnier, scion of the secretive family behind one of the world's biggest dairy groups, was speaking publicly for the first time since an outcry erupted over claims the company hid the salmonella outbreak at a plant making the product. "We must take account the scale of this operation: more than 12 million boxes are affected," he said, adding that distributors would no longer have to sort through the produce to find the contaminated powder. "They know that everything has to be removed from the shelves," Besnier said. Besnier, who was summoned to the French finance ministry on Friday, promised compensation for all the families affected. He said that the consequences of this health crisis for consumers, including babies under six months, were at the forefront of his mind. "It is for us, for me, a great concern," he told the Journal du Dimanche. Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed against the group by families who say their children got salmonella poisoning after drinking powdered milk made by the company. So far French officials have reported 35 cases of infants getting salmonella from the powder, while one case has been reported in Spain and another is being investigated in Greece. An association representing victims says the authorities are underestimating the number of cases. "There are complaints and there will be an investigation with which we will fully collaborate. We never thought to act otherwise," Besnier said. Created in 1933 by Besnier's grandfather, Lactalis has become an industry behemoth with annual sales of some 17 billion euros (US$20.6 billion), with products including Galbani ricotta and mozzarella in Italy. With 246 production sites in 47 countries, its list of products also features household names like President butter and Societe roquefort. Two of those brands, Picot and Milumel baby milk, were the subject of chaotic international recalls issued in mid-December after dozens of children fell sick. The scandal deepened this month when French investigative weekly Le Canard Enchaine reported that state inspectors had given a clean bill of health to the Lactalis site in Craon, northwest France, in early September. They failed to find the salmonella bacteria that had been detected by Lactalis's own tests in August and November, which were not reported to the authorities. The company said it was not legally bound to report the contamination. A picture taken on Jan 12, 2018 at The Beauval Zoo in Saint-Aignan-sur-Cher shows cub panda Yuan Meng playing with its mother Huan Huan inside its new enclosure. (Photo: AFP/Guillaume Souvant) Yuan Meng, which means "making a dream come true" in Chinese, was introduced into his new enclosure in Beauval zoo in central France along with his mother as adoring onlookers ringed the site. "We got up at 3.00 in the morning. My son absolutely wanted to see the cub," said Delphine who had travelled from the Paris region. "We felt we took part in a historic moment. It was very moving," she said. Zoo veterinarian Baptiste Mulot said the cub had been brought to the enclosure over the past 10 days to familiarise himself with the surroundings. Panda reproduction, in captivity or in the wild, is notoriously difficult because the female panda is only in heat once a year for about 48 hours. But the number of pandas worldwide has rebounded since the black-and-white bear was declared an endangered animal in the 1980s, thanks to efforts to protect it and its habitat. China has dispatched its national treasure to only about a dozen countries, using the animal as a symbol of close relations. A female and male mate arrived in Beauval in 2012 after high-level negotiations between Paris and Beijing, but Yuan Meng was born through artificial insemination. Barbara A. Higgins age 65 of Alexandria died on Monday, August 23, 2021, at Sanford Health in Fargo. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 1:00 PM on Friday, September 10, 2021, at the Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria. Visitation will be held for one hour prior the service at the fu Photo: Gary Gershoff/Getty Images for Peabody Comedian and actor Aziz Ansari has been accused by a New Yorkbased photographer of sexual misconduct during a date. Speaking anonymously with Babe, the 23-year-old woman claims she met Ansari at an Emmys after-party in L.A. last fall. They exchanged numbers, which led to a date in Manhattan about a week later. The woman said the date began normally, with dinner at an outdoor oyster bar, but when they went to Ansaris apartment afterward, things quickly escalated to a point of discomfort. In a second, his hand was on my breast, the woman recounted. It was 30 minutes of me getting up and moving and him following and sticking his fingers down my throat again. It was really repetitive. It felt like a fucking game most of my discomfort was expressed in me pulling away and mumbling. I know that my hand stopped moving at some points, I stopped moving my lips and turned cold. When the woman reiterated her reluctance to do anything sexual that evening, Ansari reportedly listened at first, but soon chose to persist anyway. He sat back and pointed to his penis and motioned for me to go down on him. And I did. I think I just felt really pressured. It was literally the most unexpected thing I thought would happen at that moment because I told him I was uncomfortable, she continued. After one last attempt at watching TV with Ansari, the woman says the actor allegedly kissed her again, stuck his fingers down her throat again, and moved to undo her pants, which prompted her to leave. In a cell-phone screenshot obtained by Babe, Ansari allegedly texted the woman the next day to thank her for the fun evening. Last night mightve been fun for you, but it wasnt for me, she responded. You ignored clear non-verbal cues; you kept going with advances. Im so sad to hear this, he responded. Clearly, I misread things in the moment and Im truly sorry. Ansaris reps didnt respond to Babes request for comment. Nothing but respect for my Princess Margarets. Honoured. That was the only Anglo-Saxon verbiage required from The Crowns Vanessa Kirby on Instagram last night, when she posted a photo of herself and Helena Bonham Carter smiling in different directions. For some people, this photo means nothing at all: Cool! Two talented British actresses like to hang out with messy ponytails! But for Crown viewers, this means everything. Its been recently reported that Bonham Carter was in final negotiations to replace Kirby as Princess Margaret on the Netflix drama as the series progresses several decades later and this photo pretty much confirms it. Let the nicotine-fueled fun begin. (CNN) -- Prosecutors in Dallas will decide in the coming weeks whether to seek the death penalty against the adoptive father of a 3-year-old girl whose body was found two weeks after she went missing. A grand jury in Dallas County, Texas, on Friday returned several charges, most notably capital murder, against Wesley Mathews. He is accused of killing Sherin Mathews in October 2017. Richardson Texas Police Department via AP, File Richardson Texas Police Department via AP, File Mathews, 37, told police that he disposed of the child's body after she choked on her milk early on October 7, according to a probable cause affidavit released at the time. Authorities were tight-lipped at a news conference Friday, saying they did not want to prejudice a jury and were continuing to investigate. "We do want to make certain justice is done on behalf of this little 3-year-old," said District Attorney Faith Johnson. "We will be seeking justice on her behalf." The child's body was found in a culvert beneath a road. The medical examiner ruled Sherin, who was from India, died from homicidal violence but did not release additional details, CNN affiliate KTVT reported. "Based on the autopsy report we were able to determine we could seek capital murder in this case," Johnson said Friday. Mathews previously was charged with injury to a child, a first-degree felony punishable with a maximum 99 years in prison, police in the Dallas suburb of Richardson said. Friday's indictment adds abandoning a child and tampering with evidence, second-degree allegations punishable by two to 20 years in prison. The girl's adoptive mother, Sini Mathews, 35, faces one count of abandoning a child. That stems from the couple's decision to leave the girl at home on October 6 while they went out to dinner with their biological child, according to the indictment. CNN reached out to attorneys for the couple for comment, but received no reply. Attorney David Kleckner said in November at a hearing about custody of the couple's biological child that Wesley Mathews is "a good father, a loving man and loves his family." Sini Mathews has maintained her innocence, KTVT has reported. Father's later story to police Mathews had initially told authorities he made Sherin stand outside because she wouldn't drink her milk, and she disappeared. In a second interview about two weeks after Sherin went missing, the father gave a different account. He told a detective that he had been trying to get Sherin to drink her milk in the garage, and she wouldn't listen to him, the affidavit states. She then began drinking the milk. Read the affidavit for yourself "Wesley Mathews then physically assisted the 3-year-old in drinking the milk," last year's affidavit states. "The 3-year-old began to choke. She was coughing and her breathing slowed. Eventually Wesley Mathews no longer felt a pulse on the child and believed she had died." The father said he removed the body from the home, the affidavit says. Wesley Mathews was jailed on $1 million bond last fall. Johnson said she would seek a higher amount. The-CNN-Wire & 2018 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved. Hawaiians woke up to emergency alerts on their phones today about an imminent ballistic missile attack which they later learned was a false alarm. The emergency alert was sent to people's mobile phones in Hawaii at about 8:08 a.m. local time with the startling words, "BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL." A mistaken alert went out Saturday warning of a missile headed toward Hawaii. A mistaken alert went out Saturday warning of a missile headed toward Hawaii. Melissa Harman and her husband, who live in Huntsville, were on a trip in a Hawaii when it happened. Harman says both she and her husband do have a military background, but they never would have expected anything like this on their last day of vacation. "I bolted out of bed and was like Matthew, did you get that alert," Harman said. Harman described the atmosphere as chaotic, and even though the alert ended up being a hoax, the fear was real. "[There was] worry, the condo next to us you could hear screaming, the lady next to me was saying, 'oh my God, we're under attack," Harman said. Harman said the most concerning part for her, was the delay in hearing from the Hawaiin government about weather or not the alert was actually a threat. "The conversation needs to be had [about] whats going on, I mean this is a real threat," Harman said. A spokesman for the U.S. Pacific Command, Dave Benham, told ABC News in a statement that no ballistic missile threat to Hawaii was detected. "Earlier message was sent in error. State of Hawaii will send out a correction message as soon as possible," Benham said. When asked for comment on the emergency alert, a spokesperson for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said in a statement to ABC News, We see absolutely nothing from NORAD in terms of a missile warning and refer you to the state of Hawaii There are new details on a deadly house fire that happened early this morning on Huntsville's Rideout Drive Northwest. Chief Deputy Coroner Tyler Berryhill confirms 76-year-old William Arthur Lamb is the man who died in the fire. Firefighters told WAAY 31 they can't confirm what caused the fire. However, the home is a total loss. The family of William Arthur Lamb wanted privacy to grieve. Officials said the house went into flames around 1 a.m. It took firefighters 20 minutes to control the fire. First, they had to cut tree limbs so their trucks could make it to the house. When they got close enough to fight the fire, the home was engulfed in flames. Neighbors told crews they thought someone was inside. Around 2 a.m., firefighters found a lamb in his bedroom. Frank Mackenzie with the Huntsville Fire Department told me by Monday, they should know the cause of the fire. The State Fire Marshals is also assisting with the investigation. People in Athens are honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by serving the community. On Saturday, volunteers painted restrooms at the Family Resource Center on Jefferson Street in Athens. The Chair of the Athens Limestone MLK Holiday celebration, Bernard Simelton, said each year volunteers find a way to give back to the community. It's something Dr. King often talked about. Simelton said it doesn't take a lot of time to make a big difference. "It doesn't take all day. If each person can donate an hour or two hours to donate. It helps the community. This is what it's about on the day of service. Giving back to the community," said Bernard Simelton Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is Monday. Athens and Limestone County will have a march at the county court house beginning at 9 a.m. The march takes its' way to the event center. After that, students will read essays and show some of their art work. A Perth veteran is planning to ride his bike from "Coogee to Coogee" in order to help raise money for a fellow ex-serviceman in need of a prosthetic leg. Veteran David Beacham, 50, will ride from Coogee in WA to Coogee in NSW, in order to help a bloke he has never even met. David Beacham, 50, is riding from across Australia for charity Credit:Jon Daly "I'm doing it because I think veterans get a raw deal," Mr Beacham said. "As far as I am concerned it is a worthwhile cause. To me it is a guy that served and now he doesn't have a leg, and can't get covered for it. Videos and photos of the gatherings showed people demonstrating outside or marching through a store. Others showed people toppling mannequins, overturning racks and scattering clothes. The image touched off an uproar on social media this week, and on Saturday demonstrators representing South Africa's second-largest opposition party, Economic Freedom Fighters, gathered at H&M locations across the country. The image showed a black child modelling a hooded sweatshirt that said "coolest monkey in the jungle." Two other sweatshirts that were also jungle-themed but did not mention monkeys were modelled by white children. New York: Swedish clothing company H&M temporarily closed several stores in South Africa on Saturday after protests erupted over an image in its online store that critics said was racist. "Out of concern for the safety of our employees and customers we have temporarily closed all stores in the area," H&M said in an emailed statement Saturday. "None of our staff or customers have been injured," the statement said. "We continue to monitor the situation closely and will open the stores as soon as the situation is safe again. We strongly believe that racism and bias in any shape or form, deliberate or accidental, are simply unacceptable. We stress that our wonderful store staff had nothing to do with our poorly judged product and image." Demonstrations were reported at shopping centres in Cape Town and Pretoria, and at several areas in and around Johannesburg, including Sandton, Midrand and Boksburg. On social media, some supported the protesters while others argued that the destruction was counterproductive. "EFF's message was loud and effective but went against what should be happening which is discussions," one Twitter user wrote. "H&M contribute to the country and money that flows. They provide jobs and give people access to funds even if only one H&M store closes or closes for a while it affects a family." Julius Malema, the party's charismatic but controversial leader, who was once a member of the governing African National Congress, said in a speech Saturday, "We make no apology about what the fighters did today against that store called H&M" and said targeting the stores was "just the beginning." Cardinals Caravan Scheduled in Paducah Today By West Kentucky Star Staff PADUCAH, KY - The 2018 Cardinals Caravan is scheduled to stop today at noon at the Paducah-McCracken County Convention & Expo Center.Players and alumni scheduled to attend are Carson Kelly, Matt Bowman, Ryan Sherriff, Austin Gomber, Al Hrabosky and Scott Cooper. Dan McLaughlin will emcee the event. By today the caravan will have visited 20 cities across six states. More than 30 current and former players split up into six groups to crisscross the region. The Cardinals will again utilize an autograph ticket system at each stop. Autographs will be available to the first 400 fans through the door, ages 15 and under. Those kids who receive an autograph ticket will be guaranteed one autograph from each current and former player on that portion of the caravan. Elderly Woman Rescued After Falling Outside Home By West Kentucky Star Staff PADUCAH, KY - A Paducah woman may owe her life to concerned neighbors and responders, after falling outside her home early Sunday morning in sub-freezing temperatures.McCracken County Sheriff Jon Hayden says deputies responded at around 2 a.m. to a call in the Hendron area, after residents called saying they could hear what sounded like a woman calling out for help in the distance.Deputies searched the area and found a 90-year-old woman who had fallen in the snow outside her home while searching for her dog. They carried her inside and began trying to warm the woman until an ambulance arrived. She was taken to a local hospital for treatment.In a Facebook post Sunday morning Hayden thanked the residents who called for help, as well as the deputies for assisting the woman."These two deputies will go home at the end of their long shift at around six this morning knowing that they saved a life this morning. And thank you also to the neighbors that took the time to call 911." he said. Tamms Man Dies in Pulaski County Crash By West Kentucky Star Staff PULASKI COUNTY, IL - A Tamms man was killed Saturday in a single-vehicle crash in Pulaski County.According to the Illinois State Police, the preliminary investigation showed 60-year-old Larry Nicholson was traveling west on Normandy Road at around 4:20 p.m. when his vehicle ran off the left side of the roadway. Nicholson's vehicle traveled about half a mile before hitting a tree and coming to rest in a wooded area.Nicholson was pronounced dead at the scene by the Pulaski County Coroner. Police said he was not wearing a seat belt. Louisville Man Caught in FL After Triple Slaying By The Associated Press LOUISVILLE, KY - A Kentucky man wanted in a triple slaying has been captured after fleeing to Florida.A release from the Hernando County Sheriff says officers arrested 46-year-old Christopher Cruz Olivo Friday night on a warrant for triple murder in Louisville. Olivo was wearing a ballistic vest and had an AK-47 assault rifle on the passenger seat of his vehicle when he was stopped in his car by violent crimes task force officers in Florida.Police in Louisville found three bodies, a man and two women, inside a home earlier on Friday. Two young children were also found unharmed in the home.Olivo fled to Florida with his 3-year-old daughter. She was located in Hernando County and was unharmed, the sheriff's department says. Louisville police are traveling to Florida to bring him back. GREENWICH New York Times best-selling author Claire Messud will discuss her recent book The Burning Girl at Greenwich Country Day School on January 30. Organizing the event is the Greenwich chapter of Room to Read, a global nonprofit focused on literacy and girls education. All proceeds from the event will benefit Room to Read. Messuds novel tells the tale of a friendship between two girls straddling childhoods imaginary worlds and painful adult reality. Her earlier work includes the novels The Emperors Children and The Woman Upstairs. Her books are events, and her elocution does not stammer, wrote Dwight Garner of the New York Times in a 2017 review. Messud is the recipient of Guggenheim and Radcliffe Fellowships and the Strauss Living Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. She teaches fiction writing at Harvard University. Messuds lecture will be followed by a question and answer session and a book signing. Tickets, now available online at www.give.roomtoread.org/RTRGreenwich2018, cost $25. Founded in 2008, the Greenwich Chapter of Room to Read has hosted authors including physician-author Abraham Verghese, Pulitzer Prize winner Jennifer Egan, and Orphan Train author Christina Baker Kline. The Greenwich chapter has also arranged discussions with former British Prime Minister John Major, editor Tina Brown, business executive and Pulitzer Prize winner Sheryl WuDunn and actress Blake Lively, among others. Room to Read works in low-income countries to foster literacy skills in early childhood and elementary education and ensure girls access to secondary schools. Since 2000, the nonprofit has benefited 11.6 million children across 20,000 communities in Asia and Africa and aims to reach 15 million children by 2020. emunson@greenwichtime.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson GREENWICH The fourth annual Greenwich International Film Festival does not kick off until the end of May, but organizers are at work putting together the slate of movies that will be featured this year. A critical step in that process takes place this week when GIFF officials make the trip west to attend the Sundance Film Festival, which opens Thursday in Utah. Attendees will catch the major screenings and keep an eye out for movies that would fit the Greenwich event. We look for films that tackle issues that are both current and prevalent in the global community, said Sam Kleiner, the GIFF programmer who will be leading the contingent to Sundance. We are part of a very philanthropic community at GIFF and we like to show films that highlight issues that someone might be inspired to get behind and support. Kleiner also noted the commitment of the Greenwich festival, which was founded by three local women, to highlight diverse stories with diverse casts while celebrating female directors, directors of color, foreign directors and voices that have been marginalized in the film community. In light of recent events, this year we specifically want to celebrate the female voice, Kleiner said, referring to the many cases of sexual abuse and harassment in the film industry that have been made public in past months. I will be looking out for female directed films as well as documentaries and narrative films that celebrate female empowerment. The nonprofit film festival has become a major annual event in town. Last year it held 70 film premieres plus panels and parties while honoring actress Renee Zellweger and model Christy Turlington Burns for their charity work. Proceeds from the festival went to ALS Finding A Cure, in honor of Greenwich Country Day Head of the Lower School Andrew Niblock, who is battling ALS. Kleiner said he is particularly interested this year in catching Sundance screenings of Eighth Grade, a coming of age movie about a 13-year-old girl; The Kindergarten Teacher, which stars Maggie Gyllenhaal as a teacher who discovers a boy genius; and I Think Were Alone Now, with Elle Fanning and Peter Dinklage, about the last two people on Earth, which was directed by Reed Morano, a producer of the acclaimed The Handmaids Tale. Additionally, Kleiner said he wants to make sure to see the documentaries, Seeing Allred about outspoken attorney Gloria Allred, Half the Picture, which tackles gender inequality and hiring practices in Hollywood, and Studio 54, about the legendary New York disco. When I visit other festivals I definitely try and strike a balance between what I personally like and what I think will best fit the mission of GIFF, Kleiner said. Luckily, I am drawn to films that make a social impact or have a social message so my personal taste and whats best for GIFF are usually aligned. Finding a movie that fits the GIFF and then actually getting it to Greenwich can be complicated. A number of factors determine whether a movie will become part of the Greenwich event, including the distributors plan for release. The film kind of has to align within a magic sweet spot, before its (wider) release, but also not too far from that date, so that it builds buzz and still has people talking by the time it hits theaters, Kleiner said. Unfortunately, a lot of films we go after we arent able to program because of the distributors specific plan for its release. We have a much better chance of screening a film at our festival if it has not been bought yet because the filmmaker is eager to get their film in front of more eyes and hopefully acquired by a distributor. Kleiner will be attending Sundance with festival co-founders Colleen deVeer and Wendy Reyes. Festival Executive Director Ginger Stickel will also be part of the team. For Kleiner, it will be his third time attending Sundance, which he said is his favorite American festival besides Greenwichs, of course because it doesnt take itself too seriously and has a lineup of acclaimed, exciting films. For the GIFFs contingent, Sundance also is a chance to spread the word about what is happening in Greenwich while arranging new sponsorships and appearances. Networking is a major part of attending other film festivals, Kleiner said. Meeting people in the industry and other filmmakers is a great way to get the word out about GIFF and encourage other filmmakers to submit their films and be a part of our special weekend. kborsuk@greenwichtime.com NORWALK Lisa Bahadosingh, director of youth initiatives at Supportive Housing Works, has long known from personal experience that youth homelessness was a larger problem than many realized. Throughout the years, she has worked with many young people with challenges in their lives, and sometimes they reached out to her when they had no place to go. But until recently, there was no realistic data on how large the problem was. Before 2015, any time people wanted to know how many homeless youth there were in Fairfield County, the number was always 12. Because that was how many shelter beds existed in Kids in Crisis in Greenwich, Bahadosingh said. We never had anything to serve youth other than that, and we never had a good way of counting. That changed when the Connecticut Youth Count began in 2015, shining a stark light on how far off base previous estimates had been. The most recent data shows Fairfield County has over 760 homeless and unstably housed young people between the ages of 13 and 24 190 of which were counted in Stamford. The increased attention on young people has already made a difference. Since 2015, new resources including beds at the Triangle Community Center in Norwalk, Homes with Hope in Westport and Pacific House in Stamford, have been dedicated to young people. Pacific House launched their Young Adult Program, believed to be the first of its kind in the state at an emergency shelter, in late 2016. The shelter sleeps up to 16 young men ages 18 to 24 in a room separated from the shelters older clients. The men are offered help with finding housing and jobs, and applying to school. Now, Bahadosingh is calling for volunteers for the upcoming Connecticut Youth Count. We want to increase the awareness, she said. When its not visible, its really easy not to think about. More Information The young and the homeless Norwalk: 125 Stamford: 190 Bridgeport: 316 Danbury: 47 To volunteer for the upcoming count, contact Lisa Bahadosingh at lisa@shworks.org. See More Collapse Volunteers will help assemble much-needed data by surveying young people from Jan. 24 to 30. The point-in-time count will survey in locations including bus hubs, train stations, libraries and Norwalk Community College. High school students are welcome to apply and will be placed in groups with older adults while canvassing. Last year, we had 85 volunteers sign up. I would love to see that number at least increase by 50 percent, Bahadosingh said. So far, data has shown youth under the age of 25 do not feel safe or comfortable in general-age shelters. When youre 18, 19, it can be really intimidating, said Anthony Crisci, executive director at the Triangle Community Center. So a lot of young adults find other options staying on the street, staying with a friend or considering sometimes dangerous or unhealthy housing options. People interested in volunteering can call or email Bahadosingh at 203-767-0787 or lisa@shworks.org. On Jan. 13, 1840, the Lexington, a paddlewheel steamboat that operated along the Atlantic coast of the northeastern United States between 1835 and 1840, sunk in Long Island Sound and was defined as a calamity. Commissioned by industrialist Cornelius Vanderbilt, the ship was considered one of the most luxurious steamers in operation, and began service on a route between New York City and Providence, R.I. Only four survived the appalling calamity, as newspapers like the Richmond Enquirer described it. The 207-foot-long boat, en route from New York to Stonington, was laden with passengers and freight including 150 bales of cotton on the upper deck. The fire broke out near the smoke pipe around 7 p.m. and, fanned by the strong wind, quickly spread to the cotton. All attempts to extinguish the flames failed, according to the book Steamboat Disasters and Railroad Accidents in the United States by S.A. Howland, published in 1846. The ships overcrowded lifeboats were sunk almost immediately after their launch, leaving almost all of the ships passengers and crew to drown in the freezing water, with rescue attempts impossible due to the rough water and lack of visibility, according to 5 Epic Disasters at Sea on cracked.com. In 1837, the Lexington switched to the route between New York and Stonington, Conn., the terminus of the newly built railroad from Boston. Vanderbilt sold the ship to his competitor, the New Jersey Steamship Navigation and Transportation Company, in December 1838 for $60,000, at which time the Lexington was reputedly the fastest steamer on Long Island Sound. An attempt was made to raise the Lexington in 1842. The ship was brought to the surface briefly, and a 30-pound (14 kg) mass of melted silver was recovered from the hull. The chains supporting the hull snapped, and the ship broke apart and sank back to the bottom of the Sound. Today, the Lexington sits in 140 feet of water, broken into three sections. There is allegedly still gold and silver that has not been recovered. Adolphus S. Harnden of the Boston and New York Express Package Car Office had reportedly been carrying $18,000 in gold and silver coins and $80,000 in paper money at the time of the sinking. The silver recovered in 1842 is all that has been found to date. Embed from Getty Images Alexis Sanchez has been omitted from the Arsenal squad for todays trip to Bournemouth amid reports a transfer to Manchester United, not City, is now imminent. Forget diplomatic groin strains, Sanchez trained yesterday, this is purely because a transfer is imminent. https://t.co/5IrYf2nmBu John Cross (@johncrossmirror) January 14, 2018 The Chilean forward trained as normal yesterday so injury is not an issue, leading many to assume that a conclusion to the transfer saga is increasingly near. According to the Guardian, United have pipped their rivals by cobbling together a much more lucrative package that may or may not include Henrikh Mkhitaryan as a makeweight: The sense at Arsenal is that Sanchez has had his head turned by it (Uniteds offer). Arsenal are interested in taking Henrikh Mkhitaryan from United, who they wanted in the summer of 2016 when he was leaving Borussia Dortmund only for him to choose the move to Old Trafford. The Gunners are now resigned to lose their star man, but gaining Mkhitaryan as part of the dividend should definitely take the edge off. He may have fizzled out in the most feeble of ways at United, but fully revitalised and firing on all cylinders, the Armenian whippet is an attacking force to be reckoned with. If we were Arsenal right now, we know whose hand wed be shaking. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam took some veiled shots at President Donald Trump as he was sworn in as the 73rd governor of the commonwealth Saturday, telling a crowd gathered in Richmond, "You don't have to be loud to lead." "It can be hard to find our way in a time when there's so much shouting, when nasty, shallow tweets take the place of honest debate, and when scoring political points gets in the way of dealing with real problems," Northam said in his inaugural address. Northam, who defeated Republican Ed Gillespie in a closely watched race, also said Virginia and the country need a moral compass now more than ever. On election night, Northam also appeared to call out Trump while not mentioning him by name. "Virginia has told us to end the divisiveness, that we will not condone hatred and bigotry, and to end the politics that have torn this country apart," he said. The remarks came after a summer that saw deadly violence erupt at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, spurring Trump to condemn "hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides" -- remarks widely criticized for seeming to equate the white nationalists with the counterprotesters who showed up at the rally. Northam, a pediatric neurologist who served as Virginia's lieutenant governor, also touched on the opioid crisis and reforming gun control laws in his Inaugural address. He added that he thinks Virginia and the country are moving in the wrong direction on health care. "More people need coverage, not less," Northam said in remarks that drew a standing ovation. "It is past time for us to step forward together and expand Medicaid to nearly 400,000 Virginians who need access to care." It was a beautiful morning, like most, on the island of Oahu: 79 degrees with a big, bright sun. I was at a marina with my family on Kaneohe Bay, blowing the last bits of air into an orange inflatable raft, when the alert came. All caps: "BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND ... NOT A DRILL." I could feel the blood stand still in my body, the breath leaving my chest, a numbness coming over me. Is this really happening? I asked a man next to me, "You also get this?" He had. Others nearby started running. I did, too. Find your family, I thought. My older brother, my mom and a cousin were at the car. Another cousin was missing. He's loading the boat, his wife said. I've been calling his name but I can't find him, she said. I ran for the dock. "Neal!" I shouted. There he was. With no cell phone on him, he still had blue ocean on his mind, not impending death. I hustled him back to the car and read him the message. His jaw dropped. There was quiet and confusion. No alarms sounded or blared directions. Where do we go now? How long do we have? How long would it take for a missile to arrive from North Korea? The US would surely shoot it down, right? One of the marina employees called us into a nearby hangar where the boats were stored. Seek shelter. Right. They rolled down the overhead doors, shutting us in with about half a dozen other families. Enclosed, in the dark, panic filled the air. It wasn't hysteria -- there were no shrieks or sobs -- but people were scared. A child sat on the concrete floor, his head in his knees, rocking back and forth. A young man appeared to have a mild panic attack, his father trying to calm him. My brother called his wife, at home with their newborn baby in Honolulu. My breathing was ragged. My voice shook as I told a group of strangers that I worked in news. I haven't heard anything, I told them. My assignment desk is checking with the Pentagon, I said. I imagined a fiery missile hurtling through space above us. Minutes had gone by. Someone had to tell us what was happening soon. We waited in shock. I checked my work email incessantly, hoping for an update. "We're going to war," a man next to me said. That consumed my thoughts for the next few minutes. Then, 15 minutes after the alert arrived, the tweets came in. One from US Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii; a second, a minute later, from the state's emergency management agency. False alarm. I announced the news to the hangar. The air in the room changed. Color entered back into people's faces. As more tweets rolled in from local officials and politicians, the reality set in. We lifted the doors back open and the sun shown in. It was still bright outside. We emerged from the hangar, laughing nervously and shaking our heads incredulously. Before the official alert hit our phones, confirming the all clear, we were out on the water in our rented pontoon boat, speeding forward. A big, old turtle poked its head above water then resubmerged, swimming slowly on. SYLVAN BEACH- With the snow coming to an end Saturday evening, dozens are left evacuated from their homes in the Sylvan Beach area. According to the American Red Cross, homeowners were temporarily evacuated from their homes early Saturday morning. This mandate came shortly after Fish Creek jammed up with ice, flooding streets, yards, and homes. We evacuated people to the Vienna United Methodist Church on route 49, said Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente. We had fire crews up there assisting roughly 16 people and 70 different homes. The flooding occurred where Sylvan Beach meets Vienna. Homeowners said the water came into their homes before they knew what to do. We tried to start extracting the carpets and it just got worse and worse, said Bill Shaw, Sylvan Beach homeowner. [The water] was probably mid calf while I was walking through my front yard. Shaw also had trouble evacuating his pets. I had to leave one pet home just because we were in a rush to get out and theres only so much room in the car, said Shaw. As for homeowners and pets tonight, they are being assisted by the American Red Cross as they wait to reenter their homes. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) The Tippecanoe School Corporation hosted its Winter Commencement Saturday. The celebration was held at the Loeb Playhouse on Purdue University's campus. Students from rival schools, Harrison and McCutcheon, came together Saturday to celebrate their shot at the real world. Zion Johnson plans on attending Columbia College in Chicago to study music. He said he's excited to move on to college. "Today is a step forward for me honestly. I'm officially an adult now I really feel it," said Johnson. The graduation was more than a celebration for the students. Parents showed pride in what their children had accomplished. Lisa Anderson watched as her last son graduated today. "I'm actually really excited for him, he's my last baby going through," said Anderson. "It's very emotional." 15 students from Harrison and 22 students from McCutcheon took place in the ceremony. China News on Women Sorry, the page you requested was not found. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Womenofchina.cn, try visiting the Womenofchina Home page Police were called to a playground after an argument between teenagers turned violent. A 15-year-old boy in Australia was arrested and charged with reckless wounding after shooting a teenage girl in the head with a nail gun in New South Wales. The 16-year-old girl was reportedly shot in River Park on Friday night in the town of Cowra. Police said the victim and her friend were sitting on swings in the park at around 6:30 p.m. when the 15-year-old boy, who was standing with a group of friends in the parking lot, called out to them. After words were exchanged, the boy pulled a nail gun from a car, pointed it at the 16-year-old girl and fired, hitting her in the forehead, police said. The girls ran to a nearby restroom, where they called for help, while the suspect fled the scene. The 16-year-old girl was taken to a hospital, where she was treated for a puncture wound. Detectives tracked down a vehicle and seized the nail gun for forensic examination. The boy was charged with reckless wounding and was granted conditional bail to appear at Childrenas Court. A public school teacher in Louisiana was summarily arrested, manhandled, handcuffed and carted off to jail on Monday, January 8, during a public school board meeting in Vermilion Parish, 150 miles west of New Orleans. Deyshia Hargrave, an English language arts middle school teacher, was victimized for voicing her opposition to a proposed pay increase for the school superintendent and citing 10 years of pay freezes for school employees. The entire incident, including teacher Hargraves well-chosen words, was caught on video and has gone viral. (Second comments by Hargrave, which lead to arrest begin a 6:15). Vermilion Teacher escorted out of school board meeting in handcuffs The Vermilion Parish school board meeting was packed with schoolteachers opposed to a nearly $38,000 raise for Superintendent Jerome Puyau who already makes $110,190. Teachers in the parish, members of the Louisiana Association of Educators, have not received a raise in a decade. Hargrave opened her remarks by identifying herself as a teacher at Rene Rost Middle Schools. In a calm and deliberate voice, she stated, I have a serious issue with the superintendent or any person in a position of leadership getting any type of raise. I feel like it is a slap in the face to the teachers, the cafeteria workers and any support staff we have. We work very hard with very little...The last few years, Ive seen class sizes grow enormously. Referring to claims that the districts improved ratings justify the pay increase, she said, I dont care if the performance targets were met, you are making our job even more difficult. We are jumping through hoops and we are continuously meeting those goalsIt is a sad, sad day in Vermilion Parish We are doing the work, the students are doing the work. At the topthats not where kids learn. It is in the classroom. And those teachers, like myself, are not getting a dime from that. That is unspeakable. My second concern is that you are actually taking this vote with a man who just, by chance, knew so-and-so, however that happened. The people didnt put him in. If he wants to run and the people put him in, then you can do your contract and your raises and whatever you deem necessary. I feel that I am speaking on behalf of more than just myselfMany teachers are scared to speak outI want to use the word absurd to describe even considering giving someone a raise when teachers are working this hard and not getting a dime. Marhsal throws teacher to the ground The video indicates that Hargrave indeed spoke for many teachers. In a similar critical vein, another person asked about the superintendents last evaluation, but was shut down by the board President Anthony Fontana, who claimed that questions, rather than comments, were out of order. The board then began the vote to approve Puyaus contract and to discuss the amount of the increase. In the midst of the discussion, a teacher is heard to loudly point out, This is not a democratic government then, to the general agreement of the crowd. In the course of discussion, Hargrave was recognized again by the chairman. How are you going to give this raise? When I started ELA [English Language Arts] we had 21 kids in a class, and now we are having 29. And we havent gotten raises. You are basically taking our money, the teacher concluded. Fontana, who voted in favor of Puyaus contract, attempted to prevent further discussion at this point, interjecting, Stop right now, this is not germane to what is on the agenda, he declared to the growing anger of the assembled teachers who shouted, Yes it is! Whats on the agenda is the superintendents contract, he rejoined, to which the teachers replied, With a raise! I am [speaking to the point], Hargrave adds, still speaking calmly but forcefully. How do you take a raiseyou are basically taking from the teachers, from the employees under you, when you have class sizes that big? That speaks to what you just voted on, she pointed out. Police mug shot of Deyshia Hargrave At this point, a uniformed marshal approaches Hargrave threatening, Leave or I will forcibly remove you. The teachers around her shout, She was recognized. And as she is being forced to leave the room, many comments followIts pretty sad, This is the most disgraceful thing I have ever seen. Shortly later, the room erupts as someone shouts, Theyre putting her in handcuffs. As we see in the video, Hargrave is screaming in horror. The camera shows the teacher laying prone in the hallway being handcuffed, and we hear the deputy stating after the fact, and incredibly, Stop resisting. Hargrave was carted away in a police car, taken to jail and booked with remaining after being forbidden and resisting an officer. She posted bond as charges were being considered, however, Abbevilles city prosecutor, Ike Funderburk, subsequently stated she would not be formally charged or prosecuted. He attempted to distance the city from the marshal, who is a school resource officer and employed by the school board, claiming he was not acting in any official capacity on behalf of the city of Abbeville. After Hargrave was removed, the board voted to approve Puyaus new contact and increase his pay from $110,190 to $140,188. After the meeting Fontana defended his actions, comparing the manhandling and arrest of the school teacher and parent with the removal of an unruly student from a classroom. If a teacher has the authority to send a student, who is acting up and she cant control, out of the classroom to the principals office, under our policy we have the same rules, Fontana said. We have certain rules: three-minute speech, it has to be civilized, it cant get off target, it has to be related to the issue before the board. The marshal, Fontana insisted, did exactly what he was hired to do...Shes the one who made the choices that got her arrested." The ACLU of Louisiana released a statement stating, Deyshia Hargraves expulsion from a public meeting and subsequent arrest are unacceptable and raise serious constitutional concerns. The Constitution prohibits the government from punishing or retaliating against people for expressing their views, and the fact that a schoolteacher was arrested at a public meeting of the school board is especially troubling. The fact that the video immediately went viral is an indication of how widely Hargraves comments resonate among tens of millions of workers who have seen their living standards decline and essential services starved of resources. No matter how small the official institution, its instinctive response to any challenge to inequality is the police baton and repression. French President Emmanuel Macron said he wants the traditional baguette -- that delicious doughy delicacy -- to be protected as a world treasure by UNESCO. In an interview Friday with Europe 1 radio, Macron said that "the baguette is envied in the whole world." "The baguette is envied in the whole world," the French leader says UNESCO designates certain foods to its Intangible Cultural Heritage list "We need to preserve its excellence and know-how. This is why it needs to be (classified) as heritage," he said. UNESCO, the UN cultural organization, has designated certain cultural foods or cuisines to its Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The traditional Japanese cuisine "washoku," Belgian beer culture and the Korean way of making kimchi are just a few of the many foods and practices on the list. Earlier Friday, Dominique Anract, president of the National Confederation of French Bakers, had asked Macron to support the group's bid to the UN agency "to protect the quality of traditional baguette" against "the increasing weight of big supermarkets and convenience stores in the retail of bread." In a statement on his organization's website, Anract said that the increased competition faced by traditional bakeries, or boulangeries, endangers the preservation of the bakers' know-how and skills. In his interview with Europe 1, Macron linked this proposal to the successful UNESCO bid by Neapolitan pizza makers last year. "I know our bakers, they saw that the Neapolitans managed to have pizza (classified) as (part of) world heritage, so they said, 'Why not the baguette?' And they're right," he said. The French President said that the baguette is part of "the daily life of the French, in the morning, at midday and in the evening. It's not a matter of beliefs; everyone has it." The baguette, he said, "has been a part of humanity since its beginning." French food is already on UNESCO's list. In 2010, the organization inscribed the "gastronomic meal of the French" to its list of intangible cultural heritage practices. "The gastronomic meal should respect a fixed structure, commencing with an ap-ritif (drinks before the meal) and ending with liqueurs, containing in between at least four successive courses, namely a starter, fish and/or meat with vegetables, cheese and dessert," the entry said. The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would have celebrated his 89th birthday on Monday. This year, the federal holiday in his honor, which takes place every third Monday of January, falls on his actual birthday, January 15. And since April will mark the 50th anniversary of King's death, it is worth remembering, now more than ever, how he lived. President Donald Trump's symbolic affirmation of the King holiday on Friday came amid global condemnation for his disparaging and racially inflammatory statements regarding Haitians and Africans the day before. Trump's public praise of King is belied not only by his private words but also by his deeds. King is not widely remembered as a policy expert, but he should be. Federal civil rights, voting rights and open housing legislation all passed, in part, through the pressure he brought to bear on Congress, presidents and wider democratic institutions. Indeed, Trump's latest burst of rhetorical violence against non-whites serves as an important reminder of the work that needs to be done in order to fulfill King's dream of a "beloved community" free of racial oppression, economic injustice and war. The King holiday offers a moment for the nation to reflect on the meaning of American democracy, citizenship and justice. In 1968, King celebrated his birthday against a climate of political tension, racial strife and economic injustice strikingly familiar to our own time. King -- then the world's leading social justice mobilizer -- tapped into grassroots anti-poverty efforts to help organize a "Poor People's Campaign" and stage a "camp-in" in the nation's capital. Its aim was to push Congress to pass meaningful anti-poverty legislation. King's adversary-turned-ally Bobby Kennedy approved of these plans, telling Marian Wright Edelman (the future founder of the Children's Defense Fund) to bring the poor to Washington so that the nation could see the truth about poverty with their own eyes. King recognized economic justice as an issue capable of binding together disparate groups toward a unified movement for radical democracy, one that could lift up farm workers in California, rural whites in Appalachia, sharecroppers in Mississippi, Native Americans living on reservations and urban residents confined to ghettoes. Today, the Trump administration's efforts to institute work requirements for Medicaid recipients stands in stark contrast to King's efforts toward economic justice, which promoted a guaranteed income for the poor, health care, jobs, education and an end to racial segregation in housing and public schools. King's plans to coordinate a caravan of the poor, representing the nation's multi-cultural and multi-racial makeup, found natural allies among Latino farm workers, Native Americans, poor whites and mothers on welfare who schooled him on the intricacies of federal policy in ways that humbled and enlightened him. Throughout the early part of 1968, King traveled across the nation, delivering speeches against racial and economic injustice. The descriptions of hunger and want from black residents in Marks, Mississippi, moved King to tears -- so much so that he decided to headquarter the caravan destined for Washington in what he characterized as "the poorest county in the United States." King imagined democracy as a living, breathing organism imperiled by the sickness of racism and the disease of poverty. He diverted precious energies from his plans to spend the summer in Washington to travel several times to Memphis, where he spoke in support of over 1,000 black garbage workers on strike for a living wage. He did not live to see the conclusion of the strike or spend time in "Resurrection City," the tent village that survived for two months in the nation's capital. Undoubtedly, King would have been deeply disappointed by Trump's disparaging remarks against Haitians, immigrants and Muslims. King's extensive travels to India, Africa and Europe imbued in him a cosmopolitan sense of humanity he called "the world house." For King, the concept of a "world house" moved beyond an ethnic- and tribal-based understanding of the international community toward an ethic of mutuality and interdependence. He believed that like a butterfly effect, what happened in the smallest corner of the world impacted the rest of humanity for good or ill. Accordingly, King forged political alliances through personal connections. He argued that humanity's fate remained interwoven in a broader political and spiritual tapestry than widely acknowledged. The most ironic part of King's legacy is that his holiday was signed into law on November 2, 1983, through bipartisan efforts by President Ronald Reagan, an eloquent conservative figure who publicly admitted to having disagreements with the civil rights leader. The holiday did more than simply recognize King's individual accomplishments. It celebrated the civil rights movement's successful inclusion of the idea of racial justice and human rights as fundamental principles of American democracy. But the holiday has also allowed us to hide from ourselves. King might not recognize himself in the uncomplicated, even timid, figure that much of the nation and the world celebrate today. The risk-taking King who defied presidents to protest war is often missing in our popular memory of him. We must not forget the radical King, who marched shoulder to shoulder with garbage workers, locked arms with Black Power militants and lived in Chicago ghettoes in an effort to stimulate social change. And yet, the revolutionary King who proclaimed that America's greatness remained in "the right to protest for right" has all but vanished from public memory, replaced by generic platitudes about freedom and justice that can be claimed by anyone. Through non-violent civil disobedience, King leveraged social-justice transformation in American civil society even when institutions, including the church, largely disagreed. King longed to change hearts, minds, public policy and laws, too. He viewed the political as personal and believed the reverse true as well, offering moral and political witness for reimagining an American democracy as a beacon, especially for groups left out of its original conception. King's legacy will endure long past the Age of Trump. More importantly, it reminds us all that American power resides not in any fantasies of exceptionalism but in the souls of millions of ordinary people who risked their lives to reimagine the contours of freedom, democracy and citizenship. King's revolutionary life, fearless love of the poor and wretched and uncompromising stance against war and violence offer hope for a better future. His life also provides a framework for resistance against rising levels of inhumanity, racism and injustice that he would find all too familiar today. Pope Francis' trip to South America this week is supposed to be all about peace, unity and hope. But the pontiff could also be welcomed with protests, threats of violence and controversy over allegations of abuses by the Catholic Church. Francis, a native of Argentina, comes to his home continent for a two-country, six-city apostolic visit that starts in Chile Monday and ends in Peru a week later. Pope Francis will visit Chile and Peru on six-day trip He faces protests over the church's handling of child sex abuse cases According to Vatican officials, some of his themes on the trip will include the environment and the plight of indigenous peoples. In Pope Francis tradition, he will be meeting with his Jesuit brothers and Catholic bishops, but also the poor, the vulnerable, youth groups and indigenous communities. Vandalism in Chile Already there has been recent violence in Santiago, Chile's capital, where at least five churches were recently attacked -- some with firebombs -- according to the country's Interior sub secretary, Mahmud Aleuy. The vandals left behind a menacing message. "Pope Francis, the next bombs will be on your cassock," read one of the messages, according to local newspapers. The attacks on the churches started Friday, leaving some with burned doors and charred and busted windows. No one was hurt, according to local reports. Aleuy denounced the violence in a press release, saying, "everyone has a right of expression so long as it's peaceful and not violent." One of the churches attacked is near the Apostolic Nunciature, the Vatican embassy where the pontiff will stay while in Chile. In the wake of the attacks the security plan for the Pope's visit is being re-evaluated and reinforced, Aleuy said. No one has been arrested in connection with the church attacks. Protests over the Catholic church's clerical sex scandal also are expected. Residents of the southern city of Osorno vehemently object to Francis' decision to appoint Juan Barros in 2015 as bishop of the diocese there and have said they plan to protest his arrival in Santiago. Survivors accuse Barros of covering up for Fr. Fernando Karadima, who was found guilty by the Vatican of child sex abuse. According to Crux, a Catholic news outlet, Karadima was convicted of pedophilia and abuse of his position in 2011 and was sentenced to a life of penitence and prayer. Barros has denied any knowledge of the abuse. An abuse case in Peru More protests may come in Peru, where the Vatican recently took control of an apostolic society, Sodalitium Christianae Vitae (SCV), after allegations that its members abused youth sexually, physically and psychologically. A report issued by SCV in February of last year detailed the alleged abuse, which dates back to the 1970s, and found the allegations had merit. A Vatican press release said Francis was following the investigation for several years and insisted that the church give attention to the matter. A separate criminal investigation is being conducted by authorities in Peru. Families of the victims have told local newspapers that they would like to speak with the Pope. When asked if Francis will meet with abuse victims, a Vatican official said it was not in the program, and Francis could face protests over the church's handling of this case. These tensions are also evident on social media, where people in both countries have expressed both excitement and discontent with Francis' visit. Pope Francis is well aware of the challenges that await him in Chile and Peru. He spent a year and a half in Chile and has traveled to Peru multiple times, according to Vatican officials. And in his video message to both countries, recorded ahead of his visit, he specifically mentioned his knowledge of their difficult histories and his hope to share their pains and joys during his visit. " I want to share your joys, sorrows, difficulties and hopes," he said. "I want to tell you that you're not alone, that the Pope is with you." TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - A local foster mom says she is pleased Governor Eric Holcomb spoke about leadership changes within the Indiana Department of Child Services during his annual address. However, she thinks more should be done right now to protect Hoosier kids. News 10 told you about the State of the State Address earlier this week. Governor Holcomb said in his speech that an outside agency would assess DCS. Members of a special WTHI focus group wonder what happens until the results of that assessment are released. Kristi Cundiff says, "I was glad to hear that, as governor of our state, that no one cares more about the safety of children than what he cares about, however, again, there's no plan. There's no breakdown." Missy Burton says, "I think the assessment's a good step but how long is that going to take and how many children are going to be displaced or not placed properly while we're waiting for that particular assessment to take place?" They also have concerns about transparency. Dwayne Malone says, "Sometimes we just pick and choose what we want to do the assessment at and I think it has to be an overall assessment of every aspect within that." Some say the governor should do more to recognize foster parents, not just case-workers. Neil Ward says, "The whole thing falls apart if there is no place to place these children." A foster mom herself, Cundiff says more has to be done to improve communications throughout DCS and with people like her on the front lines. The focus group noted some topics missing from the governor's address. Andi Taylor says she is disappointed, but not surprised, Holcomb failed to talk about CBD oil. Taylor's son uses CBD oil to manage his health conditions. She says he is a part of a study and the results have been life changing. Burton says she thinks the governor should have also talked about mental health and suicide prevention. The group agreed Holcomb's words about civility were welcomed but thought he could have started there and made it more of a major point in his speech. For more about the group's discussion on opioids, click here. For more about the group's discussion on jobs and the economy, click here. For more on Governor Holcomb's address, click here. To read the speech, click here. EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) - Some Indiana lawmakers are looking to consolidate township government in the state after multiple instances of corruption. The Courier & Press reports that Indiana House Republicans announced a plan early this month to merge about 300 of Indiana's 1,005 townships over the next five years. The legislators aim to introduce the effort in 2018. The plan would eliminate almost 1,200 elected positions. Reformers have long sought to curb township government because it gives elected officials unusual discretion to spend taxpayer money. An investigation by the newspaper last year found that township trustees have limited oversight and are given enough autonomy to abuse the privilege. In 2010, Knight Township in Vanderburgh County had to institute its own controls after Trustee Linda K. Durham misappropriated nearly $70,000 in taxpayer money. Information from: Evansville Courier & Press, http://www.courierpress.com Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI)- The Vigo County Public Library wasn't just a location for checking out books Saturday morning. It also served as the meeting place for the first cracker barrel session of 2018. Citizens like Amy Inserra showed up to listen to those who showed up for a chance to walk up to the podium. "Its that time period where people from our county and surrounding areas can actually get up and ask their elected official a question or give a statement on what's important to them," said Inserra. Saturdays session had three political officials on the panel. Senator Jon Ford, as well as State Representative Clyde Kersey and Robert Heaton, were there to answer questions. They gave the community an idea of what to expect this coming session. As well answers questions from those wishing to have their voice heard. "I think the session went very well. It was well attended. A lot of good questions and comments that were made," said Representative Heaton. Among the topics discussed in the session was Medicaid, workforce development, the states minimum wage and also voting alternatives. It was a multitude of topics that they discussed one on one with each person who asked them. Overall the elected officials were very happy to see such a turnout to the first session. "Its good that more people are wanting to get engaged and to see how the process works and to share with us some of their thoughts and problems that they may have," said Representative Heaton. Its an event that everyone hopes will not only better the community but also get their voice heard on some major upcoming state issues. The next cracker barrel session is scheduled for February 10th. One week after the body of 7-year old Zainab Amin was found on a garbage heap near her home, protests continued in many parts of Pakistan. On television talk shows, politicians and analysts demanded the resignation of top officials; demonstrating students in universities mourned the dead child; and the hashtag #JusticeforZainab was all over social media sites. The results of the autopsy conducted on Zainab's body revealed that she had been raped and sodomized, likely strangled. Her tongue had been crushed between her teeth. She was the 12th girl reported attacked within a two-kilometer radius, according to officials. Eleven girls have been killed, and one girl survived. And yet, for all gruesome details of Zainab's killing and all the outrage currently coursing through Pakistan, it is unlikely that children like Zainab will gain any meaningful protection from childhood sexual abuse. One significant reason for this is there is no such thing as sex education in Pakistan, let alone childhood sexual abuse prevention education. A 2009 UNESCO sex education guide explained that without proper knowledge, particularly a curriculum at school, young people were "potentially vulnerable to coercion, abuse and exploitation." Even in Pakistan's urban private schools, children never learn how to protect themselves from pedophiles and unwanted touching, and teachers never learn how to detect warning signs that a child is being victimized. The taboo against public discussions of sex is extended to sex education and child sexual abuse prevention. Teaching a child about what sorts of behavior an adult or older child must never ever inflict on them is believed to be the same as teaching an innocent child about having sex. The concept that sex education can be done in an age-appropriate way to protect the child from abuse is anathema. This social and cultural ignorance compounds the shame that victims feel and reduces the number of reported cases. While NGOs like Sahil, an organization that works to protect children from sexual abuse and promote the rights of children in Pakistan, produce annual reports that compile cases during a given year, they largely rely on cases reported to the media because there are no national statistics maintained by the government. What is not counted simply does not exist and does not require resource allocation. While urban areas do have psychiatric and psychological services that may be obtained by wealthy survivors, 76% of all reported cases were from rural areas where there are no rehabilitative facilities at all. Zainab was killed after she was abused but those who do live and are living likely receive no treatment at all. While attention is being given to this particular case, there is no recognition either in society at large or within government institutions of the need to provide sexual abuse prevention education to children, teachers and health care professionals. Reporting and rehabilitation avenues for childhood sexual abuse survivors (and there were more than 4,000 new cases, including gang rape and sodomy of children, in just 2016) are nearly nonexistent in Pakistan, ensuring the continuation of the cycle of abuse. And even though childhood sexual abuse is a crime in Pakistan, the absence of tools to investigate and successfully prosecute these crimes means that even when reports are made, perpetrators are not always punished. A culture of impunity, one that encourages further pedophilia and persecution of children, is hence created. Zainab Amin lived in Kasur, a part of Punjab province that is not a stranger to high profile pedophilia cases. The district, which saw 141 cases of child sexual abuse in 2016, was, until 2015, home to a pedophilia ring that abused more than 200 children and sold videos of the abuse. Like Zainab's case, it caused outrage among Pakistanis and then quickly faded from memory. In addition to the absence of sexual education, the lack of resources to properly build a sexual assault case against a perpetrator also presents a roadblock. Child sexual abuse is a crime according to the Pakistan Penal Code -- which was amended in 2016, following the last pedophilia scandal, to include child pornography and sexual assault (other than rape), and made punishable by seven years in prison. However, the investigation and prosecution of these cases requires the deployment of forensic methods like DNA analysis, often crucially necessary given the age of the victims and the fact that there are few or no witnesses to the crime. Since these are currently unavailable, particularly in rural areas, even those perpetrators that are charged with crimes are rarely convicted. Pakistan is a shame culture, where what is not seen or talked about openly does not have moral reality or import. Pedophiles benefit from this aversion to uncomfortable discussions, taking cover in the silence and ignorance and impunity of the private realm. Zainab Amin's ghastly and tragic end will likely get a few more days of attention in Pakistan, but unless the taboo against informing and educating children is destroyed, rehabilitative services made a priority and investigative resources allotted to the thousands of cases, many more children like Zainab will remain imperiled. Nearly 180 people, including 51 children, have been killed in Syria's Eastern Ghouta in just over two weeks, the volunteer White Helmets rescue group said Sunday, as the government steps up its air raids on the country's remaining rebel-held areas. The death count was announced as more regime strikes were reported over the weekend and as activists posted videos online of rescuers pulling children from the rubble of targeted buildings. The start of the year has been marked by death and destruction in Eastern Ghouta, an enclave the outskirts of the capital Damasus. The area is rebel-held but has been besieged by government forces for more than four years. The Syrian government, backed by Russian air power, began an offensive to retake it on December 29 last year. The White Helmets said Sunday that the offensive had involved hundreds of airstrikes, missiles and cluster bombs. The group said that 177 people had been killed in the latest offensive, and more than 800 civilians, including at least 200 children, had been injured. UNICEF, the UN's agency for children, said that 30 children had been killed in the first two weeks of the the year, and that 200,000 children had been trapped there since 2013. "It is shameful that nearly seven years into the conflict, a war on children continues while the world watches. Millions of children across Syria and in neighboring countries have suffered the devastating consequences of unabating levels of violence in several parts of the country," UNICEF said in a statement Sunday. "UNICEF received information from inside east Ghouta that people are taking shelter underground in fear for their lives. One particular heavy attack on residential buildings was so strong it reportedly injured 80 civilians including children and women. Medical personnel struggled to pull survivors out of the rubble." The White Helmets also reported a small-scale chlorine gas attack in the area. CNN has not been able to independently verify the attack. The Douma Medical Center said it treated six people, including children, for symptoms consistent with chlorine poisoning. Eastern Ghouta is a designated "de-escalation zone" under a ceasefire deal brokered by Russia, Turkey and Iran, which Syrian President Bashar al-Assad agreed to last year. Violence by the regime and rebel groups is in violation of the ceasefire. UN: Schools and hospitals targeted Eastern Ghouta was seized by rebel groups after the Syrian civil war erupted. The government chokehold on the enclave has led to a desperate humanitarian situation there, with the regime repeatedly refusing to allow aid in -- or civilians to easily leave. CNN has received reports from medical organization operating in the country that hospitals and other medical facilities are being targeted in Eastern Ghouta, as well as the provinces of Idlib, the largest-remaining rebel-held area, and Hama. UNICEF said that the women and children's hospital in Idlib had been hit three times and taken out of service while schools were also being targeted. "Two medical facilities came under attack in the past days in east Ghouta, and most health centers had to close because of the violence. In some areas, mobile emergency clinics are the only way for families to receive medical treatment and aid," UNICEF said Sunday. "Schools have been reportedly closed in and around east Ghouta at a time when children elsewhere in Syria are sitting for their mid-term exams." In late December, the government allowed more than 80 people to leave Eastern Ghouta to be taken to hospitals in Damascus for medical treatment, in a one-off people-swap deal, in which prisoners were exchanged for critically ill civilians. A critically ill six-month-old baby died while waiting to be evacuated, according to Mohamad Katoub, advocacy manager for the Syrian American Medical Society. TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) -- It's all about giving the disabled an opportunity to be independent. The local organization Ability First connects with families in need. Then, The 20th Century Krewe of Springtime Tallahassee helps builds the ramp. Volunteers tell us the people who live here, Annie and James Williams, had trouble getting up their front steps. That's why they applied. The project focuses on people with physical disabilities and low income. In just 8 hours, volunteers improved the Williams' accessibility to their own home. The crew chief of Springtime Tallahassee says he's been partnering with Ability First on build sites for 4 years. says, "We also donate enough money to sponsor another ramp, but we usually only build one. So, we're just trying to help out our community." A group of 30 volunteers has been working since first thing this morning, building this ramp and they are finally almost done with the project. It's all about teamwork and giving back to the community. Organizers of the project say there are roughly 60 people waiting for a ramp in the six county area they serve. One volunteer, Marquesas Blimes, says she was drawn to the organization because she enjoys giving back to the community. Blimes says, "The people that we serve are alwasy very grateful and very willing to help. They will often times have their family out here, serving and building alongside us. And the volunteer group are always just so filled with joy, especially at the end of a build when they see what they've accomplished together." At Saturday's site, The 20th Century Krewe donated one thousand dollars toward future Ability First projects, continuing the cycle of helping those in need. BOSTON, Ga. (WALB) - Just before 3:50 a.m. Saturday, Fire Chief Chris Jones called Thomas County Dispatch about a vehicle fire on Reicherville Road in Boston, one mile north of Twelve Mile Post Road. Thomas County Sheriff's Deputy Joesph Rollins found on the scene a burnt vehicle with a burnt body lying on the ground outside the vehicle. Chief Jones stated that William Franklin Owen, 21, left Jones' house in Jones' daughter's vehicle and was going to get gas. Jones said that Owen did not return so his daughter went and found the vehicle on fire down the road. This case has been turned over to the Georgia State Patrol. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 03:43:25|Editor: yan Video Player Close BAGHDAD, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Two people were killed and up to 24 others wounded Saturday in a suicide bomb attack in northern Baghdad, an Iraqi Interior Ministry source told Xinhua. The attack was carried out by a suicide bomber who detonated his explosive-laden motorcycle at the crowded Adan Square at the entrance of the holy Shiite neighborhood of Kadhmiyah, destroying 11 cars, the source said on condition of anonymity. Earlier in the evening, the source cited first police reports and said at least two people killed and eight wounded by a booby-trapped car explosion. Meanwhile, head of Baghdad provincial council Ryadh al-Adhadh told some local media that the suicide bomber detonated himself near his convoy in Adan Square and destroyed one of his vehicles, leaving one of his bodyguards killed and three others wounded. However, the interior ministry source said that the incident is under investigation and it is yet to decide whether Adhadh's convoy was targeted by the blast, or his convoy was passing at the moment of the blast coincidentally. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack, but the Islamic State (IS) militant group, in most cases, is responsible for deadly attacks targeting crowded areas, including markets, cafes and mosques across Iraq. The car bombing is the first this year in Baghdad city, which has been witnessing tangible improvement in security as the Iraqi security forces managed during the past few months to regain control of strongholds of the extremist IS militant group across the country. On Dec. 9, 2017, 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. Nevertheless, remnants of small groups and individuals of IS militants are still capable of carrying out attacks from time to time. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 04:03:30|Editor: yan Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Municipal Council of the Libyan city of Misurata on Saturday started an investigation into a ship seized by Greek authorities. The council said in a statement that the investigation is opened "to clarify the details of the cargo, the consignee, and the reason for changing the original route of the ship." The port of Misurata's free zone was not informed by the ship's captain of any details regarding the cargo, and only received a notice of the arrival date, the statement added. The council demanded the Libyan authorities to contact Turkish and Greek authorities to "reveal the circumstances and details of the issue." Greek Coast Guards announced on Wednesday that they seized a ship flying the flag of Tanzania and carrying materials used to make explosives while sailing to Libya. The ship's cargo policy indicates that the cargo was loaded at the Turkish ports of Mersin and Iskenderun and was headed to Djibouti and Oman. However, Greek Coast Guards said preliminary investigation showed that the ship's captain had received orders from the ship's owner to sail to the Libyan city of Misurata, some 250 km east the capital Tripoli, to unload the entire cargo. Libyan Foreign Ministry on Friday demanded Greece to provide the latest investigation information about a seized ship. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 05:23:44|Editor: yan Video Player Close BERLIN, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- The German-Franco Initiative will return and push European integration to go further as German coalition talks have achieved breakthrough, according to Prof. Frank Baasner, director of the Deutsch-Franzoesisches Institut (DFI). The exploratory talks for government coalition between Angela Merkel's Conservatives Union and Martin Schulz-led Social Democratic Party (SPD) on Friday made breakthrough on Friday. According to the 28-page policy document reached by the parties, European policies were given priority, and the two parties vowed to strengthen European integration through closer cooperation with France, in a bid to help European Union withstand global challenges. "I am glad to see that the two parties' response to French President Macron is very astonishing, especially the stronger European common budget and Germany's affirmation to make more contributions to EU budget," Baasner told Xinhua in an interview. The document is the first time that Germany responded to Macron's ambitions in reforming EU, saying that "The renewal of the EU will only succeed if Germany and France work together with all their strength. That is why we want to further strengthen and renew German-French cooperation." The Germany-France special relations in EU has long served as a strong engine in European integration. Baasner said the response by the Union Party and the SPD is a strong political moment for the European Union as both Germany and France wish to make major steps in European integration in a post-Brexit era "with a United States that Europeans don't know how much they are reliable." Inside the EU, there are right-wing populist politics, and U.S. President Donald Trump has asked European allies to take on more defense responsibilities, while the Brexit brought centrifugal force to the bloc, according to Baasner. "In this context discussion aroused in the EU on how we will go on and we wish to change the way we do in Europe," said Baasner, "this is how we see from the Trump administration and the Brexit made Europe move." The two parties said common European foreign and security policy must be strengthened in the sense of a peace power Europe, and called for strengthened cooperation in security and defense policy (PESCO). However, according to Baasner, the German-Franco Initiative in the new era will face some major obstacles, especially in immigration, defense and financial issues, as a two-speed European integration may be a solution which Germany always tries to avoid. "We already have a split-up EU... This will be the tricky thing to be solved by Merkel and Macron," Baasner said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 05:28:45|Editor: yan Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- A total of 500 families started returning to their homes on Saturday in the Beit Jin town south of Syria's capital Damascus, two weeks following the rebels' withdrawal from that area, state news agency SANA reported. The return of families to Beit Jin in the southwestern countryside of Damascus came after the authorities dismantled the explosive devices left by the rebels ahead of their withdrawal late last month. Last month, the al-Qaida-linked Levant Liberation Committee (LLC) withdrew from Beit Jin and other nearby areas in the southwestern countryside of Damascus toward rebel-held areas in the northwestern province of Idlib under a deal reached with the army. Some of the rebels surrendered their weapons and chose to stay in the town as part of the government-backed reconciliation efforts. The rebels agreed to evacuate after they became besieged by the army in Beit Jin and two other adjacent towns, which were important due to their proximity to the Lebanese border and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. SANA said the town was a house to 20,000 people, most of whom fled when the area fell to the rebels six years ago. When the evacuation ended on Dec. 30, 2017, the entire western countryside of Damascus became liberated from rebels, as the Syrian army has already captured all the towns on the western flank of Damascus. The first anti-government protests erupted in Western Ghouta in April 2011. In early 2012, the area entered the phase of actual battles. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 06:03:51|Editor: Liu Video Player Close A screen capture from the Twitter account of U.S. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard shows a missile warning for Hawaii, the United States. on January 13, 2018. (Xinhua) LOS ANGELES, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- An emergency text alert on Saturday warning residents in the U.S. state of Hawaii of an imminent ballistic missile threat was false alarm sent out due to human error, state officials said. The U.S. military's Pacific Command and state authorities confirmed that there was no missile threat to Hawaii, which is a chain of islands in the Pacific Ocean, and home to the U.S. Pacific Command. Hawaii Governor David Ige said in comments aired on CNN that "I was awakened by the alert like everyone else here in the state of Hawaii. It was unfortunate and regrettable." Ige apologized for the incident, saying that someone at the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. "pushed the wrong button" during a routine shift change. Such shift changes occur three times a day every day of the year, he added. The alert, sent to mobile phones and also aired on television and radio, caused panic among Hawaiians and on social media platforms. Sara Donchey, who said she was in Honolulu, Hawaii, tweeted that her family who were on the North Shore "were hiding in the garage. My mom and sister were crying." "It was a false alarm, but betting a lot of people are shaken," she wrote. The emergency text alert was sent to cellphones at about 8:07 a.m. local time (1807 GMT), reading in all caps that "Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill." It took about 38 minutes for the initial alert to be retracted, according to media reports. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency corrected the alert, saying on Twitter: "NO missile threat to Hawaii." "Hawaii -- this is a false alarm," U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard said on her Twitter account. "I have confirmed with officials there is no incoming missile." The U.S. Federal Communications Commission announced that it was initiating a full probe into the incident. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 06:03:51|Editor: yan Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Libyan Red Crescent announced on Saturday that 31 unidentified bodies were buried in the eastern city of Benghazi. "In presence of local authorities, Libyan Red Crescent emergency team in Benghazi buried 31 unidentified bodies that were in the mortuary of Benghazi Hospital," the Red Crescent said on its official Facebook account. The Red Crescent noted that the burial was carried out after DNA samples of bodies were taken by forensic officials. Benghazi hospital previously appealed to speed up the burial of unidentified bodies that have been in the mortuary for several months. It is still unknown whether the bodies belong to civilians terrorists killed during the eastern-based army's fight against terrorist groups in Benghazi over the past years. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 06:23:54|Editor: yan Video Player Close PARIS, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmnual Macron on Saturday recalled "the importance of preserving the Iranian nuclear agreement, and the necessary respect by all parties of their commitments under this agreement" in a telephone talk with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This is according to a press release published by the French presidency on Saturday. The French presidency added that Macron and Netanyahu "also referred to the subject of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process in the continuity of their exchanges of Dec. 10." This phone talk came after an ultimatum issued by American President Donald Trump to the Europeans to tighten in the coming months the terms of the agreement reached in 2015 between Iran and the major powers, if they want to avoid Washington's withdrawal from the deal. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 06:28:56|Editor: yan Video Player Close ALGIERS, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia on Saturday urged separatist movements in northern Mali to cooperate more with the central government in Bamako for the sake of achieving sustainable peace in this neighboring country. Ouyahia told a joint press conference with visiting Malian Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga that Algeria has been "encouraging" the Malian movements to take further steps to achieve "closer rapprochement" with the Malian authorities for the sake of peace in the country. He added that he discussed with his Malian counterpart security issues in northern Mali where "I have assured to our brothers in Mali the solidarity of Algeria in their efforts to restore peace and maintaining national sovereignty and territorial unity." The security situation in the Sahel region was also in the agenda of the meeting, added Ouyahia, saying "the need to combat terrorism, transnational crime and the need for solidarity among the neighboring countries in the Sahel region should be met." On the other hand, Ouyahia considered bilateral relations between Algeria and Mali to have witnessed "significant" progress during the past three years, as Algiers and Bamako held several key meetings including the Joint High Committee, the Committee for Border Cooperation and the Military Cooperation Committee. Algeria played a key role in the signing of the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement in 2015, as it put an end to hostilities between the government and separatist armed movements in northern Mali. The agreement was reached by all Malian warrant parties in Bamako after five rounds of UN-sponsored talks initiated in July 2014 with an international mediation led by Algeria. Algeria and Mali are active members at the Sahel Regional Chief of Staff Committee, which also includes Mauritania and Niger. The committee was established in the Algerian town of Tamanrasset on the border with Mali and Niger in 2009 in a bid to coordinate efforts and exchange information on combating terrorism, organized crime and trafficking. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 07:35:30|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close Participants attend the Winter Swimming Carnival at the Oranke Lake, northeastern Berlin, Germany, on Jan. 13, 2018. About 100 winter swimming enthusiasts and more than 1,000 visitors were attracted to the Winter Swimming Carnival here on Saturday. (Xinhua/Shan Yuqi) Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 09:59:34|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close LISBON, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- A fire at a two-story building in northern Portugal killed at least eight people Saturday night and injured more than 50 others, local media reported. The fire occurred at around 9 p.m. local time (2100 GMT) after a heating-boiler in the building exploded. At the time of the blast, a dinner party was ongoing in the building, located in Vila Nova da Rainha, a town 250 km north to the capital city of Lisbon. The National Civil Protection Authority sent 148 firefighters and 67 vehicles to the scene and the blaze was extinguished within an hour. Some of the injured, suffering from serious burns, were taken to nearby hospitals by rescue helicopters. The incident is the latest in a series of fire-related tragedies in Portugal. In 2017, more than 100 people died in forest fires. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 10:09:36|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close BANJUL, Jan. 13 (Xinhua)-- Gambian President Adama Barrow Saturday warned his administration against all forms of corrupt practices that could impede the socio-economic development of the country. "We must be vigilant against the problem of corrupt practices. My administration declares intolerance to all forms of corrupt and fraudulent practices. Misappropriation of funds, bribery and corruption in public office are illegal, disgraceful as well as breed mistrust," he said. He emphasized too that "support and incentives" will be provided to stimulate professional development. Barrow in numerous times has accused his predecessor of corruption leading to economic failure of the West African state. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 10:19:38|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close SINGAPORE, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) was quoted by local media on Sunday as saying that a ship sank in South China Sea on Friday, 11 out of 13 crew were rescued and two remained missing. MPA said it had been informed by the crew of three merchant ships that they had rescued 11 people when their vessel sank. According to the authority's website, the accident took place within the Singapore Maritime Search and Rescue Region. MPA has been providing navigational broadcasts to vessels in the vicinity to report any sightings of persons overboard and to navigate with caution in the vicinity of the incident. It is also coordinating the ongoing search and rescue operation with the Malaysian and Indonesian authorities. Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy in Singapore was replied by MPA on Sunday morning that there were no Chinese nationals onboard the ship. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 10:39:40|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) shakes hands with Rwandan President Paul Kagame during their meeting in Kigali, capital of Rwanda, on Jan. 13, 2018. (Xinhua/Lyu Tianran) KIGALI, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- China's diplomatic tradition of foreign ministers visiting Africa first in the new year indicates that Africa is always a priority in China's diplomacy, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Saturday. The tradition has been kept for 28 years till now, Wang addressed media after meeting with Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Kigali, the capital, adding that China is always the most reliable friend and partner of its African brothers. The Chinese minister also introduced his country's expectations of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit to be held in Beijing this year, an official forum established in 2000 to strengthen friendly cooperation between the two sides. Wang noted that the FOCAC is an important channel for conducting collective dialogue and deepening mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Africa, as this is the largest and the most productive platform for the 29 member countries of the South-South cooperation. The 2015 FOCAC Johannesburg Summit achieved great success, said Wang, adding that China is willing to strengthen communication and consultation with African friends to take this year's Beijing Summit to new heights. Many African countries appreciate and support the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, and China hopes to inject new impetus into cooperation with Africa through jointly building the initiative, he said. As a natural and historical extension of the Belt and Road, Africa should not be absent in the co-building process, nor should it be left behind in the mutual development of China and the world, he added. Wang, who is in Africa for his first new year trip, is scheduled to visit Angola, Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe after Rwanda. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 10:59:42|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close LISBON, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Portugal's main opposition party, the Social Democratic Party (PSD), on Saturday elected Rui Rio as their new leader. The 60-year-old former mayor of the northern port city of Porto won 54 percent of the votes in a two-way race, defeating Pedro Santana Lopes, a former mayor of Lisbon. Turnout was 60 percent, with 42,254 voting out of 70,385 eligible members. In his victory speech, Rio promised that the PSD under his leadership would provide "firm and watchful opposition" but would "not be demagogic or populist." Rio is expected to breathe new life into a party that is on the decline but still has the most seats in Portugal's parliament. Despite being a major party in the country, the PSD suffered heavy losses in local elections in October. On the stump, Rio promised to collaborate with the ruling Socialist Party to ensure reforms in Portugal. Rio will officially take over at the PSD party conference beginning on Feb. 16. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 12:24:50|Editor: Liu Video Player Close Angolan President Joao Lourenco (R) meets with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Luanda Jan. 13, 2018. (Xinhua/Wu Changwei) LUANDA, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to promote bilateral relationships with Angola to a new stage, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Saturday during his new year visit to the continent of Africa. In his meeting with Angolan President Joao Lourenco in the capital of Luanda, Wang congratulated the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties with Angola. He also hailed the good bilateral relations marked by long-time mutual trust, understanding and support. China supports Angola in pursuing a development path that suits its own conditions, promoting its economic diversification strategy and enhancing its self-development capacity, Wang said. China hopes to strengthen pragmatic cooperation with Angola, promote bilateral relationships to a new level, and expand new areas of cooperation, he said. Wang added that China will continue to encourage Chinese enterprises to invest in and cooperate with Angola, while pointing out that the legitimate interests of Chinese enterprises should be protected according to law. For his part, Lourenco said bilateral cooperation has borne fruitful results after 35 years since the two sides established diplomatic relations. The president thanked China for its investment and financing support, which played a very important role in the peaceful reconstruction of post-war Angola after a 27-year civil war ended in 2002. Lourenco expressed his hope that China will continue to support Angola in large-scale infrastructure construction, such as railway and others, and welcomed Chinese enterprises to cooperate with Angola in the fields of mining, agriculture, animal husbandry and tourism. Angola will quicken its pace to improve investment and business environment, so as to guarantee the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, the president said. Wang introduced the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation summit to be held in Beijing this year, saying that China expects to strengthen communication with African friends to make the summit a historic event, and push the China-Africa comprehensive strategic partnership to new heights. Lourenco said he was pleased to be invited to attend the forum in China. Wang, who is in Africa for his first new year trip, will also visit Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe after Rwanda and Angola. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 12:34:52|Editor: Liu Video Player Close BANJUL, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) - Gambian President Adama Barrow launched a new diaspora directorate on Saturday as a mechanism to facilitate the contribution of the diaspora in Gambia's economy. "My administration, through the new Gambia Diaspora Directorate and other mechanisms, will seek to remove unnecessary bureaucratic barriers, and assist diaspora individuals and organizations to implement their projects in order to enhance diaspora interventions to create jobs and improve development outcomes," said Barrow. "The directorate will help to protect irregular, young and vulnerable migrants, and when necessary, facilitate their safe and voluntary return home, in line with human rights provisions," he said. Barrow said his government will strive to realize the United Nations vision that "migration should be a choice, not a desperate necessity." According to him, his administration is taking steps to create opportunities and options for education, employment and training for young Gambians and returnees. The diaspora remittance is the third largest contributor to Gambia's economy following agriculture and tourism, which has led to an escalation of irregular migration of young Gambians. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 12:54:55|Editor: Liu Video Player Close A screen capture from the Twitter account of U.S. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard shows a missile warning for Hawaii, the United States. on January 13, 2018. (Xinhua) LOS ANGELES, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- An emergency text alert on Saturday warning residents in the U.S. state of Hawaii of an imminent ballistic missile threat was false alarm sent out due to human error, state officials said. The U.S. military's Pacific Command and state authorities confirmed that there was no missile threat to Hawaii, which is a chain of islands in the Pacific Ocean, and home to the U.S. Pacific Command. Hawaii Governor David Ige said in comments aired on CNN that "I was awakened by the alert like everyone else here in the state of Hawaii. It was unfortunate and regrettable." Ige apologized for the incident, saying that someone at the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. "pushed the wrong button" during a routine shift change. Such shift changes occur three times a day every day of the year, he added. "While I am thankful this morning's alert was a false alarm, the public must have confidence in our emergency alert system. I am working to get to the bottom of this so we can prevent an error of this type in the future." said Ige in a statement. The alert, sent to mobile phones and also aired on television and radio, caused panic among Hawaiians and on social media platforms. Sara Donchey, who said she was in Honolulu, Hawaii, tweeted that her family who were on the North Shore "were hiding in the garage. My mom and sister were crying." "It was a false alarm, but betting a lot of people are shaken," she wrote. The emergency text alert was sent to cellphones at about 8:07 a.m. local time (1807 GMT), reading in all caps that "Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill." Video shows students at the University of Hawaii at Manoa running for cover and hiding in classrooms in wake of the emergency alert. "First instinct was to jump out of bed and figure out what was going on. I got a bag and threw my water and some food in it," Luke Clements, a student, was quoted as saying by local media Hawaii News Now. "We're coming down outside of Frear (Hall) and see people running past us. There were a group of people crying," said Clements. Wu Qing, a Chinese scholar working in Hawaii, told Xinhua in a phone interview that she still felt frightened. "I was still sleeping when I received message in the morning. Several of my friends also called me or informed me through Wechat after missile alert mistake," said Wu. Many local residents had a sense of "surviving a disaster" and are thankful it was just an error, she added. "I was scared to death. How can the emergency agency make a mistake like that?" wrote a student named Tian on Wechat Moment. It took about 38 minutes for the initial alert to be retracted, according to media reports. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency corrected the alert, saying on Twitter: "NO missile threat to Hawaii." "Hawaii -- this is a false alarm," U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard said on her Twitter account. "I have confirmed with officials there is no incoming missile." The U.S. Federal Communications Commission announced that it was initiating a full probe into the incident. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 13:19:58|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close KABUL, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Four Taliban insurgents were killed and one other arrested in an operation in Afghanistan's southern province of Helmand overnight, said the command of Special Forces on Sunday. "The operation began at 12:05 a.m. and ended at 04:03 a.m. Sunday, on a specific intelligence information about presence of important Taliban figures in a village in Nahri Sarraj district," Operational Coordination Group Afghanistan (MoD-OCGA) said in a statement. Upon arrival of the security force, a gunfight occurred and no member of security force was hurt during the raid, the statement said, adding that the security force also destroyed a vehicle and three motorcycles at the scene. The province, notorious for poppy growing, is also a known Taliban stronghold. The Afghan Special Forces killed over 6,100 militants, injured about 3,200 and detained 443 others throughout 2017. They also destroyed 15 militants' command and control posts and 352 bunkers in different places over the period, according to AOCG. The Taliban militant group has yet to make comments on the report. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 14:25:06|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close JALALABAD, Afghanistan, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- A total of 17 militants loyal to the Islamic State (IS) group were killed as the security forces aircrafts targeted the radical outfit's positions in Haska Mina and Achin districts of the eastern Nangarhar province on Saturday, an official said Sunday. The security forces, according to the spokesman for provincial administration Attaullah Khogiani, acting upon intelligence report, conducted sorties in parts of Haska Mina and Achin districts late Saturday night and smashed trenches and weapon caches besides killing 17 insurgents. IS militants who have intensified subversive activities mostly in the shape of deadly suicide attacks, are yet to make comment on the report. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 14:33:33|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close Visitors watch a cooking demonstration at the Gluten Free Expo in Vancouver, Canada, Jan. 13, 2018. The Gluten Free Expo showcased about 600 gluten free food products from over 140 exhibitors. (Xinhua/Liang Sen) Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 15:20:16|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close LOS ANGELES, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- The local authority in the north Pacific U.S. State of Hawaii apologized for a false emergency alert on Saturday morning warning residents of an imminent ballistic missile threat, which had caused panic cross the islands. According to a timeline outlined by Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Administrator Vern Miyagi at a press conference Saturday afternoon, an emergency text alert was sent to cellphones at about 8:07 a.m. local time (1807 GMT), reading in all caps that "Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill." Meanwhile, the false alert was also broadcast on local television, warning "If you are outdoor, seek immediate shelter in a building. Remain indoors well away from windows. If you are driving, pull safety to the side of the road and seek shelter in a nearby building or lie on the floor. We will announce when the threat has ended." The authority started the recall and cancellation process no later than 8:10 a.m. (1810 GMT). However, there was no way to wipe out the messages that have been sent out, so they looked to Twitter to tell the public the alert was a false alarm, but not everyone was on the social media platform. It took the EMA a full 38 minutes to manually generate and disseminate another corrective emergency alert that reached all Hawaiians, but the state was in uproar at that time. Video shows students at the University of Hawaii at Manoa running for cover and hiding in classrooms in wake of the emergency alert. "First instinct was to jump out of bed and figure out what was going on. I got a bag and threw my water and some food in it," Luke Clements, a student, was quoted as saying by local media Hawaii News Now. "We're coming down outside of Frear (Hall) and see people running past us. There were a group of people crying," said Clements. Sara Donchey, who said she was in Honolulu, Hawaii, tweeted that her family who were on the North Shore "were hiding in the garage. My mom and sister were crying." "It was a false alarm, but betting a lot of people are shaken," she wrote. Wu Qing, a Chinese scholar working in Hawaii, told Xinhua in a phone interview that she still felt frightened. "I was still sleeping when I received message in the morning. Several of my friends also called me or informed me through the WeChat app after missile alert mistake," said Wu. Many local residents had a sense of "surviving a disaster" and are thankful it was just an error, she added. "I was just scared. How can the emergency agency make a mistake like that?" wrote a student named Tian on WeChat Moment. The U.S. military's Pacific Command and state authorities confirmed to public later that there was no missile threat to Hawaii, which is a chain of islands in the Pacific Ocean, and home to the U.S. Pacific Command. Hawaii Governor David Ige said in comments aired on the CNN that "I was awakened by the alert like everyone else here in the state of Hawaii. It was unfortunate and regrettable." Ige then apologized at the press conference for the incident, saying that someone at the Hawaii EMA "pushed the wrong button" during a routine shift change. Such shift changes occur three times a day every day of the year, he added. The system that sent out the fake alert is run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and manages both the emergency alerts to be shown on residents' cellphone and the national emergency alert system, which broadcasts to television stations. According to a report from Wired, a monthly magazine focusing on how emerging technologies affect social behaviors, the system uses a web interface with multiple servers that cache preloaded messages about different types of emergencies, and staff on duty can drop down the menu of the kind of alert messages and select one. The report said in this case, during a test that happens when staffers switch shifts, a staffer accidentally selected a live alert instead of a test alert. "It's a screen. It's more like a mouse click. It's a screen -- a test button, and an actual. The wrong button was pushed," Miyagi said of alert system at the press conference, whose resignation was demanded by angry locals on their twitter and Facebook accounts. "It's a human error. There is a screen, that says 'are you sure you want to do this?', that's already in place. We had one person, human error, that it was pushed anyway," he explained, adding that there will be training so that "this doesn't happen". The U.S. Federal Communications Commission announced that it was initiating a full probe into the incident. Miyagi said local officials have implemented a two-factor identification in sending alerts and an automated way of notifying the public of a false alarm. Moreover, officials are reviewing why some sirens on the island were triggered by the alert which was controlled by a separate system. "No one had authorized the use of the siren," Ige said, adding that they "will find out" why sirens went off. The U.S. Senator from Hawaii Brian Schatz tweeted Saturday that there is "nothing more important to Hawaii than professionalizing and fool-proofing this process." "I know first-hand that what happened today was totally unacceptable, and many in our community was deeply affected by this. And I'm sorry for that pain and confusion that anyone might have experienced." Ige said at the press conference. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 15:30:18|Editor: pengying Video Player Close KABUL, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan Taliban outfit has rejected reports that a Taliban delegation was taking part in a peace negotiation in Turkey, according to a Taliban source revealed on Sunday. Zabiullah Mujahid, a purported Taliban spokesman, said in an online statement that "reports about delegation of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan participating at talks in Turkey are baseless." The Taliban militants use the name of Islamic Emirate they had used during their rule (1996-2001). "We have neither sent any delegation nor can any participant represent the Islamic Emirate. Such fake processes are the work of intelligence and hostile acts against the ongoing Jihad," he said in the statement. On Saturday, local Afghan media reported that an intra-Afghan peace dialogue was taking place in Istanbul, Turkey to find a negotiated end to the decades-long conflict in Afghanistan. The reports said the meeting was arranged in cooperation with the Turkish government. In 2010, Afghan government initiated peace and reconciliation process with the militants but the Taliban leaders have frequently rejected the offer. The first ever unofficial direct talks between the representatives of Afghan government and the Taliban were held in Pakistan in July 2015, but the process was scuttled after confirmation of the death of Taliban former leader Mullah Omar. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 15:30:19|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- A total of 1,300 fugitives were captured or returned to China in 2017, with around 980 million yuan (151 million U.S. dollars) recovered, the top anti-graft authority has said. Of the returned fugitives, 347 had been Party members or state functionaries, and 14 were on an Interpol red notice of 100 suspects, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the Communist Party of China published the information at its website. According to the CCDI, more than 800 suspects in duty-related crimes such as bribery are still at large. About 70 percent are believed to be in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. Many have obtained legal status abroad. In April 2017, China released the details of 22 corruption suspects who had fled overseas including their possible whereabouts, as specific as the streets and communities where they were believed to live. The information also included the name, gender, ID card number, former title, suspected crime, date of arrival in the current country and travel document number of each suspect. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 15:45:22|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close HARBIN, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Harbin in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province saw a good e-commerce business with Russia in 2017, local authorities said. Over 130 cargo charter flights departed Harbin for Ekaterinburg, Russia's fourth largest city last year, an increase of 29 percent, said Harbin Commerce Bureau. The flights carried more than 2,850 tonnes of e-commerce products worth 270 million U.S. dollars, bringing the total value of cargo carried to about 1 billion dollars since the route opened in 2013. The Harbin-Ekaterinburg air route was China's first charter flight for e-commerce products to Russia. Parcels from Harbin to Russia accounted for more than 30 percent of the total from China to Russia. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) shakes hands with Rwandan President Paul Kagame during their meeting in Kigali, capital of Rwanda, on Jan. 13, 2018. (Xinhua/Lyu Tianran) KIGALI, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to strengthen exchanges with Rwanda in various fields from governance to culture, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said. While meeting Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Rwandan capital Kigali on Saturday, Wang hailed the good relations of the two countries marked by long-time mutual understanding, trust and support. Rwanda has found a suitable development path supported by its people, Wang said, adding that China is willing to strengthen exchanges with Rwanda on governance experience and enhance political mutual trust. China also hopes to strengthen pragmatic cooperation with Rwanda; to enhance cultural exchanges to boost mutual understanding; and to strengthen communication and coordination to improve joint capacity of handling regional and international challenges, said Wang. On his part, Kagame said Africa trusts China and is willing to see China playing a more important role on the continent. The president thanked China for its support and contribution to Rwanda's development and for choosing Rwanda as the first stop of Wang's African trip, which he said has important significance for future Sino-Rwandan relations. Wang said China will give Kagame full support to perform his duty as the rotating chairperson of the African Union, with the hope of enhancing Africa's unity and raising its global status. He also said China expects to strengthen communication with Rwanda to ensure that the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation summit, to be held in China this year, become a historic event to strengthen the friendship and unity of China and Africa. Wang, who is in Africa for his first new year trip, will also visit Angola, Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 16:40:30|Editor: pengying Video Player Close SHANGHAI, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- A Sino-British joint venture will soon begin outbound tourism business for Chinese tourists in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone (SFTZ). Registered in the FTZ in 2015 by Thomas Cook Group and Fosun International, Thomas Cook China is one of the beneficiaries of fine-tuning to some laws and regulations in China's FTZs to further opening-up and reform. Eleven regulations including those on ship registration, urban rail transit and foreign investment are to be temporarily adjusted, according to a State Council decision. One regulation specifically deals with foreign investment in tourism. Joint ventures registered in the zones are now allowed directly into outbound tourism for Chinese residents. Previous regulations meant joint ventures had to work with local travel agencies on outbound tourism, but could apply for a their own license after two years. Xu Bingbin, vice president of Fosun Tourism and Culture Group, said Thomas Cook China has various products for Chinese tourists, and since the change to regulations, revenue is expected to increase tenfold this year. "The alteration of these laws and regulations will further the opening up of China's free trade zones," said Ren Yibiao, general manager of the National Base for International Culture Trade (Shanghai). The changes are also good for FTZ businesses involved in shipping, agriculture, aerospace and urban rail transit. As of October 2017, nearly 18,000 firms were registered in the SFTZ, double the number in the four previous bonded zones when they merged in September 2013. In the first three quarters 2017, foreign trade in the zone rose 16.2 percent year on year to 150 billion U.S. dollars. The SFTZ was launched to trial streamlined business registration. Companies can register and be operational in the zone in three working days, considerably less than the previous 40. In 2014, three more FTZs opened in Tianjin Municipality, and the provinces of Guangdong and Fujian. A third batch of seven more went online in August 2016. As structural reform breeds innovation-driven growth, these zones have become attractive to investors and contributed to policy innovation and opening up in industry, finance and other sectors. In January 2017, the central government announced more measures to attract foreign investment through easier access and a better business environment. Foreign firms already face fewer restrictions in the manufacturing, mining and services sectors. "The trials in the FTZs set an example for economic reform and opening up nationwide," said Ren. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 16:55:33|Editor: pengying Video Player Close VLADIVOSTOK, Russia, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- The number of people poisoned in a cafe in the Republic of Buryatia in Russia's eastern Siberia region rose to 133, the press service of local authorities said Sunday. The victims had visited the cafe "Shulendo," located in the downtown area of the city of Ulan-Ude, capital of Buryatia, on Jan. 8-11, said the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Buryatia. "According to the data on Sunday morning, 133 people have applied for symptoms of poisoning. 64 of them were hospitalized, including 12 children," the ministry said. At present, activity of the cafe has been suspended. The local health department is conducting hygiene and epidemic prevention checks. The police department also carried out an investigation into the case. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 17:10:34|Editor: pengying Video Player Close DHAKA, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- As part of an intensified response to the current diphtheria outbreak, the WHO, UNICEF and health sector partners are working with the Bangladesh government to vaccinate about 475,000 Rohingya refugee children in the country, said the UN children's agency Sunday. The Bangladesh Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is helping with the vaccination of the children in Rohingya refugee camps, temporary settlements and surrounding areas in Cox's Bazar, some 292 km southeast of capital Dhaka, said the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF). "All efforts are being made to stop the further spread of diphtheria. The vaccination of children in the Rohingya camps and nearby areas demonstrates the health sector's commitment to protecting people, particularly children, against deadly diseases," said Bardan Jung Rana, a World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to Bangladesh, in a statement. Nearly 150,000 children aged six weeks to seven years received pentavalent vaccine, which protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, haemophilus influenza type b and hepatitis B, and nearly 166,000 children aged 7 to 17 years old were given tetanus and diphtheria (Td) vaccine, during a three-week vaccination campaign that ended on December 31. Two more rounds of vaccination with a diphtheria-containing vaccine, at intervals of one month, are planned to fully protect the children in camps and surrounding areas. "Children are particularly vulnerable to diphtheria...We are making continued efforts to improve the conditions of the camps. At the same time, diphtheria vaccination is vital to reducing the risk of further outbreak," said UNICEF Country Representative Edouard Beigbeder. To limit the spread of diphtheria to communities living near the Rohingya camps and settlements, nearly 160,000 children in 499 schools of Teknaf and Ukhiya sub-districts are also being vaccinated. This initiative began on January 1. According to the WHO statement, between November 8, 2017 and January 11, 2018, as many as 31 deaths and 3,954 suspected cases of diphtheria have been reported from Cox's Bazar. Nearly 10,594 contacts of these suspected cases have been put on diphtheria preventive medication, it said. The WHO has released 1.5 million U.S. dollars from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies to scale up the response to diphtheria among the Rohingya population in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, over the next six months. The funds are being used to support immunization; provide essential medicines and supplies; improve capacities for laboratory testing, case management and contract tracing; and engage with communities. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 17:20:36|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) welcomes visiting Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Palam Airforce Station in New Delhi, India, Jan. 14, 2018. Netanyahu arrived here Sunday on a six-day visit to India, aimed at bolstering bilateral defense and trade ties. (Xinhua/Partha Sarkar) NEW DELHI, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived here Sunday on a six-day visit of India, aimed at bolstering bilateral defense and trade ties. This has been the first time that an Israeli Prime Minister pays an official visit to India in the past 15 years, the last being Ariel Sharon in 2003. Netanyahu and his wife, along with a 130-member delegation, landed in Delhi on a special plane on Sunday afternoon and was received by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Modi will host a dinner for Netanyahu here on Sunday evening, while Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will also meet the Israeli leader later in the day, sources said. On Monday, the visiting Israeli Prime Minister will meet Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and have further meetings with Modi, sources said. Netanyahu and his wife will also visit the iconic Taj Mahal Tuesday and will go to the Indian Prime Minister's homestate of Gujarat, where the two leaders will hold a joint road show Wednesday. Israel and India will announce deals and joint investments in areas ranging from defense to renewable energy, Gilad Cohen, deputy director-general of Israel's Foreign Ministry said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 17:20:37|Editor: pengying Video Player Close ADEN, Yemen, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Forces loyal to Yemen's internationally-backed government killed about 35 Houthi militants in the ongoing fighting in the central province of al-Bayda on Sunday, a military official told Xinhua. The military source said that the pro-government forces supported by the Saudi-led warplanes launched a military campaign and managed to capture three districts from the Houthi militants in al-Bayda province. "Battles against the Houthi militias in al-Bayda are still ongoing and we have a strong determination to liberate the whole province soon," the local military source said on condition of anonymity. Scores of young fighters belonging to the Shiite Houthi group surrendered themselves to the government troops while many others fled and left their weapons behind, the source added. Warplanes of the Saudi-led coalition launched a series of overnight airstrikes and targeted several arms depots belonging to Houthis in al-Bayda, according to local Yemeni sources. Medical sources confirmed that the fighting in al-Bayda left more than 35 Houthi militants killed and about 16 government soldiers injured. "We received clear orders from the Presidency Office to mobilize more troops and continue in our advancement against Houthis across the Yemeni provinces," an intelligence officer told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. Yemen's internationally-backed government, allied with the Saudi-led Arab military coalition, has for about three years been battling Iran-backed Shiite Houthi rebels over control of the country. The coalition began a military air campaign in March 2015 to roll back Houthi gains and reinstate exiled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and his government to the power. The coalition also imposed air and sea blockade to prevent weapons from reaching Houthis, who had invaded the capital Sanaa militarily and seized most of the northern Yemeni provinces. UN statistics show more than 10,000 people, most of them civilians, have been killed since the coalition intervened in the Yemeni civil war that also displaced around 3 million. The impoverished Arab country is also suffering the world's largest cholera epidemic since April, with about 5,000 cases reported every day. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 17:20:38|Editor: pengying Video Player Close NAIROBI, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump's racist and vulgar remarks on Africa at a White House meeting on immigration on Thursday has elicited fierce rebukes from Kenyans. Trump reportedly described the Caribbean nation of Haiti and unspecified African countries in disparaging terms during a discussion with lawmakers on protection of immigrants. Mainstream American media reported that Trump called Haiti and unnamed African countries "shitholes" and urged tougher measures to bar their natives from migrating to the United States. The racially tinged expletives from the American leader triggered a volley of condemnation from the African Union, governments and ordinary citizens in Africa. A statement released on Saturday by the 54-member African Union rebuked the racist comments by Trump and demanded a swift apology to avert a diplomatic fallout between Washington and the world's second largest continent. Kenyans joined people from the rest of Africa in condemning Trump's demeaning remarks even as he denied ever saying anything derogatory in front of lawmakers. Kenya's second largest newspaper, The Standard, on Saturday carried an editorial which condemned Trump's inflammatory ranting that could hurt global trade and diplomacy. "While it can be argued that Trump's toxic language and twitter rants towards his domestic opponents is not criminal because they are on opposing sides, it is wrong to imply that some developing countries more so those from Africa are in such worse state that they deserve such a derogatory moniker," read the editorial. The editorial noted that Trump's erratic behavior and penchant to burn bridges could hurt relations with bilateral partners like Kenya which America needs to secure market for its manufactured goods alongside the fight against terrorism. Kenyan experts on international relations, campaigners and social media influencers were united in their condemnation of Trump's remarks about Haiti and African countries. Martin Nguru, a Nairobi-based diplomacy scholar regretted that Trump had demonstrated an appalling disregard for civility and decency that underpins foreign relations. "He is a very controversial man and his careless statements regarding other people and their countries only risk driving a wedge between America and its foreign partners," said Nguru. He added that Trump is ill-equipped to navigate the tricky world of diplomacy given his propensity to sow chaos and confusion through unfiltered statements. "I would say he lacks credentials to manage diplomatic matters not just with Africa but also with the rest of the world," Nguru remarked. Boniface Mwangi, a Nairobi-based rights campaigner, joined a growing army of Kenyans who rebuked Trump's remarks about African countries. "Africa is not a shithole. It is the most beautiful continent in the world. Beautiful, hardworking people. We have diamonds, gold, iron, cobalt, uranium, copper, bauxite, silver, petroleum, cocoa, coffee etc," Mwangi said. Ibrahim Farah, head of a Nairobi-based think tank called Somalia Academy, blamed Trump's advisors and core supporters for escalating his darker impulses that threaten global peace and cordial relations. "It is his advisors to blame for the disparaging remarks about Haiti and Africa and such racist remarks will hurt U.S.-Africa relations," Farah told Xinhua. Other Kenyans who condemned Trump's unflattering description of Africa includes Bernard Lagat, an elite runner who competes in major races around the world. "I'm a proud son of the shining continent called Africa. My heritage is deeply rooted in my Kenyan roots. Africa is NO shithole, Mr. Trump," Lagat tweeted. His sentiments were shared by thousands of Kenyans in Diaspora who disavowed warped description of their continent by the American leader. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 17:50:44|Editor: pengying Video Player Close JERUSALEM, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Israel said Sunday it destroyed a Hamas "terror tunnel" that stretched from the Gaza Strip, through Israel, and into Egypt, running underneath a military post and a gas pipeline. The bombing of the tunnel was carried out near Kerem Shalom, a border crossing for transfer of goods into Gaza, in the area of the crossing on the Israeli side, the military said in a statement. The tunnel belongs to Hamas, the Islamist organization that runs Gaza, it said. "The tunnel was located using combined technological, intelligence and operational capabilities. Since its discovery the tunnel was monitored up until its destruction," the statement read. The military sees the tunnel as "a severe breach of Israel's sovereignty." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the tunnel was a "main Hamas infrastructure." The recent strike was the fourth time Israel has bombed and destroyed a cross-border tunnel since November 2017. The strike came amidst an escalation between Gaza and Israel following U.S. President Donald Trump recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital on Dec. 6 last year. The escalation includes protests along the fence between Israel and Gaza, in which at least 13 people have been killed, according to local media, and some 40 rockets that Gaza militants launched at Israel. The rockets were launched by Salafi groups and the Islamic Jihad, but the military maintains that Hamas should be held responsible for any hostility from the besieged Palestinian enclave. The military said that it has no intention to further escalate the situation but will "continue to act against any violation of Israeli sovereignty." "The IDF remains prepared for a wide variety of scenarios," the statement read. It will "continue its efforts above and below ground to thwart any attempts to harm Israeli civilians." Protective Edge was a 51-day military campaign in the Gaza Strip in the summer of 2014, during which Israel killed at least 2,251 people in Gaza, mainly civilians, according to the United Nations figures. At the same time, 67 Israeli soldiers and four civilians were killed in Israel during the battles. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 18:00:48|Editor: pengying Video Player Close The photo taken by a mobile phone on Jan. 14, 2018 shows a speedboat explosion on southern Thailand's Andaman Sea near Phi-Phi Islands. A speedboat carrying 27 Chinese tourists and several Thai crews exploded on southern Thailand's Andaman Sea near Phi-Phi Islands on Sunday. (Xinhua) BANGKOK, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- A speedboat carrying 27 Chinese tourists and several Thai crews exploded on southern Thailand's Andaman Sea near Phi-Phi Islands on Sunday. A Thai was killed and 16 others have been found injured, according to local media. The speedboat was on its way to Phi-Phi Islands and caught fire near the Viking Cave in the sea at about 1 p.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday. Five Chinese were seriously injured, according to the Consulate-General of China in Songkhla. The consulate said all the Chinese tourists have been helped ashore while the rescue team is still searching for the others. All the injured were hospitalized. Local media said there was a fuel leak. The captain went to check the engine and it suddenly exploded. The fire quickly spread, prompting all the passengers to scramble for swimming vests and jump into the sea. Local media said there were five Thai passengers and 27 Chinese tourists, including three children on board. A seriously injured Thai crew was later pronounced dead from burns. The explosion is under investigation. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 18:10:49|Editor: pengying Video Player Close SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of U.S. and Chinese representatives from hi-tech firms met Saturday to exchange expertise in state-of-the-art technology, at an annual forum held at Silicon Valley in San Francisco on the U.S. west coast. The participants including scholars, researchers and entrepreneurs represented many leading hi-tech companies from the two countries that came to share their most recent achievements and investments. The forum, entitled "The 2018 CONNECT Conference," focused on the theme of "Intelligent System, Technology Meets Industry" which is devoted to the frontline technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) technology, cyber security, smart cars, deep learning, as well as AI chips and manufacturing. At one of the seven panels of the yearly brain-storm forum, Tuomas Sandholm, developer of the AI robot Libratus that defeated the best human Poker players in several matches last year, delivered a keynote address on AI technology and future application centering around super human AI for strategic reasoning. The AI robot thrilled the world last year when it defeated the world's top-class human players in several tournaments of Texas Poker in January 2017, with its extremely powerful algorithm that computes Poker strategy by its super machine learning capabilities. Deputy Consul General of China in San Francisco Zhang Jianxin said China and the United States will be committed to more practical cooperation in the future on scientific innovation and the flow of talents on the basis of their mutually complementary advantages. Roy Kong, CEO of the U.S.-China Association of High-level Professionals and organizer of the conference, said the forum is acting as a bridge between Chinese enterprises and their U.S. counterparts. The forum and its mechanism have encouraged more than 1,000 young talents from Silicon Valley and other areas to find their successful careers in China. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 18:40:55|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close KABUL, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Sixteen suspects have been arrested across Afghanistan during the latest raids against insurgency this weekend, the country's primary intelligence agency said here Sunday. The personnel of intelligence agency in coordination with Afghan national police and army have arrested 16 suspects since early Saturday in different places, National Directorate of Security (NDS) said in a statement. The statement did not provide further information about the arrested, adding that the captured were handed over to concerned departments for further questioning. The NDS personnel also launched 22 special operations and took part in 24 joint operations together with army and police within the period, according to the statement. During the joint operations, one Taliban command and control post, one heroin factory, two Taliban bunkers, 16 rounds of weapons, 22 vehicles and 34 motorcycles were destroyed by the joint security forces, the statement said. One person was also freed from the kidnappers' clutch, the statement added. Afghan security forces and the NATO-led coalition troops have beefed up security operations and airstrikes as the war-weary people are facing upsurges in attacks by Taliban insurgents and Islamic State (IS) militants across the country. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 19:05:59|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close MONROVIA, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Liberia's governing Unity Party said on Sunday it had expelled outgoing President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf from its fold, accusing her of anti-party activities. A spokesman of the party Mohammed Ali confirmed that the party voted to expel Sirleaf late Saturday. The party accused the 79-year-old Sirleaf of violating the political group's constitution by working against her vice president, Joseph Boakai, who ran for president on its platform last year. Boakai was defeated by opposition candidate George Weah in the presidential run-off election held on Dec. 26 in the country. The party's spokesman said Boakai, who has served as vice president of the country for 12 years, supported Sirleaf's expulsion from the party. Two other strong members of the party known to be very loyal to the Liberian leader were also expelled from the party. Sirleaf, who will leave office on Jan. 22 after completing her two-term tenure in office, is yet to comment on her expulsion by the governing party. Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf speaks during the General Debate of the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 19, 2017. (Xinhua/Li Rui) MONROVIA, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Liberia's governing Unity Party said on Sunday it had expelled outgoing President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf from its fold, accusing her of anti-party activities. A spokesman of the party Mohammed Ali confirmed that the party voted to expel Sirleaf late Saturday. The party accused the 79-year-old Sirleaf of violating the political group's constitution by working against her vice president, Joseph Boakai, who ran for president on its platform last year. Boakai was defeated by opposition candidate George Weah in the presidential run-off election held on Dec. 26 in the country. The party's spokesman said Boakai, who has served as vice president of the country for 12 years, supported Sirleaf's expulsion from the party. Two other strong members of the party known to be very loyal to the Liberian leader were also expelled from the party. Sirleaf, who will leave office on Jan. 22 after completing her two-term tenure in office, is yet to comment on her expulsion by the governing party. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 19:36:04|Editor: pengying Video Player Close ANKARA, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- At a time when Turkey's relations with Europe are believed to be at the lowest level, Ankara stepped up to restore its dialogue with European Union with a visit by the Turkish president to France hoping that there is a new opportunity to reverse this trend. Turkey's membership talks started more than a decade ago and have hit the rocks in the past few years as Europe has been critical of Ankara's security crackdown after 2016's failed coup, which saw tens of thousands removed from their jobs, and numerous arrests. It's been more than 17 months since the coup attempt, and the Turkish parliament will approve extension the state of emergency for the sixth time on Jan. 17. "Opening a new negotiation chapter is absolutely impossible with Turkey under the ongoing state of emergency," an EU official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. The European Commission's annual progress report on Turkey in April is expected to be the hardest ever given the critics on state of democracy, human rights, rule of law and fundamental freedoms. EU leaders and Turkish politicians have been in exchange of accusations mostly due to domestic political consumption. The gap between Turkey and EU further increased after the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe reintroduced a monitoring process for the country last April. The block strongly asserts Ankara that it would not compromise on the Copenhagen Criteria, but still, they voice significance of "anchoring" Turkey to Europe. In a surprise move amid frosty ties with the European capitals , Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last week paid his first foreign visit in 2018 to France for a meeting considered as a step for the policy of easing of strained relations with Europe. Subsequent to talks in Paris, the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu visited Germany and met his German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel to put ties back on track. The expectation was positive developments in terms of updating the Customs Union with the EU, if not in membership talks. A new vision introduced by the President of France Emmanuel Macron to strengthen bilateral ties between Ankara and Paris is expected to have a positive impact on Turkey's overall integration into Europe, according to Unal Cevikoz, a retired ambassador from Turkish Foreign Ministry. But, Cevikoz is pessimistic about Turkey's stalled EU bid. "Currently, the opening of new chapters and the continuation of Turkey's accession negotiations with the EU does not seem to be on the short-term agenda. Respecting the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights and freedoms seem to be the key to unlock that impasse," he said. "The dialogue between the two sides should perhaps be rethought ... not in the framework of membership but maybe of cooperation or partnership," Macron stated at a joint press conference with Erdogan. "Recent developments and choices do not allow any progress," the French president said noting that, but they believe that "future of Turkey and Turkish people should be in Europe." In this situation, this relationship could be re-considered in the context of cooperation, partnership, not in the integration process, the French leader stated. He noted that Jean-Claude Juncker, President of European Union Commission has been working on this issue. Macron's remarks envisage that the full membership negotiations between Turkey and the EU has lost its sense, Sedat Ergin, daily Hurriyet columnist said. Despite standing still in accession talks for the few years, membership was the sole perspective in defining ties between Turkey and the EU, he noted. "Losing this perspective is a major paradigm shift in Turkey-EU relations. It's a major break in terms of the ultimate goal of a country that had the 'full membership candidate' status," said Ergin noting that the EU has yet to define this new status. Recently, some other EU leaders have also expressed ideas for a new model of partnership between Ankara and Brussels other than full membership. An EU agreement with Britain on relations after Brexit could serve as a model for ties with other countries that want to be as close as possible to the bloc but are not yet ready to join, such as Ukraine and Turkey, Germany's Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said on December. "Let's abandon the hypocrisy on Turkey's membership in the EU," Boyko Borisov, President of Bulgaria, EU term president, said recently."Let's sign a special treaty between Turkey and the EU." In his press conference with the French president, Erdogan expressed the Turkish government's view on how Ankara was fed up with the prolonging accession process. However, he abstained to comment on the idea of an alternative model of partnership. Although some EU states such as Germany, has long been voicing "privileged partnership" with Turkey, the negative connotations of giving up full membership target make that a difficult choice to accept officially by Ankara. Maintaining Turkey's European anchor could help the country realize much-desired comprehensive economic and democratic reforms according to the view of remarkable number of Turkish citizens. Despite all negative developments between Turkey and the EU in 2017, a large majority of the Turkish population continues to support the country's membership of the block, though few believe it can be realized in the short term, according to a poll carried out by the Economic Development Foundation (IKV). The survey showed a rising trend in support for EU membership among Turkish citizens, 78.9 percent of who said they favored Turkey's membership of the EU. This figure was up from 75.5 percent in 2016 and 61.8 percent in 2015. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 19:41:05|Editor: pengying Video Player Close JAKARTA, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's resort island of Bali received an increasing number of French tourists last year, thanks to the growing direct flights connecting French cities to Bali, an official said Sunday. Bali received 162,288 French tourists last year, 10.09 percent higher than 147,413 ones it received a year earlier, Representative of Visit Indonesia Tourism Office (VITO) in Paris Eka Moncare said. Eka said French people's demands to travel to Bali have been improving in the last few years and were well-addressed by international airlines which provide direct flights from several cities in France to Bali. "Besides that, Bali also provides various kinds of accommodation facilities from guest houses to multi-star hotels with most of locals familiar with English and French languages," Eka said in a statement. The increasing figure of French tourists in Bali has made France ranking the seventh of top ten nations which supplied the most tourists to Bali last year. In average, French tourists stay half a month during their vacation in Bali, spending at least 110 U.S. dollars per day during their stay, Eka said.. Cultural and traditional attractions were the tourism elements that French tourists are mostly interested in Bali, she added. To attract more French tourists, Indonesia will carry out more promotion events, coupled with efforts to hold tour package sales programs both on business to customers (b to c) and business to business (b to b) basis, Eka said. Indonesia Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said that France, along with Britain and Germany, have been the largest suppliers of tourists to Indonesia in recent years. "Bali was still dominating French tourists' destination preference in Indonesia at 40 percent," the minister said in the statement. The other Indonesian destinations favored by French tourists were Jakarta and Riau island at 30 and 20 percent respectively. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 20:21:12|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Prices of imported iron ore should not continue to rise due to rising supply, high port inventories and more steel scrap available, an industry insider has said. The rise in imported iron ore prices in the past couple of months, was "abnormal," said Jin Wei, head of the China Iron and Steel Association, at a meeting held in Beijing Saturday. "This phenomena is unreasonable ... The industry must be sober-minded about the oversupply of imported iron ore in the long term," Jin said. Xia Nong, an official with the National Development and Reform Commission, said China's steel sector does not have a high level of concentration and thus has little say in the global market. "In the future, the industry must push forward mergers and acquisitions to increase the number of large companies with a strong right of speech and domination in the global arena," Xia added. Companies can make independent choices under a market-oriented principle, while the government will create a sound environment for the reorganization, Xia said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 20:26:13|Editor: pengying Video Player Close JERUSALEM, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Israel's Shin Bet security service said Sunday it has arrested an Arab citizen of Israel on suspicion he planned to carry out an Islamic State-inspired attack in Israel. Hasan Khaled Taher Sheik Yusef, 26, a resident of Taibe, an Arab town in central Israel, was arrested earlier in January but a gag order was imposed on the case. On Sunday, Yusef was charged by the Central District Attorney's Office and the gag order was lifted. He was indicted for pledging allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) and planning to carry out an attack on its behalf. According to a statement released by the Shin Bet, Yusef started to learn about the IS in 2014-2015, watching online videos of the radical Islamist group. He also looked into possibilities for joining the IS forces in Syria. "The investigation also indicated that Yousef watched (video) guides on how to prepare explosives and even tried to get someone else to buy an M-16 assault rifle with him," the statement read. He tried to recruit others last summer, during a wave of protests in East Jerusalem sparked by new metal detectors that Israel installed in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Yusef tried to convince several of his acquaintances to commit "different types of terror attacks, including a shooting in Jerusalem, setting off a car bomb next to the police station in Taibe and a stabbing," the Shin Bet said. However, he was rebuffed by everyone he approached, the Shin Bet said. Dozens of Israeli citizens pledged loyalty to the IS or joined its forces in Syria over the past years. According to the Shin Bet, "Israeli supporters of the Islamic State are a serious security threat." The agency is closely monitoring suspects to prevent the dissemination of the organization's doctrine in Israel, the statement said. Israel's Arab minority are the descendants of Palestinians who stayed put during the 1948 Israel's Independence War. They comprise some 20 percent of the Israeli population. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 20:41:15|Editor: pengying Video Player Close VIENTIANE, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- The United States has handed over more equipment for the clearance of unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Laos, to prevent local residents from being injured, disabled or killed, local online newspaper Vientiane Times reported on Sunday. The U.S. government provided vehicles and field equipment worth 1.25 million U.S. dollars to the Lao National Unexploded Ordnance Programme. Some 15 vehicles, 150 UXO detectors and other equipment will be given to the UXO clearance teams in the southern Lao provinces of Khammuan, Savannakhet and Attapeu, the report said. The supplies were handed over at a ceremony held on Friday attended by the U.S. Ambassador to Laos Rena Bitter and Lao Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Welfare, Khamkeo Sanbounkhounxay. The local media quoted Bitter as saying that the program of support for the clearance of contaminated land reflects the close partnership between the United States and the government and people of Laos. Assistance has been provided for over two decades to address the war legacy issues. "This contribution to the Lao National Unexploded Ordnance Programme is part of the United States' commitment of 90 million U.S. dollars over three years to fund a national cluster munitions survey, in addition to the ongoing clearance of UXO," she added. Khamkeo said:"The vehicles and field equipment will assist 15 UXO clearance teams to continue to clear land that still harbours unexploded ordnance in Khammuan, Savannakhet and Attapeu provinces." The United States' assistance will enable the Lao National Unexploded Ordnance Programme to work more effectively, while also boosting rural development and poverty eradication, he added. Unexploded ordnance continues to affect Laos. Over the years, thousands of people, usually rural people and their children, have been killed or injured by suddenly exploded UXO, Khamkeo said. The Lao government and its development partners have continued to cooperate to remove UXO in high-risk areas. The clearance of unexploded ordnance is one activity that will help Laos to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, he added. Since 1990, the U.S. government has granted more than 135 million U.S. dollars for UXO clearance and surveys, to help the victims of UXO-related accidents, and provide information about the risks of unexploded ordnance, Khamkeo mentioned. According to the Lao National Unexploded Ordnance Programme, in over 20 years of the programme's implementation, more than 380 square km of land have been cleared for safe use, enabling schools, water supplies and roads to be built. More than 1,480,000 items of unexploded ordnance were destroyed from 1996-2016 in Laos. In 2016 a total of 67,166 UXO items were destroyed by the Lao National Unexploded Ordnance Programme's clearance operations. According to statistics from Lao authorities, from 1965 to 1973, the United States dropped some two million tons of ordinance on Laos during the Vietnam War, including 2.7 million cluster bombs which are designed to break apart and release a payload of smaller bombs. As many as 30 percent of these bombs did not explode. Laos is the most heavily bombed country in the world per capita. Over the years, thousands of Lao people have been killed or injured, usually farmers tending their fields and children playing. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 20:41:15|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close KUWAIT CITY, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- "I love Chinese food and I would like to go back to China again," said Kuwait Television director Ahmad Alhomoud on Saturday at a Chinese New Year's celebration held in Kuwait. Alhomoud has attended the annual celebration for more than twenty years. He believes the event helps Kuwaitis better understand Chinese culture. Hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Kuwait in collaboration with the Association of Chinese Companies in Kuwait, the celebration gathers representatives of Chinese enterprises in Kuwait, Chinese students and Chinese citizens living in Kuwait. Dozens of employees of Chinese companies and Chinese students performed Chinese songs, traditional dances and martial arts to celebrate the Chinese New Year of 2018. "I am so happy to be here tonight, it is really amazing to watch the Chinese martial arts," Alhomoud said. Alhomoud had been in China on a business trip for two weeks last year. "I went to Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai and tasted different Chinese food, what I like most -- fried prawns," he said with a smile. "Chinese food is very popular in Kuwait, as a part of traditional culture Chinese cooking helps us know your country," he told Xinhua. Fayez Shalaan, media advisor of Kuwaiti International Parliament of States For Safety and Peace, had been to China for four times. "I went to Beijing and Shanghai as a tourist. Chinese calligraphy, acrobatics and lion dances gave me a very deep impression," he said. "I like Chinese culture very much, especially the traditional Chinese snacks. In Kuwait spring roll is very famous food, you can find it in supermarkets and local restaurants," Fayez Shalaan said, pointing at the spring roll, served at the celebration. "I know spring roll has a long history, Chinese always eat it during the Spring Festival," said Fayez Shalaan, hoping Kuwait and China would continue strengthening cultural exchanges and deepening the understanding and communication between the two peoples. The Belt and Road Initiative, first put forward in 2013 by China, gives a full play to the role of cultural exchange in an effort to enhance all-round cooperation among countries along the route of the Belt and Road Initiative. In a speech at the celebration, Wang Di, the Chinese Ambassador to Kuwait, said that China and Kuwait have signed cooperation agreement in the field of culture, and Chinese performing art organizations, invited in 2017 to Kuwait, brought Kuwaitis opportunity to fully feel the charm of China's traditions and culture. "I hope within the framework of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, Kuwait and China would seize the opportunity to promote mutual beneficial cooperation and strengthen our cultural communication," said Alhomoud. "In 2018, we will further integrate the initiative with Kuwaiti development strategy, deepen pragmatic cooperation in various fields and maintain close cultural exchanges," said the Chinese ambassador. "I hope that the celebration here would promote mutual understanding and friendship between people in China and Kuwait," said the ambassador. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 20:56:17|Editor: pengying Video Player Close An Afghan security force member takes position during a military operation in Jawzjan province, Afghanistan, Jan. 14, 2018. At least one militant loyal to the Islamic State (IS) group has been killed and two others injured as clash flared up between the radical IS outfit and Taliban fanatic group in Darzab district of the northern Jawzjan province on Sunday, provincial governor's spokesman Mohammad Reza Ghafori said. (Xinhua/Mohammad Jan Aria) SHIBERGHAN, Afghanistan, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- At least one militant loyal to the Islamic State (IS) group has been killed and two others injured as clash flared up between the radical IS outfit and Taliban fanatic group in Darzab district of the northern Jawzjan province on Sunday, provincial governor's spokesman Mohammad Reza Ghafori said. The clash, according to the official, took place after the IS group killed a Taliban commander a few days before and the Taliban fighters in retaliation stormed the rival group's position Sunday morning, killing at least one fighter and injuring two others. IS group has yet to make comment. Taliban militants, according to the official, are getting preparation to launch a massive offensive against the IS group in Darzab and Qush Tepa districts. IS fighters who gained ground in Darzab and neighboring Qush Tepa district one year ago have been fighting to consolidate positions and expand their influence in Jawzjan and adjoining Saripul, Faryab and Balkh provinces. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 21:11:20|Editor: pengying Video Player Close MOGADISHU, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- At least three Somali soldiers were wounded Sunday in a roadside blast on the outskirts of the capital Mogadishu. Police said the soldiers who were in a convoy were injured when their vehicle ran into a landmine in Hanta Dheer location in Daynille district within Mogadishu. "I can confirm that three soldiers were wounded during the attack. They vehicle was also damaged by the explosion in Hanta Dheer," an officer who requested anonymity told Xinhua. A resident also confirmed the incident to Xinhua noting the explosion caused panic early Sunday. "A huge blast went off in Hanta Dheer this morning. We were scared it was a heavy bomb explosion but learnt that the military were attacked as they travelled by," Ahmed Nur said. The Somali security officers later cordoned off the scene and launched a major manhunt for the suspects behind the incident. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack which comes barely a week after a convoy from African Union was hit in a similar attack in the same area. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 21:46:26|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- China's tourism authority said Sunday it has initiated an emergency plan to help Chinese nationals injured in a speedboat explosion in Thailand. The China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) has urged local hospitals to spare no efforts to treat the injured and Thai police to find out the cause of the accident as soon as possible, according to CNTA head Li Jinzao. A speedboat carrying 27 Chinese tourists and several Thai crews exploded on southern Thailand's Andaman Sea near Phi-Phi Islands Sunday. Local media reported that a Thai was killed and 16 others have been found injured. Five Chinese were in serious condition, according to the Consulate-General of China in Songkhla. Li said the CNTA will continue to follow the development of the accident. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 22:51:43|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a joint press conference with Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg (not seen) at the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on Jan. 10, 2018. (Xinhua/Ting Shen) JOHANNESBURG, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- The South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation will on Monday meet the second-in-charge of the embassy of the United States of America in Pretoria over "disturbing" statements made by the U.S. President Donald Trump. "The department will provide an opportunity to the Charges de Affaires (second-in-charge) to explain the statement that African countries, alongside Haiti and El Savador constitute 'shitholes' from where migrants into the United States are undesirable." Clayson Monyela, Spokesperson of the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation, said in a statement on Sunday. Trump said on January 11 that he would rather have more immigrants from Norway and fewer from Haiti and "shithole countries" in Africa. Monyela said Trump made "crude and offensive statement." He said South Africa supports statements made by African ambassadors criticizing Trump. "Africa is united in its affirmation of the dignity of the people of Africa and the African diaspora. Relations between South Africa and the United States, and between the rest of Africa and the United States, must be based on mutual respect and understanding," he said. Trump's statements have been widely condemned in Africa and beyond. It has been criticized by governments, civil society and prominent individuals. Botswana's Foreign Minister Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi described Trump's comment as "an insult" and "racist." Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 22:56:44|Editor: yan Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- The State Oceanic Administration (SOA) on Sunday criticized the government of east China's Jiangsu Province for failing to supervise land reclamation and control pollution along its coast. An SOA inspection team exposed a number of flaws concerning land reclamation in Jiangsu after an investigation in the province from August to September, said a SOA press release. The province made slow progress in restoring environment along its coast, the statement said, adding that it only finished restoring the environment along half of the 300-km targeted coastline required by the State Council. The provincial government was also found to have violated state regulations by delegating the power of granting administrative approval for small land reclamation projects to the city government of Nantong, the statement said. A total of 14 projects, involving 81.29 hectares of reclaimed land, have been wrongly approved since 2012. A large amount of reclaimed land remain deserted, the statement said. From 2012 to 2017, about 2,328 hectares of sea waters were transformed into land but only 21.28 percent of them were actually developed. Developers of 184 land reclamation projects did not obtain government approval before they started building their projects. The province was also found failing to effectively protect nature reserves. Fish farming has still been operated in about 9,955 hectares of sea waters around a national wetland reserve in Jiangsu, where such commercial operations should have been banned, according to SOA. The land contributed to more than 85 percent of pollutants in offshore waters along the Jiangsu coast, and the provincial government did not have a complete list of polluters. The provincial government was told to submit a plan for rectification within 30 work days and report the progress in next six months. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 23:06:48|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close DHAKA, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Huge columns of devotees dressed in traditional robes and prayer caps began streaming towards the venue of the second largest annual Muslim congregation in Dhaka, braving winter cold and dense fog in the morning on Sunday, to attend Akheri Munajat or concluding prayer. With hundreds of thousands of devotees from Bangladesh and other countries praying to Allah for global peace, prosperity and fraternal harmony, the three-day second largest annual Muslim congregation after holy Hajj, called Biswa Ijtema, ended Sunday afternoon. For about half an hour the Ijtema venue and its adjoining areas reverberated with the word "Amin" repeatedly uttered by devotees raising their hands together in the prayer. The 28-minute grand prayer, led by renowned Islamic scholar Hafez Mohammad Zobayer from Bangladesh, at the congregation on the bank of the Turag river at Tongi, some 25 km north of capital Dhaka, specially sought divine blessings and welfare of all mankind. Religious scholars delivered sermons on Islamic philosophy in the light of the holy Quran and Hadith during the congregation days. The first phase of Bishwa Ijtema began Friday after Fazr (morning) prayers with religious sermons for the devotees, seeking world peace for the Muslim ummah. The second phase of the Biswa Ijtema will begin on the same venue on Jan. 20 and will conclude with the offering of Akheri Munajat (concluding prayer) on Jan. 22. To ensure safety and security of the devotees and maintain law and order, thousands of different law-enforcing agencies have been deployed in and around the 60-hectare Ijtema ground, the main venue of the congregation. Several control rooms, watch towers and a number of close circuit cameras have been installed to avert any untoward incidents. Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, among others, joined the concluding prayer. The exact number of devotees on the last day could not be assessed as tens of thousands of devotees from the capital and the adjoining areas join the concluding prayer. The organizers have arranged loud speakers several km away from the venue so that devotees could join the grand prayer. Traffic on many city roads and highways has been kept suspended for smooth holding of the congregation. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-14 23:26:51|Editor: yan Video Player Close DAR ES SALAAM, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania and Rwanda on Sunday agreed to construct a 400-kilometer standard gauge railway line from Isaka to Kigali in efforts to connect Rwanda, the landlocked east African country, to the Dar es Salaam port. Tanzanian President John Magufuli told a news conference in Dar es Salaam after talks with Rwandan President Paul Kagame that the construction of the railway line will be jointly financed by the two countries. "We have directed ministers of foreign affairs from the two countries to meet next week to start charting out the financing model," said Magufuli. "We want the construction of the railway line to start immediately because the feasibility studies and all other preparations are complete," said the Tanzanian leader. Tanzania has already started construction of the standard gauge railway in two phases from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro covering 330km, and from Morogoro to Makutupora in Dodoma covering 426km, using locally sourced funds to the tune of about 3 billion U.S. dollars, according to President Magufuli. "Both President Kagame and I have agreed to look for loans to speed up the construction of the railway line," said Magufuli. Magufuli added that Tanzania fully supported president Kagame's candidacy for the AU chairmanship. "I am happy to work with president Magufuli and other African leaders. They have given me these responsibilities because they are ready to give me support to enable me accomplish my tasks," said Kagame. JOHANNESBURG, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- The South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation will on Monday meet the second-in-charge of the embassy of the United States of America in Pretoria over "disturbing" statements made by the U.S. President Donald Trump. "The department will provide an opportunity to the Charges de Affaires (second-in-charge) to explain the statement that African countries, alongside Haiti and El Savador constitute 'shitholes' from where migrants into the United States are undesirable." Clayson Monyela, Spokesperson of the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation, said in a statement on Sunday. Trump said on January 11 that he would rather have more immigrants from Norway and fewer from Haiti and "shithole countries" in Africa. Monyela said Trump made "crude and offensive statement." He said South Africa supports statements made by African ambassadors criticizing Trump. "Africa is united in its affirmation of the dignity of the people of Africa and the African diaspora. Relations between South Africa and the United States, and between the rest of Africa and the United States, must be based on mutual respect and understanding," he said. Trump's statements have been widely condemned in Africa and beyond. It has been criticized by governments, civil society and prominent individuals. Botswana's Foreign Minister Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi described Trump's comment as "an insult" and "racist." Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-15 00:42:02|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- The State Council, China's cabinet, will report the condition and management of state asset to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) annually, said a key document made public Sunday. The State Council will submit two types of reports to the top legislature, according to a guideline issued by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee. One will be a general report on basic conditions of all sorts of state asset, which the State Council will hand in a written one annually and send an official to explain to the lawmakers in the last year of their tenure. The other will be a report on specific aspects of state asset, such as state-owned enterprises, state-owned financial institutions, state-run non-commercial institutions and state-owned natural resources. Every year, except for the last of the legislature's tenure, the State Council is required to dispatch an official to explain one of the specific reports to lawmakers. The general report will include information nationwide but specific reports on state-owned enterprises and financial institutions will mainly cover those supervised by the central government. The official to explain the reports can be the premier or senior officials in charge of state asset, according to the guideline. The move to establish such a mechanism is "a vital decision by the CPC Central Committee to enhance supervision by the NPC over state asset and an essential system for the Party and state to tighten management of state asset," said the guideline. "It is in line with the Constitution and law, meets people's expectation and vital for improving transparency and credibility of management of state asset," the document said. Over the past few years, the NPC Standing Committee has heard reports by the State Council on state asset management but they were limited to state-owned enterprises supervised by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, said a statement from the Commission for Budget Affairs under the NPC Standing Committee, also on Sunday. "The legislature's supervision is not adequate and should be improved with new institutional measures," the statement said. The first review is scheduled to be at a bi-monthly session of the 13th NPC Standing Committee in October this year, when a general report will be submitted and a State Council official will deliver a specific report on state-owned financial institutions, according to the commission. WHAT TO REPORT According to the document, the report on state-owned enterprises and financial institutions will focus on asset and liabilities of the corporations, major investment projects, risk control, reform and salary of senior executives, while the one on non-commercial institutions will center on their liabilities, reform of management, allocation, use and revenue of state asset. The report on state-owned natural resources will be about conditions of natural resources, mechanisms of sustainable development and environmental protection as well as exploitation and conservation. The State Council is asked to establish a complete and accurate database about state asset, which can be shared by relevant ministries and departments. WHAT TO CHECK The NPC Standing Committee is required to organize investigations on relevant issues before reviewing the State Council's reports. They will give feedback to the State Council, which then should report to the top legislature within six months on how it addresses the relevant issues. Lawmakers can also initiate inquiries into certain issues. Lawmakers are expected to check how major Party and government policies and reform plans about state asset are implemented, how certain laws and legislature's resolutions are enforced, how state-owned enterprises and institutions serve national strategies, provide public goods and safeguard national security, and how the State Council works to maintain the value of state asset and prevent loss. The State Council reports and review reports of the NPC Standing Committee will be published, except for information banned by law, the guideline said. The mechanism will be launched step by step, starting from the easiest aspect to the difficult ones, the guideline said. State asset will be divided into different categories, some of which will be reported first and more will be added, it added. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-15 01:27:09|Editor: yan Video Player Close KHARTOUM, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Sudan said on Sunday that its army is ready to deal with any possible security threat on the country's eastern border. "It is known that there are some opposition forces in our east, therefore, we are taking precautions for whatever may come from that direction," said Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour at a joint press conference with his visiting Ethiopian counterpart Workneh Gebeyehu. "We are not talking about a particular country, but we are on alert that someone is trying to harm us. We will reveal further details when time is appropriate," Ghandour noted. He further reiterated readiness of the Sudanese army to confront any situations, adding that the forces had reallocated some of its troops to prepare for any possible changes that might harm Sudan's security. The Ethiopian foreign minister, for his part, reiterated his country's pledge to make every effort to promote regional peace. "We discussed regional and international issues. We are ready to work closely together to boost bilateral relations and we need peace in the region," said Gebeyehu. Gebeyehu arrived in Khartoum on Sunday for an one-day visit to Sudan. He delivered a message from the Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn to Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. Last Thursday, Sudan officially announced that there were potential security threats from Egypt and Eritrea following reported military moves in Eritrea's Sawa area near the border with Sudan's state of Kassala. This coincided with Sudan's closure of all its border crossings with Eritrea and sending of military reinforcements to the country's eastern border. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-15 01:52:13|Editor: yan Video Player Close TEHRAN, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Iran's President Hassan Rouhani extended Sunday his condolences to the families of 32 sailors who died after their oil tanker collided with another vessel off China's east coast. The crew members, including 30 Iranians and two Bangladeshis, went missing after a Panama-registered oil tanker and a Hong Kong-registered bulk freighter collided on Jan. 6 in waters about 160 sea miles east of the Yangtze River's estuary. Three bodies have been recovered after Chinese rescue teams tried very hard to put out the fire and rescue the crew members on the tanker, carrying 136,000 tons of gas condensates and other oils, that caught fire after the collision. It sank on Sunday after burning for eight days. Describing the incident as "tragic" and "heart-breaking," Rouhani said the deaths of the crew have deeply saddened the nation of Iran, the Tasnim news agency reported. The president stressed that determining the identity of the dead sailors should be a priority to relieve their families' pain and suffering. Rouhani also urged all relevant organizations to take necessary measures to investigate the cause of the tragic event and prevent any similar incident in the future. Despite China's prompt and continuous efforts to rescue the missing sailors, no survivors have been found so far. Chinese Ambassador to Iran Pang Sen on Thursday said that the poor sea condition in the area hindered the rescue operations, as Chinese rescue members risked their lives several times to get close to the tanker to put out the fire. He also pointed out that rescuing the missing crew has alway been China's priority out of international humanitarian spirit and the traditional friendship between China and Iran. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-15 02:12:16|Editor: yan Video Player Close CAIRO, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- An Egyptian court sentenced on Sunday 19 students to five years in prison over committing acts of vandalism in support of the currently outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group, state-run MENA news agency reported. The report said the 19 students of the Isalmic-oriented Al-Azhar University belong to the banned group of ousted Islamist President Mohamed Morsi and they have been convicted of storming one of Al-Azhar buildings, assaulting its employees and setting fire on private cars during pro-Morsi violent protests. Giza Criminal Court also sentenced a minor to three years in prison in the same case. The verdicts are final, as they conclude the convicts' retrial after their appeal was accepted in late 2015. Morsi was ousted by the military in July 2013, in response to mass protests, and his Brotherhood group was banned as a terrorist organization. A later massive security crackdown on Morsi's supporters left hundreds dead and thousands arrested. On Jan. 9, the same court handed 268 defendants up to 25-year jail terms over a violent pro-Morsi sit-in following his removal. Since Morsi's ouster, Egypt has been suffering terrorist activities that killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers as well as civilians, with most of them claimed by a Sinai-based terrorist group affiliated with the regional Islamic State (IS) militant group. Meanwhile, the Egyptian security forces have killed hundreds of terrorists and arrested thousands of suspects during the country's anti-terror war declared by President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, the army chief then, following Morsi's ouster. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-15 02:12:17|Editor: yan Video Player Close ALGIERS, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on Sunday congratulated his Tunisian counterpart Beji Caid Essebsi on the seventh anniversary of the popular uprising of Jan. 14, 2011. "I am particularly happy to see the Tunisian people celebrating the seventh anniversary of the Jan. 14 uprising, and I would like to seize this opportunity to reiterate my determination to strengthen the friendship and solidarity between the two fraternal peoples," wrote Bouteflika to Essebsi. The Algerian president also vowed to promote relations between the two countries to reach the strategic partnership to serve the benefit of people in the region. Tunisia, the economy of which is dependent on tourism, had been ruled for 23 years by former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who was ousted in January 2011 after massive and peaceful popular protests. Since then, the country has been struggling in an economic crisis. Tunisia is one of the most favored tourist destinations for Algerians, as 1.5-2 million Algerian tourists visit this neighboring country every year, according to official figures. Tunisia and Algeria have maintained good bilateral relations after the Jan. 11 uprising, while security cooperation has always been at the center of the bilateral ties, amid increasing terrorist threat on their shared borderline. To effectively respond to the upsurge of terrorist acts throughout the Maghreb and Sahel region, the two countries have strengthened their intelligence and military operations to deal with trans-threat. In fact, the armies of both countries have conducted several joint operations against terrorist groups that are active along the borderline. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-15 02:22:19|Editor: yan Video Player Close LAMU, Kenya, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- About 100 Somali Al-Shabaab militants on Sunday stormed a village in Kenya's coastal Lamu region where they "lectured" frightened villagers. The militants flushed out Ishakani villagers from their houses and preached to them radical teachings at the border village between Kenya and Somalia. According to witnesses living in Ishakani, the militants joined other Muslim faithful for prayers in the mosque in which they lectured them before escaping into Somalia. Lamu County Commissioner Gilbert Kitiyo confirmed the incident on Sunday evening, saying that they got information and sent officers to pursue the militants. Kitiyo confirmed that a group of between 60 to 100 suspected Al-Shabaab militants invaded Ishakani village on Sunday. "However, within 30 minutes, we had already sent out a special team of KDF (Kenya Defence Forces) to pursue the terrorists. Our officers are pursuing the criminals who suspected that our security team must be following them," Kitiyo said. The government official reiterated that the national government is aware of the militants' threats and are working towards weeding out the Al-Shabaab group from Boni forest which he said continues to be their base of operations. He further said that KDF from the local camp together with the special squad are hunting down the militants in Boni forest. Iran rejects U.S. call for inspecting its military sites even by IAEA. (AFP Photo) TEHRAN, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Iran on Sunday rejected the recent U.S. call for allowing foreign inspection of Iranian military sites under the pretext of the 2015 nuclear deal. The issue of allowing foreign access to Iranian military sites is basically not included in the nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesman of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), was quoted by the Tasnim news agency as saying. In the past, there were some cases of inspecting Iran's military sites such as Parchin, which was once inspected by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Kamalvandi said. Currently, the IAEA has not made any call for inspecting another Iranian military site, he added. He emphasized that the Islamic republic will not allow access to its military sites again by foreign parties, including the IAEA. His remarks came after U.S. President Donald Trump extended the waivers on the nuclear-related sanctions on Iran on Friday, while setting some conditions for waiving the sanctions next time. On Saturday, Iran's Foreign Ministry announced that Tehran will never renegotiate the 2015 nuclear deal despite the U.S. pressure. Trump has constantly criticized the pact inked between the six world powers, namely China, Russia, Britain, France, the United States and Germany, and Iran in 2015, in which the West promised to relieve sanctions on Tehran in exchange for a halt in Iran's efforts to develop a nuclear weapon. Under the deal, the U.S. president must sign a waiver suspending the U.S. sanctions on Iran every 120 days. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-15 03:02:22|Editor: yan Video Player Close LUANDA, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Angola's Foreign Minister Manuel Domingos Augusto on Sunday reaffirmed his country's commitment to the one-China policy. In a meeting with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Augusto said Angola remains committed to the one-China policy and supports China's legitimate rights and interests on issues concerning its core interests, including the South China Sea. Angola highly values its relations with China, said Augusto, stressing that such a relationship is based on mutual respect and dialogue on an equal footing. The Angolan foreign minister pledged efforts to enhance bilateral exchanges and cooperation in areas such as politics, diplomacy, economy and trade, and culture. He said that Angola is willing to cooperate with China to ensure the success of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit, which will be hosted by China this year. For his part, Wang said 35 years after China and Angola established diplomatic ties, China is now Angola's key strategic partner and largest trading partner. The two countries' fruitful cooperation in a wide range of fields has served as a fine example of the mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Africa, said Wang. He called for continued efforts on both sides to strengthen political mutual trust and support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests. Wang said China will keep in contact with Angola and make joint efforts to ensure that the FOCAC summit in Beijing contributes to the solidarity of China and Africa and their mutually beneficial relations. The Chinese foreign minister is in Africa for his first new year trip that has taken him to Rwanda and Angola. He will visit Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe afterwards. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-15 03:07:24|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close RAMALLAH, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas slammed on Sunday the peace deal proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, calling it a "a slap on the face." Abbas told members of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Central Council, who convened in the city of Ramallah for two days, that Trump's "deal of the century" is "a slap on the face," adding "we will slap back." The Central Council convened for two days to come up with strategic decisions on the peace process, the relations with Israel and to discuss Trump's declaration last December to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. "Jerusalem was removed from the table by a tweet of Mr. Trump," said Abbas, adding that "the status of Jerusalem is like Mecca. Nothing is more important than Jerusalem." The Palestinians consider East Jerusalem, which was occupied by Israel during the Arab-Israeli war in 1967, as the capital of their future independent state, while Israel declared the integral Jerusalem as its eternal capital. "We say No to what contradicts with our fate, our future or our cause or our people... No and a thousand Nos and now we say to Trump No and No and we tell Trump 'the deal of the century' is 'a slap of the century," said Abbas. He stressed that "the Palestinians will not leave or make or repeat the mistakes of the past," adding "this is a fateful moment that calls on every Palestinian to immediately stand up to defend the fate of the eternal capital." Meanwhile, Abbas criticized Islamic Hamas movement and the Islamic Jihad for boycotting the meeting of the PLO Central Council. The two groups said they decided not to join the meeting because it was not held in one of the Arab countries. "It bothered me a lot that our brothers said at the last minute that they would not attend because the place of the meeting is not appropriate. Where is the place in their eyes to make fateful decisions freely?" said Abbas. He went on saying "I may not blame Islamic Jihad because they do not work in politics, but what bothers me is our brothers in Hamas." Speaker of the Council Salim Za'noon said earlier that "the United States is no longer a sponsor of the peace process after its declaration on Jerusalem. He said that "any ideas that are traded under the name of 'the deal of the century' must be confronted. It seeks to impose a deficient solution that does not meet the minimum of our legitimate rights." "We must reaffirm the rights of our people to resist the occupation in its entire legitimate means and to make its cost great. The Palestinian National Council (PNC) should be considered as the Legislative Council of the Palestinians," he added. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-15 03:32:27|Editor: yan Video Player Close BAGHDAD, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Sunday allied with a powerful Shiite group close to Iran in his stand for re-election in the coming national elections tentatively slated for May 12. Abadi's "al-Naser Alliance," or Victory, and "al-Fatah Alliance," or Conquest, headed by Hadi al-Ameri, leader of powerful Shiite party Badr Organization, have signed an electoral pact on Sunday morning, said Mahmoud al-Rubaie, a Shiite politician in a statement. Abadi has been credited with rebuilding the Iraqi army and defeating Islamic State (IS) militants, while Ameri has significant supporters in Iraqi Shiite community and his Badr militia took part in the fight against IS group. The coalition of the two alliances was renamed "Victory of Iraq," according to Rubaie, who is a leading figure in the political office of Asa'b Ahl al-Haq, an Iranian-backed militant group. Late on Saturday, Abadi announced his "Victory Alliance" coalition and called on all Iraqi factions to join his coalition, which he described as cross-sectarian coalition to unite Iraq and rebuild its future. "I declare to all spectrum of Iraq to gather under the banner of a united Iraq in the coalition of Victory Alliance, which is a cross-sectarian one, and I call on the political entities who are faithful to Iraq to join our new national coalition," Abadi said in a statement issued by his office. Despite being a leading figure in Islamic Dawa Party, which has close ties with Iran, Abadi managed to create better relations with the Iraqi Sunni community. Abadi's predecessor Nuri al-Maliki, who went into bloody conflict with the Sunni Arabs, has paved the way for the extremist IS militants to take control of large areas in the predominantly Sunni provinces in northern and western Iraq in 2014. Abadi chose to seek re-election in a separate coalition away from Nuri al-Maliki who holds the mainly ceremonial post of vice president as well as maintaining his post as head of Islamic Dawa Party. Maliki will also run in the coming elections in a separate coalition named State of Law. Dawa Party issued a statement calling on their supporters to freely choose between Maliki's or Abadi's alliances. The Iraqi parliamentary vote and the vote for the provincial councils will be held together in the same day, which the Iraqi government and the electoral commission set for May 12, but according to the Iraqi constitution, the date still needs to be approved by the parliament and the presidential council. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-15 03:37:28|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) attends a joint press conference with his Angolan counterpart Manuel Domingos Augusto after their meeting in Luanda, Angola, on Jan. 14, 2018. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday called for the transformation and upgrade of cooperation with Angola. (Xinhua/Wu Changwei) LUANDA, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday rebuked a false claim that China's financing has increased the debt burden of African countries. Wang, on a visit to Angola, made the comment while holding a joint press conference with his Angolan counterpart Manuel Domingos Augusto. Such a claim, which is made with ulterior motives, is an outright false accusation, said Wang, when asked for a response to the claim that Chinese financing to African countries, including Angola, has increased their debt burden and is stringed with political considerations. Wang noted that with deepening Sino-African cooperation in recent years, China has indeed increased its financing support for African countries. In the process, however, China has always adhered to the following fundamental principles, Wang stressed. First, Wang said, China's financing is in response to Africa's demands for self-development. A country would have a huge need for capital in its primary stage of economic take-off and industrialization and Africa is no exception, he said. China has provided financing to the best of its ability in response to the demands of African countries, which has served as a timely help for their socio-economic development and is highly valued and welcomed by them, he said. Second, China has never attached political conditions, he said. Like African countries, China also had memories of a bitter past when, with its economic lifeline controlled by foreigners, it was unfairly treated and even exploited and oppressed, Wang said. Therefore, when providing aid to and engaging in cooperation with Africa, China will not repeat what Western countries did and will never impose its own views on others, he said. Third, China has always followed the principle of mutual benefit and win-win results, he said. Sino-African cooperation is in essence part of South-South cooperation, and a key characteristic of the latter is that sustained and long-lasting common development can only be achieved through treating each other on an equal footing and ensuring mutual benefit, he said. To this end, China's financing support for Africa has always gone through a strenuous process of feasibility study with a market-driven approach so that due economic and social effects could be achieved after fulfilling each one of the cooperative projects, he said. Wang pointed out that the current debt status in some African countries is the accumulative result after a long period of time. China is a staunch supporter of African countries' efforts to remedy the problem through sustainable development and economic diversification, he said. China will continue to do its part in helping Africa enhance its self-development capacity and realize sound economic and social growth, he said. Wang expressed optimism about Africa's economic growth, saying that China is pleased to see that the African economy had bottomed out last year and that African countries have come to realize the importance of sustainable development. Citing a Chinese saying that goes: only the feet know if the shoes fit, Wang said that African countries are the best qualified to speak about their cooperation with China. There is another Chinese saying that goes: people have a sense of natural justice, said Wang , stressing that the African people are in the best position to decide who is Africa's true friend and most reliable partner. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-15 03:47:30|Editor: yan Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of UN Support Mission in Libya, Ghassan Salame, on Sunday pledged to reveal details of a Libyan ship carrying explosives seized by the Greek Coast Guards a few days ago. "The international decision to ban the export of arms is clear and explicit. The experts team will do its work professionally and impartially to clarify the truth of Andromeda (the name of the ship) and others," Salame tweeted on Sunday. "Libya needs security and peace, not detonators or explosives," Salame said. The UN Security Council banned the sale or supply of arms to Libya since 2011. Libya's divided eastern and western authorities have been demanding the lifting of the arms sanctions. Greek Coast Guards announced on Wednesday that they had seized a ship with the flag of Tanzania carrying materials used to make explosives while sailing to Libya. The ship's cargo record indicated that the cargo was loaded at the Turkish ports of Mersin and Iskenderun before heading to Djibouti and Oman. However, Greek Coast Guards said preliminary investigation showed that the ship's captain had received orders from the ship's owner to sail to the Libyan city of Misurata, some 250 km east the capital Tripoli, to unload the entire cargo. Libyan Foreign Ministry on Friday demanded Greece to provide the latest investigation information about the seized ship. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-15 04:02:32|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) attends a joint press conference with his Angolan counterpart Manuel Domingos Augusto after their meeting in Luanda, Angola, on Jan. 14, 2018. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday called for the transformation and upgrade of cooperation with Angola. (Xinhua/Wu Changwei) LUANDA, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday called for the transformation and upgrade of cooperation with Angola. At a joint press conference with his Angolan counterpart, Manuel Domingos Augusto, Wang described the China-Angolan strategic partnership as a paragon and microcosm of China-Africa win-win cooperation and common development. The Chinese minister arrived in the Angolan capital Saturday on the second leg of his four-nation Africa tour. Wang, who flew in from Rwanda, will visit Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe after Angola. The minister said that he was delighted to visit Angola when the two countries celebrate the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Over the years, Wang said, China and Angola have always treated each other sincerely as equals and supported each other as true friends. The two sides have been at the forefront of mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Africa, with China becoming Angola's largest trading partner, biggest oil export market, and largest financing source country. Wang recalled his meeting on Saturday with Angolan President Joao Lourenco and described his discussions with Augusto as in-depth, saying the two sides need to transform and upgrade their cooperation. The two sides have agreed to further deepen their political trust and continue supporting each other in questions concerning core interests, and open up new realms of cooperation to better benefit the two countries and their peoples, Wang said. As Angola's trusted good, old friend, China will steadfastly support Angola's efforts in finding a development path that fits its own national conditions, the minister said. China supports Angola's economic diversification drive and its industrialization strategy, supports the country's independent capacity-building, and its endeavor to play a more positive role in advancing Africa's peace and development causes. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-15 04:27:35|Editor: yan Video Player Close CAIRO, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- An Egyptian governer and two businessmen were arrested Sunday evening by an official anti-corruption body over corruption charges, official MENA news agency reported. The report did not include details, but local media said that the Administrative Control Authority (ACA) busted Hesham Abdel-Baset, governor of Minufiya province north of the capital Cairo, for involvement in bribery, profiteering and looting public funds. The 47-year-old governor took office in February 2015 in a reshuffle that included appointment of 17 new governors. Egypt has been launching a massive anti-corruption campaign over the past few years that led to the arrest and imprisonment of several officials and senior employees and the retrieval of large amounts of public funds. In August 2017, the ACA arrested a female deputy governor of the coastal province of Alexandria, along with five businessmen, over a bribery of about one million Egyptian pounds (56,000 U.S. dollars) to stop the removal of illegally constructed buildings on state-owned land. Earlier in February 2017, an Egyptian court sentenced a former irrigation minister to seven years in prison over corruption related to illegal sales of agricultural lands for construction. Last January, the authorities arrested a former advisor of the finance minister for receiving one million Egyptian pounds from a contractor as part of a larger bribe for mispricing a state-owned land. A former agriculture minister and his deputy were also sentenced to 10 years in prison over receiving bribes to grant state-owned land licenses to a business tycoon in 2016. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-15 04:42:36|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close People gather in streets to mark the 7th anniversary of the popular uprisings in Tunisia, Tunis, on Jan. 14, 2018. Tunisians commemorate Sunday the 7th anniversary of the popular uprisings which resulted in toppling former President Zine al Abidine Ben Ali on January 14, 2011. (Xinhua/Adele Ezzine) TUNIS, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Tunisians commemorate Sunday the 7th anniversary of the popular uprisings which resulted in toppling former President Zine al Abidine Ben Ali on January 14, 2011. Different from previous anniversaries, Tunisians have complex feelings this year, a mixture of festive emotions and regrets following wave of violence and protests throughout the country. Thousands of People gathered for a peaceful march on Avenue Habib Bourguiba in downtown Tunis, where the most significant protest of the revolution took place on January 14, 2011. Tunisia, the economy of which is dependent on tourism, had been ruled for 23 years by former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who was ousted in January 2011 after massive and peaceful popular protests. Since then, the country has been struggling in an economic crisis. In the peaceful march, Zied Lakhdhar, a high member of the Popular Front, an opposition party, told Xinhua "seven years after the revolution, no real progress has been detected." "We risk returning to the starting point with a government who still unable to find solutions to regional disparity, marginalization and inequality of development opportunities. The unemployment in our country has been over 15 percent, especially among higher-education graduates." Lakhdhar also pointed out "the recent peaceful protests against the new finance law, have coincided with some attempts to make the country in chaos and anarchy." Over 800 people have been arrested since Monday in Tunisia after clashes between protesters and security forces over price hikes which caused by the new finance law. They were arrested over charges of looting, ransacking, blocking roads and vandalism. Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi Saturday convened representatives of political parties, trade union and the employers association to discuss ways to overcome the current problems and stressed people's livelihood issues should be emphasized. Essebsi also accused some foreign media "exaggerating" Tunisia's social unrest, and undermining Tunisia's international image. Haythem Jmai, an opposition activist, said most people are against certain articles in the new finance law, which will only aggravate budget deficit, but undermine people's purchasing power and especially feed a whole platform of corruption. "Seven years since the revolution, we suffer seven years of despair," Ahmed Ltaief, a college student of Literature, told Xinhua during the peaceful march, "The inability of current officials left free path to corruption, slowing down and suffocating our country's economy," he added. "At present, Tunisian national decision depends on International Monetary Fund (IMF), which encourages recruitment reduction and even the acceleration of retirement anticipated for certain sectors in public service," said Ahmed. Lakhdhar said that "under the pretext of recovering financial and economic balances of the country, the government tries to offer false tranquilizers, detriment to the interests of Tunisian people, especially the poorest class." Despite the complain, Haythem Jmai said that January 14, 2011 represented a pivotal date in the history of Tunisia after 23 years of dictatorship and repression. Rafik Abdessalem, the former Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs, told Xinhua in an interview that "we should admit there do exist certain benefits of the revolution. Tunisians have done well half of the process with certain political stability." Rafik listed the main priorities of the current government for the year 2018, include promoting foreign investment, improving living conditions of citizens, as well as creating employment opportunities aimed at young people. "But the destruction of public and private goods as well as acts of looting and violence recorded recently can never favor economic revival or resolve the country's socio-economic problems," Rafik insisted. Earlier in the morning on Sunday, Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi highlighted people's rights of development, especially of young people, on an inauguration of a youth center in the north-west suburbs of capital Tunis. Essebsi said in his speech that "young people have the right to say nothing has changed because there is no job," adding that his country currently has about 620,000 unemployed which including 250,000 graduates of higher education. "Their wait was longer and longer. This year will be dedicated to our young people," concluded Essebsi. Libyan eastern-based army spokesman on Sunday accuses Turkey of sponsoring terrorism in Libya. (Reuters Photo) TRIPOLI, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Libya's eastern-based army spokesman on Sunday slammed Turkey as the sponsor of terrorism in Libya. "Turkey is the sponsor of terrorism in our country even before the start of the military war against terrorism more than three years ago," said spokesman Ahmad Al-Mismari at a news conference in the eastern city of Benghazi on Sunday. "The House of Representatives has not yet charged a commission of inquiry on the ship carrying explosives coming from Turkey. This ship was heading to the Muslim Brotherhood and al-Qaida, not to Misurata," Mismari added. "We will punish Turkey and all its companies. Its contracts in Libya are invalid now," said Mismari, pointing out that there is an intelligence network between Turkey and Sudan following Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visits to Sudan and Tunisia. "After the army welcomed the upcoming elections, the Muslim Brotherhood was certain that they would lose the elections. Therefore, they resorted to the arms and explosives to create chaos," Mismari said. He also said that the explosives on the Libyan ship seized by Greece a few days ago "threatens not only Libya, but the entire region." Greek Coast Guards announced on Wednesday that they seized a ship with the flag of Tanzania carrying materials used to make explosives while sailing to Libya. The ship's cargo record indicates that the cargo was loaded at the Turkish ports of Mersin and Iskenderun before heading to Djibouti and Oman. However, Greek Coast Guards said preliminary investigation showed that the ship's captain had received orders from the ship's owner to sail to the Libyan city of Misurata, some 250 km east the capital Tripoli, to unload the entire cargo. Libyan Foreign Ministry on Friday demanded Greece to provide the latest investigation information about the seized ship. UN Envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame pledged earlier on Sunday to reveal details of the seized ship. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-15 05:27:42|Editor: yan Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army on Sunday responded to another wave of attack by the rebels in Idlib, days after the army foiled the offensive in the rebels' bastion, according to the Syrian army War Media. The army forces have responded to the attack by the al-Qaida-linked Levant Liberation Committee (LLC), otherwise known as the Nusra Front, and the Turkish-backed Turkistan Party in the southern countryside of Idlib, according to the report. The battles have been raging since Saturday evening, when the rebels renewed their attacks on the military positions in southern Idlib, according to the report. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor group said 95 rebels, including six commanders, have been killed in the battles in southern Idlib over the past four days. On Thursday, the rebels launched a wide-scale offensive to thwart the advance of the Syrian army that has been daring on since Dec. 25. The rebels succeeded to capture some areas from the army, before the government forces unleashed a counter-offensive on Friday and succeeded to retake the fallen towns. The Syrian military offensive aimed at clearing the southern countryside of Idlib, the northern countryside of Hama province in central Syria, and the southern countryside of the northern province of Aleppo from the al-Qaida-linked militants and the Turkish-backed rebels. War Media said the Syrian army has almost captured the entire southeastern countryside of Aleppo, after capturing tens of towns in that area. The report said the army is advancing from southern Aleppo towards the Abu al-Duhur air base in the southeastern countryside of Idlib. Only 8 km separates the army units that have advanced from the northern countryside of Hama towards Abu al-Duhur with the advancing units from southern Aleppo. State news agency SANA said Friday that the rebels were using Turkish military gears in their attacks in Idlib, as this province is seen by Ankara as a place of interest. Idlib has emerged as the main destination of the rebel groups, which have evacuated several positions across Syria after surrendering to the Syrian army. The area has become a home to several rebel groups from different affiliates, some of which are supported by Turkey, while others, including the LLC, are designated as terrorist groups. The LLC has returned to the surface after the near-defeat of the IS militants in their key strongholds late last year. The focus of the Syrian army seems to have shifted to defeating the LLC, as this group controls key areas near Damascus and much of Idlib. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-15 05:42:44|Editor: yan Video Player Close ANKARA, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Foreign Ministry on Sunday said the U.S move to establish a border control force in northern Syria is a "unilateral decision." In a written statement, the ministry noted that it was not clear with which coalition members the U.S. consulted and has taken the decision to establish such a force. "Explaining the unilateral steps on behalf of the coalition is a very wrong move that could harm the struggle with DEASH," read the statement, using the Arabic acronym of the Islamic State (IS). "Turkey was determined to eliminate any threat posed against its territory," the ministry said. Turkey sees YPG as the offshoot of outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). "Such initiatives that endanger our national security and the territorial integrity of Syria by continuing the cooperation with the PYD / YPG in contradiction with the commitments and statements of the United States are never acceptable," said the ministry. The ministry condemned this "wrongful approach" and said Turkey was determined and capable to eliminate all sorts of threats. On December 22, 2017, U.S. Central Command Commander General Joseph Votel announced they would establish border forces in Syria, which he said would help prevent a resurgence of IS. Around 400 militants "trained by U.S. as border guards" are to establish what they call "The North Army" in Syria, Turkish media reported. Turkey and the U.S. have long been at odds over the latter's support to the Syrian Kurdish militia. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-15 05:52:46|Editor: yan Video Player Close ALGIERS, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Malian Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga on Sunday concluded a two-day visit to Algeria, stressing this North African nation's support is a key factor in the implementation of the peace agreement in Mali. "President Bouteflika and other brotherly government officials also reiterated their will to use all their influence so that a certain number of points of this agreement can be finalized," he added. Maiga noted that he discussed security relations, saying the two countries agreed to strengthen their bilateral cooperation in this area. He added that a Malian delegation will soon visit Algeria to boost security cooperation. On Saturday, Maiga met with his Algerian counterpart Ahmed Ouyahia who urged separatist movements in northern Mali to cooperate more with the central government in Bamako for the sake of achieving sustainable peace in this neighboring country. Ouyahia told a joint press conference with Maiga that Algeria has been "encouraging" the Malian movements to take further steps to achieve "closer rapprochement" with the Malian authorities for the sake of peace in the country. He added that he discussed with his Malian counterpart security issues in northern Mali where "I have assured to our brothers in Mali the solidarity of Algeria in their efforts to restore peace and maintaining national sovereignty and territorial unity." The security situation in the Sahel region was also in the agenda of the meeting, added Ouyahia. He said "the need to combat terrorism, transnational crime and the need for solidarity among the neighboring countries in the Sahel region should be met." Algeria played a key role in the signing of the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement in 2015, as it put an end to hostilities between the government and separatist armed movements in northern Mali. The agreement was reached by all Malian warrant parties in Bamako after five rounds of UN-sponsored talks initiated in July 2014 with an international mediation led by Algeria. Algeria and Mali are active members at the Sahel Regional Chief of Staff Committee, which also includes Mauritania and Niger. The Sahel Regional Chief of Staff Committee was established in the Algerian town of Tamanrasset on the border with Mali and Niger in 2009 in a bid to coordinate efforts and exchange information on combating terrorism, organized crime and trafficking. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-15 06:02:47|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close A man carries a television out of a house damaged by an earthquake in Arequipa, Peru, Jan. 14, 2018. Peru will declare a state of emergency in parts of Arequipa, the southern region jolted by a powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake that hit just after 4 a.m. local time on Sunday. The government confirmed one person died as a result of the quake and 42 others were injured as dozens of homes collapsed. (Xinhua/Diego Ramos/ANDINA) LIMA, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Peru will declare a state of emergency in parts of Arequipa, the southern region jolted by a powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake that hit just after 4 a.m. local time on Sunday. "We are preparing a decree to declare a state of emergency, to take immediate steps to facilitate the immediate reconstruction of homes and efforts to recover roadways," President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski's chief of staff, Mercedes Araoz, said in the first official report following the quake. Kuczynski traveled to the disaster site earlier in the day to see the extent of the damage firsthand. Peru's Geophysics Institute (IGP) said the 6.8-magnitude quake hit off the coast of Arequipa at 4:18:42 a.m. local time, and at a depth of 48 km. The U.S. Geological Service (USGS) said the quake measured 7.1 on the Richter Scale of seismic intensity. "The 6.8-magnitude earthquake with an epicenter in Arequipa was also felt in (the capital) Lima, Ica, Ayacucho and other cities," national news website Andina said. While the quake sparked waves of up to 7 meters high along the Arequipa coastline, officials said there was no threat of a tsunami. The government confirmed one person died as a result of the quake and 42 others were injured as dozens of homes collapsed. The fatal victim was crushed to death after loose rocks fell on his adobe home in the district of Yauca, Peru's National Emergency Operations Center (COEN) said. Several primary roads, including the Panamericana Sur, or South Pan-American Highway, sustained damage, temporarily blocking or restricting the flow of vehicles, and electricity was disrupted in a few communities. Accompanying Araoz were other members of Kuczynski's cabinet, including Health Minister Abel Salinas, said the injured were receiving prompt treatment, mainly for bruises. Two minor aftershocks, measuring 3.8 and 3.7, followed some four hours after the first quake. The last major earthquake to hit southern Peru, including Arequipa and its surroundings, was a destructive 8.4 that hit June 23, 2001, killing some 150 people and injuring nearly 3,000. As many as 22,000 people were left homeless. The Nazca and South American plates meet below this part of Peru, causing seismic activity. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-15 06:42:51|Editor: yan Video Player Close CARACAS, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela aims to strengthen its oil sector to boost output in 2018 to 2.5 million barrels per day (bpd), the president of state oil company PDVSA, Manuel Quevedo, said on Sunday. "We have already taken the first steps ... we are once again close to 1.9 million barrels a day," Quevedo said in a televised interview, speaking of current output levels. "We have a progressive recovery strategy to improve the industry's finances. 2018 will be the year oil recovers," said Quevedo, an army general who was appointed president of PDVSA in November 2017 amid a crackdown on corruption among company executives. Venezuela produced close to 2.5 million bpd in 2013, before plummeting oil prices led "to a decrease in the investment needed to increase production," causing a fall in output, said Quevedo. He added he was committed to meeting the 6 million barrels per day target set by former President Hugo Chavez, who nationalized the country's foreign-owned oil industry. How to help Volunteer evening and overnight monitors are needed at the young adult winter shelter. Those interested should go online to bit.ly/HomelessNetwork or contact Lee Murdock at 509-834-8173. Blankets, clothing, food, water and other donations are needed to help those at the winter shelter. Go online to www.homelessnetworkyc.org/donations.htm to view a listed of needed items. Donations can be made online or by calling Murdock. Stephen Slaughter, landslide hazards mapping program coordinator with the Department of Natural Resources, shows Rep. Dan Newhouse the extent of the crack in Rattlesnake Ridge during a briefing on the ridge's landslide near Union Gap, Wash. on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018. (JAKE PARRISH/Yakima Herald-Republic) In a response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking abolition of executing death row convict by hanging the Supreme Court recently held that it was the prerogative of the Government to decide on modes of execution of convicts. Execution of convicts is provided under section 354(5) of Cr.P.C. 1973 which says, When any person is sentenced to death, the sentence shall direct that he be hanged by the neck till he is dead. The Court had asked the Centre to respond to a notice issued by the Court however, it had also said that the legislature could think of changing the law so that a convict facing death penalty dies in peace and not in pain. The Government has claimed that hanging is the most workable mode and lethal injection method is found to have failed on many occasions in different parts of the world, hence it is not as workable as hanging. Despite campaigns calling for an end to capital punishment, executions are still carried out around the world. In the United States, lethal injection is considered the most humane form of execution, although recent debate over the secrecy surrounding the drugs used has questioned that assertion. Other countries continue to employ execution methods now considered outdated in the U.S., but the end result is the same. Execution by hanging is the most common method of capital punishment. Iran leads the world in hangings. Other countries that carry out hangings include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Botswana, India, Iraq, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Nigeria, the Palestinian Authority in Gaza, South Sudan and Sudan. On the other hand, firing squad is the preferred method of execution in Indonesia. Twelve armed executioners shoot the prisoner in the chest. If the prisoner is still not dead, the commander then issues a final bullet to the head. Other countries that carry out executions by firing squad include China, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Taiwan and Yemen. It is also a preferred method by the United Arab Emirates. However, Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world where beheadings are used as a method of capital punishment. The beheadings are performed publicly with a sword. Though the end result of death is the same in all methods of executions, lethal injection is often viewed as the least cruel. Injecting a fatal dose of drugs into a death row inmate has become the primary method of execution in the United States. However, as a result of controversy associated with supplying states with the lethal drugs, pharmaceutical companies have banned the sale of their drugs for lethal use. To fill the void, states have relied on compounding pharmacies to provide cocktail drugs, but this has proven to be unreliable in recent deaths. Electrocution has also been used on occasions in the United States. However, the Court declared execution by electrocution illegal for being "cruel and unusual punishment." So far as India is concerned it uses both hanging and shooting as the modes of execution. While hanging is used in the civilian court system, under the Army Act, 1950 hanging as well as shooting are both listed as official methods of execution in the military court-martial system. Apart from the recent PIL, the Law Commission in its 187th Report in 2003 recommended that section 354(5) of the Cr.P.C., 1973 should be amended by providing an alternative mode of execution of death sentence by lethal injection until the accused is dead. It will be at the discretion of the Judge to pass an appropriate order regarding the mode of execution of death sentence. Moreover, the issue of death penalty itself has been under debate since long. In August 2015, the Law Commission of India submitted a report to the government which recommended the abolition of capital punishment for all crimes in India, excepting the crime of waging war against the nation or for terrorism-related offences. The report cited several factors to justify abolishing the death penalty, including its abolition by 140 other nations, its arbitrary and flawed application and its lack of any proven deterring effect on criminals. The Supreme Court in Mithu vs. State of Punjab AIR 1983 SC 473 struck down Section 303 of IPC, which provided for a mandatory death sentence for offenders serving a life sentence. Further, the Court in Bachan Singh vs. State of Punjab (1980) 2 SCC 684 observed that physical pain and suffering which the execution of the sentence of death entails is also no less cruel and inhuman and made it very clear that capital punishment in India can be given only in rarest of rare cases. This judgement was in line with the previous verdicts in Jagmohan Singh vs. State of Uttar Pradesh AIR 1973 SC 947, and then in Rajendra Prasad vs. State of Uttar Pradesh AIR 1979 SC 916. However, the Court ruled that honour killings fall within the "rarest of the rare" category, hence death penalty should be extended to those found of committing "honour killings". Similarly, the Supreme Court also recommended death sentences to be imposed on police officials who commit police brutality in the form of encounter killings. Justifying the provision of death penalty India, in December 2007 voted against a United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for a moratorium on the death penalty. In November 2012, India again upheld its stance on capital punishment by voting against the UN General Assembly draft resolution seeking to end the institution of capital punishment globally. Once it is established that death penalty is continued in India, definitely in the rarest of the rare category, the issue of mode of execution assumes significance. Organisation like Amnesty International opposes the death penalty at all times regardless of who is accused, the crime, guilt or innocence or method of execution and says that it is cruel, inhuman and degrading. It is also generally said that the death penalty breaches two essential human rights, the right to life and the right to live free from torture. Both rights are protected under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN in 1948. The following international laws explicitly ban use of the death penalty, except during times of war: - The Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly resolution 2200A (XXI) of 16 December 1966 entry into force 23 March 1976, in accordance with Article 49) - Protocol No. 6 to the European Convention on Human Rights, 1983. The European Convention on Human Rights (Protocol No. 13) bans use of the death penalty at all times, even during war. - The Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights to Abolish the Death Penalty, 1990 In this backdrop, the Law Commission undertook a study to provide a humane mode of execution of death sentence. The Commission recommended amendment in section 354(5) of the Cr.P.C., 1973.The Commission says that the convict shall be heard on the question of mode of execution of death sentence before such discretion is exercised. Further, at present, there is no statutory right of appeal to the Supreme Court in cases where High Court confirms the death sentence passed by a Session Judge or where the High Court enhances the sentence passed by the Session Judge and awards sentence of death. Hence a statutory right of appeal against the judgment of the High Court confirming or awarding the death sentence should also be provided. In lieu of this fact, the Commission has recommended that the Supreme Court (Enlargement of Criminal Jurisdiction) Act, 1970 be suitably amended for providing right to appeal to the Supreme Court. Yet another aspect is important vis-a-vis the armed forces. As of now, there is no provision of right of appeal against the sentence of death passed by Court Martial under the Army Act, 1950, the Navy Act, 1957 and the Air Force Act, 1950. Therefore, there should be an appeal to the Supreme Court against the order of death sentence passed by Court Martial. The recent PIL also referred Article 21 of the Constitution saying that the Right to Life or Personal Liberty also included in its ambit the right of a condemned prisoner to have a dignified mode of execution so that death becomes less painful. The Supreme Court while stating that it would be the prerogative of the Government has certainly followed the concept that the procedure explicitly mentioned in a law shall be followed. Moreover, changes in law shall be approved by the Legislature only and not by the courts. Whatever could be the final outcome one thing is for sure that the right to a dignified life up to the point of death including a dignified procedure of death needs to be given the topmost priority. Therefore, the right of a dying man to die with dignity and in peace, not in pain needs to be considered by the Government. (CBP Srivastava is an expert on the Constitution of India. He is President of the Centre for Applied Research in Governance, New Delhi.) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.) Ahmedabad: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and BJP president Amit Shah on Sunday celebrated the festival of Makar Sankranti, known as Uttarayan in the state, by flying kites in different parts of city. While Rupani, along with his wife Anjaliben, tried his hand at flying kites at Khadia and Maninagar areas of the city in the morning, Amit Shah enjoyed the festival with locals in Naranpura area, which he once represented as an MLA. An official release quoted Rupani as saying that Gujarat's development would soar high just like the kites today and achieve new heights in the coming years. Later during the afternoon, Shah visited the famous Lord Jagannath Temple in Jamalpur with his family to seek blessings, a release from the BJP said. Shah then flew kites from the terrace of a house in Naranpura area, accompanied by BJP leaders, including city mayor Gautam Shah and Naranpura MLA and cabinet minister Kaushik Patel, the release added. New Delhi: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the warm welcome that he was accorded upon his arrival in India on a six-day visit. "Thank you to my good friend, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who surprised me with a personal welcome at the airport upon my arrival in India. Together we will bring the relations between our countries to new heights," he posted on Twitter. Thank you to my good friend, Indian Prime Minister @narendramodi , who surprised me with a personal welcome at the airport upon my arrival in India. Together we will bring the relations between our countries to new heights! pic.twitter.com/bPZftC4caF Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) January 14, 2018 Prime Minister Netanyahu said: "This gesture underscores the special link and the common history between Israel and India." pic.twitter.com/HyBgZb5k00 PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) January 14, 2018 PM Modi broke protocol to personally receive his Israeli counterpart at the airport as he arrived in the national capital. He welcomed Netanyahu with a hug upon his arrival. The Israeli PM is accompanied by his wife Sara. In a departure from protocol, PM @narendramodi receives @IsraeliPM Benjamin Netanyahu at the airport on his 6-day visit to India. The visit is a fitting culmination to the silver jubilee year of the formal relationship! #ShalomNamaste pic.twitter.com/hINygyMqYW Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) January 14, 2018 A warm welcome for a special guest! Some more pics from the arrival ceremony at the airport. pic.twitter.com/sEwIK6ypEJ Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) January 14, 2018 PM Shri @narendramodi welcomes the Prime Minister of Israel, Mr. @netanyahu , on his arrival, at Air Force Station, Palam, in New Delhi. pic.twitter.com/DgvUnpDGno MIB India (@MIB_India) January 14, 2018 PM Modi also tweeted in English and Hebrew, "Welcome to India, my friend PM Netanyahu. Your visit to India is historic and special. It will further cement the close friendship between our nations." Welcome to India, my friend PM @netanyahu! Your visit to India is historic and special. It will further cement the close friendship between our nations. @IsraeliPM #ShalomNamaste pic.twitter.com/sidgMmA1fu Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 14, 2018 The two leaders then drove to central Delhi where Teen Murti Chowk was formally rechristened as Teen Murti-Haifa Chowk in a ceremony attended by them. PM Modi and Netanyahu also laid a wreath and signed the visitor's book at the memorial. In the visitor's book, PM Modi wrote that he saluted the "great Indian traditions of selfless sacrifice and penance" of Indian soldiers, who laid down their lives during the liberation of the city of Haifa and the First World War. One of these pages was written 100 years ago, in the sacrifice of Indian soldiers at Haifa. The sacrifice commemorated at Teen Murti observes its centenary. Naming this spot as Teen Murti-Haifa Chowk marks this historic occasion. In the presence of the PM of Israel, we pay homage to the brave soldiers." Netanyahu's visit to India is only the second one by an Israeli PM and comes after a gap of 15 years. Former PM Ariel Sharon visited India in 2003. (With PTI inputs) New Delhi: Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat, who had recently warned against the threat from non-conventional weapons from non-state actors, stressed on Friday that political initiative must go hand-in-hand with military operations in Jammu and Kashmir in order to bring lasting peace in the state. Army Chief, in a no-holds-barred interview with PTI, said that the political leadership of the country must exert more and more pressure on Pakistan to force it to stop cross-border terrorism. ''Political initiative must go hand-in-hand with military operations in J&K to bring lasting peace in the state,'' Gen Bipin Rawat said. Gen Rawat, while maintaining that ''there is room for ramping up pressure on Pakistan'' also called for evolving new strategies to deal with terrorism in J&K. ''Army cannot be status quoist. It has to evolve new strategies to deal with terrorism in J&K,'' the Army Chief said. Gen Rawat also outlined that that Indian Army will continue to maintain pressure on terrorists and those fomenting trouble in Kashmir. He favoured ramping up military offensive to pile up the heat on Pakistan to stop cross-border terrorism in the state. Gen Rawat also expressed satisfaction that the situation in J&K is "marginally" better since he took over a year ago. In October, the government had appointed former Intelligence Bureau chief Dineshwar Sharma as its special representative for a "sustained dialogue" with all stakeholders in J&K. "When the government appointed an interlocutor, it is for that purpose. He is the government's representative to reach out to the people of Kashmir and see what their grievances are so that those can then be addressed at a political level," the Army Chief said. Asked whether there is room for ramping up pressure on Pakistan to force it to stop sending terrorists to the state, he said, "Yes, You have to continuously think and keep moving forward. You have to keep changing your doctrines and concept and the manner in which you operate in such areas." Gen Rawat said that an overall approach was required to deal with the Kashmir issue. Since the beginning of last year, the Army pursued an aggressive anti-terror policy in Jammu and Kashmir and, at the same time, forcefully responded to all ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control with a tit-for-tat approach. "Military is only part of the mechanism to resolve the Kashmir issue. Our charter is to ensure that the terrorists who are creating violence in the state are taken to task and those who have been radicalised and are increasingly moving towards terrorism are prevented from doing so," he said. Gen Rawat said some youths continue to be radicalised and are joining militancy. The Army has been trying to maintain pressure on terror groups, he said. The Army's aim is to ensure that it continues to maintain the pressure on the terrorists and those fomenting trouble there, Gen Rawat said. "But at the same time, we have to also reach out to the people," he said. Asked whether the situation in Kashmir has improved since he has taken over as the Army chief a year ago, Gen Rawat said, "I am only seeing a marginal change in situation for the better. "I do not think it is time to become over-confident and start assuming that the situation has been brought under control because infiltration from across the borders will continue." The LoC has remained volatile in the last year. According to official figures, 860 incidents of ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops were reported in 2017 as against 221 the year before. India has also been effectively retaliating to Pakistani firing and even crossed the LoC to punish Pakistani troops on several occasions as part of tactical operations. (With PTI inputs) NEW DELHI: Two days after four Supreme Court judges accused Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra of assigning cases selectively, Justice Kurian Joseph one of the four rebel judges said on Saturday that they acted solely in the interest of judiciary and justice. Stood up for justice and judiciary, he said in Malayalam when local television news channels approached him at his ancestral home in Kalady near Kochi. An issue has come to attention. It will certainly be solved, he said. Attorney General KK Venugopal on Saturday expressed hope that the crisis in the top court would soon be "settled", further adding that the entire press conference could have been avoided. "Let`s hope everything works out very well. I am sure everything will be settled," he said. CJI Misra may meet the 'rebel' Supreme Court judges on Sunday to resolve the problems raked up by them even as two of the dissenting justices on Saturday sought to play down the issue, IANS reported. There's no official confirmation of the same yet. Three of the four rebel judges are away from the national capital and are expected to return on Sunday afternoon. On Friday, four senior judges of the Supreme Court slammed CJI Misra saying that the democracy of the nation is at stake. In a press meet, the four 'rebel judges' - Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan Lokur and Kurien Joseph had said that 'things were not in order' at the apex court. The top judges had launched a sharp attack on Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra for 'ignoring the concerns voiced by them'. "Administration of the Supreme Court is not in order. Many things less than desirable have happened in the last few months. We owe a responsibility to the institution and the nation," Justice Chelameswar had said during the press conference. New Delhi: Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra on Sunday assured a Bar Council of India delegation that the crisis in the Supreme Court resulting from a virtual revolt against him by four colleagues will be sorted out soon. A delegation of the BCI, the highest body of lawyers in the nation, met the CJI at his residence for 50 minutes. "We met CJI in a congenial atmosphere and he said everything will be sorted out soon," BCI chairman Manan Kumar Mishra, who led the delegation, told reporters. He said that before meeting the CJI, the panel also discussed the crisis plaguing the apex judiciary with other judges including the three out of the four judges who have made the allegations against Misra. Mishra said the panel met justices Chelameshwar, Lokur, and Joseph, who also gave an assurance that the crisis will be resolved. He did not mention whether the panel had a meeting with Gogoi, who is out of town. Gogoi is next in line to succeed Misra as the chief justice. Earlier, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Vikas Singh met the CJI and handed over a resolution in which the association has asked for a full court discussion to defuse the present crisis. "I met the CJI and handed over a copy of the resolution. He said that he would look into it and ensure there was congeniality in the Supreme Court at the earliest," Singh told PTI after his 15-minute meeting with the CJI. The Indian judiciary was thrown into a turmoil on Friday when four senior Supreme Court judges - J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, MB Lokur and Kurian Joseph had convened an unprecedented press conference to complain about 'selective' case allocation by Misra and passing of certain judicial order. Justice Chelameswar, the second senior judge after the CJI, himself had described as an "extraordinary event" in the annals of the Indian judiciary when the judges addressed a joint news conference during which he had said "sometimes administration of the Supreme Court is not in order and many things which are less than desirable have happened in the last few months." The judge had accused Justice Misra of not taking any "remedial measures" on some of the issues which affected the functioning of the apex court that they had raised. Justice Misra became the CJI on August 28, 2017, and he is due to retire from on October 2, 2018. Unless this institution is preserved, "democracy will not survive" in this country, Justice Chelameswar had said. He had also said that all the four judges had "failed to persuade CJI that certain things are not in order and therefore you should take remedial measures. Unfortunately, our efforts failed." Asked what these issues were, he had said they included the "allocation of cases by CJI" and had added, "we owe a responsibility to the institution and the nation. Our efforts have failed in convincing CJI to take steps to protect the institution." Asked whether they wanted the Chief Justice to be impeached, he had said, "let the nation decide." (With PTI inputs) New Delhi: The Rahul Gandhi-led Congress on Sunday made fun of what it called Prime Minister Narendra Modi's `hugplomacy` in a meme video on Twitter, which evoked an equally sharp response from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Congress mocked PM Modi by posting a video on its official Twitter handle with a hashtag `#hugplomacy`. With Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu visiting India, we look forward to more hugs from PM Modi! #Hugplomacy pic.twitter.com/M3BKK2Mhmf Congress (@INCIndia) January 14, 2018 The video was posted shortly after he received his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu at an airport here. In the video, the Congress apparently ridiculed Prime Minister Modi`s ways of hugging with several world leaders by describing them with comic tags along with gifs. Reacting to it, the BJP said sarcastically that the video showed the "new" thinking of the grand old party under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi. "The video is absolutely despicable. It is making fun of the Prime Minister of India that too with the other global leaders of the countries with whom we have good relations. This is a new thinking of the Congress Party under the supervision of Rahul Gandhi. It must be condemned in every possible manner," senior BJP leader Nalin Kohli told ANI. He added that the video has not been made in India, as the kind of music and reaction showed those people were not Indians. "This is a thinking which is alien to India as in India we greet with warmth and hugging is a part of our friendly nature. Making fun of the Prime Minister by the Congress party for something which is very Indian and is a part of our culture and that too tweeting it, is condemnable. The video is clearly made in abroad," Kohli stated. His party colleague and spokesperson Sambit Patra too said the Congress party's tweet was absolutely appalling. "This is not the way you talk about the Indian Prime Minister and that too when foreign dignitary, Israel Prime Minister is on the Indian soil. The entire world is watching as what is happening to India and Israel relationship. Is this the way main Opposition party of India behaves?" he asked. Never expected Indias main opposition party to post such a tweet ..that too when a respected Foreign PM has just arrived ! Congress President only talks of winning by LOVE ..while this is what Indian PM is doing..winning the WORLD by LOVE! While Modi WINS you Whine!! https://t.co/kDPNfPDu2J Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) January 14, 2018 Patra further said the Congress has been consistent in abusing Prime Minister Modi. "First they called him `Neech` (a low life) and earlier they said "Tu Jake Chai Bech" (go and sell tea) and now we have this kind of tweet. Is this the understanding of the Congress Party as far as the foreign policy is concerned?" he questioned. Prakash Javadekar, Union HRD Minister, also reacted angrily to Congress's meme video on PM Modi. Congress seems to have lost senses. What they have tweeted shows their immaturity & lack of political sensibility. We condemn this. I hope wisdom prevails on them some day: Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister on Congress tweeting a video on PM Modi & Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu pic.twitter.com/fmJhq0ChYe ANI (@ANI) January 14, 2018 The Israeli Premier, accompanied by his wife Sara and a 130-member delegation from various sectors, arrived here on Sunday. He was received by PM Narendra Modi upon his arrival. The two sides are expected to sign several agreements in various sectors including cyber, agriculture and defence. (With Agency inputs) NEW DELHI: Criticising the public commentary against Chief Justice Dipak Misra by four rebel Supreme Court judges, former judge RS Sodhi said that the credibility of the top court has been ruined. Credibility of Supreme Court has been ruined, to what extent I don't need to say, we all know. This faith needs to reinvented, all judges are of very high integrity but saying only we should get all cases and not others is wrong, said Sodhi on Sunday. Sodhi further said that the public appeal made by the four rebel judges put CJI Misra in a poor light. Earlier today, the Bar Council of India (BCI), including its Chairman Manan Mishra, met Justice Jasti Chelameswar at his residence. The council will also meet other three judges Justices Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B Lokur and Kurian Joseph and the CJI later in the day. In an unprecedented press meeting, the four rebel Supreme Court judges held took on CJI Misra on the issue of judiciary's freedom in the country on Friday. The judges claimed that cases are being assigned selectively and that certain cases are allocated to benches of preference. "We have tried to convince Chief Justice that certain things are not in order and remedial measures are needed. Unfortunately, our efforts failed," said Justice Chelameswar. "Democracy cannot survive in this or in any country if these remedial measures are not put in place." CJI Misra is likely to meet the 'rebel' Supreme Court on Sunday, IANS reported. However, there's no official confirmation of the same yet. New Delhi/Mumbai: Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra on Sunday assured a Bar Council of India delegation that the crisis in the Supreme Court resulting from a virtual revolt against him by four colleagues will be sorted out soon, the council chief said. Also today, the son of special CBI judge B H Loya said in Mumbai that his father died of natural causes and not in suspicious circumstances. Loya's death, while he was hearing the politically sensitive Shohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, is the subject of a PIL in the Supreme Court that was one of the triggers for the revolt against Misra. The Indian judiciary was thrown into a turmoil on Friday when four senior Supreme Court judges -- J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, M B Lokur and Kurian Joseph - convened an unprecedented press conference to complain about "selective" case allocation by Misra and passing of certain judicial order. Misra had assigned the Loya death PIL to Justice Arun Mishra, a relatively junior judge. In their press conference, the four justices said India's democracy is at risk unless the wrongs in the Supreme Court are set right. Capping a weekend flurry of activity by jurists, lawyers and politicians, a delegation of the Bar Council of India, the highest body of lawyers in the nation, today met Misra at his residence for 50 minutes. "We met CJI in a congenial atmosphere and he said everything will be sorted out soon," BCI chairman Manan Kumar Mishra, who led the delegation, told reporters. He said that before meeting the CJI, the panel also discussed the crisis plaguing the apex judiciary with other judges including the three out of the four judges who have made the allegations against Misra. Mishra said the panel met justices Chelameshwar, Lokur, and Joseph, who also gave an assurance that the crisis will be resolved. He did not mention whether the panel had a meeting with Gogoi, who is out of town. Gogoi is next in line to succeed Misra as the chief justice. The BCI will hold a press conference tomorrow. Earlier, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Vikas Singh met the CJI and handed over a resolution in which the association has asked for a full court discussion to defuse the present crisis. "I met the CJI and handed over a copy of the resolution. He said that he would look into it and ensure there was congeniality in the Supreme Court at the earliest," Singh told PTI after his 15-minute meeting with the CJI. In another major development today, Anuj Loya, the son of the deceased CBI judge, held a press conference in Mumbai to say his family was "pained" by the recent developments surrounding his father's death. He claimed NGOs and politicians should stop "harassing" his family members over the issue. "My father died of natural causes. Our family is convinced that it was a natural death," the 21-year-old Anuj told reporters, adding that although he and his family had earlier been suspicious about his father's sudden death three years ago, they no longer harboured doubts. "I had an emotional turmoil, hence I had suspicions about his death. But now we don't have any doubts about the way he died," Anuj said. "Earlier, my grandfather and aunt had some doubts about his death, which they shared. But now neither of them has any doubts," he said. The deceased judge's father and Anuj's aunt had alleged foul play in his death. Judge Loya, who was hearing the sensitive Sohrabuddin Sheikh "fake encounter" case, had allegedly died of a cardiac arrest in Nagpur on December 1, 2014, when he had gone to attend the wedding of a colleague's daughter. BJP chief Amit Shah was an accused in the case but has been discharged. New Delhi: Teen Murti Chowk was formally rechristened as Teen Murti-Haifa Chowk on Sunday in a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu. The two leaders also laid a wreath and signed the visitor's book at the memorial. This year we mark 100 years of the end of the First World War. We remember with pride, the Indian soldiers who fought valiantly in the war. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 14, 2018 In the presence of PM @netanyahu, paid tributes to the brave Indian soldiers who fought at Haifa. The spot where we commemorate their sacrifice will now be called Teen Murti - Haifa Chowk. pic.twitter.com/WmXdS6pE7F Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 14, 2018 Teen Murti Chowk is now Teen Murti Haifa Chowk in memory of supreme sacrifice by Indian soldiers to liberate Haifa in Israel in 1918. PM@narendramodi and @IsraeliPM Netanhayu laid wreath at Teen Murti memorial. #ShalomNamaste pic.twitter.com/lcPJB24YEm Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) January 14, 2018 The 3 bronze statues at Teen Murti represent the Hyderabad, Jodhpur & Mysore Lancers who were part of the 15 Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade that carried out the victorious assault on the city of Haifa on 23 September 1918 during World War I. More pics from the solemn ceremony pic.twitter.com/qdN6wts5aM Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) January 14, 2018 #India renames #Delhi's Teen Murti Square as Haifa Square, in honor of India's important contribution to the liberation of Haifa in #WW1. Generous gesture, reflecting the spirit of partnership and friendship. pic.twitter.com/8OOqpkKYmJ Yuval Rotem (@Yuval_Rotem) January 14, 2018 In the visitor's book, PM Modi wrote that he saluted the "great Indian traditions of selfless sacrifice and penance" of Indian soldiers, who laid down their lives during the liberation of the city of Haifa and the First World War. One of these pages was written 100 years ago, in the sacrifice of Indian soldiers at Haifa. The sacrifice commemorated at Teen Murti observes its centenary. Naming this spot as Teen Murti-Haifa Chowk marks this historic occasion. In the presence of the PM of Israel, we pay homage to the brave soldiers." The three bronze statues at Teen Murti represent the Hyderabad, Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers who were part of the 15 Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade. The brigade carried out the victorious assault on the fortified city of Haifa on September 23, 1918, during the World War I. There are various accounts of this battle - all narrate the valour with which the lancers undertook the assault on the garrisoned city protected by a joint force of Ottomans, Germany and Austria-Hungary. The liberation of Haifa cleared a supply route for the Allies to the city through the sea. Forty-four Indian soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice during the liberation of the city in the World War I. Till date, the 61 Cavalry celebrates September 23 as its Raising Day or "Haifa Day". Setting aside protocol, PM Modi received his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, who arrived in New Delhi on Sunday on a six-day visit, at the airport. The Israeli PM is accompanied by his wife Sara. During the visit, the two leaders will hold a comprehensive dialogue on a variety of issues. (With PTI inputs) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday broke protocol to personally receive his 'friend' and Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu with a warm hug as he arrived here to begin a 'special and historic' six-day visit to India. During his stay in India, the visiting Israeli PM will also go to Mumbai and Gujarat. As Netanyahu and his wife Sara stepped on the red carpet, a smiling Modi embraced the Israeli leader and then shook hands with the couple. "Very much appreciate the gesture," the Jerusalem Post quoted Netanyahu as saying. Before embarking on the flight, Netanyahu had said, "We are strengthening the relationship between Israel and this important world power. This helps us with security, the economy, trade, tourism and many other aspects.'' "It is a very great blessing to the state of Israel," he added. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar underlined that Modi had departed from protocol to receive Netanyahu. "The visit is a fitting culmination to the silver jubilee year of the formal relationship (between India and Israel)." This is the first visit to India by an Israeli Prime Minister since Ariel Sharon came in 2003. The visit to India by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is "historic and special", PM Modi had tweeted soon after receiving him at the airport here. "Welcome to India, my friend! Your visit to India is historic and special. It will further cement the close friendship between our nations," Modi tweeted. Welcome to India, my friend PM @netanyahu! Your visit to India is historic and special. It will further cement the close friendship between our nations. @IsraeliPM #ShalomNamaste pic.twitter.com/sidgMmA1fu Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 14, 2018 The Prime Minister's Office too said, "A special welcome for a special visit... Modi personally receives Israeli PM at Delhi Airport." Netanyahu and Modi are expected to discuss a variety of subjects related to bilateral relations and the global situation. The Israeli leader, accompanied by dozens of Israeli businessmen, will visit the Centre of Excellence in Agriculture at Vadrad in Gujarat and interact with business leaders in Mumbai. He will also go to the Taj Mahal city of Agra. (With PTI inputs) NEW DELHI: Search engine Google on Sunday celebrated the 92nd birth anniversary of notable writer and social activist Mahasweta Devi. Born on January 14, 1926, in Bangladesh's Dhaka, Devi made a mark for herself as a social activist by crusading for the rights of the tribals, especially in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. A writer of eminence, Mahasweta Devi was bestowed with Ramon Magsaysay award. Regarded among South Asia's most decorated authors, she was also honoured with Padmashri and Padma Vibhushan. Following a prolonged illness, the Jnanpith and Sahitya Akademi awardee breathed her last on July 28, 2016, in Kolkata. Devi, whose writings brought in focus the marginalised communities of the country and served as the voice of the oppressed, had in her later life helped tribals and the rural dispossessed come together and take up development activities in their own areas. NEW DELHI: India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) Syed Akbaruddin's verified Twitter handle has now been restored hours after it was hacked. Thanking @TwitterIndia on Sunday, Akbaruddin wrote: Akbaruddin's Twitter account has now been restored. "I'm back. It will take more than a hack to keep me down. Thanks to @TwitterIndia & many others who helped," the Indian Representative to UN tweeted. Earlier in the day, Akbaruddin's Twitter account was reportedly hacked following which two photographs were posted - one was of Pakistan's flag and another was of the neighbouring country's President Mamnoon Hussain. The pictures were posted during the wee hours of Sunday, and interestingly, the "blue tick" that marks a verified account also disappeared at the time. The account has now, however, been restored along with the blue tick and the questionable tweets were also removed. Evidently, the cyber attack has not been a new strategy for the terrorists in Pakistan, and government officials have been prime targets. In 2016, a total of 199 government websites were hacked in India, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had told the Parliament. In fact, more than 700 websites under the Indian government have been hacked from 2013 to 2016. (With agency inputs) NEW DELHI: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who is set to arrive in India on Sunday will meet External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj at 2.30 pm. Following the meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be hosting a private dinner for Netanyahu. Netanyahu is on a six-day visit to India. On Monday, he will hold talks with his counterpart PM Modi, covering entire expanse of the ties and explore new areas of cooperation to further deepen the "very very special relationship", the external affairs ministry had said on Thursday. Later in the day, Israeli PM would formally be welcomed at the Rashtrapati Bhawan following which he would lay a wreath at Rajghat. He would be then participating in a dialogue at Hyderabad house which will also include a one-on-one discussion with PM Modi. Meetings with President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President Venkaiah Naidu are also scheduled for Monday. Both the strategic partners will aim to further expand ties on a range of key areas including defence and trade. On Tuesday, Netanyahu, accompanied by his wife Sara, would be travelling to Agra to see the Taj Mahal and return to Delhi to participate in the Raisina Dialogue. On Wednesday, PM Modi would be accompanying Netanyahu to Gujarat where he will be welcomed with a roadshow in Ahmadabad. The "road show" is said to be an 8-kilometre drive from the airport to the Sabarmati Ashram. The two leaders will also be witnessing several innovative technologies in the field of water, agriculture and health at iCreate and visit a Centre of Excellence. In the evening, Netanyahu would be arriving in Mumbai where he would be meeting with the Indian Jewish community. It will be the Israeli Prime Minister's second visit to India after a gap of 15 years since Ariel Sharon visited New Delhi in 2003. The visit comes merely six months after PM Modi visited the Jewish state, becoming the first Indian premier to do so. Joint Secretary (West Asia-North Africa division) in the ministry B Bala Bhaskar had said that the Palestinian issue is likely to figure in the talks between the two PMs besides other key issues of mutual importance. India last month had joined 127 other countries to vote in the United Nations General Assembly in favour of a resolution opposing the recent decision of US President Donald Trump to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital. "This is a very very special relationship... We want to take it to a higher level," Bhaskar had said. Netanyahu will be leading a high-profile delegation comprising 130 businessmen from 102 Israeli companies drawn from areas like agriculture, water, cybersecurity, healthcare and security. Several MoUs, including in the field of oil and gas, renewable energy, an amended protocol for airports, cybersecurity, co-production of films and documentaries are expected to be signed between the two sides. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday set aside protocol to personally receive his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu with a warm hug as he arrived here on a six-day visit. As Netanyahu and his wife Sara stepped on the red carpet at the airport here, a smiling PM Modi embraced the Israeli leader and then shook hands with the couple. Welcome to India, my friend PM @netanyahu! Your visit to India is historic and special. It will further cement the close friendship between our nations. @IsraeliPM #ShalomNamaste pic.twitter.com/sidgMmA1fu Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 14, 2018 A warm welcome for a special guest! Some more pics from the arrival ceremony at the airport. pic.twitter.com/sEwIK6ypEJ Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) January 14, 2018 Delighted to welcome Mrs. Netanyahu and PM @netanyahu to 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. @IsraeliPM pic.twitter.com/FDI4MJlKBq Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 14, 2018 PM Shri @narendramodi receives the Prime Minister of Israel, Mr. @netanyahu , in New Delhi. pic.twitter.com/kkJSOvyHyh MIB India (@MIB_India) January 14, 2018 PM @narendramodi with Israel PM @netanyahu at 07, Lok Kalyan Marg, New Delhi pic.twitter.com/y89Z4rgbZA PIB India (@PIB_India) January 14, 2018 In a sign of growing importance to the ties with Israel, the government on Sunday renamed Delhi's Teen Murti Chowk as Teen Murti-Haifa Chowk after the Israeli city. PM Modi and Netanyahu laid a wreath at the iconic Teen Murti war memorial where they were received by Army Chief General Bipin Rawat and Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar. The two leaders paid homage to Indian soldiers who fell in the battle of Haifa during World War I. In the presence of PM @netanyahu, paid tributes to the brave Indian soldiers who fought at Haifa. The spot where we commemorate their sacrifice will now be called Teen Murti - Haifa Chowk. pic.twitter.com/WmXdS6pE7F Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 14, 2018 Teen Murti Chowk is now Teen Murti Haifa Chowk in memory of supreme sacrifice by Indian soldiers to liberate Haifa in Israel in 1918. PM@narendramodi and @IsraeliPM Netanhayu laid wreath at Teen Murti memorial. #ShalomNamaste pic.twitter.com/lcPJB24YEm Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) January 14, 2018 The 3 bronze statues at Teen Murti represent the Hyderabad, Jodhpur & Mysore Lancers who were part of the 15 Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade that carried out the victorious assault on the city of Haifa on 23 September 1918 during World War I. More pics from the solemn ceremony pic.twitter.com/qdN6wts5aM Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) January 14, 2018 Prime Minister Netanyahu said: "This gesture underscores the special link and the common history between Israel and India." pic.twitter.com/HyBgZb5k00 PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) January 14, 2018 This is the first visit to India by an Israeli PM since Ariel Sharon came in 2003. On Monday morning, Netanyahu will lay a wreath at Rajghat to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi. On Tuesday, he will fly to Agra to view the Taj Mahal. Netanyahu and PM Modi will open the Raisina Dialogue, India's annual geopolitical conference to be attended by people from around the world, including former US nuclear negotiator Wendy Sherman, in Delhi. They will also visit the PM Modi's home state Gujarat where they will go to the Centre of Excellence in Agriculture at Vadrad. Netanyahu will interact with business leaders in Mumbai and meet representatives of Bollywood. He will return to Israel on Friday afternoon from Mumbai. (With IANS inputs) New Delhi: Just one negative vote at the United Nations cannot change the dynamics of age-old bilateral ties between India and Israel, visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said here on Sunday, terming relations with New Delhi as "marriage made in heaven". "I don`t think one vote affects a general trend you can see in many other votes and everything and these visits," Netanyahu said when asked to comment on India`s vote at UN against US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel`s capital, in an interview to a TV news channel. "Yes, naturally we were disappointed, but this visit is a testimony that our relationship is moving on so many fronts, be it political, technological, tourism, security and so many other areas. Ultimately you see it reflected in all UN votes, not just now but soon," he added. In December last year, India had voted in favour of a resolution brought by Turkey and Yemen in the UN opposing the United States` decision recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The resolution was approved with 127-9 at the UN General Assembly. Read: PM Modi breaks protocol, receives Benjamin Netanyahu at airport with a hug "First of all, there is a special relationship between the two countries, between their people and then between the leaders. The partnership between India and Israel is a marriage made in heaven but consecrated on earth," Netanyahu said, adding he respects his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi "as a great leader" because he is "impatient to bring future to his people". On cooperation in counter-terrorism, he said that intelligence is the key. "And Israel has, on the whole, superb intelligence. I would say none is better. And we share with you our intelligence and have stopped over the last few years some 30 major terror attacks, which we shared vis-a-vis not India alone but with dozens of countries.'' "Israel protects lives of so many people. When you board a plane you want to know that plane won`t be blown up mid-air. It will take off and land safely. When that happens, usually Israel has something to do with it, not on every flight but on many flights," he said. Asked if he approves India`s terror strikes launched across the border with Pakistan, he said that India makes its own choices and "you fight terrorism by fighting it". As the interviewer persisted, a smiling Netanyahu said, "Well, I am trying to be a foreign minister. I am trying to be a diplomat because I hold two portfolios - the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister at the same time." Asked if Israel can use his good offices with China to persuade it to not veto a resolution against Lashkar-e-Toiba chief Hafiz Saeed, Netanyahu said, "I think these things are best discussed not on television, especially if you want to make progress." Read: 'Friend' Benjamin Netanyahu's India visit 'special and historic', says PM Modi However, he also said, "But our defence relationship is quite significant and comprises many things. I think the key word here is defence. We want to defend ourselves, we are not aggressive nations. We are very committed to making sure that none can commit an aggression against the either one of us." On the bilateral trade relations, the Israeli Prime Minister said that "there is a whole world that is erupting, exploding". Advocating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India to boost and deepen bilateral economic relations, he said, "Israel is changing so rapidly. We are creating industries. We have just created a car industry in just last five years. We have 500 start-ups dealing with automation of car.'' "And there are other areas like water, agriculture, energy, health and transportation. There is a whole world that is erupting, exploding. Future belongs to those who innovate... Israel is an innovation nation. India has innovations. In Silicon Valley, there are two dialects you hear - Hindi and Hebrew and only a little English." He said that when he visited the iconic 'Teen Murti' war memorial at Haifa circle, he felt "an expression of gratitude" because it was Indian soldiers who fell down while defending the city of Haifa (now in Israel) during WW-I. Read: Delhi's Teen Murti Chowk renamed after Israeli city Haifa; PM Modi, Benjamin Netanyahu attend ceremony "It`s closing of a circle 100 years later," he said. In a sign of growing importance to the ties with Israel, the government on Sunday renamed Delhi`s Teen Murti Chowk as 'Teen Murti-Haifa Chowk' after the Israeli city. Netanyahu is on a six-day visit to India, the first Israeli Premier to visit India after 2003 when Ariel Sharon came. Setting aside protocol, Modi went to personally receive Netanyahu. (With PTI inputs) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday broke protocol to personally receive his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu at the airport as he arrived in the national capital to begin a six-day visit. He welcomed Netanyahu with a hug upon his arrival. The Israeli PM is accompanied by his wife Sara. In a departure from protocol, PM @narendramodi receives @IsraeliPM Benjamin Netanyahu at the airport on his 6-day visit to India. The visit is a fitting culmination to the silver jubilee year of the formal relationship! #ShalomNamaste pic.twitter.com/hINygyMqYW Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) January 14, 2018 A warm welcome for a special guest! Some more pics from the arrival ceremony at the airport. pic.twitter.com/sEwIK6ypEJ Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) January 14, 2018 PM Shri @narendramodi welcomes the Prime Minister of Israel, Mr. @netanyahu , on his arrival, at Air Force Station, Palam, in New Delhi. pic.twitter.com/DgvUnpDGno MIB India (@MIB_India) January 14, 2018 PM Modi also tweeted in English and Hebrew, "Welcome to India, my friend PM Netanyahu. Your visit to India is historic and special. It will further cement the close friendship between our nations." Welcome to India, my friend PM @netanyahu! Your visit to India is historic and special. It will further cement the close friendship between our nations. @IsraeliPM #ShalomNamaste pic.twitter.com/sidgMmA1fu Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 14, 2018 On the other hand, the Israeli PM posted on the micro-blogging site, "Thank you to my good friend, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who surprised me with a personal welcome at the airport upon my arrival in India. Together we will bring the relations between our countries to new heights." Thank you to my good friend, Indian Prime Minister @narendramodi , who surprised me with a personal welcome at the airport upon my arrival in India. Together we will bring the relations between our countries to new heights! pic.twitter.com/bPZftC4caF Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) January 14, 2018 The two leaders then drove to central Delhi where Teen Murti Chowk was formally rechristened as Teen Murti-Haifa Chowk in a ceremony attended by them. PM Modi and Netanyahu also laid a wreath and signed the visitor's book at the memorial. In the visitor's book, PM Modi wrote that he saluted the "great Indian traditions of selfless sacrifice and penance" of Indian soldiers, who laid down their lives during the liberation of the city of Haifa and the First World War. One of these pages was written 100 years ago, in the sacrifice of Indian soldiers at Haifa. The sacrifice commemorated at Teen Murti observes its centenary. Naming this spot as Teen Murti-Haifa Chowk marks this historic occasion. In the presence of the prime minister of Israel, we pay homage to the brave soldiers." Netanyahu's visit to India is only the second one by an Israeli PM and comes after a gap of 15 years. Former PM Ariel Sharon visited India in 2003. (With PTI inputs) NEW DELHI: The family of Special CBI judge BH Loya, who allegedly died under mysterious circumstances, on Sunday said that it was deeply pained with the chain of events and intense politics over his mysterious death. Addressing a press conference in the national capital, Anuj Loya, the son of the late CBI judge said, ''Our family is deeply pained with the chain of events in past few days.'' Our family is pained with the chain of events in past few days. Please don't harass us: Anuj Loya, Justice BH Loya's son pic.twitter.com/0y3IrPZYtb ANI (@ANI) January 14, 2018 A teary-eyed Anuj said that his family has no suspicions now regarding the death, but they are being "harassed" and "victimised". We have no suspicion over father's death now. We had suspicion earlier but it is over now,'' Anuj said. Anuj also made an appeal to the political parties and the NGOs to stop "harassing" his family over his father's death. ''Please don't harass us anymore,'' the teenager said. #WATCH: Anuj Loya, Justice Loya's son says, 'we are convinced that his was a natural death. We do not have any suspicion about it.' pic.twitter.com/WqghpxvXGx ANI (@ANI) January 14, 2018 Loya's lawyer Ameet Naik, who was also present during the press conference, added, "There is no conspiracy... we don't want to be victims of any political issue. The family has no complaints against anyone". There is no controversy. No need of politicising the issue. This is a tragic event. We do not want to be victims of politicisation of the issue. Let it remain the way it is, non - controversial: Ameet Naik, Lawyer #JusticeLoya pic.twitter.com/p4lKH5XoYi ANI (@ANI) January 14, 2018 Death of BH Loya - the judge who was hearing the Sohrabuddin fake encounter case - in December 2014, found mention in the open press conference held recently by top four judges of the Supreme Court - Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B Lokur and Kurian Joseph during which they attacked the Chief Justice over allocation of cases and alleged faulty administration of the top court. The 48-year-old judge - who was hearing the CBI's case of murder against BJP chief Amit Shah - had died of a cardiac arrest in Nagpur, where he had gone to attend a wedding on December 1, 2014. Shah and several top police officers were subsequently cleared by a court. Recently, in an interview to a news magazine, some members of the judge's family had called the death unnatural, triggering calls from various quarters about an independent inquiry. Earlier this morning, four retired judges, including an ex-Supreme Court judge, wrote an open letter to the Chief Justice of India, saying they agree with the issues raised by the four apex court judges over the allocation of cases and the crisis needs to be resolved "within the judiciary". The letter penned by former apex court judge PB Sawant, ex-chief justice of Delhi High Court AP Shah, former Madras High Court judge K Chandru and ex-Bombay High Court judge H Suresh was released to the media. However, it was also widely shared on the social media. Justice Shah confirmed having written an open letter along with the other retired judges to the reporters. "We have written the open letter which the other judges named in the letter have also consented to," Shah said. He said that the view expressed by the retired judges is "quite similar to the views of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) that till this crisis is resolved, the important matters should be listed before a five-judge Constitution bench of senior judges". Justice Shah said that earlier he was not sure about the consent given by the other three judges and, therefore, he initially denied having written any letter but now all of them have given consent to it. "The four senior Judges of the Supreme Court have brought to light a serious issue regarding the manner of allocation of cases, particularly sensitive cases, to various benches of the Supreme Court,'' the four retired judges were reportedly said in the letter. "They have expressed a grave concern that cases are not being allocated in a proper manner and are being allocated arbitrarily to particularly designated benches, often headed by junior judges, in an arbitrary manner. This is having a very deleterious effect on the administration of justice and the rule of law," the letter further said. The four retired judges said that they agree with the four judges of top court that though the CJI is the master of roster and can designate benches for allocation of work but this does not mean that it can be done in an "arbitrary manner" such that, "sensitive and important cases" are sent to "hand-picked benches" of junior judges by the chief justice. (With Agency inputs) New Delhi: Four retired judges, including an ex-Supreme Court judge, on Friday, wrote an open letter to the chief justice of India, saying they agree with the issues raised by the four apex court judges over the allocation of cases and the crisis needs to be resolved "within the judiciary". Here's the full text of the letter published by CJAR The letter penned by former apex court judge PB Sawant, ex-chief justice of Delhi High Court AP Shah, former Madras High Court judge K Chandru and ex-Bombay High Court judge H Suresh was released to the media. However, it was also widely shared on the social media. Justice Shah confirmed having written an open letter along with the other retired judges to the reporters. "We have written the open letter which the other judges named in the letter have also consented to," Shah said. He said that the view expressed by the retired judges is "quite similar to the views of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) that till this crisis is resolved, the important matters should be listed before a five-judge Constitution bench of senior judges". Justice Shah said that earlier he was not sure about the consent given by the other three judges and, therefore, he initially denied having written any letter but now all of them have given consent to it. "The four senior Judges of the Supreme Court have brought to light a serious issue regarding the manner of allocation of cases, particularly sensitive cases, to various benches of the Supreme Court,'' the four retired judges were reportedly said in the letter. "They have expressed a grave concern that cases are not being allocated in a proper manner and are being allocated arbitrarily to particularly designated benches, often headed by junior judges, in an arbitrary manner. This is having a very deleterious effect on the administration of justice and the rule of law," the letter further said. The four retired judges said that they agree with the four judges of top court that though the CJI is the master of roster and can designate benches for allocation of work but this does not mean that it can be done in an "arbitrary manner" such that, "sensitive and important cases" are sent to "hand-picked benches" of junior judges by the chief justice. "This issue needs to be resolved and clear rules and norms must be laid down for allocation of benches and distribution of cases, which are rational, fair and transparent," they said, adding that this must be done "immediately to restore public confidence" in the judiciary and in the Supreme Court. The letter further said that "however till that is done, it is important that all sensitive and important cases including pending ones, be dealt with by a Constitution bench of the five seniormost judges of this Court". It added, "Only such measures would assure the people that the Supreme Court is functioning in a fair and transparent manner and that the power of the Chief Justice as master of roster is not being misused to achieve a particular result in important and sensitive cases. We, therefore, urge you to take immediate steps in this regard." Meanwhile, a seven-member delegation of the Bar Council Of India (BCI) today met Justice J. Chelameswar, one of the four senior judges of the Supreme Court who went public with their differences with Chief Justice Dipak Misra, and two other justices. The delegation met Justice Chelameswar at his residence and discussed the issue for around 45 minutes. Early in the morning, the delegation met Justice RK Agrawal and thereafter Justice AM Khanwilkar, two days after the four judges went public with their differences with the Chief Justice. Later, the delegation met Justice Arun Mishra. The BCI had on Saturday decided to send a delegation to meet a majority of the Supreme Court Judges on Sunday so that the crisis can be resolved at the earliest. "The council is of the unanimous view that it is an internal matter of the Supreme Court. The council has hope and trust that the judges of the Supreme Court will realise the seriousness of the issue and in future may avoid any such situation that politicians or political parties could take undue advantage of and or which could cause harm to our judiciary," the BCI said in a statement on Saturday. The council had requested political parties and politicians not to criticise the judiciary or make it an issue as it would weaken the independence of judiciary, which is the protector of democracy. BCI president Manan Mishra has said it was "most unfortunate" that the four judges held a press conference, sending out a message that all was not well with the Supreme Court and that the issue should have been "sorted out internally". Manan Mishra also dubbed it a "family dispute" that should be resolved within the judiciary. But he felt the judges should not have gone to the media with their complaints. The four judges - Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B. Lokur and Kurian Joseph -- on Friday took on the Chief Justice over allocation of cases, saying the administration of the top court was "not in order". (With PTI inputs) Chennai: People across Tamil Nadu on Sunday celebrated the harvest festival of Pongal thanking rain, sun and farm animals. People got up early, put on new clothes and went to temples. The aroma of ghee fried cashews, almonds and cardamom filled homes as a traditional dish of rice, jaggery and Bengal gram was made. As the ingredients of Chakarai Pongal boiled in milk, people called out `Pongolo Pongal, Pongolo Pongal`. The mud pot or stainless steel in which the dish is cooked is decorated by tying up ginger, turmeric, sugarcane piece and banana at the neck. The Pongal dish is offered to Sun God as thanksgiving and eaten as `prasad`. It is made at the auspicious time and in some homes, conches are blown prior to the formal offering. People exchanged greetings and Chakarai Pongal with their neighbours. The Pongal festivities take place over four days, the first day being Bhogi, which was Saturday, when people burn their old clothes, mats and other items. Homes are painted afresh. The second day is the main Pongal festival celebrated on the first day of the Tamil month Thai. The third day is the Mattu Pongal when bulls and cows are bathed and their horns painted and worshipped as they play an important role in farms. Women feed the birds with coloured rice and pray for the welfare of their brothers. In some parts of the state, Jallikattu -- a bull-taming sport -- is held. The fourth day is the Kannum Pongal -- the day to go out and meet relatives and friends, and go sight seeing. Mumbai: A day after a private boat capsized in the Dahanu creek in Maharashtra's Palghar district, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) on Sunday called off the search and rescue operation after confirming that 32 of the 35 students on the boat were rescued while three drowned. This was done several hours after the ICG resumed the search operations this morning. @IndiaCoastGuard Search & Rescue Operation in co-ordination with the State Administration #Maharashtra for the #Dahanu Boat tragedy has been terminated. State Administration confirmed accounting of all the missing persons @SpokespersonMoD @CMOMaharashtra pic.twitter.com/9Msmmqy07z Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) January 14, 2018 The police had yesterday said that three girls drowned and five were feared missing after the private boat, "Dahanu Queen", carrying around 40 students on a picnic capsized off the Dahanu coast. The boat was carrying students of the Ponda School and Junior College in Parnaka in Dahanu when it capsized, Superintendent of Police, Palghar, Manjunath Singe had said. An Indian Coast Guard (CG) spokesperson had yesterday said that a total of 35 students were accounted for and that search operations were on to trace those missing. The total number of students onboard the boat was not confirmed yesterday. However, a senior ICG officer today said the boat was carrying 35 students, of whom three drowned. "There were 35 students in the capsized boat, of whom three drowned. We have rescued all the remaining students and sent them for treatment to the local hospitals," Varun Augustya, CG Commandant, Dahanu Station, told PTI. He added that the CG decided to call off the search operations after the school authorities and district administration confirmed the exact number of students on the boat. "We had deployed one interceptor craft, along with two helicopters, yesterday. We continued with them today as well before we called off the operations," Augustya said. He added that their counterparts in Daman assisted in the search operations. The commandant said the CG was now focussing its attention on the rescue operation to trace the missing crew members of the Pawan Hans helicopter, which had crashed off the Mumbai coast yesterday. The helicopter, with seven people on board -- five ONGC officers and two pilots -- had crashed minutes after it took off for the state-owned company's oil installation in the Arabian Sea. Earlier in the morning, a CG helicopter took off to search the waters around the Dahanu creek. The CG station at Dahanu coordinated with the local authorities and school staff before confirming the number of students on board the ill-fated boat. Three persons, including the owner of the boat, were arrested by the Palghar police late last evening. The deceased girls were identified as Sonal Bhagwan Surati, Janhavi Harish Surati and Sanskruti Mayavanshi, all aged 17, Singe had said yesterday. All three were residents of Masauli in Dahanu's Ambedkar Nagar area. (With PTI inputs) New Delhi: A Pawan Hans helicopter carrying five senior officials of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and two pilots crashed off the Mumbai coast minutes after it took off. So far, six bodies have been recovered. The police informed that the bodies have been brought to Cooper Hospital for postmortem. "Out of six bodies, five has been identified. The search for one missing is still underway", a senior police inspector said.Currently, four Indian Naval ships (Teg, Tarasa, T 11 and T 45) are undertaking the search in the area. INS Teg also has Chetak helicopter and diving teams embarked onboard to augment the search efforts. One IN Dornier aircraft has completed the search and one P8I Long Range aircraft has conjoined the search with two SAR kits.Further, Indian Coast Guard ships and aircraft are also deployed for SAR. INS Makar, a special hydrographic ship, has left Karwar to augment the search for any sunken wreck from today onwards. Additional ships and aircraft are being kept ready at Mumbai for deployment as and when required. A total of seven people were on-board in the Pawan Hans Dauphin N2 that crashed and a total of four bodies have been recovered so far. Meanwhile, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) identified two of the bodies to be of ONGC employees.In total, there were seven people, including five ONGC employees, which crashed off the Mumbai coast. The ONGC, along with the ICG and the Indian Navy, has pressed its helicopter and speedboats for search operations.The helicopter, which took off from Juhu at 10.20 am, was scheduled to land at ONGC`s North Field oil rig at 10.58 am. The last contact with the Air Traffic Control (ATC) was made at about 10.30 am, 30 nautical miles off Mumbai.The cause of the tragic incident is still unknown. Mumbai: He is one of the first mainstream actors to dabble into the digital platform and Saif Ali Khan believes his stint in a web series is only a way forward, not a step down. The 47-year-old actor, who features in Netflix's upcoming original show "Sacred Games", said he felt liberated as a performer while working on the web series. "It (web series) is not any way the come down, it is a step in new direction (for me as an actor). It is very liberating as an actor to have a platform (like Netflix) to act in," Saif told PTI. The actor said web series is the next in-thing today and he "jumped at the idea" of doing one when he was offered the project. "There is a certain quality to Netflix, it is not (typical). It has an international feel to it. Also, Vikramaditya Motwane is a wonderful director, and is a responsible show runner. "He is comparing us to 'House of Cards'. It is going to be the best show coming out of India and I am hopeful everyone will be proud of it," he said. The series is based on Vikram Chandra's novel of the same name, which will be directed by Motwane and Anurag Kashyap. Saif, who has already started shooting, said he has read some parts of the book and the series is quite different. For the actor working on a film set and web series has been a completely different experience. "It has been incredibly hectic because we did not use any lights. It was a 12-hour-day it felt like a 15-hour-day, without much lunch break and all, and you are on your feet. On a film set for a 12-hour-day you get break for half-and-hour or so, lighting change and all that, but here it was relentless," he said. The web series also stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Radhika Apte and Saif said when you work with talented actors like them it ups your game. Mumbai: Salman Khan is all set to host the grand finale episode of Bigg Boss 11, a show he has been associated with since the fourth season. The hunk of a superstar will be joined by another industry heavyweight to make the evening a starry event. Akshay Kumar, a fear friend of Salman will share the stage to announce the name of this seasons winner. The Khiladi superstar will be on the show to promote his film Padman which is slated to release on January 25. Padman is inspired by Padma Shri awardee Arunachalam Murugananthams noble initiative to make machines that can produce affordable sanitary pads for women in the rural area. He has been instrumental in creating awareness about menstrual hygiene too. The film has been produced by Twinkle Khanna, Akshays wife. Khanna, who is an interior-decorator/author, has turned a film producer with this venture. She had written about Muruganantham in a short story titled The Sanitary Man from A Scared Land in her second novel The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad. Padman directed by R Balki co-straring Radhika Apte and Sonam Kapoor was initially slated to release on January 26. But just a few days back, Akshay preponed the films release by one day. Akshay, who plays a superhero of a new kind, will announce the winners name tonight. Desi Superhero #Padman aka @akshaykumar joins us on #BB11 to announce this season's winner! Catch him tonight at 9 PM on the #BB11Finale. pic.twitter.com/GRmhL9y8lu COLORS (@ColorsTV) 14 January 2018 Akshay and Salman have worked with each other quite a few times. And we love their bromance. The grand finale episode will see celebrities Hina Khan, Shilpa Shinde and Vikas Gupta and commoner Punesh Sharma competing for the top spot. Who will win the race? Will Shilpa emerge victorious or will Vikas charm captivate the audience? Lets wait and watch. Baghpat: Members of the Hindu Yuva Vahini thrashed a man on the premises of Baghpat court allegeding Love Jihad. The incident happened in the presence of cops. The cadres of Hindu Yuva Vahini alleged that the woman is from Punjab and had arrived at Baghpat to marry in the court was coerced into it by men outside her faith and religion, said reports. The Yuva Vahini brigade further claimed that the couple had links with Kashmir. The police have begun an investigation into the incident. Its too early to comment on what exactly happened, we are probing the whole incident, everything should not be linked to 'love jihad'," said Jayprakash Singh, Superintendent Of Police, Baghpat. Palm Beach: US President Donald Trump on Sunday disputed a newspaper`s account of an interview with him last week in which he was quoted as saying he probably has a very good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Trump said in tweets that in the Wall Street Journal interview on Thursday, he said "I`d probably" have a good relationship with Kim, using a conditional tense. The White House released a portion of the audio from the interview that it said showed Trump said "I`d." The Wall Street Journal released its own audio that it said backed up its version of the events. The Trump comment was key because it suggested he feels he has a good relationship with Kim, who has resisted global pressure to stand down from a series of nuclear and ballistic missile tests. Trump has derided the North Korean leader as a maniac and referred to him as little rocket man. Kim has responded by calling the U.S. president a mentally deranged US dotard. Kim has warned the United States that he intends to build a nuclear arsenal capable of hitting the United States, prompting threats of military action by Washington. In the Wall Street Journal interview, Trump was asked whether he has spoken with the North Korean leader. I dont want to comment on it. Im not saying I have or havent. I just dont want to comment," he had said. Trump is spending a long weekend at his oceanfront Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida. "Obviously I didnt say that," tweeted Trump. "I said `Id have a good relationship with Kim Jong Un,` a big difference. Fortunately, we now record conversations with reporters ... and they knew exactly what I said and meant. They just wanted a story. FAKE NEWS!" A White House official said the delay in publicly disputing the Journal`s account was the result of a failed attempt to get the paper to correct the record. "The reason there was a delay is because we had several calls and emails with WSJ, starting Friday morning, asking them to issue a correction. They refused and so we pushed out our own clarification," the official said. US President Donald Trump said Sunday a deal to resolve the status of hundreds of thousands of immigrants who entered the United States illegally as children is "probably dead," blaming it on Democrats. Trump came back on the issue in a pair of early morning tweets three days after igniting outrage by referring to African and Haitian immigrants as coming from "shithole countries." Global condemnation of the remark as racist has put the president on the defensive amid bipartisan attempts to negotiate a budget deal that would avert a looming government shutdown and remove the threat of deportation of the so-called "dreamers." "DACA is probably dead because the Democrats don`t really want it, they just want to talk and take desperately needed money away from our Military," Trump said, referring to the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals program. "I, as President, want people coming into our Country who are going to help us become strong and great again, people coming in through a system based on MERIT. No more Lotteries! #AMERICA FIRST," he said. DACA, established in 2012 by Trump predecessor Barack Obama, protects from deportation hundreds of thousands of immigrants whose parents brought them into the country illegally as children. Trump said in September he was scrapping the program but delayed enforcement to give Congress six months -- until March -- to craft a lasting solution. But a federal judge on Tuesday ordered the government to keep DACA going pending resolution of court challenges to the president`s decision. ISLAMABAD: A day after Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat warned of calling out Pakistan's "nuclear bluff", the country's top civil and military leaders threatened to stir a 'nuclear encounter' with India. Issuing the nuclear threat, Pakistan foreign minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif took to Twitter on Saturday: Very irresponsible statement by Indian Army Chief, not befitting his office. Amounts to invitation for nuclear encounter. If that is what they desire,they are welcome to test our resolve.The general's doubt would swiftly be removed, inshallah. Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) January 13, 2018 His tweet came hours after Pakistan Army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor also threatened India with a nuclear strike. "Should they [India] wish to test our resolve they may try and see it for themselves. We have a credible nuclear capability exclusive[ly] meant for threat[s] from [the] East," Ghafoor told state-run PTV World, as reported by Pakistani daily Dawn. Following Ghafoor's statement, Dr Mohammad Faisal, the Spokesperson of Pakistan's Foreign Affairs Ministry, also tweeted: The threatening and irresponsible statement by the Indian Army Chief today is representative of a sinister mindset that has taken hold of India. Pakistan has demonstrated deterrence capability.1/2 Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) January 13, 2018 These are not issues to be taken lightly. There must not be any misadventure based on miscalculation. Pakistan is fully capable of defending itself. 2/2 Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) January 13, 2018 During a press conference on Friday, the Army chief Rawat had said, We will call the (nuclear) bluff of Pakistan. If we will have to really confront the Pakistanis, and a task is given to us, we are not going to say we cannot cross the border because they have nuclear weapons. We will have to call their nuclear bluff." Pakistan has been facing the heat from the international community for a while now. Accusing it of sheltering militants and terror-based outfits on home soil, Donald Trump-led US administration froze $255 million military aid to Pakistan. Instead of weeding out terror-related activities from home turf, Pakistan has trained its guns on India. While briefing international convoys at a two-day event, Pakistan harped on how Indian intelligence agencies are spreading internal instability and how terrorist activities are being carried out from Afghan soil. Some Pakistani leaders also threatened to suspend all military and intelligence cooperation with the US. The US, meanwhile, said that there's been no official communication from Pakistan on the suspension of cooperation. The Trump administration has often expressed concern over Pakistan's nuclear programmes, worried it could land up in the hands of terror groups. Washington: Giving credence to the theory that the World Bank's popular ease of doing business (EODB) ranking is not credible and accurate, its chief economist Paul Romer has announced to recalculate the national rankings of business competitiveness going back to at least four years. The announcement, which has raised several questions on the authenticity of the EODB report, was made by Romer in an interview to The Wall Street Journal in which he made a personal apology to Chile, the ranking of which has come down from 34th in 2014 to 57th in 2017. "I want to make a personal apology to Chile, and to any other country where we conveyed the wrong impression," Romer told The wall Street Journal. Romer's statement that the national ranking of ease of doing business would be carried for last four years, could have notable impact on India as its ranking jumped from 140 in 2014 to 100 in 2018. The problems with the report, he said, were "my fault because we did not make things clear enough." According to the daily, Romer said the World Bank is "beginning the process of correcting the past reports and republishing what the rankings would have been without the methodology changes". Romer said he couldn't defend "the integrity" of the process that led to the methodology changes, according to The Wall Street Journal. The last major changes in the methodology and parameter of the EODB rankings were done under the watch of Romer's predecessor Kaushik Basu, the eminent economist from India who currently is C Marks Professor of International Studies and Professor of Economics at the prestigious Cornell University. Basu, who was World Bank' s Chief Economist from 2012- 2016, was not immediately available for comment. Questions left to the World Bank for Romer were not immediately responded. Following Roemer's interview, the World Bank in a statement announced to conduct an external review of Chile's indicators in the Doing Business report. However, the World Bank spokesman David Theis refuted any notion, in particular the one alleged by the current Government of Chile that its business ranking had political influence. "Over the 15 years of its existence, the Doing Business Index has been an invaluable tool for countries looking to improve their business climate, tracking thousands of reforms. "Since we developed this vital report, Doing Business has undergone a number of reviews -? both internal and external -? and we are always looking for new ways to refine and strengthen its methodology," Theis said. "It is important to note that we treat all countries equally in our research, and the Doing Business indicators and methodology are designed with no single country in mind but so that the overall business climate can be improved," he said. Augusto Lopez-Claros, the former director of Global Indicators and Analysis at the World Bank, who is currently at the Georgetown University defended the report. He told The Wall Street Journal that all changes were made following "extensive internal peer review and the Bank went out of its way to announce these changes to the authorities of its member countries and to other uses." "Preliminary rounds of the new data collected were shared for comment and, in general, the whole process was undertaken in a context of transparency and openness," he asserted. But Roemer disagrees. Over time, World Bank staff put a heavy thumb on the scales of its report by repeatedly changing the methodology that was used to calculate the country rankings, he told the financial daily. He said he "didn't have confidence in the integrity" of the report's data. Lopez-Claros refuted the allegations and said that the claim that methodological changes targeted Chile is "wholly without merit." He said the changes were made "without focusing on the impact these changes will have on particular countries," The Wall Street Journal said. The US is ready to assist Ukraine in establishing the Financial Investigation Service (FIS). This was stated by Deputy Director of the US Agency for Countering Financial Crimes Jamal El-Hindi during a meeting with Finance Minister of Ukraine Oleksandr Danyluk, the press service of the Ministry of Finance informs. During the meeting, the parties discussed the possible cooperation of the Agency with the state institutions of Ukraine. Jamal El-Hindi noted that he is monitoring the creation of the Financial Investigation Service in Ukraine, the only body to fight financial crimes against the state. He added that the Agency is ready to support the creation of an effective new body of the FIS. We recall, in March last year, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine supported the bill on the establishment of Financial Investigation Service in Ukraine at its meeting on March 22. It is assumed that the main functions of the Service will be the identification, suppression, disclosure and preliminary investigation of crimes against the interests of the state in the economic, financial and tax spheres. 112 Agency Iran again responded with a refusal to the demands of US President Donald Trump to amend the agreement on the nuclear program of Tehran. This is reported by Deutsche Welle. "This treaty is an internationally recognized and completed pact and can not be the subject of new discussions," the Iranian Foreign Ministry said. In Tehran, they stressed that they would not agree to amendments and would not undertake new obligations beyond the framework of the treaty. We recall, the nuclear deal was concluded in 2015 in Vienna. Its main points are: Iran's export of most enriched uranium abroad; none of the country's nuclear facilities is subject to dismantling; the transformation of the Fordo plant into a research center without the necessary facilities for enriching uranium; IAEA access to all nuclear facilities for 20 years. In exchange, it was decided to step-by-step remove sanctions from Iran. Since his election, Trump has repeatedly stated that the deal is bad and needs to be reviewed. What Trump requires of Iran? There are four requirements: 1) Iran should allow international inspectors to inspect absolutely all the objects that they require for verification; 2) guarantees are needed that Iran will never be able to obtain nuclear weapons; 3) the agreement must have an unlimited duration; 4) Iran's nuclear program and its work on the development of ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons can not be considered separately. Related: Police to strengthen its work on administrative border with Crimea Related: For two days more than 2 000 Kyivans received measles vaccinations Ukrainian doctor who worked in Lydia and had been kidnapped a few days ago was released, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine informs. The doctor had a work contract in Sebga and was kidnapped by one of the many armed groups. The release happened thanks to the agreements reached by the Ukrainian diplomats in the negotiations with the leaders of local tribes, the statement says. The ministry has yet again called on the citizens of Ukraine who are currently in Libya to leave the country promptly, as due to the difficult security situation in the country, resolving such issues through diplomatic means gradually becomes more difficult. Lragir The State Duma of Russia proposed to denounce the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between Russia and Ukraine in the part where the countries recognize the territorial boundaries of each other. This was reported by the first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian integration and relations with compatriots Konstantin Zatulin, RIA Novosti reports. The deputy believes that the treaty is only "unilaterally beneficial" to Ukraine. "In the second article of the Treaty we recognize the territorial borders of Ukraine, and it (Ukraine) recognizez ours at the time of signing and ratifying this document. Having signed the Treaty in 1997, and then upon ratification in 1999 year, Russia confirmed that it believes ... Crimea and Sevastopol are part of the territory of Ukraine, "Zatulin said. "Our interpretation of the treaty is that our recognition of the borders made in this treaty is interconnected with the subject of the treaty - friendship, cooperation and partnership. There is no friendship, cooperation and partnership - there is an occasion to say: "So, all issues need to be solved anew, including questions on borders. Therefore, personally, I will propose and offer ..., that we need to denounce it with regard to the second article, namely, recognition of the borders, "Zatulin added. Related: Volunteer who helped Ukrainian fighters burned alive on British Isles Russia annexed Crimea in March 2014. The Crimea was declared a temporarily occupied territory. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine officially declared February 20, 2014 the beginning of the temporary occupation of Crimea and Sevastopol by Russia. October 7, 2015, President Petro Poroshenko signed the relevant law. International organizations recognized the occupation and annexation of the Crimea as illegal and condemned the actions of the Russian Federation. Western countries have introduced a number of economic sanctions. Russia denies the occupation of the peninsula and calls it "the restoration of historical justice." On April 11 Russia published a new version of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, which states that "the Republic of Crimea and the city of federal significance Sevastopol are part of Russia." In August 2016, Ukrainian Prosecutor General Yury Lutsenko named 18 Russian military officials who were informed of suspicion of organizing a hybrid war with Ukraine. The key person in the organization was called Advisor to the President of Russia Sergei Glazyev. Related: Police to strengthen its work on administrative border with Crimea Earlier Georgian media published a letter in which allegedly Poroshenko was asking Russian authorities to let him into the country The recently published letter of Ukraines President Petro Poroshenko, in which he allegedly asks Russian authorities to let him into the country back in 2007, is fake, as his administration confirmed in a statement. The published so-called documents in the name of Petro Poroshenko are a low-quality forgery and a fake, produced and planted to the TV company Rustavi-2 by Russian security forces, the statement says. It also points out a blatant error the forgery allowed - in the alleged letter by Poroshenko, he asks to let him into the country, as the parents of his sons wife live in St. Petersburg. However, at that time his son hasn't been married married yet. Oleksiy Poroshenko got married in September 2013. Previously German media Rustavi-2 published the alleged statement by Petro Poroshenko, at that time MP, in which he promised not to act against the interests of Russia, which he allegedly wrote after he wasnt let into the country on Feb. 3, 2007. In that letter, it is said that he would attract investment in the interest of Russia and that he didnt support the Orange Revolution that happened in Ukraine. In the streets of Kerch, there were Grads, tanks, and IFVs In Kerch, annexed Crimea, a column of Russian military equipment went through the living blocks of the city, as Kerch FM informs. At around 18:30 on Jan. 12, around 50 pieces of military equipment went through one of the streets. These were Grads, three tanks, and IFVs, the media says sourcing a witness. Its worth pointing out that Kerch is very close to Russian territory, separated from it only by the Kerch strait. Previously Russia deployed the second division of the S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft defense systems in the annexed Crimea. 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!) President Trump and the Norway Prime Minister: Above. Click image to expand. Let's begin with what we know about the newest scandal to plague the Trump administration: the president's shocking comments about immigration from countries like Haiti. The Washington Post originally cited Trump's comments, apparently during a conversation aboutWe don't actually know the context of the comments - he could have been discussing the visa diversity lottery program, or he could have been talking about the targeted deportation of illegal immigrants from particular countries. That makes a rather large difference in interpreting his remarks. In any case, Trump reportedly stated,The Post continues:Trump then suggested that the United States should instead bring more people from countries such as Norway, whose prime minister he met with Wednesday. The president, according to a White House official, also suggested he would be open to more immigrants from Asian countries because he felt they help the United States economically.He then reportedly continued, "Why do we need more Haitians? Take them out." The Post attributed knowledge of these comments to "people familiar with the meeting," as opposed to participants in the meeting.The White House didn't deny the comments. Spokesman Raj Shah stated,Resistance to Trump's comments has split along two lines, one utterly illegitimate, the other quite legitimate.First, the illegitimate: people angry that Trump called some countries "s***holes," because they object to the idea that countries are different. That's idiotic. It is absolutely inarguable that some countries are awful. North Korea is a horror show. Sudan is a dumpster fire. Haiti is, by statistics, a terrible place to live, which is why so many people want to immigrate to the United States. The argument that Trump is wrong to call some countries s***holes comes down to nicety, not truth - which is why Rich Lowry of National Review took Joan Walsh of CNN to the woodshed over whether she'd rather live in Haiti or Norway.Which brings us to the second complaint: that Trump seems to be slandering immigrants from these "s***holes."Now, there are two reasons that Trump could have said he wanted curbs on immigration from those countries. The first is racist: the suggestion that ethnicity dictates the possibility of good Americanism. That's obviously garbage, and bigoted garbage at that. That's why Trump's alleged comment, "Why do we need more Haitians?" is far worse than his comment about s***holes. It suggests that Haitians - who may or may not already be here - are somehow incapable of assimilation. That's ridiculous. Some of our greatest Americans have been immigrants from s***holes. Immigrants leave s***holes seeking the American way of life, and embrace our Constitutional order, our Western culture, and our perspective God-given freedoms. That's the essence of Americanism.The second rationale for restricting immigration from so-called s***holes has nothing to do with ethnicity. It's quite possible, as the White House suggests, that the president meant that if we're looking to choose immigrants solely based on country of origin - a dubious and quasi-racist concept that prizes group identity over individual qualification - we should prioritize immigration from countries that have values similar to our own. Great Britain is more likely to send, on average, immigrants who assimilate more easily than, for example, Russia. That has nothing to do with race, and everything to do with culture and language and history; the same president who smacked Haiti said he wanted more Asian immigrants, for example, according to The Washington Post, so this isn't just a question of white vs. non-white. A merit-based individual system would take country of origin into account, but it would certainly not be the primary qualifier.With that said, Trump must clarify what in the world he was talking about - particularly if the comment about not needing "more Haitians" is accurately reported. The president has a shocking capacity to utter precisely the most inflammatory thing in precisely the most inflammatory way - and it's no wonder that so many people are interpreting his comments in the worst possible light. He owes it to the country to clarify what the hell he meant. Now that it is fully apparent, to all who have the ability to pay some modicum of attention, that Imposter President Biden has extreme cognitive issues, in addition to being an inveterate liar: Can OUR Republic continue with this Executive Office that has completely failed, so many times, on far too many issues here at this early date in this abysmal presidency? No, Joseph R. Biden is completely unqualified, morally and cognitively, to represent real Americans, and lead this Republic of disparate peoples. Yes, Joseph R. Biden has started whispering again, even softer now than before; so, I know he still cares, plus, OUR media will soon stop reporting on Afghanistan in favor of OUR Socialist issues. Whistleblower and torture survivor Chelsea Manning has filed papers to challenge Senator Benjamin L Cardin for his seat in the 2018 midterm elections. Cardin has served as a Maryland Senator since 2007, and was in the Maryland state government and then a Congressman from Maryland for 20 years prior to that, with $2m on hand and a 50% approval rating, making him difficult to challenge. Manning, who's standing as a Democrat, is one of four candidates hoping to take his seat in 2018. The day after Manning filed her candidacy, the television network Showtime announced that later this year it would air a documentary called "XY Chelsea" that follows her release from prison. Among the documentary's executive producers is Laura Poitras, who produced "Citizenfour," a documentary about another famous leaker, Edward Snowden. Chelsea Manning, convicted of giving military documents to WikiLeaks, files to run for U.S. Senate in Maryland [Scott Dance/LA Times] (Image: Tim Travers Hawkins, CC-BY-SA) When Congress voted last week to renew the NSA's controversial Section 702 powers, which gives the spy agency the power to conduct mass, secret, warrantless surveillance on Americans, they also voted down a bipartisan amendment that would have limited the president's ability to abuse these powers, injecting the barest minimum of accountability and proportionality into a system that Republican and Democratic presidents alike have abused for decades. The amendment was voted down because Democrats didn't support it. The same Democrats who show up on the news every night, telling us that Trump is a dangerous authoritarian who can't be trusted, just caved to the "intelligence community" and gave that dangerous authoritarian virtually unlimited powers to spy on every one of us. The campaign to sabotage the amendment was led by Democratic Congressjerk Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, who has repeatedly claimed that Trump is abusing presidential powers to attack Trump's political enemies, including Hillary Clinton. Schiff's campaign to ensure that Trump would face no limits or oversight in his spying power was joined by Nancy Pelosi. 55 Democrats in all ensured that spying powers were renewed and the amendment was voted down, including the loathsome poster-child for corruption Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Steny Hoyer, the second most senior Democrat in the House. As Lambert Strether writes on Naked Capitalism: "Watch what they do, not what they say." Not all Democratic politicians were so blithe about giving Trump the a blank surveillance check. Senator Ron Wyden continued his career-spanning, principled commitment to the Fourth Amendment: "This Section 702 bill would give AG Jeff Sessions unchecked power to use this information against Americans. This bill prevents his decisions from EVER being challenged in court." And California Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna wrote, "When @justinamash & @VoteMeadows, chair of the freedom caucus, vote against surveillance, but scores of Democrats vote for it, then its fair to ask what does our party stand for? If we can't be unified around the principle of civil liberties, then what is the soul of our party?" Glenn Greenwald gets the last word: "How can anyone rational possibly take seriously all the righteous denunciations from people like Pelosi, Schiff, and Swalwell about how Trump is a lawless, authoritarian tyrant existentially threatening American democracy when those very same people just yesterday voted in favor of vesting him the virtually limitless power to spy on Americans with no warrants or safeguards?" Cliches are boring to hear, yet often contain truth. That actions speak louder than words is one of those. The next time you see Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff, or Eric Swalwell waxing indignantly on cable TV about how Trump is a grave menace to the rule of law and American democracy, focus less on their scripted talking points and more on their actions, beginning with their vote yesterday to vest in him these awesome powers while blocking safeguards and checks. That will tell you all you need to know about who they really are and what they really believe. The Same Democrats Who Denounce Donald Trump as a Lawless, Treasonous Authoritarian Just Voted to Give Him Vast Warrantless Spying Powers [Glenn Greenwald/The Intercept] (via Naked Capitalism) (Image: Trump's Hair) Business / Companies by Staff Reporter Shabanie Mashava Mines (SMM) Holdings will resume asbestos production at Mashava Mine by end of March this year after securing the initial funding required to restart operations, The Sunday Mail Business has gathered.Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe chairperson Mrs Rita Likukuma said efforts are underway to help the asbestos fibre producer get access to required foreign currency for key mining equipment.This comes as Government last year said the mothballed mine would resume production given strong demand for its high grade asbestos and the ease of restarting it.Mashava is located in Southern Zimbabwe, 40 kilometres from Masvingo town.It is believed that Mashava Mine sits on $1 billion worth of reserves.Estimates indicate that revival of the closed mines could earn Zimbabwe up to $180 million in export revenue annually, given strong prices of asbestos on global markets.Mrs Likukuma told Turnall workers last week that significant ground has been covered in making sure that Mashava resumes production early this year.SMM, which also operates Shabanie Mine in Zvishavane, shut down mining operations in 2004 after the Government annexed assets from proprietor Mutumwa Mawere through a reconstruction order, amid indications that the mining company was State-indebted and insolvent.The RBZ board chair Mrs Likukuma, who is also Turnall chairperson, said resumption of Mashava is critical as Turnall will stop importing asbestos fibre."By beginning of March this year, they must have restarted operations. During the festive holidays, they did not stop working on the plant to resume operations."The mine sold its properties to raise funding required to restart operations. They sold their mine houses to Great Zimbabwe University," she said."That is how they mobilised funding to resume operations, but prior to that they had been completely closed and not even a single person was working there."Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando told Parliament last week that a de-watering process of flooded shafts was being carried out at Shabanie and Mashava Mine.He said a total of 50 workers had been engaged to process dumps at the two mines. The minister said the number was expected to rise to 300.Recently, the management completed a report detailing financial and technical requirements for revival of Mashava Mine.A preliminary report by the management showed that at least $20 million is needed to restart the two mines.When Mashava starts operating, management will then start work to reopen Shabanie Mine.Mashava Mine has capacity to produce 75 000 tonnes after reopening. Official records also show that the mine has deposits to last at least 17 years.Zimbabwe has for long been fighting attempts by some developed countries to ban trade in asbestos over claims of health risks.The Government of Zimbabwe however insists that if used in a manner that controls inhalation of the fibres, white chrysotile is not only safe to use, but one of the country's most strategic minerals in terms of its ability to bring export revenue and centrality in the provision of water, sanitation infrastructure as well as low cost housing.At present, Turnall and other Zimbabwe asbestos material producers, which used to take up 5 to 10 percent of the fibre from SMM, import fibre from Brazil and Russia.In 2013 alone, Turnall spent as much as $21 million dollars in imports which could have been used to create and save jobs on the local market.Zimbabwe Stock Exchange listed Turnall has since stopped production of asbestos roofing sheets at its Harare plant, resulting in loss of jobs. Only the company's Bulawayo plant is still producing the sheets.With respect to labour, Zimbabwe's asbestos mines employed well over 3 000 people who took care of about 25 000 direct dependants. News / National by Staff Reporter Zimbabwe's traditional leaders are fully behind President Emmerson Mnangagwa's leadership and vision for the country, Chiefs Council president Chief Fortune Charumbira has said.At President Mnangagwa's meeting with chiefs here yesterday, Chief Charumbira said traditional leaders and Zanu-PF were inseparable.Several chiefs also aired their grievances, including cash shortages, community access to natural resource benefits, non-payment of court allowances, deplorable roads and general welfare issues. The President pledged to resolve the concerns.Chief Charumbira said, "This meeting is the first with our President and his leadership following the popular Operation Restore Legacy that ushered in a new dispensation. It is an honour to be respected by the President. He has said let me start by meeting chiefs and we are happy he has bestowed us such an honour."(Last Friday), we met as chiefs from all parts of the country and said we want to embrace your presidency and Vice-Presidents."We have accepted all the work you have done until your elevation. Please conduct your duties in peace and with the assurance that as chiefs and custodians of the land, we have unanimously embraced you and your team. You have our blessings and we are very confident that you will take this nation forward."He said they were confident President Mnangagwa would address their grievances as he has always done well before his ascendance to the top job."You have been bestowed the constitutional way which is Western. We, as custodians of the land, have accepted you and need to perform certain rites which include giving you a sceptre made from one of our traditional trees, a spear, animal hide and ornaments.". . .Let me say that we were stripped of our powers by the whites around 1898 as the settlers displaced us from our resources. Laws that targeted the so-called natives were created around that time, with chiefs being the major targets as they had power to rally the masses against the settlers."But we kept on the struggle to free ourselves, culminating in Independence in 1980 and again through Operation Restore Legacy, we have been given more power." News / National by Staff reporter The late vice president Joshua Nkomo turned down an offer to become the country's president in a coalition government formed after the 1980 elections, Zapu president Dumiso Dabengwa claims.Instead, the veteran nationalist opted for a ministerial post, only to be fired two years later by then Prime Minister Robert Mugabe on charges of plotting to overthrow his government.Mugabe claimed arms meant to overthrow his government had been uncovered on farms owned by Zapu and its military wing, Zipra.In his address during a policy dialogue forum organised by the Southern African Political Economy Series in conjunction with the Women in Leadership Development held at a local hotel on Friday evening, Dabengwa claimed the arms had been deliberately planted by Mugabe's government."At Lancaster, we agreed that we will contest the elections as a united front, as the Patriotic Front but in the nominations for the elections, Mugabe deliberately got to the offices and said Zanu was going to stand as Zanu-PF and there were only a few hours left before nominations closed," Dabengwa told the gathering."I think it was someone in the British Governors' office who then asked Nkomo have you decided that the name you are going to contest the elections as Zanu-PF. Nkomo was furious. He summoned Msika and said this is what has happened, go and verify and if it is true go and register and tell them we will be participating in the elections-PF Zapu," he said."Msika did that and found it was true. Mugabe had registered to contest the elections as Zanu. After the election, after the victory, Mugabe then enticed Nkomo to come into a coalition government. He said we fought the struggle together and we can't leave you out, come in."First, Nkomo was supposed to be president, and Nkomo said I don't want to be a president. He preferred one of the ministerial posts and he was given Home Affairs," he said.The discussion was held under the theme: "Gukurahundi: Towards A National Dialogue."Nkomo was then expelled by Mugabe alongside the late Josiah Chinamano and Joseph Msika in a development that marked the beginning of Gukurahundi."Nkomo and most of his colleagues except for one John Nkomo were expelled from their Cabinet posts. Nkomo was then being hunted for. He had to escape and go to Britain. We remained in prison, went for trial which went for several weeks, if not months and acquitted by the High Court but we were still kept in detention. I spent four years 10 months exactly after having been acquitted."Dabengwa said Mugabe deployed North Korean trained Fifth Brigade to Midlands and Matabeleland provinces to hunt down what became known as dissidents "numbering less than 50 disgruntled Zipra guerrillas who were frustrated by Mugabe's harassment of Zapu members."As a result, over 20 000 are said to have perished in the internationally condemned crackdown."During this period, there were some Zipra guys who got frustrated and decided to take up arms and go back to the bush and the number was not even a 100. It was very much less. I think somewhere in the region of 50 and these were the dissidents who made the Fifth Brigade," said Dabengwa."These are the people that they created the Fifth Brigade for to deal with about 50 Zipra guys who had gone to the bush. That is what happened. This was (the pretext use to push for a) one-party state. They did not want an opposition." News / National by Staff reporter The MDC Alliance is fretting over the uncertainty surrounding Morgan Tsvangirai after he indicated that he was mulling stepping down.Tsvangirai was selected to be the presidential candidate for the MDC Alliance on August 5 last year, whose constituent members include the People's Democratic Party, led by Tendai Biti; the MDC led by Welshman Ncube; Transform Zimbabwe (TZ), headed by Jacob Ngarivhume; Zanu Ndonga led by Denford Masiyarira and the Multi-Racial Christian Democrats led by Mathias Guchutu.According to the Political Cooperation Agreement (PCA) signed by Tsvangirai's party, along with seven other smaller political movements, no one outside his party can take over from him in the event that he dies or gets incapacitated before next year's polls.Crucially, the deal secures the MDC's leadership of the MDC Alliance in the event that a vacancy occurs at the top before or after the elections."In the event of a vacancy occurring for the presidency for whatever reasons before the election then the Alliance partners shall select another candidate and if such vacancy occurs after election then the provisions of the national Constitution shall apply," reads part of the PCA.In terms of the supreme law of the land, the governing party has the prerogative of appointing a successor should it happen that a serving president dies or gets incapacitated while in office.What the provisions of the PCA entail therefore is that the MDC would still select Tsvangirai's successor in the event that he exits office for whatever reasons after winning the 2018 polls.The agreement further states that all the parties under the MDC Alliance, though maintaining their names, will use the MDC open palm symbol and will also campaign for the chosen presidential candidate.They are, however, free to campaign using their own promotional material or regalia."The parties agreed that their alliance shall operate as the MDC Alliance and the parties shall use a common symbol during the 2018 harmonised elections, being an encircled open palm incorporating the image of the alliance presidential candidate and the name and logo of each party underneath," the PCA also reads in part.The MDC leader was diagnosed with cancer of the colon in May 2016 and has been undergoing treatment in South Africa that has left him frail.The MDC Alliance had a scheduled conclave yesterday amid jostling for his post within the MDC.On Friday, Elias Mudzuri - the MDC's acting president made it clear that he was ready to step in, in the event that the MDC leader - who is also the MDC Alliance presidential candidate's health fails him.On Wednesday, Nelson Chamisa told News24 that Tsvangirai remained the party's "best way forward" but if he was to retire, he would be ready to take over from the veteran politician.MDC vice president Thokozani Khupe has also reportedly threatened to quit the party if the Constitution is not followed in picking Tsvangirai's deputy, according to organising secretary Abednico Bhebhe.TZ president Ngarivhume - who was the MDC Alliance spokesperson before the appointment of Ncube, told the Daily News on Sunday yesterday: "The current goings-on in the MDC are quite disturbing, and as Alliance partners, we advise them to settle their issues swiftly because for the Alliance to be effective, we need all our partner's full concentration. I am confident they are doing that."He, however, maintained that Alliance members were autonomous and ran their own affairs."The Alliance is not an extension of the MDC and as such, it has mechanisms to protect itself against any challenges that may arise. We know each other very well as a team and we don't interfere in each other's internal affairs. We respect their autonomy."If there are any changes in MDC, we will wait for an official statement from them. As soon we receive the news, as an Alliance we can always sit down, discuss and re-strategise."Already, Tsvangirai has given Chamisa - one of his three deputies - the crucial task of leading the party's selection process of parliamentary and council candidates for this year's crunch elections.This is apart from Tsvangirai having also significantly chosen Chamisa to stand in for him and to handle all the party's business within the MDC Alliance - as the former prime minister in the government of national unity valiantly battles colon cancer.The MDC leader, who was Zimbabwe's prime minister in an uneasy coalition government with the ousted Mugabe from 2009 until 2013, has been undergoing repeated cycles of chemotherapy treatment that have left him frail.Observers have intimated that the former prime minister's poor health could potentially result in a deadly succession race in the MDC.MDC insiders also said in the event that Tsvangirai was not fit to campaign and lead both the Alliance and his party, the MDC would not hold an extraordinary congress to choose his successor.MDC Alliance spokesperson Ncube has confirmed to our sister paper the Daily News that Chamisa would lead Tsvangirai's campaign rallies ahead of the elections."If we are going to have MDC Alliance rallies, Chamisa is going to represent Tsvangirai," Ncube said last week, adding that it is not a new development because "in the last three months Chamisa was representing Tsvangirai at MDC Alliance principal's meetings".The promising MDC Alliance is anchored around the spirit of the original MDC ahead of this year's crucial polls, supported by a number of other opposition parties. News / National by Staff reporter Ailing opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai's family has reportedly broken the silence over his health, saying that they have authorised the Movement for Democratic Change party's acting president Elias Madzuri to comment on his condition.Tsvangirai was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2016, and has since been in and out of hospital for treatment.According to New Zimbabwe.com, Tsvangirai's two sons, Collins and Manasa said in a statement that they appreciated the party for allowing their ailing father a time off."During this period, we shall provide the party and the public with updates on the progress he is making but only through the MDC acting president to avoid any misunderstandings, until he is back to full health and re-joins his colleagues in completing what he has worked so hard to achieve," read part of the statement.The statement said that the Tsvangirai's family would not try to influence the ailing leader's "political decision during his current illness or thereafter".A NewsDay report said that Tsvangirai's illness had plunged the MDC into serious factional fights, with some party members backing Nelson Chamisa, one of his three deputies, while others were throwing their weight behind Mudzuri.Chamisa's backers believed he was the shoo-in after Tsvangirai hinted leaving the reins of the party to the younger generation, the report said.Tsvangirai recently hinted that he would retire from politics, less than two months after the end of his longtime foe president Robert Mugabe's 37 years' rule.Tsvangirai said in a statement that he was "looking at the imminent prospects of us as the older generation leaving the levers of leadership to allow the younger generation to take forward this huge task". News / National by Staff reporter EXILED former cabinet minister Professor Jonathan Moyo has warned that Zimbabwe will soon become the new Somalia if the international community does not move in to restore constitutionalism in Harare, NewZimbabwe.com reported.Since the overthrow of then president Mohamed Siad Barre in the early 1990s Somalia - a country on the horn of Africa - has become a catch word for state collapse, civil war, clan clashes, and starvation.Prof Moyo said Zimbabwe would soon be described in similar terms under new President Emmerson Mnangagwa who, last November, replaced long-term ruler Robert Mugabe after a military revolt.Moyo, a loyalist of Mugabe who managed to evade the military arrests which followed the coup, said Zimbabweans will soon be fighting to overthrow the military government which took office end of last year."If you don't intervene when there has been such an outrageous, brazen attack on a constitutional order, you are simply opening the floodgates to conflict," Moyo told Reuters in a telephone interview from an undisclosed location.He added, "If they don't act, just as the sun will rise tomorrow, Zimbabwe will be another Somalia. There will be bloodshed."This was Moyo's second interview with world media in a week as he ramps up pressure against the new Harare government. Earlier in the week he appeared on the BBC's HARDTalk programme to condemn Mugabe's ouster as unconstitutional.The veteran leader, now 93, was thought to have initially resisted pressure to step down but his letter of resignation was then handed over to Parliament as legislators moved to impeach him.The letter was read by Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda on November 21. Neither Mugabe nor his wife, Grace, have appeared in public or said anything since then.However, Moyo queried the resignation in his Reuters interview."The president was alleged to have resigned. There is no evidence," he said."It is completely unsustainable for anyone to say Mugabe resigned voluntarily when we know the army took over all institutions of the state and confined him to his residence."You have to be applying a Banana Republic model to say he resigned."The former higher education minister insisted that although the public is presently frozen in military fear, soon or later they will avenge Mugabe's removal and demand the rule of law.However, his criticism of the government has been dismissed by presidential spokesperson, George Charamba, as those of a bitter person stuck in denial when he gave the first interview to BBC. There are two things that stand out on with the Todos Las Dias Double Wide Belicoso. The first is the boldness that this cigar delivers from its strength and body. The second is the uniqueness demonstrated from the flavor profile of this cigar On top of that, I really like how this blend worked in the 4 3/4 x 60 figurado format. Wrapper: Nicaraguan Binder: Nicaraguan Filler: Nicaraguan Country of Origin: Nicaragua (Fabrica de Tabacos Joya de Nicaragua S.A.) Double Wide Belicoso: 4 3/4 x 60 Price: $12.45 Review: Todos Las Dias Double Wide Belicoso by Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust (9/26/17) Brand Appearances on Countdown: 3 (2015, 2016, 2017) Coming in at #6 is Todos Las Dias Double Wide Belicoso by Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust. Todos Las Dias was the signature release for Steve Sakas Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust in 2017. It was a cigar designed to be a stronger and bolder offering in the companys portfolio. Todos Las Dias is a 100% Nicaraguan puro. The cigar is made at the Joya de Nicaragua factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. This is the factory that is handling production for Sobremesa and the currently released cigars under the Muestra de Saka line. The Double Wide Belicoso measures 4 3/4 x 60. This is a size that has been made popular at Joya de Nicaragua with that brands Gran Consul offerings. Sakas Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust brands have been on the market since 2015. And for each of the three years the company has been in existence, it has landed on a Cigar Coop Countdown. It is the sixth Nicaraguan puro to land on the 2017 Countdown. The Double Wide Belicoso is also the second figurado and third 60 ring gauge to land on this years countdown. Flavor-wise the Todos Las Dias Double Wide Belicoso has a signature note that I describe as a savory, spicy chili pepper note. In addition, there are notes of natural tobacco, earth, cocoa, and subtle hints of mineral and wood that balance out the flavor profile. This is a cigar that will build in intensity starting out medium to full in strength and body and progressing to full by the second half. Over the years, Saka has continued to produce high quality, enjoyable, and unique blends. Todos Las Dias is another fine example of that and lands Saka back on this years Countdown. For details of the 2017 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2017 criteria. Photo Credits: Cigar Coop According to wealth index released on basis of data from fourth round of National Family and Health Survey (NFHS-4) Delhi is richest state and Jain wealthiest community in the country. The NFHS-4 was conducted among more than 6 lakh households in 2015-16. It was largest sample size and was carried out just couple of years ago that provided useful source of information in analysing Indias socio-economic landscape. Wealth index The wealth index as part of NFHS-4 was prepared on basis of information of scores on ownership of consumer goods such as television and bicycles and household characteristics such as availability of clean drinking water. This information was used to classify all households into wealth quintiles. Those in lowest quintile were poorest 20%, while those in top were richest 20% of lot. The report then used these quintile scores to classify population for states, caste and religious groups and rural-urban areas into each quintile. Key Facts State wise wealth Distribution: Delhi and Punjab are richest states with over 60% of their households in the top wealth quintile. They are followed by Goa with 54.5% households in top bracket. Bihar is poorest state half of its households in the bottom quintile. Rajasthan has most equitable wealth distribution with similar number of households in all quintiles. Wealth distribution in religious groups: Jains are the most prosperous religious community in India with 70% of its population in the top quintile. Only 1.5% of Jain households fall in lowest two quintiles. Sikhs follow next, with 59.6% of their people in the top wealth quintile. Hindus and Muslims have similar and also most equitable wealth distribution across all quintiles. Community wise wealth distribution: Upper castes in India have almost double families in top quintile as compared to any other caste. Scheduled tribes are the poorest with 45.9% of their people in lowest quintile. Rural and Urban wealth: Poverty is predominantly a rural phenomenon in India. 29% of rural India belongs to bottom quintile, while it is just 3.3% for urban India. 29% of the rural population has wealth levels equivalent to bottom 20% of the countrys population. Concern: High levels of income and wealth inequality are matter of great concern in India. NFHS-4 statistics on disparity in wealth-holdings across various categories shows that there cannot be one size fits all policy if the government is serious about addressing this problem. 158 210-9 (92.1) 290-10 290-10 210-9 (92.1) VS 466-10 (148.2) 191-10 191-10 466-10 (148.2) Our Divisions Copyright 2021-22 DB Corp ltd., All Rights Reserved This website follows the DNPA Code of Ethics. 2017 was been a successful year for the Global Coalition To Defeat ISIS, and conversely, a bad one for the terrorist group. Both of its so-called capitals were liberated, it no longer controls any territory in Iraq, and the groups self-proclaimed, fraudulent caliphate has crumbled. In a year-end briefing, the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy to the Global Coalition congratulated the Government of Iraq on last years full liberation of Iraqi territory from ISIS control.The difficulty of this achievement cannot be overstated, and was a direct result of the strong leadership of Prime Minister Abadi and the heroic efforts of the Iraqi Security Forces and the Kurdish Peshmerga, many of whom lost their lives fighting ISIS on behalf of us all, said Special Envoy McGurk. Syria also saw significant progress. With the help of the Coalition, and at the high cost of about 1,000 casualties, the Syrian Democratic Forces liberated some 50,000 square kilometers from ISIS. Now, we continue to support the Syrian Democratic Forces as they engage in ejecting ISIS from its last strongholds in the Middle Euphrates River Valley, said Mr. McGurk. We anticipate these operations will continue over the first quarter of 2018. Indeed, the battle against ISIS will continue unabated in the new year, but the priorities will shift. In Mosul, today we have about 500 stabilization projects ongoing, and we are still working very closely with our coalition to make sure that we have adequate resources for that, said Mr. McGurk. And in Syria, stabilization efforts have also picked up pace and are underway in liberated areas. The United States is prepared to remain in Syria until we are certain that ISIS is defeated, stabilization efforts can be sustained Our aim is to enable the return of Syrians displaced by ISIS and to help local citizens take charge of their areas as we work on a national settlement in Geneva, said Special Envoy McGurk. We enter 2018 knowing that we must continue working side-by-side Coalition partners, international organizations, law enforcement agencies, and the private sector to sustain our progress. It is our collective aim as a Global Coalition to pressure and suffocate ISIS wherever it may seek to emerge, raise funds, or send operatives across borders. On the third Monday of each January, Americans honor the memory of the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King, a Baptist minister from the southern state of Alabama, was a leader in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, advocating social change through non-violent means. On January 15th, he would have celebrated his eighty sixth birthday. Believing that "change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle," Dr. King organized and participated in mass-action boycotts, sit-ins, peaceful marches and other non-violent acts of civil disobedience. Dr. King once stated that "an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law." And so, activists sometimes deliberately, but peacefully and respectfully, broke laws aimed at segregating the white citizenry from the non-white, thus hoping to bring attention to the inherent unfairness of such legislation. Thus, when a black seamstress named Rosa Parks broke the law in Montgomery, Alabama, by refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger, and subsequently was jailed for her transgression, her plight generated national attention and increasing sympathy for her cause across the country. Dr. Kings, and the Civil Rights Movements greatest achievement came in 1964, with the passage of the Civil Rights Act which outlawed segregation in public places, as well as employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, gender or national origin. The Civil Rights Act spawned the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which forbids racial discrimination in voting, and the 1968 Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination in housing and financing for the purchase of a home, based on race and national origin. Dr. King was thirty nine years old when he died by an assassin's bullet on April 4th, 1968. But his legacy lives on. In the fullness of time, all segregationist laws were repealed, discrimination is a legally punishable and punished offence. Dr. King's life is well summed up in his own words: "The quality, not the longevity, of one's life is what is important." President Hassan Rouhanis Minister of Education, Mohammad Bathai, has ruled out the idea of Baseej militia forces intervening in schools. Bathai twitted his protest to comments recently made by the chief-commander of Baseej, a paramilitary force affiliated with the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC). On Thursday, January 11, Baseej commander, Brigadier General Gholamhossein Gheybparvar announced, that a plan designed to deploy Baseej forces at schools would be implemented next September. Please, do not disturb peoples minds with unfounded excuses! Executing any plan by any entity at the schools needs the Ministrys license and coordination, Bathai twitted in protest. Based on the new plan, two or three members of Baseej forces from neighborhood mosques will be assigned to assist parents and teachers in training the school children, General Gheybparvar elaborated. The plan will initially cover one million school children and take seven years to be fully accomplished, the commander maintained. Our schools should be centers for ethical training rather than teaching [science], General Gheybparvar noted, adding, A trained and intelligent nation is immune against infiltration by enemies, the commander remarked. Loosely formed IRGC-linked militia units, have been inspecting people and vehicles, and arresting those suspected of anti-revolutionary behavior such as violating the strict dress code imposed on Iranian women by hardline clerics, after the 1979 Islamic revolution. Their presence gradually became less visible until 2009, when they played a key role in heavy-handed suppression of political unrest that overwhelmed Iran following the disputed presidential election that gave President Mahmud Ahmadinejad a second term. Video clips and images showing a Baseej patrol car storming into protesters was widely distributed and shocked everybody. The plan for schools, if implemented, might be a part of a larger scheme General Gheybparvar proposed last November. His plan was to deploy Baseej patrols in 1000 urban locations all over Iran to help provide "stable security in the neighborhoods, confront the burglars and thugs and prevent any attempt to vandalize and damage public properties, as his Operations Deputy, Ahmad Zolqadr described it at the time. The reformist daily Etemad characterized the new plan as a sort of history revisited. The new patrols, Etemad averred, are a reminder of Komitehs (militia committees) in 1980s when they were involved in a gamut of matters, including confrontation with distributors of what was labelled as illegal cassettes and tapes of songs and videos as well as storming into family parties. The plan of more intrusion by the Baseej has also drawn criticism by social media activists, who characterize the militia forces as individuals mainly selected from volunteer youth, usually school dropouts who relish a powerful role in society. Iranian authorities have handed over the body of 24-year-old Saro Ghahremani, who went missing during nationwide protests that started in late December, Human Rights websites and activists reported on Saturday. According to the reports, Ghahremanis parents were allowed to accompany their sons body in the ambulance that took them to Behesht-e Mohammadiyeh cemetery in the Kurdish-majority city of Sanandaj. Saros body was immediately buried in a ceremony attended only by his parents. Other family members were banned from attending by security forces. Saro had reportedly been detained 11 days before his lifeless body was passed on to his family. The pattern is not new to how families of slain dissidents are treated by the Islamic Republic. They are usually told not to hold funerals or memorials for their loved ones in fear of the event turning into a full-fledged protest. Previously, official requests often turned into insidious threats if not heeded by the victims family. The slain blogger Sattar Beheshtis sister was arrested in 2016 during a ceremony held on her brothers birthday. Sattar Beheshti was killed under torture in custody of Iran Cyber Police in 2012. In recent protests, Iranian officials have confirmed that at least two detained protesters arrested during the anti-establishment protests in the cities of Tehran and Arak have died behind bars. The officials say that Sina Ghanbari and Vahid Heydari committed suicide in Evins Quarantine ward and Arak prison, respectively. Ghanbari, 23, died in custody in Tehran under unknown circumstances on January 7. The authorities claimed he killed himself in Evin Prison. Heydari, 22, died in detention at the 12th Police Station in Arak at some point around the turn of the new year, the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) reported. His lawyer told CHRI that the authorities are trying to cover up the real reason for his death by claiming he committed suicide. During recent protests in Iran, more than 3700 persons were detained. At least 22 to 25 protesters have been confirmed dead by authorities. Iranian President Hassan Rohani says U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration have failed to undermine Tehrans nuclear deal with world powers and has praised the agreement as a long-lasting victory for Iran. In a live broadcast by Iranian state television of a speech on January 14, Rohani said: Trump, despite his repeated efforts, has failed to undermine the accord. The deal is a long-lasting victory for Iran, Rohani said, referring to the accord Tehran signed in 2015 with the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and China. Trump on January 12 said the United States would pull out of the deal unless the European signatories fixed what he called terrible flaws in the agreement. The other signatories to the pact have urged the United States to continue to adhere to the agreement. A statement from French President Emmanuel Macron on January 13 called for the "necessary respect" of the nuclear deal. Tehran on January 13 rejected the notion of any modification of the 2015 nuclear accord, which requires Iran to curb its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. Iran insists its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes, while the United States and other countries claim it has been trying to develop nuclear weapons. Trump on January 12 said he would extend sanctions relief to Iran under the deal, leaving the accord intact for now. But Trump wants the pact strengthened with a separate agreement within 120 days and has said the United States would pull out of the existing accord if such steps are not taken. Among the changes Trump is demanding is that Iran allow more timely inspections of sites requested by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the elimination of so-called sunset clauses, under which some of the restrictions on Irans nuclear program expire over time. In addition, Trump demanded that the deal should state that Iran's nuclear effort and its missile programs are inseparable. U.S. and other officials have complained that Iran's ballistic-missile program can easily be converted for nuclear use. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Macron in a phone call on January 13 that Europe would be wise to the strengthen the landmark nuclear deal, saying it would increase the chances of it remaining in effect. According to a statement released by Netanyahus office, the Israeli leader told Macron that Trump's remarks should be taken seriously, and whoever wants to keep the nuclear deal would be wise to fix it." Netanyahu also told Macron the world should "strongly condemn" what he called "five crimes of the Iranian regime." He cited what he said were efforts by Tehran to obtain nuclear weapons, develop ballistic missiles, and support terrorist organizations, as well as what he called regional aggression, and "the cruel repression of Iranian citizens." With reporting by Reuters and AFP Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 14 By Azad Hasanli Trend: As of Jan. 1, 2018, the World Bank (WB) allocated $667.27 million or 83.4 percent of the loan envisaged for the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP), according to the statistics published on the bank's website. The beneficiaries of a $800 million loan, approved by the WB Board of Directors on Dec. 20, 2016 are Southern Gas Corridor CJSC (Azerbaijan) and BOTAS (Turkey). "TANAP not only will boost competitiveness and create new economic opportunities for Azerbaijani and Turkish people, but will also support regional trade and energy security of Turkey and Europe," the WB told Azernews. The WB said the project will help Azerbaijan to diversify its gas sales markets and Turkey - to secure its energy supply. "It is one of the top priority infrastructure projects for Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey and the countries in Southeast Europe," WB said. "Assistance in the implementation of such ambitious projects as TANAP reflects the commitment of the World Bank Group to support the countries development priorities." "The project contributes to the achievement of the WBs strategic objectives in partnership with Azerbaijan, in particular, integration of the country into regional and European energy markets," WB said. TANAP project envisages transportation of gas from Azerbaijans Shah Deniz field to the western borders of Turkey. The gas will be delivered to Turkey in 2018 and after completion of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline's construction natural gas will be delivered to Europe in early 2020. The length of TANAP is 1,850 kilometers, with an initial capacity of 16 billion cubic meters of gas. Around six billion cubic meters of this gas is meant to be delivered to Turkey, with the remaining volume to be supplied to Europe. The Southern Gas Corridor is one of the priority projects for the EU and provides for the transportation of 10 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas from the Caspian region through Georgia and Turkey to Europe. At the initial stage, the gas to be produced as part of the Stage 2 of development of Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz field is considered as the main source for the Southern Gas Corridor projects. Other sources can also connect to this project at a later stage. As part of the Shah Deniz Stage 2, the gas will be exported to Turkey and European markets by expanding the South Caucasus Pipeline and the construction of Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) and Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP). Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 14 By Farhad Daneshvar Trend: The head of Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran, Mohammad Rastad, has confirmed that all 32 crew members of an Iranian sunken ship have passed away in the East China Sea, ISNA news agency reported. Following the report, the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has extended his condolences to the relatives of the victims of the incident. The official earlier in the day announced that the stricken oil tanker was sinking, expressing no hope to rescue the crew members. The ship has been ablaze for almost a week since it collided with another vessel on January 6 in the East China. Rescuers earlier this week recovered one body from the sea and two bodies from the ship after a group of Chinese rescue workers managed to get into the ship for about half an hour. Following the incident, 30 Iranians and two Bangladeshis who were working on the oil tanker went missing. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 14 By Farhad Daneshvar Trend: It appears that Iran is steadily fulfilling its ambitious goal to lure foreign funds despite the US President Donald Trumps attempts to sabotage Tehrans plans to benefit from its controversial nuclear deal with the world powers. The Islamic Republics latest and probably the most significant achievement in this regard was a $6 billion investment agreement with Italy inked on Thursday. Under the agreement between two Iranian institutions, Bank of Industry and Mine and Middle East Bank, as well as the investment arm of Italian state-owned holding Invitalia, the European country will put investments worth up to 5 billion euros ($6.02 billion) in the Islamic Republic. By signing the deal, Italy has become the seventh country agreeing to finance projects in Iran since the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA/ nuclear deal) was implemented in January 2016. The nuclear pact was earlier struck in 2015 between Tehran and the six major powers to lift nuclear-related sanctions on the Islamic Republic in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear activities, paving the way for international business deals. Irans sixth development plan (for years 2017-2021) has envisaged luring about $50 billion in foreign direct investment which could play a key role in rebuilding the countrys economy through developing the industrial sector and creating new job opportunities. Previous financial agreements Iran had earlier finalized similar agreements with India, China, South Korea, Denmark, Austria and Russia worth $40 billion for financing major development projects in the country. Now with the latest deal, the number of European countries contributing to Irans economy in the post sanctions era has reached three. China has been among the most important investors in the Islamic Republic over the past two years, as several Chinese institutions including Sinosure (export and credit insurance corporation) alongside with CITIC Trust and China Development Bank have agreed to put over $30 billion in the Iranian economy. South Korea is another eastern partner that has agreed to put investments in the Middle Eastern country through an 8-billion credit line from Eximbank. In addition to an "unlimited finance deal" with the Eximbank of Russia, the Russian government has decided to grant two state loans to Iran amounting to 2.2 billion to finance construction projects there. India has also grabbed the chance to invest in Irans southern port of Chabahar as the two traditional partners inked a pact back in 2016, under which India agreed to equip and operate two berths in Chabahar Port Phase I with a capital investment of $85.21 million and annual revenue expenditure of $22.95 million on a 10-year lease. Oberbank announced in September 2017 that it had signed a deal worth of one billion euros with Iran, enabling it to finance new ventures there and making it the first European bank to do so since sanctions were eased. Following the Austrian Oberbank, Denmark's Danske Bank became the second European lender to ink such an agreement with Iran signing a 500-million finance contract with 10 Iranian banks last September. Trump's stance The US has recently imposed new sanctions on 14 individuals and entities linked to Iran over their alleged roles in the rights abuses. Donald Trump, who has appeared as a serious critic of the nuclear deal, has announced his intention to extend sanctions relief over the JCPOA one last time. Donald Trump, in the meantime, warned European allies and Congress that they had to work with him to fix terrible flaws in the pact or face a US exit from the nuclear agreement signed between Iran and six world powers in 2015. Although Donald Trumps approach has disavowed the nuclear deal and raised the threat that sanctions could be re-imposed, the latest financial deal with Tehran, according to Governor of the Central Bank of Iran Valiollah Seif, demonstrates the trust of the international community in the long-term economic stability in the Islamic Republic. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 14 By Khalid Kazimov Trend: An Iranian judiciary official has denied the allegations suggesting that the law enforcement and military forces have killed protesters during the recent unrests in the country. Confirming that about 25 individuals including security forces were killed during the recent unrests in the country, Iranian judiciary spokesman, Gholamhosein Mohseni-Ejei, has said that no one was killed by police or other military forces, local media outlets reported. He added that the judiciary system has issued judicial orders for the cases of 622 people who took part in the violence that began on December 28, 2017. According to the official, 55 individuals have been arrested in the capital city, Tehran. The recent wave of unrests in Iran began after economic protest against high prices turned into anti-government riots. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 14 By Khalid Kazimov Trend: A stricken Iranian oil tanker is sinking in the East China Seas and there is no hope to rescue the crew members, an Iranian maritime official said. The head of Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran, Mohammad Rastad, has said that there is no hope to find the missing crew members, ISNA reported. The ship has been ablaze for almost a week since it collided with another vessel on January 6 in the East China Sea and has been drifting into Japanese economic zone over the past several days. Rescuers earlier this week recovered one body from the sea and two body from the ship after the Iranian vessel collided with the Chinese freight ship, resulting in it being set on fire. Following the incident, 30 Iranians and two Bangladeshis who were working on the oil tanker went missing. Iranian officials have dispatched army special forces to the scene to rescue the missing sailors but the rescuers failed to enter the tanker due to the huge fire and explosions. The Iranian Cabinet in a statement on Sunday declared Jan 15 (Monday) as a day of public mourning for the victims of the oil tanker inferno, IRNA reported. Iranian government also condoled with the bereaved families of the victims of the deadly incident. An Iranian tanker carrying gas condensates collided with a Chinese freight ship in East China coast on January 6, and all the 32 members of its crew members went missing. Three bodies were later found during a rescue operation. The 30 Iranians and the two Bangladeshi sailors, who were members of the crew, had unfortunately been killed due to toxic gas and the huge size of the fire which embraced the tanker since the outset of the tragic incident, Head of Ports and Maritime Organization Mohammad Rastad told the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) on Sunday morning. Chelsea Manning, the former US Army soldier who was jailed for passing thousands of government documents to WikiLeaks exposing American military abuses in Iraq and Afghanistan, has filed to run for the US Senate seat in Maryland, RT reports. Manning, who had her 35-year sentence commuted by former President Barack Obama in May last year, declared her intention to run with the Federal Election Commission on January 5. She will run as a Democrat. The 30-year-old Oklahoma native faces a tough primary battle against incumbent Democrat Ben Cardin, the senior senator from Maryland who has held the seat since 2007. Cardin has an approval rate of 50 percent, according to the latest figures cited by the Baltimore Sun, and will face Manning and three other candidates in the upcoming primary. Manning was arrested in 2010 after an internal US Army investigation found she had leaked more than 700,000 sensitive documents and videos to news outlets across the world, including WikiLeaks. She was released from military prison at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas last year. A 28-year-old man has been arrested in Northern California on suspicion of fatally shooting his mother, whom authorities said he blamed for breaking his video-game headset, Fox News reports. Matthew Nicholson of Ceres a town about 96 miles east of San Francisco was arrested Thursday night on suspicion of murder, the Modesto Bee reported. Police responded to a call just before 10 p.m. that a woman had been allegedly shot inside a home. Officers found Nicholsons 68-year-old mother, Lydia Nicholson, inside with a head wound. She was rushed to a hospital, where she later died of her injuries. According to a police report, Lydia Nicholson went to check on her son in his bedroom after he became upset while playing video games and began shouting. Police say Nicholson argued with his mother, broke his video game headset, then blamed her. He then allegedly grabbed a gun, fired two shots into a wall, then shot his mother before his 81-year-old father wrestled away the weapon. Nicholson drove off to a relatives home but was stopped in the town of Riverbank, just north of Ceres. Police in Brazil say at least 13 people were killed and 39 others injured in a multi-vehicle crash in the countrys southeast. Twelve of the injured are listed in serious condition, AP reported. Federal Highway Police report that the accident occurred Saturday morning near the city of Grao Mogol in Minas Gerais state. An officer at the departments press office said by phone that at least six vehicles were involved, including a minibus, two trucks and two vans. He declined to give his name in line with department rules. He said police are investigating what caused the crash but apparently a minibus smashed into a truck laden with paper coming in the opposite direction. At least 17 ISIS fighters were killed in drone strikes carried out by foreign forces in eastern Nangarhar province, the provincial police said in a statement Sunday, Tolo News reports. The airstrikes were conducted in Haska Mina and Achin districts in the province in which hideouts and weapons belonged to the militants were destroyed, the statement said. The statement said 14 ISIS militants were killed Achin and three others Haska Mina district. According to the statement, foreign fighters were are also among those killed in the airstrikes. The statement did not provide further details about the airstrikes. This comes after government officials, MPs and some politicians have said they are concerned about the increase of ISIS activities in parts of the country. Turkey will not accept a "privileged partnership" with the EU, the country's EU Minister Omer Celik has said, Turkish media reported. "If we are offered a privileged partnership, we will not even consider it, and simply reject," Celik told news channel Haberturk on Friday. German politicians lately proposed the "privileged partnership" for Turkey, instead of full EU membership. "No one can offer a second-class status to Turkey in its EU relations," Celik said, underlining Turkey's clear position on this. The minister also criticized Johannes Hahn, commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations. "Although he is the EU Commissioner for Enlargement, he wants to cut Turkey-EU relations." Turkey has the right to fight all terror groups in any manner it deems fit, and will continue to take necessary measures to ensure its security in line with national interests, the presidential spokesman said Sunday, Anadolu reported. "Within this framework, Turkey reserves its right to respond to the legitimate target of terror organizations in any way, time and place," Ibrahim Kalin said in a written statement. Kalin noted that the U.S.-led international coalition against Daesh had issued a written statement to some media outlets, wherein it said that the coalition was working with the SDF -- the U.S.-backed group that is largely controlled and manned by the PKK/PYD terrorist organization in Syria -- to set up and train a Syria Border Protection Force. "The United States of America takes worrisome steps towards legitimizing the PKK terrorist group's Syrian offshoot, PYD-YPG under the pretense of 'fight against Daesh'," Kalin said, adding the steps also aimed to provide a permanent place for the terrorist group in the region. "This situation is totally unacceptable," he said. "Turkey will continue its resolute fight against all kinds of terrorist organizations within and outside its borders -- regardless of whatever name or methods those groups use -- as per the statements of Mr. President [Recep Tayyip Erdogan]," Kalin concluded. The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU, and has waged war against Turkey for more than 30 years, killing an estimated 40,000 people in related violence. However, the U.S. considers the terrorist group's Syrian offshoot a partner in the fight against Daesh, and continues to support and arm it, a move which strains Turkey-U.S. relations. Following a fragile cease-fire, the PKK resumed fighting in July 2015. Since then, it has been responsible for the deaths of approximately 1,200 security personnel and civilians, according to an official tally. Turkey on Sunday slammed media reports that the U.S.-led international coalition against Daesh would establish a 30,000-strong new border security force with the SDF -- the U.S.-backed group that is largely controlled and manned by the PKK/PYD terrorist organization in Syria, Anadolu reported. The Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying Turkey had reiterated on numerous occasions that it was "wrong and objectionable" to cooperate with the PKK/PYD terrorist organization on the ground in Syria in order to fight Daesh and stabilize the areas liberated from it. "On the other hand, the establishment of the so-called 'Syria Border Protection Force' was not consulted with Turkey, which is a member of the coalition," the statement said. The Ministry added that it was also not known which coalition members approved this decision. "To attribute such a unilateral step to the whole coalition is an extremely wrong move that could harm the fight against Daesh, it said. "Such initiatives, through cooperation with the PYD/YPG in contradiction with the U.S commitments and statements, endanger Turkey's national security and the territorial integrity of Syria, and are totally unacceptable," it said. "We condemn insistence on this wrong approach and remind once again that Turkey is determined to and capable of eliminating any threats against the country," it added. The coalition had issued a written statement to some media outlets earlier on Sunday, wherein it said that the coalition was working with the SDF to set up and train a Syria Border Protection Force. Turkey has long protested U.S. support for the PKK/PYD, the Syrian offshoot of the PKK terrorist organisation, and its military wing PYG, while Washington sees it as a "reliable ally" in its fight against Daesh in Syria. Listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU, the PKK has waged a terror campaign against Turkey for more than 30 years, leading to the deaths of more than 40,000 security forces and civilians -- including more than 1,200 since July 2015 alone, when it resumed its armed campaign against the Turkish state following a fragile cease-fire. KYODO NEWS - Jan 14, 2018 - 18:42 | All, Feature In a rare expression of dissent, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono on Sunday criticized the Japanese government's energy policy as "lamentable" and pledged to promote renewable energy sources in line with global trends. Noting that Japan lags significantly behind the world in the deployment of renewable energy, Kono said at a gathering of the International Renewable Energy Agency in the capital of United Arab Emirates, "I am seriously concerned with our current situation." "For too long, Japan has turned a blind eye to global trends, such as the dramatic decrease in the price of renewables and the inevitable shift to decarbonization in the face of climate change," the high-ranking minister said, adding Japan has maintained the status quo for fear of change. Touching on Japan's goal of having renewable energy account for 22 to 24 percent of its energy mix by 2030, Kono indicated the country's pledge was not good enough as renewable energy already accounts for 24 percent of total global energy generation. "As Japanese foreign minister, I consider these circumstances lamentable." Saying that Japan's shortcomings are the result of "short-term and ad-hoc solutions," Kono said, "I am grateful for the opportunity presented here in the IRENA assembly to express Japan's determination to undertake renewable energy diplomacy with new ways of thinking, to grasp the global dynamics properly and to implement coherent, long-term solutions that are aligned with global trends." It is the first time a Japanese foreign minister has attended the IRENA assembly. When the renewable energy target was adopted in June 2015, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hailed it as "an ambitious goal." Following his visit to Myanmar and the United Arab Emirates, Kono is scheduled to fly to Vancouver, Canada, to join an international conference on North Korea, co-hosted by Canada and the United States. KYODO NEWS - Jan 13, 2018 - 21:41 | All, World Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Latvian counterpart Maris Kucinski agreed Saturday to cooperate in adding pressure on North Korea to give up its pursuit of nuclear and missile capabilities. The two leaders also affirmed in their meeting in the Latvian capital Riga the need to promote economic ties by taking advantage of Latvia's position as a logistics center in the Baltic region, Japanese officials said. As Abe called for a tough approach to Kim Jong Un's regime, Kucinski said at a joint press conference that he "shares the same view" on the importance to press North Korea to abandon its nuclear program. The Japanese premier is trying to step up pressure on Pyongyang to rein in its nuclear ambitions through talks with foreign leaders. Abe and Kucinski also agreed on the need to maintain maritime order based on the rule of law amid China's assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific region. They affirmed a plan for Latvian Defense Minister Raimonds Bergmanis to visit Japan in February to promote discussions on security. Abe and Kucinski discussed strengthening relations between Japan and the Baltic states, including Estonia and Lithuania, the officials said. The four countries will aim to hold the first round of dialogue later in 2018 or early in 2019. Abe arrived in Latvia -- the first Japanese prime minister to visit the country -- for the second leg of his six-nation European tour following Estonia. He will also travel to Lithuania, Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania during his six-day trip. CES 2018 had more than its fair share of wacky items and compelling gadgets, but one of the biggest trends to emerge, once again, from the popular tech expo was voice-enabled devices. Countless Alexa- and Google Assistant-enabled devices littered the showroom floors. A number of speakers highlighted Alexa integration. For instance, Polk Audio showed off the first Alexa-enabled home theater soundbar, but there were also Alexa-enabled computers, smartphones, washers, dryers, refrigerators, light switches, and smoke alarms. Google (GOOG, GOOGL), meanwhile, went all out in its own splashy way, spending loads of money on a big outdoor CES booth and wrapping the Las Vegas Monorail in Google Assistant ads that screamed, Hey Google. There were also Google Assistant-enabled TVs, soundbars, and Smart Displays more or less speakers with displays built-in. Samsung (SSNLF) came a distant third, promising at CES that all of its devices and appliances would have its Bixby digital assistant built-in by 2020. Photo: Telegraph Voice-assistants are here to stay Some of those devices made sense, yet many more an Alexa-enabled mirror or Google Assistant smart lock, for instance seemed more like mere marketing ploys to take advantage of the latest technological trends. But taken as a whole, they were a stark reminder that voice-controlled devices and appliances will play a large role in our lives in the coming years. More than 5 billion consumer devices supporting digital assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant will be in use in 2018, with almost 3 billion more added by 2021, according to IHS Markit. Of those devices, 39 million will be smart speakers, up from 27 million units shipped in 2017. The reality is, eventually, nearly everything is going to be voice controlled, said Victoria Petrock, an analyst for the digital firm eMarketer. Alexa will continue to have the edge in the short-term. According to eMarketer, Amazon Echo will account for 67.9% of the voice-enabled speaker market in 2018, with Google Home trailing far behind at 25.1%. Next year, Amazons market share is expected to dip 4% yielding some market share to Google Home but not enough to budge the needle. Story continues The big question is to what extent are all these different assistants going to be able to talk to each other in the home? said Petrock. As it now stands, voice assistants dont interact with one another. Thats fine if you only fill your home with Alexa-enabled devices or Google Assistant-enabled devices, but your experience quickly breaks down if you buy devices from both camps. But lets face it: with our hectic day-to-day, theres realistically only room for one digital assistant in our lives. Who wants to switch back and forth? How Amazon Alexa cornered the market Unlike Apple (AAPL), which keeps Siri mostly under lock and key, Amazon (AMZN) early on opened up access to Alexa so outside companies and developers could develop functions for it, even integrate it into their own devices. It was a risky business move, but ultimately one that yielded Alexas impressive current market share. And as is Amazon tradition, it sells Echo speakers at-cost, slashing prices whenever possible to get as many Echo speakers into homes as quickly as possible. Head over to Amazon.com, for instance, and youll find a deal on its homepage offering $20 off if you buy three Echo Dot speakers. Whats less clear is how the smart home will evolve in the medium-to-long term. Will one voice assistant end up ruling them all through an exhaustive selection of supported devices from third-parties, or will a company or outside consortium figure out a way for all the disparate devices to ultimately play nice? Thats a question not even Alexa or Google Assistant have a sassy comeback for. JP Mangalindan is the Chief Tech Correspondent for Yahoo Finance covering the intersection of tech and business. Email story tips and musings to jpm@oath.com. Follow him on Twitter or Facebook. More from JP: Follow Yahoo Finance on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn While visiting Ireland recently, Virgin Group founder Richard Branson revealed what he's most excited about for this year: his commercial spaceflight company. "I had to say Virgin Galactic and hopefully going into space," he writes in a blog post . Venturing into space has been a longtime dream of Branson's and with a recent announcement from Virgin Galactic, Branson is approaching his goal. On Thursday, the commercial spaceflight company tweeted that the company had successfully launched a spaceship flight test.TWEETTWEET 2The flight test marks the 11th flight for VSS Unity and the 242nd for VMS Eve, according to the company's Twitter feed. This was also the first flight since an August glide test.Branson expressed his own excitement for Virgin Galactic's most recent accomplishment, noting that this will hopefully be their final glide test.TWEET Though Branson has discussed his space goals at length , the serial entrepreneur admits that he still can't believe that it's actually coming to fruition. In his blog post, Branson writes that when he first founded Virgin, he never imagined that he'd be going into space. "I still pinch myself to think of how far we've come," he writes. The tech entrepreneur has been gearing up for his eventual space travel by focusing on his fitness. Branson has previously touted the importance of exercise and generally keeps active. However, there are different demands on the body when entering space. According to NASA , muscles atrophy quickly because of the lack of gravity in space. Astronauts on the International Space Station spend two and a half hours per day working, in order to combat this issue. Branson isn't the only person preparing for space travel in the very near future. Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides told CNBC last March that more than 600 people have signed up for the $250,000 ticket aboard the spaceship. Venture firms are also seeing space travel as a viable business : Last October, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia invested $1 billion into Branson's three space companies: Virgin Galactic, The Spaceship Company and Virgin Orbit. With a second test under his belt, Branson is now closer to his 2018 goal for Virgin Galactic. In fact, it was just last October that the self-made billionaire said that he expects to be in space by April 2018. "I would be very disappointed if I haven't been into space within six months or so," he told CNBC's Squawk Box at the time. But the rapid pace of entrepreneurial success doesn't elude him. In his most recent blog post, Branson says that he enjoys seeing how quickly businesses can grow and thrive in such a short span of time."It really reinforces how anything is possible if you surround yourself with the best team of motivated people who want to bring out the best in others and strive to do better for their customers." Like this story? Like CNBC Make It on FacebookSee also:Richard Branson took his kids to Las Vegas to teach this crucial money lessonHere's where billionaire Richard Branson gets his inspirationBillionaire Richard Branson reveals why he's such a huge fan of always saying 'yes' While visiting Ireland recently, Virgin Group founder Richard Branson revealed what he's most excited about for this year: his commercial spaceflight company. "I had to say Virgin Galactic and hopefully going into space," he writes in a blog post . Venturing into space has been a longtime dream of Branson's and with a recent announcement from Virgin Galactic, Branson is approaching his goal. On Thursday, the commercial spaceflight company tweeted that the company had successfully launched a spaceship flight test. TWEET TWEET 2 The flight test marks the 11th flight for VSS Unity and the 242nd for VMS Eve, according to the company's Twitter feed. This was also the first flight since an August glide test. Branson expressed his own excitement for Virgin Galactic's most recent accomplishment, noting that this will hopefully be their final glide test. TWEET Though Branson has discussed his space goals at length , the serial entrepreneur admits that he still can't believe that it's actually coming to fruition. In his blog post, Branson writes that when he first founded Virgin, he never imagined that he'd be going into space. "I still pinch myself to think of how far we've come," he writes. The tech entrepreneur has been gearing up for his eventual space travel by focusing on his fitness. Branson has previously touted the importance of exercise and generally keeps active. However, there are different demands on the body when entering space. According to NASA , muscles atrophy quickly because of the lack of gravity in space. Astronauts on the International Space Station spend two and a half hours per day working, in order to combat this issue. Branson isn't the only person preparing for space travel in the very near future. Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides told CNBC last March that more than 600 people have signed up for the $250,000 ticket aboard the spaceship. Venture firms are also seeing space travel as a viable business : Last October, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia invested $1 billion into Branson's three space companies: Virgin Galactic, The Spaceship Company and Virgin Orbit. With a second test under his belt, Branson is now closer to his 2018 goal for Virgin Galactic. In fact, it was just last October that the self-made billionaire said that he expects to be in space by April 2018. "I would be very disappointed if I haven't been into space within six months or so," he told CNBC's Squawk Box at the time. But the rapid pace of entrepreneurial success doesn't elude him. In his most recent blog post, Branson says that he enjoys seeing how quickly businesses can grow and thrive in such a short span of time. "It really reinforces how anything is possible if you surround yourself with the best team of motivated people who want to bring out the best in others and strive to do better for their customers." Like this story? Like CNBC Make It on Facebook See also: Richard Branson took his kids to Las Vegas to teach this crucial money lesson Here's where billionaire Richard Branson gets his inspiration Billionaire Richard Branson reveals why he's such a huge fan of always saying 'yes' More From CNBC By Trevor Hunnicutt NEW YORK (Reuters) - BlackRock Inc has profited by being beating its competitors in exchange-traded funds to the punch, but Chief Executive Officer Larry Fink seems happy to be out of step with at least one trend - the race to build a bitcoin fund. The world's largest asset manager on Friday reported earnings that beat Wall Street expectations, due in no small part to aggressive investments in ETFs that track all sorts of financial markets. Investors are flocking to the relatively low-cost investments. But when asked about a recent proposal by a competitor to build a "leveraged" ETF that would rise - or fall - twice as fast as the price of bitcoin on a given day, Fink was dismissive. "Those are not the kinds of products we would introduce at BlackRock," Fink told Reuters. "Our actions will speak louder than our words." The comments come as a host of BlackRock's smaller rivals in the ETF space position themselves for they hope is a gold rush to capitalize after bitcoin's 1,500 percent surge last year. Among the proposals, Direxion Asset Management LLC is hoping to list a leveraged bitcoin ETF on Intercontinental Exchange Inc's NYSE Arca exchange that is intended to double the price moves of the digital asset on a given day, according to filings last week. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has been reluctant to let bitcoin funds come to market, with the regulatory agency asking tough questions about the stability of the market for the digital asset and pushing some issuers to withdraw their proposed funds. For his part, Fink has told Reuters that bitcoin is a "speculative" investment that thrives because of its anonymous nature and he puzzled over "why it has so much fascination for the press." In 2014, Fink shocked some in the ETF business when he said that leveraged ETFs' structural problems had the potential to "blow up the whole industry one day." Leveraged ETFs are designed to deliver 1.5 or more times a given market index on a day, but they can vary significantly over longer periods. Brokerage firms have been penalized for selling leveraged ETFs to investors for whom they were not suitable. BlackRock and Vanguard Group dominate ETF inflows. Last year, BlackRock's iShares ETFs attracted $245 billion in cash, while Vanguard pulled in $147 billion, according to the companies. (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Jennifer Ablan and Jeffrey Benkoe) FILE PHOTO: Flags are pictured during the fifth round of NAFTA talks involving the United States, Mexico and Canada, in Mexico City, Mexico, November 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgard Garrido/File Photo By David Ljunggren and Andrea Hopkins LONDON, Ontario (Reuters) - Canada on Friday welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump's suggestion that talks to modernize NAFTA could be extended beyond the end-March deadline, a move which might help break a deadlock at the negotiations. Trump - who has long threatened to walk away from the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement unless major changes are made - told the Wall Street Journal on Thursday that "a lot of things are hard to negotiate" ahead of a Mexican presidential election in July. "I thought that was a sensible suggestion from the President. I think all of us are mindful of the Mexican elections," Freeland told reporters on the sidelines of a Cabinet retreat. She made her remarks amid signs that Canada and Mexico might be prepared to reverse their steadfast opposition to several U.S. hard line demands for changes to NAFTA. Markets are nervous about the prospects of disruption to the highly integrated North American economy. The Canadian and Mexican currencies fell on Wednesday after Reuters cited Canadian sources as saying they were increasingly convinced Trump would announce plans for a withdrawal. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau later told reporters that he was optimistic the three nations would be able to agree on improvements to NAFTA while reiterating Canada's stance that "we will not accept just any deal". In his remarks on Thursday, Trump repeated he was ready to announce a U.S. withdrawal unless major changes are made but said he was "leaving it a little bit flexible" until after the Mexican election. "We have always felt that imposing artificial deadlines was not necessary from the Canadian standpoint ... I thought that was a constructive proposal from the president," said Freeland. A Canadian source familiar with the talks said officials had been talking informally for weeks about the possibility of suspending the process this year but stressed no decisions had been made. Story continues Canada and Mexico oppose U.S. demands to establish rules of origin for NAFTA goods that would set minimum levels of U.S. content for autos, a sunset clause that would terminate the deal if it is not renegotiated every five years and ending the so-called Chapter 19 dispute mechanism. Freeland said on Thursday that Canada had come up with some creative ideas in a bid to unblock the talks. Sources said some of the Canadian proposals related to autos content, an area where Mexico has recently indicated there might be room for compromise. (Writing by David Ljunggren; Editing by Frances Kerry and Chizu Nomiyama) The Cyberspace Administration of China has blocked access to the Marriott hotel chains website as punishment for geographical descriptions that challenge the Peoples Republic of Chinas sovereignty and territorial claims. In an emailed customer survey, Marriott International asked users questions about hotel facilities and preferred destinations, describing Hong Kong, Macau, Tibet and Taiwan as countries. Delta Air Lines was this week reprimanded by the Civil Aviation Administration of China for similar descriptions on its website. On Friday, European clothing firm Zara and medical equipment-maker Medtronic were both given less than a day to rectify what the CAC called illegal content on their websites, again referring to geographical descriptions. Former colonies of Britain and Portugal, respectively, Hong Kong and Macau are Special Administrative Regions of China after both were handed back to China. Tibet has been wholly integrated into China since 1950. China accuses the Dalai Lama of stoking up a separatist movement. China has punished Hollywood stars Richard Gere and Brad Pitt for appearing in films which may have promoted the notion of a separate Tibet. Taiwan, which calls itself the Republic of China and goes under various names in international organizations, has been self-ruled since 1949 in defiance of the Communist regime in the PRC. Mainland China considers Taiwan to be a rebel province with which it will one day be reunited, by force if necessary. The CAC met with Marriott representatives this week and ordered its website and app to be taken down for a week as punishment. It has been reported that Chinese private sector online firms including Meituan and Dianping have removed Marriott from their hotel booking services. Marriott apologized repeatedly but then compounded its error. Using Twitter, The Friends of Tibet, a pro-independence organization congratulated Marriott on describing Tibet as a country. A Marriott account was then used to like the Friends of Tibet comment. Story continues Marriott International respects and supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China. Unfortunately, twice this week, we had incidents that suggested the opposite, said President and CEO Arne Sorenson. Delta was similarly contrite. It was an inadvertent error with no business or political intention, and we apologize deeply for the mistake. As one of our most important markets, we are fully committed to China and to our Chinese customers, the company told Reuters. The Chinese governments moves against foreign firms websites are in line with national policy, but appear unusually aggressive. China has numerous territorial disputes with its neighbors and it has increasingly laid claim to jurisdiction over most of the South China Sea, which has meant disagreements with Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea. Some China commentators have suggested that China plans to annex Taiwan within the next two years. They argue that the U.S.s isolationist foreign policy under President Donald Trump means that America is unlikely to go to war with China over Taiwan. Also bolstering such an analysis is the Chinese military, which is now at its strongest ever. In recent weeks, Taiwan has reported increased incursions into its airspace by military planes from China. Related stories Ex-Chairman of Lionsgate's China Partner Arrested on Suspicion of Corruption China Box Office: 'Ex-Files' Scores $86 Million, Humbles 'Last Jedi' 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' Struggling to Second-Place Opening in China Subscribe to Variety Newsletters and Email Alerts! SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China's tourism authority has urged accommodation companies to review their websites and apps to fix what Beijing deems to be inaccurate labeling of Taiwan or other Chinese-claimed territories as countries. The move expands the Chinese government's efforts of recent days to police how foreign businesses refer to parts of China, or territories claimed by Beijing, including Taiwan and Hong Kong - even if only in pull-down menus on websites. On Thursday the government suspended Marriott International Incs Chinese website for a week to punish the worlds biggest hotel chain for listing Tibet, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau as separate countries in a customer questionnaire. No activities that challenge China's "legal red lines" would be permitted, the state news agency Xinhua quoted a China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) official as saying. It said the administration had ordered immediate and thorough checks of websites and apps by accommodation companies to ensure they comply with the law. The civil aviation authority on Friday demanded an apology from Delta Air Lines for listing Taiwan and Tibet as countries on its website, while another government agency took aim at Inditex-owned fashion brand Zara and medical device maker Medtronic Plc for similar issues. Marriott, Delta, Zara and Medtronic have all apologized. The Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC) ordered all foreign airlines operating routes to China on Friday to check their websites and apps. The crackdown was accompanied by an outcry online in China over the perceived slights, and efforts to unearth other infractions. On Saturday, the Shanghai-based newspaper The Paper reported that it had found 24 other foreign airlines with websites listing Taiwan, Hong Kong or Macau as countries. Most were in pull-down menus in registration or comments sections, it said. The mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party, the People's Daily newspaper, said in an editorial "the essence of the problem is the 'political arrogance' of foreign companies unafraid to hurt the feelings of people from other countries". (Reporting by John Ruwitch and Winni Zhou; Editing by Shri Navaratnam) PEBO vs. FIBK: Which Stock Is the Better Value Option? Oil prices gained and Brent crude crossed the $70 mark for the first time in three years, as U.S. crude inventories fell for the eighth time in a row, per EIA data. Moreover, WTI crude prices breached the $64 mark for the first time in three years too. Whats Driving Prices? U.S. crude inventories fell 4.95 million barrels in the week to Jan 5, 2018, driving crude price higher. Moreover, OPEC member nations and Russia agreed to extend production cuts to the end of 2018, to support prices and tackle oversupply issues. Oil prices have also been supported by fears of possible supply disruptions, owing to rising political unrest in OPEC member nations Iran and Venezuela. Irans demonstrations over a weak economy and high prices of goods can have a major impact on oil prices. Moreover, Saudi Arabias aggression against Yemen is also a factor at play as far as the future course of oil prices is concerned. In a latest show of force, Yemen's Houthis said that they fired a ballistic missile targeting a Special Forces camp in the Saudi border province of Najran. Exchange of nuclear threats between the U.S. and North Korea is another factor that is keeping investors interested in the news. "The entire United States is within range of our nuclear weapons, a nuclear button is always on my desk. This is reality, not a threat," Kim stated in his speech. To this, President Donald Trump responded that his button was much bigger and more powerful, and that his button worked. Risk to OPEC The rise in crude prices might keep the United States on track to compete with Saudi Arabia and Russia. Per a Bloomberg article, citing a statement by Irans oil minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, OPEC members are not keen on keeping crude prices above the $60 mark, primarily owing to the potential for more output. Seventy dollars is too much, Eugen Weinberg, head of commodities research at Commerzbank AG told Bloomberg. Its not completely unexpected, given the price momentum. But there will be a reaction in U.S. shale, and OPECs strategy will backfire massively. Story continues Let us now discuss a few ETFs focused on providing exposure to the space (see all Energy ETFs here). United States Oil Fund USO This fund focuses on providing exposure to WTI crude by investing in listed crude futures and other oil-related futures contracts, and it may also invest in forwards and swaps. It has AUM of $2.1 billion and charges a fee of 72 basis points a year. The fund has returned 11.7% in a year. iPath S&P GSCI Crude Oil Index ETN OIL This fund seeks to provide futures based exposure to WTI crude. It has AUM of $850.3 million and charges a fee of 75 basis points a year. The fund has returned 14.8% in a year. PowerShares DB Oil Fund DBO This fund focuses on providing futures based exposure to WTI crude. It has AUM of $347.1 million and charges a fee of 78 basis points a year. The fund has returned 13.9% in a year. United States Brent Oil Fund BNO This fund focuses on providing exposure to Brent crude. It has AUM of $96.9 million and charges a fee of 90 basis points a year. The fund has returned 23.4% in a year. Want key ETF info delivered straight to your inbox? Zacks free Fund Newsletter will brief you on top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, each week. Get it free >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report US-OIL FUND LP (USO): ETF Research Reports PWRSH-DB OIL FD (DBO): ETF Research Reports OIL INDEX (UA) (OIL): ETF Research Reports US BRENT OIL FD (BNO): ETF Research Reports To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Shares of Facebook (FB) fell more than 4% in early morning trading Friday after the social media behemoth announced major changes to its News Feed. Shares of Facebook FB fell more than 4% in early morning trading Friday after the social media behemoth announced major changes to its News Feed. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that the News Feed will now prioritize meaningful social interactions, meaning that users will likely see less content from businesses and publishers. The initial investor concern seems to be centered on Zuckerbergs assertion that the changes could mean users will spend less time on Facebook. The News Feed is one of the key areas where the company places advertising, so users spending less time on the feedor Facebook in generalcould spell bad news for the social networks revenue picture. It is also worth noting that businesses and publishers often have the resources to create more dynamic rich media content, including videos. A pivot to video has helped inspire much of Facebooks growth over the past few years, as video advertising is typically more sought after than traditional banner ads. Facebooks News Feed overhaul comes in the wake of revelations that users were subjected to Russian-bought ads during the 2016 election cycle. As it turns out, a large part of Russias concentrated efforts to interfere in the U.S. election took place on public internet forums, and new findings suggest that more than 100 million users viewed ads from the countrys propaganda campaign. Zuckerberg initially dismissed concerns about Russias presence on the social media platform but was later forced to apologize. Facebook executives, along with leaders from the likes of Twitter TWTR and Alphabet GOOGL, recently testified in front of Congress in relation to their knowledge of Russias political advertising. Meanwhile, Facebook has found itself at the center of renewed public skepticism about the effects of social media. In December, the company acknowledged a University of Michigan study that showed certain uses of Facebook could be bad for ones health. Earlier that month, former Facebook executive Chamath Palihapitiya told CNBC that the platform is starting to erode the social fabric of how society works. Story continues Todays announcement likely stems from a desire to bring Facebook back to its roots. The social network was originally designed to create online spaces for friends and family to interact with each other, but in recent years, it has become clogged with manicured corporate content. While that could result in users spending less time on the platform, it might just help repair Facebooks scarred public image. Want more analysis from this author? Make sure to follow @Ryan_McQueeney on Twitter! Zacks Editor-in-Chief Goes "All In" on This Stock Full disclosure, Kevin Matras now has more of his own money in one particular stock than in any other. He believes in its short-term profit potential and also in its prospects to more than double by 2019. Today he reveals and explains his surprising move in a new Special Report. Download it free >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Facebook, Inc. (FB) : Free Stock Analysis Report Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) : Free Stock Analysis Report Twitter, Inc. (TWTR) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research FILE PHOTO - The Ford Motor Company logo is pictured at the Los Angeles Auto Show in Los Angeles, California, U.S., November 30, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Blake By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co said on Thursday it had confirmed a second death in an older pickup truck caused by a defective airbag inflator of Takata Corp and urged 2,900 owners in North America to stop driving immediately until they can get replacement parts. The second largest U.S. automaker said it confirmed in late December that a July 2017 crash death in West Virginia in a 2006 Ford Ranger was caused by a defective Takata inflator. It previously reported a similar death in South Carolina that occurred in December 2015. Ford said both Takata deaths occurred with inflators built on the same day installed in 2006 Ranger pickups. At least 21 deaths worldwide are linked to the Takata inflators that can rupture and send deadly metal fragments inside vehicles. The faulty inflators have led to the largest automotive recall in history. The other 19 deaths have occurred in Honda Motor Co vehicles, most of which were in the United States. Ford issued a new recall for automobiles that had been previously recalled in 2016. Of the 391,000-plus 2004-2006 Ranger vehicles recalled at the time, the new recall announced on Thursday affects 2,900 vehicles. These include 2,700 in the United States and nearly 200 in Canada. The new recall will allow for identification of the 2,900 owners in the highest risk pool. A Mazda Motor Corp spokeswoman said on Thursday the company would conduct a similar recall and stop-drive warning for some 2006 Mazda B-Series trucks, which were built by Ford and are similar to the Ranger. Japanese auto supplier Takata plans to sell its viable operations to Key Safety Systems, an affiliate of China's Ningo Joyson Electric Corp, for $1.6 billion. A Takata spokesman said the company will make all attempts to ensure it can deliver replacement inflators as soon as possible. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration urged owners to heed Ford's warning. "It is extremely important that all high-risk air bags are tracked down and replaced immediately," NHTSA spokeswoman Karen Aldana said. Story continues 'FAILED RECALL' Ford said it would pay to have vehicles towed to dealerships or send mobile repair teams to owners' homes and provide free loaner vehicles if needed. Takata said in June that it has recalled, or expected to recall, about 125 million vehicles worldwide by 2019, including more than 60 million in the United States. Some 19 automakers worldwide are impacted. Takata inflators can explode with excessive force, unleashing metal shrapnel inside cars and trucks and have injured more than 200. The defect led Takata to file for bankruptcy protection in June. In 2017, prosecutors in Detroit charged three former senior Takata executives with falsifying test results to conceal the inflator defect. None have come to the United States to face charges. Last year, Takata pleaded guilty to wire fraud and was subject to pay a total of $1 billion in criminal penalties in a U.S. court in connection with the recalls. Automakers have struggled to get enough replacement parts for the massive recalls. A November NHTSA report said about two-thirds of U.S. vehicles recalled have not yet been repaired. Senator Bill Nelson, a Democrat, said in a statement on Thursday the latest death is evidence of "the very definition of a failed recall" pointing to the earlier Ford death in 2015. NHTSA must do more, he said, to make the recall a priority. In November, NHTSA rejected a petition from Ford to delay recalling 3 million vehicles with potentially defective airbag inflators to conduct additional testing. In June 2016, NHTSA warned airbag inflators on more than 300,000 unrepaired recalled 2001-2003 model year Honda vehicles showed a substantial risk of rupturing, and urged owners to stop driving them until getting them fixed. NHTSA said they have as high as a 50 percent chance of a rupture in a crash. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Additional reporting by Minami Funakoshi in TOKYO; Editing by Diane Craft and Muralikumar Anantharaman) Robots. You either believe their cold, mechanical arms and the heartless logic will be humanitys ultimate undoing, or that theyll snatch away our jobs and destroy livelihoods. Honda (HMC), though, wants to change that perception. And its hoping to do so with four new concept robots. Based on a principle that robots are designed to help people, each of Hondas machines use the prefix 3E, which the company says stands for empower, experience and empathy. The idea is for these concept robots to improve peoples lives by augmenting their existing capabilities, performing otherwise dangerous tasks and even serving as a companion. A rugged bot and a helper Hondas Empower robot, dubbed the 3E-D18, is designed to be a workhorse around construction sites, farms or for first responders. The machine, which is essentially a smart ATV and uses one of the companys existing ATV bodys, can be used to access hard to reach areas thanks to its nearly indestructible wheels. Those wheels, called tweels and are made by Michelin, wont go flat since they dont use air, but rather a series of flexible supports. Hondas Pete Wendt, who came up with the idea for the D18 said its fully electric and offers hot-swappable batteries. The system can also be adapted to different roles based on your own personal needs. If, for example, you know its going to snow, you could outfit the D18 with a snowblower attachment up front and a salt spreader out back. The robots AI, which would connect to the cloud, would then know when it started snowing and automatically leave its dock and begin clearing the snow and laying down salt to keep the path clear. The 3E-B18, on the other hand, is designed for indoor and outdoor use to help move individuals around. Honda doesnt say it outright, but the device seems to be designed for use as a kind of intelligent wheelchair. The bot, which has built-in sensors so it can be operated autonomously, is supposed to help people get around easier and navigate tight spaces thanks to its small turning radius. Story continues Unfortunately, Honda didnt have a working B18 available at the show. The everything machine Hondas 3E-C18 is meant for use as a kind of robotic hotdog cart, ice cream cart, DJ cart or anything that you like. Basically, its a cart with smarts. The idea is for you to be able to use the C18 however you see fit. A front-mounted display can show greetings or expressive eyes to draw in potential customers. Honda says the C18 can learn how people behave and, thanks to its built-in AI, learn how to function on its own. Best of all, you can jump into the C18 and drive it on your own if you want. Attendees wave at Honda robotics concepts 3E-C18, left, and 3E-A18 at CES International, Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) A robot you can hug Finally, there was Hondas 3E-A18, the robot designed to prove once and for all that robots can be our friends. This lightbulb-shaped bot features an animated face that can express emotions ranging from happiness to sadness. The A18 balances on a single wheel and can be used to help guide people around places like airports or serve as a companion. Heck, the robot was specifically designed to be huggable. After the massive earthquake and tsunami that rocked Japan in 2011, Honda brought its Asimo robot to elementary and middle schools in an attempt to cheer up students whose lives were upended by the disasters. Naturally, the children wanted to touch and hug the robot, but since it was so fragile, they werent allowed to. And so, Honda created the A18. Now if you still think robots are coming to dominate our species, at least you can take solace in the fact that theyll be incredibly cute when they do so. More from Dan: Email Daniel Howley at dhowley@yahoo-inc.com; follow him on Twitter at @DanielHowley. Follow Yahoo Finance on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn FILE - These images provided by the U.S. Army show, from left, Staff Sgt. Bryan C. Black, 35, of Puyallup, Wash.; Staff Sgt. Jeremiah W. Johnson, 39, of Springboro, Ohio; Sgt. La David Johnson of Miami Gardens, Fla.; and Staff Sgt. Dustin M. Wright, 29, of Lyons, Ga. All four were killed in Niger, when a joint patrol of American and Niger forces was ambushed on Oct. 4, 2017, by militants believed linked to the Islamic State group. The Mauritanian Nouakchott News Agency reported Friday, Jan. 12, 2018 that Abu al-Walid al-Sahrawi with the self-professed IS affiliate claimed responsibility for the Oct. 4 ambush about 120 miles (200 kilometers) north of Niger's capital, Niamey. (U.S. Army via AP) DAKAR, Senegal (AP) -- An Islamic State group offshoot is claiming it carried out the October attack in Niger that killed four U.S. soldiers and four Nigerien troops and sparked questions about U.S. military involvement in West Africa's vast Sahel region. The Mauritanian Nouakchott News Agency reported Friday that Abu al-Walid al-Sahrawi with the self-professed IS affiliate claimed responsibility for the Oct. 4 ambush about 120 miles (200 kilometers) north of Niger's capital, Niamey. The news agency has carried messages from the affiliate before, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadist websites. The U.S. Africa Command has been investigating the attack, which also wounded two U.S. and eight Nigerien troops. A final report is expected to be released this month. A 12-member Army special forces unit was accompanying 30 Nigerien forces when they were attacked in a densely wooded area by as many as 50 militants traveling by vehicle and carrying small arms and rocket-propelled grenade launchers. The Pentagon has declined to release details about the commando team's exact mission. U.S. officials have said the joint U.S.-Niger patrol had been asked to assist a second American commando team hunting for a senior Islamic State group member. The team had been asked to go to a location where the insurgent had last been seen. After completing that mission, the troops stopped in a village to get food and water, then left. The U.S. military believes someone in the village may have tipped off the attackers. The U.S. has approximately 800 troops in Niger, and U.S. special operations forces have been working with Niger's forces in a growing effort in recent years, helping them to improve their abilities to fight extremists. Multiple military efforts exist against extremist groups, including Boko Haram and al-Qaida affiliates, that roam the vast Sahel, the sprawling, largely barren zone south of the Sahara desert. The growing fight includes France's largest overseas military operation, a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali and a five-nation regional force called the G5 Sahel that launched last year. Officials have pointed out the danger and difficulty of hunting down an enemy in region the size of Europe. The Mauritanian news agency also reported that the extremists claimed responsibility for an attack Thursday on a French military convoy, and for a series of attacks in Niger and border areas with Mali and Burkina Faso. On Jan 12, we issued an updated research report on premium agricultural chemicals firm Monsanto Company MON. Over the last month, shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock yielded a return of 1.2%, outperforming 0.9% growth recorded by the Zacks classified industry. Inside Story Monsanto reported better-than-expected first-quarter fiscal 2018 earnings (ended November 2017). The company stated that the upside was primarily driven by healthy growth in South American business. Monsanto anticipates to report stronger earnings in the upcoming quarters on the back of higher volume and pricing for INTACTA RR2 PRO soybeans in South America, gains secured from Precision Planning business spin-off (closed on Sep 5, 2017) and increased glyphosate pricing. Moreover, Monsanto expects to successfully close Bayer AGs BAYRY buyout deal by early 2018. The company believes this alliance would unlock a number of business opportunities. Along with Bayer, Monsanto is aimed at propelling innovation for farmers, develop advanced integrated optimized solutions for the cultivators, and provide new offerings in the market which would be highly beneficial for farmers. Monsanto has been strengthening its competency on the back of increased innovation investments, as well as new research and development deals. The company is currently progressing on 20 new research and development projects. Monsanto believes innovative farming solutions produced through these programs will help farmers battle severe agricultural constraints such as drought, water scarcity, climatic changes, land availability issues, plant diseases, incidence of weeds, and insects. Moreover, the companys business subsidiary The Climate Corporation and the BioAg Alliance with Novozymes are also inventing state-of-the-art crop-yield enhancing solutions for cultivators. However, we notice that Monsanto is a highly levered company with approximately $6.9 billion of long-term debt at the end of the fiscal first quarter. We believe, if unchecked, such high debt levels will increase the company's financial obligations and impact its profitability. Story continues Furthermore, we believe extensive commercial rivalry within the global seeds, traits and agricultural chemical industry might dent Monsantos revenues and profitability in the quarters ahead. In addition, Monsantos cost and sales are highly sensitive to commodity-price fluctuations. Weak agricultural products prices might weigh over the companys near-term revenues and margins. Given that incomes of farmers are directly related to agro-product prices, lower prices are reducing farmers income, and adversely affecting their seed and chemical product purchasing decisions, thereby hurting Monsantos top and bottom lines. For instance, weak corn pricing in North America might hurt Monsantos revenues in the upcoming quarters of fiscal 2018. Stocks to Consider Two better-ranked stocks in the industry are listed below: Agnico Eagle Mines Limited AEM currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). The company has pulled off a positive average earnings surprise of 58.83% for the last four quarters. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. AK Steel Holding Corporation AKS currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. The company has generated a positive average earnings surprise of 74.16% during the same time frame. Zacks Editor-in-Chief Goes ""All In"" on This Stock Full disclosure, Kevin Matras now has more of his own money in one particular stock than in any other. He believes in its short-term profit potential and also in its prospects to more than double by 2019. Today he reveals and explains his surprising move in a new Special Report. Download it free >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Bayer AG (BAYRY) : Free Stock Analysis Report Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) : Free Stock Analysis Report AK Steel Holding Corporation (AKS) : Free Stock Analysis Report Monsanto Company (MON) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un may have led an isolated, unhappy childhood, despite inheriting absolute control over the elusive state, his father's former bodyguard has revealed. From 1978 to 1988, Lee Young Guk reportedly had insider access to one of the world's most secretive ruling families, serving as personal bodyguard to Kim Jong Il before he took power in 1994. After one failed attempt and a five-year stay in a prison camp, Lee said he successfully defected sometime around 2000, and since then has revealed some unique perspectives on all three generations of North Korea's ruling dynasty, including its latest and youngest leader. Related: Kim Jong Un is becoming North Korea's most powerful leader, and he's not old enough to be U.S. president Trending: SpaceX's Dragon Is On Its Way To Earth With Thousands of Pounds of Cargo Including Mice "He was stressed and had no one to play with his own age," Lee told ABC News in an interview conducted in October and released Friday. "There were only adults, who educated and played with him." "His personality was explosive" he added. "When he was angry, he acted without considering the consequences." GettyImages-104499288 JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images Kim Jong Un was believed to have been born on January 7, 1984, his actual birth date remained unclear and Lee claimed to have observed him "many times" when he was 6 or 7, according to the ABC News report. While on the surface, Kim's public image appeared stoic and even warm as compared to his father and grandfather before him, Lee said the millennial leader who now commands a nuclear arsenal and missiles said capable of striking the U.S. was prone to fits of rage as a young boy. Story continues Don't miss: What We Need to Learn to Make the Most of Our Disrupted World "He was quick-tempered," Lee told ABC News. "He doesnt care about what others think. He doesnt feel sorry for other people. He does whatever he wants. He would yell at the ladies. He was like that." Lee also claimed that Kim Jong Un's older half-brother Kim Jong Nam was treated better than his younger sibling by their father. While Kim Jong Il was groomed for the North Korean throne under his own father's wings for decades, Kim Jong Un had relatively few years to prepare for the role. This has led to speculation that Kim Jong Nam was initially chosen for the part, but rejected after being caught trying to visit Disneyland Tokyo in 2001. He was killed last February in an apparent poisoning plot many believed to have been orchestrated by his half-brother. Some experts, such as North Korean Leadership Watch blog founder Michael Madden, have disputed that Kim Jong Nam was favored for the country's leadership. Fellow 38 North project contributor James Person, research director of the U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies, explained that Kim Jong Il was also believed to have separated the boys in fear of his own father. "Kim Jong Il kept his children apart. Reportedly, Kim Jong Un had never even met Kim Jong Nam, the elder half-brother executed in Malaysia last year," Person told Newsweek. Most popular: Donald Trump to "Fix" Iran Nuclear Dealor Scrap It "Part of the reason for the secrecy was to keep word of Kim Jong Ils children with various consorts secret from his father, Kim Il Sung, who strongly disapproved of some of these relationships," he added. GettyImages-903985816 KCNA/KNS/STR/AFP/Getty Images Lee, whose escape from North Korea has been dated 1999, 2000 or 2002 in various outlets, told ABC News that Kim's isolation affected Kim's personality. As a leader, Kim has proved just as brutal or even more so than his predecessors by purging a number of older, elite officials. He also has opened himself up more to North Koreans, becoming the first leader to show off his wife and often engaging with lower-ranking personnel. Neither of these traits has endeared him to President Donald Trump, who has increased U.S. military pressure and rolled out heavy sanctions against Kim's already struggling economy. The two men have resorted to nuclear threats and personal insults, but a burgeoning peace process initiated by Kim's New Year's speech has raised cautious hopes for a de-escalation on the Korean Peninsula, where a mid-20th century has never technically ended. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Riyadh (AFP) - Saudi construction giant Binladin Group denied Saturday any state takeover after its chairman was detained, but said some shares may have been transferred to the government. The firm, which has been forced to lay off tens of thousands of workers due to financial problems, said it remained a private shareholding company and was undergoing restructuring. International media this week reported Saudi Arabia's government had taken over the firm after chairman Bakr bin Laden was detained. The Saudi Binladin Group "would like to confirm that it remains a private sector company owned by its shareholders", it said in a statement. But some company shares may have been transferred to the government in a settlement of "outstanding dues", it added, without providing any details on the size of any such shares. "Based on information available to the management, some of the shareholders may have agreed (to) a settlement that involves transferring some SBG shares to the government of Saudi Arabia against outstanding dues," it said. The group's chairman was among dozens of high-profile political and business figures arrested two months ago in a crackdown on corruption ordered by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Saudi authorities said they were negotiating financial settlements with those detained that could earn state coffers about $100 billion. Some of those jailed at the luxury Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh have been released after agreeing to a settlement with the government. But the chairman is among several other suspects who are still in detention. These also include Saudi billionaire prince Al-Waleed bin Talal. Established in 1931, the Binladin Group is one of the most powerful companies in the oil-rich kingdom. It belongs to the family of the late Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, who was killed in 2011. The firm has encountered serious difficulties in the past few years. It laid off around 77,000 foreign workers in 2016, after the government delayed payments due to a slump in oil revenues. Story continues It also faced unprecedented scrutiny after one of its cranes working on a major expansion of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Islam's holiest site, collapsed in 2015, killing at least 107 people. The firm had been working for years on the multi-billion-dollar project to accommodate the increasing numbers of Muslim pilgrims to the site. A Saudi court in October cleared the company of responsibility for the accident. On Saturday, the group said that its contracted work with the government would continue, especially at the Grand Mosque in Mecca and another mosque in the holy city of Medina. It also said it had formed a committee to oversee its restructuring towards the firm "being profitable again". Saudi Arabia has posted large budget deficits in the past four fiscal years and is projected to remain in the red until 2023 due to low oil prices. The drop in oil revenues also led to the demise of Saudi Oger, a once-mighty construction firm linked to Lebanon's prime minister Saad Hariri. By Rania El Gamal and Stephen Kalin DUBAI/JEDDAH, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, detained for over two months in an anti-corruption crackdown, is negotiating a possible settlement with authorities but so far has not agreed on terms, a senior Saudi official said. Prince Alwaleed, whose net worth has been estimated by Forbes magazine at $17 billion, is chairman and owner of international investment firm Kingdom Holding, and one of the country's most prominent businessmen. "He offered a certain figure but it doesnt meet the figure required from him, and until today the attorney-general hasnt approved it," the official said on condition of anonymity under government briefing rules. A second source familiar with Prince Alwaleed's case told Reuters on Saturday that he had offered to make a "donation" to the Saudi government, which would avoid any admission of wrongdoing, and to do so from assets of his own choosing. But the government refused those terms, the source said. Since early November Prince Alwaleed has been held, with dozens of other members of Saudi Arabia's political and business elite detained in the crackdown, in Riyadh's opulent Ritz Carlton hotel as authorities seek to reach settlements with the detainees. Saudi officials say they aim to claw back some $100 billion of funds that rightfully belong to the state. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who launched the crackdown, has indicated he wants to close existing cases quickly and expects most suspects to cut a deal. The allegations against Prince Alwaleed include money laundering, bribery and extorting officials, a Saudi official told Reuters soon after his detention. Neither he nor his company has commented publicly on the charges. Kingdom Holding, which has said it is continuing to operate normally, did not respond to requests for comment when asked about any settlement talks. Construction giant Saudi Binladin Group said on Saturday that some of its shareholders might transfer part of their holdings to the state in a settlement with authorities. Chairman Bakr Bin Laden and several family members were detained in the crackdown. In late November, senior Saudi Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, once seen as a leading contender to the throne, was freed after reaching a settlement with authorities that involved paying more than $1 billion, according to a Saudi official. (Additional reporting by Saeed Azhar in Dubai and Marwa Rashad in Riyadh; Editing by Andrew Torchia and Raissa Kasolowsky) To judge from the cornucopia of connected household devices on display at CES 2018, there is no product that manufacturers deem unworthy of being graced with a processor, a cloud service, and a companion app. Whether these Internet-of-Things gadgets are worth your money is another matter. They may not deliver sufficient convenience, they may be too tricky to set up and use, and they may open your personal data or even your home up to hackers. That last part should be the most important aspect of any IoT purchase decision. But as I found out when walking past the connected-home exhibits with a cybersecurity professional, it may also be the hardest bit to investigate. To sleep, perchance is to get hacked My first stop was at the Sleepace exhibit. This Shenzhen, China-based firm aims to optimize your shut-eye by tracking both your sleep patterns and your nighttime environment with various sensors that include a smart mattress pad. The resulting data may not make an attractive target for a hacker, but Bryson Bort, co-founder of Arlington, Va., cybersecurity firms Grimm and Scythe, pointed out a risk that became reality last year, when millions of connected cameras were remotely taken over and used to launch denial-of-service attacks. The challenge with embedded systems, as we saw with the Mirai attacks, is that we have all this computational power that can be misused, said Bort, who spoke on a CES 2018 panel about security. But when we asked what sort of security testing Sleepace ran, sales manager Emily He said That is a good question. Sleepaces privacy-policy page only says we have put in place suitable physical, electronic and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online. It may not be fair to expect an IoT startup to provide the same wealth of detail about its security measures as Apple (AAPL) or Google (GOOG, GOOGL), but this level of vagueness isnt a good sign. Neighborly security Story continues Our next visit on the floor of the Las Vegas Convention Center was a corner booth for Vivint. The Provo, Utah smart-home firms exhibit featured an upcoming, free app called Streety that lets neighbors share video from their security cameras. The idea here is to enable the same kind of information sharing that already happens on neighborhood mailing lists if a package vanishes from your front porch, you would use Streety to see if any neighbors cameras caught the thief. We got some detail about such workings of the app such as its encryption of shared video streams to prevent snooping. But the Streety developers we talked to couldnt answer more in-depth queries like whether the company self-professed adoption of industry best practices extended to things like hiring red-team hackers to break into its app. We got the security brush-off again, summed up Bort. The most common reason this happens at marketing-oriented events like CES: The people who do know the answers dont attend the event. They dont bring the security team. (Hopefully, the security team actually exists.) Made in the shade Our third stop was ShadeCraft, developer of a solar-powered umbrella called Sunflower, which tracks the sun and doubles as a smart-home hub. The umbrella includes a security camera, a Wi-Fi hotspot, a Bluetooth speaker, and an array of environmental sensors. Adding all those functions doesnt make the Sunflower cheap (its available for pre-order Jan. 15 for $5,220, after which the price jumps to $8,700) but does give this Pasadena, Calif.-based firm more things to secure. This is an over-engineered solution, said Bort, noting the vast amount of data a Sunflower could wind up collecting. But ShadeCraft Chief Operating Officer Sarahgrace Kelly couldnt provide any details on the companys approach to security beyond noting that its cloud services run on Zively, an IoT-optimized platform run by LogMeIn (LOGM). ShadeCrafts site was no more informative: A search for security yielded only a link to a third-party blog post. Down the toilet We wrapped up this IoT tour with a visit to Kohlers exhibit and the assortment of connected bathroom hardware that included a smart toilet, the $7,500 Numi. Setting aside the real-world utility of a toilet with a touchscreen remote, this thing appears well secured out of the box simply because it doesnt connect to the internet. Without that, its attack surface the components that could in theory be attacked remotely is limited to the Bluetooth connection used to stream music from nearby devices. But other items in the new Kohler Konnect lineup, such as a $999 smart mirror that incorporates Amazons (AMZN) Alexa personal assistant, do connect to the internet. And once again, the company didnt have much to say about its approach to security beyond noting that its cloud services run on Microsofts (MSFT) platform. Thats a good start, Bort said, but not a guarantee of protection. Microsoft, Google, Amazon, those folks are really good at what they do, he said. But the security of an app on those cloud services depends on choices made by the company running an app and the recent rash of databases getting left open on cloud storage platforms provides more than enough evidence that their choices arent always smart. More from Rob: Email Rob at rob@robpegoraro.com; follow him on Twitter at @robpegoraro. By Steve Holland PALM BEACH, Florida (Reuters) - President Donald Trump was briefed on Saturday by U.S. trade envoy Robert Lighthizer on U.S. trade with China and talks on revising the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico, a White House spokeswoman said, as the administration considers several new tariff moves in coming weeks. The meeting comes as Trump mulls whether to impose broad restrictions on steel and aluminum imports and punitive actions against China arising from an investigation into Beijing's alleged theft of intellectual property. Lighthizer also briefed Trump on China's economy and pending trade enforcement actions, as well as the NAFTA negotiations, White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters said in a statement from Florida, where Trump is staying at his Mar-a-Lago resort. She did not provide details. Lighthizer currently is preparing for the next round of NAFTA talks in Montreal. Washington has taken a hard line in the negotiations, which appear stalled with just two rounds of left, saying that concessions are the only way for Canada and Mexico to keep the deal. Canada this week welcomed Trump's suggestion that NAFTA talks could be extended beyond March when Mexico's presidential election campaign kicks into high gear. Trump's opportunity to impose new tariffs or trade quotas follows a U.S. Commerce Department Section 232 investigation that looked into whether foreign steel imports are a threat to U.S. national security. The department submitted the long-awaited report to the White House on Thursday. Next week, the results of a separate investigation of rising aluminum imports will go to the White House. China's excess production capacity for both steel and aluminum has emerged as a major trade irritant for the United States and Europe, prompting them to consider new steps to protect domestic industries and jobs from a flood of Chinese imports. Meanwhile, China reported on Friday that exports and imports growth slowed in December after surging in the previous month, adding to signs of ebbing economic momentum as the government extends a crackdown on financial risks and factory pollution. Story continues A synchronized uptick in the global economy over the past year has been a boon to China and much of trade-dependent Asia, with Chinese exports in 2017 growing at their quickest pace in four years. The sharp December imports slowdown, however, is raising concerns that the worlds second-biggest economy faces domestic-demand pressure as authorities turn off cheap credit and restrict speculative financing. (Reporting by Steve Holland; Writing by Lesley Wroughton; Editing by Will Dunham and Bill Trott) The United Nations human rights office on Friday rejected as racist and inciting xenophobia the reported remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump describing immigrants from Africa and Haiti as coming from shithole countries. Trump on Thursday questioned why the United States would want to have immigrants from Haiti and African nations, referring to some as shithole countries, according to two sources familiar with the comments made in the White House. These are shocking and shameful comments from the President of the United States. There is no other word one can use but racist, U.N. human rights spokesman Rupert Colville told a Geneva news briefing when asked about the comments. You cannot dismiss entire countries and continents as shitholes, whose entire populations, who are not white, are therefore not welcome, he added. The issue was more than vulgar language, Colville said. Its about opening the door to humanitys worst side, about validating and encouraging racism and xenophobia that will potentially disrupt and destroy lives of many people. Read: Trump Says Hes Canceling His London Trip Because Obama Chose a Bad Spot for the New U.S. Embassy Trump had also failed to clearly condemn the anti-Semitic and racist actions of white supremacists in Charlottesville at a rally in Virginia last August, Colville said. The programme that was being discussed at the White House is called Temporary Protected Status. In November, the Trump administration decided to end the status for immigrants from Haiti and Nicaragua. It gave the approximately 59,000 Haitian immigrants who had been granted the status until July 2019 to return home or legalize their presence in the United States. Nicaraguans were given until January 2019. The future of the Dreamers should not be used as a bargaining chip to negotiate the most severe and restrictive immigration and security measures possible. These are human beings, not commodities, Colville said. Story continues Dreamers is term used for undocumented immigrants who were brought into the United States as children. Read: Trumps Plan to End DACA Program for Dreamers Has Been Blocked by a Federal Judge William Spindler, a U.N. refugee agency spokesman, declined to comment directly on Trumps purported remarks: But what I can say is that UNHCRs position is always that people forced to flee war or persecution, and needing asylum, should be given protection by whichever country they are in, irrespective of race, religion, ethnicity or place or country of origin, Spindler said. During a bipartisan meeting on immigration reform Thursday President Donald Trump fumed about the U.S. accepting immigrants from shithole countries. Yet the countriesand indeed continentsthat angered him are worth billions in trade to America. When lawmakers brought up protecting immigration from Africa, and the countries of Haiti and El Salvador as part of a reform deal, Trump asked: Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here? several sources briefed on the meeting told The Washington Post and other media. In 2015 the U.S. engaged in $37 billion worth of two-way trade in goods with countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, which make up most of the continent, according to numbers from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Trending: Under Trump, H-1B Visa Applicants Are Being Delayed Under Mountains of Paperwork 01_12_Trump Yuri Gripas/Reuters The U.S. exported $18 billion worth of goods and imported $19 billionmaking for a relatively modest trade deficit of $1 billion. Trump has often railed against the trade imbalance with China, which stood at a deficit of more than $300 billion in 2016. Trade with Sub-Saharan Africa is largely made up of crude oil imports, $11.7 billion of which came from Nigeria. In December, The New York Times reported Trump said last year that people from Nigeria who came to the U.S. would never go back to their huts in Africa. The White House denied the statements. American trade with the other countries that Trump insulted Thursday, however, is much lower. Haitiwhich the U.S. exported $1.1 billion worth of goods to and imported $899 million in goods from in 2016is Americas 74th largest trading partner with a total of $2 billion in two-way trade. Don't miss: Can We Build a Hack-Proof Internet Using Quantum Physics? New Breakthrough Heightens 'Technology Arms Race' Story continues Read more: A full list of Trumps "racist" comments about immigrants, Muslims And others Trade with El Salvador is worth a little more, totaling $7.6 billion in 2015, according to the most recent data. The U.S. exported $4.3 billion to the South American country while taking in $3.3 billion in imports, making for a trade surplus on the American side. Early this week the Trump administration moved to return as many as 200,000 Salvadorians who sought safety in the U.S. following an earthquake in 2001. A White House statement about Trumps comments did not deny that the president used the profanity to describe Americas trading partners. Like other nations that have merit-based immigration, President Trump is fighting for permanent solutions that make our country stronger by welcoming those who can contribute to our society, grow our economy and assimilate into our great nation, the White House said. The President will only accept an immigration deal that adequately addresses the visa lottery system and chain migrationtwo programs that hurt our economy and allow terrorists into our country, it said. Most popular: Fox News Justifies Trumps Shithole Comment, Says More Offensive Things Are Happening in the World This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. During the meeting Thursday the president asked why do we need more Haitians? and told lawmakersincluding Illinois Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin and South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Grahamto take them out of the immigration reforms being presented. Last month, the Times reported that in June 2017 Trump made derogatory remarks about Haitians during a meeting in which he seized on immigration reform, suggesting they all have AIDS. The presidents latest comments have led some to question the basis of his immigration reform proposals. It confirms that @realDonaldTrump's immigration policy has nothing to do with national security and everything to do with a desire to 'Make America WHITE Again,' wrote Civil War historian Kevin Levin in a tweet Thursday. Please stop saying the president HAS racist views. President Donald Trump IS a racist, Levin added. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek By David Shepardson DETROIT (Reuters) - The Trump administration plans to unveil revised self-driving car guidelines this summer as the government sets out to rewrite regulations that pose legal barriers to robot vehicles, U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said on Sunday. Chao told a Detroit auto show forum that the revised voluntary guidelines would address not only self-driving automobiles but "barriers to the safe integration of autonomous technology for motor carriers, transit, trucks, infrastructure and other modes." Chao said in a Reuters interview the department was preparing for autonomous technology coming rapidly to all transportation modes. "The technology is there, the question is how do we regulate it, how do we continue to promote innovation but also safeguard safety." Chao said. General Motors Co, Alphabet Inc, Toyota Motor Corp and many other companies are aggressively pursuing self-driving car technologies and want Congress and regulators to remove barriers to the vehicles. Bills in Congress to speed the introduction of self-driving cars do not include commercial trucks. In September, Chao announced the first set of revisions to the guidelines that were unveiled by the Obama administration and now plans a revised version by summer. Chao said her goal was to eliminate "unnecessary obstacles to the development and integration of new technology. Our approach will be tech-neutral and flexible not top-down, or command and control." She added the government would "not be in the business of picking winners or losers, or favoring one form of technology over another." In October, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, said it was looking for input on how to remove regulatory roadblocks to self-driving cars. NHTSA said in a report that it wanted to find any "unnecessary regulatory barriers" to self-driving cars "particularly those that are not equipped with controls for a human driver." 'SIGNIFICANT' HURDLES The agency also wants comments on what research it needs to conduct before deciding whether to eliminate or rewrite regulations. But it could take the agency years to complete the research and finalize rule changes. Automakers must meet nearly 75 auto safety standards, many written with the assumption that a licensed driver will be in control of the vehicle. The agency said in 2016 that current regulations posed "significant" regulatory hurdles to vehicles without human controls. Earlier this month, the Transportation Department published notices requesting comments to identify barriers to innovation including one from NHTSA, two from the Federal Transit Administration to address autonomous bus technology and barriers and one from the Federal Highway Administration to address autonomous infrastructure technology. Chao said more were planned. Last week, GM filed a petition with NHTSA requesting an exemption to have a small number of autonomous vehicles operate in a ride-share program without steering wheels or human drivers. Chao said the "department will review this petition, and give it responsible and careful consideration." Chao, who was meeting with automakers privately in Detroit at the show, has made self-driving cars a top priority. She held meetings on the subject in Silicon Valley last year, including with Google co-founder Sergey Brin. On Sunday, she urged automakers and tech companies to do more to reassure skeptical Americans about the technology. "They need to be brought along," she said of the public. "Consumer acceptance will be a constraint to growth in this industry." (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Nick Zieminski and Peter Cooney) A woman using her mobile phone is reflected on an electric board showing exchange rates of various cryptocurrencies at Bithumb cryptocurrencies exchange in Seoul, South Korea, January 11, 2018. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji By Cynthia Kim and Heekyong Yang SEOUL (Reuters) - With a tech-savvy population quick to adopt the latest gadgets and a young generation facing dim prospects in the conventional workplace, South Korea has been a fertile ground for virtual currencies. But the country's swift embrace of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies has been met with an equally swift backlash by regulators, who have gone so far as to propose outright bans on trading. With markets around the world watching, South Korea has become a fault line between a generation that sees cryptocurrencies as a way to a better life, and government officials who have likened the market to gambling and warned that it encourages illicit behavior. On Thursday the justice minister, Park Sang-ki, sent global bitcoin prices temporarily plummeting and virtual coin markets into turmoil when he said regulators were preparing legislation to halt cryptocurrency trading. As of Friday, a petition on the website of the presidential Blue House had drawn more than 120,000 signatures opposing the move. Heavy internet traffic briefly crashed the site. The online uprising against the government's plans puts President Moon Jae-in a tough spot, and his office was quick to say a ban is just one proposal under consideration. "The latest idea to ban it all seems to have come out of a fear that when the bubble bursts and things go wrong, it will be all on the government," said Yun Chang-hyun, an economics professor at University of Seoul. A BETTER FUTURE? With the youth unemployment rate three times the national average and a growing income gap between rich and poor, many young Koreans worry about their economic prospects. "Tax it as much as you want but dont shut it down. My life depends on it," one petitioner wrote on the Blue House website. Lee Min-kyung, a 25-year old student in a Seoul-based graduate school said she earned about 18 million won (16,973.93), double her initial investment in bitcoin. She said the government is showing haphazard responses simply because officials have "no idea." Story continues "They say the purpose of the regulation is to curb speculative moves, but it makes me just think the government simply doesn't understand what the market is," Lee said. More than 30 percent of 941 office workers surveyed in December by Saramin, a South Korea-based job portal, said they traded cryptocurrencies. The respondents had an average of 5.7 million won ($5,357.14) invested in virtual currencies, and a majority of them said they began trading because they saw it as the fastest way to earn money. That trend has earned critics on the street as well as in government offices. Koh Young-sam, a 56-year old mechanic in Seoul, warned that the craze would collapse. "Young people shouldn't be lured into this kind of scam. There is always something fishy about things that grow this fast," Koh said. FINANCIAL FEARS South Korea is not alone in struggling to figure out how to tax and regulate online currencies, many of which are designed to provide anonymity for transactions. In September last year, China cracked down on cryptocurrency trading, citing what officials saw as broader risks to the country's economy. As South Korea accounts for about 15 percent of global bitcoin trading, according to the website Coinhills.com, how regulators approach the issue will likely have international effects. The local price of bitcoin in South Korea bounced back on Friday to 19.3 million won ($17,481.20) from as low as 17.5 million won ($16,445.82) according to Bithumb, the nation's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange. On the Luxembourg-based Bitstamp, bitcoin stood at $13,709 after touching $12,800 the prior day. Park Chong-hoon, an economist at Standard Chartered Bank in Seoul, said, "South Koreans find it hard to deal with the jealousy from watching their neighbours getting rich fast." It is a sentiment echoed by many. Scepticism of "get-rich-quick" schemes among South Korean officials has colored past forays by international finance into the country. In the mid-2000s the U.S. private equity fund Lone Star faced raids of its offices and a years-long legal battle with the South Korean government after the foreign fund made millions of dollars buying and selling a controlling stake in a major South Korean bank. That controversy, which raised concerns over South Korean money flowing to foreign entities, is probably among several factors making South Korea officials wary of managing the new breed of markets originated abroad, analysts said. "In a practical sense, the South Korean government needs to factor in some political aspects if a growing number of people lose huge sums of money on bitcoin because of the governments failed attempts to rein in the frenzy, people will blame the government," Lee Dong-gwi, a psychology professor at Yonsei University. "Simply put, the South Korean government could be afraid of the political hassles of being held accountable." (Additional reporting by Dahee Kim; Writing by Josh Smith; Editing by Gerry Doyle) Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. WMT hogged limelight yesterday, courtesy of its two recent announcements. The big-box retailer surprised employees with plans to increase entry level wage rate for U.S. hourly workers to $11, alongside offering additional benefits to eligible candidates. On the other hand, Wal-Marts Sams Club unit revealed that it will shut 63 of its 660 outlets in the United States over the next few weeks a move that will result in several job losses. Though the wage hike reflects the impact of Trumps recent tax reforms, we believe that Wal-Mart had to adopt this competitive strategy amid a tightening labor scenario. With the U.S. unemployment level at its 17-year low, retailers are bound to increase wages to attract workers. In fact, one of Wal-Marts biggest competitors, Target TGT had raised its minimum hourly wage to $11 toward the end of 2017, with plans to step it up to $15 by 2020. Thus, it looks like Wal-Mart (which last hiked wages in 2015) is taking efforts to match up to its rivals, with the task having become easier courtesy of the tax overhaul. Moving to its plans to shut Sams Club locations, the move followed a strategic business review by the company. While the store closings form part of the companys efforts to better align locations and lead to an improved Sams Club foothold, the closures may benefit major competitors like Costco COST. Notably, both Target and Costco saw investors rejoice following this supermarket giants latest developments, with their shares up 4.6% and 2.1%, respectively. On the contrary, Wal-Marts stock didnt react much to the news. Nevertheless, the retailers constant efforts to counter Amazon AMZN and its splendid past record have helped it rally 50.9% over a year, crushing the industrys 40.3% upside. That said, lets delve deeper into the announcements and see if they can spur further growth. Story continues The Wage Hike & More Apart from raising all hourly workers minimum wage rate, the worlds largest retailer unveiled plans to extend benefits from maternity and parental leaves and also offer a one-time cash bonus (up to $1,000) to employees. The increased wage, which will come into effect from Feb 17, is incremental to the previously planned wage hikes. Also, it will be applicable to Wal-Marts all U.S. associates working in stores, logistics, e-commerce, Sams Club and Home Office. The one-time bonus will be decided depending on the employees tenure with Wal-Mart, with those working for 20 years or more entitled to receive $1,000. However, the company will record a discrete one-time charge related to these bonuses. Additionally, the company revealed intentions to financially support workers going for child adoption, by providing them a total of $5,000 per child to be used for various purposes. The aforementioned changes, which are likely to be gainful for the companys more than a million hourly workers, were largely encouraged by the reduced corporate tax rate. Management stated that though it is yet to assess the overall implications of the tax reforms on the company, it remains committed toward investing the tax savings for the betterment of customer and employees, alongside undertaking business growth plans. Sams Club Shuts 63 Stores: Whats Ahead? Per some sources, some of Sams Club planned store closures have already taken place, without any notice to employees. Nonetheless, management stated that it remains focused on relocating as many employees possible to other Wal-Mart or Sams Club locations. Also, it will support the affected employees with the aforementioned one-time bonus, salary for two months and other compensation for the eligible workers. The company further stated that the move of shutting down 63 Sams Club stores forms part of its planned transformation toward a healthier business. In fact, management stated that out of the stores impacted, up to 12 will be converted to e-commerce fulfillment centers, which will accelerate deliveries of online orders. Thus, this mark yet another e-commerce initiative undertaken by the company which is exploiting every nook and cranny to combat Amazons rising dominance. Evidently, Sams Clubs e-commerce sales positively impacted its comps by approximately 80 basis points in the third quarter of fiscal 2018, wherein Wal-Marts U.S. e-commerce sales surged 50%. All said, we expect the latest developments to add new leaves to the Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) companys growth story. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Zacks Editor-in-Chief Goes ""All In"" on This Stock Full disclosure, Kevin Matras now has more of his own money in one particular stock than in any other. He believes in its short-term profit potential and also in its prospects to more than double by 2019. Today he reveals and explains his surprising move in a new Special Report. Download it free >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (WMT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Target Corporation (TGT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) has taken the wraps off of its 2019 Ranger pickup for the North American market. Ford hasn't offered a Ranger in the U.S. since 2011. But it has kept the model alive in many overseas markets, where the current version has developed a loyal following for its considerable off-road ability. It's that Ranger that served as the basis for the new one coming to U.S. showrooms late this year. Here's what we know about it -- and what we still don't know. A bronze-colored 2019 Ford Ranger, a midsize pickup truck, on a mountain road. Here it is: The 2019 Ford Ranger. Ford said that the new Ranger will begin arriving in U.S. showrooms by the end of the year. Image source: Ford Motor Company. All the details, and the one question Ford hasn't yet answered Here are the high points that truck enthusiasts have been waiting to read: Drivetrain: At least initially, there will only be one engine available in the Ranger, a 2.3 liter EcoBoost four-cylinder mated to a new 10-speed automatic transmission. Ford didn't release power figures for the Ranger's version of the 2.3 liter engine. The same engine is used in the Lincoln MKC; in that application, it's rated at 285 horsepower and 305 pound-feet of torque. (A higher-performance Ranger Raptor is in development, but Ford hasn't yet shared details.) Design: The global Ranger was given a big overhaul for North America, but it isn't an all-new design. (That's not a bad thing: It's based on the current global Ranger, which gets good reviews in places like Australia.) Configurations: All of the Rangers sold here will have extended cabs; Ford will offer both SuperCab (small rear-hinged doors) and SuperCrew cab (full back doors) configurations. Trim levels: At launch, the new Ranger will be available in XL, XLT, and Lariat trims, with optional Chrome and Sport appearance packages, and an available FX4 Off-Road package. The Lariat versions are pretty plush, with leather seats and nice trim. But unlike the F-150, Ford isn't offering a super-luxury version of the Ranger -- at least, not yet. Construction: Unlike its F-150 sibling, the Ranger doesn't have aluminum body panels. It's built with conventional steel panels on what Ford describes as a "rugged high-strength steel frame." Ford notes that the Ranger was "torture-tested" alongside F-150s, and should provide similar durability. Technology: The new Ranger will have the usual bag of Ford tech goodies, including optional SYNC 3 with an 8-inch touchscreen. Rangers with the FX4 Off-Road package get Ford's Terrain Management System and a new system called Trail Control, sort of an off-road cruise control. Production: The new North American Ranger will go into production at Ford's Michigan Assembly Plant near Detroit in the fourth quarter of 2018. Here's what we don't yet know: Story continues Price. Ford will announce the Ranger's pricing later this year, before its launch. The Ranger's closest rival, General Motors' (NYSE: GM) midsize Chevrolet Colorado pickup, starts at a little over $20,000 and can be optioned up to around $40,000. Expect the Ranger's pricing to be in that neighborhood. A view of the front seat and dash of the 2019 Ford Ranger Lariat. The seats have leather upholstery and the dash features a prominent touchscreen. Lariat versions of the new Ranger get leather seats and a slew of technology features. Image source: Ford Motor Company. So will the new Ranger sell? Ford talked up the growth in the U.S. market for midsize pickups since 2014 as part of its case for the Ranger. Here's what that looked like. Bar chart showing the growth of the midsize truck market. Sales grew significantly from 2014 to 2015, and from 2015 to 2016, but were up only slightly in 2017. Data sources: The automakers' U.S. sales reports, Automotive News. Chart shows combined annual U.S. sales of the Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, Honda Ridgeline, Nissan Frontier, and Toyota Tacoma. Note that a lot of that increase in sales since 2014 was due to the entry of the GM twins, the Colorado and GMC Canyon, which were launched as 2015 models. Comparing 2016 with 2017 suggests that the market might be saturated, but there's a complicating factor: Production at the Missouri factory that makes the Colorado and Canyon has been maxed out since the trucks' launch. Can the U.S. market absorb, say, another 130,000 or so Rangers every year? I bet it can -- or at least I bet Ford can sell that many (and maybe more) as long as the U.S. economy remains strong, because there's a big factor working in the Ranger's favor: Brand power. Both "Ford" and "Ranger" are powerful names with truck buyers. Ford's F-Series full-size pickups have been America's best-sellers for decades. Ford's trucks have millions of loyal fans, including some that have been waiting for an all-new Ranger for years. Others will be drawn to the Ranger for the same reasons that models like the Colorado and Tacoma do well: They're trucks for buyers who like the image of a truck, particularly one with some off-road ability -- but who don't necessarily want something as big as an F-150. That's a sizable market, and it's one that Ford is clearly aiming at with the Ranger, particularly the FX4 Off-Road versions. The 2019 Ford Ranger pickup viewed from a rear three-quarter angle, on a desert landscape. Another view of the 2019 Ford Ranger. Image source: Ford Motor Company. The upshot: No surprise -- Ford did the Ranger right It's always a little hard to predict how a new vehicle will do in the market. Virtues and flaws that aren't apparent at the vehicle's carefully orchestrated debut can appear as the new model is reviewed by experts and by its initial customers, and those can affect its sales performance in difficult-to-foresee ways. On top of that, new competitors can show up, and we know that at least one new Ranger competitor is coming: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (NYSE: FCAU) is gearing up to launch its own new midsize pickup, one based on the just-launched all-new version of its iconic Jeep Wrangler SUV. But a new Ford pickup is a safer bet than most new products. Ford has a deep understanding of what pickup buyers most want, and tremendous clout with truck buyers that has been rightfully earned over decades. On first viewing, the new Ranger appears to hit all of the right marks. I think it'll sell briskly, delivering a nice profit boost to Ford in North America -- and I think it'll do well without cannibalizing sales of the (possibly more profitable) F-150 to any meaningful degree. Long story short: At least to this Fool, it looks like Ford did what it needed to with the new Ranger. Ford truck fans, and Ford investors, have good reasons to be optimistic about its chances. More From The Motley Fool John Rosevear owns shares of Ford and General Motors. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Ford. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. U.S. forces killed 10 insurgents in a compound in eastern Afghanistan in an air strike that was triggered by an insider attack on U.S. and Afghan soldiers, the U.S. military said on January 12. U.S. Navy Captain Tom Gresback said the insurgents baited a coalition team, inviting them to a security shura meeting in the compound in the eastern province of Nangarhar on January 11. The coalition sent an Afghan militia leader, a U.S. service member, and an interpreter. When the meeting ended, Gresback said the Taliban-linked insurgents opened fire, killing the militia leader and wounding the American service member and the interpreter. The Taliban quickly claimed credit for the attack. The Taliban said the attack was carried out by two insurgents disguised as local militiamen. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told The Associated Press the attackers had infiltrated the local force months earlier. In Afghanistan, local militias are often paid by the United States to act as partners with U.S. troops in operations in remote regions. Gresback said that after the wounded were moved to safety, a coalition air strike targeted the compound, killing 10 insurgents. The Taliban and local militia said as many as 13 fighters were killed in the air strike. The incident occurred in Mohmand Valley, in Afghanistan's remote Achin district of Nangarhar province. The incident was the lastest in a series of insider attacks against U.S. forces, including an attack in Achin district in June in which an Afghan commando opened fire, killing three U.S. personnel and wounding another. U.S. and Afghan forces have been battling not only the Taliban but an affiliate of the Islamic State extremist group in the region. Based on reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters Iranian President Hassan Rohani says U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration have "failed to undermine" Tehrans nuclear deal with world powers and he praised the agreement as a "long-lasting victory" for Iran. In a live broadcast by Iranian state television of a speech on January 14, Rohani said, "Trump, despite his repeated efforts, has failed to undermine the accord." "The deal is a long-lasting victory for Iran," Rohani said, referring to the accord Tehran signed in 2015 with the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and China. Trump on January 12 said the United States would pull out of the deal unless the European signatories fixed what he called "terrible flaws" in the agreement. The other signatories to the pact have urged the United States to continue to adhere to the agreement. A statement from French President Emmanuel Macron on January 13 called for the "necessary respect" of the nuclear deal. Tehran on January 13 rejected the notion of any modification of the 2015 nuclear accord, which requires Iran to curb its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. Iran insists its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes, while the United States and other countries claim it has been trying to develop nuclear weapons. Trump on January 12 said he would extend sanctions relief to Iran under the deal, leaving the accord intact for now. But Trump wants the pact strengthened with a separate agreement within 120 days and has said the United States would pull out of the existing accord if such steps are not taken. Among the changes Trump is demanding is that Iran allow more timely inspections of sites requested by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the elimination of so-called "sunset clauses," under which some of the restrictions on Irans nuclear program expire over time. In addition, Trump demanded that the deal should state that Iran's nuclear effort and its missile programs are inseparable. U.S. and other officials have complained that Iran's ballistic-missile program can easily be converted for nuclear use. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Macron in a phone call on January 13 that Europe would be "wise" to the strengthen the landmark nuclear deal, saying it would increase the chances of it remaining in effect. According to a statement released by Netanyahus office, the Israeli leader told Macron that Trump's "remarks should be taken seriously, and whoever wants to keep the nuclear deal would be wise to fix it." Netanyahu also told Macron the world should "strongly condemn" what he called "five crimes of the Iranian regime." He cited what he said were efforts by Tehran to obtain nuclear weapons, develop ballistic missiles, and support terrorist organizations, as well as what he called regional aggression, and "the cruel repression of Iranian citizens." With reporting by AFP and Reuters New York, Jan 14 (JEN):As part of an intensified response to the current diphtheria outbreak, United Nations agencies are working to vaccinate more than 475,000 children in Rohingya refugee camps, temporary settlements and surrounding areas in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar. All efforts are being made to stop further spread of diphtheria. The vaccination of children in the Rohingya camps and nearby areas demonstrates the health sector's commitment to protecting people, particularly children, against deadly diseases, said Bardan Jung Rana, ai Representative to Bangladesh of the World Health Organization (WHO). UN estimates show that some 655,000 people have fled Myanmar to Bangladesh since August 2017. Diphtheria is an infectious disease caused by a bacterium which primarily infects the throat and upper airways, and produces a toxin affecting other organs. The diphtheria toxin causes a membrane of dead tissue to build up over the throat and tonsils, making breathing and swallowing difficult. The disease is spread through direct physical contact or from breathing in the aerosolized secretions from coughs or sneezes of infected individuals. Between 8 November 2017 and 11 January 2018, as many as 31 deaths and 3,954 suspected cases of diphtheria have been reported from Cox's Bazar. Nearly 10,594 contacts of these suspected cases have been put on diphtheria preventive medication. WHO, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and other health partners are working with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to establish fixed locations for immunization in the Rohingya camps to continue to provide life-saving vaccines to children, in line with Bangladesh's childhood immunization programme. Nearly 150,000 children aged six weeks to seven years received pentavalent vaccine (that protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, haemophilus influenza type b and hepatitis B), and nearly 166,000 children aged 7 to 17 years were given tetanus and diphtheria (Td) vaccine, during a three-week vaccination campaign that ended on 31 December. Two more rounds of vaccination with a diphtheria-containing vaccine, at intervals of one month, are planned to fully protect the children in camps and surrounding areas. Children are particularly vulnerable to diphtheria. Volunteers are making door-to-door visits in the Rohingya settlements to ensure all children receive vaccination, said the UNICEF Country Representative Edouard Beigbeder. The massive influx within a very short time has heavily affected basic services in the settlement areas. They have no choice but to live in a very congested environment, which is impacting their health and quality of life, he added. To limit the spread of diphtheria to communities living near the Rohingya camps and settlements, nearly 160,000 children in 499 schools of Teknaf and Ukhiya sub-districts are also being vaccinated. This initiative began on 1 January. Vaccination was initiated on a day when children attend school in large numbers to avail themselves of free books provided by the government at the start of the academic year. WHO has released $1.5 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies to scale up the response to diphtheria among the Rohingya population in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, over the next six months. The funds are being used to support immunization; provide essential medicines and supplies; improve capacities for laboratory testing, case management and contract tracing; and engage with communities. Photo: UNICEF/Brown China and five Southeast Asian countries have set goals for developing the Mekong River area, but experts wonder if the group can succeed. Leaders of the five countries met with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in early January in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh. This was the second leaders meeting of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperative. Lancang is the Chinese name for the Mekong. The China-led cooperative was formed in 2015. All six countries on the Mekong River are part of the group. Other members are Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. The Chinese premier said that his country would supply benefits to all the groups members. We talked about important principles in the meeting, Li said. We have to respect each other, and consider each other with equality for common development. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen told reporters about plans to create centers for improving water supply and environmental cooperation. He did not provide additional details of the five-year development plan, however. On Thursday, China and Cambodia signed agreements to improve Cambodias infrastructure, including a $2 billion deal to build a new expressway. Radio Free Asia noted that, in exchange, Cambodia promised to support Chinas goals, including its territorial claims in the South China Sea. Chinese state media say China plans to loan countries billions of dollars for projects on the Mekong. Yet the Lancang-Mekong Cooperative is not the first group to deal with Mekong River issues. The Mekong River Commission (MRC) was formed to guide development on the river. The older group describes itself as an inter-governmental organization that works directly with Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam to jointly manage the shared water resources and the sustainable development of the Mekong River. China is not a full member and not required to offer its proposals for dam projects to the group. The MRC has been criticized for not doing enough to stop harmful projects on the river. But it is unclear if the Lancang-Mekong Cooperative, or LMC, will do better. Some observers say the LMC is another plan to expand Chinas influence in Southeast Asia. China has pushed its Belt and Road initiative, a development plan for Asia, Europe and even Africa. Officials say their aim is to support cooperation and development in many of Chinas trading partners. However, the six members of the LMC find it difficult to agree on their individual development projects. Countries downstream -- where the Mekong is widest -- are concerned that too many dams will hurt fisheries and reduce water flow. In 2016, water levels in the Mekong Delta area were extremely low. The lack of water threatened Vietnams rice crops. China agreed to increase the flow of water from dams in its territory, causing water levels to rise. An important resource for Southeast Asia The Mekong is Southeast Asias longest river. It flows more than 4,000 kilometers from its beginnings in Tibet to its mouth in Vietnam. The Mekong is home to important fisheries. At least 60 million people depend on it for food. It also is important for transportation and energy. China has reportedly built eight dams on the Mekong. The government has plans for at least 20 more. Laos is building two dams and preparing a third, although MRC members have protested. Maureen Harris is Southeast Asia director for International Rivers, an environmental group. She said communities in Thailand and Laos have reported problems linked to the dams for years, but nothing was done. Harris said that, over the past 20 years, dams upstream have changed the natural flood-drought cycle of the river. She said they block dirt and other materials from flowing downstream and hurt ecosystems and fisheries. A 2009 study warned about overdeveloping the river and its tributaries. The study was prepared for the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. Researchers found that fish on the Mekong would decrease by half if all the proposed projects were built. These include 11 mainstream dams and 78 tributary dams. Ian Baird is an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin. He studies river fisheries on the Mekong. He said LMCs members would like access to Chinas money, but gaining respect and cooperation in the area is more difficult. Are they willing to give up enough power and say (influence) to the other countries that will make them really want to support this initiative? he asks. He says it will take time to see how well the cooperative works. Im Mario Ritter. David Boyle and Sun Narin reported this story for VOANews.com. Mario Ritter adapted their report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story benefit n. a good outcome of some plan or activity principles n. guiding beliefs about right and wrong or behavior manage v. to direct someone or something sustainable - adj. using methods that do not completely use up resources initiative n. an action, plan or program upstream adj. or adj. in the direction opposite to the flow of water cycle n. a process that repeats itself sediment n. soil that is carried away by water ecosystems n. environments and the life that depends on them tributaries n. rivers and streams that flow into larger rivers We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. So many everyday activities in modern life are done over the internet. This includes everything from buying clothes to watching movies to even applying for admission to college. Almost every college and university in the United States now offers some form of internet-based application. And future students can see photographs of schools on their websites. Some even provide video tours. Candidates can find all kinds of information about the schools they hope to attend all over the internet. But Ed Bustos argues that students miss out on a lot when they only use internet information to make their college decisions. Bustos is the director of international admission at Rollins College, a private liberal arts school in Winter Park, Florida. Bustos says the best way to get a detailed look at what life is like at any college or university is by visiting the campus. We all sound alike on paper and, I think, on websites, he told VOA. So what makes us a lot different is when a student can actually visit us, because I think thats when they see the true differences and uniqueness of each campus. School visits are very common in the U.S., Bustos notes. Most students begin visiting colleges and universities of interest in the summer before their final year of high school. But, the majority of colleges and universities let interested students and their families visit their campuses at almost any time of year. Busto suggests that students contact the admissions offices of the schools that interest them. Then they can join other visiting candidates for a free guided tour of the campus. Current students usually lead the tours, Bustos notes. Their job is to provide information, offer advice and show future students all the different parts of the campus, such as housing and classrooms. So students should prepare plenty of questions. Bustos adds that students should not limit their questions just to tour guides. He suggests that students should also try to plan a meeting with an admissions official on the same day they come for a tour. Most schools keep a record of all the exchanges they have with candidates, he says. And trying to meet with officials in person to ask them questions shows interest on the part of the applicant, which schools like to see. Bustos also notes that it is never too early to visit a school. He says students should consider visiting any college or university they can. This could be years before they even start thinking about the application process. And it does not matter if the school they visit is the one they have interest in attending, he says. Simply witnessing the college experience in real life can be helpful for young people. That is why Bustos always enjoys seeing applicants bring any younger brothers and sister they might have with them on visits. Its very beneficial for them because maybe they can think, Wow, I really need to take my grades seriously, because this is actually achievable, he said. They always hear about it. But when they actually step on a college campus and get to see it, theyre like, Oh wow, I really need to take this seriously because I need to make this happen. This could be me some day. Still, Bustos argues, there is more to visiting a college or university than taking a tour or meeting administrators. After all, he notes, most tours take place over several hours during the morning or middle of the day. That is when most of the current students are in class, so it can often seem like there is no actual student life going on at all. That is why Bustos says Rollins began offering night tours in 2017. That way visitors can see students, professors and employees involved in social activities and sporting events that happen outside of class hours. But he also notes that many colleges and universities in the U.S. are publically operated. This means anyone can enter the campus whenever they want. So interested students can take it upon themselves to see a different side of a school without a representative only showing them what they want people to see. Pick up the newspaper, said Bustos. Go to, maybe, some collegiate events out there. See what it feels like to go to a play. See whats going on around campus Talk to students. Ask them their perspective. Yes, we all train our tour guides to give the best possible tour and show the best side of the university. But when you go walk on a campus and talk to random students, I think that is a great way to learn because youre going to hear a true perspective. However, Bustos admits that visiting schools may not be a choice available to everyone, especially international students. And he says administrators understand this. So, he says, schools do not punish applicants for not visiting their campuses. Also, if a student is applying to several schools that are similar in size or environment, Bustos suggests visiting only one. That will still help the applicant imagine what it would be like to live and study at such a college or university, while cutting down on travel costs. Finally, for students who are unable to visit any schools they hope to attend, Bustos says there is one additional resource: social media. Many schools use Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat to advertise themselves. Current students are often contributors to these social media accounts. Bustos says schools will permit some students to post videos and pictures that show what their daily lives are like at college. These can provide applicants with a view that is almost as good as being there in person. Im Dorothy Gundy. And Im Pete Musto. Pete Musto reported this for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. How common is it for students in your country to visit the colleges and universities they want to attend before they apply? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ QUIZ Quiz - College Admissions: Visiting Schools to Learn More Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story apply(ing) v. to ask formally for something, such as a job, admission to a school, or a loan, usually in writing campus n. the area and buildings around a university, college, or school uniqueness n. the quality of being unlike anything or anyone else tour n. an activity in which you go through a place, such as a building or city, in order to see and learn about the different parts of it beneficial adj. producing good or helpful results or effects grade(s) n. a number or letter that indicates how a student performed in a class or on a test achievable adj. able to be done, earned or reached by working hard perspective n. a way of thinking about and understanding something (such as a particular issue or life in general random adj. chosen or done without a particular plan or pattern contributor(s) n. someone who creates something, such as a story, poem, or essay, for a publication Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American leader of the civil rights movement in the 1960s. King is remembered for his non-violent protests against the unequal treatment of African-Americans. His actions led to equal rights laws for all people. In addition to being an activist, King was a scholar and religious leader a pastor in the Christian Baptist church. One of the most famous events related to him came in 1963. That year, more the 250,000 people gathered in Washington, D.C. for the March on Washington. King spoke to them on the steps of President Abraham Lincolns memorial. He delivered a historic address known as the I Have a Dream speech. One of the most famous lines from the speech reads: I have a dream thatone day little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers. Kings actions helped pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The law ended the legal separation of people by race in public places. The act also banned job discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion or national origin. King and other activists watched the president sign the law. The Civil Rights Act was important, but it did not address all kinds of racial discrimination. For example, black Americans still did not have the same voting rights as white Americans, especially in southern states. So, in March of 1965, a group of activists in Alabama marched in protest of unequal voting practices. State police attacked the protesters. Some wanted to answer with violence, but King urged peaceful action instead. The events in Alabama pushed Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act. It was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in August of 1965. In the following years, King worked for economic equality. In April 1968, he was attending a workers strike in Tennessee. While he was standing outside his hotel room, a sniper shot him in the face. King soon died of his wounds. The shooter was identified as a criminal who had escaped from jail. James Earl Ray was a white man who said he hated King. Ray was found guilty and sent to prison. King is remembered for many things, including his focus on nonviolent action to achieve social and political change. In 1986, the U.S. government observed the first Martin Luther King Day. Many Americans have the day off school and work. They are urged to use the time to volunteer in their communities. Martin Luther King, Jr.s life and achievements are also honored at a memorial. It was dedicated in Washington, D.C. in 2011. Dorothy Gundy wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story scholar n. a person who has studied a subject for a long time and knows a lot about it pastor n. a minister or priest in charge of a church or parish delivered v. something said officially or publicly address n. a formal speech basis n. a reason for doing something origin n. the place, social situation, or type of family that a person comes from address v. to give attention to something focus v. to direct your attention or effort at something specific achieve v. to get or reach something by working hard achievements n. something that has been done or achieved through effort: a result of hard work Do you remember and honor a historic person? Who is it and why? Let us know in the Comments Section. Imagine a cat that does not need someone to clean up after it, keeps an older person company and helps them remember to take their medicine. That is the shared dream of the toy maker Hasbro and scientists at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. The researchers received a $3-million-dollar award from the National Science Foundation for a special project. The goal of the project is to find ways to add artificial intelligence, or A.I., to Hasbros Joy for All robotic cat. The cat has already been for sale for two years. It is aimed at older people and meant to act as a companion for them. It makes the same noises as a real cat and even appears to seek attention from its owners. The Brown-Hasbro project is aimed at developing additional abilities for the cat. The team includes researchers from Browns medical school, local hospitals and a designer at the University of Cincinnati. Researchers at Browns Humanity-Centered Robotics Initiative are working to decide which activities older adults may need the most help with. Such activities include finding lost objects and reminding the person to take medicine or visit their doctor. Bertram Malle is a professor of cognitive, linguistic and psychological sciences at Brown. He said that the researchers do not want to make unrealistic promises of what the cat can do. He said he and his partner Michael Littman, a computer science professor, hope to make the cat perform a small number of activities very well. They also want to keep the cost down to just a few hundred dollars. Hasbros current Joy for All cat costs $100. They have given the project a name that follows that idea: Affordable Robotic Intelligence for Elderly Support, or ARIES. It is an idea that has appeal to Jeanne Elliott. Her 93-year-old mother Mary Derr lives with her in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. Derr has dementia. The Joy for All cat that Elliott bought this year has become a true companion for Derr. The robot cat stays with Derr and keeps her calm while Elliot is at work. Derr treats it like a real cat, even though she knows it is electronic. Elliot told the Associated Press her mother often forgets things. She added that a cat that helps her mother to remember to take her medicine and be careful when she walks would be great. Diane Feeney Mahoney is a professor at the Massachusetts General Hospitals Institute of Health Professions School of Nursing. She has studied technology for older people. She said the project shows promise because of the team of researchers. She called the cat a tool that could make things easier for someone caring for a person with middle-stage dementia. It could also be useful in elder care homes that do not permit people bring in real animals, she said. But she hopes the researchers involve people from the Alzheimers community. We just dont want to push technology for technologys sake, she said. The scientists are studying how people feel about the robot cats, as well as the everyday lives of elderly people. They are also trying to learn how the improved cats would complete helpful activities and how they would communicate that information. Littman said they do not want a talking cat, however. Cats dont generally talk to you, he said. Instead they are looking at whether the cat could move its head in a special way to successfully communicate its message, for example. In the end, they hope to create an exchange between the human and the cat in which the human feels the cat needs them. By doing so, the researchers hope they can even help prevent feelings of loneliness and sadness among elderly people. The cat doesnt do things on its own. It needs the human, and the human gets something back, Malle said. That is a huge step up. Loneliness and uselessness feelings are hugely problematic. Im Lucija Milonig. And Im Pete Musto. Michelle R. Smith reported this story for the Associated Press. Pete Musto adapted it for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. What other kinds of technology do you think might help with mental and physical illnesses? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ QUIZ Quiz - Scientists Aim to Give AI to Robot Cat That Helps the Elderly Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story keep(s) (an older person) company p.v. to spend time with someone who would be alone if you were not there toy n. something a child plays with artificial intelligence n. the power of a machine to copy intelligent human behavior companion n. a person or animal you spend time with or enjoy being with remind(ing) v. to cause someone to remember something cognitive adj. of, relating to, or involving conscious mental activities (such as thinking, understanding, learning, and remembering linguistic adj. of or relating to language or linguistics affordable adj. able to be paid for at a low cost elderly adj. old or rather old dementia n. a mental illness that causes someone to be unable to think clearly or to understand what is real and what is not real Alzheimers (disease) n. a disease of the brain that causes people to slowly lose their memory and mental abilities as they grow old sake n. used in phrases with for to say that something is done for a particular purpose or to achieve a particular goal or result Venezuela was once one of the wealthiest countries in Latin America. Today, images of poor Venezuelans eating from food waste in Caracas are evidence of the countrys deepening economic crisis. Young men and boys often search the dirty waters of the Guaire River for small pieces of metal that might help feed their families. One of those young men is 26-year-old Angel Villanueva. He searches the dirty, brown water for lost rings or other objects he may be able to trade for money. Working in the Guaire isnt easy, he told the Associated Press. When it provides, it provides. When it takes, it takes your life. The waters of the Guaire are known for being filthy. The river acts as a drain. It carries away rainwater from the streets and sewers, as well as industrial waste. Alejandro Velasco is a native of Caracas and teaches Latin American history at New York University. He says ,As long as I can remember, the Guaire was this open sewage. It certainly seems to reflect the depth and extent of the desperation that this particular crisis has spawned. Venezuelans have lived under socialist rule for nearly 20 years. During that period, food and oil production have dropped sharply. Poor organization of state resources and a drop in world oil prices have made many Venezuelans desperate. Each morning, people go to the Guaire River from nearby neighborhoods to search for treasure. Some cover their fingertips in tape to protect from cuts and infections. They largely ignore any possible long-term health effects from standing in dirty water for hours each day. Calls to clean up the river and the large amount of money already spent have had no result. In 2005, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez recognized the rivers filthy condition and promised a full cleanup. Seven years later, the Inter-American Development Bank provided a $300 million loan to build wastewater centers and treat waste that goes into the river. Nearly six years later, the water remains filthy. Bank officials refused to comment on the project. Venezuelan government leaders have also been silent on when the Guaire might be cleaned. Some parts of the river smell of sewage. Other parts produce a toxic, harmful smell. Most days, the treasure hunters go unnoticed by other people as they drive vehicles over the river on a major road. Angel Villanueva lives with his father in one of the poorest and most dangerous parts of Caracas. The son wanted to earn money, but he could only get low-paying jobs, such as cleaning the streets. The lowest legal wage for public employees in Venezuela is less than $7 a month. Food has become increasingly hard to find or very costly. One recent study estimated that 75 percent of Venezuelans lost an average of 8.7 kilograms last year. Angel Villanueva first started searching in the river six months ago. His first days work resulted in finding $20 worth of materials. People back in his neighborhood often tell him to keep away because he smells like the Guaire. Villanueva dreams of leaving Venezuela to find a better job. But for now he is taking his chances searching for treasure in the river. I'm Jonathan Evans. Scott Smith reported this story for the Associated Press. Jonathan Evans adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _________________________________________________________________ Words in this Story desperation n. a strong feeling of sadness, fear, and loss of hope filthy adj. very dirty Latin America n. South America and North America south of the U.S. resources n. supplies of something such as money that someone has and can use when it is needed spawn v. to cause something to develop or begin; to produce or create something The following companies are subsidiares of Colgate-Palmolive: 887357 Ontario Inc., COLGALIVE S.A., CP GABA GmbH, CP International Holding C.V., CP West East Investment Limited, Cleaning Dimensions Inc., Colgate (BVI) Limited, Colgate (Guangzhou) Company Limited, Colgate (U.K.) Limited, Colgate Business Services of the Americas S.C., Colgate Flavors and Fragrances Inc., Colgate Global Business Services Private Limited, Colgate Holdings, Colgate Inc., Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals Inc., Colgate Palmolive Ghana Limited, Colgate Palmolive Holding S.Com.P.A., Colgate Palmolive Nouvelle Caledonie Sarl, Colgate Palmolive Tanzania Limited, Colgate Sanxiao Company Limited, Colgate Venture Company Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (America) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (Asia) Pte Ltd, Colgate-Palmolive (Blantyre) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Brunei) Sdn Bhn, Colgate-Palmolive (Central America) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (Central America) Inc. y Compania Limitada, Colgate-Palmolive (Centro America) S.A., Colgate-Palmolive (China) Co. Ltd, Colgate-Palmolive (Costa Rica) S.A., Colgate-Palmolive (Dominica) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (Dominican Republic) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (East Africa) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Eastern) Pte. Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive (Egypt) S.A.E., Colgate-Palmolive (Far East) Sdn Bhd, Colgate-Palmolive (Fiji) Pte Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Gabon) S.A., Colgate-Palmolive (Guyana) Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive (H.K.) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Hellas) S.A. I.C., Colgate-Palmolive (Hong Kong) Holding Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Kazakhstan) L.L.P., Colgate-Palmolive (Latvia) Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Colgate-Palmolive (Middle East Exports) Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive (Myanmar) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (New York) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (Poland) Sp. z o.o., Colgate-Palmolive (Proprietary) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Research & Development) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (Romania) SRL, Colgate-Palmolive (Thailand) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (UK) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Uganda) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Vietnam) Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive (Zambia) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (Zimbabwe) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive A.B., Colgate-Palmolive A/S, Colgate-Palmolive Adria Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive Argentina S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Asia Pacific Limited, Colgate-Palmolive Asia Pacific Treasury Services Limited, Colgate-Palmolive Belgium S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Bolivia Ltda., Colgate-Palmolive Canada Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Caricom Service Co. Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Central European Management Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Chile S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Cia., Colgate-Palmolive Comercial Ltda., Colgate-Palmolive Commercial (Hellas) SP LLC, Colgate-Palmolive Commerciale S.A.S., Colgate-Palmolive Commericale S.r.l., Colgate-Palmolive Compania Anonima, Colgate-Palmolive Company Distr. LLC, Colgate-Palmolive Company GmbH, Colgate-Palmolive Cote dIvoire S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Cyprus Limited, Colgate-Palmolive Development Corp., Colgate-Palmolive East West Africa Region (Pty) Ltd, Colgate-Palmolive Enterprises Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Espana S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Europe (Holdings) Sarl, Colgate-Palmolive Europe Sarl, Colgate-Palmolive Finance (UK) plc, Colgate-Palmolive Global Trading Company, Colgate-Palmolive Holding Argentina S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Holding Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Hungary Kft Limited Liability Company, Colgate-Palmolive IHQ Services (Thailand) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Inc. 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Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Investments (BVI) Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive Investments (PNG) Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive Investments (UK) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive Investments Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Israel Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive Italia S.r.l., Colgate-Palmolive JSC, Colgate-Palmolive Lanka (Private) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive Latin America Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Limited, Colgate-Palmolive Manufacturing (Poland) Sp. z o.o., Colgate-Palmolive Marketing Sdn Bhd, Colgate-Palmolive Maroc S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Mocambique Limitada, Colgate-Palmolive NJ Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Nederland B.V., Colgate-Palmolive Norge A/S, Colgate-Palmolive Participacoes e Investimentos Imobiliarios Lda., Colgate-Palmolive Peru S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Philippines Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Pty Ltd, Colgate-Palmolive Retirement Trustee Limited, Colgate-Palmolive S.A. de C.V., Colgate-Palmolive S.p.A., Colgate-Palmolive Senegal S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Services (Hellas) LLC, Colgate-Palmolive Services (Poland) Sp. z o.o., Colgate-Palmolive Services CEW GmbH, Colgate-Palmolive Services S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Slovensko s.r.o., Colgate-Palmolive Support Services, Colgate-Palmolive Temizlik Urunleri Sanayi ve Ticart S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Transnational Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Ukraine LLC, Colgate-Palmolive Unipessoal Lda, Colgate-Palmolive de Paraguay Sociedad Anonima, Colgate-Palmolive de Puerto Rico Inc., Colgate-Palmolive del Ecuador S.A.I.C., Colgate-Palmolive del Peru (Delaware) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Eeska republika spol. s r.o., Colpal CBS S de R. L. de C. V., Consumer Viewpoint Center Inc., Cotelle S.A., Dimac Development Corp., Dominica Coconut Products Limited, EKIB Inc., ELM Company Limited, Elta MD Holdings Inc., Elta MD Inc., EltaMD, Filorga Americas Inc., Filorga Asia Limited, Filorga Benelux SA, Filorga Cosmetiques Polska, Filorga Middle East DMCC, Filorga Portugal Unipessoal Lda., Filorga RU Limited Liability Company, GABA Europe Holding GmbH, GABA International, GABA International Holding LLC, GABA Schweiz AG, GABA Therwil GmbH, Gamma Development Co. Ltd., Global Trading and Supply LLC, Hamol Ltd., Hello Products, Hello Products LLC, Hills Funding Company, Hills Pet Nutrition (NZ) Limited, Hills Pet Nutrition (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Hills Pet Nutrition Asia Limited, Hills Pet Nutrition B.V., Hills Pet Nutrition Canada Inc., Hills Pet Nutrition Denmark ApS, Hills Pet Nutrition Espana S.L., Hills Pet Nutrition GmbH, Hills Pet Nutrition Holding B.V., Hills Pet Nutrition Inc., Hills Pet Nutrition Indiana Inc., Hills Pet Nutrition Italia S.r.l., Hills Pet Nutrition Korea Ltd., Hills Pet Nutrition Ltd., Hills Pet Nutrition Manufacturing B.V., Hills Pet Nutrition Manufacturing s.r.o, Hills Pet Nutrition Norway AS, Hills Pet Nutrition OOO, Hills Pet Nutrition Pty. Limited, Hills Pet Nutrition S.p.A., Hills Pet Nutrition SNC, Hills Pet Nutrition Sales Inc., Hills Pet Nutrition South Africa Proprietary Limited, Hills Pet Nutrition Sweden AB, Hills Pet Nutrition Switzerland GmbH, Hills Pet Nutrition Taiwan Ltd, Hills Pet Nutrition Trading (GZ) Co. Ltd, Hills Pet Nutrition de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Hills Pet Nutrition de Puerto Rico Inc., Hills Pet Nutrition s.r.o., Hills Pet Products (Benelux) S.A., Hills Pet Products Inc., Hills Veterinary Companies of America Inc., Hills-Colgate (Japan) Ltd., Hopro Liquidating Corp., Hygiene Systemes et Services SA, IES Enterprises Inc., Inmobiliaria Colpal S. de R.L. de C.V., Inmobiliaria Hills S.A. de C.V., Innovacion Creativa S.A. de C.V., Kolynos Corporation, Laboratoires Filorga Cosmetiques Espana S.L.U., Laboratoires Filorga Cosmetiques Italia S.R.L., Laboratoires Filorga Cosmetiques S.A., Laser Brand Toothpaste, Lournay Sales Inc., Mennen Company, Mennen Interamerica Ltd., Mennen Limited, Mennen South Africa Ltd., Mennen de Chile Ltd., Mennen de Nicargua S.A., Mission Hills Property Corporation, Mission Hills S.A. de C.V., Norwood International Incorporated, Olive Music Publishing Corporation, PCA SKIN, Paramount Research Inc., Penny LLC, Pet Chemicals Inc., Physicians Care Alliance LLC, Productos Halogenados Copalven C.A., Purity Holding Company, Purity Music Publishing Corporation, Refresh Company Limited, Samuel Taylor Holdings B.V., Sanex, Sanxiao Company Limited, Services Development Co. Ltd., Societe Generale de Negoce et de Services (GENESE) S.A., The GDN - The Global Distributive Network SAS, The Lournay Company Inc., The MPDP - The Medical and Pharmaceutic Distributive Platform SAS, The Murphy-Phoenix Company, Tom's of Maine, Toms of Maine Holdings Inc., Toms of Maine Inc., Veterinary Companies of America Inc., Vipont Pharmaceutical Inc., and XEB Inc.. The following companies are subsidiares of Roper Technologies: 3089554 Nova Scotia ULC, AC Analytical Controls B.V., AC Analytical Controls Holding B.V., AC Analytical Controls Services B.V., Acton Research Corporation, Acumen PM LLC, Aderant CM LLC, Aderant CRM LLC, Aderant Case Management LLC, Aderant Company, Aderant CompuLaw LLC, Aderant DoD LLC, Aderant Enterprise Holdings Inc., Aderant FM LLC, Aderant Holdings Inc., Aderant Imaging LLC, Aderant International Holdings Inc., Aderant Legal (UK) Limited, Aderant Legal Holdings (AUS) Pty Ltd, Aderant Legal Holdings (NZ) ULC, Aderant Legal Holdings Inc., Aderant North America Inc., Aderant Parent Holdings Inc., Aderant RainMaker LLC, Aderant Redwood LLC, Advanced Sensors Limited, Alpha Holdings of I LLC, Alpha Holdings of II LLC, Alpha Technologies B.V., Alpha Technologies GmbH, Alpha Technologies LLC, Alpha Technologies Services LLC, Alpha Technologies U.K., Alpha Technologies s.r.o., Alpha UK Holdings LLC, Amot Controls Corporation, Amot Controls GmbH, Amot/Metrix Investment Company Inc., Amphire Solutions Inc., Amtech Systems LLC, Amtech Systems Limited, Amtech World Corporation, Ascension Technology Corporation, Atlantic Health Partners Inc., Atlas Healthcare Software Private Limited, Austria, Avitru LLC, Axium Holdco Inc., C/S Solutions Inc., CBORD Holdings Corp., CIVCO Medical Solutions B.V., Cayman Islands, Centurion Research Solutions LLC, Civco Holding Inc., Civco Medical Instruments Co. Inc., CliniSys Group Limited, Clinisys Scotland Limited, Clinisys Solutions Limited, Compressor Controls (Beijing) Corporation Ltd., Compressor Controls Corporation, Compressor Controls Corporation B.V., Compressor Controls Corporation Middle East, Compressor Controls Corporation S.r.l., Compressor Controls Ltd., Compressor Controls Pty Ltd., ConstructConnect Inc., Cornell Pump, DAP Technologies Corp., DAP Technologies LTD, DAT Solutions LLC, DCMH Group Holdings Inc., DCMH Group Holdings LLC, DCMH Holdings Inc., DI Acquisition Subsidiary Inc., DI Dutch Holdings LLC, DI Limited, Dash I Inc., Data Innovations Cooperatief U.A., Data Innovations Europe S.A., Data Innovations LLC, Data Innovations Latin America Ltda, Data Innovations Ltd., Dawning Technologies LLC, Deltek, Deltek Ajera Inc., Deltek Asia Pacific (HK) Limited, Deltek B.V., Deltek Belgie BVBA, Deltek Danmark A/S, Deltek GB Limited, Deltek GmbH, Deltek Inc., Deltek Nederland B.V., Deltek Norge AS, Deltek Pty Ltd., Deltek SAS, Deltek Sverige AB, Deltek Systems () Inc., Deltek Systems (Philippines) Ltd., Deltek Systems ) Inc., Deltek WST LLC, Dominion I Inc., Dynamic Instruments Inc., Dynisco, Dynisco Enterprises GmbH, Dynisco Enterprises LLC, Dynisco Europe GmbH, Dynisco Holding GmbH, Dynisco Holdings Limited, Dynisco Instruments LLC, Dynisco Instruments S.a.r.l., Dynisco Parent Inc., Dynisco S.r.l., Dynisco Shanghai Sensor and Instrument Co. Ltd., Dynisco Viatran LLC, Dynisco Viatran (M) Sdn Bhd, Dynisco-Viatran Instrument Sdn Bhd, FMS Purchasing & Services Inc., FSI Holdings Inc., FTI Flow Technology Inc., Fluid Metering Inc., Foodlink Holdings Inc., Foodlink IT Private Limited, Foundry, Gatan GmbH, Gatan Inc., Gatan Service Corporation, Gatan U.K. Limited, GeneInsight Inc., Getloaded Corporation, Guangzhou MEDTEC Medical Device Co. Ltd, HRsmart Czech Republic, HRsmart Germany, HRsmart GmbH, HRsmart Inc., HRsmart International, HRsmart International Holdings LLC, HRsmart Mexico, HRsmart SA (Pty) Ltd., HRsmart SAS, HRsmart Talent Management Solutions Europe Limited, HRsmart Ventures LLC, Handshake Software Inc., Hansco Automatisering B.V., Hansen Technologies Corporation, Hansen Technologies Europe GmbH, Harbour Holding Corp., Hardy Process Solutions, Horizon Software International LLC, INPUT Inc., IPA Acquisition Subsidiary Inc., ISL Finance SAS, ISL Holding SAS, ISL Scientifique de Laboratorie - ISL S.A.S., IT Holdings LLC, Innovative Product Achievements LLC, Inovonics Corporation, Input S.A.R.L., Instill Corporation, Integrated Designs L.P., IntelliTrans Limited, Intellitrans AB, Intellitrans LLC, Intellitrans Ltd., Job Access LTDA, K/S Roper Holding, K/S Roper Investments, Link Logistics Holding LLC, Logitech Limited, Louis U.K. Limited, Lumenera, MED Professional Services LLC, MEDTEC Inc., MHA Long Term Care Network Inc., MIPS Austria GesmbH, MIPS CZ s.r.o, MIPS Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, MIPS Deutschland Holding GmbH, MIPS Nederland B.V., MIPS Sarl, MIPS Schweiz AG, MIPS Software Iberica SL, MPR Readers Inc., Managed Health Care Associates Inc., Marumoto Struers K.K., Media Cybernetics Inc., Medical Information Professional Systems GmbH, Medical Information Professional Systems NV, Medina Acquisition LLC, Metrix Instrument Co. L.P., NDI Europe, Navigator Group Purchasing Inc., Neptune Technology Group () Co., Neptune Technology Group Inc., Neptune Technology Group S.de R.L. de C.V., Neptune Technology Group Services Inc., Neptune Technology Group Services S. de R.L. de C.V., Nippon Roper K.K., Northern Digital Inc., Off-Campus Advantage LLC, Omega Legal Systems Inc., PAC (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PAC ApS, PAC GmbH, PAC Instruments (Thailand) Company Limited, PAC Instruments Asia PTE. Ltd., PB Bidco Limited, PB Holdco Limited, PB Midco Limited, PB Topco Limited, PGP UK Limited, Petroleum Analyzer Company L.P., Phase Analyzer Company Ltd., PowerPlan, PowerPlan Holdings Inc., PowerPlan Holdings LLC, PowerPlan Inc., PowerPlan Intermediate Holdings Inc., PowerPlan Operations ANZ Pty Ltd, PowerPlan Operations Ltd., PowerPlan ULC, Project Cobalt Acquisition Corp, Project Diamond Intermediate Holdings Corporation, Project Torque Intermediate Holdings Inc., QSC 1208 Limited, QSC 1209 Limited, Quantitative Imaging Corporation, RF IDeas Inc., RI Marketing Private Limited, RIL Holding Limited, RMT Inc., RT Merger Sub Inc., Rebate Tracking Group LLC, Redlake MASD LLC, Roda Deaco Valve Inc., Roper Brasil Comercio E Promocao De Productos E Servicos LTDA, Roper Capital Deutschland GmbH, Roper DK Sub Sarl, Roper Engineering s.r.o., Roper Europe GmbH, Roper Finance S.a.r.l., Roper GM Holdings ApS, Roper GmbH, Roper GmbH & Co. KG, Roper Holdings Inc., Roper Holdings LP, Roper Holdings Limited, Roper Holdings S.a.r.l., Roper Industrial Products Investment Company, Roper Industries ApS, Roper Industries Deutschland GmbH, Roper Industries Inc., Roper Industries L.P., Roper Industries Limited, Roper Industries Ltd., Roper Industries Manufacturing (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Roper Industries UK Limited, Roper International Holding Inc., Roper LLC, Roper Lux Sub S.a.r.l, Roper Middle East Ltd., Roper NL1 UK Limited, Roper NL2 UK Limited, Roper Pump Company, Roper S.a.r.l., Roper Scientific B.V., Roper Scientific GmbH, Roper Scientific Inc., Roper Scientific SAS, Roper Scot LP, Roper Southeast Asia LLC, Roper Swiss Finance GmbH, Roper UK Holdings S.a.r.l., Roper UK Investments Limited, Roper UK Limited, Roper UK Ltd., Roper-Mex L.P., Ropintassco 1 LLC, Ropintassco 2 LLC, Ropintassco 3 LLC, Ropintassco 4 LLC, Ropintassco 5 LLC, Ropintassco 6 LLC, Ropintassco 7 LLC, Ropintassco Holdings L.P., SHP Group Holdings Inc., SIRA LLC, Scotland, Shanghai Roper Industries Trading Co. Ltd., Singapore, Sinmed Holding International B.V., Societe de Distribution de Logiciels Medicaux, SoftWriters Inc., Softwriters Holdings Inc., Sohnar Pty Ltd, Spain, Star Purchasing Services LLC, Strata Acquisition Subsidiary Inc., Strata Decision Technology Holdings LLC, Strata Decision Technology LLC, Strata Parallel II Inc., Strategic Healthcare Programs Blocker 2 Inc., Strategic Healthcare Programs Blocker LLC, Strategic Healthcare Programs Holdings LLC, Strategic Healthcare Programs L.L.C., Struers (Shanghai) International Trading Ltd., Struers A/S, Struers GmbH, Struers Inc., Struers Limited, Struers SAS, Student Advantage LLC, Sunquest Europe Limited, Sunquest Holdings Inc., Sunquest Information Systems, Sunquest Information Systems () Private Limited, Sunquest Information Systems (Europe) Limited, Sunquest Information Systems (International) Limited, Sunquest Information Systems Inc., Sunquest Information Systems Pty Ltd, Switzerland, TLP Holdings LLC, Taupo Holdings Inc., Technolog Group Limited, Technolog Holdings Ltd., Technolog Limited, Technolog SARL, Tennessee, Thailand, The CBORD Group Inc., The Management Group Inc., The Tidewater Healthcare Shared Services Group Inc., Torque Acquisition Holdco Inc., Transcore Atlantic Inc., Transcore CNUS Inc., Transcore Holdings Inc., Transcore ITS LLC, Transcore LP, Transcore Link Logistics Corporation, Transcore Nova Scotia Corporation, Transcore Partners LLC, Transcore Quebec Corporation Inc., Trinity Integrated Systems Limited, UHF Purchasing Services LLC, Union Square Software (International) Limited, Union Square Software Inc., Union Square Software Limited, Union Square Software Pty, Uson L.P., Uson Limited, Utilitec Limited, Utilitec Services Limited, Utility Data Services Limited, Verathon Holdings Inc., Verathon Inc., Verathon Medical, Verathon Medical (Europe) B.V., Verathon Medical (UK) Ltd., Verathon Medical Limited, Verathon Medical Pty Limited, Verathon Medical SARL, Verathon Medical ULC, Viastar Services LP, Viatran, Walter Herzog GmbH, Wisconsin, WorkBook APAC Ltd., Workbook Software A/S, Zetec (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Zetec France, Zetec Inc., Zetec Korea Inc., Zetec Rental LLC, Zetec Services Inc., iPipeline, iSqFt Holdings Inc., iSqFt Parent Corporation, iSqFt Sub Inc., iTradeNetwork Inc., iTradenetwork Limited, and mySBX Corporation. 2 hours ago | September 6th | 2021 9:00 AM Getting an Agent to Rep Your Novel Is Hard AF. Here's How I Did It. One in 6,000. Those are the odds of an unpublished author convincing a literary agent to represent your novel, according to Mark Malatesta at Literary-Agents.com. The best book agents can get as many as 1,500 queries per month, and they sometimes only offer to represent approximately six new clients per year, he writes. The following companies are subsidiares of The Procter & Gamble: "Procter & Gamble Services" LLC, "Procter & Gamble" LLC, Agile Pursuits, Agile Pursuits Franchising, Arbora, Arbora & Ausonia, Arborinvest, Billie, Braun (Shanghai) Co., Braun GmbH, Braun-Gillette Immobilien GmbH & Co. KG, Celtic Insurance Company, Compania Procter & Gamble Mexico, Compania Quimica S.A., Corporativo Procter & Gamble, Cosmetic Products Pty. Ltd., Detergent Products B.V., Detergent Products SARL, Detergenti S.A., Eurocos Cosmetic GmbH, FPG Oleochemicals Sdn. Bhd., Fameccanica Data S.p.A., Fameccanica Industria e Comercio Do Brasil LTDA., Fameccanica Machinery (Shanghai) Co., Fater S.p.A., Fountain Square Music Publishing Co., Gillette (China) Ltd., Gillette (Shanghai) Ltd., Gillette Aesop Ltd., Gillette Australia Pty. Ltd., Gillette Canada Holdings, Gillette Commercial Operations North America, Gillette Diversified Operations Pvt. Ltd., Gillette Egypt S.A.E., Gillette Group UK Ltd, Gillette Gruppe Deutschland GmbH & Co. oHG, 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 Nova Scotia Company, Gillette Pakistan Limited, Gillette Poland International Sp. z.o.o., Gillette Poland S.A., Gillette U.K. Limited, Gillette del Uruguay, Giorgio Beverly Hills Inc., Hyginett KFT, Industries Marocaines Modernes SA, LLC "Procter & Gamble Novomoskovsk", LLL "Procter & Gamble Distributorskaya Compania", Laboratorios Vicks, Liberty Street Music Publishing Company, Limited Liability Company 'Procter & Gamble Trading Ukraine', Limited Liability Company with foreign investments Procter & and Gamble Ukraine, MDVIP, MERCK KGAA NPV, Marcvenca Inversiones, Modern Industries Company - Dammam, Modern Products Company - Jeddah, New Chapter, New Chapter Canada Inc., Olay LLC, Oral-B Laboratories, P&G Distribution Morocco SAS, P&G Hair Care Holding, P&G Industrial Peru S.R.L., P&G Innovation Godo Kaisha, P&G Israel M.D.O. Ltd., P&G K.K., P&G Northeast Asia Pte. Ltd., P&G Prestige Godo Kaisha, P&G Prestige Service GmbH, P&G South African Trading (Pty.) Ltd., PGT Health Care (Zhejiang) Limited, PGT Healthcare LLP, PPI ZAO, PT Procter & Gamble Home Products Indonesia, PT Procter & Gamble Operations Indonesia, Phase II Holdings Corporation, Procter & Gamble (Chengdu) Ltd., Procter & Gamble (China) Ltd., Procter & Gamble (China) Sales Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble (East Africa) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Egypt) Manufacturing Company, Procter & Gamble (Enterprise Fund) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Guangzhou) Consumer Products Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble (Guangzhou) Enterprise Management Service Company Limited, Procter & Gamble (Guangzhou) Ltd., Procter & Gamble (Health & Beauty Care) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Jiangsu) Ltd. China, Procter & Gamble (L&CP) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Procter & Gamble (Manufacturing) Ireland Limited, Procter & Gamble (Shanghai) International Trade Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Acquisition GmbH, Procter & Gamble Administration GmbH, 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 Chile , Procter & Gamble Chile Limitada, Procter & Gamble Colombia Ltda., Procter & Gamble Commercial LLC, Procter & Gamble Commercial de Cuba S.A., 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 Deuttschland GmbH, Procter & Gamble Distributing (Philippines) Inc., Procter & Gamble Distributing New Zealand Limited, Procter & Gamble Distribution Company (Europe) BVBA, Procter & Gamble Distribution S.R.L., Procter & Gamble Eastern Europe, Procter & Gamble Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Procter & Gamble Egypt, Procter & Gamble Egypt Distribution, Procter & Gamble Egypt Holding, Procter & Gamble Egypt Supplies, Procter & Gamble Energy Company LLC, Procter & Gamble Espana, Procter & Gamble Europe SA, Procter & Gamble Export Operations SARL, Procter & Gamble Exportadora e Importadora Ltda., Procter & Gamble Exports, Procter & Gamble Fabricacao e Comercio Ltda., Procter & Gamble Far East, Procter & Gamble Finance (U.K.) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Finance Holding Ltd., Procter & Gamble Finance Management S.a.r.l., 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 GmbH, Procter & Gamble Grundstucks-und Vermogensverwaltungs GmbH & Co. KG, Procter & Gamble Gulf FZE, Procter & Gamble Hair Care, Procter & Gamble Hellas Ltd., Procter & Gamble Holding (Thailand) Limited, Procter & Gamble Holding France S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Holding GmbH, Procter & Gamble Holding S.r.l., Procter & Gamble Holdings (UK) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Home Products Private Limited, 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, Procter & Gamble Indochina Limited Company, Procter & Gamble Industrial - 2012 C.A., Procter & Gamble Industrial Colombia Ltda., Procter & Gamble Industrial S.C.A., Procter & Gamble Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Costa Rica, Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Guatemala, Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Panama, Procter & Gamble International Operations Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble International Operations SA, Procter & Gamble International Operations SA-ROHQ, Procter & Gamble International S.a.r.l., Procter & Gamble Investment Company (UK) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Investment GmbH, Procter & Gamble Italia, Procter & Gamble Japan K.K., Procter & Gamble Kazakhstan Distribution LLP, Procter & Gamble Kazakhstan LLP, Procter & Gamble Korea, Procter & Gamble Korea S&D Co., Procter & Gamble Lanka Private Ltd. Sri Lanka, Procter & Gamble Leasing LLC, Procter & Gamble Levant S.A.L., Procter & Gamble Limited, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing (Thailand) Limited, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Belgium N.V., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Berlin GmbH, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing GmbH, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing SA (Pty) Ltd, Procter & Gamble Marketing Romania SRL, Procter & Gamble Marketing and Services doo, Procter & Gamble Maroc SA, Procter & Gamble Mataro, Procter & Gamble Mexico Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Mexico Inc., Procter & Gamble Middle East FZE, Procter & Gamble Nederland B.V., Procter & Gamble Netherlands Investments B.V., Procter & Gamble Netherlands Services B.V., Procter & Gamble Nigeria Limited, Procter & Gamble Nordic, 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 Partnership LLP, Procter & Gamble Peru S.R.L., Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals France SAS, Procter & Gamble Philippines, Procter & Gamble Polska Sp. z o.o, Procter & Gamble Portugal - Produtos De Consumo, Procter & Gamble Product Supply (U.K.) Limited U.K., Procter & Gamble Production GmbH, Procter & Gamble Productions, Procter & Gamble Productos de Consumo, Procter & Gamble RHD, Procter & Gamble RSC Regional Service Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble Retail Services BVBA, Procter & Gamble S.r.l., Procter & Gamble SA (Pty) Ltd, Procter & Gamble Satis ve Dagitim Ltd. Sti., Procter & Gamble Seine S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Service GmbH, Procter & Gamble Services (Switzerland) SA, Procter & Gamble Services Company N.V., Procter & Gamble Services Ltd., Procter & Gamble Share Incentive Plan Trustee Ltd., Procter & Gamble South America Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Spol. s.r.o. (Ltd.), Procter & Gamble Sports and Social Club 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., 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 Verwaltungs GmbH, Procter & Gamble Vietnam, 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 S/A, Procter & Gamble do Brazil, Procter & Gamble do Nordeste S/A, Procter & Gamble-Rakona s.r.o., Progam Realty & Development Corporation, Redmond Products, Richardson-Vicks Real Estate Inc., Richardson-Vicks do Brasil Quimica e Farmaceutica Ltda, Riverfront Music Publishing Co., Rosemount LLC, SPD Development Company Limited, SPD Swiss Precision Diagnostics GmbH, Scannon S.A.S., Series Acquisition B.V., Shulton, Surfac S.R.L., Sycamore Productions, TAOS - FL, TAOS Retail, Tambrands Inc., Temple Trees Impex & Investment Private Limited, The Art of Shaving - FL, The Dover Wipes Company, The Gillette Company, The Gillette Company LLC, The Gillette co., The Procter & Gamble Distributing LLC, The Procter & Gamble GBS Company, The Procter & Gamble Global Finance Company, The Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Company, The Procter & Gamble Paper Products Company, The Procter & Gamble U.S. Business Services Company, This is L., US CD LLC, Vidal Sassoon (Shanghai) Academy, Vidal Sassoon Co., WEBA Betriebsrenten-Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Walker & Company Brands, and iMFLUX Inc.. The following companies are subsidiares of Exxon Mobil: AKG Marketing Company Limited, Aera Energy LLC, Al-Jubail Petrochemical Company, Ampolex (Cepu) Pte Ltd, Ancon Insurance Company Inc., Barnett Gathering LLC, Barzan Gas Company Limited, Caspian Pipeline Consortium, Celtic Exploration Ltd., Coral FLNG S.A., Cross Timbers Energy LLC, Ellora Energy Inc., Esmeroon Oil Transporta Imperial Oil Limited, Esso (Thailand) Public Company Limited, Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd, Esso Deutschland GmbH, Esso Erdgas Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Esso Exploration Angola (Block 15) Limited, Esso Exploration Angola (Block 17) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Angola (Overseas) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Chad Inc., Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Deepwater) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Offshore East) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, Esso Exploration and Production UK Limited, Esso Global Investments Ltd., Esso Italiana S.r.l., Esso Nederland B.V., Esso Norge AS, Esso Petroleum Company Limited, Esso Raffinage, Esso Societe Anonyme Francaise, Exxo Holdings Inc., Exxon Azerbaijan Limited, Exxon Chemical Arabia Inc., Exxon International Finance Company, Exxon Luxembourg Holdings LLC, Exxon Mobile Bay Limited Partnership, Exxon Neftegas Limited, Exxon Overseas Corporation, Exxon Overseas Investment Corporation, ExxonMobil (China) Investment Co. Ltd., ExxonMobil (Taicang) Petroleum Co. Ltd., ExxonMobil Abu Dhabi Offshore Petroleum Company Limited, ExxonMobil Alaska Production Inc., ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., ExxonMobil Australia Pty Ltd, ExxonMobil B Resources Company, ExxonMobil Capital Finance Company, ExxonMobil Capital Netherlands B.V., ExxonMobil Central Europe Holding GmbH, ExxonMobil Cepu Limited, ExxonMobil Chemical France, ExxonMobil Chemical Gulf Coast Investments LLC, ExxonMobil Chemical Holland B.V., ExxonMobil Chemical Services (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ExxonMobil China Petroleum & Petrochemical Company Limited, ExxonMobil Development Africa B.V., ExxonMobil Development Company, ExxonMobil Egypt (S.A.E.), ExxonMobil Exploracao Brasil Ltda., ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Malaysia Inc., ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Norway AS, ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Romania Limited, ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Tanzania Limited, ExxonMobil Finance Company Limited, ExxonMobil Financial Investment Company Limited, ExxonMobil France Holding SAS, ExxonMobil Gas Marketing Europe Limited, ExxonMobil General Finance Company, ExxonMobil Global Services Company, ExxonMobil Golden Pass Surety LLC, ExxonMobil Holding Company Holland LLC, ExxonMobil Holding Norway AS, ExxonMobil Hong Kong Limited, ExxonMobil International Services SARL, ExxonMobil Iraq Limited, ExxonMobil Italiana Gas S.r.l., ExxonMobil Kazakhstan Inc., ExxonMobil Kazakhstan Ventures Inc., ExxonMobil LNG Services B.V., ExxonMobil Lubricants Trading Company, ExxonMobil Oil Corporation, ExxonMobil PNG Limited, ExxonMobil Petroleum & Chemical BVBA, ExxonMobil Petroleum & Chemical Holdings Inc., ExxonMobil Pipeline Company, ExxonMobil Production Deutschland GmbH, ExxonMobil Production Norway Inc., ExxonMobil Qatargas (II) Limited, ExxonMobil Qatargas Inc., ExxonMobil Ras Laffan (III) Limited, ExxonMobil Rasgas Inc., ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, ExxonMobil Russia Kara Sea Holdings B.V., ExxonMobil Sales and Supply LLC, ExxonMobil Technology Finance Company, ExxonMobil Ventures Finance Company, ExxonMobil Ventures Funding Ltd., Fujian Refining & Petrochemical Co. Ltd., Golden Pass LNG Terminal Investments LLC, Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC, Gulf Coast Growth Ventures LLC, Imperial Oil Limited, Imperial Oil Resources Limited, Imperial Oil Resources N.W.T. Limited, Imperial Oil/Petroliere Imperiale, Infineum Italia s.r.I., Infineum Singapore Pte. Ltd., InterOil Corporation, Jurong Aromatics Corporation Pte Ltd, MPM Lubricants, Marine Well Containment Company LLC, Mobil Australia Resources Company Pty Limited, Mobil California Exploration & Producing Asset Company, Mobil Caspian Pipeline Company, Mobil Chemical Products International Inc., Mobil Corporation, Mobil Equatorial Guinea Inc., Mobil Erdgas Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Mobil Exploration & Producing Australia Pty Ltd, Mobil International Petroleum Corporation, Mobil Oil Australia Pty Ltd, Mobil Oil Exploration & Producing Southeast Inc., Mobil Oil New Zealand Limited, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Mobil Producing Texas & New Mexico Inc., Mobil SerLimited, Mobil Venezolana De Petroleos Inc., Mobil Yanbu Petrochemical Company Inc., Mobil Yanbu Refining Company Inc., Mountain Gathering LLC, Mozambique Rovuma Venture S.p.A., Palmetto Transoceanic LLC, Papua New Guinea Liquefied Natural Gas Global Company LDC, Permian Express Partners LLC, Phillips Exploration LLC, Qatar Liquefied Gas Company Limited, Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited, Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited (II), SPI Limited, Saudi Aramco Mobil Refinery Company Ltd., Saudi Yanbu Petrochemical Co., SeaRiver Maritime Inc., South Hook LNG Terminal Company Limited, Tengizchevroil LLP, Terminale GNL Adriatico S.r.l, Trend Gathering & Treating LLC, Wolverine Pipe Line Company, XH LLC, XTO Delaware Basin LLC, XTO Energy Canada, XTO Energy Inc., and XTO Holdings LLC. Schlumberger NV engages in the provision of technology for reservoir characterization, drilling, production and processing to the oil and gas industry. It operates through the following business segments: Digital and Integration; Reservoir Performance; Well Construction; and Production Systems. The Digital and Integration segment combines the company's software and seismic businesses with its integrated offering of asset performance solutions. The Reservoir Performance segment consists of reservoir-centric technologies and services that are critical to optimizing reservoir productivity and performance. The Well Construction segment includes the full portfolio of products and services to optimize well placement and performance, maximize drilling efficiency, and improve wellbore assurance. The Production Systems segment develops technologies and provides expertise that enhances production and recovery from subsurface reservoirs to the surface, into pipelines, and to refineries. The company was founded by Conrad Schlumberger and Marcel Schlumberger in 1926 and is headquartered in Houston, TX. Read More Wall Street analysts have given Enel Generacion Chile a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but Enel Generacion Chile wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. Valvoline, Inc. is engaged in producing, marketing and supplying of engine & automotive maintenance products and services. The company operates through three segments: Quick Lubes, Core North America and International. The Quick Lubes segment provides services to passenger car and light truck quick lube market through company-owned and independent franchised retail quick lube service center stores and independent express care stores that service vehicles with valvoline products. The Core North America segment sells engine and automotive maintenance products in the United States and Canada to retailers, installers, and heavy-duty customers to service vehicles and equipment. The International segment sells engine and automotive products in more than 140 countries outside of the United States and Canada for the maintenance of consumer and commercial vehicles and equipment. Its products include motor oil, gear oil, pro-v racing and antifreeze and radiator. Valvoline was founded in 1866 and is headquartered in Lexington, KY. Read More Honeywell International, Inc. is a software industrial company, which offers industry specific solutions to aerospace and automotive products and services. It specializes in turbochargers control, sensing and security technologies for buildings and homes; specialty chemicals; electronic and advanced materials; process technology for refining and petrochemicals; and energy efficient products and solutions for homes, business and transportation. It operates through the following segments: Aerospace; Home and Building Technologies; Performance Materials and Technologies; and Safety and Productivity Solutions. The Aerospace segment provides aircraft engines, integrated avionics, systems and service solutions, and related products and services for aircraft manufacturers, turbochargers to improve the performance and efficiency of passenger cars and commercial vehicles as well as spare parts, repair, overhaul and maintenance services like, auxiliary power units, propulsion engines, environmental control systems, wireless connectivity services, electric power systems, engine controls, flight safety, communications, navigation hardware and software, radar and surveillance systems, aircraft lighting, management and technical services, advanced systems and instruments, satellite and space components, aircraft wheels and brakes, repair and overhaul services, turbochargers and thermal systems. The Home and Building Technologies segment provides products, software, solutions and technologies that help owners of homes stay connected and in control of their comfort, security and energy use such as controls and displays for heating, cooling, indoor air quality, ventilation, humidification combustion, lighting and home automation; advanced software applications for building control and optimization; sensors, switches, control systems and instruments for measuring pressure, air flow, temperature and electrical current; products, services and solutions for measurement, regulation, control and metering of gases and electricity; metering and communications systems for water utilities and industries; access control; video surveillance; fire products; remote patient monitoring systems; and installation, maintenance, and upgrades of systems. The Performance Materials and Technologies segment develops and manufactures materials, process technologies, and automation solutions. It provides process solutions in automation control, instrumentation, advanced software, and related services for the oil and gas, refining, pulp and paper, industrial power generation, chemicals and petrochemicals, biofuels, life sciences, and metals, minerals and mining industries. The Safety and Productivity Solutions segment provides products, software and connected solutions which include personal protection equipment and footwear designed for work, play and outdoor activities. It also offers gas detection technology, mobile devices and software for computing, data collection and thermal printing; supply chain and warehouse automation equipment, software and solutions; custom-engineered sensors, switches and controls for sensing and productivity solutions; and software-based data and asset management productivity solutions. The company was founded by Albert M. Butz in 1906 and is headquartered in Charlotte, NC. Read More The East German authorities have begun a purge of senior officials accused of plotting against the state and spying for imperialistic powers. Several officers, including the Christian Democratic Foreign Minister, Georg Dertinger, and a number of Jewish politicians, have either been removed or have disappeared in the past few days. The arrests follow a similar purge in Czechoslovakia last November which led to the trial in Prague of 14 senior Communists, 11 of them Jewish, charged with espionage and treason. Former Communist Party General Secretary Rudolf Slansky was among those convicted of plotting against the Czech Government and executed on 3 December. The chief prosecutor at the trial claimed Slansky had had criminal contacts with Israeli agents and that these agents had been interfering in government. Two weeks after the Prague trial it was revealed in Moscow that several doctors, some of whom are Jewish, had conspired to poison the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. The so-called Doctors Plot coincided with a spate of anti-Zionist propaganda and was followed by a number of arrests as the ailing Soviet dictator tried to bolster his position. Reports today from Berlin say it is not yet clear why Mr Dertinger has been detained, but he was known to be friendly with Otto Fischl, the Czech representative in East Berlin, who was one of those hanged last month. He has always been openly supportive of the Soviet Union but as a member of the East German Christian Democratic Union he was also a supporter of a united Germany. He has been foreign minister since the provisional East German Government was formed in September 1949. Reports say Peter Florin, a Jewish member of the foreign ministry, has also been replaced. It looks as if these arrests are only the beginning of a more widespread purge of political groups and organisations in East Germany. Meanwhile in West Germany there have been mounting protests, especially among right-wing politicians, at the arrest yesterday of several leading neo-Nazis by the British. The British High Commissioner said those detained were accused of infiltrating West German political parties and were known as the Naumann circle after Dr Werner Naumann, former State Secretary in Goebbels Ministry of Propaganda. Courtesy BBC News In context The arrests in East Germany were just the beginning of a purge which extended to all political parties, trade unions, youth organisations, womens and pensioners groups. It followed similar purges in other Eastern Bloc countries, as the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin sought to consolidate his power behind the Iron Curtain. Forces of the East German police raided the homes and offices of all Jewish people in the Soviet Zone and East Berlin. Many documents were confiscated and families were instructed to remain close to their homes. Georg Dertinger was imprisoned in 1954 for espionage and treason. He was pardoned in 1964. The number fleeing to West Berlin increased and on 17 June 1953 there was a public uprising, which was quickly put down by Soviet tanks. But unrest at the speed of economic recovery in the west led to a continual exodus from the east and led to the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961. Werner Naumann was held in custody for seven months and then released. He later tried to run for political office but was unsuccessful. GENEVA The United Nations expressed alarm on Thursday about a surge of fighting and destruction in the Idlib Province of northwestern Syria, the last major area of the country held by insurgents, where assaults by Russian-backed Syrian forces have put tens of thousands of civilians at risk. United Nations relief officials also called on Thursday for an urgent humanitarian pause in fighting around Eastern Ghouta, the rebel-held Damascus suburb where roughly 400,000 civilians have long been trapped without access to emergency aid. The assault on Idlib, including areas near the Turkish border, has forced more than 100,000 people to flee for safety since the start of December, Jan Egeland, the United Nations adviser on humanitarian affairs in Syria, said after a meeting of a humanitarian task force in Geneva on Thursday. The United Nations estimates Idlibs population at 2.5 million, including more than a million who fled or were evacuated to the province to escape offensives elsewhere in the country, and who are packed into camps scattered across the province. YEREVAN. According to the Julian calendar, Old New Year is celebrated on the night of January 13. By and large, people in Armenia celebrate the Old New Year at home with family members. Painter Lusik Aguletsi, however, expressed a view that Armenians interest toward national holidaysespecially New Yearhas gone, since they put no meaning in it and turn it solely into a feast. In her words, one of the most important attributes of Armenian New Year is the ritual tree, which used to be decorated primarily with apples, pomegranates, and household dolls. Also, Armenians used to mostly put seed of beans on the New Years table. As per Lusik Aguletsi, each seed has its meaning. And wheat is associated with Jesus, as they are brothers and have the same fate. In Lusik Aguletsis words, aside from Santa Claus, there also are other characters that preserve the Armenian national New Years values and rituals; but they are forgotten today. Armenia FM receives China Ambassador Azerbaijani media report launch of Turkish-Azeri joint military exercises in Lachin region Armenia Deputy PM, World Bank delegation discuss current joint programs Digest: Armenian ex-presidents lawyer files lawsuit, Yerevan resident brutally kills his wife Armenia PM receives new Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Jean-Paul Belmondo passes away aged 88 Guinean government officials ban from leaving country Armenia ex-MP: August 25 fights in parliament were show of force by current authorities Ex-deputy defense minister: Yerevan should discuss with Moscow legal mechanisms for peacekeepers presence in Artsakh Families of another 76 heroic Armenian servicemen receive compensation Armenian ex-MP: Armenia's role in South Caucasus being reduced to a minimum Taliban execute pregnant Afghan police officer in front of her family Podguzov: EDB interested in considerably increasing Armenia's portfolio in next 5 years Viticulturists of Armenia's Ujan shut down Yerevan-Ashtarak highway, half of factories not purveying grapes Merkel gives consent to talks with the Taliban Lavrov: Russia would be glad to participate in ceremony for announcing new Afghan government Armenia PM sacks deputy emergency situations minister Revenue committee sums up results of 23rd measure to neutralize Armenia economic consequences of coronavirus Dollar drops in Armenia Health ministry: 303,325 people so far vaccinated in Armenia against coronavirus Armenia Constitutional Court to examine opposition's application challenging parliamentary speaker's election Armenia FM to OSCE Minsk Group's new Russian Co-Chair: Speedy, unconditional repatriation of POWs necessary Health minister: As of October 1 Armenia employees must be vaccinated against coronavirus Armenia ruling party interested in expanding cooperation with Russia ruling party, says parliament vice-speaker Armenia opposition MP: That matter should be on each sessions agenda until parliament commission chair is elected Murder in Yerevan, police release video Political bloc formed in Gyumri, it will run in local elections Karabakh President visits Berdashen, Ashan villages of Martuni region Oil prices are down 1% Resistance forces deny Taliban takeover of Panjshir and intend to continue fighting Netherlands ready to assist Armenia in implementing judicial reforms OSCE Minsk Group new Russian Co-Chair meets with Armenia FM One dead, 5 injured after car accident on Meghri-Yerevan motorway 4th Armenian festival opens in Paris (PHOTOS) Opposition MP: Attempt being made to gradually take Armenia out of Artsakh-related processes Unibank to celebrate 20th anniversary organizing festival of intellectual games Russia peacekeepers in Artsakh secure safe grape harvesting Lawyer on Armenia ex-president Sargsyan v. MP Sukiasyan lawsuit: We will go after all lies 239 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia 2 Yerevan neighborhood residents on hunger strike for 12th day Armenia Armed Forces General Staff chief attends International Army Games closing ceremony Brutal murder in Yerevan Taliban announce capture of Afghanistans Panjshir province Bitcoin exceeds $51K for first time since May Robot patrol service launched in Singapore Brazil snake venom helps fight coronavirus? US 60% of respondents disapprove of Biden's decision on Afghanistan Merkel welcomes resumption of Kabul airport Armenian Defense Minister: We must learn to defend our country if necessary Russian pianists Miroslav Kultishev and Viktor Maslov are winners of 2nd Classic Piano International Piano Competition Taliban ban shooting into the air throughout Afghanistan Boeing 787 Dreamliner deliveries to not resume until late October Man dies in shark attack in Australia Death toll in ISIS militants attack in Iraq rises to 12 Alexey Shor: The Armenian State Symphony Orchestra led by Sergey Smbatyan has become a world-class orchestra Ombudsman: Azerbaijanis burned section of road from Norabak village to Azat Armenia confirms 423 COVID-19 new cases in a day Saudi air defense forces destroy three mined Houthi drones 3 people killed in Washington shooting Political analyst: It is decided in Moscow who will or will not visit Artsakh Another fallen Armenian soldiers remains found during Artsakh search operations President confers Hero of Artsakh title Le Drian: France will continue assisting Armenia in overcoming consequences of Karabakh conflict More than 5,000 people evacuated in China after damage to dam Over 70 people killed or wounded in Afghanistan aerial gunshots Deputy chief of North Macedonia mission to OSCE detained at Armenia's request Taliban say they have taken control of 4 districts in Afghanistans Panjshir province EU assists Armenia enterprises engaged in dried-fruit production, export (PHOTOS) Grape growers reopen road in Armenias Ararat 17 people killed after indiscriminate shots fired in Kabul 4 new cases of coronavirus reported in Karabakh Blinken to Mirzoyan: US Embassy in Yerevan ready to assist you, your government 7 injured in New Zealand supermarket knife attack Artsakh presidential adviser dismissed Grape growers block road in Armenias Ararat Province Female passenger dies on the spot after car hits horse in Armenias Syunik Province 621 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Dead body of man, 45, with gunshot wounds found on Yerevan street Armenia army General Staff chief heads for Moscow Google locks Afghanistan government accounts City to be built in US desert for millions of people Denmark to build giant 'energy island' at sea Newspaper: 'Soros' NGOs to bring 2 large-scale education programs to Armenia Newspaper: Satellite footage of 44-day Artsakh war could make scandalous revelations Some 6,000 Islamic extremists surrender to Nigeria authorities Aram Khachaturian's Violin Concerto to be performed in Dubai Digest: Trial on Armenian soldiers death to begin, footballer who played in Armenia commits suicide Mongolia exploring possibility of signing free trade agreement with EEU Dollar gains value in Armenia Armenia receives donation of 27,500 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines from Lithuania (PHOTOS) Hysteria brewing in Azerbaijan media: Russia MOD making purchases to send to Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Security Council chief: Armenia ready for border delimitation, demarcation Lavrov reveals content of 2009 letter he sent to then Armenia FM Lavrov: Karabakh conflict settlement agreements being successfully implemented Italian researcher searching for Noah's Ark is laid to rest near Mount Ararat Sputnik Armenia: Commander of Russia peacekeepers in Karabakh visits arrested Azerbaijan soldier Armenia serviceman posthumously awarded Combat Service Medal Afghanistan's new government to be headed by Taliban co-founder Mullah Baradar Iranologist: Armenia-Iran-Russia format can be created on Goris-Kapan road issue Goris mayor's lawyers file motion with Armenia court to release him on bail YEREVAN. Even though the ban on imports of vehicles with right-hand steering wheels will lead to price increases in the car market of Armenia, this fluctuation in prices will not be considerable. Tigran Hovhannisyan, Chairman of the Drivers Defense League NGO, expressed such a view speaking to Armenian News-NEWS.am. The customs rates specified for importing automobiles [into Armenia] have been reduced, said Hovhannisyan. Thats why, in my view, the price fluctuations in the [countrys] car market will not be so great. The Armenian government on Thursday made a decision whereby the import, registration, and operation of vehicles with right-hand steering wheels shall be banned in Armenia, as of April 1. This ban, however, will not apply to the owners of such cars that were imported before April 1. Islamist movement Hamas said Saturday it would not participate in a meeting of Palestinian leaders to debate responses to the controversial US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. The decision not to take part in the meeting to begin late Sunday is a further setback to failing reconciliation efforts between leading Palestinian factions. "We have taken the decision not to participate in the meeting of the (Palestinian) Central Council in Ramallah," Hamas said in a statement, however stressing its "commitment to the unity of our people". "The conditions under which the committee will be held will not enable it to carry out a comprehensive and responsible political review, and will prevent decisions that reach the level of our aspirations." The two-day meeting will bring together the heads of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the internationally recognised representative of the Palestinian people. Hamas and Islamic Jihad, another Palestinian Islamist movement, were invited to attend despite not being part of the PLO. Islamic Jihad has also announced it would not take part. Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip, had been pushing for the meeting to be held outside the Palestinian territories but Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas decided instead to host it in Ramallah, the base of his government in the West Bank. The Hamas statement said this left them subject to the "pressures" of Israel, which occupies the West Bank and regularly arrests Hamas officials. The meeting is due to discuss responses to US President Donald Trump's December 6 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. The decision infuriated Palestinian leaders, who see at least the east of the city as the capital of a future Palestinian state. Trump's administration has also not publicly committed to the idea of an independent Palestinian state, and the PLO office in Washington was briefly threatened with closure. Osceola County, FL - The mother of teenage boy was abducted and killed in Florida after a hitman and his girlfriend mistook her for the intended victim, according to reports. Authorities late Friday announced three arrests in the death of 42-year-old Janice Zengotita-Torres, of Kissimmee. Her body was found Tuesday. They said Ishnar Lopez-Ramos, 35, wanted to kill a woman who was in a relationship with a man she loved, Fox 35 Orlando reported. That woman, who was never harmed, and Zengotita-Torres, who was married and the mother of a 14-year-old boy, were co-workers. Lopez-Ramos then hired Alexis Ramos-Rivera and Glorianmarie Quinones Montes to carry out the murder, the station reported. According to the station, the pair, both 22, kidnapped Zengotita-Torres after she left work Sunday and drove home. Osceola County Sheriff Russ Gibson said they eventually realized Zengotita-Torres was the wrong woman, but they killed her anyway. "The suspects continued with their plan of murder and tied the victim with zip ties, and then her head in duct tape and garbage bags," he said, according to the station. He said when Zengotita-Torres tried to fight back she was beaten unconscious. Her killers drove 80 miles and dumped her body in Volusia County, the station reported. Investigators arrested Lopez-Ramos after she used Zengotita-Torres ATM card, the station reported. She led investigators to the other two suspects in the case. They have been charged with murder and jailed. All three confirmed that this was a murder-for-hire and that the victim was mistakenly targeted and murdered," Gibson said. One station reported that Gibson choked up as he announced the arrests. "I get emotional because it just touches me so deeply that one of our citizens was killed in such a manner over a mistaken identification, and in the end it appears to be a lovers' triangle," he said, according to WFTV. "Wow." Last summer my life changed on a trip to Palestine. These are my words. Racisms STILL ALIVE they just be concealin it. https://t.co/GkrpeYmFQw vino the agitator (@VicMensa) January 12, 2018 Chicago rapper Vic Mensa has penned an op-ed for Time, entitled What Palestine Taught Me About American Racism. In the essay, he reflects on his recent visit to Palestine and what he witnessed while there. Mensa notes the experiences he has had as a black man growing up in Chicago's South side parallel the daily lives of Palestinians. The parallels between the black American experience and the Palestinian experience are overwhelming. He draws many similarities between Palestine and Chicagos South side, the lack of clean water in Flint, Michigan, and the tragic story of Kalief Browder. A quote from his piece: "An elderly man with a face of leather spoke to us in Arabic saying, Now that you have seen with your own eyes, return home and explain what you saw. Place pressure on the U.S. government to place pressure on Israel. Herein lies the purpose of this composition. I write to inform all those who will hear me of the treacherous denial of human rights to the Palestinian people living under occupation. These scenes of oppression and abuse will be forever etched into my memory, burned into my minds eye." Also, check out his powerful video for the song "If we could be free": I wanted to make a video to show solidarity with people struggling against oppression all over the world, Mensa said in a press release. I took scenes from the military occupation of a village I visited in Palestine and juxtaposed them with racial violence in America to show how similar our struggles are and imagine a world without division. Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bd3crhXhMKc/?taken-by=vicmensa https://twitter.com/VicMensa/status/951940853374713856 http://time.com/5095435/vic-mensa-palestine-israel-jerusalem/ OP note: This is my first post. I fixed the layout, I'm sorry! Stop yelling at me :( One of his friends also wrote a eulogy on him for Dazed & Confused - http://www.dazeddigital.com/life-culture/article/38629/1/harry-uzoka-a-beautiful-model-and-blessed-friend-taken-too-soon That photoshoot they did together was iconic for a lot of young black girls - two young black models who looked like the people they saw around them, and they were both dark skin, I can't even look at the photos the same way anymore. when my little brother died, his ex-gf came out of the woodwork and made his death all about her. they hadn't dated in months, and she treated him like shit between their breakup and his death, and yet when he died she crawled back to my parents and insisted that he was her BEST FRIEND. she was the only non-family member at his viewing and his funeral, and it was clear that his death was an opportunity to make her own life seem more complicated/interesting/tragic. for a couple of years, she would keep in touch with my parents and they'd take her out and buy her things. give her money for school. she manipulated my mom, who couldn't help but see her as a connection to my little brother. fuck her. anyway, i'm making no presumptions about Leomie Anderson's relationship with her ex - this post just reminded me of how much i hate that little manipulative cunt. fuck you you fucking seagull dropping Reply Thread Link "Thats a pretty good memory" Hm so he means that it's funny how when women endure extremely traumatic events in their (young) lives they tend to remember even when they get older! who would have thought Edited at 2018-01-14 03:54 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link I feel like this is basically a confession from him. Like, he didn't expect her to remember something that probably didn't feel like a big deal to him because he is a piece of shit. Not that I needed a confession from him, but it is interesting to see how these people basically can't even lie or deny it believably when accused. Reply Parent Thread Link I don't think it's a confession, I think it's him implying that she's lying because people don't remember things that vividly (which is bullshit). Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I took that to mean that he is saying that all he remembers is taking her for a swim and he is offended that she would say something that risks his career and tarnishes his cherished memory of their fun day together or wtfever. Not that he thinks Eliza has good recall. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Women can't fucking win. Men question victims if their memory is bad or in this case (and same with the Aziz story) questioning them because their memory is *too* detailed. rmfe Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I can remember detailed medical traumas when I was TWO. To the point all my main triggers in life are related to that moment because it happened so early. You bet your ass I remember the exact moment I realized I was being abused by one of my exes. UGH. Reply Parent Thread Link MTE Reply Parent Thread Link Weird huh? This asshole pisses me off so much. I have worked with children who've been sexually abused and their stories are heartbreaking. And hearing this guy talk like this Reply Parent Thread Link When your first instinct is to say "I didn't do that, OH NO MY CAREER!" instead of "That's an atrocious thing to do to anyone,", excuse me if I find you hard to believe, stunt coordinator. Reply Thread Link Really? Because if someone lied and said that I'd done something terrible to them, my first reaction wouldn't be "omg no you poor thing, that thing that didn't actually happen to you was atrocious" but "you bitch, you're a fucking liar and you're ruining my career." It's absolutely what someone would say and think if they were innocent. It's also what someone would say if they were guilty and I believe that he is guilty. Reply Parent Thread Link that's not what OC said though. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link http://deadline.com/2018/01/eliza-dushku-true-lies-legal-guardian-sexual-assault-allegations-joel-kramer-1202242637/ Has this been posted. I know her random comment was posted from The Wrap article but Eliza's guardian on set spoke out in support of Eliza. Reply Thread Link oh my god Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah, I don't believe James Cameron didn't know, not if Eliza's guardian and apparently others on set were trying to keep Joel away from her. Reply Parent Thread Link Hmm I'm torn on just assuming he knew because sometimes the set folks job is to keep ~distractions away from the directors. I could see them trying to discreetly handle a situation like this rather than make the director aware of it. I mean this happens all the time in every day corporate America too. Everything doesn't bubble up even the stuff that seems important. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link This made me cry. So many adults knew and saw inappropriate behavior and failed to protect her. Edited at 2018-01-14 04:18 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link This is so heartbreaking. I wish her parents or someone else had yanked her from the movie. I know they didn't know the full story of him taking her to a hotel, but someone needed to protect her. No movie is worth this. JFC. Reply Parent Thread Link Im glad she spoke up officially after leaving that comment on the other article. Reply Parent Thread Link Not ur career :( how will u gain access to 12 y/o girls then? Reply Thread Link The urn is long overdue. Reply Thread Link We're going to need a bigger urn. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Lmao Reply Parent Thread Link when i visited the christiansborg palace they showed us a room full of "hadegifter", hate gifts, aka stuff the royal family gets that's ugly as shit but they can't toss out. they had two massive urns that the ppl of denmark collectively gifted their royal couple for their anniversary. i think those two ugly-ass things should fit a lot of terrible men. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link [sitcom laugh track] Reply Parent Thread Link lol Reply Parent Thread Link "that's a pretty good memory" she was 12... not 2? and assault is something one doesn't forget. Reply Thread Link Fuck this molesting piece of shit, his career should be the last of his worries. Reply Thread Link It honestly sounds like he thinks because she was so young that her memory would have been altered. Molestation is a very traumatic event. What an awful man. I'm glad she came forward Reply Thread Link i hope he dies. Reply Thread Link It wasn't. Not from my reading of it. Reply Parent Thread Link That's what I remember too; and don't want to re-read it. She wrote that thankfully her shorts were tightly fastened or something like that. So awful.. Reply Parent Thread Link I was thinking that too. She said he took his off but not hers from what I recall. Reply Parent Thread Link It wasn't. He was nude, she was wearing clothes. I remember that detail because she wrote something about her shorts. I think something like they were hard to remove. Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah. She said her white shorts were hard to remove. It was so vivid and specific. :( Reply Parent Thread Link You'd think, when denying allegations, you'd double check to know what actions you're denying. What a scumbag idiot. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Right. Way to spill your own tea. Reply Parent Thread Link this is like a terrible parody "you sent that letter" "i didn't send any blue envelope!" "nobody mentioned a blue envelope" "oops" like. not just a complete piece of shit but cartoonishly dumb as well. Reply Parent Thread Link Maybe he got his victims mixed up. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link yeah like it's very obvious he didn't even pay attention to what she was talking about. He's probably done this so many times that he's just issuing a blanket "not me, not me, never, muh career!", but she was pretty explicit about making sure her clothes stayed on even though she was terrified. let him suffer. Reply Parent Thread Link literally mte Reply Parent Thread Link no, he just exposed his nasty ass accidentally. he clearly didn't bother reading her entire statement and just assumed that by sexual assault she meant rape, and his pavlovian response was "but i never took her clothes off", meaning how could i have assaulted her if she remained fully dressed, meaning he knows exactly what he did. Reply Parent Thread Link Yuck. You might be right on the money. Reply Parent Thread Link mte Reply Parent Thread Link This is depressingly accurate. Reply Parent Thread Link I think when he made that statement, the reporter was reading Elizas post to him over the phone and he was hearing it for the first time. Its understandable to not recall each detail perfectly under those circumstances. I still think hes lying, though. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Abusers are always claiming amnesia... He's not even being subtle in his attempt at discrediting her, disgusting Reply Thread Link Fuck him and his career. Does he really think anyone will buy the idea that she just picked some stunt guy from 25 years ago to accuse? For what? Because she sure as shit isn't going to gain anything from admitting it. Fuck James Cameron too. It's great to see support for her though, especially nice to see Tom Arnold support her. Reply Thread Link What are some good books you guys can recommend? Also, any books about intersectional feminism? Reply Thread Link Thanks for sharing this list! Reply Parent Thread Link Has anyone read The Woman in the Window yet? I have it on hold at the library but I'm tempted to buy it. It annoys me that it's written by a man though, lol. I'm about 25 pages into All Quiet on the Western Front. I'm sobbing like every 5 pages. Reply Thread Link I am also wondering about The Woman in the Window because it's one of the Book of the Month choices. Reply Parent Thread Link I kinda want to read The Woman in the Window too, though the premise reminds me a bit of The Girl on the Train lol Reply Parent Thread Link How much does the botm cost? I've been thinking about signing up for it. Reply Parent Thread Link i need good new horror/thriller books!! Reply Thread Link Same Reply Parent Thread Link Like new in publish date or Reply Parent Thread Link https://www.amazon.com/Horrorstor-Novel-Grady-Hendrix/dp/1594745269 horrostor is great and fun Reply Parent Thread Link I'm reading Carrion Comfort by Dab Simmons atm zvcd loving it Reply Parent Thread Link a head full of ghosts by paul tremblay was pretty good. the little stranger by sarah waters was good too. both are considered horror i guess. Edited at 2018-01-15 10:29 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link I've been looking for contemporary books about women in the workplace - any suggestions? I tried to search for "women in the workplace" on overdrive and half the results were mostly just erotica, soooo... Reply Thread Link no, I meant fiction. I read the assistants a couple years ago and it was decent. the devil wears Prada movie was better than the book tho Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I want books like that too! I tried The Love Wars by L. Allison Heller but it was just okay. I liked the academia aspect in Still Alice but obviously there's more to that book with the Alzheimer's being the focus. I know I liked The Undomestic Goddess when I first read it though re-reads of Sophie Kinsella's books aren't always holding up for me so only if you like her writing (plus it's more about leaving a high-powered workplace). I really want to read Chemistry by Weike Wang and Imperfect Chemistry by Mary Frame. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I think The Animators would fit, but I haven't read it yet. I just finished reading the Cork Dork, which is a memoir-type thing, but it's a cool like about working in the wine industry. Reply Parent Thread Link The Second Assistant: A Tale from the Bottom of the Hollywood Ladder & the follow up/sequel The First Assistant: A Continuing Tale from Behind the Hollywood Curtain by Clare Naylor & Mimi Hare. Reply Parent Thread Link dating you/hating you? Reply Parent Thread Link i'm still reading little women. i like it but i didn't expect it to be kinda jesus-y at parts. and they can be a little snotty lol Reply Thread Link yeah. it can get pretty preachy. Reply Parent Thread Link Everyone has been talking about it. I used to read Holly Black (before she and CC got together), I was obsessed with her Tithe, Valliant and Ironside books when they came out. She wrote about the fae/faerie world so well. I'm willing to give this one a go, too. Reply Parent Thread Link I did. I thought it was pretty shit tbh. Her worldbuilding is terrible. Reply Parent Thread Link i finally read "final girls" by riley sager and it was okay. a quick, lazy day read. i'm reading "little fires everywhere" now and i'm only three chapters in but i really like it Reply Thread Link Landline by Rowell? Personally I liked that one more than Attachments but I was hesitant to start it because I don't like reading troubled marriage books Reply Parent Thread Link I did not like The Power at all. Interesting premise, but idk it just didn't deliver/was overhyped. Reply Parent Thread Link I hated the Power. Reply Parent Thread Link I highly dislike all of Rainbow Rowell's books LOL Reply Parent Thread Link I bought a bookshelf and have purchased so many damn books in order to fill it up. I've only read like 10 of them total. I have to stop buying books until I read more of the ones I already have. Reply Thread Link I have to stop buying books until I read more of the ones I already have. my eternal struggle lol. or i keep finding books at the library that i want to check out and read. Reply Parent Thread Link I have books I've bought in hardcover that have been out in paperback for years that I still haven't gotten around to reading. Whoops at me Reply Parent Thread Link I did this with my current bookshelf and I bought so many I need a bigger bookshelf now. I probably shouldn't even be in this post because I'm looking for more books lol Reply Parent Thread Link I have this problem too. I have three large storage containers at my mom's house full of books, plus the bookshelf in my childhood bedroom. My spouse brought me a kindle to help me cut down on buying books, but it hurts my eyes and I get annoyed with it having problems charging so I'm limited on reading time. I've gone back to buying physical books, guess it just an addiction. Reply Parent Thread Link MEEEE but I always buy more. I just bought 3 more LMAO. I have nooo more room. Ugh. Reply Parent Thread Link I've been beefing up my goodreads lately and it's pretty overwhelming looking at all of the books out there I want to read vs how much time I have to read them. Anyone doing a reading challenge this year? I'm going conservative goal I can meet of 36 Reply Thread Link Mine is 30 which is higher than what I read last year but so far I've read 0 books LOL. This month is not going great but I'll be less busy next month! (Yet Olympics...) Reply Parent Thread Link I'm doing 111 this year... I think I barely made it to 50 last year since I kept getting mired in books that were really not good but I felt compelled to finish so it'd take me months to will myself to keep reading most I've done was 142 and tbh I could've done better Reply Parent Thread Link i'm only going for 20 because it's been a looonnng time since i've been good about reading for fun. Reply Parent Thread Link Oh man, I totally understand. My reading mojo disappears on me a lot and I can go months without cracking a book for pleasure. I think the key is to make a habit of it and get into a groove and stay there as long as you can. That and turning off netflix sometimes because then the hours don't just disappear, at least in my experience Reply Parent Thread Expand Link 52! But you knew that already Reply Parent Thread Link I usually go for 50, but I've been in a horrible reading slump lately, so I've bumped it down to 20 lmao Reply Parent Thread Link I added 10% onto the amount of books I read in 2017, so 70 books. I'm off to a slow start. Reply Parent Thread Link I'm aiming for 30, but most years I only hit about 20 because I just don't have enough quiet time to sit by myself and read. Reply Parent Thread Link I made it super easy for myself with 12 books, but then I said I would read 10,000 pages so I'll definitely be reading more than 12 books. Reply Parent Thread Link I usually set mine at 24, so I have the chance of going over but never failing to meet it. Reply Parent Thread Link I set mine at 35. I was trying to be ambitious last year with 50, but only managed to read 28. Reply Parent Thread Link Mine is 20 because I started grad school, but I'm already at 3, so I might have to extend haha. Reply Parent Thread Link I'm going for 24. I read 42 last year, but I dont count the books I read for school in there and this year I will have a lot. so I'm going for a more realistic goal. Reply Parent Thread Link I set my goal at 50. I usually reread one or two of my favorite series each year, it helps having books that you kind of breeze through cause you enjoy them so much. Reply Parent Thread Link why doesn't ontd ever do shelfie posts? Reply Thread Link make one bitch!! Reply Parent Thread Link one of the million book posts that goes up daily just needs to add an authors note like "ontd, post your book shelves, you big book loving sluts! #shelfielife Reply Parent Thread Expand Link hey now some of us are avid library patrons!! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I'm 100 pages into Pachinko and if they keep this up, I understand all the praise. Reply Thread Link <3 Pachinko Reply Parent Thread Link omg Pachinko was such a great family saga. enjoy the rest!!! Reply Parent Thread Link I'm so excited to read that ngl Reply Parent Thread Link One of my favourite books ever! I think I was only 9 pages in when I started crying. The family is so amazing and lovely. Reply Parent Thread Link I went to B&N today and got a hardback of Slade House for about 5 bucks. I'm not really a huge fan of hardbacks, but hey, 5 bucks! And a blue moleskine for when I read House of Leaves with Mark Z. Danielewski in his book club he's doing! Gotta take those notes! I created a book instagram last night that I'll hopefully use to post my amazingly bad photos of books (staring my dogs <3) Reply Thread Link I want to make a bookstagram but I only read digital now lol. Reply Parent Thread Link I've seen people have their e-readers photographed with their coffee and cookies on top of it! Mine will never be aesthetically pleasing. I mostly take them on my bed spread or me holding them. Sometimes my dog is used as a prop to hold it up lol When people have pictures of their laptops open on the bed with their coffee sitting on the wrist rests or w/e their called, it gives me anxiety. Computers are too expensive to be doing that! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Saaame Reply Parent Thread Link Aw, just screencap the cover or a page, or just photograph your e-reader with the cover page like you would a book. I do it. Reply Parent Thread Link I finished The Alienist a few days ago and it was dope. Thinking about reading the sequel as well. Reply Thread Link i've been wanting to read that before the show but the library doesn't have it. I might just dl or buy it and your comment has encouraged me to do that. Reply Parent Thread Link The Dutch clothing retailer C&A declined to confirm or deny if they are selling the fashion chain to Chinese investors The billionaire family that owns Dutch clothing retailer C&A is on the brink of selling the chain to Chinese investors, a German media report said Sunday. The deal is close to being finalised, Der Spiegel weekly said, citing "insider sources". C&A, founded in the Netherlands in 1841 by the German-Dutch Brenninkmeijer family, has over 1,500 stores across Europe employing some 35,000 people. The chain, which focuses on offering affordable clothing for men, women and children, also has a smaller presence in China, Mexico and Brazil. The reclusive Brenninkmeijer family owns C&A through the Cofra Holding company headquartered in Switzerland. C&A declined to confirm or deny the mooted sale when contacted by Spiegel, the magazine said. The Cofra holding company told the magazine in a statement that C&A was looking into growth opportunities in all regions. "The ongoing restructuring of C&A also includes exploring different ways to pick up the pace in growth markets like China and in the digital area, and could potentially include partnerships and other kinds of additional, external participations." Believed to be worth some 20 billion euros, the Brenninkmeijer family is one of Europe's wealthiest and most secretive, according to Spiegel. It is also large, comprising some 1,000 family members whose shares in C&A are bundled into the Cofra Holding company based in the Swiss town of Zug, Spiegel added. 2018 AFP In a horrific Facebook post early Saturday morning, actress Eliza Dushku accused stunt coordinator Joel Kramer of sexually assaulting her during the filming of True Lies, when she was 12 years old and Kramer was 36. Kramer immediately denied Dushkus allegations. Heres Dushkus account of the alleged assault: I remember, so clearly 25 years later, how Joel Kramer made me feel special, how he methodically built my and my parents trust, for months grooming me; exactly how he lured me to his Miami hotel room with a promise to my parent that he would take me for a swim at the stunt crews hotel pool and for my first sushi meal thereafter. I remember vividly how he methodically drew the shades and turned down the lights; how he cranked up the air-conditioning to what felt like freezing levels, where exactly he placed me on one of the two hotel room beds, what movie he put on the television (Coneheads); how he disappeared in the bathroom and emerged, naked, bearing nothing but a small hand towel held flimsy at his mid-section. I remember what I was wearing (my favorite white denim shorts, thankfully, secured enough for me to keep on). I remember how he laid me down on the bed, wrapped me with his gigantic writhing body, and rubbed all over me. He spoke these words: Youre not going to sleep on me now sweetie, stop pretending youre sleeping, as he rubbed harder and faster against my catatonic body. When he was finished, he suggested, I think we should be careful [about telling anyone] he meant. I was 12, he was 36. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As an added horror, Dushku explains that, as the stunt coordinator, Kramer was responsible for her safety in life-and-death matters, writing that on a daily basis, he rigged wires and harnesses on my 12 year old body he hung me in the open air, from a tower crane, atop an office tower, 25+ stories high. Adding to her general sense that Kramer was a threat, Dushku says that she broke several ribs in an on-set stunt mishap hours after a tough adult female friend confronted him over the alleged abuse. Speaking with the Hollywood Reporter, Kramer called Dushkus claims outrageous lies, saying hed never been alone with her. We took care of her like she was our kid. Luring her up to my hotel room is just crazy. He said he had no memory of Dushku being seriously injured on set, but that she may have gotten bruised. Kramer also said that an on-set assistant had told him during the filming of True Lies that Dushku had a crush on him. I dont know what goes through a young girls mind. Something set her off somewhere, he told the Hollywood Reporter. Kramer also said that he was considering his legal options: Advertisement Advertisement Im not even angry, Im just so hurt. Im probably going to have to talk to an attorney at some point, that will cost me thousands of dollars to get to the bottom of this, but why would I want to countersue and ruin her life? Its a lose-lose for everybody. Dushku wrote that she felt empowered to speak out at last because of the post-Weinstein flood of women coming forward to confront their abusers. I am grateful to the women and men who have gone before me in recent months. The ever-growing list of sexual abuse and harassment victims who have spoken out with their truths have finally given me the ability to speak out. It has been indescribably exhausting, bottling this up inside me for all of these years. Through the years, brave fans have regularly shared with me how some of my characters have given them the conviction to stand up to their abusers. Now it is you who give me strength and conviction. I hope that speaking out will help other victims and protect against future abuse. With every person that speaks out, every banner that drops down onto my iphone screen disclosing similar stories/truths, my resolve strengthens. Sharing these words, finally calling my abuser out publicly by name, brings the start of a new calm. Here is Eliza Dushkus complete Facebook post: Kris Fortner was enjoying a few additional minutes of snooze time. The 45-year-old had just arrived to the Westin Nanea in Maui from the San Francisco Bay Area on Friday night, and his wife, Cathy Fortner, decided to let him sleep a bit more, so she took their two daughters for breakfast. Suddenly, Fortner was jolted out of the bed by a terrifying sound coming from his iPhone. The message shook him to the core: BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. Advertisement I jumped up and got dressed but I kept looking at my phone, wondering, Is this real? I wanted to keep thinking this has to be a test, but the message clearly said it wasnt, Fortner said. I realized I had to find my family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just as he was about to leave, Cathy Fortner arrived back in the room with their daughters, Julia, 6, and Maebe, 4. She showed up in tears, Fortner recalls, with a tone of incredulity in his voice as if he couldnt yet reconcile the events of the previous few hours. The hotel staff had received the same alert and told everyone to go back into their rooms and shelter in place. People were running around outside, many in a veritable state of panic. Amid all the commotion, Fortner tried to keep his daughters occupied so they wouldnt realize what was going on. Advertisement I dont know what Im supposed to do when something like this happens, Fortner said. So the communications specialist did what came naturally: He looked for answers on Twitter. Once he started seeing a few tweets that it was all a false alarm, he wanted to celebrate but was wary of doing so prematurely. He didnt know who to trust. I didnt get why it took so long for information to get out, he said. It wasnt until the all-clear message came into his iPhone at 8:47 a.m.40 minutes after the first warningthat he was able to relax. Advertisement Advertisement Jefferson Bethke, 28, shared Fortners sense of surprise that the lag time between the first alert and the confirmation that it was a false alarm was so long. It was all so surreal, Bethke, the author of numerous relationship books, said from his Maui home. I was in my office, was about to get the kids for breakfast and I receive this message saying were going to blow up any minute or something. Bethke says it took him about five minutes to realize what was going on before he came to the conclusion there was nothing for him to do besides look to the Internet for answers. We were already inside so I just sat down and started processing the information, he said. The language of the alert was ultra-scary, in all caps. We do a lot of drills in Hawaii but this one felt different. Advertisement Advertisement The emergency alert claiming a ballistic missile attack was inbound was sent at 8:08AM. It took until 8:45AM to state it was a false alarm. 37 minutes where anyone in Hawaii who doesnt sit on Twitter dot com all day thought their island might be incinerated. Fire people. Fix it. pic.twitter.com/hhCIrNLg1D Jerry Dunleavy (@JerryDunleavy) January 13, 2018 Julie Hollenbeck got the message while packing to leave the Sheraton Maui. I wish I could say I reacted appropriately, but I froze, she said. The fateful five words were the scariest. This is not a drill freaked me the eff out, Hollenbeck said, steering clear of profanity even though just a few hours earlier she thought she was going to die. I was terrified, my husband was terrified, and I instantly went cold. Advertisement Advertisement Hollenbeck headed to the lobby, but what she saw there did not calm her nerves. There were just groups of people in their swimsuits and their little cover-ups, holding drinks, not knowing what to do, terrified, the PhD researcher from Seattle said. The staff had disappeared from many of their posts, and the ones we did see were tweeting or crying or shaking. Advertisement One person seemed to take the news lightly, at least. Well, if Im going to die, Im going to do it on the beach and have a Mai Tai, Hollenbeck heard a man say as he laughed and walked toward the beach. Hollenbeck then proceeded to huddle with some members of staff in a cafeteria. I started to shake, I got really sick to my stomach. All the staff were crying and holding each other, she said. And then at that point, I texted my family, all my family I said, I love you. I dont know if this is it, or if Ill get to see you again, but I just wanted you to know, if this was the last time we talked, I love you all. And of course my family panicked and freaked out, but you have to say those things, right? Advertisement HAWAII - THIS IS A FALSE ALARM. THERE IS NO INCOMING MISSILE. THE ALERT WAS SENT OUT INADVERENTLY. I HAVE SPOKEN TO HAWAII OFFICIALS AND CONFIRMED THERE IS NO THREAT. pic.twitter.com/hwRGct2aTa Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (@TulsiPress) January 13, 2018 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nichole Cruz also immediately thought of her family when she heard the news. You know a million thoughts started going through my head. Im a mom, I have three kids, and I started thinking maybe Im never going to see them again, the 45-year-old airline employee said, as she got ready to leave the Maui Coast Hotel for her home in Los Angeles. I thought to myself, This is how youre going to diein a place thats a paradise. Advertisement R. Kevin Garcia Doyle, 50, thought of one thing when his work meeting at the Mid-Pacific Institute, a private K-12 school in Honolulu, was suddenly interrupted by buzzing phones: his sleeping wife. My first thought was what is she going to do, he said. Were so good at being prepared for hurricanes, tsuanmis and everyone knows the plan for those things. A missile threat, however, was different. He told his wife to head to the school, but she hesitated. Her first concern was what are we going to do about our cats, he said. Many of his co-workers were crying as they went to the lowest room in their building to take cover. Luckily, Doyles wife never had to abandon the cats, because they heard it was a false alarm as she was getting ready to leave the house. Advertisement Advertisement Kristen Wilson, 43, who just moved to Hawaii last month, happened to be looking at her phone early Saturday morning when it suddenly started blaring. I read the message, took it in and suddenly got a huge surge of adrenaline and my heart was pounding, she recalls. What are we supposed to do? she wondered. We dont have a basement. But Wilson found it strange she wasnt hearing people panicking on the street so she decided to try to figure out what was going on. After that initial panic that I had after getting the first alert, our emotional reaction was just to do researchI guess were eggheaded intellectuals, she said with a laugh. Even hours later, several people found it hard to reconcile how close they thought they were to dying. I actually joked, I said, Well, Ive had a good run. Ive lived a really good life. I hope I touched some lives positively. And we just held hands, recalled Hollenbeck. We really did think that this was going to be it. *Slates Matthew Dessem contributed reporting to this story. Mobile phones in Hawaii received a harrowing alert Saturday morning: BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER, THIS IS NOT A DRILL. The warning also appears to have been broadcast on television. The alerts sparked panic and caused a few harrowing minutes as people didnt know whether to believe the stark warning. Emergency officials corrected the error about 20 minutes after the initial alert went out, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TV with the alert pic.twitter.com/VCZAtvyuzQ Michelle Broder Van Dyke (@MBVD) January 13, 2018 It wasnt just civilians who didnt know what was going on. Andrew Flowers shared a screencap on Twitter of a text message he received from his father, an Army major stationed in Hawaii, who said they didnt know whether the warning was real. I called your mom and told her I love her and we waited to see what is true or not, he wrote. Advertisement My dad, an Army major stationed in Hawaii pic.twitter.com/r7VqQFyT0x Andrew Flowers (@andrewflowers) January 13, 2018 A few minutes after the initial alert went out, Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard tweeted that it was all a false alarm. Advertisement Advertisement HAWAII - THIS IS A FALSE ALARM. THERE IS NO INCOMING MISSILE. THE ALERT WAS SENT OUT INADVERENTLY. I HAVE SPOKEN TO HAWAII OFFICIALS AND CONFIRMED THERE IS NO THREAT. pic.twitter.com/hwRGct2aTa Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (@TulsiPress) January 13, 2018 That was confirmed by the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency that tweeted: NO missile threat to Hawaii. A spokesman for the U.S. militarys Pacific command also said it detected no ballistic missile threat to Hawaii. Advertisement NO missile threat to Hawaii. Hawaii EMA (@Hawaii_EMA) January 13, 2018 Advertisement Even though the initial message warned that THIS IS NOT A DRILL, it turns out the whole thing may have actually been a drill gone wrong. Were in a process of sending another message to cancel the initial message. It was part of a drill that was going on, a spokesperson for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency told BuzzFeed News. It isnt quite clear what caused the false alarm. Advertisement Advertisement On Oahu with the family for vacation. All our phones just got pinged with an alert for a Ballistic Missile incoming to Hawaii. Finished with "This is not a drill". The resort is in shambles. Ted Davis (@TedDavisPhoto) January 13, 2018 The initial alert went out at around 8:07 a.m., the state then sent an email alerting about the mistake at 8:25 a.m. but didnt send out a cellphone correction until around 38 minutes after the initial alert, according to the timeline by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. President Donald Trump seems to have woken up in a bit of a defeatist mood Sunday, saying that stalled talks over an immigration deal has likely dashed any hopes of a deal to protect Dreamers from deportation. And whos to blame? Why, Democrats, of course. DACA is probably dead because the Democrats dont really want it, they just want to talk and take desperately needed money away from our Military, Trump tweeted Sunday morning. DACA is probably dead because the Democrats dont really want it, they just want to talk and take desperately needed money away from our Military. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2018 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president followed up with another tweet a few minutes later in which he wrote that he wants immigrants who are going to help us become strong and great again, meaning No More Lotteries! I, as President, want people coming into our Country who are going to help us become strong and great again, people coming in through a system based on MERIT. No more Lotteries! #AMERICA FIRST Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2018 Advertisement Debate over the future of the program that protects nearly 800,000 immigrants who were brought to the United States as children is likely to reach a fever pitch this week as Congress and the White House scramble to reach a deal to prevent a government shutdown as agencies are scheduled to run out of cash Friday. As Trump sounds negative about the future of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, immigration advocates are calling on beneficiaries of the program to move quickly and take advantage of a window that has opened up to renew their deportation protection. The government said Saturday that it has resumed accepting applications from beneficiaries of DACA after a federal judge in San Francisco temporarily blocked efforts to end the program. Although the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said it would not be accepting new applications, it did say renewal requests could be submitted. But time could be very limited. Advertisement Advertisement 6 As @MarielenaNILC mentioned, this might be a short window to file #DACA renewals given that the Trump administration is likely to appeal the court ruling that forced them to reopen renewals in the first place. National Immigration Law Center (@NILC) January 14, 2018 Advertisement This might be a short window to file #DACA renewals given that the Trump administration is likely to appeal the court ruling that forced them to reopen renewals in the first place, the National Immigration Law Center noted on Twitter. Use this weekend to get well-informed regarding requirements and prepare your renewal #DACA application. Advertisement Robert Gilpin, R.I.P. - The Washington Post : His greatest book was written in 1981, but the main theory in it is perhaps more trenchant now... WellCare Health Plans, Inc. provides government-sponsored managed care services. The company operates in three segments: Medicaid Health Plans, Medicare Health Plans, and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs). The Medicaid Health Plans segment offers plans for beneficiaries of temporary assistance for needy families, supplemental security income, and aged blind and disabled residents; and other state-based programs, such as children's health insurance programs and long-term services and supports programs for qualifying families who are not eligible for Medicaid. The Medicare Health Plans segment provides Medicare, a federal program that provides eligible persons aged 65 and over, as well as some disabled persons with a range of hospital, medical, and prescription drug benefits; Medicare Advantage, a Medicare's managed care alternative to the original Medicare program, which offers individuals standard Medicare benefits directly through Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; and coordinated care plans that are administered through health maintenance organizations and require members to seek health care services and select a primary care physician from a network of health care providers. The Medicare PDPs segment provides Medicare part D PDP plans to Medicare-eligible beneficiaries. Its PDP plans offer national in-network prescription drug coverage, including a preferred pharmacy network. As of December 31, 2018, the company served approximately 5.5 million members in the United States. WellCare Health Plans, Inc. was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Tampa, Florida. Read More Reinsurance Group of America, Inc. is a holding company, which engages in the provision of traditional and non-traditional life and health reinsurance products. It operates through the following segments: U.S. and Latin America; Canada; Europe, Middle East, and Africa; Asia Pacific; and Corporate and Other. The U.S. and Latin America segment markets individual and group life and health reinsurance to domestic clients for a variety of products through yearly renewable term agreements, coinsurance, and modified coinsurance. The Canada segment offers individual life reinsurance, and to a lesser extent creditor, group life and health, critical illness and disability reinsurance, through yearly renewable term and coinsurance agreements. The Europe, Middle East, and Africa segment serves individual and group life and health products through yearly renewable term and coinsurance agreements, reinsurance of critical illness coverage that provides a benefit in the event of the diagnosis of a pre-defined critical illness and underwritten annuities. The Asia Pacific segment comprises individual and group life and health reinsurance, critical illness coverage, disability, and superannuation thr Read More 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. Read More Wall Street analysts have given Centennial Mining a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but Centennial Mining wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. Royal Dutch Shell plc operates as an energy and petrochemical company worldwide. The company operates through Integrated Gas, Upstream, Oil Products, Chemicals segments. It explores for and extracts crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids; markets and transports oil and gas; produces gas-to-liquids fuels and other products; and operates upstream and midstream infrastructure necessary to deliver gas to market. The company also markets and trades natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), crude oil, electricity, carbon-emission rights; and markets and sells LNG as a fuel for heavy-duty vehicles and marine vessels. In addition, it trades in and refines crude oil and other feed stocks, such as gasoline, diesel, heating oil, aviation fuel, marine fuel, biofuel, lubricants, bitumen, and sulphur; produces and sells petrochemicals for industrial use; and manages oil sands activities. Further, the company produces base chemicals comprising ethylene, propylene, and aromatics, as well as intermediate chemicals, such as styrene monomer, propylene oxide, solvents, detergent alcohols, ethylene oxide, and ethylene glycol. Royal Dutch Shell plc was founded in 1907 and is headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands. Read More Nabors Industries Ltd. engages in the provision of platform work over and drilling rigs. It operates through the following segments: U.S. Drilling, Canada Drilling, International Drilling, Drilling Solutions, and Rig Technologies. The U.S. Drilling segment includes land drilling activities in the lower 48 states and Alaska, as well as offshore operations in the Gulf of Mexico. The Canada segment consists of land-based drilling rigs in Canada. The International segment focuses in maintaining a footprint in the oil and gas market, most notably in Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Argentina, Colombia, Kazakhstan, and Venezuela. The Drilling Solutions segment offers drilling technologies, such as patented steering systems and rig instrumentation software systems that enhance drilling performance and wellbore placement. The Rig Technologies segment comprises Canrig, which manufactures and sells top drives, catwalks, wrenches, drawworks, and drilling related equipment, such as robotic systems and downhole tools. The company was founded by Clair Nabors in 1952 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Laboratory Co. of America: 1957285 Ontario Inc. dba Quality Underwriting Services, 2089729 Ontario Inc., 2248848 Ontario Inc., 3065619 Nova Scotia Company, 3257959 Nova Scotia Company, 896988 Ontario Limited, 9279-3280 Quebec Inc., Accupath Diagnostic Laboratories Inc., Alpha Medical Laboratory LLC, Assets of Pathology Inc, Beacon LBS IPA Inc., Beacon Laboratory Benefit Solutions Inc., CannAmm GP Inc., CannAmm Limited Partnership, Center for Disease Detection International, Center for Disease Detection LLC, Centrex Clinical Laboratories Inc., Clearstone Central Laboratories (U.S.) Inc., Clearstone Holdings (International) Ltd., Clipper Holdings Inc., Colorado Coagulation Consultants Inc., Colorado Laboratory Services LLC, Correlagen Diagnostics Inc., Covance Inc., Curalab Inc., Cytometry Associates Inc., Czura Thornton (Hong Kong) Limited, DCL Acquisition Inc., DCL Medical Laboratories LLC (DE), DCL Medical Laboratories LLC (FL), DCL Sub LLC, DIANON Systems Inc., DL Holdings Limited Partnership, Decision Diagnostics L.L.C. (aka DaVinici/Medicorp LLC), Diagnostic Services Inc., DynaLifeDX, Dynacare - Gamma Laboratory Partnership, Dynacare Company, Dynacare G.P. Inc., Dynacare Holdco LLC, Dynacare Laboratories Inc., Dynacare Laboratories Limited Partnership, Dynacare Northwest Inc., Dynacare Realty Inc., DynalifeDX Infrastructure Inc., Endocrine Sciences Inc., Esoterix Genetic Counseling LLC, Esoterix Genetic Laboratories LLC, Esoterix Inc., Execmed Health Services Inc., FirstSource Laboratory Solutions Inc., GDML Medical Laboratories Inc, Gamma Dynacare Central Medical Laboratories GP Inc., Gamma Dynacare Central Medical Laboratory Limited Partnership, HHLA Lab-In-An-Envelope LLC, Health Trans Services Inc., Home Healthcare Laboratory of America LLC, IDX Pathology Inc., Impact Genetics Corp, Impact Genetics Inc., Kaleida LabCorp LLC, Lab Delivery Service of New York City Inc., LabCorp BVBA, LabCorp Belgium Holdings Inc., LabCorp Central Laboratories (Canada) Inc., LabCorp Central Laboratories (China) Inc., LabCorp Central Laboratories (Singapore) Pte., LabCorp Development Company, LabCorp Employer Services Inc., LabCorp Health System Diagnostics LLC, LabCorp Indiana Inc., LabCorp Japan G.K., LabCorp Limited, LabCorp Michigan Inc., LabCorp Nebraska Inc., LabCorp Neon Ltd., LabCorp Neon Switzerland S.a.r.l., LabCorp Specialty Testing Billing Service Inc., LabCorp Specialty Testing Group Inc., LabCorp Staffing Solutions Inc., LabCorp Tennessee LLC, LabCorp UK Holdings Ltd., LabWest Inc., Laboratoire Bio-Medic Inc., Laboratory Corporation of America, Lifecodes Corporation, LipoScience Inc., Litholink Corporation, MEDTOX Scientific Inc., Medical Neurogenitics LLC, Medtox Diagnostics Inc., Medtox Laboratories Inc., Monogram Biosciences Inc., Monogram Biosciences UK Limited, NWT Inc., National Genetics Institute, New Brighton Business Center LLC, New Imaging Diagnostics LLC, New Molecular Diagnostics Ventures LLC, Orchid Cellmark Ltd., Orchid Cellmark ULC, PA Labs Inc., Path Lab Incorporated, Pathology Associates Medical Lab LLC, Pee Dee Pathology Associates Inc., Persys Technology Inc., Pixel by LabCorp, Princeton Diagnostic Laboratories of America Inc., Protedyne Corporation, ReliaGene Technologies Inc., SW/DL LLC, Saint Josephs-PAML LLC, Sequenom Biosciences (India) Pvt. Ltd., Sequenom Center for Molecular Medicine LLC, Sequenom Inc, Sequenom Inc., Southern Idaho Regional Laboratory, Tandem Labs Inc., The LabCorp Charitable Foundation, Tri-Cities Laboratory LLC, Viro-Med Laboratories Inc., and Yakima Medical Arts Inc.. Nevsun Resources Ltd. engages in the mining and development of mineral properties in Europe, Africa, and North America. It explores for gold, copper, zinc, and silver deposits. The company's principal assets include Timok project, a copper-gold development project in Serbia; and Bisha copper- zinc mine in Eritrea. It also holds exploration licenses and permits in Serbia and Macedonia, as well as in the Bisha mining district. The company was incorporated in 1965 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. As of January 7, 2019, Nevsun Resources Ltd. operates as a subsidiary of Zijin Mining Group Company Limited. Read More Last year, a large number of tourists visited Armenia. We are glad, that tourist also come to Armenia even not during the tourist season to see the Victory Park, the Northern Avenue or the Cascade in Yerevan. We decided to ask the guests of the capital what they like or dislike during their trip to Yerevan. Tourists from Iran, the Philippines, India and Russia were enjoying the weather, but were unhappy with the size of our pizzas and English language level of Armenians. The answers are all in English, but easy to understand. Follow NEWS.am STYLE on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram PHNOM PENH -- Foreign-based members of Cambodias dissolved opposition party have launched a movement to demand the release of its detained leader and to call for free and fair elections and possibly protests. The Supreme Court dissolved the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) in November at the request of the government of long serving Prime Minister Hun Sen. Party leader Kem Sokha was arrested in September and is accused of trying to overthrow the government with American help and of espionage charges he denies and says are politically motivated ahead of a general election in July. Former CNRP leader Sam Rainsy said in a tweet on Sunday that the Cambodia National Rescue Movement (CNRM), launched on Saturday, would provide a new structure that nobody can harm or dissolve. The CNRM can launch appeals to the people to organize peaceful protests, to workers to go on strike and to the armed forces to side with the people, Sam Rainsy tweeted, along with a statement. Sam Rainsy, a former CNRP leader who lives in exile in France, did not say it was calling for any protests at this point. It was not immediately clear how widespread the backing for the new movement was among CNRP members. According to the statement, the CNRMs members include Sam Rainsy, his wife Saumura Tioulong and deputy presidents of the now dissolved CNRP, Eng Chhai Eang and Mu Sochua. We invite our compatriots from all walks of life, regardless of their political affiliation, to join the CNRM in order to protect the will of the Cambodian people through free, fair and inclusive elections, the statement said. They said in the statement that they also demand the release of Kem Sokha and other politician prisoners of conscience. Huy Vannak, undersecretary of state at the Interior Ministry, called the movement desperate and that Sam Rainsy is a serial loser. I advise the people on this list about the spirit of the Cambodian Supreme Courts decision on the prohibition of political rights and to avoid taking illegal or guerrilla acts leading to the harm of innocents and the destruction of Cambodians, he said. The Supreme Courts decision also banned more than 118 CNRP members from politics ahead of the general election on July 29. Rights groups have decried an ongoing crackdown against the political opposition and independent media. One group called the CNRPs dissolution the death of democracy in the country. Despite his stable job, Hoai Phuong, a.k.a. Khoai Lang Thang (Wandering Potato), suddenly had a change of heart and started publishing videos on travel and foods. Currently the owner of the Facebook fan page entitled Khoai Lang Thang - Food and Travel, with more than 85,000 followers, and a YouTube channel with 126,000 subscribers, Dinh Vo Hoai Phuong might surprise his fans with his academic background. In fact, he graduated magna cum laude from Ton Duc Thang University, a growing public college in Ho Chi Minh City, where he majored in construction engineering. The journey to journeys I got itchy feet just thinking about new journeys, new people, and new foods, Phuong said. His first experience of travel came at the age of 15 when he got to Da Lat, a famed city in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, located around 300km to the northeast of Ho Chi Minh City. Then, the young man made it to Da Nang City in central Vietnam, Can Tho City in the Mekong Delta, and Con Dao Islands, a magnificent island chain off the southeast coast of the country, all before his graduation. Talking about his financial resources, he said he was burning the candle at both ends. I took a part time job during college, he recounted. I would always set aside some of my monthly salary for my trips. After graduation, he worked as a design consultant at a large company. When people questioned his motive for quitting such well-earned job, he said he was simply following [his] heart. Hoai Phuong tries local foods in Thailand in this supplied photo. Slowly traveling seeped into my blood and became such a burning passion, Khoai Lang Thang said. Making vlogs has become his way of life. A vlog, or video blog, is a trending term which refers to a kind of self-made videos telling about ones experiences, like traveling. I had to think twice. Quitting a job means losses and gains, and I had to figure what those would be, he added. I had to make sure I would be up for it if I happened to lose without gains. But it is not important whether the job is good or not. It matters more whether it suits me. Go and gain Normally vloggers use their original footage of places where they go, with or without themselves in the frame. Then they will process the raw files, adding subtitles and any special effects, before publishing their refined products on the Internet. Telling of his first experiences filming himself on the go, he said people eyed him like an alien, for he was self-conversing. But he soon got over his timidity. I could learn so many new things and got to meet bunches of interesting people, he said. The trips in turn added to his maturity and boosted his open-mindedness. Once he was in the Mekong Delta. He got a chance to literally dabble his feet in the muddy water and harvest lotus plants, which was part of the local way of life. The best thing about this one experience was the warm welcome the locals gave him. Phuong felt at home even when surrounded by absolute strangers. Life may be hard, but the people here made me feel just so optimistic about whatever it is to come, he said. The vlogger experiences harvesting lotus plants in the Mekong Delta in this supplied photo. Commenting on his vlogging, he revealed that he drafts a clear plan for each and every shot. He will then make proper modifications based on any faults. At first, he had to keep his family in the dark about this career move, as to the Vietnamese people, having a stable job is highly sought after. His friends indeed strongly objected to his decision. Now, however, most seem to be supportive. His vlog site on Facebook and YouTube now piques widespread interest. Talking about his future plan, he said he wants to cover all areas of Vietnam and make in-depth videos about the cultures therein. I will also add overseas journeys and boost video quality. I hope the channel can grow to an international level. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A Cambodian has been nabbed for allegedly smuggling paddies from his homeland into Vietnam after already amassing a large amount of money. Vietnamese authorities have confirmed HouNat, 32, who is from the Cambodian province of Kampot, had been arrested by officials in Ha Tien Town, located in the southern Vietnamese city of Kien Giang, for attempting to carry KHR176 million (US$43,824) out of Vietnam, without providing the specific date of the arrest. The man was captured as he was about to return to his home country via the Ha Tien Border Gate, Colonel Luu Thanh Tin, deputy director of the Kien Giang Department of Police, affirmed on Sunday. HouNat stated he had earned the money by selling paddies harvested in Cambodia to people in Vietnam within last year. He had failed to inform officials of this sale, authorities said. Vietnamese police decided to arrest the Cambodian national for transporting currency and products across the border without declaring them to competent agencies, which is against Article 189 under Vietnams Penal Code. According to officers, the import of paddies from Cambodia into Vietnam has become quite common over the past years. The paddies are then turned into rice and sold at high prices at markets in Ha Tien. Cambodian rice is preferred by many Vietnamese who believe that the rice is clean and tasty. Vietnamese merchants were previously in charge of collecting the paddies in Cambodia before distributing them to the Vietnamese market. However, many Cambodian traders such as HouNat have recently taken over from them. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Police have rescued a man, purportedly high on drugs, who was doing stunts on a bridge in Vietnams Mekong Delta and threatened to jump off it. Officers in Tien Giang Province were able to save the man after he had risked his life at the Rach Mieu, a 2.8 kilometer long bridge connecting Tien Giang and Ben Tre Provinces over the Tien (Front) River, on Saturday evening. According to preliminary information, N.H.P., 39, who resides in District 2, Ho Chi Minh City, climbed off the fence of the bridge at around 5:00 pm that day. Purportedly high on drugs, he was climbing up and down the fence and performing several stunts at an altitude of 40 meters above the water surface. The man also threatened to jump off the bridge when bystanders attempted to stop his dangerous actions. After being notified of the incident, officers from police traffic, firefighting, and rescue units under the Tien Giang Department of Police were dispatched to the scene. Following an hour of convincing the man, they were able to bring P. back to safety and later escorted him to the police station for taking his statements. He was still showing signs of being under the influence of drugs when answering questions of officers. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnamese and Laotian authorities have broken up a ring that smuggled 30,000 drug pills from Laos into Vietnam. The Border Guard Office in Vietnams Quang Binh Province has arrested Choi U Da Non, 28, and Man Keo Mat, 43, for attempting to illegally bring 30,000 pills of synthetic drugs into Vietnam. Officers confirmed on Sunday they were finalizing a report of the case before transferring the two suspects, who are members of a large-scale drug smuggling group, to competent agencies in the Laotian province of Khammouane, which neighbors Quang Binh. The pair were apprehended on the evening of January 10 by officers from Quang Binh and Khammouane, when they were carrying the narcotics in an automobile. Following the arrest, the law enforcers confiscated 30,000 pills of synthetic drugs, three cellphones, THB4,420 (US$138), along with the vehicle. The suspects claimed that they were about to deliver the illegal products to their Vietnamese accomplices at the border of the two countries. The drugs were expected to be distributed in Vietnam. Competent agencies are carrying out a further investigation into the case. Earlier this month, police in the northern Vietnamese province of Dien Bien smashed a ring that smuggled 500 bricks of heroin, weighing a total of 171 kilograms and worth nearly US$3 million, from Laos into Vietnam. Dealing in drugs can carry the death penalty in Vietnam. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Jaywalking has remained an unsolved problem in Vietnam despite heavier penalties stipulated in a new regulation that took effect at the beginning of this year. The amendments to the Penal Code, which came into force from January 1, 2018, included stricter punishments upon pedestrians who violate traffic laws. Jaywalkers will be jailed if their offense either results in at least three deaths; harm to at least three people with the total bodily damage ratio of 201 percent; or property damage worth at least VND1.5 billion (US$66,150). The jail terms for the offenders range from seven to 15 years. However, many pedestrians are still breaking traffic regulations on a daily basis, risking their own lives and the safety of others. Habit According to the observation of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters on Saturday, residents were defying dangers as they crossed the streets and even climbed over the median strips along National Highway 1 and Hanoi Highway in Ho Chi Minh City. At the section of No Trang Long Street in front of the Oncology Hospital in Binh Thanh District, hundreds of patients, family members, and doctors were crossing the busy road despite the presence of a pedestrian bridge. A similar situation was also recorded in front of the Tu Du Hospital in District 1, Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital in District 5, and near the Suoi Tien footbridge in Thu Duc District. It is difficult for drivers to avoid these jaywalkers, Truong Thi Nhan, a drink vendor near the Suoi Tien footbridge, said, adding that accidents are quite common. Jaywalkers on Nguyen Xien Street in Hanoi. Photo: Tuoi Tre Le Minh Tan, a resident in District 8, stated he often shies away from traveling across the Tu Du Hospital due to jaywalkers. Many cross the road as if they were taking a stroll along a pedestrian street, Tan complained. Meanwhile, amidst the bustling Lang Ha Street in Hanoi, a man was seen jaywalking without hesitation, catching many drivers off their guard. A clean and convenient pedestrian bridge is located just about 10 meters away from where he crossed the street. At the section of Nguyen Xien Street near the Thang Long University, 10 groups of students, workers, and elderly people jaywalked within only 30 minutes, in spite of multiple ways for pedestrians. The situation also occurred along Giang Vo, Nguyen Chi Thanh, Thai Ha, and Chua Boc Streets. Many pedestrians admitted their wrongful behaviors, stating that crossing the street in such a way is more convenient and has become their habit. Penalty Statistics in 2017 showed that a total of 495 jaywalkers were handled by traffic officers in Ho Chi Minh City. Only seven percent of the offenders were fined while the others received a warning. Meanwhile, traffic cops in Hanoi imposed fines upon about 100 jaywalkers in 2017. According to Nguyen Ngoc Tuong, deputy head of the Ho Chi Minh City Traffic Safety Committee, jaywalking is still common in the southern metropolis. The situation cannot be changed if no strict penalties are imposed, Tuong said. Alongside the new regulations, officers must exert more efforts to enforce the law and change the habit, he added. A pedestrian tunnel is rarely used on Nguyen Xien Street in Hanoi. Photo: Tuoi Tre Nguyen Le Ninh, a member of the citys Fatherland Front, believed that pedestrians are forced to walk on roadways as many sidewalks are occupied. The locations of pedestrian crossings are not suitable on many streets, while other routes lack footbridges, which are some causes of the problem, Ninh added. Jaywalking occurs so frequently that it is difficult for traffic units to deal with all of the cases, the official elaborated. Footbridges Local residents complained that the steps of some footbridges are too high, making it hard for senior citizens and people with health problems to use them. This issue is most evident at the pedestrian bridges in front of hospitals. Experts said that escalators should be added to pedestrian bridges to resolve such a problem. According to Nguyen Vinh Ninh, director of the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Traffic Management Zone No. 1, the construction of many footbridges has been facing challenges as they block citizens houses in the surroundings. Vo Khanh Hung, deputy director of the southern citys Department of Transport, stated that the building of pedestrian bridges has been supported by local authorities and residents. Escalators will be added to help those unable to use the steps, Hung continued. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! https://youtu.be/rE8m2uPdlq8 High profile doco series Citizen Rose, featuring actor Rose McGowan will screen on hayu later this month. McGowan recently addressed sexual abuse and harassment in Hollywood. In the span of ten days, she was arrested, met with former President Barack Obama, and became one of TIME Magazines People of the Year, whilst navigating the minefield of those trying to silence her. This five part documentary series follows McGowan as she readies her memoir / manifesto, the book, Brave, for release. It begins with a two-hour episode. Four further episodes will stream on hayu in coming months. You are formally invited into my mind and world. I am thrilled to partner with E! to amplify my message of bravery, art, joy and survival. As I ready my book, Brave, I realised I wanted to show how we can heal through art even when being hounded by evil, said McGowan. I want to have a conversation with everyone, and most especially you, about looking at things differently and seeing beauty everywhere. Citizen Rose is McGowans world: the art, the #ROSEARMY, her special punk brand of activism and the music she makes to heal. By going up against the Hollywood machine, McGowan has shown true courage in the face of adversity. This documentary will take you inside her tumultuous and fascinating life. She will process, in almost real-time, the massive social change she has helped usher in, as well as fight back against those who have hurt so many, including her. Amy Introcaso-Davis, E!s Executive Vice President, Development and Production said: Rose McGowans courage in addressing sexual abuse and harassment in Hollywood ignited a conversation and inspired other women to speak out against their abusers. We look forward to taking viewers inside this talented, dynamic womans world as the first allegations unfold and she becomes a leading voice in a critical cultural change. Wednesday 31st January on hayu. On the eve of President Trumps inauguration anniversary, Foreign Correspondents Stephanie March heads to the front lines in the battle for identity in America. Her report, Redneck Revolt airs tonight. They call themselves Redneck Revolt. Theyre a citizens militia that totes guns in the name of community defence. A right wing neo-Nazi group? Just the opposite. I would argue were in a new civil war Dwayne Dixon, Redneck Revolt With chapters spreading across America, Redneck Revolt is a left-wing counter to white supremacists who have found voice and vigour under Donald Trumps presidency. Its part of a broad new movement of self-proclaimed anti-fascists and anti-racists called Antifa. But some Antifa tactics are too extreme even for many on their own side. Theres a Nazi over there with a gun. I wanna make sure Ive got a gun too Jeff, Redneck Revolt Correspondent Stephanie March obtains rare access to the secretive men and women of Redneck Revolt as they plot to disrupt white supremacist rallies in Americas South. White lives matter! White lives matter! white nationalist protesters Among the Redneck Revolt counter-protesters is Dwayne Dixon. The softly spoken, vegan anthropology professor is as comfortable carrying an AR-15 assault rifle as he is in the classroom. When the left uses violence, in the rare case that it happens, its resistance. To paraphrase poorly George Orwell, the best offence against tyranny is a rifle over the fireplace of every working man Dwayne Dixon To Dixon, evidence of that tyranny is seen in the growing number of hate crimes against African-Americans, Muslims and immigrants. A key player in the white nationalist movement is Matthew Heimbach, once described as the youthful, affable face of hate in America. Preying on white Americans fears of becoming a hated and despised minority, Heimbach wants a whites-only homeland within the USA. Were the ones that were able to settle and build our nation. We were able to come and conquer it and create this civilisation. This is ours Heimbach, interviewed by Stephanie March His stated ambition for a white Christian Utopia strains credulity. More believable is the immediate aim to normalise racism. America is a house on fire A multicultural America leads to tension Heimbach Antifa groups like Redneck Revolt argue that Americans are foolish to dismiss the rise of supremacist groups. Back 10 years ago there were a handful. Today there are many more. You organise against these small groups as if they could be the starting points of future murderous movements and you stand up to them by any means necessary Mark Bray, left wing scholar and author Im not going to let people fly swastikas freely on the streets of the United States Dwayne Dixon 8.30pm Monday January 15 on ABC. The government ran a smaller budget surplus in July than might otherwise have been the case due to the impact of the referendum vote, in turn possibly leaving less room for the Chancellor to provide stimulus, economists said. The public sector net borrowing requirement, excluding public sector banks, showed a surplus of 1.0bn, down from 1.2bn one year ago, according to the Office for National Statistics. Economists had been expecting a reading of 1.9bn. Borrowing fiscal year-to-date came in at 23.7bn, down 11.3% from the same point last year. However, the year-to-date decline was far less than the 25% drop the Office for Budget Reponsibility had penciled in for the fiscal year as a whole, Paul Hollingsworth, UK economist at Capital Economics pointed out. Furthermore, July was typically a strong month for the public finances because of one of the four corporation tax payments falling due, together second payments under self-assessment, Hollingsworth said. "In any case, the new Chancellor Philip Hammond has already laid the groundwork for an alteration of the fiscal plans later this year, noting that fiscal policy could be reset at the time of the Autumn Statement. While this doesnt mean that austerity is over, it looks likely that the pace of deficit reduction will be lessened over the coming years," he added. "Accordingly, along with looser monetary policy, a softer fiscal squeeze should help to cushion the near-term hit to the economy arising from the Brexit vote." For his part, Samuel Tombs, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics chipped in: "[...] Borrowing therefore is set to overshoot the OBRs forecast of 55.5B by around 11B. We anticipate an even bigger overshoot, with borrowing coming in around 75B, as the post-referendum slowdown boosts welfare spending and depresses tax receipts. The new Chancellor therefore has little scope to use fiscal policy to stimulate the economy at the Autumn Statement later this year." British companies ratcheted down their hiring plans in the wake of the Brexit vote, the results of a survey found. The percentage of employers who said they were expecting to hire more staff over the coming quarter fell from 40.0% prior to the referendum vote to 36.0%, according to a survey carried out by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and Adecco Group UK. Furthermore, 20% of the companies canvassed said they expected to cut investment in training and skills as a result of the vote and the weakening in the pound, which will make imports dearer, while 7% said they would invest more. Although many businesses are treating the post-Brexit period as business as usual and hiring intentions overall remain positive, there are signs that some organisations, particularly in the private sector, are preparing to batten down the hatches, acting CIPD chief economist Ian Brinkley said. When negotiating with the European Union for the countrys exit, Britain will seek to gain discretionary control over lawmaking and immigration policy, while it also stops making compulsory contributions to the EU budget, according to reports citing government sources. If Britain was able to gain those conditions from EU, it means it would be highly unlikely that it would retain membership of the single market, according to ITV News. Reportedly the government is trying to negotiate a deal modelled on the current agreement Canada is completing with the EU. It is suggested that 'Brexit' secretary David Davis will add a section to cover Britains financial services sector, ITV political editor Robert Peston reported, which contributes to about 80% of the countrys output. The Canada-EU deal has not been ratified as it needs to be agreed by EU national and regional parliaments. For the UK's Canada-style trade agreement to go ahead it would have a greater chance of succeeding if it was approved by the majority of voting government heads rather than regional EU parliaments. In her maiden speech as Prime Minister, Theresa May said Brexit means Brexit, however access to the single market affects the financial services sector, as passporting rights allow financial institutions to easily work with clients across the EU. Daviss Brexit department is researching what parts of the UK's current access to the EU are most valuable and how non-tariff barriers can discriminate against non-members of the single market. The government is yet to trigger Article 50, the two-year negotiating window to leave the EU, and May said she would not trigger the clause this year. However, Peston speculates it could be triggered by March or towards the end of 2017 as France and Germany would be distracted by general elections in the spring and summer. The contract comprises ground improvement works and will be conducted in a 50-50 consortium, and work is expected to start immediately will be completed by the third quarter of 2017. Chief executive Alain Michaelis, said: I am delighted to announce Kellers involvement in this contract, reflecting both the continuing good opportunities we are seeing in the Middle East and the groups excellent track record in delivering large and complex projects around the world. Keller, which provides advanced geotechnical solutions to the construction industry, had annual revenue of about 1.6bn and has 10,000 staff globally. Shares in FTSE 100 listed Keller were down 1.11% to 850p at 1046 BST. Britain would be foolish to turn its back on the golden era of relations with China, Beijings official news agency has claimed, dismissing concerns over Chinese involvement in the Hinkley Point nuclear project as China-phobia. Since becoming Prime Minister last month Theresa May has stepped back from David Cameron and George Osbornes energetic and controversial courtship of China, infuriating Beijing by postponing a final decision on the approval of the proposed 18bn ($23.5bn) nuclear power station. The Guardian Families who have remained loyal to their energy firm for 15 years have paid about 3,000 more on their bills than those who switch supplier, a study from Energy Helpline says. As many as one in ten households have been sitting on the expensive standard variable rate tariff of their energy firm for a decade, researchers found. Daily Mail A whistleblower who helped to expose false accounting at Deutsche Bank has turned down a multimillion-dollar award from the Securities and Exchange Commission in protest against the agencys failure to punish executives at the bank. Eric Ben-Artzi, a former Deutsche risk officer, told the US financial regulator that he is declining his share of a $16.5 million (1.25 million) payout, the third largest in the whistleblower programmes history. The Times Sales at Asda slumped to a record low during the second quarter as fierce competition and sharp falls in food prices continued to wreak havoc in the British grocery sector. In a grim debut for Sean Clarke, Asdas new chief executive, the Walmart-owned supermarket said that its like-for-likes sales had plunged by 7.5 per cent in the three months to the end of June. The Times The City of London has given up hope of universal access to the EU single market and is now seeking a bespoke deal for its different sectors to keep trading with Europe, with similar but stronger ties than Switzerland. Teams across the City and Whitehall have been working over the summer to draw up a plan for Britains EU exit. Financial Times. National Grid has slashed its forecasts for the number of big new power plants expected to be built in coming years, while admitting its estimates for the growth of solar farms and other small-scale generators were almost 50 times too low. Just four years ago the company expected up to 33 gigawatts (GW) of new power plant capacity to be connected to its high voltage electricity transmission networks in England and Wales by 2021. The Telegraph GlaxoSmithKline chief Sir Andrew Witty will leave on a high note, leaving the company he joined in 1985 on a solid footing, and the outlook is still positive under incoming head Emma Walmsley, The Sunday Timess Peter Evans said in his Inside the City column. A year and a half ago, Witty had just avoided becoming embroiled in a bribery scandal in China and the drug-maker's had yet to emerge from a deep funk, amid speculation that the cherished dividend might be axed. Instead, Wittys focus on marketing cheap drugs - in huge volumes - instead of developing high-priced medicines for rare ailments has payed off. Full-year 2016 figures set for release on Wednesday are expected to reveal top-line growth of 15.9% to 27.7bn, a dividend yield at 6.5%. The companys stock is also 40% higher than when he took over at the helm. Wittys strategy looks especially prescient given the new US presidents offensive against drug pricing. Nonetheless, incoming boss Walmsley has zero experience in developing new drugs, having overseen the companys consumer arm for six years. Thus, some investors are cautious. Tempus admitted as much but said, "backing the new boss is undoubtedly a leap of faith but one worth taking. Buy." Things were looking up for Low & Bonar, the Mail on Sundays Midas column argued, pointing to its bosss stated strategy of growing its footprint in China and the US, changes made to the way the company was organised and multiple trends which it believed should favour the company. Brought in at the end of 2014, chief Brett Simpson had re-organised the high-performance polymers-maker along global product lines, instead of geographical regions, setting clear profitability targets for each arm. Dundee-based Low & Bonar derived 65% of sales from Europe, 20% from the States and another 15% from the rest of the world. Simpson had already made significant progress, but the best was yet to come, Midas added, with its Chinese and US operations set to benefit from increased infrastructure investment. Furthermore, the high-end materials in which it specialised were difficult to copy and would benefit from various other trends such as spending on roads and rail, clean air and water and a shift towards lighter, durable and flexible fabrics for construction, the tipster said. Simpson was also determined to grow profits while cutting debt and delivering generous dividends. "Buy now, at 71p, and there should be substantial rewards over the next few years," Midas concluded. The following companies are subsidiares of Bristol-Myers Squibb: 1096271 B.C. ULC, 345 Park LLC, A.G. Medical Services P.A., AHI Investment LLC, AbVitro LLC, Abraxis BioScience Australia Pty Ltd., Abraxis BioScience Inc., Abraxis BioScience International Holding Company Inc., Abraxis BioScience LLC, Abraxis BioScience Puerto Rico LLC, Acetylon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Adnexus, Adnexus a Bristol-Myers Squibb R&D Company, Allard Labs Acquisition G.P., Amira Pharmaceuticals, Amira Pharmaceuticals Inc., Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Apothecon LLC, B-MS Generx Unlimited Company, BMS Benelux Holdings B.V., BMS Bermuda Nominees L.L.C., BMS Data Acquisition Company LLC, BMS Forex Company, BMS Holdings Sarl, BMS Holdings Spain S.L., BMS International Insurance Designated Activity Company, BMS Investco SAS, BMS Korea Holdings L.L.C., BMS Latin American Nominees L.L.C., BMS Luxembourg Partners L.L.C., BMS Omega Bermuda Holdings Finance Ltd., BMS Pharmaceutical Korea Limited, BMS Pharmaceuticals Germany Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals International Holdings Netherlands B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Korea Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Mexico Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Netherlands Holdings B.V., BMS Real Estate LLC, BMS Spain Investments LLC, BMS Strategic Portfolio Investments Holdings Inc., Blisa Acquisition G.P., Bristol (Iran) S.A., Bristol Iran Private Company Limited, Bristol Laboratories Inc., Bristol Laboratories International S.A., Bristol Laboratories Medical Information Systems Inc., Bristol-Myers (Andes) L.L.C., Bristol-Myers (Private) Limited, Bristol-Myers Middle East S.A.L., Bristol-Myers Overseas Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb (China) Investment Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (China) Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (Israel) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (NZ) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Proprietary) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (Singapore) Pte. Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Taiwan) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (West Indies) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb A.E., Bristol-Myers Squibb Aktiebolag, Bristol-Myers Squibb Argentina S. R. L., Bristol-Myers Squibb Australia Pty. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Axia Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb B.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb Belgium S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Business Services Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada Co., Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada International Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Delta Company Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Denmark Filial of Bristol-Myers Squibb AB, Bristol-Myers Squibb EMEA Sarl, Bristol-Myers Squibb Egypt LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Epsilon Holdings Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Farmaceutica Ltda., Bristol-Myers Squibb Farmaceutica Portuguesa S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb GesmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb GmbH & Co. KGaA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holding Germany GmbH & Co. KG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings 2002 Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Germany Verwaltungs GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Ireland Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Pharma Ltd. Liability Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Ilaclari Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb India Pvt. Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb International Company Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb International Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Investco L.L.C., Bristol-Myers Squibb K.K., Bristol-Myers Squibb Kft., Bristol-Myers Squibb Luxembourg International S.C.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Bristol-Myers Squibb MEA GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Manufacturing Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Marketing Services S.R.L., Bristol-Myers Squibb Middle East & Africa FZ-LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Norway Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Nutricionales de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb Peru S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma (HK) Ltd, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma (Thailand) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Holding Company LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Ventures Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Polska Sp. z o.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Products SA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Puerto Rico Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Puerto Rico/Sanofi Pharmaceutical Partnership Puerto Rico, Bristol-Myers Squibb Romania S.R.L., Bristol-Myers Squibb S.A.U., Bristol-Myers Squibb S.r.l., Bristol-Myers Squibb SA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Holding Partnership, Bristol-Myers Squibb Sarl, Bristol-Myers Squibb Service Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Services Sp. z o.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Spol. s r.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Theta Finance Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Trustees Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Verwaltungs GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb de Colombia S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb de Costa Rica Sociedad Anonima, Bristol-Myers Squibb de Guatemala S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb/Astrazeneca EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Pfizer EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Partnership, Bristol-Myers de Venezuela S.C.A., CHT I LLC, CHT II LLC, CHT III LLC, CHT IV LLC, CR Finance Company LLC, Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals, Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals Inc., Celem LLC, Celem Ltd., Celgene, Celgene A.B., Celgene AS, Celgene Ab (Finland), Celgene Alpine Investment Co. II LLC, Celgene Alpine Investment Co. III LLC, Celgene Alpine Investment Co. 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Bristol-Myers Squibb, Oy Bristol-Myers Squibb (Finland) AB, Padlock Therapeutics, Padlock Therapeutics Inc., Pharmion LLC, Princeton Pharmaceutical Products Inc., Receptos LLC, Receptos Services LLC, RedoxTherapies Inc., Route 22 Real Estate Holding Corporation, SPV A Holdings ULC, Seamair Insurance DAC, Signal Pharmaceuticals LLC, Sino-American Shanghai Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited, Societe Francaise de Complements Alimentaires(S.O.F.C.A.), Squibb Middle East S.A., Summit West Celgene LLC, Swords Laboratories, VentiRx Pharmaceuticals Inc., Westwood-Intrafin SA, Westwood-Squibb Pharmaceuticals Inc., X-Body Inc., ZymoGenetics, ZymoGenetics Inc., ZymoGenetics LLC, ZymoGenetics Paymaster LLC, iPierian, and iPierian Inc.. Orchids Paper Products Company manufactures and sells tissue products for at-home and away from home markets in the United States. Its products include paper towels, bathroom tissues, and paper napkins. The company offers its products under the Orchids Supreme, Clean Scents, Tackle, Colortex, My Size, Velvet, and Big Mopper brands; and licensed brands, such as Virtue, Truly Green, Golden Gate Paper, and Big Quality. It also sells parent rolls to other converters. The company serves discount retailers, grocery stores, grocery wholesalers and cooperatives, convenience stores, janitorial supply stores, and stores in the food service market. Orchids Paper Products Company was founded in 1976 and is based in Pryor, Oklahoma. Read More Clarence Cruz created this pot with a spout after seeing a vessel dating to A.D. 1200 in the museum at Pecos National Historic Park Prev 1 of 4 Next Clarence Cruz still remembers the clap of womens hands molding clay as it echoed throughout the adobe walls of Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo. I thought they were making tortillas, Cruz said. They were making the base for the pots. Now a University of New Mexico assistant professor of art, Cruz bears the humble serenity of a deeply spiritual man as he leads students through the multiple tasks of creating pueblo pottery. He also teaches at Santa Fe Community College. Cruz grew up at the pueblo watching his sister, his aunts and his neighbors gather the clay, clean it and transform it into vessels for ceremonial, practical and income-generating use. Soon, he was asking to learn their techniques. It was calming and soothing, and forgetting everything around you, he said. It was almost like therapy. And visions designs and shapes. They always talked to the clay. And Dont be mad; the clay wont be workable, like kids. It just picked me up. It was like the clay accepting me. I wasnt pushing myself onto it. It was like being lifted up and cradled. Two micaceous pots sit on a work table in Cruzs light-drenched classroom, faintly glittering specks of mica revealing their makeup. One features a spout projecting from the top. Cruz got the idea for the form after seeing a vessel dating to A.D. 1200 in the museum at Pecos National Historic Park. She (the potter) pushed the inside out to create a tiny spout, he said. She left her fingerprint. I said, Oh my God, thats a pitcher. Cruz earned both his bachelors and masters degrees in fine arts with a minor in museum studies at UNM. He began teaching in 1989 at the behest of Mary Lewis Garcia, daughter of the legendary Acoma Pueblo pottery matriarch Lucy Lewis. Garcia had suffered a stroke and could no longer teach. Another professor told Cruz to visit her. She said, Only you can do it, Cruz said. I said, These are big shoes to fill. He accepted the mantle of clay to keep the tradition of pueblo pottery alive. The work of making pueblo pottery is meticulous and slow. It all starts with gathering the clay. Cruz has taken his students to sites in El Rito, Penasco, Pecos and Madrid, as well as Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service locations. I like to teach them to respect the material, he said. You state your intentions to the material. We give an offering like cornmeal for a blessing. When you make that first contact, you become the guardian of that earth. Cruz quietly wanders around the long art tables of the ceramics studio, sometimes stopping to offer encouragement; other times, tips. Twenty-one-year-old art major Kim Walker had taken wheel-thrown pottery before signing up for Cruzs class. Im not good at the wheel, she said. I like hand-building. The cool part is how connected you feel with the clay because you dug it. The digging begins with a pick; when the students are done, they push back the earth to fill the hole. We have to dress that wound by bringing it back in, Cruz said. When they return to the studio, the students divide the clay into buckets half-filled with water and let it sit for a week. They then break it down with their hands, massaging it to a silky consistency. They run it through a sieve or nylon painters bags to sift out the debris of twigs and rocks. They knead the clay like bread dough, a process called wedging, to squeeze out air pockets. We blow into the clay to put in our spirit, Cruz said. After flattening a base, or puki, the students coil the clay into circular ropes, pinching and winding it around to the desired form. Polishing tools can include a gourd, a stone or flexible clay ribs. The vessel dries for two or three days before firing. Then the students sand, water-wash and coat the piece in red slip before polishing it with lard or vegetable oil. Cruz takes the pieces to the Poeh Cultural Center, north of Santa Fe, for a traditional pit firing. Psychology major Sandra Knudsen, 56, has taken the class four times. You have to have something to distract you from the grueling classes, she said. Its therapy for me. Its very hands-on; it comes from the earth. Knudsen was completing a bowl with a heart-lined bear appliqued to its surface. Even when I graduate, Ill come back and do independent study, she said. Im grounded by it, with all the chaos in the world. And Clarence is my friend for life. Ill always be working with the clay as long as hes around. In October, Cruz traveled to Yale Universitys Peabody Museum for a demonstration and talk. In 2012, the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts honored him with the Lifetime Achievement Allan Houser Legacy Award. The potters told him never to put himself before the clay. Allow the clay to take you first to make sure she wants to be, he said. It brings you to a peaceful area, he continued. Shes the womb from where she came from. Its a pot that holds the breath. Caldwell remembers some locals looking at him askance and seeming to think hed somehow pushed the newspaper out of the building, even though the Star had moved to the Galleron Building voluntarily. Caldwell said Carol Poole, who was planning director at the time, was an important early supporter who believed he would do justice to the historic building. Four years and millions of dollars later Caldwell has never gotten specific about the cost St. Helenans saw the results when the Caldwell Snyder Gallery opened in 2007. At the time Caldwell described the earthquake-proofed building as a historic skin around a modern steel box. Caldwell has built and visited many galleries, and the design of the St. Helena gallery reflects what he believes makes people feel comfortable and inspired. To him, the decline in museum attendance is proof that galleries have to be about more than just the art on the walls. You have to make the space interesting and provide the right context for the art. Some of the elements here are borrowed from some of the modern museums, he said, indicating the slatwork on the ceiling. In choosing art, Caldwell likes to meet the artists, visit their studios, and figure out what makes them and their work special. New Mexico has built its film industry from the ground up. Many helped pave the way. The New Mexico Film & TV Hall of Fame will honor them on Feb. 11. The banquet and awards ceremony will take place in the Santa Fe Community Convention Center and will feature cast and crew members from the shows and films, as well as other notable guests and history-makers of the New Mexico film industry. Were excited for all of the events leading up to the hall of fame, says Jon Hendry, a local union representative. Theres been a lot of hard work put into this. And now sponsors are seeking us out to be part of the event. The initial inductees and honorees were chosen by film professionals based on one criterion that each has made a significant contribution to New Mexico film and television. There were hundreds of names to consider for the inaugural list, Hendry says, and the process was, at times, difficult. Those to be honored on Feb. 11 are: Thomas Edison, in recognition of the first film shot in New Mexico 120 years ago at the Isleta Pueblo, Indian Day School. The New Mexico Film Office (formerly the New Mexico Film Commission) will be celebrating its 50th anniversary since its founding in 1968 by Gov. Dave Cargo, as the first film office in the country. The award will feature original commission member Max Evans and the current head of the New Mexico Film Office, Nick Maniatis. The Milagro Bean Field War on its 30th anniversary, featuring director Robert Redford, author John Nichols, and composer Dave Grusin. Breaking Bad on its 10th anniversary, with the cast and crew, including Stewart Lyons, the producer who worked on the entire series. Bless Me, Ultima on its fifth anniversary, recognizing iconic author Rudolfo Anaya. Imogene Hughes, the first lady of New Mexico film and the doyenne of Bonanza Creek Ranch. New Mexico screenwriter, philanthropist and icon George R.R. Martin. It helped that there were a lot of anniversaries this year, he says. Were getting to celebrate these with the filmmakers. Hendry says there will be four rising-star honorees: director and screenwriter Hannah Macpherson, cinematographer Conci Althouse, actress Morning Star Angeline, and director and screenwriter Joshua Oppenheimer. This is what is great about New Mexico, Hendry says of the rising-star honorees. The new people that are coming up in the industry. These are the people growing up in New Mexico. By honoring them, people are able to see the group of talented filmmakers. The gala will be a highlight of Santa Fes first Film Week a celebration of everything film, television, and multimedia related which will take place Feb. 6-12. Film Week events will include the Santa Fe Film Festival, classes and seminars through the film union-sponsored Film Industry Tune Up program, the New Mexico Film Offices Film & Media Education Summit, New Mexico Girls Make Movies, the annual Film & TV Day at the Capitol, and the New Mexico Film & TV Hall of Fame Awards dinner. There are so many people and projects we could include, were planning on making this an annual event for years to come so well have plenty of opportunity to recognize those we ought to, says Nani Rivera, director of Film Week and Shoot New Mexico. We feel our inaugural inductees are a great cross-section of New Mexico, from the original filmmaker Thomas Edison to the rising stars of tomorrow. Missouri Republican Gov. Eric Greitens courted controversy and touched off political disputes even before acknowledging an extramarital affair and facing bombshell allegations that he blackmailed the woman involved. Greitens has been a rising star in the national Republican Party and a welcome partner for state GOP lawmakers, whose favored policies had faced a Democratic governors veto pen until Greitens election in 2016. He also seemed to have his sights set on even higher office, having secured the web address EricGreitensforPresident.com years before running for governor. But he also made missteps as a first-time candidate and then as a freshman governor, raising questions in particular about secrecy. Greitens acknowledged Wednesday that he had an extramarital affair in 2015, but he denies the blackmail allegations and is telling supporters that a St. Louis prosecutors investigation will clear him. A look at some of the notable hiccups during Greitens first campaign and first year in office: ___ RESUME QUESTIONS While running for governor, Greitens repeatedly touted his volunteer work with refugees in the Balkans in 1994, saying he helped children in Bosnia, where thousands died amid ethnic strife following the collapse of the former Yugoslavia. He later acknowledged that most of the work was in safer, neighboring Croatia. Asked about the word choice, Greitens told The Associated Press that people recognized what happened in Bosnia and understood working with Bosnian refugees. But the choice also may have had a political advantage: Missouri has a large population of Bosnian refugees. ___ CHARITY IN THE SPOTLIGHT Greitens campaign for governor had access to the donor list for The Mission Continues, a veterans charity he founded, and raised $2 million from individuals and entities that had given the charity significant contributions. Democrats said it was the kind of insider politics that Greitens decried in his campaign, and the chairman of the state party filed an ethics complaint contending he should have disclosed the list as an in-kind contribution. Greitens initially denied using the charitys list for fundraising, then belatedly reported it as an in-kind contribution. He paid a $100 fine. Federal law prohibits charities such as The Mission Continues from intervening in political campaigns on behalf of candidates. The IRS has said charities cannot give their donor lists away but can rent them at fair market value if theyre available to all candidates. ___ PAY SCRUTINIZED During his campaign, Greitens emphasized how he started The Mission Continues with combat pay from a tour in Iraq, and he initially worked for the charity without pay. But as donations rose, he started taking a salary, and it hit $175,000 in 2011 above the median for nearly 240 medium-sized charities in the Midwest, though not extravagant, according to analysts. Greitens Democratic opponent suggested in an ad that the Republican was diverting money that was supposed to be used to help veterans. ___ INAUGURAL DONORS Greitens made fighting corruption and making ethics reforms a key part of his successful campaign for governor. Once elected, he broke with tradition by refusing to disclose the amount of the donations to his inaugural festivities. Democratic legislators said the move could allow him to hide any conflicts of interest. ___ DARK MONEY HELP Within weeks of Greitens taking office, his campaign treasurer founded a nonprofit group to promote the new governors agenda. The group can take an unlimited amount of money from donors and it does not have to reveal who is contributing. Separately, Greitens received a contribution of nearly $2 million for his campaign from a super PAC with only a single, mystery group as a donor. ___ SECRECY INVESTIGATED The state attorney generals office is reviewing Greitens and some of his staffs use of a secretive app that deletes messages after theyre read. The review was announced after The Kansas City Star reported that the governor and some of his staff have Confide accounts tied to their personal cellphones. The app also prevents recipients from saving, forwarding, printing or taking screenshots of messages. Government-transparency advocates worry that use of the app could undermine open-record laws. ___ EDUCATION FIGHT Greitens worked for months to appoint five new members to the eight-member State Board of Education and engineer its firing of the states education commissioner. The effort drew strong criticism from some educators and lawmakers, who praised former Commissioner Margie Vandevens work. Greitens was never clear about what Vandeven had done wrong; critics said the move interfered with the independence of the school board. Now those new board appointees face confirmation by the state Senate, where two Greitens foes have vowed to filibuster. ___ Sign up for the APs weekly newsletter showcasing our best reporting from the Midwest and Texas: http://apne.ws/2u1RMfv Money to hire more cops, buy more mobile surveillance cameras and upgrade police radios are a few of the immediate needs to address crime in Albuquerque, says Mayor Tim Keller, and its what hes asking the New Mexico Legislature for as the start of the 30-day session nears. Money to hire more police officers, buy more mobile surveillance cameras and upgrade police radios are a few of the immediate needs to address crime in Albuquerque, says Mayor Tim Keller, and its what hes asking the New Mexico Legislature for as the start of the 30-day session nears. Flanked by Albuquerque Police Department brass Saturday afternoon, Keller ticked off a list of legislative funding priorities to fight crime as the city faces all-time high rates for auto and property theft and a potential $40 million budget deficit. Were not going to be able to solve all our crime problems overnight, he said. Im focused on dealing with crime today. Keller said his requests, which also include funding for clearing a backlog of untested rape kits, are realistic and achievable in terms of state funding. While its not the only part of the equation when tackling crime, he said the city needs more community policing and, therefore, more officers on the street. Our brave officers are working hard every day, but we are stretched thin, Keller said, with current funds going toward paying officers overtime and leaving no money to hire new ones. These dollars are absolutely critical. He said that also includes a request for 200 patrol vehicles, which cost about $45,000 each, to accommodate additional officers and improve response times. To address the spike in property crime and auto theft, Keller requested mobile video surveillance trailers, calling them one of the fastest and most effective ways to deter crime, particularly vehicle theft. The cameras, which have been placed sporadically around the city in crime hot spots over the past year, such as outside the Alvarado Transportation Center in Downtown, include a generator attached to tall poles with bright lights and cameras facing every angle. Keller did not elaborate on how many of the cameras, which cost around $59,000 apiece, will be needed to adequately cover the city. He also said there is a need for one-time capital funding, anywhere from $20 million to $40 million, to update the public safety radio systems used by the city and Bernalillo County. Updating the current systems, which have been around since 1998 and are no longer supported by the manufacturer, is also a requirement of the federal government, he said. The mayor also aims to address the backlog of 4,000 untested rape kits in his requests to the Legislature. As state auditor, Keller said he found 75 percent of untested rape kits are in Albuquerque and he is committed to get that backlog addressed. Not only do we owe it to each and every survivor, he said, its also critical for getting those perpetrators off the streets. Although Keller did not give an overall dollar amount on how much funding is needed, he said he is calling on the governor and lawmakers, who convene Tuesday for the start of the session, to meet those requests to help reduce crime in Albuquerque. This is something they can come back 30 days from now and say, We made a difference, he said. Thats why were focused on this. Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal It was here in New Mexico, in the secret city of Los Alamos, that America won the race to harness the atom. Had Hitlers scientists gotten there first, the world we know today would likely be a very different place. The national laboratories headquartered in New Mexico with their role in the nuclear weapons complex remain key to U.S. national security. Emile Nakhleh, a retired CIA senior intelligence officer, wants to build on that history and tap into that expertise, along with a wealth of university knowledge and talent, as he and others work to establish a Global and National Security Institute at the University of New Mexico. The vision is to coordinate the resources of the university, the labs and companies working in the national security field to create a masters level degree program that deals with issues ranging from nuclear proliferation to cyber security to directed energy weapons along with courses on topics that are at the root of terrorism and conflict, such as rampant unemployment and refugees fleeing the loss of farmland as the climate changes. We call it the Global and National Security Policy Institute, based on a broad definition of national security not the narrow CIA or espionage definition, said Nakhleh, a research professor and director of the fledgling UNM Institute. It ranges from cyber to terrorism to unemployment in Africa. Food security, energy security, water security they all affect us. Nakhleh pointed out that Sandia National Laboratories, for example, does research on clean water. So bringing these kinds of resources together in a degree program is one of the underpinnings of this institute. The UNM regents have approved the institute in principle, and it is now being reviewed by the faculty. The Institute also has the strong support of Interim President Chaouki Abdallah. The Institute is designed to equip its graduates with a blending of concepts from technology, history, policy and culture, Abdallah said. The skills learned within the institute and similar ones will become ever more critical to dealing with and adapting to an increasingly changing and uncertain future. The payoff for UNM would be graduates with a competitive edge for employment in the intelligence community and the U.S. government, or with companies doing work in national security. Scientists in America who do work in other countries could benefit as well. They regularly visit other countries and inspect programs, but they dont have any idea about these countries, Nakhleh said. UNM already has courses that would work for the Institute, but Nakhleh said they are stovepiped and turf protected, so other faculty and students dont know about them or benefit from them. Nakhleh started talking to deans and department chairs, and they came up with a proposal to form a university-wide umbrella institute to look at all of these programs. The institute has two advisory boards one internal at UNM and one external. The external board includes former American Bar Association President Roberta Cooper Ramo and PNM President and CEO Pat Collawn, who believes the Institute can be a world class program. As chair of the national Edison Institute, Collawn is deeply involved in cyber and grid security issues, highlighting the complex nature of the threats facing todays world. Under the auspices of the Institute, UNM is already offering pilot courses in cyber and directed energy. In addition to traditional counterterrorism courses, the institute could offer courses in topics such as sustainability and migration. Nakhleh, who has a Ph.D. from American University International relations and was awarded the Directors Medal for his work in the CIA, understands the importance of being able to fight an enemy in whatever venue is necessary from Afghanistan to anti-terrorism efforts in this country. But he also believes the U.S. will be better equipped to defend its security if its policy makers and national security professionals have the tools to better understand why another enemy foot soldier rises up whenever another one is struck down. What are the motivating forces behind those who wish to do the U.S. harm? The proposed Global and National Security Institute at UNM, both Nakhleh and Abdallah say, is being designed to provide those tools. At the end of last week with a government shutdown looming and the fate of some 800,000 young immigrants potentially hanging in the balance Reps. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Steve Pearce of New Mexico both said they wanted to find solutions for the so-called Dreamers. But the 2018 gubernatorial candidates have very different ideas about how to do it. Pearce, a Republican, has introduced a bill that would allow Dreamers young people who were brought to the U.S. illegally by their parents but who have since made their lives here to apply to remain in the country for 10 years, with the option of renewing their legal status after a decade. During that time, they could apply for citizenship through normal channels. Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, would much prefer that Congress pass the Dream Act, which would not only allow the Dreamers to stay permanently without need for additional approvals but would also provide them an expedited path to citizenship. Meanwhile, Congress and the White House have been negotiating a scenario that would tie the fate of the Dreamers, and other, new immigration measures, to a spending bill that must be passed by this coming Friday to avert a government shutdown. As of this past Friday, there was no agreement and no clear path forward. Last week, Pearce told me his legislation is the most practical in a Congress controlled by Republicans. However, as of Friday, the bill had zero co-sponsors, according to the website Congress.gov. Pearce could presumably persuade the Republican leadership to attach his legislation to the spending bill without co-sponsors, but that has not appeared to be a part of the public discussion so far. Still, Pearce retains hope and said he is lobbying behind the scenes. The problem for any legislation is youve got to have 218 votes in the House and 51 votes in the Senate, Pearce told me. I didnt think either of those extremes amnesty or send them back is going to get the votes on the House floor. I tried to find the middle ground and pull people from both sides and get something that can pass and can work, he added. Were not going to give (Dreamers) amnesty, but were not going to send them home. Pearce said he would prefer to keep separate legislation to address the Dreamers plight and any government spending bill, but offered that hes willing to take a look at and consider such a solution. Lujan Grisham also told me shes flexible on considering a multi-faceted bill that includes a solution for Dreamers, a spending bill extension and even some border security improvements as long as its not the border wall President Trump keeps demanding. Pearce also opposes a border wall. But Lujan Grisham, chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, said she wont support Pearces bill period. After the Republican congressman wrote to the New Mexico congressional delegation asking for them to back his legislation earlier this month, Lujan Grisham wrote back last week and said no dice because it would make Dreamers permanent second-class citizens. It does not provide Dreamers with a permanent legislative solution or a path to citizenship, she wrote. Instead, the measure leaves DACA recipients in a 10-year limbo, where every decade they will encounter uncertainty under their status and the possibility of removal or deportation. Pearce argued that his bill does provide permanence. It gives them a process so they dont have to fear deportation, he said. Its a permanent solution. Lujan Grisham countered by saying Pearce even seems to be having trouble attracting Republican co-sponsors to his bill. Its a non-starter for even Republican colleagues, she said, noting that her letter to him encouraged him to work with her on a more long-term solution (dont count on it). I hope he takes my letter seriously. Its never too late to add another supporter to a permanent fix with citizenship for Dreamers, and we would welcome his productive participation. Meanwhile, some 7,000 Dreamers in New Mexico anxiously await an outcome to this long-running Washington debate. E-mail: mcoleman@abqjournal.com. Go to www.abqjournal.com/letters/new to submit a letter to the editor. New Mexico lawmakers will reconvene in Santa Fe on Tuesday for a 30-day session in which their primary task is to adopt a balanced budget for the coming fiscal year. But this year they will have some new money to work with thanks to a rebound in oil and gas and a general strengthening of the states economy. These arent exactly boom times, but there is no question we have had some steady growth and major successes such as the burgeoning international trade sector along the southern border and successfully landing the Facebook data center in Los Lunas. The revenue consensus from lawmakers and the administration put the amount of new money at $199 million to use in building a budget of about $6.3 billion. If lawmakers approve a tax overhaul package favored by Gov. Susana Martinez one that closes many loopholes, cuts some of the pyramiding taxes that punish small business and generally provides a more equitable tax framework for New Mexicans the amount of new money would be closer to $298 million. The governor is proposing a 1 percent pay raise for state employees and 2 percent for teachers, while adding a $5,000 bump for exemplary teachers and $10,000 for exemplary secondary STEM teachers. Thats smart, given that paying for excellence encourages it, and a bonus for STEM teachers helps fill a critical need for New Mexico students. Those teachers are key to preparing them for a new technology-driven world. Her budget also would funnel about $60 million into reserves, which were pumped dry over the past two years as lawmakers searched every nook and cranny to deal with a funding crunch tied largely to the bottom dropping out of oil and gas prices. That funding source has rebounded, with oil around $64 a barrel while fracking and other drilling technologies have made it more economical to tap previously difficult-to-access reserves helping both state coffers and American efforts to become energy-dominant a good thing in a world where Saudi Arabia, Russia and OPEC no longer hold the single most important key to prosperity. The good news here is that there appears to be at least some consensus on spending proposals between the Republican governor and members of the Legislature, where Democrats are a majority in both houses. Its fair to note that our part-time, citizen Legislature, composed of hardworking men and women who receive only per diem for the late nights and headaches, will have plenty of other issues to deal with, as Martinez has set an ambitious agenda for her final regular session. The governor is term-limited by the state Constitution. Some of those issues deal with the horrific crime wave we have experienced and make sense across political party lines. Those include raising salaries for State Police and corrections officers and pumping an additional $5 million into the budget of District Attorney Raul Torrez of Bernalillo County, who hopes to redefine how we prosecute criminals. In a nutshell, use data to identify the really bad guys for example those connected with bad gangs or organized drug rings and put them away for as long as possible. For many others, look for ways to divert and treat them. Some outstate lawmakers may cringe at money for the Duke Citys crime problem, but not if they take the broad view the crime wave hurts all of us as a state. There also are incentives to help New Mexico cities and counties hire and retain police officers. The governor also wants to bump up the penalty for using a gun to commit a crime and for repeat DWI offenders. Both are good policy. Lest we forget among the other crime news, we had more than 100 people killed last year in DWI-related incidents, and the story of the offender up for his 15th DWI charge isnt even rare enough to be Page One news. We have got to quit shrugging it off as the way it is here and take additional steps to stop it. For those who in the past have derisively dismissed some proposals as all crime, all the time, they need to take a look at how too many of our citizens feel they are living under siege. On the big budget picture, its worth noting that K-12 and higher education have consistently accounted for more than 50 percent of the state budget. Medicaid alone will account for about 20 percent, with public safety about 7 percent. When people say the governor and lawmakers should prioritize education, health and public safety, its fair to say they have done a good job of that over the years. For non-budget matters, the appalling issue of guardianship abuse that leaves vulnerable residents penniless must be addressed. As the Journal has argued, the $1 million estimated cost to finance improved oversight and accountability in the states scandal-plagued system that operates largely under court oversight would be money well spent. Ditto for adequately funding, as well as expanding, the states Sunshine Portal to increase government transparency and accountability. And encouraging our high schoolers to at least apply to college or trade schools, as well as texting parents about absences, coming tests and grades, are smart, data-driven proposals. Along with the non-budget things that should happen, one that shouldnt is another fight by one group or another seeking to tap into revenue from the states permanent funds a strategy that might look good now but hurts the state in the long run. Better proposals are ensuring more of the current K-12 money gets to classrooms rather than administrations and capital outlay money is spent on projects that truly move the state forward. The governor and lawmakers have tough jobs in deciding how to allocate our tax dollars. And even though those are the jobs they signed up for, New Mexicans should wish them well as they prepare to go to work on our behalf. 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. New Mexico public education chief Christopher Ruszkowski has drawn criticism and national media attention for citing Manifest Destiny among the fundamental principles of this country during a speech praising charter school options. The Washington Post ran a story last week on Ruszkowskis statement that the United States is built on freedom, choice, competition, options, going west, Manifest Destiny, making charter school options quintessentially American. Ruszkowski made the comments Dec. 9 during the New Mexico Coalition for Charter Schools annual conference, which was covered by the Journal. Tribal leaders have bristled at the PED secretary-designates reference to Manifest Density, a 19th-century concept that justified conquest and disenfranchisement of Native peoples. This is utterly disgraceful, lacking any sensitivity, understanding and appreciation of the atrocious impacts of Manifest Destiny upon generations of our people, E. Paul Torres, chairman of the All Pueblo Council of Governors, wrote in a Dec. 14 letter to Ruszkowski. The least that our children, their parents and our leaders deserve is an apology for those comments. Learning Alliance New Mexico sent a similar letter, co-signed by a variety of groups, including New Mexico Voices For Children, Equality New Mexico, Native American Voters Alliance and the SouthWest Organizing Project, as well as congressional candidate Debra Haaland and state Rep. Georgene Louis, the first Pueblo woman to serve in the Legislature. Ruszkowski responded by reaching out to every tribal leader in the state to express remorse for the poorly phrased historical reference and to clarify that portion of his speech, according to PED spokeswoman Lida Alikhani. He also met with the vice president of the Navajo Nation and several other tribal leaders in person. I reject any doctrine, past or present, that stands in the way of making excellent schools a reality for all of our children, and stand alongside all of New Mexicos children, families, educators, and tribal leaders who are fighting for schools that are both higher performing academically and more culturally and linguistically responsive, Ruszkowski said in an emailed statement. We must continue to partner and collaborate on behalf of our children. Alikhani said Ruszkowskis speech was intended to leverage historical lessons to empower educators and do better for our students and to fight for social justice for all. During his 30 minutes of remarks, Ruszkowski mentioned Manifest Destiny once and touched on a variety of other topics, such as educational systems in various countries and his teaching experience in an inner city Boston charter school. Charles Bowyer, National Education Association New Mexico executive director, said referencing Manifest Destiny without even attempting an explanation of the historical context was wrong, period. Its unthinkable that the person in charge of public education would use language that so many of our students and educators find demeaning, he said in an emailed statement. Stephanie Ly, president of the American Federation of Teachers New Mexico, said the comment reveals that Ruszkowski a native Midwesterner who became PED chief in June 2017 has a deep lack of understanding and insensitivity to New Mexicos unique history and present educational reality. Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal OHKAY OWINGEH A top University of California official acknowledged Friday that there have been shortcomings at Los Alamos National Laboratory in the past but said the school remains deeply committed to the future of the lab as UC bids for LANLs next management and operations contract. Kim Budil, the universitys vice president for national labs, said UC, which has been involved in running LANL since 1943, had adapted and improved since an accident caused by LANL shut down the nations nuclear waste storage facility near Carlsbad in 2014. Budil also admitted there had been missed opportunities for the university to establish more of an institutional presence in northern New Mexico over the decades, but she touted new programs to support tech start-ups and for entrepreneurial fellowships as ways to do more in the future. Budil as well as representatives of Texas A&M University and the University of Texas also bidders for the lab contract spoke at a meeting of the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities at the Ohkay Owingeh Casino Resort Hotel north of Espanola. The Department of Energys semi-autonomous National Nuclear Security Administration is scheduled to award the new LANL operating contract, worth more than $2 billion annually, later this year. It was rebid after Los Alamos National Security LLC (LANS), a private consortium that includes UC and Bechtel, failed to receive adequate performance reviews in recent years. Most of Budils remarks came in response to polite but pointed questions from Santa Fe Mayor Javier Gonzales, the coalition chairman. He said there has been a lot of disappointment with the mistakes that were made at Los Alamos, citing the radioactive contamination that closed the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in 2014 when a waste drum improperly packed with a combustible mix at LANL burst open. He also said it appeared that the university had been passive on addressing issues such as poverty, air quality and drug addiction in northern New Mexico. Donating money to a foundation and feeling like that might be the end of the obligation is not necessarily what I consider (being) a good corporate citizen, Gonzales said. And the mayor said leaders of the local communities that make up the Regional Coalition have had to go to Washington, D.C., alone to lobby for more funding to clean up LANLs hazardous waste from decades of nuclear weapons work, without help from lab researchers to make the case that there are some real health issues to address. Concerning the WIPP accident, Budil said that when management at the lab shifted to the current consortium in 2006 in the first open-bid process for the LANL contract after UC had run the lab alone since World War II the idea was to bring the strengths of the university together with best practices from the private sector. Some aspects worked exceptionally well but others didnt, she said, with the WIPP contamination highlighting shortcomings in how the partnership was built. People with deep expertise of the chemistry of nuclear waste werent necessarily deeply embedded in the operational side of the lab. Its not operations and science, Budil said. Those things have to come together in a very seamless way. Budil said the lab had responded vigorously since 2014 and made lab operations much better, citing successes like the successful remediation of dozens of additional drums containing wastes similar to those that leaked at WIPP. I stand by that record, she said, adding, We transformed the way we operate in very fundamental ways. On community issues, she said UC has been a strong contributor to the LANL Foundation and will continue that beyond the current LANS contract and is trying to find ways to do more, but she acknowledged the California school should have stronger relationships with local universities and more local presence in economic development efforts and other issues. Budil added thats why she wants to push new public-private partnerships and tech transfer efforts, and using resources from the greatest public research university in the world on the regional problems cited by Gonzales, Budil added. UC is reportedly teaming with Texas A&M in a joint bid for the lab contract, although neither school has publicly confirmed the partnership. A&Ms Scott Sudduth touted his schools history in nuclear engineering and community service. Susan Rogers, a consultant for University of Texas system, said that schools primary goal in bidding for the lab contract was to fill the critical need for effective national security and that UT has unmatched qualifications and scientific accomplishments. The school also knows it must play a significant role in the community that is its home, Rogers said. Pit production On another issue, William S. Steve Goodrum, new head of the NNSAs Los Alamos Field Office, addressed the agencys consideration of moving the production of plutonium nuclear weapons cores known as pits, a job that will bring with it billions of dollars and reportedly hundreds of jobs, away from Los Alamos, even after years of planning for new underground facilities at LANL to handle the plutonium work. No new pits have been made since LANL made 29 over a few years ending in 2011. Its become public in recent months that NNSA has studied other locations for fulfilling a congressional mandate to make up to 80 pits a year by 2030 for a massive weapons modernization program. The two final sites under consideration are LANL and the Savannah River Site in South Carolina. Goodrum said NNSA was obligated to analyze alternatives for the work, that engineering studies remain to be done and the site decision will be based on objective information. Its not like they will uproot everything at Los Alamos and move it if pit production goes elsewhere, Goodrum said. He said LANL will continue to have a significant role in plutonium work. From left, Valerie Jaramillo, Sherri Chick and Chick's daughter, Sahayla Chick, 9, hold hands as they march and dance to the drums while walking over the bridge on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue NE during Saturday's parade A giant Martin Luther King, Jr. quote hangs from a parking structure during the annual New Mexico Martin Luther King, Jr. State Commission commemorative march down Dr. Martin Luther King Avenue on Saturday Prev 1 of 4 Next President Donald Trumps racially charged comments on immigration hung in the air Saturday morning as hundreds marched through Downtown Albuquerque to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.s legacy. The annual parade began in the University of New Mexico area and continued for a mile-and-a-half down the boulevard named for the civil rights icon, culminating at Civic Plaza. Saturdays crowd packed Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue NE the largest turnout in years, according to several long-time participants. Marchers of every race shouted slogans like Not my president while carrying signs advocating for immigrants, workers, the Black Lives Matter movement and progressive causes. Trump referred to Haiti, El Salvador, and parts of Africa as shithole countries and expressed a preference for immigrants from places like Norway during a White House meeting last week, according to The Washington Post. Fernanda Lopez, an 18-year-old Highland High School senior, said the presidents comments were upsetting. Im here to support all the people who have been discriminated against, said Lopez, who was attending the march for the first time, along with other members of Highland Highs Chicano Studies club, Metro. Many marchers said the event was an opportunity to fight back against Trumps divisive rhetoric. Patricia Stelzner and Sig Olson, both attorneys and ACLU members, argued that public protests are becoming more and more important. Its great to demonstrate how positive we are that we can overcome all the negative coming out of our D.C. area, Stelzner said. On Civic Plaza, local elected officials and civil rights leaders also expressed a mix of anger and hope concerning the countrys direction. Mayor Tim Keller told the crowd that Albuquerque must remember that there is far more that unites us than divides us. In todays political climate, particularly with what we see coming out of the news in Washington, its clear that the teachings of Dr. King are ones that we must continue to remind ourselves about today, he said. While some who claim to be leaders in our country revel in division and in hate, it reminds me that we have to stand up against that rhetoric and that we have to resist and that we have to stand for the spirit of inclusion and of unity. A number of speakers stressed pride in their culture and celebrated the citys diversity. Before singing the national anthem, Alexandra Germain said she wanted to stand up as a black American, a Haitian-American and an Albuquerque native. Germain, a member of the MLK Youth Commission, asked why Trump was so outrageously hateful. To University of New Mexico administrator Sonia Gipson Rankin, Kings legacy is a call to speak out and hold the powerful accountable. Gipson Rankin UNM associate dean for curriculum and program development of University College and a senior lecturer in Africana Studies cited United Nations statistics about global poverty and the growing refugee crisis. We have to learn how to live his (Kings) legacy, she said. We have to take care of each other. King was killed 50 years ago only months after he spent his last birthday working on an economic justice campaign and Gipson Rankin stressed that a racist society assassinated him, not just the man who pulled the trigger. Leonard Waites, New Mexico MLK State Commission executive director, closed the event by calling for civic engagement. We have to pay attention to whats happening in the world today, he said. With all the things that are happening around the country, its important. TEMUCO, Chile When Pope Francis visits the de facto capital of Chiles Mapuche people, he will be inserting himself into one of Latin Americas longest-running conflicts involving indigenous populations, and one that periodically erupts in violence. Leaders of both the Mapuches and the Chilean government have said in recent weeks they hope Francis can facilitate dialogue on disputes dating to the late 19th century, when the Mapuches, known for their ferocity resisting Spanish and other European settlers, were definitively defeated by the Chilean military. At stake are many thorny issues: ownership of ancestral lands in the southern Araucania region, legal recognition of the Mapuches language and culture, and discrimination that their leaders say permeates all facets of life. In practical terms, we as a people dont exist. Its shameful, said Hugo Alcaman, president of ENAMA, a Mapuche group that encourages local businesses and advocates social change. We need negotiations. We hope that the pope plants the seeds for it to happen. How far the pope goes in any statement supporting the Mapuches will be closely watched, and even fretted over. Francis, a native of neighboring Argentina and the first pope from Latin America, has shown strong support for indigenous peoples during visits in other countries. In Bolivia in 2015, he went so far as to apologize for the Roman Catholic Churchs grave sins committed against indigenous communities during the colonial era. His visit to Temuco on Wednesday takes him to a region of high volatility. While the vast majority of Chiles estimated 1 million citizens of Mapuche descent oppose using violence, a small number use it to push their agenda. In recent years scores of churches have been among the targets including three firebombed Friday in the nations capital, Santiago. Like in previous incidents in Araucania, pamphlets extolling the Mapuche cause were found at the scene of one of the churches, though no arrests were made and no group has claimed responsibility. There is both hope and worry about the popes visit, said Emilio Taladriz, director of Multigremial de la Araucania, a conglomerate of unions across several industries. The area is still one of conflict. Protests are expected in Temuco, including outside the Maquehue Air Base where the pope will celebrate Mass. It was built on land that was taken from Mapuches in the early 20th century and remains a point of friction. Chilean authorities plan to deploy more than 4,000 police officers in Temucos streets as, flanked by 16 police vehicles, Francis rides in the popemobile down a central avenue before visiting an order of nuns. A Mapuche choir will participate in the Mass, and afterward the pope will have lunch with a group of Mapuches hand-picked by local bishops. Fernando Diaz, a priest in the Temuco area who has worked with Mapuches for years, expressed disappointment that Francis is not scheduled to meet with any of the leaders of the cause. The visit has been planned so the pope sees as little of the reality as possible, Diaz said. Massimo Faggioli, a Vatican expert and theology professor at Villanova University in Philadelphia, said every papal visit disappointments someone over who gets or does not get an audience, but the pope generally finds a way to carve out time for what is important to him. Usually Francis has a good ear and tries to adapt, said Faggioli. The first papal visit to Chile since Saint John Paul II in 1987 comes as the Catholic Churchs role with indigenous peoples in the Andean nation of 17 million people has shifted. During the 1973-1990 dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet, many Chilean bishops pushed to protect native peoples and get their cultures recognized. But today the hierarchy is much more aligned with business interests. In 1987, John Paul II gave a pointed nod to Mapuches that surely prompted cringes within Pinochets government, which was unsympathetic toward indigenous groups and cracked down on any form of dissent. During his homily, John Paul said faith in God could overcome all human-caused problems, implicitly referring to friction between Mapuches and the Chilean state. Its for this reason that the pope, from Temuco, encourages the Mapuches to conserve with healthy pride the culture of its people, the former pontiff said, adding that included the traditions and customs, the language and its own values. Since then, the Mapuches have made significant strides. The return of democracy in Chile in the 1990s set the stage for creation of a government body, the National Corporation of Indigenous Development, that is dedicated to issues related to the countrys native peoples and spurred many changes. Some ancestral lands have been returned. University scholarships have been set aside for Mapuches along with other benefits not open to all Chileans. Various aspects of Mapuche culture, such as many foods, have become part of the mainstream. Still, problems persist, ranging from economic to social. Araucania remains the countrys poorest region, and Mapuches complain of frequent abuse at the hands of security forces. One case that reverberated strongly in the community involved the arrest of two Mapuche brothers, ages 13 and 17, while police were searching for five wanted Mapuche men in December 2016. The 17-year-old, Brandon Hernandez Huentecol, was shot in the back by a police officer while face-down on the ground, resulting in a nearly two-month stay in the hospital and several surgeries for a shattered pelvis. The officer has not been charged and failed to appear in court in response to a summons to testify. Over a year later, the boys mother is beseeching Francis to bring his influence to bear. I know you are a man who professes Christian values and love for thy neighbor and for those who cant defend themselves, Ada Huentecol, said recently in an open letter to the pope. That is why I ask that you help us, that you speak up and demand justice for my son. ___ Associated Press writer Mauricio Cuevas reported from Temuco, and Peter Prengaman reported from Paihuano, Chile. ___ Follow Prengaman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/peterprengaman Its beneath us to speak of countries as s-holes, perhaps in a way that its beneath us to say that undocumented Mexicans are rapists or murderers, though with some good people. Maybe a country that consistently has one of the higher child poverty rates among developed nations, averages almost seven mass shootings a week and has seen its standing in education test scores drop to below average shouldnt be so quick to disparage others. With a dose of humility, we can remember it is safer in some of the countries Trump cited than in some parts of Chicago right now. Trump has courted evangelicals, some of whom have had access to him and his administration. I hope those evangelical leaders will speak clearly, reminding Trump that all people are worthy of dignity and respect because they are made in the image of God. Also, just a reminder: The countries he is speaking of might seem far away, but the people who live there are not so different from you and me. In fact, what some might casually call s-hole countries are filled with people whom evangelicals call their brothers and sisters in Christ. Africa, for example, has the fastest-growing evangelical community as a percentage of population and is projected to become the largest evangelical continent in the world. They are part of my familyand yours. WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. President Donald Trump, on the defensive in the wake of recent disparaging comments about Haiti and African nations that have revived questions about whether the leader of the worlds melting pot is a racist, declared Sunday that he is not one. No, No. Im not a racist, Trump told reporters who asked for his response to those who think he is a racist. I am the least racist person you have ever interviewed. That I can tell you. Trump also denied making the statements attributed to him, but avoided delving into the specifics of what he did or did not say. Did you see what various senators in the room said about my comments? he asked, referring to lawmakers who were meeting with him in the Oval Office on Thursday when Trump is said to have made the comments. They werent made. Trump stands accused of using shithole to describe African countries during an immigration meeting with a bipartisan group of six senators. The president, in the meeting, also questioned the need to admit more Haitians to the U.S., according to people who were briefed on the conversation but were not authorized to describe the meeting publicly. Trump said in the meeting that he would prefer immigrants from countries like Norway instead. The White House has not denied that Trump said shithole though Trump has already pushed back on some depictions of the meeting. A confidant of Trumps told The Associated Press that the president spent Thursday evening calling friends and outside advisers to judge their reaction to his remarks. Trump wasnt apologetic and denied he was racist, instead blaming the media for distorting his meaning, said the confidant, who wasnt authorized to disclose a private conversation and spoke on condition of anonymity. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the only Democrat at Thursdays meeting, said Trump had indeed said what he was reported to have said. Durbin said the remarks were vile, hate-filled and clearly racial in their content. He said Trump used the most vulgar term more than once. Trump commented as Durbin was presenting details of a compromise immigration plan that included providing $1.6 billion for a first installment of the presidents long-sought border wall. Trump took particular issue with the idea that people whod fled to the U.S. after disasters hit their homes in places such as El Salvador, Guatemala and Haiti would be allowed to stay as part of the deal, according to the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they werent authorized to publicly describe the discussion. When it came to talk of extending protections for Haitians, Durbin said Trump replied, We dont need more Haitians.' He said, Put me down for wanting more Europeans to come to this country. Why dont we get more people from Norway?' Durbin said. Republican Sens. David Perdue of Georgia and Tom Cotton of Arkansas, who also attended the meeting, initially said in a statement Friday that they do not recall the president saying these comments specifically.On Sunday, they backtracked and challenged other senators descriptions of the remarks. Perdue described as a gross misrepresentation reports that Trump used the vulgarity. He said Durbin and Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina were mistaken in indicating that was the case. Graham also attended the meeting. I am telling you that he did not use that word. And Im telling you its a gross misrepresentation, Perdue said on ABCs This Week. Cotton told CBS Face the Nation that he didnt hear the word used and I was sitting no further away from Donald Trump than Dick Durbin was. Trump insisted in a tweet on Friday that he never said anything derogatory about Haitians other than Haiti is, obviously, a very poor and troubled country. Never said take them out. Made up by Dems. Trump wrote, I have a wonderful relationship with Haitians. Probably should record future meetings unfortunately, no trust! Word of Trumps comments threatened to upend delicate negotiations over resolving the status of hundreds of thousands of immigrants who were brought to the country illegally as children. Trump announced last year that he will end the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, unless lawmakers come up with a solution by March. The program shielded these immigrants, often referred to as Dreamers, from deportation and granted them work permits. Trump tweeted earlier Sunday that the program is probably dead and blamed Democrats. He elaborated on the way to dinner with House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., saying Democrats dont want to help the DACA people. Some Democrats have threatened to vote against legislation to extend government funding, which expires on Friday, unless protections for the Dreamers are included. Honestly I dont think the Democrats want to make a deal, Trump said. I think they talk about DACA, but they dont want to help the DACA people. Trump said Democrats arent in favor of securing the border or stopping the flow of drugs, but are for taking money away from the military. We have a lot of sticking points but theyre all Democrat sticking points. We are ready, willing and able to make a deal, but they dont want to. ___ Associated Press writer Jonathan Lemire contributed to this report. ___ Follow Darlene Superville on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dsupervilleap LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. U.S. Department of Agriculture aerial sharpshooters are returning to the Lake Havasu National Wildlife Refuge for a second attempt to exterminate feral hogs at the refuge along the Colorado River. However, the facilitys manager told the Todays News-Herald that it may take years before the swine are eradicated completely. The agency began its Feral Swine Eradication Plan last February. The $25,000 operation was scheduled to last two weeks, but federal officials declared the effort a success after less than four days and about 70 confirmed kills. But Lake Havasu National Wildlife Refuge Manager Rich Meyers said the surviving hogs may have repopulated within the past 12 months. Typically, hogs increase their reproduction while under stress, Meyers said. Were seeing more hogs, and its possible that theyve replenished their numbers. Feral swine are an invasive species throughout the country, the descendants of domesticated pigs that were released or escaped from captivity. Feral swine can cause extensive damage to riparian habitats while searching for food, and are known carriers of leptospirosis, salmonella and E-coli, presenting a threat to human health when they enter gardens and agricultural land, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said. Feral swine populations throughout the U.S. exceed five million, a 2015 Wildlife Society study said, and economic losses resulting from damage caused by feral swine is more than $1.5 billion per year. Everywhere they are on the Refuge, theyre extremely damaging to the habitat, Meyers said. We wont get them all, but we can take out a lot of the sows and keep pressure on them. After a few years, well systematically eradicate them from the Refuge. ___ Information from: Todays News-Herald, http://www.havasunews.com ISTANBUL A commercial airplane that skidded off a runway after landing in northern Turkey dangled precariously Sunday off a muddy cliff with its nose only a few feet from the Black Sea. Some of the 168 people on board the Boeing 737-800 described it as a miracle that everyone was evacuated safely from the plane, which went off a runway at Trabzon Airport. Images show the aircraft on its belly and perched at an acute angle just above the water. If it had slid any further along the slope, the plane would have likely plunged into the sea in the Turkish province of Trabzon. Pegasus Airlines said no one was injured during the incident late Saturday, despite the panic among the 162 passengers on board Flight PC8622. The six-member crew, including two pilots, was also evacuated. Flights were suspended at Trabzon Airport for several hours before resuming again Sunday. Passenger Yuksel Gordu told Turkeys official Anadolu news agency that words werent enough to describe the fear on the aircraft. Its a miracle we escaped. We could have burned, exploded, flown into the sea, Gordu said. Thank God for this. I feel like Im going crazy when I think about it. Another passenger, Fatma Gordu, told private Dogan news agency that there was a loud sound after landing. We swerved all of a sudden, she said. The front of the plane crashed and the back was in the air. Everyone panicked. Trabzon Gov. Yucel Yavuz said investigators were trying to determine why the plane had left the runway. The prosecutors office launched an investigation. The flight originated in the Turkish capital, Ankara. Airport officials would not discuss the status of plane Sunday and whether it had been towed off the slope. Annabelle Robertson, a Democrat running against Republican U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, took to Wesley United Methodist Church Sunday morning to deliver a social justice-inspired speech that preceded a politically charged sermon. Robertson a civil rights attorney and founder of Indivisible South Carolina, a nonprofit that seeks to resist President Donald Trump's policies opened her 10-minute speech saying she would "repeal and replace Rep. Joe Wilson from this district." "For 17 years, Joe has told us he can imagine what it's like to struggle," Robertson said, "but I don't have to imagine what it's like to struggle. I know." Indivisible South Carolina founder to announce congressional campaign "I'm running for Congress because I am the warrior that will bring prosperity to S.C. District 2," Annabelle Robertson said. Her speech touched on the difficulties of being a single mother, the ethical issues raised by unequal pay, and what it's like to not have health insurance. Robertson called for "equal justice for all," reaffirmed her support of medical cannabis, and quoted Martin Luther King Jr. a day before the federal holiday in his name. "I'm tired of the same old arguments and the same old excuses and being blamed as Democrats..." Robertson said of the current political climate. Changing that climate, she said, starts now. "It's a new day. And as Dinah Washington says, 'What a difference a day makes,'" Robertson said. Robertson, who announced her candidacy in November 2017, was invited to speak by the church's interim pastor, the Rev. Sh'Kur M.R. Francis. Following Robertson's targeted speech, Francis had one thing to say: "I believe somebody has already preached." In his sermon, Francis, the secretary of the South Carolina Democratic Party, followed Robertson's lead. He said he want to do a "touch" of Martin Luther King Jr. but with "a little something different." Francis' allocution exceedingly political compared to normal, he admitted derided the White House, likening "the halls of power" to "Jim Crow Esquire," and called for "a civil rights movement right now." He said 2017 was a time when "alternative facts" became "the norm," adding, "America is in the middle of a nightmare." "If you say, 'Pastor, I didn't come for a political speech,' you can catch me next Sunday," he said. Francis also offered Robertson a candidate who, if elected, would represent Aiken his sponsorship: "With Annabelle Robertson, we can retake the U.S. House of Representatives." Robertson, on Sunday, said Aiken Democrats need to mobilize, calling the region a "battleground." "Aiken is an area that, I believe, has the opportunity to change history for District 2 because of its African-American population and the voters here, many of whom are from working families," she said. "That is who I am going to Washington to represent." At the end of his sermon, Francis extended an invitation to Wilson. In a later interview, Francis said he and his congregation welcomes any candidate or politician Democrat or Republican. Blue, life-size silhouettes, resembling a family, will soon be spotted in downtown Aiken. The cutouts, to be installed near Park Avenue and Laurens Street, are a bid to increase human trafficking awareness in the community. The display will offer passersby human trafficking information: brochures, pamphlets and available hotlines. The cutouts will be placed no later than Jan. 15 and will stay until the end of January. January is recognized as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Susan Selden, the executive director of the Cumbee Center to Assist Abused Persons, had the silhouettes approved during a Jan. 8 City Council meeting. Support for the initiative was unanimous and was met with applause. Aiken Mayor Rick Osbon, during the meeting, said, "Of course that's unanimous." S.C. Human Trafficking Task Force 2017 Report The South Carolina Human Trafficking Task Force annually issues updates and statistical data related to human trafficking. Selden told City Council members, in a brief presentation, that human trafficking is "modern-day slavery," a "human rights violation" that "robs people of their dignity and their freedom." "We in Aiken are seeing more human trafficking," Selden said Jan. 8. "I know our public safety officers are seeing it, the Cumbee Center victim advocates are seeing this happen, and so we are very concerned." In a Dec. 15, 2017 letter to City Manager John Klimm, Selden states the center has "provided safety and services for several clients" trying to escape their traffickers. Eighteen human trafficking cases were closed in South Carolina state courts in 2017, according to the South Carolina Human Trafficking Task Force. Seven charges involved minors. All three guilty pleas last year involved charges related to minors. As of Dec. 29, 2017, 72 human trafficking cases were pending in state courts. The SCHTTF's latest report also shows local law enforcement divisions charged a total 59 counts of human trafficking in 2017 22 involved minors. More and more regional data is "currently scarce," according to the SCHTTF website, due to the crime's "underground nature." The task force has since created a data and research collation subcommittee. Human trafficking statistics for the Aiken area are not available, Aiken Public Safety Chief Charles Barranco said Friday. He did say, though, that human trafficking cases often go unreported until it's too late. "When people say human trafficking, they think of the traditional, foreign female typically that is coming under some sort of servitude," Barranco said. "That's not just what we're looking at." Osbon said a majority of what he's heard about in the area does not fall along the "traditional" human trafficking lines. "What you might see is a drug user exchanging sex acts for drugs," Osbon said. Selden agreed on both accounts. She said she hopes the downtown cutouts will "correct some myths" and address stereotypes that people have come to expect: "It's not someone always driving by in a white van and kidnapping people ... This is slavery. They're coerced or forced into it, and they don't know how to get out." Signs of human trafficking include a person in poor mental health, coupled with abnormal or asocial behavior; a lack of personal possessions and no control of his or her own money; no ability to come and go as a person pleases; and malnourishment, according to the Polaris Project, an anti-human trafficking nonprofit. Lt. Jake Mahoney, with Aiken Public Safety, said increased public awareness which may stem from the silhouettes, he said could save someone's life. "If we have the opportunity to even impact one individual, one family, then the time and effort is worth it," he said. Aiken Public Safety is working with the Cumbee Center for human trafficking training, according to Barranco. Osbon said he appreciates the exchange and Public Safety's growing focus on the matter. "I think it's important that we recognize that," Osbon said. "The Cumbee Center has and will continue to take the lead." The Human Trafficking Hotline can be reached at 1-888-373-7888. The Cumbee Center Aiken office can be reached at 803-649-0480. Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier? Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. Breaking News Columbia Breaking News Greenville Breaking News Myrtle Beach Breaking News Aiken Breaking News Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Success! Please click the 'Allow' button in the 'Show Notifcations' alert in your browser if one is available. Thank you for signing up! Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page. According to the Bureau of Justice, 77 percent of drug offenders are re-arrested by police within five years of being released; taxpayers are footed with the cost of recidivism, paying about $28,000 per inmate per year. And, this doesn't even factor in both the huge social and economic costs that are externalized on taxpayers because of police drug enforcement. Targeting and arresting poor people disrupts family units, strapping struggling families with more financial hardship. Families are fragmented and taxpayers pay the cost of providing resources and services to people harmed by police trauma and the loss of breadwinners; it's important to provide and expand such services to people in need, so our community thrives. James Hinton, former 2014 congressional candidate against Mike Thompson turned cannabis activist, will moderate the forum. Panelists will include Paul Armentano, Deputy Director of NORML; Maurce Solis, local dispensary operator; and Ray Wood, Defense Attorney. Topics will include Session's rollback of the Cole memo, laws around marijuana and driving, civil rights information on marijuana and police interactions, challenges faced by local dispensary operators, and safe access. General information about marijuana consumption itself will also be provided for new patients and recreational users. Three interconnected developments that occurred in December 2017 will have a lasting impact on Lebanon. The Lebanese government made two long overdue decisions: launching the energy exploration process and setting the parliamentary elections date for next May. The third development is a breakthrough that has regional implications: a United Nations-sponsored meeting was held between Lebanon and Israel to discuss for the first time the demarcation of their maritime border, an official Lebanese source told Al-Monitor. After years of tensions and delay, the Lebanese government had agreed in January 2017 on a formula to divide the offshore oil and gas blocks along the Lebanese coast on a political, geographical and sectarian basis. The winning bidder of the first licensing round was a consortium of Frances Total, Italys ENI and Russias Novatek. Their bid was confined to two blocks only, including block 9 in south Lebanon near Israels Exclusive Economic Zone. Official sources in Lebanon told Al-Monitor that the exploration and production agreement between the Lebanese government and the consortium will be signed at the end of January, whereas exploration is expected to begin in mid-2019 and production in 2021-22. The smooth flow of oil production can only be ensured by two factors: maintaining the minimal agreement among Lebanese leaders and maintaining the current rules of engagement between Hezbollah and Israel. On the domestic level, the energy process will largely depend in the foreseeable future on the dynamics between President Michel Aoun and parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. Aoun aims to keep the oil and gas exploration process in the Energy Ministry, which has been under the influence of his political movement since 2009, while Berri seeks to establish alternative institutions that allow him to exert control over the process. The next parliament, with a term that expires once the energy exploration concludes in 2022, will have to debate and vote on establishing a sovereign fund to preserve and invest the surplus revenues of oil and gas production. The exploration process financial dimension is currently led by a small unit in the Finance Ministry, while the energy minister, advised by a multi-confessional Petroleum Authority, handles the technical side. Moving forward, Lebanese politics is not expected to have an impact on the exploration process, at least until production starts. The maritime blue line It is increasingly obvious that oil and gas exploration in the Mediterranean adds a new layer to the complex enmity between Israel and Hezbollah, most notably in Lebanons southernmost blocks where oil and gas reserves are potentially abundant. The blue line that was drawn in 2000 between Lebanon and Israel, from Shebaa Farms to Naqoura, was not extended into the sea, which caused a dispute over 860 square meters (9,257 square feet) of international waters and triggered an energy exploration race between Lebanon and Israel. US and UN efforts to resolve that dispute have previously failed and have been suspended since 2014. However, an official source in Lebanon told Al-Monitor that a trilateral meeting was held in late December 2017 between military commanders from Lebanon, Israel and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to discuss the demarcation of what is known as the maritime blue line. Meanwhile, Lebanon and Israel are making sure not to come close to the disputed international waters. Indeed, the geopolitical impact of energy discovery on Lebanon and its neighborhood should not be understated, as it helped the country withstand domestic and regional turmoil since 2011, from upheaval in Syria to the recent resignation saga of Prime Minister Saad Hariri. As a result, the United States became more cautious in approaching Lebanese politics to help Israel clear roadblocks to become an energy player in the Middle East. Satisfied with the status quo along the Lebanese-Israeli border since 2006, both Hezbollah and Israel became less interested in a confrontation as they eyed the economic benefits of oil production. The international community is invested as well in maintaining stability. The European-Russian consortium reflects a decision to sponsor Lebanons entrance to the petroleum production, which some have called a petroleum UNIFIL, as both France and Italy are heavily invested in the UNIFIL forces operating near the Lebanese-Israeli border. Impact of energy production on Lebanon Lebanon is not expected to become a major energy exporter, as the countrys excessive demand for electricity is big enough to absorb the energy production in the next two decades at least. The data speculations regarding the estimated oil and gas reserves have fluctuated over the years. An official Lebanese source was skeptical, saying, For sure, we do not have proven reserves. What is publicly available is informal information. Furthermore, the production costs tend to increase when we move away from the Nile to the Mediterranean basin due to the thick sedimentary cover of the rocks on the Lebanese coast. While the Energy Ministry and the consortium signed a production-sharing agreement, production costs can later increase and cut the profits of the Lebanese state. Managing expectations is paramount regarding the potential benefits and rewards of energy production. The Lebanese government has yet to devise a long-term economic plan or offer a road map that addresses the countrys crippling electricity problem and a national debt spiraling out of control. Lebanons energy promise could indeed be a regional game changer, but the jury is out on whether the Lebanese people will get the chance to reap the economic benefits. At 42, Amani had almost given up hope of finding a husband. Then she met Ali, an architect who is five years her senior. It was love at first sight and six months after their first encounter, they got married. Instead of the lavish wedding she had always dreamed of having, Amani settled for a small, quiet ceremony with only her mother and sisters attending. None of the couples friends were invited as Ali wished to keep the marriage a well-guarded secret. He feared his first wife and mother of his three children would find out that he was taking a second wife and cause a scene at the wedding. Amani acquiesced to his decision. I was totally blinded by love, she told Al-Monitor. Besides, I didnt want to be a home-wrecker. If his first wife had learned we were getting married, she would probably have insisted on getting a divorce, she said. Today, two years later, Amani and Alis marriage is on the rocks. When we first got married, we spent a lot of time together. He told his first wife that his job required him to travel for several days each week. But weve been quarreling a lot lately and I hardly see him anymore. He has even threatened to divorce me, Amani said. Their story is not uncommon in Egypt. According to a study by the National Center for Sociological and Criminological Research, 70% of second marriages end in divorce and 25% of Egyptian husbands remarry within the first three years of their first marriage. The statistics, dating back several years, are questionable given that the bulk of the second marriages are urfi marriages that are neither registered nor recognized by the government. Such informal marriages simply require the couple to sign a handwritten document (with or without witnesses) and are a way of getting around religious constraints on extramarital or premarital sex. While accurate figures are hard to find, one thing is certain: The country is undergoing a marriage crisis, described by some as a ticking social time bomb. Not only are divorce rates alarmingly high (reaching more than 60% in cities in 2017, according to the national statistics agency) but the number of unmarried women is also soaring. In October, the figure hit 11 million an estimated 50% of women of marriageable age. The current circumstances have emboldened polygamy proponents, whose voices have grown louder in recent months. They justify the controversial practice on grounds that it gives women a better chance of avoiding spinsterhood and makes it easier for them to exercise their right to have a husband. They also argue that having more than one wife allows men a sensible way to assuage male sexual frustration, a common cause of divorce. Pro-polygamy campaigner Rania Hashem, who has written the book "Polygamy: A Religious Right," says, Women have no right to object to their husbands taking multiple wives as they cannot forbid what God has sanctioned in the Quran. Hashem appears frequently on television and organizes seminars that advocate polygamy. By acquiescing in your husbands decision to take other wives, you are in fact abiding by the rules of Islam, she tells women. Basing her argument on what she calls the sex-ratio imbalance, she says there are millions of women who are unmarried because of the shortage in men in Egypt. Polygamy is key to resolving this and other social problems. However, many say that no such imbalance exists, and that the high rates of unmarried women cannot be blamed on the lack of men. Womens rights advocates believe other factors such as social and economic conditions are behind the phenomenon of unmarried women. Iman Bibars, CEO of the Association for the Development and Enhancement of Women, told Al-Monitor, Young men that are at an early stage of their careers very often cannot afford the exorbitant costs of marriage, which include buying a home and furnishing it, the bride price, etc. The demands made by the brides family even in poor families are often high, rendering it almost impossible for the average young man to fulfill those demands. Usually, its older men who are already well-established who can afford to pay for all those things. Most of them are already married but are seeking younger brides. Mona Abu Shanab, a TV producer and another polygamy advocate, has tried to win converts to her cause from across the Arab world. She recently launched a verbal attack on Tunisia for what she called its colonialist family laws outlawing polygamy. There are millions of unmarried women, widows and divorcees in Tunisia, where do they all go? she said in a viral video posted on her Facebook page in October. Abu Shanab called on God-fearing Tunisians to reject the countrys anti-polygamy law, which, she said, encourages men to commit adultery. The Quran states that men are allowed to marry up to four wives at a time, provided that the husband can treat all four equally. It adds that if the husband feels he might not be able to treat all with equal fairness, then to marry only one. Unlike in Tunisia, polygamy is permissible in predominantly Muslim Egypt, where men can marry up to four women at a time. There have been some small but relatively feeble attempts to curb the practice, however. A law passed in 1985 requires the husband to seek the consent of his first wife (or wives) before he takes another bride. If the first wife objects or asks for a divorce, she has to provide evidence in court that his taking another wife has caused her harm. This right is not open-ended: The wife has one year to file for divorce starting from the date on which she becomes aware of her husbands plan to marry another woman. Judges, however, often refuse to apply this provision, considering it to run counter to Sharia (the main source of legislation, according to Article 2 of the constitution). Six years before the issuance of this law, a less-restrictive provision had been decreed by President Anwar Sadat, which had relieved the first wife of the burden of having to prove the polygamous marriage was harming her. According to the 1979 provision, a woman could get divorced simply if she objected to an additional wife. The law was overwritten after it met with stiff resistance from conservative Muslim clerics who argued that polygamy is a religiously legitimate right. In recent months, social media activists have been calling for a revival of the 1979 law. They say that the condition of the wifes consent should be added to the marriage contract. Hibaaq Osman, CEO of the Cairo-based nongovernmental organization Karama, which works to empower women and young people in the Middle East and North African region, told Al-Monitor that what is important is to enforce the existing law (under which the wifes consent is already required). Directing a message to polygamy advocates, she asked, Are you yourselves married? And if you are, would you still think it is fine to share your husband with other women? I really doubt it. Osman may be skeptical, but there are many women who believe that complying with their husbands wishes is a religious duty. In October, photos of an Egyptian wife attending her husbands wedding ceremony went viral on social media, raising eyebrows and prompting debate on the contentious issue of polygamy. Opponents said it was unfair and selfish of the groom, while advocates of polygamy insisted it was legal and religious. Motaz Hilal, the groom in question, published a statement on his Facebook page, explaining his motives for taking a second wife. I have always wanted a large family and wished to have more children, he wrote. While my first wife was upset at first when I told her I was getting married, she seems to have warmed up to the idea," he said. "She even helped coax my new brides parents into accepting the marriage. The system images of the OxygenOS 5.0.1 for the OnePlus 3 and the OnePlus 3T can now be downloaded by interested users from the website of the smartphone manufacturer OnePlus. This comes a few days after the tech firm started distributing the software upgrade over-the-air. The availability of the system image allows users to flash the software build to their devices. Installing this update brings several new features to the two devices, including the new Soft screen calibration option. The Soft screen calibration option has been described to have a cooler white balance compared to the sRGB option while also having reduced color saturation compared to the default calibration option. The OxygenOS 5.0.1 brings the support for the aptxHD codec to the OnePlus 3 and the OnePlus 3T, which allows for improved audio quality on Bluetooth speakers and headphones. This audio codec supports 24-bit music quality over Bluetooth, an improvement over the 16-bit quality supported by the older aptX codec. The technology offers a lower signal to noise ratio by adding two extra bits to every sub-band of processing. The aptxHD codec enables the transmission of audio data with a sampling rate of 48kHz. This software upgrade brings the Wi-Fi hotspot device manager to the two smartphones, and it will also allow the OnePlus 3 to support the LTE network of the Indian network operator AirTel. In addition, this update brings the December 2017 Android Security Patch to the two handsets. This security patch contains fixes for several vulnerabilities, some of which are located in the system component and the media framework of Googles operating system. The software package also includes a number of bug fixes and stability improvements, although the manufacturer did not provide any information regarding the bug fixes in the changelog. On the manufacturers official website, OnePlus provided detailed instructions on how to flash the system image to the two smartphones. The company is advising users to backup the files and images stored in the handset to a personal computer or a microSD card before flashing the system image. Moreover, it is also important to verify first if the internal storage of the smartphone has enough free space to temporarily keep the system image, which has a file size of 1.47GB. ARAs Editor-in-chiefThe Catalan oasis came to an end when the Mossos dEsquadra searched Barcelonas Palau de la Musica on July 23, 2009 and left the premises carrying thirteen cardboard boxes. They had arrived before 10 a.m. to the surprise and growing stupefaction of public opinion. At midday, chairman Felix Millet left the Palau hiding behind an umbrella that he has maintained throughout all these years in the form of silence and negotiated confessions, privileged connections, and delays due to changes of judges and appeals filed by his lawyers. The workings of the Palau during the Millet years, the only chairman whose portrait is not displayed in the musical institution today, represent Catalonia in the time of the oasis, now long gone. The Catalonia which President Maragall spoke of, prompting President Jordi Pujol to feign offence because one would no longer even be able "attend weddings" of the Convergencia and PSC society. Tomorrow the ruling will be handed down concerning the plundering of the Palau and the alleged payment by Ferrovial of 6.6M in commissions to Convergencia, in return for government contracts, using the Palau as a "pipeline" to funnel the cash, in the words of the Prosecutor. The former executives of Ferrovial and former Convergencia treasurer Daniel Osacar have not admitted to the actions indicated by the Prosecutor, who has asked for 14 years and 9 months for Millet, 10 years and 10 months for Montull, 8 years for Osacar, and 2 years for Gemma Montull. The years of judicial instruction and trial of the main case of alleged political corruption in Catalonia has coincided with a national transformation that has put an end to the comfortable Catalonia of the judicious shopkeepers and Pujol supporters. It was a way of doing politics that the traditional players in Spain look back on with nostalgia. The pro-sovereignty movement has many components. Some have a social basis, others are economic, political, or identity-based. But the facts are that, in these years of the Process, Catalonia has turned the page on corruption and, in contrast with Spain under the PP, this nation and its political system of leadership and parties is not the same as it was eight years ago. The final cry of a certain Convergencia was sounded yesterday by Artur Mas, president of PDECat, the leading player in the metamorphosis of the majority from supporters of the concept of autonomous power to supporters of sovereignty. He is also the man who inherited a party that was in the hands of one family, and where until recently you could still hear that it was normal for companies "to want to chip in". Today Convergencia has been emptied of content and its heir, PDECat, has been surpassed by the initiative of president Carles Puigdemont, who has always shunned the discipline and servitude of the party. Mas understood, two years after abandoning the presidency of the Generalitat, that whatever the Palau ruling, the shock wave would come to damage the reconstruction of Catalonias liberal center. When ERC's victory seemed a sure thing and after the declaration of independence on October 27th and the application of Article 155, Puigdemont reacted to ensure his survival, and so did a party in transformation. The severity of the decisions made on October 26th, with the failure to call a snap election due to a lack of trust in the response of the PP government, the mutiny by part of the Junts pel Si group, ERC's exit from the Government, and the commotion on the internet by the guardians of orthodoxy (when it's free) all helped Puigdemont make up his mind. Pained by the lack of support from ERC for a joint slate and mistrusting many of those who were in theory on his side, the President and a few loyal supporters put their money on the institution, which he still represents, in an electoral list that, for practical, organizational, and legal reasons was affiliated with the PDECat. Mas has stepped aside asking his partys leadership and those surrounding Puigdemont to get on with each other. In the words of someone very close to him: "If Mas was able to get on with Duran ..." The equilibrium between the PDECat and the Puigdemont camp should pave the way for a centrist, liberal, pro-sovereignty platform. That is why they will have to overcome the challenge of rebuilding their political personality, of acting in a broad-based, meritocratic manner. To behave like a political party without the tics of the old Convergencia, and reinforce the virtues of its territorial roots on the back of its team of qualified party officials. Still more urgently, Carles Puigdemont, the main asset of JxCat, will have to decide what his role will be. The mandate from the Catalan people is for a pro-independence president, and Puigdemont had vowed to return to Catalonia. It is clear that if he returns his final destination will be a Spanish prison cell, and the actions of the Spanish justice system leave no doubt of its lack of respect for the exercise of elected officials' political rights. An investiture by proxy will be blocked to all effects and purposes, but not symbolically. It will be the time to choose between people and institutions. Women must get used to not asking permission. If they must re-think and turn themselves upside down, so be it. But they must stop asking permission. They must stop thinking that they have all the obligations and must meet all the expectations. They must kill their internal saboteur. They must stop asking permission to think, to act, to decide, to err, to have wrinkles. They must grab what is theirs. Without dithering. Above all, they must stop asking permission to be brilliant and self-reliant and bold and, when necessary, razor-sharp. The time has come to turn the tide and there is an army of civilised men willing to acknowledge them, to share and build a better world. There is also an army of men who are holding the fort of that stale, international tradition that brings together Harvey Weinstein and Spains crass machismo. But the times, they are a-changin and those who abuse their power over women are getting shaky knees thanks to the courage of many and the power of truth. It is not enough to come forward, point fingers, shame or punish. Women also have work to do in order to conquer spaces without asking permission, challenging, demanding, confronting the men who take a step forward yes, they do exist with their own contradictions and inertia. Princesses must learn from a young age that they are their own blue princes and, from that day onwards, they must learn to share and choose, but without asking permission to decide about themselves or to go as far as their own merits will take them. Wearing black or wearing red. Without asking permission. According to the Press Agency Reuters, Democratic Republic of Congo army has launched a military operations against the Ugandan rebels called "Allied Democratic Forces ADF", on Saturday, January 13, 2018, after an attack last month that killed 15 United Nations peacekeepers. The Islamist ADF is very active along the Congo-Uganda border and has responsable for many attacks agaisnt UN forces and Congolese army since the last few months. A Tanzanian artillery specialist with the Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) adjusts his aim during a training exercise. (Picture source unmultimedia website) The ADF Ugandan rebel force is an Islamist armed group acting in North Kivu and South Kivu, the two western provinces which border Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania. The ADF was formed by puritanical Muslim Ugandans of the Tablighi Jamaat group who merged with the remnants of another rebel group, the National Army for the Liberation of Uganda (NALU). The main figure of the group was Jamil Mukulu, a former Protestant who converted to Islam. ON 7 December,2017, a base of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) in Semuliki was attacked that killed 15 Tanzanian peacekeepers and wounded 43 others. This military offensive is joint military operation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda against this rebel group.it was announced during a press conference by the General Marcel Mbangu, commander in charge of Congos North Kivu province. More than 300 soldiers of the congolese army with tanks and armoured are involved in this combat operation. Last month Uganda launched air strikes and artillery attacks on ADF positions on its side. Friday, January 12, 2018, General Dynamics European Land Systems signed a contract to deliver up to 227 PIRANHA 5 8x8 wheeled armored vehicles in six different configurations to the Romanian Armed Forces. The contract has a total value exceeding $1 billion. It is part of the Romanian Armys plan to modernize its legacy wheeled armored vehicle fleet. Piranha 5 8x8 wheeled armoured vehicle personnel carrier (Picture source General Dynamics Land Systems) Prime Minister Mihai Tudose and Deputy Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu attended the signing ceremony held at the National Defense Ministry headquarters. The modern PIRANHA 5 vehicles will be produced in Romania under a strategic cooperation and transfer of technology project between General Dynamics European Land Systems - Mowag and the Romanian company Uzina Mecanica Bucuresti (UMB). Since 2006, the Romanian Armored Forces has fielded variants of PIRANHA vehicles which have been deployed in various missions in-country and abroad, demonstrating its reliability and performance. The Romanian Army is one of the most important PIRANHA users in Europe. We are very honored by this contract award as it reflects the high confidence and satisfaction the Romanian Army has in our vehicles, said Oliver Durr, Vice President Wheeled Vehicles and Managing Director of General Dynamics European Land Systems - Mowag. With this step, we have established a sustainable collaboration with a trusted partner which has a significant industrial footprint in Romania, said Thomas Kauffmann, General Dynamics European Land Systems Vice President International Business & Services. The transfer of technology and the local production of these vehicles present an enormous opportunity to the Romanian industry. With more than 11,000 systems fielded, the PIRANHA is one of the most successful 8x8 wheeled armored vehicles in the world. Sparke Helmore is welcoming the New Year with four new special counsel and nine new senior associates. The firm has promoted Perth-based insurance lawyers Joanne Clarke, Ben Coppin, and Colby Treasure, as well as Newcastle-based commercial lawyer Naomi Simmons to special counsel. The firms new senior associates are Hannah Alcaro, Rory Alexander, Sarah Berry, Mia Donald, Daniel Forster, Cavelle Lindsay, Andrew Pacey, Deirdre Pennock, and Melissa Scriva. "I am thrilled to start the New Year celebrating the success of 13 of our talented lawyers. Congratulations to each one on their well-earned promotion," said Phillip Salem, Sparke Helmore's national managing partner. "It's also great to see more women moving into senior positions, with half of our promoted special counsel and two-thirds of our new senior associates female. Gender equality continues to be a key focus for the firm following the recent launch of our Diversity & Inclusion 2020 Strategy, which aims to attract, develop and retain top female talent and to continue to improve the gender representation in our leadership roles and decision-making forums. I am committed to achieving gender equality in our workplace and look forward to seeing many more of our female lawyers coming through the ranks in the future, he said. Clarke, who has previously practiced in the UK, acts for insurers in various claims, including motor vehicle and treatment liability, asbestos, public and general liability, and workers' compensation. She appears in the District Court for interlocutory matters and pre-trial conferences. An insurance and commercial litigator, Coppin is a specialist in public liability and commercial insurance who regularly represents insurers and insureds in the District and Supreme Courts. He acts in matters including personal injury, property damage, indemnity and contractual claims, and common law aspects of the Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act of 1981 (WA). Simmons is an Accredited Specialist in Local Government and Planning Law and an environment law expert. She regularly drafts and negotiates planning agreements, advises on planning and environment legislation, represents clients before the Land and Environment Court, and acts in planning appeals and pollution investigations and prosecutions. Treasures practice covers work for insurers and employers in workers' compensation, employers' liability, public liability, third party motor vehicle insurance, and other general insurance matters. He also acts for employers in investigations of serious workplace accidents, as well as represents clients in litigious matters before the Supreme and District Courts and the WorkCover Conciliation and Arbitration Service. Joanne Clarke Ben Coppin Colby Treasure Naomi Simmons Related stories: National firm snags seasoned global firm partner Australias first national flag returns to Newcastle with firms help National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Consumer advocate Ralph Nader and the Consumers Union are behind the consumer advocacy group that took aim at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles for this fault, basing the case on dozens of complaints from owners. After the Center for Auto Safety asked theto open an investigation into the matter, an immediate recall was announced.Described by the group as an unreasonable risk to the public, affected vehicles number in the 153,000s. And the problem is, the Pentastar V6 engine may stall under rare conditions, with most events occurring at idle and when starting, turning, or driving at low speeds. FCA US LLC tells that most were singular events that occurred over thousands of miles of travel.In most cases, owners were able to restart the Pacifica immediately afterward. The Pacifica Hybrid isnt affected. Up to this point, the automaker is aware of one potentially related accident. Most affected vehicles were sold in the United States, with 7,457 units located in Canada and 974 in Mexico.Customers are advised by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to schedule service to install an updated engine control software through certified dealers. Free of charge, of course. Being so simple, the fix takes around 30 minutes to complete. FCA has yet to provide a timeline for the recall, but urges customers to bring their minivans in for servicing once the fix rolls out.FCA advises customers with questions to call the automakers customer care center at 1-800-853-1403. If in doubt, owners can also run the VIN through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration s website. Turkish authorities say they still arent sure why a Pegasus Airlines Boeing 737 suddenly veered left at the end of its landing run and ended up hanging off the edge of a steep bank over the Black Sea late Saturday. The aircraft, which was on flight from the capital city of Ankara to Trabzon, on the northeastern coast, was safely evacuated and there were no reported injuries among the 168 passengers and crew. We swerved all of a sudden, passenger Yuksel Gordu told the Anadolu news agency. The front of the plane crashed and the back was in the air. Everyone panicked. Video of the evacuation shows the slope where the aircraft ended up was muddy and the runway was wet but Weather Underground reported winds were light all Saturday evening and generally aligned with Runway 11/29. Emergency crews were on the scene within minutes and doused the aircraft with water. There was no post-crash fire. Drone video below shows the aftermath. By Trend Turkish security forces on Saturday hit several PKK/PYD targets in the Afrin district of Syria's Aleppo province to prevent a "terror corridor" from forming along Turkey's borders, Anadolu reported. According to information gathered by Anadolu Agency in Idlib, Turkish artillery units hit PKK/PYD forces from the Reyhanli and Kirikhan dictricts of Turkey's southern province Hatay and a Turkish Armed Forces observation point in Idlib. Turkish Armed Forces fired at least 36 times during the artillery bombardment in Afrin's Bosoufane, Cindirese, Deir Bellout and Rajo districts. The Afrin operation follows Turkey's successful seven-month Operation Euphrates Shield, which ended last March. The PKK/PYD is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and EU. Since the PKK launched its terror campaign in 1984, an estimated 40,000 people have been killed in Turkey in related violence. Following a fragile cease-fire, the group resumed fighting in July 2015. Since then, it has been responsible for the deaths of approximately 1,200 security personnel and civilians, according to an official tally. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke about the Afrin operation at the provincial congress meeting of his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party in eastern Elazig province this past week. "We are destroying the western wing of this corridor with the Idlib operation," Erdogan said. Erdogan had added that if terrorists in Afrin did not surrender, Turkey would interfere. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Iran's President Hassan Rouhani in a telephone conversation with Iran's Minister of Cooperative, Labor and Social Welfare Ali Rabiei called for mobilization of all facilities to help rescue oil tanker crew members at the earliest, IRNA reported. Rabiei is heading an Iranian delegation to China to examine the status of the oil tanker and its crew members. He is in charge of talks to broaden cooperation with the Chinese government to expedite the rescue operation. Rabiei called the Iranian and Chinese rescue teams to board the burning oil tanker at the earliest. The Iranian minister has formed a crisis headquarters to directly supervise the rescue operation in China. The Iranian tanker carrying condensates collided with a Chinese freight ship in East China coast last Saturday, and its 32 crew members, 30 Iranians and two from Bangladesh, went missing. According to Iran's Consul General in Shanghai Alireza Irvash, the operation to put out the fire of the Iranian tanker began on Wednesday while flames of fire subsided despite bad weather in the region. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Belfast and Dublin's restaurant portfolios differ radically. They reveal a character in both cities distinctive from each other, yet mutually very attractive. Belfast may be much smaller and grittier than grand old Dublin, but its restaurants have, perhaps, a broader appeal. Also, it costs less to eat well in Belfast than it does in Dublin. Lately, though, there have been developments. A good deal of cross-border cross-hatching, a restaurant entente cordiale has emerged. Belfast's Boojum opened within the last few months on Mespil Road in Dublin and Dublin's Camile and Umi Falafel opened in Belfast last year. Dublin and Belfast prices are evening out and Dublin, despite the unfavourable sterling-to-euro exchange rate, can deliver good value. Take Fallon & Byrne, a sprawling Dublin city centre institution, which offers a food hall deli, a basement cafe and wine cellar and an elegant brasserie on the first floor. Further upstairs is a hall where weddings and other events are hosted. It is much loved by Dubliners and has become the go-to restaurant for the unsure, bewildered and inexperienced visitor, certain of one thing, that nobody gets it wrong by getting a table in F&B. Regular visitors to Dublin from Belfast and the rest of the north frequently ask me for equivalents of, say, James Street South, Deane's Love Fish and Meat Locker, Muddler's Club, Mourne Seafood Bar, OX and so on. The Mourne Seafood Bar equivalent is easy, as there is one there near the Bord Gais Theatre by the Grand Canal. But, frankly, there are few, if any, equivalents. That's how different we are. There are fabulous places, like l'Ecrivain and Chapter One, Patrick Guilbaud's, One Pico and Restaurant Forty One, but these are more geared towards those with expense accounts. Even our Michelin star offers of Eipic and OX are affordable. A family outing, or a shopping trip, requires something financially less challenging and this is the sector into which Dublin restaurateurs have made many inroads. Etto, a quality little Italian on Merrion Row, which serves up complex and interesting pasta dishes featuring slow-cooked game and braised beef, or the Pig's Ear, which produces innovative modern Irish dishes in its democratic dining rooms on Nassau Street providing sanctuary from the nearby Grafton Street hordes, or Fade Street Social and its bustling, restaurant and gastro bar - these are excellent and will appeal to the northern visitor, who will find the vibe familiar and reassuringly unfussy yet new and exciting. The king of these cool restaurants is Fallon & Byrne with its Irish produce, Parisian environment and city-slick service. The menu is a classic list of broad-based favourites, which won't scare anybody: starters include Carlingford oysters, gin-cured salmon and carpaccio of beef, among others. Mains of Killarney venison, hake, Skeaghanore duck and various beef cuts are prevalent during the days between Christmas and the new year, showing a good sense of seasonality. A decent vegan and vegetarian set of options are offered verbally. Service at this time of the year will always be a challenge for restaurateurs. Restaurant workers are tired by now, having survived the December onslaught of back-to-back office parties, family dinners and masses of young and inexperienced drinkers. Getting a simple cocktail (a sidecar) which doesn't appear on the F&B list turns into a mildly irritating stand-off ("It's not on the list, so the barman won't make it"); food is cooler than it should be; the normal blasts of sparkling Dublin charm and wit are reduced to a gentle breeze. Yet we still enjoy it. We're together en famille, the restaurant is not packed, but has a nice crowd in and there's ambience. Oysters, at 15 for half a dozen, are excellent, clear, plump and as chilled as the lough itself. Venison rump, generous in proportion and presented pink-to-medium, was also excellent, if a bit on the cool side. Similarly cool was the adviser's ribeye and one teen's hake and the other's beef fillet. They were very good quality, plenty of flavour and texture, but, at room temperature, distinctly Spanish-style. Other than that and the mildly surly opening cocktail engagement, the ensuing service, despite the collective tiredness, is as warm and friendly, smart and attentive as can be wished for. It's the dining room that makes the place. All that subtle reference to a Parisian, post-belle epoque Brasserie Drouot-style restaurant is hard to resist. It's the kind of place you'd want to linger in all afternoon with loads of wine for company. We'll be back soon to see what it's like when it's firing on all cylinders. The bill 6 Oysters (x2)......................................30 Gin salmon.....................................10.95 Ribeye.................................................28 Fillet of beef ......................................34 Venison...........................................26.95 Hake................................................23.95 Chocolate cake................................7.95 Sparkling water (x2)......................9.50 Bellini (x2)...........................................24 Sidecar................................................12 Bottle Albarino...................................39 Total..............................................236.80 A 40-year-old man has died in a two-car road crash in east Belfast on the Ballygowen Road outside Roselawn Cemetery / Credit: Matt Bohill - Pacemaker Press A 40-year-old man has died in a two-car road crash in east Belfast on the Ballygowen Road outside Roselawn Cemetery / Credit: Matt Bohill - Pacemaker Press A 40-year-old man has died in a two-car road crash in east Belfast on the Ballygowen Road outside Roselawn Cemetery / Credit: Matt Bohill - Pacemaker Press A 40-year-old man has died in a two-car road crash in east Belfast on the Ballygowen Road outside Roselawn Cemetery / Credit: Matt Bohill - Pacemaker Press A 40-year-old man has died in a two-car road crash in east Belfast on the Ballygowen Road outside Roselawn Cemetery / Credit: Matt Bohill - Pacemaker Press A 40-year-old man has died in a two-car road crash in east Belfast on the Ballygowen Road outside Roselawn Cemetery / Credit: Matt Bohill - Pacemaker Press A 40-year-old man has died in a two-car road crash in east Belfast on the Ballygowen Road outside Roselawn Cemetery / Credit: Matt Bohill - Pacemaker Press A 40-year-old man has died in a two-car road crash in east Belfast on the Ballygowen Road outside Roselawn Cemetery / Credit: Matt Bohill - Pacemaker Press Police are appealing for information after a 40-year-old man was killed in a two-car collision. The crash happened on the Ballygowan Road outside of Roselawn Cemetery on the outskirts of Belfast at around 8.10pm on Saturday evening. Police are appealing for witnesses, and anyone who may be able to offer assistance is asked to contact the non-emergency number on 101 quoting the reference 1212 with the date 13/01/2018. Sinn Fein's leader in Northern Ireland Michelle O'Neill has said "there is no good Brexit" in response to a speech by DUP leader Arlene Foster. Speaking on Saturday at a Brexit-focused Killarney Economic Conference in Co Kerry, Arlene Foster urged close Anglo-Irish relations, and suggested leaders across the island of Ireland should work together for their mutual benefit during Brexit. Mrs Foster spoke about her experience of growing up near to the Irish border, and said she planned to raise the prospect of enhancing Anglo-Irish relations, under the auspices of the British-Irish Council, when she meets Irelands Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney. Mrs O'Neill said she welcomed "the acknowledgement by Arlene Foster" that "our economy, community, and future, North and South, are interlinked and interdependent". "However, this cannot distract from the fact that Brexit will be disastrous for all of Ireland. There is no good Brexit. Today was a difference in tone, but not in policy," she said. The DUP leader has said she is opposed to a hard border and open to novel solutions." In her comments Mrs O'Neill repeated a call for Northern Ireland to have special designated status within Northern Ireland, and for the "cross-community vote in the north to be respected". In the June 2016 vote on Britain leaving the EU, Northern Ireland supported remaining by a majority of 55.8% to 44.2%. "The DUP need to put the interests of all our people before party, and set aside the Brexit blank cheque they issued to the Tories as part of their supply and confidence agreement," Mrs O'Neill added. More than 600 nurses are to be recruited from the Philippines in an attempt to plug Northern Ireland's chronic nursing shortage. The region's health service is running on a shortage of 1,500 nurses - 10% below capacity - with health chiefs warning of a difficult year ahead. A lack of qualified nurses across the EU and concerns over Brexit has meant that health bosses must now look overseas for staff to fill vacant posts until enough local nurses can be trained up. This is one of a number of measure being taken by the Department of Health to address the staffing shortage. In an interview with the Press Association, the region's chief nursing officer Charlotte McArdle said the staffing problem arose because the supply from undergraduate recruitment has not kept up with demand and an ageing workforce. She added that the overseas recruitment initiative is only intended as an interim measure "to get through the difficult years". "The answer for us is to grow our own workforce. We can't be reliant on other places to do that for us. The overseas programme is an interim step to help balance things while we get to the other side," said Professor McArdle. There has been greater investment in nurse student places over the past two years with the Department of Health increasing pre-registration nursing student places by 38%, from 650 places to 900 - an increase of 38%, she said. There are between eight and 10 applicants for every undergraduate place. However, the first band of new nurses will not complete their university qualifications until 2019. One option to help balance out the workforce was to recruit from other EU countries. But Professor McArdle said Europe is in a similar position to the UK and Ireland in terms of nursing. She said there is an assumption that many EU nurses are becoming worried about the impact of Brexit. "The facts are there aren't many (nurses) there (across the EU). "We are aware that the number of nurses on the NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council) register has declined quite significantly in the last year. They are telling us that the number of EU nurses are dropping off the register very quickly. "I don't think anyone has the answer (as to why), but I think there are a lot of assumptions around nurses becoming worried in light of Brexit. Certainly we would have to consider it," said Professor McArdle. She said this is the reason a decision was taken to launch an overseas recruitment programme. "Through that programme we are hoping to recruit 622 nurses, mainly from the Philippines, with some from India, by 2020. "We have a history with the Philippines, and to a lesser extent India, from the last shortage around 2000," Professor McArdle said. She warned that a difficult year lies ahead but insisted there is "light at the end of the tunnel." "We are running with just under 10% vacancy levels. In the context of Northern Ireland we have probably in the region of between 15,000 and 17,000 posts and about 1500 vacancies. That is in context of a workforce of 15,000. "That is significant, but in the context of what is happening around us, it certainly isn't as bad as what would be happening in England or the Republic of Ireland and it is probably on a par with Scotland and Wales. "This year is going to be difficult in terms of nurse recruitment but hopefully from then on in we will start to see light at the end of the tunnel," said Professor McArdle. "We just need to get through this difficult stage. "I fully recognise that staffing levels are a source of great concern to nurses. I want to assure them - and the public - that the issue is being actively addressed on a number of important levels," she added. Other measures to address the nursing shortfall include a Return To Practice programme, to encourage nurses who are out of practice to return to the profession, as well as a programme to encourage nurse retention. A pilot scheme is also to be introduced that would see admin staff taking on administrative work that nurses are currently having to do. New Culture Secretary Matt Hancock has suggested the BBC could follow the public sector and cap staff salaries at the same level as the Prime Minister. Mr Hancock said the corporation had missed a chance to bring in similar measures, as he contrasted the salaries of BBC foreign editors with those of ambassadors. He also warned against measures passed by peers last week for tougher media regulation, calling them the death knell of democracy. .@MattHancock says he will "certainly be discussing" the topic of pay for star BBC presenters such as John Humphrys with the director general #Peston pic.twitter.com/rlz24hrIrh Peston (@itvpeston) January 14, 2018 Mr Hancocks comments come in the midst of a row over Carrie Gracie, who has resigned as the BBCs China editor in a row over unequal pay. In a BBC pay disclosure last year, North America editor Jon Sopel was listed as having a salary of between 200,000 and 249,999, while Gracie revealed she had been earning 135,000 before the BBC offered her a 45,000 rise, which she rejected. John Humphrys, who has been criticised after a leaked tape showed him joking with Mr Sopel about the matter, was listed as having a salary of between 600,000 and 649,999, making him the BBCs highest-paid news presenter. Have been invited to give evidence to parliamentary select committee on #equalpay for #BBCwomen. Yes! Letas sort this pay mess now. Carrie Gracie (@TheCarrieGracie) January 9, 2018 Making sure we have equal pay isnt just about levelling up womens pay in the BBC, its about equal pay and a reasonable level, Mr Hancock told ITVs Peston On Sunday. Across the rest of the public sector, we brought in rules to say that except in exceptional circumstances, people who are paid for by taxpayers money shouldnt be paid more than the Prime Minister. The BBC, of course, are responsible for their own pay, and I think that they missed a chance to bring in that kind of rule when we brought it in for the rest of public sector a few years ago. So now it has to go through a special process to pay somebody more than the Prime Minister. Of course, theres sometimes circumstances where thats necessary, but if you think about it this way. In a country around the world where people are paid for by the taxpayer, who should we be paying the most to. Is it the BBC editor, or is it the ambassador? The generals have also made a very good point, that people in the armed services put their life on the line and yet they abide by the public sector pay norms, which is not to have excessive pay and where the Prime Ministers pay is seen as a guide at the top. My thoughts for the day: 1 thanks to EHRC for demanding facts on BBC pay policy. 2 thanks to BBC audience for trusting me that this fight is for principle not money, for all staff not 'stars'. 3 apology to all who'll miss me in China. Best work here: https://t.co/a9fnpT2idu Carrie Gracie (@TheCarrieGracie) January 9, 2018 Mr Hancock added that he would be discussing the issue with BBC director-general Lord Hall in the next few weeks. The BBC is funded by licence fee payers and the licence fee is effectively a tax, Mr Hancock said. And if you think about it, weve got to have equal pay for equal jobs, and I think the BBC has a special responsibility to lead and to be a beacon, because this issue is broader than the BBC. In the same interview Mr Hancock said the local press particularly faced enormous challenges as he warned against the measures passed in the House of Lords. Peers passed two amendments to tackle alleged media abuses and backed the launch of the second phase of the Leveson Inquiry into press standards. Finding a way to have a robust democracy, based on a decent discussion based on fact, is incredibly difficult and incredibly important, said Mr Hancock. I dont think the amendments passed by the House of Lords last week would have helped at all to get there. In fact the amendments, by putting more pressure on local press in particular, I think would be the death knell of democracy if they were brought in at a local level. Posted by PickupTrucks.com Staff | January 13, 2018 By Aaron Bragman Competes with: Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, Honda Ridgeline, Nissan Frontier, Toyota Tacoma Looks like: The global Ranger, as seen everywhere else in the world since 2011 Drivetrains: Turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder, 10-speed automatic transmission, rear- or part-time four-wheel drive Hit dealerships: Early 2019 Fans of smaller pickup trucks, rejoice the Ford Ranger is back! After an eight-year absence from the U.S. market, Ford decided last year that it could no longer ignore a mid-size pickup segment that was attracting a half million buyers annually. So during the 2017 North American International Auto Show Ford announced it would bring the Ranger back in 2019 and the Bronco SUV a year later. Now Ford has brought the 2019 Ranger to the 2018 NAIAS, intending to sell it next year. We've had a look at what the Blue Oval brand intends to put up against the Chevrolet Colorado, Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier. Exterior If you've spent any time outside the U.S. or Canada in the last decade, you've likely seen a new Ranger it's the best-selling pickup in Europe. With plants in several locations around the world, it has become something of a global workhorse. Designed originally in Australia, it's now become a truly global vehicle with its arrival in North America. It should be noted up front that the new Ranger is most definitely a mid-size pickup, much larger than the old compact Ranger we knew, and it's nearly the same size as a mid-1990s Ford F-150. Looking at the new truck, however, it's not all that apparent what's changed to accommodate U.S. concerns. It looks mostly the same as the global truck, with some slightly different headlights, grilles, taillights and a taller hood. It comes in two cab styles, SuperCab (extended cab) and SuperCrew (four full doors), but one wheelbase, which means two bed lengths will be present depending on cab style. What differentiates the North American Ranger from the global model is the bumpers: Ours are steel and are mounted directly to the frame for superior durability and crashworthiness. This is a class exclusive for the Ranger; all other mid-size pickups feature plastic body-mounted bumpers. Ford says this was driven by customer demand, but we suspect U.S. crash requirements also may have been a factor, though Ford denies this. Other minor changes come through on the exterior, such as a different tailgate with a higher-mounted handle, bed lights from the F-150 and two different appearance packages. Sport features body-colored trim, while Chrome blings everything out. Three trim levels will be available as well: XL, XLT and Lariat, with the FX4 Off-Road Package available on any of them. That package provides part-time four-wheel drive, a steel skid plate up front, other steel underbody skid plates, off-road shocks and tires, and Magnetic Grey trim accents. Under the Hood There will be one powertrain at launch, a turbocharged 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine driving the rear wheels through a standard 10-speed automatic transmission. If you think this combination sounds familiar, it is. It's the same set-up you'll find under the hood of a 2018 Mustang, with the appropriate changes to gear ratios and tuning to make it suitable for truck duty instead of track duty. While Ford made no mention of a diesel engine, the rest of the world enjoys their Rangers with a turbo-diesel 3.2-liter five-cylinder engine, which wasn't rated by the EPA until the new Ford Transit van showed up sporting one. That makes us wonder how long before it shows up in the Ranger here, too. The standard Ranger is rear-wheel drive, but part-time shift-on-the-fly four-wheel drive is optional. It comes with a two-speed transfer case, Dana electronic locking rear differential and Ford's Terrain Management System. That electronic system enables the driver to choose one of several modes: Normal, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud/Ruts and Sand. Those last two will automatically engage 4-High, but Mud/Ruts engages maximum power to all four wheels while Sand mode allows for the most slip before engaging the traction control system. A new low-speed off-road cruise control (similar to Toyota's Crawl Control) is also standard on four-wheel-drive models. Called Trail Control, it engages at speeds from 1 to 20 mph and can be slowed to a new speed (instead of disengaged) by applying the brake. It's meant to enable the driver to concentrate on the terrain instead of varying the throttle over terrain like a two-track dirt trail through the woods. The Ranger's suspension is a dual A-arm with coil springs in front with a solid Dana rear axle with leaf springs in back. A locking rear differential and a new fully boxed frame will be unique to the North American model. Steering is electrically power-assisted, but the novel Ford Pro Trailer Backup Assist is not yet available (Ford says it's under development for Ranger). Interior The smaller SuperCab Ranger has two small clamshell doors and two upright jump seats, while the larger SuperCrew four-door model is more reasonably sized and seats five. Despite the 10-speed transmission where a rotary control selector could be possible, the Ranger gets a sportier transmission lever in the center console. The dash and doors are hard plastic in the XL and XLT, with the Lariat getting a padded, stitched faux-leather dash topper. Two different gauge clusters are available: one with traditional gauges and one with the Ford-style central analog gauge flanked by two reconfigurable display screens. Ford hasn't skimped on the available tech features, offering FordPass Connect Wi-Fi with 4G LTE connectivity for up to 10 devices, a B&O Play premium audio system and the Sync 3 multimedia system. Two interior colors are available as well: Ebony and Medium Ash. The second row in the SuperCrew also features underseat storage that's waterproof. If you've got muddy or wet gear, tilt the seat bottom up and drop it in the bins. Safety The new Ranger will offer nearly as many electronic safety systems as the rest of the Ford lineup, including standard forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking. A blind spot warning system will be offered, combined with LED taillights, that also includes trailer coverage. The owner can store three trailer profiles in the system, choosing the length of the trailer and extending the blind spot detection to that desired distance. Lane keep assist and lane departure warning will be standard on the XLT and Lariat, and automatic cruise control will be standard on the Lariat. Missing from Ford's information about the new 2019 Ranger are numbers any of them. No mention yet of horsepower, torque towing capacity (although Ford insists it will be "best in class"), ground clearance for 4x4 models or fuel economy. No mention of price either. This data will come closer to the truck's official launch, which is still a year away. Ford says that the truck will not be in dealer showrooms until early 2019, giving competitors another year to solidify their gains in a class they currently have to themselves. Manufacturer images 08:41 According to an official, the arrests were made after raids were conducted in the eastern suburbs of the city late Friday night. Banners related to the Bhima Koregaon event held recently to mark the 200th anniversary of the Bhima Koregaon battle in Pune district were seized from two of the accused, sources said. According to sources, the ATS will probe if the arrested accused were involved in the violence in Mumbai and suburbs. "Based on specific information in connection with the movements of members of the banned Communist Party of India-Maoist, the Kalachowki unit of the ATS initially nabbed one suspect from the Kalyan railway station on Friday," the official said. During interrogation, he revealed he and his colleagues from the Kamraj Nagar, Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar and Vikhroli areas of suburban Mumbai were working for the CPI-Maoist. After getting vital information, the ATS formed special teams and raids were carried out in Ramabai Nagar, Kamraj Nagar and Vikhroli, during which seven Maoists were arrested. All the arrested persons were from Telangana and working for the CPI-Maoist, he said. ATS sleuths seized incriminating documents related to the banned organisation, he added. An offence under sections 20, 38, 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act has been registered at ATS Kalachowki and a probe is underway. The arrested persons were produced before court, which sent them to ATS custody till January 16, the official said. During investigation, it came to light that the arrested main accused and his accomplices had been working for the Golden Corridor Committee and were in touch with Left Wing Extremism cadres from the forest divisions, he said. Image used for representational purpose. -- PTI The Anti Terrorism Squad of the Maharashtra police has arrested seven suspected Maoists, working for the Golden Corridor Committee, formed to spread their ideology in Maharashtra and Gujarat. A newly appointed female judge on Japan's Supreme Court has said she will use her maiden name when handing down rulings, a legal first in a country criticised for its attitudes to gender equality. Married couples in Japan are required to have a common surname under a law that was upheld in 2015, sparking criticism from activists who complain it is sexist and outdated. Social conservatives defend the law as crucial to maintaining Japan's traditional family structure but critics say it reflects a society that is still male-dominated and lags behind other advanced nations in terms of equality. Yuko Miyazaki, 66, the country's sixth-ever female member of Japan's top court, confirmed to AFP through a spokesman that she "will use her maiden name" for judgements. "It is natural for me to keep using the name I used as an attorney," she told local media, adding it was important to have the "option" of keeping a pre-marriage name as traditional values change. The Supreme Court allows its officials to use pre-marriage names but Miyazaki is the first top court judge to choose to do so. Japan ranked bottom of the G7 countries in the World Economic Forum's latest "Global Gender Gap Report", coming 114th worldwide. It scored poorly on women's participation in the economy and political involvement, as only around 10 percent of the lower house of parliament is made up of female MPs. Miyazaki said she was inspired to go into the law -- at a time when it was difficult for women to find a job -- by her father, who told her there was "no difference between men and women in court". After graduating from the University of Tokyo's faculty of law in 1976 and Harvard Law School in 1984, she registered as an attorney before marriage with her maiden name Miyazaki. She has won global recognition in legal circles as a corporate and tax lawyer. But she was reportedly once turned away from a hotel in a foreign country because her professional name was different from her legal name. A set of siblings from Brandon have put out a call for help after their mother and father were involved in a tragic vehicle accident in their native country of Colombia. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 14/1/2018 (1330 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us A set of siblings from Brandon have put out a call for help after their mother and father were involved in a tragic vehicle accident in their native country of Colombia. Hollman Florez Gamez said his mother, Rosa Gamez, and father, Hector Jaime, have been travelling through Colombia since Dec. 14, 2017, visiting family as part of a Christmas gift given to them from Hollman and his three sisters. Hector Jaime and Rosa Gamez pictured last summer. Their four children have started a GoFundMe campaign after the couple was taken to hospital following a vehicle accident in Colombia last week. (Submitted) On Jan. 7, the couple left the city of Manizales, approximately 300 kilometres west of the capital city of Bogota, with seven others and were driving through the rural community of Aranzazu, when their vehicle malfunctioned and rolled down a hill, breaking through a fence and falling even further down. Gamez said the accident left one person dead and several others injured, including his father, who suffered bruising, cuts to his forehead, eyebrow and lip, two broken teeth, and 17 stitches. His mother was taken to hospital in Manizales, where she had surgery on her index finger and intestines. The accident happened in the morning and the siblings were given the news later that afternoon. "You never think something like this is going to happen to you until it happens," Hollman said. His youngest sister, Reina Florez Gamez, said her parents were set to return to Canada this week in time for her 18th birthday. When she heard about what had happened to them, Reina said she thought she had lost them, adding every corner of the house has something to remember her mother. "So this just broke us completely." Hollman said his mother has gone through a number of blood transfusions, but her oxygen levels are low. She is currently in an induced coma and will need time to heal before doctors can perform surgery on her fractured pelvis. But with their parents out of the country, the siblings are left to fend for themselves. Although Hollman, a 19-year-old student at Brandon University, and his sister, a student at Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School, have jobs both work in customer service at Canadian Tire, while Reina also works as a hair stylist at Bladeworx their financial situation has reached a critical point, Hollman said. On Thursday, the siblings set up a crowd funding campaign on the website GoFundMe to help them keep up with all of the bills, mortgage payments, groceries and any medical expenses they might have to pay. By Sunday morning, the family had raised more than $4,200. "It's not only the donations but the prayers, the moral support that they're giving us," Hollman said. The siblings are hoping to find a way to bring their mother to Canada for her next surgery. But if all else fails, they intend on using the money they've raised to travel to Colombia themselves. The siblings did receive a bit of hope over the weekend when they heard their mother opened her eyes for a few seconds and teared up at the sight of her husband, who has been at her side in recent days despite his own injuries. "They brought us here from a different country and they brought us to a better future, so we pretty much need to give back whatever they gave us," Reina said. "We need to be there for support and help them as much as we can. We can't let down our guards right now. We've been strong before and we can do this." mlee@brandonsun.com Twitter: @mtaylorlee Ryanair's new changes to its baggage system which will come into place tomorrow, writes Cillian Sherlock. You will no longer be able to bring two carry-on bags with you onto the plane unless you are a priority boarding customer. From Monday, your second, larger wheelie bag must be placed on hold at the boarding gate, still free of charge. Non-priority customers will still be allowed to bring one smaller carry-on bag onto the aircraft. Regular fliers may already be accustomed to being asked to place their carry-on luggage on hold. Ryanair said too many customers were availing of the two free carry-on service which lead to not enough overhead cabin space. The airline said this caused boarding and flight delays. As part of its "Always Getting Better" programme, the airline also announced that the check-in bag allowance has increased from 15kg to 20kg for all bags while the fee has been cut from 35 to 25 for the 20kg bag. Priority Boarding comes at a cost of 5 at the time of booking, or 6 if added on the Ryanair app up to 30 minutes before scheduled departure, or two hours before your scheduled departure on Ryanair.com "Were reminding our customers that from Monday, only Priority Boarding customers will be allowed to bring two carry-on bags on the aircraft," said Ryanair's Kenny Jacobs. "All other customers will be allowed to bring one smaller carry-on bag on board, while their second (bigger) wheelie bag will be placed in the hold (free of charge) at the boarding gate. "This will speed up the boarding of flights and eliminate flight delays, alongside our new checked bag policy which offers our customers lower bag fees for a 33% increase in their checked bag allowance. At Wentworth Point Public School, the paint is fresh on the classroom walls and the desks are spotless. The new school, in Sydney's Olympic Park, has been purpose-built to accommodate 400children in an environment that embraces the future of learning pedagogy. Finishing touches were put in place this week, ahead of the school's official opening at the end of the month. Wentworth Point Public School principal Rose Manousaridis says it is ?incredibly exciting? to open a new school. Credit:Picasa Principal Rose Manousaridis has been working hard for months to prepare the school for opening day. It's the kind of challenge that comes along perhaps only once in a teaching career and must be committed to with the kind of energy that seems to come naturally to Manousaridis. Jeremy Gardner at the Crypto Castle in San Francisco, where he lives. Credit:Jaosn Henry/ The New York Times The king of the Crypto Castle Whether it's all built on sand or not, the crypto castle has risen. There's an actual house called the Crypto Castle, and the king is Jeremy Gardner, 25, a rakish investor with a hedge fund who has become the de facto tour guide for crypto newcomers. Early one afternoon, he opened a bottle of rose while he charged half a dozen external batteries so he wouldn't have to ever plug in his phone in Ibiza, Spain, the next week. At the annual San Francisco Bitcoin Meetup Party, many wore bitcoin- and Ethereum-themed clothes from Hodlmoon, which sells unisex cryptocurrency sweaters. Credit:Jason Henry/The New York Times "I do ICOs. It's my thing," he said. He wore a pink button-front and pink pants. "It's me, a couple VCs and a lot of charlatans." An initial coin offering is a way to raise money: A company creates its own cryptocurrency and investors buy into the new coin, without actually buying a stake in the company. Gardner led an ICO for his startup Augur, creating an "Augur token" that he then sold to raise real-world money. These tokens sold fast, and it is one of the forces that kicked off this boom. For a time, the value of Augur, a market-forecasting startup with few customers, exceeded $US1 billion. Cryptocurrency investor Joe Buttram is a former mixed martial arts fighter. Credit:Jason Henry/The New York Times My neurons are fried from all the volatility. I don't even care at this point. I'm numb to it. I'll lose a million dollars in a day and I'm like, OK. Grant Hummer, co-founder of $US100m hedge fund, Chromatic Capital About eight people live in the Crypto Castle on any given night, and some of Gardner's tenants brought out snacks (Cheez-Its and a jar of Nutella). One of the bedrooms has a stripper pole. Gardner leaned back into the sofa and rested his feet on the table. He recently did an ICO for a startup after-party. "You can ICO anything," he said. He runs Distributed, a 180-page magazine about cryptocurrency that comes out about once a year. He is now raising $US75 million for his hedge fund, Ausum (pronounced "awesome") Ventures. He said his closest friends are moving to Puerto Rico to get around paying taxes. Grant Hummer outside his room at the Crypto Crackhouse in San Francisco. Credit:Jason Henry/The New York Times "They're going to build a modern-day Atlantis out there," he said. "But for me, it's too early in my career to check out." A few weeks after we first met, as the bitcoin price exploded in December, Gardner seemed shaken. People had begun making pilgrimages to the Crypto Castle, knocking on the door, hoping Gardner could help them invest. "Nothing feels real. It doesn't feel real," he said. "I'm ready for crypto assets to go down 90 per cent. I'll feel better then, I think. This has been too insane." Nearby is a building residents call the Crypto Crackhouse. 'You make one mistake and it's all gone' Grant Hummer, who runs the San Francisco Ethereum Meetup, lives there. Long hallways called Bitcoin Boulevard and Ethereum Alley lead to communal bathrooms. Hummer and his co-founder committed $US40 million of their own crypto-made money to their new $US100 million hedge fund, Chromatic Capital. "My neurons are fried from all the volatility," Hummer said. "I don't even care at this point. I'm numb to it. I'll lose a million dollars in a day and I'm like, OK." His room is simple: a bed, a futon, a TV on a mostly empty media console, three keyboard cleaning sprays and a half-dozen canisters of Lysol wipes. His T-shirt read, 'The Lizard of Wall Street,' with a picture of a lizard in a suit, dollar-sign necklaces around its neck. He carries with him a coin that reads, "memento mori," to remind himself he can die any day. He sees the boom as part of a global apocalypse. "The worse regular civilisation does and the less you trust, the better crypto does," Hummer said. "It's almost like the ultimate short trade." Hummer went out to meet Joe Buttram, 27, for drinks. As a mixed martial arts fighter, Buttram said he would fight for a couple hundred bucks, sometimes a few thousand, and worked security at a startup, but his main hobbies were reading 4chan and buying vintage pornography, passions that exposed him to cryptocurrency. He said his holdings are into double-digit millions but wouldn't give specifics other than to say he'd quit his job and is starting a hedge fund. There's a common paranoia among the crypto-wealthy that they'll be targeted and robbed since there's no bank securing the money, so many are obsessively secretive. Many say even their parents don't know how much they've made. This also allows people to pretend to be wealthier than they are, of course. "It's unforgiving," Buttram said. "You make one mistake and it's all gone." They talk about buying Lamborghinis, the single acceptable way to spend money in the Ethereum cryptocurrency community. The currency's founder frequently appears in fan art as Jesus with a Lamborghini. Buttram says he's renting an orange Lambo for the weekend. And he wears a solid gold bitcoin "B" necklace encrusted with diamonds that he had made. Otherwise, HODL. This is one of the core beliefs in this community: HODL, "hold" typed very fast, as if in a panic. HODL even if you feel FUD fear, uncertainty and doubt. If you show wealth, it means you don't really believe in the cryptocurrency revolution, a full remake of the financial system, governments and our world order that will send the price of Ether up astronomically. "HODL when everyone has FUD," Hummer said quietly, to explain why he still lives in a dorm room. "This will change civilization. This can 100 x or more from here." He knows this is strange. "When I meet people in the normal world now, I get bored," Hummer said. "It's just a different level of consciousness." The tone turns somber. "Sometimes I think about what would happen to the future if a bomb went off at one of our meetings," Buttram said. Hummer said, "A bomb would set back civilisation for years." A few days later, Hummer was working from his co-founder's apartment. 'It's the entire world reorganising itself' James Fickel, 26, lives in a high-rise with a Russian blue cat called Mr. Bigglesworth. Fickel is known in the community for "going full YOLO" and investing $US400,000 when Ethereum was at 80 cents. Now, with a fortune that he says is in the hundreds of millions, his parents have retired and sent his younger sister to live with him. "I'm taking over her education," Fickel said, sitting on a white leather sofa, Mr. Bigglesworth asleep in his impossibly skinny arms. Today, Fickel is outlining the endgame for cryptocurrency true believers. "It's the entire world reorganising itself," Fickel said. "We could get rid of our armies because for the first time you'll have people saying, 'I want to vote for a global order.' It's the internet waking up it's the internet grabbing its pitchfork. That's the blockchain." Hummer is skeptical. "All I know is the price of Ether is going to go up," Hummer said. At a jazz bar a few days later, I run into Fickel's personal trainer, Alan Chen, who is now running in this crypto circle. Fickel had convinced Chen to put his savings into Ethereum. "I'm retired, man," Chen said. "I'm moving to LA next week. I got a penthouse on Marina del Rey." "Don't say I'm retired," he added. "I'm going into business now. I'm going to use blockchain to help personal trainers." Nearby was Chante Eliaszadeh, 22, a law student at the University of California, Berkeley, who started the Berkeley Law Blockchain group. "Obviously the bubble's going to burst and everyone's going to need a lawyer," she said. At the annual San Francisco Bitcoin Meetup Party, hundreds gathered at a co-working space, and there was a line out the door. The waiting list had to be told not to show up. Many wore bitcoin- and Ethereum-themed clothes from Hodlmoon, which sells unisex cryptocurrency sweaters. Those closest to the technology are the most cautious. Pieter Wuille, 33, a bitcoin core developer, kept his backpack on as he wandered the party. He's part of the team working to develop the bitcoin technology. "The technology still needs time to evolve," Wuille said. "This infusion of interest is bringing the wrong kind of attention. Some people believe bitcoin can't fail or this technology solves many more problems than it does. It can. And it does not." He said everyone is asking him whether to buy bitcoin. "I tell them I have no idea," he said. "I don't know!" CoinDaddy and co "There's so many people rushing into the space, if it's a bit of speculation, I'm OK with that," said the Coinbase CEO, Brian Armstrong, whose company has become the de facto portal for casual investors. "But we can't guarantee the website's going to be up exactly when you need it. Everyone needs to take a deep breath." As the holiday party filled up, a cryptocurrency rapper called CoinDaddy Arya Bahmanyar, 28 was getting ready to perform. Formerly a commercial real estate agent, Bahmanyar works full time at CoinDaddy after becoming a self-described crypto-millionaire ("you think I would dress up like this if I wasn't?"). "Right now all our entertainers come from outside crypto culture not inside crypto, and we've got to change that," he said. He pointed to his outfit a long white fake mink coat, gold-heeled shoes and said, "It's gold, right? It's gold. It's a niche, and I'm going to fill it." He says he is going to shoot a music video soon for a song called "Lambo Party" and another called "Cryptomom," about "all these moms are pumping in their children's savings accounts." Maria Lomeli, 56, came to the party to find the people she had put a lot of trust in. A housekeeper from Pacifica, California, she said she had invested $US12,000 in cryptocurrencies over the past few weeks after reading about it in the news. She wore running shoes and a zip-up jacket that said, "Cinemark, the best seats in town." She worked there cleaning out theaters. Now she cleans houses. Banks, she said, were designed to steal. Taxes left her supporting a government that she felt didn't support her. "Charges for sending money to my daughter, interest on our loans," she said. "And then the money we pay in taxes goes to wars and whatever else they want." She found a bitcoin event in the city and asked people there how to buy bitcoin on her phone. She invested $US1,000. It went up. So she put in $US10,000 more, she said, along with $US1,000 in a currency called Litecoin. Both her children have discouraged this. "And maybe I'm going to lose it," she said. "Maybe I'm going to keep cleaning houses. But something is telling me I can trust this generation. My instinct is telling me this is the future." That doesn't mean other possible hindrances to action against climate change can't be read in the Newspoll. For a start, the real, expensive, but deferred consequences for growing carbon emissions have apparently faded in popular thinking since they were the centre of attention in the early 2000s. The result is a lack of urgency in Australia's climate debate. The response showed that efforts to reduce emissions need the mandate of voters and have to work for household budgets. But it didn't reveal that action to cap warming temperatures is doomed by costs. Since the days when Tony Abbott promised that ending the Gillard government's carbon price would reduce power bills, the energy debate has changed. Lower emissions don't equate so neatly with more expensive power, a point the Coalition says is at the core of its post-Abbott plan for energy, the National Energy Guarantee. When asked if they would favour abandoning the international Paris climate accord if doing so lowered their power bills, half of those responding said they would prefer to cut and run from the agreement to stem the worst climate change scenarios. Its slowness to act is showing in bad ways. The rise in Australia's carbon emissions in 2017 is a disappointing result that should inject urgency back into the nation's climate debate. Despite a sharp drop during 2012 and 2013, when the carbon price was alive, yearly rises in emissions since have been testament both to Australia's deadlocked energy debate, the fraught nature of its climate politics, and a mixture of fatigue and blithe disregard among many people. At this rate of emissions growth, Australia won't meet its Paris climate accord obligations which are modest compared to those of other Western nations. For anyone doubting whether this matters in the global picture, consider this: one of the world's wealthiest, most politically stable nations will have failed to do its part, let alone countries that are dragging themselves out of poverty or struggling under less functional governments. We can do better, and the world needs us to. This should sharpen the thinking of state and federal governments arguing over the NEG. It's a policy that is flawed, but it appears the most politically realistic energy plan on the table while the Coalition remains in power. States, and voters, should not settle on it for this reason. As South Australia has argued, a better outcome may emerge after modelling several different options and comparing them for cost and effect. There are more than enough reasons to get real about climate change again, both environmental and economic: Great Barrier Reef bleaching that swats tourism, and the prospect of more frequent natural disasters, are just two of many. As one of the world's highest per capita greenhouse gas emitters, the pressure is on for Australia to arrive at an energy plan that will reverse its rising emissions. It just hasn't realised it, yet. The pilot of an ultralight plane has died after his aircraft crashed in a central Queensland paddock on Sunday. Police said in a statement the plane crashed about 15 kilometres south of Emerald near the Gregory Highway just after 7.30am. The ultralight came down in a paddock near the Gregory Highway. Credit:7 News - Twitter The male pilot, 53, was found dead at the crash site and no one else was inside the aircraft when it went down. A spokesman for the Australia Transport Safety Bureau said a decision would be made on Monday whether they would be sending investigators to the crash site to conduct their own inquiries. Gary Schmalfeldt, left, H-E-B unit director, and Kim Kelly, middle, H-E-B community coordinator, show Tameka Mills, GCCISD Career and Technical Education coordinator, some of the food options for the hospitality room they will sponsor for business partners and volunteers at Goose Creek CISDs upcoming 6th Annual Career Night Tuesday, Jan. 16, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Ross S. Sterling High School Commons. The Queensland Police Service will continue to use unmarked mobile speed cameras, despite calls by the union to scrap them. Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers said the "sneaky" devices did not help reduce the state's road toll and merely acted as a revenue raiser for the government. Queensland police say they will continue using unmarked mobile speed cameras. Credit:Bill O'Chee "Getting a ticket in the mail up to a month after speeding when you can barely remember even where you were back then, has no effect and is quite rightly cynically viewed as revenue raising," he said in a statement on Sunday. "Only a highly visible policing presence and highly marked police speed camera vans with large police decals all over them staffed by police are the way to address the road toll." Almost two in five attempts to pass the driving test in Queensland result in failure. And aspiring P-platers have more success getting their keys to drive in the regions rather than urban hubs. About 37 per cent of driving tests in Queensland result in a fail. Credit:Sahlan Hayes SHZ Fairfax Media analysis of Queensland government data from 2005 to 2017 can reveal the locations with the highest pass and fail marks on the practical driving exam. Redland (45 per cent failure), Logan (44 per cent) and Townsville (44 per cent) councils, and Brisbane city south (43 per cent) had the highest rate of failure, excluding areas with fewer than 50 tests. Federal minister Greg Hunt, whose day job is Health Minister and who last year had to apologise to the Supreme Court for calling it soft , says African gang crime is "out of control". Prime Minister Turnbull says he is alarmed by "growing gang violence". And Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton says people are scared to go out to restaurants " because they are followed home by these gangs ". In case you haven't been paying attention, Melbourne is supposedly in the grip of a crime wave. Not on the basis of statistics, which show arson, property damage, burglary and theft down (sexual offences and robbery are up), but on the basis of a series of front page articles over summer in the Herald Sun and also The Australian about African gangs, most of them South Sudanese. It's feeding on itself. A nationalist group says it's planning a rally on Sunday in order to "take a stand on the streets". African Australians are being harassed and worse by vigilantes who are suddenly emboldened. Police say a Daily Mail photographer helped create the latest "flare-up" by taking close-up photos of a group of Africans socialising. "The teenagers had been doing nothing of public interest prior to the photographer's decision to move in," a memo reported by The Guardian says. The Mail labelled the scuffle that it helped create "the latest gang flare-up" and boasted that its pictures were "exclusive". It is familiar because it happened in Sydney with Lebanese Muslim youths (remember the Cronulla riots?) and before that with "Asian gangs" in Cabramatta. In Adelaide a decade ago it was the "Gang of 49". There never was a Gang of 49, but The Advertiser coined the term to describe 49 mainly Aboriginal youths the police said they were looking for. The catchphrase had incredibly unfortunate consequences. Former police say it created gangs. Dispossessed, often homeless, youths started saying they were part of Gang of 49 and stealing cars and doing ram-raids to prove it. "It hypes them up, they think they are famous, it's them against the police," a grandmother of one of the self-described members told the ABC. Very young Aboriginals, too young to be part of a gang, started romanticising the idea and looking forward to the day when they could. CES, the tech showcase held each year in Las Vegas, highlights what are meant to be the latest and greatest advancements in technology. Things meant to make you go "whoa" many times over, at least according to this year's official CES billboards. But as one observer remarked, this year's felt more "no" than whoa, with wacky gadgets you don't need and voice recognition robots that failed to understand commands or didn't respond at all. This self-driving, intelligent luggage from ForwardX will get your stuff from A to B almost as well as a traditional human-pulled case. For the most part, the show seemed to be about artificial intelligence or voice recognition being integrated into everything, from TVs and cars to fridges and toilets. All of this felt like very incremental updates to technology. It just didn't excite. I first spotted Ruslan Kogan at McCarran International Airport, surrounded by what appeared to be nerdy groupies, before the craziness that was the week-long CES tech show in Las Vegas. The outspoken CEO, always dressed in a t-shirt emblazoned with some kind of geeky slogan, is easy to spot in a crowd. Ruslan Kogan took in the sights at CES. Credit:Peter Wells Kogan has expanded his online retail store to sell over 50,000 products everything from rugs to televisions to blood pressure monitors not bad for an outfit that started selling just two models of televisions back in 2006. Kogan has recently moved into services as well with Kogan Mobile and Kogan Insurance. In the next few months, the company plans to launch an NBN service. Kogan's not worried by delays in the NBN rollout, and thinks the company will launch "at just the right time" to take advantage of the growing market. Of course, 2018 should bring with it massive competition once Amazon ramps up its online presence in Australia. Again, Kogan doesn't seem worried. Instead, he thinks the Amazon tide will lift all online boats. An arrow, also apparently projected on the building, points to the arched doorway. Video footage posted on Twitter shows the word "SHITHOLE" and poop emojis projected on the wall of the hotel on Saturday. Washington: The expletive US President Donald Trump allegedly used in a discussion about immigration last week and other slogans have been projected onto an outer wall of the Trump Hotel in downtown Washington. The pictures appear on the Twitter feed of Robin Bell, who has previously projected wording critical of the President onto the hotel. He has become known as a kind of projectionist provocateur and something of a "hit-and-run editorial writer", as David Montgomery described him in The Washington Post last year. Last week, a judge blocked Trump's administration from ending a program, called DACA, that shielded from deportation children brought to the US illegally by their parents. Trump, in the discussion in the Oval Office on immigration policy, allegedly used "shithole" to refer to certain countries from which large-scale immigration was undesirable. "Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?" Trump is reported to have said, referring to African countries and Haiti. In response to a question on notice, suburban development minister Yvette Berry revealed the company paid $3,362,918.60 to secure the lease, which included $97,938.60 in penalties and $1100 in legal fees. The company said it on-sold the block for $3,108,500 "plus GST being the same price IGES paid the ACT Land Development Agency for the site in 2017". The company said it was unable to recover the $158,223 in stamp duty. No reference to the $98,000 penalty was made in the market prospectus. Asked if the government had received any response to the health panel's report from the company, Ms Berry indicated it had not. She also said no restrictions had been placed on the block in the wake of the report, and that she was not aware of the company having any financial interest in any block in the ACT. Integrated Energy Solutions director David McIntosh refused to speak to The Canberra Times citing dissatisfaction with previous coverage, but documents provided to the market reveal the company has an increasingly international focus. Its plant in the Netherlands is expected to be operational later this year, as is its plant in Camden, Indiana, which is a joint venture with US resource recovery company GEP Fuel & Energy. The Indiana plant will process 1500 tonnes a day of end-of-life waste plastics, and produce 500 million tonnes of fuel a year. The company said it had "activity" going on in UK cities Deeside, Grimsby, Northampton, Fleetwood, Hull, Manchester, Bristol and Middlesbrough. It is unclear if UK Prime Minister Theresa May's plan to eradicate all avoidable plastic waste in the country by 2042 will compromise this activity. The company also flagged plans to build a global corporate office in Singapore. Information provided to shareholders suggested plastic feedstock was a key reason for the location - "with greater density of population comes greater plastic supplies," the company said. Proximity to planned plastic-to-fuel factories was another consideration. The company will conduct research and development at its Singapore headquarters, and revealed a partnership with the National University of Singapore. It said it would invest $5 million over three years in research in new technology. Canberra was not mentioned in its priorities for the year going forward, but images of the plans for the Hume block appeared in a shareholder presentation given by the company's managing director in November. The ACT project also remained on the company's website as of Sunday. Plans for the plant were first made public in 2016. The company claimed technology, invented by technical director Bevan Dooley, addressed problems that stopped others from commercialising plastics-to-fuel technology. That included removing ash, dealing with hydrocarbon contaminants, and using waste gas for heating to burn off gas at a high enough temperature to destroy noxious compounds. The company also commissioned a study by University of Sydney chemical engineers to counter concerns about emissions and explosion risk. Meanwhile Foy missed the settlement date for the block of land it bought by tender from the Land Development Agency on June 26. The company merged with Integrated Green Energy Solutions, the company that owned the technology the company planned to use in the plant, in September. Loading On September 7, it told the market the ACT government had given it until 2.30pm on September 7 to pay the $2.9 million it owed on the block of land. To raise the money, it issued more shares. Lima: A strong magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the coast of southern Peru on Sunday morning, leaving two dead, 17 missing and several dozen injured, while causing homes and roads to collapse. The quake hit offshore at 4.18am local time at a depth of around 36 kilometres, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said. Its epicentre was in the Pacific Ocean 40 kilometres from the town of Acari. Arequipa Governor Yamila Osorio said on Twitter that one 55-year old man died in the town of Yauca after being crushed by rock. Earthquakes are common in Peru. This shallow 5.4 quake in Chivay in August 2016 killed at least four people. Credit:AP Jorge Chavez, chief of Peru's Civil Defence Institute (INDECI), told local radio station RPP that a second death was reported in the town of Bella Union. Latest News Mortgage brokers warned about financial crime as AUSTRAC ups risk level to 'high' Broker fraud cited in major report on financial crime, while big bank stocks tumble in response Lending standards might be saving the Australian property bubble from bursting Experts think that increased regulation has caused our resilient property market to thrive Chinese buyers of Australian residential properties are looking to other markets as tax and regulatory changes in Australia and the Chinese governments tight capital controls continue to hit them.Financial services group UBS said these factors had sent Chinese buyers to friendlier markets overseas, including Bangkok, which is expected to become the next property hotspot.UBS found that Chinese buyers of overseas property tend to be highly price and currency-aware.Their focus on specific markets will fade or pick up, depending on their view of currency. Over the last two years we have seen Asian buying of Australian property, specifically Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, thats been very strong. It looks like that has started to fade over the past six months, said UBS head of global property research Kim Wright in an interview with The Australian.I think its a combination of factors. Prices have been very strong in Australia so there is now a discussion that the cycle has started to peak and theres the tax changes that have come through along with the tax controls.These tax controls include the federal budgets removal of capital gains tax exemptions for overseas buyers last year and the NSW governments doubling of stamp duty for foreign buyers from 4% to 8%. The NSW government also raised the annual land tax surcharge from 0.75% to 2% last year, while the Victorian governments vacant residential land tax took effect earlier this month.The latest ANZ and Property Council quarterly research seems to support UBSs observation. In NSW alone, the research found that foreign buyers will account for 18.1% of residential sales in the first quarter of 2018, down from 23.6% in the same period of 2017.Last year, foreign investors bought 25% of new housing supply in NSW between January and June, according to Credit Suisse research. Of this, Chinese buyers alone accounted for as much as 87%.Related stories: Sign up for our PoliticsNY newsletter for the latest coverage and to stay informed about the 2021 elections in your district and across NYC To the editor, The city proposed a local bus route from Red Hook through the Battery Tunnel but the Metropolitan Transportation Authority never implemented it presumably because they thought there wasnt enough demand. So Gov. Cuomo proposes a new subway. The MTA discontinued the M42 branch to the Javits Center because of light usage. So the city extends the Number 7 to do the same thing. Travel time from Midtown to LaGuardia needs to be shortened from the current 45 minutes, so Cuomo proposes a LaGuardia Airport extension that takes even longer. The city will spend $5 million to study the Utica Avenue extension that never will be built because a consultant is owed a favor. Now most likely the same thing will happen with Cuomos Red Hook idea. Meanwhile he criticizes the subway for having 80-year-old signals while diverting MTA funds that are needed to fix the signals. No elected official has addressed rectifying existing transit problems with the exception of the New York City Comptroller, who issued a report about buses. The New York Times, in an excellent three-part series that most recently explained the reasons for high subway construction costs and pretty much blamed politicians bad decisions over the years for the MTA problems, as well as the MTA itself. Yet no politician has commented about that series. Rather than commending the Times and promising things will change, they just continue to ignore addressing the problems while continuing to make flashy proposals to make themselves look good. The question is, will the Times series result in any meaningful changes. So far its business as usual. Allan Rosen Sheepshead Bay Makes snow sense To the editor, The Governor declares an emergency, people are urged to stay indoors, but New York City schools were faithfully open on Jan. 5 following the snowstorm. I dont know what the Mayor is thinking, but why wasnt there a delayed opening on that day? In that way, you would cut down on the traffic during morning rush hour and encourage better student and staff attendance. The new excuse by our progressive thinkers is to keep schools open so that the students will receive their nutritious lunches. Hogwash. Very little is accomplished on days following snowstorms. Due to high absentee rates from both teachers and staff, classes are either combined or students told to report to the gym, cafeteria or auditorium depending upon the grade theyre in, and merely assigned to a teacher who doesnt know them. This makes discipline even worse, especially in those schools where there are continuous discipline problems. In many schools, the day becomes one of complete chaos with students roaming the halls, banging on doors and acting out knowing full well that nothing shall happen to them. In many schools, the day becomes one of watching movies in the school auditorium and that includes cartoons as well. Where was the UFT in this matter? Doesnt the staff pay dues? Imagine, an online petition was circulated with over 119,000 people requesting that schools be closed. A lot good that did with a mayor who is so full of himself with his presidential ambitions and a chancellor who is practically out the door. On these type of days, district office personnel are never seen at the schools. They are probably home in the bed while on the phone expressing how happy they are not to be at work.Ed Greenspan Sheepshead Bay Stuck with the build To the editor, As much as I would like to, I cannot accept David Halberstams belief that 4204 Avenue T will be a one-family dwelling. After reviewing many documents at the citys Department of Buildings website, things about his construction site are very interesting! Its funny the secret buyer chose steel and concrete, so his home will last 100 years. Guess he didnt realize that most Marine Park homes (including the original one demolished) date to 1925, making them 93 years old as of 2018 are still standing (though built of mere brick and wood.) I guess one now surpasses, more than just keeping up, with the neighbors! I also researched similar sites. A structure at 2402 Avenue P, corner of East 24th Street, was designed to be a residence only too. Funny? A Buildings Department document shows the first floor rated at 221 persons max, with the cellar rated at only 151 persons. That would be one huge family! Alas, a fast one got pulled on the community. As at 4204 Avenue T, this building occupies almost the entire length and width of the plot. The Ave. P site includes an elevator, with exterior entrance. The first floor has a large hall, with a 10- to 11-foot ceiling. At the rear, six HVAC units are located atop the rear entrance extension (no garage or driveway.) As expected, No Parking signs block off the curb directly in front (Avenue P side), removing two valued parking spots. Of course, though violating several zoning regs, the Board of Standards and Appeals still granted the variance, after the fact. Apparently, the BSA is great at letting violators get away with such shenanigans. If I didnt know better (at least at this moment in time), I could mistake the Ave. P structure for the one at Avenue T. Something about large corner plots, high ceilinged first floors, ornamented facades, large windows, elevators, etc., etc., is just too much of a coincidence for me. The similarities between the structures at 4204 Avenue T, 2402 Avenue P, 2822 Avenue J, and other locations are astounding! Which is why, Mr. Halberstam, contrary to your declarations, methinks that is what will be coming to that Marine Park intersection, in the near future. Of course, if you are proven right, and I wrong, I will be the first to admit it. That would be the least that I could do. Kevin Hanley Marine Park Taking it light-ly To the editor, I find it offensive that both the Mayors office and the Police Commissioner refused to provide more police protection for the Dyker Heights lights display. It wouldnt have anything to do with the fact that Dyker Heights was one of the few areas in New York City with the sense to not vote for Mayor DeBlasio?? Of course the Police Commissioner just does this progressive mayors bidding. Of course, this has nothing to do with the holier than thou attitude of this progressive mayor? Such hypocrisy!Kenneth Katta Fort Hamilton Tunnel isnt cheap To the editor, Extension of the New York City Transit No. 1 subway line from the Rector Street downtown Manhattan station to Red Hook Brooklyn for $3.5 billion (a tunnel and three new stations) as proposed in 2016 by senior VP of the AECOM Engineering firm Chris Ward and now supported by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in his 2018 State of the State speech is wishful thinking. This subway extension would support a proposed Red Hook economic development project. It would be similar in size and scope to Battery City Park in Manhattan. Was this $3.5 billion figure written on the back of a napkin? Cuomo wants the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to conduct and pay for a planning feasibility study. There would still be the need for environmental documents or preliminary design and engineering followed by final design and engineering efforts and identification of billions for construction funding. All of the above is necessary to validate any basic estimates for construction costs. Given the narrow streets and dense development, who could find a staging area for mobilization of contractor employees, equipment and materials to support construction? Imagine trying to assemble a tunnel boring machine at Rector Street adjacent to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel. What about removal of debris once excavation begins? Hundreds of trucks needed on a daily basis to remove rock and soil would be challenging. It cost $4.5 billion for Phase 1 of the Second Avenue subway (36 blocks and three stations) and $2.4 billion (18 blocks and one station) for the No. 7 line Hudson Yards subway extension. Neither required a multi-billion tunnel under the East River. Construction of new subway stations average between $500 million up to $1 billion, depending upon location and complexity of work. All three new subway stations would require compliance with the Americans with Disability Act (ADA). This includes expensive elevators and other features. Is there a political quid pro quo in the form of campaign donations between developers, construction contractors and unions who support this project and Cuomo?Larry Penner Great Neck Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Sunday visited a museum commemorating Chiune Sugihara, who saved thousands of Jewish people from Nazi persecution during World War II. "Sugihara's courageous humanitarian acts are highly rated around the world. As Japanese, I'm very proud of him," Abe told reporters after visiting the Sugihara House in Kaunas in central Lithuania. Sugihara, as Japanese vice consul in Lithuania, issued transit visas, now known as "visas for life," to Jewish people fleeing Nazi Germany, against the Japanese government's policy at that time. Some 6,000 people were saved. "He saved a lot of Jewish people with his strong belief and will in a difficult situation," Abe also said. Abe and his wife, Akie, visited the Sugihara House, converted from the former Japanese consulate office where Sugihara worked. The facility opened in 2000. 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. For Subscribers Pueblo County has state's highest unemployment rate Pueblo's complex job market features the highest unemployment rate in the state, yet job recovery is not far off state and national averages. The heir of a store specializing in a confectionery style with more than 300 years of tradition in Japanas ancient capital is hoping her youthful reimagining of yatsuhashi sweets will help attract a new generation of Kyoto locals and carry on its legend. Kanako Suzuka, daughter of the owner of the famous Shogoin Yatsuhashi Sohonten Co., has transformed the traditional treats into delicate and colorful miniatures with her new anikinikia brand. The 35-year-old said that while yatsuhashi remains popular among tourists, it is sad to see how it has become more of a souvenir than a common snack for locals. aThe nikiniki brand is an introduction to the original yatsuhashi,a Suzuka said. aI am hoping that nikiniki will be the catalyst to bring back the Kyoto natives, especially the younger generation and have them enjoy yatsuhashi more.a Yatsuhashi has been one of Kyotoas most famous sweets since 1689 and honor Yatsuhashi Kengyo, a famous harp player, who passed away in 1685. The sweet usually comes in two basic styles: the harp-shaped thin brown cookies baked to perfection, or white floppy steamed layers with sweetened bean paste inside. Japanese nikki, or cinnamon, provides yatsuhashi with its unique taste. Suzuka has completely recreated the yatsuhashi image to offer a whole new lineup that is almost too cute to eat. The nikiniki brand uses colorful layers of steamed yatsuhashi that are cut into various shapes or rolled up into tiny pieces that are intricately folded and put together. In March, there are dolls in kimono to celebrate Hinamatsuri, or girlsa day, while Christmas sees Santa Claus and his reindeer in miniature, Characters from Japanas fairy tales and fancy gems are made throughout the year. At the store in Kyoto, customers are also introduced to a selection of jams, including strawberry, apple and rum-soaked raisin, and can wrap their choice in yatsuhashi layers that form a blossom. While Kyotoas elder generations still visit the Shogoin store that has been in operation at the same site since the Edo Period (1603-1868), Suzuka has met young people who have never even tasted yatsuhashi. Massachusetts' Supreme Judicial Court has agreed to hear the appeal of a non-religious family who is challenging the mandatory daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in their children's classrooms, the Religion News Service reports. The family of secular humanists claims the phrase "under God" in the pledge is a violation of the state's constitutional ban on religious discrimination. In June, a lower court ruled against the family, saying the required recitation of the pledge was not discriminatory because it did not uphold one religion over another. The family appealed, and will now gain a hearing from the state's highest court. "There is very little case law that precedes this," said Bill Burgess, director of the American Humanist Association's Appignani Humanist Legal Center, which is representing the plaintiffs. "The court will be making new law when it issues its decision." The appeal in the case, Doe v. Acton-Boxborough Regional School District, has not yet been scheduled. Gossip comes straight from Satan, warns Christian author People love to embrace change during the start of the year, so a bestselling Christian author decided to offer a resolution that he hoped many would adhere to - avoid gossip. "Set My Heart on Fire" author J. Lee Grady, who is also the head of the charitable organization The Mordecai Project, wrote for Charisma News that even the best Christians fall prey to the lure of gossip. So in order to help, he offered three tips on how to deal with gossip. The first is to be constantly reminded that the devil is always "the accuser of our brethren," as said in Revelation 12:10. He tempts people into repeating accusations, so it would cause damage and hurt. "Do you honestly want to be on Satan's side in spiritual warfare? You are fighting for his team when you spread negativity about others - even if your hateful indictments are cloaked in 'God told me this while I was praying' smugness," Grady warned. "Never align yourself with the accuser. Make sure your heart is free from unforgiveness, jealousy and hatred so you don't end up being a minion of the devil." Next, Grady said that people should refrain from repeating gossip unless they know for a fact that it is true. He added that believers should not listen to gossip in the first place, and as hard as it might be to resist learning something "juicy," Grady said they should just walk away before things get "toxic." "If you have God's love in your heart, you won't slander another person. Love covers negativity with mercy and kindness," he said. "This doesn't mean we don't confront sin. But if someone has wronged you, you should go to them privately and discuss it." Lastly, Grady said Christians should just pray when they hear something negative about someone. Instead of enforcing character assassination, he suggested that Christians get down on their knees and ask for God's love and mercy. "Prayer will supernaturally guard your heart from the seeds of hate that are hidden in a juicy morsel of gossip or a false accusation. Prayer will adjust your attitude, fill your soul with forgiveness and make sure that Satan, the ultimate accuser, has no foothold in your life," he said. Earlier, world-renowned evangelist Billy Graham wrote on his website that some Christians gossip even though they know it's wrong. He said the reason behind it is not because people enjoy bringing others down, but because they like to build themselves up. "When we gossip, we're claiming to be 'in the know,' and when we criticize someone, we're claiming to be better than they are. In reality, however, we're only tearing ourselves down," he said. Panic after ballistic missile warning sent in error by Hawaii authorities An emergency alert was sent mistakenly on Saturday to Hawaii's residents warning of an imminent ballistic missile attack when an employee at the state emergency management agency pushed the 'wrong button,' Hawaii's governor said. State officials and the US military's Pacific Command confirmed that there was no actual threat to the state. But for more than a half hour, while the agency struggled to retract the warning, panicked Hawaiians scrambled to find shelter. The mistaken alert stated: 'EMERGENCY ALERT BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.' The alert, sent to mobile phones and aired on television and radio shortly after 8 am, was issued amid high international tensions over North Korea's development of ballistic nuclear weapons. Governor David Ige told a news conference he was 'angry and disappointed' over the incident, apologised for it and said the state would take steps to ensure it never happen again. 'What happened today was totally unacceptable,' the Democratic governor said. Ige said the alert was sent during a employee shift change at the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, and that the state had no automated process to get out the word that it was a false alarm. Vern Miyagi, the agency's administrator, called it 'human error'. 'An employee pushed the wrong button,' Ige said. Stacey Bow, 56, of Honolulu, said she received the emergency alert on her smart phone. She awakened her 16-year-old daughter with the news. 'She became hysterical, crying, you know, just lost it,' she said. Ige said the emergency management agency after the incident ordered a change in its procedures requiring two employees, not just one, to send out such an alert in the future. He said such shift changes occur three times a day every day of the year. Miyagi, who said Hawaii would have only 12 to 13 minutes of warning in an actual attack, declined to say what action would be taken against the employee. Miyagi said the agency routinely tests its emergency alert system and that employee thought he was conducting a test, not realizing he had transmitted the warning with a two-step process on a computer screen until receiving it on his own cellphone minutes later. Bow said of the person responsible for issuing the alert, 'I imagine that person is clearing out their desk right now. You don't get a do-over for something like that'. The US Federal Communications Commission, which has jurisdiction over the emergency alert system, announced it was initiating a full investigation. Earlier this week, FCC chairman Ajit Pai said the agency would vote at its January meeting to enhance the effectiveness of wireless emergency alerts, which have been in place since 2012. Hawaii, a chain of islands in the Pacific Ocean, has a population of about 1.4 million people, according to the US Census Bureau, and is home to Pacific Command, the Navy's Pacific Fleet and other elements of the American military. This Christian believes Hollywood's #MeToo movement is 'totally phony' Hollywood is now taking a big stand against sexual harassment and exploitation, and many celebrities have joined the #MeToo movement to prove that they are done with the objectification of women. As wonderful as the new movement sounds, Bill Donohue, who is the president of the Catholic League, believes that some of the celebrities taking part in it are just phonies. "All the Hollywood gals, and many of the guys, are desperate to show how protective they are of women being exploited by men, but few of them mean it. If they did, they wouldn't continue to make shows and movies that debase women," he wrote for Charisma News. Donohue then explained his criticism by citing CBS Corporation, which owns Showtime. One of its programs, "Shameless," is "vulgar, misogynistic and anti-Christian," he said. In its December 31 episode, a character named Ian (Cameron Monaghan) - the gay son of a crook named William H. Macy - is confronted by a pastor who believes in conversion therapy for homosexuals. "The pastor, of course, is a zealot who goads a sexually confused female, asking her if she wants 'to be cured of the homosexuality disease and go back to being a normal girl again.' Ian, the gay activist, is so upset that he pledges to 'beat the [expletive] out of this guy,'" said Donohue. Donohue said that CBS Corporation's Board of Directors has 15 members, three of whom are women. There are 10 executives, but none of them are female. "That sounds about what we would expect from a media giant that touts its support for women's rights - its leadership is 88 percent male," he said. He is asking the three women board members - Shari Redstone, Linda M. Griego and Martha Minow - if they support the #MeToo movement. If yes, he is wondering how they feel about shows that celebrate "carpet munching," and whether they see it as being contradictory to the cause. "I will not ask if they are offended by anti-Christian shows; I already know the answer," he said. "One final thought. At the Golden Globes Awards, William H. Macy spoke out strongly in favor of #MeToo. That he is undermining this cause by participating in 'carpet munching' shows is not something he is likely to comprehend. Thus, no attempt will be made to contact him." Earlier, Christian actress and producer Roma Downey told CBN News that "the lights are on" now when it comes to sexual abuse in Hollywood. Because of this, Downey believes the landscape will change for future actors and actresses. "I'm prayerful and hopeful," Downey said. "I'm hopeful for new generations of young people coming into our industry that a different demand and expectation of behavior will be in place." LAS VEGAS - On a recent evening not far from the CES technology event, robot strippers offered a window into technology's gender fault lines - not to mention our robot future. From a distance, the mechanical humanoids on a strip-club stage looked something like real dancers in robot drag. But close up, they were clearly mannequins. On one level, this was a classic Vegas stunt, a way for the Sapphire Las Vegas Gentlemen's Club to cash in on the presence of the world's largest tech convention. But they still provided some striking parallels to the much bigger tech show nearby. The robots served a racy but utilitarian function by drawing gawkers to the club, much the way provocatively clad "booth babes" lure CES visitors to wares on the convention floor. And they offered a glimpse of futurism crossed with sex, the sort of thing previously provided by the porn expo that used to overlap with the final days of CES. "I see robotic strippers and I see half-naked women on the showroom floor promoting products," said Ashleigh Giliberto, a CES attendee who works at a public relations firm. "It's like, aren't we worth more than that?" Last year was a watershed time for women speaking out against sexism and sexual abuse, much of which reverberated in the tech industry. Boys' club CES itself has long had a boys' club atmosphere. Only about 20 percent of attendees this year are women; just two of the 15 keynote speakers at CES are female. The conference took pains to note that it has no affiliation with the strip club nor its temporary robot workers. Yet critics point out that CES doesn't do much else to create a positive environment for women. Executives from the Consumer Technology Association, which oversees CES, have promised to "redouble" efforts to add women's voices to the speaker lineup next year. But those same officials have said they're hamstrung by a policy that restricts keynote slots to company CEOs - most of whom are men. Tania Yuki, CEO of the social analytics firm Shareablee and a speaker at CES, said she doesn't think the show's organizers are purposely sexist, just trapped in status-quo thinking. The dearth of female speakers and the presence of scantily clad show floor models are more "lazy" than "deliberately offensive," she said. The robots are the work of artist Giles Walker, who made them seven years ago after he found two surveillance cameras on a warehouse floor. "I wanted to do a sculpture about voyeurism and the power between the voyeur and the person who's being watched, " he said. 'Paying my bills' Walker acknowledged that bringing the robots to the strip club for an undisclosed fee has led the project astray from his initial vision. "I'm not going to pretend," he said. "They're paying my bills and giving me the chance to do other art that I do, which is much less commercial and is much more underground." But his androids also point to a future in which robots might not just take on many jobs now held by people, but are also likely to become companions - even intimate companions. Some are already here; high-end sexbots with ultra-realistic silicone "flesh" and artificial intelligence personalities are available online for as much as $15,000. The owner of a massive house in the Grogan's Point neighborhood of The Woodlands who's being sued by The Woodlands Township over seemingly never-ending work on the house is facing more legal troubles, but this time over landscaping and drainage issues. Alexandro Rovirosa, the owner of the 18,000 square-foot home on Longspur Drive, did not show up for a Development Standards Committee meeting Wednesday night, Jan. 11, where his house, referred to by neighbors as a "monstrosity," a "behemoth" and other unflattering terms, was once again the topic of discussion and debate. But Rovirosa's attorney, Scott Kidd, did attend the meeting, and he was given an earful by the attorney who represents The Woodlands Township in legal matters, Bret Strong. After a detailed discussion of the number and types of trees Rovirosa wants to plant on the nearly 3 acres that surround the multi-million dollar home, the size of planters the trees would be planted in, drainage concerns and other matters, Strong reminded Kidd of the "long and sordid" history of the home. Strong was referring to complaints by neighbors during four years of construction work on the home and of a pending lawsuit against Rovirosa. In that suit filed in October, the township claims that Rovirosa-who is named in the suit as Rovirosa Martinez-and Tanya Marquez Gutierrez, have been continuously" violating the township's covenants. The township is seeking between $200,000 and $1 million over the matter. With a deadline of Jan. 16 to respond the lawsuit, by the time the DSC met Wednesday evening Rovirosa, or his attorney, had not responded to the suit. During the meeting Strong cited a long list of ongoing "legal deficiencies" at the home, including issues with drainage from its surrounding property, its pool, outdoor kitchen, lighting and other matters. "There are a lots of things that need done to finish this job and they're just not finished yet," Strong told Kidd. TOWNSHIP ATTORNEY THREATENS MORE LEGAL ACTION Strong also threatened additional legal action as he reminded Kidd of the "concern and exasperation" shared by members of the DSC, neighbors and township officials over the ongoing work. "We have a legal action with an answer due next week," Strong said. "If we don't see those things resolved in the coming days, then we're going to have proceed forward with legal action to ask a court to either hire us to do it or order that it be done." Kidd blamed some of the most recent delays on a contractor taking vacation during the holidays. Kidd also tried to assure the committee that his client wanted to get the work finished. "They are actively working on the permits and Mr. Rovirosa and his family want to get in there as soon as possible." Kidd said. Outside the meeting, Kidd declined further comment. Although Rovirosa has long appeared to be a bit of mystery man to residents of the neighborhood, county records show he owns another property in The Woodlands. He also spends at least part of his time working in The Woodlands, where he's listed as the director of Roma Energy Holdings LLC, an international oil and gas company with corporate offices on the top floor of 24 Waterway Ave. in The Woodlands. A business partner with Rovirosa, Tom Sampson, has said that Rovirosa usually works out of the company's offices in Villahermosa, Mexico, but returns to The Woodlands on weekends. DSC REJECTS LANDSCAPING, DRAINAGE PLAN As the committee wrapped up discussion on the matter, Strong said the township would send a list of items to Kidd that still needed to be addressed. The DSC then voted unanimously on a motion put forward by new committee member John Anthony Brown, who is also a member of the township's board of directors, to deny the landscaping and drainage plan submitted by Rovirosa. Brown and fellow board member Brian Boniface were named to the DSC last month. Their placement on the committee comes in response to concerns by Board of Directors Chairman Gordy Bunch and others over the DSC's handling of the controversial house and other issues. BROWN: 'RESIDENTS DESERVE SOME CLOSURE' After the meeting, Brown noted the length of time the house has been a source of ongoing complaints and a topic of DSC discussion. "I think the project on Longspur is the result of a long project that probably took too long and the fact that I think the residents deserve some closure," Brown said. "So I think this is why we're at the this point in this project, of moving this to get closure, is mainly for the residents." DSC APPROVES MONOPINE CELL TOWER, WITH CONDITIONS In another matter, the DSC voted unanimously to approve a 100-foot monopine cell phone tower, which is built to appear to be a pine tree, at the intersection of Woodlands Parkway and Lake Woodlands Drive. But the approval came with the stipulation that the cell phone company that wants to erect the tower, New Jersey-based Diamond Communications, would have to replace the estimated five trees that would be cut down to erect the tower. At the start of the discussion, a DSC staff member reported four "concerns" have been received from the township over the tower. Two or three people attending the meeting, apparently opposed to the tower, questioned Diamond Communications representative Jeremy Baldwin over the tower, with one person, who did not identify herself, complaining the tower was "Literally in our backyard." Another neighbor, also unidentified, asked about possible radiation from the tower. That person was assured there were no "perceived issues" of radiation from the towers. Those residents left before the DSC meeting concluded and no one addressed the committee about the tower during the public comment period. The DSC's is scheduled to meet again on Jan. 17. Wednesday's meeting came after its first meeting of the year was pushed back because of a lack of a quorum. If you're worried about the market's record run coming to an end, one Bank of America strategist says fear not because there's a strong technical case for a rally through 2018. According to Stephen Suttmeier, chief equity technical strategist at Bank of America, the advance-decline line of the S&P 500 Index has broken out in the last month, and points to more gains ahead. The advance-decline line essentially tracks the moves of the 15-most heavily traded stocks by share volume. Based on Suttmeier's chart work, a breakout of the line shows that the most-traded stocks in the market are seeing a large number of buyers. "The bottom line is this: it's a big money indicator, and last year this big money indicator didn't confirm the rally until it broke out in December of 2017," Suttmeier explained to CNBC's "Futures Now" in an interview last week. In other words, Suttmeier believes that the technicals are now lining up with the market's record run. As a result, the strategist believes that while you can stick with some winning sectors like tech, investors can also start to rotate into other more cyclical sectors. This includes financials which Suttmeier emphasizes that he is "very bullish" on as well as industrial and material names. All three market indices hit record intra-day highs once again on Friday, with the S&P on track for its biggest monthly gain since March 2016. A marble lion in front of the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC). China will step up oversight in the banking sector this year to reduce financial risks, the country's banking regulator said, stressing that long-term efforts would be needed to control banking sector chaos. The China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) said late on Saturday in a statement that its priorities included increasing supervision over shadow banking and interbank activities. "Banking shareholder management, corporate governance and risk control mechanisms are still relatively weak, and root causes creating market chaos have not fundamentally changed," the CBRC said. "Bringing the banking sector under control will be long-term, arduous, and complex," it said. The regulator said violations in corporate governance, property loans, and disposal of non-performing assets will be punished more strictly, and that it would strengthen risk control in interbank activities, financial products and off-balance sheet business. China has repeatedly vowed to clean up disorder in its banking system. In recent months, regulators have introduced a series of new measures aimed at controlling risk and leverage in the financial system, with everything from lending practices to shadow banking under the microscope. Already in January, the CBRC has published regulations that put limits on the number of commercial banks that single investors can have major holdings in. President Xi Jinping has declared that financial security is vital to national security. The government is particularly concerned about the massive shadow banking industry, lending conducted outside of the regulated formal banking system. It fears that a big default or series of loan losses could cascade through the world's second-biggest economy, leading to a sudden halt in bank lending. President Donald Trump in the Roosevelt Room at the White House, on January 11, 2018. President Donald Trump on Sunday accused the Wall Street Journal of misreporting statements he made to the newspaper about his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, ripping the publication for reporting "fake news." In an article published on Thursday, the Journal reported that Trump signaled openness to diplomacy with North Korea, going so far as to say, "I probably have a very good relationship with Kim Jong Un." However, Trump disputed the Journal's account, and accused the publication of intentionally misquoting him to generate a story. As tensions escalate between the U.S. and North Korea, the president and Kim Jong Un have traded personal insults, while Pyongyang has defied world opinion by continuing its missile tests. Tweet Tweet On Saturday evening, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders posted an image with the president's full quote in the Journal article and a correction from the White House, attacking the newspaper as "fake news." Tweet Hours after Sanders' post, the Journal said it stood behind its reporting, and posted an excerpt from the audio recording on Twitter. Tweet Minutes later, Sanders also posted a recording of the president's comment. Tweet When asked by Politico's Jake Sherman why the White House waited so long to correct the Wall Street Journal, Sanders said they had asked for a correction Friday, but the paper refused. Tweet Trump's disputed comments on North Korea were part of a wide-ranging interview with the Journal that touched on a broad range of issues from his first year in office. The president has repeatedly attacked media outlets that publish critical reporting of his administration as fake news. Last February, he labeled several news outlets "the enemy of the American people. Tweet Just last week, the Journal stirred a new conflict with the White House with a report suggesting Trump's personal lawyer secretly paid an adult film actress $130,000 before the 2016 election. The agreement reportedly sought to compel the woman's silence about an alleged encounter with Trump more than a decade ago. Separately, NBC News reports that Arizona Republican Senator Jeff Flake, one of Trump's fiercest critics in the GOP, plans to denounce the president's attacks on the media as reminiscent of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin in a speech on the Senate floor this week. "When a figure in power reflexively calls any press that doesn't suit him 'fake news,' it is that person who should be the figure of suspicion, not the press," Flake will say, according to NBC News, which obtained excerpts from the speech. Last October, Flake announced that he will not seek re-election, citing the "reckless, outrageous and undignified behavior" in the executive branch. Trump, a former reality television star, had said he will announce awards for "the most dishonest and corrupt media" on Monday, January 8 at 5:00 pm. But Trump has since postponed his "Fake News Awards" until Wednesday. Tweet Gauke fights to keep Worboys in prison Jump in the number of offenders sought on suspicion of crimes committed after early release Sunday Times Crime Agency chief calls for social media giants to fund child abuse investigations Sunday Times Malthouse warns against customs officers gaining the power to search without a warrant Sunday Telegraph The new Party Chairman pledges an online fightback and a review of the Conservative candidate selection process David Gauke has asked lawyers to prepare the case for a judicial review of the decision by the Parole Board, and officials say Gauke will trigger the legal challenge if it has a reasonable chance of success. He made the move after four cabinet ministers privately warned him that the decision to set Worboys free could be unlawful because his victims have not been consulted about the terms of his releaseThe Sunday Times obtained a letter written by Martin Jones, the chief executive of the Parole Board, in which he admitted: I can well understand why victims and the public find it impossible to understand our decisions if we are not able to explain our reasons; or indeed disclose the full licence conditions. He claimed that the panel took full account of the victim representations . Victims, their lawyers and MPs said this was untrue, however, and that there had been three clear breaches of proper procedure: Victims found out about Worboys release from the media; They have not been consulted by the Parole Board about the conditions of his release; Worboys is expected to live in London despite demands that he be relocatedMichael Gove, a former justice secretary, said of Gauke when speaking to The Sunday Times: Im sure hell do the right thing. Sunday Times In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph, Brandon Lewis, who was appointed by the Prime Minister in last weeks Cabinet reshuffle, pledges to galvanise so-called shy Tories who are not getting out there in the digital world, as part of plans to go hell for leather ahead of the next elections. He says the party will equip younger voters with a toolkit, including graphics, Gifs and videos, to go out there and argue for the Conservatives. He is also hiring new staff to bolster the partys digital team. The announcement will be seen as an admission that the Conservatives have been falling behind in digital campaigning against Labour, and of the significance the partys leadership has attached to the gap in the online presence of the two partiesMr Lewis also said he intended to review the partys candidate selection process to ensure the party was appointing the best candidates to fight for parliamentary seats. No matter how good we are, I always want to be better, he said. Sunday Telegraph The Tories need new ideas and new tactics online, as well as new faces Sunday Telegraph Leader >Yesterday: Binita Mehta-Parmar on Comment: What the Tories need to do to improve their standing with minority voters Hodges: This reshuffle was all about May trying to barricade herself inside Downing Street Hinds hints at plans to relax faith-based admission rules for new Free Schools No 10 insiders insist Mays aim was to ensure stability as Brexit negotiations enter their crucial second stage, and point to changes at Conservative HQ and the junior ministerial ranks. Some Tory Kremlinologists have claimed she is manoeuvring to give her chosen heir boyish Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson a clear run at the premiership. But the truth is this reshuffle was designed to support the prime ministerial ambitions of one person the Prime Minister. Since the Election, the Conservative Party has been clinging to the hope that when the time came, Mrs May would do the decent thing and lay down the seals of office without a fight. Future trials and tribulations could persuade her to do that. But the events of this week have left her Ministers and backbenchers facing an unpalatable truth. If they want to ensure Theresa May steps down before the next Election they are going to have to start putting in place contingency plans to oust her. Dan Hodges, Mail on Sunday Mr Hinds, who attended a Catholic grammar school, is expected to scrap the rule which forces new Catholic schools to accept 50 per cent non-Catholic pupils. Theresa May pledged to drop the rule for new state-funded Free Schools in her Election manifesto last year at the insistence of her former No 10 aide Nick Timothy. But the move was shelved by former Education Secretary Justine Greening after schools watchdog Ofsted warned it would lead to increased segregation. Some called it education apartheidMr Hinds last night gave a broad hint he will axe the cap. An Education Department spokesman said: We want to go further to ensure all young people have a good school place and are keen for faith groups to play a key role. Faith schools are more likely to be rated outstanding by Ofsted than non-faith schools. Mr Hinds would respond to a year-long consultation on lifting the current cap on new faith Free Schools admissions in due course, added the spokesman. Mail on Sunday He could also review tuition fees within months Sunday Times The nations best primary school bans the hijab for girls under eight Sunday Times Students criticise their peers for a selfie with Rees-Mogg Sunday Times May plans her next big Brexit speech The potential collapse of Carillion raises concerns about HS2 Theresa May plans to make a speech outlining the governments Brexit policy in the February parliamentary recess after holding three meetings of her Brexit war cabinet to thrash out a compromise between warring ministers. Documents seen by The Sunday Times show May has told ministers they will have to agree how the trade talks with the EU should unfold, what a future economic and security partnership will look like and the nature of the rules to create a level playing field with Brussels when they meet this week. In meetings held before Christmas sources say ministers backed four different outcomes of the Brexit negotiationsAfter three weeks of meetings May hopes to sum up Britains demands in a speech during the parliamentary recess between February 8 and February 20. That will be followed by an EU summit in Brussels in March when it is hoped that a deal will be done on the nature of a two-year transition that will begin in March 2019. At the same summit, EU countries are expected to sign off on instructions to the blocs chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, paving the way for proper trade talks to begin. Gove revealed that he will use this weeks Brexit war cabinet meeting to demand that Britain ditches the common fisheries policy during the transition period and said Barnier has conceded the point. Sunday Times Transport Secretary Chris Grayling faces mounting criticism for his departments decision last year to give the ailing construction company Carillion a share of contracts for the HS2 railway line. The accusation came as officials have warned that Carillion could enter administration on Monday. Mr Grayling is accused of giving the firm a part of the work only a week after the company issued a shock profit warning that in effect was the beginning of its dire financial woes. He has insisted that at the time he was given secure undertakings about the health of the companyWhitehall insiders are adamant that the HS2 contracts were stress tested to ensure that if one contractor pulled out, others in the consortium would have been able to make up the shortfall. Carillion said on Friday it remained in constructive discussions with its creditors and suggestions that they had rejected its business plan were factually wrong. Any collapse of Carillion, which provides services to government departments including justice, health and education, and has built hospitals, roads and rail lines, would be felt across Britain and also in Canada and the Middle East. Mail on Sunday Cable opposes a bailout The Sun on Sunday Gove warns utility companies about their ethical standards Large numbers of frontline NHS staff fail to get the flu vaccine Michael Gove has demanded a crackdown on fat cat water company bosses using offshore tax havens while cashing in on their monopoly position warning that legislation could follow unless they start to behave in a responsible fashion. In an interview with The Sunday Times, the environment secretary said privatised utility companies must meet high ethical standards in order to maintain public support. At his home in west London, he has made changes to his own life to reflect the green crusade he has unleashed in government. Last week he and Theresa May announced plans to do away with unnecessary plastic packaging and extended the 5p charge on plastic bags to all shops. There are some hessian bags downstairs and some cloth ones, he says proudly. Weve got to move away from a culture of things being thrown away. Tomorrow the environment secretary is due to make an announcement about increased penalties for waste crime such as fly-tipping. Sunday Times Two-thirds of doctors and nurses at some hospitals have ignored official pleas to get themselves vaccinated against flu this winter, risking the lives of vulnerable patients. Last week, senior doctors warned that not enough NHS workers are having the jab. Now an official report shows shockingly low staff vaccination rates at some of the countrys biggest and busiest hospitals. Only 33.7 per cent of frontline staff at Kings College Hospital in South London which houses one of the capitals largest A&E departments have received the jab this winter. The figure is 38.3 per cent at nearby Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Trust. Hospitals in Brighton, Essex, Northumbria, Cornwall, Harrogate, Wolverhampton, Salisbury and Hertfordshire also have less than half of their staff vaccinated. Overall, fewer than half of frontline workers have been inoculated against flu at 18 hospital trusts across England, which together run 55 hospitals. Mail on Sunday Public Health England push for a calorie clampdown The Sun on Sunday Fiddling around the edges wont solve the social care crisis Dia Chakravarty, Sunday Telegraph >Today: George Maggs on Comment: How to reform the NHS. It needs independence. Hypothecated funds. And a constitution. Pidcock tipped to be Corbyns chosen successor The bourgeois Left has abandoned the working classes Janet Daley, Sunday Telegraph Angela Rayner talks about her upbringing, her route into politics and become Grangela Sunday Times Momentum is set to win control of Labours NEC Adam Boulton, Sunday Times Corbyn ally inadvertently fails to declare ownership of a second house Mail on Sunday The Government is set to support legislation proposed by a Labour MP on rental property standards Sunday Telegraph UKIP leaders girlfriend suspended for racist messages about Meghan Markle Laura Pidcock, the Labour MP who declared she had no intention of being friends with any Tory MP because they are the enemy, is being groomed to take over from Jeremy Corbyn, according to party insiders. Since her election last year, the MP for North West Durham has impressed Corbyn and on Friday won promotion as the partys shadow minister for labour. Now Pidcock, 30, is seen by the left as the best option to succeed Corbyn, 68, should he choose to stand down before the next election, scheduled to take place in 2022. While Corbyn is likely to remain leader, sources suggest he might quit if the right candidate can secure his legacy. Sunday Times Mr Bolton, 54, was already facing calls for his resignation after he left his wife for 25-year-old Jo Marney. Now The Mail on Sunday can reveal shocking messages in which Ms Marney says that Prince Harrys black American fiancee will taint the Royal Family with her seed and pave the way for a black king. Ms Marney also says that she would never have sex with a negro because they are ugly. She was immediately suspended from Ukip last night after The Mail on Sunday alerted party chiefs to her grossly offensive comments. Our revelations come just days before Bolton is due to face a crunch meeting over his own future with Ukip following outrage over his new relationshipIf Mr Bolton is ousted by the partys ruling National Executive Committee on Thursday, it would leave the party having to elect its fifth leader in barely 18 months. Mail on Sunday Parsons: Rather than defend our liberties, the Lords are attacking the free press Peers who have been criticised over their expenses claims are backing restrictions on the free press The Sun on Sunday Are they motivated by the good of society, or a desire to cover up their own dodgy behaviour? The Sun on Sunday Says Press freedom is precious and can never be taken for granted Sunday Times Leader Clegg claims 115,000 allowance previously reserved for former Prime Ministers Sunday Times What freedoms are protected by this institution once dubbed, the best day-care centre in London? What good and noble service is provided by these 795 ermine-clad fossils from another age? To act as a check on the 650 elected MPs in the House of Commons? To ensure the laws of our land truly serve our people? The House of Lords does none of these things. Indeed, it increasingly appears that the bloated House of Lords exists to thwart, frustrate and destroy our freedom, democracy and way of life. This week the Lords voted, by 238 to 209 votes, to effectively restart the Leveson inquiry into the newspaper industry, even though scrapping it was part of the Conservative manifesto. Another multi-million-pound inquiry into newspapers! The last one cost taxpayers 43.5million. The Lords also want the press to sign up to a crooks charter that would oblige newspapers to pay the legal fees of any corrupt spiv that brings an action against them even if the corrupt spiv loses. Tony Parsons, The Sun on Sunday >Today: ToryDiary: Remainers are ready to lord it over us One of the reasons that Remain lost the EU referendum is that its cause was associated with the establishment the elites. The charge was unfair. Boris Johnson and Michael Gove are no more or less part of an elite than David Cameron or George Osborne. And there is no establishment, in the sense that there was one at the time of, say, the Profumo Affair: thats to say, a cluster of top politicians, judges, academics and editors, nearly all drawn from a very small group of private schools. Instead, there are lots of different establishments. There is far more TV than there was 50 years ago. There are many more universities. The role of the judiciary has changed. Privately-educated men are still strikingly over-represented in Parliament, in terms of their number in the rest of the population, but the long-term shift in the Party associated with them, the Conservatives, is worth noting. Camerons Children, ConservativeHomes study of the 2015 Tory intake, noted that that the study of state-educated Tory MPs that year was about a third, and that in 2010 it was roughly half. One fact from that year gives a bit of the flavour: not a single Old Etonian seems to have made it on to the Tory benches, with the exception of Victoria Borwick, the beneficiary of an admissions experiment at the school during the 1970s. But if is unfair to hurl the charge of representing the elites at Remain, it is accurate to describe the campaign to stay in the EU as representing an Ascendancy. David Cameron, Jeremy Corbyn, Nick Clegg, the CBI, the TUC, the Archbishop of Canterbury, nine out of ten academics, Gary Lineker, J.K.Rowling, Cara Delevingne, Stephen Hawking, James Bond, sorry, Daniel Craig: all were for Remain. They fairly and squarely represented the consensus since the previous referendum in 1975, institutionally rooted in the Foreign Office, the top of the civil service, and much of the security world. The referendum result came as a psychological shock to this Ascendancy. Some members of it, such as Theresa May, argue that the people have spoken, and are thus now working for Leave. Others are going with the flow like most voters who backed Remain. Some are not, and a few, as Guido Fawkes has written, seem to have been driven mad by Brexit. At any rate, it has not been helpful to the depleted Remain campaign, in terms of persuading Leave voters that they made a mistake in 2016, to be associated with elites or establishments or an Ascendancy or however you want to put it. The point will be reinforced during the next few months. The EU Withdrawal Bill is about to go the Lords. The Upper House is overwhelmingly for Remain. It will vote to amend the Bill probably often. The pro-EU cause will thus become linked by voters (in so far as most voters are following the Bills progress at all) to the Upper House and its members. They are about to see Remain personified by what many are bound to see as privileged toffs. This is an inaccurate way of describing, say, Lords Ashdown, Heseltine, Kerr, Hannay, Wheatcroft, Altmann and Smith (i.e: Angela Smith, Labours leader there). But that a view is wide of the mark doesnt necessarily stop people holding it. This problem for Remain will be accentuated by the gap between how people vote and how the Lords works. The Coalition aimed to create a Second Chamber that is reflective of the share of the vote secured by the political parties at the last general election. That objective reflects the spirit of the age, and has not been realised: in particular, the Liberal Democrats are over-represented in the Lords. Their older peers are the heartland of Remainery. They have no interest in compromising with the electorate, who didnt put them in the Upper House, and cant remove them either. None of all this will be good for the legitimacy of the Upper House which, like all such, depends ultimately on public consent. Two of the world's top human rights organizations, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (AI and HRW) , in a joint statement, have thrown their weight behind those opposing aadhaar, saying, the Government of Indias "mandatory biometric identification project, aadhaar, could lead to millions of people being denied access to essential services and benefits in violation of their human rights." Especially referring to the Tribune expose, which said that "unrestricted access to the personal details of people enrolled in Aadhaar could be purchased for Rs 500 (less than US$10) from racketeers", in a joint statement, the two organizations demand, "The government should order an independent investigation of the concerns raised about aadhaar, and cease targeting journalists and researchers who expose vulnerabilities in security, privacy, and protection of data."The statement , which comes ahead of a five-judge bench scheduled to initiate final arguments on the legality of aadhaar on January 17, says, "The large-scale collection of personal and biometric data, and linking it to a range of services, raises serious concerns about violations of the right to privacy", underlining, the aadhaar project, begun in 2009, "was initially meant to be voluntary, aimed at eliminating fraud in government welfare programmes and giving people a form of identification".They regret, the Aadhaar Act, 2016 and subsequent government notifications have "dramatically increased the scope of the project, making aadhaar enrollment mandatory for people to access a range of essential services and benefits, including government subsidies, pensions and scholarships. It has also been linked to services such as banking, insurance, telephone, and the internet."AI and HRW note, "Shops providing subsidized foodgrains as part of the governments public distribution system to people living in poverty have denied supplies to eligible families because they did not have an aadhaar number, or because they had not linked it to their ration cards which confirm their eligibility, or because the authentication of their biometrics such as fingerprints failed."Giving the example Rajasthan, the two organisations say, "Between September 2016 and June 2017, after aadhaar authentication was made mandatory, at least 2.5 million families were unable to get food rations", adding, though in October 2017, the Central government instructed states not to deny subsidized food grains to eligible families merely because they did not have an aadhaar number, or had not linked their ration cards to it, "reports of denied benefits continue.""Hospitals in Haryana state insist on newborn babies being enrolled in Aadhaar before giving them birth certificates. Aadhaar numbers are also demanded to issue death certificates... Many persons with disabilities have been denied benefits because they were unable to obtain aadhaar numbers", they note.Raising the privacy issue, quoting experts, AI and HRW say, "Companies could store biometric data at the time of enrollment or authentication for a transaction, and biometric data once stolen is compromised forever", insisting, the governments push for mandatory enrollment for aadhaar has "prompted fears of increased state surveillance, with the convergence of various databases making it easier for the government to track all information about specific individuals, and to target dissent".Alleging the government has not even set up "an adequate or effective grievance redressal system", they say, "Aadhaar regulations allow the government to deactivate an aadhaar number for various reasons including for 'any other case requiring deactivation as deemed appropriate' by the UIDAI, leaving the broad wording open to misuse.""Also", AI and HRW say, "The government is not required to give any prior notice before deactivating an aadhaar number, which could violate natural justice principles and also put access to essential services at risk... Between 2010 and 2016, the government deactivated 8.5 million aadhaar numbers, saying it was for reasons provided for under the law." SEA\LNG, the industry coalition aiming to accelerate the widespread adoption of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel, announced the addition of the first financial institution to the coalition; Societe Generale. Peter Keller, SEA\LNG chairman and executive vice president, Tote, said: As the 0.5% global sulphur cap from January 2020 edges ever closer, the case for LNG as a marine fuel continues to gather momentum. Innovative financing is a core component to breaking down barriers to adoption and Societe Generale is at the forefront of developing frameworks to support this evolution. We are therefore delighted to welcome them to our growing coalition and look forward to benefiting from their extensive knowledge and experience. Paul Taylor, Global Head of Shipping Finance, Societe Generale Corporate & Investment Banking, commented: The use of LNG as a marine fuel is gradually becoming a global reality. In line with our wider environmental commitment to promoting greener solutions, Societe Generale recognises the benefits of LNG in lowering local pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, when compared with traditional marine fuels. Societe Generale wants to play a key role in supporting the SEA\LNG coalition to realise its goal of making LNG a viable maritime fuel for 2020 and beyond. This strategic membership will help develop a long-term financial framework which we hope will contribute to, and supplement, the work of other industry leaders in the LNG shipping value chain. According to a statement, Societe Generales commitment to financing alternative solutions which support the development of green maritime transport is demonstrated by its pioneering involvement in the first transaction for the European Unions recently instituted Green Shipping Guarantee program. Societe Generale acted as the sole mandated lead arranger, lease investor, facility and security agent, hedge provider, and lender in a EUR 142.6 million French lease financing of Honfleur, the first LNG-powered ferry to be commissioned by Brittany Ferries, with a funded guarantee from the European Investment Bank. Claude Arpi's latest book, Tibet: The Last Months of a Free Nation, is an original, one-of-its-kind account of how India lost the "Roof of the World" not because of the long-held notion of the great Chinese betrayal, but because of the monumental failure of former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and his ideological allies to see the writing on the wall for more than a decade. It's original because it, unlike other more celebrated books, refuses to look at the events through solely the Western lens. Rather, the author took the pain of going through desi papers to create a narrative that challenges the long-held notions of the event. The book not just brings out the differences of opinion between Nehru and his deputy PM Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who was also the home minister, on how to deal with looming communist shadow over Lhasa. In the last weeks of Patel's life, who passed away on December 15, 1950, Nehru kept him out of the Tibetan issue, citing his deteriorating health. Nehru's differences with Patel might be a known fact, but the high point of the book is when the author exposes how several senior bureaucrats were not happy with the prime minister's handling of the Tibetan affairs, which led India to lose a peaceful northern border. Sardar Patel had written a letter to Nehru on November 7, 1950, detailing the implications of Tibet's invasion for India. The author tells us that Patel's "prophetic" letter was actually a draft sent by Sir Girija Shankar Bajpai, eminent civil servant and diplomat. A month after the entry of the Chinese forces in Tibet, Patel sent Bajpai's note under his own signature to Nehru, who chose to ignore it. Arpi also brings out the frustration of seasoned diplomats such as Bajpai, who had to face the slight of his junior, KM Panikkar, the then Indian ambassador to China. Panikkar ceaselessly defended the Chinese interests to the extent of being detrimental to India's, and being ideologically closer to Nehru he would on several occasions bypass his immediate bosses in the department, including Bajpai. The ambassador not just failed to confirm several intelligence reports suggesting initial Chinese military aggressive moves, but also defended them by writing: "In view of frustration in regard to Formosa, Tibetan move was not unlikely." No wonder, when things were moving at a rapid pace in communist China, the country was in a denial mode. Nehru, blinded by his ideological obsession and wrong associates like Panikkar and defence minister VK Krishna Menon, even went to the extent of questioning the efficacy of a strong army. This mindset alone explains why, at the time of the Chinese aggression, India's gun factories were believed to be producing coffee. The book, at another level, is also a reminder of what's wrong with our academia. When Arpi writes, "with this compilation, one can read for the first time, Tibet's tragedy from the Indian viewpoint", it makes one wonder: Why did it take Indian scholars so long to look at such easily available documents in the Nehru Memorial Museum Library and National Archives of India? It definitely wasn't an accidental failure. Tibet: The Last Months of a Free Nation is a book that should be read by everyone who cares to know where we went wrong in our ties with China and Tibet. But given the stunning silence in the academic circles, it hardly seems to be the case. Maybe it's because we are living in the era of manufactured bestsellers. Manufactured because the bestseller list can now be rigged. One just needs to know the procedure. Remember Lani Sarem, a one-time actress, who hired a company to ensure her 2017 book, Handbook for Mortals, found a place on the New York Times bestseller list? She managed to get one, albeit for a short time. And back home, it's now an old joke in the publishing circle about a noted novelist "managing" a bestseller slot for his first book by buying thousands of its copies. Arpi's book is definitely not worth a "bestseller" slot, but it rightly deserves an intellectual buzz. Sadly, it's not the case in the country right now. Also read: What RSS is selling for Hindutva literature at New Delhi World Book Fair In 2015, the village Hussain Khan Wala in district Kasur, Punjab, Pakistan came under massive public scrutiny after reports of large-scale child sexual abuse became headline news. The existence of several hundred video clips that showed instances of sexual abuse involving almost 300 children sent a wave of shock, anger and grief through Pakistan, and a government investigation was initiated. Hundreds of video clips showed that sexual abuse and videotaping of sexual abuse of children, male and female, continued from 2006 to 2014. Not only were the videos sold in the local markets they were also used to extract money from poor families that did whatever they could to keep the "shame" of what had happened to their children under wraps. Many arrests and some penalisations later the case is still there in its harrowing aftermath. Many young victims, in need of psychological rehabilitation, grappling with their issues of self-confidence and vulnerability, wait for justice. The wait may never end. People light candles and earthen lamps to condemn the rape and murder of 7-year-old girl Zainab Amin in Kasur. Credit: Reuters Between 2014 and 2017, Kasur a city 31 miles from Lahore, has reported more than 720 cases of sexual abuse and violence towards children. According to Sahil, an organisation working for prevention of crimes against children, "... In 2017, a total of 129 cases of child assault were reported from Kasur alone. Of them, 34 were abductions, 23 rapes, 19 sodomy, 17 attempted rapes, six abduction and rapes, and four abduction and gang-rapes." Approximately, 11 cases of child abuse are reported daily in Pakistan. Many remain unreported. In early 2017, there were 10 murders of minors aged five to 10 (all of them were raped and killed) in Kasur. All killings took place within a radius of 10 kilometres. By the end of 2017, the number of girls raped rose to 11. Only one of them is alive. On January 9, 2018, in Kasur, a corpse was found on a pile of garbage. It was the mutilated body of a girl who had been reported missing on January 5. Her medical examination revealed that the cause of death was strangulation. The post-mortem report also showed the following: Visible marks of torture on the childs face, congestion in her muscles, her tongue was badly bruised and injured as it was pressed between her teeth. The hyoid bone was fractured...that she might have been sexually assaulted; there was also evidence to suggest the child had been sodomised. There was mud, fecal matter and blood found on her body. The initial report also confirmed that she might have been dead for two to four days before her body was dumped in trash, on a crowded street. Her name was Zainab Amin. She was seven years old. From social media to electronic media to international media, the news of her rape and murder spread across Pakistan, and led to an unprecedented eruption of shock, grief and, understandably, rage. After the Army Public School massacre of children in December 2014, this is probably the first time I've seen such a united show of emotion to an event that is unimaginable in its horror. Political leaders, top military officials, artistes, sportspersons, activists, journalists, students, celebrities, the privileged and the underprivileged, the sentiments are identical: justice must be done to Zainab. Pakistan TV news anchor Kiran Naz did a live telecast with her young daughter sitting in her lap to highlight what she felt as a mother in the aftermath of the rape and murder of Zainab Amin. A thorough, exhaustive investigation based on forensic testing of evidence and crime scenes, witness-questioning, and formation of airtight cases will reveal: what is happening in Kasur; what is behind rampant crimes against children; whether these cases are products of depravity of the worst kind, or there is a gang behind abduction, rape and killing of children; is this the work of a serial rapist and murderer; whether the perpetrators are working alone, or there is a link between them and the perpetrators of the 2015 sexual abuse videos; whether the 12 girls were victims of individual sexual depravity or dehumainsed tools of a sex racket involved in raping and killing children and video-taping the events in order to sell the videos in international underbellies of grisly sexual voyeurism and perversion. As I write these lines, my mind keeps going to the image of the lifeless body of Zainab. What she must have gone through during her torture, rape and murder. The pain the other 11 victims suffered. The molestation hundreds of children suffer in Pakistan, and throughout the world. The abuse of those whose tragedy reach us. The rape of those who suffer and die without anyone knowing what happened to them. Abuse, molestation, rape. By family members, relatives, strangers. To me nothing is worse than the pain of a child. To me, nothing is a bigger tragedy than burying a child. As the mother of a son almost 18, my priority was giving him all the love in the world and that included raising him without any physical or mental punishment, and keeping him so secure in his environment that he feels confident and safe wherever he is, with or without me, even today. My son is a happy and kind person because of the life he has had. Most parents all over the world try to do exactly the same - keep their children safe from disease, hunger, cold, night-time monsters, daily obstacles, little fears, outside horrors. Not all of us succeed. We fail our children. Repeatedly. Individually. Collectively. Abduction, torture, rape and murder of a child translate into humanity stooping to its lowest. It is the worst of crimes, and it is the worst of a society. It is a wake-up call to the apathetic soul of a nation. Abduction of a child is a huge deal anywhere in the world, with the best resources of a country's LEAs leaping into action to find the child. A missing child in Pakistan has become just another crime. The world should be a safe place for children within and without their homes. Period. The emphasis should be on providing them a better life, but the safety of children should be a given. Why do we live in a world where we have to fight for the safety of children? Children, notwithstanding where they are, what they are doing, whoever they are with, chaperoned or alone, living in a mansion or sleeping on a sidewalk, studying at an elite school or working to earn a paltry wage, fair-skinned or dark, nicely dressed or in rags, must be safe. Whatever else is wrong with the world, children must be allowed to remain children: carefree, joyous, secure.But the world is the way it is, and before mindsets and attitudes alter at the very fundamental level, there are guidelines that must be followed. There must be laws that act as deterrents, immediate community and police attention to the disappearance of a child, thorough investigation to find the kidnapped child, and solving the case in the case of a murder, proper penalisation and sentencing, formation of a database to list all convicted and even alleged sexual criminals. Also needed are trauma centres with professional counsellors for survivor-rehabilitation. Sex education must be mandatory in schools at the elementary level starting from parental advice at home. The distinction between good and bad touch, how not to interact with strangers when un-chaperoned, talking to parents if improperly touched by someone they know or a stranger, counselling when needed are all needed. Teach children that there is no shame in talking about an uncomfortable grope, or worse, abuse. Shame is only for perpetrators, not their victims, the survivors. Media must be active in dispensation of information about awareness and prevention of child abuse. Safety of children is a collective responsibility, a chain of action and reaction: familial, communal, societal, and governmental. Being united, the formation of a safe world for children is a reality not a utopian concept. Act now. Fundamentally, it is all about what you teach your children. It is about how patriarchal narratives are shaped to provide love and self-confidence to children instead of forcing females and children into submission. It is about teaching your children gender equality without ever using the words gender equality. It is about teaching your sons what not to do, not bending girls to learn how to be. It is about accepting the importance of religious - if you believe in any religion - and societal norms and using them to become better human beings. It is about teaching your children the importance of empathy, of noticing unkindness, of reacting to an act of violence, even if it's about hitting a sibling. It is about teaching children to be kind to one another, to those who are weaker, to animals, to the underprivileged. It is about teaching children to be responsive. It is about teaching children to be honest about telling you everything, even the unsavoury. It is about parents leading by example. Kindness is the key. Empathy is a way of life. Pain, of self or others, is a catalyst. Apathy, individual or collective, is abetment. Notice, react, act. Sexual abuse is violence, lessons in how not to be violent starts at home. A decent, kind male, notwithstanding a hormonal stimulus or a sexual urge, in any situation, under any circumstances, on any pretext, because of any provocation, would not abuse, assault or rape a child or an adult. It is as simple as that. United with those males, beyond the abuse and the violence, the fight is still winnable if our focus is the same: make this world a beautiful place for our children. Starting now. Also read: Claude Arpi's book exposes India's ties with China and Tibet like never before Ive often dwelt on my admiration for Hinduism. It is the worlds oldest and wisest religious philosophy. Sanatana Dharma predates Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Christianity and Islam. Its vedic wisdom is unmatched. But like all things ancient, it needs constant care or the wisdom can turn into dogma. The Abrahamic religions all suffer from this malady. Islam is shackled to the Quran written over 1,300 years ago. Rather than interpret its verses in modern, socially liberal terms, Islamic clerics have frozen them in time. That has led to appalling gender injustice. It has also sanctioned a violent interpretation of jihad which the Quran in its verses defines as self-defence, not conquest, but with enough semantic ambiguity to justify violence against infidels. Christianity is similarly didactic. The Catholic Church, despite some recent efforts at reform, does not ordain women priests as a matter of divine law. It regards homosexuality as a moral evil. And it encourages belief in miracles. The break in the sixteenth century between the Catholic and Anglican churches led to the formation of Protestant majorities in countries like post-Reformation Britain and the future United States of America. Both Islam and Christianity are proselytising religions. They have fought each other for over a thousand years, invaded territories in Africa and Asia, colonised them, plundered their wealth, and transported African slaves and Indian indentured labour to the newly settled Americas and the West Indies. Hinduism, passive and inward-looking, has meanwhile absorbed invasion, subjugation, tyranny and plunder. It gave rise to Buddhism and Jainism, both older than Christianity and Islam, and both relatively more peaceful. Neither though could replace Hinduism in its birthplace. But this shouldnt blind us to the need for reform. Hinduism is amorphous, organic and shapes itself into whatever form its practitioner wants. You can pray at a temple or at home or not at all and yet be a good Hindu. You can be agnostic, atheist or religious and still be a good Hindu. Islam and Christianity are stricter. Obey or else. But Hinduisms formlessness and sponge-like absorptive capacity can be a double-edged sword. Lack of discipline can breed disorder and division. Caste looms large as one of its biggest dangers. It is argued that the caste system in Hinduism helped India escape the fate of other countries whose native religions succumbed to mass conversions to Islam or Christianity. The caste system has two concepts: varna and jati. Varna in vedic India was linked to the profession one followed based on aptitude, skill and interest. It was flexible and allowed social and occupational mobility. Jati, in contrast, was defined by birth. You couldnt escape the jati you were born into. Defending caste, Rajeev Srinivasan, an IIT and Stanford alumnus, wrote in Swarajya: To consider resilience, think of the fact that of all the civilisations that the Muslims encountered when they swept out of Arabia, Hindu civilisation is the only one that did not get wiped out. Great, established cultures such as Egypt and Persia and all the Buddhist cultures of Central Asia were completely erased in a very short time. In the case of Hinduism, the jati served as the node. If your allegiance was to a particular jati, in essence, the destruction of other jatis had little effect on you. In one sense this is bad because of the lack of unity of purpose, but on the other hand, the system is resilient. I think this baffled Muslim invaders. Initially, they thought the centre of Hinduism was Somnath, so they sacked it, and nothing happened. Then they thought the centre was Benares, and they sacked it; again Hinduism did not vanish. Humans have an innate need to belong. Jati is an innovation that uses this drive for many positive (but alas, also negative) things. A flexible system of jatis where occupational value determines its market price was a good idea. An ossified system still seems to function pretty well, and I am not sure that jati will disappear with urbanisation. Beyond such historical justifications lies todays reality. The riots that took place in Pune and Mumbai during the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the British-Dalit victory over the Peshwa-Brahmin-Marathas in Bhima-Koregaon show how caste remains a dagger aimed at the heart of Hindu society. Whatever the justifications of distributed systems of jati and their historical role in protecting Hinduism from invading Islamic and Christian armies, the argument does little credit to Hinduism. If a religion needs a caste-based distributed system and the cruel injustices that go with it to merely survive onslaughts from outside, it speaks poorly of its inherent strength. There must be a higher ambition than mere survival. Hinduism fell into such decay that it needed brutal Muslim and Christian invaders to, first, subdue it and then in the nineteenth century, as the British, for their own benefit brought modern education to the subcontinent, spark its renaissance. It is a well-worn cliche to quote economist Angus Maddisons thesis that India accounted for nearly 24 per cent of global GDP before the British colonised the country and systematically destroyed its industries, trade and crafts. But that was an India of 650 princely kingdoms, united by geography and culture but divided by religion, language, region and caste. Caste is today a potent electoral weapon. Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani used it effectively in the Gujarat assembly election. The Congress has begun to employ caste with an eye on the 2019 Lok Sabha poll. While Congress president Rahul Gandhi showcases his janeu-dhari Brahmin roots, his allies like Mevani play to Dalit sentiment. Divide and rule: it is an old ruse. To again be a great religious philosophy, and not be held hostage to cynical electoral politics, Hinduism must shed old shibboleths and embrace reform. Caste divisions must go. Dalits must be allowed entry into every Hindu temple. So must women. There can be no exceptions and no excuses. Also read: Why Deen Dayal Upadhyay is an icon for BJP and RSS The following companies are subsidiares of Xerox: A B S Digital Limited, Acorn Business Machines (Holmfirth) Limited, Alloy Acquisitions Corp. 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Ltd., Telcom General Corporation, Terre de Grace Partnership, The Anaconda Company, The BP Share Plans Trustees Limited, The Burmah Oil Company (Pakistan Trading) Limited, The Standard Oil Company, Toledo Refinery Holding Company LLC, Torrelavega 7 S.L., Union Texas International Corporation, Vastar Pipeline LLC, Veba Oel AG Veba Oel, Verenium, Viceroy Investments Limited, Villacarriedo 8 S.L., Warrenville Development Limited, Water Way Trading and Petroleum Services LLC, Welchem Inc., West Kimberley Fuels Pty Ltd, Westlake Houston Development LLC, Whiting Clean Energy Inc., Windpark Energy Nederland B.V., and Winwell Resources L.L.C. Genworth Financial, Inc. is a financial services company, which engages in the provision of insurance, wealth management, investment and financial solutions. It operates through the following segments: U.S. Mortgage Insurance, Australia Mortgage Insurance, U.S. Life Insurance, and Runoff. The U.S. Mortgage Insurance segment offers mortgage insurance products predominantly insuring prime-based, individually underwritten residential mortgage loans. The Australia Mortgage Insurance segment offers flow mortgage insurance and selectively provides bulk mortgage insurance that aids in the sale of mortgages to the capital markets and helps lenders manage capital and risk. The U.S. Life Insurance segment offers long-term care insurance products as well as service traditional life insurance and fixed annuity products in the United States. The Runoff segment includes the results of non-strategic products which are no longer actively sold but continue to service its existing blocks of business. Its non-strategic products primarily include variable annuity, variable life insurance, institutional, corporate-owned life insurance and other accident and health insurance products. The company was fo Read More Allianz SE, together with its subsidiaries, provides property-casualty insurance, life/health insurance, and asset management products and services worldwide. The company's Property-Casualty segment offers various insurance products, including motor liability and own damage, accident, general liability, fire and property, legal expense, credit, and travel to private and corporate customers. Its Life/Health segment provides a range of life and health insurance products on an individual and a group basis, such as annuities, endowment and term insurance, and unit-linked and investment-oriented products, as well as private and supplemental health, and long-term care insurance products. The company's Asset Management segment offers institutional and retail asset management products and services to third-party investors comprising equity and fixed income funds, and multi-assets; and alternative investment products comprising infrastructure debt/equity, real assets, liquid alternatives, and solutions. Its Corporate and Other segment provides banking services for retail clients, as well as digital investment management services. Allianz SE was founded in 1890 and is headquartered in Munich, Germany. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of BlackRock: Acero Cooperatief U.A., Acero Holdings I B.V., Amethyst Merger Sub LLC, AnalytX Hosting LLC, AnalytX LLC, AnalytX Software LLC, Aperio, Aperio, Aquila Heywood, Asia-Pacific Private Credit Opportunities Fund I (GenPar) Ltd., BAA Holdings LLC, BFM Holdco LLC, BLK (Gallatin) Holdings LLC, BLK SMI LLC, BR Acquisition Mexico S.A. de C.V., BR Jersey International Holdings L.P., Beijing eFront Software Company Limited, BlackRock (Barbados) Finco 1 SRL, BlackRock (Channel Islands) Limited, BlackRock (Luxembourg) S.A., BlackRock (Netherlands) B.V., BlackRock (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., BlackRock (Singapore) Holdco II Pte. Ltd., BlackRock (Singapore) Holdco Pte. Limited, BlackRock (Singapore) Limited, BlackRock AP Investment Holdco LLC, BlackRock Advisors (UK) Limited, BlackRock Advisors LLC, BlackRock Advisors Singapore Pte. Limited, BlackRock Alternative Advisors GP Holdings LLC, BlackRock Alternatives Management LLC, BlackRock Argentina Asesorias Ltda., BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited, BlackRock Asset Management Deutschland AG, BlackRock Asset Management International Inc., BlackRock Asset Management Investor Services Limited, BlackRock Asset Management Ireland Limited, BlackRock Asset Management North Asia Limited, BlackRock Asset Management Schweiz AG, BlackRock Asset Management UK Limited, BlackRock Australia Holdco Pty. Ltd., BlackRock Brasil Gestora de Investimentos Ltda., BlackRock Cal 1 Investor LLC, BlackRock Canada Holdings LP, BlackRock Canada Holdings ULC, BlackRock Capital Holdings Inc., BlackRock Capital Investment Advisors LLC, BlackRock Capital Management Inc., BlackRock Cayco Limited, BlackRock Cayman 1 LP, BlackRock Cayman Capital Holdings Limited, BlackRock Cayman Finco 2 Limited, BlackRock Cayman Finco 3 Limited, BlackRock Cayman Finco Limited, BlackRock Cayman West Bay Finco Limited, BlackRock Cayman West Bay IV Limited, BlackRock Cayman Z Limited, BlackRock Channel Islands Holdco Limited, BlackRock Chile Asesorias Limitada, BlackRock Colombia Holdco LLC, BlackRock Colombia Infraestructura S.A.S., BlackRock Colombia SAS, BlackRock Company Secretarial Services (UK) Limited, BlackRock Corporation US Inc., BlackRock Delaware Holdings Inc., BlackRock Enterprise Management Services (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., BlackRock Europe Development Management Limited, BlackRock Execution Services, BlackRock Finance Europe Limited, BlackRock Financial Management Inc., BlackRock Finco LLC, BlackRock Finco UK Ltd., BlackRock First Partner Limited, BlackRock France SAS, BlackRock Fund Advisors, BlackRock Fund Management Company S.A., BlackRock Fund Managers Limited, BlackRock Funding International Ltd., BlackRock Funds Services Group LLC, BlackRock Germany GmBH, BlackRock Group Limited, BlackRock HK Holdco Limited, BlackRock Holdco 2 Inc., BlackRock Holdco 3 LLC, BlackRock Holdco 4 LLC, BlackRock Holdco 5 LLC, BlackRock Holdco 6 LLC, BlackRock Hungary Kft, BlackRock Index Services LLC, BlackRock Infrastructure Management I LLC, BlackRock Institutional Services Inc., BlackRock Institutional Trust Company National Association, BlackRock International Holdings Inc., BlackRock International Limited, BlackRock Investment Management (Australia) Limited, BlackRock Investment Management (Dublin) Limited, BlackRock Investment Management (Korea) Limited, BlackRock Investment Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., BlackRock Investment Management (Taiwan) Limited, BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited, BlackRock Investment Management Ireland Holdings Limited, BlackRock Investment Management LLC, BlackRock Investments LLC, BlackRock Japan Co. Ltd., BlackRock Japan Holdings GK, BlackRock Jersey Finco 2 Limited, BlackRock Latin America Holdco LLC, BlackRock Latin American Holdings B.V., BlackRock Life Limited, BlackRock Lux Finco S.a r.l., BlackRock Luxembourg Holdco S.a r.l., BlackRock Mexican Holdco B.V., BlackRock Mexico Infraestructura I S. de R.L. de C.V., BlackRock Mexico Infraestructura II S. de R.L. de C.V., BlackRock Mexico Infraestructura III S. de R.L. de C.V., BlackRock Mexico Manager II S. de R.L. de C.V., BlackRock Mexico Manager III S. de R.L. de C.V., BlackRock Mexico Manager S de R.L. de C.V., BlackRock Mexico Operadora S.A. de C.V. Sociedad Operadora de Fondos de Inversion, BlackRock Mortgage Ventures LLC, BlackRock Niagara LLC, BlackRock Operations (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., BlackRock Overseas Investment Fund Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., BlackRock PC Holdings LLC, BlackRock Pensions Limited, BlackRock Peru Asesorias S.A., BlackRock Property Consulting (Beijing) Co. Ltd., BlackRock Property France S.a.r.l., BlackRock Property Lux S.a.r.l., BlackRock Property Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., BlackRock Realty Advisors Inc., BlackRock Saudi Arabia, BlackRock Scale Holdings LLC, BlackRock Services India Private Limited, BlackRock Singapore III Pte. Ltd., BlackRock Slovakia s.r.o., BlackRock Strategic Investors GP LLC, BlackRock Strategic Investors LP, BlackRock Trident Holding Company Limited, BlackRock UK (Alpha) Limited, BlackRock UK (Beta) Limited, BlackRock UK (Delta) LP, BlackRock UK (Gamma) Limited, BlackRock UK (Sigma) Limited, BlackRock UK 2 LLP, BlackRock UK 3 LLP, BlackRock UK 4 LLP, BlackRock UK A LLP, BlackRock UK Holdco 2 Limited, BlackRock UK Holdco Limited, Blackhawk Investment Holding LLC, CIE Automotive, Cachematrix Holdings, Cachematrix Holdings LLC, Cachematrix Integrations Private Limited, Cachematrix Software Solutions LLC, Cachematrix UK Limited, FutureAdvisor Inc., Glass Mountain Pipeline, Global Energy & Power Infrastructure Advisors LLC, Global Energy & Power Infrastructure II Advisors LLC, Grosvenor Alternate Partner Limited, Grosvenor Ventures Limited, HLX Financial Holdings LLC, MGPA (Bermuda) Limited, MGPA (Exec) Limited, MGPA Limited, Mercury Carry Company Ltd., Mercury Private Equity MUST 3 (Jersey) Limited, Object Capital Technology Inc., Phoenix Acquisition B.V., Phoenix Acquisitions Holdings LLC, Portfolio Administration & Management Ltd., Prestadora de Servicios Integrales BlackRock Mexico S.A. de C.V., SVOF/MM LLC, St. Albans House Nominees (Jersey) Ltd., State Street Research & Management, Tennenbaum Capital Partners LLC, Tennenbaum Capital Partners LLC, Tlali Acero S.A. de C.V. SOFOM ENR, Trident Merger LLC, eFront, eFront, eFront (Jersey) Limited, eFront DMLT Holdings LLC, eFront DMLT Holdings S.R.L, eFront DR S.R.L, eFront Do Brasil Solucoes Informaticas Para Sistemas Financeiros Ltda., eFront FZ-LLC, eFront Financial Solutions Inc., eFront GmbH, eFront Holding II SAS, eFront Holdings SAS, eFront Hong Kong Limited, eFront II SAS, eFront Kabushiki Kaisha, eFront Ltd, eFront SAS, eFront Singapore Pte. Ltd, eFront Software Luxembourg S.a r.l., eFront Solutions Financeieres Inc., eFront d.o.o. Beograd, iShares (DE) I Investmentaktiengesellschaft mit Teilgesellschaftsvermogen, and iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC. The following companies are subsidiares of Centene: APS Parent Inc., AWC of Syracuse Inc., Absolute Total Care Inc., AcariaHealth Inc., AcariaHealth Pharmacy #11 Inc., AcariaHealth Pharmacy #12 Inc., AcariaHealth Pharmacy #13 Inc., AcariaHealth Pharmacy #14 Inc., AcariaHealth Pharmacy Inc., AcariaHealth Solutions Inc., Access Medical Acquisition LLC, Access Medical Group of Florida City LLC, Access Medical Group of Hialeah LLC, Access Medical Group of Lakeland LLC, Access Medical Group of Miami LLC, Access Medical Group of North Miami Beach LLC, Access Medical Group of Opa-Locka LLC, Access Medical Group of Perrine LLC, Access Medical Group of Tampa II LLC, Access Medical Group of Tampa III LLC, Access Medical Group of Tampa LLC, Access Medical Group of Westchester LLC, Accountable Care Coalition Direct Contracting LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Chesapeake LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Community Health Centers II LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Community Health Centers LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Elite Providers II LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Elite Providers III LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Elite Providers IV LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Elite Providers LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Elite Providers V LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Elite Providers VI LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Elite Providers VII LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Florida Partners LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Georgia LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Maryland LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Maryland Primary Care LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Mississippi LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of New Jersey Inc., Accountable Care Coalition of North Texas LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Northeast Georgia LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Northeast Partners LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Northwest Florida LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Prime Health LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Quality Health II LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Quality Health III LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Quality Health LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Southeast Partners LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Southeast Physician Partners LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Southeast Texas Inc., Accountable Care Coalition of Southeast Wisconsin LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Tennessee LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Texas Inc., Agate Resources Inc., AirLogix, Ambetter of Magnolia Inc., Ambetter of North Carolina Inc., Ambetter of Peach State Inc., America's 1st Choice California Holdings LLC, American Progressive Life and Health Insurance Company of New York, Apixio, Apixio Inc, Arch Personalized Medicine Initiative LLC, Arkansas Health & Wellness Health Plan Inc., Arkansas Total Care Holding Company LLC, Arkansas Total Care Inc., B2B Gestion Integra S.L.U., B2B Salud S.L.U., Bankers Reserve Life Insurance Company of Wisconsin, Blackcrow Asistencia Medica S.L, Bridgeway Health Solutions LLC, Bridgeway Health Solutions of Arizona Inc., Buckeye Community Health Plan Inc., Buckeye Health Plan Community Solutions Inc., CCTX Holdings LLC, CMC Real Estate Company LLC, CT Poprad s.r.o., CT Presov s.r.o., Calibrate Acquisition Company, California Health and Wellness Plan, Cantina Laredo Clayton LP, Cardium Health Services, Care 1st Health Plan of Arizona Inc., Care1st Health Plan Administrative Services Inc., Carolina Complete Health Holding Company Partnership, Carolina Complete Health Inc., Casenet LLC, Casenet S.R.O., CeltiCare Health Plan Holdings LLC, CeltiCare Health Plan of Massachusetts Inc., Celtic Group Inc., Celtic Insurance Company, Cenpatico Behavioral Health LLC, Cenpatico Behavioral Health of Arizona LLC, Cenpatico of Arizona Inc., Centene Center I LLC, Centene Center II LLC, Centene Center LLC, Centene Company of Texas LP, Centene Europe Finance Company Limited, Centene Health Plan Holdings Inc., Centene Institute for Advanced Health Education LLC, Centene International Ventures LLC, Centene Investments LLC, Centene Management Company LLC, Centene Venture Company Alabama Health Plan Inc., Centene Venture Company Florida Inc., Centene Venture Company Illinois Inc., Centene Venture Company Indiana Inc., Centene Venture Company Kansas Inc., Centene Venture Company Michigan Inc., Centene Venture Company Tennessee Inc., Centro Inmunologocia De La Comunidad Valenciana S.L., Centurion Correctional Healthcare of New Mexico LLC, Centurion Detention Health Services LLC, Centurion LLC, Centurion of Arizona LLC, Centurion of Delaware LLC, Centurion of Florida LLC, Centurion of Kansas LLC, Centurion of Minnesota LLC, Centurion of Mississippi LLC, Centurion of New Hampshire LLC, Centurion of Pennsylvania LLC, Centurion of Tennessee LLC, Centurion of Vermont LLC, Centurion of West Virginia LLC, Centurion of Wyoming LLC, Chrysalis Medical Services LLC, Clinica Santo Domingo De Lugo S.L., Collaborative Health Systems IPA LLC, Collaborative Health Systems LLC, Collaborative Health Systems of Maryland LLC, Collaborative Health Systems of Virginia LLC, Comfort Hospice of Missouri LLC, Comfort Hospice of Texas LLC, ComfortBrook Hospice LLC, Community Medical Group, Community Medical Holdings Corporation, Comprehensive Health Management Inc., Comprehensive Reinsurance Ltd., Coordinated Care Corporation, Coordinated Care of Washington Inc., Country Style Health Care LLC, Discare CZ a.s., District Community Care Inc., Dr Magnet s.r.o., Elche-Crevillente Salud, Envolve Benefits Options Inc., Envolve Captive Insurance Company Inc., Envolve Dental IPA of New York Inc., Envolve Dental Inc., Envolve Dental of Florida Inc., Envolve Dental of Texas Inc., Envolve Health, Envolve Holdings Inc., Envolve Inc., Envolve Optical Inc., Envolve PeopleCare Inc., Envolve Pharmacy IPA LLC, Envolve Pharmacy Solutions Inc., Envolve Total Vision Inc., Envolve Vision Benefits Inc., Envolve Vision IPA of New York Inc., Envolve Vision Inc., Envolve Vision of Florida Inc., Envolve Vision of Texas Inc., Essential Care Partners LLC, Exactus Pharmacy Solutions Inc., Family Nurse Care II LLC, Family Nurse Care LLC, Family Nurse Care of Ohio LLC, Fidelis Care, Forensic Health Services LLC, Foundation Care LLC, Godgrace Asistencia Medica S.L., Golden Triangle Physician Alliance, Grace Hospice of Austin LLC, Grace Hospice of Grand Rapids LLC, Grace Hospice of Illinois LLC, Grace Hospice of Indiana LLC, Grace Hospice of San Antonio LLC, Grace Hospice of Virginia LLC, Grace Hospice of Wisconsin LLC, Granite State Health Plan Inc., Growly Asistencia Sanitaria S.L., HHS Texas Management Inc., HHS Texas Management LP, Hallmark Life Insurance Company, Harmony Behavioral Health IPA Inc., Harmony Behavioral Health Inc., Harmony Health Management Inc., Harmony Health Plan Inc., Harmony Health Systems Inc., Health Care Enterprises LLC, Health Net Access Inc., Health Net Community Solutions Inc., Health Net Community Solutions of Arizona Inc., Health Net Federal Services LLC, Health Net Health Plan of Oregon Inc., Health Net LLC, Health Net Life Insurance Company, Health Net Life Reinsurance Company, Health Net Pharmaceutical Services, Health Net of Arizona Inc., Health Net of California Inc., Health Plan Real Estate Holdings Inc., HealthSmart Benefit Solutions Inc., HealthSmart Benefits Management LLC, HealthSmart Care Management Solutions LP, HealthSmart Information Systems Inc., HealthSmart Preferred Care II LP, HealthSmart Preferred Network II Inc., HealthSmart Primary Care Clinics LP, HealthSmart Rx Solutions Inc., Healthy Louisiana Holdings LLC, Healthy Missouri Holdings Inc., Healthy Washington Holdings Inc., Heritage Health Systems Inc., Heritage Health Systems of Texas Inc., Heritage Home Hospice LLC, Heritage Physician Networks, Home State Health Plan Inc., HomeScripts.com LLC, Hospice DME Company LLC, Hospinet S.L., Hospital Polusa S.A., Hospital Povisa S.A., Hudson Accountable Care LLC, IAH of Florida LLC, Illinois Health Practice Alliance LLC, Infraestructuras y Servicios de Alzira S. L., Integrated Care Network of Florida LLC, Integrated Mental Health Management LLC, Integrated Mental Health Services, Interpreta Holdings Inc., Interpreta Inc., Iowa Total Care Inc., Kentucky Spirit Health Plan Inc., LBB Industries Inc., LifeShare Management Group LLC, LiveHealthier Inc., Louisiana Healthcare Connections Inc., MH Services International Holdings (UK) Limited, MHM, MHM Correctional Services LLC, MHM Health Professionals LLC, MHM Services Inc., MHM Services of California LLC, MHM Solutions LLC, MHN Government Services LLC, MHN Services LLC, MHS Consulting International Inc., MHS Travel & Charter Inc., MR Centrum Melnick s.r.o., MR Poprad s.r.o., MR Zilina s.r.o., Magnolia Health Plan Inc., Managed Health Network, Managed Health Network LLC, Managed Health Services Insurance Corporation, Maryland Collaborative Care LLC, Maryland Collaborative Care Transformation Organization Inc., Mauli Ola Health and Wellness Inc., Medicina NZ spol s.r.o., Meridian Health Plan of Illinois Inc., Meridian Health Plan of Michigan Inc., Meridian Management Company LLC, Meridian Network Services LLC, MeridianRx IPA LLC, MeridianRx LLC, MeridianRx of Indiana LLC, Michigan Complete Health, Mid-Atlantic Collaborative Care LLC, Nebraska Total Care Inc., Network Providers LLC, New York Quality Healthcare Corporation, Next Door Neighbors Inc., Next Door Neighbors LLC., North Florida Health Services Inc., Northern Maryland Collaborative Care LLC, Novasys Health Inc., OB Care, OB Klinika, Ohana Health Plan Inc., Oklahoma Complete Health Inc., One Care by Care 1st Health Plans of Arizona Inc, Operose Health (Group) Ltd., Operose Health (Group) UK Ltd., Operose Health Ltd., OptiCare Health Systems - Managed Vision Business, PANTHERx Rare Pharmacy, Panther Pass Co LLC, Panther Specialty Holding Co LLC, Pantherx Access Services LLC, Pantherx Specialty LLC, Parker LP LLC, Peach State Health Plan Inc., Penn Marketing America LLC, Pennsylvania Health and Wellness Inc., Phoenix Home Health Care LLC, Pinnacle Home Care LLC, Pinnacle Senior Care of Illinois LLC, Pinnacle Senior Care of Indiana LLC, Pinnacle Senior Care of Kalamazoo LLC, Pinnacle Senior Care of Missouri LLC, Pinnacle Senior Care of Wisconsin LLC, Premier Marketing Group LLC, PrimeroSalud S.L., Pro Diagnostic Group A.S., Pro Magnet CZ s.r.o., Pro Magnet s.r.o, Pro RTG s.r.o, Progress Medical A.S., Prowl Holdings LLC, QCA Healthplan Inc., Qualchoice Life and Health Insurance Company, Quincy Coverage Corporation, R&C Healthcare LLC, RMED LLC, RX Direct Inc., Rapid Respiratory Services LLC, Ribera Lab S.L.U., Ribera Salud II, Ribera Salud Proyectos S.L., Ribera Salud S.A., Ribera Salud Tecnologias S.L.U., Ribera Slaud Infraestructuras S.L.U., Ribera-Quilpro UTE, Salus Administrative Services Inc., Salus IPA LLC, Secure Capital Solutions 2000 S.L.U., SelectCare Health Plans Inc., SelectCare of Texas Inc., Seniorcorps Peninsula LLC, Servicios De Mantenimiento Prevencor S.L.U., SilverSummit Healthplan Inc., Social Health Bridge LLC, Social Health Bridge Trust, Specialty Therapeutic Care GP LLC, Specialty Therapeutic Care Holdings, Specialty Therapeutic Care Holdings LLC, Specialty Therapeutic Care LP, Sunflower State Health Plan Inc., Sunshine Health Community Solutions Inc., Sunshine Health Holding LLC, Sunshine State Health Plan Inc., Superior HealthPlan Community Solutions Inc., Superior HealthPlan Inc., The Practice Properties Limited, The WellCare Management Group Inc., Torrejon Salud S.A., Torrevieja Salud S.L.U., Torrevieja Salud UTE, Traditional Home Health Services LLC, Trillium Community Health Plan Inc., U.S. Medical Management Holdings Inc., U.S. Medical Management LLC, UAM Agent Services Corp., US Script, USMM Accountable Care Partners LLC, Universal American Corp., Universal American Financial Services Inc., Universal American Holdings LLC, WCG Health Management Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of America, WellCare Health Insurance Company of Kentucky Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of Louisiana Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of Nevada Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of New Hampshire Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of New Jersey Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of Oklahoma Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of Washington Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of Wisconsin Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of Arizona Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of Connecticut Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of Hawaii Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of New York Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of North Carolina Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of Southwest Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of Tennessee Inc., WellCare Health Plans, WellCare Health Plans of Arizona Inc., WellCare Health Plans of California Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Kentucky Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Massachusetts Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Missouri Inc., WellCare Health Plans of New Jersey Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Rhode Island Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Tennessee Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Vermont Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Wisconsin Inc., WellCare National Health Insurance Company, WellCare Pharmacy Benefits Management Inc., WellCare Prescription Insurance Inc., WellCare of Alabama Inc., WellCare of Arkansas Inc., WellCare of California Inc., WellCare of Connecticut Inc., WellCare of Florida Inc., WellCare of Georgia Inc., WellCare of Illinois Inc., WellCare of Indiana Inc., WellCare of Kansas Inc., WellCare of Maine Inc., WellCare of Michigan Holding Company, WellCare of Mississippi Inc., WellCare of Missouri Health Insurance Company Inc., WellCare of New Hampshire Inc., WellCare of New York Inc., WellCare of North Carolina Inc., WellCare of Ohio Inc., WellCare of Oklahoma Inc., WellCare of Pennsylvania Inc., WellCare of Puerto Rico Inc., WellCare of South Carolina Inc., WellCare of Texas Inc., WellCare of Virginia Inc., WellCare of Washington Inc., Wellcare Health Plans Inc., Western Sky Community Care Inc., Windsor Health Group Inc., Winning Security S.L., Worlco Management Services, and nirvanaHealth LLC. JPMorgan Chase & Co. is a financial holding company. It provides financial and investment banking services. The firm offers a range of investment banking products and services in all capital markets, including advising on corporate strategy and structure, capital raising in equity and debt markets, risk management, market making in cash securities and derivative instruments, and brokerage and research. It operates through the following segments: Consumer and Community Banking, Corporate and Investment Bank, Commercial Banking, and Asset and Wealth Management. The Consumer and Community Banking segment serves consumers and businesses through personal service at bank branches and through automated teller machine, online, mobile, and telephone banking. The Corporate and Investment Bank segment offers a suite of investment banking, market-making, prime brokerage, and treasury and securities products and services to a global client base of corporations, investors, financial institutions, government and municipal entities. The Commercial Banking segment delivers services to U.S. and its multinational clients, including corporations, municipalities, financial institutions, and non profit Read More Glencore plc produces, refines, processes, stores, transports, and markets metals and minerals, and energy products in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. It operates through two segments, Marketing Activities and Industrial Activities. The company produces and markets copper, cobalt, nickel, zinc, lead, chrome ore, ferrochrome, vanadium, alumina, aluminum, tin, and iron ore. It also engages in the oil exploration/production, distribution, storage, and bunkering activities; and offers coal, crude oil and oil products, refined products, and natural gas. The company markets and distributes physical commodities sourced from third party producers and its production to industrial consumers in the battery, electronic, construction, automotive, steel, energy, and oil industries. It also provides financing, logistics, and other services to producers and consumers of commodities. The company was formerly known as Glencore Xstrata plc and changed its name to Glencore plc in May 2014. Glencore plc was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in Baar, Switzerland. Read More Randgold Resources Limited is engaged in gold mining, exploration and related activities. The Company's activities are focused on West and Central Africa. The Company operates through the gold mining segment. The Company operates various mines, such as Morila, Loulo, Gounkoto, Tongon and Kibali. The Company is exploring in African countries, such as Mali, Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Company also holds an interest in the Massawa project. The Company holds Morila Limited, which holds interests in the Morila mine in Mali. As of December 31, 2016, Morila mine has produced 122,370 ounces (oz) of gold. The Company holds a controlling interest in the Loulo mine, located in Mali, through Societe des Mines de Loulo SA (Loulo). The Loulo mine is mining from over two underground mines. As of December 31, 2016, Loulo mine has produced 350,604 oz of gold. It has a controlling interest in the Gounkoto mine through Societe des Mines de Gounkoto SA. Read More Oshkosh Corp. engages in the design, manufacture, and market of specialty vehicles and vehicle bodies. It operates through the following segments: Access Equipment, Defense, Fire & Emergency, and Commercial. The Access Equipment segment consists of JerrDan and JLG, which manufactures aerial work platforms; and telehandlers that are used in construction, industrial, institutional, and general maintenance applications to position workers and materials at elevated heights. The Defense segment produces tactical wheeled vehicles; and supply parts and services for the United States military and other militaries around the world. The Fire and Emergency segment sells commercial and custom fire vehicles; simulators and emergency vehicles primarily for fire departments, airports and other governmental units; and broadcast vehicles for broadcasters and television stations. The Commercial segment includes McNeilus, CON-E-CO, London, Iowa Mold Tooling Co., Inc (IMT), and Oshkosh Commercial. The company was founded in 1917 and is headquartered in Oshkosh, WI. Read More Sasol Ltd. is a holding company. The firm engages in the provision of liquid fuels, chemicals, and low-carbon electricity. It operates through following segments: Mining, Exploration and Production International, Energy, Base Chemicals, Performance Chemicals, and Group Functions. The Mining segment secures coal feedstock for the Southern African value chain, mainly for gasification, but also to generate electricity and steam. The Exploration and Production International segment develops and manages oil and gas exploration and production in Mozambique, South Africa, Canada, and Gabon. The Base Chemicals segment involves the marketing of commodity chemicals based on the group's upstream Fischer-Tropsch, ethylene, propylene and ammonia value chains. The Performance Chemicals segment markets commodity and differentiated performance chemicals. The Energy segment sells and markets liquid fuels, pipeline gas, and electricity. The Group Functions segment includes the head office and centralised treasury operations. The company was founded in 1950 and is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa. Read More Total Energy Services Inc. provides various products and services to the oil and natural gas industry primarily in Canada, the United States, and Australia. It operates through four segments: Contract Drilling Services, Rentals and Transportation Services, Compression and Process Services and Well Servicing. The Contract Drilling Services segment offers contract drilling services to oil and gas exploration and development companies. As of December 31, 2020, it operated a total fleet of 98 drilling rigs. The Rentals and Transportation Services segment provides drilling, completion and production rental equipment, and oilfield transportation services in western Canada and in the United States. This segment owned and operated a fleet of 87 heavy trucks. The Compression and Process Services segment offers gas compression services; and designs and packages skid style compressors and proprietary trailer-mounted compressors under the NOMAD brand in Canada and the United States, the European Union, Australia, and Mexico. It had 54,800 horsepower of compression in its rental fleet. The Well Servicing segment offers well services. This segment operated a total fleet of 83 well servicing rigs across Western Canada, mid-western United States, and Australia. It has a strategic alliance with Pason Systems Inc. to develop and deploy drilling automation and optimization technologies. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Read More The police in Lagos have dismissed two Sergeants and a Corporal attached to Amukoko Division for reckless use of firearms. Loading... Sergeants Saturday Osaseri (25759), Segun Okun (359075) and Corporal Adekunle Oluwarotimi (496833) were dismissed after an orderly room trial convicted of breaching the Nigeria Police rules of engagement. According to police spokesman, Chike Oti, a Superintendent (SP), the dismissed Non-commissioned Officers (NCOs) committed the offence on January 11, at about 9:30pm at Ifelodun Street, Amukoko. Oti said they disproportionately responded with bullets fired from their weapons at some youths alleged to have hurled stones, sticks and bottles at them. He said the actions of the dismissed NCOs led to the death of one of the youths, while another was injured. Oti said: They were arrested, detained and tried immediately on the orders of the Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi. The guilty verdict was passed on them by the adjudicating officer who considered that the officers did not appreciate the situation critically and ought not to have applied maximum force on the unruly youths.a The officers would be charged to court next week, while a duplicate copy of the casefile would be sent to the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice. Sequel to the above occurrence, the Commissioner of Police has directed all Area Commanders and DPOs in the state to warn their men against misapplication of force. He further warned that officers must abide by the Rules of Engagement (ROE) as stipulated in Force Order 237. New Delhi: As an open rebellion broke out in the judiciary with four top Supreme Court judges levelling charges against the Chief Justice of India, the Opposition parties moved swiftly and are likely to move a symbolic impeachment motion against CJI Dipak Misra in the Rajya Sabha. The government, however, kept a safe distance and made it clear that it would not intervene in the matter. Officially, the Congress, Trinamul Congress and the Left all said the matter should be looked into, terming the charges levelled by the four judges as grave in nature. Sources said the Opposition parties are in touch with each other to explore the option of moving a motion of impeachment in the Rajya Sabha against CJI Misra. Any such motion will be symbolic in nature as the Opposition doesnt have the two-thirds strength required for it to be passed. Also, the Opposition can move this motion in the Upper House only as it requires the signatures of only 50 members there, as against those of 100 members in the Lok Sabha. The Congress demanded a probe, saying: What happened today was unprecedented and needs to be looked into. Lending weight to the importance of the matter, a press conference was addressed by Congress president Rahul Gandhi, where he said the points that have been raised by the four Supreme Court judges were extremely important. He said: They have mentioned that there is a threat to democracy. I think it is extremely serious and needs to be looked into carefully. Interestingly, it was the first time that the Congress had raised the matter of allegations about the mysterious death of CBI judge B.H. Loya, who was hearing the Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case. Gandhi said: They (the four judges) have also made a point about judge Loyas case. I think that also needs to be investigated properly. It needs to be examined at the highest level of the honourable Supreme Court. This type of thing has never happened before. It is unprecedented and I think all citizens who love the idea of justice... are looking at this issue closely, and I think it is important to be addressed. The steady increase in imports from countries such as Vietnam, which has emerged as the leading producer, also prompted the decision. Kochi: The black pepper exporters, mainly concentrated in Kerala, are up in arms against the Union government fixing the minimum import price (MIP) of Rs 500 per kg. Prakash Namboodiri, president of the All India Spices Exporters Forum, said the decision would only help drive away companies engaged in the export of value-added pepper and oleoresins to set up their business to countries such as Vietnam, offering the commodity at a much lower price. Kerala is known as the global capital of pepper oleoresins, pepper oil and powdered and grounded pepper. The industry needed to get pepper at globally competitive rates for the survival, he told DC. The Union government decided to impose minimum import price to shore up the domestic price falling for the past few months. The average price of pepper was hovering in the range of Rs 650-700 per kg in the past three years compared with the current levels of Rs 439 per kg. The steady increase in imports from countries such as Vietnam, which has emerged as the leading producer, also prompted the decision. According to the Spices Board data, the import of the black pepper in 2016-17 (Apr-Mar) was higher than the export from the country. The import totalled 20,265 tonnes as against the export of 17,500 tonnes. The data for the past five years show that except for 2015-16, export and import of the commodity remained mostly at the same levels. New Delhi: Amidst indication that the Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra is likely to meet the four rebel Judges J. Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B Lokur and Kurian Joseph on Monday to settle the differences, the Bar Council of India (BCI) has formed a seven-member delegation which will attempt to resolve the issue. On senior advocate Dushyant Dave criticizing the CJI, the Chairperson said, Mr. Dave might be a famous lawyer for you. He is not a famous lawyer for the Bar Council. There are some lawyers who are creating a nuisance. Meanwhile, sources said that the meeting of the CJI with four judges is possible only on Sunday as except Justice Chelameswar, the other three judges are out of station and they are expected to return to the capital tomorrow to attend the meeting. However, one of the four judges told this newspaper so far nothing has been told to any one of us. On Saturday morning, Attorney General K.K. Venugopal told a television channel that by Monday morning litigants and lawyers would see unity among the Supreme Court judges as a solution would be found by then. He said the matter would be settled in the larger interest of the institution. He was of the view that the top judges are persons of wisdom, statesmanship and experience and they would not allow the issue to escalate. In Kolkata, Justice Gogoi on the sidelines of a meeting told the media that there was no crisis. He however, refused to comment on the question whether the revolt amounted to indiscipline. Meanwhile, the visit of Nirpendra Misra, Prime Ministers principal secretary to the residence of CJI Dipak Misra raised speculation about the purpose of the meeting. However, sources said he had gone to meet the CJI to wish him for New Year and also the CJI shifting to the official residence in Krishna Memon Marg but he could not meet the CJI, as the CJI was busy in his morning schedule. Latching onto media reports that he visited the CJIs residence, the Congress said the Prime Minister Narendra Modi must answer as to why a special messenger was sent to meet the CJI. On Friday, the four judges said they were forced to hold the press conference because a letter they had sent to the CJI two months ago pointing out mistakes had gone unanswered. New Delhi: Bar Council of India delegation on Sunday met Justice Chelameswar. One of the member said, "they will react after meeting Chief Justice of India and the other three dissenting judges in the evening" Amidst indication that the Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra is likely to meet the four rebel JudgesJ Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B Lokur and Kurian Josephon Monday to settle the differences, the Bar Council of India (BCI) has formed a seven-member delegation which will attempt to resolve the issue. Talking to the media BCI Chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra said "We have unanimously decided to form a 7-member delegation of the Council who will meet honourable judges of the Supreme Court. We want that the matter be solved at the earliest. We have got appointment from 23 judges. We want this matter to be solved earliest. Expressing his anguish over the turn of events, Mishra said We have given an opportunity to Congress President Rahul Gandhi and other political parties to comment on the judiciary. This is extremely dangerous. We Request the political class to refrain from commenting on this issue. We do not want the judiciary's image to be tarnished. People have unflinching faith in the judiciary. On the differences in finalising the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) relating to judges appointment, Mishra said "MoP must be finalized at the earliest. Judges have been appointed through collegium. This is not an issue that must be taken to the public. We request the judges not to give an opportunity for such an incident to occur again. On senior advocate Dushyant Dave criticizing the CJI, the Chairperson said Mr. Dave might be a famous lawyer for you. He is not a famous lawyer for the Bar Council. There are some lawyers who are creating a nuisance. However, one of the four judges told this newspaper so far nothing has been told to any one of us. Earlier on Saturday, the Attorney General KK Venugopal told a television channel that by Monday morning litigants and lawyers would see unity among the Supreme Court judges as a solution would be found by then. He said the matter would be settled in the larger interest of the institution. Read the text of letter given by 4 top judges of SC to CJI He was of the view that the top judges are persons of wisdom, statesmanship and experience and they would not allow the issue to escalate. In Kolkata, Justice Gogoi on the sidelines of a meeting told the media that there was no crisis. He however, refused to comment on the question whether the revolt amounted to indiscipline. At Kochi Justice Kurian Joseph expressed confidence that the issues raised by them would be resolved. Justice Joseph maintained that the four judges acted solely in the interest of judiciary and justice. He rejected suggestions that they had violated the disciplined and hoped that their action would bring in more transparency in the administration of Supreme Court. An issue that has come to the attention of everyone would certainly be resolved, Justice Joseph said adding that the judges had acted only to "enhance the trust of the people in judiciary." Meanwhile the visit of Nirupendra Mishra, Prime Ministers Principal Secretary to the residence of CJI Dipak Misra raised speculation about the purpose of the meeting. However, sources said he had gone to meet the CJI to wish him for New Year and also the CJI shifting to the official residence in Krishna Memon Marg but he could not meet the CJI, as the CJI was busy in his morning schedule. Latching onto media reports that he visited the CJIs residence, the Congress said the Prime Minister Narendra Modi must answer as to why a "special messenger" was sent to meet the CJI. On Friday the four judges said they were forced to hold the press conference because a letter they had sent to the CJI two months ago pointing out mistakes had gone unanswered. "We tried to persuade the CJI that certain things are not in order. Unfortunately, the efforts failed. We are convinced that unless corrective steps are taken immediately, the judiciary will lose its strong and independent tag, which is an essential hallmark of democracy, they had said. Later on Saturday evening, the Supreme Court Bar Association at an emergent meeting to discuss Friday's developments, unanimously passed two resolutions which they will send to the CJI. It said the differences including on roster or MoP which are reflected in the newspapers are of grave concern and should be immediately considered by the Full Court of the Supreme Court. The second resolution in order to restore the credibility of the institution, a system should be introduced wherein all PILs should not go beyond the first five judges of the SC collegium," said Vikas Singh, president of the Supreme Court Bar Association. He declined to spell out the stand on Loya's death probe case. We feel that the situation is of grave consequences for the future of the court and must be resolved, he added. Bengaluru/Panaji: The war of words between Karnataka and neighbouring BJP ruled Goa over the Mahadayi river water sharing dispute, has worsened with Goa planning to file a contempt petition before the Supreme Court and the Mahadeyi Water Dispute Tribunal against Karnataka for allegedly resuming work on a canal at Kankumbi on a Mahadeyi tributary "in violation" of the apex court order. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah termed as 'reprehensible,' the alleged abusive words used by Goa water resources Minister Vinod Palyekar against Kannadigas, a charge dismissed by the latter. Palyekar had reportedly used the abusive words on Saturday when he visited the site where Karnataka is allegedly constructing a canal. "The abusive words used against #Kannadigas by @BJP4India Irrigation Minister from Goa are reprehensible to say the least. However we hold no grudge against the people of Goa. We will continue to strive to secure drinking water from #Mahadayi for our people," Siddaramaiah said in a tweet. Last year, the apex court had ordered Karnataka to stop work on the construction of the canal at Kankumbi, which was aimed at diverting water from the Mahadeyi tributary. Goa now claims they have photographic evidence to prove that the work has begun. The Goa Chief Secretary Dharmendra Sharma has written to his Karnataka counterpart over the ongoing work on the tributary, which he said was in violation of the Supreme Court order. Karnataka, which has locked horns with Goa on sharing Mahadayi water, is seeking release of 7.56 tmcft water for the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project. This project is being undertaken to improve drinking water supply to the twin cities of Hubballi-Dharwad and districts of Belagavi and Gadag. Goa to file contempt plea Goa Water Resources Department Minister Vinod Palyekar said here on Sunday that the state would file the contempt petition in the first week of February. Last year, the apex court had ordered Karnataka to stop work on the construction of the canal at Kankumbi, which was aimed at diverting water from the Mahadayi tributary. Goa has claimed that they have photographic evidence to prove that the work has begun. The ongoing case before the tribunal would be heard again in the first week of February during which we will file contempt petition before it (tribunal). Similar petition will also be filed before the Supreme Court, Palyekar said. Goa Chief Secretary Dharmendra Sharma has written to his Karnataka counterpart over the ongoing work on the river tributary canal at Kankumbi, which he said was in violation of the Supreme Court order. Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday told PTI that the chief secretary had written a letter to his Karnataka counterpart pointing out to the violations of the SC directives by resumption of the work on a canal at the Mahadayi tributary (at Kankumbi village). Tucked away in the centre of Karnataka adjoining Andhra Pradesh, dry and dusty Ballari was at the centrestage of Karnataka politics in 2013 when a spree of mining scams and the complicity of the mighty Reddy brothers, swept the BJP out of power. With just nine Assembly seats, Ballari may be nowhere near Bengaluru (28 seats) in political clout, but it was the district which gave Siddaramaiah the leverage to lead the Congress to a comfortable majority in the State Assembly, after an explosive report on illegal mining by Justice Santosh Hegde wrecked any prospects the BJP had of returning to power. Adding to the BJPs woes was a three-way split with veteran B.S. Yeddyurapa walking out to form his own outfit and Ballari MP B. Sriramulu ploughing a lonely furrow. Five years have gone by and today, the political scene in Ballari wears a different look. Not that the BJP is anywhere near regaining its original clout with the recent Parivarthana Yatra led by party chief B.S. Yeddyurappa, evoking a lacklustre response here. As Congressmen gear up for the visit of their national president Rahul Gandhi to this ore rich district on January 27 to address a Scheduled Tribe rally at Hosapete, Shivakumar G. Malagi examines the emerging trends in Ballari where the political equations are changing fast. For the Congress, winning Ballari again is a matter of enormous prestige and they have enough plus factors in their favour this time. In the ST community dominated district, five assembly seats are reserved for STs and two each for the SCs and general category. The only stumbling block they may face again is the clout of Ballari MP and BJP strongman B. Sriramulu, who made Yeddyurappa boast aloud that the Valmiki community leader would win by one lakh voters if Rahul Gandhi fought him in the Ballari seat. Not that Rahul can fight from Ballari a ST reserved seat but it was enough to remind Congressmen that Ballari will not be a walkover like in 1999 when his mother Sonia Gandhi trounced Sushma Swaraj in the Lok Sabha election. Member of Legislative Assembly So what makes Ballari hot and exciting for political pundits? Ironically, the same politicos are in play again this time- former BJP minister Gali Janardhan Reddy and BJP MLAs, B.S. Anand Singh, T.H. Suresh Babu and B Nagendra. All of them went behind bars after a CBI investigation indicted them in the mining scam. The Congress rode back to power after Siddaramaiah led a 320-km long padayatra from Bengaluru to Ballari to garner peoples' support against the scam tainted BJP leaders. And these leaders with the exception of Janardhan Reddy, are cosying up to the Congress this time- maybe wary of their prospects at the hustings with the popular mood a bit too hazy to gauge. With the polls just four months away, all eyes are on the wealthy Janardhan Reddy, who despite the scams and scams he has been accused of, is angling for an Assembly ticket. The world knows that it was Janardhan Reddy who orchestrated the 'Hyderabad coup' in 2009 to dethrone Mr Yeddyurappa from the CM post, despite being a minister in his cabinet. Fifty one-year old Mr Reddy is now out on bail and is prohibited from staying in Ballari by the apex court. He has made no secret of his ambition to contest the polls, but the BJP leadership, wary of the impact of allowing a tainted politician a ticket, has preferred to maintain a stoic silence on this. Reports say Reddy is using the good offices of his confidante Sriramulu to secure a ticket. There is no doubting the sway Reddy wields in Ballari along with Sriramulu and his brothers, Somashekhar Reddy and Karunakar Reddy. Its almost decided that Somashekhar Reddy will contest from Ballari City, presently held by minelord Anil Lad of the Congress while former minister Gali Karunakar Reddy is gearing up to contest on a BJP ticket from Harapanahalli in neighbouring Davanagere. But what has left the BJPs poll managers jittery is the likely exit of Kudligi MLA B. Nagendra who is set to join the Congress and contest from Ballari(ST) constituency, the home turf of Sriramulu. Nagendra, a popular ST community leader, has reportedly been assured his choice of candidates in Kudligi and Kampli, both reserved for the ST community. He is expected to join the Congress in the presence of Rahul Gandhi in Hosapete on January 27. Coming to Hosapete, the local MLA and minelord B.S. Anand Singh too is on the brink of quitting the BJP and skipped the Yeddyurappa led Karnataka Parivartana rally, held recently in his hometown to express his anger against a section of leaders. Sources said Mr Singh, born to a Muslim mother and Rajput father, is facing opposition from Sangh Parivar leaders for his alleged appeasement of the Muslim community in his constituency. Despite the party's diktat against participating in Tipu Jayanthi, he did take part and is also averse to making Hosapete, where the world heritage site, Hampi is located, into a hotbed of Hindutva politics. It is speculated that if the BJP ignores him during candidate selection, he may contest as an Independent. In fact, Anand Singh has already displayed his clout by making sure there were empty seats at Yeddyurappas much touted Parivarthana Yatra in his constituency which evoked critical remarks from the BJP top brass. All is not rosy for the Congress party either. I dont know how the Congress, particularly Siddaramaiah, will justify the entry of mining tainted Nagendra into the party. It was he, along with another Reddy associate, Kampli MLA Suresh Babu who challenged Siddaramaiah in July 2010-when he was leader of the opposition to come to Ballari during an assembly ruckus, said a senior Congress leader from Ballari. Adding to the Congress discomfort are the differences between Ballari City Congress MLA Anil Lad and his cousin and district in-charge minister Santosh Lad. Labour welfare minister Mr Santosh, who won from Kalghatagi constituency in Dharwad district, was made minister in charge of Ballari much to the disappointment of his cousin Anil. The Lad brothers, who had lost all their iron ore mining fields in the district for alleged irregularities after the Supreme Court intervened, are now vying with each other to take control of the party. With Santosh considered close to Siddaramaiah, it is being speculated that Anil Lad may be denied ticket to contest from Ballari City which may go to Santosh or granite baron and former MLA Surya Narayana Reddy. Anil has sharply reacted to the rumours remarking that he is not a bewarsi (someone sans parents) and three political parties have offered the ticket to him. Yet another Congress heavyweight, K.C. Kondaiah, may also prove to be a game changer in the election if the high command denies him his due in party affairs. Kondaiah is reportedly upset with minister Santosh Lad as he was not taken into confidence on many issues. It is Kondaiah who worked out a strategy for the Congress to take on BJP leaders on the illegal mining scam. He has been ignored after the party came to power ", said a party source adding that Kondaiah is connected with grassroot party workers and could influence the course of the elections. He too is a strong contender for the Ballari City assembly seat. For the JD(S), the only hope is mining baron Mohammed Iqbal Hothur who is likely to join the party and contest from Ballari City. Mr Iqbal, hailing from a family of Congress loyalists, is upset with party leaders and has already expressed his decision to quit the Congress. Recently, JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda had visited his residence and asked him to take control of party affairs. The JD(S) had won one of the nine seats in the district in 2013. The Assembly polls are still a good four months away and the scenario may drastically change in the days to come depending on the strategy the ruling Congress and BJP adopt. Its not going to be a cakewalk for the Congress or the BJP either in any of the seats with the scams now a distant memory and no overbearing political factor likely to weigh on the minds of voters this time. But the empty seats at Yeddyurappas rally and the fact that Rahul Gandhi has chosen Ballari to send out a message ahead of the polls, is enough to prove that the Congress is riding high on hope even as the BJP strains every sinew to regain its former fortress. The official spokesman of the ministry of external affairs does not have an easy job, and I should know because I have done that job myself when I was in the Indian Foreign Service. He or she has to often try and convincingly explain foreign policy decisions that are ab initio inexplicable. On December 26, 2017, national security adviser Ajit Doval and his Pakistani counterpart Lt. Gen. Nasser Khan Janjua (retd) met at an undisclosed destination in Bangkok, as part of, what was described as operational level talks. Not surprisingly, Raveesh Kumar, the spokesman, was asked about this meeting, and how it had taken place when we have publicly said that terror and talks cannot go together. It was not an easy question to answer, and certainly, Mr Kumar was not the maker of the policy that had put him in this predicament. His response, however, took the diplomatic cake as far as words without meanings go: We have said terror and talks cannot go together, he pronounced, but talks on terror can definitely go ahead. This statement must rank as a classic of self-contradictory assertion. It accepted that talks will not be resumed so long as terrorism from across the border ceases. But simultaneously, it asserted that talks can happen on the issue of terrorism. Since terrorism is the reason why we put talks with Pakistan on hold, what does a statement mean when it says that terrorism will be the reason why talks can definitely go ahead? Since I am reluctant to attribute a complete lack of strategic clarity to the MEA, I am inclined to believe that the statement it put out represents one of the best examples of the philosophical ambivalence of Hindu metaphysics, wherein empirical reality exists as maya at one level, and does not at another level wherein all is subsumed in the attribute-less omnipresence of Brahman. What appears as real is unreal; what appears to be unreal is actually the real. The universe is a conjurers play, where contradictions that seem to exist are an invention of the mind. All binaries are false and all binaries are true. Everything depends on the vision of the observer; negation is assertion, and assertion is negation. Opposites are subsumed in a larger unity, known only to the one who knows, but opaque to the mundane world. In such a philosophical vision, talks with Pakistan do not happen even when they happen, and happen even when the official policy remains that they cannot happen! Or, perhaps, our foreign office has borrowed the sublime notion of syadavada of Jain philosophy. In support of such a carefully thought-out doctrine of relativity, Jainism cites the parable of seven blind men examining an elephant, and depending on what part they are in touch with, arriving at a different conclusion of what it is. At a philosophical level this revolt against absolutism is enshrined in the saptabhangi or seven step theory whose purpose is to establish that only a singular assertion of reality can be deceptive. The seven possibilities are: maybe it is; maybe it is not; maybe, it is, and it is not; maybe it is inexpressible; maybe, it is and is inexpressible; maybe, it is not and is inexpressible; maybe, it is and is not and is inexpressible. Jainism formulated this remarkable doctrine to counter dogmatism. Our foreign office seems to have adopted it to hide the complete absence of strategic clarity. The saptabhangi for our foreign policy with Pakistan is: talks with Pakistan cannot happen; talks with Pakistan can happen; talks with Pakistan cannot happen unless Pakistan agrees to stop its sponsorship of terrorism; talks with Pakistan can happen because Pakistan will not stop its sponsorship of terrorism; if NSAs of the two countries arguably the most influential interlocutors from either side meet, they met, but talks did not happen; if talks did not happen, then presumably they visited Bangkok coincidentally at the same time to take a respite from the cold of Delhi and Islamabad; talks, until terrorism stops have no meaning, but NSAs can meet to see if talks can have meaning. The fact of the matter is that our foreign policy with Pakistan is replete with unpardonable contradictions, and zig-zags in policy formulations that would leave even our most insightful metaphysicians stumped. The reason for this is the absence of strategic policy, and a resort to a never-ending series of ad hoc steps. If we need to review our earlier policy of suspending the formal dialogue process with Pakistan, we should do so in a carefully calibrated manner. Engagement has its own dividends, provided it is carried out in a way that is anticipated and planned for. On the other hand, if our policy remains one of no talks unless Pakistan sponsored terrorism ceases or at least reduces then talks without talks in the manner in which our NSAs met in Bangkok makes a mockery of that decision. While the US can play a key role in putting pressure on Pakistan on its nexus with terrorism, a country of the prowess and size of India cannot expect others to do for it what it refuses to do itself. It appears that the only policy we have to our western neighbour is the absence of policy, both in the short and mid-term, and to lurch along from one event to another, alternating mindless bravado at one level and surreptitious talks at another. Can we expect our foreign office to devise a strategic framework to deal with Pakistan, taking into account its internal situation, the level of ceasefire violations, the need for engagement, the importance of people-to-people contacts, the value of humanitarian gestures, the geo-political imperatives, including the role of China, and developments in Afghanistan, while retaining a firm riposte to Pakistan sponsored terrorism? Given our track record thus far, it seems a tall order. Until then, our hapless foreign office spokesman will have no option but to forget foreign policy and adopt the wondrous ambivalences of philosophy. Houston: The Indian-American foster father of Sherin Mathews, a 3-year-old Indian girl whose body was found in a culvert near their suburban Dallas home in mysterious circumstances last October, was on Saturday indicted for capital murder by a grand jury. The murder charge, which could carry the death penalty, was filed against Wesley Mathews, 37, after an autopsy in the death of the toddler adopted from an orphanage in Bihar showed that she died of homicidal violence. Sherins foster mother, 35-year-old Sini Mathews, was also indicted on a charge of abandoning a child. The punishment for that ranges from two to 20 years in prison with a fine up to $10,000. Authorities have not said what happened to Sherin, and court documents only allege that Mathews caused his daughters death using a deadly weapon by a manner and means unknown to the grand jury. We cant go into details, but based on that autopsy report, we were able to determine that we can seek capital murder for this case, Dallas County District Attorney Faith Johnson said at a news conference announcing the indictment. Dallas County court records show Sherins adoptive father also faces charges of abandoning a child and tampering with evidence. The fate of the couples 4-year-old biological daughter is still being decided with another child protective services (CPS) hearing scheduled for the end of this month. They can either forfeit their parental rights, or the court will decide to schedule a civil trial to possibly terminate their rights. Last month, the couple, hailing from Kerala, temporarily lost their rights to see their biological child, who has been placed with a family member in the Houston area. Sherin went missing from her home in Richa-rdson on October 7 and her body was found on October 22 in a culvert in suburban Dallas by a cadaver dog after an intense search. The toddlers body was identified days later using her dental records. Initially, Wesley told police that he put her outside their home at 3 am to discipline her for not drinking her milk. His story changed after her body was found in a culvert, telling police that he physically assisted with pouring the milk down Sherins throat and then moved her body after he realised she had choked and died. Wesley also admitted to police that he removed Sherins body from the home after changing his story multiple times on the events leading up to her death. Wesley and his wife Sini also left Sherin home alone the night before her disappearance, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. Dallas County District Attorney Faith Johnson thanked Richardson Police Department for its work on the Sherin case. She also hailed India's ConsulGeneral in Houston Anupam Ray for his assistance in the case. ...I also want to thank the Consul General of India, Anupam Ray, for his assistance as we move forward. Sadly, Sherin appears to be one of the many abused and neglected children in Texas. We are committed to continue our diligent and steadfast efforts to seek justice on their behalf, Johnson said. The DA said its now up to law enforcement to find justice for Sherin. Both Consul General Anupam Ray and and deputy Consul Surendra Adhana were personally present at Dallas County courts when the indictments were announced by District Attorney Johnson. Trial dates will be decided by a Judge. 5 Bollywood Remakes Of Popular Films That Will Release in 2018! 2018 looks like a promising year for Bollywood. In fact, from the face of it, this year will have a number of different genres of film geared up for release. In fact, all the major stars of Bollywood has at least one release this year. The year will be high on sequels. In fact, as many as 12 sequels are already lined up for release this year. Also, there will be as many as 15 newbies who will make their debut in Bollywood in 2018. But, we believe that the year will also turn remarkable for the number of remakes that are to release. Yes. many popular films of other industries will be remade this year. Here is a list of 5 Bollywood remakes that will make it big in 2018: 1. Hichki While the film cannot be called an out an out remake, but a major chunk of the film has been inspired from Front Of The Class. This Hollywood film was based on the novel of the same name and it is based on a true story. Hitchki will mark the second comeback of actress Rani Mukherji and it will release on 23rd February! 2. Fanne Khan The Anil Kapoor and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan starrer film, that is all set for Eid release this year is the official remake of a Belgian film called Everybody's Famous that released in 2000! In Fact, the film had also been nominated for Oscars. 3. Dhadak This film, that will act as the launchpad for two celeb kids- Ishaan Khattar and Jhanvi Kapoor- is the remake of Nagraj Manjule's critically acclaimed film, Sairat. 4. Rambo As the name suggests, this film that will have Tiger Shroff in the lead is a remake of Sylvester Stalone's Rambo! 5. Simmba The Rohit Shetty film that will have Ranveer Singh in a quirky avatar, is the remake of the hit south film, Temper. The film is scheduled for a 28th December release. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider subscribing to our ePaper and/or free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. The Sunday Independent Rich List 2018 has been published today, and it reveals a Dundalk man is one of the top five wealthiest in the country. Dr. Pearse Lyons, founder and president of American animal nutrition business Alltech, who was born and raised in Dundalk, is fifth on this years rich list along with his family. The familys total wealth, according to the Sunday Independent Rich List is estimated to be 3.5 billion. Born and raised in Dundalk, Dr Lyons graduated with a first class honours degree in Biochemistry. While at college, he worked in Harp Lager in Dundalk and later graduated with a Master of Science in Brewing Science, from the British School of Malting and Brewing (now the School of Biochemistry), University of Birmingham in 1968. He received a PhD in Biochemistry in 1971. Dr Lyons' work led him to Kentucky in 1976, where in 1980 he founded scientific research company Alltech with the aim of improving the health and performance of people, animals and plants. While Alltech is an American company, Dr. Lyons recognises his drive and passion to succeed began at home in Ireland. Speaking last year, when he was awarded the St Patricks Day medal by the Taoiseach to recognise his contribution to science, Dr Lyons had this to say: "While my business is global, my passion for biochemistry and entrepreneurship started at home in Ireland. "As a company, we still have very close links to Ireland with one of our three biosciences research centres based in Dunboyne, Co Meath. Science and technology play a very important part in my company's success and all of the Alltech team work to innovate every day. "We strive to put scientific research at the core of our business and to use that research to drive our success at home and abroad." As part of their celebration of over 25 years at the vanguard of the Irish Indie scene, Dublin band The Pale return to Dundalk this spring for an appearance at the Spirit Store on Friday 9 March. The band are about to embark on a nationwide tour to revisit classic songs, as well as showcasing brand new material and choice cuts from their dozen independently released albums. Released in 1992 on A&M Records, the band's debut album 'Here's One We Made Earlier' marked the emergence of one of the Irish indie scene's most innovative and creative acts. Journalists and A&R executives struggled with descriptions and superlatives, wrapping their tongues around comparisons to Tom Waits, Les Voix Bulgares, Primus, Brecht, Madness, Europop, Jacque Brel, Talking Heads and the even the Sex Pistols. The album mixed a range of influences from classic Indie, Eastern European folk, Ska and classic torch songs, while at the same time sounding utterly unique. At the heart of the group is the vocal acrobatics of Matthew Devereux, coupled with the ethno-punk stunt-mandolin of Shane Wearen. Parting ways with A&M records in the mid-1990s, the band began a journey that would take them well off the beaten track. Briefly changing their name to Produkt, becoming the house-band for an alternative circus and gigging in then uncharted territories of Eastern Europe and Russia. Over two decades they released 10 albums independently, including an impressive four album run on the respected 1969 Records. The evolution of The Pale has seen the group swell to a five piece, with David O'Shea on guitar and keyboards, Gavin O'Brien on Bass and Aidan O'Grady on Drums. The band's live reputation is hard earned, with sets taking in dozens of songs across a myriad of genres - all delivered with lyrical prowess and a musical dexterity. Anyone who witnessed the blistering set at last year's Electric Picnic, which attracted one of the biggest crowds the Salty Dog stage has ever seen, will have an idea what to expect: Expertly crafted songs delivered with an energy and musical accomplishment that is second to none. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Europe was plunged into the Dark Ages. It might have fallen further had it not been for the epic efforts of a band of Irish monks. Take a walk through the vast courtyard of St Gallen Abbey. The stone church towers stretch 68 metres into the sky, cliches of clanging bells sound out, a scent of hot waffle drifts from an old cafe. A few bemused Asian tourists stroll around. Its difficult to imagine things were ever otherwise. But the history of the Abbeyand of founding father Gallusis one of constant change. Enzo Farinelli, a Dublin-based Italian scholar, says it is also an inspirational story, one that needs to be retold for a modern and troubled Europe. He recently did so with a book about the impact of Irish monks on Swiss history (On the Summits of the Highest Love). Hibernian roots It all begins in Ireland, he writes. 590 AD. Cold, wet, bogged, forested. A period of history dangling between Romans and Renaissance, under the gathering clouds of the Dark Ages. Pagan tribes competing for influence on this small island on the edge of the known world. Pious bands of monks are scattered through the country. Vows of silence, seclusion. Sheltering from savage Viking raids in purpose-built round towers. They spread along the coasts, fusing early Christianity with liberal traditions of Antiquity, developing a culture that will turn the island into a beacon for dark times. The island cant contain them. They want to spread further, to take the word to the continent. Peregrinatio Pro Christo. Long before the waves of forced exiles from a hungry nation, they go with Gods purpose. A group of thirteen, led by Columbanus and his closest disciple Gallus, board a wooden ship, sail out into the Irish sea. Quickly across Britain. Two decades in the northern territories of France, running skirmishes and conversions with the tribes until expelled by a local king. Go back to your own country, the king says. But they go south. Down the Moselle, along the Vosges, across the Rhine, glimpse the Alps, arrive at Lake Zurich. The idea of Switzerland wont be born for another four centuries. They find a mish-mash of tribes, German and Romansch dialects, heathen practices, a land for grabs after Romes downfall. Charismatic Columbanus woos some locals, scares off others. His twelve followers convert, teach, travel, found monasteries. Miracles are performed. Again a jealous ruler expels them, the vicious Queen Brunhildis. Columbanus continues south, crosses the Alps. 610 AD. Rome, Lucca, Firenze, Bobbio, the most important monastic settlement in early Europe. Founds a famous library, saves copies of Cicero and Virgil from oblivion. Writes of Europe as a common cultural entity, the first on record to do so. Gallus goes it alone But Gallus? The favourite disciple cant continue. He stays, sick, behind the Alps. Sick, or providentially divined? Farinelli wonders (tongue-in-cheek) if it was one of the mysterious ways by which God guides his people as he likes. Gallus is the perfect missionary, a gifted communicator. He can talk to everyone. Gallus has gall. He reaches the shores of Lake Constance, north-east Switzerland, 612 AD. Trips over a thorn bush. Another accident? This is where I will found my monastic cell! he declares. He tames a bear, fishes a waterfall, recovers health. He gathers followers, prays, writes, teaches. Patiently. The monastery grows. His reputation grows. Monks travel from far and wide to learn from him. He is asked to become bishop of the burgeoning monastery. He is asked to become abbot of Luxeuil in France, Columbanas old stomping ground. No, he says. He just wants to be a monk. To pray in solitude. So they make him a saint. The monastery grows. Europe sinks further as the power vacuum left by Rome sucks in barbaric tribes and jealous princedoms. Gall dreams that Columbanus has died in Bobbio. He has. Galls legend grows. He founds his own scriptorium in the footsteps of his mentor. A music school will follow. The monastery grows. 645 AD, Gall dies preaching, allegedly 95, a ripe age in these times. The foundations are laid. Two centuries later the abbey is the chief centre of learning and teaching in all Germanic Europe. Already named after its founder. Already attracting illustrious scholars from across the continent. Droves of pilgrimsthe worlds first touristshelp pay the upkeep. The new town of St Gallen spreads around like a lay overcoat. Tensions arise, are smoothed once monies and power are mutually assured. Manuscripts, gospels, the story of Gallus himself, are written in the library by Irish hands. Precious records of a time when learning was scarce, preserved learning scarcer. Surviving modern times 1291, Switzerland is born. The legend of Gallus rolls on. St Gallen remains one of the most important centres of Christianity on the continent. The Dark Ages move towards a close. 1517, Luther pins his theses, the Reformation rears its head, the Catholic abbey is surrounded by a Protestant sea. It fights its corner. Preserves its place, imports ever more riches to the renowned library. The Renaissance arrives, is built upon the classic Christian ideas the Irish monks sought to spread in the first place. Baroque masterpieces by local artists and architects adorn the growing and glowing cathedral. The inner dome (see photo) offers weary locals a glimpse of heaven. 1798, France stages a revolution. Religion falls out of favour. St Gallen sits on the faultline between secular French control and the monarchist Hapsburgs to the east. The French clinch it by a hair. The monastery is shut down, the monks chased out, the abbey secularised. But survives. A boys school is opened. Modern tourists come in waves, from east and west. 1983, UNESCO recognises the indisputable impact of Gallus on the course of European culture. 2012, the abbey celebrates 1,400 years since the visionary Irish monk tripped over his thorny root. Today, 2018, the abbey plans an international exhibition of manuscripts to show the contribution of Irish learning to Christian Europe in the Middle Ages. To show how the monks brought new forms to writing, saved certain areas of learning. But the message is even more than the medium, says Farinella. The monks left Ireland for Europe to rebuild the human aspects of humanity through their teaching. To provide the missing link between classical Europe and the modern Christian entity of today. And so he wrote his book to trace and elucidate [the monks] work, and by doing so, remind our European Union, Switzerland included, of its cultural, historical and religious roots. A big idea. Gallus would be proud. This is the story of an American filmmaker whose interest in Icelandic art grew into a passion for a unique direct democratic process in the Nordic island. Eileen Jerrett doesnt consider herself politically minded. Her career as an independent filmmaker has mostly been fueled by her interests in music, art and coffee. Her 90-minute documentary Blueberry Soup came about five years ago because of her personal curiosity about the Icelandic art scene and how it would reflect the social and political disruptions following the economic collapse of 2008. She flew to Iceland to find out, and what followed was a series of extraordinary accidents. I was by chance exposed to an emerging citizen movement that focused on giving the society a number of opportunities to redefine how they envision the future of the nation, she recalls. The film, which takes its title from a traditional Scandinavian snack, explores how Icelands citizens helped draft the priorities of a new constitution. Jerrett collected some footage of the historic moment, conducted very personal interviews and got hooked by the stories of people directly involved in the constitutional reform process. The media coverage that existed at the time was bleak at best, she says, so she sought to fill the void. That drive and passion for this story is still what fuels me. Crowdfunding and a different approach Jerrett ultimately won praise for her novel way of documentary filmmaking, telling the story exclusively from an Icelandic perspective, using only music, scenery and cultural symbolism from the country. She thinks she was successful because she took a soft approach with the people she interviewed and wasnt dependent on a huge budget and the backing of larger institutions. In the end, I made a film by bartering, multiple small [crowdfunding projects] and a network of friends, family and Icelanders who all believed in the importance of getting this story out there. In the end, I made a film by bartering, multiple small [crowdfunding projects] and a network of friends, family and Icelanders who all believed in the importance of getting this story out there. Interest and interaction When Jerrett, who is American, shared her experience in Iceland with friends and family in the United States and Canada, she was struck by their emotional reactions. I saw something awaken in them as it had in me. It was the spark of hope that democracy can exist, and this living example was alive and growing in Iceland, she says. This had and still has major global resonance. Jerrett started screening the finished the Blueberry Soup film in 2013, primarily in university settings and through grassroots organisations. Some five years later, interest in the subject has not waned. Just when we think we have figured out the audience for this for film, a totally unexpected group reaches out to me. Among them are grassroot organisations in the Netherlands, in Scotland and Greece. Audience interaction, she says, has been a crucial factor in allowing the film to take flight. It helped spawn a collaborative project, called the Red Card Initiative, which lets viewers have their say. Audience members are invited to write a message to Iceland on a red piece of paper. We then take a photo of that message and let it circulate back to the country. Model for others? Jerrett has been amazed to learn that other countries have taken inspiration from Icelands constitutional reform process. For example, Jerretts film has been screened in about a dozen countries, mainly in North America but also in Europe and New Zealand. She has also had a few inquiries for screenings in Switzerland, sometimes referred to as a model for participatory democracy, but says nothing has come to fruition yet. + Find out how Swiss filmmakers view democracy (and more under related stories) But according to Jerrett, some audience members question whether Iceland is a valid example of national reform, since the country has such a small population just 334,000 people. For her part, the filmmaker is continuing her work with Icelandic direct democracy activists, helping to set up an information centre on the constitutional reform process. Her newest film, Forget Me Not, will document the continuing work of reform activists in Iceland. She has no plans to get involved in other countries public initiatives such protests against President Donald Trumps policies in the US. But she does hope her work can serve as inspiration. Im fighting the fights I feel equipped to tackle. My best weapon is to show examples of empowered, innovative, human rights-minded people in other parts of the world and allow their messages to build up those of us who are listening for ways of navigating these insane storms. swissinfo.ch Germany's Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen said on Sunday the war against the Islamic State group is not over, even if the jihadists have been "largely defeated militarily". Von der Leyen was speaking to reporters on her first visit to Jordan where Germany has 280 members of its forces as part of the US-led coalitions battle against IS in Syria and Iraq. The jihadist group has been largely defeated militarily, the German minister said, adding however that the ultra-radical Islamist fighters are not to be underestimated. The battle must continue and IS must not be allowed to retreat into safe havens, she said. In October, Germany redeployed to Jordan military personnel and Tornado surveillance jets after withdrawing them from Turkey amid a dispute with Ankara. Von der Leyen said Germany was now considering reducing the number of its troops in the region. The IS self-proclaimed caliphate that spanned territory the size of Britain in Syria and Iraq was largely defeated last year. Iraq announced the end of the three-year war against IS in December, and across the border in Syria the jihadists have been ousted from most of their strongholds, with only isolated pockets left. Jordan, a key US ally, has used its own air force and allowed US-led coalition forces to use its bases to battle IS in Iraq and Syria. The German defence minister also met Jordans King Abdullah II and army chief of staff Mahmud Abdel Halim Freihat, and handed over two training aircraft and other military vehicles worth around 18 million euros. Germany and Europe have a strong interest in Jordans stability, she said. The royal court said King Abdullah discussed with von der Leyen the importance of intensifying cooperation and coordination among all concerned parties, regionally and internationally to address the threat of terrorism. Germany spent some 130 million euros on defence aid for Jordan last year. This included weapons, equipment and infrastructure, according to the German news agency DPA. After an over half century accession bid, Turkey and the European Union are moving into a new period of relations where tighter cooperation in specific areas will be prioritised over Ankara's drive for full membership, analysts say. Ties between Turkey and the EU reached a low point in 2017 with the membership process grinding to a halt and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accusing some key members, including Germany, of behaviour reminiscent of the Nazis. But Erdogan has begun 2018 in a different spirit, bounding off in the first week of January on a visit to Paris and his foreign minister making a key fence-mending trip to Germany. Meanwhile, EU leaders have urged a new spirit of realism, with French President Emmanuel Macron saying during Erdogans January 5 trip it was time to end the hypocrisy that progress could be made on Turkish membership. There is an understanding on both sides that the accession process is dead and wont go anywhere soon, said Asli Aydintasbas, a fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR). So we are essentially talking about a new format and a more transactional relationship with European member states, she told AFP, adding this would mean more emphasis on trade. Ankara sees this as such and entertains no illusions about revitalising the accession process, she added. Downsizing the relationship The July 2016 failed coup marked a watershed moment in the history of Turkey-EU relations, with Ankara accusing the bloc of failing to show solidarity and Brussels sounding alarm over the mass post-coup crackdown. Erdogan has repeatedly huffed and puffed over the length of Turkeys EU bid, complaining that Ankara has been kept waiting at the door for 50 years as it watched ex-Communist states being let in without fuss. Accession talks began in October 2005. Out of the total of 35 chapters needed to be closed to join the EU, 16 have been opened with just one closed. No new chapter has been opened since financial and budgetary provisions was opened in June 2016. Its clear that we must move away from this hypocrisy of thinking a natural progression towards the opening of new chapters is possible when this is not true, Macron said after his talks with Erdogan. Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva, whose country holds the EU presidency, said Friday it was better to have a realistic discussion with Turkey about membership without hiding the problems. Marc Pierini, a visiting scholar at Carnegie Europe and a former EU ambassador to Turkey, said Ankara by its own choices was no longer meeting the necessary criteria, especially on rule of law, in the wake of the post-coup crackdown. Essentially what we are witnessing now is the downsizing of the relationship from one between political allies to one between partners cooperating in a number of fields such as counter-terrorism, trade and refugees, he told AFP. Hurriyet daily columnist Sedat Ergin wrote Friday Macrons words signalled a paradigm change in Turkeys relationship with the EU which, for the French leader, would now be defined cooperation in pursuit of common goals rather than enlargement. Just a name has not been given to this new format of cooperation, he said. Incentives for Turkey without full membership include visa liberalisation and an upgrading of the existing customs union. But EU Affairs Minister Omer Celik said Ankara would perceive an offer of a so-called privileged partnership as an insult, saying Turkey would never accept a second class status. Warming up to Europe Elsewhere, Turkeys hopes of a strong relationship with US President Donald Trump have been scuppered by rows including the arming of Syrian Kurds and a New York court case. Meanwhile Ankara is aware its current pragmatic partnerships with Turkeys historic Ottoman rivals Iran and Russia are precarious while the rise of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia has reshuffled the cards in the Gulf region. For all the rows of the last year, the EU is still by far Turkeys largest trading partner, while Turkey is the EUs fourth largest export market and fifth largest provider of imports. The meeting between Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel at least changed the mood music in a bumpy relationship, with Berlins top diplomat hosting his guest in his folksy Lower Saxon hometown and treating him to a cup of home-brewed Turkish tea. Gabriel had late December suggested a deal for Britains relationship with the EU after Brexit could be a model for the future relationship of Turkey with the bloc. Turkey is warming up to Europe and there is a deliberate effort from leaders in Ankara to distance themselves from the acerbic language and accusations, said Aydintasbas. French interior minister Gerard Collomb said Sunday that he wanted London to shoulder more of the costs of dealing with migrants hoping to cross to Britain from the port city of Calais. In an interview with Le Parisien daily published Sunday, Collomb said he would push to modify the Touquet accords signed in 2003, which effectively moved Britains border with France to the French side of the Channel. I hope to add a new element to these agreements, and concrete measures regarding the coverage of certain costs by the British and the management of more people, for receiving refugees and unaccompanied minors, he said. His comments come as President Emmanuel Macron is to visit Calais on Tuesday, ahead of a meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May in London on Thursday. Hundreds of migrants are stilled massed near Calais more than a year after the huge so-called Jungle camp was cleared by the authorities in October 2016. Collomb said about 400 people are now in the area, compared with more than 7,000 a year ago, and defended the governments efforts to find shelter and process asylum requests. The ones sleeping outside dont want to present themselves, because they dont want to seek asylum in France, he said. The government said last week that asylum claims hit a record 100,000 in France last year, and Collomb said an additional 85,000 people were refused entry at Frances borders. Its impossible to adequately take in 185,000 people each year: thats a city the size of Rennes, he said, referring to the Breton capital in northwestern France. Sunday, January 14, 2018 Trump Russian Timeline The timeline of events and important facts of the Trump Russia story are often mentioned only once while the media overemphasize other facts. This account features those lesser known facts and assumes many of the media redundant facts. The British spy Dossier points out that Russia tries to cultivate Western businesspeople and had been doing so with Trump for at least five years by 2016. That implies since 2011, two years prior to the Trump Miss Universe selection in Moscow 2013. Then in April May 2015 the CIA noticed an unusually large amount of communication between Trump Tower and Russia before the June 2015 announcement of the Trump presidential run. Rachel Maddow noted on her show that Trump signed a letter of intent to build a Trump Tower in Moscow the morning of the third Republican presidential debate in October 2015. Rachel further noted that Trump was unusually quiet in that debate. The new buzzword is that Trump is a transactional person with no permanent values, always the business deal maker. Truth means nothing to him as he reaches 2000 lies in his first year in office. So, when seasoned politicals would have called the FBI when Russians reached out to his campaign, his operatives all acted opportunistically instead. So, when Papadopoulos reached out to the Russians shortly after the March DNC hackings, he quickly reported to Sam Clovis in April 2016, campaign co-chair, and then leaked the connection to the Australian British ambassador in May. That escalated to the famous June 9th meeting with Donald Trump jr., Paul Manafort, and Jared Kushner and a Russian delegation of five led by a lawyer. Two days before Donald Trump sr. promised new dirt on Hillary in a major speech soon. Experts suggest there is no way Don jr. would not have immediately told Don sr. because that's the way they operate. The quid pro quo of it all is the view of Russia by Trump as a vast market to reach, rather than a traditional enemy of the USA. Then he lets Manafort, who successfully managed a pro-Russian presidential campaign in Ukraine, move to take arming the Ukrainians out of the Republican Platform. Much later, when the Senate votes 98-2 for Russian sanctions on July 27, 2017, Trump signs the bill but does nothing to implement it. The right-wing spin machine has been trying to blame that British former spy dossier for the FBI counterintelligence investigation begun in July 2016. That is incorrect; a foreign policy advisor from the Trump campaign actually leaked the story over drinks with the Australian ambassador to Britain in May 2016, four weeks after his April visit to Russia where he learned of the March 2016 Russian hacking. That Australian ambassador then reported to the US about the Russian hack of Hillary campaign related emails from the DNC. So, at that point it was known that the Russians had illegally hacked the emails for the express purpose of helping the Trump campaign. So, when Trump suggested in July 2016 that the WikiLeaks material might have come from a 400-pound man living in his parents' basement in Ohio, that was a red herring lie. Donald Trump junior was in constant contact with WikiLeaks and knew full well the Russian source of those emails. Diane Feinstein has clobbered the anti-Mueller anti-FBI anti-Hillary attempt to obstruct or distract justice by the House and Senate Republicans, especially Devin Nunes and Jim Jordan in the House. Her courage releasing the Fusion GPS transcript of testimony about the Dossier explodes the Republican false narrative about those events. Jared Kushner was in charge of the Trump ground campaign. Shortly after he met with the Russian ambassador in September, in early October 2016 massive file transfers occurred between Trump Tower New York and the Russian money laundering Deutsche Bank. This is probably the source of necessary voter microtargeting data needed for the fake news bots used by Russia to help carry swing key states like Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Kushner was renegotiating a loan with that same bank at that same time, but the volume of data for that would be much less. Both Donald Trump and Jared Kushner bank there as the bank recently settled a $10 billion Russian money laundering fine. Together with Republican voter suppression laws and vote total suppression in Democratic areas this was enough to swing the election by 70,000 votes in those three states, despite Hillary's three million popular vote majority nationwide. For example, an estimated 200,000 voters in Wisconsin were disenfranchised by the new voter ID law there, and 85,000 people from mainly Democratic areas in Michigan mysteriously did not vote for president. "Fire and Fury" Fallout by Michael Wolff The new book shows the universal opinion of Trump staff that Trump is not qualified for the job and not very intelligent. However, other recent Republican presidents since Nixon are estimated to have only average intelligence. Still the low opinion of staff is not there for Ford Reagan and the Bushes like it appears to be for Trump. Bannon's humiliation may end up working for Trump as political figures need to be either feared or loved to succeed, and this episode shows Trump should be feared. Summary Trump wants to do business with Russia and admires other authoritarian figures like Putin in Russia and Erdogan in Turkey. He is a figure of resistance against the browning of America. He does not understand the essentials of democracy like checks and balances, a free press, and an independent judiciary. He resists the cold war bureaucracy of the modern military industrial complex while championing the cause of the military. He supports military strength while resisting foreign policy orthodoxy. All of these impulses have driven him into the arms of Putin the master spy manipulator and the current cooperation with Russia to get elected and to make deals around the world. This puts him squarely in the sights of the obstruction of justice problem and possible impeachment. Presidents and Emperors Parallels exist between the American and Roman Empires. Nero fiddled while Rome burned. George Bush jr. fiddled at a fundraiser while New Orleans drowned from Katrina. Emperor Caligula lasted four years and was considered the crazy emperor. His name comes from his reputation for small boots. Trump is the crazy president noted for his small hands. Nobel Prize Update The same usual pattern of viewing all my expertclick.com press releases in a row tipped me off that the Norwegian Nobel Committee was interested in my nomination. That same pattern recurred 12 days, 10 days, and 1 day before the last announcement October 6th, 2017. So I came very close last time. Then November 3rd and 10th both Fridays, tipped me off that they may have had buyer's remorse not picking me last time, with 5 German and 3 French views on those two days, where my assigned committee member is located as Secretary General of the Council of Europe. Evidently Thorbjorn Jagland works in Strasbourg France and may also connect to the internet across the river in Germany on occasion. February 1st is the deadline for nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize. Associate Professors of Social Sciences and related areas as well as government officials and members of national assemblies are among the many eligible to nominate. The Norwegian Nobel Committee has launched an on-line nomination form. Please read more here: https://www.nobelpeaceprize.org/Nomination. I thank those who have nominated me the last two years and anyone who does again this time. For additional information about election stealing in the USA: https://www.academia.edu/30092060/ELECTION_Stealing_2004_&_2000_24_pages_2004.doc Please cite this work as follows: Reuschlein, Robert. (2018, January 1), "Trump Russia Fire and Fury" Madison, WI: Real Economy Institute. Retrieved from: https://www.expertclick.com/NewsRelease/Trump-Russia-Fire-and-Fury,2018152922.aspx CES 2018: D-Link unveils its new range of Wi-Fi routers and security cameras News oi-Sandeep D-Link unveiled its much anticipated DIR 2680 router. Along with Ultra series of routers D-Link also unveiled its new range of security cameras Consumer Electronics Show is like the center stage for all technology companies to showcase their new range of products. Certainly D-Link doesn't want to stay left behind in the race. The company has unveiled its new range of Wi-fi routers and security cameras at the ongoing CES 2018. The D-Link releases include two mesh networking system and a few standard as well as ultra Wi-Fi routers along with LTE security camera. DIR-2680 Wi-Fi router is the major highlight; it provides protection to IoT (Internet over things) devices. Let's find out more about the D-Link's new products. D-Link Ultra Wi-Fi Routers D-Link has unveiled its new range of Ultra Wi-Fi routers with 802.11 ax standard. It is a dual band router which supports speed up to 1100Mbps which is quite promising. The Ultra Wi-Fi router series comes in dual and triple band variants. The tri-band AX11000 supports speeds up to 11000Mbps and the dual-band AX6000 router supports speeds up to 6000Mbps which is quite staggering. D-Link Ultra series of routers have one 5Gbps WAN port, a USB 3.0 port, 4GB LAN ports and supports DLNA MU-MIMO. The Ultra Wi-Fi routers will be available by the mid of 2018; however the pricing has not been revealed yet. D-link is facing stiff competition from its rival router companies like the Linksys and Netgear at CES. Home Wi-Fi Systems D-link has also unveiled two new home Wi-Fi routers; the 3-pack Dual-Band Home Wi-Fi system (COVR-C1203) and the 2-pack Tri-Band Home Wi-Fi system (COVR-2202) are the new range WiFi system. The tri-band variant features AC2200 Wi-Fi and the company claims it covers an area of 6,000 square feet. The dual-band variant has AC1200 Wi-Fi and with a coverage range of 5,000 square feet. Both the Wi-Fi systems support MU-MIMO technology, and push notifications for firmware updates along with Smart Roaming feature The 2-pack Tri-Band COVR-2202 is priced at approx. Rs. 20,400 and will be available in second quarter of 2018, whereas the 3-pack Dual-Band COVR-C1203 is priced at a rough value of 15,900 and will be available in first quarter of 2018. Standard Wi-Fi cameras At CES 2018, D-Link also mentioned a new range of standard Wi-Fi cameras including a HD camera (DCS-8010LH), full-HD Pan and Tilt Wi-Fi camera (DCS-8525LH) , a full-HD Wi-Fi camera (DCS-8300LH). All the cameras have sound detection, motion detection, and 16-feet night vision. All the security in this range supports Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and IFTTT. The HD Wi-Fi camera will be available for a price of roughly Rs. 3,800, the full-HD Wi-Fi camera will be available for approx Rs. 5,700), and the pan and tilt variant will be available for approx Rs. 7,600 . Wireless Full-HD Indoor/ Outdoor camera The DCS-2802KT Wireless Indoor/ Outdoor Camera offers cloud recording and local recording options to allow for a connected security camera system. It features 1080p video recording alongside a 140-degree field of view. The D-link wire-free camera also supports Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and IFTTT along with a claimed battery life of over 11 months, This security camera will be available by second quarter of 2018 with a starting price range Rs. 14,000 approximately LTE complete Indoor/ Outdoor camera The new range of security camera also includes LTE Full Indoor/ Outdoor camera (DCS-1820LH) which are meant to work in places where Wi-Fi connectivity is either not available or weak. The security camera will connect to Verizon's network, in the US, to offer wireless access in non-Wi-Fi areas. It also offers full-HD recording, two-way audio, and cloud backup. The LTE camera has support for Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and IFTTT. The security camera is expected to cost roughly Rs. 19,100and will be available by second half of 2018. D-Link DIR-2680 Router The D-Link DIR-2680 router uses McAfee's Global Threat Intelligence to locate threats at a regular basis. D-Link integrates the Intel Home Wi-Fi WAV500 series which enables Wi-Fi connectivity for up to 128 connected devices. D-link claims to offer network level security for most IoT devices, including the ones without a display. DIR-268 gives customised parental controls, and machine learning along with real time monitoring systems. D-link DIR-2680 router will be available for the masses by second half of 2018. img source- miscellaneous Best Mobiles in India Sony Xperia XA2, XA2 Ultra and L2 press renders leaked; no upgrades in design News oi-Chandrika All three smartphones are expected to get unveiled either at the CES 2018 or the MWC 2018 in February. Other than the flagship Xperia XZ Premium 2, Sony is also working on a couple of mid-range smartphones; the Xperia XA2, Xperia XA2 Ultra. The company is also expected to introduce a low-range smartphone, the Xperia L2. Renowned tipster Evan Blass has now leaked the press renders of the aforementioned smartphones. As you can see from the images, there won't be any upgrades to these devices in terms of design. All three devices have pretty thick bezels and the conventional 16:9 aspect ratio. Although we are quite disappointed with the fact that Sony has decide to retain the same old design, the flagship Xperia XZ Premium 2 is expected to feature a bezel-less design. Moving on, the Sony Xperia XA2, which will be the third iteration in the XA series, has already visited GFXBench, revealing its entire specs sheet. The smartphone will come with a 5.2-inch Full HD display with the screen resolution of 1,9201,080 pixels. Under the hood, it will be powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 processor running at 2.2GHz. Clubbed with the chipset, there will be 3GB/4GB of RAM and 32GB/64GB of internal storage space. The Xperia XA2 is listed on GFXBench with a 21MP rear-facing primary camera with support for shooting 4K-resolution videos. For taking selfies, the smartphone will feature an 8MP camera. On the software front, it is expected to run on Android 8.0 Oreo mobile operating system right out of the box. Sony Xperia XZ Review - GIZBOT The Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra will come with similar specifications, display size and the front camera configuration. The smartphone is said to come with a 6-inch display with a FHD screen resolution of 1,9201,080 pixels. It also appears to feature a dual selfie camera setup. One of the sensors is speculated to be of 16MP, while the other is unknown. Coming to the Sony Xperia L2, it is said to retain the same 5.5-inch display. Under the hood, the device is speculated to be powered by a Qualcomm's mid-range chipset Snapdragon 630. With 4GB RAM on board, the Xperia L2 will see an upgrade over its predecessor in the memory department. However, unlike the Xperia XA2 and XA2 Ultra, the Xperia L2 will arrive with Android Nougat OS. All three smartphones are expected to get unveiled either at the CES 2018 or the MWC 2018 in February. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Vandalism is far from a new phenomenon on the Western Slope but land managers said they se Arron Buehler's day in a western Colorado canyon might not have had the Hollywood panache of Ferris Bueller's day off, but something about see Nigerian Shia cleric Zakzaky makes first public appearance since detention in 2015 Iran Press TV Sat Jan 13, 2018 07:03PM Leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, rumored to have died in detention, has made his first public appearance since he was illegally detained by security forces in 2015. Zakzaky, who is in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), told reporters in the capital Abuja on Saturday that he was alive and well. He also thanked Nigerians for their prayers as well as the DSS for allowing him access to his doctors. "For the first time at least the security (officers) have allowed me to see my own doctors," he said, according to footage of the exchange. "I am getting better." "So it was my own doctors who examined me. Before I used to be examined by security doctors, this time I did not agree, and my own doctors came to examine me," he said. It was unclear under what circumstances Zakzaky gave the interview. Rumors of his death spread on the Nigerian social media this week. The top Shia cleric lost his left eyesight in a raid which was carried out by the Nigerian army on his residence in the northern town of Zaria in December 2015. During the raid, Zakzaky's wife sustained serious wounds too and more than 300 of his followers and three of his sons were killed. Zakzaky, his wife, and a large number of the cleric's followers have since been in custody. Despite the ruling of a Federal High Court, which ordered his unconditional release in 2016, the Nigerian government has refused to set him free. Earlier this week, a UK-based NGO known as the Islamic Human Rights Commission, voiced concern over the health condition of the detained Muslim cleric. The clergyman is said to have been charged with "criminal conspiracy and inciting public disturbances." During the third day of consecutive protests on Tuesday, Nigerian government forces opened fire on demonstrators demanding the release of Zakzaky. One person was severely injured during clashes with Nigerian forces and another 50 people were detained in Abuja. Nigerian sources told Press TV on Monday that at least two young students were killed by security forces during the ongoing protests in Kaduna which broke out on anuary 7. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Second UAE fighter jet violates Qatari airspace: Doha Iran Press TV Sat Jan 13, 2018 02:32PM Qatar says a second warplane belonging to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has violated its airspace, a day after Doha lodged a formal complaint with the UN about what it called a violation of its airspace last month by another such fighter jet. According to a statement released by Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday, the military aircraft was traveling from the UAE to Bahrain on January 3, when it purportedly flew over Qatar's special economic zone "without prior authorization." In the statement of complaint Doha added that the "repetition of this terrible incident" was evidence of the UAE violating international law. On Friday, Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani, Qatar's ambassador to the UN, submitted a message to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the UN Security Council's president regarding the alleged violation, which Doha said happened on December 21 at 9:45 a.m. local time and lasted one minute. Shortly after the submission of the messages, the UAE's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash flatly denied the accusation relating to the first incident and said Abu Dhabi would send an official response. Tensions have escalated in the Persian Gulf region after Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, and the UAE severed their diplomatic relations with Qatar on June 5 last year, accusing it of sponsoring "terrorism" and destabilizing the region. The Saudi-led bloc has also imposed sanctions against the country, including restrictions on Qatari aircraft using their airspace. Amid the diplomatic crisis, Abu Dhabi has taken an especially tough line toward Doha. To further pressure Qatar, Saudi Arabia has totally closed its land border with its tiny neighbor, through which much of Qatar's food supply crossed. Doha, however, rejects the claims, saying the boycotters are attacking its sovereignty. Later in June, the four Arab countries urged Qatar to abide by a 13-point list of demands if it wanted the crippling blockade lifted. The demands included shutting down the Doha-based Al Jazeera broadcaster, scaling back cooperation with Iran, closing the Turkish military base in Qatar, and paying an unspecified sum in reparations. Qatar, however, firmly refused to comply, calling the wide-ranging demands "unrealistic, unreasonable and unacceptable." In return, the four feuding countries vowed to impose further sanctions. A number of attempts to mend the unprecedented rift have so far turned to be futile, including those by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Kuwaiti Emir Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber Al-Sabah, whose country has been playing the role of a key mediator since the beginning of the crisis. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Insurgents Killed In U.S. Air Strike After Attack On Afghan Forces January 13, 2018 U.S. forces killed 10 insurgents in a compound in eastern Afghanistan in an air strike that was triggered by an insider attack on U.S. and Afghan soldiers, the U.S. military said on January 12. U.S. Navy Captain Tom Gresback said the insurgents baited a coalition team, inviting them to a security shura meeting in the compound in the eastern province of Nangarhar on January 11. The coalition sent an Afghan militia leader, a U.S. service member, and an interpreter. When the meeting ended, Gresback said the Taliban-linked insurgents opened fire, killing the militia leader and wounding the American service member and the interpreter. The Taliban quickly claimed credit for the attack. The Taliban said the attack was carried out by two insurgents disguised as local militiamen. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told The Associated Press the attackers had infiltrated the local force months earlier. In Afghanistan, local militias are often paid by the United States to act as partners with U.S. troops in operations in remote regions. Gresback said that after the wounded were moved to safety, a coalition air strike targeted the compound, killing 10 insurgents. The Taliban and local militia said as many as 13 fighters were killed in the air strike. The incident occurred in Mohmand Valley, in Afghanistan's remote Achin district of Nangarhar province. The incident was the lastest in a series of insider attacks against U.S. forces, including an attack in Achin district in June in which an Afghan commando opened fire, killing three U.S. personnel and wounding another. U.S. and Afghan forces have been battling not only the Taliban but an affiliate of the Islamic State extremist group in the region. Based on reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/insurgents-10-killed-us- air-strike-after-insider-attack-nangahar-province -eastern-afghanistan/28973282.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Finds Iranian Weapons Supplied To Yemeni Rebels, Violating UN Embargo RFE/RL January 13, 2018 A United Nations panel in a new report has concluded that Iran violated a UN arms embargo by directly or indirectly providing missiles and drones to Shi'ite rebels in Yemen, backing up accusations made repeatedly by the United States. According to excerpts of the report obtained by diplomats and media on January 12, experts on the UN panel traveled to Saudi Arabia in November and December and examined remnants of missiles fired by Yemen's Huthi rebels in those months as well as in May and July. The panel said it came to the conclusion that Iran had manufactured the weapons the Yemeni rebels fired at Saudi Arabia, which leads an Arab coalition fighting on the side of the government against the rebels in Yemen's civil war. The panel said it found that design features of the missile debris were "consistent with those of the Iranian-designed and manufactured Qiam-1 missile" and "almost certainly produced by the same manufacturer." The drones were "virtually identical in design" to that of an Iranian-made UAV manufactured by Iranian Aircraft Manufacturing Industries, said the report. Moreover, the drones and missiles "were introduced into Yemen after the imposition of the targeted arms embargo" imposed by the UN in 2015, the report says. "As a result, the panel finds that the Islamic Republic of Iran is in non-compliance with [the embargo] in that it failed to take the necessary measures to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer of missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles to the Huthi-Saleh alliance," the report said. The panel added that one of the rebel missile attacks which targeted Riyadh's international airport "changed the tenor of the conflict and has the potential to turn a local conflict into a broader regional one." Iran backs the Huthis in their three-year civil war against the government, but it has denied supplying the rebels with arms. The United States has repeatedly charged that Iran is supplying the rebels with ballistic missiles in violation of UN resolutions, and has demanded that the UN Security Council take action to enforce the embargo and penalize Iran. During a security council meeting on December 19, U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley called the Huthis' repeated firing of missiles at targets in Saudi Arabia "a flashing red siren" demanding action at the UN. Russia, however, has opposed taking any action on the issue. The 79-page UN panel report paints a picture of devastation caused by the war in Yemen, which many view as a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and casts blame on both sides. "After nearly three years of conflict, Yemen as a state has all but ceased to exist," the report said, detailing how the war has caused misery among the 28 million citizens of the Arab world's poorest nation. The UN has said more than 10,000 civilians have been killed in fighting and air strikes, more than 7 million are on the brink of famine, and over 19 million don't know where their next meal is coming from. Meanwhile, medical infrastructure has collapsed, and a cholera outbreak has affected 1 million people, the UN report said. The report said the panel saw "no evidence" that either side took measures "to mitigate the devastating impact" of attacks on civilians. With reporting by AP and AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/un-panel- experts-finds-iranian-weapons-supplied -to-yemeni-huthi-rebels-violating un-arms-embargo/28973297.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Japan Accuses China of Encroaching on Disputed Islands with Warships, Submarines Sputnik News 03:43 13.01.2018 Japan has publicly complained to China's Foreign Ministry about the "provocative" movement of People's Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN) warships and submarines encroaching on an island chain in the East China Sea disputed by the two Asian powers. The protest was formally lodged by Vice Foreign Minister Shinsuke Sugiyama, reported the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The incidents in question happened on Wednesday and Thursday when a pair of vessels a frigate and a submarine came within miles of the island chain. While the identity of the submarine was never confirmed, it is believed to be a PLAN vessel. The submarine entered and exited the disputed area several times, while the frigate- which was identified as Chinese- passed through once. Sugiyama expressed "great concern" over the naval action and urged China not to undo efforts to improve relations after years of stressed ties. He particularly took umbrage with the submarine, calling it an "unilateral escalation in new form." The Defense Ministry of Japan also expressed their concern, although in more vigorous terms. "Senkaku is Japan's territory and territorial waters internationally and historically and Japan's claim about the contiguous zone is absolutely correct," Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera told reporters on Friday. China defended the move on Thursday, calling the islands their sovereign territory and saying the incident was brought on by Japanese naval provocation. "The [Diaoyu Islands] are a natural part of Chinese territory," Lu Kang, Beijing's Foreign Ministry spokesman, in a Thursday statement. "China's decision to guard the sovereignty of the [Diaoyu] territory is unshaken." The disputed islands in the East China Sea are known by several names. The earliest known source, a 15th century Chinese sea chart, names them the Diaoyu. A 19th century Imperial Japanese naval record is the origin of their Japanese name, the Senkaku. Regardless of what name one uses, the disputed islands consist of five islets and three rocks, the largest of which is less than two square miles in area. The uninhabited islands were historically part of China before being annexed by Japan following their victory during the First Sino-Japanese War in 1895. After World War II, the islands were occupied by the United States. The islands were returned to Japanese control in 1972, but by then a potential treasure trove of oil and natural gas had been identified in the surrounding area. Since then, both China and Taiwan have declared ownership of the islands. China in particular has objected to Japanese activity, including nationalizing several of the islands in 2012 and building a lighthouse on one in 2014. The US has supported the Japanese claim in the past. In 2014, President Barack Obama pledged to aid Japan if China used military force to stake their claim to the islands. Similarly, President Donald Trump declared US support for the Japanese claim in February. China has continued to sail naval vessels through the disputed waters, with incidents like the one from Wednesday and Thursday occurring 114 times in 2017 according to the Japanese Coast Guard. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hawaii False Missile Alert Explained: Worker 'Pushed Wrong Button' By VOA News January 13, 2018 Hawaii Governor David Ige said human error was behind the false incoming-missile alert Saturday that sent Hawaiians into a panic. Ige told CNN television that "it was a mistake made during a standard procedure at the changeover of a shift, and an employee pushed the wrong button." The warning from Hawaii's Emergency Management Agency went out to television, radio and mobile phones, Ige said. He also said he is meeting with top defense and emergency management officials from the state to figure out how to prevent a recurrence of the mistake. Shortly after 8 a.m. local time in the U.S. Pacific Island state, Hawaii residents posted on social media screen shots of the alert they had received on their mobile phones, reading, "BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL." Many Hawaiians and people vacationing on the islands reported that the alert threw them into a panic and left them unsure where to go or what to do. Twenty minutes later, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency tweeted that there was no missile threat to the state. It also sent out an email to correct the error. But the correction was not sent out to mobile phones until 38 minutes after the mistaken alert, which has upset some officials and private citizens alike. The White House sent out a statement by deputy press secretary Lindsay Walters: "The president has been briefed on the state of Hawaii's emergency management exercise. This was purely a state exercise." The U.S. Navy's Pacific Command also confirmed that the alerts had been sent in error. "USPACOM has detected no missile threat to Hawaii," Navy Commander Dave Benham said in an email. "Earlier message was sent in error. State of Hawaii will send out a correction message as soon as possible." Ajit Pai, chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, tweeted Saturday that his agency was launching a "full investigation" into the false wireless emergency alert. U.S. Senator Brian Schatz, a Hawaii Democrat, tweeted, "What happened today is totally inexcusable. The whole state was terrified. There needs to be tough and quick accountability and a fixed process. ... There is nothing more important to Hawaii than professionalizing and fool-proofing this process." Hawaii House Speaker Scott Saiki released a statement saying, "This system we have been told to rely upon failed and failed miserably today. I am deeply troubled by this misstep that could have had dire consequences. Measures must be taken to avoid further incidents that caused wholesale alarm and chaos today." Saiki's statement continued, "Apparently, the wrong button was pushed and it took over 30 minutes for a correction to be announced. Parents and children panicked during those 30 minutes. The Hawaii House of Representatives will immediately investigate what happened and there will be consequences. This cannot happen again." U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard, a Hawaii Democrat, told CNN television Saturday that the first message had started a panic. "You can only imagine what kicked in," Gabbard said. "This is a real threat facing Hawaii, so people got this message on their phones and they thought, 'We have 15 minutes before me and my family could be dead.' " U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono, a Hawaii Democrat, tweeted a reassurance that the alarm had been false, adding, "At a time of heightened tensions, we need to make sure all information released to the public is accurate. We need to get to the bottom of what happened and make sure it never happens again." She later appeared on Hawaiian television to criticize the 38-minute delay between the mistaken alert and the mobile phone message correction. Just a few weeks ago, Hawaii reinstated its Cold War-era alarm sirens amid growing fears of nuclear aggression by North Korea. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Angry Reactions Continue to Trump's Vulgar Immigration Remark By VOA News January 13, 2018 Reactions to President Donald Trump's use of a vulgar slur to explain his opposition to Haitian and African migration to the United States were continuing to circulate Saturday. Trump stunned lawmakers Thursday in a White House meeting on immigration when, according to multiple reports and confirmation from attendees, he asked, "Why are we having all these people from s---hole countries come here?" Ninety-five percent of Haitians are black, as are the vast majority of Africans. Trump said the United States should allow in more people from places such as Norway, whose population is mostly white. Trump took to Twitter on Friday to deny using the vulgar term, which is slang for an extremely dirty or shabby place and includes a synonym for excrement. He said his language was "tough," but denied using the vulgarity. Since then, reactions to his remark have continued to come via Twitter and statements to the media. Trump's former presidential rival, Hillary Clinton, noted that Friday was the anniversary of a devastating earthquake in Haiti, from which the island has never fully recovered. "The anniversary of the devastating earthquake 8 years ago is a day to remember the tragedy, honor the resilient people of Haiti, & affirm America's commitment to helping our neighbors. Instead, we're subjected to Trump's ignorant, racist views of anyone who doesn't look like him," she tweeted Friday. Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright tweeted Friday, "I hope our next president will rehire all the diplomats who have resigned over Trump's racist words and harmful actions. We will need all the help we can get to repair the damage he is doing to our country's international reputation and interests." 'No change in our dedication' And the U.S. Embassy in South Africa tweeted Friday that "the U.S. deeply respects the people of Africa & values partnerships w/them. There has been no change in our dedication to partners & friends across the Continent." Also Friday, the U.N. human rights spokesman, Rupert Colville, called the comments racist, but he added that the episode was "not just a story about vulgar language. It's about opening the door wider to humanity's worst side, about validating and encouraging racism and xenophobia that will potentially disrupt and destroy the lives of many people." The African Union said Friday that it was "frankly alarmed" by the president's reported statement. AU spokeswoman Ebba Kalondo told The Associated Press, "Given the historical reality of how many Africans arrived in the United States as slaves, this statement flies in the face of all accepted behavior and practice." "This is particularly surprising," she added, "as the United States of America remains a global example of how migration gave birth to a nation built on strong values of diversity and opportunity." The U.S. State Department said Friday that American diplomats in Haiti and in Botswana had been summoned by government officials to discuss the remarks. U.S. Republican Representative Mia Love of Utah, whose family came from Haiti, said the president's comments were "unkind, divisive, elitist, and fly in the face of our nation's values. This behavior is unacceptable from the leader of our nation." Love called on Trump to apologize to the people of Haiti. U.S. Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Florida Republican, said in an interview, "It's incomprehensible that these words came out of the mouth of the president of the United States of America, a country that was founded on being free from discrimination and treating people fairly and having people come here, the land of the free. ... This is a president that has had a sordid, terrible history of making racist statements." Ros-Lehtinen also tweeted that Trump's "calling #Haiti a 's**thole country' ignores the contributions thousands of Haitians have made to our #SoFla community and nation. Language like that shouldn't be heard in locker rooms and it shouldn't be heard in the White House." 'Ashamed' of Trump's position Minnesota state Representative Ilhan Omar, a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party who in 2016 became the first Somali-American elected to a state legislative office in the United States, released a statement saying, "I am not ashamed of the country where I was born. I am not ashamed to call myself an American now. I am a proud immigrant, refugee, Minnesotan and a proud State Legislator. "But make no mistake, I am ashamed, disturbed, and outraged that the leader of the United States can't see beyond his own embarrassing privilege to embrace the diversity that has made this country great for generations." U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch, a Utah Republican, said he wanted more details "regarding the president's comments." "Part of what makes America so special is that we welcome the best and brightest in the world, regardless of their country of origin," Hatch added. U.S. Senator Jeff Flake, an Arizona Republican, tweeted late Thursday, "My ancestors came from countries not nearly as prosperous as the one we live in today. I'm glad that they were welcomed here." U.S. Senator Kamala Harris, a California Democrat, said in a tweet, "Immigrants from countries across the globe including and especially those from Haiti and all parts of Africa have helped build this country. They should be welcomed and celebrated, not demeaned and insulted.'' U.S. Representative Cedric Richmond of Louisiana, a Democrat who is chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, said, "President Trump's comments are yet another confirmation of his racially insensitive and ignorant views. It also reinforces the concerns that we hear every day, that the president's slogan 'Make America Great Again' is really code for 'Make America White Again.' " The White House released a statement Thursday that defended the president's views, without referencing his specific comments. "Like other nations that have merit-based immigration, President Trump is fighting for permanent solutions that make our country stronger by welcoming those who can contribute to our society, grow our economy and assimilate into our great nation. He will always reject temporary, weak and dangerous stopgap measures that threaten the lives of hardworking Americans, and undercut immigrants who seek a better life in the United States through a legal pathway." VOA correspondents Cindy Saine, Natalie Liu, Steve Herman and Michael Bowman contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address South Africa's Zuma Booed as New ANC Leader Calls for Unity By VOA News January 13, 2018 African National Congress (ANC) supporters booed President Jacob Zuma on Saturday during a political party event in the southeastern city of East London. Zuma, who arrive after the event started, attended the gathering in support of Cyril Ramaphosa, the new leader of the ANC, South Africa's ruling party. Ramaphosa told the audience the ANC must unite and the political groups must address the "dysfunction" in its ranks. The BBC reported Ramaphosa, who was elected to replace Zuma as party leader, said the ANC had become "deeply divided through factionalism, patronage and corruption." His speech focused on the country's corruption and economy. He urged "the creation of a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic, prosperous and equitable society". Zuma did not address ANC supporters, yet he was booed when cameras showed him. The president has seen a decline in public support during his second term, amid a weakening economy and allegations of corruption. While the president was being booed, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, also at the meeting, was received with welcoming cheers. Last month, the ruling ANC elected Ramaphosa as party leader to replace Zuma, who stepped down amid corruption allegations, but will remain South Africa's president until nationwide elections are held in 2019. Zuma had announced on Tuesday a corruption probe into the highest levels of the state, after parliament indicated it would move to impeach him. On December 13, a South African court ruled that a commission be set up within 30 days to carry out such an inquiry. "The allegations that the state has been wrestled out of the hands of its real owner, the people of South Africa, is of paramount importance and are therefore deserving of finality and certainty," Zuma said in a statement, the French news agency reported, adding, "I have decided to appoint a commission of inquiry." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran slams US anti-Iran threats IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Jan 13, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Ministry in a 10-point statement on Saturday condemned US threats against Iran and also sanctioning 14 other Iranian individuals and entities. "Iran will not move beyond its commitments in Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and will accept no change in the letter and spirit of the nuclear accord," the statement reads. US President Donald Trump, who had said his administration would decertify the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, decided on Friday to extend the sanctions waiver to the country for the third time as a part of the landmark deal officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). He claimed that this is the 'last time' that he certified the JCPOA unless the amendments that he had mentioned earlier be included to the landmark nuclear deal. Trump set four conditions upon which he will be open to working with Congress on bipartisan legislation regarding Iran. According to White House website, the four conditions are as follow: "First, it [JCPOA] must demand that Iran allow immediate inspections at all sites requested by international inspectors. 'Second, it must ensure that Iran never even comes close to possessing a nuclear weapon. 'Third, unlike the nuclear deal, these provisions must have no expiration date. My policy is to deny Iran all paths to a nuclear weaponnot just for ten years, but forever. 'If Iran does not comply with any of these provisions, American nuclear sanctions would automatically resume. Fourth, the legislation must explicitly state in United States lawfor the first timethat long-range missile and nuclear weapons programs are inseparable, and that Iran's development and testing of missiles should be subject to severe sanctions." Meanwhile, concurrent with Trump's decision, US Department of the Treasury in an unfair and hostile move added 14 other Iranian individuals and institutes to the list of the sanctions under the pretest of human rights violation and involvement in missile program. The blacklisted individuals and entities include Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli-Larijani; head of the Communications Company 'Mowj-e Sabz'; Director of Rajaei Shahr Prison Gholamreza Ziaei; Iran Aviation Industries Organization; Company for Logistics and Renovation of Iranian Helicopters; IRGC Organization of Cyber Defense and Electronic Warfare; National Cyber Space Center; and Rajaei Shahr Prison and High Council of Cyber Space. 'Iran strongly announces that it will make no measure beyond its JCPOA commitments and will make no changes in the nuclear deal neither now nor in the future,' stressed the 10-point statement by the Foreign Ministry. 9376**1394 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iranian foreign ministry statement on US decision to extend waivers ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Sat / 13 January 2018 / 16:29 Tehran (ISNA) - Iran's foreign ministry has announced that the country will commit to no obligation beyond those it has already agreed to under an international nuclear deal, amid attempts by the United States to change the terms of the 2015 accord. In a statement released on Saturday, the ministry said that US President Donald Trump once again had to extend waivers that are mandatory under the deal, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Press TV reported. "The internal solidity of and international support for the agreement have blocked attempts by Mr. Trump, the Zionist regime [of Israel], and the ominous alliance of hard-line warmongers to terminate this agreement or make changes to it," the ministry said. On Friday, Trump extended waivers of key economic sanctions on Iran for another 120 days but said he was doing so "for the last time." Although the US president declined to seize an opportunity to withdraw from the Iran deal which he has long railed against and formerly promised to "rip up" he gave a four-month deadline to US Congress and America's main European allies to address what he called the "disastrous flaws" of the deal. But the European parties to the deal and China and Russia, the two other parties, have made it clear that they will not reopen negotiations on the deal, which they say is working as it is; and Trump's demands could thus only be addressed by domestic US law, with no jurisdiction over Iran or the IAEA, and with no direct effect on the JCPOA. Iran, too, has been abundantly clear that it will not renegotiate the deal. In its statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry reiterated that position. "The Islamic Republic of Iran stresses clearly that it will take no measures beyond its commitments under the JCPOA and will accept no changes to this agreement now or in the future and will not allow that the JCPOA be linked to any other issue [than the nuclear issue]," the statement read. Trump had said the US Congress bill also had to review Iran's long-range missile and nuclear activities as inseparable, and that the country's development and testing of missiles should be subject to severe sanctions. Trump also ordered the imposition of new sanctions on 14 individuals and entities over alleged rights abuses, censorship, and support for weapons proliferators. The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned those new sanctions and said that the US government was obliged to honor all of its commitments under the JCPOA, but that since its implementation, it had reneged on its pledges and violated the terms of the deal. Trump's action and policies over the course of the past year specifically violate Articles 26, 28 and 29 of the JCOPA, it said. Among the individuals targeted with new sanctions was Iranian Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani. The Foreign Ministry said that the Washington's "illegal" move to target the official passed all behavioral red lines in the international community, breached the principled rules of international law, and would be met with serious reaction by the Islamic Republic. End Item NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia warns US against grave mistake of pulling out of Iran nuclear deal Iran Press TV Sat Jan 13, 2018 01:27PM Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has said the US would be making a grave mistake by pulling out of Iran's nuclear deal and underlined Moscow's determination to keep the landmark accord intact. "We are gradually coming to the conclusion that an internal decision by the US to leave the (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) has already been made or is close to being made," Ryabkov said in an interview with Interfax news agency on Saturday. "This could be one of Washington's big foreign policy mistakes, a big miscalculation in American policy," he added. On Friday, US President Donald Trump extended waivers of economic sanctions on Iran for another 120 days but said he was doing so "for the last time." Although the US president declined to withdraw from the Iran deal which he has long railed against and formerly promised to "rip up" he gave a four-month deadline to the US Congress and America's main European allies to address what he called the "disastrous flaws" of the deal. The agreement, reached between Iran and the P5+1 countries -- the US, the UK, France, China, Russia and Germany -- puts limitations on parts of Iran's nuclear program in exchange for removing all nuclear-related sanctions. A decision to reimpose sanctions would have effectively ended the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement. Ryabkov stressed that Russia must unite with Europe and China and undertake "intense work" to keep the existing agreement intact, adding, "In what we heard yesterday, I do not see any invitation for Iran to enter dialogue. This defies the logic of the agreement." "Russia will do everything in its power to save the agreement," he noted. The European parties to the deal, China and Russia have made it clear that they will not reopen negotiations on the deal, which they say is working as it is; and Trump's demands could thus only be addressed by domestic US law, with no jurisdiction over Iran or the International Atomic Energy Agency, and with no direct effect on the JCPOA. Iran's Foreign Ministry also announced on Saturday that the country would commit to no obligation beyond those it has already agreed to under the JCPOA and that it would not renegotiate the deal. "The Islamic Republic of Iran stresses clearly that it will take no measures beyond its commitments under the JCPOA and will accept no changes to this agreement now or in the future and will not allow that the JCPOA be linked to any other issue [than the nuclear issue]," the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Unpacking What Remains of Iran Sanctions By Masood Farivar January 13, 2018 On Friday, President Donald Trump waived economic sanctions on Iran, the third time he's issued a sanctions waiver under a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and major world powers. The agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, restricted Iran's controversial nuclear program in exchange for broad relief from international sanctions. While the United States, the United Nations and the European Union have lifted most nuclear-related sanctions, unilaterally imposed U.S. sanctions going back decades remain in place. These restrictions were levied because of Iran's human rights violations, support of terrorism, and pursuit of a ballistic missile program. Sorting out the myriad sanctions requires "a team of lawyers," said Alex Vatanka of the Middle East Institute in Washington. "It's a maze, in many ways," Vatanka said. Here is the status of key sanctions on Iran, based largely on a recent Congressional Research Service (CRS) report, as well as those with the Treasury and State departments: What sanctions relief Iran has received under the nuclear deal As part of the deal, the U.S. agreed to waive several key Iran sanctions laws and revoke related presidential executive orders. The U.S. waived all provisions of the Iran Sanctions Act (ISA), a 1996 law that imposed sanctions on foreign investment in Iran's energy sector. Among other things, the sweeping legislation mandated penalties on persons and entities that invested more than $20 million in one year in Iran's energy sector. The U.S. waived the Iran sanctions provisions of the fiscal year 2012 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Among its other stipulations, the law targeted foreign banks that conducted transactions with Iran's central bank. The U.S. waived all provisions of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act (ITRSHR) of 2012 except for those that applied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its affiliates. The law had imposed sanctions on companies that provided insurance or reinsurance services for Iran's national oil company and national tanker company. The U.S. waived the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act (IFCA), a 2012 law that penalized companies that did business with Iran's energy, shipbuilding and shipping sectors, exported precious metals to Iran, and allowed Iran to deal in U.S. banknotes. The president revoked a 2012 presidential executive order that slapped sanctions on companies that purchased oil from Iran, conducted transactions with its national oil company or helped Iran buy previous metals and U.S. banknotes. The president revoked a 2013 executive order that punished companies that do business with Iran's automotive sector, expanded penalties on sales of precious metals to Iran, and prohibited regional banks that conduct business in the Iranian currency from holding U.S. bank accounts. Also, the U.S. released Iranian assets frozen because of Iran's nuclear deal. The CRS report puts the figure around $1.7 billion. What sanctions remain in place The 2015 U.N. Security Council resolution that endorsed the Iran nuclear deal left intact sanctions on Iran's development of nuclear-capable ballistic missiles as well as Iran's arms exports and imports. U.S. and EU sanctions on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, its affiliates and commanders remain in place. The Iran-Iraq Arms Non-Proliferation Act of 1992 remain intact. The act imposes penalties on companies that provide Iran with weapons of mass destruction (WMD) technology or advanced conventional weaponry. Under JCPOA, the U.S. relaxed a ban on imports of Iranian luxury goods, such as carpets and caviar, but most U.S. restrictions on trade with and investment with Iran remain in place, according to the CRS report. A ban on U.S. financial institutions doing business with Iranian banks remains in place. The Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act (CISDA) of 2010 and a related executive order punishing Iranian human rights violators have survived the nuclear deal. The legislation allows the Treasury Secretary to imposes travel bans and other sanctions on Iranian individuals and entities accused of human rights violations and other abuses. The Treasury Department announced on Friday that it had designated 14 Iranian individuals and entities under the executive order. More than $3.7 billion worth of Iranian assets, blocked because of Iran's human rights record, support for terrorism and missile technology, remain frozen, according to the Congressional Research Service report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran to Trump: No Changes to Nuclear Deal By VOA News January 13, 2018 Iran has warned Washington the nuclear deal between Tehran and major powers "is not renegotiable." The foreign ministry said in a statement that Iran "will not accept any change in the deal, neither now nor in the future" and it will "not take any action beyond its commitments." Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Twitter that U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement Friday that he is willing to approve new sanctions on Iran is a "desperate attempt to undermine a solid multilateral agreement." Sanctions waived Trump stopped short for a third time of re-imposing harsh sanctions intended to push Tehran to give up its nuclear weapons research. He said he was waiving the sanctions for the last time in order to give Congress and European allies 120 days to improve the agreement or face U.S. abandonment of the pact. The president's proposals to "fix the deal's disastrous flaws" include Iran's agreement to open all sites immediately to international inspectors and an assurance from Tehran that it will never develop a nuclear weapon. According to the White House, any new Iran deal would have to cover Iran's ballistic missiles and limit its nuclear breakout period indefinitely. "In the absence of such an agreement, the United States will not again waive sanctions in order to stay in the Iran nuclear deal. And if at any time I judge that such an agreement is not within reach, I will withdraw from the deal immediately," Trump said in a statement. Red lines crossed Additionally, the Treasury Department imposed new measures that target Iranian businesses and individuals for human rights abuses. They were imposed on 14 Iranian entities and individuals, the most prominent of whom is the head of the country's judiciary, Sadegh Amoli Larijani. The department has linked Larijani to "the commission of serious human rights abuses" against Iranian people. Iran's foreign ministry said "The Trump regime's hostile action [against Larijani] crossed all red lines of conduct in the international community and is a violation of international law and will surely be answered by a serious reaction of the Islamic Republic." The cyber unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which the Trump administration maintains has stifled social media networks that demonstrators can use to communicate, was also blacklisted. Diplomacy Works, a pressure group founded by former U.S. secretary of state John Kerry to defend the 2015 deal with Iran, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, gave a biting evaluation of Trump's move, saying " ... the president's plan includes bullying our allies into fundamentally altering the terms of a deal that they know is working for our mutual security and have publicly stated they have no interest in amending." A Trump administration official said the sanctions are part of a broader effort to counter Iran's "reckless" and "destabilizing behavior," including actions related to the crackdown on protesters, at least 21 of whom have been killed this month. "The United States will not stand by while the Iranian regime continues to engage in human rights abuses and injustice," Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said in a statement. "We are targeting the head of Iranian regime, including the head of Iran's judiciary for the appalling treatment of its citizens, including those imprisoned only for exercising their right to freedom of peaceful assembly and for censoring its own people as they stand up in protest of their government." By law, the administration must certify to Congress every 90 days whether Iran is complying with a 2015 agreement it signed with the international community to limit its nuclear program. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Japan Warships Patrol Waters Off North Korea to Curb Fuel Smuggling Sputnik News 07:42 13.01.2018(updated 08:33 13.01.2018) TOKYO (Sputnik) - Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force has been patrolling the waters off North Korea to warn off ships trying to smuggle fuel in breach of UN sanctions, military officials told local media Saturday. Japanese military sources told the Kyodo news agency that warships have been monitoring the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea east and west of the Korean Peninsula at the request of the US since last month. The Japanese ships are alerted to any suspicious sightings by military planes, the outlet said, and pass photos of them on to the United States. They are not allowed to search the vessels. The United States and 16 other nations on Friday pledged to intercept ships heading to North Korea and called on all UN member states to abide by UN's December sanctions that cut the amount of refined fuel the North can import and halted ship-to-ship fuel transfers. Earlier, South Korean authorities intercepted the ship under the flag of Panama on suspicion of carrying and selling oil to Pyongyang. The event comes days after Seoul announced it had intercepted and searched the Hong Kong-flagged ship Lighthouse Winmore, which had delivered 600 tons of processed oil to a North Korean ship. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Army Chief Says Pakistan 'Felt Betrayed' By U.S. Criticism, Aid Cuts RFE/RL January 13, 2018 Pakistan's army chief has told a top U.S. general that his nation feels "betrayed" by U.S. criticism that it is not doing enough to fight terrorism, which has prompted Washington to suspend military aid for Islamabad. The Pakistani military in a statement on January 12 said that General Qamar Javed Bajwa told U.S. Central Command chief General Joseph Votel in a phone conversaton this week that the "entire Pakistani nation felt betrayed over U.S. recent statements despite decades of cooperation." Bajwa told Votel that Pakistan will not seek to restore U.S. military aid, but it does "expect honorable recognition of our contributions, sacrifices and unwavering resolve in the fight against terrorism," the statement said. U.S. President Donald Trump on January 1 accused Pakistan of "lies and deceit" and said the United States would suspend around $2 billion a year in military aid until Islamabad moves decisively against Afghan Taliban and Haqqani Network militants who he said have found safe haven within Pakistan's borders. During their conversation, Votel sought to reassure Bajwa, Pakistan's army statement said, saying the United States is not contemplating any "unilateral action inside Pakistan" to go after the militants. "The general said that U.S. values Pakistan's role [in the] war on terror and expects that on-going turbulence [will be] a temporary phase," the statement said. Bajwa told Votel that despite being made a "scapegoat" by the United States because it has failed to win its war against the Taliban in Afghanistan, Pakistan will continue its antiterrorism efforts as well as support for peace efforts in Afghanistan, the statement said. U.S. Central Command did not comment on the conversation, but said the U.S. military is in "continuous communication" with Pakistan's military. Tensions between the United States and Pakistan have soared over the U.S. accusations and withdrawal of aid, which infuriated Pakistan's leaders and prompted street protests. Islamabad says the United States does not respect or appreciate the sacrifices Pakistan has made in its decade-long fight against terrorism, which it says has cost tens of billions of dollars and claimed the lives of tens of thousands of Pakistani soldiers and civilians. The U.S. aid suspension was announced days after Trump tweeted on January 1 that the United States had "foolishly" given Pakistan $33 billion in aid over 15 years and was rewarded with "nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools." "They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!" Trump said. Since Trump's move, the Pentagon has sought to smooth relations with the Pakistani military. "We value mutual understanding of interests and concerns that we need to consider and might lead to a positive path forward," U.S. Central Command spokesman Air Force Colonel John Thomas said on January 12. Votel's reported assurances that the United States will take no unilateral action inside Pakistan comes after years of tensions over U.S. drone strikes targeting militants residing in the country. In 2016, a U.S. drone strike killed the leader of the Taliban at the time, Mullah Akhtar Mansour, in the southwestern province of Balochistan, prompting protests from Islamabad that the strike violated its sovereignty. In 2011, a secret American raid in the military garrison city of Abbottabad killed Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, the architect of the September 11, 2001 attacks on Washington and New York that prompted the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan and the 16-year war to defeat the Taliban there. Since Trump took office, there have been several drone strikes in Pakistan's border region, but they have not so far gone deeper into Pakistani territory. With reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/pakistani-army-chief-bajwa- says-pakistan-felt-betrayed-us-accusations- aid-cuts/28973283.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Army awards Sikorsky to supply 17 Black Hawk helicopters to Saudi Iran Press TV Sat Jan 13, 2018 07:27AM The US Army has awarded Sikorsky, a leading American aircraft manufacturer based in Connecticut, a contract worth nearly $200 million to supply 17 Black Hawk helicopters to Saudi Arabia. The terms of the "firm-fixed-price" agreement between the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, a Lockheed Martin company, and the army were announced Thursday by the Department of Defense. Saudi Arabia is expected to receive eight UH-60Ms for the kingdom's National Guard, while the other nine helicopters will go to the Royal special security forces. The UH-60M Black Hawk, a medium-lift, rotary-wing helicopter, has been in use by military forces around the world since it was first introduced in 1979. It has multi-mission capabilities and can be used in combat search-and-rescue, airborne assault, command-and-control, medical evacuation, search-and-rescue, disaster relief and fire-fighting. Sikorsky will begin work under the $193.8 million deal to manufacture the helicopters with an estimated completion date of the end of 2022. The deal comes as the US is under pressure to suspend its arms sales to the Saudi regime, which has been waging a deadly military aggression against Yemen since 2015. At least 13,600 people have been killed since the start of the war. During his first trip to Saudi Arabia last year, President Donald Trump signed a $110 billion arms deal with the Saudis, with options to sell up to $350 billion over a decade. Facilitated by Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner, the massive package includes missiles, bombs, armored personnel carriers, combat ships, terminal high altitude area defense (THAAD) missile systems and munitions. The announcement generated backlash in Congress, with Republican Senator Rand Paul promising to work to block at least parts of the package. The Trump administration is looking to loosen restrictions on American arms sales to boost the country's weapons industry. The move seeks to ease export rules for military equipment "from fighter jets and drones to warships and artillery," according to officials familiar with the plan. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN: Three-quarters of Syrian Refugees in Lebanon Live Below Poverty Line By Lisa Schlein January 13, 2018 A survey by three leading U.N. agencies - the U.N. refugee agency, U.N. Children's Fund and World Food Program - finds that more than three-quarters of the more than 1 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon are living below the poverty line of less than $4 per day. After nearly seven years of war, the U.N. survey finds Syrian refugees in Lebanon are poorer and finding it ever more difficult to make ends meet. It also shows refugee households on average spend $98 per person per month. Nearly half that sum goes toward food. The U.N. agencies that conducted the survey report most of the refugees need to borrow money for food, to cover health expenses and pay rent. It says almost nine out of every 10 refugees end up in debt. U.N. refugee agency spokesman William Spindler says that makes refugees vulnerable. "Obtaining legal residency continues to be a challenge, leaving refugees exposed to an increased risk of arrest, hindering their ability to register their marriages and making it more difficult for them to find daily labor, send their children to school or access health care," Spindler said. Spindler told VOA the precarious situation facing Syrian refugees is pushing them into adopting negative coping mechanisms, such as early marriage and child labor. "Many families cannot afford to make ends meet without the support of the wages earned by children. One thing that is particularly worrying is the fact that some employers prefer to hire children because they pay them lower wages than adults," he said. Spindler said the impoverished Syrian refugees in Lebanon are increasingly dependent on humanitarian aid for survival. Unfortunately, he said, aid agencies are suffering from a serious funding shortfall. He noted that $2.7 billion is required to meet humanitarian needs in Lebanon this year. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey will exterminate 'terrorists' in Afrin if they do not surrender: Erdogan Iran Press TV Sat Jan 13, 2018 03:14PM President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Turkey's military operation in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib will crush Kurdish militants in the border region of Afrin. "If the terrorists in Afrin don't surrender, we will tear them down," Erdogan told a congress of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the eastern city of Elazig on Saturday. In 2016, Turkey launched its Euphrates Shield military offensive, which spans Syria's Afrin and Manbij regions, saying it sought to fight off the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group. Later, however, Ankara was apparently using the drive to push against the Kurds. Turkey associates the Kurdish militants in Syria with the homegrown Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been fighting a decades-long separatist war against Ankara. The Turkish operation, however, comes without the Syrian government's permission, prompting repeated calls by Damascus to stop the military intervention. "With the Euphrates Shield operation we cut the terror corridor right in the middle. We hit them one night suddenly. With the Idlib operation, we are collapsing the western wing," Erdogan said, referring to Afrin. Erdogan also said Turkey could drive the forces of the US-backed Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) out of Manbij, which lies west of the Euphrates, and Ankara has long demanded that Kurdish militants pull back to the east of the river. "In Manbij, if they break the promises, we will take the matter in our own hands until there are no terrorists left. They will see what we'll do in about a week," Erdogan said. The Turkish prime minister further criticized the United States for arming the YPG and Arab militants from the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). "The US sent 4,900 trucks of weapons in Syria. We know this. This is not what allies do," Erdogan said. "We know they sent 2,000 planes full of weapons." The YPG is part of the SDF, which has been engaged in operations aimed at liberating Syria's Raqqah, where Daesh terrorists have recently left. The US considers the SDF as its main proxy force fighting on the ground in Syria. The YPG said Saturday that Turkish forces stationed in Syria's Dar Taizaah and Qalat Seman had shelled several Kurdish villages in Afrin, but no casualties were reported. Erdogan has said the YPG is trying to establish the "terror corridor" on Turkey's southern border, linking Afrin with a large Kurdish-controlled area to the east. Turkey is wary of the presence of Kurdish militants close to its borders in Syria, and has been opposed to Washington's efforts to train and arm them in the Arab country. The US has promised to take back the weapons from Kurdish militants once Daesh, which the Kurds have been fighting, is routed in Syria. Nevertheless, the Kurds remain armed in the territory they have seized while fighting Daesh even as the Takfiri terrorist group is effectively defeated in the Arab country. Washington's military support first began under the administration of US President Donald Trump's predecessor Barack Obama. On Wednesday, Turkey summoned the US charge d'affaires in Ankara over Washington's arming and training of Kurdish forces in Syria. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey Vows to 'Tear Down' YPG Forces, Opens Artillery Fire on Syria's Afrin Sputnik News 16:31 13.01.2018(updated 16:44 13.01.2018) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced a possible military operation in Syria's Afrin, aiming to eliminate a "terrorist corridor" on Turkey's southern border. The Turkish army opened artillery fire on the Kurdish militia positions in the Syrian city of Afrin, the Hurriyet newspaper reported. According to the newspaper, the Turkish Armed Forces fired 10 shots from the territory of the Reyhanli district in the country's province of Hatay. Following the military operation, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced a possible military operation in Syria's Afrin on January 13, adding that Turkey will clear its border of "terrorists." "If the terrorists in Afrin don't surrender we will tear them down," Erdogan told the country's ruling AK Party in the eastern Turkish city of Elazig, speaking about the Peoples' Protection Units (YPG) militants, which are considered to be a terrorist group by Ankara. As the president clarified, the Kurdish YPG were trying to create a "terrorist corridor" on Turkey's southern border, connecting Afrin to Kurdish-controlled areas to the east. "With the Euphrates Shield operation we cut the terror corridor right in the middle. We hit them one night suddenly. With the Idlib operation, we are collapsing the western wing," Erdogan said. The president went on by saying that Turkey was dissatisfied with the US for failing to stick to their promises, commenting on Washington's decision to stop supplying the Kurdish forces with arms, announced in December 2017. However, up to now, the US has failed to prove their stance with documented evidence and the statements from the White House continue to differ on the issue. "The US sent 4,900 trucks of weapons in Syria. We know this. This is not what allies do," Erdogan said. "We know they sent 2,000 planes full of weapons." The statement was made amid Ankara's recent summoning of the US Charge d'Affairs twice within 24 hours over the issues of Washington's support for Syrian Kurds and the US listing Turkey among countries, not safe for travel. As Erdogan stated, Turkey's possible military advance in Syria's Idlib province would eliminate Kurdish militia in the area, which neighbors Afrin. The Turkish army entered Idlib three months ago as a guarantor of the peace settlement process and has repeatedly accused the Syrian government of violating the de-escalation zone borders. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address GREENWICH Law enforcement wouldnt engage, Joette Katz remembered. It had taken weeks to even find the girl, and she was about to be sold to some creeper out of state. Then, Katz and her team found an angle. The case had a gang connection, they said, and suddenly the officers perked up. Police rescued the victim last year, just in time. At least, they rescued her in time to stop the sale. Her face had already become collateral damage. A dollar sign tattooed across her skin branded her as a commodity. She was her pimps property. Katz refrained from providing additional details about the case, including the community in which it took place, but said the girl was one of hundreds of Connecticuts kids who have endured sex trafficking. As commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, Katz identified 202 youth sex trafficking victims in 2016 alone. Of them, 184 were girls, 17 were boys, and one was transgender. Out of DCFs six regions, the largest population of trafficked youth fell in the Stamford-Norwalk-Bridgeport area, which includes Greenwich. This is going on in your neighborhood, in your backyard, Katz told a local audience on Thursday evening. At a panel hosted by the YWCA Greenwich, she and four other experts briefed listeners on youth sex trafficking in the United States, and particularly in Connecticut. The well-attended event was dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. only days before the national holiday commemorating his life. We are very proud this evening to carry on Dr. Kings legacy, said Mary Lee Kiernan, president and CEO of YWCA Greenwich. Kiernan explained that the panels primary objective was two-pronged: To provide a robust understanding of the topic, and to give a sense of what individuals can do to join the fight against trafficking. When we talk about trafficking, it is a form of contemporary slavery, said Krishna Patel, general counsel and director of justice initiatives at Grace Farms Foundation, a former federal prosecutor and the evenings moderator. I do think its the civil rights issue of our day. Patel spelled out the reality of the problem: Connecticut-based children are being raped for money. Constantly. Eight hundred kids. We can eradicate that. And we can be a model, she said. But, she continued, driving out youth sex trafficking will take a Herculean effort from an activist mass, not to mention a political will she hasnt yet seen. If you stay silent, I really feel like you are being complicit, Patel said. As an issue, sex trafficking is still fairly young, especially Stateside. Prostitution may be the oldest profession, but any real political understanding that people are being forced to provide commercial sex without consent on domestic soil is something that has only emerged in the last few decades. The first comprehensive federal law to address trafficking was not enacted until 2000. If youd asked me 10 years ago about human trafficking, I would have said that was somebody elses problem, admitted U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-4th, who attended part of the panel. In Connecticut, there are contradictory statutes on the books that in the past have impeded justice for victims. For example, until recently, a minor of a certain age was vulnerable to prostitution charges for engaging in commercial sex, even when an adult partner could be accused of second-degree sexual assault for having relations with that same underage person. You have to understand that she is a victim, and that shes not guilty of that crime, said Rod Khattabi, director of safety and justice initiatives adviser at Grace Farms Foundation and a former head of Homeland Security in Connecticut. However, victims often dont see themselves as such. Because of the intimate relationships pimps tend to foster with the kids they abuse, a family-like bond makes victims feel indebted to their perpetrators and skeptical of law enforcement. I work a lot of cases involving minors who associate themselves with a pimp who treats them well, and somehow they feel obligated to please him. And thats what they do, Khattabi said. Sometimes, he added, it can take days to establish trust between an officer and a victim. Occasionally, a kid will refuse to cooperate at all, as he said happened with a 14-year-old girl from the Bronx. Another huge problem is that today, pimps pedal children through popular websites like Backpage.com, and because of stipulations in the 1996 Communications Decency Act, it is nearly impossible to hold online platforms accountable. Vincent T. Nappo, who works at a Seattle-based law firm that handled a high profile civil case against Backpage, spoke about what he found on the classified-ad website after three minor victims came to his office. In 2011, there wasnt anything hidden at all. It was blatant commercial sex trafficking, he said. There was absolutely no ambiguity here. After reviewing 50,000-70,000 pages of records, he found that Backpages employees clean advertisements of obvious language that signals a child is being trafficked before posting them online. They would automatically and manually remove these indicators and then they would publish the sanitized ad, Nappo said. On Jan. 9, heads of influential Connecticut organizations, including YWCA Greenwich, co-signed a letter to Attorney General George Jepsen urging him to sue Backpage on the state level. Connecticut should not, and cannot, wait for the current Federal administration or other States to step up, but should do what it takes to fight sex trafficking here in Connecticut and bring Backpage to justice, it stated. On Thursday night, panelists asked the audience to read the letter and then contact officials to push for follow-through. For much of the audience, about half of whom raised their hands when asked if they had seen the documentary I Am Jane Doe on youth sex trafficking, information about Backpage probably wasnt all that new. But revelations about the lack of cooperation some agencies encounter when trying to prevent trafficking may have come as more of a surprise. Katz underscored one of the largest obstacles shes encountered in terms of combatting the crime. In Connecticut schools, shes a persona non grata. I think theres this perception that if I come, Im bringing it with me, she said. The Department of Children and Families has offered to provide free training in high schools to raise awareness about youth sex trafficking. But Katzs overtures have gone unheard. When Khattabi worked for Homeland Security, he reached out to high schools with the hope of speaking to students on the issue. He was constantly turned down. To Nappo, it was unfathomable that Connecticuts educational institutions would be unwilling to work with local agencies on prevention. Forget high school, the victims he advocates for are in middle school, he said. And, he continued, if an information session by law enforcement or DCF could save even one person from victimhood, that alone should be enough. After outlining some of the challenges agencies face when trying to combat trafficking, the panelists redirected their attention to how audience members could help. Jillian Gilchrest, who chairs the Connecticut Trafficking in Persons Council, said people should challenge systemic tendencies, like the over-sexualization of children and the idea that men need access to commercial sex. Khattabi told the audience to call their senators and advocate for change. And Nappo gave two courses of action: First, he said, identify local organizations fighting trafficking and pitch in. Then, he said, pull out a pocketbook and give to those parties. $100. $200. $50. Anything, he said. Katzs advice was more circumstantial. If you're standing in a hotel lobby and you see a young girl with a lot of makeup on with some credit card paying for a room, get engaged, she said. Week 2 in review: Sony unveils three phones, Galaxy S9 rumors heat up Despite hosting the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the second week of 2018 didn't bring a lot of phone-related action. The biggest story from CES was Synaptics' under-the-screen fingerprint scanner which vivo showcased on a prototype phone, which we handled. It's a solid start, but it's not yet fast enough to compare with current scanners on current phones. Our most read article this past week concerned the Galaxy S9 and S9+ storage and RAM configurations. The S9 will have 4GB of RAM and either 64GB or 128GB of storage while the S9+ will use 6GB of RAM and adds a 256GB model to the 64GB and 128GB ones. Both will unveiled at the Mobile World Congress in March. The rest of the stories this week are Sony's announcement the Xperia XA2, XA2 Ultra with rear-mounted fingerprint scanners that will work in the US, the Samsung Galaxy A8 (2018) goes on sale in Europe and the Nokia 8's poor 68 score on DxO mark. Rumor reveals Samsung Galaxy S9/S9+ memory configurations The Galaxy S9 will be available in 4GB RAM and 64GB/128GB storage options, while the Galaxy S9+ will come in 6GB RAM and 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB variants. Sony Xperia XA2 and XA2 Ultra go official with Snapdragon 630 chips, large batteries The Xperia L2 brings a 3,300mAh cell and key spec upgrades to Sony's most affordable line. All three models with rear mounted fingerprint sensors. Samsung confirms MWC unveiling for Galaxy S9 The company's mobile business president DJ Koh made the revelation at the ongoing CES. Hands-on with vivo's in-display fingerprint scanner In conjunction with Synaptics, vivo brings a smartphone with a fingerprint sensor embedded under the display. Nokia 8 gets a poor DxOMark score The company's current flagship smartphone can't hold a candle to top scorers such as the Google Pixel 2, Apple iPhone X, and Huawei Mate 10 Pro. Samsung Galaxy A8 (2018) is now on sale in Europe The device is currently listed on the South Korean company's Netherlands website for 499 (around $595). OnePlus 6 arrives in June with Snapdragon 845, CEO reveals The Chinese company is open to striking deals with US carriers for sales of its next smartphone. Xiaomi Mi VR Standalone is an Oculus Go version for China The phone-free, PC-less VR headset will support both Oculus Mobile and Mi VR games and apps. Samsung's foldable phone to arrive next year The company's mobile boss DJ Koh said UX was the biggest obstacle they are facing in commercialization. This might be the Nokia 1, an Android Go phone Rumored specs sound similar to the Nokia 2, but the price will be lower. Samsung unveils The Wall: a whopping 146" TV with MicroLED display While it debuts on TVs, this tech might replace OLED on phones as it has a number of advantages (including longer life). Leaked Samsung Galaxy S9 retail box unveils specs The alleged box promises stereo speakers and a 12 MP camera with variable aperture - f/1.5 to f/2.4. Samsung Galaxy J2 Pro goes official The first market that gets it is Vietnam for a price of VND3,29M (121/$144). LG showcases new rollable 65 OLED display It can be rolled like a painting canvas and taken anywhere with you. Haiti - FLASH : Haitian Government's reaction to President Trump's remarks Thursday, January 11, 2018, at a meeting at the White House in the Oval Office between President Trump and several Democrats and Republicans senators about immigration, President Trump reportedly according to the US press, qualified Haiti, El Salvador and several African nations of "shithole country" provoking a torrent of indignant reactions around the world, Africa demanding an apology. Without denying the substance of his remarks, the US President said Friday on Twitter that he did not use the expression "shithole country" affirming "Never said anything derogatory about Haitians other than Haiti is, obviously, a very poor and troubled country. Never said 'take them out.' Made up by Dems. I have a wonderful relationship with Haitians. Probably should record future meetings - unfortunately, no trust !" Anyway, in a statement, Haiti reacted strongly "The Government of the Republic of Haiti is deeply indigned and shocked by the content of the statements, not officially denied [by the White House], attributed by US media to the President of the United States of America who would have referred to some people, including Haitians, in terms, to say the least, disrespectful and insulting. [...] The Haitian Government condemns in the strongest terms these hateful and abject remarks, which, if true, would be in all respects unacceptable because they reflect a simplistic and racist vision totally wrong, of the community of Haitian origin and its contribution to the United States. In addition, they would be incompatible with the multiple bonds woven by the long history of friendship and conviviality uniting the two peoples of the two oldest republics in the hemisphere. It should be remembered that the destinies of Haiti and the United States of America have crossed since 1779 when 500 Haitian soldiers led by General Lafayette fought alongside American troops in the war of independence. Similarly in 1814 several hundred Haitians took part in the battle of New Orleans to protect the independence of the United States of America when the British wanted to regain their former colony. The relationship between the two countries has been strengthened by the fact that millions of sons and daughters of Haiti have contributed, contribute and will continue to contribute to the prosperity and greatness of America. In the same way, the spontaneous solidarity of the American people towards the Haitian people in their difficult moments consolidates, for a long time, the base of their unfailing friendship. The Haitian Government calls for respect for the dignity of peoples, for the preservation of the humanist tradition rightly held by the United States, and for the values of solidarity, altruism and respect for the differences that have made of this country, in the course of its history, a haven of freedom and a land of welcome for millions of immigrants coming from all horizons and all corners of the globe." HL/ HaitiLibre By Lily Lee | Published on 2018/01/14 | Source On the 12th, actress Jang Nara appeared for a short interview and a guerrilla date with people on the street as she celebrated the end of her drama, "Go Back Couple". Advertisement People were in awe of her beautiful baby face and the adorable demeanor she has about her. Jang Nara participated in the interview with enthusiasm and answered several questions fans were curious about. Q. "You've probably been asked this question multiple times, but, what is your secret in maintaining your youthful beauty and baby face?" A. "Not at all. I'm just good at doing my makeup. When I don't have my make up on, I look like my own age. Plus, when I'm having a bad day, I look even older than my age sometimes". Q. "What do you think about being called 'Rom-com Queen'?" A. "I was just extremely lucky with having good partners in my career". Q. "How's your love life going? We never hear about your relationships". A. "I actually don't know why I'm never in a relationship. I think I'm a pretty decent woman. I mean, I do have my flaws but overall decent. I guess I just haven't met my one yet". At her honest and adorable answers, everyone couldn't help but smile for this actress. She also shared some behind-the-scenes stories from "Go Back Couple". She talked about Son Ho-jun being shy on their first day shooting together because the very first scene they had to film was a part where he pats her on her butt and kiss her. By: Lily Lee Published on 2018/01/14 | Source The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on Tuesday said restrictions on advertising for fattening products like carbonated drinks and fast foods will be maintained. Advertisement The Cabinet approved guidelines that ban commercials for fattening food from TV from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. when many children are watching. The ban was first introduced in 2010 for three years and renewed two times more. The new guidelines make it permanent. It covers foods that are high in calories, saturated fat, sugars, and sodium and low in proteins and other nutrients. Examples are cookies, soda drinks, cup noodles and hamburgers. The ministry said, "We believe this regulation will help solve youth obesity problems". The obesity rate among children from six to 18 was a whopping 13.3 percent as of 2016, 1.5 times higher than in 2001. The rise has been linked to an increase in consumption of fast foods and fizzy drinks. According to a survey last year by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 18.9 percent of boys and 15.9 percent of girls in high schools in Korea ate fast foods three times or more per week, 1.3 times higher than in 2009. In a 2016 survey by the ministry, 25.8 percent of children said they get their information about snacks from TV commercials, and 62.5 percent were persuaded by TV commercials to buy the product. And 61.7 percent of parents said limiting exposure to commercials would help establish healthier eating habits for children. Junk food marketing targeting children is restricted in several advanced countries such as Norway, the U.K. and the U.S. Reagan in 1988. Photo: Dirck Halstead/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images After a long period on the fringes of the national conversation, the matter of President Trumps mental health has taken center stage since the publication of Michael Wolffs blockbuster book Fire and Fury. The book includes testimonials from former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon and others that paint a picture of the president as a semi-literate ball of rage with a nonexistent attention span who is cognitively declining before our eyes. In response to the fallout, Trump called himself a very stable genius on Twitter and held an open meeting that seemed designed to prove his mental acuity, two moves that only drew more attention to the state of his addled brain. A lot about this administration is unprecedented or as Trump might say, unpresidented. But in the case of a presidents fitness to serve, recent history may act as a very rough guide. To grapple with the idea that the man running the United States may not be in full possession of his faculties, one need only turn back the clock about 30 years to President Reagans second term. In 1994, Reagan revealed in a letter that he was suffering from early-stage Alzheimers Disease. He died in 2004. Whether Reagan was suffering clear symptoms from Alzheimers while in office has been a subject of fevered debate for many years. In 2011, his son Ron Reagan wrote in his book Reagan at 100 that he felt something was amiss with his fathers mind during his second term, though the younger Reagan later clarified that this did not mean that the president was suffering from dementia during that time. The book drew a fierce backlash from conservative Reagan defenders, including the former presidents other son, Michael, who insisted that his father was perfectly capable throughout his White House tenure a conclusion that had previously been reached by Reagans four personal doctors and other memoirists who were close to him. (A sketchily sourced Bill OReilly book released in 2015 was renounced by the presidents inner circle.) But multiple journalists have testified to a complicated reality: a slowly diminishing executive who leaned increasingly heavily on advisers, disengaged from day-to-day affairs, and sometimes had difficulty distinguishing fantasy from reality. The way these accounts were handled at the time highlight the differences between the 1980s and our own turbulent era, and the differences between Reagan and Trump. Heres a look back at how key segments of the political world handled Reagans mental state. Democrats Pounced, Then Left the Issue Alone As Ronald Reagan ascended the national stage in the late 1970s, the former Hollywood star and governor of California had already honed his reputation as the avuncular cowboy, a persona he would perfect in the White House. He was a man who thought in broad strokes, but was prone, even before he became president, to forgetting stories and details, tendencies his opponents attacked as proof that he was too old to lead. Reagan was no spring chicken, after all; at 69, he was the oldest person ever to be elected president when he won in 1980. (Trump, elected at 70, broke the mark in 2016.) Reagan addressed such concerns head-on. He vowed to resign the office if he was ever found mentally unfit by White House doctors. Democrats most seriously exploited concerns about Reagans age four years later, when the president appeared confused at multiple points during his first debate with Walter Mondale in 1984. Reagan showed his age, Tony Coelho, chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said afterward. The age issue is in the campaign now and people like me can talk about it, even if Mondale cant. Reagan appeared much sharper in the second debate, subduing his opponent with a famous, rehearsed quip: I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponents youth and inexperience. He won a landslide victory in the fall, and there was no concerted effort by Democrats to question his fitness again. While its overdoing it to cast the 1980s as some sort of bipartisan paradise compared to our hyperpolarized era again, there was plenty of discussion about Reagans fitness from 1980 onward it is true that a different, more genteel set of political norms applied. Theres also the matter of public opinion. Unlike Trump, Reagan was more liked than disliked by Americans for a large chunk of his time in office, and its easy to see how a systematic campaign to paint him as incapacitated could have backfired. And yet, not all of the old rules have gone by the wayside. Even as President Trump behaves in unhinged ways, even as his speech undergoes a noticeable reduction in clarity and complexity, even as his own advisers confide in reporters that they worry about his stability, and even as the general public conversation about it has grown louder there has not, until recently, been a serious effort from Democrats to question the presidents basic faculties. Whether this has been out of a fear of overreach, a sense of political propriety, or other factors is hard to say, though its difficult to imagine congressional Republicans holding their fire with a similarly erratic Democratic president. In any case, its a reality that seems to be changing. Forsaking the so-called Goldwater rule that forbids diagnosing presidents from afar, Democratic lawmakers recently invited a Yale University psychiatrist to testify about Trumps deterioration; she warned the group, which included a Republican senator, that the president is going to unravel. A Democratic congressmember introduced a gimmicky resolution to require future presidents to disclose the results of medical tests before an election. But amid the nonstop chaos, its notable that its still Democratic backbenchers, not senior leaders, or even senators, who have sounded the mental-health alarm. (The highest-profile move in that direction has come from a Republican.) If that reality changes, it will be yet another sign that were in uncharted waters. The Media Mostly Played Nice Peak media speculation about Reagans fitness came after his disastrous 1984 debate performance. The New York Times reported that the age issue dominated headlines in print publications and on national TV news in the aftermath. A Wall Street Journal headline that week went farther than most: Reagan Debate Performance Invites Open Speculation on His Ability to Serve. But they cropped up again amid the Iran-contra scandal, when Reagan claimed to have forgotten key details about his administrations selling of arms to Iran to fund Nicaraguan rebels. In 1987, The New Republic ran the headline: Is Reagan Senile? But the takeaway was more about Reagans seemingly calculated forgetfulness than possible dementia. And the idea that Reagan was actually dangerously unfit never gained traction in the mainstream media. (Of course, there was also no internet at the time, making it far more difficult to stoke the kind of wild medical speculation that hurt Hillary Clintons 2016 campaign.) If reporters had been fully forthcoming about their experiences with Reagan, the press could have been much worse. In her 2000 book Reporting Live, CBSs Lesley Stahl recounted a startling interaction with Reagan in 1986 she described him as vacant and a doddering space cadet that left her questioning the presidents mental fitness. She came close to reporting the full incident, she told Mother Joness David Corn, but decided against it when the president quickly recovered. In later years, advisers and others would observe that while Reagan grew markedly less interested in the quotidian tasks of the presidency as the years went on, to the point of almost entirely disengaging, he still had the ability to turn on the telegenic charm he was famous for and appear perfectly lucid when needed. The press often portrayed Reagan as doddering, but he usually came off in the end as benevolent or, in the case of a famous Saturday Night Live sketch, menacing not incapacitated. In 2018, questions of Trumps mental fitness are far more out in the open than they ever were with Reagan, thanks to two factors: Trumps clearly aberrant behavior and the public town square that is the internet, which feeds a constant speculation loop. There is certainly no shortage of national commentators proclaiming Trump unwell. For instance, CNNs Brian Stelter opened an August show by asking if the president was mentally ill. In May, Joe Scarborough called the president a man in decline on MSNBC. During the campaign and after, armchair psychiatrists diagnosed the president with narcissistic personality disorder. Legacy media outlets like the New York Times and Washington Post have, for the most part, been more cautious in their assessments for now. Whether their standards will hold depends on whether the presidents behavior grows even more unhinged, which seems like a safe bet. Reagans Staff Had Faith in the President During his presidency and after, Reagans inner circle mostly testified to the presidents intelligence and ability to retain information. When Howard Baker became chief of staff in 1987, he recalled a decade later, It did not take me a day to figure out that this man was sharp, well organized, fully capable, and the same person that I knew from previous years. But The New Yorkers Jane Mayer wrote in 2011 that by early 1987, several top White House advisers were so concerned about Reagans mental state that they actually talked among themselves about invoking the Twenty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution, which calls for the Vice-President to take over in the event of the Presidents incapacity. She recalled that they told stories about how inattentive and inept the president was. He was lazy; he wasnt interested in the job. They said he wouldnt read the papers they gave him even short position papers and documents. They said he wouldnt come over to work all he wanted to do was to watch movies and television at the residence. And in his biography of the president, journalist Lou Cannon wrote: The sad, shared secret of the Reagan White House was that no one in the presidential entourage had confidence in the judgment or the capacities of the president. Here it is useful to examine the single biggest difference between the final years of Reagans presidency and the unprecedented situation we find ourselves in now. That is Reagans temperament, which was steady and reassuring even under duress closer to President Obamas cool demeanor than Trumps impetuous-schoolchild routine. Even though Reagan could seem checked out to a degree that probably would have frightened the public, his aides did not alert reporters that they were alarmed by their bosss mental state, in part because they did not fear that a true disaster would arise from his condition. But Trumps White House is leakier than a sieve, and while elected Republicans are fearful of crossing Trump in public, the presidents purported allies and confidants have no compunction about telling reporters what they really think of the president. Whether Reagan was ever seriously impaired in office or not, his natural aplomb, both in public and private settings, gave him cover for his lapses. Trump, on the other hand, seems only to grow less tolerant, more impulsive, and more dangerous as he hurtles through his early 70s. His instability is right out in the open for everyone to see, and only his hardiest defenders the Kellyanne Conways of the world can consistently stick up for him without occasionally taking him to task. And yet almost the entire Republican Party has decided to come to terms, in every important way, with their maniac-in-chief. In the end, it will be the actions of Trumps allies, not their words, that determine whether or for how long their manifestly unfit leader will despoil the presidency. Dont hold your breath. Remember me? Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images Republicans are growing more and more alarmed about the prospect of losing the House of Representatives in November, which would break the partys stranglehold on unified power in Washington. (Senate control is more of a longshot for Democrats, but if the ball bounces the right way, its within grasp as well.) A senior Republican on Capitol Hill told ABC News, If the election were held today, the House would be gone. Fortunately, the election is not today. These concerns have made their way to President Trump. The Washington Post reported on Sunday that the concern has grown so acute that Trump received what one congressional aide described as a sobering slide presentation about the difficult midterm landscape at Camp David last weekend, leading the president to pledge a robust schedule of fundraising and campaign travel in the coming months. The problem with Trumps plan is that, much as he may deny it, he is a primary, if not the primary, reason for the Republicans plight. The presidents approval rating continues to hover in the high 30s, a dismal number considering the countrys humming economy. And, as is his wont, Trump keeps making a spectacle out of himself and his party, as he did this week with his shithole comment and a series of other missteps you probably dont even remember a few days after the fact. Trumps deep unpopularity, and the energy of the resistance to his administration, may dramatically exacerbate a fairly reliable political rule: The party that holds the presidency loses congressional seats in the midterms. Democrats need 24 seats to take back the lower chamber. House control would mean that Democrats could stymie all Republican legislation, order any number of investigations into President Trump, and even impeach him. At the moment, every reliable indicator of midterm performance shows that Democrats are well-positioned to overcome the persistent hurdle of Republican-led redistricting and win dozens of seats possibly 40 or more. In 2017, Democrats well outperformed their 2016 baselines in every statewide election. They made highly competitive races out of special House elections in Georgia, Montana, and Kansas, which Republicans would likely have carried easily in previous years. They then dominated statewide elections in Virginia, tromping the governors race and defying a Republican-drawn map to almost snatch back the states lower chamber. Finally, they picked up a Senate seat in Alabama, that, even with Roy Moore as a Republican opponent, would have been unthinkable a year ago. FiveThirtyEight lists Democrats with a formidable ten-point advantage on the generic ballot. Another reliable indicator of which party holds the momentum is retirements. Thirty-one Republican members of Congress have said theyll call it quits, a far higher number than a normal ten months before a midterm election. As the New York Times Nate Cohn notes, that number may be a bit of a false harbinger; Democrats have almost as many incumbents retiring in competitive districts (ten) as Republicans (14). But with two high-profile California Republicans Ed Royce and Darrell Issa retiring in blue-leaning districts last week, that balance could change quickly as more embattled Republicans see the writing on the wall. Finally, theres recruitment. As Republicans struggle to come up with credible candidates to challenge vulnerable Democratic senators and governors, Democrats are sitting in the catbird seat, with an army of well-qualified contenders to GOP incumbents many of them with military credentials, and many of them women. Despite everything coming up Milhouse for Democrats right now, some respected political analysts caution against overoptimism, considering the considerable lag between now and November, and the sober lessons of 2016. Press & pundits have now progressed to flat predictions of Dem tsunami in Nov. midterms. Quite possible given Trump...but also premature. Fine to be motivated by good polls, but let 2016 be a cautionary tale. Overconfidence about an election 10 months away can be deadly. Larry Sabato (@LarrySabato) January 14, 2018 But others who have staked their political reputation on circumspection are struggling to discern what, exactly, could go Republicans way to change the equation. I almost always preach caution. But it is hard to see the upside events that could help the GOP. The economy is already going gangbusters. If Trump set down his Twitter, sure, but we all know that isnt happening. So, youre left with black swan events (which do happen, see 2002) Sean T at RCP (@SeanTrende) January 14, 2018 Buckle up, political junkies and people who care about, you know, preserving democracy in America. Cardi B's had about enough of Donald Trump. Most recently, the "Bartier Cardi" rapper stepped onto Twitter to express her frustrations with the United States' commander-in-chief, spelling it out plain and simple. "Trump is soo disgusting," she penned. "I hate him Soo much. Im starting to hate him with a fucking passion." More than likely this tweet is written out in response to recent reports about the comments allegedly made by the President in regard to the countries of Haiti, El Salvador, and the continent of Africa in which he referred to these places as "sh*thole" areas. According to the Washington Post, sources who were in attendance at an Oval Office meeting revealed that Trump asked, Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?", referring to countries mentioned by the lawmakers in immigration deals. Additionally, the president went on to single out Haitian immigrants, requesting that they be left out of any deals. Why do we need more Haitians? Trump said, according to people familiar with the meeting. Take them out. Cardi, who is the child of a mother from Trinidad & Tobabgo and a father from Haiti's neighboring Dominican Republic, has previously spoken out against the controversial words and decisions of Donald Trump, criticizing his showing of indifference following the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. The tail end of last year was host to a slew of remixes, appropriately dubbed East Mixes, from Harlem's Dave East as the rest of us awaited the final form of his forthcoming Paranoia 2 effort, set for release this coming week on January 16th. But just before we get the project, Dave figured that he'd "put out something before this shit drop," as noted on the opening of his latest "On God" track. Co-produced by Jahlil Beats and Nick Paps, "On God" is East in his purest form as he serves up a preview of what's to come on the follow up to his Paranoia: A True Story project of last year. The New York emcee originally teased P2's release for some time before Halloween, but judging by the energy present on "On God," it may have been well worth the wait. Quotable Lyrics: Them niggas with you they ain't riding right Ain't got no time to hate on nobody I got a life Bitch I'm on the Forbes list for real Mazzetti or the Porche just to chill Donald Trump has reportedly cancelled an upcoming visit to the U.K. because, the last time he was there, members of the British government that came into contact with him didn't show him "enough love." According to The Sun, Trump has spurned his already-strained relationship with the United Kingdom because, in his mind, no one fawned over him enough on his previous journey to the country. A U.S.-based source is claiming that 45's administration is using an embassy's location as a bogus reason to cover up why he's really avoiding the trip. "He felt he had not been shown enough love by the British government," the source said. "He started to believe that the British government thought the same way about him as Sadiq Khan [the mayor of London] and Jeremy Corbyn [the Labour leader], who have made clear their disdain for him and said he is not welcome in the UK." Corbyn has done his best to add fuel to the fire after downplaying the importance of a relationship with Trump and the United States during a Sunday TV interview. "I am not sure anyone has succeeded in defining the special relationship," he remarked."I was told by a former PM that if they specified what it was, it wouldn't be a special relationship." There's no telling if the President will be rescheduling his trip across the pond or if he intents to give the Brits the cold shoulder indefinitely, but this is another example of how Trump's ego continues to alienate the important political figures in other foreign countries. For more on Trump, including what Cardi B had to say about him, click here. Toppled mannequins and clothing racks were the scenes visible at H&M storefronts in Johannesburg following continued outcry over a piece of clothing perceived as racist by many after the Swedish retailer placed a Black child model in a hoodie that read "Coolest monkey in the jungle." Organized by the Economic Freedom Fighters' Party (EFF), the protest took place across various stores in the South African capital several days after H&M issued an official apology for the decision. "We are deeply sorry that the picture was taken, and we also regret the actual print," the company said in a statement. "Therefore, we have not only removed the image from our channels, but also the garment from our product offering globally." Floyd Shivambu, spokesperson for the EFF, voiced his support of the act of destroying the storefronts in response to the hoodie, tweeting out that "racism must fall." Since the controversy began, artists G-Eazy and The Weeknd have cut ties with the retailer, citing their distaste for the image and a social responsiblity to do so. "Whether an oblivious oversight or not, it's truly sad and disturbing that in 2018, something so racially and culturally insensitive could pass by the eyes of so many (stylist, photographer, creative and marketing teams) and be deemed acceptable," G-Eazy penned in an Instagram caption. Nicki Minaj, who has also collaborated with H&M on collections in the past has yet to make a public statement on the issue, however fans have been persistent in pressing the emcee to drop the retailer. Like it or not, Lil Pump is now one of the most recognizable figures in contemporary music culture. Due in large part to the unprecedented success of his single "Gucci Gang," the Harvard grad has made a name for himself as one of rap's most controversial figures as well, with social media antics generating nearly as many streams as his music. However, for those who doubt that there is good inside Pump, check out the details from this TMZ report that show just how generous he can be. According to the gossip outlet, the young emcee gifted his crew some new iced-out bling that didn't come cheap. The 17-year-old rapper ordered eight chains in all, each one with the phrase "Tha Lights Global" worked into the design. Tha Lights Global is also the name of Pump's independent label. The pendents all vary in size, ranging from 10 to 30 carats in value. In total, the jewelry haul set Pump back $350,000. The rapper hit up Eliantte and Co. 2 months ago to place his order for the custom chains, all of which were made in New York City. However, the somewhat surprising revelation from the report is that Pump or one of his representatives still haven't picked the high-priced items up. It's also unclear which crew member is going to get what piece, but those details could surface over the next little while. Lil Pump is now famous enough that he's got an Saturday Night Live parody to call his own. Pete Davidson and other members of the cast honored veteran character actor Stanley Tucci by spoofing the rapper's hit song in the short sketch "Tucci Gang." You can check out the video from that SNL moment here. Aziz Ansari is now facing sexual assault allegations from a Brooklyn-based photographer who recently came forward with an account of a date with Ansari in which she asserts that she was violated. Known only as "Grace" to protect her identity, the 23-year old woman detailed the experience with digital publication Babe, describing an instance in which she went on a date with the Master Of None star in New York City, shortly after the 2017 Emmy Awards. In the article, Grace reveals that she met the 34-year old actor and comedian at an Emmys after party, sparking a conversation based on the fact that they both happened to show up with the same kind of vintage film camera. The chance meeting eventually turned into a date about one week later. While she explains that she was initially "excited" for the date, the night would terminate with her in tears. She revelaed that upon returning to Ansari's home after dinner, he proceeded to make sexual advances, and she became uncomfortable with how quickly things escalated between the two. When they walked back in, she complimented his marble countertops. According to Grace, Ansari turned the compliment into an invitation. He said something along the lines of, How about you hop up and take a seat? Within moments, he was kissing her. In a second, his hand was on my breast. Then he was undressing her, then he undressed himself. She remembers feeling uncomfortable at how quickly things escalated. When Ansari told her he was going to grab a condom within minutes of their first kiss, Grace voiced her hesitation explicitly. I said something like, Whoa, lets relax for a sec, lets chill. She said he then resumed kissing her, briefly performed oral sex on her, and asked her to do the same thing to him. She did, but not for long. It was really quick. Everything was pretty much touched and done within ten minutes of hooking up, except for actual sex. Grace went on to explain that she continued to give off more non-verbal cues that she was not comfortbale with the way things were going to no avail. Ansari wanted to have sex. She said she remembers him asking again and again, Where do you want me to fuck you? while she was still seated on the countertop. She says she found the question tough to answer because she says she didnt want to fuck him at all. I wasnt really even thinking of that, I didnt want to be engaged in that with him. But he kept asking, so I said, Next time. And he goes, Oh, you mean second date? and I go, Oh, yeah, sure, and he goes, Well, if I poured you another glass of wine now, would it count as our second date? Grace claims that Ansari continued to make explcit gestures and comments, urging her to engage in intercourse. At one point, he seemed to comply to her wishes, citing that "its only fun if were both having fun. They soon got dressed and sat on the couch to watch television, but soon enough, says Grace, Ansari was making more sexual suggestions. She eventually got up and told the actor that she was going to call a car to take her home. He insisted on calling her a car himself, and she was soon in an Uber crying on her way back home. Grace shared screenshots of texts exchanged with Ansari the next day, letting him know how she felt. Last night mightve been fun for you, but it wasnt for me, Grace sent in a message. You ignored clear non-verbal clues; you kept going with advances. She explains why she is telling him how she felt: I want to make sure youre aware so maybe the next girl doesnt have to cry on the ride home. Im so sad to hear this, he responded. Clearly, I misread things in the moment and Im truly sorry. Grace says she never met with Ansari again, and it wasn't until the actor received a Golden Globe award earlier this month for his Master Of None series that Grace once more had to face what took place that night. It was actually painful to watch him win and accept an award, she said. And absolutely cringeworthy that he was wearing the Times Up pin. I think that started a new fire, and it kind of made it more real. I believe that I was taken advantage of by Aziz. I was not listened to and ignored. It was by far the worst experience with a man Ive ever had. Aziz Ansari and his reps have yet to respond to these allegations. Whos to say what came out of my mouth? Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Was President Trumps shithole comment racist? Yep. Do lawmakers think President Trumps shithole comment was racist? Well, that might not be the right question, according to several Republicans who appeared on Sunday morning talk shows to cast doubt on whether the president actually used the completely-in-character language he has been accused of. Democratic representative John Lewis was straightforward about the remark and Trumps character in general during his appearance on This Week with George Stephanopoulos: I think the president is a racist, Lewis said. But Republican senators werent having it. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, who has developed into one of the presidents closest allies, stood up for Trump on Meet the Press. Lets take the whole scenario and put different words in there, Paul, reasoned, absurdly, trying to reframe Trumps comments as a perfectly reasonable demand for higher-skilled immigrants. You cant have an immigration compromise if everybody is out there calling the president a racist, he added. (Time will tell if his assessment is correct.) Georgia senator David Perdue said it was ridiculous to characterize Trumps comment as racist, then went a step further and denied the president even said shithole, accusing Democratic senator Dick Durbin, who publicized Trumps remarks, of a gross mischaracterization. Previously, Perdue had claimed he did not recall whether Trump had uttered the word. Arkansas senator Tom Cotton told Face the Nations John Dickerson that he also didnt hear Trump say the word during the meeting, and that Durbin has a history of misrepresenting the truth. (Unlike, you know, Tom Cotton.) National Reviews Rich Lowry got more specific on This Week, telling Stephanopoulos that his sources told him Trump used the word shithouse, not shithole which does not seem like a world of semantic difference. And Department of Homeland Security secretary Kirstjen Nielsen went with the standard I dont recall him using that exact phrase defense to Fox Newss Chris Wallace. So the party line at least, beyond Lindsey Graham is that the president may not have said what he was reported to have said, but that even if he did, it wasnt racist, just realistic. Got it. A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Rich Lowry worked for the Weekly Standard. Certain rappers build a legacy that ends up being so complex, it's truly hard to define. In fact, each and every generation features artists that help shift the course of rap permanently, making it hard to remember the days from before our current climate. To that end, it's easy to forget how much of the past two decades in rap music have been characterized by the domination of Atlanta, a city thats produced some of the greatest rappers in the genre's history. Names like Outkast, Ludacris, Gucci Mane and many more have become massive icons in the culture, leading to a large development of sub-movements within the confines of the South's hip-hop scene, such as the creation of trap rap, crunk, snap, the "futuristic" or "swag rap" movement, and the rebirth of trap. Among those who were instrumental in shaping and evolving the ATL's sound, one rapper who has stood the test of time and become a massive influence on the culture, through both his music and his seemingly everpresent personal chaos. That man is Clifford Harris, aka T.I. When you look back at the earliest records from T.I. (who was then running around as T.I.P.), you can see why, even at a young age, the rapper was being showcased to industry veterans like the Dungeon Family and L.A. Reid. A former drug dealer who was influenced by the stylistic mastery and effortless flows of Jay-Z, as well as the pervasively emotional content of Tupac, Harris was barely out of his teens when he signed his first record deal on LaFace records. His debut album, Im Serious, is widely considered a misstep, one that the rapper himself has since distanced himself from. Despite that, quality moments such as the heartfelt Still Aint Forgave Myself or his very first collaborations with Atlanta legend DJ Toomp, such as Dope Boyz, pointed to the future direction of T.I.'s music and, by association, of Atlanta's in general. Unfortunately, due to Im Serious failure to become a commercial hit and disagreements in vision with L.A. Reid, T.I. was dropped from the label and forced to regroup. This early setback notwithstanding, T.I. didnt allow himself to be discouraged or cast aside as a "could have been" prospect. Instead, he met now-legendary mixtape figure DJ Drama and proceeded to begin a campaign with his P$C team that would slowly reinvigorate his career on the streets, in a way that the major label system wasn't willing to do for him at the time. Nowadays, mixtapes are commonly used with this kind of goal in mind, but in the very early 2000's, most mixtapes were DJ-acquired compilations of freestyles from established industry stars. While NY-based acts like the Diplomats and G-Unit, as well as Houstons Screwed Up Click, had already pioneered the formula, it was T.I. who really seemed to define how the mixtapes could turn you from a label casualty into a hot commodity without any radio airplay. In a pre-Youtube, pre-streaming world that hadn't completely harnessed the power of digital downloading, T.I.s In Da Streets series and his participation in the Gangsta Grillz franchise helped to establish him as a big star and, in the process, redefined the rap industry's consumption model. Were it not for T.I., music industry politics might still be based on antiquated forms of P.R., media circuits and payola, instead of the grassroots movements that have become the norm in the latter half of this decade. After a show-stealer of a verse on Bonecrushers Neva Scared, T.I. was in high-demand again and soon found his Grand Hustle imprint signed to Atlantic, where he dropped his sophomore album Trap Muzik. Whereas Im Serious had often been full of rather generic attempts at a commercial crossover, this time T.I. knew exactly what his audience was looking for and how to deliver. It didnt matter if it was the crunk banger 24s, the wild and nervy Rubberband Man or the beginnings of his T.I. vs. T.I.P. saga of inner battles, T.I.'s persona became that of a complex individual battling materialism, morals and anybody who dared to cross him. Interestingly, despite being perhaps one of the earliest examples of "trap rap," most of the production was sample-based and had a soulful vibe which serves as a stark contrast from the bombast and studio-designed productions that would later dominate the genre. After all, this was still the "get crunk" era, with producers such as Zaytoven, Shawty Redd and Drumma Boy holding it down as regional acts and still a few years removed from complete domination of the scene. T.I. would proceed to rise through the ranks of rap as an up-and-coming star, but he never did so without controversy. He had several incarceration stints to his name and also found himself in feuds with the likes of both S.U.C.s Lil Flip (then himself a rising star) and fellow Atlanta icon Ludacris. By the time his third album, Urban Legend, was released, T.I. appeared to be working overtime to prove himself against a growing stable of naysayers. Whether it was working within the confines of the East Coast sound (Bring Em Out), West Coast (My Life) or with his southern fanbase in mind (ASAP, U Dont Know Me, etc.) T.I. just seemed at complete ease with his rapping. When Destinys Child tagged him and Lil Wayne for the now-classic Soldier remix, no other rappers were more appropriate or hotter nationwide at the time. By the time the Grammy-nominated KING album emerged, a release that would go Platinum multiple times over, T.I. didnt just feel like the biggest Atlanta-raised rapper of his era, he felt like the biggest Southern rapper of all time. Nowadays, seeing that same T.I. from the early 2000's has become increasingly difficult. He's become a father, reality TV star, and, despite putting out numerous albums of fairly consistent quality, the enthusiasm sent his way from listeners has been a situation of diminishing returns. However, thats not to say T.I. has become stale as a performer. In recent years, his music has often taken a much more political bent, perhaps reflective of his influence and stature among a rap scene that, alongside Jeezy and Gucci Mane, is modeled in T.I.s image. Furthermore, between his rapping career and his (often debated) successes as an actor, his work as a tastemaker with Grand Hustle is unparalleled. Not only was he a helping hand for veteran southern rappers such as Killer Mike, 8Ball & MJG and B.G. when they were considered less than commercially desirable, but he was also an early champion of B.O.B., the Rich Kidz (of whom founding member Rich Kid Shawty was a member), pre-MMG Meek Mill and grime MC Chip as well as the constantly underrated ATL-based producers Nard & B. It is hard to imagine what the rap game would be in 2018 had T.I. not been such a transformative force as a rapper and an artist. The quality and density of his catalog, which includes strong outings on mixtapes, as a featureed artist and on studio albums, is something to admire. He journeyed from pop to street without breaking a sweat. He also remains an underrated mind in the rap game as a businessman and a lyricist, but manages to maintain his charisma and his skill in front of the mic. T.I. may no longer feel like the King of the South, but he continues to stake his claim as one of the greatest of all time. MIDLAND - Jim Purvis started in the oil field digging ditches, sold his first prospect at 21, and then, in cowboy hat, bolo tie and double-pocket shirt, spent the next 60 years roaming the expanse of desert known as the Permian Basin, hoping to find oil before someone else did. The company he founded, Purvis Operating Co., was among the small Texas wildcatters that took big risks for big rewards, relying on instinct and experience, as much as science, to make the Permian what it is today, the center of U.S. oil production. But the future of Purvis Operating is now uncertain. "Are we going out of business? No, sir, we're not," said Purvis's wife, Margaret, who took over the firm after his death in 2016. "Is it more difficult with all these companies in and paying lots of high prices? Yes." The world's biggest oil companies - the majors - have arrived in the Permian, where they are forever changing how crude is produced in the nation's most prolific shale play. With deep pockets, advanced technology and global reach, they are elbowing aside the old ways - full of Texas passion, intuition and guts - and replacing them with the cool efficiency of manufacturing. The majors have plans to drill thousands of wells, streamline operations, maximize production and create what they call frac factories to suck hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil a day from the 48 million acres of shale rock across West Texas and eastern New Mexico. The three-year-old oil price crash weeded out the weakest U.S. oil producers and forced the survivors to vastly improve drilling efficiency. But the biggest oil companies have taken those lessons and started to employ them at an unprecedented scale, using big data to relentlessly track operations, creating computer models to predict production potential, and applying it all to work in acreage as much as 10 times larger than their smaller competitors, aiming to produce not just more oil, but also more profit. Some executives, analysts and local officials laud the activity as these frac factories ramp up: More truck drivers, frac crews, drillers and jobs. But others warn that, as a manufacturing mindset takes over and drives toward ever greater efficiencies, the approach will slash jobs, force small drillers to sell, and drive out the very wildcatters who made the Permian. Exxon Mobil, Royal Dutch Shell and Chevron Corp. have all in recent years bought hundreds of thousands of acres in the heart of the Permian, investing billions of dollars in land, rigs and drilling in pursuit of a steady, reliable stream of profits to pay their shareholders. Chevron, for example, needs to generate $8 billion a year just to cover shareholder dividends. MORE: Permian Basin could yield 70 billion barrels of oil in coming decades For decades, Chevron has relied on offshore fields to pay the bills. A single Gulf of Mexico deepwater well, for instance, requires billions of dollars and up to 10 years to develop, but will then pump 150,000 barrels of oil and gas and mint $9 million in revenue, every day. But Chevron says its Permian operation has the potential to triple that production in less than half the time it takes to develop an offshore field. By 2020, it plans to have drilled thousands of wells - as many as 2,000, analysts say - that together could produce as much as 450,000 barrels a day. "The Permian is extremely important to Chevron," said Bruce Niemeyer, vice president of Chevron's North America Exploration and Production. "We're at the dawn of a world-class asset." Buying in The oil majors were widely mocked for missing the shale revolution, losing out to faster-moving independents willing to take risks on oil fields that the industry had viewed as all but played out just two decades earlier. Production in the Permian Basin, for example, had peaked at about 2 million barrels a day in 1973. By 2009, when Exxon Mobil bought Permian driller XTO for $41 billion, independent companies had been horizontally drilling wells and fracking to release oil and gas from shale rock for more than a decade. Shell came even later, buying into the Permian in 2012, when it snapped up leases under 618,000 acres for $1.9 billion from Oklahoma City's Chesapeake Energy Corp. "When all the independents were talking about the Permian," said Sven Del Pozzo, an analyst at research firm IHS Markit, "the majors didn't know what the heck they were talking about." But the majors, like an oil tanker that takes a long time to turn, have since gained momentum and speed. Chevron has added 250,000 acres in recent years, and now has 2 million acres in the Permian, while Exxon has increased its Permian stake by some 300,000 acres, most of that acquired through a $6.6 billion purchase last year of several private companies held by the Bass family of Fort Worth. MORE: Rising costs, land prices have "taken the edge off" Permian Basin Over the next three years, Chevron, Exxon and Shell will each at least double the number of wells they drilled in the Permian in the past six years, according to Houston energy research firm Wood Mackenzie. By 2020, the majors' Permian production should triple from 2014, rising by almost 550,000 barrels of oil and gas per day to more than 850,000 - almost one-third of the Permian's current 2.7-million-barrel-per-day production. "It's amazing," said Amir Gerges, Royal Dutch Shell's general manager in the Permian. "This is a truly long-term play for the energy industry. We're just scratching the surface of what we can do." 700,000 barrels a day Chevron's frack factory is a choreographed exercise in efficiency. Computer algorithms identify drilling sites. Geologists map out well lengths and locations. Teams of contractors, roughnecks and engineers mount 800,000-pound drilling rigs that cost tens of thousands of dollars a day. The rigs drill one 10,000-foot lateral, slide over a few feet, and then drill another. Computers automatically chart progress, and drill operators, sitting in a glass box on the rigs, constantly monitor the process, watching for the first indication the pipe is straying out of the shale sweet spot. MORE: Permian Basin oil production crushes 1973 records Every 12 hours each drilling team reviews its work, comparing progress to the most efficient performances in Chevron's fleet, and makes corrections to their own drilling, to catch up. At Shell, the process is so digitized and automated, geologists and engineers guide Permian rigs from the 11th floor at Shell's Woodcreek campus in Houston, allowing them to drill and monitor 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They didn't even stop when Hurricane Harvey hit this summer. Shell's future, Gerges said, will increasingly rely on automation and mechanization: wireless sensors to check well levels, pressures and temperatures; drones to travel to pipelines, pump jacks and drill pads. Such technologies would automatically report broken equipment, and match contractors to jobs, much as ride-hailing services match drivers with passengers. "It's the Uberization of the industry," Gerges said. Shell expects to test the automation technology in the Permian by 2019 or 2020. Chevron plans to spend $3.3 billion in the Permian this year, one of its two largest investments, behind the $3.7 billion for the super-giant Tengiz oil field in Kazakhstan, projected to take 40 years to fully develop. Chevron's production at Tengiz is over 350,000 barrels of oil and gas a day. Last year, Chevron CEO John Watson said the company's Permian wells could produce 700,000 barrels a day within a decade. 'They're wily' With the majors gobbling up land and prices soaring, it's hard for small companies to cobble together prospects, said Margaret Purvis. She said she's thinking of putting her company's leases up for sale. "I don't know what's going to happen to the small operator," she said. "Some are going to sell out and go out of business. Some are going to keep doing what they've always done and find a little niche. What am I going to do? I have no idea." MORE: Shortage of truckers crimps Permian's boom Oil field veterans, wistful for the days when wildcatters abounded, have begun to accept that there is less room in this new Permian for the prospectors upon which the basin was founded. "I think we've got to come to that realization," said Tom Cambridge, an 82-year-old geologist, former Midland oil company CEO and current owner of Cambridge Production in Amarillo. But the best of the wildcatters will adapt and survive, said John Yates, Jr., 67, former chairman of New Mexico's Yates Petroleum. Yates sold his company to the Houston oil and gas independent EOG Resources in 2016 for more than $2.3 billion, but now he's back at work looking for oil. Yes, the majors will make prospecting more difficult in the Permian, he conceded. "But that's the thing about the independents," Yates said. "They're wily." WASHINGTON - When excerpts from Michael Wolff's tell-all book "Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House" were unveiled recently, a few sharp-eyed students of religion noticed a peculiar snippet about Jared Kushner. In a quote attributed to the president's Orthodox Jewish son-in-law and senior adviser, Kushner claims to have been ordained "an internet Unitarian." More specifically in the passage - revealed last week in New York Magazine - Kushner says he can perform a marriage for MSNBC hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski thanks to this ordination. "I can marry you! I'm an internet Unitarian minister," Kushner is quoted as saying. As it turns out, Kushner is, in fact, ordained - but not by "internet Unitarians." That appears to be a bungled reference - whether by Kushner or whoever gave the quote to Wolff - to the Universal Life Church, which has a robust online presence. An official with the ULC confirmed that Kushner is, in fact, ordained by ULC.org. "He's not the only person to forget the name - a lot of people forget," said George Freeman, presiding chaplain of the ULC. The confusion seems to revolve around the term "Unitarian," a word often used to describe members of the Unitarian Universalist Association and which sounds somewhat like the group that actually ordained Kushner. But the UUA is not an internet-based tradition: Birthed from the fusion of different Christian groups in 1961, the denomination now preaches a much broader message of religious inclusion to around 200,000 members who worship at more than 1,000 congregations. And while the UUA and the ULC do share a similar desire to incorporate various religious traditions, the similarities stop there. The ULC is not connected to the UUA, does not have worshipping congregations in the traditional sense and frequently ordains people across the country in a swift process that is conducted primarily online. That compares to the ordination process of the "UUs" - as they sometimes call themselves - which is rigorous, takes years and isn't exactly something you complete over the internet. "A Unitarian Universalist minister must be ordained by a Unitarian Universalist congregation and then must be certified by the UUA's Ministerial Fellowship Committee," said Marchae Grair, a UUA spokesperson who also noted that Kushner is not a UUA minister. "UU ministers typically have a Master of Theology degree from an accredited seminary or theological school." Kushner is hardly the first high-profile individual ordained by the ULC. According to the Universal Life Church Monastery, others include Joan Rivers, Conan O'Brien and Stephen Colbert. Xavier Wilkens, a representative of the ULC, said the ULC makes it easy for anyone to join as an ordained individual and that "a majority" of people who visit the site are seeking to officiate a wedding ceremony. "There is a key component of 'study' that is the cornerstone of UUA ordination, and we take the opposite approach," Wilkens said. "We don't put any barriers in the way. We definitely encourage our ministers to engage in study to further the ministry, but it's not a litmus test that we put in the way for joining the organization." Freeman noted that this policy is rooted in the ULC's loose theology. "We don't hold any one religious belief in terms of deities," he said. "Whatever deity you have, you get to keep." Freeman added he was personally opposed to at least one of the Trump administration's actions: namely, the recent decision to declare Jerusalem the capital of Israel, a region where Kushner has played a major role for the White House. But when asked if he had any message for Kushner as the head of the ULC, Freeman kept his comments brief. "Do no harm. And do the right thing. Tell the truth," he said. Calls requesting comment from the White House and TheSHUL - the Washington synagogue Kushner attends with his wife, Ivanka, the president's daughter - were not immediately returned. Kushner's ordination remains a sideshow over the release of Wolff's book. Most of the initial news coverage revolved around the emerging war of words between the president and his former adviser, Steve Bannon. A legal representative for President Trump has since sent a "cease and desist" letter to Wolff and his publisher, claiming lawyers were "investigating numerous false and/or baseless statements" within the book's pages. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders has called the book a "complete fantasy." Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo took oath as new Balochistan CM QUETTA: Balochistan Assemblys former deputy speaker Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo took oath as new chief minister of the province on Saturday after lawmakers elected him as new leader of the house with a majority vote, days after former chief minister Sanaullah Zehri stepped down hours before voting on a no-confidence motion against him. Speaker Raheela Hameed Durrani made the official announcement. The contest was held between Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) candidate Bizenjo who secured 41 votes and Pakhtunkhuwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) member Agha Syed Liaqat Ali who bagged 13 votes. Besides his party, Bizenjo had the support of disgruntled members of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F). He is the third chief minister of the province in four and-a-half years. Another PkMAP candidate, Abdul Rahim Ziyaratwal, who also filed his nomination papers for the slot had withdrawn from the race. Abdul Quddus Bizenjo was born in Awaran on Januaray 1, 1974, and contested elections for the first time in 2002. He was elected from the PB-41 constituency in Awaran in general election of 2013. He remained deputy speaker of the Balochistan Assembly from 2013-15. In an inaugural speech in the Balochistan Assembly after his election as chief minister, Bizenjo promised to make healthcare, education and clean drinking water for the people his top priority during his stint in power. The newly appointed CM said that he wanted the bureaucracy to keep pace with the measures he wanted to implement to solve the problems of the people in the province. I will use the short time given to me to find solutions to the problems of citizens and will try to boost good governance, he added. Maintenance of public order shall remain the utmost priority with the protection of the life and property of the people without any discrimination, Bizenjo told the House. He said that he wanted to ensure the completion of CPEC projects as well as other development schemes. He hinted that he would undertake legislation to protect the inalienable rights of the residents of Gwadar district as a whole and also sought help from his colleagues in this regard. The water scarcity in Quetta will also be addressed on priority basis, he added. I have no personal differences with Nawab Sanaullah Zehri and I have the deepest respect for him. He resigned with grace and upheld the democratic traditions in Balochistan, the newly elected CM said. Zehri, the former chief minister of Balochistan, had stepped down last week after opposition benches filed a motion of no-confidence against him. He turned in his resignation on January 9, the day when opposition parties planned to move a no-confidence vote against him in the provincial assembly. He was reportedly asked to resign ahead of the session to spare his party the PML-N further embarrassment after Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi failed to win over the disgruntled elements in the Balochistan Assembly. The no-confidence motion submitted against Zehri on January 2 by MPAs Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo and Syed Agha Raza had the signatures of 14 lawmakers. In order to retain his position as chief minister, Zehri required the support of 33 members from a house of 65. Bizenjos cabinet will comprise 14 members, including Tahir Mehmood Khan, Sardar Sarfaraz Khan Domki, Nawab Changez Khan Marri, Mir Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti, Ms Rahat Jamali, Abdul Majeed Abro, Mir Asim Kurd Giloo, Mir Amir Rind, Ghulam Dastagir Badini, Mohammad Akbar Askani, Sheikh Jaffer Khan Mandokhel, Agha Raza, Manzoor Ahmad Kakar and Prince Ahmed Ali. As many companies know, going green is good for a business' reputation--but some are just figuring out that it's a boon to bottom lines, too. According to a recent report from the World Wildlife Fund and Calvert Research and Management, nearly 80,000 emission reductions projects undertaken by 190 Fortune 500 companies have resulted in nearly $3.7 billion in savings in 2016. With more research being done on the financial benefits of sustainability, an increasing number of companies are undergoing green transformations. "We've seen more companies committing to becoming more efficient, buying renewable energy, and cutting greenhouse gas emissions," says David Gardiner, CEO of David Gardiner and Associates, a Washington D.C.-based advisory firm. Bottom-line benefits There are several ways that companies can become more sustainable, from improving human resource practices in foreign countries to using more efficient LED lighting in their office spaces. One big way that businesses are reducing costs, though, is by using renewable energy, such as wind, solar, and geothermal, to power their operations. Over the last few years, solar and wind costs have declined dramatically, making it far more affordable to pay for different kinds of electricity, Gardiner says. Renewable energy is also cheaper than coal, with investment firm Lazard finding that the cost of wind on a megawatt per hour basis is $45, while solar is $49.50. Coal's price is $101.50. "You're saving money on the energy costs because once you have a windmill and solar panels, the wind and solar power come for free," Gardiner says. Putting renewables to work There are several ways companies can take advantage of renewable energy. Companies can put solar panels on their roofs for starters, and with a recent Google report finding that nearly 80 percent of all rooftops in the U.S. get enough sun to generate power, that may be a viable option for many businesses, big and small. But numerous companies are partnering with third-party businesses, either utilities or solar and wind manufacturing operations, to either set up wind and solar farms or to buy renewable energy directly from the business. This is an ideal scenario for companies worried about spending upfront dollars on paneling their roof or creating a wind farm on their own. Instead, they pay the company, which builds the infrastructure, a monthly cost--just like they would to use traditional energy sources--until the project is paid off. "Someone else pays the upfront cost, and the business negotiates a contract to pay them back over a period of time," Gardiner says. "It's like what's being done now. Companies aren't buying power plants--they leave that to the utilities." Gardiner says smaller businesses, which are behind bigger operations in renewable energy usage, might consider partnering with other smaller operations when doing a renewable energy deal. "There's still an issue on figuring out how to make this easy for smaller companies to do," he says. "But we have seen some businesses work on deals together." Once the investment is paid off, companies should start seeing overall margins improve--and other financial benefits--as energy costs decrease. "Numerous studies have proven that there is a positive, tangible, quantitative impact on businesses who approach being more environmentally friendly as a business goal," says Kostya Polyakov, CPA, CA, and leader of KPMG's technology, media and telecommunications practice in Vancouver, British Columbia. "Be it growing revenue, cutting costs, reducing waste, or improving overall operational efficiency, operating in a more environmentally friendly way is absolutely good for business." At this point, most companies that use renewable energy are generating power through rooftop panels or taking wind power from nearby farms, but others are harnessing energy in other ways. Leor Rotchild, executive director of Toronto's Canadian Business for Social Responsibility, knows of agriculture companies that are using geothermal energy--heat that's stored in the earth--to not only power operations, but to heat buildings and greenhouses, too. In the future, green algae, which contains energy-rich oils, could be used to power buildings, while much smaller wind turbines could allow companies themselves to set up a small windfarm on a patch of land. "There are numerous ways in which companies can incorporate more green and renewable energy practices into their operations," Polyakov says. "It always starts with creating a business objective, and then following it through all of the companies' processes." Green is good--for business Going green doesn't just make sense from a cost savings point either. As many companies have learned, it's also just good for business. More consumers want to buy goods from sustainable operations, while an increasing number of people want to invest in sustainable companies, as well. When Rotchild introduced green initiatives at a former oil company he worked for, and it ended up on a list of sustainable companies, investors gathered around. "An investment bank phoned and said they were getting calls from investors about the business," he says. A ballot box is carried away from a polling station after voting concluded on the island of Inishbofin The voting age should be dropped to 16 and referendums should be held on weekends to encourage higher turnout, the Government has been told. The specially-convened Citizens' Assembly held a series of debates and votes on the subject with all 99 members backing a proposal for referendums to take place on Saturdays or Sundays. They also backed calls for greater availability of postal voting and the automatic inclusion of eligible voters on the electoral register. The Assembly recommended that the Referendum Commission, which is set up to provide information to the public, should be allowed to give an opinion on significant issues that come under factual or legal dispute in the heat of a campaign, including on social media. The members also called for it to be developed into a permanent Electoral Commission. Retired judge Mary Laffoy, chair of the Citizens' Assembly, again praised the work of the volunteer members and the experts who gave presentations or advised the debate over the two days. She said the members had made important recommendations. "I will aim to finalise the report of the Assembly on this topic and furnish to the Houses of the Oireachtas as soon as possible," she said. Among the other proposals which got the overwhelming support of the assembly, above 80%, included greater provision of voter education on referendums, freedom to vote in any polling station and spending limits for parties, groups and individuals campaigning in referendums. They also recommended that the Government should not be allowed to fund one side of a campaign and that more than one referendum could be held at the same time. The Citizens' Assembly recommended that the Government or Oireachtas should act on the outcome of a referendum within five years. And they also backed the idea that a citizens' initiative, a type of petition, could be used to put an item on the agenda for decision by the Oireachtas. The idea of compulsory voting was roundly rejected. A smaller majority of the Citizens' Assembly, between 50 and 80%, recommended a ban on anonymous donations and said the Government should equally fund both sides in a campaign. Similar margins also backed the option to allow voting in the weeks before the poll; online voting; and people to vote even if they have been out of the country for five years or less. The Citizens' Assembly recommended that more than two options could appear on a referendum ballot paper but in those cases the outcome should be determined by the Single Transferable Vote system. The Citizens Assembly was set up to examine five issues. The weekend meeting on the issue of referendums was moved forward in a bid to avoid confusion if a date is set for the vote on the future of the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution. The next meeting of the Citizens Assembly will be on March 3 and 4 when it will examine the issue of fixed-term parliaments. Four friends have become the fastest Northern Irishmen in history to row across the Atlantic, despite being plagued by 40ft waves, bizarre hallucinations and dental trouble at sea. The quartet, George McAlpin, 57, Alistair Cooper, 41, Luke Baker, 37, and Gareth Barton, 31, completed the 3,000-mile Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge in just 31 days. The overall winners, British team the Four Oarsmen, came in two days ahead of them. The Northern Irish team landed in the Caribbean island of Antigua to a heroes' welcome, having spent just over four weeks battling fatigue and the worst weather mother nature could hurl at their 26ft fibreglass vessel. The team, named Home To Portrush in honour of the coastal town where they are based, sported deep, all-over tans as they took their first steps on land since leaving La Gomera harbour in the Canary Islands on December 14. Mr McAlpin said: "It was nothing like we expected, we knew there would be big waves and strong winds but nothing like we could have imagined. "There were some scary moments out in the Atlantic, but being able to speak to our families back home, especially, for me, my daughter, really motivated us to keep going. "We had some odd hallucinations as a result of sleep deprivation, where Gareth had an entire conversation with a life jacket, and I struggled with some dental issues, but we pulled together as a team to overcome all struggles and everything the Atlantic could throw at us." The team took on the challenge, dubbed the world's toughest rowing race, to raise money for the Portrush Lifeboat. Lisa Everingham, global Talisker marketing manager, said: "We are delighted for Home To Portrush and their epic row across the Atlantic. "To be able to support them in this life changing adventure and to be part of their journey has been a real privilege." :: For more information, visit taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com While most people sweated over preparations for the Christmas dinner, I found myself fretting about exactly 49 dinners on Christmas day. When I first took a notion to start rearing turkeys for Christmas, I never appreciated how high the stakes would actually be when all my punters had put down good money for the centrepiece of one of the most important family occasions of the year. All day on December 25 I found myself glancing anxiously at the phone half expecting an angry text or missed call from somebody appalled at how their 65 bird had turned out. Lo and behold, only good texts started to filter through over the following days and I could finally feel my own digestive system revert to normal. Moving 49 turkeys out of the 50 chicks that I received in the early autumn was a result in my book. I had one massive bird who was tipping the scales at close to 30kg in early December when the majority were at 7kg. But this Schwarzenegger of the turkey world simply keeled over one morning about one week before they were all due to be killed. Apparently it's quite common in the poultry industry for big birds to simply get a heart attack if they are not killed before they come under too much pressure. There was also the small issue of not having birds that exactly matched all the order weights. Typically, a family gathering of say six adults and two children will munch their way through a 14lb turkey between Christmas day and the inevitable sandwiches and curries that follow on St Stephen's day. So most of the orders are for 12, 14 and 16lb birds. But there will also be a few who want 20, 22 and even 28lb turkeys, and at the other extreme those who'll want a boned and rolled breast weighing no more than 3lb. The problem, as every livestock producer knows, is that nature doesn't dial up weights according to a spreadsheet. A dull and damp autumn followed by a cold December, combined with grain that wasn't just as plump as the 2016 harvest meant that the birds ended up over one pound lighter compared to last year. But the intricacies of how long your turkeys have spent lolling in the autumn sunshine are of little interest to the frazzled woman (which it invariably is) that arrives last thing before Christmas Eve to collect the 22-pounder that has already cost her 100. You're asking her would she mind taking two birds instead while her over-hyped four and five year-olds wander over to my live crib only to get their lovely ribboned hair mauled in the donkey's mouth... it can get a bit fraught pretty quickly. No matter that the combined weight of 16lb and a 12lb is way above the 20lb that she ordered, along with promises that absolutely no one of the 15-strong party will be left hungry from a 16lb bird. "This isn't what I paid for, and it's not good enough", is a response you just have to suck up because, as we all know, the customer is always right. Meanwhile, another woman (which it still invariably is) lands back with a Christmas tree you sold her the previous day. She's in a terrible state because her husband is coming home in an hour and they always have a big argument every year about where the tree should go, so she decided she'd just do it herself this year and then she wrung off the screw-in stand that you also sold her and it was the one thing that she wanted to get done You would be forgiven for thinking that I will never again attempt to sell as much as an onion to a member of the public, but the fact is, it was a rip-roaring success. Despite Christmas tree sellers materialising at literally every mile on the six-mile stretch between my farm and Drogheda, and more the opposite way towards Balbriggan, I still managed to sell my target number of trees. Even with Northern merchants offering cheaper trees, local supermarkets muscling in, and established sellers that had been there for years, I found that a curiosity factor brought people up the back lane of my farm to see what was on offer. 2018 harvest The plan is to build on the whole 'experience' of visiting a farm for Christmas where people will be able to walk into the field and select their own tree and turkey in the future. Now there's something that no supermarket or Northerner will ever be able to compete on! But enough talk of Christmas - we've already started into the 2018 harvest with the first of our daffodils picked and sold. And I've got my first Polish export customer visiting the farm this morning to make sure that we are who we say we are. The power of the internet and mobile phones has made the business world a pretty compact marketplace but it's still hard to beat seeing the whites of the other fella's eyes. As somebody reminded me recently, people buy from people. It might sound stupid, but for some reason I like that phrase. I suppose the long version is that customers buy from people they like and trust. It's hard to do that in an email. But, as I've learned from my farm shop experience, even with the benefit of face-to-face deals, you won't win over all the people all of the time. That's life. Here's to 2018. When a Limerick city friend of mine was jilted by a rather good-looking young woman from nearby Co Clare there was, let's say, a limited amount of sympathy for him. "Parteen is such sweet sorrow," one of the gang quipped, parodying the Bard in a slick reference to her home village just over the Shannon from the Treaty City. It came to mind this week as I tried to bone up on the new Dail constituencies which will apply at the next general election. Park speculation about election timing, suffice to say that, if it is not in 2018, it will happen soon afterwards. The constituency changes, based on an independent report and voted quietly into law just before the Christmas break, are not major. They are, however, important for the people who live in those places affected. And, in a tight election count, those changes could help spell the end of a long-serving TD's career, or a breakthrough for a newcomer. The bigger-picture changes are easily tracked. Based on a 4pc population increase in the 2016 Census, the number of TDs goes back up from 158 to 160. Extra seats go to Cavan-Monaghan, bringing it to a five-seater; and to Kildare South and Dublin Central, taking those two to four-seaters. I mentioned Clare at the outset because the part of it abutting Limerick city has had contentious boundary changes. Some years ago, people around the aforementioned Parteen found themselves voting with their Limerick city neighbours in Dail elections. Locally they voted for Clare County Council, but in European Parliament elections they voted in what we used to call Connacht-Ulster. That put them in the same electoral area as people on Tory Island and those living in Drumlin country. Now Clare has achieved the full reintegration of its territory with an area where 6,000 people live moved from Limerick city back to Clare. Limerick Labour TD, Jan O'Sullivan, has been stoic about the experience, though her base close to the Clare border means it is not helpful for her. A similar change in Carlow saw Fine Gael's redoubtable Pat Deering crow delightedly: "Carlow has been re-united." He has been up to now an electoral anomaly, as a Carlow-Kilkenny TD since 2011, he lives in a part of Carlow which, to the resentment of its inhabitants, had been lumped in with Wicklow. It is again about the breach of county boundaries. That is something the independent experts are told to avoid where possible. A breach of county boundaries often stokes dormant old animosities but it is also a hard circle to square. The local government minister responsible, John Paul Phelan of Kilkenny, is himself no stranger to boundary rows. He noted that to minimise county boundary breaches, the experts had followed previous practice and joined two entire counties into a single constituency: Carlow-Kilkenny, Sligo-Leitrim and Cavan-Monaghan. John Paul Phelan also conceded that new county boundary breaches were deemed necessary in Laois, Offaly, Meath, Roscommon and Tipperary. Other boundary breaches already in place under existing Dail constituencies were also retained. This can throw up strange anomalies. It means for example that sitting Kildare South TDs, Fiona O'Loughlin of Fianna Fail and Martin Heydon of Fine Gael, are now making representations to three county councils due to the addition of chunks of Laois and Offaly. John Downing is an Irish Independent political correspondent Enda Barrett took a holiday with his wife Maura and daughter Mairead in New York over Christmas to "do something different". It also helped to clear his head before the calving season at his pedigree dairy farm in Kilconnell outside Ballinasloe where many of his 98 Holsteins are ready to go over the next six weeks. "Maura has an aunt and an uncle over there and we were staying in a hotel on 6th Avenue. We had a good time with the relations but all New Yorkers seemed to do is mess around with their mobile phones. Not a word out of them. The next time I go that far it will be to somewhere like New Zealand," says the 52-year-old. He was equally unimpressed with the weather on his return to Ireland for New Year's Eve. "We have had rain down here in Ballinasloe since July. We haven't had three consecutive dry days down here since the Galway Races but at least it has been nothing like 2012. "We weren't the worst affected by the storms over the last few days. The farmers up in Sligo and Donegal seemed to have got the worst of it." Enda runs a premier Holstein herd with one of the highest EBIs in the country at 116. The herd is producing 6,000 litres per cow at 4.2pc fat and 3.6pc protein. Expand Close caption to come / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp caption to come He supplies Arrabawn with over 500,000 litres of first-class milk annually and is happy with the 38c/l with bonuses he is receiving. He doesn't expect a huge variation in the milk price this spring. He uses AI on the breeding side of the operation at Kilconnell and employs some casual labour during the springtime calving rush. "I am blessed with a good AI technician but I think I am breeding the size out of the Holsteins. We will have to look at that," he says. He started off with a mixed operation back in the early 1990s when he left his full time job with Bord na Mona to concentrate on farming: "You can't work for two masters," he points out. Back then he had 12 cows and a flock of ewes on the 55-acre home farm and soon made the decision to concentrate on dairying. It was no cheap task as he had to buy milk quota to expand his Holstein herd which cost him over 125,000 at the time. It also involved expanding the farm through land purchases and leasing. "I remember offering a farmer 100,000 for seven acres before the economic crash and it wasn't enough but when the downturn came he jumped at 60,000 for the land." He now farms 75 hectares in the Kilconnell area which includes an out farm some 10 miles away which he uses for his feed supplies and for calf rearing. He is fulsome in his praise for his older farming neighbours "who have always been helpful with advice. I learned a lot from them," he says. "The best advice I got when I was starting out was that I would make mistakes but the secret was to make small mistakes." Off farm he takes a passing interest in the GAA and has an avid interest in farmer discussion groups. He also finds time to dance in Ballinasloe with his wife Maura, who works as a part- time secretary. He also follows his daughter's academic career with a keen interest. Mairead (21) is at UCD completing a German and History degree and intends to do her Masters in either Berlin or Munich. "I enjoy ribbing her and always tell her that history is the past tense but she never bats an eye. She is too engrossed in her books," says the self-made farmer. In conversation with Ken Whelan PTI criticised approval of FATA bill ISLAMABAD: Hours after Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi greeted the whole nation, especially the Fata people, over the passage of the Supreme Court and High Court (extension of jurisdiction to Fata) Bill 2017 from the National Assembly, the PTIs central media wing issued a statement on Saturday evening, saying the party leaders at a meeting of their core group had criticised the approval of the federal governments bill to extend jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and Peshawar High Court to Fata terming it insufficient. In their meeting presided over by party chairman Imran Khan the PTI leaders discussed in detail the proposed merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and demanded that the Fata Reforms Package should be implemented wholly. Warning the government, the PTI said that further denial of Fata peoples rights would compel the party to resist and retaliate to get our justified demands fulfilled. The National Assembly on Friday passed the legislation that would extend the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and the Peshawar High Court (PHC) to Fata a longstanding demand of the people of the tribal region. Though opposed by the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), the bill was unanimously passed by the rest of the lower house of parliament. The bill will now be sent to the Senate where it will become an act of parliament after its approval by its members. Following the adoption of the bill, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah congratulated the NA speaker and the lower house, terming the bill a landmark legislation. Similarly, MNAs hailing from Fata expressed their gratitude to the house for passing the legislation. Interestingly, though the PTI had also voted for the bill, no one from the party spoke on the floor of the house and its members kept their speeches confined to the Kasur incident. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi through a special message on Saturday felicitated the nation on passage of the bill, saying the extension of jurisdiction of superior courts to Fata would be a first step with regard to reforms in the tribal areas. Its passage by the National Assembly is a historic measure for tribesmen and it can also help repeal the decades-old FCR. The prime minister also congratulated the people of Fata, and observed that it was a day of great omen as the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government had secured their rights which had been denied in the last 70 years. The passage of the bill will also enable the tribesmen to enter the national mainstream and further strengthen Pakistan, he concluded. In her statement, PPPs central information secretary, Dr Nafisa Shah, congratulated the opposition parties for leading the movement that led to the passage of the Fata bill in the National Assembly. Dr Shah termed the law a milestone and a step towards the eventual merger of Fata with KP. She said it was the vision of the party founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to mainstream Fata with the rest of the country and had he lived, Fata reforms would have been completed long ago. She said PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had a firm commitment to stand with the people of Fata until complete merger with KP was achieved, including the financial and administrative measures required. She claimed that it was former president Asif Zardari who had begun the mainstreaming process with a series of wide-ranging consultations with stakeholders that led to the extension of Political Parties Act, which in turn allowed the parties to work in Fata as a result of which 2013 elections in Fata were contested on party basis for the first time. Non-bank lender Capitalflow has merged with property-focused peer BBF Capital Partners to beef up its real estate division, the Sunday Independent can reveal. The deal will mean Capitalflow can offer term loans and bridging finance to Irish property investors. Capitalflow is now aiming to finance as much as 20m in property investments in Q1 and at least 100m by the year end. The businesses joined forces last month and since then the combined entity has financed the recent acquisition of Oranmore Town Centre, a shopping centre in Galway. Capitalflow chief executive Ronan Horgan said the deal would enable it to provide a broader range of products. "Business owners looking to invest in property as an asset, or indeed needing to refinance from the international funds, now have another new option in the marketplace," Horgan said. Set up in 2016, the business already provided invoice discounting, leasing, hire purchase, refinancing and asset-based lending services. It has provided around 100m to more than 900 customers. Horgan is the former managing director in Ireland of Bibby Financial Services. BBF is led by a team of executives including Colum Breslin, Shane Flood and Philip Browne. This team is now joining the merged entity. "Combining the talent and expertise of BBF Capital Partners and Capitalflow will allow the company to become a real partner to Irish businesses, with a comprehensive offering to address their financial needs," Breslin said. He is taking up the post of head of commercial real estate."This is a sector which has, in the past, been challenged in terms of sourcing finance yet can be credited with providing and creating significant employment in Ireland," he added. BBF has typically focused on bridging finance - short-term loans - providing facilities between 250,000 and 5m. It was set up in 2014 and has provided more than 40m to businesses across the country. Capitalflow is owned by London private-equity firm Pollen Street Capital. Originally part of RBS, Pollen Street was spun out into a separate business in 2014. Capitalflow also has an office in Belfast. The business is aiming to capitalise on a growing trend of Irish businesses looking to obtain capital from non-bank providers. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar came to power promising much for Ireland's early risers, not least the creation of a 'Republic of Opportunity' for everyone. The bedrock of a successful society and economy-and, by extension, republic-is children. Providing affordable access to childcare and early education is vital in making sure Ireland's young people get the best start in life. But Ireland ranks last in Europe for early education and 49th internationally for female participation in the workplace. This is not a coincidence. Much of the reason for this lies in the failure of the State to put in place affordable, accessible childcare and early education services for families who want and need it. This issue is much more than just one of affordable childcare - it's about equality, too. We need to move away from seeing childcare as a 'women's issue'. It's not a women's issue and if we continue to see it as such, we perpetuate and prolong the existing inequalities that women face each day. It has been four decades since women were legally afforded equal status and equal pay in the workplace, and yet almost 50pc of mothers leave work once they have children. According to figures from last year's census, we have a female labour market participation rate of just 55pc, compared to a male participation rate of nearly 70pc. This is despite Irish women surpassing men in terms of educational achievement, with 43.2pc of women holding a third-level qualification compared to 40.7pc of men. As we near full employment, these figures seem particularly absurd. Employers are finding it increasingly difficult to find anyone to fill key roles, never mind those with the requisite skills required, yet there are many educated, highly trained women in our homes who want to work but can't because of childcare costs. For lower income to average income mothers, especially those who work part-time, the lack of meaningful Government support for childcare means it can make little financial sense to go out to work each day. Based on the national average alone, the cost of childcare for two children can be as much as 20,000 per annum and much higher in some areas, like Dublin. Efforts to remedy this problem have lacked vision. The Government's Affordable Childcare Scheme gave just 20 a week back to parents, with greater supports available to lower income families. Budget 2018 did nothing further to reduce costs for parents. The free pre-school years only cover children aged three to five for three hours a day, leaving working parents to source additional childcare for the rest of the time while they're at work. In countries where the government covers much of the cost of childcare, female participation in the workforce is much higher. The Swedish government, for example, invests 3pc of GDP in childcare and early education, with parents guaranteed to not pay more than 3pc of their gross salary, capped at 128 a month. Is it any wonder that 80pc of Swedish women work outside the home? In Ireland, once children reach schooling age, the situation changes. The State invests more than 10pc of all public spending on primary and secondary education, amounting to a whopping 10.8bn. Compare this to the mere 466m that is allocated to early years funding, despite the ample evidence that shows children's education and development begins long before they reach the age of three. Once maternity and paternity leave finish, with most fathers currently unable to afford to take their leave, the State then steps back out of providing any childcare supports to parents. In the main, thereafter, the burden of responsibility falls disproportionately on women, who must double-job as employees and homemakers. The facts are clear: the structures of working life are not working for women. This must change. The Government has already begun some of this work by introducing the free pre-school years (of only three hours a day). But that's only a drop in the ocean when it comes to what parents need - in particular, what women need. With the ongoing economic recovery, an opportunity now exists to get the basics right. Let's give our children the start in life they deserve. Let's make childcare a core Government policy priority, rather than just a women's issue. Regina Bushell is chairwoman of Seas Suas, a new representative body for independent early education and childcare providers The recently-published 2017 Exchequer returns explain that in cumulative terms Ireland's corporation tax receipts of 8,201m came in 486m or 6.3pc ahead of target for the year as a whole. In year-on-year terms, receipts grew by 11.6pc or 850m in 2017. Cumulative income tax receipts at end-December of 20,009m were up 4.4pc or 840m in year-on-year terms. When it comes to tax, the view is that we play fair but we play to win. But how are we doing when compared to our European competitors? Just before Christmas the European Commission published its report on tax policies within the EU. It looks at each member state's tax policies under four priorities being (1) facilitating investment; (2) boosting employment; (3) ensuring tax compliance; and (4) reducing inequalities, while noting significant interdependencies between those priorities. The report is almost a hundred pages long but it does give some pointers as what we're doing well and where we can do better. It notes that decisions on whether to invest in a country will be influenced by the effective marginal tax rate (EMTR) ie the tax burden on the last euro invested in a project that just breaks even. The smaller the EMTR the more conducive to investments the tax system will be. The EMTR encompasses a wide range of factors going beyond statutory corporate tax, such as the source of financing (debt, retained earnings or new equity) and the asset in which the investment is made (machinery, buildings, intangibles, inventory and financial assets). Ireland came in above average in effective marginal tax rates so not too shabby there. One of the factors that affects such rates is the cost of making investments. A company can borrow or it can receive and/or use its own equity to make an investment. In Ireland, a tax deduction is generally given (terms and conditions apply) for interest on borrowings but no deduction is given for the cost of equity capital. This is the so-called "debt bias". The report notes that this bias is "particularly problematic for young and innovative companies that often have no access to external funding and are therefore put at a disadvantage". It goes on to say that this bias can be addressed by different reforms such as abolishing the deductibility of interest costs (to be clear: bad answer!), or by extending the deductibility to include the return on equity. The point is made that interest reforms would increase the overall mean cost of capital for new investment in almost all EU countries while the above-mentioned equity reforms would reduce it. Critically, the cost of capital is directly linked to the level of the EMTR which impacts the investment-friendliness of the tax system. It's noted that Portugal has taken measures to address the debt bias granting its allowance for corporate equity (ACE) to all companies (not only SMEs). Belgium, Italy and Cyprus continue to apply ACE regimes. You'll remember our 'play fair, but play to win' mantra. Right now, we don't have that ACE up our sleeve and we need to look at this. Even the proposed Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base (CCCTB) contains an "allowance for growth and investment" which gives a form of equity deduction. This is pointed out by the EU Commission in their report; qu'elle surprise mes amis! Our thoughts on CCCTB are well known but in January of last year former Finance Minister Michael Noonan noted that the CCCTB proposal "makes an interesting case for giving tax relief for equity investment in a business, which is something which should be examined further". This wasn't addressed in the Finance Act 2017 (signed into law by President Michael D Higgins on Christmas Day) and it can be seen that many countries have examined this and have made this ACE move. Are we getting left behind? Ireland scores well on tax incentives for R&D and especially well on the number of hours required by a medium-sized company to comply with taxes in a particular year. As the report notes, tax compliance cost are influenced not only by tax rules but also by how simple it is to deal with tax authorities. All of this matters when companies are looking at where to invest. The report explains that tax policy can have a major influence on employment decisions, investment levels and the willingness of entrepreneurs to expand. On entrepreneurship, Ireland is specifically called out: "Focusing on the entrepreneur himself, Ireland introduced a reduced capital gains tax for entrepreneurs." We did but other countries are ahead of us in this area. Under our rules, if an entrepreneur builds up a business then he can avail of entrepreneur relief which reduces the rate of Capital Gains Tax (CGT) to 10pc on the first 1m of gains on disposing of the business. Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe was asked in the Dail just before the Christmas break the full year cost of increasing the lifetime limit for CGT entrepreneur relief to 5m, 10m and 15m respectively. He noted that, based on various assumptions regarding asset disposals, the cost would be 49m, 54m, and 56m respectively in a full year. Compare those numbers to those mentioned in the starting paragraphs to this column. As I've written previously this is the time to focus on our indigenous industry and the next 'Aghaidh Leabhar'. Where will it come from? What can we do to make this happen? An enhanced entrepreneur relief could be significant in answering those questions. Myron Scholes (Nobel prizewinning economist) and others once wrote: "Success is achieved when the tax rules subsidise activities that benefit society as a whole more than they benefit the individuals engaging in the activities ...". Time to look again at entrepreneurs. According to the Commission's report, other countries may be behind us in some areas but ahead of us in others with ACEs up their sleeves and enhanced reliefs for the entrepreneurial gene etc. Some will say that we have to look at our tax system "in the round", "on balance" and "as a whole" while focusing on the "big picture". I'd agree once there's no chink in our armour. Anthony Hopkins said chillingly in Fracture (2009) "You look closely enough, you'll find that everything has a weak spot where it can break, sooner or later." The trick is to remove armour chinks as soon as you find them. Competitive advantages need to stay competitive. Tom Maguire is tax partner in Deloitte Jobs agency IDA is to be handed newly-enhanced powers to compulsorily purchase land after its previous failure to acquire land for tech giant Intel in Kildare. The new legislation - the first by any department in 2018 - has been introduced by Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphries. It is aimed at fixing issues that landed the State agency in a legal quagmire over its attempted purchase of a 72-acre farm owned by Kildare farmer Thomas Reid. The proposed Industrial Development (Amendment) Bill 2018 will ensure that the State agency has the legal basis to continue to acquire property in pursuit of its industrial development functions, according to an explanatory memorandum written by the government department. Intel has since lodged plans for a massive 90,000 square metre extension at the Leixlip plant that could create 850 full-time jobs and 3,000 construction jobs. That development was given the go-ahead in October by An Bord Pleanala. There has been speculation in recent days that the huge project could soon get the green light but, although refurbishment work is planned for parts of the plant, an Intel spokesperson said the go-ahead for the extension was no closer. "The planning permission from October 2017 forms part of our regular practice to ensure operational readiness and preparedness, and as such we continually take planning and preparatory steps to best position Ireland to respond to future demands of the corporation," he said. Meanwhile, Fianna Fail science and technology spokesperson James Lawless, in whose Kildare constituency the Intel plant is located, said he welcomed the Government's new IDA bill. "The bill addresses issues which arose in the 'Reid case' where the IDA attempted to purchase land adjacent to Intel in Leixlip but were unable to do so. The protracted legal saga that followed was damaging to all concerned," said Lawless. "It is in the public interest that the IDA (or other state agencies where appropriate) can move quickly in these cases and make provision for large-scale investment where that is in the greater good. The constitution certainly safeguards property rights but no rights are absolute. "There must always be a balancing of rights and the public interest in the development of employment and local investment may at times outweigh an individual land interest." But farmers and other landowners have regularly raised concerns over any attempt to increase the power of state agencies and local authorities to compulsorily acquire land. In November 2015 the Supreme Court ruled in favour of Reid whose home and lands lie next to the Intel plant. Reid had claimed that IDA's CPO attempt, cleared by the High Court in 2013, had breached his property rights under the Constitution and European Convention of Human Rights. But the Supreme Court had unanimously ruled that the IDA had exceeded its powers in the attempt and that its CPO mechanisms were outdated. It was previously reported that the IDA had spent close to 1.4m attempting a CPO on the farm, including legal fees related to the Reid case. The explanatory memorandum for the new bill said its purpose was to address issues raised by the judgment and "to ensure the IDA has a sound legal basis to continue to carry out its property functions." It will only permit IDA a CPO on land required for immediate, as opposed to future, use, and where a specific undertaking has been identified. It also ensures CPO land can only be leased - as opposed to sold - by the IDA to an industrial undertaking. The new law also provides a full role for An Bord Pleanala as an independent body to affirm IDA CPOs and to adjudicate on objections related to a compulsory acquisition. Mixed martial arts champion Conor McGregor is a new entry in this years Rich List with a 140m fortune. Photo: Getty Conor McGregor has made his debut in the Sunday Independent Rich List but has been beaten into second place in the list of highest new entries. At 29, mixed martial arts champion McGregor is one of the youngest entries on the list with only a handful of people under 30 making an appearance. However, with an estimated wealth of 140m, he is not the highest of the nine new entries on this years rankings. He is beaten by a Dublin technology entrepreneur who is making a massive impact in the world of eCommerce. While tech has delivered significant valuations for several upcoming entrepreneurs, new entries are making in the money in a wide range of areas such as food and beverages. The common thread among the new wealthy has been an ability to find a niche in a fast- growing new area. Expand Close Conor McGregor goes toe to toe on stage in a mock brawl with entrepreneur Richard Branson at the Pendulum Summit 2018 in Dublin yesterday. Photo: Conor McCabe / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Conor McGregor goes toe to toe on stage in a mock brawl with entrepreneur Richard Branson at the Pendulum Summit 2018 in Dublin yesterday. Photo: Conor McCabe The top ten entrants in the Rich List 2018 increased their fortunes by over 2bn in total over the past year. The ten wealthiest have a collective estimated worth of just over 50bn compared with 47.9bn in the 2017 Rich List. The richest family on the list is relatively unknown to most people but the Mistry family comfortably tops the rankings with estimated wealth of 15.6bn. Based in India, Patsy Perin Dubash was born in Dublin and married one of Indias richest man, Pallonji Mistry. He and their adult children all hold Irish passports. Their wealth comes from a large stake in Tata, one of the worlds largest conglomerates. The second entry on the list is the Weston Family, which owns Brown Thomas and Arnotts in Dublin. Former model Hillary Weston married Galen Weston, who is part of an extremely wealthy Canadian family. Private equity mogul John Grayken is third on the list. The American founded so-called vulture fund Lone Star and holds an Irish passport. Fourth on the list is Denis OBrien, the Cork born and Dublin raised communications billionaire. His main business is Digicel, a telco with operations in the Caribbean and Asia Pacific. OBrien, who is a shareholder in Independent News & Media, is now estimated to have amassed wealth of 5bn. The final entry into the top 5 is Pearse Lyons, the founder of animal nutrition business Alltech. He started his career at Harp Lager in Dundalk and now employs 3,500 people. The full Rich List, which charts the financial ups and downs of the countrys 250 wealthiest people, is published only in todays Sunday Independent. There are 35 Canadian companies approved in Ireland, with an employment base in excess of 3,790 people. Thats an increase of more than a third since 2014, according to the IDA A century and a half ago, a band of Fenians conducted raids on Canada in an attempt to strike a blow against British rule in Ireland. Needless to say, the effort was a failure. John ONeill a key leader of the Fenian band wanted to make it clear however that he had no quarrel with the Canadians. We come among you as the foes of British rule in Ireland, he said. We are here as the Irish army of liberation. Today that spirit of Irish-Canadian camaraderie endures as Ireland becomes something of a hotbed for Canadian business. In a speech to mark the visit of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to Ireland last summer, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said trade between the two countries was worth 2.75bn. Canadian investment in Ireland was valued at 10bn, he said. Perhaps the most high-profile component of that investment is insurer and pensions provider Irish Life bought off the State by Winnipeg-based Great West Lifeco. The deal saw Irish Life combined with Great Wests Canada Life business which has had a presence in Ireland in 1903. There was, said the then Great West boss Allen Loney, a good culture fit. And culture is the word that keeps coming up when you speak to Canadian businesses operating here. A lot has been written about American multinationals in Ireland thats been ongoing for 50-60 years, John Riordan, director of support for Ireland at Canadian ecommerce business Shopify. But there are a lot of similarities between the Canadian culture and the Irish culture. In my experience the two countries seem to gel. From a business culture perspective, theyre very similar in nature. In the same way that weve always been the scrappy kid brother to the UK, Canada has been the scrappy kid brother to the US. And theres a similar mindset as a result of that. Shopifys operation in Ireland is primarily focused on customer support. Its an area that has been growing in Ireland in recent years, despite the perception that these jobs are all being outsourced to low-cost countries in Asia. Part of the reason, says Riordan, is that Irish people are perceived as being empathetic they are good listeners. Shopify has more than 200 people based in Ireland but has no office every single person works remotely. We handle customer queries from all countries around the world weve been in Ireland almost three years. We looked at a couple of different places outside of Canada. Ireland was one of the more attractive places because of the talent pool that was available. Another Canadian business getting involved in the customer support business is Telus International, which bought a majority stake in Dan and Linda Kielys Voxpro in one of the most high-profile Irish deals of the year. Telus CEO Jeffrey Puritt said his Toronto-based company and the Kielys Cork operation were like-minded organisations. Read More Together, we provide a truly differentiated offering in the marketplace designed to meet our fast-growing partner demands for more locations, flexible and agile support structures, and highly engaged multilingual team members committed to customer service excellence, he said. Chris Collenette is a Canadian consultant working at the Irish law firm Philip Lee. He works to increase the firms Canadian business and encourages Canadian companies to come and locate in Ireland, in tandem with Irish and Canadian government agencies. Previously an adviser to former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien. He has a good handle on how to persuade a Canadian company to locate here. There are a number of things we would highlight. Theres geography. Ireland is the closest geographical country in Europe to Canada and there are now weekly direct flights from Dublin to Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Two, the linguistic similarities. Three, the legal systems are quite similar. Four, there are shared values 14pc of the Canadian population claim themselves as having Irish background, Collenette says. Talent is a big part too. Theres a huge hub of international companies in Ireland, and if you want to scale into Europe, you are going to need a talented workforce to do so. Companies might have a great idea or a great product, but they also need people to drive the business forward. We would also talk about tax advantages such as the competitive corporate tax rate and the Knowledge Development Box, but we would lead with the similarities in language, the legal system, geography and of course talent. Another person whos been impressed by Irish talent is Alan Fullerton. His company Teknicor, based in Toronto and a specialist in data centre architecture, has just embarked on a recruitment campaign here. His aim is to employ 70 to 100 engineers in Ireland within the next three years. Its a very accommodating environment for business. Weve been impressed by the skillsets that are there, Fullerton told the Sunday Independent. Were finding it a very educated, experienced workforce to draw from for what we do. The culture is very similar to a Canadian culture in a way and were pretty excited to get the team on board to start speaking to our customers globally. Fullertons business operates in a number of other countries and he singles out the IDA as a strong promoter of what this country has to offer. Theres a massive difference between what Ireland does to attract business versus the other geographies that we operate in. The IDA are very interested in bringing investment to Ireland and in my opinion the approach works. Theres a spectacular hub of technology businesses in Ireland, theyve been there a long time. Theres a great group of support services, whether its the IDA or others, that make it a lot easier for us to come over and get going. Canadian capital is also flowing into Ireland in a manner that perhaps you wouldnt expect. The country is a major hub for the minerals exploration industry, and with the price of zinc booming theres been a significant upsurge in activity in zinc exploration in Ireland. Leading the charge is Group Eleven Resources, run by Canadian Bart Jaworski. That company has been on a fundraising spree and has just completed a stock market flotation in Toronto as it seeks to develop its prospects. Among the companys backers is MAG Silver, another Toronto-listed business that has had success exploring for silver in Mexico. Some of Group Elevens biggest prospects were bought from Teck, a Canadian mining giant that has been active here. Other Canadian-linked companies active in the sector here include Hannan Metals, which has been doing some drilling at a prospect at Kilbricken in Co Clare. Elsewhere in exploration, the oil and gas explorer Nexen Canadian in heritage but recently bought by the Chinese state national oil company took a stake in a prospect located near the Corrib field last year in a deal that industry sources regarded as perhaps the best farm-in deal in the Irish offshore of 2017. And speaking of the Corrib field, one of its new owners is Vermilion Energy, headquartered in Canada. Canadian businesses are involved in the oil business here, right the way through from exploration to putting petrol in your car. The Whitegate refinery in Cork is owned by Canadas Irving Oil, while petrol station business Topaz was sold by Digicel chairman Denis OBrien to the Quebecois business Couche Tard in 2016. When Trudeau came to visit Ireland last year, a lot of the focus was on the telegenic Ottawa natives choice of socks. His colourful choices in that regard have become something of a branding point, and of course Leo Varadkar tried to get in on the trend too with a pair of maple leaf socks. The economic ties between Canada and Ireland are strong ... we worked hard together with our other European partners to create good jobs for our citizens by ratifying [EU-Canada trade deal] Ceta, Trudeau said in a speech during the visit. Throughout the lengthy negotiation process Ireland was a steadfast supporter of this historic trade deal, and I know that all of us are looking forward to the good jobs and the greater opportunities it will afford both our countries, he added. With the deal now provisionally in force, therell be more scope for Canadian businesses to come and operate here. Thats what the IDA is hoping anyway. The State agency is planning to establish an office in Canada, citing Ceta as well as the Nafta renegotiations, Brexit and the introduction of the GDPR. The IDAs stats say there are 35 Canadian companies approved in Ireland, with an employment base in excess of 3,790 people. Thats an increase of more than a third since 2014. The IDA has adopted a highly diversified cross-sectoral approach in the development of new business across the Canadian market. Our strong performance demonstrates the resilience of the Irish offering, an IDA spokesperson said. But for Trudeau, the most important connection between Ireland and Canada was a shared set of values. And judging by what the Canadian businesses operating here have to say, its the cultural links, the values relating to people, that will have the most important part to play in securing future Canadian investment. This time around, therell be no invasions required. Toronto-based Teknicor, a specialist in data centre architecture, is aiming to employ 70-100 engineers in Ireland over the next three years. The business has just embarked on its recruitment drive after establishing an Irish office. "It's a very accommodating environment for business. We've been impressed by the skillsets that are there," Teknicor chief executive Alan Fullerton told the Sunday Independent. "We're finding it a very educated, experienced workforce to draw from for what we do. The culture is very similar to a Canadian culture in a way and we're pretty excited to get the team on board to start speaking to our customers globally." Fullerton's business operates in a number of other countries and he singles out the IDA as a strong promoter of what this country has to offer. "There's a massive difference between what Ireland does to attract business versus the other geographies that we operate in. "The IDA are very interested in bringing investment to Ireland and in my opinion the approach works. There's a spectacular hub of technology businesses in Ireland, they've been there a long time. "There's a great group of support services, whether it's the IDA or others, that make it a lot easier for us to come over and get going," Fullerton said. Last summer, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said trade between the two countries was worth 2.75bn and Canadian investment in Ireland was valued at 10bn. The IDA, headed by Martin Shanahan, is planning to open an office in Canada, citing the EU-Canada trade deal, the Nafta renegotiations, Brexit and the introduction of the GDPR as potential opportunities to win more business. The IDA's stats say there are 35 Canadian companies approved in Ireland, with an employment base in excess of 3,790 people - an increase of more than a third since 2014. "The IDA has adopted a highly diversified cross-sectoral approach in the development of new business across the Canadian market. Our strong performance demonstrates the resilience of the Irish offering," an IDA spokesperson said. Other Canadian companies active here include Topaz owner Couche-Tard, Irish Life owner Great West Lifeco, and ecommerce software provider Shopify. Low-cost transatlantic carrier Norwegian is to further expand its growing Dublin operation, with plans for a new Irish cabin crew base. The fast-growing Scandinavian carrier already had plans, revealed by this newspaper last August, to hire 40 pilots for a greatly expanded Irish base. Recruitment for those positions is under way with the airline seeking captains and first officers to operate its growing fleet of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft on transatlantic and European routes out of both its Dublin and Edinburgh bases. With over 100 new 737 MAX aircraft on order, some of which are expected to be used on Irish routes, the airline has now confirmed that it is looking to expand its plans for Dublin even further and it intends recruiting new cabin crew for the base. The move to further grow in Dublin will not be welcomed by Irish rivals Aer Lingus or Ryanair. Aer Lingus has previously admitted it faces serious competitive pressure on its transatlantic routes from Norwegian, while Ryanair faced severe pilot-rostering problems last autumn, with anecdotal reports suggesting that it was losing an increasing number of its pilots to the Scandinavian carrier since its arrival in Ireland. "With a series of transatlantic routes launched from Ireland last year and plans for continued future expansion, Norwegian opened a new pilot base in Dublin in late 2017 with a number of pilots already permanently employed at the base," a Norwegian spokesperson said. "As a result of strong interest from candidates and Norwegian's own growth ambitions, we are looking to expand our plans for the Dublin base which will also now include the creation of a cabin crew base in spring 2018. More than 60 cabin crew positions have been recruited for the Dublin base so far and a range of further pilot positions are also now being advertised for experienced candidates with either a Boeing or Airbus rating, or equivalent type." The spokesperson said that the "new positions offer permanent employment at a fast-growing airline, and global flying opportunities on one of the youngest aircraft fleets in the world, so we look forward to welcoming many more people to Norwegian". The Nordic carrier has invested at least $500m in its Irish subsidiary, Norwegian Air International, since it was set up in 2013. It faced a major regulatory battle to set up its new Irish-domiciled transatlantic model but was last year finally awarded a foreign carrier permit by the US authorities allowing it to operate from Ireland, after a three-year battle with American trade unions and transport authorities. That cleared the way for it to launch a series of new transatlantic routes from Dublin, Cork, Shannon and Belfast to the US east coast last summer. The airline is still unlikely to have things its own way in the increasingly-competitive transatlantic battleground. Aer Lingus greatly expanded its westbound operation from Dublin last year. Icelandic low-cost carrier Wow Air has also moved into the market, while its compatriot Icelandair is also expanding its transfer hub through Reykjavik. JetBlue chief financial officer Steve Priest also confirmed last week that the US carrier is still considering buying new aircraft that would allow it enter the transatlantic market. THE group Editor-in-Chief of Independent News & Media, Stephen Rae, has been appointed to the European Commission's high level expert group which will examine the issue of 'fake news'. The group has been established to advise the European Commission on all issues in relation to the spread of false information across traditional and social media, and on how to cope with its social and political consequences. Mr Rae was invited to join the Group by the Director General of the European Commissions Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology, Roberto Viola. The group's first meeting will take place in Brussels next Monday. Commenting on his appointment, Mr Rae said: "We have seen the widespread damage that can be done by the wilful dissemination of false information on social media platforms. "I look forward to meeting and exchanging views with my colleagues on the expert group as we advise the European Commission on dealing with this complex challenge, which has major social and political consequences for citizens." In the space of just three weeks towards the end of November and early December, the Irish advertising industry was turned on its head. In case you missed it, the future of Ireland's top two creative agencies - Rothco and DDFH&B - were sealed as the former took the decision to sell out to Accenture. Meanwhile the latter decided to pull the shutters down on its iconic agency brand by merging with its sister agency Target McConnells in a move that will also bring an end to the McConnells brand, which dates back to 1916. Up until recently, DDFH&B was Ireland's biggest and most profitable creative agency, striding the advertising world like a colossus and garnering numerous awards along the way. Over the last couple of years, however, that mantle was gradually ceded to Rothco, a plucky creative shop that has seen its star in the advertising firmament ascend to heavenly heights on the back of a number of significant account wins, sometimes at the expense of DDFH&B. In adland, accounts come and go all the time and one agency's gain is another agency's loss. It's always been a case of swings and roundabouts. This time around, however, the chilly winds of change have been blowing fiercely through the advertising industry for some time as it has become increasingly apparent that the old agency model was no longer fit for purpose in a highly-fragmented media landscape that has been disrupted, not only by technology, but by sweeping changes in consumer behaviours and expectations. Indeed, one of the great ironies of modern-day marketing is that even though there has been a proliferation in the number of touchpoints and platforms on which consumers can be targeted, sometimes to within an inch of their lives, it has never been harder for brands to genuinely reach and engage with them in a meaningful way. As Jim Donnelly, DDFH&B's co-founder and executive chairman recently put it: "The agency model has fundamentally changed around the world. We are responding to our clients' desire to have a nimble, effective - yet well-resourced - collection of talents. By merging DDFH&B and Target McConnells we are creating the scale and commercial robustness required to compete for the next five years." In the case of Rothco, its decision to sell to Accenture Interactive was perhaps the most surprising development in adland in recent years. But then again, Accenture has been buying up agencies all around the world as it builds out its creative, media and technology capabilities to offer its clients. Since it was formed in 2009, it has acquired 23 agencies across the creative, design, ecommerce and digital sectors around the world. It has also been linked with a possible acquisition of one of the big global agency networks at some stage in the future. As the marketing and advertising worlds continue to change and evolve, Accenture believes that one of the big battlegrounds will revolve around experience as companies look to create human-centred brand experiences by joining all the dots of a consumer's interaction with a brand across every single touchpoint. This can be achieved, according to Accenture, by bringing together business consulting, creative services and technology to help its clients. Rothco and DDFH&B, however, are by no means the only Irish agencies to look to the future. Core (formerly Core Media) has also implemented some sweeping changes to its structure by retiring some of its non-media agency brands to create a one-stop shop for its clients with collaboration front and centre. Core CEO Alan Cox said: "For many years, agencies have produced a set of disassembled outputs, which clients would then re-assemble to form an integrated marketing plan. Although the cracks in this model were clearly visible, it worked - to some degree - because times were simpler and the delineation of agency responsibilities was clear. "However, demarcation lines are now blurred, leading to confusion as to who does what. Clients are increasingly having to manage multiple agencies, leading to wasted time, a lack of integration and under-performance. "Meanwhile, agency groups continue to operate multiple operating companies and a siloed service model, which confuses the market and dilutes a potentially powerful proposition," he said. The siloed service model Cox refers to is fairly widespread, particularly within the large multinational agency networks. Some of them recognise the many challenges that exist and have already started down a path of rationalisation and simplification. But it won't be easy and there may be casualties along the way. It's also highly likely that merger and acquisition activity within the advertising industry will continue to gather momentum as agency holding companies try to recalibrate and reinvent themselves. What that agency of the future might look like is anybody's guess. But one thing is certain: it won't look anything like it does now. Shahrukh Jatoi name put on ECL KARACHI: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Saturday issued orders to put the names of Shahrukh Jatoi, Siraj Talpur, Sajjad Talpur and Ghulam Murtaza Lashari on the Exit Control List (ECL). The SC also accepted for hearing an appeal moved by civil society activists against the Sindh High Courts (SHC) retrial order of the Shahzeb murder case. During the hearing of the appeal at the Supreme Courts Karachi Registry, a three-member bench led by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar directed the government and Interior Ministry to place the names of suspects in the Shahzeb murder case on the ECL. The apex court also directed the Interior Ministry to issue relevant instructions to all airports in the country. The court also issued bailable arrest warrants for the suspects and sent out notices to all the respondents in the case. Members of civil society had approached the SC against the SHC ruling, which set aside the death penalty for Shahrukh Jatoi and others convicted for the 2012 murder of Shahzeb and ordered their retrial by a sessions court. Ten civil society activists including Jibran Nasir, Jamshed Raza Mahmood, Afiya Shehrbano Zia, Naeem Sadiq, Nazim Fida Hussain Haji, Zulfiqar Shah, Aquila Ismail, Fahim Zaman Khan, and Naziha Syed Ali had filed a criminal petition in the Supreme Courts Karachi Registry challenging the SHCs November 28, 2017, ruling which stated that the murder case did not fall within the jurisdiction of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. In their petition, the civil society members stated that they had the legal standing to file the petition for leave to appeal as they were citizens of Karachi and resided in the same locality Defence Housing Authority where the murder took place. They stated in the petition that the incident was not just of an individual nature, but carried serious repercussions for the society at large. On December 23, 2017, Jatoi, the son of an influential feudal lord, and other defendants in the Shahzeb Khan murder case, were released from custody on bail after Shahzebs father submitted an affidavit in support of the defendants bail application. Shahzeb was gunned down by Jatoi in a posh locality of Karachi on December 25, 2012. Shahrukh Jatoi along with Nawab Siraj Ali Talpur were sentenced to death, while Sirajs brother Nawab Sajjad Ali Talpur with his employee Ghulam Murtaza Lashari were sentenced to life imprisonment by the Anti-Terrorism Court on June 7, 2013 for murdering a private university student Shahzaib Khan on December 24, 2012. Private medical colleges, govt hospitals: The SC on Saturday constituted a five-member team to carry out inspection of private medical colleges and delivery of services at government hospitals in Sindh. Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, who headed a three-member bench at Karachi registry of the apex court, was hearing suo motu cases pertaining to poor services at public sector medical facilities and deteriorating standards of medical education at private medical colleges in the province. The inspection team comprises the vice chancellors of the Dow University of Health Sciences and Jinnah Medical College as well as Advocate Shahab Usto and Faisal Siddiqui. It has been mandated to visit medical colleges to scrutinize their admission policies. The team will also visit government hospitals to ascertain whether equipment, ventilators, oxygen, incubators, CT Scan, MRI, ambulances etc were available there. CJP Saqib Nisar clarified that the court would not annul any admissions, but would set standards for admission to medical and dental colleges. He restrained the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) from registering any private college, observing that the court was currently scrutinizing the entire admission process of colleges. The heads of medical and dental colleges in the province had been directed to submit affidavits that their institutions adhered to the required standards for medical education and whether the colleges were well-equipped and having all necessary facilities. Talks about Irish Life deploying its pension funds towards social housing have come to nothing. Last year the insurance and pensions company's chief executive David Harney said Irish Life would be interested in investing in social housing if the right model could be put in place with the Government. "We haven't made any approaches [to the Government] specifically from Irish Life, there have been sort of side conversations, and people are aware there's lots of money in pension funds and pension funds are keen to look for opportunities to invest," Harney told reporters last January. However earlier this week Patrick Burke, the head of Irish Life's head of investment management unit, said there were no talks taking place with the authorities. "We'd want to be absolutely certain that we can implement and execute on behalf of our customers without constraints. Sometimes social housing and social housing policy puts constraints in place - that doesn't necessarily work for customers. And so we would always be mindful of that," Burke added. Burke said however that the company is readying plans for a move into the build-to-rent market for residential property. The company's plan is to be a capital investor in specific projects rather than taking stakes in housebuilding companies like Cairn Homes or Glenveagh Properties. A spokesperson for the Department of Housing said it "continues to engage with a broad range of stakeholder, including financial institutions and other potential funders, to explore and encourage how additional private investment can facilitate the increased supply of new housing". "In addition, we are continuing to develop and refine initiatives such as long-term leasing arrangements, public-private partnerships and other mechanisms to unlock the capacity and potential of significant funders with a longer-term horizon, such as pension funds, to assist in both public and private housing provision." Startups' business plans often focus on direct sales, aiming to sell as many products and solutions to as many consumers and end users as possible. The right channel sales strategy can, however, give Irish companies of all sizes and stages of maturity a wider reach. A successful channel strategy gives Irish exporters unique technologies to harness sales opportunities at scale, driving business results in the US market and beyond. Enterprise Ireland recently held a Sales and Channel Strategy Seminar in Dublin that featured US industry thought leaders and senior executives. It was designed to advise and guide high-performing Irish startups to expand into the US through the channel ecosystem. World-class experts on sales planning and channel strategy shared tips and success stories, while the event showcased Irish companies that are already capitalising on the potential of the channel ecosystem. A 'Best Practices in Channel' panel featured Kevin Morata, Global Channel Strategy at Dell EMC, Gerard Sheridan, Global OEM Sales Director at DataStax, and Kurt Hoppe, Global Head of Innovation at GM. The panel discussed how true collaboration is key to building successful relationships with channel partners. Companies should be aware that not all channel partners are created equal. With 20pc of partners driving 80pc of sales, Irish companies should allocate more time and resources to partners that will help to maximize business results. One tip for building trust is to feed leads to new channel partners at the beginning. That will allow them to gain experience in selling your product while developing a strong understanding of your value proposition. Tiffany Wagner, Global Head of Sales Planning at SAP, described how a successful strategy must focus on your value proposition, rather than on the features and functions of your solution. At SAP, design thinking is key to well-orchestrated enterprise sales planning programmes. All enterprise sales require a '3 x 3' influence model - three decision makers and three influencers must contribute to the process. Insights were shared by Irish companies, including AltoCloud, Channel Mechanics and PlanNet 21 Communications, that have scaled by partnering with the channel ecosystem. Kenneth Fox, Channel Mechanics CEO, described the three points of the channel triangle: vendors, distributors and partners. The Channel Mechanics solution sits at the centre of the triangle, providing automation that runs the entire ecosystem. Barry O'Sullivan, AltoCloud CEO, described how his company was formed with the channel in mind. Leveraging the business and personal relationships of partners has allowed AltoCloud to build a strong partner channel. One tip for Irish exporters is to have a 'corporate vendor resources' presence in the US and not attempt to drive it from Ireland. When launching as an ambitious company almost 20 years ago, PlanNet 21 Communications convinced partners to accept them into their channel programme. The strategy has delivered revenues close to 50m, with the company on a mission to hit 100m within the next two years. Denise Tormey, co-founder of PlanNet 21 Communications, described the strategy that drove its success. "Trust is hard won. We manage communication face-to-face, over the phone and by mail, to build those interpersonal relationships. We listen. We respond in a timely manner. We ask 'Why?' We care. We are true partners," she said. The insight echoed the guidance of many of the day's Irish and US speakers. A foundation of trust must be established to build effective relationships. Otherwise channel partner alliances are destined to fall flat and fail to deliver the growth promised. For channel strategy support, contact Enterprise Ireland's Strategic Marketing Review programme, which acts as a mechanism to review and develop your market development strategy overseas. Maire P Walsh is SVP Digital Technologies at Enterprise Ireland's Silicon Valley office Q: My partner and I are looking to start a family in the next two to three years. We were hoping to go for an initial consultation and fertility testing in the next few months and then getting the ball rolling with intrauterine insemination (IUI) at some stage over the next year. I'm wondering what the best plans are for fertility treatment and IUI? I'm currently with VHI and it has advised me that there's a 52-week waiting period for such cover. Is this normal? I'm open to switching insurance providers if needs be. Gemma, Smithfield, Dublin 7 Your private health insurance policy will unfortunately only cover a fraction of the cost of fertility treatment - regardless of which provider or plan you select. However, over the last year, there has been many fertility benefits added to a number of private health insurance plans -which is good news. VHI introduced a fertility benefit on a selection of its plans. This benefit includes a 100 discount on the cost of the initial consultation, 450 towards the cost of one cycle with IUI treatment, and 1,000 towards the cost of two cycles of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). VHI introduced this benefit on a number of its suite of 'One Plan', 'Company Plan' and 'PMI' plans. There are some excellent plans in each of these suites depending on what your budget is. 'Company Plan Plus Level 1.3' and 'Company Plan Extra Level 1' are excellent policies from VHI which are very competitively priced. Laya Healthcare offers cover of up to 1,000 per lifetime towards IVF, IUI or ICSI. This benefit is available on several of its plans when carried out in one of Laya's approved centres. Laya's 'Simply Connect' and 'Complete Simplicity' are both good plans which include this fertility benefit. Irish Life Health has released a suite of plans called the '4D Health' range. There are five policies in this range to which you can add a personalised package called 'Fertility Extra'. The amount you can claim depends on the policy you select. The IVF, IUI and ICSI benefit ranges from 50pc cover - up to a maximum of between 500 and 1,000 (depending on your plan). There is also a contribution towards fertility screening tests, counselling, and nutritionist and acupuncture visits. 'Best Ultimate 2' is another excellent plan from Irish Life Health which offers 50pc cover for IVF, IUI and ICSI - up to a maximum of 2,000. Unlike any other policy, this can be used twice per lifetime. As for the 52-week waiting period you mentioned, this applies to all providers if you are taking health insurance out for the first time - or if you are upgrading your maternity cover. So you won't get a shorter waiting period by switching. Dangers of cheap insurance Q: I was discussing health insurance with some of my colleagues and I seem to be paying a lot more than people my age. I am 45. What would be the average premium people are paying at my age? I hear some people are paying as little as 600 for a policy. I am worried that I will not have enough cover if I opt for a policy at such a price though. Martha, Cork City Unfortunately this is something which is popping up more often in the last couple of years. People are buying policies costing 600 per year and thinking they have excellent health insurance cover. In reality though, policies costing around 600 a year will give you very little cover in the event of you needing treatment. While affordability is important for most people, bear in mind that these plans are entry-level plans which will have huge excesses - or very limited hospital cover. (Excesses are the first part of a claim which you must pay yourself. Some excesses are so high that it may not be worth making a claim). If you were to go public for hospital care, you would be charged 80 per night - up to 800 in any one year. Most people take out health insurance because they feel they can't rely on the public health system. If you want a reasonable level of cover, you could get you a good private plan for 900 - which is only an extra 100 more than you would pay if you faced the maximum 800 charge to stay in a public hospital for ten or more days in a year. If you want a very good plan with cover for all public and private hospitals, cardiac cover in the high-tech hospitals, and cover for day-to-day expenses, you need to be spending at least 1,200 on cover. There is no fixed premium that people of certain age groups should be paying - it really depends on the level of cover you require, your budget and your medical circumstances. Health insurance premiums are expensive and the sheer volume of plans available can be overwhelming. Before committing to another year's premium, ask your adviser or insurer if there are any plans similar to your existing plan. If they suggest an alternative plan, always ask them to outline how it differs to your existing plan - rather than to simply point out the similarities as this will make it easier for you to identify any benefits you may be losing by moving to a different plan. Cover for consultant visits Q: My health insurance renewal date is coming up. I am currently on a plan which doesn't give me any refund on day-to-day benefits like consultant and GP visits. This is my main expenditure as I have an ongoing medical condition and must visit a consultant four times a year - which costs me 200 per visit. I also see a doctor about five times a year. I don't have a medical card so I would like a policy where I can claim back a portion of the cost of these visits. Can you recommend a plan that would allow me to do so? I am 43 years old and do not want to spend more than 2,000 per year on insurance. Nora, Ranelagh, Dublin 6 There are several corporate plans available which tend to be the most competitively priced plans on the market and often offer the best day-to-day cover. Despite the name of these plans, they are open to everyone - so they are certainly worth considering. If you are happy to have an excess (where you pay the first part of an insurance claim yourself) on your plan, a good option would be Laya Healthcare's 'Complete Simplicity' plan - this plan allows you to claim back 50pc of the cost of consultant and GP visits. Other plans worth considering are VHI's 'PMI 25 11' plan - which offers 100 back per consultant visit and 40 back per GP visit (up to a limit of 12 visits of each a year), or Irish Life Health's 'Be Fit 3' - which offers a full refund on your first two consultant, GP and A&E visits and 50pc back on all subsequent visits. If you would like a policy without an excess, I would recommend Laya Healthcare's '360 Care' - which covers 75pc of the cost of GP and consultant visits (though the refund for consultant psychiatrist visits is higher), VHI's 'Company Plan Extra Level 2' - which offers 100 back per consultant visit and 40 back per GP visit ( up to a limit of 12 visits of each a year), or Irish Life Health's 'Best Ultimate 2' plan - which covers 75pc of the cost of consultant and GP visits. The key thing to remember is that if you are switching provider to an equivalent plan, you are covered immediately. Existing conditions are irrelevant and you cannot be penalised when switching just because you may be more sick than another person. However, you should always tell your adviser or insurer about any illnesses so they can ensure that you are getting the best policy to suit your needs. Barbara Sheahan is health insurance expert with www.healthinsurancehelp.ie Deciding to launch a new business can be daunting, let alone launching one in a sector dominated by large global competitors. Project management software and consulting firm Aspira has done just that and is now on its own journey towards internationalisation. Fast-growing consulting and enterprise IT company Aspira was set up by Pat Lucey and Colum Horgan in 2007. With offices in Cork and Dublin, the company has already grown to over 110 employees and has an annual turnover of more than 10m."Our key focus is helping other companies successfully manage their own projects," says Pat. "Any company can manage a small project. But once these become larger or more complex, a greater degree of expertise is required to ensure the process runs smoothly and efficiently, on time, within agreed budgets and that desired outcomes are achieved. That's where we come in. "We provide a one-stop shop for clients, whether that is a short-term consulting engagement, training to upskill a company's own team or the provision of specialist project managers, business analysts and technical staff to work on their projects," he adds. Given the diversity of the services offered by the company, it's not surprising that they have built up an impressive base of both public and private customers across a range of sectors that includes IT, energy and utilities, financial services, banking, pharma and medical devices. "While projects have a beginning and an end, they all have a number of stages that they must go through," says Pat. "These start with initiation. This is where a company moves beyond just having a concept to having an actual idea that is supported by a strong business case. The next is the planning stage. This is where the rubber meets the road. Like baking a cake, this is where you have to get the recipe right before you start. "Then it's on to the execution and implementation stage, where managing risk become increasingly important. Then it's on to the monitoring stage. Here the focus is on making sure that the project is developing in line with what has been agreed and taking action where this is not the case. "The final stage is an important one, but one which is often ignored by many companies - the closing. Here, the project is brought to a successful conclusion and where all matters from handover of closing documentation and training takes place and where there is a final assessment of the lessons learned throughout the project." It's a straightforward, yet complex, process that requires considerable expertise and experience - traits that the founders have in spades. Pat grew up in Patrickswell in Co Limerick where his family ran a shop, restaurant and service station. Open 364 days a year, it was here he got his first introduction to what is involved in running your own business. After completing a masters' degree in electronic engineering in the University of Limerick, he got his first job with Siemens Telecoms in Munich and after a time there returned home to join Motorola as a software engineer. There, he worked his way up the ranks to become head of the company's global project management division, by which time he had built up expertise from overseeing projects and teams all over the world. It was here, too, where he met his future business partner Colum, who at the time was heading up a software development division in the same company. Like Pat, Colum had also grown up in a family business, a caravan and mobile home company in Waterville in Co Kerry. "I think our exposure to business from an early age meant we were better prepared to go out on our own when the opportunity presented itself," says Pat. And present itself, it did. In 2007, when Motorola closed its Irish operation, the duo decided to take the plunge and set up their own company. The pair had built up expertise running technical projects in a global environment and wanted to use that knowledge to create their own business. "Much like Apple's famous challenge to IBM in 1984, we felt we could build an Irish-owned company that could take on and beat major international players in the project management sector," says Pat. "Thanks to the skills, expertise, loyalty and creativity of our staff, we've now managed to do just that," he adds. In the beginning, like many other tech companies, Pat and Colum made the mistake of falling in love with building really cool software systems, but didn't give enough time to finding an actual market for them. "Some customers began asking if we could provide them with people to run their projects while others asked if we would train or upskill their own staff. As a result, we added resourcing and training to our company offering," says Pat. "In addition to these, we now also offer a wide range of IT services from cloud expertise and business analysis to software development and testing. This means our clients don't have to deal with multiple suppliers to get a job done." Such was the positive impact on their business that the company has been named among Deloitte's 50 fastest-growing companies in Ireland over each of the last five years and has even made it into the 2017 Financial Times Top 500 technology growth companies in Europe. The pair also recently opened a new office in Sir John Rogerson's Quay in Dublin and in the past three months alone, have delivered consulting and IT services across the USA, Europe and China - mainly for Irish-based multinationals whose parent companies invited them to do so. "We are very lucky to have a talented and loyal team," says Pat, who in addition to his day job, has recently been elected as President of the Ireland Chapter of the Project Management Institute. "When we celebrated our 10th anniversary in 2017, it was gratifying to see that 80pc of our original team of 10 people were still working with us". With over 30pc growth in sales earmarked for the year ahead, Pat wants to continue to increase the company's international client base - a European and possibly a Singaporean office are on the cards in the near future. "We chose the name Aspira because we have always aspired to build an Irish company that can take on the biggest players globally. Our aim now is to become globally recognised for excellence in solving problems for companies as well as helping train them to solve their own problems." aspira.ie Q I have an iPhone that's only two years old but the battery life has become terrible on it. It seems to fall to 50pc within an hour or so. Should I upgrade to a new model or is there anything else I can do? A I'm going to assume that your two-year old iPhone is either an iPhone 6, 6S, 7 or SE, given that they're the phones launched since 2014. If so, you probably don't need to upgrade your phone because Apple has just announced that it is giving customers of these particular phones a brand new battery for a knockdown price of 29. That's about a third of the price it would normally cost. They're offering this because the newest software upgrade to iPhones is causing older models to slow down a bit, a measure taken to protect those phones' batteries (because of the extra lifting that the software update asks of the overall phone). To take advantage of this, you just have to turn up to an "authorised Apple service provider" with your old iPhone and they'll open up your handset, replacing the older battery with a new one. This 29 price is an Apple-subsidised tariff, so you'll only get access to it through these "authorised" shops - if you try asking for a battery replacement in a normal mobile phone shop, it may cost you closer to 100. Unfortunately, there aren't too many 'authorised' Apple service centres in Ireland (CompuB, iConnect and Harvey Norman) and they're only located in cities. Bear in mind, too, that this isn't a quick over-the-counter affair. You have to leave your phone with them for around three days, so you might need a backup handset to use while the battery swap is being done. And unfortunately, this offer only applies to iPhones from the iPhone 6 onwards. So if you have an iPhone 5, 5S or 5C (or an iPhone 4S), you don't get the benefit of this subsidised price. (To be fair, it's barely worth replacing a battery on any of these phones anyway as you won't get too much more use out of them at this point.) A word of caution. Even with this battery replacement, there is still a chance that your battery may not last quite as long as it did when you first bought it. That's because the updated operating system now makes more demands on your iPhone. The newest models can deal with these demands in a more energy-efficient way thanks to the more modern processors and engines. That said, a new Apple battery is guaranteed to be better than what you have at present, regardless of any other factor. It could even extend the life of your phone. Batteries naturally degrade over time. A new one could give you another two to three years with your current device, if you're not too pushed about the very latest features (such as Face ID, which will probably start coming to cheaper iPhones later this year). If this option doesn't sound doable for you, or if you have an iPhone that isn't covered by the subsidised battery-replacement scheme, there are a few other things you can do if the battery is really desperate. Reduce your screen's brightness will save a chunk of battery life. Similarly, if you can live without it, switch off the iPhone's Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in settings. And make sure you don't have lots of apps running in the background. Email your questions to caomahony@independent.ie Two to Try Garmin Vivofit 3 (69, Argos) Yes, yes - you're definitely going to get in shape this year. If you're looking for a gadget to help, Garmin's Vivofit 3 is a nice, affordable option. Its basic purpose is an exercise and sleep assistant, tracking your movement and working with a free app to keep you on your exercise schedule. It's waterproof, too, making it perfect for the Irish climate. Apple Watch 3 GPS (379, Harvey Norman) If you want a pro-level exercise gadget that also functions as a fully connected watch, it's hard to beat Apple's waterproof Series 3 Watch. It has a fully functional touchscreen that displays all message notifications and lets you pay for things using Apple Pay. GPS means it tracks where you are, while it can also play music to Bluetooth headphones. It can even make and take calls, with a microphone and speaker on board. It comes in two sizes, 38mm and 42mm. Why is it so hard - if not impossible - for a woman to become a chief executive at an Irish tech firm? Similarly, why does so little of venture capital go to startups put forward by female founders? Is it a "lack of experience" compared to male rivals? Is it a paucity of pitches? Or is it something more unaccountable, such as a "gut instinct" that works against female-led propositions? If so, how significant is the dearth of women at partner level in most VC firms here? Last week, I published the results of research I did into 153 VC-funded Irish tech companies. The results were stark: just 3pc of the VC money allocated to companies funded in the first nine months of last year saw its way to startups with a female founder or co-founder. Even more stark was the finding that of the 132 funded firms that only had male founders or co-founders, none whatsoever had a female chief executive. Zero. Forget about '30pc' gender balance clubs - how about a 10pc club? Or even a 5pc club? The research published focused mainly on the raw figures. Many of the people I spoke to on the topic didn't want to be quoted on it. This was especially so for female founders, who fear that being vocal on this topic could hurt their chances of getting funding in future. But some had stories to tell about their own experience. "I've been told more than once that I'd have a better chance of getting funding if I hire a male chief executive," said one recently-funded female founder. "I'm told that it's to do with experience to make investors feel more comfortable." Others say that they have to have twice as much experience as men to get into meaningful discussions with Irish venture firms. "They seem to regard investing in a company run by a woman as a bigger risk," said a Munster-based female founder. "It took me ages to get past basic stages with Irish investors." As in other areas of competitive career advancement, family situations may be a built-in disadvantage for women compared to men. "You have to convince them right away that you can achieve things despite having kids," said a Dublin-based female entrepreneur. "From what I've seen, it's just as bad if you don't have kids but are between 30 and 40 and have a partner, as they think you're going to start popping out kids and not have time for other stuff any more. This never seems to happen to men of the same age." The negative baggage that kids appear to bring to investors' calculations may not be helped by the way high profile female executives are dissected on the issue. When ex-Yahoo boss Marissa Mayer had a baby, the period of her maternity leave - a mere couple of weeks - was a widely-discussed topic. The tone of the discussion ranged from criticism over the shortness of her maternity leave to questions over how she might cope having recently given birth. But mostly it all insinuated a common factor: that Mayer had other things going on in her life than focusing completely on delivering shareholder value for Yahoo. Off the record, some of the venture capitalists that doled out the 781 to Irish tech and biotech firms last year say that while they would prefer it to be different, they are caught in a catch-22 situation. Put in a position to invest other people's money (which is what most VC funds are made up of), they "naturally" default to "experience" and "those with a track record". The vicious circle here is that with just 12 female CEOs out of 153 funded firms last year, the barrier of not having past experience as a CEO is difficult to overcome. The tiny incidence of female CEOs in Irish tech is often lost in conversation because of the more visible grouping of female executives at other roles in tech companies here. For example, when it comes to the biggest multinational tech firms with bases in Ireland, around half of the country managers are women. That includes Apple's Cathy Kearney, Google's Fionnuala Meehan, Dell's Aisling Keegan, Microsoft's Cathriona Hallahan and Twitter's Sinead McSweeney, among others. While this may not involve exactly the same role as a chief executive, it arguably bolsters an ecosystem that sees more women as senior industry figures. It is also true that not all investment in indigenous Irish tech comes from venture capital or private equity. Enterprise Ireland has been at pains to point out that it has a rising number of female-founded startups that qualify for grants under its Competitive Startup Fund (CSF) and High Potential Startup (HPSU) schemes. This is often up to 50,000. Indeed, the state agency has a specific funding call reserved for female founders later this year. In time, this may strengthen the baseline of "qualified" women who go on to pitch for bigger rounds from private equity. But if so, we aren't yet seeing the fruits of this. Or anything close to it. By far, the two biggest Irish fundraising rounds involving a female co-founder last year were Transfermate (30m) and Nuritas (16.5m) which, between them, accounted for twice as much VC cash as the rest of the female-founded firms of the first nine months combined. Yet for all the success that both Sinead Fitzmaurice and Nora Khaldi deserve as co-founder and founder of these firms, neither is its chief executive. That may be by choice or by convention. But it's a statistical reminder that it is a norm for a woman not to be a CEO, even if (particularly in the case of Khaldi) she is the main driving force behind the creation of the firm in the first place. Ireland is hardly alone in having a comically lopsided gender imbalance when it comes to top jobs and funding balances. But it may be past time to start dealing with the issue all the same. China is stepping up its policing of international companies and demanding they respect the government's position on long-standing territorial disputes from Taiwan to Tibet. Stock photo China is stepping up its policing of international companies and demanding they respect the government's position on long-standing territorial disputes from Taiwan to Tibet. The Cyber Administration Office in Shanghai said last Friday that fashion retailer Zara listed Taiwan, the island China claims as its own, as a separate country on its website. On the same day, China's Civil Aviation Administration summoned executives of Delta Airlines as the carrier had listed Taiwan and Tibet, located in western China, as nations on its website. The companies were asked to change the "illegal" contents. China is showing less tolerance of what it sees as violations of its political bottom line by foreign companies. The warnings signal that the country may deploy more sticks against foreign companies that can't risk losing business in the world's second-biggest economy. "The general political atmosphere these days is that you don't stand on the wrong side of sovereignty issues in the Xi Jinping era," said Ether Yin, partner at research firm Trivium China in Beijing. International companies operating in China should respect its sovereignty and territorial integrity, state broadcaster CCTV said, citing Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang's comments at a regular briefing. "Delta recognizes the seriousness of this issue and we took immediate steps to resolve it," according to a statement from the airline's corporate office. "It was an inadvertent error with no business or political intention, and we apologise deeply for the mistake." Inditex, the owner of Zara, didn't have an immediate comment. Earlier in the week, Shanghai government agencies summoned Marriott International's executives in China, after the company's Chinese-language website listed Tibet and Taiwan under "nation" and spurred intense online criticism. The company apologised on Chinese social media platforms. Beijings Capital Airport, which is part of the new scheme for travellers Readers of this column might recall a report on how to enter some major cities in China - among them Beijing and Shanghai - for business without the need for a visa. For this to happen, certain things had to be in play. Firstly, you need to fly in to China from one country, and fly out to another. Secondly, the visa-free stay is only valid for 72 hours, so it would best suited to a quick meeting or conference you'd need to attend at short notice. I put it to the test with an airline group - Air France KLM - that's ideally placed for visa-free travel, namely because you can fly in via Paris and back out via Amsterdam on the sister airlines, fulfilling the two-country flights requirement. It went well, with an immigration experience at Beijing's Capital Airport that was as seamless as those of visa-carrying colleagues. The better news is that the scheme is being extended, with Irish travellers, among others, now able to stay visa-free for up to 144 hours - ie, six days from landing to departure, which is more than enough for most business assignments. The move follows similar schemes in Shanghai and other areas. The scheme also works if you're flying into, say, Beijing and on to a 'region', including Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan. The moves are part of a broader package of making travel to China easier, with the country's aviation authority relaxing restrictions late last year on the use of mobile phones (hitherto banned from being operated, even in flight mode). No word yet on the peculiar habit of screening officers confiscating phone battery banks - with confusing (and, I've found, conflicting) rules as to whether they have to be checked in or carried on board. n Speaking of mobile devices, travellers to the States are facing more rigorous scrutiny of them this year. Customs and Border Control (CBP) agents searched 59pc more mobile phones, tablets, and other electronic devices last year than in 2016. Worryingly, it's been reported that eight out 10 searches were of devices being carried by foreigners, so it could be an added hassle. But the CBP said recently that it has updated its search policy, and now border agents are instructed to discard passwords needed to access digital information, and are barred from searching data stored on cloud servers. Even with these safeguards, the search policy has fallen foul of the American Civil Liberties Union which claims that the parameters governing warrantless searches are too broad and could give border officers free rein to manually sift through your private photos, emails, documents and other information even if you're not under any suspicion. n There's nothing like big data to leave you baffled. IAG sister airlines Aer Lingus and Iberia were both trumpeting their excellent showings in terms of punctuality. The only problem is that they're from rival report-compilers, OAG in the case of Aer Lingus, and FlightStats in the case of Iberia. And while Iberia topped the list for the world's most punctual international network airline, with 88.97pc of its flights arriving on time, and was no 1 in the European airline category, bizarrely it didn't make OAG's top 20 in any category. Aer Lingus, meanwhile, was No 10 in OAG's all-airline category (nearly 85pc of flights on-time) and was third in Europe, behind airBaltic and another IAG sister, Vueling Airlines. Ryanair, which isn't listed by OAG, was placed ninth by FlightStats for Europe, while the best airlines overall in the world were named as airBaltic, Hong Kong Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines (OAG) or Iberia, Delta and Japan Airlines (FlightStats). Confusing? Certainly. Much of it is down to how many flights are processed, how airlines are categorised (mainline, international, etc) and what's constituted as "late". Irish airports don't feature in the latest OAG findings, and in the case of Shannon and Cork are too small for its categories. Business-wise, if you're travelling abroad to mega-airports this year you'll be in luck at Tokyo's Haneda, Madrid or Atlanta, which won in the 30-million plus Mega category (Amsterdam is placed eighth, Heathrow 10th), while Minneapolis St Paul, Doha and Moscow Sheremetyevo are the least delayed in the major airport category. Michelle Williams has celebrated Mark Wahlbergs decision to donate his 1.5 million dollar (1.1 million) pay cheque for reshoots of All The Money In The World to Times Up in the face of criticism. Wahlberg was met with outrage when it was revealed he earned the fortune to re-film portions of the film to erase disgraced actor Kevin Spacey while Williams reportedly received less than 1,000 dollars (728). Williams praised the move by Wahlberg and the talent agency William Morris Endeavours (WME), which said it would donate an additional 500,000 dollars (364,000) to the initiative set up to help fund accusers of sexual harassment and abuse. Expand Close Mark Wahlberg (Isabel Infantes/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Mark Wahlberg (Isabel Infantes/PA) She also paid tribute to actor Anthony Rapp, who opened the floodgates for accusers to come forward when he alleged he was 14 when Spacey sexually harassed him. In a statement on Saturday, Williams said: Today isnt about me. My fellow actresses stood by me and stood up for me, my activist friends taught me to use my voice and the most powerful men in charge, they listened and they acted. If we truly envision an equal world, it takes equal effort and sacrifice. Today is one of the most indelible days of my life because of Mark Wahlberg, WME and a community of women and men who share in this accomplishment. Anthony Rapp, for all the shoulders you stood on, now we stand on yours. Sir Ridley replaced Spacey in the lead role of J Paul Getty with Christopher Plummer less than two months before the films world premiere. Spacey had become embroiled in the sexual harassment scandal engulfing Hollywood in the wake of Harvey Weinsteins downfall. An avalanche of claims followed Rapps and the Old Vic Theatre, where the Oscar-winning actor was artistic director between 2004 and 2015, found 20 people accused Spacey of inappropriate behaviour. Scotland Yard is also investigating Spacey over two allegations of sexual assault said to have taken place in Lambeth, south London, in 2005 and 2008. I heard for the reshoot she got $80 a day compared to his MILLIONS. Would anyone like to clarify? I really hope that with everything coming to light, she was paid fairly. She's a brilliant actress and is wonderful in the film. https://t.co/VzGA2ucAjV Jessica Chastain (@jes_chastain) January 9, 2018 Actresses Jessica Chastain and Judd Apatow were among those to express outrage over the pay disparity between Wahlberg and Williams. But on Saturday Wahlberg announced he would make the donation, adding: I 100% support the fight for fair pay. Women getting active in Kp politics 14 January, 2018 Related News Imran Khan distributed loan cheques under Kamyab Jawan Programme PTI govt to face all challenges coming its way: Imran khan More on this View All Top 2021 Accessories We Know You Will Love Types of Casino Payment Methods Tips for Taking Incredible iPhone Travel Photos Are Slot Developers Important for players? Best Poker Hands ever played on a Casino Hand Wash and Toiletries in Pakistan And the Role of DUPAS in Reshaping the Industry Woke Bingo Dozens of burqa-clad women political activists are roaming in the streets of Sulaiman Khel, located on the outskirts of Peshawar. These women spend a few minutes in every home. Begum Nasim Wali Khan was the first female who contested elections in 1977 on a partys ticket. After her glorious career in Pashtun belt, it is a rare to see women asking their colleagues to stand for their rights and support a woman candidate. The Afghan war erupted in the region and the inhabitants of the region transformed the secular Pashtuns into religious fundamentalists. It took almost four decades for Pashtun women to be in active politics. These political activists gather women in different homes to convince them to register for voting and also to participate in the upcoming general elections. Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) former MNA Razia Aziz is leading the contingent in the dusty streets in middle of mud houses. In 2018 general elections, women votes would make a big difference. Therefore, all parties, including the JI, have started their homework and preparation to utilise the opportunity, she adds. JI has announced a massive campaign of women registration in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). The 2017 electoral law is a step for making the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) an autonomous body and its awards more powers to it. The new laws emphasis is on more space for women in legislative body. The Election Commissioner can declare results void if the ratio of women votes remains under 10%. The law further instructs all the political parties would have to award 5% general seats to women. In Pakistani male-dominated society this development towards women empowerment is historical. Unexpectedly, the right-wing JI welcomed women empowerment in electoral procedure. To meet the purpose and bring the deprived half population in active politics and teach them procedure of vote casting, JI started a campaign of registering one million women in Pashtun belt. The JI leadership has reservations over the arrangements for women polling stations. Keeping in view the previous experiences, Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, the JI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) chief, sent a detailed letter to the chief election commissioner, to address problem facing women in the upcoming elections. The letter asks the ECP to arrange equal polling stations both for male and female in KP and Fata. Beside this women staff is always a huge problem on the elections day. That is also one of the reasons of the low women turnout in conservative areas. The administration must ensure women staff for the day, the letter says. There are 127,096 registered voters in the PK-95 constituency of Lower Dir. Out of them, 53,000 of the registered voters are women. For such a huge number of women voters [53,000] there were only six polling stations and 12 female staff, the letter states. In by-election at PK-95 after the resignation of JI Ameer Sirajul Haq in Lower Dir, the local politicians of all political parties unanimously decided to stop women from casting their votes. ECP took notice and issued instruction for re-elections in the constituency. However, the order was challenged in Islamabad High Court. Resultantly, the IHC dismissed the ECP decision due to absence of such law. Now after the new law is introduced, political parties will not be in a position to exploit the rights of half of countrys population. Former JI chief Munawar Hassan is known for his stance. However, he asks all the political parties to bring women in the process of decision-making. Now after making the law, the state should address womens grievances in remote areas before the general elections, he said. It wouldnt be possible for parties in limited resources to make it successful and bring all of the women in the process, but state institutions should take responsibilities in womens mainstreaming, he said. Although it should be done before passing the bill, he said. According to the latest census, 49.05 population of the province comprises female. According to the ECP, there are a total of 12,311,001 voters in KP. Out of them, 26,1736 are women voters. As per the census data, 1.78 million women voters are not registered yet. Razia Aziz is attached with JI for the past 28 years. She was an MNA during the Musharaf era. She is now and is now leading the massive campaign of one million women registration. She believes in the empowerment of women. She has convinced the JI leadership for giving more space to women in policymaking. Its insane how half of the population can be ignored? Without women, the dream of an everlasting and fruitful democracy wont be achieved, she said. The JI womens wing has organised 120 gatherings in various parts of the province. Our goal is to educate and motivate women about vote casting and power of their votes in far flung as well as in urban areas of KP, Razia says. JI Media Coordinator Muhammad Iqbal calls the step towards greater democracy, inclusive and prosperous Pakistan. Without womens participation, the country cant progress, Iqbal said. To a question, Iqbal said that actually the new law paved the way towards the founder of JI Maulana Maududi. There are speculations about the reshaping of Mutahida Majlis e Amal (MMA) before the upcoming general election. MMA was the amalgamation of religious political parties which had provided shelter to Musharraf while supporting the Legal Frame Ordinance (LFO). JI has been supporting womens rights historically. The state and society have deliberately ignored women, Provincial Media Coordinator Iqbal Khan said. The religious law doesnt ask us to keep the women deprived. Women have from their basic rights whether it is democratic, economic, education or social. Culturally, a particular segment of this conservative society is trying to keep the half of the population in the dark. Razia Aziz is of the opinion that while giving democratic rights to the women and increasing women participation in national and provincial assemblies is the remarkable step from the government. John Barrett said he was "shocked and dismayed" when Cyril Dunne allegedly told him that Garda management would be "going after" Maurice McCabe during the O'Higgins Commission of Investigations. Barrett is the force's head of human resources and Dunne, at the time, was An Garda Siochana's chief administration officer. Dunne's part of the exchange was read into the Disclosure Tribunal last Friday afternoon and is based on notes of the conversation taken by Barrett. "Prior to the commencement of the O'Higgins Commission hearings, at the conclusion of a meeting in the office of the Chief Administration Officer, Cyril Dunne, Mr Dunne asked me to remain in his office after the other attendees had left and with reference to Sergeant Maurice McCabe, said, 'We are going after him in the commission'," Justice Peter Charleton's Tribunal heard. Dunne denies he made these comments. Barrett's reaction to the alleged comments is contained in a protected disclosure he made to the Department of Justice which has not yet been read into. However, its contents were verified by several sources last week. The sense of disbelief suggested by Barrett was shared by many of those watching proceedings in Georges Hall, Dublin Castle, last Friday. Major revelations emerged throughout the day which gave a fascinating insight into, among many other things, the relationship between the two women at the highest ranks of the justice system as a political storm was about to rob them of their livelihood. Expand Close QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS: Former Garda Commissioner Noirin OSullivan and former Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS: Former Garda Commissioner Noirin OSullivan and former Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald The worryingly symbiotic relationship between An Garda Siochana and the Department of Justice was also on full show as former secretary general Noel Waters was questioned on his knowledge of the alleged plot to discredit McCabe. At times, the forensic questioning dragged as barristers poked holes in Waters's responses. But members of the media and the dozen or so tribunal groupies edged forward on their seats when it was revealed that former Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan composed a statement which she suggested the then Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald could read into the Dail record. In the statement, Fitzgerald was to express confidence in the Commissioner and defend O'Sullivan after it emerged her legal team were to question McCabe's motivation and credibility throughout the O'Higgins inquiry. Fitzgerald turned down the request and instead went to meet O'Sullivan the following day. The statement related to a leaked transcript from the O'Higgins Commission which showed how the Commissioner's legal team planned, under O'Sullivan's instruction, to pursue the line that McCabe was only questioning his colleague's work practice because he had a grudge. Specifically the grievance centred on a refusal by senior gardai to release a Director of Public Prosecutions (DDP) report which showed there wasn't a scintilla of evidence to show he had in any way sexually assaulted a colleague's daughter. Last Monday, we found out that the line of questioning which sparked concerns among McCabe's legal team was an attempt to criticise him and another colleague for suggesting to a crime victim that she make a complaint to the Garda Ombudsman. This would have supposedly shown McCabe was out to get his colleagues. We will find out more about O'Sullivan's decision to draft a speech for the Minister for Justice when she appears before the Charleton Tribunal this week. The former commissioner will also hopefully shine some light on her request to Fitzgerald to have her legal advice published when the strategy became public knowledge. O'Sullivan sent a copy of a 20-point letter backing up her legal strategy, as drafted by her counsel, to Fitzgerald and asked that it be released along with the statement composed in Garda headquarters. Ms O'Sullivan was quite insistent on having her legal advice released. "I would request you to state that I volunteered this document to you in the public interest. My directions at all times were to assist the Commission to establish the facts and the truth, and never at any stage change those directions," the Commissioner wrote. However, the Tanaiste believed this could set a dangerous precedent and refused to divulge the legal advice from the Commission of Investigation as it was meant to be heard behind closed doors. Waters could not remember the nuts and bolts behind the decision but said it seemed appropriate not to release the advice. It will also be intriguing to find out why the commissioner felt it was necessary to use a personal Gmail address when contacting Fitzgerald about such a sensitive matter. Another puzzling interaction involved Department of Justice deputy secretary general Ken O'Leary composing a response for the Commissioner on the legal strategy controversy. This response was then sent to Minister for Justice and was posed as the Commissioner's views on the scandal. Justice Charleton was taken aback by the approach. "There may be a reason for it, but, at first blush, the Garda Commissioner writing her Department, which have already been written by the Department, would seem to be a somewhat empty exercise," he said. Waters said interaction between senior gardai and civil servants when drafting statements wasn't unusual and noted that it was always open to the Commissioner to send a different response if she so wished. It also emerged that at this time Terry Prone, Communications Clinic boss and well-known media guru, was providing the Commissioner with advice on public statements. Waters said Prone previously worked with his department but to his best knowledge had not been at this time. The tribunal audience looked on in bewilderment when Waters said he could not remember a 14-minute conversation he had with Noirin O'Sullivan about the legal strategy she wanted to use on McCabe. But then Waters couldn't recollect much throughout the day's hearing. In his defence the conversation took place on May 15, 2015 but it would seem to have been an important phone call. It was put to Waters by McCabe's senior counsel Michael McDowell that he took the phone call from O'Sullivan's landline in Garda headquarters during the same period the O'Higgins Commission adjourned so the Commissioner's legal team could confirm the legal strategy with the police chief. There was a flurry of calls to O'Sullivan from Superintendent Fergus Healy, who was acting as the force's liaison at the inquiry, and in the middle of these calls Waters spoke at length to the Commissioner. Waters said he could not remember and in a statement to the tribunal, O'Sullivan also says she does not recall the phone call. O'Sullivan insisted she was not looking for advice but was concerned that the department might get media queries about the strategy. The relationship between the Department of Justice and Garda headquarters is essential to the proper operation of the country's justice system. However, we learned during the era of Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan and Minister for Justice Alan Shatter that too close a relationship could be perhaps be detrimental to both sides. In the wake of their departures from public life, there was a lot of talk about new dawns and rethinks of how justice is applied in the State. However, last week's Disclosure Tribunal suggested that a very close working relationship with little boundaries continued in the years after they left office. The hearings have also resulted in many more questions for O'Sullivan and Fitzgerald to answer in the coming weeks. The number of flu cases reported in the first week of this year was almost double that of the same period last year and it is the over-65s and children who face the greatest risk of contracting the virus. A report on infectious diseases by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) shows that flu cases accounted for more than half of the infectious illnesses since the beginning of January. It shows the over-65s face a greater risk of contracting flu compared to other adults. People in this demographic accounted for 46pc of the 853 influenza cases reported between New Year's Eve and January 6. Women have also been more susceptible to the flu so far this year, representing 475 cases. Men have accounted for 378 reported flu infections. The figures are drastically up on the same period last year. During the first week of 2017, there were 471 reported flu cases. This year's figure represents an 81pc increase. It represents 56pc of all infectious diseases presented in the State. It comes as one GP warned the spread of the virus is complicated by patients refusing the flu vaccine or presenting at clinics unnecessarily. The Dublin-based GP told the Sunday Independent: "The key message is prevention. It is not necessarily influenza but rather the complications of it that render susceptible people very ill especially people with chronic conditions like COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and asthma. "They will have exacerbations of their existing symptoms that will require at the very least close monitoring and re-attendances at GP for repeat courses of antibiotics, steroids and nebulisers, and at worst hospitalisation." She said waiting rooms are regularly clogged up with patients who do not need to be there. "I had so many eligible patients refusing the flu vaccine based on misinformation and lack of insight into what 'real flu' is. The problem for many GPs is that our waiting rooms are heaving every day of the year with patients who don't necessarily need to be there. "They are the 'worried well', the not always sick under six-year-olds taken to the surgery as a precaution," she added. A H3N2 strain, commonly known as 'Aussie Flu', has swept the country along with an influenza B strain. Experts at the HPSC have warned they expected these to circulate for at least another four weeks as general outbreaks tend to last for between six and eight weeks. They have warned high-risk groups to get vaccinated if they have not already been immunised during the current flu season. They have specifically appealed for people aged 65 and older, children with chronic illnesses, those with lower immunity, pregnant women and those with morbid obesity to ensure they are vaccinated. They have also called on residents in nursing homes and health care professionals to receive the vaccine. HPSC figures show the numbers of those contacting the illness increases steadily among older demographics. People in the 35-to-44-year-old bracket accounted for 75 reported flu cases. This rises steadily to 84 cases found in 45-to-54-year-olds and 89 cases in 55-to-64-year-olds. There were 57 children under the age of four years old with flu in the first week of the year. A mother-of-five has complained to gardai after a man threatened her over the phone, saying you and your autistic kids will get their heads bashed in... I'm going to bash the autism out of them. The intimidating phone-call was made to Fiona OLeary, an autism rights campaigner, last month. Ms OLeary founded Autistic Rights Together and has been highlighting therapies that are falsely sold as treatment for autism. She claims that staff at the Church of Scientology in Dublin offered her a 1,500 detoxification programme that would cure her children of autism. Since then, she has been actively campaigning against Scientology and the opening of the centre in Firhouse. However, a spokeswoman for the Scientology centre has insisted that the threatening call was not made by anyone associated with it. In audio heard by Independent.ie, a young man with a Dublin accent told Ms OLeary: "You and your five autistic kids will get their heads bashed in... I'm going to bash the autism out of them." "We were at a petrol station and all my kids were in the car and we got a call from a private number. I had to put it on speaker phone so my husband could record it, and all my children heard it, it was horrific," Ms OLeary told Independent.ie. Ms OLeary has two autistic sons, aged 25 and 13. She says she is afraid to stay at home by herself out of fear and claims to have received more intimidating calls since. A garda spokesman confirmed they had received reports of threatening phone calls but added "It is not the policy of An Garda Siochana to comment on named individuals and ongoing investigations." In a statement to Independent.ie, the Scientology centre in Dublin said: "On 4 December 2017 he [a volunteer at the centre] was called by a woman called Fiona O'Leary, who lied to him about her identity and feigned an interest in the Centre. He was very upset when he realised she had got his personal mobile number and tried to deceive him and waste his time. "He called her back and made what was clearly an expression of frustration, not a threat. Nevertheless when we learned about it we informed him that despite the extreme provocation this was entirely unacceptable and he gave an assurance that he would not respond to provocation in the future. We believe he has honoured this assurance. "The second call ["you and your autistic kids will get their heads bashed in"] is not him or anyone that we are aware of. We condemn all such behaviour." Ms OLeary says she called the centre using a different name to enquire about their Winter Wonderland which was set up in December. She said she had concerns about children going to the Winter Wonderland after she was offered the Purification Rundown treatment. Purification Rundown, trademarked by Scientology, is a detoxification programme which purports to rid the body of the harmful effects of drugs, toxins and other chemicals. A representative of the Scientology centre told Ms O'Leary over the phone that the 'Purif' works "100pc of the time" to cure conditions like autism. Independent.ie has heard the telephone conversation. A spokeswoman for the centre said: "English is not his first language and he struggled a little in the conversation. However, he made no reference to any "treatment" and certainly did not say that anything could cure autism. "The Purification Programme is a religious service taken by members on their own personal spiritual path. It is designed to help cleanse the body and hence the mind of harmful drugs and toxins that impede one's spiritual advance. As such we believe it can help anyone." RTE's Dublin correspondent, John Kilraine, has lodged a legal action against Brendan Ogle over comments the trade union leader made during the occupation of Apollo House. Mr Ogle clashed with Mr Kilraine at the height of the controversy surrounding the occupation of the Dublin city centre office block by homelessness campaigners in December 2016. The Unite union activist published a lengthy statement on Facebook in which he mentioned Mr Kilraine by name. RTE and the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) issued a statement defending Mr Kilraine following the publication of Mr Ogle's social media comments. It is understood Mr Kilraine is taking the case in a personal capacity but RTE chiefs are aware of the action. Details of the case were provided by legal data service Courtsdesk. Mr Ogle was central to the office block occupation which was supported by musicians Glen Hansard and Hozier. Mr Ogle's Facebook statement came after Mr Kilraine reported that a trust linked to Unite sought to have the union's former headquarters exempt from use for social housing by making an application to Dublin City Council. It was reported that the exemption was sought at the same time Mr Ogle was planning to take over Apollo House. Unite regional secretary Jimmy Kelly confirmed that property managers acting on behalf of Unite had sought the exemption as they planned to secure residential planning permission for the building before putting it on the market. Mr Kelly also said Unite had offered the building to a number of agencies for social housing when the union had stopped operating out of it some years earlier. He said the building was offered to Focus Ireland, but according to Mr Kelly it was "completely unsuitable for their needs as it stood". A spokesman for Focus Ireland confirmed the offer. "Unite asked Focus Ireland [and other organisations] at the time would our organisation be interested in possible use of the building for a period of a maximum of three years while the union was developing its own plans for future use of the premises." After Mr Ogle's Facebook post, an RTE spokesperson said: "While we welcome feedback, and have processes in place to facilitate both feedback and official complaints, we strongly condemn personal attacks on our journalists and presenters. "RTE stands by its reporting of the Apollo House story, which we are satisfied has been fair and accurate." At the time, Irish secretary of the NUJ Seamus Dooley said individual workers should not be targeted through social media or in public statements. When asked by text message if he wanted to comment on the case, Mr Ogle said: "lol [laugh out loud] no. I'm speechless." Mr Kilraine could not be reached for comment. Acclaimed British journalist Jon Snow said that "science has prevailed" in the media world and has left behind "instant, plastic, fake news". Speaking at the BT Young Scientist and Exhibition Gala , the Channel 4 News reporter said that fake news is everywhere. "Ive been sort of evolving with the science in my profession and then of course there was that sublime moment of the digital breakthrough when absolutely everything was instant. "The great joy of film, and to a certain extent video, was you had a good number of hours to make the phone calls, highlight the facts, actually speak to people, and do quite a lot of legwork - maybe not moving out of the desk but nevertheless, telephonic legwork - to try and get the story right. "These days, they want it now, absolutely immediate. Forget television, stuff can go online long before you see it on television." Read More Mr Snow continued to say most people now consume news through Facebook, rather than local newspapers. "A remarkably large number of people do actually watch bits and pieces of British television, but in fact only 800,000 people watch the news, but last year we had 2.5 billion views on Facebook. "We broadcast the programmes and then the programmes are cut up and redelivered on Facebook, but as I discovered with the Grenfell tower fire - I went down there at half past five in the morning and the fire was still raging - was that in fact, what a journalist normally does, a national journalist, is look for local hacks, local people who toil away on the local papers and know everything and everyone. There were none. Why was that? "That was because Facebook has obliterated most local advertising. Most people advertising advertise on Facebook, Google, one of the other platforms because theyre far more rewarding and theyre much easier to turn, and consequently theres no income for local papers and they are dying. I dont know about Ireland but in Britain theyre all but dead. And there were no local hacks." Mr Snow told the audience at the gala that "online was king" when it came to news. Read More "I suddenly realised we were running into an age in which online was king but there was no money in it because Facebook pay us nothing at all but of course pile a huge number of advertisements onto our product in order to get an income. "We have had talks with them, they say theyre thinking about beginning to pay us and so on, but here again you see great progress and yet also great retreat in terms of provision, which is a very interesting dilemma. "Of course the real dilemma, nationally, both here in Ireland and in the United Kingdom, and across the western world, is in peril from the loss of advertising. We lost 5pc last year, because its all shifting online and theyre gobbling up our content. We love the reach, and 2.5 billion views is quite something - the fact that they only watched for 5 or 10 seconds is neither here nor there. The online world is key, science has prevailed and produced this instant, plastic, fake news." A Dublin mother-of-two is offering families who are struggling financially the chance to rent a communion dress and get their hair and make-up done for free. Kirsty-Cyane McGill (32) was inspired to give something back after going through an extremely tough time following the death of her partner last May. She also faced homelessness after her landlord told her she was moving back home, but later put the house back up for rent for an extra 650 per month. "I have had a lot of time off to reflect and I know how it feels to feel alone, struggle and stress about kids, home life and finances," she said. Expand Close Kirsty and Christopher with her two children, Kayleen and Rylan / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Kirsty and Christopher with her two children, Kayleen and Rylan "As communion and confirmation time is coming up, I would like to ease the burden on another mum. I have beautiful dresses that are my daughter's and I am a hair and make-up artist, so I'm offering a blow dry and make-up for the mum. "Thankfully after a lot of worry I found us a new home, so I am fully aware of the stress and strain on people in that position right now. Which is why I am trying to help if even in only a very small way." Kirsty's partner of five years, Christopher Fitzgerald (34), died last May after he suffered serious injuries following an incident in Swords, Co Dublin. Daniel Fitzgerald from Whitestown Avenue, Blanchardstown, was later charged with his death. Expand Close One of the communion dresses being offered / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp One of the communion dresses being offered All Christopher's organs were donated and Kirsty said she hopes this idea will be a nice tribute to her late partner, who she described as the "most caring person in the world." "He brought so much love and laughter into our life. He was spontaneous and loved meeting new people. He would do anything to help others, I know that sounds cliche but he honestly would," Kirsty told Independent.ie. "He had the biggest heart and my life will never be the same with out him. We met when I was 15-years-old and reunited after 11 years, we became inseparable. Swimming in the Forty Foot every morning together. He was my partner and my best friend, my only support and did everything for myself and the kids. "I am utterly heartbroken he was taken so soon but I am so grateful he was in our lifes and I hope I can make him proud with this lovely idea. He would've absolutely loved it." Since she posted her idea on Facebook, Kirsty has been inundated with messages from people offering their own dresses and she has now set up a page called 'The Keepsake Box'. "I have had a couple of hair stylists and make-up artists offer to help me. And people have offered communion dresses, suits, accessories, confirmation dresses and outfits. Even a christening gown. I know its not saving lives but Christopher has already done that. Everyone can do that by signing a organ donor card with their loved ones today." Kirsty has asked for anyone who wants to donate outfits or accessories, or any stylists and make-up artists who want to volunteer, to contact The Keepsake Box via Facebook. In the quiet days over Christmas, Leo Varadkar raised the prospect of an extension to the Fine Gael-led government's confidence and supply agreement with Fianna Fail. In my view, there is no prospect of such an extension. Therefore, we can expect the next election to be called no later than February 2019. After that election, there is also little prospect that Fianna Fail will sign up to another confidence and supply deal in a circumstance where it is the supporting party in Opposition. However, should Fianna Fail on its own, or with a smaller party such as Labour, and/or with Independents, have more seats than Fine Gael, then a reciprocal confidence and supply deal supported by Fine Gael in Opposition remains on the cards. As support levels currently stand, the only alternative, and one which should not be discounted, is a Fine Gael/Sinn Fein coalition, towards which I suspect the Taoiseach, Tanaiste, and many Fine Gael TDs are relatively disposed. The result of the abortion referendum this year will tell us much about what will happen in the subsequent election. In the context of the Taoiseach's expressed caution last week on the proposed referendum, Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger accused politicians such as Varadkar of trying to hide behind what she called an "imaginary middle ground". Expand Close Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin Coppinger is quite wrong and Varadkar quite right. There is, of course, a middle ground among voters which is why the now Solidarity party of which Coppinger is a member won less than 4pc of the vote in the last election, notwithstanding its disproportionate media profile, which transferred into six seats, at least one of which it was fortunate to win. It is also why Fianna Fail and traditional Independents won significantly more votes than most predicted. Coppinger had a point, though, when she sought to dismiss the portrayal of the Taoiseach as "the young leader, painted as part of a new liberal generation". Like all great, or at least good politicians, Varadkar is many things to many people, but he is first and foremost leader of Fine Gael, which remains a conservative, centre-right political party in the honourable tradition of such parties. In the next election, there will also be what we might call the 'Leo factor' to take into account - that is, his image as a modern young leader of a newly confident country emerging from the shadow of the UK. While there is some merit to that image, it is also over-egged a little, not least by the media and some commentators who seem to be in thrall to Varadkar. That said, the 'Leo factor' will be the conundrum of the next election. On the abortion issue, however, both he and Micheal Martin will need to tread carefully, so as not to startle the support of the traditional middle ground which ultimately will decide whether Fine Gael or Fianna Fail, or which combination of parties and/or Independents, will form the next government. That is not to say that all traditional voters are arch conservatives and, therefore, opposed to extending abortion services in all circumstances, or unaware of the issues which have been reasonably highlighted by both the Citizens' Assembly and subsequent Oireachtas Committee. That said, the abortion referendum will tell us a lot about the state of mind of traditional Ireland, depending on what question(s) is asked and laws to be subsequently introduced. As a consequence, we will be able to interpret whether there has been a significant shift towards what Coppinger refers to as "a new liberal generation". In my view, there has been such a shift, but it is not as pronounced as many in politics and the media would have you believe. There are many issues, but the next election will be primarily fought on two which are part related: stewardship of the economy and the housing crisis, with the health service thrown in for a bit of a kick-about. But the health service will not be hugely influential for voters in deciding between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, neither of whom have shown themselves particularly capable of fully sorting out what is, in truth, more a seasonal disaster zone, but which, by and large, functions as adequately as the public has come to expect and reluctantly accept. However, the housing issue, which reaches across generations and social classes, from the leafier suburbs to the homeless, is an entirely more unpredictable determinate of voter choice, which will not allow housing to go the way of health, towards an acceptable level of chaos. Also in my view, there is another factor related to the housing crisis which has so far not been referred to or taken into account, and that is - whisper it - for all its faults in the past, there exists a sneaking regard for the know-how of Fianna Fail to get housing built. In the election, this sneaking regard will be set against the stewardship of the economy by Paschal Donohoe, who is likely to be Fine Gael's secret weapon, rather than 'new liberal generation' Leo. Now let me return to Fianna Fail and the bind into which it has gotten itself on confidence and supply. Shane Ross was correct when he said, also over Christmas, that Fianna Fail has become "trapped" by the confidence and supply deal it agreed to form the Government. There was always the prospect that this Government would fall related to the issues which have gripped the Garda Siochana and Department of Justice. But when the two parties got past the Frances Fitzgerald crisis in November, it became inevitable that the Government would run its allotted course. For Fianna Fail now, there is no alternative, notwithstanding the rather excitable views of some backbenchers, and as a consequence, some commentators who would have you believe the Government is at risk of collapse. When Micheal Martin signed up to confidence and supply for three budgets, it was always his intention to honour that deal, even if he reserved his position according to events. Indeed, he had an opportunity, twice, to collapse the Government in relation to Garda controversies but chose not to on the first occasion when there was genuine cause and on the second, when it was a somewhat impetuous Varadkar who was forced to back down. Moreover, Martin's honouring of the deal, at this stage, has become an electoral asset more than a liability. He kept his word: three budgets. But to allow the Government to continue beyond the terms of the agreed deal he signed up to in 2016 would, I believe, be political suicide for Fianna Fail. Martin knows this more than anyone. So he will make his case: he has provided the country with stable government for three years, during which time many people have emerged to an extent from the difficult circumstances which existed at the last election. But only Fianna Fail is capable of sorting out the housing crisis. On that basis, Martin will go to the country after the Finance Bill is passed at year's end and make his case with a degree of confidence. The great unknown in the election will be the extent to which 'new liberal generation' Leo has really caught the public imagination. And there is no doubt he has. But for all the hype, to date he has no outstanding achievement to call his own, other than to have negotiated skilfully the first phase of Brexit, which was easier to do than not when he had a united Europe on Ireland's side. The outcome of the abortion referendum will also be an achievement one way or other, but it has the potential to be a double-edged sword. So Varadkar will mostly emphasise a stronger economy, with the recent, albeit slow, unravelling of austerity measures as an achievement which can be noted down in Fine Gael's credit. In the media and on social media, the Taoiseach has also played masterful politics, which many have criticised as 'spin. But I wonder, at how many doors he has called since his elevation to the highest office; or how many 'ordinary' people has he met in that time, and to what extent has he engaged with them at an instinctive level. This is his Achilles heel: an unerring ability to communicate but not necessarily to connect. In other words, it will be fascinating to see whether the next election is different from others before, that is, whether the door-to-door 'ground war' of the campaign itself really matters, or whether 'new liberal generation' Leo Varadkar's rock star credentials will be enough to see him to victory. We shall see. A dedicated midwife abandoned her hair appointment halfway through her highlight top-up to deliver a patient's baby. American nurse Carrie Hall dashed from the salon with foil still in her hair to respond to a delivery that had proceeded quicker than expected. A photo of the midwife, from Hyden, Kentucky, was shared by Frontier Nursing University, where the nurse completed her training. "There's a first time for everything! Thought I'd share. I was at the salon and nature called," she wrote in the caption of the amusing photo in which she is holding a newborn. Speaking to parenting website CafeMom, Carrie said: "It was just an ordinary day on call when I thought I'd chance a hair appointment for a color! I called prior to going to my appointment and there was a patient in labor but she wasn't progressing rapidly. My hair dresser, Demaris, had just finished foiling my hair when the nurses called and said the patient was ready to deliver. "The local hospital was five minutes away so, foils and all , I went to catch a baby." An FNU grad sent us this photo with the caption: "1st time for everything! Thought I'd share! I was at the salon and... Posted by Frontier Nursing University on Thursday, April 6, 2017 Those commenting on Frontier Nursing University's Facebook post were quick to question the state of Carrie's hair but the nurse happily posted a follow up image of her shiny blonde locks to prove no damage had been done. If you've started January, preceded by the word 'Dry', congratulations. As well as the cost-saving benefits, a study in Britain found that 82pc of people who abstained for the month felt a sense of achievement, 62pc had better sleep, 62pc had more energy and 49pc lost weight. That's a pretty good result for a fresh start to the new year. Added to that, 8pc of people stayed off the bottle for six months, and for those who went back, they drank less often, had fewer drinks and were less likely to get drunk. They also found it easier to refuse drinks, which is a nifty skill in our 'go on, go on' culture. The number of teetotallers is rising, particularly among the super healthy, under-25 millennials, and 'mindful drinking' is now a thing. In her newly released book, Mindful Drinking: How Cutting Down Can Change Your Life, journalist Rosamund Dean combines scientific expertise with practical advice. The key is to identify the habits and triggers, which could be a social situation, a particular person, or an emotion. And then you need to be a bit forensic, and analyse exactly how much you are drinking and in what situations. It's not about meditating. It is simply about being aware of what you are doing. Being 'present' as they say in mindfulness. It's about cutting down, not cutting out. For your plan, the secret is the rule of three: you restrict alcohol intake to three days a week and never have more than three drinks. Yes, that last bit is the kicker. It can be easy enough to avoid drinking during the week, especially in January, only to play catch up at the weekend. And you need to be pretty honest with yourself when it comes to glass size. Wine glasses are now seven times larger than they were in the 1700s. They've grown from an average capacity of 66ml to 449ml. Mindful drinking may improve your pocket, your mood, your skin, your sex-drive and your body, as well as reduce stress and anxiety, but non-alcoholic alternatives can be dreadfully dull. Which is a shame, because they don't need to be. A while back, I met a friend for lunch in the Clove Club in east London, and I can still see the mixture of surprise and amusement on her face when she rocked up to the ultra-cool bar and found me sipping a non-alcoholic cocktail. But after having a taste of mine, she was soon sipping a similar concoction herself. At the Clove Club, they take their drinks seriously. Rather than lily-livered 'mocktails' which aspire to be non-alcoholic versions of 'normal' cocktails, their drinks, which are made with finesse and layered with flavours, can be sipped slowly and savoured. One of the secret weapons in the Clove Club's battalion of ingredients is Seedlip, a non-alcoholic spirit that is truly grown-up in its flavour profile. It's been on the market for over a year now, and was developed by Ben Branson, a non-drinker who was thoroughly bored with sweet, fizzy drinks. While researching herbal options, he happened upon a copy of The Art of Distillation, a rare book from 1651 which had non-alcoholic herbal remedies for illnesses. He was interested, and ta-dah, an exciting alternative was born. There are also some very good soft drinks on the market now which are great on their own with ice, and I was impressed with the latest Schweppes 1783 range. So this weekend, I have two non-alcoholic options and two wines, which are low alcohol, and yes, also dry. 4 drinks to try Seedlip Spice 94, 70cl, 33-35 From Redmonds of Ranelagh, Martins of Fairview, Harvey Nichols and House of Fraser, all Dublin; and Drinkstore.ie Allspice, grapefruit, lemon peel, cardamom, American oak and cascarilla bark combine together to make this a fresh, aromatic spirit with brooding earthy notes and not a trace of alcohol. Great with tonic water. Schweppes 1783 Cucumber Tonic Water, 200ml, price varies by outlet From premium bars and restaurants Fresh, with crisp aromas of cucumber, the quinine from the tonic comes through on the palate, making this perfect for drinking on its own or for mixing with gin without dominating. The Salty Lemon Tonic Water, which has citrus and floral notes, is also worth checking out. Domaine de Pellehaut Blanc 2016, 13 11.5pc, from Mitchells and Mitchells at Avoca, Andersons Food Hall & Cafe, Glasnevin, Andersons Creperie, Drumcondra, all Dublin and Myles Doyles, Gorey, Co Wexford Fresh and crisp on the palate, this blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Colombard, Ugni Blanc and Gros and Petit Marsang is a deliciously easy-drinking wine, with plenty of sweet gooseberry, papaya and lime on the palate. Grifone Sangiovese 2016, 9.99 12.5pc, from Eurospar, Spar, Mace and Londis Bright and vibrant with juicy flavours of cherry, redcurrant and a touch of strawberry, this well balanced, organic Italian wine will pair very nicely with pizza, quiche, pasta and vegetarian dishes. GRAPEVINE Forget the weather and head to Courtmacsherry in Co Cork where the Lifeboat Inn will be bringing a taste of Spain to its wine pairing dinner on January 20, featuring the wines from Rias Baixas and Ribera del Duero. Starting with canapes, the dishes on the five-course menu, prepared by head chef Martin Buckley, have been chosen to celebrate the tradition and terroir of each wine region including monkfish carpaccio, black pudding salad, and a Guinness and chocolate dessert. Tickets, including wines, are 40 per person. Pre-dinner drinks at 6.30pm. Visit lifeboatinn.ie or call (023) 886 4656. Nicola Anderson's family had never considered a camping holiday. Then they travelled with Brittany Ferries to France. Our car rolls out of the French port of Roscoff at dawn, and we drive sleepily into the countryside for a couple of kilometres. "I like it here," I whisper. "Me too," comes a sudden announcement from the back seat as everyone wakes up. Ravenous. We've gone old-school with this holiday, giddily and recklessly loading up the car in a way that would make budget airlines blanch in horror. But we draw the line before it gets to breaking point. We do want a few empty corners to squeeze in some wine on the way home, after all. Travelling by ferry to France is a new type of experience for us, having never even considered the classic campsite holiday. Even the drive down to Ringaskiddy in Cork is an adventure for three children under 10 - who still sigh with nostalgia over the penny sweets in Dick's newsagents in Charleville along the way. On board the Pont Aven - Brittany Ferries' flagship - they shriek with delight at the bunks in our cabins and declare they're going to bed straight away. Ah yes, the ideal holiday has already begun. Expand Close Brittany Ferries / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Brittany Ferries After many family conferences mulling over facilities, we've booked Eurocamp's Grand Metairie campsite in Carnac, near the Gulf of Morbihan in southern Brittany. It pipped others because they had an option to stay a night in a tree house - more on that later. On arriving, we're intrigued to spy sprawling fields of mysterious Neolithic standing stones, like an ancient set of dominos, with vast numbers of tourists strolling amongst them. Theories abound as to why the stones were placed there - experts say they served "ceremonial purposes", were "for worship" or perhaps "territorial markers". To modern eyes, however, it looks more like a vast graveyard. By night, some of the fields are imaginatively backlit, giving the mysterious vista an even more eerie and entrancing look. Our campsite is vast, but we quickly find our groove. Our two-bed mobile home is basic, but the better for it (far less cleaning involved). And it's fun to watch the other holidaymakers fire up the barbeques. I'd like the fortitude of the French papa who sits stoically under tarpaulin at his camper van for hours silently and alone... but we are made of more hyperactive stuff, and so we throw ourselves into exploring our surroundings. We have a snack in the Robinson Crusoe-esque tree house, but opt not to spend the night on the grounds that there is no electricity and somebody is bound to have to go to the loo in the middle of the night... It doesn't take long to fall into an easy, breezy morning routine of breakfast and a dip in the pool before getting into the car to soak up the magical world of the famous Breton beaches - a different one every day, each more entrancing than the last. Carnac beach is a more sociable affair than the string of windswept golden beaches further along the peninsula towards Quiberon. We shop in the local market for the perfect picnic - a punnet of ripe cherries, an oozing camembert, a crunchy French baguette, charcuterie, a bottle of ice-cold homemade lemonade. Nothing has ever tasted better. Sandy, a little sunburned and very content, we feel like diving into a big pot of mussels and so we roll into the Ty Gwelig restaurant in Carnac (8 Rue Colary) for moules au cidre, mopped up with more excellent French bread. Our six-year-old is immediately hooked and pretty much refuses to eat anything else for the rest of her trip. Expand Close Cote Sauvage at Qiberon peninsula. Brittany in evening light / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Cote Sauvage at Qiberon peninsula. Brittany in evening light Another day finds us in the beach town of Quiberon, enjoying grilled sardines before stopping off at a spectacular sandy beach with thundering surf. At almost 10pm, the kids are still testing out their new fishing nets and building sandcastles. "Look at that sky over there," says my nine-year-old son, pointing at the glowing embers as dusk finally falls. In homage to our ferry vessel, we make a point of seeing the lovely village of Pont Aven - where Paul Gauguin painted - and the children are tickled pink by the local ritual of hands being washed in the river after using the public loos. We are also dazzled by the chic beauty of the medieval harbour of Auray - where we savour ice-cream that somehow manages to be simultaneously both gourmet and bubblegum in flavour. Brittany offers up that most nostalgic of experiences - the simple, languid family holiday, done well, amid picturesque scenery - and more crepes than a starry-eyed child could ever dream of (eventually a ban on Nutella had to be imposed). As for the weather - we agree that it's like the best of idyllic Irish summers, with our week broken by one day of heavy rain. En route back to Roscoff, there was time for just one more quintessential holiday experience - a trip to the Wine Beer Supermarket to fill those empty corners in the car. It's hilarious - 90pc of our fellow customers are also Irish, beaming from ear to ear as they fill up their shopping trolleys with excellent wines at magnificently story-book prices. Some people take the ferry to Roscoff for the wine alone. But then, where's the fun in that when you're missing out on those incredible beaches, the moules and that bubblegum ice-cream? Getting there Nicola travelled with Brittany Ferries (brittanyferries.ie), which operates weekly sailings between Cork and Roscoff with the fastest direct ferry crossing (14 hours) from Ireland to France. The 2016 season runs from April 2 to November 5, with return fares for a family of four plus car from 528, subject to availability. What to pack Everything! Having no baggage limits is one of the joys of a ferry holiday. Don't be tempted to bring freezer food, however. French supermarkets are an adventure in themselves, and boulangeries are full of ecstasy-inducing brioches, baguettes and pastries. Where to stay The Pont Aven's on-board experiences include French-influenced restaurants, two cinemas, a swimming pool, spa treatments and bar areas with panoramic sea views. Seven nights at the Grand Metairie campsite in July starts from 974 in a two-bed Esprit mobile home. 3 must-dos... Village life Expand Close Brittany is famous for floral villages like Rochefort-en-Terre. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Brittany is famous for floral villages like Rochefort-en-Terre. Brittany is famous for floral villages like Rochefort-en-Terre, a dead-ringer for Belle's hometown in Beauty and the Beast. Picturesque timber houses line the cobblestones, and they're crammed with salted caramel shops, artisan biscuit-makers and wafting creperies. Bring an appetite. Fruits de Mer Expand Close Oysters - Brittany is renowned for producing seafood. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Oysters - Brittany is renowned for producing seafood. Brittany is renowned for producing seafood as good as our own. The oysters of Cancale and Belon, the mussels of the Bay of Mont-St-Michel and the Vilaine estuary, all have the highest reputation. Saint-Quay-Portrieux, Loguivy-de-la-Mer and Erquy are all known for their scallops, too. A last hurrah! Expand Close Wine store in Brittany. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Wine store in Brittany. Make time for one last holiday experience before you leave Brittany... squirrelling away some vino for the dark days of winter. Hit the Beer and Wine Supermarket (winebeersupermarket.com) - stay sensible, don't go for the bargain basement stuff and ask staff for advice. You won't go wrong. NB: All prices subject to availability. From Greg Swank, 12-4-2 You are about to read a list of 45 goals that found their way down the halls of our great Capitol back in 1963. As... "Do you like nature?" the flight attendant asks. "It depends on the place," I say. We're 35,000ft above Eastern Europe, on an Emirates flight to Dubai. Like anyone visiting this Disneyland in the desert, I've packed my fair share of preconceptions. I don't expect much nature for one. "Maybe," she smiles. "But for me, it's like travelling to the future." Wham! In one seductive slap-down, she turns my attitude on its head. Of course Dubai is big, brash and bling-tastic. It's home to the world's tallest building, its largest shopping mall and its richest horse race. But there's something exciting about the way it tears up the rulebook too. Could that triumph of style over substance actually make it a truly original 21st-century city? I want my mind bent straight away, so one of my first stops is the Burj Khalifa - at 828 metres, the world's tallest building. Pulling up at the slick Armani Hotel in its basement, I ascend to the 122nd floor in the world's fastest elevator (what else?), and tuck into afternoon tea in Atmosphere (www.atmosphereburjkhalifa.com). It feels weird nibbling fancy sandwiches with panoramic views over a downtown area that didn't exist six years ago. In the Mall of Emirates, I watch kids skid around on toboggans in Ski Dubai (www.skidxb.com). Above them, chair lifts take skiers up to the piste, watched over by guests with slope-view rooms in the Alpine Lodge style Kempinski Hotel. Is it surreal? Of course it is. Even more so when verses of the Koran are piped through the mall at prayer time. There's a similar vibe at the Dubai Mall, where 1,200 stores run the range from Baby Dior to Bloomingdales. Tourists stand transfixed by the sharks and rays gliding about in one of Dubai Aquarium's IMAX-like tanks. A 155-million-year-old dinosaur skeleton stands by one of the entrances. The sheer scale of the place takes me by surprise. Dubai sprawls along some 70km of naturally occurring coastline, with set-piece neighbourhoods like Downtown, Festival City and Jumeirah built from scratch in the sands. It's not just the Manhattan of the Middle East - it's the Kuala Lumpur and the Shanghai too. Factor in the heat, and you'll understand why nobody walks in this city. "This is nothing," says my Platinum Heritage Safaris guide. "In summer it can be 45 or 50 degrees. I was in the desert one day and I had a headache. I went to the car to get some water. Then I saw the temperature. It was 59 degrees." Holy Moly! Thankfully, the mercury is nowhere near that when I'm picked up for a desert safari (www.platinum-heritage.com; AED395/78). We drive out into the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve in a Mercedes G Wagon, pulling on Arabic headscarves and hopping into a 1950s open-topped Land Rover for some dune bashing in the Empty Quarter - the largest sand desert on earth. It's not just sand, either. I think of my flight attendant friend as we spot the odd Arabian oryx and gazelle. Afterwards, we break at a desert camp for a camel ride and a traditional breakfast, before chatting with Hamad, a Bedouin man in a snow-white dishdash. "Life is much better now," he muses. "Before, we had to dig for water. Now it comes from the tap. Before, we had camels. Now I have a four-wheel drive." Well, touche. But this old man isn't the only trace of 'authentic' Arabian culture I find in Dubai. Taking an early evening walk around Bur Dubai - which, along with Deira, is as close as it gets to an 'old' town here - I chance on the Dubai Museum. A warren of underground exhibits brings alive the Bedouins, pearl divers and craftsmen of another era through displays of mocked-up dhows, tombs, shops and tents... a lifestyle that changed utterly with the discovery of oil in the 1960s. Afterwards, I set out to get lost in Meena Bazaar, wandering through souks and side streets for a few unscripted moments. Stallholders throw pashmina shawls over my shoulders. The smell of shisha pipes wafts from a coffee shop. Wooden water taxis (abra) chug along the busy Dubai Creek. It's the first real travel tingle I get in the city - a fleeting sense of a churned-up crossroads, as opposed to a ritzy but rootless spectacle. "Anyone who knows Dubai knows it is in pretty much a constant state of flux," says my guide on a neighbourhood food tour with Frying Pan Adventures (fryingpanadventures.com). She leads our small group from street snacks like onion samosas with spicy green chutney to kulchas (stuffed breads) served up with chickpea curry and sweet-spicy tamarind chutney. With its tailors, chaat houses, honking horns and samosa joints, Bur Dubai reminds me of a neighbourhood in Delhi or Mumbai. It feels thrilling. It's an intoxicating cultural immersion - all the more seamless for the fact that everyone speaks English, and the city is generally so clean and safe. Mash that up with snippets of Muslim life (shoes outside the mosque, a ladies-only carriage on the Metro), exotic snatches of Emirati women in jet-black abayas and customers from all over the world swanning into hotels, and it all feels breathtakingly exotic. I guess that's what Dubai is now - one of the great global intersections. Say what you like about the transience of its population, the gold-plated iPads at the Burj Al Arab, the lack of soul or cultural scenes, but there's nowhere like it on earth. I think we're warming to it, too. Irish travellers enjoy having their minds boggled and fancies tickled - but they also appreciate a quality resort. Dubai has no shortage of those, and it's working to expand its family and four-star offerings next year, along with boutique-style hotels such as the one I stayed at, the Vida in Downtown Dubai. For better or worse, it's like Sin City without the seediness. My flight attendant friend had it spot on. It looks like we'll be travelling to the future for some time. Need to know GET THERE: Emirates (www.emirates.ie) fly direct from Dublin to Dubai seven times weekly (double daily from September 1). Return fares from 568 (economy) and 2,351 (business). STAY: Pol stayed at the Vida Hotel (vida-hotels.com) in Downtown Dubai. A tasteful room, smart service, and shisha cabanas around the pool proved a nice alternative to the big beach resorts, and there's a super Japanese next door (toku-dubai.com). SHOP: The Dubai Mall and Mall of Emirates rank among the world's largest malls, but the prices aren't as low as you might think. Look for deals in electronics and gold (quality is government-regulated at the gold souk in Deira), or consider the shopping festival in winter. More info at definitelydubai.com. Travel Tips Dubai isn't a city you can do on foot. It's too hot, too big and too full of traffic. Taxis and Metro are cheap, so make good use of both. Travelling to and around Dubai is easy - visitor permits can be obtained on arrival, most people speak English, hotel water is safe to drink, alcohol is widely available in hotels and plug sockets are three-pin, which means you don't have to bring adapters. Having said that, bear in mind that Islam is the official religion. Beachwear is fine on the beach, but revealing clothes should not be worn elsewhere - err on the side of caution. Avoid summer visits. Temperatures are in the 40s. Spring and late autumn are much better for mixing shopping and sun. Despite its reputation for being a rich man's playground, affordable luxury is possible in Dubai, says Richard Jones. The fiery red sun is sinking beneath desert dunes that stretch as far as the eye can see in every direction. The only noises piercing the eerie silence are the revs of 4x4 engines, followed by the laughter of our driver and gasps from passengers as we climb another dune. We are taking part in one of Arabian Adventures' Sundowner Desert Safaris - a magical evening that begins with a thrilling journey over the sand dunes in the Dubai Conservation Reserve, and ends with a Middle Eastern feast under the stars at a traditional Bedouin-style camp. Although we had only arrived in the UAE a few hours earlier, the forest of shiny skyscrapers, network of busy highways, and hustle and bustle of the city that greeted us now seems a million miles away. "Largest in the world", and "world record holder" are phrases that I hear quite often on my five-day trip to Dubai. Expand Close Arabian Adventures' Sundowner Desert Safaris. PA Photo/Handout. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Arabian Adventures' Sundowner Desert Safaris. PA Photo/Handout. Construction work is taking place everywhere, and it's even been suggested that 25 per cent of the world's cranes are situated in the city, as it continues to expand both horizontally and vertically. But despite being the world's fastest growing urban area, Dubai is still in touch with its traditions and Arabian way of life, and visitors can easily find areas rich in history and culture, as well as modern luxuries that won't break the bank. Of course, it is totally free to visit Dubai's old town, but for just 155 Dirhams (37) per person, an Arabian Adventures guide will take you on a Merchants' Tour around the cobblestoned streets of the Fahidi Historical District, across the Dubai Creek and on to the famous spice and gold souks. Almost everything you can think of is for sale at these markets, some of it authentic and valuable, but most not. However, it's great fun finding out what's what - bartering and bantering with the shopkeepers, and trying out the local delicacies, including camel milk chocolate. For Western visitors to the UAE, it is also worth popping down to the Sheikh Mohammed Centre For Cultural Understanding (SMCCU). Expand Close The Palm Jumeirah. PA Photo/Handout. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Palm Jumeirah. PA Photo/Handout. At the SMCCU, we join a pair of Emirati hosts for a traditional Saturday breakfast (100 Dirhams/24 per person) to talk about a variety of topics, including the Muslim dress code, the Arabs' role in the world and even the abstinence of pork and alcohol. In fact, the two hosts encourage us to ask them absolutely anything - the more outrageous and controversial the better, as they attempt to (and succeed in) opening the eyes of the handful of tourists in their audience. Nevertheless, despite Dubai's rich history, it is the 21st-century hotels, shopping malls, beaches, clubs and bars that have made the city into of the most popular tourist destinations on Earth. And although many visitors are bound to make a beeline for the high-rise hotels down on Jumeirah Beach or at the Marina, boutique hotels such as Manzil Downtown Dubai and Vida Downtown Dubai, offer a similar level of service, luxury and comfort, but in a more scaled-down fashion. And with a much more digestible price tag of around 190 per night for a deluxe double room. Both Manzil and Vida ooze style, and from their location on the palm-tree laden Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard, they have amazing views of mega-tall skyscraper the Burj Khalifa, and are a stone's throw away from the Dubai Fountains and Dubai Mall. Manzil, from the Arabic word meaning 'home', is the slightly more traditional of the two, and with its white, brown and beige decor, has more of an Arabian theme. The ultra-hip Vida, meanwhile, has fashionable urban styling throughout its six floors and the cabana-surrounded pool is the place to be on a Friday afternoon. Before I arrived in Dubai, I had heard all about the legendary all-you-can-eat-and-drink Friday Brunches that take place throughout the city's hotels. But nothing could have prepared me for Vida's weekly Urban Picnic event. With packages starting at 295 Dirhams (70) per person, it is one of the best value brunch events in the city, especially compared to most of the larger hotels on Jumeirah Beach, which usually charge upwards of 135. Expand Close The Burj Khalifa. PA Photo/Handout. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Burj Khalifa. PA Photo/Handout. After a sophisticated first hour with a banquet of food in the cool air-conditioned 3In1 restaurant, the action soon spreads out into the cabanas, where (with a 27 upgrade on the basic drinks package), Moet & Chandon and ice buckets are the order of the day. A great place to visit any night, but particularly post-brunch at Vida, is the sky lounge NEOS Bar over the road at The Address Downtown Dubai - where you can take a lift to the 63rd floor and enjoy surprisingly reasonably-priced beers or cocktails, with views of the glittering city below. The cream-coloured taxis are dirt cheap as well in Dubai. Fifty Dirhams (12) will get you from any area of central Dubai to another, meaning even if you're on a budget, you can still see most parts of this amazing city. On our final day, we leave the steaming hot city, desert and old town behind, and head to Jumeirah Beach for a cooling afternoon of watersports at Watercooled, adjacent to the Doubletree By Hilton Hotel. We cruise around the bay on a Hobie catamaran (just 200 Dirhams, or 48, between a small group for half an hour), while the others try stand-up paddleboarding (100 Dirhams for an hour), all in the shadow of the enormous Manhattan-style skyline created by the luxury big-name hotels. There is also work going on erecting a London Eye-style ferris wheel just off Jumeirah Beach, but as with the Big Ben replica and most other things in the city, it will be significantly bigger than the original. And speaking of size, on our final evening in Dubai, we get to see what all the fuss is about - and take the 124 floors up to the observation deck of the Burj Khalifa. The 829m skyscraper is a wonder of modern technology. It took six years to complete, with 20,000 people working on the tower in its final weeks of construction. The overall cost eventually reached more than 1.3bn, so the 125 Dirham (30) entrance fee to scale the world's tallest building hardly seems extortionate. Neighbouring Saudi Arabia is currently in the process of building something even bigger - the Kingdom Tower. But if there's one thing I learn from my weekend in Dubai, it's that no expense will be spared to topple the world record again. And that's the thing about Dubai, although there is cash, construction and sheer extravagance everywhere, Arabian adventure and affordable luxury is also within your grasp. The real jewels in Dubai's crown are still relatively inexpensive and, as the stunning sunset over the desert proves, the best things in life are free. Get there Richard Jones was a guest of Dubai Tourism. For more information about Dubai call +44 020 7321 6110 or see visitdubai.com. Return economy flights with Emirates (emirates.com/ie) from Dublin are available from 509, going to press. Arabian Adventures offers the Sundowner Desert Safari from AED 360 (86) per person, and the half-day City of Merchants Tour is priced at AED 155 (37) per person. arabian-adventures.com Premium Eoghan Harris Opinion Misery media fails to give due credit to the Taoiseach Taoiseach Micheal Martin must drive his advisers mad. Unlike Leo Varadkar or Donald Trump, he never bigs up success stories such as the effect of Level 3 Plus on Covid or his visionary Shared Island project. Last Friday, Tony Holohan and RTE cheerleaders seemed to imply Level 5 was responsible for the improved Covid situation. Not so. Director James Cameron has praised actress Eliza Dushku as very brave for alleging she was sexually abused during the production of True Lies when she was 12. Cameron also said he knew nothing about the allegation at the time, according to various reports of his appearance at a press event on Saturday. Buffy The Vampire Slayer actress Dushku, now 37, said she was sexually molested by Joel Kramer, which he denies, when he was stunt coordinator on Camerons 1994 action film. Expand Close Cameron celebrated Dushku's bravery / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Cameron celebrated Dushku's bravery Cameron said: Eliza is very brave for speaking up. I think all the women are that are speaking up and calling for a reckoning now. I think this has been endemic throughout human systems, not just Hollywood. Because Hollywood deals with women who are victims 10, 15, 20 years ago who are famous today, so they get to have a louder voice when they come forward. Bravo for them for doing it and Im glad Eliza did that. Its just heartbreaking that it happened to her. Cameron added it was happening under our noses and we didnt know about it and called for the creation of a safe avenue for victims to speak up over abuse in Hollywood. Kramer could not be contacted by the Press Association, but he denied the allegation to Variety, saying it was absolutely not true. Dushku, writing on Facebook, said she has spent the past 25 years struggling with how to disclose the allegation but has been empowered by the men and women who have made public allegations in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal. When I was 12 years old, while filming True Lies, I was sexually molested by Joel Kramer, one of Hollywoods leading Posted by Eliza Dushku on Saturday, January 13, 2018 The ever-growing list of sexual abuse and harassment victims who have spoken out with their truths have finally given me the ability to speak out. It has been indescribably exhausting, bottling this up inside me for all of these years, she said. Kramer, she alleged, was 36 when he built up the trust of her parents before he lured her into his Miami hotel room and attacked her. Hollywood has been very good to me in many ways. Nevertheless, Hollywood also failed to protect me, a child actress, she said. Sharing these words, finally calling my abuser out publicly by name, brings the start of a new calm. Girls have reportedly been banned from crossing a river while menstruating by authorities in a central district of Ghana. As a result they are said to miss 20 out of 60 days of their school classes. They have also been blocked from crossing on Tuesdays due to an apparent directive from a river god that is being enforced by traditional leaders, BBC Pidgin, the corporation's West African digital service reported. The Ofin River ruling affects girls in Upper Denkyira East district. "Sometimes I think that we need to ask for some form of accountability from these gods who continue to bar a lot of things from happening, to account for how they have used the tremendous power that we have given them," said Shamima Muslim Alhassan, a United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) menstrual hygiene ambassador. The UN believes one in 10 girls in sub-Saharan Africa miss school during their period - potentially totally a fifth of a school year. Elsewhere, a woman has died in a remote village in Nepal because of a tradition in which women are exiled from their homes and forced to live in huts during menstruation, said government administrator Tul Bahadur Kawcha. The 21-year-old is believed to have died from smoke inhalation from a fire she lit in the hut to keep warm in the freezing temperatures in the mountain village. She woman was found dead on Monday. Mr Kawcha said the tradition is still practiced in some remote villages despite a government ban on the practice and a law introduced last year to punish people who force women to follow the custom. The new law goes into effect in August this year, with violators who force women into exile during menstruation facing up to three months in prison or a fine of 3,000 Nepalese rupees (21). Many menstruating women are still forced to leave their homes and take shelter in unhygienic or insecure huts or cow sheds until their cycle ends, though the practice - called "Chhaupadi" - was actually outlawed a decade ago. Without any penalties, the custom continued in many parts of the majority Hindu Himalayan country, especially in the western hills. While exiled in isolation, some women face bitter cold or attacks by wild animals. A report last year from America's prestigious Columbia University, which concluded the enduring taboo around periods was endangering women's health around the world. A lack of facilities "augments the challenges girls and women face in conducting daily activities while managing vaginal bleeding, including participating in school or work, going to the market or fetching water", the authors wrote. They added that a "culture of silence" meant many people were not able to tell the difference between healthy or normal bleeding and that which might indicate a health problem. It is shaping up to be the countrys worst flu crisis in 50 years The super-charged Australian flu virus sweeping Ireland has affected people across the country in an alarming numbers and has created a crisis for the health service on a new scale. It is now shaping up to be the country's worst flu crisis in 50 years, with 20,000 patients swamping doctors' surgeries and hundreds being admitted to hospital. Figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre show the number of flu cases reported in Ireland during the first week of this year was 81pc higher than the same period last year. Hospitals are already operating at capacity, but medical experts suggest this hyper-virulent flu strain has barely got started. According to the latest figures released last Wednesday, one in two people reported to be suffering from an infectious disease is struggling with influenza. With its roster of tell-tale symptoms - sudden fever, aching body, sore throat, exhaustion, difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite - Australian flu sounds familiar enough. However, it is the strain's ferocity, coupled with its unusually long recovery time (flu symptoms tend to subside after a week or so, but the so-called H3N2 strain can last much longer), the low-level effectiveness (20-30pc) of the current vaccine and the vastly increased potential for fatalities that have marked it out. When H3N2 hit Australia last year, during their winter, it led to the country's worst flu season for nearly a decade. The 72 reported deaths went well beyond the high-risk vulnerable group of young babies, the chronically sick and elderly. They included a mother-of-two in her 30s, a young father, an eight-year-old girl and an 18-year-old law student. Some 217,000 people were infected - many times more than the previous record of 100,000 in 2015. The new strain has spread throughout Ireland exactly 100 years after Spanish flu, the world's worst pandemic, killed upwards of 50 million people worldwide. The threat of a repeat crisis on a similar scale is not far from the minds of international experts today. "We will get another similar virus again and we will potentially have another pandemic," says Professor Wendy Barclay, an expert in virology at Imperial College London. "We hope not - but we can't exclude the possibility." Flu virus mutates at random, producing a shape-shifting pathogen that can suddenly acquire deadly virulence. Intensively farmed pigs and poultry are particularly susceptible to flu outbreaks, as per the 2009 swine flu outbreak, with crowded living conditions providing a perfect environment for the development of mutations that can cross species into humans, potentially causing a new and deadly global pandemic to match the 1918 disaster. "There is always the potential for viruses to emerge from animal sources," says Prof Barclay. "It is not something you can accurately predict." "The basic problem is the instability of the flu virus," says Professor Robert Dingwall of Nottingham Trent University, a former member of the UK's flu pandemic planning committee. "All we can do is take the best guess on what strains have been around for the past two years. "Australian flu is not new, but vulnerable people don't seem to be responding as well to the vaccine as we might have hoped, and so it's more serious." He believes the false sense of security following many winters of relatively low-level flu infection could also have disastrous consequences "with more deaths and more hospitalisations". What you need to know to avoid illness Here is what you need to know about Australian flu and how to better protect yourself against it. What exactly is flu? It is a group of viruses that attach to the lining of the lungs. The symptoms of high fever, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea are side-effects of inflammation caused as the immune system goes into overdrive to fight it off. The virus is divided into A, B, C and D categories, depending on its capacity for mutation and infection. Types A and B are the most dangerous to humans. The letters H and N in the strain refer to up to 18 types of haemagglutinin protein and 11 types of neuraminidase protein on the surface of the virus. These proteins affect the ability of the virus to attach itself to the lining of the lungs. How is this Australian flu strain different? The H3N2 type A strain nicknamed Australian flu because of where its outbreak was first reported is similar to the H3N2 Hong Kong flu that caused a pandemic in 1968, killing a million people. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) says iInfluenza B and A (H3N2) are currently the predominant viruses here with more influenza B than is usually observed at this time of year. Why has Australian flu struck now? Flu viruses travel around the world causing most infections in winter. Prof Robert Dingwall of Nottingham Trent University says it is not clear if Australian flu is causing more of a problem because its more virulent, or whether we have lost resistance to it. Prof Wendy Barclay of Imperial College London says flu infections are worse in winter, but the reasons are not clear. It may be because the virus survives best in cold damp air. Australian flu also leaves the body susceptible to other strains, as well as other infections. Is it too late to be vaccinated? No: the current risk from Australian flu could continue for months. HPSC says you will develop antibodies within 10 to 14 days of receiving the jab. Flu vaccinations designed to protect against Australian flu as well as some other strains are available to everyone aged over 65, and those with a long-term medical condition (such as chronic lung disease, heart disease, neurological disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders and diabetes). You should also speak to a GP if you have a weakened immune system for example, due to chemotherapy. Parents are also being urged to seek vaccination for their young children. Pregnant women, nursing home residents, healthcare workers and anyone with morbid obesity should also get immunised. Are healthcare staff vaccinated? Vaccination is currently voluntary, and the HSE has confirmed most healthcare workers had not received the vaccine. What else can be done to avoid it? Crowded indoor spaces such as school classrooms and warm offices are a particular risk. If you travel on public transport, use hand sanitising gel until you can wash your hands properly in warm, soapy water. If you must sneeze or cough in public, dont cover your mouth with a tissue, as virus particles can be transferred on to your hands. Instead, virologists say sneezing or coughing into the crease of your arm far reduces the likelihood of the contagion spreading. Does the vaccine work? The vaccine protects against the three strains of flu virus recommended by the World Health Organisation. If you have been vaccinated and you come into contact with the virus, antibodies will attack it and stop you from getting sick. It is tailored to specific strains of flu and is based on predictions. Historically, this has not proved terribly effective or accurate, with large numbers of vaccinated people often still developing flu. Lois Rogers Union Hand-Roasted Coffee is aiming to double revenues to 25 million as it looks to cash in on Britains booming coffee culture. The roaster which works directly with coffee farmers in countries including Ethiopia, Rwanda and Guatemala to source fair trade beans has been growing in strides since its founding in 2001 and has just completed an acquisition that its co-founder says gives Union a stake in the entirety of the coffee life cycle. Its takeover of Edinburgh coffee shop Brew Lab for an undisclosed sum helps us tell that story all the way from seed to cup, Jeremy Torz said. Union took a while to match its ethical approach with an equal quality coffee, Mr Torz said, but is now benefiting from a growing coffee culture in Britain where it conducts 90% of its business. People now have coffee on their radar much more than they ever ever did, and the whole food and drink culture has moved on in the UK, he said. Now we have amazing craft beer, fantastic craft gin coffee has got a part in that with bread and all other sort of passion-led food and drink. The company brought in revenues of 12.5 million last year in part through sales to cafes, restaurants and retailers including Waitrose and Ocado and is now looking to double that figure in five years time and treble its size a decade down the line. If youare avoiding caffeine this month our #decaf Timana from Colombia is deliciously sweet and syrupy. We use the CO2 method of decaffeination meaning all of the flavour and none of the chemicals #unionroasted #januarydetox https://t.co/3e2cY0iIcx pic.twitter.com/d83nkFt34n Union Coffee (@Unionroasted) January 9, 2018 Despite its recent acquisition, the co-founder assured that Union is definitely not going into the coffee bar chain business, but would not rule out further cafes across the country. He said: We can show that a quality coffee market exists all around the UK, its not just a London thing. We see that already in Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, Bath, all of these cities have got great vibrant coffee scenes. Mr Torz wants Union to be the first speciality coffee business to grow to scale, noting that most expanding coffee companies tend to see quality erode in as they scramble to protect margins. But quality and ethics need to go hand-in-hand if they hope to continue riding the wave of coffee popularity across the UK, he added. He said: If were looking to be selling coffee which we feel represents the best of the crop and were asking people to pay a penny or two more a pack for it then weve got to support that decision in the customers mind as to why. He said Union is always welcomed by local communities in Africa and Central America, but added that trust with local farmers has taken time to forge. Its the responsibility of businesses to show they can be effective friends and partners to developing communities, he said. Taking on that burden could help make up for any lagging social conscience on the part of the British consumer. When somebody walks up to the supermarket shelf, the majority of consumers are not necessarily thinking which of these products are good for the planet and the people but I think theres an element of conversion that comes through from companies behaving well and behaving with a caring sense, Mr Torz said. A six-year-old boy reported missing on one of the London's busiest shopping streets has been found. The Metropolitan Police said Jerome Barrow was found at London Bridge station, around 90 minutes after he was last seen on Oxford Street, a journey of around three miles, and involving at least one crossing of the River Thames. The youngster was shopping when he got split up from his parents. But he was reunited with his father after being spotted by a member of the public. A Scotland Yard spokesman thanked people for their help finding Jerome. Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso, a Researcher, Consultant and Governance Expert, says the President made the right choice by nominating Mr Martin Amidu as the Independent Special Prosecutor and it shows that Government has no intention of witch-hunting. He said the nominee had endeared himself to Ghanaians in view of his relentless passion to root out corruption in the country. Dr. Antwi-Danso, who is also the Director of Academic Affairs of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on Friday, said the nominee was a man of integrity, loved Ghana and knew his job very well. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Thursday, January 11, 2018, named Mr Amidu, a former Attorney-General for the position of Independent Special Prosecutor. Mr Amidu, an astute politician and anti-corruption campaigner, served as the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice from January 2011 to January 2012. The nominee is noted for his relentless campaign against the abuse of public funds, which is evident in the role he played in the State Versus Woyome during the famous Waterville financial saga. Dr Antwi-Danso said what made the nominee a perfect choice for the position was that, he was from an opposition political party, instead of the ruling party. He said Government wanted to make sure that, the law was applied to the letter without fear or favour, irrespective of the persons political party affiliation, hence the nomination of Mr Amidu. He said the nominee was an independent-minded person who did not even spare members of his own party, the National Democratic Congress. So for the President to appoint him means that he wants the Special Prosecutor to be a neutral person and I think it is a good choice. Initially I thought he will not accept the position, so his acceptance shows that he is determined to ensure that corruption is a thing of the past and wished him well. Asked whether an independent commission should have selected the nominee, he said, if the law demanded that the President was supposed to appoint a Special Prosecutor then there was nothing wrong with the selection. He noted that the appointee would be vetted by Parliament and Ghanaians would subject him to various criticisms, and that, his approval by the Legislature would signify his acceptance by the people. The President is supposed to forward the name of the nominee to Parliament when the House reconvenes on January 23, 2018. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after an employee was killed in an attack at a travel agents in Merseyside. Police said the 28-year-old woman suffered serious injuries in a domestic-related incident at a TUI branch in Southport town centre. She was taken to hospital, where she died. A 30-year-old man from Southport has been arrested on suspicion of murder. A Merseyside Police spokesman said officers were called to reports of concern for a female at a shop on Chapel Street. The womans next of kin have been informed, police added. A TUI UK spokeswoman said: We regret to confirm that a female member of staff at our Southport TUI retail store tragically died in an incident today. We send our deepest sympathies to the friends and family of the staff member involved. Were doing everything possible to assist the local police with their investigation and support our customers and staff at this difficult time. Police forensics officers have been pictured entering the travel agents. Officers cordoned off an area around the branch and several nearby shops closed. In pictures posted on social media, crowds could be seen gathered at police tape in the busy shopping street. A witness told the Liverpool Echo: I was walking past when they were rushing to get the woman into the ambulance. There was a lady from the travel agent shaking outside the shop, and lots of police around who had just arrived. North West Ambulance Service sent an air ambulance, road ambulances and advanced paramedics to the scene. The woman was taken to Southport hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Detectives are appealing for any witnesses to contact Merseyside Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. A Pegasus Airlines aircraft is pictured after it skidded off the runway at Trabzon airport by the Black Sea in Trabzon, Turkey, January 14, 2018. Muhammed Kacar/Dogan News Agency via REUTERS A Pegasus Airlines aircraft is pictured after it skidded off the runway at Trabzon airport by the Black Sea in Trabzon, Turkey, January 14, 2018. Muhammed Kacar/Dogan News Agency via REUTERS A Pegasus Airlines flight skidded off the runway of a Turkish coastal airport and ended up halfway down a steep slope into the Black Sea, but no passengers or crew were hurt, Turkish media reported on Sunday. The incident happened on Saturday night at Trabzon airport in northeast Turkey. Pictures from the site showed the plane's nose close to the water's edge. Pegasus Airlines said in a statement that the Boeing 737-800 aircraft, flying from Ankara to Trabzon, "had a runway excursion incident" as it landed but the 162 passengers, two pilots and four cabin crew were unhurt. Britains complex tax system has caused a rise in the number of companies collapsing because of their debts to HMRC, according to a report. HM Revenues & Customs has emerged as the largest single creditor in 65% of cases where a business has been liquidated, a Freedom of Information request by Enterprise Tax Consultants has revealed. The tax authority was the principal creditor in 1,920 of the 2,955 compulsory liquidations over the course of the last full financial year, an 11% rise on 54% recorded five years ago. However, it came as the Insolvency Service data also showed that compulsory liquidations had fallen by more than 40% since 2012. Andy Wood, technical director of Enterprise Tax Consultants, said the data showed how firms were unable to grapple with an increasingly complex tax code. He said: Some might be tempted to view the numbers as positive in that they demonstrate a significant drop in the number of compulsory liquidations but the figures become significantly less so when one considers debts owing to HMRC. Its not just the increasing frequency with which the HMRC is named as either one of many creditors or, in fact, the principal creditor but the sums owed. The total amount claimed by HMRC has risen by almost 50% in the last year alone. Even if you discount the potential for small numbers of businesses with large tax debts to skew the overall picture, the median average has increased by half in the last five years. I believe that is a real cause for concern and tallies with accounts from companies to which weve spoken, many of which describe difficulties in grappling with an ever-longer tax code. For smaller companies, in particular, which are unable to afford to appoint someone specialising in company finances, it can be a real strain and actually detract from their ability to get on with doing whatever they were established to do. The amount owed to HMRC jumped 47% to around 830 million last year, in contrast to the 2015/16 financial year. An HMRC spokesman said: The fluctuation in insolvencies is not due to any single cause but a range of factors. HMRC will always offer practical support to viable businesses and there are over 1.5 million time-to-pay arrangements in place at this time supporting British business. The Israeli military has said it destroyed an attack tunnel built by the Hamas militant group that stretched from the Gaza Strip into Egypt. Military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus said the mile-long tunnel ran underneath the Kerem Shalom border crossing, Gaza's main point of entry for humanitarian aid. He said Israeli jets struck part of the tunnel and a new set of sophisticated "tools" destroyed the rest. There were no casualties. Lt Col Conricus said forces had been monitoring its construction for some time and an imminent attack on Israelis was possible. The crossing has been closed until further notice. Israel has made neutralising the tunnel threat a top priority since its 2014 war, when Hamas militants on several occasions made their way into Israel. Although they did not manage to reach civilian areas, the infiltrations caught Israel off guard, killing five soldiers in one attack, and terrified the local population. Sunday's operation marked the third such tunnel Israel has destroyed over the past two months. But Lt Col Conricus said this did not mark "more of the same" since it involved the most advanced technological means Israel has deployed. "(We) now hold a method, an organised system to destroy terror tunnels dug into Israel," he said. He said the tunnel's route stretched underneath the Kerem Shalom crossing, where 15 million tons of food, clothing, construction material and other essential goods had been transferred into Gaza since the 2014 war. Israel and Egypt have maintained a crippling blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power in 2007. Lt Col Conricus said the crossing itself was a potential target, as well as gas and fuel pipelines. The tunnel could have also been used to transfer militants and arms for attacks in Israel or Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, he said. "It was a terror tunnel designed to strike strategic Israel assets," he said. He did not specify which tools were used, but in the past Israel has said its new system involves combat units, military intelligence, logistics and research to destroy the tunnels. Hamas initially said a typical smuggling tunnel was destroyed. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "We are responding to aggression against the state of Israel and are taking vigorous and systematic action against hostile infrastructures." Defence minister Avigdor Lieberman said the tunnel's construction was a clear violation of Israeli sovereignty and destroying it delivered a stinging blow to one of Hamas' most significant assets. "The message to Gaza's leadership and residents is clear - invest in the sanctity of life and not these burial tunnels," he said. AP Tunisian people march with national flags during a rally to mark seven years since the revolution (AP) Tunisian authorities announced plans to boost aid to the needy in a bid to placate protesters whose demonstrations over price hikes degenerated into days of unrest across the North African nation, which is marking seven years on Sunday since its long-time autocratic ruler was driven into exile. A coalition of political parties and associations called for peaceful protests on the anniversary to tell the country's new leaders that they have failed to fix problems that encouraged the revolution and hopes of social and economic justice. A new finance law raising prices of essential goods sparked the unrest. The Tunisian economy has struggled since President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali fled into exile on January 14 2011, transforming the country into a budding democracy that inspired the Arab Spring, then defied it by being the only country to keep its transition peaceful. But six governments later, loans continue to weigh on the economy, extremist attacks have sapped the important tourism sector, and regions far from the capital, where the revolution was ignited, remain neglected. Tunisia's prime minister Youssef Chahed decided to allocate 100 million dinars (40 million US dollars) to help 200,000 of the neediest families plus free health care for the jobless, Social Affairs Minister Mohamed Trabelsi announced after a Saturday night Cabinet meeting. An aid fund for poor families to acquire housing also was created. The Popular Front, a coalition of leftist parties, called the measures "laughable" and in a statement Sunday called for protests "until suspension of the measures in the finance law that affect citizens' buying power". Frustration was in full view last week when small demonstrations erupted around the country before ballooning and degenerating into theft, pillaging and car-burning in some places as momentum grew. A police crackdown stemmed the protests by week's end. One person died in unrest outside the capital, Tunis, and scores were injured, including 97 security officers in five days of unrest that began a week ago, Interior Ministry spokesman Khlifa Chibani said on Friday. Dozens of police cars were damaged, two police stations burned and eight others ransacked. Arrests were put at nearly 780, including 16 religious extremists, for vandalism and looting. President Beji Caid Essebsi was visiting on Sunday a housing project outside Tunis that had been a site of unrest. "Tunisians are capable of overcoming current difficulties," he said on Saturday night, calling on citizens "for a bit of patience and understanding". AP Kevin Halligen was accused of misusing money raised to help find the missing girl An Irish-born private detective accused of exploiting the hunt for Madeleine McCann to fund his lavish lifestyle has been found dead. Kevin Halligen (56) gained notoriety when his firm Oakley International was used by the toddler's parents to help search for their missing daughter. His Washington-based company received about 350,000 of cash donated by the public after Madeleine vanished from an Algarve resort in May 2007 at the age of three. He was later forced to deny claims the money was siphoned off to pay for first-class travel, luxury hotel suites, a chauffeur and a mansion in Virginia, US. Adrian Gatton, a TV director and investigative journalist, who made a documentary with Halligen in 2014 The McCanns and the Conman and who knew Halligen well, confirmed that he died last Monday, having sunk into alcohol addiction. He said: "Although his death is certainly not foul play, as has been suggested, there are certainly a lot of people who wished him ill. But he was also unique. "I knew chapter and verse about his life and career, but my interest was really to try and get to the bottom of why he did what he did. "My understanding is that he was found dead on Monday night. There was blood around the house, probably caused by previous falls when he was either drunk or blacking out. "Halligen was increasingly shambolic and these blood stains hadn't been cleared up. "His house was full of empty drink bottles. A lot of people wished him ill but his death is almost certainly related to alcoholism." Surrey Police said the death was currently being treated as "unexplained". A spokesman said: "We were called to an address in Cobbett Hill Road, Normandy, on Monday following a report of a man in his 50s having been taken unwell, who subsequently died. The death is being treated as unexplained and a file will be passed to the coroner's office in due course." The McCanns used the Irish national's firm for around six months to look for their missing daughter. The 600,000 contract saw the firm hire private detectives, set up a hotline and process information. The McCanns terminated the arrangement without paying the full fees because Halligen, from Surrey, apparently failed to fulfil certain agreements. He was then extradited to the US in 2012 to face charges over an unrelated 1.6m con, to which he pleaded guilty in 2013. Dutch company Trafigura were targeted in the scam, being told by Halligen that he needed funds to secure the release of two business executives who were arrested in the Ivory Coast. In an interview for a 2014 TV documentary, Halligen denied claims he misused money raised to find Madeleine. He said: "It is gross distortion of what was actually happening. "The print media in particular took this line that really nothing was being done, I was living the high life on the proceeds of the McCann case. "Trust me, I didn't buy so much as a new suit. The money, all of it, is fully accountable." Friday, like many of my fellow Haitians and Haitian Americans, I planned to mourn the dead. I planned to do my mourning quietly and in small doses. I planned to stay busy so I wouldn't spend the whole day in pain. I planned to check on the children in my family who lost their father and baby brother in the catastrophic earthquake eight years ago. I planned to write notes to friends and family members who were rescued from the rubble by their neighbours. I planned to get through a panel at a literary festival without breaking down in tears. I planned to hold my two daughters a little bit tighter, especially my youngest who was the baby I kept in my arms to keep myself from curling up in a foetal position each time I saw a child being pulled from under a school or house on my television screen. Instead, because the president of the United States, who seems determined to insult Haitians every chance he gets, said that Haiti - along with "Africa" - is a s**thole, I must also lament yet another insult to our dignity. A few weeks ago, it was, "All Haitians have AIDS." Now we are from a s**thole country. Haiti is not unacquainted with racists or white supremacists. We defeated our share of them in 1804 when we became the world's first black republic. Haiti is not a s**thole country. It is a country that, for example, if France hadn't grown tired of fighting, it would have never sold 828,000 square miles of land to the United States, from the western banks of the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains, nearly doubling the size of this country. Alexander Hamilton said that the Louisiana Purchase would have never happened were it not for the "courage and obstinate resistance of the black inhabitants" of Haiti. We are also the country that the United States has invaded several times, preventing us from consistently ruling ourselves. If we are a poor country, then our poverty comes in part from pillage and plunder. In the 1980s, the US government - claiming that Haitian pigs had swine fever - participated in the extermination of nearly every native black pig, which represented some families' entire life savings. These same farmers were then "encouraged" to buy the pampered pink pigs of US farmers. This is only one of many examples I could list. We are also a country where great art, music and literature have risen from these and a slew of other woes. We are entrepreneurs, big and small, dreamers, workers. We are a country that created people like my father, who drove a taxicab in Brooklyn, sometimes 16 hours a day, so that my three brothers (two teachers and an IT specialist) and I could have a better life. We are the country that eight years ago lost more than 300,000 people whose lives and memory we should be commemorating, rather than trying to hold our heads up wherever in the world we happen to be. Apparently, the president's remarks came out of a discussion about Temporary Protected Status, during which he is reported to have said "Why do we need more Haitians? Take them out." Mr Trump, so many have tried to take us out before. Eight years ago, the Earth itself tried to take Haiti out. Yet the courage and obstinate resistance of Haitians remain. We survive, and when given the opportunity, we thrive. To borrow a slogan that many Americans of different backgrounds have been using since the beginning of this presidency, today we mourn, tomorrow we fight. John Young salutes the American flag in 1972 at the Descartes landing site during the first Apollo 16 lunar excursion. Photo: AP John Young, who has died aged 87, was the longest-serving Nasa astronaut, making two flights to the Moon and piloting the first test flight of the Space Shuttle; he also advocated making contingency plans for the partial evacuation of the earth in the event of a threatened asteroid collision. By the time he was due to command Apollo 16 in April 1972, the Soviet Unions Lunokhod robot was exploring the Sea of Rains and sending back thousands of pictures as well as soil analyses. Doubts were expressed as to whether the cost of a fifth American Moon landing was justified, and the astronauts themselves wanted to counter such misgivings by landing in the rugged Aristarchus area near the lunar south pole. Nasa chiefs thought this was too risky, and Young and his companions, Ken Mattingly and Charlie Duke, had to be content with aiming at the mountainous Descartes region, which geologists hoped in vain would prove to be volcanic. It was just as well, for the flight was plagued with mechanical problems. On arrival, the separated command and lunar modules were ordered to keep circling the moon while Mission Control decided whether they should make an emergency return to Earth using the lunar module as a lifeboat. Young and Duke were eventually given the go-ahead to land, and a global audience witnessed their three excursions aboard the lunar rover, including a celebratory lunar grand prix, during which Young drove the rover in circles at its top speed of 10mph, skidding it to test wheel grip. The rovers camera was left behind so that geologists at Mission Control could continue to scan the surface long after the astronauts left. It continued to operate until the bitter cold killed its batteries. John Watts Young was born in San Francisco on September 24, 1930, and brought up in Orlando, Florida, where he graduated from high school. After reading Aeronautical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, he joined the US Navy, serving in a destroyer during the Korean War, after which he was sent on flight training. As a test pilot, he set records for altitude climbs in the Phantom jet fighter, and rose to the rank of captain. Selected by Nasa for the second intake of astronauts in 1962, his six missions enabled him to achieve multiple firsts. On his debut flight in the two-man Gemini spacecraft in 1965, Young operated the first space-borne computer, but earned an official reprimand for smuggling a corned beef sandwich on board. His career was revived when the crew of Gemini 10, the last in the series, were killed in a plane crash, and Young and Michael Collins replaced them. Youngs third flight was aboard Apollo 10, which flew around the moon in May 1969 and staged a rehearsal of moon landing procedures. He piloted the command module while his fellow astronauts, Thomas Stafford and Eugene Cernan, swooped down to within eight-and-a-half miles of the surface, proving that Apollo 11 could land two months later. After his own successful moon landing, Young spent the following six years helping to design and develop the Space Shuttle, and piloted the first test flight, followed by the first horizontal landing of a spacecraft in the Californian desert. His last mission was in 1983 and was the ninth space shuttle flight and the first joint Nasa-European Space Agency flight, carrying in the payload bay the European-built Spacelab, with a German, Dr Ulf Merbold, becoming the first non-American to fly with Nasa. Although he made no further space flights, Young remained on Nasas list of active astronauts until finally retiring at the end of 2004 when he was 74. This extended tenure entitled him to continue flying T38 jet trainers, and many young astronauts, including the British-born Michael Foale, who was to become Americas most experienced spaceman, would acknowledge their debt to him. Young never ceased to warn that the Space Shuttle was a highly dangerous vehicle to fly, and was sharply critical of the administration when, in 1986, Challenger exploded on lift-off, the first of two shuttle disasters. Young, who died on January 5, is survived by his wife Susy and a son and a daughter from a previous marriage. Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] US president Donald Trump has offered a partial denial in public over his extraordinary remarks disparaging Haitians and African countries - but privately defended them, according to an insider. Trump said he was only expressing what many people think, but will not say, about immigrants from economically depressed countries, according to a source who spoke to the president as the controversy unfolded. He spent last Thursday evening making a flurry of calls to friends and outside advisers to judge their reaction to the tempest, according to the insider. Trump was not apologetic about his inflammatory remarks and denied he was racist, and instead blamed the media for distorting his meaning, according to his confidant. Critics of the president, including some in his own Republican Party, attacked the vulgar comments he made behind closed doors. In his meeting with a group of senators, Trump had questioned why the US would accept more immigrants from Haiti and "s**thole countries" in Africa as he rejected a bipartisan immigration deal, according to one participant and others who had been briefed on the remarkable Oval Office conversation. The comments revived charges that the president is racist, and rocked immigration talks that were already on a tenuous footing. In a series of tweets, Trump said: "The language used by me at the DACA [Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals] meeting was tough, but this was not the language used." However, his advisers notably did not dispute the most controversial of his reported remarks: using the word "s**thole" to describe African nations, and saying he would prefer immigrants from countries like Norway instead. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, the only Democrat in the room, said Trump had indeed said what he was reported to have said. The remarks, Durbin said, were "vile, hate-filled and clearly racial in their content". He said Trump used the most vulgar term "more than once". Democratic senator Dianne Feinstein called the comments "beneath the dignity of the presidency" and said Trump's desire to see more immigrants from countries like Norway was "an effort to set this country back generations by promoting a homogeneous, white society". Republican leaders were largely silent, although House Speaker Paul Ryan said the vulgar language was "very unfortunate, unhelpful". Trump's comments came as Durbin was presenting details of the compromise plan that included providing $1.6bn financing for the first instalment of Trump's long-sought border wall. Trump took particular issue with the idea that people who had fled to the US after disasters hit their homes in places such as El Salvador, Guatemala and Haiti would be allowed to stay as part of the deal. When it came to talk of extending protections for Haitians, the US president said: "We don't need more Haitians." Mr Durbin told reporters of Trump's continued slurs. "He said: 'Put me down for wanting more Europeans to come to this country. Why don't we get more people from Norway?'" However Trump later insisted that he "never said anything derogatory about Haitians other than Haiti is, obviously, a very poor and troubled country. Never said 'take them out'. Made up by Dems". And he wrote: "I have a wonderful relationship with Haitians. Probably should record future meetings - unfortunately, no trust!" Trump's insults sparked the African group of ambassadors to the UN to issue an extraordinary statement condemning his "outrageous, racist and xenophobic remarks" and also demand a retraction and apology. Former US ambassador to the UN Samantha Power shared the statement on Twitter, saying: "Whoa. I've never seen a statement like this by African countries directed at the US." The statement from the African ambassadors expressed concern over the Trump regime's apparent increasing denigration of Africa "and people of colour". Yesterday Ghana's president Nana Akufo-Addo called Trump's remark "extremely unfortunate" and said that "we will not accept such insults, even from a leader of a friendly country, no matter how powerful." Reuters Here are some statistics from Donald Trump's first year in the White House. All numbers are correct at the time of writing. 37pc - Donald Trump's current approval rating, according to American pollster Gallup. This is the lowest rating for any US president since the end of the Second World War. Gallup records Barack Obama as having a rating of 50pc at the end of his first year as president, while Bill Clinton had a rating of 54pc. George W Bush enjoyed a rating of 83pc, the highest for any president since the war. 113 - bills Mr Trump has so far signed into law. President Obama signed 124 into law during his first year. 58 - the number of executive orders signed by Mr Trump since becoming president. Mr Obama signed 41 orders during his first year, while George W Bush signed 56. Mr Trump's total of 58 is the highest for any single presidential year (from January 20 to January 19) so far this century. 14 - different countries visited by Mr Trump since becoming president. His itinerary has included China, Japan, South Korea, Germany and France, but not the UK. Mr Obama visited 21 different countries during his first year in office, including the UK. 120 - number of days after becoming president that Mr Trump made his first overseas visit. On May 20 2017 he travelled to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia and met King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud. Mr Obama's first foreign trip came just 30 days into his presidency, when he travelled to Ottawa in Canada to meet prime minister Stephen Harper. 2 - number of times Mr Trump has tweeted as @POTUS, rather than @realDonaldTrump. Mr Obama tweeted as @POTUS 139 times during his last year as president. 0 - state visits hosted by Mr Trump since becoming president. Mr Obama welcomed one foreign leader on a state visit during his first year: prime minister Manmohan Singh of India, from November 23 to 25 2009. I suppose that in a week in which the President of the United States has branded dozens of countries as 'shitholes', a minor spat between Norway and Australia can easily be ignored. And so it would be, if it wasn't so amusing.The origin of the non-row lies in official advice given by the Australian Government to its citizens thinking of journeying to the northern reaches of Europe. As the Telegraph reports Smart Traveller , which appears to be an official Australian Government travel advice website, advises that thereNorway, however is having none of it. They tweeted in reply:and followed it up with this:Of course Australia was actually referring to the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, better known by its Dutch name Spitsbergen, meaning "jagged mountains". These islands lie in the Arctic Ocean, north of mainland Europe, about midway between continental Norway and the North Pole.As Wikipedia records , the islands were first taken into use as a whaling base in the 17th and 18th centuries, after which they were abandoned. Coal mining started at the beginning of the 20th century, and several permanent communities were established.The Svalbard Treaty of 1920 recognizes Norwegian sovereignty, and the 1925 Svalbard Act made Svalbard a full part of the Kingdom of Norway. They also established Svalbard as a free economic zone and a demilitarized zone.It goes on to say:So technically both countries are right. There are no live polar bears on the Norwegian mainland, but there are in Svalbard. Still, the publicity will not have done Norway any harm. The Palestinian president hit out at President Donald Trump in a fiery, two-hour-long speech on Sunday, saying "shame on you" for his treatment of the Palestinians. He also warned he would have no problem rejecting what he suggested would be an unacceptable peace plan. The speech by Mahmoud Abbas ratcheted up what has been more than a month of harsh rhetoric toward Mr Trump since the president's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Relations between Washington and the Palestinians have sunk to a new low, boding poorly for a peace plan the White House has promised to present. Speaking to the Palestinian Central Council, a decision-making body, Mr Abbas repeated the Palestinians' opposition to Mr Trump's Jerusalem recognition and censured Mr Trump for accusing the Palestinians of refusing to negotiate. "He (Trump) said in a tweet: 'We won't give money to the Palestinians because they rejected the negotiations'," Mr Abbas said. "Shame on you. When did we reject the talks? Where is the negotiation that we rejected?" Mr Trump infuriated Palestinians and Muslims around the world when he announced late last year that the US would recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move its embassy there, upending decades of US policy and countering an international consensus that the fate of Jerusalem should be decided in negotiations between the sides. Mr Abbas has said that by siding with the Israelis on a sensitive issue, the announcement had destroyed Mr Trump's credibility as a Mideast peace broker. "We can say no to anyone if things are related to our fate and our people, and now we have said no to Mr Trump," he said. "We told him the deal of the century was the slap of the century. But we will slap back." Mr Abbas also said that the Palestinians have rejected a US request to halt payments to roughly 35,000 families of Palestinians killed and wounded in the conflict with Israel, including suicide bombers and other militants. Israel argues that the practice encourages violence. Hoping to secure what he has called the "ultimate" deal, Mr Trump has for nearly a year dispatched his Mideast team, led by his adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner, to the region to try to breathe life into moribund peace talks, which collapsed in 2014. But the Jerusalem pivot threw a wrench into Mr Trump's peacemaking attempts. Since then, the Palestinians have butted heads with the US at the United Nations, winning a global rebuke against Mr Trump's move. Mr Trump has responded by threatening to cut aid and to reduce US payments to the UN's Palestinian refugee agency. The US is the largest donor to the agency. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has welcomed Mr Trump's tough line toward the Palestinians, while also pushing forward with more settlement construction on lands sought by the Palestinians. Palestinian officials say that while they have not received a formal proposal from the US, they have heard from Saudi interlocutors that the US is exploring the possibility of offering the Palestinians a statelet in the parts of the West Bank they already control, with Israel controlling the borders, and the Gaza Strip. US officials have not confirmed the claims. But if true, the proposal would fall far short of Palestinian claims to the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza for an independent state. Mr Abbas said the Palestinians will not accept the US as a sole broker, and believe a deal can only be reached if there are multiple parties, such as with the international nuclear deal between six global powers and Iran. AP There comes a moment when you're standing in the eye of the Twitterstorm and the virtue-signalling starts to get to you. And that's when you need Catherine Deneuve at your side. There's nothing like the grande dame of French films joining four of your friends to write and sign, with 95 other Frenchwomen, an open letter supporting our inalienable right to galanterie, to the complexities of a grown-up sex life, and to not seeing all men as guilty until proven so. When one of the four initial authors, my friend the French-Iranian writer and director Abnousse Shalmani, asked me if I wanted to sign this text, I jumped at the chance. The letter, published in Le Monde, expressed many of the misgivings I'd started to have watching the scorched earth devastation that was following the #MeToo Weinstein scandal. It had felt liberating at first: now everyone was a ferret-faced little political commissar. I had applauded Ronan Farrow's superb New Yorker magazine report on the 13 women whose lives and careers had been blighted by Weinstein. I was unsurprised when investigations revealed that other Hollywood moguls had updated the casting couch tradition. In his inimitable style, Donald "grab-them-by-the-p***y" Trump had given voice to the crass fantasies of a thousand men in positions of power. At the time of Dominique Strauss-Kahn's arrest in New York, I was among the first Frenchwomen to write denouncing French politicians' usual assumptions that any comely female journalist was for personal consumption. But then came the hashtags and campaigns. The #MeToos and the #BalanceTonPorcs ("Rat on your pig"). In between black-dress selfies at the Golden Globes, naming and shaming became a social media indulgence. Forget investigative reporting: the People's Tribunal of Twitter equated wolfwhistles with rape, pestering lads on the pull with serial abusers. Decades after Simone de Beauvoir and Christiane Rochefort, after the 1960s' sexual revolution, many Frenchwomen find the picture of us emerging from this whole debacle deeply depressing. Suddenly we come across as shrinking violets, unable to shake off a bloke trying it on in a bar, traumatised for life the minute someone attempts frottage in a crowded train carriage. (I find that saying in a calm but VERY LOUD voice, "Will you stop touching my ass!" makes enough commuters laugh that the culprit slinks off at the next stop.) Suddenly, centuries of the unique French charm of men-women camaraderie and badinage are in danger of being erased, and replaced by puritanism a l'Americaine. We detest the DSK types, but we also ridicule vice president Pence, who would never have dinner with a woman other than his wife and has said that while working, he will never close the door of any office where he's alone with a woman. That way lie Victorian women-only carriages and the Saudi insistence on guardianship. Human relationships are a complicated skein of trial and error. In America, they tend to live in a black-and-white world, a binary universe of ones and zeroes. That's perfect to build fine computers. It does not account for human frailty. Yes, even the frailty of some of the men named in recent scandals. Our letter starts by stating clearly that rape is a crime; that sexual harassment, specifically in the workplace, is a crime. In fact, one of the four initial authors was raped a few years back. Another spent the first seven years of her life in the Iranian theocracy, swathed in black drapes. We are no strangers to the oppression of women by men. Precisely because of this, we are wary of those who would decree a "right" way to behave, love, have sex. Should we Parisians fill in consent forms before one party can ask the other to dinner, as is threatened by a government minister in Sweden? Should we Frenchwomen start to pretend that all power games in bed are guilty, and that a strong, successful woman cannot enjoy a role reversal in play? One of the letter signatories is Catherine Millet, the gallery owner and art expert, whose book The Sexual Life of Catherine M only scandalised people outside France. We don't want to have to say adieu to la difference. Telegraph Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh, Jan 14 (IBNS): As part of an intensified response to the current diphtheria outbreak, WHO, UNICEF and health sector partners are working with the Bangladesh Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to vaccinate more than 475,000 children in Rohingya refugee camps, temporary settlements and surrounding areas. All efforts are being made to stop further spread of diphtheria. The vaccination of children in the Rohingya camps and nearby areas demonstrates the health sectors commitment to protecting people, particularly children, against deadly diseases, said Dr Bardan Jung Rana, ai WHO Representative to Bangladesh. Nearly 150,000 children aged six weeks to seven years received pentavalent vaccine (that protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, haemophilus influenza type b and hepatitis B), and nearly 166,000 children aged 7 to 17 years were given tetanus and diphtheria (Td) vaccine, during a three-week vaccination campaign that ended on 31 December. Two more rounds of vaccination with a diphtheria-containing vaccine, at intervals of one month, are planned to fully protect the children in camps and surrounding areas. Children are particularly vulnerable to diphtheria. Volunteers are making door-to-door visits in the Rohingya settlements to ensure all children receive vaccination. The massive influx within a very short time has heavily affected basic services in the settlement areas. They have no choice but to live in a very congested environment, which is impacting their health and quality of life. We are making continued efforts to improve conditions of the camps. At the same time, diphtheria vaccination is vital to reducing the risk of further outbreak, said the UNICEF Country Representative Edouard Beigbeder. To limit the spread of diphtheria to communities living near the Rohingya camps and settlements, nearly 160,000 children in 499 schools of Teknaf and Ukhiya sub-districts are also being vaccinated. This initiative began on Jan 1. Vaccination was initiated on a day when children attend school in large numbers to avail themselves of free books provided by the government at the start of the academic year. WHO, UNICEF and other health partners are working with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to establish fixed locations for immunization in the Rohingya camps to continue to provide life-saving vaccines to children, in line with Bangladeshs childhood immunization programme. facebook.com/Netanyahu New Delhi, Jan 14 (IBNS): In an attempt to uphold the bilateral ties between the two nations, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will arrive in India on Sunday afternoon. He is the second Prime Minister from his country after Ariel Sharon to visit India in the last 25 years of a diplomatic relationship. The Israeli PM will be accompanied by a 130-member delegation from various sectors including cyber, agriculture and defence. Later in the day, he will meet Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj. On Monday, Netanyahu will be given a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhawan which will be followed by the wreath laying at the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi. He will also meet his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi and hold delegation level talks. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani had told reporters that Netanyahu will hold a roadshow with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad on Jan 17. The two PMs will hold the roadshow for 8 kms. Both the leaders are likely to visit Sabarmati Ashram, abode of Mahatma Gandhi. Rupani was quoted by NDTV: "According to the tentative schedule, Modi and Netanyahu would first visit the Sabarmati Ashram on their arrival here on January 17. Both the dignitaries will be accorded a grand welcome." Both Modi and Netanyahu will visit two centres of excellency in Ahmedabad and inaugurate one. In July last year, Modi visited Israel as the first Indian Prime Minister since the establishment of bilateral ties in 1992. New Delhi, Jan 14 (IBNS): An 18-year-old Delhi University student has been arrested for allegedly mowing down a 50-year-old pedestrian near Kirori Mal College in the national capital on Sunday. The incident has been captured on a CCTV camera. The accused, identified as Abhinav Sahni, was driving his fathers BMW X1 at the time of the incident, the Hindustan Times reported. Sahni and his car friends were in the car when it ran over the victim. The victim has been identified as Shiv Nath, who was trying to cross the road in the North Campus of Delhi University. New Delhi, Jan 14 (IBNS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday welcomed Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in India by receiving him at the airport. Welcoming Netanyahu, Modi said the visit is a historic one. Welcome to India, my friend PM @netanyahu! Your visit to India is historic and special. It will further cement the close friendship between our nations. @IsraeliPM #ShalomNamaste pic.twitter.com/sidgMmA1fu Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 14, 2018 Netanyahu is on a 6-day visit to India. He is the second Prime Minister from his country after Ariel Sharon to visit India in the last 25 years of a diplomatic relationship. The Israeli PM is accompanied by a 130-member delegation from various sectors including cyber, agriculture and defence. Later in the day, he will meet Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj. On Monday, Netanyahu will be given a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhawan which will be followed by the wreath laying at the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi. He will also meet his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi and hold delegation level talks. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani had told reporters that Netanyahu will hold a roadshow with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad on Jan 17. The two PMs will hold the roadshow for 8 kms. Both the leaders are likely to visit Sabarmati Ashram, abode of Mahatma Gandhi. Both Modi and Netanyahu will visit two centres of excellency in Ahmedabad and inaugurate one. In July last year, Modi visited Israel as the first Indian Prime Minister since the establishment of bilateral ties in 1992. Kolkata, Jan 14 (IBNS): Three undertrial prisoners reportedly escaped from Alipore Central Correctional Home in Kolkata in the wee hours of Sunday, officials said. According to reports, while counting the prisoners in the jail on Sunday morning, officials found three undertrial Bangladesh nationals were missing. A source in Alipore jail told IBNS that after cutting their cells' bars and crossing the high boundary wall of the correctional home, three prisoners, Md. Faruque Haoladar, Iman Chowdhury and Firdous Sheikh, fled from the jail. However, after suspending five prison guards, police have started investigation into the case while a search operation has been initiated to nab the trio. (Reporting by Deepayan Sinha) New Delhi, Jan 14 (IBNS): In yet another development, CBI judge B H Loya's family has said they have suspicion regarding the death of the CBI judge. "I don't have any suspicion," justice Loya's son Anuj told media on his father's death. Anuj said his family should not be 'harassed'. "Our family is pained with the chain of events in past few days. Please don't harass us," he said. Loya's lawyer Ameet Naik said there is no conspiracy in BH Loya's death. "There is no conspiracy," he said. B H Loya has allegedly died of cardiac arrest in Nagpur in 2014. At the time of his death, BH Loya was hearing a case connected to the alleged fake encounter killing of gangster Sohrabuddin Sheikh, his wife Kausar Bi and associate Tulsi Prajapati in 2005. BJP chief Amit Shah, who was one of the accused in the case, was subsequently acquitted by the CBI court. Image: TV video grab New Delhi, Jan 14 (IBNS): External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday met visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu here. As per MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, the two leaders shared 'warm and engaging conversation' on various aspects of bilateral ties between the nations. "EAM @SushmaSwaraj called on @IsraeliPM Benjamin Netanyahu. Warm and engaging conversation on various aspects of our bilateral ties aimed at strengthening our strategic partnership. #ShalomNamaste," Kumar tweeted. Benjamin Netanyahu reached India earlier in the day. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself visited the airport to welcome the Israeli PM to India. Netanyahu is on a 6-day visit to India. He is the second Prime Minister from his country after Ariel Sharon to visit India in the last 25 years of a diplomatic relationship. The Israeli PM is accompanied by a 130-member delegation from various sectors including cyber, agriculture and defence. On Monday, Netanyahu will be given a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhawan which will be followed by the wreath laying at the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi. He will also meet his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi and hold delegation level talks. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani had told reporters that Netanyahu will hold a roadshow with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad on Jan 17. The two PMs will hold the roadshow for 8 kms. Both the leaders are likely to visit Sabarmati Ashram, abode of Mahatma Gandhi. Both Modi and Netanyahu will visit two centres of excellency in Ahmedabad and inaugurate one. In July last year, Modi visited Israel as the first Indian Prime Minister since the establishment of bilateral ties in 1992. Image: Raveesh Kumar Twitter page Dhaka, Jan 14 (IBNS): Former Indian President Pranab Mukherjee arrived in Bangladesh capital Dhaka on Sunday. According to reports, he will attend numerous events in the country during his visit. He will also attend the 'International Bengali Literature Conference', reports said. Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Harsh Vardhan Shringla were present at the Dhaka airport to receive the former Indian President. In his official Twitter handle, Mukherjee said: "Visiting #Bangladesh today.The first country I visited as President & the first that I'm visiting as Former President.India has a deep connection with this land & its people.Our destinies are interwoven like our history & geography. May we always remain friends.#CitizenMukherjee." Visiting #Bangladesh today.The first country I visited as President & the first that I'm visiting as Former President.India has a deep connection with this land & its people.Our destinies are interwoven like our history & geography. May we always remain friends.#CitizenMukherjee pic.twitter.com/qHGiEv9DNG Pranab Mukherjee (@CitiznMukherjee) January 14, 2018 "Chittagong University (CU) will honour former Indian President with a Doctor of Letters (D. Litt) degree on Tuesday afternoon through a special convocation ceremony," The Daily Star reported. CU Registrar Prof Dr Kamrul Huda was quoted as saying by the newspaper: "The decision to honor him (Pranab) with D. Litt was taken in consultation with President (Abdul Hamid)." He is scheduled to meet top leaders of the nation during the visit. Mukherjee took oath as the President of India in 2012. His tenure ended last year. Current President Ram Nath Kovind step into his shoes after winning the poll in 2017. Kolkata, Jan 14 (IBNS): Actors Sanjay Suri, Nora Fatehi, along with director Samir Soni, visited Kolkata on Saturday to promote their upcoming Bollywood film 'My Birthday Song' in the city. 'My Birthday Song' is an upcoming psychological thriller where Sanjay and Nora will be seen as a pair. Sanjay, who is also producing the film with Samir, will be seen in one of the lead roles. Speaking about his character, Sanjay said: "I am playing a role of an ad filmmaker in the film who is settled in the NCR region. He runs his own advertising agency. He is a flamboyant but a very successful, confident, self made man. He celebrates his 40th birthday in the film. He is more reactive in the film rather than proactive because that's how the plot is driven so. One can understand his character more through his reactions." Sanjay, who knows Samir for a long time, suggested the latter to direct the film. Remembering how he got an opportunity to act in the film, Sanjay said: "I loved the script and when he finished narration, it took us five minutes to decide that we are doing this film together. After he finished the narrations, I gave him the suggestion to direct the film. Then he asked me to act in it and I readily agreed to his proposal." The film, which steers between realism and surreal world, revolves around a married man (played by actor Sanjay Suri) and the song on his 40th birthday. Samir, who is a popular face on television, is making his directorial debut with 'My Birthday Song'. Samir revealed how popular Bollywood director Karan Johar and Sanjay motivated him to direct the film. He told IBNS: "When Karan Johar told me to direct the film, I started thinking over it. I felt if someone so experienced like Karan is suggesting me to direct, then may be I should. Then I met Sanjay and told him but got the same reply...It was not planned at all to direct the film." Nora will be seen in the big screen with 'My Birthday Song' after four years. She made her Bollywood debut with 'Roar: Tigers of the Sunderbans' in 2014. Nora elaborated her character in the film saying: "My character's name is Sandy. She is the female lead in the film who comes to Rajiv Kaul's (played by actor Sanjay Suri) 40th birthday party and sparks a series of events that happened. So Sandy is a very independent, confident, mysterious lady but there is a sense of vulnerability with her character." The film is slated to release on Jan 19. (Reporting by Souvik Ghosh, images by Avishek Mitra/IBNS) Islamabad, Jan 14 (IBNS): Muhammad Ameen, the father of abducted, raped and murdered minor Zainab in Pakistan, has alleged that not a single person has been arrested in connection with the case so far, media reports said. Body of the minor was found in a trash pile on Jan 9. Ameen told Geo News: "The police keep assuring us that the suspect will be arrested soon." The protesters arrested by police are being subjected to violence, he said. He said people, who were arrested during the protest against the incident of minor's rape and murder in Pakistan's Kasur area, should be released. Two protesters were allegedly killed during police firing on Jan 10, media reports said. The police have released CCTV footage showing the suspected person in the rape and murder of minor girl Zainab in Kasur area of Pakistan, media reports said. The minor is suspected to have been abducted after she left her house in Road Kot area to visit her maternal aunts residence located a few minutes away for religious lessons on Jan 4. Her body was discovered from a trash pile on Jan 9. As per Dawn News report, in the new footage, a bearded man bearing a resemblance to her abductor can be seen walking through the street where Zainab's house is situated. The man is seen wearing a dark coloured cap, what seems to be grey shalwar kameez and a brown jacket. The police , however, clarified and said that the person, who could be seen in the footage is just a 'person of interest'. The police on Friday had said that DNA tests carried out in the case indicated the involvement of one culprit in at least seven similar cases that occurred in the district in recent times. A source in the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) told Dawnthat the agency had received samples collected by Kasur police from the crime scene. The Lahore High Court (LHC) has directed the police to arrest the culprit involved in the abduction, rape and murder of minor girl Zainab in Pakistan's Kasur area in 36 hours, media reports said. The court directed Inspector General Punjab (IGP) to arrest those involved in the incident which triggered protest in Kasur for the past two days LHC Chief Justice (CJ) Syed Mansoor Ali Shah gave the order while hearing the petition filed by advocate Shaheem Pirzada. The CJ ordered the police to submit details of all the cases of child sexual abuse that had taken place in the area, adding that he would also demand a report on the cases from the sessions judge, Dawn News reported. The hearing in the case has been adjourned till Jan 15. Kasur witnessed protest after body of Zainab was found in a garbage heap on Jan 10. Politicians from different political parties have condemned the incident. Image: Imran Khan Twitter page "Prevent Unauthorized Transactions in your demat / trading account Update your Mobile Number/ email Id with your stock broker / Depository Participant. 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The site provides comprehensive and real time information on Indian corporates, sectors, financial markets and economy. On the site we feature industry and political leaders, entrepreneurs, and trend setters. The research, personal finance and market tutorial sections are widely followed by students, academia, corporates and investors among others. Street graffiti was once considered illegal and associated with gangs. In recent times, it has evolved to be an accepted medium of artistic expression. Prime cities of the world boast of areas exclusively for displays of street art in the form of murals, projections, installations and collaborations. Street art has found its rightful place, and heres where you can go looking for it: 1. Chapel Road, Mumbai, India dnaindia The entire stretch from Mount Carmel Church to Hill Road, Bandra, is covered with street graffiti a visual treat for those who pass by. You will find most of the street art around Chapel Road and Waroda Road. The little village of Ranwar, which falls along the way, is the hidden gem. This vibrant enclave with its ancient bungalows and narrow streets has been transformed into a creative hub. Youll find passionate lovers juxtaposed with toons, frogs and fish, and all sorts of other funky illustrations. 2. Brooklyn, New York timeout Bushwick Collective, Moore Street and Williamsburg are the main areas for street art in Brooklyn. Bushwick and Moore Street are street galleries, while the art work in Williamsburg comprises mostly murals. Artists from all over the world have contributed to the designs and patterns. Walking tours are common to this area and several locals and tourists participate in these each day to learn more about the art on display. Keep a lookout for the Popeye mural! 3. Shoreditch, London telegraph London has no dearth of art galleries with a thriving art scene. However, off late, its East End area has become home to a parallel universe of street art. The entire Brick Lane and Shoreditch area is covered with installations, stickers, pop up figures and art work. Like how it is in New York, there are special graffiti tours that run each day to explore the art works in this district of London too. Banksys works are undoubtedly the most popular. 4. Berlin, Germany FatCap Berlins street art can be traced back to the time when the Berlin Wall was broken down. So invariably most of the themes that are depicted on the streets and the buildings, are political in nature. People used the public space to express their views on the historical and political changes that were taking place. The main spots are East Side Gallery, and Mitte, to name a few. Dont forget to walk past the iconic graffiti of the kiss between two political leaders. 5. Valpraiso, Chile boredpanda The street art in Valpraiso is more contemporary in design. Most of it is concentrated in the hillside neighbourhoods of Cerro Concepcion and Cerro Alegre. It is commonly referred to as the Latin version of Berlins street art. These two districts are also home to several galleries, restaurants, situated alongside brightly painted houses. Youll find works of emerging artists and a few international artists as well. Walk down the piano painted stairway! 6. Bo Khaap, Cape Town cultureconnectsa While the above-mentioned cities are known for their street art, the next two boast of colourful streets and houses. The people who live in this neighbourhood were brought as slaves by the Dutch settlers, and some of the houses date back to the 18th century. The story goes that earlier the houses used to be white, but due to majority of the residents of Bo Khaap being Muslims, the colours were introduced as a mark of celebration for Eid. 7. Balat, Istanbul, Turkey theoutlook Balat in Turkey is one of the most colourful destinations in the world. Once part of Istanbuls old Jewish quarter, today, this area is littered with trendy restaurants and cafes. Rich in history, this lesser explored part of the city should definitely be on every travellers list! Nestled between the rich red laterite soils of Surla, the aquatic expanse of River Mandovi, and a lush green forest, the masjid of Surla-Tar is one of the oldest surviving mosques in Goa, dating to the Adil Shah era. Referred to by its geographical name, the masjid of Surla-Tar is said to have been constructed by Ibrahim Adil Shah in the 16th century. While the architecture bears resemblance to the Safa masjid in Ponda, it lacks a similar visual allure. Locals say that in the days of yore there was no road leading down to the mosque. Only a dense cashew and mango forest surrounded its premises. Believers would either hike all the way to gain access to the prayer chamber or cross the river on a raft, a mode of transport that was upgraded to canoes and later, ferries. Eventually, a tarred road was constructed down the hill, making transit easy for visitors. Hindu villagers pay gratitude to the saint for bridging the gap between the two communities./ItsGoa The masjid, however, lost most of its original structure to the ravages of time until it was rebuilt in 1956 and restored to its former glory. The state department of archives and archaeology took over the monument nearly two decades ago and pays occasional visits to the place, residents say. An ancient water tank sits at the foot of this mosque. The serene waters of this reservoir present a stark contrast to the busy marine traffic floating on the Mandovi river. "The water tank is not used today. There is a separate tap near the tank, which is used by the faithful for ablutions. There was an underground drainage, which used to run from the tank and empty into the river. At present, the drain is blocked," writes Tinusha Pereira, a Goa College of Architecture alumnus in her study (2009) of the masjid. A single untarred road runs between the mosque and the river bank, which leads to Ganjem-Ambeshi. While two-wheelers can pass over this narrow strip with ease, horses served as the means for passage on this route in the yesteryears. This stunning piece of Islamic architecture is losing its splendour due to negligence in upkeep./ItsGoa "A boat from the Panaji side of the river would arrive carrying wheat, sugar, rice and flour for Surla residents and in return take fruits, kokum and maddi (taro root) from here to Panaji," Harun Xa Muzavor (Shah Mujawar), the mosque's caretaker, says. In what could be considered a heritage lover's dream residence, Muzavor, an octogenarian, lives in a house which overlooks the historical masjid and the tranquil waters of its tank. He has been its sole caretaker for decades, the responsibility being passed down his family from one generation to another. A dargah (shrine) adjoining the river is cocooned behind the masjid. "The remains that lie at this dargah are of a Pir Saheb (saint) and his companion who had come to Goa to build harmony between the conflicting Hindus and Muslims in the pre-Portuguese era. Their names are not known to this date," Muzavor says. Sources reveal that the five-day long Shigmo festival in this area usually concludes with a procession to the mosque. Hindu villagers pay gratitude to the saint for bridging the gap between the two communities. This ceremony is called the 'bhovartalo'. "The place is open to both Hindu and Muslims, and we have been visiting it for years. This is a perfect example of communal harmony in Goa," Viraj Govekar, a resident of Surla says. With his descendants moving to other parts of the state, Muzavor is now looking for a successor to take care of the structure. Even though the monument is under the watchful eyes of the department of archives and archaeology today, Muzavor feels that a structure like the masjid of Surla-Tar needs continuous human presence. It is because of this he chooses to stay alone in his ancestral home. "I spend my day cleaning the masjid and dargah, sharing information about its heritage with visitors, and looking after the overall management," he says while walking into the chambers to give the 'zuhur azaan' (call for prayer). Despite his efforts, this stunning piece of Islamic architecture is losing its splendour due to negligence in upkeep. Heritage activist Prajal Sakhardande says, "The state archaeology department must review the maintenance of this masjid and take care of its upkeep. They must ensure its cleanliness and keep the place litter-free. Periodic inspection of the place must be done." Chinese authorities demolished country's one of the largest evangelical churches this week using dynamite where over 50,000 Christians would offer prayers. The church named Goldren Lampstand located in Shanxi province was one of the two at least churches razed off in recent times. Under President Xi Jinping, the Chinese government has destroyed churches and removed their steeples and crosses. It reflects the Communist Party's longstanding fear that Western philosophy propogated through Christianity is a threat to the partys authority. AP A state owned newspaper, Global Times, described the demolition as a part of a citywide campaign to remove illegal buildings. It also said that the church was built without proper permits and was initially disguised as a warehouse. CHinaAid Via AP According to a report by New York Times, members of the megachurch have previously fought with authorities. In 2009, the police confiscated Bibles and imprisoned several people. The repeated persecution of Golden Lampstand Church demonstrates that the Chinese government has no respect for religious freedom or human rights, said Bob Fu, the groups founder. More than 60 million Christians live in China, at least half of whom worship in unregistered churches. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will land in India on Sunday for a six day visit. He will be greeted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian security agencies have already placed elaborate system to ensure the dignitarys security. Netanyahu is the second Prime Minister from his country after Ariel Sharon to visit India in the last 25 years of a diplomatic relationship. He will be accompanied by a 130-member delegation from various sectors including cyber, agriculture and defence. Reuters The security apparatus includes a seven-layer security ring with heavy commando deployment. A special unit will monitor kitchen supplies and telecommunication control will also be handled by a security team. According to a report by The Print, Netanyahu whos landing on Sunday is coming will bring Shin Bet, Israels internal security agency and members of Yamas, Israels undercover special counter terrorism unit. twitter Security will be beefed up across Delhi with pickets and barricades at important intersections, commandos deployed at strategic locations, bomb disposal squads, and trained sniffer dogs on standby. It will be a multi-level security ring, which will include personnel from the paramilitaries and local police for a ground to air security drill, a senior police officer told ThePrint. The call to ban hijab has been growing across different parts of the world, the latest being a school in United Kingdom. One of the UK's leading state-funded schools has called on the government to take a firm stand on children wearing hijab and fasting during Ramzan. St Stephen's School in Newham, east London, became one of the first schools in the country to ban the hijab for girls under eight in 2016 and intends to ban it for girls under 11 from September 2018. BCCL/Representational Image It also imposed strict rules on Ramzan fasting, a ritual that lasts around 18 hours a day in the summer, on school premises. The school, with a majority of pupils from Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi backgrounds and headed by Indian- origin principal Neena Lall wants the UK government to issue clear guidelines on the issue to prevent a backlash from parents. "The department should step up and take it out of our hands and tell every school this is how it (fasting) should be. The same for the hijab, it should not be our decision. It is unfair to teachers and very unfair to governors. We are unpaid. Why should we get the backlash," Arif Qawi, chairman of governors at St Stephen's School, told The Sunday Times'. He said that despite criticism from a few families, some parents were happy with the school's stance on fasting. BCCL/Representational Image "We did not ban fasting altogether but we encouraged them (children) to fast on holidays, at weekends and not on the school campus. Here we are responsible for their health and safety if they pass out on campus. It is not fair to us," said Qawi, who consulted with Muslim clerics to confirm that fasting should begin from the age of puberty. Under the UK's Department for Education guidelines, uniform policy is a matter for individual head-teachers and their governing bodies. In a bizarre case, a UK court hassentenced Indian origin Sikh teenager for eight years for trying to buy explosives online to kill his father who reportedly did not approve of his white girlfriends. Gurtej Singh Randhawa was arrested in May last year after undercover officers from the UKs National Crime Agency (NCA) replaced a car bomb he ordered online with a harmless dummy device before it was delivered. The 19-year-old was convicted of maliciously possessing an explosive substance with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury at Birmingham Crown Court in November 2017 and was handed the custodial sentence by the court yesterday. Reuters "I have no doubt that this offence was motivated by your desire to live with your girlfriend and attend university together. How the major changes in your life that you wished for were to be achieved included endangering the life of your father by setting off an explosion in his car. This was an offence of astonishing audacity, Justice Cheema-Grubb told Randhawa during the sentencing hearing. "You are plainly highly intelligent and capable of determined manipulation. You told sustained lies to your girlfriend and her family about your own parents, particularly your father, the judge noted. Randhawa paid for the bomb using crypto-currency and arranged for its delivery to an address away from his home. His trial was told how he had ordered the device after his mother discovered he was in a relationship with a girl she disapproved of. The court was also told that the former pupil from Wolverhampton Grammar School had accepted an offer to study medicine at Liverpool University. Randhawa had previously pleaded guilty to attempting to import explosives but was found guilty of the more serious charge of maliciously possessing an explosive substance with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury. "The explosive device Randhawa sought to purchase online had the potential to cause serious damage and kill many people if he had been successful in using it, said the NCAs Tim Gregory. "He was not involved in an organised crime group or linked to terrorism, but is clearly an individual who poses a significant risk to the community. Identifying people like Randhawa who seek to access illegal firearms and weapons is a priority for the NCA and we will not stop in our efforts to make sure they are arrested and held accountable for their actions," he said. Randhawa had tried to buy a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED), a remote-detonated explosive device, from the so-called dark web of hidden sites on the internet. NCA officers replaced the package with a dummy and allowed it to be delivered to the address in Wolverhampton provided by Randhawa and watched him test it before swooping in to arrest him. Two women aged 45 and 18 were also arrested at the same time by the NCA Armed Operations Unit but were later released with no further action. In a terrifying yet dramatic incident, a passenger plane skidded off a runway and got stuck in the mud on the edge of a cliff in northern Turkey. "We tilted to the side, the front was down while the plane's rear was up. There was panic; people shouting, screaming," one of the passengers, Fatma Gordu, told state-run news agency Anadolu. skynews,com Dramatic images showed that the white aircraft left dangling dangerously on the muddy cliff face against the backdrop of the clear blue water of Black sea. skynews,com All 162 passengers and crew aboard were evacuated safely by emergency services. No one was hurt. Shortages of supplies and workers will delay Gulf rebuilding AP - 1 hour ago Joe Sobol, owner of Big Easy Construction in New Orleans, has bad news for homeowners who've been calling about roofs damaged by Hurricane Ida or to get an update on renovations that were scheduled before... $SPX : 4,535.43 (-0.03%) $DOWI : 35,369.09 (-0.21%) $IUXX : 15,652.86 (+0.31%) Greece begins giving COVID-19 vaccines outside churches AP - Mon Sep 6, 7:21AM CDT ARCHANES, Greece (AP) Greece has begun administering vaccinations for COVID-19 outside churches in a pilot program recently announced by the government as a means of encouraging more people to get... $SPX : 4,535.43 (-0.03%) $DOWI : 35,369.09 (-0.21%) $IUXX : 15,652.86 (+0.31%) Greece creates climate crisis ministry after huge wildfires AP - Mon Sep 6, 6:23AM CDT ATHENS, Greece (AP) Greeces center-right government has created a new ministry to address the impact of climate change and named former European Union commissioner Christos Stylianides as minister.... $SPX : 4,535.43 (-0.03%) $DOWI : 35,369.09 (-0.21%) $IUXX : 15,652.86 (+0.31%) Silver Elliott Wave Analysis: Targets 26-27 Area EW-Forecast.com - Mon Sep 6, 6:14AM CDT Silver is nicely recovering, now even trying to break above strong trendline, which means that we can expect more gains, ideally as part of an A-B-C rally ^XAUUSD : 1,822.58 (-0.25%) ^XAGUSD : 24.643 (-0.23%) Industry group backs global carbon price for large ships AP - Mon Sep 6, 6:10AM CDT BERLIN (AP) A major maritime industry association on Monday backed plans for a global surcharge on carbon emissions from shipping to help fund the sector's shift toward climate-friendly fuels. $SPX : 4,535.43 (-0.03%) $DOWI : 35,369.09 (-0.21%) $IUXX : 15,652.86 (+0.31%) Global stock markets rise after weak US hiring data AP - Mon Sep 6, 4:28AM CDT BEIJING (AP) Global stock markets and Wall Street futures rose Monday after weak U.S. hiring in August fueled expectations the Federal Reserve might postpone withdrawal of economic stimulus that has... $SPX : 4,535.43 (-0.03%) $DOWI : 35,369.09 (-0.21%) $IUXX : 15,652.86 (+0.31%) What Is the History of Banking? Banking has been around since the first currencies were mintedperhaps even before that, in some form or another. Currency, in particular coins, grew out of taxation. As empires expanded, functional systems were needed to collect taxes and distribute wealth. Key Takeaways Banking institutions were created to provide loans to the public. As economies grew, banks allowed members of the general public to increase their credit and make larger purchases. Historically, temples were considered the earliest forms of banks as they were occupied by priests and became a haven for the wealthy. The earliest Roman laws allowed for the taking over of land in lieu of loan payments that were owed between debtors and creditors. A well-known economist, Adam Smith, theorized during the 18th century that a self-regulated economy, known as "the invisible hand," would allow for markets to reach equilibrium. The panic of 1907 was a trigger of two brokerage firms that had become bankrupt causing a recession when liquidity was was restricted. This led to the creation of the Federal Reserve Bank. Understanding Banking History The history of banking began when empires needed a way to pay for foreign goods and services with something that could be exchanged easily. Coins of varying sizes and metals eventually replaced fragile, impermanent paper bills. Coins, however, needed to be kept in a safe place, and ancient homes did not have steel safes. According to World History Encyclopedia, wealthy people in ancient Rome kept their coins and jewels in the basements of temples. The presence of priests or temple workers, who were assumed devout and honest, and armed guards added a sense of security. Historical records from Greece, Rome, Egypt, and Ancient Babylon have suggested that temples loaned money out in addition to keeping it safe. The fact that most temples also functioned as the financial centers of their cities is a major reason why they were ransacked during wars. Coins could be hoarded more easily than other commodities, such as 300-pound pigs for example, so a class of wealthy merchants took to lending coins, with interest, to people in need. Temples typically handled large loans and loans to various sovereigns, and wealthy merchant money lenders handled the rest. The First Bank The Romans, who were expert builders and administrators, extricated banking from the temples and formalized it within distinct buildings. During this time, moneylenders still profited, as loan sharks do today, but most legitimate commerceand almost all government spendinginvolved the use of an institutional bank. According to World History Encyclopedia, Julius Caesar, in one of the edicts changing Roman law after his takeover, gives the first example of allowing bankers to confiscate land in lieu of loan payments. This was a monumental shift of power in the relationship of creditor and debtor, as landed noblemen were untouchable through most of history, passing debts off to descendants until either the creditor or debtor's lineage died out. The Roman Empire eventually crumbled, but some of its banking institutions lived on in the form of the papal bankers that emerged in the Holy Roman Empire and the Knights Templar during the Crusades. Small-time moneylenders that competed with the church were often denounced for usury. Visa Royal Eventually, the various monarchs that reigned over Europe noted the strengths of banking institutions. As banks existed by the grace, and occasionally explicit charters and contracts, of the ruling sovereignty, the royal powers began to take loans to make up for hard times at the royal treasury, often on the king's terms. This easy financing led kings into unnecessary extravagances, costly wars, and arms races with neighboring kingdoms that would often lead to crushing debt. In 1557, Philip II of Spain managed to burden his kingdom with so much debt (as the result of several pointless wars) that he caused the world's first national bankruptcyas well as the world's second, third, and fourth, in rapid succession. This occurred because 40% of the country's gross national product (GNP) was going toward servicing the debt. The trend of turning a blind eye to the creditworthiness of big customers continues to haunt banks today. Adam Smith and Modern Banking Banking was already well-established in the British Empire when Adam Smith introduced the "invisible hand" theory in 1776. Empowered by his views of a self-regulated economy, moneylenders and bankers managed to limit the state's involvement in the banking sector and the economy as a whole. This free-market capitalism and competitive banking found fertile ground in the New World, where the United States of America was about to emerge. Initially, Smith's ideas did not benefit the American banking industry. The average life for an American bank was five years, after which most banknotes from the defaulted banks became worthless. These state-chartered banks could, after all, only issue banknotes against the gold and silver coins they had in reserve. A bank robbery meant a lot more then than it does now in the age of deposit insurance and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Compounding these risks was the cyclical cash crunch in America. Alexander Hamilton, a former Secretary of the Treasury, established a national bank that would accept member banknotes at par, thus floating banks through difficult times. After a few stops, starts, cancellations, and resurrections, this national bank created a uniform national currency and set up a system by which national banks backed their notes by purchasing Treasury securities, thus creating a liquid market. The national banks pushed out the competition through the imposition of taxes on the relatively lawless state banks. The damage had been done already, however, as average Americans had already grown to distrust banks and bankers in general. This feeling would lead Texas's state to outlaw corporate banksa law that stood until 1904. Merchant Banks Most of the economic duties that would have been handled by the national banking system, in addition to regular banking business like loans and corporate finance, fell into the hands of large merchant banks because the national banking system was sporadic. During this unrest that lasted until the 1920s, these merchant banks parlayed their international connections into political and financial power. These banks included Goldman Sachs, Kuhn, Loeb & Co., and J.P. Morgan & Co. Originally, they relied heavily on commissions from foreign bond sales from Europe, with a small back-flow of American bonds trading in Europe. This allowed them to build capital. At that time, a bank was under no legal obligation to disclose its capital reserves, an indication of its ability to survive large, above-average loan losses. This mysterious practice meant that a bank's reputation and history mattered more than anything. While upstart banks came and went, these family-held merchant banks had long histories of successful transactions. As large industries emerged and created the need for corporate finance, the amounts of capital required could not be provided by any single bank, and so initial public offerings (IPOs) and bond offerings to the public became the only way to raise the required capital. The public in the United States, and foreign investors in Europe, knew very little about investing because disclosure was not legally enforced. For this reason, these issues were largely ignored, according to the public's perception of the underwriting banks. Consequently, successful offerings increased a bank's reputation and put it in a position to ask for more to underwrite an offer. By the late 1800s, many banks demanded a position on the boards of the companies seeking capital, and if the management proved lacking, they ran the companies themselves. J.P. Morgan and Monopoly J.P. Morgan & Co. emerged at the head of the merchant banks during the late 1800s. It was connected directly to London, then the world's financial center, and had considerable political clout in the United States. Morgan and Co. created U.S. Steel, AT&T, and International Harvester, as well as duopolies and near-monopolies in the railroad and shipping industries, through the revolutionary use of trusts and a disdain for the Sherman Antitrust Act. Although the dawn of the 1900s saw well-established merchant banks, it was difficult for the average American to obtain loans. These banks didn't advertise, and they rarely extended credit to the "common" people. Racism was also widespread, and although bankers had to work together on large issues, their customers were split along clear class and race lines. These banks left consumer loans to the lesser banks that were still failing at an alarming rate. The Panic of 1907 The collapse in shares of a copper trust set off a panic, a run on banks, and stock sell-offs, which caused shares to plummet. Without the Federal Reserve Bank to take action to calm people down, the task fell to J.P. Morgan to stop the panic. Morgan used his considerable clout to gather all the major players on Wall Street to maneuver the credit and capital they controlled, just as the Fed would do today. The End of an Era Ironically, this show of supreme power in saving the U.S. economy ensured that no private banker would ever again wield that power. Because it had taken J.P. Morgan, a banker who was disliked by much of America for being one of the robber barons along with Carnegie and Rockefeller, to save the economy, the government formed the Federal Reserve Bank (the Fed) in 1913. Although the merchant banks influenced the structure of the Fed, they were also pushed into the background by its formation. Even with the establishment of the Fed, financial power and residual political power were concentrated on Wall Street. When World War I broke out, America became a global lender and replaced London as the center of the financial world by the end of the war. Unfortunately, a Republican administration put some unconventional handcuffs on the banking sector. The government insisted that all debtor nations must pay back their war loans, which traditionally were forgiven, especially in the case of allies, before any American institution would extend them further credit. This slowed down world trade and caused many countries to become hostile toward American goods. When the stock market crashed on Black Tuesday in 1929, the already sluggish world economy was knocked out. The Fed couldn't contain the crash and refused to stop the depression; the aftermath had immediate consequences for all banks. A clear line was drawn between banks and investors. In 1933, banks were no longer allowed to speculate with deposits, and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) regulations were enacted to convince the public it was safe to come back. No one was fooled and the depression continued. World War II Stimulates Recovery World War II may have saved the banking industry from complete destruction. WWII and the industriousness it generated stopped the downward spiral afflicting the United States and world economies. For the banks and the Fed, the war required financial maneuvers using billions of dollars. This massive financing operation created companies with huge credit needs that, in turn, spurred banks into mergers to meet the demand. These huge banks spanned global markets. More importantly, domestic banking in the United States had finally settled to the point where with the advent of deposit insurance and mortgages, an individual would have reasonable access to credit. The Benefits of Banking With the exception of the extremely wealthy, few people buy their homes in all-cash transactions. Most of us need a mortgage, or some form of credit, to make such a large purchase. Banks have come a long way from the temples of the ancient world, but their basic business practices have not changed. Banks issue credit or loans to people who need them, but they demand interest on top of the repayment of the loan. Although history has altered the finer points of the business model, a bank's purpose is to make loans and protect depositors' money. Even today, where digital banking and financing are replacing traditional brick and mortar locations, banks still exist to perform this primary function. Consumer spending is the key to any market economy. On the airwaves, there's never a shortage of data, analysis, and cable commentary regarding consumer behavior. So what are the key fundamental consumption indicators in a good economy? How about in a bad economy? There is no doubt that consumer spending is the most vital component of any economy. Why? Depending on the economy's sheer breadth, consumer spending can range anywhere from 50% to 75% of gross domestic product (GDP). In the U.S. this percentage is about 65% of total GDP. The first part of measuring total consumption is measuring consumer sentiment, which is derived completely from a consumer's standpoint. This article will recap the vital economic indicators of overall consumption, outlining what trends to look for and when to look for them. Key Takeaways Measuring consumer sentiment is the first step in measuring total consumption. The Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) and the Consumer Sentiment Index are indices used to measure consumer sentiment. Business capital spending is also a consumption indicatorwhere corporate spending could be a sign of economic growth, and cutbacks can be a sign of an economic downturn. Measuring the consumption of durable goodssuch as appliances, furniture, and electronicsand automobiles also serves as an indicator of consumer spending. Corporations that predict a depressed economy may reduce spending on auxiliary services, such as advertising and marketing. Consumer Sentiment The two numbers expressing consumers' feelings about the economy and their subsequent plans to make purchases are the Consumer Confidence Index (CCI), prepared by the Conference Board, and the Consumer Sentiment Index, prepared by the University of Michigan. Both indexes are based on a household survey and are reported monthly. To measure consumer sentiment, the Conference Board sends out surveys to approximately 5,000 homes monthly. In analyzing any consumer sentiment index, it is most important to determine the trend of the index over several months. Simply put, the trend graphed out over four or five months is critical. More data points will give the investor a better gauge of this very important measure. Keeping this in mind, you need to remain astute and block out news bits, such as "the index is at 80 so things look gloomy" or "the level of consumer sentiment is up slightly from last month." The trend over several monthsnot a comparison of a month-to-month figure or this month to the same month last yearis the undeniable benchmark. Commentary that focuses only on the single monthly figures, without looking at the developing trend, is misleading. For many, the importance of the trends of consumer sentiment rests in the fact that the consumer sentiment index originated in the middle of the 20th century when the concept of the "typical" consumer was more homogeneous. Considering this historical fact, as well as potential sampling bias and possible subjectivity across regions, the safe bet is to focus on trends forming some sort of linear progression, whether upward or downward. Otherwise, the progression can hit a general plateau, which sometimes happens when the economy shifts through the various stages in the business cycle. Business Spending as Leading Indicator Though not as powerful an indicator as consumer spending, business capital spending can be a killer statisticsince things can get ugly in a hurry when overall business investment precipitously cuts back. The impact on the economy can be felt at an even faster pace than if the cut occurred purely along consumer lines. The rationale is that today's sophisticated and large inventory-lean corporations often can gauge future demand before policymakers can implement changes, which often take months to kick in due to embedded policy lags. Corporate spending is therefore very similar today to the role the stock market has played in most recoveries, and dramatic changes can be seen as a leading indicator for things to come. A rise in business spending could augur economic growth, while cutbacks in corporate capital spending can be viewed as an ominous indicator. The Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), is a representation of the progress in corporate spending. For analyzing consumer spending, ascertainable trends are more telling than actual figures. The opposite is true for analyzing corporate spending through the PMI, where there is a concrete threshold for analyzing corporate investment spending and subsequent production. A PMI below 50 designates a contracting manufacturing sector, while a number above 50 highlights expansion across corporate spending and investment. Obviously, clear awareness of the current trend analysis is always better than a stand-alone result. Nevertheless, the 50 threshold can be used as a simple benchmark to assess corporate activity. Historically, the range has been between 40 to 60. In good times, the index is roaring in the high 50s, while in slow times the index can fall to the low 40s. Other Spending Items There are other spending indicators, such as purchases of durable goods orders and overall auto sales. However, in terms of aggregating the data, these metrics are narrowly defined extensions of overall individual consumption. Trends across personal consumption will usually be reflected and correlated across these two metrics, as well as others. For instance, during the end of 2001, while the world economy was suffering on many fronts, steady consumer spending helped fuel auto sales that originated from generous financing from Detroit. This stimulus ultimately helped erode the three-quarter recession that had developed from the beginning of the year. Awareness of these symbols of consumption can give you more insight into exactly why and how consumption is impacting the economy. This awareness will help you judge the sustainability of these trends. From a pure corporate standpoint, auxiliary spendingbesides durable orders and big-ticket items, such as auto purchasescan often indicate a great deal about overall corporate sentiment. Recall from above that the PMI for corporate spending is a definite quantitative measure and the consumer sentiment index is a qualitative metric. In the eyes of large corporations, and from a sheer qualitative standpoint, auxiliary spending on services, such as advertising, consulting, and information technology may reveal information about attitude and sentiment, just like the consumer sentiment indices reveal information about personal and individual consumption. Just as a murky outlook will depress consumer sentiment, a weak forecast for the demand for goods and services will sidetrack corporate spending on auxiliary measures that can be budgeted away if necessary. The end victims are advertising/marketing, media campaigns, consulting fees, and information technology overhauls. When the headlines indicate that layoffs and slowdowns are rampant in any of these fields, it can be safe to bet that corporate appetite for auxiliary spending is weak. The performance of these industries is largely tied to the level of corporate sentiment, and it would be to the benefit of an investor to keep an eye out for companies within these industries and how they are performing. Consumer Confidence FAQs How Does the Consumer Confidence Index Impact Elections? Consumer confidence usually increases right before an election and drops by about the same amount directly after. The drop after the election is due to the political environment, rather than the condition of the economy. What Does Increasing Consumer Confidence Do? Increasing consumer confidence increases consumer spending. The aggregate demand curve shifts to the right, indicating an increase in demand for goods and services. In response to increased consumer spending, manufacturers can increase production, banks can extend more credit, and the real estate market can anticipate an increase in home sales. What Are the Best Ways to Increase Consumer Confidence? Many factors that influence consumer confidence are outside of our control. However, companies can take steps to increase consumer confidence. They can strengthen their brand, building a loyal customer base. Remaining honest, transparent, and consistent can help build a strong reputation. They can also strive to produce quality products and services that fulfill consumers' needs, as well as advertise in meaningful ways that communicate value. What Determines Consumer Confidence? The state of the economy and what's reported in the news help shape consumer confidence. Several factors affecting consumer confidence include changes in house prices, unemployment rates, and inflation. Falling house prices compromise wealth accumulation and erode consumer confidence. Increased unemployment rates also negatively affect consumers' confidence in the state of the economy. Inflation is an indicator of too much economic growth, and the rise in prices can reduce consumers' purchasing power and confidence. The Bottom Line Consumption is ultimately the stimulant behind almost every fundamental aspect of the worldwide economy. In sophisticated economies, the impact of consumption may be less than in emerging economies that are largely import-export driven, but the consumption magnitude is even more pronounced due to both a greater wealth effect and standard of living that enable individuals to spend their disposable income more freely. The data for analyzing overall consumption contains many underlying factors. To scrutinize the daily volumes of indicators, focus on the indicators according to the above ranking system. This will help you capture the main elements and the interaction between the various areas of spending. An important issue that sets this apart from the previous nationwide protests in 2009 and 1999 is the reference made by Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to the party behind these rallies. While Tehran pointing fingers at Washington, London, Israel and the Saudis is not new, Khamenei made a statement in which he pointed to the Iranian opposition Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK). The significance of this is that it may be an indication of the regimes real concerns. According to Reuters, As well as Washington and London, Khamenei blamed the violence on Israel, exiled dissident group Peoples Mujahedin of Iran and a wealthy government in the Gulf, a probable reference to Irans regional rival, Saudi Arabia. In his article for Forbes, Heshmat Alavi writes, This recent wave of protests is setting the grounds with new sets of rules and understandings. Displayed below, are what Alavi indicates as these new rules and understandings: 1) The Iranian people no longer fear in expressing their true feelings, seen in the nationwide slogan of Death to Khamenei. Such a brave measure in the past would bear the potential of earning you a heavy prison term, if not a death sentence. Once the Islamic Republics greatest taboo, chanting Death to Khamenei is now the norm in #Iran. Southern schoolkids chant against regimes Supreme Leader. Doesnt take a genius to work out Khameneis approval rating among parents in the city via #MEK activists. #IranProtests M. Hanif Jazayeri (@HanifJazayeri) 2:58 PM Jan 8, 2018 2) Unlike previous uprisings, these demonstrations are mushrooming across the country, reaching over 130 cities and towns, according to activists. Places less heard of before, such as Izeh, Dorud, Shahin Shahr and etc. are now seen leading the growing wave of protests. Brave demonstrators are threatening the regimes very pillars to an extent that security forces have opened fire and killed dozens of protesters, arresting thousands, according to reports. 3) From the second day of this uprising protesters have shown their overcoming of prior fears through responding to the security forces attacks and quelling. State vehicles, motorcycles, makeshift police stations and other facilities are being set ablaze by protesters in response to the regimes unbridled crackdown. Facebook's decision to prioritise posts made by users and their friends over those from publishers and brands is likely to make it more expensive for marketing agencies to push their clients' products. The Wall Street Journal quoted James Douglas, head of media at the digital agency Reprise, as saying: "Its just an amplification of pay-to-play from Facebook." Last week, Facebook announced its new policy, made in the wake of claims that it was open to publicising fake news stories. The social media company said changes would be made in the algorithm that feeds posts to users in order to increase "meaningful interaction". "We started making changes in this direction last year, but it will take months for this new focus to make its way through all our products," Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg said in a blog post. "The first changes you'll see will be in News Feed, where you can expect to see more from your friends, family and groups." The WSJ report said marketers were used to such changes as many changes had happened over the years, forcing them to spend more in order to make sure their clients' advertisements were seen by users. Some ad buyers said this may force them to start looking at other platforms. Zuckerberg said that one effect of the change would be that people would spend less time on Facebook. "But I also expect the time you do spend on Facebook will be more valuable. And if we do the right thing, I believe that will be good for our community and our business over the long term too," he added. While Facebook vice-president of product management John Hegeman told Reuters that advertising would not be hit by the change, ad industry workers said they expected ad prices to rise as the number of chances to serve ads declined. The WSJ quoted Paul Mead, chairman of VCCP Media, a UK-based media agency, as saying: "Its simple mathematics for a display business: Less time on Facebook and fewer ads can only mean that the ads that do show are more expensive. A write-down of the national broadband network is now firmly on the cards after the competition watchdog joined the chorus supporting it, according to telecommunications analyst Paul Budde. In a blog post published on Sunday, he said that since Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull had not introduced essential structural changes after the 2016 election, it had become obvious that the value of the network would have to be cut by half. While the government did not welcome this reality, many others, including the ACCC, had now joined the call for a write-down, Budde said. "The fact that the ACCC has now joined the chorus is a significant development. It is important to mention that the ACCC is not a political organisation and that it genuinely operates in the best interests of the country," he wrote. The rollout of the NBN is scheduled to finish in 2020. Budde said it was important to complete it and leave the network in the best possible condition - and also complete connections to the 400,000+ that were in the too-hard basket. He noted that it would be important to have most premises connected to gigabit networks, and that the manner in which this was implemented should be left to network engineers. And gigabit speeds should be provided through wired or wireless connections, he said, pointing out that, "at this point in time it is unfortunately not yet known whether a 5G connection for the last 50 or 100 metres is technically viable and, importantly, if such a connection will be able to provide affordable high-speed broadband to the users". As 90% of the national network would be gigabit-based making it unlikely that there would be any direct competitor, it would have to be managed through regulation. "So that infrastructure needs, in one way or another, to be managed through regulation. Of course we could, and should, have full retail competition beyond that," Budde said. "However my worry is that we wont get a rational solution along the above-mentioned lines. Since I first became involved in the Australian market (1983) telecoms has been a highly politicised environment, and it would be a miracle if that were to suddenly change now." He said that supporting the NBN Co financially or splitting it and selling it would be equally disastrous, "if there is no long-term strategy in place on how to move the whole network towards a fibre-based one", he said. "One could easily end up with monopolies based on technologies such as fixed-wireless, HFC and FttN, and again the fibre optic backbone network needed for the next development of the mobile networks (5G) would need to be included in a holistic national infrastructure strategy." Budde called for a bipartisan approach to the future of the NBN, taking the national interest into account. "Apart from the Trump administration there is no other country in the world that doesnt have bipartisan support for its telecoms strategy; surely this should be an area that needs to be developed by technical experts and not by politicians," he said. "Could the industry perhaps take the initiative here and mediate the politics?" Reddit Email 76 Shares By Henry Giroux | (The Conversation) | George Orwell warns us in his dystopian novel 1984 that authoritarianism begins with language. In the novel, newspeak is language twisted to deceive, seduce and undermine the ability of people to think critically and freely. Donald Trumps unapologetic bigoted language made headlines again Thursday when it was reported he told lawmakers working on a new immigration policy that the United States shouldnt accept people from shithole countries like Haiti. Given his support for white nationalism and his coded call to Make America Great (White) Again, Trumps overt racist remarks reinforce echoes of white supremacy reminiscent of fascist dictators in the 1930s. His remarks about accepting people from Norway smack of an appeal to the sordid discourse of racial purity. There is much more at work here than a politics of incivility. Behind Trumps use of vulgarity and his disparagement of countries that are poor and non-white lies the terrifying discourse of white supremacy, ethnic cleansing and the politics of disposability. This is a vocabulary that considers some individuals and groups not only faceless and voiceless, but excess, redundant and subject to expulsion. The endpoint of the language of disposability is a form of social death, or even worse. As authoritarianism gains strength, the formative cultures that give rise to dissent become more embattled, along with the public spaces and institutions that make conscious critical thought possible. Words that speak to the truth to reveal injustices and provide informed critical analysis begin to disappear, making it all the more difficult, if not dangerous, to judge, think critically and hold dominant power accountable. Notions of virtue, honour, respect and compassion are policed, and those who advocate them are punished. I think its fair to argue that Orwells nightmare vision of the future is no longer fiction in the United States. Under Trump, language is undergoing a shift: It now treats dissent, critical media coverage and scientific evidence as a species of fake news. The Trump administration, in fact, views the critical media as the enemy of the American people. Trump has repeated this view of the media so often that almost a third of Americans now believe it and support government-imposed restrictions on the media, according to a Poynter survey. Thought crimes and fake news Trumps cries of fake news work incessantly to set limits on what is thinkable. Reason, standards of evidence, consistency and logic no longer serve the truth, according to Trump, because the latter are crooked ideological devices used by enemies of the state. Orwells thought crimes are Trumps fake news. Orwells Ministry of Truth is Trumps Ministry of Fake News. The notion of truth is viewed by this president as a corrupt tool used by the critical media to question his dismissal of legal checks on his power, particularly his attacks on judges, courts and any other governing institutions that will not promise him complete and unchecked loyalty. For Trump, intimidation takes the place of unquestioned loyalty when he does not get his way, revealing a view of the presidency that is more about winning than about governing. One consequence is the myriad practices by which Trump gleefully humiliates and punishes his critics, wilfully engages in shameful acts of self-promotion and unapologetically enriches his financial coffers. Under Trump, the language of civic literacy and democracy has become unmoored from critical reason, informed debate and the weight of scientific evidence, and is now being reconfigured and tied to pageantry, political theatre and a deep-seated anti-intellectualism. One consequence, as language begins to function as a tool of state repression, is that matters of moral and political responsibility disappear and injustices proliferate. Fascism starts with words What is crucial to remember here, as authoritarianism expert Ruth Ben-Ghiat notes, is that fascism starts with words. Trumps use of language and his manipulative use of the media as political spectacle are disturbingly similar to earlier periods of propaganda, censorship and repression. Under fascist regimes, the language of brutality and culture of cruelty was normalized through the proliferation of strident metaphors of war, battle, expulsion, racial purity and demonization. As German historians such as Richard J. Evans and Victor Klemperer have made clear, dictators like Adolf Hitler did more than simply corrupt the language of a civilized society, they also banned words. Soon afterwards, the Nazis banned books and the critical intellectuals who wrote them. They then imprisoned those individuals who challenged Nazi ideology and the states systemic violations of civil rights. The end point was an all-embracing discourse of disposability the emergence of concentration camps and genocide fuelled by a politics of racial purity and social cleansing. Echoes of the formative stages of such actions are upon us now. An American-style neo-fascism appears to be engulfing the United States after simmering in the dark for years. More than any other president, Trump has normalized the notion that the meaning of words no longer matters, nor do traditional sources of facts and evidence. In doing so, he has undermined the relationship between engaged citizenship and the truth, and has relegated matters of debate and critical assessment to a spectacle of bombast, threats, intimidation and sheer fakery. This language of fascism does more than normalize falsehoods and ignorance. It also promotes a larger culture of short-term attention spans, immediacy and sensationalism. At the same time, it makes fear and anxiety the normalized currency of exchange and communication. In a throwback to the language of fascism, Trump has repeatedly positioned himself as the only one who can save the masses reproducing the tired script of the model of the saviour endemic to authoritarianism. There is more at work here than an oversized ego. Trumps authoritarianism is also fuelled by braggadocio and misdirected rage as he undermines the bonds of solidarity, abolishes institutions meant to protect the vulnerable and launches a full-fledged assault on the environment. Trump is also the master of manufactured illiteracy, and his obsessive tweeting and public relations machine aggressively engages in the theatre of self-promotion and distractions. Both of these are designed to whitewash any version of a history that might expose the close alignment between his own language and policies and the dark elements of a fascist past. Trump also revels in an unchecked mode of self-congratulation bolstered by a limited vocabulary filled with words like historic, best, the greatest, tremendous and beautiful. Those exaggerations suggest more than hyperbole or the self-indulgent use of language. When he claims he knows more about ISIS than the generals, knows more about renewables than any human being on Earth or that nobody knows the U.S. system of government better than he does, hes using the rhetoric of fascism. As the aforementioned historian Richard J. Evans writes in The Third Reich in Power: The German language became a language of superlatives, so that everything the regime did became the best and the greatest, its achievements unprecedented, unique, historic and incomparable . The language used about Hitler was shot through and through with religious metaphors; people believed in him, he was the redeemer, the savior, the instrument of Providence, his spirit lived in and through the German nation. Nazi institutions domesticated themselves [through the use of a language] that became an unthinking part of everyday life. Sound familiar? Under the Trump regime, memories inconvenient to his authoritarianism are now demolished in the domesticated language of superlatives so the future can be shaped to become indifferent to the crimes of the past. Trumps endless daily tweets, his recklessness, his adolescent disdain for a measured response, his unfaltering anti-intellectualism and his utter ignorance of history work in the United States. Why? Because they not only cater to what historian Brian Klaas refers to as the tens of millions of Americans who have authoritarian or fascist leanings, they also enable what he calls Trumps attempt at mainstreaming fascism. The language of fascism revels in forms of theatre that mobilize fear, hatred and violence. Author Sasha Abramsky is on target in claiming that Trumps words amount to more than empty slogans. Instead, his language comes with consequences, and they legitimize bigotries and hatreds long harbored by many but, for the most part, kept under wraps by the broader society. Surely, the increase in hate crimes during Trumps first year of his presidency testifies to the truth of Abramskys argument. Fighting Trumps fascist language The history of fascism teaches us that language operates in the service of violence, desperation and troubling landscapes of hatred, and carries the potential for inhabiting the darkest moments of history. It erodes our humanity, and makes too many people numb and silent in the face of ideologies and practices that are hideous acts of ethical atrocity. Trumps language, like that of older fascist regimes, mutilates contemporary politics, empathy and serious moral and political criticism, and makes it more difficult to criticize dominant relations of power. His fascistic language also fuels the rhetoric of war, toxic masculinity, white supremacy, anti-intellectualism and racism. But its not his alone. It is the language of a nascent fascism that has been brewing in the United States for some time. It is a language that is comfortable viewing the world as a combat zone, a world that exists to be plundered and a view of those deemed different as a threat to be feared, if not eliminated. A new language aimed at fighting Trumps romance with fascism must make power visible, uncover the truth, contest falsehoods and create a formative and critical culture that can nurture and sustain collective resistance to the oppression that has overtaken the United States, and increasingly many other countries. No form of oppression can be overlooked. And with that critical gaze must emerge a critical language, a new narrative and a different story about what a socialist democracy will look like in the United States. Reclaiming language as a force for good There is also a need to strengthen and expand the reach and power of established public spheres, such as higher education and the critical media, as sites of critical learning. We must encourage artists, intellectuals, academics and other cultural workers to talk, educate, make oppression visible and challenge the common-sense vocabulary of casino capitalism, white supremacy and fascism. Language is not simply an instrument of fear, violence and intimidation; it is also a vehicle for critique, civic courage and resistance. A critical language can guide us in our thinking about the relationship between older elements of fascism and how such practices are emerging in new forms. Without a faith in intelligence, critical education and the power to resist, humanity will be powerless to challenge the threat that fascism and right-wing populism pose to the world. Those of us willing to fight for a just political and economic society need to formulate a new language and fresh narratives about freedom, the power of collective struggle, empathy, solidarity and the promise of a real socialist democracy. We would do well to heed the words of the great Nobel Prize-winning novelist, J.M. Coetzee, who states in a work of fiction that there will come a day when you and I will need to be told the truth, the real truth .no matter how hard it may be. Democracy, indeed, can only survive with a critically informed and engaged public attentive to a language in which truth, rather than lies, become the currency of citizenship. Henry Giroux, Chaired professor for Scholarship in the Public Interest in the Department of English and Cultural Studies, McMaster University This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Related video added by Informed Comment: SABC: AU, UN condemn Trumps derogatory utterances on Haiti, Africa Reddit Email 80 Shares By Reese Erlich | (48hills.com) | During a recent reporting trip to Iran, I interviewed almost two dozen people at random in both rich and poor neighborhoods of Tehran. All the middle and upper-middle class people I spoke with said the government of President Hassan Rouhani had made economic progress, although not as much as they wanted. All the working-class Iranians said they had seen no economic improvements since Rouhanis election in 2013. Starting in late December, spontaneous protests broke out among young, working-class Iranians. While hundreds demonstrated in Tehran, tens of thousands demonstrated in eighty towns and smaller cities. To date, the government has arrested an estimated 1,000 people and twenty-two have died. The 2009 Green Movement mobilized much larger crowds but attracted mostly intellectuals and other middle-income folks. The International Monetary Fund estimates that Irans economy will grow 4.2 percent by March. But, just as in the United States, very little of the countrys wealth trickles down. A construction worker told me he has no regular place to live while working in Tehran. Sometimes contractors provide refurbished shipping containers as living quarters. Sometimes he stays with relatives. He blamed Irans economic problems on the economic sanctions imposed by the United States. He also blamed the Iranian government for wasting billions of dollars on wars in Syria and Iraq. First you have to feed your own people and then go around helping others, he told me. He criticized widespread Iranian corruption. When the Revolutionary Guard builds projects, for example, workers often dont get paid on time and then the officers say, Oh, we spent the money in Syria or Iraq. But many other Iranians, while critical of corruption, are not willing to break with the Rouhani government. Tens of thousands of people participated in pro-government marches on December 5 as hardliners blamed the United States and foreign powers for the unrest. Back in the United States, President Donald Trump has sought to use the protests to justify his aggressive policies. He tweeted, Such respect for the people of Iran as they try to take back their corrupt government. You will see great support from the United States at the appropriate time! But Iranians dont believe Trump supports them. In my numerous, random interviews, I did not encounter a single person with anything positive to say about Trump. They opposed his ban on Iranian travel to the United States, his declaring Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and his efforts to cancel the nuclear accord. Iranians are angry at Trumps policies, veteran journalist Mohammad Reza Noroozpour told me. Iranians worry that Trump will use the anti-government protests as an excuse to abrogate the nuclear agreement. In 2015, the United States, Iran, and five other countries signed an internationally binding agreement, ratified by the U.N. Security Council. Iran agreed not to develop nuclear weapons. In return, the United States and European countries were supposed to lift harsh economic sanctions. Iran has lived up to its end of the bargain. It poured concrete into a major nuclear reactor, shipped enriched uranium out of the country, severely reduced the number of centrifuges used to enrich uranium, and allowed intrusive inspections at all its nuclear facilities. The International Atomic Energy Agency has verified that Iran has no nuclear weapons program. Nevertheless, last October Trump decertified the agreement, a unilateral move rejected by all the other signatories: Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and China. Trump is seriously considering re-imposing sanctions, using the Iran protests as an excuse. So what is Iran going to do? Iranian officials are considering options ranging from stepped-up diplomacy to military confrontation, according to Iranian foreign policy experts and high government officials in Iran. When Trump became President, I think this was a big shock for the Rouhani administration, Foad Izadi told me. Izadi is an assistant professor at the North American Studies Department at the University of Tehran. Rouhanis supporters hope Trump will be impeached before he can cause more damage. And if that doesnt happen, they are hoping that Trumps advisers will tell him that agreement is actually good for the United States. Rouhani, a political centrist, wants to see less confrontation with the West and greater foreign investments. His camp advocates robust diplomatic efforts against Trump, trying to take advantage of fractures within the US administration. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has taken a softer line, arguing the administration must insure that Iran lives up to the agreement. The heads of intelligence agencies and the former generals now populating the White House, on the other hand, advocate a hard line against Iran. The reformists dont want to provoke the US, said Noroozpour, and hope pressure from European allies will restrain Trump. By contrast, the conservative camp, known in Iran as principlists, advocate a series of escalating actions that would not violate the nuclear accord but would nonetheless send a message to Washington. The principlists emphasize a new alliance with Russia and Turkey, Noroozpour explained. Principlists believe this alliance can force the US to get out of the Middle East. The principlists insist that Iran can reinstitute its nuclear engineering and science programs at universities, which have languished over the past few years. Also, under International Atomic Energy Agency rules, Iran can enrich uranium up to 20 percent for medical research. Iran could enrich uranium to even higher levels as part of plans to develop nuclear powered submarines. But Iran currently has no nuclear subs. Professor Izadi told me that, as a sign of even stronger resistance, some principlists want Iran to withdraw from the decades-old Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which Iran ratified back in the 1960s. Conservatives argue that the treaty allows western spies to enter sensitive Iranians military bases under the guise of snap inspections. These principlists say, according to Izadi, The benefits of NPT have not materialized for Iran. In my opinion, if Iran formally withdrew from the Non-Proliferation Treaty, US hardliners would immediately claim Iran was rushing to make a bomb, leading to the further escalation of tensions and possible confrontation. North Korea withdrew from the Non-Proliferation Treaty in 2003 as the first step in developing its nuclear weapons. But that doesnt worry some principlists, according to a high-ranking government official who asked to remain anonymous. Some principlists now advocate confrontation with the US, he said. Iran wouldnt directly attack the United States, but would utilize allies in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen. We can bother the US around the world, he said confidently. We have nothing to lose. The negotiations were important for our national dignity. We will not be humiliated. Ironically, the hardliners in the United States and Iran play into one anothers hands. Trump and has cronies seek to use the popular protests in Iran as justification for more attacks. The hardliners in Iran want to blame the protests on foreign powers in order to justify more confrontation with the United States. Let us hope saner voices prevail on both sides. Reprinted with authors permission from 48hills.com) Reddit Email 87 Shares By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | London Mayor Sadiq Khan was about to begin a speech on gender equality to the leftist Fabian Society when he was interrupted by British Trumpist hooligans shouting that they intended to make a citizens arrest of the mayor. After a while, during which Khan leafed through some reading material, the police carted off the thugs. They sported American flags and anti-European Union slogans, and had been enraged by Trumps cancellation of a planned trip to London, about which Khan remarked that the US president had gotten the message that he is unwelcome in the UK. The brown shirts had built a gallows to show that they had an old-fashioned lynching on their minds. Among their leaders was David Russel of the fascist English Defense League. He announced that the name of the group is the Pendragons. The Guardian News: Far-right group disrupts speech by Sadiq Khan Last June a far-right Briton inspired in part by Trumps hatred of Muslims rammed his van into a crowd of peaceful worshipers leaving a mosque in London. After the Trumpist shock troops had been removed, Khan apologized for the delay, occasioned, he said, by very stable geniuses. Apparently no one took the incident very seriously and it provoked a good deal of mirth. But as symbolic politics it is worth dwelling on a little bit. The deployment of the American flag as an icon of Islamophobia (Khan is a Muslim), bigotry and fascism is extremely disturbing. It is a powerful sign of how Trumpism is rebranding the United States as a country supporting racial hierarchy and hatred for minorities and immigrants. Pendragon is of course the surname of the legendary King Arthur. That sort of medieval romanticism also influenced mass murderer Anders Breivik, who killed 77 Norwegians in 2011. (He targeted Norwegian liberals on the grounds that they did not hate Muslims, a common theme in the fascist Right). Here are some other twists. The Fabian Society where the mayor was speaking had been founded in the late 19th century by British socialists. Their ranks included George Bernard Shaw the dramatist, science fiction writer H. G. Wells, and Beatrice and Sidney Webb, among many others. They had pushed for workers rights and a more just society, though most of them were from the upper crust. Although Islamophobes attempt to paint Muslims across the board as anti-feminist, that stereotype clearly is not universally true. That a London mayor of Pakistani immigrant heritage is now a guest speaker for the Fabians on womens rights and was interrupted by the British far right is also symbolic of our current political moment. Sadiq Khan was right to laugh the very stable geniuses off. But we should keep our eye on the phenomenon of Trumpist brownshirts. Germans used to laugh at Hitler in the 1920s, too. 215 Shares Share As many readers are undoubtedly well aware, the doctor-patient relationship has a place of profound significance in health care. The critical importance of this relationship becomes magnified in oncology, where life hangs in the balance, and fear hangs over every soul that walks the invisible line between life and the everlasting night of undrawn death. In the winter of 2015, a needle biopsy was performed on a mysterious tumor in my neck. Following this procedure, my otolaryngologist told me emphatically that it was not cancer. When I saw him for a follow-up, he seemed concerned, and so I asked him if the tumor was definitively benign. He confessed that he wasnt entirely certain, as it is not unusual for needle biopsies to fail to extract malignant cells despite a tumor actually being malignant. Ultimately, the tumor did end up being malignant, and this lack of honesty severely undermined in a matter of minutes, what had previously been an excellent long-standing doctor-patient relationship. Following the resection of this tumor, I transferred to a different cancer institute and was forced to wait for months as their pathology department attempted to come up with a diagnosis. Embarrassed that they were unable to arrive at even so much as a lineage, a senior pathologist lied to me over the phone and invented an imaginary diagnosis, which I learned of several days later when meeting with my oncologist. What are we to make of an institution that doesnt even feel the need to fully disclose the pathological findings of ones own case? When I attempted to send slides to outside institutions so as to obtain additional opinions on this unusual disease, this department then attempted to deceive me into believing that there was almost no material left in the tissue block. Following this remarkable display of paternalistic medicine, I asked my surgeons nurse whether I was to be catheterized for a liver biopsy. In response to this perfectly legitimate question, she replied, Im really not supposed to say this, but what difference does it make? Youre going to be under general anesthesia. When I went to relieve myself after the surgery and saw that there was blood in the toilet, my question was finally answered. This patronizing attitude can breed bitterness and distrust, as patients deserve honest answers to honest questions. Another example of how a lack of disclosure can have grave consequences, is when patients arent warned of the dangers of common long-term chemotherapy side effects. One of the most common and disturbing of these is post-chemotherapy cognitive impairment, also known as chemo brain. I vividly remember my oncologists nurse sitting down with me before starting chemotherapy and briefing me on what to expect. However, she only addressed the common short-term side effects such as mouth sores, nausea, and vomiting. The nurses that administered the chemotherapy would also periodically joke about chemo brain, as if it were limited to a couple of days of spoonerisms and forgetting where you parked your car. I may never know whether they were being deliberately deceitful, or if they are simply ignorant of the content of their own pharmacy. When I attempted to discuss my concerns regarding this mental fog with my oncologist, he said that chemo brain was no different than if he had a quarrel with his wife and then had trouble concentrating at work the next day a ludicrous and absurd analogy. When I persisted in attempting to discuss my concerns with him, I was met with a barrage of derision, sneering and snarling. This fog can last for a few weeks or months and then disappear forever. However, chemo brain can also last for years as lintrollerderby writes in a forum on breastcancer.org: I had four rounds of Taxotere and Cytoxan and can say that it definitely caused (seemingly) permanent chemobrain. Im five years out and still have long-term loss of my short-term memory which was excellent pre-chemo, inability to focus, inability to multitask (used to be a strong suit of mine), frequent word drop issues, etc. Ive been upset for years that I have continuous issues. Its one thing if Id given informed consent, but it was never mentioned to me that this might never go away. During six months of CHOP chemotherapy, I never had a single mouth sore. But ten months after my last cycle, I still occasionally experience a little chemo fog. And as is the case with nonconsensual physician shadowing, failure to disclose potentially debilitating long-term chemotherapy side effects effectively turns the patient into a commodity, while also constituting an egregious violation of medical ethics. Few realize that when chemo brain is particularly persistent and severe, it can force people to abandon their careers. In an article in the November 27, 2012 issue of Science Daily titled Chemo Brain: Researchers Identify Physiological Evidence of Chemotherapy-Induced Changes in the Brain, the authors write how joint PET/CT scans have demonstrated unequivocal evidence of changes in the brain following chemotherapy. When we looked at the results, we were surprised at how obvious the changes were, said Dr. Rachel A. Lagos, who participated in the study. Chemo brain phenomenon is more than a feeling. It is not depression. It is a change in brain function observable on PET/CT brain imaging. Equally disconcerting, it is not unusual for women undergoing treatment for breast cancer to experience early onset of menopause. And as with chemo brain, this potentially debilitating side effect is often not disclosed. In an exchange which embodies the pervasive lack of disclosure in oncology, user dmorgan41, who is in remission and has already been through numerous cycles of chemotherapy, asks on a forum on breastcancer.org, Can anyone tell me if chemotherapy starts early menopause? Honesty is one of the sacred pillars of medicine. For without honesty trust, confidentiality and mutual respect cannot survive. Indeed, the doctor-patient relationship cannot survive and will vanish and disintegrate into our despairing and starless ill-fated night. David Penner is a writer. Image credit: Shutterstock.com The Herald reports: A family paid $17,000 for an Airbnb rental only to arrive at the doorstep with their suitcases to discover the listing was fake. Police are investigating but say their hands are tied because the family paid by an international bank transfer to a third party. The family is one of several whove lost substantial amounts of money through the scam which lures victims through the popular booking website but then asks guests to veer from the usual payment system. Amaia Ros, 19, and her family are echoing calls for Airbnb to improve host vetting after their family lost years of savings while on a sabbatical from their native Barcelona, in Auckland. Its awful for the family, but blaming AirBNB is unfair. It is impossible for AirBNB to verify every listing, just as it is impossible for EBay to verify everything listed with them. The trick is to follow the rules. If you only pay through AirBNB, then you cant get ripped off as they hold your money for you. And when you pay a purported host directly you are in fact ripping off AirBNB because direct payments mean they dont get their commission. When Ros parents Gabriel and Anabel tried to book the Takapuna home they were told their credit card details were invalid and asked to transfer funds to a Spanish bank account instead. When they arrived at the house they discovered the listing was fake. Again never pay direct and especially dont pay to an overseas account. Also look for the history of any person listing. Quickly an army of parents and community members rallied to donate a house full of furniture and a discounted rental home organised by Harcourts agent Rachael Bridger. Parents took turns cooking and dropping off dinners for the grateful family, who have recently returned to Spain. Great Kiwi hospitality. The HoS editorial blames AirBNB for people not following its rules: The company cannot afford too many of these incidents. It clearly needs better systems to ensure everyone offering accommodation on its site has the property they claim to own. And it needs to develop a way to automatically jettison any offering that involves payment to or through any agency except itself. That is how the family from Barcelona were scammed. When they booked the Takapuna house they were told to pay through a Spanish bank account. That is already against Airbnbs rules but how many users know it? If they pay through a third party rather than Airbnb they violate its terms and are not eligible for refunds. Theyre not eligible for refunds as Airbnb doesnt have the money to refund it. If you pay a host directly you are actually ripping off AirBNB, so expecting them to refund you for ripping them off is rather unrealistic. Share this: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn More Reddit Pinterest Print Tumblr Trade Minister Kim Hyun-chong, left, and FTA Negotiations Director General Yoo Myung-hee each enters a briefing room at the Government Complex in Sejong, on Jan. 8. / Yonhap By Nam Hyun-woo Korea's top two negotiators for the country's free trade agreement (FTA) amendment talks with the United States are each facing an odd twist of fate. For Trade Minister Kim Hyun-chong, who returned to the post 10 years after he outlined the KORUS FTA terms, the job seems to be the painful work of redoing his own accomplishment. For Director General for FTA Negotiations Yoo Myung-hee, who is representing the government's stance in the deal, the job comes as an irony, given her husband is Rep. Choung Tae-ok of Liberty Korea Party (LKP) _ a vocal critic of the Moon Jae-in administration. Master of FTA returns Kim has long been a go-to figure in Korea's negotiations for trade deals with other countries. While serving as the trade minister during the Roh Moo-hyun administration in the mid 2000s, he spearheaded more than 40 trade deals, which is highlighted by his pivotal role in formulating the current terms of the KORUS FTA as the chief negotiator. Kim has an illustrative career as a trade expert. After spending years at renowned law offices in the U.S., including Milbank, in the late 1980s, he joined the Korean government as a trade policy counselor in 1998. Just five years later, he was handpicked as deputy trade minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade by then President Roh, who heeded Kim's advice that FTAs we are required for Korea to become a hub in Northeast Asia. After drafting Korea's FTA roadmap, he became the trade minister in 2004 at the age of 45, spearheading negotiations for the KORUS FTA. He left the post in 2007 after being named Korea's ambassador to the United Nations. Then following two years at Samsung Electronics, he joined the World Trade Organization as an Appellate Body member in 2016. Though Kim has returned to lead the renegotiations, the situation is quite different from what it was. The Donald Trump administration has been attacking the pact as "a horrible" and "job killing" deal, claiming the "resultant" U.S. trade deficit with Korea jeopardizes its economy. Soon after he was inaugurated, President Trump created the White House National Trade Council, which is described as a "Trade Czar" controlling U.S. trade policy. That heralded tough stances on FTA talks not only with Korea but also other nations that the world's largest economy has trade agreements with. During the first round of talks for the renegotiations in Washington last week, the U.S. tapped into an amendment to provisions related to cars, a widely expected issue due to poor sales of U.S. cars that account for 80 percent of the entire deficit. Korea suggested the investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) clause as the main sector that needs revision. The U.S. has changed too. In the mid 2000s, Kim negotiated with former U.S. Trade Representatives Rob Portman and Susan Schwab. With Portman, Kim smoothly drew up the official launch of the KORUS FTA negotiations. With the latter, Kim staged a tug-of-war over ensuring the safety of U.S. beef imported by Korea. This time, he is in talks with Robert Lighthizer, who is described as a "battle-scarred" veteran negotiator, sharing Trump's skepticism of free trade. After last week's first-round talks, Kim told reporters that the negotiations won't be easy. "There will be lots of work to do in a short period of time," he said. "Ahead of the first anniversary of his inauguration, the Trump administration will add pressure to consolidate his supporters." Apparently, unchanged is Kim's spirit in negotiating. Kim wrote in his 2010 memoir that the successful signing of the KORUS FTA and other free trade agreements were attributable to former President Roh's philosophy that there would be no deal if terms are not met or if it goes against Korea's national interest.'" He said last week that "it is better to have no deal than a bad deal," making it clear that the country will stand up against the Trump administration's toughening pressure. Husband and wife Yoo also has an outstanding career under her belt. Korean media like to compare her to Carla Hills, the former U.S. trade representative who built her reputation as a tough negotiator during the NAFTA talks under the administration of President George W. Bush. Yoo made headlines in 2005 when she was given a key job in the country's inaugural FTA unit, about five to six years earlier than her colleagues she passed the public service exam with, due to her role in Korea's signing of FTAs with Singapore and the U.S. After serving at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she became the spokeswoman for foreign media at Cheong Wa Dae in 2014. Eleven months later, she returned to the FTA battlefield, becoming the first female director general at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Her husband, Choung, was also a public official who passed the civil servant exam. He served as director general at the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs before he becoming vice mayor of Daegu Metropolitan City Government in 2014. In 2016, Choung ran for the National Assembly and became a Saenuri Party (now LKP) lawmaker. Yoo also joined Choung's election campaign, gaining a favorable reputation from voters in Daegu. The twist came, however, when former President Park Geun-hye was impeached in 2016. After liberal President Moon Jae-in was elected in May last year, the Saenuri party lost its ruling party status and a faction of lawmakers left it. With Choung standing as LKP spokesman, the husband is the most vocal critic of the government, while the wife is one of the representatives of the government at the negotiation table for the KORUS FTA. Apparently, both the LKP and Choung are not going easy on the Moon government's KORUS FTA renegotiation. In a statement, Choung slammed the government saying "there is nothing we can trust about the Moon administration's foreign policy." He added that the government's previous announcement that "there were no talks over FTA renegotiations during the Korea-U.S. summit" could be either a lie or a show of its naivety in negotiating. The LKP also said that "it will keep an eye on whether President Moon can come up with results that improve Korea's national interests." On October 24th 2017 many hearts sank, as we learned of the latest bombshell in the battle for Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise (MRHP). Much credit much be given to Brian Stanley (TD) for coming forward with Dr. Susan OReillys leaked plan, which proposed a major downgrade of MRHP; a downgrade which would see the reduction of emergency department services from 24-7 to 12-7. On the back of a massive public meeting, a new committee was formed to fight the next stage of MRHPs battle. A strong campaign began on social media and an out-pouring of appreciation for the hospital began. Social media, local media (particularly the Leinster Express and Midland 103) and national media (RTEs Prime Time) were effective in raising peoples consciousness about how poor OReillys leaked plan was from many angles, including but not limited to: methodological, demographical, moral, economical etc. Town Hall meetings took place all over the county. Our local Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan, alongside local TDs, Brian Stanley and Sean Fleming worked to advocate for the Hospital. When the time came, the people of Laois and surrounding areas engaged in peaceful protest by marching in the Light for Lives Rally; the biggest public protest in Portlaoise in more than a century. It was truly a sight to behold and left all involved with a sense of empowerment. Cynical tactics by the Dublin Midland Hospital Group resulted in the people agreeing once again to come out in force, this time in Dublin. The threat alone was effective. On the order of Minister Harris, the Launch of the failed plan was cancelled. This all culminated in the Minister Harris making the following points. He noted that he was now very aware that the aforementioned report contained many problems, the main one being that the HSE failed to consult with those who could inform a workable plan: the medical staff at MRHP and the community. He decided to take the process out of the hands of the HSE and ordered that the Department of Health engage in consultation. Minister Harris acknowledged the alternative plan, which the staff at MRHP had compiled, and he noted that this should be considered. This was a triumph! That this all happened in only 2 short months is indicative of the amount of work and the huge numbers of people who engaged in the process. The people stepped forward. They raised their voices and they were heard. We would like to thank everyone involved sincerely for their advocacy and support. We are now in a new year and we are feeling very hopeful. We are in a better place. We believe that the campaign has shone a light on how MRHP has been failed and that for equity to be restored that it should be invested in. We expect that 2018 will present us with new challenges and we hope that the people of Laois and surrounding areas will meet those challenges alongside us. To keep up to date with the campaign, please like us on Facebook (Save Portlaoise Hospital AGAIN) and follow us on Twitter (@SaveMRHP) and Instagram (SaveMRHP). A rail station needs to be built near Naas to cater for the growing population of the area. Irish Rail is being asked to consider the possibility of building a new station between Naas and Caragh. The suggestion came from Naas councillor Seamie Moore. Cllr Moore also told a Naas Municipal District meeting a new station would reduce the need for local commuters to use motor transport on the N7/M7 to and from Dublin. It takes a great deal of time to get major projects like this planned,he said. He added: We are pushing everyone on to motorways and at the same time there are not enough car park spaces at the Sallins station. He pointed out that 1,000 houses are under construction in Naas and we need to plan for the future. Irish Rail is to be asked to send a representative to a NMD meeting. Vandalism is a big concern for the community if it wants to put a life saving defibrillator in the centre of Clane, according to the man who has made a proposal to Clane Community Council. Volunteer, Ray Carney, has suggested to Clane Community Council that there should be one of the devices in a public place in the town centre. The matter was discussed at the Councils monthly meeting on December 4. CCC member, John Power, noted that there were two already, one at the church and the other at the GAA club. There was also one at Clane rugby club. The question of one being accessible in a more public place, if that is possible, was raised. Ray told the Leader that he was prepared to help out with a community first responder scheme as well. He said there is a defibrillator device at Marrons, but that cannot be available all the time. He said that one of the concerns for Clane and elsewhere is vandalism. He said there were options with locks and combinations but the best option is an unrestricted device. Mr Carney said you can put an alarm on a device and sometimes they are near CCTV. The Connacht Property Auction are now taking entries for their first public auction of the year which will be held on February 20 in The Menlo Park Hotel, Galway. Registration starts at 6.30pm. The auction group, which includes The Connacht Property Auction, The Munster Property Auction & The Leinster Property Auction sold over 220 properties last year, remaining the second largest auction company in Ireland. The auction events averaged a success rate for the year of 96% sold which was also the highest success rate in Ireland for 2017 and the auction team are confident that success will continue into 2018. Sales Manager, Brian Christy, noted: A key element to the success of The Connacht Property Auction is the partnership with local estate agents across Connacht who work together with the auction team to ensure we gain maximum interest in the properties we offer. Working in close partnership with over 40 established auctioneers, we ensure the properties we offer are advertised and promoted in all the right papers, websites and property portals. One of the main advantages of selling through The Connacht Property Auction is they offer both online and public auctions. Mr. Christy explains that With the online auctions, we arrange with buyers as normal to inspect the property and if interested, they can put a bid forward at any stage during the 45 day online auction period. All bids are made visible on the online auction website making the process completely transparent. It is important that buyers register their interest early to avoid disappointment, as the vendor can decide to accept a bid at any stage during the auction period if they are happy with the level of the bid. Buyers are furnished with the sales pack and given an opportunity to carry out a survey if required. We also hold frequent public auction events which are held in The Menlo Park Hotel, Galway. The upcoming public auction events are on February 20 and April 24. The Connacht Property Auction are now inviting property owners who are looking to sell their property without any upfront costs to contact the auction team. Before any property comes to the market, the auction team will agree a minimum reserve figure - giving the property owner total control over their minimum walkaway figure. Bidding can also continue past the reserve price until the highest bidder has secured the property. The company are the only auction provider in Ireland who do not charge admission or marketing fees to enter their auctions, making their auctions a very appealing way for property owners to sell their properties. Contact The Connacht Property Auction on (091) 882121 to arrange for a free property valuation or for more information visit www.connachtpropertyauction.ie HONOLULU An eerie silence fell over the Norwegian Cruise Lines Pride of America after hundreds of phones sounded an alarm to signal a text stating that a missile was headed for Hawaii from North Korea. The ship had just arrived to the port and passengers had been disembarking for about 45 minutes. There was no panic or chaos on the ship, which held several thousand passengers (including this MediaPost reporter) who had just finished a seven-day cruise to five ports on four of the Hawaiian islands. Soon after the alert, an announcement was made on the public address system that the ship had stopped the disembarkation process while the crew investigated the validity of the alert and that passengers should stay where they were. The crew reassured passengers they were safe and everyone seemed to believe it, or else were too shocked to question it. advertisement advertisement My reporters instincts kicked in immediately and I used my cell phone to try to find sources of information about the threat online at major news outlets. It was perplexing that my searches were fruitless for 20 minutes or more. The only hits I got were stories from December that discussed how sirens were being tested that hadnt been used in 30 years. No sirens were sounding Saturday. The first online information I was able to find about the situation was via Twitter. But it wasnt news -- it just confirmed that the text message had been distributed widely. The ship alerted passengers via the PA system that the phone alerts had been false even before the cancellation text was sent to cell phones. Disembarkation had resumed for 10 minutes by the time the second text was sent. One cruise passenger in the restaurant in which I was finishing my breakfast joked that we should all grab a few more croissants from the buffet because if we really were going to die, we ought to die with a full stomach. Ironically, the music playing for part of disembarkation was Gangnam Style by Psy, South Koreas one-hit wonder of 2012. Just as there had been in other ports, there were crew members dancing at the end of the gangway to welcome passengers. The Norwegian crew did their best to lift the spirits of its shaken guests so the cruise didnt end on a sour note. It remains to be seen whether Hawaiian tourism or for that matter, travel to West Coast destinations will be negatively impacted by the occurrence. For over 50 years, CES has been the birthing ground for many of the innovations we take for granted. However, it has also been the place of baffling concepts that we never thought would be practical. From medical equipment to enormous TV screens, tablets to talking tables, autonomous pizza delivery vehicles and cameras, there is something for everyone at CES. Here are ten gadgets that will have you saying wait, what? 1. Kuri: Kuri Kuri was actually unveiled at CES 2017, but it's on show at CES 2018 and has just started shipping to its first preorder customers so that instantly puts it ahead of many of the other droids listed here. Like many similar bots, it's designed to help around the home: answering questions, snapping photos, playing games, and generally biding its time until the robot uprising arrives. The creepy part is, it's partially smart. Meaning it can do a lot of things that we'd love to see in an assistant, but the same intelligence feels like a massive breach of privacy. It can see everything and is programmed to be as subtle as possible to easily get along in a home. Thanks to its built-in smarts, Kuri can recognize faces and voices and navigate its way around objects in the home. If you want to have a Kuri to call your own, you can order it from their website for $799, shipping starts in a few months. 2. Toyota e-Palette: Toyota Toyota announced an ambitious plan to tackle mobility and delivery services in the age of autonomous cars. Apparently, it involves weird, see-through self-driving boxes roaming through cities, delivering people, packages, and pizza. Toyota is calling them e-Palettes. Just think how good e-Palette would be at Burning Man, quipped Akio Toyoda, Toyota Motor Company's president. Toyota says it will work with Amazon, Didi Chuxing, Mazda, Pizza Hut, and Uber. The Japanese auto giant says it hopes to debut its e-Palette project at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. 3. Sony Aibo: Reuters One thing likely to catch peoples' attention from Sony's press conference on Monday was the appearance of Aibo, the recently-resurrected robotic dog, which Sony famously launched over a decade ago. While the looks are largely the same, these mechanical pups are a lot smarter on the inside, able to recognize faces and respond to commands, as well as perform the usual canine tricks, such as picking up a bone from the floor. Thanks to the camera in its nose, it can even keep an eye on your home while you're away. For now, all we know is the Japanese price of 198,000 JPY (roughly $1,755), and there's a subscription fee on top of that. 4. Kohler Numi: Kohler Kohler's Numi is an intelligent toilet equipped with coloured lighting, music functionality, a heated seat, and a foot warmer. You can control each of these settings to your specifications through KOHLER Konnect, voice command, or motion. Kohler's pure warmth toilet seat will heat your behind as you do your business. With the company's Touchless Flush technology, you can flush via motion sensor or voice-command, so you'll no longer have to touch any handles or buttons. The 'intelligent toilet' is expected to go on sale by the end of the year but it won't come cheap, attracting a price of between $5,625 to $7,825 according to reports in USA Today. 5. FoldiMate: FoldiMate As the name suggests, this robot is capable of folding your clothes for you. However, you'll need to be lazy and rich if you want to acquire the services of FoldiMate: It'll cost you $980, and sadly won't ship until late 2019. The company says it takes around 10 seconds to fold each item and can hold between 15 and 20 pieces of clothing at a time. 6. Philips Sleep Headband: Philips Philips just came out with a new headband that plays white noise to help your brain get to sleep. It has built-in sensors that detect brain activity. Then it shares that data with a connected mobile app. When deep sleep is detected, the headband's speakers will start playing white noise in a slowly repeating pattern, which Philips claims will reinforce a good night's sleep. The Philips SmartSleep headband will be available this spring in the US, and it will cost $399.99. 7. Short Edition Short Story Dispenser: Short Edition French publisher Short Edition created the Short Story Dispenser as a way for customers waiting in lines at places like airports and train stations to fill their time with something a little more meaningful. The top of the dispenser is adorned with three shiny metallic buttons labelled "1 min.," "3 min." and "5 min." You press the button for the length of story you want and within moments an original short story is printed on a piece of thick paper about the size of a long receipt. Best of all, the story is free. The publisher Short Edition envisioned the machine as a way to share the work of its authors to a wider audience. It has been in use in France since 2016 where it can be found in train stations, airports and hospitals. 8. Hip'Air: Helite The Hip'Air looks like a fanny pack but is filled with sensors, a battery, airbags and an air cartridge. When a sensor detects a fall, the airbags deploy to break a person's fall. The system uses different types of sensors, such as gyroscope and accelerometer, to calculate motion in context and determine if the person is walking normally or falling. The protection is ready before ground impact: The algorithm will detect the fall in 200 milliseconds, and the airbags will inflate in 80 milliseconds. The Hip'Air will be available in Europe this spring for 600 / $720. 9. Spartan Ati-Radiation Boxers: Spartan Spartan's boxer briefs claim to block 99 percent of cellphone and Wi-Fi radiation with pure silver fibres woven into the cotton fabric. As the company puts it, the boxer briefs are a Faraday Cage for your private parts. That Spartan is focused on protecting your balls is significant. Though brain cancer tends to dominate the debate over whether wireless signals are safe, other studies have suggested that cell phones decrease male fertility. You'll just have to pay $50 per brief for the ease-of-mind. 10. L'Oreal UV Sense: L'Oreal A team of engineers at Northwestern University have teamed up with cosmetics company L'Oreal to create a fingernail wearable that lets users know when they've had too much Sun. UV Sense is small enough to stick on your nail, simple enough to work without batteries, and sophisticated enough to record cumulative UV exposure to help wearers avoid skin cancer. Users are instructed to place it on their thumbnail, as this is an area of the body that L'Oreal says receives "optimal sunlight". Once attached, sensors deliver information about the wearer's UV exposure to an app using Near Field Communication (NFC). The app then provides the user with information, from facts about sun safety, to warnings when they need to take shade. ELKTON Progress on a Village of Elkton solar farm is advancing ahead of schedule. At its monthly meeting this week, council members got an update from President Randy Haley on the villages current solar farm plans with Cypress Creek Renewables. The plans involve a 29-acre piece of property off of Ewald Road on the east end of town and the village has already agreed to terms with the company. Things are moving along, Haley told the board. They feel like things are moving along faster than anticipated. While the process is ahead of schedule in the engineering phase of the project, its still going to take some time before completion. Haley estimated the project could be completed in two years. Cypress Creek is taking a real hard look at the state of Michigan with their 25 percent renewable power, said Haley. The state and DTE are working very well with the solar companies. Because of that aggressive approach, Cypress Creek is also in discussion with the village on an additional solar farm property. The property in discussion is a 34-acre plot off of M-142 on the west end of town. For that property, the company is offering to pay $1,000 per acre, which is up from the $800 per acre price agreed upon for the Ewald Road solar farm. Aside from the price, Haley said the contracts would be identical. Theyve upped the ante, because they want to have 1,500 properties in Michigan, Haley said. In related news, the board discussed that in order to be able to move forward with the proposed M-142 solar farm project, it would first need to rescind a previous agreement with Terry Heck regarding the potential purchase of the property. Haley explained the village still has a motion on the record to sell the property to Heck. However, things have not advanced past that stage. I suggest that we rescind that motion, due to the fact that we have an opportunity with Cypress Creek, Haley said. The board then discussed the notion that Heck has made a few board members aware of his intentions to no longer pursue the purchase and development of the property. Because of that, members eventually decided to officially rescind the agreement. Thats one of the things that weve got to do, before we move forward with the contract on the 142 property, Haley said. DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- It was always intended to loiter for hours above a battlefield, swiftly maneuver at a moment's notice and, of course, bring the bombs. But in the early stages of the B-1B Lancer's life, no one thought the long-range bomber would be a leading close-air support mission aircraft dominating bomb runs or bellying up to U.S. and coalition forces on the ground. "Twenty-five years ago, if you would have said the B-1 was going to do CAS, you would have been laughed out of the room," said Lt. Col. Dominic "Beaver" Ross, director of operations for the 337th Test and Evaluations Squadron. Ross, part of the B-1 community since 2003, was first a weapons system officer for the bomber, then a pilot, before heading the operational testing squadron here. Related content: He said the first pilots who strapped into the cockpit of the now non-nuclear B-1B never imagined they would be doing close-air support missions over battlegrounds in the Middle East. Today, "the B-1 [has] dropped more weapons in CAS than any other platform. It's second to none," Ross said during an interview. Military.com sat down with Global Strike Command officials during a trip to the base and took a ride in the B-1B over training ranges in New Mexico last month. "Most ground commanders want a B-1 or an A-10 [Thunderbolt II]," Ross said of close mission support. But, unlike the A-10 -- reigning champion in the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria -- "we have the long loiter time," he said. "We have the sensors. We have the speed, the shows of force. We are so [forward-leaning] in this community. We try to think of ways for the crews and the airplane to do things you would have never thought of doing with it," Ross said. He continued, "If I'm talking to a guy on the ground and I have my sensor on him ... we can drop weapons seven miles away, or we can drop lower, drop them closer. We're not going to drop them as low as an A-10, but we are going to do shows of force where we're 500 feet overtop of their head." Ross said weapons testing and evaluation goes hand-in-hand with Dyess' weapons school tactics and procedures that crews are training with right now -- something officials here have dubbed as the "new CAS" or "digital CAS" mission. It's partially helped by the B-1B's Integrated Battle Station, known as the IBS upgrade, and the Sustainment-Block 16 (SB-16) upgrade, which gave pilots and backseaters -- the offensive and defensive positions in the cockpit -- more situational awareness, with enhanced cockpit displays and data and coordinate sharing. During Military.com's Dec. 19 flight, the SB-16 system showed enhanced communications and data-sharing techniques, including the military grid reference system and tech displays that enabled pilots and crew to instantaneously send target coordinates, weapons information, altitudes, speeds -- even the aircraft's call sign. These upgrades and training techniques precede what personnel here anticipate in the near future: returning to the Middle East. Bomber crews have been training for the evolving battlespaces in Iraq and Syria, as well as Afghanistan, according to officials. "We're very good at it, and we have a lot of tools in the airplane that allow us to be very effective at it," said Maj. Charles "Astro" Kilchrist, chief of training for the 9th Bomb Squadron. Still, nothing -- neither airmen nor any targeting system -- is foolproof. Crews know and want to take extra precautions. "What we focus on is putting our crews in situations that we think are realistic, that will provide this certain level of fidelity and skills they can immediately transfer into a combat situation," Col. Brandon Parker, 7th Bomb Wing commander, said during a roundtable interview. "We've all been there," he said of the roundtable participants, meaning combat situations in the Middle East. But since the B-1 left Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, in early 2016, the next crew members going back won't be the same airmen. "A lot of those crew forces going back in, they're a lot younger," Parker said. "So we have to spend some time [training]. Because [we're] not going to have the same level of experience as we had before." Lessons from Kobani In September 2014, the fight against the Islamic State in Syria was just beginning. But the 9th Bomb Squadron, deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility at the time, got the call to help drive ISIS fighters out of Kobani, Syria. It was so memorable, the crew even has a "Stars and Stripes" cover depicting the liberation of Kobani -- which occurred nearly five months later and was signed by everyone who participated in the fight -- hanging in their squadron headquarters. "It was a massive shift in rules of engagement," said Lt. Col. Erick Lord, the 9th Bomb Squadron commander. While he wasn't present during the bombing runs, he knew from others' accounts that it was different from his previous tours in Afghanistan, which could take four-to-five hours to even authorize and engage a target. In Kobani, "It was just go. Blow everything up," he said. It had to do with the fight, in which the enemy was "advancing quickly," Kilchrist added. "It was an urban environment, so it was a lot of buildings. They were using non-conventional tactics [because] they knew we were overhead. But the [Joint Terminal Attack Controllers] had good ways of gathering intel to find out what their key weaknesses were -- and it had to be quick. We had jets there every single day for 24 hours a day. Along with the F-15E Strike Eagles, call-sign 'Dudes,' " he said. The F-15s and B-1s would tag each other out, handing off targeting coordinates as they rotated in and out for the days-long watch. "We were just bombing them back, and back and back ... to the west, and [ISIS] would try to sneak around to the south, and then we would see them, and it was just a huge battle," Kilchrist said. For that deployment, roughly 1,700 precision-guided weapons of the 2,025 total used were dropped on Kobani alone, officials here said. In all, the B-1 deployed the most weapons of any aircraft involved in the anti-ISIS campaign before its departure, according to statistics provided to Air Force Times in 2016. It was responsible for almost 40 percent of the Air Force bombs on Islamic State targets, according to the service's statistics. By comparison in 2013, the squadron dropped 93 [weapons] over a six-month period in Afghanistan, so that right there shows you the big difference," Lord said. And that was the crew's point: The fight can change in an instant. Lord said, "We'll train to the most stringent [rules of engagement] and then we'll develop training scenarios that walk people down the rabbit hole, that force them to make mistakes" so they can be identified before they're made. "Because busting ROE will get you sent home," he said. Changing Landscape, Rules of Engagement Crews know when they head back to Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan, it will not be the same environment they saw in 2014 and early 2015. In a shrinking airspace environment such as Syria, crews say they have ways to self-protect so as not to rely on a fighter escort. "We have the ability to process and jam signals," Lord said, without going into further detail. The aircraft can also deploy chaff or flares to divert surface-to-air missiles should they launch at the bomber. But that's not their main concern. The process of how air wars are fought has become so fine-tuned, Lord said, it's surpassed just an Air Tasking Order, or a mission list defined by the air operations center. "Targeting [today] is not quite the same. [Before], you would often just take off with a loadout. That was composite, and it was a matter of what the persons on the ground needed and what type of effects, what type of targets were developed," he said, referencing both Operation Inherent Resolve and the future fight in Afghanistan. The timing of the kill chain -- known as F2T2, or find, fix, track, target, engage and assess -- "is so much quicker, is so more rapid that we are inside the adversary's decision matrix, and we can properly put proper effects almost surgically where we need them without missing opportunities," said Lt. Col. Christopher Wachter, director of operations for the 345th Bomb Squadron here. That includes minimizing collateral damage with the B-1, which has the largest payload capacity -- 5,000 pounds more than the B-52 Stratofortress -- of both precision-guided and conventional bombs. "We're always thinking and evolving and changing in order to meet what the adversary puts at us, and then when we employ weapons, we want to do it as quickly, precisely, lethally but also with as minimal impact out there within the space," Wachter said. Kilchrist referenced Military.com's flight, which practiced a variety of simulated weapons drops. "Realize that all the platforms that drop these weapons [GBU-54s, GBU-31s] are seeing the exact same thing ," he said. "So a GBU-31 dropped off a B-1 is the same as a GBU-31 dropped off of an F-15, or an F-16, or an A-10. They all have launch acceptability regions, they all have air speeds and altitude restrictions, and they're all GPS-guided weapons." Kilchrist added, "An A-10 can drop those things just as well as we can. To put in the perspective of, 'Oh, a B-1 is not a CAS platform' [argument], remember that CAS is that mission set. And because of the payload that we have, the speed, the gas, we can stay there for long periods of time. And just unleash." -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214. Congress Wants to Know How the Air Force Will Get a Better F-35A Engine The legislation calls on the Pentagon to tell lawmakers how it would integrate the propulsion system being developed under... Saturday's errant ballistic-missile alert to cell phones, televisions and radio stations in Hawaii has officials in Washington planning to find out what went wrong. Federal Communication Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced plans for a probe via Twitter. "The @FCC is launching a full investigation into the false emergency alert that was sent to residents of Hawaii," Pai tweeted later Saturday. U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, praised Pai's decision to address an error that sent many Hawaii residents into a panic for about 40 minutes. "This system failed miserably and we need to start over," Schatz tweeted. Local officials and the Navy's U.S. Pacific Command quickly recognized that the alert was a false alarm, but the system took about 40 minutes to send a corrective message to Hawaii residents, the Washington Examiner reported. The FCC has regulated the nation's wireless emergency alert system since 2012. But critics have pointed out a number of perceived flaws, such as messages being delivered to too wide a swath rather than the people most affected by an emergency, Reuters reported. In December, officials from Harris County, Texas, told members of the FCC about problems they experienced in directing alerts to people most affected by Hurricane Harvey, the New York Times reported. In October, U.S. Sens. Kamala Harris and Dianne Feinstein, both D-Calif., wrote to Pai, saying that inefficient location-targeting had deprived some residents of receiving alerts, as wildfires raged across northern California, the Times reported. "These emergency services are caught in a bind between notifying individuals in imminent danger and risking mass panic," the senators wrote. Just last week Pai proposed that service providers "deliver these alerts to match the geographic area specified by the officials sending the alert with no more overshoot than one-tenth of a mile." The FCC plans to vote this month on a plan to improve the emergency alert system so it better targets the people most affected by a given situation. Under such a proposed system, Pai said, Americans will "take more seriously the alerts they receive on their mobile devices." The Reds are amid serious discussions with free agent reliever David Hernandez, though an agreement isnt imminent, Zach Buchanan of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Cincy isnt the only team after the right-handed Hernandez, per Buchanan, who notes that the Reds are also interested in other free agent relievers and arent necessarily limiting themselves to one-year deals as they look to improve their bullpen. On the heels of a strong 2017, Hernandez is seeking a multiyear pact, according to Buchanan. The recipient of a minor league contract last offseason, the 32-year-old Hernandez went on to toss 55 innings of 3.11 ERA ball and notch 8.51 K/9 against 1.47 BB/9 with the Angels and Diamondbacks. More on a couple of Cincinnatis division rivals: Dick Durbin, who was at the White House meeting, said Friday that the president "said these hate-filled things and he said them repeatedly". Botswana's government called Trump's comment "reprehensible and racist, " while Senegal's President Macky Sall said he was shocked. "Never said "take them out". The president said he has a wonderful relationship with Haitians and suggested future meetings probably should be recorded. Trump seemed to deny making the remark, but multiple senators from both parties that were in the meeting either confirmed or did not dispute it. "When it came to the issue of 'chain migration, ' I said to the president, 'Do you realize how painful that term is to so many people?' African Americans believe that they migrated to America in chains". There is bipartisan support for some form of protection, but just how much and what immigration enforcements need to be added in exchange is what's being negotiated now. Lewis made the accusation following Trump's reported comments that America needs fewer Haitian immigrants and more immigrants from countries like Norway. Americans from Memphis to Minneapolis, Bakersfield to Brooklyn, should be disturbed and offended by clearly racist remarks that came directly from the lips of the US president on Thursday. Trump reportedly demanded to know why the USA allows so much immigration from the aforementioned "shithole countries" in a meeting with lawmakers about immigration policy on Thursday. Former Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe tweeted, "SHAME ON TRUMP! I've never seen a statement like this by African countries directed at the United States". FIFA World Cup: A tournament for everyone There are just too many teams, too many leagues, and too many competitions to keep up-to-date with all the major events and news. You can catch the best players, you can catch those players notorious for on field antics and also off field antics. Hamas, Islamic Jihad not to attend PLO central council meeting On Tuesday, the Islamic Jihad movement announced Tuesday that it will not participate in the meeting as it will be held in an Israeli occupied city. Investigation launched after auto stolen from Dublin house with baby in back Officers appealed for witnesses or anyone with any information to contact them at Raheny station or on any official contact line. The incident took place at Park Vale, Baldoyle at approximately 7:30am this morning, 12th January 2018. US President Donald Trump sparked global furore after reportedly using the phrase "shithole countries" to describe Haiti and African countries this week. "The language used by me at the Daca meeting was tough, but this was not the language used", Trump wrote in a series of tweets, referring to the program to protect young undocumented immigrants who were illegally brought into the country as children. The organization said in a statement: "There is a huge misunderstanding of the African continent and its people by the current Administration". Undersecretary of State Steve Goldstein said that the president has the right to "make whatever remark he chooses" and that it was the diplomats' duty to send the message to other countries that the USA "cares greatly about the people that are there". Leanne Manas, a news anchor for the South African Broadcasting Corporation, tweeted Friday morning, "Good morning from the greatest most lovely "s-thole country" in the world!". The White House press office did not dispute the comments, which were reported by The Washington Post and attributed to multiple anonymous sources in the meeting. Sen. Q. "If [President Trump] did in fact say what's being alleged, how would that stack up against... incendiary comments that other presidents have made?" The United Nations human rights office said the reported use of the expletive to describe Africa and other countries could "potentially damage and disrupt the lives of many people". "All I can say is people from every nationality contribute across all industries, and two women from Trinidad and Ghana cared for my mother like she was their own". Trump's denial came among a series of other tweets in which he defended his immigration stance. Icelandair is returning to San Francisco and Baltimore on June 1, a decade after ceasing operations to the cities. "Today our network is bigger and stronger than ever, and we offer our passengers more flights, more connections, and a refreshing alternative to Iceland and beyond". These three new routes will provide a greater choice of travel destinations for United Kingdom passengers with connections from the existing six United Kingdom gateways that Icelandair serve via their hub in Reykjavik. "We look forward to once again welcoming San Francisco and Baltimore on board, and we warmly welcome Kansas City", says Icelandair chief executive Bjorgolfur Johannsson. Icelandair, the largest airline in Iceland recently announced to launch nonstop flight service from Reykjavk to the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in June 2018. Iago Aspas niega haber llamado "negro de mierda" a Jefferson Lerma Tras conocer la denuncia del colombiano, el Levante ha apoyado publicamente a su jugador y ha rechazado cualquier muestra de racismo en el futbol . Hundreds support Dolly Everett's great grandmother in emotional service If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans on (free) 116123 or 020 7734 2800. One in five children in Australia said they were bullied in the past year, . Gobierno y oposicion venezolanos reanundan el dialogo El presidente Nicolas Maduro aseguro, en cadena nacional, que dio ordenes a su delegacion para que acordara garantias electorales "totales y plenas" para la eleccion presidencial , uno de los puntos que reclama la oposicion en Dominicana. Icelandair offers service to and from Iceland through Icelandairs hub at Keflavik International Airport serving 22 destinations in North America and more than 25 destinations in Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, and Continental Europe. The new non-stop Kansas City (MCI) service to Keflavik airport will operate three times a week on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Flights from Kansas City to Reykjavik are estimated at about seven hours, according to Icelandair. Both San Francisco and Baltimore will be operated by a three-class configuration including Economy, Economy Comfort and Business Class with the former with a Boeing 767 and the latter with a Boeing 757. The airline ended 17 years of flights from BWI to Reykjavik in 2007. "The President is in excellent health". "On this eve of MLK weekend where we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, it's an interesting coincidence of timing, frankly, that the president of the United States would speak the words, the hateful words that he spoke at a time that we are honoring a man that lived and died with the spirit of saying we are one people and human rights and humanity should be the priority for all of us", Harris told MSNBC's Rachel Maddow. Trump welcomed Norway's Prime Minister Solberg to the White House on Wednesday; that might be why the Nordic country was on his mind. And while he won the presidency without the support of California - Hillary Clinton trounced him there - the state's vehement opposition to his policies is beginning to cause major headaches in Washington DC. But Graham's vulnerabilities as an immigration power broker have deeper roots. The two members of that group who ran for president were Sen. I congratulate Botswana for showing the way. Most Californian cities - most notably San Francisco and Los Angeles - have declared themselves as "sanctuary cities" which deliberately discourage co-operation with immigration officers. Trump denied he ever said "anything derogatory" about the people of Haiti. As Haitian-Americans gathered later in the day in Little Haiti to commemorate the 8-year anniversary of the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti, many expressed their outrage about the president's comment. Hopefully our nation's elected officials can fill the leadership gap, but here too, we don't see a lot of promise. "We were shocked to hear comments made by President Donald Trump", Marleine Bastien said. Por La Forma del Agua, Guillermo del Toro tiene otra noche solida Su vida es dia tras dia una rutina... hasta que un dia una extrana criatura es capturada cerca del Amazonas y llevada a ese lugar. Y se espera que sea nominado en varias categorias para la 90 entrega del Oscar, incluyendo la de Mejor Director. Julio Borges: En puntos verdaderamente importantes hemos podido avanzar claramente Termino el tercer dia del dialogo venezolano que se realiza en Republica Dominicana sin acuerdos. El encuentro de hoy inicio con retrasos a las 12:00 pm. De albos a 'cruzados': Vilches y Bolados presentados en Catolica Ambos jugadores buscaran en el cuadro de la franja la regularidad que se les nego en los albos. En Universidad Catolica ya tienen a sus dos primeros refuerzos con miras a la temporada 2018. Geralde Gabeau, shown in 2015, could not sleep Thursday night after President Trump's crass dismissal of Haiti and African nations. Haitians weren't the only people offended by the president's comments. Durbin created what is known as the "Dreamer" movement. The president, who appeared in a videotaped address, has big support from the newly hyphenated Venezuelans and Cubans, who support his hard line against those governments. With a 40 per cent Latino population, a lengthy border with Mexico and an estimated 2.4 million undocumented immigrants, California is ground zero for America's divisive debate on immigration. "It's time for a call to action for all to stand against this barbarism, against this racism". "I think Trump is a good president for me", Mario Gonzalez, from Cuba, said. Critics say Florida is an exception because it's a battleground state in which Republicans need to retain voter support. "No one is perfect". The remarks stirred criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, along with the mainstream media. The Gang of Six's idea, to the contrary, is to re-allocate visas to keep beneficiaries of TPS here and to sprinkle visas among various Third World countries. Haitians gave their blood back in 1779 to fight for the independence of this country. The president's thoughts on immigration sprawled through several Twitter posts on Friday morning before he tweeted his denials about some of the language he used at the DACA meeting. President Trump's remarks about African countries and Haiti drew condemnation from a group of African ambassadors to the United Nations who called them "outrageous, racist and xenophobic" and demanded a retraction and apology. Botswana's government was the first on the continent to condemn Trump's statements, referring to them as "highly irresponsible, reprehensible and racist". "I want to take a moment to talk about Haiti, one of the places the President of the United States called a "sh**hole country", Mr Cooper started his speech live on air. Trump has since been branded a shocking and shameful racist after it was credibly reported he had described African nations, as well as Haiti and El Salvador as "shitholes" and questioned why so many of their citizens had ever been permitted to enter America. Earlier, the 55-nation African Union condemned the remarks, while Botswana and Senegal hauled in the United States ambassador to complain. On Saturday morning, Trump took to Twitter to slam the Democrats over the controversy: "The Democrats are all talk and no action". His crusade against the "Central Park Five" included calling for the death penalty. Lafortune listed off turning points in early American history and explained how Haitians played a helping role in each of them. Kejriwal blames BJP-RSS for caste tensions in Maharashtra Maharashtra is the land of Jyotiba Phule andSavitribai Phule who dedicated their lives for the education ofchildren. Several people, including Brig (retd) Sudhir Sawant, joined AAP at the well-attended rally. Sane: I Snubbed Liverpool For City Ilkay Gundogan has admitted he came close to signing for Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool before deciding to move to Manchester City . Chelsea (-375), off a short turnaround from a Carabao Cup match, hosts Leicester City (+1000, +475 draw ). Exxon Mobil (XOM) Given a $85.00 Price Target by Jefferies Group Analysts Finally, Howard Weil raised Exxon Mobil from an "outperform" rating to a "focus list" rating in a report on Friday, December 22nd. Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM ) stock price tumbled -0.42% to finalize at $86.77 throughout previous buying and selling session. "It's not a shock to anyone anymore", said Robillard, 49, who was born in Haiti but moved to South Florida in 2000. After an emergency session to weigh Trump's remarks, the group said it was "concerned at the continuing and growing trend from the U.S. administration toward Africa and people of African descent to denigrate the continent and people of color". Trump did not explain how that fits with his administration's decision to end temporary legal status for almost 60,000 Haitian immigrants. I planned to write notes to friends and family members who were rescued from the rubble by their neighbors. That's what this is really about. "Do we need more Haitians?'" Durbin recounted, NBC News reported. Bernice King, who serves as chief executive officer of The King Center for Nonviolent Social Change, said the lesson of nonviolence is to focus on defeating injustice, not individuals. "But it kind of didn't even surprise me", Antwi, who spent 12 months in Afghanistan while serving in the U.S. Army, told The News. He spoke to him about the importance of voting rights - only to see Trump establish a now-defunct commission to investigate voter fraud, which some saw as a move to intimidate minority voters. The president, he said, "screws things up when he gets in the middle of the process". He assaults women, has said racist things from the beginning, but now he has to apologize? Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., also a Cuban-American, said Trump's language, "should not be heard in locker rooms and it shouldn't be heard in the White House". "It doesn't matter where you come from, you are accepted, here not so much". "The president is in excellent health and I look forward to briefing some of the details on Tuesday", White House doctor Ronny Jackson said in a statement. Former Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe tweeted, "SHAME ON TRUMP!" Lambert here: Plenty of telling detail; Biden popped in for a keynote, no doubt in search of investor blocs, as Thomas Ferguson calls them. By Barbara Feder Ostrov, Kaiser Health News. Originally published at Kaiser Health News. SAN FRANCISCO Theres so much money floating around here this week, you can almost see it wafting through the air. About 10,000 attendees, mostly confident men in well-cut suits and even nicer watches, are packing the elegant Westin St. Francis Hotel for the invite-only J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, which ends Thursday. For many of these investors, health providers, insurers and entrepreneurs at the nations largest and most prestigious health investment conference, its all about the deal and the after-hours parties. In the first few days of whats become known as J.P. Morgan Week, New Jersey-based Celgene announced it would spend up to $7 billion to acquire Impact Biomedicines. And Novo Nordisk, the worlds biggest insulin maker, bid $3.1 billion for a Belgian biotech firm. For those who didnt land a coveted invite, satellite conferences on digital health and biotechnology dot the city, offering lesser mortals an opportunity to network and make their own deals. Former Vice President Joe Biden even popped into town to keynote the StartUp Health Festival satellite conference, speaking about cancer treatment costs and electronic health records. The J.P. Morgan gathering comes at a jarring time when you consider that the other world of health care is flooded with uncertainty for the millions of ordinary Americans who inhabit it. They face a precarious political landscape in which the future of the Affordable Care Act remains uncertain and Republican leaders in Congress mull dramatic cuts to Medicaid and Medicare. John Baackes, CEO of the nations largest public health plan, L.A. Care, which insures 2.1 million low-income patients, said if his enrollees wandered into the conference, theyd think they were in a foreign land and that this has nothing to do with them. Much of U.S. health care is underwritten by public dollars, but people here didnt come to talk about that or rising costs, particularly for prescription drugs. Only a few presentations at this years conference have touched on prices, including a J.P. Morgan study released Monday that found many Americans put off medical care until they get their tax refund a clear sign that that they dont have enough saved up to pay for care when they need it. Its just so striking how much maneuvering and desire there is at this meeting for a piece of the 18 percent of GDP spent on health care, mused Dr. Vivian Lee, the former leader of the University of Utah Health Care system, who made a point of tracking costs with pinpoint precision. Is anyone here trying to decrease their share? Baackes, who comes to the conference to network and monitor the latest developments in health care, said hes always skeptical of the well-heeled company officials who attend promising better health outcomes and cost savings. In a way, theres too much money walking around here, he said. Investors are thinking, Health care is a $3 trillion sector of the economy; surely it will benefit from my genius. Many attendees view the conference with a less critical eye. Its a useful place for us to be, said Amanda Cowley, strategy director of the quasi-governmental organization that produces the U.S. Pharmacopeia, a compendium of information and standards for producing medicines and food ingredients. Cowley said she and her colleagues need to learn about emerging health technologies so they can anticipate their future work products. Cowley stood in a line of hundreds of attendees waiting to dine on tri-tip, vegetables and macarons while listening to Microsoft founder Bill Gates talk about how his foundation is helping improve the health of subsistence farmers and children in the developing world. But there was little talk of Americas subsistence patients, who often cannot afford the expensive drugs and medical devices that are bought and sold in deals brokered at conferences like these, in private rooms guarded by phalanxes of staffers at tony hotels. Those patients, however, were the focus of a Medicaid panel held Tuesday at Glide Memorial Church in San Franciscos troubled Tenderloin district, a few blocks and a world away from the Westin St. Francis. That event, which drew about 70 people, was sponsored by ConsejoSano, a Southern California-based startup that has raised $7.2 million to help Spanish speakers better navigate the health system. Rallying the troops at Glide was former Medicare and Medicaid chief Andy Slavitt, a fierce critic of Republican efforts to repeal and replace the ACA. Slavitt recently invested in Cityblock Health, a public health startup focusing on Medicaid and other low-income patients. The good thing about J.P. Morgan Week, Slavitt told Kaiser Health News, is that it draws innovative people who want to invest. The question is, should health care capital be focused on solving big problems and getting rewarded for them, or just focused on the status quo? Kaiser Health News is a nonprofit news service covering health issues. It is an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation that is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente. 99% of These Sea Turtles Are Turning FemaleHeres Why National Geographic Could we retrofit Antarcticas glaciers to keep them from collapsing? Grist Silicon gains ground in quantum-computing race Nature CES Was Full of Useless Robots and Machines That Dont Work Daily Beast At CES, Spectre haunted tech executives in public and private meetings MarketWatch Sony looks to reboot 1990s glory days with relaunch of robot dog FT The search for the next president of the New York Federal Reserve is a big deal Economic Policy Institute The lesson for diagnosing a bubble FT Ready or Not for the Next Recession? Project Syndicate Bitcoin Mania NYRB. The article is quite sober; well worth a read. Uber is working with Toyota to create a vehicle and system that is built for ride-sharing Recode Legal marijuana cuts violence says US study, as medical-use laws see crime fall Guardian (Re Silc). Brexit The week that Brexit plumbed new depths of absurdity The Brexit Blog (RS). Venezuela government, opposition conclude talks without agreement Reuters China? India Syraqistan Tunisias government on Saturday announced an increase in aid Agence France Presse Russians asking for help after swarming drone attacks Asia Times (Re Silc). Except for the payloads, interestingly lo-tech, but deployed by an organization with a sophisticated command structure. Trump Transition Wrong button sends out false missile alert Honolulu Star-Advertiser 2016 Post Mortem Victory: Constitution Pipeline Request Denied by FERC EcoWatch Democrats in Disarray What these early-20th-century scholars got right about 21st-century politics Vox Centrist Think Tanks Wont Save Our Cities Gar Alperowitz, In These Times The Caucasian Panthers: Meet the Rednecks Armed, Ready and Bout That Anti-Racist Life The Root The Voters Abandoning Donald Trump The Atlantic Big Brother Is Watching You Watch Predicting Crime in SF- a toy WMD Orlando Torres. WMD = Weapon of Math Destruction. Health Care Guillotine Watch Berkeley Is Collapsing in on Itself The American Conservative The Radical Media School Training a Generation of Left-Wing Pundits Vice Truth On The Marionettes Habeus Questus. I am writing this to show a great example of building power by intersecting the work inside and outside of institutions. Very interesting. Mark Wahlberg Donates $1.5M In Michelle Williams Name To #TimesUp Legal Fund Deadline Hollywood Class Warfare Your smartphoneis making you stupid, antisocial and unhealthy . So why cant you put it down Globe and Mail A Field Guide to Deception MIT Technology Review (DL). The Stick Is an Unsung Hero of Human Evolution Nautilus Antidote du jour (via): Bonus Antidote (DK): The kea is a rare, stately, olive-green parrot native to New Zealands South Island. They are fiercely intelligent, mischievous, and clever and that impish spirit has got them in trouble. Theyve been redirecting traffic pic.twitter.com/fIGdWVOZiL Atlas Obscura (@atlasobscura) January 12, 2018 Wait til the keas encounter robot cars See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Swedens important contributions to the Alliance at the Folk och Forsvar Security Conference in Salen on Sunday (14 January 2018). In a keynote speech, the Secretary General outlined NATOs adaptation to a challenging security environment. He stressed the importance of the close cooperation with Nordic partners like Sweden helps to strengthen security in the region. During his visit, the Secretary General held talks with Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven. He praised Swedens commitment to international security, including its participation in NATO missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo, and its regular contributions to NATO exercises. The two leaders discussed opportunities for strengthening information exchanges on hybrid warfare, stepping up joint training and exercises, and sharing situational awareness. Mr. Stoltenberg also met with Swedens Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom and Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist. On Monday, the Secretary General will visit the Nordic Centre for Gender in Military Operations and meet with the Speaker of the Parliament, Mr. Urban Ahlin. (Natural News) Evidence that the worlds largest social media and media conglomerates and platforms are completely biased against conservatives and Trump supporters continues to grow by the day, with Google now being outed as the latest abuser. As reported by The Daily Caller, former Google engineer James Damore and other right-leaning Google workers have filed a class action lawsuit against their employer alleging a climate of censorship and discrimination against them. The suit claims that Google managers discuss openly the existence of blacklists meant to encourage and coordinate the sabotage of promotions, performance reviews, and employment opportunities for those with conservative viewpoints. In addition, the suit says that Google workers are forced to endure Left-wing propaganda in the form of Bias Busting sessions that center in on so-called white male privilege, and that workers risk losing their jobs or endangering their careers if they dare question the progressive orthodoxy. The suit claims that Google illegally discriminates against white male employees as part of the companys diversity efforts, The Daily Caller notes. Also, internal messages accompanying the lawsuit show that employees openly conspired against Damore after he shared a memo critical of Googles diversity policies while calling for more acceptance of right-leaning views. You know, there are just certain alternative views, including different political views which I do not want people to feel safe to share here, a high-ranking Google employee posted in a company message board chain. Another added: If Google management cares enough about diversity and inclusion, they should, and I urge them to, send a clear message by not only terminating Mr. Damore, but also severely disciplining or terminating those who have expressed support. Shortly afterward, Damore was let go by Google. But those are just the internal machinations of the media giant. (Related: BUSTED: Undercover media sting reveals Twitter targeting conservatives and independent media for censorship via shadow bans.) Google has new fact-checkers, in case you didnt know, and they are nearly exclusively devoted to censoring right-leaning and conservative media outlets. As The National Sentinel reported, a quick investigation revealed that, when searching for a media outlet that leans to the political Right, such as The Daily Caller, Google gives users details on the sidebar that includes what topics the site typically writes about, as well as a section titled Reviewed Claims. Meanwhile, Vox and other left-wing outlets and blogs like Gizmodo, are not given the same fact-check treatment. When searching their names, a Topics they write about section appears, but there is no Reviewed Claims section. For the legacy media, the Left-wing bias at Googles fact-checking operation becomes even more apparent. For instance, in searching The Washington Post, not only was the Reviewed Claims section absent, but there was a section labeled Awards in addition to Writes About. That was the same for The New York Times. For CNN, there were no categories at all, like Vox and other Left-leaning outlets searched. And yet, the Times, the Post and CNN have published no small portion of demonstrably, provably false fake news stories involving President Donald J. Trump, his administration or his campaign. Yet there are no reviewed claims for any of those rags. Given what Damones lawsuit says, are you surprised? Heck, ABC News recently suspended one of its reporters, Brian Ross, for filing a fake news story regarding former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn, but it, too, has no reviewed listings. Its not just Google, either, The Daily Caller noted. Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube (which is owned by Google) have all exhibited the same pattern of discrimination and censorship against conservatives. Its time for Americans and other users with views opposed to the insane Left-wing nonsense spewed by so-called progressives to vote with our dollars and our computer mouses. Goodgopher.com is the search engine and email service for those who are tired of having their viewpoints censored. And Gab.ai is a much better, uncensored social media platform than Facebook. Check them out; be sure to follow me on Gab.ai (click here). J.D. Heyes is editor of The National Sentinel and a senior writer for Natural News and News Target. Sources include: TheNationalSentinel.com DailyCaller.com (Natural News) In order to ensure that college students are completely insulated from ever having their feelings hurt, a pair of social workers believes that everyone involved with the educational system should be required to wear name tags once a week for the entirety of a semester that clearly indicates their preferred gender pronouns. University of Washington lecturer Justin Lerner and Simmons College professor Dr. Anjali Fulambarker published their manifesto on this topic in a recent issue of the Journal of Teaching in Social Work, in which they argue that forcing all students to wear gender pronoun name tags will help to sanitize classrooms of microaggressions while helping students to avoid being mislabeled. Entitled Beyond Diversity and Inclusion: Creating a Social Justice Agenda in the Classroom, the paper also says that professors should establish certain group guidelines in order to cater to the comfort of students who might become offended if someone refers to them by their biological genders as opposed to whatever made-up genders they created in their own heads. Creating a classroom climate based on principles of social justice is central to our core professional values of social justice, dignity and worth of a person, and the importance of human relationships, the two SJWs say about their mission, adding that the endgame is to move society closer to a thick version of social justice. Educators need to discourage debate because it makes some people feel bad, name tag duo says Their agenda goes well beyond just name tags, however. Lerner and Fulambarker also believe that teachers need to stop encouraging healthy debate over controversial issues in the classroom because debate involves one person proving the other person wrong, or themselves to be right, which they say represents a zero sum game. [Debaters] often are not actually trying to have meaningful conversations and promote stimulating dialogue but rather just to prove their opponent to be wrong at all costs, the duo insists. Further, Lerner and Fulambarker want teachers to start seizing control of classroom conversations that lean more towards supporting a conservative or traditional cause as opposed to one of the tenets of the liberal agenda. They suggest that educators start calling on students who disrupt the politically-correct narrative to move out of the conversation, while calling those who support this agenda to move in. Just be sure not to say step in or step out, as opposed to move in or move out, because the former represents ableist language that might offend someone who is crippled or who doesnt have legs. The paper also takes aim at other microaggressive language and phrases such as Pow Wow, you guys, and even the word American, which presumably discriminate against Native Americans, non-U.S. citizens, and those who arent male. A professor at Iowa State University ran into problems recently after using the phrase you guys in her classroom, after which she was presented with a student evaluation claiming that it was sexist. The professor, Jayme Wilken, defended her use of the phrase, which is commonly used in the Midwest to refer to a group of people that includes both genders. I explained to [the evaluator] that in linguistics, we uphold regional dialects and this is a feature of the Midwest dialect I didnt back down Neither did he, Wilken stated in defiance of her attackers militantly intolerant agenda. Since Iowa States mission includes ensuring that its graduates are prepared to be global citizens who are culturally informed, its only reasonable that educators like Wilken maintain the freedom to use whatever phraseology they choose whether it be a simple cultural reference to a group of mixed-gender people, or the traditional use of binary gender pronouns to identify males and females. Sources for this article include: Lifezette.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) In the wake of the mainstream medias glorious failure to conjure up enough fake news about President Trumps alleged ties to Russia to get him impeached, the official narrative has now shifted to claiming that the billionaire businessman is mentally ill, and thus unfit for office. But the American Psychiatric Association (APA) has issued a formal notice warning that armchair psychiatrists who comment publicly about the presidents cognitive status without having conducted an official medical examination are in blatant violation of the medical ethics provisions that they pledged to uphold when first getting licensed. The APAs announcement points to the ethical principle known as The Goldwater Rule in condemning those psychiatrists who have taken it upon themselves to issue fake diagnoses about the president on cable news appearances, in books, and on social media. The APA says that using psychiatry as a political tool in this way represents a gross misuse of psychiatry and is unacceptable and unethical. The ethical principle, in place since 1973, guides physician members of the APA to refrain from publicly issuing professional medical opinions about individuals that they have not personally evaluated in a professional setting or context, the announcement explains. Doing otherwise undermines the credibility and integrity of the profession and the physician-patient relationship. Although APAs ethical guidelines can only be enforced against APA members, we urge all psychiatrists, regardless of membership, to abide by this guidance in respect of our patients and our profession. Should Trump-hating doctors who issue fake diagnoses about the president lose their medical licenses? The announcement was prompted in part by private meetings that reportedly took place between Bandy Lee, an Ivy League psychiatrist from the Yale School of Medicine, and various members of Congress. Since at least December, Lee has been whispering in the ears of our nations representatives her opinions on the presidents mental status, which even the left-leaning The Atlantic admitted is more the stuff of crazed conspiracy theories than what one would expect so-called professionals to be doing in actual reality. But its President Trump were talking about here, which means what would have formerly been considered off the rails is now everyday life for the masses of triggered liberals who simply cant accept that hes their president which include what in a past era would have been considered medical professionals. But theres nothing professional about how many of these licensed doctors are engaging in the public debate, hence why the APA has issued a stern rebuttal against this growing wave of highly unprofessional temper tantrum-throwing. A proper psychiatric evaluation requires more than a review of television appearances, tweets, and public comments, the APA further explains, adding that the president will soon be receiving his annual physical examination in which proper standards will be followed in accurately assessing his physical and mental state. Psychiatrists are medical doctors; evaluating mental illness is no less thorough than diagnosing diabetes or heart disease. The standards in our profession require review of medical and psychiatric history and records and a complete examination of mental status. Often collateral information from family members or individuals who know the person well is included, with permission from the patient. Just in case this latest fake narrative about the presidents alleged mental illness fails just like the Russian election meddling propaganda did, theres always Trump is a racist to fall back on. The fake news media outlet The Washington Post has already begun spreading unfounded rumors that President Trump recently made unsavory and vulgar comments about Haiti and Africa, which the president has since denied saying. Sources for this article include: NaturalNews.com Psychiatry.org Politico.com TheAtlantic.com Elizabeth Fong was lounging in bed, about to take a shower before catching a plane back to San Jose when an alert popped up on her screen. It was 8:07 a.m. Saturday. The message read, in all caps, Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill. Fong and her friend jumped into action, closed windows and doors, grabbed cases of water and food, all the while crying and shaking. Deciding to take shelter in a bathtub, the pair used blankets and even plush toys to block doorways, in the hope that they could protect themselves from radiation. Theres nothing we (could) do, said Fong, who was in Hawaii to buy a house. Theres nowhere to go here. We were just so scared. Fong called her husband who was in a Home Depot store in Gilroy and sister and told them she loved them, afraid that would be the last time she'd hear their voices. Theres a missile coming, she recalled saying. Were not going to make it. A neighbor was running up and down their street, screaming, Theres a missile coming. Were going to die. Theres a missile coming, Fong said. Friends were rushing off Hawaiis famed beaches. About 40 minutes later, Fongs phone lit up again. This time, it informed her that the previous alert had been sent in error. The false alarm has earned the ire of local leaders and prompted a Federal Communications Commission investigation. Cindy McMillan, a spokeswoman for Gov. David Ige said that it was human error and that someone pressed the wrong button. Not the typical breakfast conversation today. How does this mistakenly get sent to an entire state, Mark Zizzo, of Los Gatos, wondered on Facebook. He is in Hawaii on vacation. Frustrated at how long it took officials to follow up with a message that the alert had been a false alarm, Zizzo said, I couldnt believe we traveled all over Asia during the heightened nuclear crisis with North Korea to come back to the States and receive this alert. On TV, Hawaii emergency officials were asking people not to panic. It was already too late, Fong said. We were panicked. We feared we were going to die. Even after a half hour, our nerves are still shot. Were trying to calm down. There was chaos. What compounded the terror, she said, was the fact that people and officials seemed unprepared. What would they do if such a threat were to be real? People are afraid to even step out of their houses, Fong said. While others are rushing to grocery stores to stock up on supplies to brace for such an attack, which seems increasingly likely under the leadership of President Donald Trump. Instead of the president egging on (Kim Jong Un) he should try to negotiate something peacefully, Fong said. This is ridiculous I think instead of being a baby about everything and (focusing on) whose toy is bigger than whose, he should try and calm things down. Thats what somebody in the presidency does. Editor's Note: Mark Zizzo is a former employee of NBC Bay Area. NBC Bay Area's John Zuchelli contributed to this report. A Chicago woman was killed and a girl was wounded in a shooting outside a suburban mall Saturday evening, authorities said. At 5:46 p.m., officers responded to a call of shots fired in the southwest parking lot of North Riverside Park Mall, located at 7501 W. Cermak Rd., according to a statement from North Riverside police. Maria Ruiz, 42, and a juvenile girl, whose exact age was not immediately available, were found with gunshot wounds and taken to area hospitals. Ruiz, of the 2200 block of South Sawyer in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood, was pronounced dead at 6:14 p.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office. The juvenile girl's injuries were not thought to be life-threatening, according to police. A GoFundMe page created by Ruiz's son Jose has already raised over $14,000 to help pay for funeral expenses. The male offender, who a source close to the investigation said is known by police, fled the scene before officers arrived and remained on the loose as of Sunday morning, authorities said. Officers determined that the incident was "isolated and domestic in nature," North Riverside Deputy Police Chief Christian Ehrenberg said in a statement, though the relationship of the victims and the gunman was not known. Bullet holes could be seen in a vehicle's window in the parking lot, which was taped off for several hours as authorities investigated. The scene left shoppers and staff alike frightened and in disbelief. "I just came today to check on my employees and make sure that everything was going according to plan and on my way out, I seen all these lights and the police cars and the yellow tape," said Mia Williams, who works at North Riverside Park Mall. "[I'm] definitely shocked," she continued. "You know, North Riverside Park Mall is a family mall, lots of people bring their children here, so I'm definitely shocked." One shopper said she was "very scared" by the incident. "I've never heard of this, I mean, I know that a lot of this is happening around everywhere and stuff but it frightens me," she added. No one is in custody in connection with the shooting as authorities continue to investigate. Its been many years since Sammy Sosa has had any connection with the Chicago Cubs, but it doesnt appear that he is any closer to being welcomed back by the organization. During a panel at the annual Cubs Convention, team owner Tom Ricketts says that Sosa would be welcomed back to the team if he admits to past wrongdoings while he was playing for the team. Players from that era owe us a little bit of honesty, Ricketts said. The only way to turn that page is to put everything on the table. Sosa is arguably the greatest slugger in team history, hitting 545 home runs and helping lead the team to multiple playoff appearances during his tenure. He has found himself under a cloud of suspicion about alleged steroid use, but he never officially tested positive for banned substances. Those suspicions of steroid use have dogged Sosa in Hall of Fame voting too, as he routinely has gotten enough votes to stay on the ballot but has never come close to making it into that prestigious club despite hitting 609 career home runs. A fiery crash in Southern Dallas Saturday night left one dead after a vehicle slammed into a pillar under an overpass, authorities say. The sedan swerved to try to avoid a pedestrian in the 200 block of E. Ledbetter Drive under the Interstate 35E overpass and hit a support pillar, authorities say. The impact caused the vehicle to be engulfed in flames. Dallas Fire Rescue responded about 11:45 p.m. and extinguished the fire. The victim's identity has not been released. An East Texas man convicted of shooting at a sheriff's deputy and then fleeing to Arkansas has been sentenced to life in prison. Jurors in Smith County who convicted 33-year-old Ricardo Pineda of aggravated assault against a peace officer also decided Friday the Tyler man should be fined $10,000. Pineda was the target of a federal and county drug investigation when he fired a dozen rifle shots at a Smith County deputy during a March 2016 car chase. The deputy's car was disabled. Pineda later was arrested in Corning, Arkansas, about 400 miles (643.71 kilometers) to the northeast. Pineda had a federal conviction in 2000 for possession and distribution of methamphetamine. Prosecutors told jurors to send a message that shooting at law enforcement officers is not acceptable. The mayor of Plano, a native of Haiti, is speaking out against President Donald Trump's reported comments about Haiti and Africa. Harry LaRosiliere, a Republican, said Saturday he views the President's comments as 'offensive on a personal level.' The President made headlines late in the week for comments reportedly made in a meeting with senators. According to one person who attended the meeting and others briefed on the meeting, the President asked why the U.S. would accept more immigrants from Haiti and "s--thole countries" in Africa. Friday, the President tweeted: "Never said anything derogatory about Haitians other than Haiti is, obviously, a very poor and troubled country. Never said take them out. Plano Mayor Harry LaRosiliere told the story of his family immigrating from Haiti to the United States when he was just three years old. "My mother worked for 30 years, a third of those years cleaning offices, not far from Trump Tower, so my sister and I could have an education and be the first college graduates of our family. And here I am, the mayor of a premier city in America," LaRosiliere said. "And someone like my mother is not 'the worst of the worst.' We need more people like her in America because that's what makes our fabric as a great nation." Two suspects allegedly robbed and killed a Florida mother, officials from the Osceola County Sheriffs Office told WESH News. Janice Zengotita-Torres, 42, was leaving a Ross store in Florida on Monday when two men approached her and killed her in what officials said appeared to be a "murder-for-hire" case. The two suspects charged with robbing and killing Zengotita-Torres were hired by a woman named Ishnar Lopez Ramos, who allegedly wanted to murder a woman who "was in a relationship with a man that the suspect, Ishnar, loved," Osceola County Sheriff Russ Gibson said at a news conference Friday. Zengotita-Torres was not that woman. The sheriffs office said the "murder-for-hire" case became a case of "mistaken identity." Lopez-Ramos, 35, is accused of hiring Alexis Ramos-Rivera, 23, and his girlfriend Glorianmarie Quinones-Montes, 22, to murder the woman, NBC News reported. Investigators said the suspects continued to rob and kill Zengotita-Torres even after they realized she was the wrong target. Osceola sheriff's office spokesperson Jacob Ruiz told NBC News that Zengotita-Torres and the intended victim both work at a Ross Dress for Less store from where the suspects followed Zengotita-Torres home. Zengotita-Torres went missing on Jan. 8. Authorities found her body on Ormond Beach days later, miles away from her home. "This woman lost her life for no reason. This mother, this wife, this daughter, for no reason at all, Sheriff Russell Gibson told WESH. Lopez-Ramos is facing a first-degree murder charge. Quinnones-Montes is facing a premeditated murder charge, and Ramos-Rivera is looking at a first degree murder charge as well, authorities said. One of South Floridas most notorious Cocaine Cowboys, who spent nearly two decades behind bars following a shootout with police in the mid-1990s, is back behind bars following another attempted escape from officers at a Southwest Miami-Dade home. US Marshals, along with agents from ATF, the Secret Service and Miami-Dade Police, arrested Mario Gonzalez on Friday after raiding a five acre property near SW 199th Avenue and 228th Street. Gonzalez had been indicted on charges in New York dating back to 2014 and had been considered a fugitive of the law. According to officials, Gonzalez attempted to escape after officers entered the property by driving an ATV before crashing into a fence and running into nearby bushes and being found by a police K-9 dog. When police captured Gonzalez, he was in possession of a gun and a bag with $36,000 cash inside. Gonzalez was transported to federal prison and is expected to make his first court appearance on Tuesday. Gonzalez was first arrested in July of 1993 when, at 29, he attempted to run over several marshals at a hotel near Miami International Airport after being wanted on various drug and gun charges in Florida and Puerto Rico. More than 130 shots were fired during the incident and Gonzalez was captured after suffering minor injuries, according to the Miami Herald. Authorities say they arrested a Florida teen who stabbed and wounded his parents as the slept. The Florida Times-Union reports that the 16-year-old boy faces two counts of aggravated battery. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office says the teen attacked his parents early Wednesday morning at their Jacksonville home. The couple were stabbed in the head and neck but fought off their son, who then left the scene. The 43-year-old woman and 45-year-old man were taken to a nearby hospital with injuries that weren't considered life-threatening. The teen was eventually found by officers at a nearby church with scratches on his legs. Police haven't released a motive for the attack. Ninety-one New York Army National Guard soldiers assigned to the 10th Mountain Division will be deployed to Iraq. Members of the Fort Drum-based 10th Mountain Division Headquarters will be deployed this spring to help support Iraqi Security Forces in the fight against the Islamic State group, the Army announced this week. National Guard officials in New York say members of their Main Command Post Operational Detachment will be part of that deployment. Army officials would not say how large the overall deployment will be. A New Jersey man whose car plunged into the icy Delaware River Sunday is accused of leaving his girlfriend to die after he escaped from the submerged vehicle and fled the scene, authorities said. Police say Jacob Garrett, 24, of Burlington City, was driving "at a high rate of speed" with Stephanie White, 23, also of Burlington City, in the passenger seat shortly before 1 p.m. along Riverbank Road when his car struck a parked minivan. The impact caused the car to vault over the river wall and fall into the ice-covered water below. As the vehicle became submerged in water, witnesses helped Garrett get out of the car while White remained trapped in the passenger seat, the Burlington County Prosecutor's office said in a statement. Garrett then allegedly told witnesses to "help my girlfriend" before fleeing the scene. "He left his girlfriend in the water to die," said Burlington City Police Captain John Fine. "When he crashed his car the vehicle went into the water, he got out, said take care of my girlfriend, and ran away. That's an offense in itself." White was still wearing her seatbelt when responding firefighters pulled her out of the submerged vehicle. She was taken to Lourdes Medical Center where she was later pronounced dead. A Burlington City police K-9 tracked Garrett to a nearby River Line light rail station. Authorities stopped the train at the Beverly/Edgewater Park station and arrested Garrett, who was soaking wet, the prosecutor's office said. "I just can't believe that he was such a coward and left her there," said Victoria Wood, Garrett's neighbor. Garrett was charged with leaving the scene of a fatal accident, causing death while driving with a suspended license and endangering an injured victim. He was held Monday in the Burlington County Jail and is scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Mount Holly, New Jersey. "He was just always a bad seed," Wood said. "He'd come in here blasting his music. All of us called the cops all the time." Those who knew White said she worked as a waitress to help her mother raise her younger foster brother. New Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam spoke of hope and outlined the plans for his administration as he took the oath of office on Saturday and became the states 73rd governor. The Democrat won November's election thanks to strong voter antipathy toward President Donald Trump. The ceremony on Saturday included the swearing in of Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax and Attorney General Mark Herring. In prepared remarks, Northam said one of his goals was to accept ideas from both sides of the political aisle in an attempt to improve the life of the residents of Virginia. The guiding principle of this administration will be simple, Northam said. We will work together to make our Commonwealth work better for all Virginians, no matter who they are or where theyre from. The new governor honored the service of military and spoke about Virginias history, both good and bad. Our history is complex in Virginia. But no other place on earth can claim it, he said. This unique heritage endows us with a responsibility to shape the future, to leave this place better than we found it. Thats the Virginia way. Northam talked about his experiences as a youth on the water and his dads advice about always having a compass in life. Later, while referring to his time as a cadet at the Virginia Military Institute and as a doctor, the governor said the state needs a moral compass for the days ahead. My dads advice stayed with me when I reached the Virginia Military Institute and was given a different kind of compass in the simple words of the VMI honor code: A Cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, nor tolerate those who do., Northam said. Those words have stuck with me all these years because theyre so clear. They have become a kind of moral compass for me. They always call me back home safely. Virginia and this country need that more than ever these days. He said his administration would work toward more healthcare, not less, for Virginians, womens' rights to make decisions about their own healthcare and steps to address the public health crisis of gun violence. If we are going to build a healthier Virginia for everyone, we must address the public health crisis of gun violence, the governor said. I am ready to work with you to make Virginia safer by passing smart reforms that keep guns away from people who shouldnt have them. He promised to always tell the truth and maintain the trust from Election Day by putting Virginias interest first. I am committed as your governor to fight every day for the hope that tomorrow will bring for all of us, not just some of us. Because it can be. If we work together today, tomorrow will be better for all of the Virginians who have placed their trust in us to fight for them every day. This country is once again looking to Virginia to lead the way. Let us lead with humility and optimism, telling the truth, learning from history and removing every obstacle to progress for all Virginians. Let us rely on the compass we all carry to show us the way ahead. The Coast Guard is suspending their search for a missing kayaker on the Providence River near Conimicut Point, Rhode Island. Michael Perry, 46, of Warwick, was reported missing after he did not show up from a kayak trip. He left around noon, and his wife expected him to be on the water for an hour. She called 911 when he didn't return. Perry was paddling a 10-foot orange kayak. It was not known if he had a life jacket. The Coast Guard, along with several state agencies, searched for a total of 22 asset hours trying to find Perry. Theale's district councillor is to resign THEALES district councillor is to step down from his role on the parish council over its attitude towards a new school in the village. Alan Macro (Lib Dem) said he would be handing in his letter of resignation, after serving for 25 years. I have been very concerned about the parish councils attitude to the project for some time and I have taken the decision to resign from the parish council, Mr Macro told the Newbury Weekly News. There are members of the parish council who are not convinced that the school expansion is needed for Theale children. Mr Macro said that there were apocryphal stories circulating that children from outside of Theale were being given places at the school. He added that, as the school has an autistic unit on site, most would come from outside Theale. Mr Macro said that when the school intake increased from 30 to 45 it was unlikely to fill up with Theale children straight away. West Berkshire Council has said that it will create additional school places elsewhere, mainly in Calcot, to compensate for the lack of a new school, if the parish council does not relinquish the land needed to deliver the scheme. Mr Macro claimed that this would create problems for families. The issue with Calcot is its very difficult to walk to, you have to cross the motorway, and bus fees will be quite expensive, he said. If children cant get into Theale and get put into Calcot, the council will not provide transport because the nearest school is in Theale. And Mr Macro said that the district council should have been more forceful in getting the school approved. He said: I would have asked for it to be worded as an ultimatum. It would have been much clearer and more effective if it had been worded as an ultimatum We need to do something to bring things to a head, but my preferred thing was to actually progress the compulsory purchase order. Its very sad. Very, very sad. And I just wish the two councils could have co-operated much better. Mr Macro has abstained from voting on the school at the parish council, owing to him being a school governor and on the schools project board. A new study that seeks to better ascertain HIV mortality rates in Zambia could provide a model for improved national and regional surveillance approaches, and ultimately, more effective HIV treatment strategies. Survival represents the most important indicator of successful HIV treatment, according to the researchers. According to UNAIDS, AIDS-related deaths have fallen by 50 percent since 2005--largely due to the successes of national HIV programs with support from PEPFAR and the Global Fund. Yet, because routine monitoring and evaluation fails to systematically capture most deaths, it can be challenging to accurately assess the impact of HIV services and to identify where improvement is most needed, the researchers say. The Better Information for Health in Zambia ("BetterInfo") study begins to examine HIV survival rates in Zambia. Published January 12 in PLOS Medicine, the work was conducted by a team of researchers co-led by Charles Holmes, MD, MPH, faculty co-director of The research was conducted in Zambia through a partnership with CIDRZ and the Zambian Ministry of Health, in close collaboration with numerous local and global academic centers and researchers. The research group set out to provide a more accurate representation of site- and regional-level mortality among people on HIV therapy in Zambia by characterizing the extent of under-reporting of mortality and the variability in data collection and use, and to assess the broader impact this might have on treatment programs and outcomes. The group applied a multistage sampling-based approach--which they say is a novel methodology in this context--to obtain regionally representative mortality estimates in four Zambian provinces (Lusaka, Southern, Eastern, and Western). The estimates were also sufficiently precise to quantify variation in death rates among clinic sites. They looked at a sample population of more than 160,000 patients who had visited government-operated HIV treatment sites in these provinces to determine: the magnitude of deaths of those who were taking antiretroviral therapy (ART); when deaths occurred; which groups are at highest risk of death; and whether these factors differ by region, facility, or other variables. They also traced patients who were lost to follow-up to ascertain their status, and then used this information to create a corrected regional survival estimate as well as corrected site-specific mortality estimates. The BetterInfo study concluded that mortality is substantially underreported in routine provincial program data--by as much as three- to nine-fold--among HIV-infected individuals starting ART, leading to a change in the ranking of provinces by mortality rates. At the site-level, "corrected" mortality rates were found to be up to 23-fold higher among those on ART. The study also found unexpectedly high variability from site to site in reported mortality rates, ranging from less than 1 death per 100 person-years to up to 13.4 deaths per 100 person years over a two-year period. "Even as we strive to reduce new HIV infections and end the HIV pandemic as a public health threat, we must not lose sight of premature deaths occurring amongst people living with HIV who are on treatment," Holmes says. "HIV treatment is not a 'set it and forget it' proposition--deaths often occur outside of the health system and are therefore 'silent' events that are unknown to those providing or managing care. "We believe our scalable approach, which builds on and extends earlier sampling methods, provides actionable data to clinic, provincial and national decision-makers to ensure the HIV program in Zambia is able to become more patient-centered and impactful," he says. Based on the findings, certain prevailing assumptions that underlie HIV programs may need to be reexamined. For example, the researchers say it has been assumed that most patients on treatment for longer periods of time will be more stable than those just starting treatment. However, the study data suggest that time on therapy alone may not be a reliable marker of stability, a finding that will have implications for delivery strategies recommending less health system interaction for patients considered clinically stable. In addition, approximately 50 percent of deaths among those newly starting ART occurred relatively shortly after a recent clinic visit, suggesting even greater need for attention to diagnostic services and clinical vigilance for potential co-existing illnesses. Overall, the authors seek to encourage national- and global-level policy makers to investigate and address the root causes of underestimated and highly variable mortality rates so they can refocus their quality improvement efforts and strengthen HIV programs. "These data from the BetterInfo study have provided new targets for quality improvement efforts, and we look forward to further evidence as it emerges that will enable us to support the strongest possible national HIV program in Zambia," says CIDRZ's Sikazwe. "We recommend that others consider the application of similar large-scale surveillance methodologies in order to better understand their program outcomes, and we are excited to facilitate broader adoption through the forthcoming release of a "BetterInfo" toolkit and other materials." Holmes adds, "We believe our study also highlights the critical need for investments in vital status registries and data systems to enable better visibility into patient outcomes. These investments are critical not just for the HIV response, but for broader efforts to combat chronic conditions such non-communicable diseases and achieve universal health coverage." The loss or damage of myelin, a cellular sheath that surrounds and insulates nerves, is the hallmark of the immune-mediated neurological disorder multiple sclerosis (MS). When segments of this protective membrane are damaged, nerve impulses can be disrupted. Symptoms range from tingling and numbness to weakness, pain and paralysis. There is currently no reliable way to directly image demyelination. Physicians rely on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), but despite high resolution images, MRI is not quantitative and cannot distinguish between demyelination and inflammation, which often coexist in people with MS. In the January 12, 2017 online issue of the journal Scientific Reports, a multi-institutional team based primarily at the University of Chicago Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, describe early tests of a novel minimally-invasive way to assess myelin damage using positron emission tomography (PET). These PET scans use a radioactive molecule designed to target voltage-gated potassium channels, a protein found on demyelinated axons. The PET images, based on the detection of this molecule, provide quantitative information about underlying biochemical processes. "In healthy myelinated neurons, potassium channels are usually buried underneath the myelin sheath," explained study author Brian Popko, PhD, the Jack Miller Professor of Neurological Disorders and director of the center for peripheral neuropathy at the University of Chicago. "When there is loss of myelin, these channels become exposed. They migrate throughout the demyelinated segment and their levels increase." These exposed neurons leak intracellular potassium. This leaves them unable to propagate electrical impulses, which causes some of the neurological symptoms seen in MS. "So we developed a PET tracer that can target potassium channels," Popko said. The team started with an existing MS drug, 4-aminopyridine (a.k.a. dalfampridine), which can bind to exposed potassium channels. This can partially restore nerve conduction and alleviate neurological symptoms in MS patients. Using mouse models of MS, including some developed in the Popko lab, the researchers showed that the drug accumulated in the demyelinated, or uncovered, areas of the central nervous system. Then, with help from colleague Pancho Bezanilla, PhD, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Chicago, the team examined several fluorine-containing derivatives of 4-aminopyridine for binding to K+ channels. They found that 3-fluoro-4-aminopyridine (3F4AP) has the desired properties, so they labeled the molecule with fluorine-18, which is easily detected by PET. "We were able to show, in rats, that the tracer accumulated to a higher degree in demyelinated areas than in control areas," Popko said. "All existing PET tracers used for imaging demyelination bind to myelin and, consequently, demyelinated lesions show as decreases in signal, which can be problematic for imaging small lesions," said Pedro Brugarolas, PhD, first author of the paper and currently a faculty member at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School. "3F4AP is the first tracer whose signal increases with demyelination, potentially solving some of the problems of its predecessors." Finally, in collaboration with scientists at the NIH, the researchers conducted a study in healthy monkeys. They confirmed that radiolabeled 3F4AP enters the brain of primates and localizes to areas where there is little myelin. "We think that this PET approach can provide complementary information to MRI which can help us follow MS lesions over time," Popko said. "It has the potential to track responses to remyelinating therapies, an unmet need. This approach should also help determine how much disruption of the myelin sheath contributes to other central nervous system disorders." That list includes leukodystrophies, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury and "even maladies not traditionally associated with demyelination," Popko suggested, "such as brain ischemia, psychiatric disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's." "A tracer to monitor changes in something as ubiquitous as potassium channels could have applications for other diseases where these channels are involved," Brugarolas added, More than 2.3 million people worldwide suffer from multiple sclerosis, according to 2013 data from the MS International Federation. None of the 15 current FDA-approved drugs for MS are able to cure the disease; they modify or suppress the immune system, reducing the number and severity of flare-ups and less often, slowing the visible marks of brain damage. The study took six years and a large team. It included experts in neuroscience, animal models, chemistry, electrophysiology and PET imaging. Kigali : China's diplomatic tradition of foreign ministers visiting Africa first in the New Year indicates that Africa is always a priority in China's diplomacy, Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said. The tradition has been kept for 28 years till now, Wang addressed media after meeting Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Kigali on Saturday, adding China is always the most reliable friend and partner of its African brothers, Xinhua reported. The Chinese minister also introduced his country's expectations of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit to be held in Beijing this year, an official forum established in 2000 to strengthen friendly cooperation between the two sides. Wang noted the FOCAC is an important channel for conducting collective dialogue and deepening mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Africa, as this is the largest and the most productive platform for the 29 member countries of the South-South cooperation. The 2015 FOCAC Johannesburg Summit achieved great success, said Wang, adding China is willing to strengthen communication and consultation with African friends to take this year's Beijing Summit to new heights. Many African countries appreciate and support the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, and China hopes to inject new impetus into cooperation with Africa through jointly building the initiative, he said. As a natural and historical extension of the Belt and Road, Africa should not be absent in the co-building process, nor should it be left behind in the mutual development of China and the world, he added. Wang, who is in Africa for his first New Year trip, is scheduled to visit Angola, Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe after Rwanda. Pakistan threatens India to start a nuclear war New Delhi : Pakistan's top civil and military leaders have threatened India to start a nuclear war. The warning comes a day after Indian military chief Bipin Rawat called Pakistan a 'nuclear bluff'. Issuing the nuclear threat, Pakistan foreign minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif took to Twitter on Saturday: "Very irresponsible statement by Indian Army Chief, not befitting his office. Amounts to an invitation for the nuclear encounter.If that is what they desire, they are welcome to test our resolve.The general's doubt would swiftly be removed, inshallah." Very irresponsible statement by Indian Army Chief,not befitting his office. Amounts to invitation for nuclear encounter.If that is what they desire,they are welcome to test our resolve.The general's doubt would swiftly be removed, inshallah. Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) January 13, 2018 His tweet came hours after Pakistan Army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor also issued a threat to India wrapped under nuclear war statements. "Should they [India] wish to test our resolve they may try and see it for themselves. We have a credible nuclear capability exclusive[ly] meant for threat[s] from [the] East," Ghafoor told state-run PTV World, as reported by Pakistani daily Dawn. Indian military chief Bipin Rawat, during a press conference on Friday, had said: We will call the (nuclear) bluff of Pakistan. If we will have to really confront the Pakistanis, and a task is given to us, we are not going to say we cannot cross the border because they have nuclear weapons. We will have to call their nuclear bluff." China is exporting a ceramic jet engine blade processing machine as part of a wider jet engine collaboration between Germany and China. The machinery produces turbine blades capable of withstanding temperatures several hundred degrees Celsius higher than the melting point of metallic alloys. Turbine blades convert heat generated by combusted fuel into the energy that propels a plane. The blades are one of the most important components in modern aircraft, both military and civilian, and their quality determines how safe, powerful and durable a jet engine will be. The technological progress could be a very important step for made-in-China jet engines, with China now the worlds largest market for commercial aircraft. Thousands of planes are on order from Airbus and Boeing, and China is also developing its own C919 passenger jet. Improved blade-processing technology, combined with breakthroughs in alloy casting and aerodynamic design, has allowed China to produce a brand-new series of powerful military jet engines. The most notable example is the WS-15 turbofan jet engine, designed for use in Chinas J-20 stealth fighter. The WS-15 has experienced reliability problems, but state media boasted last year that its performance matched that of the Pratt & Whitney F119, the worlds most advanced jet engine in military service, which was developed in the United States for the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor stealth fighter. Many Chinese researchers and engineers who had worked at GE, Pratt &Whitney and Rolls-Royce had returned to China and significantly increased the pace of jet engine development. A ballistic missile alert in Hawaii was a mistake by an emergency system worker. An employee at Hawaiis Emergency Management Agency (EMA) who pushed the wrong button during procedures that occur during the handover of a shift. Mobile phone users received the message at 08:07 (18:07 GMT): Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill. This triggered a lot of panic. Some raced to a protective bathtub or tried hiding under manholes. For others, a resigned acceptance, thinking that staring at the beauty of Hawaii was not a bad way to go. Hassan Deen, a student at Hawaii Pacific University, told the BBC the alert sparked a frenzy and he was locked for 47 minutes with 29 other students in a room with rubbish bins. How many false alarm babies are we getting in Hawaii in 9 months? Mark Espinosa (@MarkEEspinosa) January 14, 2018 Arriving with distinct ringtones and vibrations, the wireless alerts resemble text messages when they pop up on cellphone screens, but they rely on different technology. All wireless carriers participate in the system, and Hawaiis emergency agency is among hundreds of federal, state, local, tribal and territorial authorities with the power to use them, according to FEMA. There are three types of wireless alerts: those issued by the president; those involving imminent threats to safety or life; and Amber Alerts for missing children. More than 30,000 alerts have been sent since the systems introduction, according to the communications commission. In 2016, law enforcement officials in New York used the system to circulate a kind of digital wanted poster in hunting for a man wanted in bombings in Manhattan and New Jersey. The alerts are free; consumers can use their phone settings to opt out of getting all but those sent by the president. The system has come under growing scrutiny in recent months, with public safety officials complaining that it requires upgrades on several fronts. Critics say alerts are often sent too widely, sowing fear among people unlikely to be affected by the threat in question. There have also been calls for the alerts to be sent in languages other than English. The communications commission has approved some changes, but they will not take effect until next year. Last month, officials from Harris County, Tex., met with commission officials about their frustration over how, during Hurricane Harvey, they could not pinpoint alerts to area residents most likely to be affected by the storm without alarming a broader swath of the county. The commission, which sets the technical standards for the alerts, is under pressure to update its rules to force wireless carriers and phone makers to work together to ensure that the system is more effective. Last week, Mr. Pai announced a proposal to update the alert system to improve its location-targeting ability. The Big City column in the Metropolitan section about a New York State prison program limiting prisoner purchases to six venders contains outdated information. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo canceled the program shortly after the Metropolitan section went to press. The online version of the column has been updated to reflect the change. Corrections: January 14, 2018 ARTS & LEISURE A picture caption with an article last Sunday about a Harlem dance pioneer being celebrated in a new exhibition misidentified the subject of the show. He is Arthur Mitchell, not Arthur Miller. BOOK REVIEW A Childrens Books essay last Sunday about malt shop novels, stories about teenage heroines romances that were published between the 1940s and the mid-1960s, misstated the given name of a woman who read thenovels as a teenager and again as an adult. She is Jennifer Travis, not Janet. MAGAZINE An article on Dec. 24 about Jordan Peele described incorrectly The Secret of NIMH. It is an animated feature film, not a TV special. Obviously he likes Norwegians because they are white. But he knows nothing about Norway, a country with single-payer universal health care and free college education. Why would anyone want to leave Norway for the U.S.? MAE NGAI, an immigration historian at Columbia University, responding to the presidents reported comments. As strange, serious and scary as the erroneous emergency notification Saturday about a missile attack against Hawaii may have been, it was far from the first such false alarm the country has faced. Every decade since the dawn of the nuclear age has seen its share of close calls, experts said. During the Cold War, the government routinely dealt with hundreds of anomalies that could have led to a nuclear launch. But it is rare for a false alert about an impending missile attack to actually reach the public, said Garrett M. Graff, who has written about the extensive preparations made to allow the government to continue in the event of a nuclear or terrorist attack. Mr. Graff, the author of Raven Rock: The Story of the U.S. Governments Secret Plan to Save Itself While the Rest of Us Die, said in a phone interview that the alert on Saturday, coming at a time of heightened tensions with North Korea, was pretty unprecedented. Julius Malema, the partys charismatic but controversial leader, who was once a member of the governing African National Congress, said in a speech on Saturday, We make no apology about what the fighters did today against that store called H&M and said targeting the stores was just the beginning. Every shop that undermines black people must be attended to, he added. It must be shut down. It must be closed. Image The image was later removed from H&Ms website. Credit... H&M, via Associated Press The protests in South Africa capped a week of rapidly escalating outrage. H&M apologized for the image on Monday, and then again on Tuesday, saying it had removed the image and stopped selling the sweatshirt. We have got this wrong and we agree that, even if unintentional, passive or casual racism needs to be eradicated wherever it exists, it said on its website. Celebrities, including the pop artist The Weeknd and the rapper G-Eazy, said they would no longer work with the company. The models mother, Terry Mango, said in a Facebook post that the backlash was an unnecessary issue, adding that this is one of hundreds of outfits my son has modeled. Mr. Malema said the image had to be taken seriously. We cannot allow the humiliation of black people to continue, he said. No one should make jokes about the dignity of black people. SANTIAGO, Chile Chiles outgoing president, Michelle Bachelet, criticized the World Bank on Saturday after an economist said that her countrys poor showing in an influential survey of global business conditions may actually have reflected a political bias against her left-leaning government. The outcry came after the banks chief economist, Paul Romer, told The Wall Street Journal in an interview on Friday that while Chiles ranking has fallen in the banks yearly Doing Business report, which investors watch closely, business conditions did not get worse in Chile during the Bachelet era. He added that he did not have confidence in the integrity of the data and methodology that led to Chiles negative assessments and offered a personal apology to the country. The statement has started a political firestorm in Chile, where the candidate from Ms. Bachelets leftist coalition was defeated in last months presidential election, a race in which economic policy was a decisive issue. Ms. Bachelet, who leaves office in March, was barred by term limits from seeking re-election. Kathryn Marchand Minor and Geoffrey Gardner Jones were married Jan. 13 at Stein Eriksen Lodge in Park City, Utah. The Rev. William Hamill, a Roman Catholic priest and friend of the family, officiated. Mrs. Jones, 39, is the vice president of executive affairs and operations at EverFi, an education technology company in Washington. She graduated from Southern Methodist University and received a law degree from Tulane. She is the daughter of Paul S. Minor Sr. of New Orleans and the late Sylvia Fleming Minor. The brides father, who is retired, was a lawyer in private practice in both New Orleans and Biloxi, Miss. Mr. Jones, 47, works in Washington as the chief financial officer and the senior vice president of business development at Monarch Global Strategies, a strategic consulting firm. The grooms father, James R. Jones, is the chairman of the firm, which advises companies on doing business in Mexico and Latin America. The groom graduated from Stanford, from which he also received an M.B.A. Lauren Elyse Fonda and Jeffrey Scott Gordinier were married Jan. 12 at the county courthouse in Santa Barbara, Calif. Alma Medina Figueroa, a deputy commissioner of civil marriages, officiated. Ms. Fonda, 34, is a managing partner and the chief brand officer of Becca, a creative marketing agency with offices in New York, where she is primarily based, and in Los Angeles. She graduated from N.Y.U. She is the daughter of Judy A. Fonda and Peter M. Fonda of Los Angeles. The brides father, now retired, was the founder of several law firms based in West Los Angeles specializing in insurance and medical malpractice defense. Her mother is a law professor emeritus at Loyola Law School Los Angeles. She previously taught at Southwestern Law School, and at the U.C.L.A. School of Law. Mr. Gordinier, 51, is the food and drinks editor of Esquire magazine in New York. He is the author of X Saves the World (Viking, 2008), and a co-editor of Here She Comes Now (Rare Bird Books, 2015), a collection of essays about women in music. He graduated from Princeton. Dr. Melissa Danielle Stone and Dr. Jared Henry Gans are to be married Jan. 14 at the Breakers, an events space in Palm Beach, Fla. Rabbi Michael Resnick is to officiate. The couple met in 2011 at the University of Miami, from which each received a medical degree. The bride, 28, is a third-year pediatrics resident at the Childrens Hospital at Montefiore in the Bronx. She graduated from Yale. She is the daughter of Wendy E. Stone and Dr. Ross G. Stone of Boca Raton, Fla. The brides father is an orthopedic surgeon in private practice in Atlantis, Fla. Her mother, a lawyer, worked at the law firm Bower & Gardner, which was in Manhattan. The groom, 29, is a second-year radiology resident at the Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx. He graduated from Emory College. Even with his superlative sleuthing skills, Sherlock Holmes may not have recognized a costume ball held in his honor the other night. The costumes from a pink Easter bunny to an ironic butterfly carried obscure references to stories written about the fictional private detective by the British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The winner was an English teacher from Germany dressed as the Grimpen Mire, a fictional British bog mentioned in the Doyle classic The Hound of the Baskervilles. A crew from the reality show Cake Boss brought in a cake shaped like a bust of Holmes. Sherlock Holmes, meet 21st-century Manhattan. The ball, held by a female group of Holmes devotees called the Baker Street Babes, was part of an annual Sherlock Holmes celebration organized largely by the Baker Street Irregulars, an invitation-only society of devoted Sherlockians founded in 1934. But when it came to settling on a career, he decided there was not enough real piloting involved. We were told, Nobody flies above 10,000 feet, theyre all on autopilot. Youre a glorified backup, he recalled. Whatever romance was left in commercial aviation, the jet engine killed. He was not interested in stunt flying or becoming a military pilot, so he abandoned aviation and found a job managing a branch of a courier company in Silicon Valley. Jobs at a consulting firm that handled transportation planning issues and at another trucking firm followed. Then it was on to law school at Boston University and a summer job as a volunteer law clerk, drafting opinions for administrative law judges from the National Transportation Safety Board. None of the judges were pilots, he said. I understood the facts better than they did, no offense. They said they wanted to hire me on a paid basis during law school. So they did, and also after he finished law school. The slowest part of a conversation with Mr. Avedisian is the tell-us-all-about-it part, because he will not discuss details of his idea for the subway while the contest is still going on. The transit agency said he was a finalist in a category called Rapidly Deploy Modernized Subway Cars to the Subway System. (The other categories involve modernizing the antiquated signal system and improving the communications infrastructure.) The transit authority said Mr. Avedisian had proposed adding up to four cars to trains currently in operation to increase both train capacity and passenger comfort. The agency said Mr. Avedisians longer trains would stop at every station, but not every car would open. Some cars at the front and back of a train will not platform at every station, the authority said, but generally will platform at alternating stations. In plainer terms, using an existing 10-car train as an example, the first four cars would open at one station, leaving the last four beyond the platform with the doors closed. At the next station, the train would in effect overshoot the platform, allowing the last four cars to reach the platform and open while the first four stayed shut. Six cars in the middle would open on the platform at every stop. As my plane was landing in Beijing in mid-December, I realized I had forgotten to bring my N95 respirator mask, and instantly regretted it. But that day turned out to be clear, if chilly. A Chinese public-health expert later told me that it was no exception: There were far fewer days of smog in 2017 than just a couple of years ago. Terrific, I thought until I came to understand the unintended costs of the dramatic improvement in the capitals air quality. To reduce the levels of hazardous particles known as PM2.5, the Chinese authorities started a major campaign in 2013 to convert coal-generated heating to gas or electric heating. But in the northern province of Hebei, for example, as overzealous local officials put the changes in place, exceeding government targets, demand for the new fuels suddenly surged creating shortages that left millions without proper heating in freezing temperatures. This is but one example of the ways in which Chinas air-pollution policy may have been a bit too successful. The Chinese government deserves credit for its resolve in tackling the problem. Yet the rapid concentration of power under President Xi Jinping helped along by the steady purging of officials suspected of corruption has put apparatchiks and bureaucrats on edge. And their rush to please has unexpectedly distorted how environmental policy is made and implemented, sometimes with unwanted consequences. TEL AVIV Last Monday, Israel learned that the son of its prime minister is an embarrassment. That evening, a recording surfaced of Benjamin Netanyahus son Yair partying in strip clubs and making lewd jokes. It produced a scandal. The prime minister was forced to respond, of course, to this affair. No doubt, it was a distraction and from something important: According to reports, the same night the younger Netanyahu was exposed as an imbecile, the Israeli air force was attacking Syrian military installations, the kind of attack that most likely requires the prime ministers authorization and his attention. The possibility of distraction is the most serious argument used by Israelis who say that it will soon be the time for Mr. Netanyahu to leave office. And the source of that distraction pales in comparison with an unruly, crude son: The prime minister is under investigation for corruption. The prime minister of the State of Israel is one of the busiest world leaders, two scholars recently said in a paper for the Israel Democracy Institute. When he spends time on and preparing for police interrogations, clearly his capacity to give his full attention to the affairs of the state is impaired. Mr. Netanyahus Likud Party has itself invoked this argument before, when Ehud Olmert, Mr. Netanyahus predecessor as prime minister, was in legal trouble. No place of work surely not the prime ministers office can afford a manager who spends most of his time consulting with his attorneys, said Gilad Erdan, then a Knesset member who is now minister of public security in the Netanyahu government. If the prime minister cannot properly do his job with a cloud of criminal suspicion hanging above him, then he must leave. Venezuelan leaders have also been preparing for asymmetrical warfare for more than a decade. And there is no chance that countries in the region would participate in an effort to topple Mr. Maduro Brazil has already stated as much. There are few good options for addressing the crisis. But while the Maduro government has the upper hand inside Venezuela, two external forces are putting pressure on the regime. First, the most significant countries in the Western Hemisphere like Brazil, Colombia, the United States and most of the European Union do not recognize the National Constituent Assembly, a body created by Mr. Maduro to rewrite the Constitution and tailor the government to fit his needs. Members of the body were elected in July, despite a boycott by the opposition, but the lack of international recognition has weakened it, and little has been accomplished in the past five months. Second, the debt sanctions levied by the Trump administration that prohibit United States citizens or institutions from buying or issuing new Venezuelan debt have hamstrung the Maduro governments ability to raise new funds. These factors are bringing the Maduro government to the negotiation table in the Dominican Republic, where the government and opposition met last week after meeting twice in December. The government wants the opposition to facilitate the lifting of sanctions and enable international recognition this gives the opposition significant leverage. In addition to the recent debt sanctions, for almost three years the United States has had targeted sanctions on Venezuelan officials accused of human rights abuses or corruption. Versions of this sanctions regime have been adopted by Canada, Mexico and the European Union. The increasingly multilateral character of sanctions makes them more effective. The United States and its partners need to avoid the temptation to broaden the scope of the sanctions. Widening economic sanctions to an oil embargo, for example, would further harm a population that is barely hanging on. And such a broadening of targeted sanctions, which are supposed to drive a wedge between those who are sanctioned and those who are not, would dull their effect: If almost everyone is sanctioned, the unity of the Maduro government would be reinforced. The usual Milanese obstruction is traffic, a slow grind to nowhere that can draw out a single blocks journey to a half-hour of agony and bring fashion week pilgrims to an interminable stop. But on Saturday, the first full day of the mens fashion shows here, there was a more novel delay: A troop of furious protesters briefly barred the entrance to the Marni show. Assassini! Assassini! they chanted you didnt need a working knowledge of Italian to get that one. They were promoting animal rights (Animali liberi!), smoking flares and grisly anti-fur posters in hand. Then, after 10 minutes or so, they dispersed and into the Marni universe you went: a trippy netherworld where the indoors is graveled like the out, and your assigned seat might be an old television, as mine was, or a radiator or a bumper car or a length of plastic hose. On Thursday, Facebook announced plans to make similar changes to its News Feed around the world. The company said it was trying to increase meaningful interaction on its site by drawing attention to content from family and friends while de-emphasizing content from brands and publishers, including The New York Times. The changes are being made as the company finds itself embroiled in a larger debate over its role in spreading fake news and misinformation aimed at influencing elections in the United States and other nations. Facebook said these News Feed modifications were not identical to those introduced last fall in six countries through its Explore program, but both alterations favor posts from friends and family over professional news sites. And what happened in those countries illustrates the unintended consequences of such a change in an online service that now has a global reach of more than two billion people every month. In Slovakia, where right-wing nationalists took nearly 10 percent of Parliament in 2016, publishers said the changes had actually helped promote fake news. With official news organizations forced to spend money to place themselves in the News Feed, it is now up to users to share information. People usually dont share boring news with boring facts, said Filip Struharik, the social media editor of Dennik N, a Slovakian subscription news site that saw a 30 percent drop in Facebook engagement after the changes. Mr. Struharik, who has been cataloging the effects of Facebook Explore through a monthly tally, has noted a steady rise in engagement on sites that publish fake or sensationalist news. The death toll in the mudslides that buried parts of Montecito, Calif., in muck and boulders has risen to 20, officials said on Sunday, and portions of Highway 101 will remain closed indefinitely. No one could have planned for the size and scope of what a 200-year storm, immediately following our largest wildfire, would bring, Eric Peterson, the chief of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, said at a news conference on Saturday. Road crews are working 12-hour shifts to reopen the highways, said Jim Shivers, a spokesman for the California Department of Transportation, known as Caltrans. Highway 101, a major artery on the Central Coast used by up to 79,000 vehicles per day, is closed for a stretch of about seven miles from Carpinteria to Santa Barbara, Mr. Shivers said in an email on Sunday. Later that day, Judge William Alsup of Federal District Court in San Francisco handed down his ruling, writing that the administration must maintain the DACA program on a nationwide basis as the legal challenge to the presidents decision goes forward. In his ruling, Judge Alsup laid out a road map for the government that officials appeared to follow. He said that previous beneficiaries of DACA, known as Dreamers, must be allowed to renew their status in the program, though the government would not be required to accept new applications from immigrants who had not previously submitted one. On Sunday morning, Mr. Trump blamed Democrats for preventing progress on a legislative deal that would permanently legalize the young immigrants and give them an eventual path to citizenship in exchange for tougher border security and enforcement measures. The president criticized Democratic lawmakers, some of whom have suggested that they will not support efforts to fund the government by a deadline later this week unless Congress passes the DACA legislation. DACA is probably dead because the Democrats dont really want it, they just want to talk and take desperately needed money away from our Military, Mr. Trump said on Twitter from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla. In a second tweet, Mr. Trump said that immigration legislation should include an end to the diversity visa lottery system, in which the State Department encourages diversity in immigration by holding a lottery for those wanting to come to the United States. The president has criticized the program as a threat to the countrys security even though people selected are screened in the same ways that other immigrants are. Mr. Trump has also said that the program undermines efforts by the administration to allow immigrants who have skills that will be beneficial to the United States. I, as President, want people coming into our Country who are going to help us become strong and great again, people coming in through a system based on MERIT, he said. No more Lotteries! #AMERICA FIRST. WASHINGTON After three days of denunciations from around the world, President Trump declared that he is not a racist on Sunday, even as the uproar over his vulgar remarks on immigration overshadowed critical issues facing the capital, including efforts to protect young undocumented immigrants and avert a government shutdown. Mr. Trump also insisted that he had not made the inflammatory comments in a White House meeting on Thursday, part of a newly aggressive defense and a counterattack on Democrats by the president and his allies. But his remarks on Sunday were a departure from the White Houses initial statement last week, which did not deny the comments. Im not a racist, Mr. Trump said on Sunday night as he arrived at Trump International Golf Club in Florida for dinner with Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, the majority leader, who attended the meeting last week and has not spoken publicly about it. I am the least racist person you have ever interviewed, that I can tell you. His comments, while extraordinary coming from a president of the United States, echoed reassurances Mr. Trump has made several times before. WASHINGTON When a federal judge in California ordered a stop last week to a key plank of President Trumps immigration agenda, he revived a debate that has simmered in this age of partisanship: the role of the impartial judiciary in American democracy. The judge, William Alsup of the Northern District of California in San Francisco, used a local case to impose a nationwide stop on Mr. Trumps order to end a program that protects young undocumented immigrants in the United States. The tactic has gained popularity among federal judges as a tool to combat perceived executive overreach. But legal scholars say it is helping to erode the idea of an impartial judiciary, and Judge Alsups decision opened him to critiques that he overstepped his boundaries by applying national orders in a regional case. The possibility of obtaining a comprehensive injunction that impedes, or even thwarts, the opposition has legal scholars worried that more plaintiffs lawyers will take cases to sympathetic judges. PALM BEACH, Fla. President Trump on Sunday morning ratcheted up a dispute with The Wall Street Journal, accusing the newspaper of purposely misquoting him as saying in an interview that he has a good relationship with the leader of North Korea. In two tweets from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., the president applied a familiar denigrating term fake news to a Journal report on Thursday that said Mr. Trump had boasted during an interview: I probably have a very good relationship with Kim Jong-un. I have relationships with people. I think you people are surprised. Mr. Trump insisted that he had actually started his sentence with the contraction Id, not I, which would change the meaning from a surprising boast of an existing relationship into a prediction that he could have a good relationship with the dictator if he wanted it. AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar When Navy Lt. William Conway is piecing together clues about a new Taliban or Islamic State terrorist cell in Afghanistan, he often falls back on skills he learned hauling crooks, swindlers and embezzlers into court in Chicago. Lieutenant Conway is not your typical military intelligence analyst. A former state prosecutor in Chicago, he comes armed for his sleuthing duties with a law degree from Georgetown University and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago. Not to mention an undergraduate degree in accounting from the University of Pennsylvanias Wharton School. All of which made Lieutenant Conway the right person at the right time, despite his relatively junior rank. He arrived at this air command center in August on Navy reservist duty to lead an Afghanistan intelligence team just as the Trump administration was ramping up its air and ground campaigns there. Working complicated embezzlement cases, it took a lot of time trying to trace individual transactions, how crimes had occurred or how a person was able to steal so much, Lieutenant Conway said in an interview. I use the same skills here, getting little nuggets of intelligence all the time some important, some not then weaving them together into a narrative. TUNIS The Tunisian authorities are moving to defuse the anger that has driven protesters to the streets over the past week and led to hundreds of arrests. As still more people gathered on Sunday to mark the seventh anniversary of the Tunisian revolution, a wave that set off the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings, the government said it was taking steps to ease the plight of the poor and the jobless. Among the measures: Government aid to needy families will be increased to $86 a month from $61, with about 120,000 families getting extra help, they said. Government officials also said they would review the retirement disbursements for some people who are being underpaid because their employers did not declare their real salary. And they said they would extend health care to all Tunisians. Early Sunday, President Beji Caid Essebsi went to a neighborhood in Tunis, the capital, to announce a new youth center. LIMA, Peru A magnitude-7.1 earthquake struck the coast of southern Peru on Sunday morning, leaving one dead and several dozen injured while causing homes and roads to collapse. The authorities walked back earlier statements that a second person had died and that 17 people were missing in a mine, signs that the human toll of the quake may not be as stark as previously feared. The quake hit offshore at 4:18 a.m. at a depth of around 22 miles, the United States Geological Survey said. The epicenter was in the Pacific Ocean around 25 miles from the town of Acari. Gov. Yamila Osorio of the surrounding Arequipa region said on Twitter that a 55-year-old man had died in the town of Yauca after being crushed by rock. Jorge Chavez, the chief of Perus Civil Defense Institute, told the local radio station RPP that 65 people had been injured, but withdrew his earlier statement that a second person had died in the town of Bella Union. Azadi Radio described Hezb-i-Islami as playing a mediating role with the Taliban insurgents, which would be a major development if true. A senior Afghan official in Kabul confirmed that talks in Istanbul had begun on Saturday and were to continue through Monday. He said representatives of the Taliban were present, but described them as unofficial. The video identified four men as Taliban negotiators, but reports said that a fifth was also present. Two of the negotiators were identified as known Taliban operatives in the past, according to Sayed Akbar Agha, a former member of the Taliban now living in Kabul. Mr. Agha said he recognized one of them from the video as Mullah Raouf Akhund, a former provincial governor for the insurgents who appeared to be leading the delegation in Istanbul. He identified another as Rahmatullah Wardak, a former Hezb-i-Islami insurgent who had defected to the Taliban, Mr. Agha said. RISHIKESH, India In 1968, the Beatles and a crew of hangers-on traded hip London threads for kurtas and wreaths of marigold, trudging through dense forest to an ashram in Rishikesh, India, where they spent weeks writing songs. There was George Harrison, a devoted follower of Transcendental Meditation; John Lennon and Paul McCartney, who had started to feud over the bands direction; and Ringo Starr, the bands drummer, who was so perturbed by Indias famously spicy food that he packed a reserve of beans for his stay at the ashram. He lasted 10 days. Scan all the photographs of Ringo in Rishikesh, and youll find few in which hes smiling, said Raju Gusain, a local journalist who has become something of an expert on the bands trip to India. These days, the forest has swallowed up the ashrams crumbling buildings, obscuring traces of celebrity from their halls. But the complex is set for a revival, with renovations planned for many of the structures, long unused and only recently reopened to the public. HONG KONG An Iranian oil tanker that collided with another vessel in the East China Sea and that had been burning for more than a week sank on Sunday, the Chinese Ministry of Transportation said. There is no hope of finding survivors, Mahmoud Rastad, the chief of Irans maritime agency, said of the missing crew members, according to The Associated Press. President Hassan Rouhani of Iran expressed his condolences and called on government agencies to investigate the tragedy and to take any necessary legal measures, according to state television. The 899-foot vessel, the Sanchi, sank at 4:45 p.m., the Chinese ministry said. On Saturday, a Chinese salvage team recovered two bodies from the stricken tanker, which had been at risk of exploding after it caught fire and was left adrift, the state news agency Xinhua reported. The four members of the team found the two bodies on deck. The Panamanian-flagged vessel collided with the CF Crystal, a Hong Kong-registered bulk freighter, around 8 p.m. Jan. 6, about 160 nautical miles east of Shanghai. That area of the East China Sea is frequently crossed by ships traveling to China, South Korea, Taiwan and Japan. All 21 Chinese crew members of the CF Crystal, which was transporting grain to Guangdong Province in southeastern China from the United States, were rescued, the Ministry of Transportation in Beijing said. The rest of the crew, including 30 Iranians and two Bangladeshis, remained missing. The Chinese foreign minister, Wang Yi, told his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, by phone on Saturday that as long as there is 1 percent of hope, China will continue to make 100 percent effort in the rescue effort, according to a report on the ministrys website. On Monday, the body of a mariner suspected of having been on the ship was recovered and sent to Shanghai for identification. The tanker was carrying 136,000 tons of condensate, a light oil, to South Korea from Iran, Chinas Ministry of Transport said. It was not clear how much had spilled or burned off after the collision. Members of the salvage team tried to get to the living quarters on the tanker, but they were driven back by temperatures on the burning ship of around 192 Fahrenheit (89 degrees Celsius), Xinhua said. Before sinking, the ship was at risk of exploding because of the presence of spilled oil as the fire raged, the Ministry of Transportation said. The United States Navy also sent a P-8A Poseidon airplane from Kadena Air Base on Okinawa, Japan. It searched about 3,600 square nautical miles without locating any missing sailors, the Navy said. The salvage team recovered the voyage data recorder, or black box from the bridge, before leaving the vessel less than half an hour after boarding because the wind had shifted and thick toxic smoke had complicated the operation, Xinhua said. The Sanchi is owned by Bright Shipping Limited, a subsidiary of the National Iranian Tanker Company registered in Hong Kong, according to the Chinese authorities and an International Maritime Organization database. The second and final round of the presidential election will help decide whether the Czech nation continues to be drawn east toward Russia and China or moves back more fully into the embrace of the European Union. The vote this month follows parliamentary elections in October won by the populist Ano movement, led by the billionaire Andrej Babis, who was then appointed prime minister. After those parliamentary elections, it seemed that the Czech Republic may be sliding to what we see in Hungary and Poland, said Jiri Pehe, who was a political adviser to President Vaclav Havel and is now the director of New York University in Prague. He was referring to the right-wing governments in those two countries, which now both have a strained relationship with the European Union over moves that critics in Brussels see as undemocratic. This election is in some ways more significant, because it will show what part of society is looking backward instead of forward, Mr. Pehe said. Mr. Zemans opponent in the presidential vote, Jiri Drahos, 68, a chemical engineer by training and the former chairman of the Czech Academy of Sciences, has presented himself as a defender of democratic values and civility. A passenger plane trying to land in Turkey this weekend made a heart-stopping skid off a runway, ending up halfway down a steep slope at a perilous angle, feet from the Black Sea. No passengers or crew members on the Pegasus Airlines flight were seriously injured, Turkish officials reported on Sunday. Yuksel Gordu, a passenger, told the official news agency Anadolu that no words could describe the fear of those on board, according to The Associated Press. Its a miracle we escaped, he said. We could have burned, exploded, flown into the sea. Thank God for this, he added. I feel like Im going crazy when I think about it. LONDON Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch on the planet, is not afraid to spill tea. The queen opens up the vault, if you will, in a BBC documentary that examines what she calls her horrible coronation nearly 65 years ago. Her dry sense of humor is on full display as she trots out the crown she wore and gives deadpan reviews about the lavish and long ceremony, summing up what it all means in an interview with the royal family reporter Alastair Bruce. He told InStyle that she had described the 1953 coronation as a pretty challenging day for her as a 25-year-old. The monarch also watched scenes of the coronation she had never seen before. Unheard of, how can political party enter into agreement with China: CJI on Congress-CPC MoU SC Judges' rebellion: CJI, judges assure BCI panel of sorting out crisis India oi-Madhuri Following the controversial press conference by four senior judges on Friday, a delegation from the Bar Council of India met Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra on Sunday. The senior lawyer told PTI that he handed over a copy of the SCBA resolution to the CJI, who assured him that he would look into it. "I met the CJI and handed over a copy of the resolution. He said that he would look into it and ensure there was congeniality in the Supreme Court at the earliest," Singh told PTI after his 15-minute meeting with Justice Misra. The Bar Council panel has also met Justice J Chelamseswar, who is the second senior-most judge of the Supreme Court after Dipak Misra. The Bar Council, the regulatory body for lawyers, is in favour of solving the issue internally. It has deputed a seven-member to meet all the judges individually. Expressing strong disapproval of judges going public with their complaints, the council said it had "shaken up the system". The press conference called on Friday by four of the Supreme Court's most senior judges to criticise the Chief Justice of India has earned the stiff disapproval of the Bar Council, who said it has "shaken up the system" and the matter should be resolved "peacefully and quickly". On Saturday, the Bar Council of India (BCI) held a meeting and said that they the council has unanimously decided to form a seven-member delegation of the Council who will meet Honourable judges of the Supreme Court. "We want that the matter is solved at the earliest," said Manan Kumar Mishra, Chairman, Bar Council of India. He also expressed displeasure at the politicians jumping into the matter of the judiciary. On January 12, four senior-most judges of the Supreme court -- justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, M B Lokur and Kurian Joseph -- had mounted a virtual revolt against the CJI at a press meet in Delhi on Friday raising litany of problems including assignment of cases. OneIndia News Delhi: 19-year-old DU student driving BMW crushes man to death India oi-Madhuri A 19-year-old student from Delhi University has been arrested after he mowed down a 50-year-old man with his speeding BMW car. The accused has been identified as Abhinav Sahni wo was behind the wheels. Sahni is said to be a first-year B.A. student studying at the Khalsa College, New Delhi. According to the police, the incident dates back to January 10 and the accused was arrested the next day but was later released on bail. The hit-and-run incident was captured on CCTV cameras. The victim, Shivender (50), was a daily wage labourer and used to live on the streets. The CCTV footage indicates, Shivendra can be seen crossing the road as speeding red BMW car approaches him, he tries a sprint but fails and lands on the bonnet of the car. Abhinav Saini has been charged under sections of rash driving and causing death due to negligence. His father, Milind Saini, is a businessman from Punjabi Bagh area in west Delhi. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, January 14, 2018, 12:50 [IST] In a first, nine Supreme Court judges to take oath at once on Tuesday Former judges write open letter to CJI, call for transparency in allocation of cases India oi-Deepika By Deepika Four retired judges, one from the Supreme Court and three from the High Court have written an open letter to the Chief Justice of India, asking him that all sensitive and important cases including pending ones, be dealt with by a Constitution Bench of the 5 senior most Judges of the Court. The former judges have urged CJI Dipak Misra to address the concerns raised by the four dissenting senior Supreme Court judges. The four senior Judges of the Supreme Court have brought to light a serious issue regarding the manner of allocation of cases, particularly sensitive cases, to various benches of the Supreme Court. Expressing support to the four senior Supreme Court judges, the retired justices said, "We agree with the four Judges that though the Chief Justice of India is the master of roster and can designate benches for allocation of work, this does not mean that it can be done in an arbitrary manner such that, sensitive and important cases are sent to hand picked benches of junior judges by the Chief Justice," they said. "This issue needs to be resolved and clear rules and norms must be laid down for allocation of benches and distribution of cases, which are rational, fair and transparent. This must be done immediately to restore public confidence in the judiciary and in the Supreme Court," the letter said. However till that is done, it is important that all sensitive and important cases including pending ones, be dealt with by a Constitution Bench of the 5 senior most Judges of this Court. "Only such measures would assure the people that the Supreme Court is functioning in a fair and transparent manner and that the power of the Chief Justice as master of roster is not being misused to achieve a particular result in important and sensitive cases," the letter said. The letter has been written by former SC judge Justice P.B. Sawant, former Delhi HC Chief Justice Justice A.P. Shah, Justice K. Chandru, former Judge of Madras High Court and former Bombay HC judge Justice H. Suresh. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, January 14, 2018, 16:45 [IST] COVID-19 vaccination: More than 50 per cent of Gujarat's adult population covered by first vaccine dose Rs 11 lakh for house or cars if you win Olympic medal: Gujarat Diamond trader promises to women's hockey team Gujarat bans "Padmaavat", says 'necessary for law and order' India oi-PTI Gujarat government on Sunday issued a notification banning the screening of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's upcoming period drama "Padmaavat" across the state, saying the step was necessary to maintain law and order. Before the Assembly polls in Gujarat in November last year, the state government had banned the film, which was earlier titled as "Padmavati". While issuing the notification today, Minister of State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja said the ban on the movie was necessary to maintain law and order. As per the notification, the ban was imposed as per the provisions of the Gujarat Cinemas (Regulation) Act of 2004. "In exercise conferred by sub-section 1 of section 6 of the Act, Government of Gujarat hereby imposes the ban on Hindi feature film 'Padmaavat'...No cinema owners or distributors shall exhibit the said movie in any cinema/multiplex/ video cinema/touring cinema within the jurisdiction of Gujarat," the notification said. It added that the ban was imposed "in public interest and to maintain law and order situation in the state". While talking to reporters here,Mr Jadeja said the act had a provision wherein the state can ban a movie if it has the potential to dilute the law and order situation and public order. "We have learnt that the movie, originally named as 'Padmavati' will be released with a new name 'Padmaavat'. However, people across the country are against the movie, as they feel that history has been distorted. With this notification, the movie will be considered as a non-certified one and will not be screened in the state," said Jadeja. The notification was issued days after the Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani announced that the ban on the movie will continue despite the change of name. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, January 14, 2018, 22:24 [IST] Chidambaram describes JNU violence as descent into fascism, Cong demands DCP to be held accountable Decision to transfer Justice Muralidhar was taken on Feb 12 with his consent Justice Muralidhar, the judge who sentenced Sajjan Kumar to life in Sikh riots case Amidst the twists, turns, delays and frustration, justice at last in Nirbhaya case If there is a God, why doesnt he ask corona to buzz off: Justice Katju Have no suspicion on death, don't harass us, says Justice Loya son India oi-Deepika By Deepika Anuj Loya, son of special CBI judge BH Loya who allegedly died under mysterious circumstances, on Sunday claimed that his family has no complaints against anyone. The statement comes in light of Congress President Rahul Gandhi's demands of a probe into the death of Justice Loya at the highest level of the Supreme Court. "I don't have any suspicion... There was some suspicion before, but now it is clear. I was 17 at that time and I was in emotional turmoil. Didn't understand anything at that time," Anuj Loya told reporters. Loya's lawyer Ameet Naik, who was accompanying him, added, "There is no conspiracy... we don't want to be victims of any political issue". Family's lawyer Ameet Naik requested everyone keep Justice Loya's death out of controversy. "There is no controversy. No need of politicising the issue. This is a tragic event. We do not want to be victims of politicisation of the issue. Let it remain the way it is, non - controversial," he added. The 48-year-old judge -- who was hearing the CBI's case of murder against BJP chief Amit Shah -- had died of a cardiac arrest in Nagpur, where he had gone to attend a wedding on December 1, 2014. Shah and several top police officers were subsequently cleared by a court. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, January 14, 2018, 20:20 [IST] Israeli PM, Modi promise to take relations between two countries to new heights India oi-Madhuri Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in India on Sunday on a six-day visit during which both the strategic partners will aim to further expand ties on a range of key areas including defence and trade, as per reports. Setting aside protocol, Modi received his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, who arrived here on a six-day visit. He welcomed Netanyahu with a hug upon his arrival. The Israeli prime minister is accompanied by his wife Sara. "Welcome to India, my friend PM @netanyahu! Your visit to India is historic and special. It will further cement the close friendship between our nations," Modi tweeted in English and Hebrew. Modi and Netanyahu later paid homage to martyrs at Teen Murti monument where the two leaders will lay a wreath at the monument, commemorating the role of three Indian regiments who fought at the battle of Haifa over a century ago. The iconic Teen Murti Chowk has been renamed after the Israeli City Haifa, a year after the plan was put on hold by the NDMC. The three bronze statues at Teen Murti represent the Hyderabad, Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers who were part of the 15 Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade. Modi will host Netanyahu for dinner on Sunday night. After the ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan forecourt, Netanyahu will hold restricted discussions with the prime minister, OneIndia News Law and order at its worst in poll-bound Karnataka, says Yogi Adityanath India oi-Deepika By Deepika Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday reiterated that law and order were at its worst in Karnataka. The statement comes a day after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the BJP was raising irrelevant issues in the state. Speaking to ANI, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said, "We do not indulge in vote bank politics. We are more focused on poverty-stricken people, farmers and women empowerment. It is true that in Karnataka, the condition of law and order is at its worst. Development and nationalism are the main issues for us and we will continue with the same in Karnataka as well". He pointed out that the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) workers have been murdered in a barbaric manner there, farmers have committed suicides and honest and loyal employees have been demeaned. "People will definitely give a befitting reply to the kind of governance being seen there", Chief Minister Adityanath stated. Asked about the BJPs attack on him on Hindutva issues, Siddaramaiah had said, "The BJP has no issues. They are raising irrelevant issues. (Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister) Yogi Adityanath is also raising the same issue. Amit Shah is also raising the same issue. (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi may also raise the same issue because they have no issues there." OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, January 14, 2018, 22:54 [IST] SC row: Unprecedented incident, a black day for judiciary, says Delhi Bar Association India oi-Deepika By Deepika The Delhi Bar Association on Sunday called the Supreme Court judges' press conference against Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra on Friday, "a black day for the judiciary. Addressing press conference on the crisis that has gripped the apex court, the Delhi Bar Association said CJI Dipak Misra should have looked into the matter beforehand. "This was a first of its kind incident and a black day for us. The Chief Justice of India should have looked into the matter beforehand. He should have called a meeting to handle things," the association said. The Delhi Bar Association gave a time limit of 7-10 days to resolve the issue, failing which it would hold discussions with all the Bar Associations of India. "If the matter isn't resolved in 7-10 days, we will call all the Bar Associations of India, hold discussions with them and take to the streets, if it comes to that, in order to make people aware," it said. Meanwhile, the Coordination Committee of All District Court Bar Associations of Delhi passed a resolution that stated that Misra should have addressed the judges' concerns beforehand. "The chief justice of India should have looked into the matter beforehand," members of the Delhi Bar Association told reporters. "He should have called a meeting to handle things. People of India have big faith in the sacred institution [the Supreme Court]. Judicial discipline should be maintained at any cost". The coordination committee said they want the chief justice and all other judges of the Supreme Court "to put their house in order". "We believe this incident occurred in absence of any legal mechanism to resolve such issues". OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, January 14, 2018, 18:59 [IST] TN: With Pongal round the corner, bulls and bull tamers get ready for Jallikattu Tamil Nadu: After 3 years, Jallikattu event organized in Madurai India oi-Madhuri Following last year's state-wide protests to ban Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu, the event is being organised in Madurai on the occasion of Pongal. People across Tamil Nadu on Sunday celebrated the harvest festival of Pongal thanking rain, sun and farm animals. The event, for which 1000 bulls and 1000 tamers were registered on Saturday with the help of aadhaar, is being held at Avaniapuram. The town is hosting the event after a gap of three years. The Madurai district administration which overlooks the event is all geared up to welcome thousands of people who take part in the bull taming event. According to the district administration, 50,000 to 1 lakh spectators are expected to witness the three-day event. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, January 14, 2018, 11:14 [IST] Trump says India has just been devastated by COVID-19 Collapse of Kabul will go down as one of the greatest defeats in American history: Donald Trump Thousands of terrorists might have been airlifted out of Kabul: Trump slams Biden Never in history has withdrawal from war been handled so badly: Trump After 1st physical test Trump found to be in 'excellent health' International pti-PTI Washington, Jan 13: US President Donald Trump, who underwent his first physical examination since taking office, is in excellent health, his physician said on Saturday. The examination at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre lasted several hours and was likely to measure things like Trump's blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, heart rate and weight. "The President's physical exam today went exceptionally well," Dr. Ronnie Jackson said in a brief statement. "The President is in excellent health," said Jackson after he conducted the first physical exam of the 45th President of the United States. Dr. Jackson has been a physician to the President for three consecutive administrations. He is scheduled to brief the media on January 16 when he is expected to provide a detailed readout of the exam. A routine annual affair for every US president, Trump's medical checkup is being widely reported and has drawn media attention in view of his political opponents raising questions about his health. Trump, 71, himself dismissed any question about his health. "I think it's going to go very well. I'll be very surprised if it doesn't," Trump told reporters on Thursday. "It (had) better go well, otherwise the stock market will not be happy," he joked in response to a question on his health. Two months before the November 2016 election, Trump released a five-paragraph letter from his longtime physician, Dr. Harold Bornstein, who concluded that Trump "is in excellent physical health." The 2016 letter put Trump's blood pressure and cholesterol measurements in the healthy range, though he uses a cholesterol-lowering statin medication. His EKG, chest X- ray, echocardiogram and blood sugar were normal. The 6-foot-3 Trump weighed 107 kilograms, and his body mass index, or BMI, of 29.5 put him in the category of being overweight for his height. PTI Iranian regime will stop at nothing to ensure survival Iranian oil tanker ablaze off China coast sinks, no survivors International oi-Deepika By Deepika An Iranian oil tanker burst into flames from end to end and sank Sunday, eight days after a collision with a cargo ship off China, state media said. The stricken tanker, called the Sanchi, which had been adrift and on fire for more than a week following the accident with another vessel in the East China Sea, had "suddenly ignited" around noon local time on Sunday, China Central Television said. "Currently it has already sunk," CCTV said, citing the Shanghai maritime search and rescue centre. It showed video of a tower of billowing black smoke and flames on the surface of the water. A Tehran official said even before news of the sinking that there was no hope of saving some 30 missing crewmen. But Chinese officials played down fears of a major environmental disaster. The Sanchi, carrying 1,36,000 tonnes of light crude oil from Iran, had been in flames since colliding with the CF Crystal, a Hong Kong-registered bulk freighter, on 6 January. Around midday Sunday the ship "suddenly ignited", with the entire vessel burning fiercely and a pall of smoke around 800-1,000 metres high, China's transport ministry said, releasing dramatic pictures showing the entire vessel obscured by thick black smoke. The ship later sank, the official news agency Xinhua cited the State Oceanic Administration as saying. "There is no hope of finding survivors among the members of the crew," Mohammad Rastad, spokesman for the Iranian rescue team dispatched to Shanghai, told Iran's state broadcaster in Tehran before the tanker went down. OneIndia News (with PTI inputs) For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, January 14, 2018, 17:39 [IST] Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. From Smirking Chimp January 11, 2018, marked the 16th year that Guantanamo prison has exclusively imprisoned Muslim men, subjecting many of them to torture and arbitrary detention. In Washington, D.C., about 30 people have gathered this week as part of Witness Against Torture, for a weeklong fast aimed at closing Guantanamo and abolishing torture forever. Four days ago, Matt Daloisio arrived from New York City in a van packed with posters and banners, plus sleeping bags, winter clothing, and other essentials for the week. Matt spent an hour organizing the equipment in the large church hall housing us. "He curates it," said one organizer. None of the 41 prisoners now in Guantanamo was captured by the U.S. military on a battlefield. Afghan militias and the Pakistani military were paid cash bounties for selling most of these prisoners into U.S. custody. Imagine the "green light" this gave for other countries to engage in the buying and selling of human beings. Aisha Manar of the London Campaign to Close Guantanamo points out that "the rights-violating practices surrounding Guantanamo are now a model for the detention and incarceration policies of the U.S. and other states." This chilling reality is reflected in Associated Press reports revealing that the United Arab Emirates operates a network of secret prisons in Southern Yemen, where prisoners are subjected to extreme torture. This has included being trussed to a rotating machine called "the grill" and exposed to a roasting fire. "Nearly 2,000 men have disappeared into the clandestine prisons," the AP reports, "a number so high that it has triggered near-weekly protests among families seeking information about missing sons, brothers and fathers." One of the main detention complexes is at Riyan Airport in Yemen's southern city of Mukalla. Former detainees, speaking on condition of anonymity, told of "being crammed into shipping containers smeared with feces and blindfolded for weeks on end. They said they were beaten, trussed up on the "grill," and sexually assaulted." A member of the Yemeni security force set up by the United Arab Emirates told AP that American forces were at times only yards away. "It would be a stretch to believe the U.S. did not know or could not have known that there was a real risk of torture," Lynn Maalouf, Amnesty International's director of research in the Middle East, said in a June 2017 statement. On January 9, 2018, Witness Against Torture members tried to deliver a letter to United Arab Emirates Ambassador Yusuf Al Otaiba, seeking his response to these reports. Security guards took our pictures but said they were unable to accept our letter. Today, joining numerous other groups for a rally in front of the White House, we'll carry one banner that says, "It would take a genius to close Guantanamo." Another says, "We are still here because you are still there." Clad in orange jumpsuits and black hoods we'll also carry placards bearing the number "41." Forty-one hearts still beat in Guantanamo prison cells. That's 41 too many. A version of this article was first published on The Progressive website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. In the face of the white supremacist attacks by Donald Trump on immigrants from Haiti, Africa, El Salvador and elsewhere, this clip from a talk by Bob Avakian answers the question "Why do people come here from all over the world?" This is an excerpt from the film BA Speaks: Revolution--Nothing Less!, a film of a talk given by Bob Avakian in the fall of 2012. Watch the full film and other selected clips here. "Yes, this is a film, but that is not its essence. This is a daring, substantive, scientific summoning to revolution. 6+ hours that can change how you see the world and what you do with the rest of your life." (Article changed on January 14, 2018 at 02:27) Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. From Robert Reich Blog Now that Trump has been president for almost a year, it's time the media called his behavior for what it is rather than try to normalize it. Here are the six most misleading media euphemisms for conduct unbecoming a president: 1. Calling Trump's tweets "presidential statements" or "press releases." "The President is the President of the United States, so they're considered official statements by the President of the United States," Trump's first press secretary, Sean Spicer, said last June when asked during his daily briefing how his tweets should be characterized Wrong. Trump's tweets are mostly rants off the top of his head -- many of them wild, inconsistent, rude, crude, and bizarre. Normal presidential statements are products of careful thought. Advisers weigh in. Consequences are considered. Alternatives are deliberated. Which is why such statements are considered important indicators of public policy, domestically and internationally. Trump's tweet storms are relevant only to judging his mood on a particular day at a particular time. 2. Referring to Mar-A-Lago as "the Winter White House." The White House says the term is accurate because Trump does official business from there, and, besides, Mar-A-Lago's former owner wanted the Palm Beach estate to become a presidential retreat. Rubbish. Unlike the White House and Camp David, the traditional presidential retreat, both of which are owned by taxpayers, Mar-a-Lago is a profit-making business owned by Trump. The White House is open for public tours; Mar-a-Lago is open only to members who can pay $200,000 to join. Mar-a-Lago, along with the other Trump resort properties that he visits regularly, constitute a massive conflict of interest. Every visit promotes the Trump resort brand, adding directly to Trump's wealth. Normal presidents don't make money off the presidency. Trump does. His resorts should be called what they are -- Trump's businesses. 3. Calling his lies "false claims" or "comments that have proved to be inaccurate." Baloney. They're lies, plain and simple. Early last year the Wall Street Journal's editor-in-chief insisted that the Journal wouldn't label Trump's false statements as "lies." Lying, said the editor, requires a deliberate intention to mislead, which couldn't be proven in Trump's case. Last fall, NPR's then news director, Michael Oreskes defended NPR's refusal to use the term "liar" when describing Trump, explaining that the word constitutes "an angry tone" of "editorializing" that "confirms opinions." In January, Maggie Haberman, a leading Times' political reporter, claimed that her job was "showing when something untrue is said. Our job is not to say 'lied.'" Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. GDP is the best measure we have of our economic wellbeing. When we say, "America is the richest country in the world," what we mean is that America has the world's highest GDP. Economic experts calculate our nation's GDP, and tell us how much better off we are this year than we were last year. They add up the value of all the things that we do for one another--well, not all the things, exactly, but the ones that are valuable, as witnessed by the fact that someone is willing to pay for them. For example, if CVS pays an ad agency $10 million to pull customers away from RiteAid, and RiteAid pays another ad agency $10 million to pull customers away from CVS, our nation's GDP rises by $20 million. Jack can't find a job, so he hires a resume consultant to burnish his resume, and as a result he gets the job instead of Jill. The money he pays to the resume consultant is part of our GDP. If Jill gets smart and hires a better resume consultant, the money she spends on the consultant increases our collective GDP as well, and this is true whether she gets a job or not. An unemployed work force with beautifully-formatted, grammatically impeccable resumes is a greater nation than a nation whose unemployed workforce all has amateurish resumes. (Image by pinterest) Details DMCA If there are a million people looking for a million jobs, then each one finds a job and the economy churns onward, with no increase or decrease in GDP. But if there are ten million people chasing after a million jobs, they will go back to school, the better to compete with one another. The tuitions paid by ten million unemployed help to put teachers to work and increase the GDP, whether or not the skills they acquire are relevant to the jobs they end up in, whether or not they learn anything in school at all. The company that expands its human resources department because there are more job applications than they have time to read also increases the GDP thereby. If I break your car windshield and steal the stereo from inside, the $1,000 you pay for a new windshield and the $500 you pay for a new stereo both count toward an increase in our nation's GDP. The alarm system you buy and the money paid to the policeman to investigate and the money paid to cut down the trees so he has paper to fill out his forms in triplicate and the cost of pumping oil from the ground and refining it into gasoline so the thief (me) and the victim (you) and the policeman can all drive around doing these things -- all this contributes to increasing our nation's GDP. So does next year's increase in your insurance premium. If I organize a volunteer block patrol in my neighborhood that prevents these crimes, these increases in the GDP will not occur. The programmers who work for Goldman Sachs design computer programs that can buy a stock for $100 and sell it one thousandth of a second later for $100 + 10 cents. These programmers make millions of dollars a year that adds to our GDP. When the programmer at JP Morgan across the street figures out how to do the same transaction in a tenth of a thousandth of a second, he has increased his company's productivity tenfold. Productivity is how we justify our salaries, so this man's salaray will rise. His benefits and the cost of his office and the equipment he uses and his assistant and his business lunch tab all add to our GDP. Goldman will not take this sitting down--they will invest more in programmers next year to take back the lead from Morgan. Productivity goes up and up. Our standard of living rises as a logical consequence. If Trump's EPA rolls back air quality standards, then less pollution control equipment is sold, lowering our GDP. But have no fear, this will be more than compensated by the increased number of children who come to ERs with complaints of asthma. The increased cost of caring for asthma patients will lead to a net increase in GDP. If an expert economist gets a $100,000 contract from the Department of Commerce to advise them how to increase the nation's GDP, this contributes $100,000 to our GDP. If I write this article and post it on OpEdNews, our nation's GDP remains unchanged. How much of the spending that we count towardl our GDP actually goes to support our lives and our comfort and our amusement and our edification? I estimate, about 25%. How much goes to zero-sum competition among people scrambling for the scraps that capitalism has thrown us? About 75%. Pity the poor country that is surviving with only one fourth the GDP of our great nation. Hungaray, Trinidad and Uruguay are in this pitiful category. I believe the technical term for such a country is, "sh*thole". Hungary is an example of an honest sh*thole, eating its heart out each year that it can't be a rich country like the US of A. Bhutan is the worst example of a hypocritical sh*thole, where they regard "Gross Domestic Product" as sour grapes, and speak of "Gross Domestic Happiness" instead, because they know they can't compete with the big boys. The Sh*thole of Bhutan - Could anyone be happy in a country like this? (Image by Bhutan Tourist Board) Details DMCA I hope this article has helped you to understand how GDP is calculated, and why it is important for the USA to maintain its economic leadership, and why our Department of the Treasury and our Department of Commerce and Federal Reserve Board and Council of Economic Advisors are seeking ever more ways to push our GDP upward. Progress is measured by our GDP. Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. (This is a reprint from NewsBred). Narendra Modi's Bihar (Image by newsmeasurements) Details DMCA In an old Bollywood flick which starred my favourite actor Dilip Kumar, there's a scene towards the end: Shankar (Dilip Kumar), hitherto penniless but now Raja of Belapur, returns and asks his former master Ramesh (Pran) if he coud have the hand of Roopa (Waheeda Rehman) in marriage. Pran, now a virtually destitute, begins jumping up and down in disdain and contempt. He almost spits at Dilip Kumar and yells in his there-you-are moment: "Tum kal bhi bhikhari the, aaj bhi bhikari ho (You were a beggar then, you are a beggar now). In political terms, today's Dilip Kumar is Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Pran is Congress and Waheeda Rehman is India . BJP has bigger footprints on India than Congress ever had in the last 50 years yet it seems to be seeking vindication all the time from the forces aligned against it. In this defensive frame of mind, it is steadily eroding its own plinth of authority, honesty and mass support. Its only time before it collapses in a heap. BJP's Achilles' heel is its' mindset: It doesn't want to be seen as a Hindu rightwing party. Their philosophy is that Hinduism has always been all inclusive; that India can't rise to its full potential without everyone putting in its shoulders; that it must not be seen at any time as an extremist, fascist force. Above all, it seems to seek approval from hitherto dominant class-- like Dilip Kumar sought from Pran in the movie. BJP wants to avoid social polarization. But the polarization has already taken place. The polarization has been caused by Left-Liberals but the blame has come the BJP's "Hindutva" way. Bravo. And has this really earned BJP, one side of the polarization, the Hindu side? You must be joking. Hindus are fed up that their cultural space is shrinking; Right to Education or to temples isn't part of main discourse; that its brothers and sisters are being mercilessly slaughtered in Bengal, Kerala and in neighbouring Bangladesh; that bigger issues like Ram Janmabhoomi, Article 370 and punishing the corrupt politicians is no better than a mirage. Damningly, if this is BJP why not Congress, is a question being asked by million of Hindu supporters. BJP today needs to retain and grow its support base; bring the corrupt politicians to book and take its' information campaign to stratosphere. Let's first tackle the last-named issue around which the other two issues revolve. INFORMATION WAR The verdict is: BJP is losing it, if it has already not lost it. So far, independent foot soldiers, a handful like me, have responded to their conscience, either moved by the lies of Lutyens Media; a passion to revive our heritage; or to boot out Congress-Left which has kept India only notionally independent. Such foot-soldiers are aware of colonial powers who are working in the background through their global propaganda machinery and NGOs. Noble as these foot-soldiers are, it's unlikely they can cope for long with forces which are well-funded and lack neither resources nor the surround noise. Websites like TheWire, Scroll, Huffington Post;; mainstream Lutyens' Media and their international extensions such as The New York Times, Washington Post, The Economist etc; along with entrenched academicians control the information matrix of our everyday lives. BJP simply would have to activate its' muscular well-wishers and create a similar ecosystem. It would require funds, resources and an unshakeable will. It doesn't have to feel shy or apologetic about fighting the ideological war. It could only happen if BJP is ready to gets its hands dirty. Not being apologetic or defensive. "Dharma" must prevail even if Dronacharya, Bhishma, Karna or Duryodhan are seen being taken down by deception. Perception is all. Today, after winning 19 states, BJP is seen as loser. While a party with 44 Lok Sabha and with a leader who loses every single election despite the local crutches is being hailed as a winner. Why, even Manmohan Singh seems to have found his voice. Today, millions of BJP supporters are unsure. It's because in two sides of a story, its only the Congress story which is reaching the masses. Millions are unsure if in BJP they are supporting the right party. It's for BJP to be firmly in front of this ideological war. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Puerto Rico is a beautiful island that is still struggling with the destruction left by terrible storms and a weak response from our federal government. I saw it myself on a Massachusetts delegation trip to Puerto Rico on Friday. Nearly four months after Hurricane Maria hit, we were concerned that attention to the island had dropped off, and we wanted to see first-hand what was going on now. It was a day of extremes -- resilience and hope were side-by-side with indifference and incompetence. Hospital del Nino, the children's hospital in San Juan, is home to almost three dozen children with severe disabilities from families of limited means. It also provides rehabilitation, therapy, and similar services to thousands of other children. The building is solid -- almost a century old -- and the children's living spaces and therapy areas are scrubbed clean and decorated in cheerful colors. During the storm, the dedicated staff moved the frightened children into interior hallways and held on. When an enormous tree branch smashed down, they heard the crash and felt the whole building shake. Afterwards, they were without power for days. Then came what hospital leaders called a "blessing": workers from Tesla arrived to set up solar panels and batteries that provided power for about 18 hours a day. With that help, the hospital never needed to stop operating. Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. This piece was reprinted by OpEdNews with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source. Memorial Day Prayer service (Image by US Embassy New Zealand) Details DMCA If there is such a thing as "Political Islam", then, by the same logic there are many other "politicals". Some of these would include "Political Christianity", "Political Humanitarianism", and "Political Feminism". A constant thread running through all of these "politicals" is that they are fraudulent. They are concepts that subvert, displace, and weaponize that which they profess to represent. "Political Islam" is anti-Islamic. "Political Christianity" is anti-Christian. "Political Humanitarianism" is anti-humanitarian, and "political feminism" is anti-feminism. "Political Islam" as represented by Wahhabism is an anti-Islamic extremist ideology that is grown nurtured and sustained by US imperialism which imposes mass murder, destruction, chaos and sectarianism on prey nations such as Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq, and Syria. "Political Islam" is a tool for its counterparts who, by the same logic, would be described as "Political Christians". Everything the so-called Christians do is anti-Christian, and this includes its support for the aforementioned terror proxies and its anti-humanitarian bombing campaigns, all of which is deepening the overseas holocaust and erasing Christian populations from where they previously flourished. Political Islam and its "Christian" counterparts are in fact trying to destroy everything in Syria that is representative of religion correctly interpreted: religious tolerance, religious icons, religious pluralism, and civilized society. All of these anti-religious regime change wars are also, necessarily anti-humanitarian and anti-feminist. In terrorist-occupied areas of Syria, for example, women and men do not have "human rights." Those who oppose the occupation are tortured, imprisoned, murdered, or all of the above. If NATO and its allies succeed in Syria, all Syrian women (and men) will be denied basic human rights. But this hasn't stopped Hollywood star Angelina Jolie[1] from injecting her brand of "political feminism" in the mix by suggesting that NATO can be a leader in defending women's rights. NATO is in fact a leader in destroying women's rights, and it always will be. When NATO imposes mass death and destruction on non-belligerent prey countries such as those mentioned above, it necessarily erases human rights -- including the rights of multitudes of innocent men and women to live. Screenshot The Guardian December 10, 2017 Strange times we live in when the military organization that weaponizes religion, and is most responsible for the current overseas holocaust, is tasked with being an agency to advance religious and human rights. * Note Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. [First published by Eurasia Review] Shahid Beshesti University (SBU), Tehran, January 14, 2018. On several occasions, meeting with brilliant, tech-savvy Iranian university students who are thoroughly charming, fearless and outspoken, this observer is presented a very different picture of what Iranians are facing than what is being offered by some pro-regimen internet bloggers and water carriers. It is from Iranian students, among others that this observer has learned during recent scintillating conversations about current events in Iran as well student's radiant optimism about Iran's future if what they call the current "theocratic dictatorship" is removed. More than 1,000 students, most of whom attend Tehran or Beshesti Universities are among approximately 4,000 Iranian civilians who have been arrested, more than 200 in "preventive detention." This, according to reports from the Iranian Students' News Agency which quoted Mahmoud Sadeghi, a reformist member of parliament as complaining that "many of those arrested were not even involved in protests." One Iranian woman, speaking from Europe, told Fox News by phone on 1/9/2017 that her family member -- 31-year-old Alireza Gomar -- suffered a "bullet in the heart" while demonstrating outside an office for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Tuyserkan, Hamadan Province, on 12/31/2017. The relative said he was rushed to the hospital by fellow activists but later died and that members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards took his body -- and others who had been wounded -- directly from the hospital. "Our family had to beg to get the body back. The Guards wanted them first to agree to be silent, to not tell the media what had happened," the relative claimed. "Only after five days did they get his body back as the family kept up the pressure, but there were IRGC surrounding the funeral." Unlike the widespread 2009 election fraud protests, which left at least 30 citizens dead and hundreds jailed with some politicians still under house arrest eight years later, the current protests are not only about various specific economic grievances but rather they constitute an historic challenge to the very presumption of an Islamic republic. Also unlike 2009, Iranians today have a powerful weapon in social/mass media communication, which, while being franticly targeted by the regime, will survive and it will grow. It's true that seemingly panicked hard-liner Iranian clerics have recently been calling for Iran to create its own indigenous social media apps, blaming current social apps for the uprising. Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami preached this during last week's Friday prayers in Tehran. He insisted that when the regime blocked social media "the riots stopped." Khatami insists that "the nation does not support a social network because its key is in the hand of the United States and that anyone who burned Iran's flag should be sentenced to death." This view is agreed to, but qualified slightly, by the Ali Khomeini who blames the usual suspects, the USA, Israel and Saudi Arabia. The regime has blocked much social media but without significant intimidation of protesters. Regime officials last week also announced that teaching English in Iran opened the way to a western "cultural invasion" and the regime has now banned the teaching of English in primary schools, a senior education official has announced. "Teaching English in government and non-government schools is against laws and regulations," Mehdi Navid-Adham, head of the regimes high education council, told state television. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei voiced outrage over the "teaching of the English language spreading to nursery schools, insisting that "this is the promotion of a foreign culture in the country and among children, young adults and youths." A video of the announcement of the ban has become a joke in Iran and is being widely circulated by students and others on social media with Iranians calling it "the filtering of English" while sarcastically comparing it to the recent blocking of the popular apps Telegram, and Instantgram by the government. The formidable impediments regime internal security forces are currently targeting protestors with, according to students at Tehran and Beshesti Universities, and other Iranians, as well as research by Iran scholar Saeid Golkar include some of the following: The main security, military, and judicial branches of Iran's coercive apparatus are the police (NAJA), the Basij, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). All are under the control of Ali Khamenei. The NAJA (police) national police commandership oversees all of Iran's 31 provinces, each of which controls all police stations in a specific province. Each city within a province has one disciplinary area (nahieh-e entezami) that administers all police stations. Normally, according to a Professor at Tehran University, every Iranian police station has deputies of prevention, of intelligence, of inspections, of operations, as well as a judiciary police official. There are approximately 200,000 police with 100,000 additional support staff. Roughly 40% of the latter work for various surveillance organizations that closely monitor more than 4,600 neighborhoods. In addition to the police, Iran's notorious Basij target students and other protestors regardless of the subject, should they criticize the regime. Iran's Basij is the largest civil militia organization in the world, including China and Russia's. It has approximately six million members working from twenty-four branches with four rankings, regular, active, cadre, and special. The Basij also operate a network consisting of Basij bases, districts, and regions. The Basij bases operate in more than 50,000 locations throughout Iran and students claim not much ever happens, on or off campus, without them keeping close tabs. Each Basij district operates ten to fifteen bases and is home to around 45 sundry, opaque local security and military forces. These districts are controlled by IRGC regional branches. The Basij also operate security and military units, including the Imam Ali Security Battalions, which are trained in special tactics such as the use of customized bespoke weapons and motorcycles to suppress unrest. Some active Basij members are organized into rapid-reaction battalions called the Beit al-Muqaddas, with responsibility for defending vital installations in their neighborhoods. In addition, the IRGC operates approximately a dozen regional headquarters with each commanding a handful of provincial corps specializing in neutralizing opposition to the regime such as protests and insurgency. All members of the IRGC Ground Forces and Basij report to their local IRGC provincial corps and focus on quelling internal disorder. The IRGC-IO also has its Basij intelligence staff (stead-e khaberi-e Basij), whose members operates in Iran's estimated 4,000 Basij districts. Much like the Herasat noted below, the Basij intelligence officers act as the regime's eyes and ears by monitoring citizen activities and keeping files on local activists. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. From Counterpunch Oprah Winfrey delivered a rallying cry to women and hope for .a new day.. (Image by YouTube, Channel: Washington Post) Details DMCA I remember my first impression of the Reality Television program American Idol. I cringed at the thought, what if, a young Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, or the members of The Clash had been forced to have their talents appraised by the sort of shallow celebrities, supercilious moderators, and gallery of lowest common denominator-giddy cretins attendant to the hype-driven fare. Yet now, there is serious talk among abjectly unserious people that the next presidential election might pit a billionaire, Reality Television grifter versus a billionaire, Reality Television grifter. All hail, The President of the United States Of Reality Television. Oprah Winfrey is and has been since her entrance into the US mass media hologram one of the capitalist elite's most effective propagandists. By intention, her New Age snake oil-peddling patter never connects capitalist exploitation as the dominant source of individual suffering. Of course not. Oprah is a US American huckster in the model of Norman Vincent Peale. She retails in the con job that a paucity of positive thinking -- in essence, personal failings -- is the source of individual angst, alienation, anomie, and suffering in general under the neoliberal order. Yet there is hope, she confides. A positive change in attitude will shift the course of one's destiny. Thereby, she steers her rapt adherents away from the shedding of internalized, capitalist engendered false consciousness, and, on a cultural basis, the paradigmatic shift required to steer humankind away from ecological catastrophe. It should go without saying that me-first-er Oprah, the obscenely wealthy virgin queen of the neoliberal order, would become a prominent promulgator of me-too myopia and its bourgeoisie feminist refusal to connect capitalist exploitation of any and all aspects of human life imposed by her fellow members of capitalism's criminal class. Wealth inequity and wage and debt slavery are forms of predation. Yet notice this dominant and guiding feature of the mindset, a given since the rise of the Weltanschauung in the Western, Christian imagination: Oprah's breed of Calvinist crusader animus, as a rule, will be incurred when the human genitals can be blamed as a key source of human misery. Collectively, according to its gospel, we wretches can start the slog back from our exile within the sin-ridden precincts sprawling east of Eden, if only we scour away the denizens of darkness by a devotion to the purifying gospel of positivity. Resultantly, sinners will become doubt-cleansed devotees of a quasi-religious order, a righteous order in which its canticles and catechisms will vanquish all negative thoughts and untoward inclinations. Redemption and rebirth will be bestowed by the cultivation of a right-thinking, true believer aura thereby a variable pentecost of prosperity will descend upon the keepers of the faith. Never question the degradations of capitalism; instead, keep your eye on the prize of careerist success, a given and deserved destiny for the right thinking but a perpetual rebuke to those possessed by the imps of negativity and the demons of carnality. Oprah preaches a Gospel Of Redemption. Yet, in ways both explicit and implicit, she urges her followers to attempt to adapt to an economic system that is irredeemable. She retails Horatio Alger bunkum to a soul-sick audience inhabiting a planet taxed to the point of ecological catastrophe. The old verities have ossified. Levels of discontent and despair, mirroring rates of greenhouse emission engendered methane feedback loops, are increasing at exponential rates. Yet Oprah continues shilling reality-veiling palliatives to a populace languishing in depression, drug dependency, and an addiction to manic forms of distraction. At this point, I request readers bear with me for a moment until I arrive at my point by means of a series of digressive, rhetorical tropes, both anecdotal and collective in form. Recently, on Facebook, I have witnessed, hovering on my newsfeed, a proliferation of recent New York Times pieces addressing seemingly tabloid fodder and 1950s B movie plot lines, bearing headlines such as: "2 Navy Airmen and an Object That 'Accelerated Like Nothing I've Ever Seen'" "Glowing auras and 'black money': The Pentagon's mysterious UFO program" "U.F.O.s: Is This All There Is?" When I posted a (humorous) take on the subject on my Facebook page, both the number on of and emotional charged nature of responses to the post was striking, even by the less than decorous to outright bughouse standards of social media. The post read as follows: Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Progressive Content Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their progressive content after publishing. To see if the progressive content was renamed or re-published, please click here. Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. From Gush Shalom NO, I don't want to write about the affair of Ya'ir Netanyahu. I refuse adamantly. No force in the world will compel me to do so. Yet here I am, writing about Ya'ir, damn it. Can't resist. And perhaps it is really more than a matter of gossip. Perhaps it is something that we cannot ignore. IT IS all about a conversation between three young man in a car, some two years ago. One of the young men was Ya'ir, the eldest of the two sons of the Prime Minister. Ya'ir is named after the leader of the "Stern Gang," whose real name was Abraham Stern. The original Ya'ir split from the Irgun underground in 1940, when Britain stood alone against Nazi Germany. While the Irgun stopped its actions against the British government for the time being, Stern demanded the very opposite: exploit the moment in order to get the British out of Palestine. He was shot by the British police. The modern Ya'ir and his two friends were on a drunken tour of Tel Aviv strip-tease joints, an appellation which often seems to be a polite way of describing a brothel. Somebody took the trouble to record the conversation of the young men -- the sons of the Prime Minister and two of the richest "tycoons" in the country. This recording has now surfaced. Since the publication, hardly anyone in Israel is talking about anything else. According to the recording, Ya'ir demanded from of his friend, Nir Maimon, 400 shekels (about 100 dollars), in order to visit a prostitute. When the friend refused, Ya'ir exclaimed: "My father gave your father a concession worth a billion dollars, and you refuse to give me 400 shekels?" The concession in question concerns the rich gas fields out in the sea near Israel's shores. In an especially disgusting display of his utter contempt for the female sex, Ya'ir also offered to provide all his friends with the sexual services of his ex-girlfriend. THIS RECORDING raises a whole pile of questions, each more unpleasant than the next. First of all: who made it? Apart from Ya'ir and his two pals, there were only two persons present; the driver of the car and a bodyguard. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. Gigaset C595 on .Big Bang Theory. (CBS) (Image by Hollywood_PR) Details DMCA She wrote of her relative lack of personal experience with such harassment, seeming to credit her unconventional appearance, and her modest dress and behavior. Having read both the original op-ed, and one of the critics, I tend to think that Bialik was not quite given enough credit for her nuanced argument. She clearly states that women should be able to dress however they want. I can also see, however, how her implied causal connection between her experience and her behavior could give feminists pause. I can related to Bialik. I've never sought to live up to the exacting standards women are bombarded with daily - from media, advertising, the fashion industry, and casual comments. I was the kid whose mom literally chased me around the house saying "Just a little rouge!" I spent much of my time as a teen and young adult fighting tooth and nail against those expectations - I felt them keenly. As I watched my daughters grow up, I looked on with annoyance as they watched shows like "What Not to Wear," with the arbitrary "rules" the hosts imposed on their female guests: one must show some cleavage, and wear shorter skirts. Women who resisted were deemed to have low self esteem. ("Don't ever put me on one of those shows!" I would say.) I also felt a sense of safety in dressing modestly; anything else seemed to add a layer of vulnerability to the ever-present fear of sexual assault (and for being blamed for it.). At the same time, I know that the protection modesty affords women is illusory. Crime statistics are replete with a broad variety of victims of sexual assault (although college-age women appear to be especially vulnerable.) The "What She Was Wearing" exhibit illustrates the folly of connecting sexual assault to mode of dress. (I was once told by a fellow doctoral student that my sweatpants suit was provocative!) The problem with the feminist critique of Bialik, however, is its framing of the issue as "victim blaming" vs. "free choice." Given all the pressure I've felt to conform to conventional standards of beauty, I can't see the choice to adopt those standards in a vacuum. A 2017 research article in the Journal of Eating Disorders, explored the issue of women's response to pressures to sexualize their appearance. They found a relationship between those pressures and college women's self-doubt, anxiety, and self-objectification. This pressure seems to have intensified, from the time I was a young woman. Suggestive clothing for even pre-pubescent girls seems to have become a popular offering in stores. It's become a topic of so much concern, that The American Psychological Association warned of its negative effects on girls psychological health; as the head of a task force on the matter revealed: "We have ample evidence to conclude that sexualization has negative effects in a variety of domains, including cognitive functioning, physical and mental health, and healthy sexual development." So, while the critics of the victim-blaming clearly have a point - even though they might have over-simplified an op-ed - we need to questions where societal pressure ends, and free choice begins. (Article changed on January 14, 2018 at 23:34) Data Masking Technology Market Analysis, Segments, Growth and Value Chain 2017-2027 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2777 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-2777 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ The data masking technology market is growing as industries ranging from BFSI to government are becoming extremely cautious to the internal hacking and data privacy concerns. Recent technologies like big data where massive databases are generated, exposing it to greater risk.In order to address these concerns for preventing outside attacks, data masking technology is used which can be used to and analyze the data in proxy.Request For Report Sample:Data masking technology provide data security by cloning the original data into a non-sensitive proxy which look like similar data. This non-sensitive data can be used in business process for testing and analysis without the risk of breaking the business. Dynamic masking is the recent trend in database access which is growing.Market drivers & challenges:Data masking technology market is mainly driven by the need for data security and privacy concerns.Data masking technology market is also driven by generation of large amount of data which is to be analyzed and tested without disturbing the normal business operations. Companies mainly prefer in data masking technology for Testing and analysis of the data, Production Database Protection and compliance for diverse requirements.Recently in data masking technology market there is significant growth in dynamic masking which is used to operate on masked data in real-time.Global Data Masking Technology Market: SegmentationGlobal Data Masking Technology market is segmented based on the end-user verticals, deployments models and region.On the basis of the end-user vertical the global Data Masking Technology market is segmented into BFSI, retail, telecomm, health care, energy, education, automobile, public sector and others.On basis of deployment models global Data Masking Technology market can be segmented to ETL, In-Place masking and dynamic masking.On basis of region global Data Masking Technology market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan and the Middle East and Africa (MEA).Market Overview:Data Masking Technology market is an emerging market and growth rate during the projected period is due to entrant of large number of data masking software providers and due to the growth of dynamic masking.North America is dominant in Data Masking Technology market and followed by Western Europe during the period. Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow at a faster rate during the forecast period.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):Key Market Players:Some of the Key players in Data Masking Technology market are Informatica Corporation, CA Technologies, Camouflage software Inc., Delphix Corp, IBM Corporation,Compuware Corporation, Net 2000 Ltd, Oracle Corporation and Hewlett Packard Enterprise.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.Contact Us:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Flexible Printed Circuit Boards Market Volume Analysis, Segments, Value Share and Key Trends 2017-2027 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2810 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-2810 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ Flexible printed circuit boards are widely used in an array of electronic devices that have complex circuitry. Besides efficient interconnectivity solutions, flexible PCBs offer another benefit viz. reduced system maintenance. Compact in size, flexible PCBs also reduce the entire costs of interconnectivity solutions. Consistently growing preference for printed circuit boards over conventional wiring systems used in various electronic devices, will continue to foster the market for flexible PCBs over the next 10 years.Request For Report Sample:Future Market Insights assesses the global market for flexible printed circuit boards for a 10-year period, 2017-2027. The report offers insightful information about the key factors impacting the market growth during the forecast period, in-depth segmentation analysis, regional outlook, and an extensive view of the competitive market landscape.Key Market DynamicsThe demand for flexible printed circuit boards by manufacturers of smartphones, other mobile devices, LCD display, connectivity antennas, and rechargeable batteries, is currently on the rise. With exploding consumer electronics sector, soaring popularity of IoT, and growing applications in the automotive sector are identified to be the key factors that are likely to hold a positive impact on the sales of FPCBs in near future. Quality performance and high packaging flexibility of flexible PCBs will continue to make them highly preferred interconnectivity solutions in near future.Surging adoption of multilayer FPCBs and increasing use of rigid-flex FPCBs are likely to be among the most prominent trends in the global flexible printed circuit boards market. The demand for automated robots is evidently increasing, indicating lucrative growth opportunities to emerge for key market players over the next decade. Innovation in fabrication technology and circuit materials is expected to push the market further.Current Market TrendsAlthough consumer electronics has been the primary consumer for flexible PCBs over the years, consumption by automotive electronics sector is expected to gather significant momentum during the assessment period, fuelling the sales globally. Demand from aerospace and defence industry will also remain significant during the forecast period.Increasing demand for small, flexible electronics will be an important trend in the market. Another trend expected to hold a positive influence on market, includes growing use of flex circuits in electronic wearables. Moreover, emerging interest in polymer plastic solar cells and foldable or rollable smartphones will create a plethora of opportunities for key market players in near future. An emerging trend of disposable electronics will also support market growth over the next few years. FPCB manufacturers are likely to encounter with a number of opportunities in healthcare sector.However, high initial costs associated with flexible PCBs will remain a longstanding roadblock to rapid mass adoption of the technology.Market SegmentationBy type:Multi-layer FPCBsRigid-flex FPCBsSingle-sided FPCBsDouble-sided FPCBsOthersMulti-layer flexible printed circuit boards will continue to gain high traction owing to superior resilience and high efficiency.By end-user application:Consumer electronicsIndustrial electronicsAutomotive electronicsOthersConsumer electronics and automotive electronics are currently the major revenue generating application segments in the global market for flexible PCBs.By region:North AmericaLatin AmericaWestern EuropeEastern EuropeAsia PacificMiddle EastAPAC has been the leading market for FPCBs since the past decade. Being a hub for electronics manufacturing, this region will possibly remain a key region over the forecast period as well. China, India, and Japan are likely to be the key countries within the Asian market for flexible printed circuit boards.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):Key Market PlayersSome of the most prominent companies competing in the global flexible printed circuit boards market, include:Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. (SEI)Zhen Ding Technology Holding Limited (ZDT)NOK Corporation (Nippon Mektron Ltd.)Fujikura Ltd.Interflex Co., Ltd.Young PoongCareer TechnologyFLEXium Interconnect, Inc.Multi-Fineline Electronix, Inc.ICHIA Technologies Inc.Nitto Denko Corp.SEMCOIbidenDaeduckTripodUnimicronHannstar Board TechnologyNan Ya Printed Circuit BoardKingboard Chemical HoldingsMultekABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.Contact Us:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Mobile Money Market Growth, Trends, Absolute Opportunity and Value Chain 2017-2027 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2800 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-2800 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ Population in the emerging economies are getting adaptive to the advanced technology. The usage of smart devices is getting traction in the developing regions with better communication facilities. Majority of the low-income group population in the emerging countries make transactions using informal mode of networks that are prone to theft and have high transactional costs.Request For Report Sample:Mobile money is the innovative payment type that is bridging the gap by providing financial services through mobile devices, offering from simple person-to-person transfers to complex banking transactions. Mobile money is easy, secure, fast, and affordable way of making payment, transferring money, and performing other transactions using mobile phone.Person-to-person nature of payment is expected to experience growth in the mobile money market in the forecast period owing to the banks offering highlighted convenience of immediate transfers including withdrawals and deposits through mobile devices. Mobile money services are accessed through SMS, and multiple transaction modes such as direct mobile billing, SIM toolkit (STK) or unstructured supplementary service data (USSD), mobile web/wireless application protocol systems are also widely adopted.Mobile Money Market: Drivers and ChallengesIncreasing awareness, urbanization and ever-changing technology encourage adoption of mobile money services fueling the growth of mobile money market. The ease of using an app or any other transaction mode for making a transaction is making people familiar to the innovations. People are increasingly preferring mobile payment mode in order to eliminate the threat of theft. These factors positively impact the growth of mobile money market.Reliability and security are among the prime challenges that impact negatively to the growth of mobile money market. Few other factors restraining the growth of mobile money market include limited knowledge among the users to transact in mobile devicesMobile Money Market: SegmentationMobile Money Market can be segmented on the basis of mode of transaction, nature of payment, location, type of purchase, vertical and region.On the basis of mode of transaction, mobile money market can be segmented into Near Field Communication, contact cards, combination cards, SMS, USSD, QR-code, direct mobile billing, mobile apps, others.On the basis of nature of payment, mobile money market can be segmented into person-to-business, business-to-business, business-to-person, person-to-personOn the basis of location, mobile money market can be segmented into proximity payment and remote paymentsOn the basis of type of purchase, mobile money marketcan be segmented into money transfer and payments, travel and ticketing, airtime transfer and top-ups, merchandise and coupons, digital products, and others.On the basis of vertical, mobile money market can be segmented into banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI), travel and logistics, retail, IT and telecommunication, energy and utility, government offices and education, healthcare, and others.Mobile Money Market: Regional OverviewRegionally, mobile money market can be segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, and Middle East and AfricaNorth America and Western Europe hold the major market shares presently and are expected to dominate in the forecast period owing to the increased adoption and usage of latest technologies among the population and major telecom companies headquartered in the regions also aids the mobile money market in the regions. Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Middle East and Africa are among the emerging regions and are expected to experience maximum growth in the forecast period. Countries such as India in the region Asia Pacific excluding Japan is experiencing huge adoption of mobile money services in the recent time due to digitization and urbanization initiatives taken by the government of the country.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):Mobile Money Market: Competition LandscapeFew prominent players in the mobile money market include:Vodafone Group Plc, Fortumo, Google Inc., Mastercard incorporated, Mahindra comviva, Paypal, Bharti Airtel Limited, Monitise Plc., Orange SA, Ingenico Group, Infobip Ltd./Centili, Verifone Systems Inc.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.Contact Us:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Smart Irrigation Market Expected to Expand at a Steady CAGR through 2027 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3159 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3159 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ Rising importance for efficient irrigation solutions and watering practices is the key factor drives the growth of global smart irrigation market. Smart irrigation system is an automated system, provides plants the exact water when its required without any manual intervention. Smart irrigation system automatically adjust the watering schedule based various real-time parameters including water content of the plant, wind speed, wind direction and local weather data. Smart irrigation practises delivers various advantage, including environmental sustainability, reduced labor cost, and also lowers the expense of water usage.Request For Report Sample:Global Smart Irrigation Market: Market DynamicsIncreasing government initiatives to promote water conservation, expanding farming operations cost and growing importance to increase farm profit by utilizing automated irrigation solutions are the primary factors drives the growth of global smart irrigation market. Additionally, increasing research and development investment for developing reliable irrigation scheduling solutions, growing interest on developing smart irrigation solutions using internet of things (IoT) and continuous advancement in sensing and monitoring technologies, accelerates the growth of global smart irrigation market. Also, increasing need to monitor and control the water requirements of the field due to inadequate rainfall and water scarcity across the world, further expected to fuel the growth of global smart irrigation market. However, lack of awareness regarding the potential benefits of smart irrigation solutions and high implementation cost are the factors identified as the restraints likely to deter the progression of global smart irrigation market.Global Smart Irrigation Market: Market SegmentationThe global smart irrigation market is segmented on the basis of component, technology, application and by region. On the basis of component, the global smart irrigation market is segmented into hardware and software, the hardware sub-segment can be further segmented into sensors, controllers, sprinkler nozzles and others. On the basis of technology, the global smart irrigation market is segmented into evapotranspiration based smart irrigation technology and soil moisture based smart irrigation technology. On the basis of application, the global smart irrigation market is segmented into agriculture and non-agriculture. Regionally, the global smart irrigation market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa (MEA), Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) and Japan.Global Smart Irrigation Market: Market: Market SegmentationNorth America smart irrigation market is expected to dominate the market due to increased focus on water conservation solutions and supportive adequate infrastructure to implement smart irrigation solutions. Asia pacific smart irrigation market is identified as the fastest growing market, due to growing interest on technology based agriculture practices and continuous focus to improve agricultural productivityRequest For Report Table of Content (TOC):Global Smart Irrigation Market: Market:Competition LandscapeSome of the prominent vendors in the global smart irrigation market, includes Hunter Industries, Rain Bird Corporation, Netafim, HydroPoint Data Systems, Inc., Rachio Inc., The Toro Company, Calsense, Galcon, Blossom and Green Electronics LLC (RainMachine)ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.Contact Us:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Research Report and Overview on Fleet Management Market, 2017-2027 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3186 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3186 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ Fleet management (FM) is broadly used to define solutions for different vehicle related applications. Fleet management solution is a vehicle-based system which is similar to GPS but the difference is it also used for logging in data to the systems, GPS and data communication to a back office application.Due to increase in mobile network connectivity, network range and advancement of 4G and 5G technologies in many regions at a reasonable cost which helps to delivers high performance, as well as excellent usability for fleet management systems.Request For Report Sample:Fleet Management software helps the organisation in database management, scheduling and tracking the trip and also customer feedback. Fleet management software solutions also offer organisations to function with higher efficiency & performances at reduced costs and a much streamlined processes.Market drivers:The major driver for global fleet management market is increase in demand for logistics and transport. Fleet management solutions offer several benefits such as improvement in maintenance planning, vehicle performance and schedule of fleet routing which enhances the fleet safety and also customer satisfaction.Recent innovations like connected vehicles and smart transportations solution by various organisations drive the market for fleet management solutions.The other major factor driving fleet management market is many organisations need to streamline the operations for greater connectivity and reduce the hardware cost needed to perform the necessary fleet management. These major drawback for fleet management market is due to lack of awareness among fleet owners.Global Fleet Management Market: SegmentationGlobal Fleet Management market is segmented based on the type of solution, type of Deployment, based on service, by region.On the basis of the type of solution Global Fleet Management market is segmented to Operation management, Asset management, Driver managementOn the basis of the type of deployment Global Fleet Management market is segmented to Cloud, On-premise, Hybrid.On the basis of services offered the Global Fleet Management market is segmented to Professional services, Integration and deployment service, Managed services.On basis of region global Fleet Management Market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan and The Middle East and Africa (MEA).Market Overview:Majority of the Fleet Management market is dominated by North America due to adoption of large number of organisations. Followed by Europe and Asia pacific which also share a significant market due of growth of online retail.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):Key Market Players:Some of the key players in Global Fleet Management Market include, Innovative Maintenance Systems., Telogis, AT&T Inc., CarTrack Technologies Co. Ltd., Zonar Systems , Fleetmatics Group, ID Systems Inc., Workwave LLC, Verizon Communications, Eresource Infotech Pvt. Ltd., Magellan and Trimble Navigation Ltd.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.Contact Us:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Apple Accessories Market will Register a CAGR of 4.6% through 2020 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/REP-GB-3374 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-3374 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/checkout/3374 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ The global Apple accessories market is expected to grow at 4.6% CAGR over the forecast period, 2016-2020. Demand is expected to remain strong in China, where rapid adoption of smartphones, combined with an increasing preference towards the Apple brand is pushing sales. The market in China is expected to grow at 8.5% CAGR through the forecast period. Globally, the demand for Apple accessories is expected to be positively influenced by the growing BYOD trend.Request For Report Sample:Weak distribution channels in emerging markets have remained a longstanding challenge for manufacturers. However, popularity of e-commerce and focus on creating alternative distribution channels have positively impacted Apple accessories sales in emerging markets. The steady growth in these markets is expected to offset weak demand in developed markets of the U.S. and Europe.Apple accessories sales in Asia will be driven by rising popularity of e-commerce websites and apps. As is the case in Asia, steady e-commerce sales are driving Apple accessories sales in Brazil and Russia. These factors will contribute to the overall growth of the global market.Future Market Insights identifies that undefined standards in terms of components and technology have led to price and product differentiation. Moreover, widespread availability of counterfeit and pirated products offered at a fraction of the original price in various developing countries can significantly inhibit demand for Apple accessories.The Future Market Insights report reveals that iPhone screen guards will continue to be the most-sought after accessory among consumers. iPad cases and iPad screen guards are expected to remain the other lucrative product types. Collectively, these three product segments accounted for over 50% revenue share of the global market in 2016, and the status quo will remain unchanged throughout the forecast period. Among these product types, iPad cases segment will only witness an increase in its revenue share by 2020.North America will continue to be the most lucrative market, with the US leading total sales. The North America Apple accessories market was valued at US$ 1.93 Bn in 2016, with the US accounting for US$ 1.38 Bn in revenues. Future Market Insights projects the North America market revenues to increase at a CAGR of 4% CAGR through 2020. The report further reveals that the Apple accessories market in Europe is predicted to register a CAGR of 4.0% in the span of next four years. However, the Apple accessories market in South East Asia is expected to witness relatively sluggish growth by the end of 2020.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):3M, Bose Corporation, Western Digital Corporation (SanDisk), Logitech, Otter Products, LLC., Decoded, Adobe, Bang & Olufsen, Incase and ACCO (Kensington Computer Products Group) are the key manufacturers operating in the Apple accessories market globally.You can now buy a single user license of the report :ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.Contact Us:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Rugged Thermal Cameras Market Estimated to Expand at 9.1% during 2017-2027 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/REP-GB-764 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-764 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/checkout/764 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ Awareness about benefits of thermal imaging continues to be driven by effective application of rugged thermal cameras across various industrial verticals. Technological advancements have also led to development of consumer electronics equipped with thermal cameras. Future Market Insights recently published report on the global market for rugged thermal cameras considers rising applicability of rugged thermal cameras as a key driver for boosting their global sales. According to the report, defence and military sectors across several regions will be collectively observed as the worlds largest end-users of rugged thermal cameras. In 2017 and beyond, more than 60% of rugged thermal cameras sold across the globe will be used for military and defence purposes.Request For Report Sample:Increasing defence budgets of several countries is, thus, cited to become a crucial factor fuelling the global sales of rugged thermal cameras. At present, Future Market Insights values the global rugged thermal camera market at US$ 3.5 Bn, and anticipates it to reach US$ 8.5 Bn by the end of 2027. During this forecast period, the global rugged thermal camera market is likely to soar at an impressive CAGR of 9.1%. Key excerpts of the report indicate the impact of multiple factors on expansion of global rugged thermal camera market.At the outset, rising defence expenditure and growing military budgets serves as a major booster, driving the global demand for rugged thermal cameras. The market is also projected to grow at a steadfast pace due to declining costs of manufacturing thermal cameras at commercial scale. Cost-effectiveness attained during large scale production of rugged thermal cameras is also a key benefit for manufacturers. The report has profiled leading manufacturers of rugged thermal cameras and their contribution to global market. These include Leonardo SpA, SKF, Bosch Security Systems, Flir Systems, Inc., BAE Systems, L3 technologies Inc., Thermotecknix Systems Ltd., Axis Communication, Raytheon Company, and Danaher Corporation.Effective application of rugged thermal cameras in fire-fighting departments, surveillance of commercial & residential settings, and medical diagnostics has also become a key driver for markets growth. Although, high prices of rugged thermal cameras continue to be a major stumbling block for their use in certain applications. According to the report findings, over one-third of global rugged thermal camera revenues are concentrated at surveillance & security applications. In 2016, more than US$ 1.3 Bn worth of rugged thermal cameras were accounted by surveillance & security purposes. Meanwhile, application of rugged thermal cameras in production of electronics is expected to register fastest revenue growth at 10% CAGR.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):A regional analysis of global rugged thermal camera market in the report forecasts that throughout the forecast period, North America will remain dominant region. North Americas rugged thermal cameras market, however, will witness a marginal dip in terms of global revenue share. While the US defence budget remains to be among the worlds largest defence budgets, the government there is expected to lower its military spending in the years to come. The region will account for nearly 40% of global rugged thermal camera revenues throughout the forecast period. On the other hand, the rugged thermal camera sales in Asia-Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) region are projected to record a speedy growth. The APEJ rugged thermal camera market will be soaring at 9.8% CAGR to reach US$ 1.46 Bn value by the end of 2027.You can now buy a single user license of the report :ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.Contact Us:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Emission Control Catalyst Market Size to Grow at a Steady Rate During Forecast Period 2014-2020 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-137 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-137 Emission control and reduction are among the priorities of all the commercial, industrial, and government sector companies. Growing concerns towards mitigation of the ill effects of carbon emissions or pollution are leading to manufacturing and process industries adopting new methods, technologies, materials, and processes. Emission control catalysts are used in catalytic convertors to lessen harmful emissions to the environment. A catalytic convertor houses a typical honeycomb structure coated with emission control catalysts such as platinum, palladium, and rhodium. Emission control catalysts can be segmented on the basis of their application as mobile and stationary.Mobile applications include automotives. These catalysts are also called automotive catalysts. Stationary applications include thermal or conventional power plants, and other industries.Request For Report Sample@Mobile application presently is the largest segment for emission control catalysts due to the increasing demand for light and heavy commercial vehicles across the globe. Catalytic convertors are mostly used in the automotive industry while stationary emission control systems utilise selective catalytic reduction, catalytic incineration, filters, and catalytic oxidation. Passenger vehicles and cargo trucks are the main source of vehicle pollution followed by two and three wheeler vehicles. Emission control catalysts or convertors are now increasingly being used for NOx reduction from power plants, reduction of sulphur, and removal of toxins from exhaust smoke.Europe is the most lucrative emission control catalyst market. The heavy presence of automobiles manufacturers, power sector companies, and industrialisation across various geographical locations in Europe are the major driving factors for the emission control catalyst market. Europe witnessed 8.8% growth in commercial vehicle registrations. This prominent market was the global leader in FY 2013, and is expected to continue its growth trajectory in the future. Supportive government regulations to curb the ill effects of pollution offer a smooth roadmap for emission control catalyst enterprises to penetrate in European market. Industrial pollution in Europe is the next major setback for the government, as it costs them billions of dollars. Germany, Poland, UK, and Italy possess major refineries and heavy power segments which contribute major damage to the European nations. In such a scenario, the European market is in need of effective solutions that possess the capability to curb the pollution. Therefore, Europe is seen as the most lucrative market for business enterprises operating in the emission control catalyst market.Other prominent markets are North America followed by MENA and APAC region. North America contributes a major share to global pollution. USA is the leading market as the highest contributor to air pollution in North America region. Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Texas are the states reporting the highest air pollution levels in USA. Many prominent locations in USA are witnessing ozone depletion which is a major cause of concern for government officials. As such, this situation makes emission control catalysts an urgent need in these pollution chronic regions. MENA is the next potential region for the emission control catalyst market. Presence of mining industries and oil borne locations are the major driving factors in MENA region. India, China and Singapore are the prominent destinations for emission control segment. Development in the automobile sector, oil refineries and maritime transportation are the main driving factors in APAC.Increasing automotive fleet and stringent environmental regulations on the international platform are the prime driving factors for growth in emission control catalyst consumption. The global emission control catalyst market is expected to grow between 7% and 9% CAGR over the next five years. Though the market seems promising for business enterprises operating in emission control catalysts, the emergence of battery-powered vehicles could be a major setback to this flourishing industry. Some of the major players include Johnson Matthey, BASF, Umicore, Faurecia, Nett Technologies, and others. Companies are investing in R&D to offer first class products to different end use industry verticals. Acquisitions and mergers are the strategies adopted by key market players to strengthen their position on the global market platform.Visit For TOC@The research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry-validated market data. It also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The research report provides analysis and information according to categories such as market segments, geographies, types, technology and applications.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACTFuture Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: http.futuremarketinsights.com Technological Advancements to Influence Deployable Military Shelter Systems Market Growth 2015-2025 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-678 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-678 Advancements in military activities, tactics, exercises and joint operations necessitated the development of niche products used by army personnel. Furthermore, witnessing the opportunity, a handful of equipment, system and solution manufacturers engaged in niche product development suitable for military application, as a result competition intensified in niche products segment used for military applications.Deployable Military Shelter System is one of such product which is used in applications ranging from temporary medical support centres to incident commands and fatality management centres to emergency distribution centres. These systems are deployed in remote area for temporary period. These systems are totally mobile in nature and are made up of technical textiles. These systems are largely used by infantry, rescue team and medical support team but constant research and development in this niche product segment unfolded new opportunities. Nowadays, availability of shelter systems for military application has not limited to support and shelter to just soldiers but also vehicles and aircrafts. A few of the North American and European companies developed deployable shelter systems to be used as hanger for aircrafts.Request For Report Sample@Drivers & ChallengesMilitary shelter systems demand is directly influenced by increase in military expenditure across the globe. Annual increase in defence budget allocation has been observed in across countries, whereas the year on year increase is very high in countries with stronger economy. Global military expenditure in 2014 was estimated at over US $ 1.7 Trillion; and with growing political and military tensions in different geographies, it is projected to increase at 1.5% annually through 2025. Moreover, a substantial share of military expenditure is channelized for buying equipment and systems for on the field military support. Since, deployable shelter systems are used in field exercises, it is anticipated that the increased military expenditure across countries will bolster the demand for deployable shelter systems viz. a viz. global deployable military systems market.Regional LandscapeIn terms of geography, the global deployable military shelter systems is concentrated in few of the pockets. Usage of deployable military shelter systems is very high in developed countries of North America and Europe. However, the trend is gradually picking up the pace in developed markets. A majority of the deployable military shelter systems manufacturers are dependent on NATO member countries for sales. Meanwhile, in recent years they also registered orders from Middle Eastern, African and Asian countries. Currently, European market for deployable military shelter systems is growing at a higher growth rate than the global average, but industry experts indicate a shift in demand from Asian countries, particularly Middle East and South Asia. In order to capitalize the opportunity, global majors engaged in manufacturing deployable shelter systems have deployed sales representatives in these countries.Visit For TOC@Deployable Military Shelter Systems Market SegmentsDeployable shelter system is differentiated on the basis of size and application.Deployable Military Shelter Systems Sizes :SmallMediumLargeKey PlayersAlaska StructuresRoder HTS HockerReevesZeppelinHDTABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACTFuture Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: http.futuremarketinsights.com Comprehensive Report on Automotive Suspension Systems Market by Future Market Insights 2015-2025 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-713 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-713 Emphasis on better ride control performance, smooth and safe ride with no vibrations for the driver are key reasons which have changed the overall scenario for automotive suspension systems market. Automotive suspension systems is very much essential for comfort driving and safety as the suspension carries the vehicle body and transmits all the forces between the body and the road. The automotive suspension system consists of wishbones, spring and the shock absorber to transmit and filter all the forces between the body and the road. It provides good ride and handling performance and also ensures that the vehicle responds favourably to control forces produced by the tyres during braking and acceleration forces. Introduction of suspension systems that have enable almost zero vibration in vehicles along with the most optimal quality ride and control are fuelling the overall demand for automotive suspensions systems market. Automotive suspension systems also helps in preventing excess wear and tear of vehicle and its components.Automotive Suspension Systems Market: Drivers & RestraintsIncreasing number of technological advancements and demand for good suspension systems globally are fuelling the demand for cheap, light in weight and economical automotive suspension systems. Manufacturers are required to invest largely in creation of advanced exhaust systems to meet strict government norms. Strict emission norms and fuel efficiency standards imposed by government in different regions have forced manufacturers to look for different solutions to achieve the same. Although the overall automotive suspension market is growing significantly, challenges such as lack of standardization and high prices of independent suspension systems is hindering the growth for automotive suspensions systems market. However during the forecast period, the companies are expected to drop the prices of automotive suspension systems.Request For Report Sample@Automotive Suspension Systems Market: SegmentationOn the basis of vehicle type, the global automotive suspension systems market is segmented into,Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV)Heavy Commercial Vehicle (HCV)Passenger VehicleOn the basis of system type, the global automotive suspension systems market is segmented intoActiveSemi-ActivePassiveAdaptiveOn the basis of damping type, the global automotive suspension systems market is segmented intoHydraulicElectromagneticOn the basis of channel type, the global automotive exhaust systems market is segmented intoOEMAftermarketGlobal Automotive Suspension Systems Market: Region-wise OutlookIn terms of geography, the global automotive suspension systems market has been divided in to seven key regions including North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan, Middle East & Africa and Japan.Global suspension systems market is expected to witness high growth in APAC followed by Europe and North America. With introduction of advanced suspension systems market in emerging economies such as India and China, APAC is expected to drive the demand for advanced automotive suspension systems. European countries such as Germany, France and UK dominated sales in Europe. Moreover, increasing demand for automotive sales globally supported by high disposable income is fuelling the overall demand for automotive suspension market and register steady CAGR during the forecast period.Automotive Suspension Systems Market: Key PlayersSome of the market participants in the global automotive suspension systems market are Magneti Marelli S.p.A, Mando Corp, Tenneco Inc, TRW Automotive Holdings Inc, BWI Group, Continental AG, Kayaba Industry Company ltd.Visit For TOC@The research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry-validated market data. It also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The research report provides analysis and information according to market segments such as geographies, channel types, vehicle type, system and damping type.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACTFuture Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: http.futuremarketinsights.com See some of the top Week 2 high school football performers in Michigan Spanish Sensation Adrian Mateos Leads Final 6 in PCA Main Event January 13, 2018 Frank Op de Woerd Adrian Mateos had just 11 big blinds starting the last level of the night. Thirteen hands later, the day was done and the Spanish 3-time bracelet winner lead the remaining 6 players. Besides Mateos, avid poker players Koray Aldemir, Shawn Buchanon, and Maria Lampropulos will return to the center stage on the final day of the event, as do short stacks Daniel Coupal and Christian Rudolph. Seat Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Maria Lampropulos Argentina 3,505,000 44 2 Shawn Buchanan Canada 3,755,000 47 3 Adrian Mateos Spain 5,675,000 71 4 Daniel Coupal Canada 1,275,000 16 5 Christian Rudolph Germany 905,000 11 6 Koray Aldemir Germany 2,340,000 29 The penultimate day of the 2018 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure started with 16 players remaining and David Peters in the lead. Short stack Phillip Corion ran jacks into aces early on and would not find what he so desperately needed; the board stayed clear of jacks. Florian Maurer (sixes into ace-queen) and first-time live player Jean Ateba (sevens into trip kings) left shortly after. Meanwhile, high stakes regular Koray Aldemir doubled through Shawn Buchanan with set over set to grab the chip lead. As Bartosz Stasiewicz (king-queen into nines) exited, Aldemir got even richer. He flopped a flush against Jonathan West's flopped two-pair. They both got all their chips in, and West failed to improve to a full house, getting Aldemir up to 5.5 million in chips. Peters started the day as the man in charge, but nothing worked for him on Day 5. Besides Aldemir, two more high rollers were going deep. Spanish sensation Adrian Mateos and American David Peters often faced off in tournament buy-ins of $50,000 and more, and now battled deep in the main event. Peters started the day as the man in charge, but nothing worked for him on Day 5. He lost some smaller pots and doubled Mateos with nines against ace-three, with Mateos hitting an ace on the flop to stay alive. A failed hero-call with ace-queen high set Peters back even further, only for him to fall the next hand with ace-jack to ace-king. Michael Farrow hit the rail next, losing a blind battle with fives to ace-ten. With just nine players remaining, the final redraw of the tournament was in order. Combined to a single table, Koray Aldemir was still the heavy favorite with almost 6 million in chips while his nearest competitor, Maria Lampropulos, had "just" 3 million. In hand 11 of the final table of 9, Patryk Poterek lost the last of his chips. The Polish player lost with queens to Lampropulos' ace-king after she flopped trips. With Poterek eliminated, the final table of 8 was officially set. Still, play continued as the goal was to get down to 6 players. Maria Lampropulos Aldemir went on a little bit of a cold streak as he lost pot after pot. Oleg Titov was the most significant beneficiary as Aldemir check-raised all in with ace-seven against him on a five-seven-eight board. Titov wasn't afraid calling with queens, and as no ace or seven appeared on the turn or river, he was right back in it. Meanwhile, Lampropulos didn't seem able to lose a hand and took over the lead, getting her stack up to 5 million while Aldemir dropped down to 3.7. Lampropulos and Aldemir tangled for a bit, before Shawn Buchanan overtook the lead. Oleg Titov didn't see a picture card for just about 3 hours. At the start of Level 28, Mateos had 11 big blinds, making him one of the shortest stacks in the tournament. Ten hands later, he was the chipleader. He first doubled with ace-queen to Adalfer Morales Gamarra's king-queen and busted his Colombian neighbor the next hand winning with top-pair against a gutshot. A hand with kings where he got two streets of value of Aldemir, including a pot bet on the river, saw him surge to the top of the ranking. Oleg Titov didn't see a picture card for just about 3 hours. With no real hands to do anything with, he was blinded down to just two big blinds. In the end, the Russian highlight of the table got it in with king-deuce to Daniel Coupal's ace-jack. Titov would not overcome the ace on the flop and exited in 7th place. After a long day in the Bahamas, six players remain in the 2018 PCA Main Event with 51 minutes left in the 40,000/80,000 level. Mateos leads with Christian Rudolph as the shortest stack. Can Mateos grab his second PokerStars Main Event title? Check back in on Sunday at 3:30 local time to see the conclusion of the PCA Main Event. Adrian Mateos Stats Total Live Earnings: $12,249,710 Best Live Cash: $1,351,661 Career Wins: 11 EPT Titles: 1 WSOP Bracelets: 3 All Time Money List 34 Spain All Time Money List: 1 Global Poker Index: 1 GPI Player of the Year 2017: 1 Get the SC business stories that matter. Our newsletter catches you up with all the business stories that are shaping Charleston and South Carolina every Monday and Thursday at noon. Get ahead with us - it's free. Adam Parker has covered many beats and topics for The Post and Courier, including race and history, religion, and the arts. He is the author of "Outside Agitator: The Civil Rights Struggle of Cleveland Sellers Jr.," published by Hub City Press. Mary Katherine, who also goes by MK, covers health care for The Post and Courier. She is also pursuing a master's degree in data science. She grew up in upstate New York and enjoys playing cards, kayaking and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Deanna Pan is an enterprise reporter for The Post and Courier, where she writes about education and other issues. She grew up in the suburbs of Cincinnati and graduated with a degree in English from Ohio State University in 2012. COLUMBIA Nikki Haley, then a backbench lawmaker from Lexington, was not a factor in the 2010 governor's race until four weeks before the Republican primary. But a television ad introducing her as a conservative crusader, an endorsement from GOP rock star Sarah Palin and the outcry from rumors of an extramarital affair pushed her cash-strapped campaign to victory ahead of three veteran politicians. The governor's race in 2018 is a bit different. The seat is not open this time Republican Henry McMaster became governor a year ago when Haley left to become United Nations ambassador. Yet the circumstances might be similar: The outcome might not be decided until the final month before the June 12 primary. So, about those $50,000 contributions from the S.C. GOP ... COLUMBIA One contribution to the gubernatorial campaigns of Gov. Henry McMaster and Catherine Templeton stuck out in their campaign cash rep "Right now, people are concerned about V.C. Summer (the failed nuclear plant) and pension reform and a nuclear war with North Korea," Greenville political consultant Chip Felkel said. "They are not focused on the race as much as candidates would like them to be." Still, that hasn't stopped the campaigns from gathering some steam since New Year's. The McMaster camp is sparring with his most vocal challenger, Mount Pleasant lawyer Catherine Templeton. The rub is that Templeton, running in her first election, has nearly as much cash on hand as McMaster, a former state attorney general and lieutenant governor running in his seventh race. Based on new data unveiled last week, she has $2.3 million in the bank, about $300,000 shy of the governor from Columbia who had President Donald Trump headline a fundraiser in October. McMaster's chief strategist sent off a tweetstorm on Jan. 6 after weeks of needling by Templeton over the governor's handling of the $9 billion nuclear plant debacle in Fairfield County. He called the former state public health and labor agency director a liar tied to claims she made while working in Haley administration. Templeton also has targeted McMaster's ties to political kingmaker Richard Quinn, who has been at the center of a Statehouse corruption probe. "She's not known yet by regular voters, yet she's raised the money to communicate to them," Charleston political consultant Lachlan McIntosh said. "The question is whether she will communicate effectively." McMaster is not renown for his fundraising prowess, and he has not taken advantage of his status as a sitting governor to raise money outside South Carolina, a state known for a shallow pool of campaign donors. About one-quarter of his donations come from out of state, half the rate of Haley's. But his long history in state politics might help McMaster, who became U.S. attorney under Ronald Reagan and was a state party chairman. Name recognition alone might be worth $500,000 in contributions since some voters will know his name at the polls, Felkel said. "He has an extra gear he can shift into to raise a good bit of money," he said. That also could work against him. Templeton touts herself as the outsider to rid Columbia of corruption, a not-so-veiled reference to the governor's friendship with some lawmakers caught up in the corruption probe. These are not the only two Republicans making noise in the governor's race. Lt Gov. Kevin Bryant is not raising a lot of cash he has $256,000 to spend but he's expected to draw attention from social conservatives based on a reputation built as a senator in the Statehouse. Plus, the Anderson pharmacist is the only candidate from the Upstate, a populous and politically engaged region where McMaster and Templeton have worked build support. Bryant is coming out tough on making S.C. Electric & Gas customers whole after putting in nearly $2 billion for unfinished nuclear reactors and facing decades of future payments for work that will never produce a kilowatt of electricity. That veers from McMaster, who is the only candidate in the race not to call for a full repeal of the 2007 law that allows SCE&G to charge for the abandoned project. The fourth GOP candidate, former Lt. Gov. Yancey McGill has been quiet on the trail so far but did issue a notice last week endorsing the elimination of the state income tax for residents 65 and older. Despite the early jockeying, there are five months before the primary and a lot of news to distract voters before the commercials start airing. Editorials represent the institutional view of the newspaper. They are written and edited by the editorial staff, which operates separately from the news department. Editorial writers are not involved in newsroom operations. Political Reporter Caitlin Byrd is a political reporter at The Post and Courier and author of the Palmetto Politics newsletter. Before moving to Charleston in 2016, her byline appeared in the Asheville Citizen-Times. To date, Byrd has won 17 awards for her work. To the naked eye, it's a frozen stretch of land, but for Kayla Arend it's the heart and root of her art. "It's always fun to bring my work home," said Arend, a 26-year-old second-year student in New York University's graduate film school. It was, in part, that sentiment which led 2009 Mayo High School graduate Arend, and a small cast and crew, to shoot her 12-minute narrative film, "Chicken Boy," in Salem Corners for five days in December. "I've been wanting to get a drama out of my system," she said. And that's exactly what "Chicken Boy" turned out to be: A powerful, dark coming-of-age story following a young boy, bullied at school and with an equally bleak home life, as he confronts his demons in his homestead's chicken coop. "It's kind of the world that's crushing him into this breaking point," Arend said. Screening in spring Just what that breaking point is hasn't been unveiled to the world quite yet. "Chicken Boy," which fulfills a class requirement for the young director, won't be screened until some time in May, at an as-yet-to-be-determined downtown Manhattan, New York location. After that, Arend said, she's going to try to get her work submitted to any number of film festivals around the globe, but she'd love to see the short screened in her hometown of Rochester. While the actors were culled from greater Minnesota, the crew was mostly local. Alex Block, a long-time friend and supporter of Arend's, was with her when she came up with the idea for the script, which happened last summer on a drive to see Dave Chappelle's comedy show in the Twin Cities. "It just kind of flowed out of her," said Block, who served as one of "Chicken Boy's" producers. "I've just been along for the ride since day one." Block, who helped secure lighting and props and anything else that was needed over the intense shoot, said he's marveled at watching Arend and company bring her art to life. "It was very cool to see the creative side come out," he said. Arend said she knew she was going to be stuck with her class's December film-shooting slot, and as she knew someone in Byron with a trailer, and she knew her local landscape, she wrote for what was at her disposal. And, although her resume is studded with experience, this is the first time she's attempted a film of such length. "I'm learning my process," Arend said. The story One thing she learned quickly: Rochester has everything it takes to make a high-quality film. In part, that's thanks to Mike Kramer, of local Ambient House Productions, who served as another producer on "Chicken Boy," and also one of its camera operators. Arend found him when she did an internet search for local film and production equipment. "I'm glad she reached out," said Kramer, who used a Red Digital Cinema Camera on a Movi Gimbal stabilizer during the shoot. "She was surprised we had a lot of the equipment she needed to execute her vision." Kramer, whose company has been in business for three years, stressed it isn't a perfect camera, or perfect acoustics, someone needs to make a high-quality film, though. "To make a great film," he said, "what has to be good is the emotional pull of the story." In the case of "Chicken Boy," it wasn't just that emotional pull alone which drew Arend back to Rochester to film. Her mother, Kristy, is on a waiting list for a heart transplant, and shooting the short film gave Arend opportunities to come back to Minnesota multiple times for casting and filming. "It's always hard to leave someone you feel so responsible for," Arend said. And, along the way, Arend found out how many people are responsible for even a 12-minute film. Close to 50 people made "Chicken Boy" happen. And, it's still happening. As the winter turns colder, and Arend flew off to Nepal for another film shoot, she's going to be working with an editor and colorist to shape "Chicken Boy" into its final cut. "It's been fun," she said," and interesting." Hawaii authorities scrambled to clarify that the state wasnt under a North Korean ballistic missile attack following an erroneously sent message earlier today through the states emergency alert system. The U.S. Pacific Command also issued a statement, calling it a "false alarm." The message, indicating a ballistic missile threat, was sent in error, according to the Pacific Command. The false alarm was sent through the Hawaii emergency management system. The Washington Post reported it sent people into panic for more than 30 minutes before the message was clarified. I am meeting this morning with top officials of the State Department of Defense and the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to determine what caused this mornings false alarm and to prevent it from happening again, Gov. David Ige tweeted. "I am working to get to the bottom of this so we can prevent an error of this type in the future," Ige added. Patrons of the Catholic Social Service Adult Day Care in Barrigada Heights were accompanied by servicewomen and men during their daily afternoon activities on Jan. 9. During their port visit to Guam, 28 sailors and Marines from the USS America took a place beside the 36 day care participants to hear their life stories while piecing together various arts and crafts and, afterward, getting their blood flowing with light exercises. The groups, with the guidance of nursing assistants, endeavored to make creative pieces such as tissue paper flowers, Popsicle stick jewelry boxes and hangers, dream catchers, and Valentines Day decorations. Upon the sailors and Marines arrival, CSS Adult Day Care Nursing Assistant Supervisor Doris Peters said, They (the day care participants) are going to love it. They love to see different people come in and work with them. Peters agreed that the day care participants enjoy the liveliness and excitement that comes with their visitors. Spending this type of quality time with the locals is nothing new to those on the USS America. According to USS America Command chaplain Mike Foskett, the crew did similar activities with the locals in Singapore, which was their last destination; and in Bahrain, Dubai and Israel, where they were prior to Singapore. Aside from being the nations 911 force, Foskett said the crew members also try to bring a little bit of America with them wherever they go all over the world and reach out to build good community relations. Foskett shared the groups hope to lift the elderlys spirits while listening and learning from them as theyve had so many life experiences. Just hearing the stories, its always great. Once individuals start opening up about their life experience, its just wonderful to hear what theyve done. Its very interesting to me, Foskett said. Foskett explained how the interaction with the locals keeps the sailors and Marines grateful, and that it gives them a much better understanding about the world theyre protecting. He said he and the crew are more blessed by the event than anybody they support because they get a chance to serve and make the world a better place. Were just going to augment whatever theyre doing and spend some time with some wonderful people, he said. Sativa Maamu, an airman aviation electrician mate, braided rings of newspapers alongside an elderly woman before wrapping them in yarn, and patiently fulfilled the woman's requests. Us being in the military is our duty to serve and give back to the world or society, said Maamu. Were going out to help the elderly an experience that you will never get to give it anywhere, or money cannot buy. It brings us joy to be able to give back to the world for what were doing. It feels good. Its nice seeing the people smile when we come visit them, said Lance Cpl. Deshaun Richard. Richard described doing something similar in Bahrain, saying it felt good giving back to the people and talking to them about their experiences and how they live. For Foskett, it was nice to be back on U.S. soil. Its good to finally be back in America on Guam. Pulling into Guam and seeing the American flag ... its a coming-home present for us, Foskett said. On this day when we celebrate the workforce of Guam, we celebrate you. You are the backbone of our economy and we praise your outstanding effo Read more On December 16, friends and fans marked the seventh year anniversary of the death of Fuji icon, Sikiru Ayinde Barrister. As expected, there were variegated perceptions about his arts. The consensus, however, was that he was an enigmatic artiste whose works would continue to be subjected to different shades of interpretations. Its quite tempting to approach much of Sikiru Ayinde Barristers arts as by-products of introspection. In his immensely popular album, REALITY, he painted a rather pitiful picture of the fratricidal forces he had to contend with, far far away from the klieg lights. Decades earlier, in AIYE! we had an insight into his troubled, challenging beginnings and in FANTASIA FUJI, he expressed worries over the prolonged presence of military men in our administrative space. In QUESTIONNAIRE, he threw up an avalanche of posers, many of them rhetorical, striking at the heart of the dynamics around our socio-political concerns as a nation. So whether the subject is biographical or otherwise, it becomes plausible to conceive his art as one permanently stuck in the past: if he wasnt offering anecdotal expose on his humble background as a Nigerian Breweries motor-boy in Obalende, or a melancholic take on how he literally binged on poverty while growing up with his beloved Odere Subuola Sifau, he would be dissecting Nigerias tortuous democratic journey from the 50s through the 90s and beyond. Yet, this artiste who was overly reflective could sometime be clairvoyant, or more appropriately now, prophetic. And like many great artistes, whom, as cliches go, are prophets (the singular criterion for obtaining a space in the pantheon, it appears, is ownership of crystal ball), Barry was no less prognostic. In essence, Barry was a socially conscious thinker through and through, capable of dissecting the future with insights of the past and variables of the present. If we choose to embrace some mischief and stretch the imagination a little further, even, we could as well build some mysticism around his arts. For instance at some point in his 2007 ouvre, Image & Gratitude, released three years before his eventual death in 2010, we could safely imagine Barry as one conducting his very own burial rites, eulogising those present at the Fidau prayers, singing their praises in tens and hundreds. And the rationale for this, too, although mischief-laden, could narrrowly pass the logic test: because no one could satisfactorily entertain and appreciate visitors like Barry, the master rancoteur himself, it follows that he would deliver his words of gratitude ahead of time, even while still alive. Only that we would have to expunge the context, for effect. Gbogbo yin pata eseun, gbogbo yin pata eseun eyin to duro tiwa o gbogbo yin pata eseun, (thanks, everyone who stood by us) he sings, before reeling out a super-long list of names. Barry wasnt talking about death or funeral in those lines, to be sure, even though a few lines away, he offered some touching, melodious tributes to Lamidi Adedibu, Toto Abuga, Wahab Folawiyo, Sunny Okosun, Alade Aromire, among others, all deceased. Yet, quite interestingly, footage would emerge shortly after his death, depicting these very words as his messages of gratitude to those who were at his funeral. For an artiste who in his lifetime spoke fearlessly about death, with deep philosophical lines on how he was ready for the Grim reaper whenever it was time, this depiction, although mischievous and done largely for commercial intent, might not be overly inapt. And whats more, three years after, every of the characters who got a mention in those verses played prominent roles in his burial rites: Lati Alagbada, media owners, Buhari Oloto, Eko Remix, carpenters, vulcanisers, fashion designers. Talk about the artiste as, er, soothsayer! So beyond the heavy percussion and the melodious saxophone tunes, Barrys Image & Gratitude was in many ways a tribute to self, an elegy written before transition, a picture of the artiste as, er, prophet. The quest to dissect this enigma, this wonder among wonders, is never-ending; and as I type these lines, one of Sikirus most enduring oeuvres, E sinmi Rascality, is on auto-replay, situating me right in the heart of Ayeye, Ibadan-literally almost. And as I listen now to Sikirus, I choose to approximate Chris Abani (who on his part, too, appropriated Turkish poet Orhan Veli Kanik): And I am listening to Ibadan with my eyes closed. ADVERTISEMENT _____________________ Oladeinde Olawoyin, a PREMIUM TIMES journalist, tweets at @Ola_deinde and dwells on Facebook as Oladeinde Olawoyin. ADVERTISEMENT There was 80 per cent increase in new cases of HIV/AIDS infection in Ghana according to a 2017 Ghana AIDS Commission report. The report also indicates that the Volta Region and Brong Ahafo Region topped the chart of HIV/AIDS prevalence. A large proportion of the new HIV/AIDS cases were pregnant women, the report also revealed. The commission which revealed its findings during a two-day annual strategic planning meeting urged Ghanaians to take preventive measure in order not to contract the deadly disease. The Director-General of the Commission, Amokowa Adu-Gyamfi, made a passionate appeal to Ghanaians to voluntarily test for the virus. Mrs. Adu-Gyamfi asked persons living with the virus to stick to the approved anti-retroviral drugs because there was no herbal cure for the disease yet. We are not condemning them (herbalist), we are just saying that there is no herbal cure as yet for HIV. If you want to take them its up to you. But then take your anti-retroviral medication, she said. She alleged that the activities of the gay community are to blame for the sharp increase in HIV infection. Since the start of the epidemic, an estimated 78 million people have become infected with HIV and 35 million people have died of AIDS-related illnesses. In 2016, one million people died of AIDS-related illnesses. HIV/AIDS a major public health concern and cause of death in many parts of Africa. Although the continent is home to about 15.2 per cent of the worlds population, more than two-thirds of the total HIV infections, some 35 million people, were Africans, of whom 15 million have already died. Sub-Saharan Africa alone accounted for an estimated 69 per cent of all people living with HIV and 70 per cent of all AIDS deaths in 2011. In the countries of sub-Saharan Africa most affected, AIDS has raised death rates and lowered life expectancy among adults between the ages of 20 and 49 by about 20 years. ADVERTISEMENT A former national chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Victor Umeh, is coasting to victory in the Anambra Central Senatorial election. With results of six out of the seven local governments announced, Mr Umeh has gained the lead with over 50,000 votes margin. Mr. Umeh is leading 13 other challengers in the results announced thus far. In the first election conducted in 2015, he lost to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP candidate, Uche Ekwunife. That election was however cancelled in November 2015 by the Appeal court which also disqualified the PDP from taking part in todays election. The election recorded one of the lowest turnouts in recent times with over 90 percent of voter boycotting the elections, according to results released so far. Of the 558,135 registered voters in the six LGAs so far announced only a paltry 58,094 voters turned out for the elections. ADVERTISEMENT A former National Chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, Victor Umeh, has won the Anambra Central Senatorial re-run election held on Saturday. Mr Umeh defeated 13 other challengers to clinch the Senatorial seat. In an election that witnessed one of the lowest turnouts in history of elections in the country, Mr Umeh garnered 64,879 votes out of about 67000 votes cast in the seven local government areas of the zone. That is a margin of over 95 percent over his opponents. The candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Chris Ngige, came a distant second with just 975 votes while the standard-bearer of the Progressive Peoples Alliance placed third with 116 votes. Mr. Ngige had earlier announced his withdrawal from the election. Results for other candidates are AA-35, ACD-33, ADC-57, GPN-48, ID-14, KOWA-12, LP-95, MPPP-111, NCP-72, PDP-5, and UPP-55. Mr Umehs victory came almost three years after the 2015 general election in the state. In that election, he lost to the Peoples Democratic Partys candidate, Uche Ekwunife. That election was however nullified in November 2015 by the Court of Appeal which also disqualified the PDP from taking part in Saturdays election. The election recorded one of the lowest turnout in recent times with over 90 percent of voters boycotting the elections according to results. Of the registered 745,828 voters in the seven LGAs only a paltry 67,872 voters turned out for the election. Despite announcing his withdrawal from the race, Nigerias Labour Minister, Mr. Ngige, was included in the list of candidates by INEC whose officials claimed that it didnt receive his letter of withdrawal. Nevertheless, he still managed to place a distant second with 975 votes. When Kingsley Kalu left home on October 18, 2017, it was with the hope of returning safely as it had been on other days. He never knew he would be crippled by a stray bullet released by a police officer. He never thought he would end up at the hospital battling to save his life. The unfortunate incident occurred at about 8:30 p.m. around Exclusive Stores in Wuse 2 when Mr. Kalu went in company of his newly wedded wife and brother-in-law went out. A trigger-happy policeman, during an argument with a colleague, ended up shooting a wrong person Mr. Kalu. The bullet pierced through his left leg, crippling him instantly. He was rushed to Maitama General Hospital by his wife and brother-in-law who were present at the scene of the incident. At the hospital, the doctors on duty successfully stopped the bleeding but Mr. Kalu could not move his left toes. The doctor noticing that he (Kalu) couldnt feel any sensation, said he needed to be transferred to a specialist hospital. The following day, Mr. Kalu was at the Trauma Centre of National hospital, Abuja where he was not attended to promptly and due to the negligence of the medical practitioners, he eventually lost the use of his left leg permanently. Eight days later, Mr. Kalus leg was amputated. Mr Kinsley Kalu after the amputation of his leg While narrating his ordeal to PREMIUM TIMES, he said he lost his leg due to the careless attitude of the medical practitioners at the Trauma Centre of the National Hospital. I saw the consultant the following morning and he tried his best to stop the bleeding which they successfully did. It was in the process that he noted that I was not feeling any sensation in my left toes and could not move it, Mr. Kalu who is now recuperating from the incident said. Immediately he noted that, he told me that he was not comfortable keeping me at Maitama explaining, that it was a nerve problem which they cannot handle and as such would transfer me to the Trauma Centre in National hospital because they have specialist who would be able to handle my case. Mr. Kalu reportedly arrived at the National Hospital around 10 p.m. with the expectation of being treated and discharged soon. The doctor at the General Hospital had told him that there was no cause for alarm as there was no bullet lodged in his leg. The physician had explained that since he was not feeling any sensation or could not move his toe, with physiotherapy, and proper medical attention from a nerve specialist, he would be able to use it as, his leg was still warm. Mr. Kalu lamented that if he had known that the outcome of going to National Hospital would lead to losing his leg, he would have asked to be referred to a private hospital. With tears, he explained his ordeal further. If I had an inclination of what of the attitude of the doctors at that hospital, I would have opted for the services of private hospitals which would have been more expensive but intensive and might have saved my limb. I still believe the way the medical practitioners handled my case did more damage than good. I was not attended to until the following day in spite of my referral note saying my case was urgent. I was referred to that hospital so that my limb would be salvaged, yet I ended up losing it due to the negligence and nonchalant attitude of the doctors who are trained to have empathy on people but instead treat their patients as if they are gods in charge of their fate and with no conscience, he lamented. ADVERTISEMENT He told PREMIUM TIMES that after a long wait at the National Hospital, the doctor who took charge of his case after going through the referral note and examining him again, said he needed urgent surgery and an iron would be fixed in his leg. My wife was linked with the iron vendor and we made purchase at the cost of N50,000 same day. Unfortunately, the surgery was postponed. On getting to the ward where they were to prepare me for theatre, I was told my PCV (percentage of red blood cells circulating) was low and (I) would need blood transfusion. He explained that arrangement was promptly made for blood transfusion and he was given four pints. He said the doctor came back to inform him that the iron previously purchased might not do an effective job, especially if he wants to be able to bend his knee. Mr. Kalu said though he was angry at the new suggestion, he went ahead and purchased the new recommended iron which cost another N80,000. According to him, he was taken for surgery seven days after his admission to the hospital. I thought I had seen the worse but the bad news flowed after the surgery as the doctors told me my leg had to go because it had been infected. I was so angry. I had been at the mercy of these doctors for seven days without receiving any special medical care for the leg except them dressing it and using me for teaching experiment for their students. To compound the matter, they had also opened my leg up and fixed an iron which was not even looking like the one I bought only for them to be telling me again that my leg has to go. He explained that at this point, he was already traumatised and wanted to leave the hospital which made him start seeking for second opinion outside the hospital. I was already depressed by then. The consultant just said it with no feelings and told me I had 48 hours to make up my mind and walked away. I had to ask why he even fixed the iron on my leg in the first place when he realised the leg was still going to be amputated. Later, Mr. Kalu realised from second (medical) opinion that that nothing could be done any longer and the limb really had to be amputated. I had to forcefully discharge myself because I no longer trusted them with my life. I got the leg amputated at a private hospital, he said, explaining that the police said they were still investigating the shooting. OTHER CASES OF ALLEGED NEGLIGENCE Mr. Kalus experience captures the reality of alleged medical negligence patients suffer in Nigerian public hospitals. Another victim, who pleaded anonymity because of he is also an official in the health sector and fears for his job, explained how delay in medical decisions, ignorance and non-availability of consultants made him lose four fingers on his right hand. According to him, he was involved in a car accident which claimed the lives of 10 people. He said he was referred to National Hospital, Abuja, due to the wounds he sustained in his right hand. Unfortunately, instead of getting a solution to his case, it got even worse. He reportedly had to get a referral to a private hospital in Osun State because his hand was already decaying and nothing was being done about it by the medical personnel. There is a need to declare a state of emergency on Nigeria health system. I lost four fingers which ordinarily I shouldnt have because I was referred to National Hospital. That hospital is expected to have a national trauma centre which by default should have first class equipment and staff to handle all trauma cases in the country, unfortunately the reverse is the case. It is surprising that a place like National Hospital could not demonstrate appreciable and high professional competence in attending to trauma patients, he lamented. Lamenting his treatment at the hospital, he said he was forced to seek help elsewhere after staying there for three weeks. It is pathetic. I was paying for bed space, buying drugs and my wound was not attended to. Being a laboratory scientist, I understood some of the treatment I should be giving, but it was not forthcoming. I was eventually forced after putting a lot of pressure on National Hospital, to seek help elsewhere. He said he gathered from experts opinion that the surgery which was eventually carried out on his hand, three weeks after the incident, should have been done within 48 hours. He said while at the National Hospital, he had been taken to the theatre twice but nothing was done to save his fingers except, removal of wound debris. He also lamented the lax attitude of consultants who were rarely seen at the hospital saying their presence might save a lot of lives. The consultants are another story entirely, you rarely see them, and we are left at the mercy of resident doctors, house officers, nurses and ward assistants. The fact that you are a consultant means more time, more dedication to work, but what you see is that all of their focus is on their private facilities and how to get patients to their private facilities. Some of the doctors suggest private facilities to patients and you ask them, if you are the best hands here, why should you be suggesting private facility to patients? He also claimed that most of the medical personnel at the hospital exhibited hostile attitude toward patients. He explained that these workers issue outrageous bills including investigations not done and go to the extent of going to wards to harass them (patients) to pay. Asked why he did not pursue a legal action, he said he had to bow to pressure and pleas from, various people in the sector. Taking legal action or not has nothing to do with their attitude. There is a regulatory body or authorities in charge of the facilities and I am sure they are aware of the happenings in the system. How many successfully prosecuted cases have you heard of? he said. NOT SO LUCKY Debbie, (surname withheld based on family instruction) was another victim of alleged medical negligence, who unlike Messrs. Kalu and Olumide is however not lucky to be alive to tell her story. Debbie died few weeks after complications from a Caesarean Section, CS done on her at Asokoro General Hospital, Abuja, four years ago. According to her brother, Jude Akarah, Debbie was rushed to the hospital during labour. She was in labour for two days before a CS was done. Mr. Akarah said the problem started three days after she was discharged from the hospital. The CS was successful, we had both the mother and child. Unfortunately, three days after getting home, we realised that her stomach was swelling and where she had been stitched was open. We had to rush her back to the hospital. He said on getting back to the hospital, they were told she would be re-stitched and it was at this point that they realised that the doctors had forgotten some gauze inside her when they had done the CS. This led to infection and complications, which we started battling. Unfortunately, she died. According to Mr. Akarah, the victims husband had alleged that he suspected that the doctor who had operated his wife during the CS had been drunk because the doctor had been reeking of alcohol that day. Mr. Akarah said they had initially contemplated a legal action against the hospital. However, they did not follow it through because of the emotional torture the case would give the victims mother. We thought of the effect a legal battle would have on our mother who till date is yet to get over her death. We thought it would be unfair to keep reminding her of what she would not want to remember and believed the best way to handle it is to let (go), he added. A FORTUNATE ONE? Amos Dunamis, though also a victim of alleged medical negligence, is luckier than the others as he was able to quickly make a decision which perhaps saved his arm from being amputated. Amos Dunamis raising his broken arm after healed. He claims the decision he took after the first failed medical intervention at the hospital has given him the privilege to continue using his arm. Mr. Dunamis, while recounting his experience at the National Hospital, told PREMIUM TIMES that he has come to realise that, Nigerian hospitals do not necessary have the sole solution to peoples problem, instead they even end up compounding the issue. Mr. Dunamis was admitted at the National Hospital in July 2017 after a motor accident where he sustained facial injuries and a fracture in the left arm. According to him, he was promptly attended to by the medical personnel on ground who cleaned up his wounds because he was bleeding profusely on the face and also took down his data. It was after that day, he added, that his ordeal started with the medical personnel who did not attend to him until the ninth day when they gave him to options for his broken arm: a surgery in which they would put iron or casting using POP. Though I did lots of x-rays on the first day I got to the hospital, it was the second day that they bandaged my arm because the bone broke in two places. They stitched my head then transferred me to one of the male wards. I had to keep waiting for the doctors to come attend to me and I was in terrible pains because the bone was not set. Though the nurses were attending to me and giving me drugs, nothing was said or done about the broken arm until eight days after getting to the ward, he said. Mr. Dunamis said he opted for POP, based on a previous advice from a medical friend who had seen the film during his visit. I think that iron is their business because it was after they saw the X-rays that they suggested surgery and gave me the phone numbers of the people selling the metal that would be inserted into my hand. Out of curiosity, I made an inquiry from the metal dealer and was told that the stipulated metal for the arm would cost N60, 000 and the surgery will cost N150, 000. He said the POP was done on the tenth day, and when he went back for check-up five weeks later, they realised they would have to either re-do the POP or as suggested carry out surgery to insert iron because the bone was not set. X-ray image of the Dunamis unaligned arm after casting in POP Mr. Dunamis said the X-ray result showed that the bone was not in the right position and as such they would have to remove the previous one, rest the bone and fix another POP or do surgery. He said hearing that, he made up his mind on an alternative. He started making enquiry for available local bone setters, and subsequently stopped going to the hospital. If I had I known it would be like this, I would have left the hospital, maximum four days and this hand would have been better than this. I would have been working. I have not been working for the past three months, he said. Regulatory body responds The body responsible for reviewing alleged cases of medical negligence in Nigeria is the Medical Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN. When PREMIUM TIMES tried to get an official reaction from the spokesperson of the council, ED Abdu, on the alleged cases of medical negligence, this reporter was asked to study the Code of Medical Ethics in Nigeria manual for the answers sought. According to a terse response to a PREMUM TIMES enquiry from the regulatory body, the official position of the council on the approved attitude of doctors to patients is contained in the code (2008 Edition) published by the council pursuant to Section 1 (2c) of the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act. That section basically tells aggrieved persons to report alleged medical negligence to the council. No further response was provided on specific questions of how many such complaints have been made, how many have been investigated and concluded and so on. A source at the agency, however, told PREMIUM TIMES that people with substantial cases of medical negligence can write a petition to the body with proof of such and they (council) would set up a panel to investigate. The source could not, however, say how many of such cases have so far been treated, the outcome of such cases and how long complainants had to wait to get justice if indeed they did. A previous case of medical negligence that led to the death of a woman, reported by PREMIUM TIMES in 2016, is yet to be concluded by the MDCN. Sandra David lying in a hospital bed LAWYERS SPEAK Ife Bamidele, a lecturer of medical law, College of Law, Afe Babalola University, said the problem with attaining judgement for medical negligence in the country has to do with lack of adequate advocacy and education of Nigerians on how to enforce their rights including the systemic and legal challenges of getting timely judgements for such cases. Mr. Bamidele explained that time is of essence in making medical decisions, or reporting such issues. He said judgment on such cases should be delivered in the space of hours and should not linger for two years or more. Even as at now, because there is no council at MDCN appointed by the president, that means all the cases we have at the Medical, Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal, MDPT are hanging for up to two years so it means that a bad doctor can sit and continue to do the things that he did that made him eligible to appear at the tribunal for two years consistently and nothing is happening. He however said that this should not deter people from seeking redress for wrongs from medical negligence, as it is their right. Mr. Bamidele said people need to be aware of their rights as patients as this will enable them to be able to take up actions either at the professional level by going to report at MDCN or perhaps institute an action at the law court. We have to continue educating people, then the medical professionals have to accept that negligence is part of the profession so they should accept that there will be bad eggs and do a little more publicity with discipline, he said. Frank Tietie, Executive Director, Citizen Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights, CASER, laid the blame of continual medical negligence in the country on the door step of MDCN, the ministry of health, both federal and states health agencies and other health related agencies. He said these are meant to enlighten Nigerians on issues of medical negligence and who to go to when seeking redress for any harm done by medical practitioners. The lack of the knowledge of the medical standard is one reason why people have not exercised their right in suing for medical negligence. When you sue for medical negligence, you are entitled to certain damages and there will be measures taken against such hospitals or the medical practitioner, because medical negligence is not restricted to the medical doctors. Nurses are involved, dentists are involved; but most often, medical negligence is carried out by doctors and private hospitals. He said that MDCN should step up to its statutory duty and make public what the basic standard for medical practices are. The people will now be cautious of what to expect and the medical doctors and various medical practitioners will now be conscious of that and that becomes a bridge. The people who are now aware of such standards can easily make complaints to MDCN. He said the public needs to have access and knowledge of what standards they need and MDCN also needs to step up to its duty by making the public aware of its activities, and stop being quiet. MDCN has shielded most times, their members. They have kept secret the standard of medical practice that should be in our country. They should publish such rules in such a manner that becomes easily comprehensible by the public. We can also put the blame on the various ministries of health that is the federal ministry of health and the various state governments which has also failed to educate the public as to what is the basic standard of medical practice. Let MDCN and the various ministries of health and health agencies wake up to their responsibilities to let the people know what the basic medical standards are and what to expect whenever they approach the health facilities. When that is done, the medical health providers will know that the people are aware of what to expect. The Miyetti Allah, a coalition of Fulani herdsmen, has reacted to the recent killings in Benue, Taraba and other states. Scores of people have been killed in violence in those states between herdsmen and farming communities. The latest killing of over 70 people in Benue has been blamed by the state government on the Miyetti Allah. In its statement signed by its secretary on Sunday, Miyetti Allah condemned violence and suggested ways to end them. We are however not denying the fact that, as any other community in the country, we are also battling with misguided and criminally motivated elements who indulge in social vices and criminal activities. However, these few miscreants do not represent the mainstream of herdsmen, the group said. It also said about 1,000 Fulanis have been killed in communal violence in the affected states. Read the Miyetti Allahs full statement below. We lost 1000 people, two million cows, Fulani herdsmen lament A Text of Press Conference by the National Secretary of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) on Sunday, January 14, 2018 Members of the general public are already aware of the burning national security challenges with violent hostilities affecting pastoralist community in different parts of the country. These very unfortunate crises have since degenerated into dangerously intolerable level of killings, maiming and unprecedented destruction of property. More worrisome is the fact that the pastoralist community which has been the main target of the offensive is also deliberately been pointed as the attackers at the same time. This horrible accusation in both intent and purpose is meant not only to smear the image of the herdsmen as a peace loving community, but to also allow further criminal justification to carry out total ethnic cleansing on our members, as witnessed in different parts of the country. Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria as the premier pastoralist body in the country has remained in unimaginable pains on daily basis as we receive communication of gory details of attacks, maiming and destruction of our members across the country. For the avoidance of doubt, we totally condemn violence, in whatever form anywhere in Nigeria and by whoever. It is important to note that the pastoralist share a long relationship with many communities in the country, as they carry out their legitimate occupation of nomadism/pastoralism; carrying along their lives, families and possessions making it impossible to foment trouble. Our disposition as the immediate neighbours to almost all Nigerians does not only make us vulnerable but also susceptible to baseless accusations by promoters of violence, despite us being the worst victims. We are however not denying the fact that, as any other community in the country, we are also battling with misguided and criminally motivated elements who indulge in social vices and criminal activities. However, these few miscreants do not represent the mainstream of herdsmen. In fact our case is worsen by long years of exclusion suffered by the Fulani herdsmen as the most neglected community in the country, thereby depriving us of so many things. ADVERTISEMENT The current situation in our opinion is fuelled by the draconian laws put in place by some state governments with the singular aim of chasing our people out of the states simply for ethnic hatred. The anti-open-grazing law in Benue, Taraba and other states is nothing more than a symbol of intolerance and do not in any way intend to solve the farmers/grazers conflict as the livestock breeders interest is neither captured in the law nor in its implementation mechanism. While as a body we are not against any law that can engender peace, create societal harmony and stability, we cannot oblige any self-centred regulation with primordial sentiments based on injustice, intolerance and infringement of peoples fundamental rights. It is no longer hidden that to achieve these, some State Governments are sponsoring ethnic militia against our people, recruiting and arming locals to kill our people and rustle their livestock as seen recently in Benue and Taraba States. Two days ago, the media was a washed with the story of Tiv militia gang arrested in Taraba State by the Army who confessed that over 1000 of them were recruited and dangerously armed by the Benue State Government to kill the Fulani herdsmen. No doubt the activities of these criminal gangs are putting our people in unbearable pains as they operate with the greatest impunity under the protection of the State Government. Only very recently we have lost over 1000 people including children, women and the aged and over 2 million cattle to this gang. We are more disturbed today as this state government hides under the self created crises and blackmailing the Federal Government into releasing to them security operatives to achieve their illegal and wicked agenda on our people. The trend of attacks on our defenceless members by ethnic militias oiled by a deliberate profiling through coordinated media campaigns against our members, to say the least, is the worst crime against humanity. What started as communal clashes has since metamorphosed into a coordinated operation to exterminate our people. From the killings in Plateau State, to southern Kaduna to Benue, Taraba and Adamawa among others the story is only worsening by the day. Let me refresh your mind on the unprovoked attack on the Fulani communities on the Mambilla Plateau in Taraba State. The attack, which took place around June last year on the sedentary pastoralist Fulani families who have practiced the much deceitfully advocated ranching for decades left about 700 people killed, over 20,000 cattle rustled or killed with over 300 communities burnt down. In Lau, 24 Fulanis were also killed. In Numan, Adamawa State, about 82 of our women and children were slaughtered in cold blood by Bachama militias. In Kajuru, Kaduna State, 96 were killed. All these were committed in a span of 7 months, beginning in June 2017 to January, 2018. All the killings were done by ethnic groups who see themselves as indigenes and the Fulanis as marauders, even where the latter have been settled for nearly a hundred years. However, up till today nobody is arrested even when the perpetrators are well known to the victims. The pastoralists have been abandoned, unfortunately, to their predators. In conclusion ladies and gentlemen, our story is a very sad and painful one. While we have suffered decades of neglect by the government with attendant consequences, the current national gang up against the herdsmen is not only endangering our survival as a people but also justifying action against us, no matter how crude and inhuman it is. After reviewing the current challenges as they affect our members we are of the humble opinion that following steps can go a long way not only in dousing tension in the country but will also go a long way in reducing the perennial conflict to the barest minimum. 1. We confirm the position of His Royal Highness the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, that in spite of the fact that 732 of our people were killed in Mambila and 82 women and children killed in Numan and nobody was arrested. We hereby demand for the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of these heinous crimes without further. 2. We further state that the refutal of the Emirs position by the Taraba State Governor is merely a continuation of his desperate act of hiding the state governments involvement and protection of the perpetrators of these acts. 3. Pay compensation to the victims of all crises to reduce their level of suffering. 4. The Federal Government should create a Federal Ministry of Livestock Development to attend to the multidimensional needs of the industry as is obtained in many countries and the enactment of a national law to carter for the peculiar needs of pastoralists in particular and the livestock subsector in general since the mischievous anti open grazing laws promulgated by some states have woefully failed to address the contentious issues. 5. We call for a federal judicial commission of inquiry into all these killings so as to unravel the truth and the offenders. 6. We wish to register our appreciation to all those who have refused to be blinded by sentiment and are standing on the path of truth and justice especially the governors of Bayelsa, Plateau, Kogi and Nasarawa states, in the face of these complicated circumstances. 7. We disassociate ourselves from any other group or individual that is out to foment trouble in the country. 8. We also welcome the Federal Governments current resolve to address the lingering crises and submit ourselves for any positive participation to restore mutual and harmonious relationship in the country. 9. We demand for immediate disarmament of all illegally armed militias across the country in the interest of peace, security and stability. Finally, we condemn in totality any attempt of branding herdsmen as terrorists as is being clamoured from certain quarters. We view this as the continuation of the hate agenda on our people and a very dangerous trend for the country. Baba Usman Ngeljarma National Secretary MACBAN The Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, said on Sunday that it was not blown away by the Saturday afternoon media interview which the State Security Service arranged for its detained leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky. The members said only an unconditional release of their leader as ordered by federal courts would be acceptable. Mr. El-Zakzaky was publicly seen Saturday for the first time since he was taken into custody after the Nigerian Army raided his compound and killed many of his followers in December 2015. Mr. El-Zakzaky was himself seriously brutalised during the incident when the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, was delayed from passing through Zaria by IMN members, who were on a procession. At least 347 people were killed in the ensuing military assault on a neighbourhood occupied predominantly by IMN members in the university town. All the members were subsequently buried in mass graves supervised by the Kaduna State Government. The incident was condemned by rights organisations across the world, including by Amnesty International which called for a thorough investigation and prosecution by the International Criminal Court. Mr. El-Zakzaky had received court rulings for the SSS to set him free without preconditions, but the state police rebuffed the court orders and said it was keeping the religious leader in protective custody for his own good. A judicial panel of enquiry set up by the state government also found the Nigerian Army culpable in the massacre, recommending Adeniyi Oyebade, then Grand Officer Commanding of Nigerian Army 2 Division, and his subordinates to stand trial for murder. That recommendation was, however, dropped by the state government. The Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court is currently proceeding with its preliminary investigations into the massacre. Until yesterday, neither Mr. El-Zakzaky nor his wife, who was also detained with him, had been seen in public. But the wife was not seen in the media interview, which the SSS arranged with a select number of reporters to dispel rumours of Mr. El-Zakzakys death. The rumours capped a week of extensive protests that sparked clashes between IMN members and the police. The followers were demanding Mr. El-Zakzakys release from custody. Mr. El-Zakzaky said in the short video that he was recovering well in SSS custody and thanked the agency for finally allowing his personal doctors access to him. PREMIUM TIMES was not invited to the media briefing, and could, therefore, not independently confirm Mr. El-Zakzakys appearance or condition. In a statement to PREMIUM TIMES Sunday afternoon by Ibrahim Musa, the IMN said the purported media interview arranged by the SSS failed to answer most of the critical questions bordering on Mr. El-Zakzakys ordeal. Credible and dependable sources have it that the arranged interview by the security men was made to appear as impromptu, but our Leader, Sheikh Zakzaky granted a much longer interview and addressed far more issues than was released. ADVERTISEMENT What did he say about his continuing detention? What did he say about his similarly incarcerated wife and her own ill health? What did he say about the legal tussle or even how the whole saga began in the first place? What did he say about the destruction of his properties, the desecration of his mothers and childrens graves? What did he have to say about the killing of his elder sister, a nephew, three sons and over a thousand of his disciples? What was his reaction to the mass grave at Mando, which the security did their utmost best to conceal? Why did he opt to challenge his supposed protective custody in court when the authorities are telling the world that it was of his own volition? Why did he reject going to Kaduna State constituted Judicial Commission of Inquiry but submitted a memo to Osinbajo Panel of Investigation, only to refuse giving testimony in secret? The questions are nearly endless. We challenge the security forces to either release to the public the full unedited interview, or allow an open live free interview with no restriction, the IMN queried. The SSS could not be reached for comments because the agency has not appointed a spokesperson since September 2015. Read the full statement of IMN below: Sheikh El-Zakzaky was allowed to speak to a select section of the Press on Saturday 13th January, 2018 for the first time since his illegal detention. That followed recent wave of incessant but peaceful street actions calling for his immediate and unconditional release all over the country as well as globally following reports of his deteriorating health condition in detention. This limited view and voice of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, speaking live in the short video clip in the over two years of his illegal detention may seem very pleasant but falls very short of expectations of his total and unconditional freedom as ordered by the Federal High Court Abuja. We are not unmindful of the fact that Sheikh Zakzaky has not committed any crime, and his detention under whatever guise and pretence has been ruled by a competent court in our land as unconstitutional and a breach of his fundamental rights. There is therefore no justification whatsoever to be satisfied by a few seconds of video clip of an illegally incarcerated Sheikh. It is absolutely a matter of complete freedom that he deserves or nothing at all for the Sheikh in our view. Only a truly free Zakzaky will suffice as ordered by the Federal High Court. It is only a free Zakzaky that can determine, without waiting for permission from anyone or security agents, where and when to seek medical attention and from whom. Similarly, were the Sheikh truly free, he wouldnt have to be denied access to his personal doctors or have to need special permission to be granted by security agents to see his personal physicians. A truly free Zakzaky will not have to be granted permission by anyone to give a press interview, let alone limit it to a select section of the press. A truly free Zakzaky would not be limited in what questions to address too. Credible and dependable sources have it that the arranged interview by the security men was made to appear as impromptu, but our Leader, Sheikh Zakzaky granted a much longer interview and addressed far more issues than was released. What did he say about his continuing detention? What did he say about his similarly incarcerated wife and her own ill health? What did he say about the legal tussle or even how the whole saga began in the first place? What did he say about the destruction of his properties, the desecration of his mothers and childrens graves? What did he have to say about the killing of his elder sister, a nephew, three sons and over a thousand of his disciples? What was his reaction to the mass grave at Mando, which the security did their utmost best to conceal?Why did he opt to challenge his supposed protective custody in court when the authorities are telling the world that it was of his own volition? Why did he reject going to Kaduna state constituted Judicial Commission of Inquiry but submitted a memo to Osinbajo Panel of Investigation, only to refuse giving testimony in secret? The questions are nearly endless. We challenge the security forces to either release to the public the full unedited interview, or allow an open live free interview with no restrictions. Undoubtedly, the Islamic Movement is not impressed with this, and certainly is not fooled by the antics of the Buhari security agencies. We are not placated by Sheikh Zakzakys short and edited video clip. The local and global Free Zakzaky campaigns will most certainly continue. Our goal is not to see Sheikh Zakzaky in a controlled press clip but our goal is the unconditional freedom of Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife as ordered by a competent Nigerian Court. Nothing short of that will suffice. SIGNED BY IBRAHIM MUSA PRESIDENT MEDIA FORUM OF ISLAMIC MOVEMENT IN NIGERIA Skype: ibrahim.musa42 14/01/17 ADVERTISEMENT There is prospect Nigerians keen on knowing the truth about alleged padding of the 2016 budget may soon have some answers, as the Federal High Court in Lagos has granted a bid by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) to seek an order of Mandamus to direct and compel the federal government to prosecute some principal officers of the National Assembly over allegations of padding and stealing of some N481bn from the 2016 budget. The decision by Justice Mohammed Idris last Friday has now cleared the way for SERAP to advance its case against the federal government on the publication of the reports of investigation into the allegations of budget padding and prosecution of indicted officers of the National Assembly. The decision also grants permission to SERAP to seek an order to compel the federal government to closely monitor and scrutinise the spending of N131 billion (accrued from increased oil bench mark) allocated for additional non-constituency projects expenditure, to remove the possibility of corruption. Justice Idris granted the order for leave following the hearing of an argument in court on exparte motion by SERAP counsel, Joke Fekumo. The motion on notice is set for January 26, for the hearing of argument on why the reports by anticorruption agencies on the investigation into the alleged budget padding should not be published and why indicted officers should not be prosecuted. The suit number FHC/L/CS/1821/2017 filed last year followed credible information received by SERAP from multiple sources that the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have completed investigations into the allegations of padding of the 2016 budget, completed their reports, and indicted some principal officers of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and that the accounts of some of the principal officers containing allegedly illicit funds have been frozen, and that the case files for the prosecution of those indicted were ready. The suit read in part: Unless the principal officers indicted in the alleged padding of the 2016 budget are prosecuted and any stolen public funds recovered, the Federal Government will not be able to stop padding of future budgets. Alleged corruption in the budget process will not just melt away or simply evaporate without addressing the fundamental issue of impunity of perpetrators. Addressing alleged corruption in the budget process by pursuing prosecution of indicted principal officers of the National Assembly will provide an important opportunity for the Federal Government to reignite the fight against corruption and fulfil a cardinal campaign promise, to show that the Federal Government works on behalf of the many, and not the few, as well as jumpstart economic activities and break the back of the recession. Publishing the report of the investigation of the alleged padding of the 2016 budget, and prosecuting suspected perpetrators are absolutely important to avoid another padding, which the Federal Government can ill afford. Corruption in the budget process takes away and erodes much needed resources for public and developmental purposes. The level of secrecy surrounding the budget process in the National Assembly has invariably created a breeding place for alleged corruption. Secrecy in the National Assembly has clearly gone beyond the level permitted by law, and apparently served as the incubator for corruption, while depriving the Nigerian people of a much-needed opportunity to cleanse the National Assembly of persistent allegations of corruption. Deception in the budget process will continue unless Nigerians are granted access to inspect the budget process and other activities by the National Assembly. SERAP strongly believes that Nigerians have the right to know what their lawmakers are doing so that they are able to appraise their work and hold them to account. It is in the interest of justice to grant this application as the federal government has nothing to lose if the reliefs sought are granted. The allegations of crime of budget padding against the indicted principal officers of the National Assembly is a gross deprivation of the good people of Nigerias legitimate wealth and natural resources. We respectfully urge your Lordship to hold that the citizens of Nigeria have been deprived of their natural wealth and the indicted principal members be prosecuted by the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation. ADVERTISEMENT A former president, Ibrahim Babangida, on Sunday urged Nigerians and governments at all levels to serve as national vanguards in resolving some recent disturbing incidents affecting national security. Mr. Babangida, a retired army general, made the call in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna. According to the statement, the media should serve as national vanguards in tackling the present security challenges facing the country. It is customary to observe the Armed Forces Day on the 15th January every year to remember officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces who laid down their lives for the unity of our country. Mr. Babangida called on Nigerians to demonstrate appreciation of the courage of the gallant fallen heroes by appreciating their contribution and providing support for the welfare and upkeep of the families they left behind, especially their widows and children. He said it was necessary at this period when the nation was faced with myriads of challenges of terrorism, communal clashes, kidnapping, cultism and gangsterism, among other criminalities. We should cooperate and support our security with relevant information and intelligence to help in tackling the problems. As people we should inculcate our cultural values that promote good conduct, tolerance and peaceful coexistence. We should eschew hate speeches, discrimination and other vices that trigger senseless violence and bloodshed. We have witnessed so much bloodshed through communal clashes and conflicts that need urgent actions to stop them now. As we enter the electioneering period, I urge our political office holders as well as politicians from all political parties to be conscious of their campaign slogans. For the members of the armed forces and security agencies, I urge them to remain apolitical, neutral and focus on the ethics of discipline which is the hallmark of their profession. In conclusion, I wish to once again express my condolence to the families of members of the Armed Forces who lost their lives in their effort to keep Nigeria secured in various military operations. (NAN) The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, has advocated immediate demolition of over 2,000 identified as illegal filling stations operating across the country, to check the persistent scarcity of petroleum products. The Chairman of Board of Trustees of IPMAN, Aminu Abdulkadir, gave the suggestion when he fielded questions from State House correspondents in Abuja on Sunday. Mr. Abdulkadir, who was one of the participants at the recent meeting of critical stakeholders in the nations oil sector, said the demolition of the retail outlets had become necessary to ensure availability of the products. The meeting, which was presided over by the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, was convened by the presidency to find lasting solutions to problems of petroleum scarcity and diversion of the commodity in the country. He said the exercise, if carried out by the federal government, would also serve as deterrent to those who might want to frustrate federal governments efforts towards ensuring stability and sanity in the oil sector. But what is true is that there are people who are not licensed marketers, who have access to these products and they are doing what they like best because they want to profiteer from it, thereby constituting these problems for government, marketers and Nigerians at large. And these over 2,000 unlicensed marketers are neither IPMAN nor DAPMAN members. These are people who are lawless. They are people who are also associated with bunkerers and these bunkerers are being encouraged because there are buyers and who are those buyers. The buyers are those people who are constructing filling stations without any documentation. They are not members of NOMAN, they are not members to IPMAN, they are not members to DAPMAN and they are not under the retail of the NNPC. That is why at the critical stakeholders meeting I suggested that such petrol stations should be demolished. I also reemphasised this at the National Assembly that such illegal retail outlets should be demolished, he added. He, however, said that those illegal retail outlets, particularly the ones along the nations borders which might meet national requirements, could be converted to NNPC outlets. He stated that such retail outlets should be managed by the Nigeria Labour Congress through transparency arrangements, to ensure effective and efficient supply of the products in the affected areas. I will recommend that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) should be given these illegal outlets along the borders to manage them. If we operate this business with transparency, everybody will be happy. On full deregulation of the oil sector, Mr. Abdulkadir, who was one time National President of IPMAN, said government should consider many factors before taking decision on complete deregulation of the sector. According to him, prices of petroleum products always affect the quality of life of the citizens. He, however, lauded the government for its decision to maintain the current pump price of petrol at N145 per litre, adding that some drastic measures put in place by the NNPC and PPMC would ensure stability in supply chain of the commodity. ADVERTISEMENT You see this regulation or deregulation, NNPC as a national oil company has two responsibilities; one is to run the company on economical indexes, the other one is the social responsibility because it is a national oil company. But with the position government has taken now, we have seen that both the Federal Government and NNPC have taken a strong position to resolve these issues once and for all. And we also, the genuine marketers, are collaborating with them; we are augmenting all their shortfalls to see that they succeed, if they succeed we succeed and they fail we all fail. We have colossal investments in this country for God sake, we have colossal investments in trillions not billions. So, no one will like to wash down his or her investment, he said. Mr. Abdulkadir also commended the government for ensuring security of life and property of all citizens, saying that marketers had been carrying out their lawful duties across the country without fear of being attacked by criminals. The chairman added, before this time we were afraid in this country; if actually tomorrow one of your oil terminals would not be burnt down by Boko Haram or your filling station would not be gutted into fire by Boko Haram. Today, we are grateful to the government that they were able to secure all these. If for nothing, we should be able to give government maximum cooperation and support which we are giving. Mr. Abdulkadir also said IPMAN is partnering with Pipelines and Product Marketing Company, PPMC, to expose those marketers selling petrol above pump price of N145 per litre. He disclosed that he had already received a letter from the PPMC authorising him to report any oil depot found to be selling petroleum products above the ex-depot price. I have since received a letter from the MD, PPMC, informing me or instructing me that any depot that we found to be selling above ex-depot price should be reported to him so that he will take serious punitive measure against such depot or oil terminal in this country. I think this is the first time Im seeing such level of transparency from the side of NNPC and the PPMC and therefore, we are all out to ensure that we collaborate and augment all their shortfalls, he said. On persistent petrol queues in Abuja and other parts of the country in spite massive movement of the commodity to retail outlets by the PPMC, Mr. Abdulkadir exonerated both NNPC and PPMC from the blame. According to him, Nigerians have continued to engage in panic buying in spite governments assurance of the availability of the products. He also blamed some middlemen whom he said were fond of hoarding the products in anticipation of possible increase in official price. You see one thing with petroleum products once there is misinformation to the public, the effect is such that the consumers, the retailers and people who have no even business with the oil would all come out and converge on it and add pressure to this commodity. How? If somebody has three cars in his house and he knows he can fuel his tanks anytime he will just buy 30 or 40 litres. Today every Nigerian is buying maximally full tank for all his vehicles thereby distorting real national consumption. National consumption has to do with product to be utilised that date, not for you to store 500 litres, 1,000 litres what are you going to do with it? This is one. Secondly, where there is also information that government is going to increase pump price, and also the middlemen come in to buy this product and stock it elsewhere, and this is outside the capacity of the NNPC. So these are the situations bedevilling this country, he further explained. According to him, the NNPC has been injecting about 50million litres of petrol daily as against the actual national consumption of between 29 to 35 million litres daily. He said: The whole Nigerians are responsible for these chaotic situations because as of today I know that if (we have) our national consumption is peaked at between 29 to 35million per day but NNPC is injecting a cargo daily that is averagely about 49 to 50million litres. Where are these products? Who is consuming them? So, it would take some time for these products to saturate all these empty legal and illegal tanks before these queues will be totally eliminated. So, wherever you see queues are resurfacing is as a result of panic buying and the new middlemen who not licensed to deal with this problem will also come in and buy off these products and hoard them for profiteering. But I know with my experience in this industry there is limit to which they can stop it. Im sure with all these efforts on ground very soon all these empty tanks would be filled up and they will have no choice but to bring them out or there will be nowhere to stock again as NNPC is injecting these products as they are collaborating with critical stakeholders like IPMAN. He, therefore, reassured Nigerians that IPMAN in collaboration with other stakeholders would soon restore normalcy in the supply chain of the petroleum products, saying fuel queues would be eliminated completely. Now all these filling stations would be filled up and we will come out of this situation, it will not take time with the way things are going now Im assuring you. Im assuring Nigerians this situation would not linger anymore. He revealed that about 20 members of the IPMAN had so far been sanctioned for various petrol related offences, saying the organisations internal monitoring unit had been made more effective to ensure efficient monitoring of delivery of products at rightful retail outlets. I want to say expressly clear that marketers internal monitoring team is more effective than any other monitoring team because in our own case if we are given certain volume to take to retail outlets we know which terminal that product will be kept as directed by the MD, PPMC. We also know which marketers are taking these products to what destination; which state. So, we monitor the delivery of these products right from the depots to the retail outlets. On the exorbitant prices of petroleum products in the North-eastern parts of the country, particularly in Borno, Abdulkadir identified security challenges as factors responsible for the hike in the prices of the commodities. According to him, in spite the improvement in security situations marketers are still avoiding sending their trucks to the region. But the challenge here in case of places like Maiduguri as being mentioned, this is a state that has security challenges. The challenges there are even beyond petroleum products. How many marketers, how many truckers are even willing to go there. This is the question. So, it is not about somebody diverting but it is about security challenges. Except the people who are indigenes of that location are volunteering to take products there because even the indigenes they know their routes they have to calculate their risks before they do that. (NAN) ADVERTISEMENT The Presidency says the outcome of the INEC-organised elections at the weekend, in which three different political parties won, is a manifestation of President Muhammadu Buharis deep commitment to free and fair elections. A presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, who was commenting on the outcome of the polls said: the President is inherently committed to the independence of the electoral commission in his belief that the will of the people shall be the basis of authority of government which is expressed through periodic, free and fair elections. He will do nothing to impede INEC. Congratulating the winners of the elections in Anambra central senatorial district, Ardo Kola state constituency in Taraba and Gwagwalada central constituency in the FCT, on behalf of the president, the spokesman reaffirmed that under President Buharis watch, Nigeria will record more free, fair and credible elections. PREMIUM TIMES reported how three different parties won in each of the elections. While APGA won in Anambra, PDP won in Taraba, and APC won the Gwagwalada election. The spokesman reiterated the presidents commitment to strengthening democratic institutions in the country, by ensuring that all relevant institutions in the electoral process maintain a high-level of professionalism and independence throughout the electoral process. While commending INEC, security agencies, civil societies, the media and other stakeholders for their roles in the elections, Mr. Garba called on parties not satisfied with the outcome of the polls to heed the presidents counsel by seeking legal redress through constitutional means. ADVERTISEMENT The third batch of 560 Nigerian returnees from Libya have arrived Port Harcourt, the News Agency of Nigeria reports. Martins Ejike, the South-South Zonal Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, made this known to journalists on Sunday in Port Harcourt. Mr. Ejike said that the returnees, comprising 540 adult and 20 infants, arrived the airport on board Max Air, with registration No: 5N-HMM at about 11:52 p.m. However, he expressed dissatisfaction over poor response of some state governments in evacuating the Libyan returnees from the reception centre in the state. The zonal coordinator said that the federal government gave the states 48 hours to enable them evacuate their returnees from the centre, He expressed dismay that some states failed to abide by the directives, noting that South-West states are not responding to the evacuation process. Mr. Ejike said that the choice of Port Harcourt airport as evacuation route was based on proximity to the most affected states. A graphic showed that Edo state alone recorded 309 out of 484 migrants. The record also showed that over 80 per cent of the returnees were indigenes of Edo and Delta states. It is more convenient for the largely affected states to evacuate their returnees from Port Harcourt, he said. Muhammad Dahiru, the Public Relations Officer of Max Air, also said that the airline was competent to convey 1,680 returnees if passengers were cleared without delays. Mr. Dahiru said that the airline deployed three air crafts with 560 capacity each for the operation, adding that speedy operation can be actualised if passengers documentation and clearance are not delayed. One of the returnees, Paul Eke, who thanked the federal government on ensuring smooth return of migrants, said that the measure showed governments commitment to its citizens. Mr. Eke also urged the government to continue its rescue process to the hinterland in the Libyan states where some Nigerians were being imprisoned and unjustly tortured. I urge our federal government to do more by rescuing some Nigerians who are still trapped in some interior parts of Libya. I stayed in Zawe Superata, this place is like an exit point to Italy and so many Nigerians are still being imprisoned there, Mr. Eke alleged. (NAN) ADVERTISEMENT The United Nations has appointed Nigerias Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, into the Investments Committee of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF). The Under-Secretary-General of United Nations, Jan Beagle, who confirmed Mrs. Adeosuns appointment, disclosed that the minister would serve a one-year term of office effective from January 1, 2018. Mr. Beagle said, On behalf of the Secretary-General, I have the honour to inform you that at the 55th plenary meeting of the seventy-second session of the General Assembly, the General Assembly decided to appoint you as an ad-hoc member of the Investments Committee for a one-year term of office, beginning from 1st January, 2018. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on your appointment and wish you success in your work. The Representative of the UN Secretary-General on the Investments Committee of the UNJSPF, Carolyn Boykin, also congratulated the minister on her appointment and welcomed her to the committee. Ms. Boykin explained that the purpose of the investments of the UNJSPF was to secure the pension entitlements of the international civil servants who participate in the Fund. The fiduciary responsibility is to all parties concerned and it is the responsibility of the Secretary-General to ensure that those investments are managed to preserve the capital of the Fund and to obtain a long-term real rate of investment return that is line with the actuarial assumptions, without jeopardizing the capital of the Fund by taking excessive risks, Ms. Boykin stated. The UNJSPF is a Fund that provides UN pension, death, disability and the other related benefits for staff of the United Nations and the other organisations admitted to membership in the Fund. The UNJSPF is a multiple employer defined benefit plan and governed by the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board (UNJSPB), the Staff Pension Committee for each member organisation, and a secretariat to the UNJSPB and to each such committee. The Fund was established through UN General Assembly resolution 248 (III) (passed December 1948) which came into effect on the 23rd January, 1949 making it a permanent retirement scheme. Nigerias Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun (right) exchanging greetings with her counterpart from the Republic of Niger, Mrs. Kane Aichatou Boulama, during the regional meeting of the African Development Bank (AfDB) on accelerating Africas growth and development in Abidjan, Cote dIvoire on Saturday, January 13, 2018 Photo: Media Office of the Minister of Finance, Federal Ministry of Finance Group photograph by Ministers of Finance from African countries with the President of the African Development Bank, Mr. Akinwumi Adesina and Nigerias Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun (left in front row), during the regional meeting of the AfDB on accelerating Africas growth and development in Abidjan, Cote dIvoire on Saturday, January 13, 2018 Photo: Media Office of the Minister of Finance, Federal Ministry of Finance Group photograph by Ministers of Finance from African countries with the President of the African Development Bank, Mr. Akinwumi Adesina and Nigerias Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun (second left in front row), during the regional meeting of the AfDB on accelerating Africas growth and development in Abidjan, Cote dIvoire on Saturday, January 13, 2018 Photo credit: Media Office of the Minister of Finance, Federal Ministry of Finance It currently serves 23 member organisations, with 128,262 active participants and approximately 75,000 retirees in nearly 200 countries. The Honourable Minister has accepted her appointment by the United Nations into the Investments Committee of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF). ADVERTISEMENT A lawmaker, Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna Central) has criticised seven governors from his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, for asking President Muhammadu Buhari to contest for president in 2019 despite the killings going on in several parts of the country. The APC governors, Nasir El Rufai (Kaduna), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Abubakar Bello (Niger), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe) and Jibrilla Bindow (Adamawa) had on Friday visited the president at the Presidential Villa in Abuja asking him to seek re-election in 2019.This came barely 24 hours after 73 persons killed by suspected herdsmen in Benue were buried. The senator took to his official twitter handle on Saturday to condemn the governors endorsement describing it as unfortunate. Seven Governors in the Villa asking President Buhari to run at this material time when all hands should be on deck to advice or support him to end the mindless bloodletting & carnage in the country is most unfortunate. Human reasoning and human conscience where art thou?, he said. Governor El-Rufai told journalists after the meeting that they (the governors) want the president to contest the 2019 election. He said they have no apologies for that. We believe in Mr. President, we want him to continue running the country in the right direction. People can speculate about 2019; we have no apologies, he said. He added that the governors, mostly first termers, were interested in continuity and stability. Apart from Mr. Sani, other Nigerians also took to Twitter to react to the call by the governors. Below are reactions of some Nigerians. This defies logic. Perhaps the governors think they can ride on the back of the popularity of the president just like the last election. However, they would be disappointed, bcos things done change. snow (@Septemba18) January 13, 2018 Sani, you are bitter for nothing. Buhari has curtailed bh, grounded IPOB, silenced Badoo, killed PH cultists, arrested Evans, equipped military. He will also demystify killers among Herdsmen. He must continue this job till 2023. If you liked, modernise your hypocrisy. SaiBABA Ayekooto (@DeeOneAyekooto) January 13, 2018 Never knew an APC senator could be this sensible. I pray prosperity will remember for speaking the truth. Abicolo_sky (@AbrahamOkeke) January 13, 2018 Sycophants..Its because of people like them that Donald Trump is insulting us.Buhari is a disaster to Nigeria, electing him again will be triple disaster. Ajuluchukwu Nkejiaka (@AjuluchukwuN) January 13, 2018 What exactly is your issue? It seems you are just paranoid about El-Rufai which you are inadvertently transferring to PMB. Is there no freedom of thoughts again? You are free to think what you want and they are also free to think what they want. GAS #WeAreWhatNigeriaIs! (@shittu10) January 13, 2018 Distinguished Senator, clowns like those jobless Governors create the premise for President Trump to call us ****holes. The sheer idiocy of their sycophant is mind-boggling. Obong Itata Itata, Esq. (@ObongItata) January 13, 2018 When a man no matter how sensible (and @MBuhari does not fall into that group) is sorrounded by senseless persons (as most if not all our present Northern governors are) the result is usually what they have just done. alphonsus ogherohwo (@alphyogherohwo) January 13, 2018 7 Governors can ask for their own selfish reasons but it is More than 30 million voters that will decide. i-Knigerian (@ik9ja) January 13, 2018 A Lagos-based human rights lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, has called for the release of the detained leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, saying the Shiite leader was not well despite a recent public appearance. Mr. Ogunye said the detained Shiite leader could not be well having been thrown into detention since 2015 despite suffering life-threatening injuries. You cant be well, Mr. Ogunye said. Not with the killing of your children, the massacre of your sect members and the demolition of your dwellings and those of your sect members, the destruction of your worship centres, and your prolonged unlawful detention, in spite of orders of court for your release, orders which are being flouted by the Federal Government of Nigeria. Mr. El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat, have been in detention since a violent confrontation between his IMN group and the Nigerian army in Kaduna. On December 12, 2015, armed soldiers clashed with the members of the Shiite sect after the latter allegedly blocked the passage of the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai. The next day, the soldiers returned to unleash more violence on the sect members with more than 300 followers of Mr. El-Zakzaky killed by the army. In 2016, Mr. El-Zakzakys lawyer, Femi Falana, said his client had gone half-blind after the Nigerian government held him incommunicado for months. Despite court rulings granting him bail as well as demands for his freedom by human rights groups, the government continued to hold the Shiite leader. Last week, rumours of Mr. El-Zakzakys death spread on social media forcing his lawyer to issue a statement debunking the claims. Furthermore, the Nigerian government hastily arranged a media appearance for Mr. El-Zakzaky where he said the government had finally allowed his doctors to examine him for the first time. He said he was getting better and thanked Nigerians for their prayers. But Mr. Ogunye said the brief television appearance was merely a proof of life and did not denote that all was well. You cant be well in an unlawful detention where your right to liberty and right to freedom of association are being breached, Mr. Ogunye said in his statement in which he was addressing the Shiite leader. That you are forced in the circumstances to appreciate the kind gestures of your traducers who are denying you your liberty, for allowing your personal doctors to attend to you, a remark that smacks of the possibility of your suffering from a Stockholm Disease Disorder (SDD) or affliction, and a statement which is now being celebrated out of context to demonstrate that you are well treated in captivity, and that you are not dead, as recently rumoured, is our own proof that you are not well. This should also be the proof of your unwellness for any rational and objective observer. Mr. Ogunye said the detained Shiite leader may be alive but not well. You will only be well upon being released from custody, with your wife. And that is assuming you can ever be well again. Not only because of the personal injuries you sustained and the disability you now have, as a result of the military attack of 2015, but also because the killings of your sect members, including your children, and the brutality that has been meted on you, have made an indelible dent on the possibility of the restoration of your psychological and emotional health, and your wellness in general. After release from physical custody, you may not be released from mental torture, emotional distress, and severe trauma. ADVERTISEMENT Read Mr. Ogunyes full statement below: YOU ARE DOUBTLESSLY ALIVE BUT YOU ARE NOT WELL. Our attention is drawn to the recent media reports quoting Sheikh El Zakizaky as saying that he was alive and well . Following a persvasive misleading rumour of his death in custody , the Federal Government and its security agencies organized a short television interview for Sheikh El Zakizaky apparently to prove that he is alive and not dead. It was during that interview that he reportedly stated that he is alive and well. Sheikh El Zakizaky, Sir, you are alive, but you are not well. You cant be well when you are thrown into detention following the life threatening injury you suffered in that clampdown in 2015. You cant be well. Not with the killing of your children, the massacre of your sect members and the demolition of your dwellings and those of your sect members, the destruction of your worship centres, and your prolonged unlawful detention, in spite of orders of court for your release, orders which are being flouted by the Federal Government of Nigeria. Yes, Sheikh, your television appearance and short speech of gratitude to people of goodwill for their prayers , and to the security agencies and government for allowing you be attended to by your personal physicians, might have given a proof of life. But it also shows you are not well. You cant be well in an unlawful detention where your right to liberty and right to freedom of association are being breached. That you are forced in the circumstances to appreciate the kind gestures of your traducers who are denying you your liberty, for allowing your personal doctors to attend to you, a remark that smacks of the possibility of your suffering from a Stockholm Disease Disorder (SDD) or affliction, and a statement which is now being celebrated out of context to demonstrate that you are well treated in captivity, and that you are not dead, as recently rumoured, is our own proof that you are not well. This should also be the proof of your unwellness for any rational and objective observer. You will only be well upon being released from custody, with your wife. And that is assuming you can ever be well again. Not only because of the personal injuries you sustained and the disability you now have , as a result of the military attack of 2015, but also because the killings of your sect members, including your children, and the brutality that has been meted on you, have made an indellible dent on the possibility of the restoration of your psychological and emotional health, and your wellness in general. After release from physical custody , you may not be released from mental torture , emotional distress and severe trauma. Sheikh, our objective assessment is that you are alive, BUT YOU ARE NOT WELL. We, again, call for the release of Sheikh El Zakizaky from custody in compliance with the orders of the courts. ADVERTISEMENT No fewer than six members of Kwankwasiyya and Gandujiyya groups were on Sunday injured in Kano following a clash between the two political groups. Kwankwasiyya are supporters of the former governor, Musa Kwankwaso, while Gandujiyya are supporters of the incumbent governor, Umar Ganduje. Both men, though members of Nigerias ruling party, APC, are bitter rivals; each seeking control of the party in the state. Efforts by the APC leadership including President Muhammadu Buhari to resolve the crisis between erstwhile political allies have failed. An eyewitness told the News Agency of Nigeria in Kano on Sunday that the incident occurred around 11 a.m. at Chiranchi quarters in Gwale Local Government Area of the state. According to the witness, some members of the two groups were at the area to attend two separate wedding fatiha when the incident happened. The Kwankwasiyya followers attended one and their counterpart of Gandujiyya attended another wedding ceremony. The one attended by members of Kwankwasiyya was contracted first. So, while they were leaving the area, they ran into the Gandujiyya group who were contracting another marriage, the source said, adding that about six persons were injured. NAN gathered that fighting started between members of the two groups when one of the groups allegedly attacked the other leading to injuring a junior brother of the Commissioner of Special Duties, Abdullahi Abbas, and many others. When contacted, the Kano Police Command Public Relations Officer, Magaji Majiya, confirmed the incident, but declined further comments. I dont have details of the clash. I will communicate to you as soon as I get details of the unfortunate incident, Mr, Majiya said. He said the police had already begun investigation with a view to finding out the cause of the clash. NAN reports that the injured persons were earlier treated at Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital. (NAN) The leader of the Odua Peoples Congress, OPC, Gani Adams, was on Saturday installed as the new Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland. The event, witnessed by prominent Yoruba monarchs, governors and other officials, was held in Oyo town of Oyo State. He was given the title by the Alaafin of Oyo, Lamidi Adeyemi. In his speech, delivered in both Yoruba and English, Mr. Adams called for unity among Yorubas. Read the full speech below.. PROTOCOLS Mo juba awon Aare Ona Kakanfo to siwaju mi: 1. Kokoro Gangan of Iwoye 2. Oyapote of Iwoye 3. Oyabi of Ajase 4. Adeta of Jabata 5. Oku of Jabata 6. Afonja of Ilorin 7. Toyeje of Ogbomoso 8. Edun of Gbogun 9. Amepo of Abemo 10. Kurumi of Ijaiye 11. Ojo Aburumaku of Ogbomoso (son of Toyeje of Ogbomosho) 12. Latoosa of Ibadan ADVERTISEMENT 13. Ladoke Akintola of Ogbomoso 14. M.K.O. Abiola of Abeokuta There cannot be a more humbling occasion for me as the one we are in today. Against the backdrop of the size of the office the Iku Baba Yeye, His Imperial Majesty, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi III, has bestowed on me and the larger than life image of my predecessors, my installation as the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo is a challenge that has made all past challenges seem like a childs play. Though I am just stepping into the office, past occupants of the seat, especially the 13th and 14th occupants Aare Samuel Ladoke Akintola and Aare Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola brought so much power and glamour to the office that it is obvious I have a lot of work to do. As astute businessmen and politicians of note, they raised the profile of the office. There is no doubt from the reactions that followed my pronouncement by the Alaafin of Oyo as the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo that the power and prestige of the office has not waned since it was created centuries ago by Alaafin Ajagbo. In fact, the epoch-making event of today is symbolic as 2018 marks the 558th anniversary of the installation of the first Aare Ona Kakanfo Kokoro Gangan of Iwoye. It is of interest to note that the military, political, traditional and cultural symbolism of the title to the Yoruba Empire, about 600 years ago, is still of strategic importance in the 21st Century. This attribute reveals the uniqueness of the Yoruba race and shows that so much is still expected of the occupant of the post, despite the fact that physical and armed wars are no longer the order of the day. In fact, despite the fact that I am an holder of 52 traditional titles, none has drawn as much comments and commendation by way of letters and visits. The import of the Office still stands: protection of the interests of Yoruba race, both within the country and everywhere else people of the race exist. While it is estimated that there are 60 million Yoruba within Nigeria and about 200 million others scattered all over the world, as a starting point, the preservation of the culture of the race will occupy my attention. Pitiably, as a race, we are gradually losing our culture. In fact, from my travels around the world, it has become obvious that people of other races are taking more interest in our culture than we the owners of the culture, with Americans, Europeans and Asians now earning Degrees in the study of our culture, beliefs and what they have come to term Doctrine. We need to preserve our culture to fully realize the potential of the Yoruba. Though with an activist background, it is now clear that I have to do more as a bridge builder with this new responsibility. In as much as the focus of my struggle has changed over the years from the heady days of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) to the spread of our culture through the formation of the Oodua Progressive Union (OPU), which is now in 79 countries, the Olokun Festival Foundation, Gani Adams Foundation and many others, this new responsibility, despite my age, has unwittingly forced the stature of a statesman on me. I promise to live up to that calling. In this regard, I will work with our traditional rulers, grassroots leaders and have good rapport with all stakeholders, no matter the differences of the past, for the unity, progress and advancement of Yorubaland and Nigeria. The office of the Aare Ona Kakanfo will project the Yoruba culture and tradition by promoting and sustaining our identity globally. The office will equally ensure unity of all Yoruba sons and daughters all over the world. Also of strategic importance to me is research and documentary to sustain the ideals of our founding fathers. To ensure the continuation of the leadership role the Yoruba is known for educationally, I will give scholarships to our sons and daughters because education is light and power. Also, I will collaborate with security agencies and stakeholders to ensure that Yorubaland is effectively secured through our various organizations. I want to assure this August gathering that given the fact that the Oodua Progressives Union (OPU), which I am also the Convener, is now established in 79 countries, I will use this Union and other pan-Yoruba groups abroad to invite our sons and daughters with exceptional abilities, who have distinguished themselves in various fields, to come home and help in our quest to ensuring that our country takes its rightful place in the comity of nations. GRATITUDE At this juncture, let me express my profound gratitude to all our revered traditional rulers who have been working tirelessly to unite our race. It is a long list that it will not be possible to mention all. But let me use the following to pay tribute to our traditional rulers: the Alaafin of Oyo, Iku Baba Yeye, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III who has deemed it fit to honour me with this prestigious title, the Ooni of Ife, Oonirisa Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II; Chairmen of Council of Obas and Chiefs and all traditional rulers in Yorubaland, and not forgetting my root, the Zaki of Arigidi-Akoko, Oba Yisa Olanipekun, and all traditional rulers in Akokoland; all the Obas who bestowed me with 52 titles, which invariably laid the foundation for my emergence as the Aare Ona Kakanfo. CALL FOR UNITY The journey has started from here. And my first appeal goes to Yoruba sons and daughters who are outside the shores of the country not to forget that there is no place like home. This was what informed the formation of the Oodua Progressives Union (OPU), Gani Adams Foundation and Olokun Festival Foundation. Please, see Yorubaland as the place to be. Dont give the race a bad name. Come home to invest. As the 15th Aare Ona Kakanafo, I consider myself lucky that there is no war at hand confronting the Yoruba race now. In other words, we are living in peace time. However, I am not pleased with the level of Yoruba unity today and I am very concerned. Therefore, my greatest priority is the unity of the Yoruba race at home and in the Diaspora. I will, therefore, spare no effort in ensuring the unity of Yoruba race within the contemporary Nigeria body polity. To take the journey further, I will, after this installation, launch the Aare Ona Kakanfo Foundation. This will further promote the culture of the people and document the history of the Aare Ona Kakanfo title. Since we are now in the era of Information Technology, we will be unveiling historical documents obtained from the Iku Baba Yeye on the Aare Ona Kakanfo title to a website. 2018 makes it the 30th year that the last holder of the title, Aare M.K.O. Abiola, stood before you for his installation. He died on July 7, 1998 and the post was vacant for almost 20 years. Same happened when the 13th holder of the title, Aare S.L. Akintola, died on January 15, 1966. It took more than 22 years before his successor took over. Why? There is the myth that holders of the title will always die a violent death. But, this is not so because many holders of the title lived to be more than 100 years. So, apart from setting aside the myth and projecting the image of the office, documenting the Aare Ona Kakanfo title will also let people know that a child born of humble beginning like me can make it. From the extreme North of Yorubaland, Arigidi-Akoko in Akoko North West Local Government the rural area of Ondo State, here I am emerging as the Aare Ona Kakanfo. WAY FORWARD My second appeal as the Aare Ona Kakanfo goes to the Federal Government to attend to some of the major roads in Yorubaland that are critical to its citizens. These include Lagos-Ibadan, Oyo-Ilorin, Lagos-Badagry, Sagamu-Benin, Badagry-Lusada-Sokoto, Ibadan-Iwo-Osogbo, Osogbo-Ilesa, Ilesa-Akure-Owo-Lokoja and Lagos-Abeokuta. It will also be a major plus if the government, as promised by President Muhammadu Buhari in his January 1, 2018 speech, attends to rail transportation as fast as possible. The issue of power is also critical. This will empower artisans more. Security is equally important. All these would aid the development of the tourism potential of the country. Several countries, such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Britain, Turkey, Singapore, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa, Ghana, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia and Israel have diversified their economy to tourism. I want to assure you that I will work with various stakeholders to turn our land into a viable tourist destination. To our esteemed Governors in the South-West, I call for cooperation, no matter the party line. The Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission should be empowered. And I want you all to see me as a partner in progress. I offer myself for service once it is for the advancement of the Yoruba race. The various groups in the South-West should also resolve their crises. I will also persuade seven of our elders, who are not partisan, to work with me in uniting all Yoruba and resolve differences wherever they may arise. PROFOUND APPRECIATION In closing, let me express my profound appreciation to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, for their support. I want to thank our host Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, for his immense contribution towards the success of todays event. I also thank other governors for their support and contributions, financially and morally. Let me thank all those who contributed to the success of this installation ceremony, especially members of the Planning Committee, the media and many others too numerous to mention. I also want to thank my wife, Erelu Mojisola. She is a Pillar of Support and a Role Model for Women. I want to assure all that as the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo, I will use my position, God willing, to protect the interest of our land and our dear country Nigeria. Mo ki gbogbo yin o A dele bare o Igba mi a tu ile Yoruba lara lagbara Olodumare, Amin. Aare Ona Kakanfo Gani Adams January 13, 2018. Smith's gift is the largest donation ever made specifically targeting research and care for African-American men with prostate cancer who, statistically, are 73 percent more likely to develop prostate cancer than any other race or ethnicity. "I am delighted to support the lifesaving work of accelerating promising medical research to serve our nation's veterans who urgently need better treatments and cures and access to cutting-edge precision oncology," said Robert F. Smith. "On the day we remember the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., let us also remember his messages of service and of equality. With these resources, we will do right by those brave veterans who served our country, and we will change the odds for millions of African-American men who should be surviving prostate cancer." One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. It is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among veterans, accounting for a third of all male cancer cases. African-American men are 2.3 times more likely to die from the disease. To date, little is known about the biological reasons for the alarming disparities. "We are profoundly grateful to Robert F. Smith for his incredible generosity and his leadership," said Jonathan W. Simons, MD, PCF's president and CEO. "The Smith Center of Excellence represents a new model of American philanthropy and will pave the way for groundbreaking discoveries that will have a transformative impact on our research enterprise and its role in improving health equity for veterans and their families. These survival disparities represent a real crisis, and this gift so timely in the spirit of honoring the legacy of Dr. King has the power to save lives." The timing of Mr. Smith's philanthropy is crucial. For veterans with late-stage disease who are running out of choices, this gift will enable the Prostate Cancer Foundation to accelerate the work of clinical investigators working to solve some of the most lethal forms of prostate cancer while also advancing the quality of healthcare for African-American men. In 2018, PCF will fund a series of precision medicine teams at leading Veterans Administration medical centers and universities across the country through a call for proposals issued in January. Although all highly innovative research proposals will be considered, priority will be given to higher risk-highest potential of impact to maximize the benefits to veterans, with a focus on African-Americans, in the near term. The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) is the world's leading philanthropic organization funding and accelerating prostate cancer research. Founded in 1993, PCF has raised more than $745 million and provided funding to more than 2,000 research programs at nearly 200 cancer centers and universities. The PCF global research enterprise now extends to 19 countries. PCF advocates for greater awareness of prostate cancer and more efficient investment of governmental research funds for transformational cancer research. Its efforts have helped produce a 20-fold increase in government funding for prostate cancer. For more information, visit www.pcf.org. MEDIA CONTACT : Colleen McKenna Prostate Cancer Foundation (310) 570-4722 [email protected] Alan H. Fleischmann for Robert F. Smith (202) 776-7776 [email protected] SOURCE Prostate Cancer Foundation Related Links http://www.pcf.org AMMAN, Jordan, January 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- ArabiaWeather, the largest private weather company in the Arab World and a pioneer in weather-related technology, has been singled out by Google as one of the top applications of 2017. (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/508741/ArabiaWeather_Logo.jpg ) Google recently announced the names of the recipients of its 'Best of 2017' award, which is Google's most prestigious award whereby tens of thousands of applications added to the Play Store on a daily basis were considered for the accolade. ArabiaWeather, a regional household name and provider of its weather forecasting app of the same name, was awarded the 'Best Daily Helper' award for the MENA region. The award comes as a result of ArabiaWeather's efforts over the last year, during which the app succeeded in maintaining its ranking as the #1 application in the 'Weather' and 'Travel' categories in several countries. In response to this recognition, ArabiaWeather CEO Mohammed Al Shaker stated, "We are very pleased to be singled out by Google, amongst fierce competition in this category, across the MENA region. ArabiaWeather's app users are the backbone of this Company, and we hope to always exceed their expectations and meet their every need." ArabiaWeather has been investing heavily in its consumer technologies, growing its following exponentially on both iOS and Android platforms in addition to social media. Looking to the future, Al Shaker added, "We are very excited about what's next for ArabiaWeather. We are all working very hard on developing products that are useful and relevant to both consumers and enterprises." ArabiaWeather's Product Engineering and Consumer teams have also been working tirelessly this year on introducing new app features. Among these enhancements are three major product feature updates; the first of which is a clothing recommendations section in the application which recommends what best to wear during the day based on the expected weather conditions. The second is a section in the application with the purpose of informing on whether schools will be operating regularly or if there will be any delays or days off due to adverse weather conditions. Furthermore, ArabiaWeather will be relying more heavily on video content for the dispersion of weather reports and updates as part of its new strategy, aimed at widening its reach and increasing consumer engagement and satisfaction. About ArabiaWeather Through its media products, enterprise solutions and consumer platforms, ArabiaWeather delivers its forecasts to 70 million Arab users on a daily basis. ArabiaWeather's Enterprise division provides decision support solutions to businesses across the region to sectors that are enormously affected by weather conditions such as Media, Airlines, Oil & Gas, Agriculture, Insurance and Retail, among others. ArabiaWeather also works with various governments and National Weather Services across the region. Through its Consumer division, ArabiaWeather's web properties, mobile applications and social media platforms serve millions of consumers across the Middle East, providing them with timely, accurate and localized weather information in Arabic and English. ArabiaWeather's technology runs on proprietary, hyper-localized data and algorithms. The Company has offices in Amman, Riyadh and Dubai, staffed with the region's leading meteorologists, weather experts, as well as talented R&D specialists who endeavor to deliver the most accurate weather forecasts and information in the region. For round-the-clock weather forecasts and services, please visit http://www.arabiaweather.com and download ArabiaWeather apps through http://apps.arabiaweather.com/, and to learn about the enterprise solutions offered by ArabiaWeather, please visit http://corporate.arabiaweather.com. SOURCE ArabiaWeather Tourism Industry Supported More Than 146,000 Jobs Reaching Every Part of Chicago; A 17 Percent Increase in Jobs Since 2010 CHICAGO, Jan. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Choose Chicago today announced that visitors to the city in 2017 reached 55.2 million a new record and 2.5 percent increase over the previous year. The increase of 1.4 million reaches the Mayor's ambitious goal of 55 million visitors annually two years early. Chicago's tourism industry supported an estimated 146,500 jobs in 2017, a 17 percent increase since Mayor Emanuel took office. "Tourism in Chicago means jobs throughout Chicago," Mayor Emanuel said. "By continuing to set new tourism records and bring millions more people to Chicago every year, we are generating economic opportunities that reach every Chicago neighborhood." Prior to 2011, there were an estimated 124,400 tourism-related positions. The projected 55.2 million visitors to Chicago in 2017 generated an estimated additional 22,000 jobs. 2017 marked another major increase in leisure visitors to the city as Chicago hotels reported an overall annual increase of 6.3 percent. This increase of the leisure segment was particularly strong in the key summer months as hotels reported an increase of 7.4 percent during the four-month period June through September more than double the growth of the previous summer. Overall, Chicago hotel demand in terms of rooms occupied grew 3.3 percent in 2017. Another key segment generating overnight visitors is the important convention and meetings industry convening at McCormick Place. Of the largest 40 conventions held, 21 achieved increased attendance over their prior year event including 10 that experienced all time attendance records. Seven of the 40 largest conventions broke previous records in terms of the sale of exhibit space another encouraging industry trend. To build on that progress, the Global Business Travel Association has committed to hosting their Annual Convention in July of 2019 which is the world's largest business travel event. More than 7,000 business travel professionals from around the world will gather in Chicago at McCormick Square for state-of-the-art education, exclusive networking opportunities and news on the latest innovations in the industry. "The visitor results and impact is clearly a team win," said Choose Chicago Board Chair, Desiree Rogers. "This is the result of a truly collaborative effort of all partners of Chicago's visitor and meeting industry. Our goal now will be to harness this momentum and continue to build upon it." "The combination of record-setting growth in leisure visitors accompanied by record-setting results from the major conventions that choose to meet here is an outstanding barometer for the overall success of Chicago as a thriving destination," Choose Chicago President & CEO, David Whitaker said. "The impact of the visitor and meetings economy translates into increases in jobs, tax receipts from visitor spending as well as helping fuel the city's reputation as not only an amazing place to live, work and play but also an amazing place to visit and invest in." The positive momentum being generated is also helping fuel industry growth as Chicago opened five new hotels in 2017 with another eight new hotels currently scheduled to open in 2018. SOURCE Choose Chicago Related Links http://www.choosechicago.com COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Jan. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Danish blockchain pioneer Ronny Boesing went from selling CDs to having his own cryptocurrency exchange in 2014. Now cryptocurrencies at an estimated 5 million USD are traded daily on OpenLedger. OpenLedger Since its inception into the danish market in 2014, OpenLedger now has seen more than 300 million USD worth of cryptocurrencies being traded on its OpenLedger platform. The 2017 cryptocurrency explosion saw OpenLedger accrue an astonishing daily trading volume of 5 million USD. Company founder Ronny Boesing foresees a formidable future in which OpenLedger will offer blockchain-technology solutions. Ronny believes that OpenLedger has the potential to follow in the footsteps of tech giants Google, Apple, Facebook or Amazon within the next 5 years. With its current business plan OpenLedger is striving towards a possible partnership with both Amazon and Alibaba. Ronny Boesing made a recent comment to the Danish newspaper Boersen, stating "I have throughout my life earned my money by bringing products to people all around the world. That is in fact what I still do. The product is just a little different." Rasmus Winther Moelbjerg, an expert in digital transformation in Deloitte Digital, believes that if OpenLedger is successful in creating trust within their platform and through securing partnerships, it is also possible to reach their goals. OpenLedger aims to utilize blockchain technology as a part of its long-term investment strategy. With blockchain's seemly endless list of applications OpenLedger is aiming to use the technology to offer tool-kits for entrepreneurs. Ronny is currently putting the finishing touches to his new GetGame platform, aimed at the gaming industry, which is not only an independent product, but also a prototype of a much bigger vision to encapsulate all industries within a single platform offering a palette of tool kits for entrepreneurs and startups. The goal is to offer a sort of all-inclusive incubator platform upon which it enables all users to send multiple digital currencies to a decentralized account with an advanced market place with options to take loans supported by collateral. On the OpenLedger exchange, it is the actual owner of the account that controls the money when trading. Other places, on these decentralized exchanges, it is the exchange that has access to all the currencies and in principle shut down a user's account. At OpenLedger the responsibility and control of the activities inside this account is in the hands of the user. OpenLedger exchange is built and operates on Bitshares Blockchain MIT Graphene Toolkit Technology. The users on the exchange do not need to to have the virtual currencies on their own computers if essentially all are converted to the currency Bitshares (BTS) or stablecoins like bitUSA or bitCNY. Ronny goes on to explain the OpenLedger service in more detail, stating: "Part of the service that OpenLedger offers via the Bitshares network and the OpenLedger crypto gateways is for the user to exchange their crypto holding into BTS or aforementioned stablecoins for unique hedging purposes and then store their virtual currencies securely." The user's control of the account is due to them being the only ones who can make changes to their holding of the different virtual currencies. A decentralized exchange cannot change the ledger, or the registry, that records which kind and how many virtual currencies a user has available. OpenLedger created their own virtual currency OBITS, on the Bitshare blockchain just over two years ago. This currency is both a token, reward and a voucher, which can be used to pay for certain services and products, access platforms or hold as passive income. From the fees achieved from the many activities offered by OpenLedger, they have been buying back and reduced supply of OBITS of over 2 million USD since February 2017. As part of its ITO solution OpenLedger recently began supporting Karma, a worldwide cross-border p2p loans ecosystem with marketing services and distribution of tokens, and now as one of two exchanges they are officially listing their token for trading as well. Markets are open for trading on OpenLedger in BTC or any of the other ones listed on OpenLedger like EOS, DASH, ETH, DOGE, OBITS, STEEM, bitCNY, btUSD or BTS. Instructions to deposit and withdraw Karma tokens on OpenLedger can be found here. About Ronny Boesing and OpenLedger Cryptocurrency exchange owner Ronny Boesing has had more than a successful career, starting selling video games and CDs around the world, to starting Crypto coins exchange Denmark in 2014. The trading-platform where digital currencies like BTC could be exchanged for Fiat currencies like GBP, USD or the Danish Krone. Later renamed as OpenLedger, the platform's launch occurred while China was in the process of banning Bitcoin and Mt. Gox's collapse. Media Contact Contact Name: Ronny Boesing Email: [email protected] Location: Denmark For more information about OpenLedger: https://openledger.info Join the community channel on Telegram: https://t.me/OpenLedgerDC Sign up directly to the OpenLedger DEX: https://openledger.io Follow OpenLedger on Twitter: https://twitter.com/openledgerdc Follow OpenLedger on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/openledger OpenLedger is the source of this content. Virtual currency is not legal tender, is not backed by the government, and accounts and value balances are not subject to consumer protections. This press release is for informational purposes only. The information does not constitute investment advice or an offer to invest. SOURCE OpenLedger Related Links https://openledger.info While the four-day event focuses on recognizing, educating and motivating leaders from across the country within Mary Kay's independent sales force, attendees will also assemble 2,000 care kits to distribute to five Atlanta area domestic violence shelters: Forsyth County Family Haven, Gateway House, Partnership Against Domestic Violence, NOA's Ark/No One Alone and Project Safe. The care kits are filled with Mary Kay basic hygiene products and offer a source of comfort to women at emergency shelters who often flee abusive situations with little personal belongings. "From soaps to lotions to everyday skin care products, our clients are in desperate need of any and all necessities after many have fled unthinkable circumstances," said Nancy Friauf, President and CEO at Partnership Against Domestic Violence. "Throughout the years, Mary Kay Inc. and The Mary Kay Foundation have continued to serve as steadfast and committed supporters of our shelter along with many other domestic violence organizations in the Atlanta area and across the country. To receive these care kits and the Company's unwavering dedication is not only a gift but also allows us to focus on serving the survivors of an epidemic that impacts one in four women in the United States." Each year, Mary Kay holds its U.S. Leadership Conference in a different city. Independent Sales Directors and Independent National Sales Directors offer leadership and motivation to the growing Mary Kay independent sales force worldwide. According to the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, the 2018 conference will pump $8.4 million into the local economy. This marks the third time Mary Kay has held its annual Leadership Conference in Atlanta following events in 2006 and again in 2012. "Known for its diverse cultural heritage and Southern hospitality, we're thrilled to be back in Atlanta for our third time as thousands of our independent sales force members paint the town pink," said Nathan Moore, President of Mary Kay Inc.'s North America Region. "Nearly 55 years ago, Mary Kay Ash founded our company on the Golden Rule and emphasized the importance of giving back. It's part of the Mary Kay heritage and we're honored to give back to our host city by assembling and distributing much-needed care kits to Atlanta area domestic violence shelters." To date, Mary Kay Inc. and The Mary Kay Foundation have donated $57 million to domestic violence prevention and awareness programs in an effort to end the cycle of abuse. For more information about Mary Kay's commitment to end domestic violence visit marykay.com/dontlookaway. About Mary Kay At Mary Kay, success lies in our dedication to irresistible products, a rewarding opportunity and positive community impact. For more than 54 years, Mary Kay has inspired women to achieve their entrepreneurial goals in nearly 40 countries. As a multibillion-dollar company, we offer the latest in cutting-edge skin care, bold color cosmetics and fragrances. Discover more reasons to love Mary Kay at marykay.com. Mary Kay Inc. Corporate Communications marykay.com/newsroom 972.687.5332 or [email protected] SOURCE Mary Kay Inc. Related Links http://www.marykay.com TUCSON, Ariz., Jan. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- At 8:07 a.m. on Saturday, Jan 13, citizens in Hawaii received a mobile alert: "Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii, seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill," according to The Hill. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (EMA) sent out another message 38 minutes later calling the initial alert a false alarm. That interval was more than enough time for a missile from North Korea to reach its target. Some citizens scurried to take shelter as in an underground parking garage, or even a storm drain, as pictured on RT.com. Some sped to try to reach home in their car. Some jammed phone lines to say good-by to family. White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters referred to the missile alert as a "state exercise." At change of shift, somebody apparently "pushed the wrong button." "What this exercise shows is the disarray in the EMA and the appalling unpreparedness of the U.S. in these days of nuclear proliferation," stated Jane M. Orient, M.D., president of Physicians for Civil Defense. "Outside the zone of maximum destruction, most people could survive if they knew what to do. But most lack the basic information drilled into schoolchildren in the 1950s." "The knowledge that would save more lives than anything else is to drop and cover if you see a bright flash," she said. "If you have warning, take the best available shelter, underground if possible, or in the interior of a building. Dirt, concrete, or mass of any type is a radiation shield." "A storm drain or parking garage could save your life. Driving around in a car is one of the worst things to do." Some nations, such as Russia and Switzerland, have an extensive shelter system. "But the U.S. abandoned its shelter survey decades ago," Dr. Orient said. After the initial detonation, there might be fallout danger. Physicians for Civil Defense has equipped many first responders with expedient "dot monitors" to detect dangerous levels of radiation. The U.S. has no robust national fallout monitoring net, and the Cold War radiation monitoring instruments maintained by states were retired decades ago and not replaced. "The current Hazmat instruments are for interdiction. They would be offscale and worse than useless in a post-attack environment," Dr. Orient stated. "It is not safe to assume that rulers like Kim Jong-un will be deterred from using their nuclear arsenal by threat of retaliation," Dr. Orient stated. "Americans need to consider what they will do if the mobile alert is for real. Even first responders told Stephen Jones on his coast-to-coast bike ride for civil defense that they had no training for this contingency." Physicians for Civil Defense distributes information to help to save lives in the event of war or other disaster. Contact: Jane M. Orient, M.D., (520) 323-3110, [email protected] Physicians for Civil Defense 1601 N. Tucson Blvd. Suite 9 Tucson, AZ 85716 (520) 325-2680 www.physiciansforcivildefense.org SOURCE Physicians for Civil Defense Related Links http://www.physiciansforcivildefense.org In 1940, Eugene Odum was hired by the University of Georgia as an instructor in the zoology department, bringing with him ideas that would rev Got some scoop for our reporters or editors? Click on the link below to send us your information. Send your news Iran's judiciary says that about 465 people are still being detained across the country for taking part in a wave of antigovernment protests that began nearly three weeks earlier. Judiciary spokesman Gholamhosein Mohseni-Ejei also acknowledged that 25 people were killed in violence surrounding the protests that began on December 28. Tehran prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi said 440 "arrested rioters" had been released from detention facilities in Tehran alone in recent days. Mohseni-Ejei said there were still 55 people being held in the Iranian capital. He also said that 25 "ordinary citizens and our own forces were killed during the recent troubles," and claimed that none were killed by gunfire from security forces because "they were ordered not to use their weapons." Officials had previously said 21 people were killed. Mohseni-Ejei did not provide details on how the members of the security forces or civilians were killed, including six protesters who died while trying to storm a police station in the central province of Isfahan. An Iranian reformist lawmaker, Mahmud Sadeghi, said last week that about 3,700 people had been arrested across the country during the weeks of protests, which were sparked by anger about Iran's troubled economy and official corruption but escalated rapidly with some calling for the overthrow of the country's clerical rulers. Iran's parliament said on January 7 that low-level protesters, particularly students, were to be released in waves while protest leaders would be punished. Hamid Shahriari, deputy head of Iran's judiciary, said last week that antigovernment protest leaders should be handed the "maximum penalty" under Iranian law for organizing what the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps has repeatedly described as acts of "sedition." The death penalty is the most severe sentence imposed by courts in Iran, where it can be applied for a range of crimes including treason, murder, and drug trafficking. Based on reporting by AP and Fars A stricken Iranian oil tanker that was burning in the East China Sea for more than a week following a collision with a Chinese cargo ship has sunk. Chinese state television reported that the ship sank shortly after a portion of its cargo "suddenly ignited" at about noon local time on January 14. The Sanchi was set ablaze after a collision on January 6 with the CF Crystal, a ship carrying grain from the United States to China. The collision took place off Chinas coast near Shanghai, with the tanker then drifting southeast into the waters of Japan's economic exclusion zone. The cause of the collision is still not known. Shortly before the tanker sank, an Iranian official said there was "no hope of finding survivors among the members of the crew," comprised of 30 Iranians and two Bangladeshis. Mohammad Rastad, a spokesman for an Iranian rescue team dispatched to the area, said the crew died due to the blast and the release of toxic gas, Irans state-run Press TV news channel reported. Rescue workers boarded the vessel on January 13 and found the bodies of two crew members in a lifeboat. They also retrieved the ship's black box. Another body was found during the week of salvage operations. The Iranian government declared a day of national mourning on January 15 to honor "the brave mariners who died in the course of their mission to advance the country's goals," state media reported. The crewmen of the Hong Kong-registered freighter CF Crystal were all rescued. The Panama-flagged Sanchi, owned by Iran's top oil shipping operator National Iranian Tanker Co, was carrying almost 1 million barrels of condensate, an ultralight, highly flammable and explosive fuel, to South Korea. Chinese officials said there was no major oil slick. With reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, and IRNA Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi says he will be a candidate in the parliamentary elections tentatively scheduled for May 12. . Abadi on January 14 said he will seek to form a new coalition -- dubbed Victory and Reform -- and field candidates in all Iraqi provinces. Abadi belongs to the Dawa party, a Shi'ite group with close ties to Iran. But analysts say he has managed relations with Iraq's Sunni minority better than his predecessor, Nuri al-Maliki, and also improved Baghdad's ties with Sunni Saudi Arabia. Abadi was not previously elected prime minister, having taken over after Maliki was pressured to step down in 2014. Abadi is credited with helping to lead the country to victory in the four-year war against the Islamic State (IS) militant group. Maliki holds the mainly ceremonial post of vice president but maintains substantial power as head of the Dawa party. He said on January 13 that he will also be running in the May elections as part of a different alliance -- called State of Law. He told Dawa backers that they would be free to choose between his alliance and that of Abadi. The parliamentary vote has been tentatively set for May 12, although the date must still be approved by parliament. Based on reporting by Reuters, Rudaw, and Al-Arabiya BRUSSELS -- The European Union on January 14 denounced the prison sentence handed down to Azerbaijani journalist Afqan Muxtarli, saying it poses serious questions regarding the exercise of fundamental rights in the country. The Balakan District Court sentenced Muxtarli to six years in prison on January 12 after convicting him of smuggling and other crimes in a politically charged trial condemned by rights groups. Rights groups and Western states have condemned the case as part of long-standing government effort to quash dissent and punish those who question the authorities or seek to expose graft. In a statement, Maja Kocinjancic, the spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, said on January 14 that the sentence handed down to Muxtarli poses serious questions as regards the exercise of fundamental rights including the freedom of expression and media and due process of law in Azerbaijan. Kocinjancic added that Mukhtarlis alleged abduction in Georgia followed by his arrest and prosecution in Azerbaijan continues to demand thorough and transparent investigation. All cases of incarceration related to the exercise of fundamental rights should be reviewed urgently by Azerbaijan, followed by the release of all those concerned, in line with Azerbaijan's international commitments, the statement also said. Muxtarli and his wife, Leyla Mustafayeva, fled to Georgia in 2015, fearing for their safety in connection with his reporting on suspected corruption in Aliyev's circle. A day after Muxtarli went missing in Tbilisi in May 2017, Azerbaijani authorities said he was in custody in Baku on suspicion of smuggling and crossing the border illegally. Muxtarli's lawyers, Elcin Sadiqov and Nemat Karimli, told the court that their client was "abducted" in Georgia and illegally brought into Azerbaijan. They said the case was politically motivated and asked the court to drop all charges. But the court in the former Soviet republic's north found Muxtarli guilty of illegal border crossing, smuggling cash, and assaulting officials. In his final statement, Muxtarli said he was not guilty and vowed to continue expressing his thoughts and ideas through writing as a journalist. President Ilham Aliyev's government "cannot silence us," he said. "You can arrest or kill us, but there are others to come and continue the fight. Our main goal is not to topple Ilham Aliyev. Our highest aim is to provide people with hope," he said. Human rights groups and Western governments have called on Baku to release the journalist. U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert in a January 12 statement said that the United States is disturbed" by the sentencing of Muxtarli for offenses "widely believed to be politically motivated." "We urge the government of Azerbaijan to release Mr. Muxtarli and all those incarcerated for exercising their fundamental freedoms," Nauert said. She added that Georgia is investigating Muxtarli's abduction and she called on Tbilisi to be "full, transparent, and timely" in pursuing his case. European lawmakers passed a resolution in June calling on Azerbaijani authorities to free the journalist immediately and drop all charges against him. Muxtarli's wife, Mustafayeva, has criticized the Georgian authorities for failing to prevent her husband from being taken to Azerbaijan. She has moved to Germany, saying that she was being followed by the same people she believes seized her husband and felt unsafe in Georgia. Western governments and international human rights groups say Aliyev's government has persistently persecuted independent media outlets, journalists, and opposition politicians and activists. Aliyev, who has ruled the oil-producing South Caucasus country of nearly 10 million people since shortly before his long-ruling father's death in 2003, has shrugged off the criticism. A phone booth, that rarely works, is about the only sign of modern life to be found in Ust Anzas, a remote village in Siberia's Kemerovo Oblast. The Shor, an ethnic Turkic minority, live in isolation here, nestled amid the Abakan Range mountains and seemingly endless forests along the shores of the Mras-Su River. Cut off from roads, central heating, and with nearly no electricity, let alone the Internet, the Shor in Ust Anzas live off the land much like their ancestors have for centuries. Ust Anzas is one of dozens of villages in the region of Gornaya Shoria that the estimated 15,000 Shor call home. They cling to their traditional way of life, handcuffed by restrictions imposed by Moscow on hunting and fishing after much of their homeland was designated a national park in 1989. Despite efforts to revive their endangered language since the collapse of the Soviet Union, not more than 5,000 Shor can actually speak their native tongue today. "When I visit my parents and say something in Russian, they get angry and yell: 'Why are you speaking Russian? Speak Shor!'" says Natalya Moiseyeva, who, born and raised in Ust Anzas, returned there after retiring. Like others, Moiseyeva claims many of today's generation show little interest in their language. "While we knew the language well, our kids are barely able to speak it. And they teach Shor language at the boarding school," Moiseyeva explains. "There was only Russian when I went to school. The school in Ust Anzas was closed in the mid-1990s. Since then, kids from Ust Anzas have been living and studying at the boarding school in Tashtagol. My grandson is 12 and only knows a few words in Shor: knife -- pichak, bread -- kalash, water -- suu." Tatyana Torchakova works in Ust Anzas at the local post office, which doubles as a shop selling groceries and sundries. "I rarely speak with my husband in Shor. Usually only when we want to hide something from our daughter," she says before suggesting that the language is nevertheless becoming more widespread. "Before, it was a bit strange to go into a store in [the administrative center of] Tashtagol and speak in Shor. But now you meet a friend and start speaking in Shor as if it's normal. More people are talking about the rebirth of the language. People have simply stopped being afraid to speak it." Can Shor Be Revived? Shor was first written with a Cyrillic alphabet introduced by Christian missionaries in the middle of the 19th century. After a number of changes, the modern Shor alphabet is written in another modified Cyrillic alphabet. In 2005, to highlight the endangered status of the language, Gennady Kostochakov published a book of poems in Shor, titled I Am The Last Shor Poet. Today, the language is taught at the Novokuznetsk branch of Kemerovo State University. Despite some signs of a Shor language revival, some in Ust Anzas aren't convinced. Vyacheslav Kiskorov, who works at the local library, says books are rarely checked out, and among those that are few are in the Shor language. "Most interest in the language comes from linguists. There is no interest in the language in the village. The people themselves are to blame. My daughter Alina already knows the Shor language well, sings songs, and performs during festivals," Kiskorov says. Drowning In Red Tape Rather than language issues, Fedor Kydymayev, the head of the village administration, appears more concerned with the restrictions placed on those living in Ust Anzas and other villages inside the Shor National Park. "Before, we were able to burn and plow the land so we could plant. Now, because of the national park we can't. I plant potatoes in the village now, but earlier we planted them in the taiga," Kydymayev laments. "At any moment they can come and fine you; for carrying a weapon, for [fishing] nets," he says. "The taiga, you can't go there, can't cut [timber] there." Russian legislation enshrines the right of national minorities to live according to their traditional ways. But Kydymayev says that ensuring those rights comes with lots of red tape. "Everything affecting life in the village needs to be approved. And getting that done is difficult. You need to bring in engineers to measure the land, then documents are drawn up," he says. "A lot of people here don't have a lot of money because there's no work. Some turn to stealing to get by." He says that at least one especially exorbitant fine took the ultimate toll. "That fines are handed out can be seen everywhere. For example, everyone knows that you now can't cut down cedars. After being fined hundreds of thousands of rubles, one local man was so devastated he hanged himself." But Kydymayev, who has struggled with alcoholism like many others in the region, says the Shor come from strong stock. "We can live here without jobs," he says. "For people from the city it's wild here, how the Shor live. There's no work, nothing, they go everywhere on foot. But you need to understand that we are truly hunters. We can walk many kilometers in a day, our bodies are capable of that." The Shor get their spiritual strength from a nearby mountain peak, explains 80-year-old Robert Chromov, a chronicler of local history. "Farther in the distance, Aigan rises. On this mountaintop shamans fed the mountain spirits with moonshine," he explains, hinting at the role shamanism, or nature worship, played and still plays in the region. Little Changes For Shor While still holding its spiritual allure, others head to Aigan today for more practical purposes: a strong mobile-phone signal to the outside world, Torchakova explains. "I go to Aigan. There you can get some kind of signal. Aigan is our sacred mountain. I head there and make phone calls," she says. Torchakova has time for such sojourns as things are rarely busy back at the post office. "Most of the people come in when they deliver pension payments. There are no bank cards, no Internet here," she says. "We have 23 pensioners living here. Pensioners not only from Ust Anzas, but neighboring villages come here," Torchakova says. "They come mainly by boat, on horses, and, in the winter, on skis." Mobility becomes sluggish as the muds that come in the fall and spring with the winter thaw and summer rains, making what roads there are impassible. During those times, traveling greater distances in the region is done by helicopter. Zoya Topakova, who lives in neighboring Kizek, 4 kilometers from Ust Anzas, uses a horse to get around as she's done for most of her life, much of it marked by hardship and struggle. "I didn't even finish the first grade. My father was taken off to the war, in 1941. There was nothing to eat, nothing to wear, and that's why I didn't study. My mother raised me," she says as her grandson Vyacheslav stands nearby. Topakova is a bit unsure on her feet, using a cane to get around. But in the saddle it's a different story. Even at her age, she seems almost agile, her balance perfect. Ask a Shor though, and they'll simply say it just comes naturally. Written by Tony Wesolowsky based on reporting by RFE/RL's Ideal.Reality The U.S.-led coalition fighting the extremist group Islamic State (IS) says it is working to create a 30,000-strong border-security force in Syria. The coalition said on January 14 that the force will be deployed at the borders of the area controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance of Arab and Kurdish militias dominated by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia. It said that about 230 individuals were currently undergoing training in the force's inaugural class. About half of the force will be SDF veterans, the coalition also said. Backed by the U.S.-led coalition's air strikes, advisers, and weapons, the SDF has ousted IS militants from swathes of northern and eastern Syria. Its members now control territory bordering Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, and Syrian government forces to the west. Turkey reacted sharply to news of the border force, with Ibrahim Kalin, spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, saying it would "legitimize a terror organization." Ankara views the YPG as a terrorist group affiliated with the Kurdish PKK, which has waged an insurgency in Turkey for decades. There was no immediate reaction from Syrian President Bashar al-Assads government to the border-force announcement. Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters All the passengers were evacuated. Their relatives came and took the passengers. Vehicles were provided to those who did not have cars. After the airplane landed, before it maneuvered, it slipped and then veered off the runway. There are no injuries. There are some passengers who have gone to hospitals for precautionary purposes, Trabzon Governor Yucel Yavuz said.The cause of the incident was not yet known and the airport was closed until 08:00 a.m. local time (05:00 GMT). Several Turkish Airlines flights in and out of the airport were canceled. Several fire brigade teams, rescue teams, special forces units and tow trucks were dispatched to the scene. The passengers luggage were rescued by crews and loaded onto buses. We, as Pegasus Airlines, are sorry to confirm that PC8622 Boeing 737-800 type TC-CPF Ankara-Trabzon plane skidded off the runway as it was landing yesterday evening on Trabzon Airport. Some 162 passengers, two pilots and four members of the cabin crew on board were evacuated. There are no casualties or injuries, Pegasus said in a statement. Technical inspections will be performed to find the cause of incident. Since the past few weeks, cops in cities of Mysore and Bangalore, have been conducting drives where they are stopping bikers who are not wearing ISI certified helmets. They were confiscating helmets if they were not ISI certified, and destroying them. In some cases, bikers were fined as well. In this, there were some bikers who were wearing internationally certified helmets from brands like ARAI, Shoei, MT, LS2 and so on. These helmets cost anything from Rs 5,000 to Rs 1 lakh or even more in some cases. In comparison, ISI certified helmets costs anywhere from Rs 700 to Rs 1,500. Tests have proven that these helmets are among the safest in the world. There are videos online which show ISI certified helmets cracking after they are thrown from 1st floor, while expensive helmets are in one piece even after being thrown from the 10th floor of the same building. But, surprisingly, cops were stopping and fining bikers who were wearing these expensive helmets as well. The bikers tried explaining that their helmets are much more safer than those certified by ISI, but all in vain. This caused an uproar on social media. The air was finally cleared last week. Bangalore cops official twitter handle had confirmed that internationally certified (DOT, ECE, SNELL) helmets are valid and are not banned. But guess what. Bangalore cops are making a U Turn on their statement. R Hitendra, additional commissioner of police (traffic) has told Times of India that only ISI certified helmets are allowed from 1st February. Internationally certified helmets will not be allowed. We will not accept such helmets. We will only accept those with an ISI mark. When asked, what about the post on Twitter from the official handle? He replied, Somebody operating the Twitter handle has erred. Ill order the post to be removed. At the time of publishing this post, the tweet had not been deleted. Yes it can be used. BengaluruTrafficPolice (@blrcitytraffic) January 18, 2018 To add to this, Karnataka High Court passed a ruling that insurance compensation will not be given if the rider is not wearing an ISI certified helmet. Back in May 2014, two bikers had met with an accident in Pavagada taluk. In that case, the local court had ordered the Insurance company to pay a compensation of Rs 2.58 lakh to the bikers. This ruling, was appealed by the insurance company in the High Court, whose ruling came earlier this week. Justice L Narayanaswamy of the Karantaka High Court gave ruling that Insurance Companies should not give any compensation to bikers who are not wearing ISI helmets. Not only this, the helmets should also display name of manufacturer, year of manufacturing and size. In order to get insurance compensation (be it for medical bills or for fixing your motorcycle, etc), bikers will have to prove that they were wearing ISI certified helmet at the time of accident. Riding a two-wheeler on Indian roads in itself a challenge. Some road safety activists believe that the situation is such that two-wheeler riders have to contend with death every time they kick start their bikes. Time and again the authorities have pushed for compulsory wearing of helmets but riders throw caution to the wind and dare to break the law putting their very lives on the line. Surveys conducted on the number of road accidents involving two-wheelers has revealed that in more than 95% of the cases, the rider or pillion who died in the accident, were not wearing helmets. In the wake of such reports, traffic police departments across the country have conducted drives to promote the importance of helmet, which is a positive step. But banning world-class helmets, is a step in the opposite direction. UPDATE After the news was published this morning, there has been an uproar on social media. Bengaluru Police have posted following updates on their page. BTP will write to the transport department seeking clarification about the non ISI helmets in view of the claims from the buyers of imported helmets are better than ISI. Till they reply BTP will not take any action on them. Dr. B.R. Ravikanthe Gowda IPS (@AddlCPTraffic) January 23, 2018 Please send the written representation regarding imported helmets , if any to our Mail with all supporting documentation. Dr. B.R. Ravikanthe Gowda IPS (@AddlCPTraffic) January 23, 2018 Hello Bengaluru Traffic Police, BENGALURU CITY POLICE,In reference tothe ongoing fiasco over standardisation and Posted by Saquib Ahmad on Tuesday, 23 January 2018 BTP will write to the transport department seeking clarification about the non ISI helmets in view of the claims from Posted by BENGALURU CITY POLICE on Monday, 22 January 2018 Thousands of San Francisco hosts on Airbnb and rival home-stay sites have stopped renting their homes and rooms to tourists. Many others are scrambling to register their vacation rentals with the city as a Tuesday deadline looms for Airbnb and HomeAway to kick off unregistered hosts. If you look at the sites, youll notice a substantial reduction in the number of listings, said Kevin Guy, director of the San Francisco Office of Short-Term Rental Administration and Enforcement. The rush to register is the result of an agreement between the city and the sites, which had fought San Franciscos efforts to strengthen registration requirements and rental limitations imposed in 2015. After a court battle, San Francisco, Airbnb and HomeAway reached a settlement in May that required the sites to register all hosts in phases starting in September. By Tuesday, all hosts must be registered. Airbnb and HomeAway wont allow unregistered hosts on their sites, and other services, like FlipKey, which werent a party to the settlement, will face fines of up to $1,000 a day per listing and criminal penalties if they help arrange bookings of unregistered listings. The city said 2,168 hosts had met its requirements to offer temporary rentals as of Thursday representing a fraction of the 8,453 Airbnb listings the city observed in early August. (That count excludes more than 2,500 listings exempt from the rules.) An additional 737 have submitted applications and can host while those are pending. About 15 percent of them have more than one listing, such as two rooms in their home. The number is in flux: Some pending applications may be rejected, while about two dozen applications a day are still arriving. Hosts can still apply after Tuesday, but any bookings will be canceled until they are registered. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle Airbnb, which got its start in San Francisco just under a decade ago and is still headquartered here, is by far the citys biggest vacation-rental site. It says that most hosts are residents who rent out spare rooms, or their entire home when they are away, making them compliant with city laws. In addition, the company has about 2,650 listings in San Francisco that are exempt from the registration requirement, including rentals of 30 or more days, bed and breakfasts, and hotels. Over the last few months, weve focused on educating our host community about the registration process, and will continue our outreach efforts in the final days to ensure hosts have all the information they need to register, said spokeswoman Mattie Zazueta. Airbnb has removed more than 2,600 listings since September. It doesnt yet know how many more it must ax Tuesday. Many listings had little activity, so their removal wont hurt its local business, she said. Airbnb said it booked the same number of nights in San Francisco in the 30 days after Dec. 5 as during the same period a year earlier. Worldwide, its business soared during the same time frame. It booked 3 million guests globally for New Years Eve up 50 percent from the last night of 2016. HomeAway and VRBO, both owned by Expedia, and FlipKey, owned by TripAdvisor, showcase many second homes, which San Francisco does not allow to be offered as vacation rentals. FlipKey looks like a massacre happened, there are so few listings now, said Omar Masry, senior analyst at the Office of Short-Term Rentals. On VRBO, you can see that the map of San Francisco is no longer covered in pins (of available properties). A shakeout is happening. FlipKey has removed 498 San Francisco listings and has only 57 remaining, excluding those exempt from the registration requirement such as hotels, timeshares and B&Bs, the city said. TripAdvisor spokeswoman Laurel Greatrix said FlipKey worked closely with the city to comply with the regulations, and noted that it offers a variety of accommodations in San Francisco, such as hotels, hostels and B&Bs. Data for HomeAway and VRBO were not immediately available. In May 2016, they had about 1,300 local listings, a Chronicle investigation found. HomeAway remains committed to working through the laws implementation plan with the city and hope to continue our partnership on reasonable public policy and enforcement in the new year. said spokesman Philip Minardi. Airbnb and HomeAway sued San Francisco in 2016 over a strict new law passed in June of that year. A U.S. district judge rejected the companies arguments that their rights were being violated and ordered them to work with San Francisco on a registration system. Such registrations were part of the Airbnb law enacted in early 2015, but the requirement was widely ignored. Only about 1,800 hosts registered. San Francisco wants hosts to register to ensure compliance with such requirements as hosts being permanent residents who do not rent entire homes for more than 90 days a year. The law seeks to prevent landlords from removing housing stock by turning homes into full-time hotels. Listings dropped off for several reasons: Dormant properties: About 2,000 people listed their homes but never rented to tourists. Many were lured by the hope of quick riches from Super Bowl 50 and Americas Cup guests who didnt materialize. Tenants and condo owners who cant sublet: When renters register as hosts, the city notifies their building owner. We think a good number of folks might meet city eligibility requirements, but may be renters with no subletting clauses in their leases, Guy said. Similarly, some condo associations bar subletting. Ineligible properties: San Francisco permanently bars some properties from vacation rentals, including below-market-rate units and public housing, buildings subject to Ellis Act evictions after Nov. 1, 2014, and a kind of in-law residence called an accessory dwelling unit. Funkier places, such as recreational vehicles, tree houses, tents, shipping containers and boats, are also verboten for tourists here. Properties with building-code violations cant register until they clear those up. Ineligible hosts: Only people who live in their homes at least nine months a year can rent to tourists. That excludes those who have a pied-a-terre in San Francisco, or who travel more than three months a year. Some hosts who listed more than one property or who had guests stay almost year-round were rejected by the city because they appeared to be operating illegal hotels. Infrequent hosts: San Francisco charges a $250 registration fee plus a $90 business registration fee for all hosts. For those who only rent a week or two while they are on vacation, this could be a deterrent. Procrastinators: Its human nature that people wait until the last minute, said Airbnbs Zazueta. Chicago, which went through a similar registration process several months ago, saw a surge of last-minute registrations. Likewise, San Francisco says applications have been increasing in the past week. Some hosts complain that the city is draconian with rejections, and said the number of pending applications means it takes longer to get a decision. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes I was rejected because someone filed a completely bogus complaint saying I have three units that are all Airbnbs, said a host who asked not to be named. What evidence do they have? Its not true. He plans to appeal the decision. In fact, rejections are rising. From February 2015 to August 2017, 26 percent of applications were rejected. Since September, 38 percent have been rejected, from a smaller pool of 293 applications. Weve always closely scrutinized applications, Guy said. Now that people are really required to register, there may be incentives for some to submit applications that may be fraudulent, so it would be natural to see an increase in the rejection rate. Applicants have 30 days to appeal a rejection and will receive a decision within another 30 days. There is a loophole for hosts who dont want to register: renting for a month or longer. A lot of people are switching to 30-plus-day listings, but its harder for them to get renters, Benkert said. Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @csaid Vacation rentals in San Francisco 2,168 hosts are registered with the city. 737 hosts have applications pending. 8,453 Airbnb listings in San Francisco in early August, prior to the strengthening of registration requirements. That does not include 2,650 Airbnb listings in San Francisco that are exempt: 30-day-plus rentals, bed and breakfasts, and hotels. 2,680 hosts were removed by Airbnb between September and December. That left 5,900 nonexempt Airbnb listings as of early December; all remaining unregistered listings will be removed on Tuesday. 1 of 12 "For the second time in three years, snow has fallen near the northern Algerian town of Ain Sefra. On January 8, 2018, the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8 captured the data for these "For the second time in three years, snow has fallen near the northern Algerian town of Ain Sefra. On January 8, 2018, the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8 captured the data for these natural-color images of the snow in the Sahara Desert," NASA reports. NASA Earth Observatory Image / Joshua Stevens "For the second time in three years, snow has fallen near the northern Algerian town of Ain Sefra. On January 8, 2018, the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8 captured the data for these "For the second time in three years, snow has fallen near the northern Algerian town of Ain Sefra. On January 8, 2018, the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8 captured the data for these natural-color images of the snow in the Sahara Desert," NASA reports. NASA Earth Observatory Image / Joshua Stevens "For the second time in three years, snow has fallen near the northern Algerian town of Ain Sefra. On January 8, 2018, the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8 captured the data for these "For the second time in three years, snow has fallen near the northern Algerian town of Ain Sefra. On January 8, 2018, the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8 captured the data for these natural-color images of the snow in the Sahara Desert," NASA reports. NASA Earth Observatory Image / Joshua Stevens Snow fell in the hottest place in the worldthe African Sahara. On Tuesday, Twitter was filled with images like this one on the BBC Africa's Twitter page showing a dusting of snow in the Sahara Desert. Snow fell in the hottest place in the worldthe African Sahara. On Tuesday, Twitter was filled with images like this one on the BBC Africa's Twitter page showing a dusting of snow in the Sahara Desert. This is the fourth time the region has seen snow in the last 37 years. Twitter Screen Grab / BBC Africa Snow fell in the hottest place in the worldthe African Sahara. On Tuesday, Twitter was filled with images like this one on the BBC Africa's Twitter page showing a dusting of snow in the Sahara Snow fell in the hottest place in the worldthe African Sahara. On Tuesday, Twitter was filled with images like this one on the BBC Africa's Twitter page showing a dusting of snow in the Sahara Desert. This is the fourth time the region has seen snow in the last 37 years. Twitter Screen Grab / BBC Africa Sweltering temperatures in southern Australia boiled the brains of bats. The sizzling-hot temperatures reaching well over 100 degrees are literally boiling the brains of flying fox bats, and the heat-struck Sweltering temperatures in southern Australia boiled the brains of bats. The sizzling-hot temperatures reaching well over 100 degrees are literally boiling the brains of flying fox bats, and the heat-struck creatures are dropping from the sky and falling from their perches in trees. An animal rescue group outside Sydney, Help Save the Wildlife and Bushlands in Campbelltown, is tracking the situation and helping the bats. Help Save The Wildlife And Bushlands In Campbelltown In the same Australian heatwave, people sought refuge and so did their cars. In Victoria, Australia, police alerted motorists to avoid highways that were melting in the hot temperatures. PETER PARKS, Getty Images People went sledding on the beach in South Carolina as cold froze the East Coast. In this photo Finley Bork, 7, uses a boogie board, typically used on the beach, for sledding down a hill on a golf People went sledding on the beach in South Carolina as cold froze the East Coast. In this photo Finley Bork, 7, uses a boogie board, typically used on the beach, for sledding down a hill on a golf course at the Isle of Palms, S.C., Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018. A brutal winter storm smacked the coastal Southeast with a rare blast of snow and ice, hitting parts of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina with their heaviest snowfall in nearly three decades. Mic Smith, AP Typically balmy Florida saw icicles and even snow in some parts. Photo: Icicles hang from the "Welcome to Hilliard sign" in Hilliard, Fla., Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018. A brutal winter storm scattered a wintry mix Typically balmy Florida saw icicles and even snow in some parts. Photo: Icicles hang from the "Welcome to Hilliard sign" in Hilliard, Fla., Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018. A brutal winter storm scattered a wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain from normally balmy Florida up the Southeast seaboard Wednesday. Bob Self/AP In late February and early March, a Siberian cold snap brought arctic winds and freezing temperatures across central Europe and to the west. Dozens of people died and even Rome saw snow. In this photo, palm In late February and early March, a Siberian cold snap brought arctic winds and freezing temperatures across central Europe and to the west. Dozens of people died and even Rome saw snow. In this photo, palm trees are dusted in snow after a snowfall in front of Milan's Gothic Cathedral, Italy, Friday, March 2, 2018. Antonio Calanni, Associated Press LIMA, Peru A giant Christ statue in Perus capital that was donated by a construction company at the center of Latin Americas largest corruption scandal was damaged Saturday in a fire, days before Pope Francis is to arrive in the South American nation. Peruvians awoke to find nearly the entire back of the statue, perched on a barren desert bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, charred black. A representative of Perus firefighting corps told RPP Noticias that two dozen firefighters responded to the blaze. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but one working theory is that Christ of the Pacific was purposely set aflame. But police later told state news agency Andina that electrical cables for the statues lighting had short-circuited because of humidity. The 69-foot statue was donated by Brazilian company Odebrecht in 2011, and for many Peruvians it has become a sour reminder of the companys illegal maneuverings to court and bribe high-ranking officials in exchange for lucrative public works contracts. In January 2017, vandals covered the statue in messages like Out of the country Odebrecht. Two former Peruvian presidents are accused of accepting money from Odebrecht, and current President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski narrowly escaped impeachment in December over his ties to the company. Opposition lawmakers uncovered documents showing Kuczynskis private consulting firm received $782,000 from Odebrecht more than a decade ago when he was serving as a government minister. Kuczynski has denied knowing anything about the payments, saying he recused himself from all consulting business while in the position. The Christ statues burning comes five days before Francis is scheduled to arrive in Peru. The pope hopes to highlight the need to protect the Amazon rain forest during his visit, but Peruvians will be paying close attention to whether he addresses corruption. Its an issue close to his heart, and he has called graft more insidious than sin and a plague that hurts the poorest the most. The statue cost about $1 million, Odebrecht said in 2011. Francis will arrive first in Chile on Monday. Authorities there are on guard after several Roman Catholic churches in the capital, Santiago, were firebombed, with pamphlets left at one scene threatening the pontiff: The next bombs will be in your cassock. Mauricio Munoz and Martin Mejia are Associated Press writers. Before NOAA retired the spacecraft on Jan. 8, GOES-13 captured images of many major storms, including this image from Sept. 1, 2017, showing Tropical Storm Lidia and Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. AUSTIN, Texas The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administratio nannounced plans Jan. 8 to retire its decade-old Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) 13 to make way for its next generation: GOES 16 launched in 2016 and GOES-S scheduled to launch in March. After a year of on-orbit checkout and validation of onboard instruments, GOES-16 was officially dubbed GOES-East in December when it began to act as NOAA's primary weather satellite staring down on the continental United States and Atlantic Ocean. [GOES-16 Satellite's Most Amazing Photos of Earth from Space] NOAA plans to launch its second next-generation geostationary weather satellites, GOES-S, in March on an Atlas 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Once NOAA confirms that satellite's capabilities, which can take as long as a year, it will replace GOES-15 as the agency's primary weather satellite focused on the western United States, Alaska, Hawaii and the Pacific Ocean. This story was provided by SpaceNews, dedicated to covering all aspects of the space industry. An artist's illustration of the K2-138 system, which contains at least five planets orbiting closely around their parent star. A family of four planets orbiting a distant star was discovered last April, with the help of citizen scientists around the world. In a new paper, researchers reveal some fascinating features of this alien solar system, including the presence of a fifth planet. The planetary system K2-138 is home to at least five "sub-Neptune" planets, meaning they are between the size of Earth and that of Neptune, according to the new study. The planets all orbit extremely close to their parent star, even closer than Mercury orbits the sun. What's more, the paper suggests that these planets may have formed farther away from their parent star than they are now, then journeyed inward together in an exceptionally calm manner. [Kepler Space Telescope's Alien Planet Bonanza Explained (Infographic)] A mountain of data K2-128 was discovered using data from the K2 mission, which has observed over 280,000 stars in three years, according to a statement from the California Institute of Technology. The mission utilizes the Kepler space telescope, which suffered a series of hardware failures and could no longer operate the way it was initially intended. The K2 mission allowed Kepler to continue operating in another way. Software programs can sort through the initial K2 data and select those stars that might be home to planets, but those programs aren't yet good enough to independently confirm the presence of a planet around a star in the K2 data. That leaves thousands of stars that need to be analyzed by the K2 scientists, which is far more than those researchers can handle in a reasonable amount of time, according to Jessie Christiansen, a K2 collaboration member and staff scientist at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), who spoke at a news conference at the 231st meeting of the American Astronomical Society, in Washington, D.C. yesterday (Jan. 11). To try and sort through the K2 data faster, the mission scientists initiated a crowdsourcing project. In this effort, members of the public would be able to review the data that the K2 software had sifted out and help identify the systems that host planets. The result was the Exoplanet Explorers citizen scientist project, developed by Christiansen, along with Ian Crossfield, an astronomer at the University of California, Santa Cruz. The program was launched in April and hosted on Zooniverse, an online platform for crowdsourcing research. (Another citizen scientist project hosted on Zooniverse, called Planet Hunters, was started during the Kepler telescope's primary mission and allowed citzen scientists to search through telescope data for exoplanets before the data had been filtered by software.) "People anywhere can log on and learn what real signals from exoplanets look like, and then look through actual data collected from the Kepler telescope to vote on whether or not to classify a given signal as a transit or just noise," said Christiansen. "We have each potential transit signal looked at by a minimum of 10 people, and each needs a minimum of 90 percent of 'yes' votes to be considered for further characterization." Project beginnings The Exoplanet Explorers program got a big boost in publicity two weeks after it launched, when it was featured on the Australia Broadcasting Company's television series "Stargazing Live," co-hosted by celebrity physicist Brian Cox, for three consecutive nights. Within 48 hours of the program's debut, more than 10,000 people had participated in Exoplanet Explorers and classified over 2 million systems, according to the statement. Following the first night of the program, the researchers watched the results roll in, as citizen scientists helped sift through the data. On the second night, enough people had participated that the researchers were able to share the demographics of the planet candidates that had already been flagged and were undergoing additional analysis: 44 Jupiter-size planets, 72 Neptune-size planets, 44 Earth-size planets and 53 sub-Neptunes (larger than Earth but smaller than Neptune). On the third night, the scientists announced the detection of the K2-128 system, although at the time they could identify only four planets around the star. The researchers said in the statement that K2-128 is the "first multiplanet system of exoplanets discovered entirely by crowdsourcing." An artist's concept of the K2-138 planets, showing their orbits and sizes, to scale. (The size of the parent star is not to scale). (Image credit: R. Hurt (IPAC)/NASA/JPL-Caltech) Resonance Some of the major findings reported in the new paper are the discovery of a fifth planet and hints of a possible sixth planet in the data. The star at the center of this system is slightly smaller and cooler than our sun. While the innermost planet might be rocky like Earth, the other four known planets are gaseous, like Neptune. All five planets orbit around the star with periods shorter than 13 days. (Mercury's orbit around the sun is 88 days.) That close proximity means the planets have temperatures ranging from 800 to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit (425 to 980 Celsius), so even the rocky planet is not habitable for life as we know it. All five of the confirmed planets, which are lettered a through e, orbit their star in resonance with each other, meaning the length of each planet's orbit is related to the next planet's orbit in the same way. More specifically, dividing the length of one planet's orbit by that of the next nearest planet produces nearly the same ratio each time: 3:2 or 1.5. In each case, the exact ratio of two orbital lengths is slightly higher or lower than 1.5, but by less than 0.1. The TRAPPIST-1 system, which contains seven planets orbiting very close to their star, also displays orbital resonances but the ratio does not work out to whole integers. Resonances with whole integers are called "fundamental" resonances. This planetary resonance indicates that the orbits of the planets are influencing each other and have probably been influencing each other for a long time, according to the statement. Some planetary-formation theories predict that these relatively large planets formed at locations farther away from their parent star than they are now, and the resonances indicate that they moved in toward the star together, in a relatively calm manner, Christiansen said at the news conference. "Some current theories suggest that planets form by a chaotic scattering of rock and gas and other material in the early stages of the planetary system's life. However, these theories are unlikely to result in such a closely packed, orderly system as K2-138," Christiansen said in the statement. "What's exciting is that we found this unusual system with the help of the general public." Konstantin Batygin, an assistant professor of planetary science at Caltech who was not involved with the study, agreed that the resonances of the five planets indicated a calm migration period, according to the statement. "Orbital commensurabilities among planets are fundamentally fragile, so the present-day configuration of the K2-138 planets clearly points to a rather gentle and laminar formation environment of these distant worlds," Batygin said. Follow Calla Cofield @callacofield. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. A Chinese Long March 2D rocket launches a land survey satellite into orbit from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi desert on Jan. 12, 2018. A Chinese Long March 2D rocket launched a new Earth-watching satellite Saturday (Jan. 12), marking the country's third launch in four days. The Long March 2D booster launched from China's Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi desert at 3:10 p.m. Beijing Time (2:10 a.m. EST/0710 GMT), the state-run Xinhua news service reported. The rocket carried the new Land Survey Satellite 3 into orbit, according to a translated statement from the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (known as CASC). The satellite will be used for remote-sensing of land resources, according to that statement. Saturday's launch marked the third Chinese space mission in a week, and second Long March 2D launch in four days. A Long March 2D booster launched two SuperView-1 Earth-observation satellites into orbit from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in China's Shanzi province on Jan. 9. On Friday (Jan. 12), a Long March 3B rocket launched two Beidou navigation satellites from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwest Sichuan Province. Email Tariq Malik at tmalik@space.com or follow him @tariqjmalik and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. A new year means lots of new exhibitions - and 2018 looks to be a great year for the London art scene. Diving into a museum or art gallery to escape the cold will conjure up many a treasure this January. From royal collections to new gallery openings, theres lots to see. These are the five exhibitions not to miss this January. Charles I: King and Collector Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2017 The Royal Academy are offering the chance to see a royals art collection up close. Before his regicide changed our nation forever, Charles I helped build the nations taste with his extraordinary collection of art. From Van Eyck to Rubens, he acquired work by some of the finest artists in history, but much of it was sold off and scattered around the world when he was executed. This exhibition is formed of over 100 works from the collection, from huge tapestries to beautiful miniatures. January 27 - April 15, Royal Academy; royalacademy.org.uk Andreas Gursky The Hayward Gallery has been closed for a couple of years but its back open this month, complete with shiny refurbishments. It reopens with a major exhibition of work by acclaimed German photographer Andreas Gursky. Marvel at his larger than life images in the beautiful new surroundings before a stroll along the Southbank. January 25 - April 22, Hayward Gallery; southbankcentre.co.uk Bridget Riley: Recent Paintings 2014 -2017 Lose yourself in Bridget Rileys glorious abstract paintings in a new exhibition at David Zwirner. The gallery is showing her work from the last three years over three floors, including works on canvas and wall paintings. January 19 - March 10, David Zwirner; davidzwirner.com Rhythm & Reaction: The Age of Jazz in Britain Edward Burra, The Band, 1934 Estate of the Artist, courtesy of Lefevre Fine Art Ltd, London and British Council Collection. Did you know its 100 years since Jazz reached Britain? This new exhibition at Two Temple Place marks the occasion, exploring the impact that jazz has had on Brits since 1918. A range of media including paintings, film, instruments and sound will tell the story of the genres impact. January 27 - April 22, Two Temple Place; twotempleplace.org The Enchanted Room: Modern Works from the Pinacoteca di Brera The Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan is one of the most important collections of modern art, so what better way to celebrate Italian art gallery Estorick Collections twentieth anniversary than with an exhibition of its work? Featuring work by Modigliani, Umberto Boccioni, Gino Severini and Mario Sironi, many of these works are being shown outside Italy for the very first time. A warm g'day to Skye (@georgianlondon on Instagram), an expat from the sun-kissed shores of Australia. The southeast London-based mum of two started her account in early 2016, claiming to be "always on the hunt for hidden gems and places that are less well known on Instagram." Nearly two years later and she's amassed an incredible 124k followers Alongside her Insta-life and passion for all things photography, Skye manages to hold down a hectic day job in publishing (we feel you). If you're a stranger to her feed, you'll notice that she is drawn to the history and heritage of London's grand story. In short, the enviable account mixes city life with history and features everything from stunning Georgian facades to Victorian architectural masterpieces and plush modern restaurants. As part of our Meet the Influencer series, we asked Skye for some tips and to name some of her favourite spots in the city. From Instagram favourite Pachamama to the secret cobbled lanes of Clerkenwell and village charm of Dulwich, here's London, Georgian style. Exclusive offers and competitions weekly Email Sign up Sign up I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice {{message}} {{permutiveUid}} {{message}} Where are your favourite places to Instagram in London? Ive loved Spitalfields ever since I lived there 10 years ago. Its full of character and the Georgian streets around Christ Church are beautiful. I also really like Soho there are some great old shopfronts and pedestrianised streets which are good for photos, especially early on a weekend morning when its quiet. Greenwich and Hampstead are also favourites of mine. Name your top five Instagrammable restaurants? There are too many, but if I had to choose... Chicama and its sister restaurant Pachamama. They've both clearly been designed with Instagram in mind. Thomass Cafe above Burberry on Regent St, which has beautiful soft grey walls and huge airy windows. And you have to have a pub in there: I like The Grapes in Limehouse. Whats your go-to neighbourhood to Instagram in London, and why? I absolutely love the Inns of Court just off Fleet St and often pop in there. Its quiet, there isnt any traffic and the buildings are beautiful. Its like a tranquil little oasis right in the heart of the city and I think a lot of people dont realise you can just wander around. What was the inspiration behind @georgianlondon? I joined Instagram in 2014 and had a private account for a while. Then in mid-2015 I went back to work after being on maternity leave and really felt the need for a creative outlet. Suddenly I had a couple of free hours a week during my lunch break and used them to wander around London I discovered that I most enjoyed taking photos of those areas with a historic feel to them and so @georgianlondon was born. On the topic of all things Georgian, whats your favourite Georgian building in London and why should we check it out? Its probably Dennis Severs house on Folgate St in Spitalfields because its open to the public and it completely transports you back to the past. Its a really magical place and because its a house rather than a grand building you get a real sense of what domestic life must have been like in the 18th and 19th centuries. If you were a filter, which one would you be and why? Id probably be a Prime filter like Analog, or one thats a bit cool and desaturated, like December or Lost. They suit the kind of subjects I tend to photograph and the cool grey light thats so characteristic of London. What tips do you have for all of us novice grammers? Try to find something you feel really passionate about photographing, whether its your home, or your kids, or the place you live, or the landscape around you. Study the Instagram feeds you like and try to work out why you like them is it the colour? Subject matter? Captions? Look at the hashtags your favourite Instagrammers are using and try and find the communities who will most connect with what youre trying to say. Tell us all your secret spots to gram in the city. If I did Id have to kill you. But I like the area around the back of the Royal Courts of Justice Carey St, New Square, and Lincolns Inn. And I love the back streets of Islington and Clerkenwell, particularly around Amwell St. I suggest you check them all out. Everyone loves taking pictures of coffee. Who does the best cup of java in London? Im the one person who doesnt really like taking photos of coffee, because I feel too conspicuous standing on a chair in a cafe to get the perfect shot! But for drinking coffee, I love Old Spike Roastery in Peckham and St David Coffee House in Forest Hill. If you were visiting London for the first time ever, where would you go first? Id go full-on touristy and get an open-top bus around the city to get the lie of the land and see all the landmarks. And maybe a boat along the Thames to Richmond or Greenwich. What are your top tips for taking the perfect photo? Take your photos in natural light. And maybe this is obvious but if youre taking photos outdoors, cloudy days work best, when the light is more naturally soft. If youre taking photos of buildings, use an app like VSCO or SKRWT to correct the vertical and horizontal perspectives so it looks straight. And use VSCO, Lightroom or Snapseed to correct things like exposure and contrast. Whats your favourite club/bar in London? Im a mum of two small kids so I really dont get out that much anymore. But Franks Bar in Peckham is always good fun, especially in summer. Where in London would you find the best view of the city? Honestly? The best view is from the maternity ward on the 7th floor of St Thomass Hospital, which is where I had my first child. If you don't know it, its the big white building right across the river from Big Ben. And for one of the best views of all, visit Severndroog Castle on Shooters Hill, SE18 its surprisingly little known but you can see seven counties on a clear day. If you were a London district, which one would you be and why? Id probably be Clerkenwell close to the city but not too close, with lots of lovely Georgian townhouses, and some great pubs. Zone One can get a little too much sometimes. Name all the places you go in the burbs to escape? And tell us why they are so amazing! I live in southeast London so I go to the city to escape the burbs rather than the other way around. But there are some wonderful parts of south-east London that fly completely under the radar, especially on Instagram: Blackheath, Dulwich Village, Bellenden Rd in Peckham, and Peckham Rye Common are my go-to places. I recommend you all leave your comfort zones and check them out. If there was one place in London youd tell someone to gram, where would it be and why? A n Iranian oil tanker that collided with a grain ship off the coast of China has finally sunk after burning in the sea for more than a week. Chinese media said on Sunday that the ship went down into the ocean after suddenly igniting The tanker had been carrying 136,000 metric tons of condensate, a type of ultra-light oil, but officials said there was no major slick on the water. All 32 crew members on board are believed to have died. Smoke and flames billowing from the burning oil tanker "Sanchi" / AFP/Getty Images The Panama-registered tanker Sanchi was sailing from Iran to South Korea when it collided with the Hong Kong-registered freighter CF Crystal in the East China Sea, 160 miles off the coast of Shanghai. Rescue crews were fighting to bring the fire under control and find the crew of 30 Iranians and two Bangladeshis. China, South Korea and the US sent ships and planes to search for Sanchis crew. AFP/Getty Images All 21 crew members of the Crystal, which was carrying grain from the United States to China, were rescued, the Chinese ministry said. The Crystals crew members were all Chinese nationals. L ow-emission bus zones on some of Londons most polluted high streets have been praised for leading to an overnight improvement for toxic air levels. No road-specific annual toxic air limits have yet been breached in the capital, which is an improvement after last year the threshold on one major street was broken in just five days. London environment experts said this change is largely due to the roll out of new cleaner bus routes in the capitals worst offending areas such as in Brixton Road, in south London, and Putney High Street, in west London. Frank Kelly, environmental health professor at Kings College London (KCL), said London mayor Sadiq Khans scheme could have led to an "overnight" improvement. Toxic air: Last year London broke its annual limit on NO2 levels within days / Jeremy Selwyn He said: If you remove the vehicles that create the problem, pollution just disappears. Its as simple as that. The introduction of these eco-buses in places like Putney High Street would be a main reason why we have seen an improvement. It comes after last year Londons filthy air broke legal limits on annual levels of traffic fumes just 120 hours into the New Year. Readings taken in Brixton Road five days into 2017 found levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) repeatedly breached the EU limit. Under EU law, the average hourly level of NO2 must not exceed 200 micrograms per cubic metre more than 18 times in a year. Sadiq Khan: The London major launched the new 'green' zone in Brixton in December / Sadiq Khan/Twitter The mayor said in December that the Putney route, which was the first to get the new buses in March, had seen a 90 per cent reduction in hourly breaches of toxic air levels. Professor Kelly added that the capital has seen a pretty clean start to 2018 generally, in terms of pollution levels, which he said is reflected in NO2 data for this year. But while the new buses appear to have had a major impact, Professor Kelly said the weather has also proved to be a contributing factor to lower levels of toxic air. He said: When we see the very worst of levels of pollution in London it is totally down to the weather. [Toxic air] travels from other countries like France and contributes to it here. Its a global problem, not just Londons. It came as a new study on air quality in the UK revealed that three quarters of Britains worst pollution hotspots are in the capital, showing that Hyde Park Corner and Marylebone Road in central London have the most polluted postcodes in the country. D ozens gathered for a candlelit vigil for a shopkeeper who was killed after refusing to serve under-aged customers. Large crowds were pictured surrounding the front of the shop Rota Express in Mill Hill Broadway, north London, where he worked, on Saturday evening. Vijay Patel, 49, was knocked to the ground and suffered a fatal head wound in the late-night attack outside the shop last Saturday, police said. The father-of-two spent nearly two days on a life support machine before he was pronounced dead on Monday evening. Lovely man: Vijay Patel with his wife Vibha Police on Wednesday arrested two teenage boys, aged 15 and 16, on suspicion of violent disorder in connection to the incident. They were bailed on Friday. Another teenage boy, 16, who was charged with murder in connection with the attack, appeared at Willesden Magistrates Court on the same day. He was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on January 12. Mr Patel, who lived in Kingsbury, had moved to London from India in 2006 to provide a better life for his wife Vibha and their two sons Neel and Dhruv, his family said on Tuesday. His brother Prakash, 47, told the Daily Mail: He was the greatest man in the world. He always wanted to help and do the right thing. N igel Farage has admitted the Brexit vote could be overturned as Remainers have seized control of the debate over the UKs future relationship with the European Union. The former Ukip leader and champion for Brexit said he is worried the Remain camp are free to influence the political debate unchallenged as they have a majority in Parliament. Speaking to the Observer, Mr Farage raised his concerns that the Leave operation could lose out on the historic victory of leaving the EU unless we get ourselves organised. Before the referendum in June 2016, Mr Farage said there could be unstoppable demand for a second vote in the event of a narrow win for the Remain campaign. Loading.... And speaking on Thursday, he said he was coming round to a new vote on the issue in a bid to silence critics such as former PM Tony Blair, former minister Lord Adonis and ex-Deputy PM Nick Clegg who want Brexit to be reversed. Confirming his revised position this weekend, Mr Farage told the Observer: I think the Leave side is in danger of not even making the argument. He added: They [the Remain side] have a majority in Parliament, and unless we get ourselves organised we could lose the historic victory that was Brexit. Nigel Farage calls for second referendum on Brexit It came after a survey of more than 4,000 people by Queen Mary University and YouGov found that the vast majority of Labour, Liberal Democrat and Scottish Nationalist Party voters backed a second EU referendum. Of Labour voters, more than three-quarters backed a second vote, while 87 per cent of SNP voters and 91 per cent of Lib Dems also wanted a fresh vote. The Government triggered Article 50 - the legal process formerly triggering Brexit - in March last year, meaning Britain is due to formerly leave the EU in March 2019. However, Lord Kerr, one of the authors of the document, insists Britain can still change its mind and revoke the article beforehand. Prime Minister Theresa May has previously ruled out holding a second referendum. U kip leader Henry Bolton is facing calls to resign after his girlfriend was suspended from the party for allegedly making racist remarks about Meghan Markle. Mr Bolton's 25-year-old partner Jo Marney has apologised for "shocking" language in a series of messages to a friend in which she made offensive comments about Prince Harry's fiancee and black people. The 54-year-old party leader, whose relationship with Ms Marney is under investigation by Ukip, said on Sunday that she had been suspended "immediately upon us receiving this information". The Mail On Sunday printed texts it said had been sent by Ms Marney, including use of the word "Negro" and a message reading "This is Britain, not Africa" during a discussion about the royal engagement. Mr Bolton, whose controversial private life is already being probed by senior party officials, is now facing calls to step down. Ukip West Midlands MEP Bill Etheridge, addressing the party leader via an online video, said: "Go now. Go quietly and leave us to deal with what's left." In the Facebook message Mr Etheridge said: "It appears that we are now seeing Ukip resources, which are at best scant, being used to defend Henry's private life." He said he would step down as a Ukip spokesman if Mr Bolton, who was elected leader last September, "insists on prolonging this agony". Fellow former Ukip leadership candidate Ben Walker also called for Mr Bolton to resign, accusing him of having "deeply flawed judgment". Henry Bolton defends his right to a private life Former leadership candidate Suzanne Evans told BBC News: "It's just another scandal on top of scandal after scandal with Mr Bolton. I understand he is considering his position today. "We will have to see what the next few hours bring." Party chairman Paul Oakden said Mr Bolton now finds himself with a "difficult" decision to make and is expected to decide on Sunday what to do to "help remedy the situation". He told BBC's Sunday Politics: "I think it is very clear that Henry is increasingly in a position where he's got some difficult decisions to make." Mr Oakden, who declined to give his own views on Mr Bolton's current situation, said the party needs to be "behind our leader 100% in taking that battle (for Brexit) forward". He said: "Whether or not the party decides it is willing to give that support to Henry is for the party to decide." Ms Marney apologised for her 'racist' comments on Meghan Markle / Getty Images The party's National Executive Committee will meet next Sunday. In a statement to the paper Ms Marney, who describes herself on Twitter profile as a model, actor and journalist, as well as a Brexiteer, apologised. She said: "The opinions I expressed were deliberately exaggerated in order to make a point and have, to an extent, been taken out of context. Yet I fully recognise the offence they have caused." Mr Bolton told a young party member online, who urged that Ms Marney should have her membership removed: "Jo was suspended immediately upon us receiving this information." Peter Whittle, leader of Ukip's delegation in the London Assembly, called for Ms Marney to be "expelled altogether" for the "disgraceful remarks". Mr Bolton left wife Tatiana, 42, who gave birth to their second daughter at London's St Pancras station in 2016 after going into labour on a train, prior to his relationship with Ms Marney becoming public in early January. The Ukip leader confirmed that he had a "change in my relationship status" in recent weeks, although he denied reports that it had involved "a clandestine affair with a young lady who happens also to be a member of Ukip". U kip has suspended its party leaders girlfriend after she allegedly made racist remarks about Prince Harrys fiancee Meghan Markle. In a series of messages published by the Mail on Sunday, Jo Marney reportedly said Ms Markle would taint the Royal Family, that she had a tiny brain and that black people were ugly. Ms Marney, a 25-year-old model who is in a relationship with Ukip leader Henry Bolton, has since apologised and said her messages were taken out of context. The Mail on Sunday reported that Ms Marney sent the messages three weeks before her relationship with Mr Bolton, who left his wife for the glamour model, began. In a statement to the newspaper, she said: "I apologise unreservedly for the shocking language I used. The opinions I expressed were deliberately exaggerated in order to make a point and have, to an extent, been taken out of context. Yet I fully recognise the offence they have caused." Ukip confirmed Ms Marney has been suspended, but other members have called for the action taken to be permanent. Peter Whittle, former leader of the party, wrote on Twitter: These are disgraceful remarks. Henry Bolton defends his right to a private life "This person should not just be suspended... but expelled altogether." Mr Bolton, 54, whose relationship with Ms Marney is under investigation by the party, said on Sunday that she had been suspended "immediately upon us receiving this information". Meghan Markle: The messages included 'racist' comments about Prince Harry's fiancee / Getty Images The Ukip leader sent the message in reply to a young party member who urged him to publicly call for Ms Marney to have her membership removed. "She has to go or he and @UKIP are doomed if we let this behaviour happen in the party," the teenage activist said. Peter Whittle, leader of Ukip's delegation in the London Assembly, also called for Ms Marney to be "expelled altogether" for the "disgraceful remarks". Meanwhile former Ukip leadership candidate Ben Walker called for Mr Bolton to resign, accusing him of having "deeply flawed judgement". Party chairman Paul Oakden said he decided to suspend Ms Marney's party membership immediately after he was made aware of the messages. "Ukip does not, has not and never will condone racism," he told the Mail on Sunday. The report of Ms Marney's use of highly offensive language about people from different ethnic backgrounds comes as Mr Bolton faces an investigation into his controversial private life by senior party officials. Mr Bolton left wife Tatiana, 42, who gave birth to their second daughter at London's St Pancras station in 2016 after going into labour on a train, prior to his relationship with Ms Marney becoming public in early January. The Ukip leader confirmed that he had a "change in my relationship status" in recent weeks, although denied reports that is had involved "a clandestine affair with a young lady who happens also to be a member of Ukip". He said he had already made clear on social media that he had recently been spending time "with somebody who has become increasingly important to me". On Sunday a teenage activist called on Mr Bolton to back calls for Ms Marney to be expelled from Ukip. "If @-HenryBolton truly cares about @UKIP he will publicly call for Jo Marney removal from the party her words were blatantly racist and there should be no room for that in UKIP," the young party member said. "Also it would be hypocritical to allow her to stay... because he said in the leadership election he was the candidate against racism and nazis so she has to go or he and @UKIP are doomed if we let this behaviour happen in the party." "Jo was suspended immediately upon us receiving this information," Mr Bolton tweeted in reply. On her Twitter profile Ms Marney describes herself as a model, actor and journalist, as well as a Brexiteer. Mr Bolton was elected Ukip leader last September. O ne of the best rated primary schools in the UK has banned girls aged under eight years old from wearing hijabs. St Stephen's primary school, in Newham, east London, has also forbidden Muslim pupils from fasting on school days during Ramadan. Arif Qawi, chairman of governors at St Stephen's, which topped the Sunday Times school league tables in 2017, said the Department of Education should "step up and [take the issue] out of our hands". He told The Sunday Times: "We did not ban fasting altogether but we encouraged them to fast in holidays, at weekends and not on the school campus. "Here we are responsible for their health and safety if they pass out on campus...it is not fair to us." Mr Qawi claimed some students were fasting when they were as young as eight years old, despite Muslim clerics typically advising they not start until they have reached puberty. He said that, although some parents had been critical of the new rules, it had received broad approval from many Muslim parents. A spokesman for the Department of Education told The Sunday Times: "It is a matter for individual schools to decide how to accommodate children observing Ramadan, and to set uniform policies. At the end of 2017 the U.S. agreed to provide Lebanon with another $120 million in military aid. This includes six MD530G helicopters, six Scan Eagle UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicle) and assorted special communications and related equipment for ground troops to call in air strikes effectively. Since 2006 the United States has provided over $1.5 billion in military aid (weapons, equipment, construction and training) to Lebanon. This was all in an attempt to restore peace in southern Lebanon and weaken the Iran backed Shia Hezbollah organization. The main goal of the U.S. aid was to revive the Lebanese army. This force of some 70,000 troops is actually quite large for a country of only four million people. It's about four times as many troops, per capita, as the United States has on duty. But since the 1970s the Lebanese army has been either non-existent (during 1975-90 civil war), or allowed to languish, lest it become mobilized by one faction or another for a new civil war. But in 2006 Lebanon had a chance to reassert control over the south, which has a fiefdom of the Shia Hezbollah militia since the 1980s. Israel controlled part of the south from 1982 until 2000. But it was Hezbollah who always claimed the south as their own. So the U.S. has been supplying equipment and training that gives the Lebanese Army capabilities that will match those of Hezbollah. The MD-530G is the latest version of the MD-530F armed scout helicopter. The G model has better electronics. The MD-530 is the civilian version of the U.S. SOCOM (Special Operations Command) MH-6. Used for scouting and commando operations the MH-6 (and the similar AH-6) were developed from the 1960s era OH-6 light reconnaissance helicopter. Entering service in the 1980s, the MH/AH-6, or "Little Bird" is a 1.6 ton helicopter with a crew of two and a top speed of 280 kilometers an hour. Sortie length can be as long as three hours but more often are one or two hours. The MH/AH-6 was designed so it could be armed with two 7.62mm or 12.7mm machine-gun pods, or two 70mm rocket pods (seven or 12 rockets each) or four Hellfire missiles. The current MH-6 model is often equipped with a day/night targeting system, including a laser designator and laser guided missiles. Without weapons, the MH-6 can carry six troops (usually Special Forces operators) externally. Nearly 5,000 MD-500 type helicopters have been built and they are particularly popular with police and military users. Because of that the MD-530 model has been regularly re-militarized. ScanEagle was originally designed as a ship based surveillance UAV for commercial and military use. Each ScanEagle system comes with several UAVs, ground control equipment and maintenance gear. The ScanEagle UAV weighs 22 kg (48.5 pounds). It has a 3.1 meter (10.2 foot) wingspan, and uses day and night video cameras. It uses a catapult for launch and can be landed via a wing hook that catches a rope hanging from a 16 meter (fifty foot) pole. There is also a smaller CLRE (Compact Launch and Recovery System) for ship use. On land ScanEagle can also land on any flat, solid surface. The ScanEagle can stay in the air for up to 24 hours per flight and fly as high as 6 kilometers (19,500 feet). ScanEagles cruising speed is 110 kilometers an hour (max is 148 kilometers) and it can operate at least a hundred kilometers from the ground controller. Scan Eagle carries an optical system that is stabilized to keep the cameras focused on an object while the UAV moves. Scan Eagle has been in military service since 2005 as an unarmed reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft. It is reliable, easy to use and gives ground troops their own aerial surveillance capability. The 2006 ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon stipulated that Hezbollah would be disarmed. Hezbollah said they would not and it was up to the Lebanese army to try and make disarmament happen. To that end in 2006 the United States donated an initial $11 million in military aid, with a lot more to follow if it appeared that the U.S. effort was having a positive effect. U.S. trainers had been in Lebanon before the 1975-90 civil war. The Lebanese army is still equipped with a lot of 1970s vintage American helicopters, armored vehicles and trucks. The U.S. is willing to upgrade all that, and bring in new stuff. The key unknown is whether the Lebanese troops will accept some professional training, and guidance in how best to disarm Hezbollah. The Lebanese accepted the initial American offer, but there was considerable political blowback, and military threats, from Hezbollah. The Lebanese Army did not roll over, but they did not move on Hezbollah either. A frustrated United States stopped the aid effort at times, but then resumed because many in the Lebanese Army wanted to confront Hezbollah but cautioned that they had to wait for the right moment. That moment may be approaching because since 2011 Hezbollah has been increasingly sucked into the Syrian civil war. This is at the behest of Iran, who has financed, armed and trained Hezbollah since the 1980s. The majority of Lebanese back the Syrian rebels and the Hezbollah aid for the Syrian government is unpopular even among many Lebanese Shia. The Hezbollah involvement in Syria is making Hezbollah more vulnerable in Lebanon, and the U.S. is providing a lot more aid for Lebanese Army to take advantage of that. For example in 2014 the United States agreed to send Lebanon some Cessna Caravan 208 aircraft equipped with laser designators and Hellfire missiles. The Cessna Caravan 208 is a single engine aircraft designed to carry nine passengers or about a ton of cargo. Hellfire equipped Cessna Caravan 208s have been used by the Iraqis since 2009 with great success. Lebanon wants to use them to deal with Sunni Islamic terrorists raiding across the border but these aircraft can just as easily be used against Hezbollah, as can the MD-530Gs and ScanEagles. In response Hezbollah has encouraged Shia Lebanese to join the Lebanese military and then report back to Hezbollah what is going on and stand ready to carry out daring and dangerous missions (like mutiny or sabotaging military equipment) for Hezbollah. The Americans advise the Lebanese (who are mostly Christian or non-Shia Moslems) on how to deal with that as well. Rotorua has been named as one of the top places to see in the prestigious New York Times 52 Places to Go in 2018 list. The list, described as a starter kit for seeing the world features Rotorua at number 45 the only New Zealand destination to make the list. Destination Rotorua chief executive Michelle Templer says it is fantastic to see the city make the list, reinforcing Rotoruas international reputation as a world-class destination. With a daily readership of more than 9 million people, and more than 220,000 following The New York Times Travel Facebook page, Michelle says the exposure in the list is phenomenal recognition for the solid work that has been undertaken by the industry, Destination Rotorua, Rotorua Lakes Council and others. This will open the eyes of a new sector of travellers who may not have previously considered Rotorua as a destination. The blurb talks about the sulphurous geysers and mineral-rich hot springs which scent Rotorua, a hub of Maori culture. It also pays tribute to the Redwood Treewalk nightlights as another example of the way nature is animated. Thirty dramatic lighting installations from the designer David Trubridge romance the majestic trees after dark. Regular contributors for The New York Times were asked for ideas on places to make the list, with hundreds of submissions, which are then whittled down to the final 52. It is the 13th year such a list has been compiled and this year, for the first time, a 52 Places Traveler has been selected to travel to every place on the list during 2018. Michelle says the article ties in well with ongoing international activity to ensure Rotorua stays top of mind with trade and international agents. Rotoruas tourism target is $1.5 billion in visitor expenditure by 2030, with the city on target to achieve that goal. Rotorua has a great deal to offer a wide range of stakeholders from around New Zealand and the world, and we will continue to work hard alongside our industry to showcase the city and its opportunities in 2018. Rotorua Deputy Mayor Dave Donaldson isnt surprised to see Rotorua feature. We have a long, proud history of tourism and manaakitanga/hospitality with our strong culture and unique natural environment at the forefront. Tourism remains a cornerstone of the local economy and a lot has been invested in refreshing Rotoruas offering and lifting its profile nationally and internationally, he says. Rotorua is a place where you can be as active or passive as you like with waterways, forests, geothermal wonders, spas, and a multitude of attractions and activities thats why people visit and why we live here. Signature events showcase the best of our destination, adding to exposure like this, and we have a lot of great ambassadors like cultural groups and home-grown sportspeople competing and performing on the world stage. Redwoods Treewalk co-founder and director Bruce Thomasen says it is amazing recognition to be picked up in a market like that. Its great for New Zealand and it is great for Rotorua. Bruce says it highlights the value of working with design champion David Trubridge, enabling the Treewalk to be a world class attraction. The iconic local beauty of the Redwood forest, just five minutes from town, combined with the award-winning designer Trubridge lights (one of which, Titi, won Gold at last years premier design awards, the Best Awards), has proven to be a perfect formula. During the day time the experience is about nature, at night it becomes magical. Renovation plans for the Cambridge Union to redevelop its home off Bridge Street were yesterday approved by the Cambridge City Council, after years of continuing uncertainties over the construction costs. The renovation plans for the world famous Cambridge Union Society, which has offered Cambridge students the opportunity to meet the likes of Winston Churchill, Theodore Roosevelt and the current Dalai Lama, include the construction of a new building with shops, a restaurant and public spaces offering a new public quarter. The home of the Cambridge Union Society off Bridge Street was partially destroyed by the Luftwaffe in World War Two, and it is hoped that the redevelopment will also restore some of the dormer windows damaged by air raids. The plans, which were put forward by the Cambridge Union Society and Trinity College who will benefit from student accommodation on the site, were cast into doubt last year after the Cambridge Union debating society pulled out over cost concerns. Following a union fundraising campaign and simplification of the designs, the renovation will now finally go ahead and is expected to be complete by 2020. While it is hoped that the new public spaces that are part of the development will attract more people to the area, concern has been expressed over the millions required to repair the old union buildings, as well as their proposed height and massing. The removal of the 1930s facade at the grade two listed Cambridge Union Society on the corner of Park Street and Round Church Street, and the demolition of architecturally significant but not listed townhouses, will be necessary to make way for the new building. The plans to revamp the Union were met with enthusiasm by the city councils planning committee. Cllr Kevin Blencower, executive councillor for planning, told the Cambridge News that the design would give part of the city a big lift and improve the poor frontage and view from the street at the moment. Speaking to TCS, President of The Cambridge Union Jonah Surkes said: We are very excited that the Unions planning application was approved. The development plans will allow the Union to shape a building capable of holding our growing membership and larger-scale events, without losing our proud history. Now that we have the crucial planning permission, its all-systems-go to deliver an outstanding project that our members, and all of Cambridge, can be proud of. Alleged Leader of White Supremacist Gang Killed in California Prison The alleged leader of a White Supremacist gang was killed at a California prison, according to law enforcement and watchdog groups on Friday. Devlin Gazoo Stringfellow, 48, reportedly was the founder Public Enemy Number 1, also known as PENI, which grew out of the Southern California punk scene in the 1980s. It later reportedly became a skinhead gang. Stringfellow was stabbed a number of times in a prison exercise yard on Wednesday by two other prisoners armed with homemade weapons, according to The Associated Press, citing a spokesperson at the California State Prison system in Sacramento. Jacob Kober, 29, and Stephen Dunckhurst, 49, were identified as the two suspects. No charges have been filed yet, and officials did not say if theyre gang members. Stringfellow was transferred to Folsom prison from Los Angeles County in 2014, Newsweek reported. He was serving a six-year prison term for possession of drugs, carrying a concealed weapon, and assault. All members of Public Enemy Number 1 were previously members of the Aryan Brotherhood prison gang, said Matthew Buechner, a former gang investigator with the California corrections department, AP reported. The groups mercenary and criminal nature, coupled with a white supremacist ideology and a subculture of violence, makes it a triple threat, both to law enforcement and to the public at large, according to the Anti-Defamation League. But Stringfellow for a long time had allegedly been a target of other members of the gang. He was a loud mouth and (the Aryan Brotherhood) does not want attention, Buechner said. Members of the gang also lure targets into thinking they are safe before they strike as violently as possible to send a message to enemies and membership to stay in line, he added. Of the suspects, Kober is serving a life sentence for a 2012 murder in Alameda County, while. Dunckhurst was initially serving a three-year term for robbery, but he got a life sentence for vehicle theft and weapons conviction. The movement is characterized by paranoia, infighting, and violence both directed against enemies as well as even their own members, Joanna Mendelson of the ADL told AP in an email. Putting a hit on their own brothers is not uncommon. But Jesse Hawk, who claims to be the nephew of Stringfellow, tweeted that the ADL did not identify the victim as a white supremacist. This misinformation does not pertain the murder of Devlin Stringfellow by two inmates. He added, It also does not shed light on he being a family man, contributor to his church and his community. This is slander on his memory. Hawk also set up a GoFundMe for Stringfellow. Recommended Video: Firefighter Going Over 100 mph Before Deadly Crash Car Crashes Into Second Floor Building in California, 2 Hurt At least two people were hurt after a car crashed into the second floor of a building in Santa Ana, California, officials said on Sunday morning. KTLA reported, citing local police, that the driver of the vehicle admitted to using narcotics before the crash. The driver is expected to be admitted to a hospital for an evaluation. OCFA on scene in SANTA ANA of a vehicle into a building. One person still trapped inside the vehicle. pic.twitter.com/sWmtovu0Kd OCFA PIO (@OCFA_PIO) January 14, 2018 Police will now submit the case to the Orange County Districts Attorneys Office after toxicology tests come back, according to Cpl. Anthony Bertagna. According to NBC Los Angeles, the accident happened around 5:25 a.m. on Jan. 14, near the intersection of French and 17th streets The white sedan hit a center median on 17th Street and went airborne. KTLA reported that it was a dentists office. Crews were able to remove the vehicle by 7:50 a.m. Sunday. OCFA in Santa Ana of a vehicle that crashed into the building. The fire was quickly extinguished, both victims are out of the vehicle safely with minor injuries. Members from OCFA & LA COUNTY Urban Search & Rescue teams are removing the vehicle from the building. pic.twitter.com/x29WvTkNGk OCFA PIO (@OCFA_PIO) January 14, 2018 The Santa Ana Police Department added that the driver was driving at a very high rate of speed when his vehicle hit the median. The fire department tweeted that the car then went airborne and landed into the building. Both people in the car were able to escape the vehicle, officials said. A fire was extinguished after the crash. It was crazy, it really was, witness Daniel Sanchez told NBC LA. Sanchez said the driver managed to get out but was hanging from the vehicle until police could catch him. There were no other reported injuries. Crews had to use a crane to remove the car from the building. Recommended Video: Firefighter Going Over 100 mph Before Deadly Crash Cult Leaders Sexually Abused Each Others Daughters Two men have been charged with child sodomy after six children have been rescued from a doomsday polygamous cult in Utah. The children were found in the middle of a tumbleweed Utah desert one mile west of Lund, an unincorporated ghost town with an official population of one. John Coltharp, 33, and Samuel Shaffer, 34, built a makeshift settlement from shipping containers in the desert and used it as a base for their cult called Knights of the Crystal Blade. Shaffer called himself the prophet of the cult, a title later passed to Coltharp. Their beliefs included an imminent end of the world, polygamy, and child marriage. Coltharp left his home in Spring City, Utah, in the middle of the night on Sept. 14 and moved to the desert with his parents and his four childrenDinah, 8, William, 7, Seth, 6, and Haddie, 4. There they joined with Shaffer and his two children, Lily, 7, and Samantha, 5. According to prosecutors, Coltharp believed he was married to Lily and Hattie. Shaffer assumed the same with Dinah and Samantha, Time reported. They did sexual married things to the 8-year-old girls, said Kevin Daniels, deputy county attorney for Sanpete County, Sanpete Messenger reported. Coltharps wife, Micha Soble, asked for a divorce after he took her children in September but said police couldnt do much at the time as Coltharp still had parental rights over the children. Sobles divorce was finalized on Nov. 27, at which point she gained custody of the children, The Salt Lake Tribune reported. Coltharp was arrested on Dec. 1 after he was spotted at the abandoned Spring City home. He refused to say where the children were. Utah law enforcement followed a tip from Sobles court documents that her children may be near Beryl junction about 30 miles west of Cedar City. Police did not find the children there, but received a tip two days later on Dec. 3 that led them to the shipping container compound. On the morning of Dec. 4, deputies pulled over a car near the compound and spoke to Keith Colthart, John Coltharts father. The interview led them to the compound where they found the missing Colthart boys, Seth and William. But the four girls were still missing, and so was Shaffer. Investigators learned that Shaffer had walked out into the desert with the girls on the night of Dec. 3. A search involving more than 20 law enforcement personnel and a helicopter was launched along with an amber alert that was issued at around 3 p.m. for Dinah and Haddie. NOW: Utah Highway Patrol informes me that a Department of Public Safety search helicopter is on its way down to #Lund SUU helicopter in the sky now assisting in the search. pic.twitter.com/rUy6Q4FebH D.J. Bolerjack (@DJBolerjack) December 4, 2017 Two hours later, police received a tip about a lone man matching Shaffers description. Shaffer was arrested and revealed the location Lily and Haddie during questioning. They were found hiding in 50-gallon plastic water barrels near the compound. After another hour, Shaffer revealed the location of Dinah and Samantha. They were hidden in an abandoned trailer. All four of the girls had spent 24 hours in freezing temperatures by the time they were discovered. Had we not received that tip today, these girls probably would not have been alive in the morning, Lt. Del Schlosser from the Iron County Sheriffs office told CBS Denver. The four Coltharp children were reunited with their mother, who started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money to help the children cope with the trauma theyd suffered. The amount of heartache and fear this family has gone through, is unimaginable, Soble wrote. This is but the beginning of a long road of getting their lives back together and their extended family is asking for help for this tough road ahead. Shaffer and Coltharp were also charged with child kidnapping and other charges. NTD contributed to this report. Recommended Video: What is MS-13? Florida Mother Killed After Being Mistaken for Target in Murder-for-Hire Plot, Suspects Arrested Three suspects are in custody for the kidnapping and murder of a Florida woman in what authorities say was a murder-for-hire orchestrated by a jilted lover. But the scheme missed its mark, Osceola County Sheriff Russ Gibson told WFTV, as a 42-year-old Osceola County woman, with no apparent relationship to the perpetrators, was mistaken for the intended target and brutally killed. This woman lost her life for no reason. This mother, this wife, this daughter, for no reason at all, Gibson said, WESH reported. The body of Janice Marie Zengotita-Torres was found in Ormond Beach Monday, Jan. 8 after she was reported missing. Investigators told WFTV that Ishnar Lopez-Ramos, 35, allegedly hired Glorianmarie Quinones-Montes, 22, and Alexis Ramos-Rivera, 22, to carry out a hit on a woman who was allegedly having an affair with a man that Lopez-Ramos was in a relationship with. The target worked at the same store as Zengotita-Torres, and the two reportedly bore a close resemblance to each other. The suspects abducted Zengotita-Torres after following her home, but, according to Gibson, even after the pair realized they had mistaken her for the intended target, they stole her ATM card and killed her anyway. Zengotita-Torres was bound and suffocated with garbage bags, Gibson said. Lopez-Ramos was tracked down through the stolen bank card and was caught while making a withdrawal with it, all while reportedly wearing the victims clothes. Sheriff: Florida woman killed after being mistaken for target in murder-for-hire plot https://t.co/J6DvEiTnSX pic.twitter.com/yDdN80gKSF AJC (@ajc) January 13, 2018 Lopez-Ramos reportedly gave up the names of the other two suspects. Gibson praised the actions of the family in securing the arrests. They were remarkable, strong and instrumental in catching the suspects. Remarkable, Gibson said. All three suspects gave full confessions and face charges of premeditated first-degree murder. I get emotional because it just touches me so deeply that one of our citizens was killed in such a manner over a mistaken identification, and in the end it appears to be a lovers triangle, Gibson said. Recommended Video: Corvette Chase Former Argentine Vice President Amado Boudou is escorted by a member of Argentina's Coastguards as he arrives to a Federal Justice building in Buenos Aires, Argentina Nov. 3, 2017. (Reuters/Martin Acosta) Former Argentine Vice President Freed Pending Corruption Trial BUENOS AIRESArgentinas former economy minister and vice president, Amado Boudou, was freed from jail on Friday after an appeals court ruled that he was unlikely to interfere in a corruption case against him. Boudou, who served under former President Cristina Fernandez, was arrested in early November on racketeering and money laundering charges. His lawyer said at the time that assertions Boudou might try to meddle in the case were preposterous. The ex-minister, who denies any wrongdoing, told reporters on Friday night that the justice system had committed an abuse by jailing him. Boudou is the second senior official from Fernandezs government to be detained. Fernandezs former planning minister, Julio De Vido, was jailed on corruption charges in October. Last month a federal judge dealt the hardest blow yet to Fernandez, calling on Congress to remove her immunity as a senator so she could be arrested for treason. Fernandez, whose policies vastly increased the role of the government in Latin Americas third-biggest economy, was succeeded in late 2015 by her business-friendly political opposite Mauricio Macri, who has vowed to reform Argentinas sluggish judiciary. The former president and her loyalists accuse Macri of orchestrating a political vendetta against her. Boudou faces three counts of illicit enrichment dating back to 2009, the year he was promoted from heading Argentinas social security administration to become economy minister. Boudou became vice president in 2011 when Fernandez won reelection. But he was largely absent from public view during that term as accusations of corruption mounted against him. Recommended Video: Corvette Chase Former Classmate Arrested in Murder of UPenn Student Left Disturbing Comments Online A 20-year-old man who was arrested and charged with murdering his high school classmate, Blaze Bernstein, previously expressed violent viewpoints and defended the Confederate flag, according to a news report. Samuel Lincoln Woodward of North Beach, California, was arrested on Jan. 12, three days after Bernsteins body was found in a shallow grave at Borrego Park in the Orange County community of Lake Forest, about 50 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Before Woodward was taken into custody, the 20-year-old made disturbing comments on social media that even scared an anonymous user, CBS Los Angeles reported. On one site, Woodward defended the Confederate flag, saying it was a symbol or Southern pride and not hate. On another site, he said that he would want The Bible and a Colt .45 if he was stranded on a deserted island. According to CBS Los Angeles, Woodward also said he would like to learn waterboarding. When he was asked about his attitudes to human cloning, Woodward wrote, Just one of me in the world is already bad enough. In response to some of Woodwards comments an anonymous user said, You are violence. It scares me. To which he replied, I wouldnt fight anybody unless they attacked me. Bernstein, who was a student at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), was staying at his familys home during the winter break. His parents had reported him missing on Jan. 3, after he failed to return home the previous night. Orange County Undersheriff Don Barnes told the Los Angeles Times that sheriffs had used Bernsteins Snapchat account to determine that the young man had gone to the park with his high school classmate Woodward on the night of Jan. 2. When questioned, Woodward insisted that Bernstein had walked off alone into the park. Sheriffs noticed that Woodward had dirt under his nails, abrasions on his hands, and appeared nervous. The 20-year-old explained that his dirty fingernails as a result of participating in a fight club where he fell in a dirt puddle, the Los Angeles Times reported. One detective told Fox News that Woodward tried not to touch anything with his hands while being questioned. Detectives were able to gather enough DNA evidence despite Woodwards efforts. It was this evidence that led to Woodwards arrest on Jan. 12. In response to Woodwards arrest, Bersteins mother said, Revenge is empty, in a tweet on Jan. 12. Revenge is empty. It will never bring back my son. My only hopes are that he will never have the opportunity to hurt anyone else again and that something meaningful can come from the senseless act of Blazes murder. Now Do Good for Blaze Bernstein, she said. Finally. My thoughts are: Revenge is empty. It will never bring back my son. My only hopes are that he will never have the opportunity to hurt anyone else again and that something meaningful can come from the senseless act of Blaze's murder. Now Do Good for Blaze Bernstein Jeanne Pepper (@bernsteinmom) January 12, 2018 Sad end to the search for #BlazeBernstein. An emotional vigil after his body was found and his killer is still on the loose. At 10, 11 #kcal9 #cbsla @cbsla pic.twitter.com/TYgR4SVp8e ANDREA FUJII (@CBSLAandrea) January 11, 2018 NTD reporter Chris Jasurek contributed to this report. From NTD.tv Recommended Video: Make-A-Wish Fulfills Teenagers Med School Dream High School Classmate Arrested in Murder of UPenn Student A 20-year-old man has been arrested on charges of suspicion of homicide. The arrest came in connection to the death of a high school classmate, Blaze Bernstein, 19, whose body was found in a park in a shallow grave. Orange County sheriffs arrested the man, Samuel Lincoln Woodward of North beach, California, on Jan. 12. Bernstein, currently a student at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), was staying at his familys home during the winter break. His parents had reported him missing on Jan. 3, after he failed to return home the previous night. After a week of searching, Bernsteins body was found in a shallow grave in Borrego Park in the Orange County community of Lake Forest, about 50 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Rain had washed away some of the soil which had concealed the corpse, the Los Angeles Times reported. Orange County Undersheriff Don Barnes told the Los Angeles Times that sheriffs had used Bernsteins Snapchat account to determine that the young man had gone to the park with his high-school classmate Woodward on the night of Jan. 2. When questioned, Woodward insisted that Bernstein had walked off alone into the park. Sheriffs noticed that Woodward had dirt under his nails, abrasions on his hands, and appeared nervous. One detective told Fox News that Woodward tried not to touch anything with his hands while being questioned. Detectives were able to gather enough DNA evidence despite Woodwards efforts. It was this evidence that lead to Woodwards arrest on Jan. 12. Woodward will not be arraigned until Tuesday, Jan. 16, Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas told the Times. Prosecutors are still considering what charges to bring. Trying to Turn Tragedy Towards Goodness Rackauckas told the Times that the killing was a very tragic case. Both of these families are good people whose lives have been turned upside down in a terrible way, he added. The Bernstein familys grief was evident when they spoke to the media after their sons body was found. But their strength and decency was shown after the name of their sons alleged murderer was released. When a reporter asked Jeanne Pepper, Blazes mother to comment, she replied via Twitter, My thoughts are: Revenge is empty. it will never bring back my son. My only hopes are that he will never have the opportunity to hurt anyone else again and that something meaningful can come from the senseless act of Blazes murder. Now Do Good for Blaze Bernstein. The Bernsteins did not talk about punishment or penalties. Instead, a fund was created the Blaze Bernstein Memorial Fundto collect money to help children and families in need. Do something good honor my son's memory. Make a donation to the Blaze Bernstein Memorial Fund that is custodied by the Jewish Community Foundation of Orange County at https://t.co/xrkRKZsLDf Donations will be used to help children and families in need. Jeanne Pepper (@bernsteinmom) January 12, 2018 Blaze Bernstein will not soon be forgotten. Friends have created a Facebook page to preserve his memoryand their memories of him. Blaze Bernstein will be remembered as a bright, ambitious young man, intelligent and eager. He was in his sophomore year at the University of Pennsylvania, planning to major in psychology and minor in chemistry, according to the local Patch website. He was the managing editor of the schools fine dining magazine, Penn Appetit. Bernstein liked to cook for his familyin fact, he made them dinner on the night he disappeared. His friends recall him as being creative and comical. He will be particularly missed by his 14-year-old sister, Beaue. As their mother told the Times, They were very close this past year. He really started to enjoy her and her antics. She looked up to him. ABC Reporter Greg Lee tweeted about how powerfully the Lake Forest community expressed its grief over its lost member. Hard to fathom the amount of grief in this community. Hundreds gathered to mourn the death of #BlazeBernstein. Hard to fathom the amount of grief in this community. Hundreds gathered to mourn the death of #BlazeBernstein. Still many unanswered questions in the investigation, but clear he is/was loved. #LakeForest pic.twitter.com/IiI7Knv9l1 Greg Lee (@abc7greg) January 11, 2018 What will best memorialize this young man is the sentiment expressed by his mother who, despite her grief, has not forgotten that life goes on. In a reply to a tweet from a reporter, Jeanne Pepper said, Thank you Greg for helping us spread the word to the public that we want to make Blazes senseless death meaningful. Thank you Greg for helping us spread the word to the public that we want to make Blazes senseless death meaningful. Jeanne Pepper (@bernsteinmom) January 10, 2018 Nothing will bring back my son, so we ask the world to please honor Blazes memory by doing an act of kindness today. Dont wait, do it now. Celebrate the goodness that still exists in this world in spite of these acts of senseless evil. People are good and Blaze knew that, she said. Honor yourselves and him. Loved Ones Mourn Blaze Bernsteins Sweet Smile As Death Is Ruled Homicide https://t.co/RzwRJOnBKQ via @jdforward Jeanne Pepper (@bernsteinmom) January 13, 2018 From NTD.tv Recommended Video: High School Students Surprise Sweetest Janitor With New Work Boots for Christmas Infectious Disease Alert Issued for Newark Airport Passengers Health officials have issued a public alert to warn passengers who traveled to Newark Liberty International Airport that they may have been exposed to a highly contagious disease. The Department of Health in New Jersey said in a statement on Jan. 12 that an international traveler with a confirmed case of measles had arrived at Terminal C at the Newark airport on Jan. 2 and departed for Indianapolis from a domestic terminal. The Indiana University student, who was traveling alone, was infectious on that day and may have traveled to other areas of the airport. The Department has issued a public health alert for potential measles exposure at Newark Liberty International Airport. Contact a health care provider if you suspect exposure. https://t.co/4BX9MnSsUd #HealthyNJ NJDOH (@NJDeptofHealth) January 12, 2018 Travelers who were at the airport between 6:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m may have been exposed to measles and if infected could develop symptoms as late as Jan. 23, according to the statement. Some symptoms of measles include rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. It can cause serious complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis (swelling of the brain), according to the statement. For pregnant women, it can lead to miscarriage, premature birth, or a low-birth-weight baby. Measles can be spread through the air when someone coughs or sneezes. People can also get sick when they come in contact with mucus or saliva from an infected person, the statement said. Health officials urge that anyone who develops measle symptoms should call a health care provider before going to a medical office or emergency department to make special arrangements for evaluation and protect other patients and medical staff from possible infection. New Jersey health departments are working to notify residents who could have potentially been exposed to the disease at the airport. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were around 120 cases of measles in 2017. From NTD.tv Recommended Video: Boy Accidentally Razors Off Chunk of Hair During Tutorial A U.S. Army carry team transfers the remains of Army Staff Sgt. Dustin Wright of Lyons, Georgia, at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, U.S. on Oct. 5, 2017. (Aaron J. Jenne/U.S. Air Force/Handout via Reuters) ISIS Affiliate Claims Deadly Attack on U.S. Troops in Niger NOUAKCHOTTThe leader of ISISs affiliate in West Africa has claimed responsibility for an attack that killed four U.S. special forces and four soldiers from Niger in October, Mauritanias independent Nouakchott News Agency (ANI) reported on Saturday. The troops were killed when their joint patrol was attacked near the village of Tongo Tongo, on the Mali-Niger border, on Oct. 4 by dozens of militants armed with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades. Top U.S. general, Joe Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that U.S. military forces have carried out training missions off and on in Niger for two decades, reported Politico. Security officials had identified the perpetrators as Islamic terrorists loyal to Adnan Abu Waleed al-Sahrawi, the leader of ISIS in the Greater Sahara operating along Malis border with Niger and Burkina Faso, but there had previously been no confirmation from al-Sahrawi himself. We claim the attack which targeted the American commandos in the village of Tongo Tongo, Sahrawi, who makes public statements only very rarely, was quoted by ANI as saying. Privately owned ANI sometimes enjoys privileged access to information on movements of Sahara-based Islamist fighters. Last year it broke news that Malis main jihadist groups had merged, and in 2013 it had exclusive reports about a militant attack on a gas plant in Algeria in which 38 hostages were killed. In the statement Sahrawi also claimed a car bomb attack on French troops on Thursday near Malis city of Menaka, ANI reported. He said it had killed many of them, although the French military said in a statement that the attack had merely wounded three troops. Lawlessness across the Sahara has enabled jihadist groups to thrive and launch increasingly deadly attacks on local and Western targets there and in the semi-arid Sahel south of it. They are seen as the biggest threat to the regions stability. Recommended Video: President Donald Trump: Year 1 Las Vegas Shooters Girlfriend Deleted Facebook Account After Shooting: Reports The girlfriend of Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock, Marilou Danley, deleted her Facebook page less than an hour before police released Paddocks name to the public, according to reports. She was in the Philippines on Oct. 1 when Paddock, 64, shot and killed 58 people and injured hundreds more, firing from his hotel room on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. When police arrived at his room, he shot and killed himself. Danley was adamant that she had no prior inclination of Paddocks intentions to conduct the attack when she was contacted by investigators, said an FBI agents affidavit, Fox reported. More than 300 pages were released by federal prosecutors on Friday, Jan. 12, and the documents suggest Danley acted quickly after the shooting, Fox reported. The documents show Danleys Facebook account was set to private at 12:30 a.m. on Oct. 2, which is about two and a half hours after the shooting started. It was deleted at 2:46 a.m. That came an hour before officials identified Paddock publicly, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. At 5 a.m., Danley was described as a person of interest in the case, the Review-Journal reported. Documents said that Danley remained the subject of intensive review, but there was no evidence that she assisted Paddock. It took investigators several days to realize that Paddock extensively planned the attack. The methodical nature of the planning employed by Paddock, coupled with his efforts to undermine the preceding investigation, are factors indicative of a level of sophistication, which is commonly found in mass casualty events such as this, the documents read. They found more than 20 guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition inside his hotel room. Meanwhile, according to the documents, Paddock apparently sent emails to himself in July from four different accounts. It read like advertisements for weapons, mentioning bump stocks and AR rifles. The Review-Journal reported that investigators have been unable to figure out why Paddock allegedly sent the messages to himself. Recommended Video: Firefighter Going Over 100 mph Before Deadly Crash A strong magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the coast of southern Peru, leaving one dead and several dozen injured, while causing homes and roads to collapse on Jan. 14, 2018. (Screenshot/Reuters) Magnitude 7.1 Earthquake in Southern Peru Leaves 1 Dead, Dozens Injured LIMAA strong magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the coast of southern Peru on Sunday morning, leaving one dead and several dozen injured while causing homes and roads to collapse. Authorities walked back earlier statements that a second person had died and that 17 people were missing in a mine, signs that the human toll of the quake may not be as drastic as previously feared. The quake hit offshore at 4:18 a.m. local time at a depth of around 36 km (22.4 miles), the U.S. Geological Survey said. The epicenter was in the Pacific Ocean 40 km from the town of Acari. Arequipa Governor Yamila Osorio said on Twitter that a 55-year-old man died in the town of Yauca after being crushed by rock. Jorge Chavez, chief of Perus Civil Defense Institute, told local radio station RPP that 65 people were injured but withdrew his earlier statement that a second person had died in the town of Bella Union. The victim reportedly found in Bella Union has not been confirmed, Chavez said. Officially, we only have one death. Chavez said damage to roads was impeding help from arriving to the most-affected zones, which are mainly rural and remote. Aid workers and supplies would be flown in from nearby cities, he added. On Twitter, President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski said he would travel to the towns of Acari and Chala to verify the magnitude of the damages and send the corresponding humanitarian aid. En este momento, desde Marcona nos dirigimos hacia Acari y Chala (Arequipa), zonas afectadas por el sismo de esta madrugada, para verificar la magnitud de los danos y enviar la ayuda humanitaria correspondiente. PedroPablo Kuczynski (@ppkamigo) January 14, 2018 Health Minister Abel Salinas Rivas told RPP that rescue workers spoke with representatives of the informal Estrella mine and confirmed that no one was missing from there. Rivas had said earlier that 17 people were missing after the mine east of Chala suffered damages following the quake. Several municipalities were without electricity, and many roads and adobe houses had collapsed, Osorio said. Many residents of Lomas, a coastal town, were evacuated after feeling an aftershock. Earthquakes are common in Peru, but many homes are built with precarious materials that cannot withstand them. In 2007 an earthquake killed hundreds in the region of Ica. Peruvian maritime authorities said the quake did not produce a tsunami on the coast. Peru is the worlds No. 2 copper producer, although many of the mines in the south are located far inland from where the quake struck. A representative of Southern Copper Corp said there were no reports of damage at its Cuajone and Toquepala mines in the Moguegua and Tacna regions. Jesus Revilla, a union leader at the Cerro Verde copper mine in Arequipa, said there were no reports that operations had been affected. The quake was also felt in northern Chile, Perus southern neighbor. Chiles National Emergency offices said there were no reports of injuries, damage to infrastructure, or interruption of basic services. The nations navy said the quake did not meet the conditions that would produce a tsunami off its coast. By Marco Aquino Mother and Two Children Dead in Suspected Murder-Suicide in North Carolina A woman and two children were killed in a suspected murder-suicide in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Jan. 13, according to police. Update: It was reported that Christina Treadway worked for the Carolina Panthers organization as a ticket taker. Neighbors held a candlelight vigil for Christina Treadway and her 2 kids that were assaulted before taking her own life. pic.twitter.com/H4ROPsQL81 FOX 46 Charlotte (@FOX46News) January 22, 2018 Police responded to a call at 5:37 p.m on Old Gum Branch Road Bridge at Interstate 485 of a woman jumping off the bridge onto the highway. When they arrived, they found 34-year-old Christina Treadway who was pronounced dead at the scene. While investigating the suicide, authorities were led to a home in the 2100 block of Sebastiani Drive in northwest Charlotte where they found 7-year-old Isaiah Miller and 3-year-old Iliyah Miller with life-threatening injuries, reported WCNC. The two children were then taken to the hospital where they died from their injuries. There were no other people inside the home when police arrived. . @CMPD on scene of double homicide. House near the intersection of Sebastiani & Moondance is blocked off with crime scene tape. Two kids bikes & a scooter are in the driveway. PD says they are going to talk to us any minute now. Stay with @wcnc for updates. pic.twitter.com/fFpDqy0Q1r Ariel Plasencia (@ariel_plasencia) January 14, 2018 #UPDATE: @CMPD says mother committed suicide by jumping off Gum Branch onto 485 after she assaulted her 7- and 3-year-old kids. The kids were taken to the hospital where they died. @wcnc Ariel Plasencia (@ariel_plasencia) January 14, 2018 Police believe Treadway assaulted her two children before committing suicide by jumping off the bridge. Police are still trying to figure out why the apparent murder-suicide took place. Thats at the core of this investigation. What would cause somebody to obviously be so despondent to take their own life and then take the lives of their children, an investigator with CMPD told the news station. Thats going to be a key component in the investigation and were nowhere near being able to speak on that. See the attached release on the homicide investigation on Sebastiani Drive pic.twitter.com/4pgqu42EdS CMPD News (@CMPD) January 14, 2018 Treadway left a message on her Instagram before her alleged murder-suicide saying that she was so very sorry. Police have located the father and confirmed that he is not a person of interest, reported WSOCTV. They are still investigating the cause of the killings. From NTD.tv Recommended Video: How doctors in China turn into murderers Mother Charged After Allegedly Abandoning Two Toddlers in Filthy Home A mother was arrested after allegedly leaving two toddlers alone in a home in Rochester, New York, for an unknown amount of time. Police were called to a home on Ridgeway Avenue around 12:50 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 7, after a neighbor noticed a naked 3-year-old outside, reported Rochester First. The grandmother & aunt say they had no idea about the girls' living conditions https://t.co/VvhOJSDxtr pic.twitter.com/8dXiNltwPR Cristina Domingues (@CristinaTVNews) January 12, 2018 Iris baby sister Adelaida is still in the hospital recovering from severe dehydration @SPECNewsROC pic.twitter.com/7LzSBkSILg Cristina Domingues (@CristinaTVNews) January 12, 2018 The temperature was dropping below zero no diaper no socks no shoes, just out on the sidewalk following behind me yelling out, Mommy,' neighbor Mori Prout told the news station. When authorities arrived, they found two young childrenaged 18 months and 3alone inside a filthy home. The officers did not know how long the children had been left on their own and were taken to Rochester General Hospital, reported WHAM. There were dirty diapers, human feces everywhere, open food containers. 3-yr old was finding ways to feed herself. Infant was dehydrated according to police @SPECNewsROC pic.twitter.com/iOgTlvzO83 Cristina Domingues (@CristinaTVNews) January 11, 2018 Some suspect the children were home alone on and off for days. Look at these awful pictures inside the apartment @SPECNewsROC pic.twitter.com/SqqaS8vZ3n Cristina Domingues (@CristinaTVNews) January 11, 2018 It was one of the saddest things Ive seen, the diapers with feces and the fingerprints and the chocolate and the syrup and to see how they were starving over the days they were here was really detrimental, Jonathan McFadden, a property preserver tasked with cleaning out the house, told Rochester First. You can visualize them eating the chocolate powder and in the kitchen, on the floor, you can see fingerprints in the ketchup as if they were playing in it on the floor and you could see where the child was tired of having the diaper on and it was just flung off, McFadden added. Its a heartbreaking story about neglect a child found wandering around naked on the coldest night of the year. Her 1-year-old sister inside. Both home alone. @SPECNewsROC pic.twitter.com/Yin4nEvKjo Cristina Domingues (@CristinaTVNews) January 11, 2018 Neighbor found the little girl and called 911. Says she was outside, naked, sobbing, calling, Mami, mami! Hear his incredible story @SPECNewsROC pic.twitter.com/1rx5rJvflw Cristina Domingues (@CristinaTVNews) January 11, 2018 Eventually, police found and arrested the toddlers mother, Sharisa Vazquez. The 22-year-old mother was charged with two counts of reckless endangerment in the first degree, two counts of abandonment of a child, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, reported WHAM. Sharisa Vazquez faces Reckless Endangerment, EWOC & not-often used Child Abandonment charges. pic.twitter.com/7wbXBuXRvv Cristina Domingues (@CristinaTVNews) January 11, 2018 According to Spectrum News Rochester, the two girls are now staying with their grandmother and aunt. Monroe County Child Protective Services has been contacted to assist with the police investigations. From NTD.tv Recommended Video: How doctors in China turn into murderers The remote island volcano of Kadovar spews ash into the sky in Papua New Guinea on Jan. 6, 2018. (Samaritan Aviation/via Reuters) People Evacuated From Papua New Guinea Island After Volcano Explodes SYDNEYAbout 1,500 people are being evacuated from an island off the northern coast of Papua New Guinea (PNG) after a nearby volcano erupted, the local Red Cross said on Sunday. A volcano on the island of Kadovar, located about 24 km (15 miles) north of the Papuan mainland, began erupting on Jan. 5. That prompted the evacuation of 590 people on Kadovar to the nearby island of Blup Blup. After venting ash for several days, the volcano exploded on Friday, blasting out glowing red rocks and sulphur dioxide, the Rabaul Volcanological Observatory said in a bulletin. The PNG government then decided to evacuate Blup Blup as well because of issues with supplying people on the island along with the danger from the eruption. The evacuees are being moved to the mainland and the International Red Cross is providing about 87,000 kina ($26,274) in funding to help them, said PNG Red Cross Secretary General Uvenama Rova by telephone from the capital of Port Moresby. The people there, as the volcano erupted, they rushed immediately to escape. So they are in immediate need of food, water, shelter and clothing as well, he said. In the latest bulletin issued on Sunday, the Observatory said a dome of lava on Kadover was visible in the sea at the base of thick white steam clouds that are rising to 600 meters (1,969 feet) above sea level. Australias Foreign Minister Julie Bishop announced on twitter that the Australian Government was contributing A$25,000 ($19,775) worth of humanitarian supplies for those affected. There are no confirmed records of a previous eruption of Kadovar, said Chris Firth, a vulcanologist at Macquarie University, but scientists speculate it could have been one of two burning islands mentioned in the journals of a 17th-century English pirate and maritime adventurer, William Dampier. By Alison Bevege Dear reader, we work hard to bring you important stories from around the world, but we cant do it without people reading them. Think your friends may not know about this? Share it to keep them up to date. It takes less than a minute. Thank you! Photo of British girl Madeleine McCann, AKA Maddie is displayed on a TV screen at an apartment in Berlin, Germany, on Oct. 16, 2013 during the broadcast of German ZDF's 'Aktenzeichen XY' program. (JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images) Reports: Private Investigator in Madeline McCann Case Is Dead Police are investigating the death of one of the first private detectives who was hired by the parents of missing girl Madeleine McCann. Kevin Halligen, 56, was found dead at his girlfriends Surrey home after feeling unwell, Sky News reported. Police said that his death was unexplained, and they will send a report to a coroner. Kate and Gerry McCann, the parents of the girl who went missing in 2007, hired Halligens firm, Oakley International, about a year after the girl went missing. The parents became impatient with the failure of the Portuguese police to find the child. Adrian Gatton, a TV director and investigative journalist, confirmed Halligens death to the Press Association, adding that he wasnt in good health. Gatton, who knew Halligan well and made a documentary film about him, said that he became an alcoholic, according to The Independent. He said, Although his death is certainly not foul play, as has been suggested, there are certainly a lot of people who wished him ill. But he was also unique. I knew chapter and verse about his life and career, but my interest was really to try and get to the bottom of why he did what he did, Gatton said. There was blood around the house, probably caused by previous falls when he was either drunk or blacking out, he said, according to the BBC. His house was full of empty drink bottles. A lot of people wished him ill but his death is almost certainly related to alcoholism. A Surrey Police spokesman told the broadcaster, We were called to an address in Cobbett Hill Road, Normandy, on Monday following a report of a man in his 50s having been taken unwell, who subsequently died. The death is being treated as unexplained and a file will be passed to the coroners office in due course. Kevin R.Halligen, who fled D.C. in 2008, guilty in $2.1 million fraud https://t.co/eXunO8I1b3 found dead in blood splattered mansion ! #McCann #scam Laffin@Mirror again (@veniviedivici) January 14, 2018 According to The Independent, the McCanns hired Halligans firm for $680,000, but they ultimately terminated the agreement when they found he didnt fulfill certain obligations. He was then extradited to the United States over an unrelated scam and pleaded guilty in 2013. But he claimed to have never misused funds to find the girl. It is gross distortion of what was actually happening, he said. His comments were broadcast in a Channel 5 documentary. The print media, in particular, took this line that really nothing was being done, [that] I was living the high life on the proceeds of the McCann case, he said. Trust me, I didnt buy so much as a new suit. The money, all of it, is fully accountable. Recommended Video: Firefighter Going Over 100 mph Before Deadly Crash Saudi Arabias Richest Man With Ties to Barack Obama Thrown in Jail Saudi Arabias richest man was thrown in prison earlier this week after spending more than two months on lockdown at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Riyadh, London-based news site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reports. Prince Alwaleed bin Talal was held at the hotel along with 200 other princes and high-level officials since early November. The group was arrested as part of a large-scale anti-corruption crackdown authorized by the Saudi king and carried out by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The number of officials and princes at the Ritz dwindled over the course of two months as the detainees gave in to demands from bin Salman for either restitution payments or other forms of capitulation. Unlike the others, Alwaleed is reported to have held out and refused to pay the government $6 billion. During his interrogation, Alwaleed may have been hung upside down and beaten, the Daily Mail reported. Bin Salman came to power after King Salman made the unusual move of changing the order of succession. Since then, bin Salman has spearheaded rapid and sweeping reforms in Saudi Arabia by strengthening ties with the United States and Israel, and building up military defenses against Iran. In the fall of 2017, bin Salman purged the country of anti-Semitic and anti-American clerics. Alwaleed was arrested along with 200 other princes and clerics shortly after. Alwaleeds father, Talal, was a communist tied to at least one coup attempt against the Saudi king. Ties to Obama Alwaleed holds large stakes in several U.S. corporations, including Twitter, and has ties to former President Barack Obama. During a 2008 interview on the NY1, pro-communist former Manhattan Borough President, Percy Sutton, said he had been introduced to young Barack Obama when the future U.S. president was applying to Harvard Law School in the late 1980s. Sutton said he was introduced to Obama by a friend who was raising money for him, and he identified this friend as Dr. Khalid al-Mansour, whom he described as a principal adviser to one of the worlds richest men. Al-Mansour asked Sutton to write a letter to his friends at Harvard to support Obamas entry, he said. Al-Mansour later denied that claim when contacted by Politico blogger Ben Smith. The individual Sutton described as one of the worlds richest men was Alwaleed, and his principal adviser, al-Mansour, was helping to finance the education of select individuals who they believed could become assets in the future. According to Trevor Loudon, author of The Enemies Within, Alwaleeds choice of principal adviser was significant. Al-Mansour, formerly known as Donald Warden, was a mentor of Huey Newton, the founder of the Black Panther Party, which advocated for Maoist guerrilla warfare Obamas campaign initially denied Suttons recollection, but news outlets found a 1979 column by Chicago Tribune columnist Vernon Jarrett titled Will Arabs Back Ties to Blacks With Cash? that further detailed al-Mansours agenda. Jarretts column detailed how al-Mansour was working on a program to secure $20 million a year, for 10 years, to finance minority students. Alwaleed was also financing Islamic study programs with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and terrorist organizations at universities around the world. In December 2005, Alwaleed gave $20 million to Georgetown Universitys Center for MuslimChristian Understanding. The move was considered especially controversial because of the centers director, John Esposito, whom FrontPage Magazine described in 2008 as being known for his vigorous apologetics for Islamic extremism. Around the same time, Alwaleed gave another $20 million to fund a similar program at Harvard University. Suzanne Gershowitz of the American Enterprise Institute wrote in the National Review that the program tends to amplify anti-American rhetoric, legitimize conspiracy theories, and, in the name of cultural relativism, gloss over the oppression that exists in the Arab world. Epoch Times reporter Joshua Philipp contributed to this report. From NTD.tv Search for California Mudslide Survivors Goes On LOS ANGELESThe search for survivors of the deadly mudslides in parts of Californias scenic Santa Barbara County continued Sunday even as hopes dwindled to find anyone else alive, officials said. Were still in rescue mode and we still hope to find someone alive, although the chances of that are becoming slim, said Justin Cooper, a spokesperson for the multi-agency response team. The death toll rose to 19 on Saturday and one person was found alive the same day as the hunt continued for five people who remain missing, Cooper said. They range in age from 2 to 62. Another 900 emergency personnel arrived this weekend to join the relief effort conducted by more than 2,100 personnel from local, state and federal agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy and the American Red Cross. The ramped-up rescue effort is in response to urgent requests for additional manpower made earlier in the week. The disaster struck on Tuesday after heavy rains soaked the area near Montecito, north of Los Angeles, where vegetation had been denuded by the largest wildfire in Californias history. Sodden hillsides gave way, unleashing a torrent of mud, water, uprooted trees and boulders onto the valley below and killing victims aged from 3 to 89. The destruction covered 30 square miles (78 square km), the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said, and forced the partial closure of one of Californias most celebrated coastal roads, Highway 101. Officials ordered residents in most of the southeastern corner of Montecito, which is east of Santa Barbara, to leave their homes for what was likely to be one or two weeks. Many fled to nearby Carpinteria, where local resident Tessa Nash said more than a few were communicating via a Facebook page called Carpinteria Swap, which is usually focused on the buying and selling of secondhand goods. These days, Nash said, it carries information about community-led blood drives and transportation tips. Were really joined together, she said. Were affected here in Carpinteria in the sense that were taking these people in and a lot of people are out of work because they cant travel. Its a trickle-down effect. By Paula Lehman-Ewing. Additional reporting by Keith Coffman, Barbara Goldberg, Ian Simpson and Rich McKay. Dear reader, we work hard to bring you important stories from around the world, but we cant do it without people reading them. Think your friends may not know about this? Share it to keep them up to date. It takes less than a minute. Thank you! Congressman Julio Juarez Ramirez, who is accused of plotting the murders of two journalists in 2015, is escorted by police officers while arriving to the court in Guatemala City, Guatemala, Jan. 13, 2018. (Reuters/Luis Echeverria) US Sanctioned Guatemala Congressman Arrested, Accused in Murders of Two Journalists MEXICO CITYThe Guatemala attorney generals office confirmed on Saturday the arrest of congressman Julio Juarez Ramirez, who is accused of plotting the murders of two journalists in 2015. Prosecutors and investigators with the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala said the politician orchestrated an attack on journalists Danilo Efrain Zapon Lopez and Federico Benjamin Salazar Geronimo, who were killed in March 2015. Juarez was arrested on Saturday morning near his home in the southern district of Suchitepequez and transferred to Guatemala City, the capital of the Central American nation. He maintained his innocence as he reported to court on Saturday afternoon. He who owes nothing fears nothing, thats why Im here in the name of God, who will clear up everything, Juarez told reporters. Talk to the press of Suchitepequez and you will realize that I never, never had problems with the press. Juarez served as mayor of the southern city of San Antonio La Union from 2012 to 2015, before winning a seat in Congress the next year. According to investigators, Zapon, who was a journalist for the newspaper Prensa Libre, was attacked because he was working on a story about corruption in the Juarezs administration. On Dec. 21, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned Juarez under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act for his alleged role in the attack on the journalists. The Treasurys website stated, Julio Antonio Juarez Ramirez (Juarez) is a Guatemalan Congressman accused of ordering an attack in which two journalists were killed and another injured. Guatemalan prosecutors and a UN-sponsored commission investigating corruption in Guatemala allege that Juarez hired hit men to kill Prensa Libre correspondent Danilo Efrain Zapan Lopez, whose reporting had hurt Juarezs plan to run for reelection. Fellow journalist Federico Benjamin Salazar of Radio Nuevo Mundo was also killed in the attack and is considered a collateral victim. Another journalist was wounded in the attack. The sanctions were a result of executive order 13818 signed by President Trump, called Blocking the Property of Persons Involved in Serious Human Rights Abuse or Corruption. In an annex to the order, the President named 13 serious human rights abusers and corrupt actors who were to be sanctioned. Juarez was named as one of the 13 individuals engaged in malign activities. Local media reported in 2015 that Juarez described himself as a friend of Zapons and admitted to meeting the journalist the day he was killed. Thats why they want to investigate me, but I am free of any involvement with him, Juarez told local media. By Sofia Menchu and Julia Love Recommended Video: President Donald Trump: Year 1 NORWALK The day Mark Leondires first held his baby in his arms, he felt a surge of love and responsibility. Finally his dream of being a father had become reality. Like countless parents before him, he and his partner learned how to give a bath and change a diaper, guided by a helpful nurse. And like countless parents before him, he marvelled over his newborn son. However, they were unusual patients at the Magee-Womens Hospital in one regard. We were two men staying at a womens hospital, Leondires recalled with a laugh. All the other patients there were women. Leondires and his husband, Greg Zola, began their journey to that postpartum ward in a womans hospital years before. For a gay couple to have a biological child takes an extended family an egg donor and a surrogate, but also mental health professionals to screen both and lawyers to ensure both fathers have parental rights. The entire process takes two to three years and between $100,000 and $200,000. Reading through 15-page profiles of potential egg donors and poring over childhood photos, imagining how their own children might look, were sign posts on the path that led the Westport couple to the Pittsburgh delivery room where they became parents. And similar journeys have been on an upswing, part of what has been called the gay baby boom though the term implies an ease and speed that gay parents who have been through the process are quick to dispel. The gay baby boom While there are no official numbers on how many same-sex couples are having biological children, fertility clinics in Fairfield County can describe the increase in gay clients in recent years. Leondires himself is a doctor at Reproductive Medicine Associates of Connecticut, a fertility clinic based out of Norwalk with satellite offices in Stamford, Danbury and Trumbull (Obviously, I had an inside track, he admitted regarding his path to fatherhood). In recent years, he has seen the percentage of his clients who are same-sex couples rise from 0 to 80 percent. Roughly two-fifths of those same-sex couples are women, who use sperm donors and sometimes opt to carry embryos from their partners eggs, a process known as reciprocal in vitro fertilization. Melvin Thornton, a doctor at CT Fertility out of Trumbull, has seen the same in his office. Weve seen probably a 40 to 50 percent increase in the past few years, he said. And while Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology does not track whether procedures are for heterosexual or homosexual families, it reports that surrogacy embryo transfers in the United States increased more than 250 percent between 2005 and 2015. Leondires believes that the growing number of LGBTQ couples choosing to have children is due in part to growing acceptance of the LGBTQ community and the Supreme Court ruling in favor of marriage equality. It became a safer place not only to be yourself, but to raise a child, he said. Chris Buckley, a father of twins living in Westport, can attest to that change. When his partner, Mark Ciano, raised the idea of having kids in the 1990s, Buckley was afraid stigma would be harmful to their children. I didnt think it would be fair to our kids, he said. But during the 2009 National Equality March for LGBTQ rights in Washington, D.C., he felt the tide had turned. It was being part of that march and being in the company of other couples, same-sex couples with kids, that really made it feel like it could be something for us. And that it was a possibility for us. Connecticut a hub Connecticut is a destination for gay parents-to-be around the world. Both Leondires and Thornton said they receive patients from as far as Europe and China. The reasons come down to issues of female autonomy, Leondires said. Surrogacy is illegal in every country in the world except the United States and Canada. But many who travel to receive services in Connecticut are from nearby New York and New Jersey, where surrogacy contracts are unenforceable. The demand in New York is so high, Leondires travels to New York City once a month to do free consultations for gay parents-to-be. Everybody who wants to have a child in their home should have all the tools they need to succeed, he said. Connecticut is a very friendly state for surrogacy, Thornton said. So thats why you see all of these centers in Connecticut. A costly prospect While marriage equality has been affirmed, that does not mean that all people have the resources to become a parent. The six-figure price tag is prohibitive for many the cost is more than what half of the married-couples in Norwalk make in a year, according to Census estimates. Costs for lesbian couples to have a child are significantly lower, since there is no cost for an egg donor or surrogate, but in vitro fertilization and attorneys still rack up costs in the tens of thousands of dollars. Connecticut is one of 15 states requiring insurance companies to offer fertility coverage for couples who have tried to conceive for a year without success. While that coverage applies to couples of any age, it does not yet extend to same-sex couples, who have no chance of conceiving from the outset. But while not required to do so, some companies, including NBCUniversal and Google, have taken a step toward what is being called equal access to fertility treatment. LGBTQ employees there can access the same benefits, such as in vitro fertilization, as their heterosexual coworkers. However such coverage is rare, and Hawaiis attempt to pass a bill for equal access to fertility treatment failed in April. Thornton said that a more likely way for couples to reduce their bills is for them to look for whats known as a compassionate surrogate a friend or family member who would be willing to carry the child without a fee or to find their own egg donor. Right there, they may save themselves $45,000, he said. In addition, Men Having Babies offers the Gay Parenting Assistance Program, which annually facilitates over a million dollars worth of financial support for gay dads-to-be. Family experience In Leondires and Zolas home, a map of the United States hangs on the wall. The couple had a second son, and at 4 and 6, the two can already point to where they were born (Pennsylvania and Idaho) and explain that they spent time in a womans tummy far away. When the oldest, who recently met his surrogate this past summer, is asked who his mom is, he has no problem setting them straight. No, he says, I have two dads. While some people worry that having gay parents will impact childrens well-being, Ellen C. Perrin, a professor at Tufts University, has concluded that childrens relationships with their parents and the social and economic stability of the family are much more important factors factors that are nearly assured by the intense planning it takes for gay families to have children. This is kind of a joke, but there are no accidental pregnancies in the LGBTQ community, Leondires said. And at least some area schools have already begun to adjust to the change. When Leondires and Zolas first son went to a Westport preschool program called A Childs Place, he wasnt the only child with two dads. Buckley and Cianos twins were also in the class of eight. The program had taken the families in stride. On Mothers Day, the school announced that it had made up a new holiday: Family Day. The children drew portraits of their families, which were hung up in the school for a big reception. Buckley still has the preschool portraits wobbling figures in red and blue, labeled neatly in an adults handwriting: Ayla, Connor, DaDa and Daddy. Theyre lovely, he said. It tears me up when I think about it. rschuetz@hearstmediact.com; @raschuetz Guwahati: A unique weekly healthcare initiative has been taken up by an active press club of Assam in northeast India, where practicing physicians are invited to the club premises for free consultations. Often, blood tests for various parameters are also conducted in these Saturday outpatient department (OPD) clinics for diagnosing the health status of journalists with their family members. The last camp, organized under the series of Evening with a Doctor programs of Guwahati Press Club on 13 January 2018 was conducted by Dr Madhab Rajbongshi and Dr Hiten Chakrabarty from MMCH, Panbazar, where the member-journalists along with their dependants got free healthcare consultations from the visiting physicians and blood pressure checked by health worker Asif Mustafa. Started with initial support from Dr Jayanta Bardoloi, managing director of Assams well known Dispur Hospital in raising a doctors chamber at the club premises, the series of health camps have already emerged as a healthy hangout for the media persons. The endeavor has also helped in diagnosing journalists and their dependants with alarming high blood pressure, sugar levels and thyroid disorders. They were accordingly advised by the physicians for follow up action. Till date, most of the hospitals based in Guwahati, which has slowly turned into a competent healthcare hub in eastern India, have supported the endeavour by sending their practicing physicians in rotation for the media clinics. Professional doctors from Down Town Hospital, GNRC Hospitals, Dispur Hospital, Nemcare Hospital, Hayat Hospital, Ayursundra Hospital, Sun Valley Hospital, Barthakur Clinic, Wintrobe Hospital, Narayana Hospital, Rahman Hospital, Excelcare Hospital, Sight First Eye-Clinic among others have attended the camps. Even specialists from various distinguished healthcare institutions, based in other parts of the country, like Apollo Hospital (Chennai), SIMS Chennai Hospital, Manipal Hospital (Bangalore), Fortis Hospital (Bangalore), Medanta the Medicity Hospital (Gurgaon) among others have graced the camps. They were simultaneously encouraged by the post-event coverage in both the mainstream and alternate media outlets. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba Dhangadhi, Nepal: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has claimed that he will leave the government within one minute if anybody come claiming the post of Prime Minister in accordance with the constitution. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of Makar Mela in Godawari of Kailali district on Sunday Prime Minister Deuba, who is also the president of the Nepali Congress, raised a question mark stating that to whom and on what basis should he leave the government? Prime Minster Deuba raised such a question mark pointing finger to the leftist alliance, particularly the CPN UML, which has been labeling a blame of lingering the process to handover the leadership of the government as per the peoples mandate. Kathmandu, Nepal: The Supreme Court (SC), the apex court of the country, has on Sunday ordered the government not to expense the constituency development fund for the lawmaker of the erstwhile parliament. Responding to a writ filed by lawmaker Jhapat Rawal, the joint session bench of Justices Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada and Sharda Prasad Ghimire issued the interim order to the government. Expense the constituency development fund for the lawmaker of the erstwhile parliament is illegal as the country has already held the fresh election, the SC has stated in the order. The EU Google says the EU requires a notice of cookie use (by Google) and says they have posted a notice. I don't see it. If cookies bother you, go elsewhere. If the EU bothers you, emigrate. If you live outside the EU, don't go there. WASHINGTONDavid Frum used to work in the White House. Now he wont even walk past it. Frum felt sick when he spent time in the building near the end of Barack Obamas presidency. He could see the bleachers for Donald Trumps inauguration. There was a barbarian at the gates. Some of Trumps former conservative critics have softened since he took office. Not Frum. The Toronto native, a former speechwriter for George W. Bush known for his role in creating the phrase axis of evil, has built a fan base among anti-Trump liberals for his daily denunciations of a president he regards as corrupt, cruel and, above all, dangerous. Read more: Exclusive sneak preview of David Frums new book Trumpocracy He is so determined to keep feeling the revulsion he experienced on that day pre-inauguration, he says, that he takes a detour if his walking route is taking him too close to Trumps residence. I know if I were to go there once, walk around the building, that sort of emotional memory would dissipate, he says. Im actively trying to preserve the shock, the sense of wrongness. Frums new book, Trumpocracy: The Corruption of the American Republic (out Tuesday from Harper), is a plea for Americans to remain as troubled as he is. He argues that Trump is doing deep damage to the countrys democracy. He excoriates the appeasers and enablers he says keep Trump afloat. And he calls for alarmed citizens to turn fear into action. Frum, a senior editor at the Atlantic magazine, spoke to the Stars Daniel Dale Thursday in Washington. The transcript has been condensed and lightly edited. Theres a sort of sanguine assessment that says even if Trump has the instincts of an autocrat, even if he would like to trample democracy, he has not been able to, because American institutions have held firm. What do you think of that case? I think its wrong. First, institutions are being visibly damaged. Right now, the man that controls the American nuclear arsenal is credibly, plausibly suspected of having closer ties to Russia, and having given away more to Russia, than (late suspected spy) Alger Hiss ever did. American trade deals, American alliance structures have been damaged. The Department of Justice has been contaminated. So the damage is already very real. If theres one idea this book is trying to struggle against, its against either-or: either things are fine or its Hitler. There are a lot of stops on the train line to bad before you get to Hitler Station. You can have a lot of deterioration in the standards of American government that can be really bad without it being a spectacular authoritarian state. Weve already gotten used to so much. The case for reassurance is that nothing so bad has happened. So what about all of those things that have already happened but weve already forgotten about? Youve been a prominent Republican in Washington for a long time. You must know many of the people you now consider enablers. What has this period taught you about them? There are different stories about different people. In some cases, people who were fanatically ideological before have revealed themselves to be so fanatically ideological, in order to get their way on abortion or taxes or some other issue they care about, theyre willing to make some pretty serious compromises. A lot of people in Washington are about position and money and power, and theyre willing to do a lot to gain those things, and thats not a surprise. Some of the criticism you get from the right is that people like you have abandoned the positions you professed to care about because you are deranged or otherwise irrationally disturbed by this mans behaviour. I think there are moral commitments that are deeper than the policy commitments. If somebody said to me, You think the corporate income tax should be 21 per cent, not 35 per cent. I think we can achieve that if we round up 100 children at random and beat them to death I dont want it that much. So all these people say, Were going to get the abortion laws we want, were going to get the gun laws we want, and all we have to do is make our peace with how the country is run. Your policy preferences are too strong. Because they are overriding the fundamental human moral cost. You write, that, even before Trump, American politics had been veering toward extremism and instability. Some people on the left say you, as a former Bush official, as a partisan Republican for a long time, have not sufficiently reckoned with the role of the people you worked with, the president you worked for, in creating this environment. How do you respond? I believe what I believe, and Ive done the things Ive done, and I dont expect most people to care, but to the extent people care, I dont expect people to agree. Id also say Ive thought a lot about the Bush years, Ive put my thinking about it in writing, where Ive changed my mind about issues Ive written that. Why do you continue to be a Republican? Im not a liberal, Im not a Democrat. I believe in school choice. I dont believe that the Pentagon should be funded with bake sales. Its not my culture. I also have been in the conservative world for a long time, and, you know, I have had a hand in making some of the present troubles. Ive got to fix them. How have you had a hand in creating the present troubles? American conservatism basically is a series of solutions to the problems of the 70s and 80s. So you deregulate airlines, trucking, shipping and rail. That works great. You deregulate the price of oil and natural gas. That works great. OK, what else is around here? You deregulate telecommunications. That works great. OK, what else? The financial economy. Lets deregulate that. And that is a total calamity. So we cant keep taking encore bows about things that were right to do in 1975 in 2025. We have to understand that that success generated big problems. Its the nature of political ideas to become obsolete. You write about Trump as an avatar of peoples resentments. How does the party address those resentments while also moving closer to the kind of traditional centre-right party you want to see? Economic elites in this country have to share more with everybody else. It cant be that 100 per cent of the proceeds of economic growth go to the top two or three per cent of the country, and thats whats been happening. Addressing some real material concerns. A thicker social insurance network, so people can move from place to place more easily. We need to lift some of the worst anxieties off peoples minds. We need to get life expectancies rising again. The scourge of drugs is such a huge fact for that part of America that is so alienated. I think it would be helpful if we stopped the scolding. I think the language of white privilege is unbelievably destructive. Because what it says to a group in the country that is experiencing dwindling income, lost opportunity, early death, drug addiction it says youre the Monopoly Man and were going to take things away from you. Havent you taken enough, they say. The fatalistic view is that these people cannot be reached by economic programs, improved opportunity. That they are racist, that this is about bigotry, they want to be superior to Black people, Muslims, Hispanics. I think it is natural for human beings to be xenophobic, for groups to be suspicious of groups. Thats one of the reasons Im a big immigration skeptic: when you have high levels of immigration and a very sluggish economic growth for most people, thats a formula for disaster. So: yeah, human beings are a pretty racist species. So you have to work with that. You dont get to fire human beings and replace them with some other kind of animal as citizens of your country. What is it like for you to be a fan favourite of people with #resist in their Twitter names? Im not sure that thats exactly true. A lot of people with #resist remind me, which I certainly dont forget, that I was a big supporter of the Iraq War. Its true there are important differences. And Im hoping there will be important differences again. The thing I most like to read is when people say, Im looking forward to when we can argue again about the appropriate level of regulation of business. Im looking forward to it, too. Democracy is a work in progress. So is democracys undoing. So begins Canadian-American political analyst David Frums new book Trumpocracy: The Corruption of the American Republic. Democracys decline hasnt been something most Americans were concerned about. And then Donald Trump was elected in 2016. Now, argues Frum, the 45th president of the United States is damaging the very tenets of democracy perhaps irrevocably. Here, an exclusive sneak preview from the first chapter of Frums book (out Tues., Jan 16 from Harper). How removed from interactions with ordinary Americans did political elites have to be to plan the 2016 election as a return engagement between the two most famous political dynasties of late twentieth-century America: Bush versus Clinton? Yet the countrys wealthiest citizens committed hundreds of millions of dollars to secure just that outcome. Could they not foresee trouble? Apparently not. Rich people faced rising taxes in the Obama years, and understandably they did not like it. They had to deal with a president who seemed unusually unimpressed by their accomplishments, a sore point for a class of people accustomed to accolades and compliments. The venture capitalist Tom Perkins signed a letter to the Wall Street Journal in 2014 calling attention to the parallels of fascist Nazi Germany to its war on its one per cent, namely its Jews, to the progressive war on the American one per cent, namely the rich. Perkins warned of the possibility of a progressive Kristallnacht. Psychic alarms aside, the Obama years were actually a good time for the American affluent. Over President Obamas eight years in office, the S&P 500 gained 235 per cent, more than 16 per cent annually one of the very best returns in US history. Yet through those years, one heard the pounding drumbeat of discontent: the Tea Party, Occupy Wall Street, Black Lives Matter, the Trump campaign. These movements had many points of disagreement with each other, but even more important similarities, including a rising tolerance for violence. It could still shock the nation in 2009 when one man carried a loaded rifle to an Obama political rally in Arizona. Dozens of weapons were carried at the Black Lives Matter march in Dallas 2016 that ended in the killing of five police officers and the wounding of seven more, as well as the injury of two civilians. Even more and heavier weaponry would be displayed at the rallies against the removal of the Confederate statues in Houston and Charlottesville in 2017. The affluent and the secure persisted with old ways and old names in the face of the disillusionment and even the radicalization of the poorer two-thirds of American society. They invited a crisis. The only surprise was . . . how surprised they were when the invited crisis happened. Donald Trump did not create the vulnerabilities he exploited. They awaited him. The irresponsibility of American elites, the arrogance of party leaders, the insularity of the wealthy: those and more were the resources Trump used on his way to power. Its even worse than it looks, quipped a 2012 book by Norman Ornstein and Thomas Mann. Such pessimism invited the reply, Thats what you said last time. Things have looked bad before without the world coming to an end. Why panic now? But it can equally be true that things were bad before, that things have gotten worse since, and that things may get even worse in the future. Like a man falling downstairs, each thump and tumble may be a prelude to the next, with the final crash still waiting for him even farther down. Since the election of Donald Trump, the hard and painful floor seems to be rising toward us faster and faster and faster. Excerpt from Trumpocracy: The Corruption of the American Republic by David Frum 2018. Published by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Read more: Q and A: David Frum on Americas Trumpocracy Read more about: Michael Wolff may have already reaped $1 million from his controversial book about President Donald Trump and stands to earn $7.4 million or more if readers snap up copies that are now on the way to stores. Fire and Fury, his account of President Donald Trumps first year in the White House, is selling so fast that bookstores have run out and his publisher is rushing to deliver more. Publishing economics can be complicated, and details of Wolffs contract arent public. Neither the author nor his publisher, Henry Holt & Co., a division of Macmillan, responded to requests for comment. Read more: Reading the Trump presidency, year one In a Harry-Potter-sized frenzy, Canadians are clamouring for the Trump tell-all book A U of T professor titled his 2008 book Fire and Fury. Thanks to Trump, sales are up 10 years later But to get a rough estimate of what Wolff has made so far, lets assume he gets 15 per cent of the books list price a typical royalty rate and a $500,000 advance. In its first two days, Wolffs book, with a list price of $30, sold more than 29,000 hardcover copies, according to NPD BookScan, which tracks 85 per cent of the U.S. market. Retailers also sold 250,000 ebooks, and 100,000 audio books, the publisher told The Associated Press on Jan. 10. They go for $14.99 and $27.99. Add up all those sales, multiplied by the prices, and you get revenue of $7.42 million. Subtract the advance, and at 15 per cent he gets $1.11 million. Wolff stands to make much more. While updated NPD sales figures wont be available until Jan. 17, his publisher said Thursday there are 1.4 million hardcover copies in the pipeline. If those sell, he stands to collect another $6.3 million. He could also auction off the paperback rights and movie rights. Its too early to tell whether Fire and Fury will shatter any book publishing records, according to Kristen McLean, executive director of business development at NPD. Demand for the Wolff book took everybody by surprise, McLean said. Were really playing catch up in print, and perhaps because of it there have been pretty substantial ebook and audio sales. Well have to see exactly where it lands in a few weeks. Trump has labelled the book fiction and its author a fraud, renewing his call for stronger libel laws to help people who are targeted by false or defamatory statements. A lawyer representing the president, Charles Harder, sent a letter to Henry Holt demanding that the publisher withdraw copies of the book and apologize to Trump. Cant say things that are false, knowingly false, and be able to smile as money pours into your bank account, Trump said Wednesday. Wolff has stood by his reporting, much of which corroborates previous reports from other news organizations. Read more about: PASADENA, CALIF.Canadian director James Cameron says he would have shown no mercy to a crew member accused of sexually assaulting Eliza Dushku on the set of Camerons film True Lies. Dushku, star of TVs Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dollhouse and Angel, has said she was sexually abused on the set of the 1994 film, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as a secret agent, Jamie Lee Curtis as his wife and Dushku as their daughter, which she made when she was 12 years old. In a detailed post on her Facebook page on Saturday, Dushku accuses Joel Kramer, the stunt co-ordinator, of multiple sexual assaults while working on the set. I remember vividly how he methodically drew the shades and turned down the lights; how he cranked up the air-conditioning to what felt like freezing levels, where exactly he placed me on one of the two hotel room beds, what movie he put on the television (Coneheads); how he disappeared in the bathroom and emerged, naked, bearing nothing but a small hand towel, Dushku said. I remember how he laid me down on the bed, wrapped me with his gigantic writhing body, and rubbed all over me. He spoke these words: Youre not going to sleep on me now sweetie, stop pretending youre sleeping, as he rubbed harder and faster against my catatonic body. Cameron, the director of Avatar and Titanic, the top two biggest grossing movies of all time, was at the Television Critics Association convention in Los Angeles to promote his new documentary series on science fiction for AMC. He arrived onstage just hours after hearing about the painful allegations. Kramer has denied the allegations in a statement to Variety, saying they are absolutely not true. Had I known about it, there would have been no mercy. And now, especially that I have daughters, there would really be no mercy now, Cameron said. Its just heartbreaking that it happened to her. I mean, I know the other party and not well. He hasnt worked for me since then. But, you know, the fact that this was happening under our noses and we didnt know about it. I think going forward, its important for all industries, certainly Hollywood, to create a safe avenue for people to speak up, that they feel safe and that anybody who might be, you know, a predator or an abuser knows that that mechanism is there and there will be consequences. In her post, Dushku said she confided to an adult friend on set about the assault. Her friend then came on set and confronted Kramer with the allegations. Later that day, she says she was injured on set in a stunt with broken ribs. To be clear, over the course of those months rehearsing and filming True Lies, it was Joel Kramer who was responsible for my safety. . . . On a daily basis he rigged wires and harnesses on my 12-year-old body. My life was literally in his hands: he hung me in the open air, from a tower crane, atop an office tower, 25+ stories high. Whereas he was supposed to be my protector, he was my abuser. Cameron applauded Dushku for speaking up, calling her brave. This has been endemic throughout human systems, not just Hollywood. Im glad Eliza did that. . . . This is not a reckoning for Hollywood. This is not a reckoning for America. This is a reckoning for the human race. This s--- has been going on since Day 1, you know. So whenever theres a male in a position of power and hes got a piece missing and doesnt understand the consequences of what hes doing, and maybe out of this can come some education that can pull some men who would otherwise go down that path back from the brink. Still, Cameron, the ultimate boss of the show, seemed to give himself something of a pass, saying directors are historically oblivious to interpersonal things happening on set. Im probably one of the worst offenders in that, being focused on what Im doing creatively, he said. Read more: The interest is in sex, not writing, says one Concordia creative writing grad Recent sexual assault allegations have trigger effect on victims Women accuse Canadian director Paul Haggis of sexual assault, rape Cameron said he hoped the industry would put in preventive practices to stop abuse in the future. Dushku said she had the courage to speak because of the collective voices of other women who are now coming out to confront the issue. But in what could be part of a greater tragedy, she said at the time of the assault she told her parents and adult friends, but no one stepped up. I have struggled with how and when to disclose this, if ever. At the time, I shared what happened to me with my parents, two adult friends and one of my older brothers. No one seemed ready to confront this taboo subject then, nor was I. The Sunshine Eaters begins with a gentle provocation: A large LCD screen in the gallerys foyer shows Trick or Treaty?, Alanis Obomsawins 2014 documentary capturing, among other things, a 1,600-km march by a group of Cree youth in 2013 protesting Treaty 9, culminating in a boisterous rally on Parliament Hill. Nearby and behind glass, delicate watercolours of native plants, painted around the turn of the last century by longtime OCAD University faculty member Robert Holmes, sit quietly arrayed on easels, suggesting, maybe, something not quite finished. The inference is spot on: The Sunshine Eaters, taken literally, is a nod to the plant nourishment, sustained as they are by those nurturing rays. But there are heavy politics to be found in the ground from which they grow, and you dont have to dig deep to uncover them. Land, simply put, is power, and he because its always been he who has it, holds it. Between Obomsawin and Holmes lies a chasm of difference: From the blithe privilege of a delicate visual taxonomy to an urgent plea to return what was taken, The Sunshine Eaters sets up as a have and have-not polemic that defies its poetic title. If you worried what would happen to the fiery tenor of the art worlds Canada 150 rebuke once the calendar turned, then this will come as welcome assurance. The show is materially sumptuous and tactile, awash in colour and craft. It deftly crosses social and ethnic divisions with a graceful inclusiveness that never feels forced, and while it strains its conceit now and again, the points it makes validate its transgressions. An example: If theres a marquee name here, it belongs to Nick Cave, the African-American artist whose huge exhibition at the even-huger Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art last year (the biggest square footage of any museum in North America) was a global sensation. Cave made his mark with his Soundsuits, an ongoing series agglomerating cast-off bits and pieces into elaborate head-to-toe costumes that completely conceal the wearer. He made his first after the Rodney King debacle of 1992, when several police officers caught on video viciously beating King after a high-speed chase in Los Angeles were acquitted of assault; feeling at once intensely conspicuous and completely invisible, Cave disappeared into his suit, where only once inside, he believed, would he cease being judged by the colour of his skin. Nearly three decades and dozens of suits later, The Sunshine Eaters puts on view a pair of them: One sequin-sparkled skin-tight number fitted with an armature holding aloft a junkyards worth of old toys; and another that, from the front, looks not unlike a sparkly pink oven mitt stood upright on two feet. Both perform their purpose: Their wearer is all but invisible, with only his or her hands touching the air. Here, the show stretches its motif of a strained relationship with the land just elaborate floral beadwork seems to tether it to the notion but Caves broader concerns snap into place: Of the marginal, the disenfranchised, the dispossessed finding voice, loudly, as an anonymous chorus, their actions, not words, making enough noise to be heard. Similar disconnects arise with Ebony Patterson, whose brightly beaded tapestry fashions a birthday party using news images of Jamaican children who died as victims of violence only its underlying flower patterns connect it to the theme. However, as with Cave, the celebration the tapestry suggests, for those overlooked, dismissed, and cast aside, recasts it as a flowering of the same seed. Even the more literal-seeming works Winnie Truongs series of elaborate cut-outs, with female figures entangled in snarls of vine, or Shary Boyles spectacular porcelain pieces, in which a womans face is engorged by a flower hold up their own end with readably subtle depths. Truongs pieces read as a trap, less communion with nature than being consumed by it, while Boyles posit an awkward forced engagement between opposing bodies an apt metaphor for the fits and starts of our countrys reconciliation process if there ever was one. Despite the meanders, its not hard to see whats happening here, as The Sunshine Eaters does its best to build a bridge across the gulf of difference and privilege weve always taken for granted as an intractable status quo. Still, things change, and theres more hope here than despair. It lives nowhere as much as in Jessica Karuhangas hypnotically beautiful being who you are there is no other. A two-channel video in which two young Black women, one of them the artist, move fluidly in a distinctly Ontarian landscape to a hauntingly sparse musical score. Theres a clear sense here of laying claim, to a land, and a place, that not so long ago 150 years, give or take sought to erase an ancient past and write a new story as though there were no other. Its far past time to annotate that narrow tale both with deep histories and a truer sense of the here and now, and Karuhanga, with a gentle, insistent grace, sketches the contours of her own narrative, taking root in the earth. Correction - January 30, 2018: This article was edited from a previous version that misspelled Alanis Obomsawin's surname in one reference. The Sunshine Eaters continues at the Onsite Gallery, OCAD University, 199 Richmond St. W., until April 15, 2018. For more information please see www.ocadu.ca/gallery/onsite Sound and fury aside, a simple question underpins the Tim Hortons wage clawback tumult: Who, in reality, is the boss? Until now, youd be forgiven for hitting the snooze button when business and labour clashed over the issue during the governments two-year review of the provinces employment laws. While the former says there is a distinct division between parent company and franchisee responsibilities, the latter argues corporate headquarters are often effectively in control. As for who calls the shots, the answer has significant implications for workers and their rights on the job. If Tim Hortons can tell franchisees what napkins to use they could tell them paid breaks are a company policy, says Christo Aivalis, a post-doctoral history fellow focusing on labour issues at the University of Toronto. Read more: Opinion | Jennifer Wells: Time for the Tims sides to sit down over a coffee Opinion | Shawn Micallef: Tim Hortons can tug heartstrings, but it must also do right by its workers Expect to pay more for your Timmies, says analyst The reality is that the franchisor is not exerting significant control over their franchisees, counters Ryan Eickmeier, Vice President of Government Relations & Public Policy for the Canadian Franchise Association. The franchisee is an independent business person who is on the ground making day to day business decisions about their operation. Its perhaps unsurprising that Tim Hortons has become a lightning rod for the debate; the Fight for $15 movement finds its roots in the treatment of workers at fast-food franchises south of the border. The Canadian branch of the movement is responsible for much of the organizing around Ontarios recent updates to workplace standards and its significant minimum wage bump. According to two independent special advisers appointed to the provinces two-year employment review, a parent company in the franchise relationship mandates virtually every aspect of the business so that, from a public point of view, the product and brand are the same. The franchisee, they wrote in the final report, manages the daily business and their employees. Given that degree of control, should the parent company be liable for workers rights? Eickmeier, of the Canadian Franchise Association, says no. Franchisees are the best point and the only point of interaction when it comes to employment standards and health safety. We know if it would go to a situation where the franchisor were responsible, it would drastically increase the response time to these issues. Others have a different take. David Weil, who was U.S. President Barack Obamas senior labour appointee and was consulted as part of Ontarios Changing Workplace Review, notes in his seminal book, The Fissured Workplace, that in some industries, franchising is an example of how corporations avoid liability for workplace rights a hallmark of the precarious economy. I think generally the law ought to move toward a recognition of shared responsibility for these employees, said Josh Mandryk, a lawyer with Toronto-based labour law firm Goldblatt Partners. What exactly would shared responsibility mean? In the case of Tim Hortons, it could potentially mean joint liability between parent company and franchisees for employment standards claims made by workers for Workplace violations. In 2017, there were at least 183 such claims made at Timmies franchises, statistics requested by the Star show. Of these, the Ministry of Labour has investigated 90. Thirteen have resulted in settlements or compliance, while the majority of the claims have either been denied or withdrawn by the employee. The ministry says it cannot provide information on the remaining 93 claims they are still investigating. Worker advocates wanted the Ontario government to recognize this principle, in part, through something called broader based bargaining, which essentially allows employees with the same overarching employer to come together as part of the same union even if they are not in the same location. In sectors like precarious retail and food services where unionizing is a huge challenge, labour groups say they want workers to have a collective voice and strength in numbers when negotiating contracts. Bill 148 enacted a narrower mechanism, but one the Ministry of Labour says shares the same goal. Heres a hypothetical example of how the new measure works: a large corporation owns 10 coffee shops in the GTA. Each unionizes separately. The labour board now has the power to consolidate those 10 units so they can bargain a contract together, rather than each shop doing it separately. While this will apply across the board to multi-location corporations, it will only apply to franchises when one of its franchisees owns multiple outlets. Mandryk notes this falls short of the special advisers own recommendations, which suggest employees of the same parent company should be able to make an application to negotiate union contracts together, regardless of who owns the individual outlets. In their report, special advisers C. Michael Mitchell and John C. Murray make another observation, freshly pertinent in the wake of the Tim Hortons furor: that the business model set up by the franchisor may squeeze profit margins, putting pressure on franchisees not to comply with minimum (workplace) standards. That seemed to be the spirit of the complaints made by members of the Great White North Franchisee Association, a sort of collective voice for franchise owners. They say they were forced to cut paid breaks following the minimum wage hike because their appeal to their parent company to increase product prices was unsuccessful. (In this case, its hard to tell just how squeezed profit margins at individual Tim Hortons franchises are; a 2011 Macleans magazine article, citing court documents, said the average store owner pockets $265,558 a year.) Have your say Restaurant Brands International, which now owns Tim Hortons, has labelled the association a rogue group, and said in a statement to the Star that it considered franchise owners to be responsible for handling all employment matters, including all policies for benefits and wages, for their restaurants. Restaurant Owners are expected to comply with all applicable laws and regulations within their jurisdiction, the statement added. While business and labour are still at odds over whether downloading that responsibility is right, the governments special advisers point out that it presents enforcement challenges for the Ministry of Labour. Clearly, the resources of government to monitor compliance are stretched in any event, and stretched even further by the number of small employers, especially if a meaningful number of small employers do not comply with employment standards, they wrote in their final report. The low risk of complaints from employees, particularly from those with little or no bargaining power makes non-compliance for some small employers simply a part of a business strategy. This is one area the government has moved to tackle: Bill 148 includes the addition of 175 new employment standards enforcement officers to the Ministry of Labour, doubling its current complement. While previously the ministry could only proactively inspect a fraction of Ontario workplaces, they now aim to hit 10 per cent. Compliance might be greater, Mandyrk argues, in a franchise world where shared responsibility for workplaces rights was law. It would certainly change the behaviour of many franchise businesses. The parent companies would have to work harder to ensure fair and decent working conditions for the employees of their franchises, he said. You wouldnt see situations where they wash their hands of that responsibility. Read more about: Homeless shelter emergencies arent happening in other Canadian winter cities because they have focused on getting people into housing, says the head of a national group working to get people off the streets. Officials in Toronto opened a temporary homeless shelter earlier this month in the face of what Mayor John Tory called relentless cold and an unprecedented demand for additional supports. Theres a surge in homelessness for some reason, said Tim Richter, president of the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness. They dont know what to attribute it all to yet. Read more: Opinion | Christopher Hume: Homeless shelter crisis reveals unabashed attempt to legitimize inequality Charity hands out $450,000 in cold-weather supplies as Toronto shelters near capacity Toronto ombudsman probing confusion over homeless services Although he agreed Toronto needs to meet this winters demand, he said the city must address a larger issue. The worry is it becomes a panic and becomes a focus on shelters, Richter said. We have the emergency were facing eclipsing the crisis that created the emergency. Homelessness is caused by a lack of housing. People become focused on shelters as their response. He said cities such as Edmonton, Montreal, Hamilton, Guelph, Ont., and London, Ont., have avoided shelter emergencies this year because they have put efforts into housing the homeless in recent years. Officials in some of those cities confirmed theyve had enough beds to cope with increasing demand during recent cold snaps. In the deep freeze, we had beds available, said Matthew Pearce, chief executive officer of the Old Brewery Mission in Montreal. Before we were over-full ... Now theres no mattresses on the floor. None in the hallways. None in the cafeteria. Theres nobody whos had to sleep on the floor because theres no beds. The change, he said, can be linked to some changes that have been made. We cant just continue to provide overnight shelter and meals and showers and change of clothes, Pearce said. As critical as those services are, if thats where we stop, we are aiding and abetting homelessness. Homes for about 600 people have been found in the last two years, he said. They were the ones we could count on every night being there filling up the beds, Pearce said. Now theyre not there. They are in their own apartments. Similar programs are in place in Alberta, where several cities and agencies have been working on a 10-year plan to end homelessness. We have over a dozen organizations that have housing-first programs, said Susan McGee, chief executive officer of Homeward Trust in Edmonton. That housing activity has shown results. Nearly 6,000 people have moved into homes in the last seven to eight years, she said. We still have a long way to go. We still have people in the shelters, said McGee, who noted emergency shelters in Edmonton have been able to keep up with the demand so far this winter. The federal government said its keeping an eye on emergency shelters across the country. Theres a couple of things that are different in Toronto, said Toronto MP Adam Vaughan, chairman of an advisory committee on homelessness. Toronto is a magnet to folks, not just regionally, but across the country and around the world. People come to Toronto looking for economic opportunity, but they also stay in Toronto because the services are strong. Still, Vaughan agreed that the countrys largest city does need to turn its attention to getting street people into homes. What we really ought to be doing is depopulating the shelters with supportive housing, which is cheaper, Vaughan said. Its also more humane and its where the homeless want to be. He praised progress made in Montreal and Edmonton. Quebecs prevention systems and Albertas rapid rehousing focus are probably the two best practices in the country, he said. As a result, the two largest jurisdictions outside of Vancouver and Toronto are not experiencing a crisis. Read more about: From the outside, the mosque is an unremarkable, warehouse-like building in an industrial pocket of central Mississauga. Away from city lights, a few streets down from the highway, its doors are always open, the Islamic school brimming with women and children during the day, the echoes of Arabic prayer quietly streaming in its halls. Jeffrey Brown, an Orthodox Jew from Thornhill, spent the last day of Hanukkah there meeting with three police officers, five Muslim men, and a Muslim woman. In December, the unlikely congregation had gathered in the teal-coloured carpeted prayer hall to talk about restoring a sense of security in their places of worship. For more than 10 years, Brown has served as a community security volunteer at his synagogue. He has developed relationships with police, created a pool of volunteer patrols, and established a security infrastructure. Hes clear-eyed about the need for security. People in a house of worship have to be comfortable where they are, Brown said. They should be able to concentrate on prayers and know if something happens, plans are in place. But until last years mass shooting at the Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre, Brown had not had any close interactions with the Muslim community. Where a shocked nation saw the faces of the six Muslim men who were killed there, Brown saw an open and unguarded door. There was nothing there, said Brown. No one there. ** For months after the shooting, a single-shooter scenario played in Mohammed Hashims mind every time walked into a mosque. He imagined where a gunman would come in from, where the children would hide, where the exits were. Hashim is a crisis manager for the Canadian Muslim community stepping in to help whenever, and wherever, they need it. He went to Quebec City the day after the shooting to witness everyones worst nightmare. In May, he attended a rare interfaith event for the first time. Held at Browns synagogue, Hashim walked through metal detectors, as people with walkie-talkies stood inside, and police cars stood outside. I thought it was overdone at first whoa, its Thornhill, not a war zone, said Hashim. But then, as I started thinking about it, it felt like deterrence. There was a sense of prevention conveyed to those who seek to do harm. Brown said that there was chatter about protests in the lead-up to the interfaith event, so he told his police contacts and made the necessary arrangements. Critical to community security is knowing who to work with in the police department, said Brown. This requires proactive work before incidents happen. Its a two-way street you have to learn about the police while they learn about the community. At the interfaith dinner, Brown surprised Hashim by offering to share his experience with the Muslim community. I dont think we couldve gotten this level of help from anyone other than the Jewish community because I dont think any other faith group has felt under siege as much as them, said Hashim. Theyre so advanced in their state of security that its only natural that it was someone like Jeffrey, he said. Its his job now: To teach Muslims how to do security. ** Until last year, Atif Malik had never spoken to an Orthodox Jew. When Hashim persuaded him to meet Brown, Malik hesitated. He didnt know how to speak to someone from the Jewish community. He didnt know how hed react if the interaction didnt go well, if one of them got offended. Hashim, a big brother figure to Malik, 32, connected the two because of how similar they are. Both are members of the legal profession with a desire to help their respective communities, and to learn. Malik could be the Muslim counterpart to Brown, said Hashim. Maliks hometown of Mississauga has one of the largest Muslim populations in Ontario. He calls in an incubator that has largely insulated him from racism. After 9/11, the mosques he attended made a conscious effort to open themselves, to ensure they remained part of the community and not boxes of seclusion. Even if there was only one person inside, the doors to his mosques were always unlocked. The Quebec mosque shooting shattered his incubator. Imams and mosque volunteers began talking about cameras and protocols. All of this feels like a conversation that shouldve happened a long time ago, said Malik, who feels guilty that he didnt prompt them earlier. I question now why I didnt make the effort to reach out and make connections with other communities, regardless of faith group, he said. Could we help them? Could they help us? He found empathy in Brown, who spoke about the same fears and complicated emotions. The Jewish community has gone through a learning curve that we havent gone through, Malik said. Now, theyre handing us the information heres how you do it, if you have any questions come back to us, our doors arent closed. Its mind-blowing. Now, they are working together on common security practices to be shared with all mosques, beginning with three in Mississauga and one in Brampton. Neither will specify the practices being discussed or prevented, for fear of compromising their efficacy. Security is dealt with as quietly as possible, said Brown, apparent only to the person who wants to cause harm. In this way, both men have become crisis coordinators for their communities, someone who, in the event something happened, would have police on speed dial and a response at the ready. ** Here in Canada, we have a complacency when it comes to houses of worship, said Bernie Farber, executive director of the Mosaic Institute. We just dont believe something like [the Quebec mosque shooting] can happen here. Farber was one of the first to respond to the shooting, calling imams and volunteers like Hashim to offer his condolences and support. The former chief executive officer of the Canadian Jewish Congress oversaw security and safety for the Jewish community for 30 years, beginning in 1986. In the 1980s and 1990s, having a security officer at large congregations of events was discomforting an uncomfortable sign that the world had changed, and places of worship werent the sacrosanct sanctuaries that could be left unguarded. Events like the Quebec mosque shooting change everything, said Farber. The place no longer feels the way it should feel. Whether you ever regain that sense of safety, I dont know. People come to mosques to find peace, but that sanctuary was violated in the most horrific way, said Hashim. I think people saw that as a violation of one of our most basic provisions and rights, which is the right to practice freely and safely. Watching and facilitating the Muslim and Jewish community come together with police organisations to try and regain a sense of safety, however, has been a unique experience for Farber and Hashim. I suppose between every bleak, dark avenue there is a pinpoint of light, said Farber. This terrible tragedy brought together two communities that are united by hateful acts against them. Such acts can be deadly, as the Quebec mosque shooting, or just a series of less threatening acts: Putting bacon on a mosques door handle. Carving swastikas onto a synagogue. Graffiti of hateful messages. Rabbi John Moscowitz, who also reached out to imams in the wake of the shooting, believes that social bonds constitute a different type of security. When you can trust people of different faiths from you and stand together in the wake of something like the mosque attack, it deepens relationships, he said. And that deepens the bonds of trust, commonality and brotherhood. Sometimes security feels less secure because youre aware of why security is there said Moscowitz. Community bonds, he added, are an antidote to loss of faith that heal. At that first conversation in Mississauga, the unlikely group of one Jew, six Muslims and three police officers shook hands and promised that the conversation would continue. Both our faiths and our country demand a sense of respect and friendship amongst peoples, said Hashim, and I dont think I witnessed that so clearly as I did that night. This is about new communities getting established and getting comfortable, said Brown. We too were once strangers in a strange land. When we had that meeting, we felt Gods presence. Some Toronto-area parents, whose child care costs are already the highest in the country, say their fees have jumped by as much as 24 per cent this month in the wake of Ontarios new $14 minimum wage. And this is despite a $12.7-million provincial fund, announced in November, to help daycares weather the wage increase and shield parents from fee hikes. In Barrie, Taryn Aitken has been hit with a $368 increase this month for her two youngest children, ages 1 and 3, who attend a privately run centre near her home. The 18-per-cent fee hike means she and her husband, both public servants who work in Toronto, are forking out an average of more than $2,426 a month for daycare. Mercifully, their 13-year-old daughter no longer needs care, Aitken said. Child care is a luxury for the upper class who can afford it, she said. Lower income families are subsidized, but where are we left in all of this? Aitken said she is tired of Band-Aid solutions from politicians. The conversation should be universal child care . . . and its not just because I have children in child care, she said. Aitken is not alone in feeling the pain of fee hikes. Parents from across the Toronto area have contacted the Star to say their daycare fees have spiked to cover the minimum wage increase, despite the provinces child care fee-stabilization fund. Scott and Christina Davis, whose 3-year-old son, Sam, attends a private daycare in Brampton, say when they contacted the centre hoping to get their 6-per-cent fee increase reversed, they were rebuffed. The daycare said it had no information about the new provincial funding and that if a reassessment of fees was necessary, parents would be notified. In the meantime, First Friends Preschool and Daycare told the couple the centre is increasing fees to reflect a variety of rising costs, including rent, food, gas and hydro. Unfortunately, the increase to minimum wage is only a small portion of our expected increase, owners Sandra Balzan and Noeleen Huston wrote in an email to Scott Davis in December. We understand that a fee increase is difficult. The owners did not respond to phone and email requests from the Star for an interview. Davis and his wife are paying an additional $60 in daycare fees this month, bringing their monthly payments to about $1,148. There has been no corresponding increase for their daughter, Violet, 6, who attends a before- and after-school program run by PLASP Child Care Services, a non-profit provider, he noted. We are just really disappointed our (sons) daycare is raising fees and we dont seem to be benefiting from the provincial funding that was announced to cover the minimum wage increase, Davis said. I am also concerned daycares are using the minimum wage as an excuse to boost fees. One of my biggest concerns is transparency. In Burlington, a parent is grappling with a 24-per-cent increase. Monthly fees at MacFadyen Preschool Academy have shot up to $1,776 for infants, $1,598 for toddlers and $1,506 for preschoolers. This is really hurting the middle class, said the father, a Liberal supporter, who didnt want to be named because his child still attends the centre. I am really curious how the Ontario government is going to handle this issue. The centres owner, Lisa MacFadyen-Akinlabi, refused to discuss the increase with the Star. I do not have any comment on this ongoing matter at this time, she said. Child care workers are notoriously low paid 67 per cent of front-line staff earn less than $15 an hour, according to a 2015 provincial survey. Since 2016, wages have been boosted by a $2-an-hour provincial wage enhancement grant aimed at improving salaries and ensuring workers in licensed child care centres earn a living wage and dont flee for more lucrative jobs. But since child care is so labour-intensive, parents still pay dearly while scrambling to find licensed spots. According to a recent study, median monthly fees for preschoolers in Brampton are about $1,000 and $1,120 in Toronto, the highest in the country. Last June, the province launched a five-year child care transformation framework to begin building a high quality, affordable child care system for all families. It includes $1.6 billion in new capital funding to kick-start a pledge to add 100,000 licensed spots for children under age 4. Provincially appointed experts are expected to report this year on an affordability plan and a labour force strategy to boost staff training, pay and working conditions. The provincial fee stabilization fund, an interim measure to address potential fee increases arising from the $14 minimum wage, is being administered by municipalities, said a spokesperson for Indira Naidoo-Harris, provincial minister responsible for early learning and child care. Local service system managers will need to go through their local processes and approvals in order to distribute the funding, Eric McLean said. To receive the funding, daycares must show how they would use the money to mitigate fee increases, according to ministry guidelines. Almost half of the fund has been earmarked for GTA daycares with Toronto receiving almost $2.8 million; Peel just over $1.2 million; Durham almost $659,000; Halton about $765,000; and York almost $1.4 million. In Brampton, where the Davis family and other parents have complained about fee hikes, Peel Region staff are working with daycares to ensure the new funding is used to avoid increases, said Suzanne Finn, director of early learning and child care services. The region has been and will continue to work collaboratively with licensed child care providers, she said. However, she noted, parents may still see increases related to other rising costs, such as food. Alison Gregory is thankful she isnt facing a fee hike like her sister Aitken in Barrie. She credits the unionized non-profit centre her children attend in Toronto that already pays its workers a living wage. Gregory says her sisters situation highlights the need for a comprehensive child care system in Ontario that supports both workers and parents. Im deeply frustrated by the lack of action on this issue, Gregory said. These workers deserve a living wage, our kids deserve safe, quality daycare, and parents deserve to not have to pay an arm and a leg for child care. East of Toronto, a Whitby municipal worker said part-time after-school fees at her childrens daycare were slated to shoot up to $35 each, per day from $30 a 17-per-cent increase. Outraged, she switched her two children to a less expensive non-profit school-based program run by the YMCA. As a result of that programs lower fees, her family is able to afford full-time care for about the same price. She said she hopes the full-time care will allow her husband, a rotating shift worker, to pick up overtime shifts to supplement the added cost. Tenants are protected by rent control, the mother noted. But parents with kids in daycare are at the mercy of owners who can raise fees and change policies at will, she said. The daycare system is an open wound, she added. And the provinces announcement that they are going to cover the wage increase is too late. Operators have already taken steps to cover their own backs and . . . are taking the shirt off mine. They had 10 minutes to live. So they used it well: they dressed, packed up some water and their medications, sent I love you texts to bewildered family back home in Hamilton and Brantford. They hugged each other and drank two shots of vodka. Then they waited for the ballistic missile to hit. This was how Saturday started for two local couples vacationing in Hawaii. In a place called Paradise, to be exact. You make your amends with God, Mike says an hour after he learned he would live another day. For 38 minutes, people in Hawaii thought they might die after a button was mistakenly pushed and an official alert blasted out to cellphones across the state telling people the worst had happened nuclear missiles were heading straight for them. It was a colossally frightening false alarm. Read more: I thought, Oh my God, this is it. Panic and terror in Hawaii as missile alert sent in error Get used to it. Under Trump, the threat of nuclear war is the new normal Opinion | Thomas Walkom: Little rocket man cleverly changes debate around North Korean nukes Mike and Suzie, married 21 years, are from Hamilton and have been enjoying Paradise for a few weeks now. They dont want their last names published for home safety reasons. They are away with another couple, from Brantford. They thought that walking across lava fields, climbing peaks and doing helicopter tours would be the adventurous highlights of their trip. But at 8:07 a.m. Saturday, all their cellphones suddenly blared a deafening sirenlike sound and the screens filled with this emergency alert: BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. With very real international concerns about North Koreas nuclear capability concerns the Canadian couples had joked about before heading to the United States they accepted that the alert was real. What do you do? says Mike. Youve never been trained on what to do with an incoming ballistic missile. You cant run. You cant hide. They quickly turned on CNN, which had nothing. Nor did any major TV network. But a local Hawaii TV station was on it, saying it could be 10 to 12 minutes until the missile hit and advising, mostly, what not to do. Stay away from windows. Dont try to drive anywhere. Their phones wouldnt allow them to make outgoing calls, but they could text. So they sent brief messages out, just saying I love you. Nobody wanted to waste precious seconds explaining. Later, when the alert had been deemed an error, they received messages back from loved ones who did not yet know why theyd received the random texts. WTF? one relative replied. Huh? a 21-year-old son responded to his mom. With the 10 minutes ticking down before impact, the women raced upstairs in their pyjamas to throw on clothes. Gallows humour kicked in. What do we wear for this? they joked as they choked back tears. Clean underwear for sure, they agreed. Back in front of the TV, the couples hugged, expressed their love for each other and then downed vodka shots. Two of them, because clearly one was not enough in this situation. Suzie held the crucifix that dangles from her neck and prayed. Somehow, they held things together. Nobody fell apart. They tried to stay calm as, elsewhere, people ran off the beaches in panic. People were running for their lives, Suzie says of the pandemonium. But at least well die in Paradise. As minutes passed, Mike wondered if, out on the streets, civility would reign true or if panic would unleash hell even before the missiles landed. While he was contemplating the weighty question, their cellphones screamed again. THERE IS NO MISSILE THREAT OR DANGER TO THE STATE OF HAWAII. REPEAT. FALSE ALARM. They were relieved, of course. Grateful. Shaken. But also angry. Im angry that something so careless like this can happen, says Suzie. So what do you do when the end of the world is a false alarm? We had another shot of vodka, Mike says. A leaked draft of the Pentagons forthcoming nuclear weapons review shows that senior defence officials are keen to not only modernize the aging U.S. arsenal, but add new ways to wage nuclear war as Russia, China and other adversaries bolster their own arsenals. Among the new weapons proposed are so-called low-yield nukes that could be mounted to existing Trident ballistic missiles launched from submarines. Despite the nickname, the warheads would still likely pack a punch larger than the explosions that levelled the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during the Second World War. The draft, first published by HuffPost, states that the smaller nuclear weapons are necessary due to the deterioration of the strategic environment, a nod toward existing tensions with Russia, in particular. The Pentagons thesis: If an adversary has an arsenal of nuclear weapons that are not controlled by existing treaties, the United States should have one to match and retaliate if necessary. Read more: Analysis | Rick Noack: Get used to it. Under Trump, the threat of nuclear war is the new normal Trump calls for a new nuclear arms race with Russia Cut nuclear arms stockpiles by a third, say Obama These supplements will enhance deterrence by denying potential adversaries any mistaken confidence that limited nuclear employment can provide a useful advantage over the United States and its allies, the draft said. The concept seems especially focused on Russia, which the Pentagon accused of violating the New START Treaty last year by deploying a new nuclear cruise missile that is seen as a threat to Europe. The Pentagon alleges in the draft that Russia thinks launching a limited nuclear strike first might offer an advantage, in part because it has a variety of small nuclear weapons at its disposal. Correcting this mistaken Russian perception is a strategic imperative, the draft said. The Pentagon also calls for a new nuclear submarine-launched cruise missile, typically called a SLCM (slick-em) in the military. The Obama administration sought to phase out a similar cruise missile in a nuclear review it released in 2010, but defence officials now argue that it is necessary. The new weapons could add additional costs to what already promised to be a very expensive bill to modernize the nuclear arsenal, most of which is decades old. An assessment by the Congressional Budget Office released last fall found that it will cost $1.2 trillion (U.S.) over the next 30 years to build new weapons and maintain them. U.S. President Donald Trump directed Defense Secretary Jim Mattis early last year to launch the review to assess the state, flexibility and resiliency of the existing arsenal to deter modern adversaries. In a statement Friday, the Pentagon did not deny the draft document is legitimate but said it is Defense Department policy not to comment on pre-decision documents. Our discussion has been robust and several draft have been written, the statement said. However, the Nuclear Posture Review has not been completed and will ultimately be reviewed and approved by the President and the Secretary of Defense. The Pentagon is expected to release the nuclear review after Trumps State of the Union on Address on Jan. 30, though it is not clear if the timeline has been altered by the drafts leakage. A variation of the review was carried out by each of the last two administrations, and typically informs strategy for years going forward. Michaela Dodge, a defence analyst for the conservative Heritage Foundation, declined to comment on the document, citing its unauthorized leakage. Broadly, however, she said some nuclear analysts have said adding new ways to deliver nuclear weapons could launch a new arms race. But my sense is that there already is a nuclear arms race, she said. Its just that the United States is not racing. Its actually standing by and observing while the Russians and the Chinese are building new nuclear capabilities, and the North Koreans are advancing their nuclear weapons capabilities and expanding them. But others argue the U.S. should not be building new weapons. Jon Wolfsthal, a former Obama administration official who worked on nuclear issues on the National Security Council, said the Trump administration is on solid ground in sending a strong message that the U.S. will tolerate the use of nuclear weapons, but runs off the rails in arguing that new capabilities are needed. Congress has rejected previous Pentagon efforts to add new submarine-launched warheads, in part because it isnt clear how Russia would react if a missile is launched at it and the size of the warhead on it could not be determined, Wolfsthal said. These are familiar debates for people in the nuclear community, Wolfsthal said. Weve had them for many, many years, and some of them were considered and rejected under the Obama administration. Some of them were considered and pursued. But they now have the opportunity to push their agenda. Read more about: LENKISEM, KenyaThe first time cutting season came around, Nice Lengete and her older sister ran away and hid all night in a tree. The second time, her sister refused to hide. For Maasai families, the cutting ceremony is a celebration that transforms girls into women and marks daughters as eligible brides. But to 8-year-old Nice, it seemed like a threat: Shed be held down by bigger, stronger women, and her clitoris would be cut. Shed bleed, a lot. Most girls fainted. Some died. Still, her sister gave in. I had tried to tell her, We are running for something thats worth it, recalled Lengete, now 27. But I couldnt help her. Lengete never forgot what her sister suffered, and as she grew up, she was determined to protect other Maasai girls. She started a program that goes village to village, collaborating with elders and girls to create a new rite of passage without the cutting. In seven years, she has helped 15,000 girls avoid the cutting ritual. Her work mirrors national and global trends. Rates of female genital cutting worldwide have fallen 14 per cent in the past 30 years. Here in Kenya, cases have fallen more than twice that fast. New laws have made a difference, here and elsewhere. Kenya outlawed female genital cutting in 2011, and a special unit for investigating cutting cases, opened in 2014, prosecuted 76 cases in its first two years. But laws made in the capital often have little effect on culture in the countryside, where custom is deeply ingrained and mens power is virtually absolute. In Maasai country, male elders enforce the customs, and the cut has long been one of the most important. The belief has been that women arent women unless they are cut, which means men cant take them as wives. Much of how Maasai society is organized relies, in one way or another, on that ritual. So the fight against female genital cutting, experts agree, needs Lengetes kind of work: persuading village after village, and elder after elder, to overturn centuries-old custom. Every community has their own reason for why they cut their girls, said Christine Nanjala, who leads the special prosecution unit. Youre dealing with culture, and when youre dealing with culture, youre dealing with the identity of a community. Some rural old men asked us, What will we call this woman who is all grown up, married, has children and is not circumcised? she added. They do not have a name for such a kind of woman. Read more: Opinion | Shree Paradkar: Whether its a nick or full circumcision, female genital mutilation is about control Lengetes community did have a name for her. Its a very bad name in my native tongue, she said, one meant to shame a whole family. That shame is one reason families pressure reluctant girls. Lengetes grandfather, her guardian, took a gentler approach and asked her, after her second escape, to explain herself. Im only 8, she remembered telling him. Wait until I am 9. She added, I was trying to bargain. But when he brought it up again, she still refused. I told him, I will never come back even if it means being a street child, she said. When he realized I wanted to run away from him forever, he said: Lets leave her. When she wants to go, she will tell us, Lengete remembered. Her grandfather was an elder, so he couldnt be overruled. But the community still ostracized her. Families wouldnt let me play with their daughters, she said over lunch at a Nairobi cafe. Everyone saw me as a bad example, someone who disrespected her family and went against the ways of the community. Things were different for her sister. After the cutting ceremony, she was taken out of school and, at age 12, married off to an abusive, older man. She had three children. Lengete, meanwhile, began to remake her reputation. When she became the first girl in her village to go to high school, she noticed that younger Maasai girls admired her uniform. She asked them if they wanted to be like her. I wanted to show them I am happy with my life, she said. She told the girls that she had opportunities because she had refused the cut, and soon some turned up at her house, fleeing the ceremony just as she had. Read more: Canadian woman shares traumatic FGM secret and a bond is formed Because she helped them, she had to hide again. The morans wanted to beat me, she said, using the Maasai word for younger men who assist the elders in defending the communitys customs. So she changed her approach. She would bargain with the elders, just as she had bargained with her grandfather. But it wouldnt be easy. The cultural elders are like a small parliament in my village, she said. They have not gone to school, but they have so much power. All the decisions come from them. Traditionally, women arent allowed to address elders. Lengete realized she had a chance to counter tradition after the elders sent her to a workshop on adolescent and sexual health run by Amref, a Kenyan health organization. She told the elders that she had a duty to share what she had learned with the whole village. It was her first bargaining chip, and it almost worked. They gave her permission to address the younger men, but none of them stayed to listen to her. No girl had been courageous enough before to challenge the status quo, to challenge men, Douglas Meritei, one of those men, remembered. She kept trying, for two more years. She made such a nuisance of herself that the old men told the younger ones to sit with her. But only three would talk with her. Lengete refused to be discouraged. I thought, Well, last time I had zero, this time its three, thats not so bad, she said. Gradually, more of the younger men came to talk with her, she said, and gradually the topics expanded from HIV prevention to teenage pregnancy and its health complications, to early marriage, to school attrition and, finally, to the cut. At first, I thought that what she was saying was utter nonsense, and I did not even give it a second thought, said Meritei, who was one of her earliest allies. She won him over by talking about the physical consequences of the practice. Her understanding of the medical conditions convinced me, he said even to the detriment of his social stature. My friends wondered if I was bewitched, that I allowed myself to be carried away by such nonsense, he added. Making an example of herself and all she had accomplished, Lengete convinced the younger men that cutting wasnt good for the community, and she turned them into backchannel diplomats, who helped persuade the elders. Finally, after nearly four years of dialogue, the elders in her village changed hundreds of years of culture and abandoned cutting. She had persuaded the men, and with them the village, that everyone would be healthier and wealthier if girls stayed in school, married later and gave birth without the complications cutting can create. She and the elders planned a different kind of ceremony to celebrate girls, and the next year, the number of girls in school soared. The elders recognized Lengetes work with a thing of great power an esiere, a black walking stick that symbolizes leadership. You can command people with that stick, she said, beaming. Her campaign spread to neighbouring villages and eventually to the highest seat of Maasai power, the elders council that convenes at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. Lengete whose neighbours wouldnt speak to her because she wasnt cut became the first woman in history to address the elders at the mountain. In 2014, they changed the centuries-old oral constitution that rules over 1.5 million Maasai in Kenya and in Tanzania, and formally abandoned female genital cutting. Read more: I just remember screaming: Toronto FGM survivor recalls the day she was cut In pushing to overturn a cultural commandment, she found that her own cultural pride was her strongest argument. Its just the cut thats wrong, she said. All the other things the blessings, putting on the traditional clothes, dancing, all that thats beautiful. But whatever is harmful, whatever brings pain, whatever takes away the dreams of our girls lets just do away with that. In December, Maasai beauty was on full display in Lenkisem, a remote village that held an alternative rites of passage program. Lengete now works for Amref, the health organization, and planning these rites of passage is her full-time job. More than 450 girls walked dozens of miles to the village, where they wrote the songs and invented the dances they performed for 1,000 people. Before the ceremony, they spent two days learning about sexual health and adolescent development, lofty words for helping girls understand their bodies without fear. This requires undoing generations of rumours about the clitoris: That it makes you dirty. That it turns you into a prostitute. That you cant have a baby. That if you dont cut it off, it will grow as big as your ears. The hard work comes at home, when girls resist their parents in particular, their fathers. The Maasai community is strongly patriarchal, and fathers have final authority over the household, where disobedience is usually unimaginable. Shiluni Shirim, 12, is an ambassador for the program. She remembered fighting with her family, even after last years program, to keep them from cutting her. They were saying, Youre not a real woman, and I was saying, I will still be a real woman one day, finishing school, marrying and having children, in her own time, she said. Shirim began giving speeches in her community, and she was so good at it that the head of Amref invited her and her family to Nairobi. The opportunity that her talent and hard work had created overcame her familys objections, she said. My dad was so proud, she said. He said he would never get to go to a CEOs office in his life, but I made it so we could go. When he came home, he was my biggest defender, she remembered. I was safe because he set me free. Correction January 24, 2018: This article was edited from a previous version that mistakenly said Nice Lengete has helped 50,000 girls avoid genital cutting. In fact, she has helped 15,000. PARISCan a democratic country outlaw fake news? France is about to find out, after President Emmanuel Macron ordered a law to quash false information disseminated around electoral campaigns. Impossible to enforce. Sure to backfire. Smacking of authoritarianism. Criticism is pouring in from media advocates, tech experts and Kremlin-backed broadcaster RT. Macrons stance could be just the beginning of actually censoring freedom of speech. We believe it is a very dangerous situation, Xenia Fedorova, director of RTs newly launched French-language channel, told The Associated Press. Yet in a world where a falsehood can now reach billions instantaneously, and political manipulation is increasingly sophisticated, Macron argues something must be done. A congressional report by U.S. Democrats released Thursday detailed apparent Russian efforts to undermine politics in 19 European countries since 2016, using cyberattacks, disinformation, clandestine social media operations, financing of fringe political groups and in extreme cases, assassination attempts. Macrons own campaign suffered a big hacking attack last year, though the government later said it had found no proof of Russian involvement. Propaganda and disinformation arent new, or unique to Russia. Author and technology historian Edward Tenner argues that fake news is as old as George Washingtons cherry tree an enduring but untrue legend about the first U.S. president. While democracies usually rely on defamation and libel laws to combat false publications, Macron wants more. In a new years speech to journalists, Macron said hes ordering a new legal arsenal that would oblige news sites to reveal who owns them and where their money comes from. It could cap the money allowed for content seen as aimed at swaying an election, and allow emergency legal action to block websites. The French broadcaster regulators remit would expand to allow it to suspend media seen as trying to destabilize a vote notably those controlled or influenced by foreign powers. That probably means outlets such as RT whose coverage was seen as favouring far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in last years French election and which many consider a tool of the Russian government and Sputnik, which drew attention for reporting a rumour during the French presidential campaign that Macron was having a gay affair. He denied it, and beat Le Pen anyway, but never forgot. RTs Fedorova says they are being unfairly targeted. Speaking from RTs gleaming French studios on the banks of the Seine River, she says she struggled to get permits to open in France, and her journalists are routinely barred from the Elysee Palace after Macron accused RT and Sputnik last year of being organs of (Russian) influence. Read more: Macron ramps up expulsions, ID checks as France struggles to deal with migrants RT Frances coverage appears broadly similar to other French networks, with a slightly greater emphasis on street violence and migrants. The biggest difference: its extensive coverage of Syria, which stresses the Russian and Syrian governments views. RT stands for giving the floor, the platform to different opinions, and I personally believe that diversity of voices is absolutely necessary in order to have the big picture, said Fedorova, who says RT will be watching Macrons plan closely. Media freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders is also watching closely. It has decried fake news as undermining journalists who work hard to uncover wrongdoing and verify information, but is wary about Macrons order. We are not opposed to the principle of a law against fake news. But the point is to be able to write a law without endangering the freedom to reveal things, the groups chief, Christophe Deloire, told the Associated Press. Probably our democracies have to be defended in front of the fake news wave, he said, but not with the ways that despotic countries use. His group, also known by French acronym RSF, is working with partners on a potential certification system that could classify news sources according to their verification methods, transparency about financing and other criteria and leave it up to the public to decide what to believe. As Frances government prepares its bill, it will be learning lessons from a German law that went into effect this month cracking down on hate speech on social networks. Some fear legitimate posts by satirists or journalists about hateful speech are being accidentally caught up in the dragnet. Shutting down websites can also backfire, by calling more attention to them. The only long-term solution for the fake news problem is a more sophisticated public, Tenner said. Sophisticated manipulators of facts will always find a way around whatever regulations are in place, such as creating a front company to sponsor a website, he said, or writing something that is misleading and inflammatory that is factually true. Daniel Castro, vice-president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, outlines another problem: People like fake news. It reinforces their beliefs. He says Macron is prompting a very valid conversation about campaign funding and transparency. But where it runs into trouble is when they try to define fake news. The Macron governments digital affairs chief is lucid about the challenges ahead. This is the beginning of the debate. We wont go too fast, Mounir Mahjoubi told The Associated Press. He insists governments shouldnt remain complacent, especially with elections coming up in Italy, Russia, the U.S. midterms and for the European Parliament next year. Its about how in this new economy, when people are confronting a lot of content every day, how to create regulation by the platform, regulation by a judge, regulation by the citizens of contents online and rogue contents online, he said. We need to ask this question and work all together on what can be done. Read more about: ISTANBULA commercial plane that skidded off a runway after landing in northern Turkey dangled precariously off a muddy cliff with its nose only a few feet from the sea. Some of the 168 people on board the Boeing 737-800 described it as a miracle that everyone was evacuated safely. Images show the aircraft on its belly and at an acute angle just above the water. If it had slid any further along the slope, the plane would have likely plunged into the Black Sea in the Turkish province of Trabzon. The incident late Saturday created panic among the 162 passengers on board Pegasus Airlines Flight PC8622. The six-member crew, including two pilots, was also evacuated and Pegasus said there were no injuries. Flights were suspended at Trabzon Airport for several hours after the incident before resuming again Sunday. Passenger Yuksel Gordu told Turkeys official Anadolu news agency that words werent enough to describe their fear. Its a miracle we escaped. We could have burned, exploded, flown into the sea, Gordu said. Thank God for this. I feel like Im going crazy when I think about it. Another passenger, Fatma Gordu, told private Dogan news agency that there was a loud sound after landing. We swerved all of a sudden, she said. The front of the plane crashed and the back was in the air. Everyone panicked. Trabzon Gov. Yucel Yavuz said that investigators were trying to determine why the plane had left the runway. The prosecutors office launched an investigation. The flight originated in the capital, Ankara. DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATESAn exiled Qatari ruling family member once promoted by Saudi Arabia amid its ongoing dispute with Doha appeared in an online video Sunday claiming hes being held against his will in the United Arab Emirates, an allegation denied by Abu Dhabi. The video of Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali Al Thani, a little-known ruling family member until the boycott of Qatar by four Arab nations, offered new fuel to the months-long stalemated crisis. It immediately recalled the bizarre, now-reversed resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri while on a trip to Riyadh, a Nov. 4 decision that was widely perceived as Saudi-orchestrated at the time. The UAEs state-run WAM news agency later said Sheikh Abdullah had freely left the country at his request. The video, immediately aired by Doha-based news network Al Jazeera, shows Sheikh Abdullah saying he was invited to Abu Dhabi as a guest of Sheikh Mohammed. Sheikh Abdullah appears to refer to Abu Dhabis powerful crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who enjoys strong ties to Saudi Arabias rulers. I am a guest of Sheikh Mohammed but it is not hosting now, it is now an imprisonment, Sheikh Abdullah says. They told me not to leave and I am afraid something will happen to me and they blame Qatar. He adds: I just wanted to let you know that Qatar is innocent in this and I am being hosted by Sheikh Mohammed and anything that happens to me after this is under his responsibility. The UAE, one of four countries boycotting Qatar, denied the claim. Authorities pointed to a series of tweets by Ali Rashid al-Nuaimi, who heads Abu Dhabis Hedayah counter-extremism centre. Al-Nuaimi said that Sheikh Abdullah had asked to move to the Emirates for his safety. A trusted source confirmed to me that Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali Al Thani is free to leave the UAE for any destination he chooses and he can leave whenever he likes, al-Nuaimi wrote on Twitter, without elaborating. The report on the WAM news agency said Sheikh Abdullah was free in his movements while in the UAE. He expressed his desire to leave the country where all procedures were facilitated without any interference, WAM said. It did not say where the sheikh went. Doha promised to closely observe the situation, though it acknowledges it is limited by the boycott, Qatar Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lolwa al-Khater said. We have observed in the past similar behaviour by the blockading nations where rights of individuals and officials alike are violated in total contravention of international norms, conventions and laws with no clear purpose or valid reasoning, she said in a statement. Sheikh Abdullahs grandfather, father and brother were rulers of Qatar until a palace coup ousted his branch of the ruling family in 1972. His last position in government was as head of the equestrian and camel racing federation decades ago. Since the crisis, Sheikh Abdullah has held high-profile visits with Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Those meetings came as Riydah allowed Qataris pilgrims over the border in August for hajj, a pilgrimage required of every able-bodied Muslim once in their lives. Saudis then began suggesting Sheikh Abdullah should rule Qatar as an emir in exile, while Saudi-funded television networks provided him coverage. A quickly created Twitter account in his name amassed hundreds of thousands of followers. However, the last tweet on the account came in October and Sheikh Abdullah has not been publicly seen for some time. Sheikh Abdullah is one of several Qataris exiles to emerge amid the diplomatic crisis,which began June 5 with Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE cutting off Dohas land, sea and air routes over its alleged support of extremists and close ties to Iran. Qatar has long denied funding extremists and recently restored full diplomatic relations with Iran, with whom it shares a massive offshore natural gas field that made the country and its 250,000-odd citizens extremely wealthy. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have cultivated even closer ties in recent years. Emirati troops are deeply involved in the Saudi-led war in Yemen. Sheikh Mohammed of Abu Dhabi is believed to have a close relationship with Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The two countries announced plans of forming a tighter relationship in December, helping torpedo an already troubled meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council. The U.S., which has some 10,000 troops stationed at Qatars sprawling al-Udeid Air Base as part of its campaign against Daesh, also known as ISIS or ISIL, and the war in Afghanistan, has sought to end the crisis. Its military has halted some regional exercises to put pressure on the GCC, which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, to resolve the crisis. However, U.S. President Donald Trump in the meantime made comments seemingly supporting the Arab nations efforts at isolating Qatar, complicating those efforts. A Trump-prompted call in September between Qatars ruling emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and the Saudi crown prince that offered a chance at negotiations also broke down in mutual recriminations. Read more: Qatar restores full diplomatic relations with Iran, ignoring Arab demands Read more about: The $100-million donation to Torontos Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) from an anonymous benefactor is an extraordinary gift to the people of this city and beyond. It is also a symbol of a welcome cultural shift in how we approach a defining public health challenge that we have for too long ignored. More than 6 million Canadians, nearly one in five, struggle today with mood or anxiety disorders or other afflictions of the mind. Yet despite the ubiquity of the problem, mental health has too often been seen by policymakers and philanthropists alike as a topic to be studiously avoided rather than strategically tackled. In recent years, as the stigma around such struggles has begun to erode, that seems finally to be changing. The CAMH gift is part of an unprecedented influx of private money into mental-health care and research, particularly in Toronto. Government, too, has finally begun to confront the issue. As part of Ottawas new health-funding agreements with the provinces, significant money will be earmarked for mental health spending. Ontario, for instance, will receive $1.9 billion for such initiatives. This priority is long overdue. On mental health, Canada lags badly. The Canadian Mental Health Association found in a 2011 study that Canada spent $5.22 per capita on mental health that year, far less than most of our peer nations. The United Kingdom, for instance, spent $62.22 per person, with predictably superior results. The inadequacy of the system can be seen through the full continuum of care, from prevention to diagnosis to treatment. For those experiencing the early signs of mental illness, finding a path to treatment can be tricky. Half of all mental-health services in Ontario, for instance, are delivered by family doctors, many of whom lack the expertise to properly diagnose or the networks to connect their patients with doctors who can. This poses particular danger for young patients. The majority of mental illnesses surface during adolescence, the stage during which suicide is most common. A shortage of publicly funded therapists and the high cost of private ones leave many patients without options for talk therapy, in some cases for more than a year. Those on medication rely on a patchwork of drug plans that was inadequate even before the rise of precarious work left even more working Canadians without coverage. Besides the human toll of this failure, the economic cost is astronomical. The Mental Health Commission of Canada puts the cost of mental illness to the Canadian economy at about $50 billion per year, or more than 2 per cent of GDP. This includes spending on health-care, social services and income supports, as well as more than $6 billion in lost productivity. If we reduced the number of people experiencing new mental health issues by just 10 per cent, the commission determined, we would save the economy at least $4 billion per year. That goal, as we have argued before, is within reach. In other jurisdictions, including in the U.K., investments in prevention and early intervention targeted at children and families have yielded positive results. Getting those in need quickly into treatment has been shown to keep them out of hospital and the criminal justice system, improving health outcomes and saving tax dollars. To achieve that, provinces will need to invest their new money wisely, enacting several measures mental-health advocates have long called for: more funding for child and youth health centres; a coordinated referral system to ensure families and family doctors alike know how and where to get specialized services; mandatory minimum wait times for essential care; and better drug coverage, if not a full national pharmacare plan. Ottawa, meanwhile, can do more to fertilize the sort of research culture likely to yield important insights into the nature of mental illness and how to treat it. The CAMH gift is meant to attract talent, explore big ideas, support young scientists and leverage data to expose the mysteries of the brain and it will no doubt do just that. But federal funding for basic research, which has stagnated over the last decade, has the potential to achieve those goals with a speed private money is unlikely ever to match. This latest gift and the shift of which it is part are symbols of a hopeful moment. Recent decades have made stark the costs of inaction on this issue, in human terms, for the health system and for the economy. We mustnt squander this momentum. Canada seems to be quietly backing down on the North American Free Trade Agreement. It is now willing to bargain U.S. demands that the Liberal government had formerly dismissed as deal-breakers. That seems to be the gist of several days of confusing messages on the NAFTA negotiations coming out of Ottawa. Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland set the table last week when she told reporters that Ottawa has come up with creative ideas for dealing with the impasse in the three-way talks between Canada, Mexico and the U.S. The talks, which are due to resume later this month in Montreal, have been stalled on U.S. demands that Canada and Mexico have called so outrageous as to be not worth discussing. One would gut portions of the agreement that allow independent panels to rule on disputed trade and economic policies. Another would require autos imported to the U.S. from Canada and Mexico to contain at least 50 per cent American content. Yet others would bias government procurement rules in Americas favour and add a sunset clause stipulating that the treaty automatically expire after five years unless explicitly renewed. Canada called these ideas deal-breakers and, to the irritation of the Americans, refused to provide counterproposals. At the time, the Liberal government was excoriated by former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper as unduly stubborn. In effect, he said that if Canada wants any kind of trade treaty with the U.S., it may have to accept one that is significantly worse than the current NAFTA. The Liberals pooh-poohed Harper then. But now they appear more receptive to his advice. The Globe and Mail reports that Canada will propose technical changes to auto content rules in order to mollify the Americans. The newspaper also reports that Canada is mulling over proposals to change three dispute settlement chapters in order to make them more acceptable to Washington. One, Chapter 19, allows signatories to challenge trade practices before independent panels. These panels can rule only whether the alleged offender is following its own trade laws. They do not have the power to change those laws. But the Americans hate Chapter 19 anyway. Conversely, the Canadians love it, arguing that a trade deal without something like Chapter 19 would be pointless. Another, Chapter 11, allows foreign investors to challenge and ultimately overturn host country laws that interfere with their profitability. It has been used successfully several times against Canada, but all attempts to use it against the U.S. have failed. Yet for some inexplicable reason, the Canadians want to keep Chapter 11 while the Americans, quite sensibly, want to give governments the right to opt out of it. Chapter 20, which gives governments the right to challenge other signatories that have failed to adhere to their NAFTA commitments, is rarely used. The Americans want it killed nonetheless. How much Canada is willing to compromise on its so-called red line demands in order to accommodate U.S. President Donald Trump remains unclear. Perversely, one indication that the Liberal government may be preparing to cave on NAFTA is its decision to take a harder rhetorical line against the U.S. in the separate softwood lumber dispute. Ottawa is challenging the U.S. decision to impose punitive duties on Canadian softwood lumber at the World Trade Organization. That in itself is not unusual. What is unusual is the tough-guy rhetoric accompanying it. When you stand strong in sending a message that says well stand up for Canadian workers, you get respect, Trade Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said last week about the WTO challenge. When people see that youre firm, you get respect. Sometimes governments talk tough when they are tough. But sometimes they do it to distract attention when they are preparing to cede ground. We shall see which holds here. Thomas Walkom appears Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Read more about: It seems that with politics, just like Hollywood, whats old is new again. In Hollywood, the old ideas include Star Wars, Roseanne, Jurassic Park, Jumanji and many more. In politics, its Mitt Romney, Justin Trudeau, Caroline Mulroney and now Oprah. Winfrey first flirted with politics back in 2008 when she endorsed then-presidential candidate Barack Obama. It is estimated that her support of Obama generated more than a million votes for the candidate and played a significant role in his fundraising capacity. Since then, Winfrey has never indicated she would be interested in running for the U.S. presidency. As recently as this summer, Winfrey said, she would not run for public office, let alone for president. How the tides have turned. And now, anticipation is running high. Oprahs speech at the Golden Globes on Sunday electrified audiences the world over and inspired media to spill thousands of barrels of ink on her potential presidential ambitions. It triggered 3.1 billion social media impressions, the hashtag #Oprah2020 was part of 50,255 tweets and the numbers go on. Speculation about celebrities with political aspirations is not new. Just about every presidential election cycle since the Reagan years has seen celebrities hint about running. However, those flirtations were usually dismissed as improbable, if not outright impossible. Conventional wisdom held that despite initial enthusiasm the lack of conventional political infrastructure doomed these ventures from the start. Trumps election to the presidency fundamentally altered that long-entrenched view. The fact that news networks, pundits, social media, and water-cooler analysts are taking the #Oprah2020 hashtag seriously is because Trump has legitimized the idea that a celebrity can come from outside one of the two old-line political parties and take the Oval Office. As a result, a famous television host becoming the leader of the free world no longer seems crazy. Perhaps more importantly, the speed and intensity with which Winfrey was able to gain legitimate momentum last week demonstrates that voters are willing to think seriously and differently about what type of person they want to hold high public office. Does someones celebrity alone qualify them to be president or prime minister? Does it matter what has made them famous? Is this a new way of looking at things or is it merely an evolution of a path we have been on for some time? It goes without saying, Oprah is in a class with very few others. She is a woman with a very significant following, and with good reason. She has acted as a spiritual leader and symbol of unity in America for decades. She is one of only a handful of people who is recognizable on a first name-only basis. There are persuasive arguments that a President Winfrey could be a healing presidency; one that may be sorely needed after four years of division under an aggressive president who has significantly exacerbated previously existing tensions. But there remain other challenges. The presidency of the United States, like all elected positions, doesnt come with training wheels. They are complex positions that require leadership, expertise and experience; a sophisticated grasp of the intricacies of public policy and a strong understanding of how power is wielded. When it comes time to choose our leaders, hopefully we think about his or her experience, qualifications, love of country, dedication, purpose, ideology, policy and legislative expertise. Hopefully, we dont think too much about a candidates social media followers, television ratings, product lines, award acceptance speeches, hair, or whether theyd be a great person with whom to have a drink. Celebrities often bring strong advocacy skills. They are often powerful at raising money, awareness and changing peoples opinions. They are often persuasive, empathetic, expert communicators. And thats a great start. But what doesnt follow is a fluency in the sphere of democratic institutions and public policy initiatives. Being a democratic leader requires much more than speaking louder than everyone else. Or having more followers on Twitter. The fix to what currently ails the American presidency is not more of what injured it in the first place. The challenges of this presidency, the challenges that so many Americans chafe against, will not be solved by doubling down. It may well be better to change course altogether. Jaime Watt is the executive chairman of Navigator Ltd. and a Conservative strategist. Read more about: Zurich Insurance Group AG is a holding company. The Company and its subsidiaries provide insurance products and related services. Its segments include General Insurance, Global Life, Farmers, Other Operating Businesses and Non-Core Businesses. The General Insurance segment provides a range of motor, home and commercial products and services for individuals, as well as small and large businesses. The Global Life segment is engaged in providing unit-linked, protection and corporate propositions through global distribution and proposition pillars. The Farmers segment, through Farmers Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries, provides certain non-claims administrative and management services to the Farmers Insurance Exchange, Fire Insurance Exchange, Truck Insurance Exchange, and their subsidiaries and affiliates. The Other Operating Businesses segment includes the Company's Holding and Financing activities. The Non-Core Businesses segment includes its insurance and reinsurance businesses. Read More PageGroup plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides recruitment consultancy and other ancillary services in the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and the Americas. The company offers executive search services under the Page Executive brand; recruitment services for qualified professional on permanent, temporary, and contract or interim basis under the Michael Page brand; recruitment services to organizations requiring permanent employees and temporary or contract staff at technical and administrative support, professional clerical, and junior management levels under the Page Personnel brand; and flexible recruitment outsourcing services under the Page Outsourcing brand. It also provides assessment, consulting, and talent services under the Page Assessment, Page Consulting, and Page Talent supplementary brands. The company was formerly known as Michael Page International plc and changed its name to PageGroup plc in June 2016. PageGroup plc was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Addlestone, the United Kingdom. Read More If you find yourself the proud new owner of a 3D printer whether as a gift or a personal purchase to try out a new hobby you've probably unboxed your new printer, plugged it in and produced the test print that comes with the device. But now what do you do? (Image credit: Shutterstock) It's time to step into the wide world of 3D printing. That includes finding or making your own 3D models, prepping them and printing them out. Here's how to take your next steps in 3D printing. Find Things to Print There are a huge number of places to find 3D models that you can turn into real-world objects with your 3D printer. Start with 3D models sites like Thingiverse, MyMiniFactory and Threeding. These sites offer 3D models for free download or purchase that have been created by the sites' other users. Search any of those sites, and you'll find an incredible range of models, from engineering parts to toys, many of which can be freely downloaded, used, copied or edited as you want. (Image credit: EnvisionTec) If you are looking for models of specific objects, focus your search on where they are made or held. NASA, for instance, offers free 3D models of most of its spacecraft, buildings and other things they have built. Want to print a Saturn V rocket? Here you go. The space agency also offers 3D scans based on the data that these spacecraft have captured, such as models of the Apollo 11 landing site, asteroids and much of Mars. Many museums are also getting into 3D printing, offering free downloads of scans of their sculptures. The British Museum, for instance, now offers 3D scans of more than 200 of its most famous treasures, from the Rosetta Stone to Marcus Aurelius. It's also easy to create your own 3D models to print, either by scanning objects or creating your own designs from scratch. To scan an existing object, use an app on your cellphone, like Qlone or Scann3D, that uses multiple photos to create a 3D model of an object. If you want to try creating your own 3D model, websites like Tinkercad or programs like SketchUp allow you to create 3D models using simple tools. Both of these are surprisingly capable, and can create very complex or intricate objects. If you have a virtual-reality (VR) setup like an Oculus Rift, you can also create your own 3D models. With a program like Oculus Medium, you can create your own 3D sculptures that you can then output with a 3D printer. Preparing 3D Models for Printing So you've obtained your 3D model. It's now time to get it ready to print. Most 3D models for printing come in a format called STL, where the files end with .stl. These are the easiest files to work with, so if the site or program that your models came from offers that option, save the file as a .stl file. (Image credit: Shutterstock) If the 3D model isn't available as an .stl file, don't panic. Many 3D printing programs can load other formats, such as .obj, .cat and .prt, among others. If the program your 3D printer uses doesn't support the format of your 3D model, use an online tool such as an online 3D converter that can process models from many strange formats. Once the model is loaded into your 3D printing program, it's time to scale and move it. Scaling lets you decide how big you want the print to be. Many 3D file formats don't specify the measurements they use, so sometimes a model will show up at an unexpected size. If the model was created using inches as the measurement, for instance, but your program works in centimeters, your model will be about 2.5 times bigger than it is meant to be. Many programs offer a feature to convert a model to a different measuring system. You can also just scale it up or down by percentage. You can also move the model around, putting it in the center of the print space for the best results. You also can rotate it, twisting it around to find the best angle to print. For most consumer 3D printers, the best way to orient the model is either tall and thin, so that the tallest bit of your model points upward, or long and flat, so that the longest side lies on the print bed. For instance, when we review 3D printers, we have a test model of Rodin's The Thinker statue. We print it upright, while a long, flat object such as a case or box is best printed with the largest flat area against the print bed. After scaling and moving your model, your next step is to process it. That requires running a process called slicing, in which the model is cut into slices that your printer will create one on top of the other. You've got two decisions to make here: do you want to use supports, and how much infill should you use. Supports are the extra pieces of the print that the program adds to hold bits of it up. If your model is complex or has bits that overhang (the arms and hands of our Thinker test sculpture, for example), you will need to add supports. You don't have to do this yourself: just find the option in the printing program to add supports, and it will create the support structures as it slices your model up. Infill is the stuff inside the print. To save material, 3D prints are hollow, but they need something inside to give them strength, which is what infill does. You specify this as a percentage, which determines how much of the inside is filled. A larger percentage of infill say, 30 to 50 percent uses more material and takes longer to print, but makes the final print stronger. Lower percentages of infill (under 30 percent) use less material, but the print will be weaker. If the print has moving parts (such as a set of gears) or will have something resting on it, use a higher percentage. Otherwise, for prints such as figurines or sculptures, use a smaller percentage to save printing material. Once you have your printer set-up, it is possible to print several models, or several copies of the same model at once. This is called plating, and it's useful if you want to produce several copies of a single model, or print multiple parts of a project at once. Printing & Finishing 3D printing can be a frustrating business, but the key is perseverance and testing. Most 3D printers require a lot of tweaking for best performance, which often includes running the same print several times to find the right settings for things like layer height and print speed. If a print fails, dont panic; instead, change settings incrementally until you find the ones that work. The settings provided by the printer maker are a good starting point. But don't feel bound by them, as we have often found that you can get better results by tweaking these settings further. Your fellow 3D printer users are also a great resource, so spend some time looking through the forums of the printer manufacturer or at places like the Ultimaker forums, where the people who write the popular 3D-printing program Cura hang out. Once your print is finished, it's time to remove it and finish it off. Larger prints are often difficult to remove, but one tip is to use a painter's blade a large, flat-edged tool that can slide under one edge of the print. Once you have one edge up, slowly push the tool farther in to gradually lift the print up. (Image credit: A small set of wire cutters is the easiest way to remove supporting material cleanly. Credit: Richard Baguley) Next, cut off any supports using a pair of wire cutters, cutting as close as possible to the print body. Once you have the print clear of all supports and the base, use light sandpaper to remove the bits of plastic left over from the supports. (Image credit: Fine sandpaper (240 grade) can then be used to remove any leftover pieces of loose filament. Credit: Richard Baguley) Many materials can be processed further to produce a different finish. ABS plastic, for instance, can be smoothed with acetone vapor to produce a glossy finish, but be careful as the vapor is very flammable. PLA can be covered with filler and sanded down for a surface ready for painting or detailing. Prints done with metallic filaments need to be sanded and polished to produce the metal effect. Volkswagen may soon have more company in the ranks of accused cheaters now that Ford is being accused of doing the same thing. The Blue Oval finds itself in the crosshairs of a lawsuit thats accusing the automaker of rigging at least 500,000 heavy-duty pickups to beat emissions tests. The lawsuit claims that models of Fords F-250 and F-350 Super Duty diesel pickups sold between 2011 and 2017 are releasing emissions that are 50 times the legal limit for nitrogen oxide pollutants. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan in Detroit by law firm Hagens Berman The lawsuit, which was first reported by Bloomberg, was filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan in Detroit by law firm Hagens Berman. Interestingly enough, Hagens Berman is the same law firm that accused Daimler and Audi of similar cheating devices in 2016. Steve Bermann, a managing partner in the law firm, claims that Fords own onboard diagnostic software grossly exceeds the standard. In addition to Ford, Hagens Berman also named Robert Bosch GmbH better known simply as Bosch in the lawsuit, accusing the German parts supplier of working with Ford to mask the vehicles inefficiencies in order to maintain overall performance. To no ones surprise, Ford and Bosch have vehemently denied the allegations lobbied against them by the law firm. Ford spokesman Daniel Barbosa responded to the suit, saying that all Ford vehicles, including models running on diesel engines, comply with all U.S. EPA and CARB emissions regulations. Ford vehicles do not have defeat devices, Barbosa added in a statement to Bloomberg. We will defend ourselves against these baseless claims. The law firm claims to have represented drivers against a list of automakers that include Toyota, Hyundai, Kia, General Motors, Fiat Chrysler, Daimler, and Audi. For its part, Bosch also released a statement through spokesman Rene Ziegler. Bosch takes the allegations of manipulation of the diesel software very seriously, Ziegler said. Bosch is cooperating with the continuing investigations in various jurisdictions, and is defending its interests in the litigation. It is interesting that Hagens Berman finds itself in the middle of another lawsuit against an automaker. The law firm claims to have represented drivers against a list of automakers that include Toyota, Hyundai, Kia, General Motors, Fiat Chrysler, Daimler, and Audi. As serious as these allegations are, it is curious that Hagens Berman is always the one that aggrieved drivers turn to for their gripes. Either the firm is as good as it says it is, or this tactic of accusing one automaker after another of cheating has become a go-to trick to get payouts. Hopefully, well find out more details about the lawsuit as they become available. References Read our full review on the 2017 Ford Super Duty. Read more Ford news. Source: Bloomberg Vacation Agent Magazine A version of this article appears in print in the January 2018 issue of Vacation Agent Magazine. Subscribe Re: GBR- is it worth it or is it dead? 2. Re: GBR- is it worth it or is it dead? Agree with longhorn about Wavelength if you are reasonably good swimmer. If you are a good swimmer, I suggest Quicksilver out of PD. The snorkelling experience is not as good as with Wavelength though, but it does have a semi submersible that takes you around the Reef. The reef is far from dead. Don't believe everything you read. "to the Iberostar Suites in Mo tego Bay area" The Iberostar complex, which includes the Iberostar Suites, is actually in Rose Hall, an eastern suburb of Montego Bay. The term 'area' in your case means that the hotel is about 10 miles east of the airport. "We would want to do excursions of course but is it unsafe just to go off resort on your own?" Doing excursions will be fine. As to 'going off resort', say by walking out the front door of the hotel, can be done. The only problem is that there is nothing that I can think to be of any great interest within walking distance. To reach nearby sights such as the Rose Hall Great House or the famous 'hip strip', I suggest planning on taking a taxi which will be no problem. Oooops....edit....writing at the same time as Chuck. Writing to D. ------------------------------------------------------- That might be the place that tugboatoly recommended awhile back on this forum. We passed by there a number of times last month and it was never open. Granted, we were on our way to and from Hotel Rosita, so not looking to eat there ---- but it wasn't open when we went by. Didn't check their hours. We didn't stay in 5 de diciembre this past trip, but did eat there several times. I wrote a review on our experience at La Traviata (ho-hum, except for the view ---- and I love the owners and watched it being built). The 5 de diciembre colonia is our favorite for restaurants, having stayed there for years. There are plenty. The former Salsa Grill has morphed into a modern place called La Traditional. Didn't eat there (we're not into "modern" in that particular colonia). A visual jolt to see a modern industrial-style place taking the old Mexican place over. Ate at Pepe's on Honduras. The place never changes. It was often my first night dinner years ago. Still the same. Open from about 1pm til early in the morning. Still love their Al Pastor. Service is still no-eye-contact, but that's the way they are. Food is good, unless one is expecting something like Panchos Takos or Tacos Revolucion. Ate at El Paladar Consentido (mentioned above) three times. One breakfast and two lunches. The owner (Rene) went to school in our area, so we had fun talks. When we were there, he had painted out the name of the restaurant on the side of his building. He said nobody could remember it so he was going to call it "El Patio." Nonetheless, it's still there at San Salvador 419. He or his staff will go buy a beer for you at the tienda at the corner. Or BYOB. Food is worth the walk up there. Santo Tacote is a colorful favorite. The owner is a kick and the prices are very reasonable. We also had a "special occasion dinner" at El Andariego, across from Villa Premiere. I'd been there a few times --- hubby had not. Disappointing. Again, prices had gone way up, and the Mahi Mahi was not as good as some other places in town. Several servers were "hovering." Probably won't return. It used to be a very nice place for lunch or dinner (mostly locals) but not so good the last two times. Higher prices didn't help. Stopped by Rico Mac Taco to have a drink and snacks for old time sake. Did not eat a full meal there. Since they changed the decor to "modern" a couple years ago --- it seems a bit "stiff" to me. When in that neighborhood, I ate at RMT regularly for years, breakfast/lunch/dinner. Talked to a a couple of old-time servers I recognized about the "new look." Interesting facial expressions. Didn't eat at Lolita's this time, but had another great breakfast there last February. Family owned, delicious breakfasts and authentic. Hope it doesn't go modern. It's part of PV history. Making fresh squeezed orange juice and coffee, available right through a window to Avenida Mexico, is a draw. We had two food occasions at Hotel Rosita last month. Dinner with a group on a rainy evening (music included) and lunch ourselves on a sunny day. Our dinners were quite good. My Mahi Mahi grilled with garlic was excellent with steamed veggies and rice. 145 pesos. On the sunny day, we both had burgers. Nothing fancy, but well prepared and inexpensive and right by the pool. 89 pesos or so. Don't miss Hotel Rosita (celebrating her 70-th birthday this year) when looking for eateries in the area. Historic and special, even if the food is not gourmet. Beyond stories of eating in 5 de diciembre over the recent past while staying there ---- there are so many really good restaurants of all sizes and price-ranges that you can just walk around and follow your taste buds and nose. Just walking up/down Honduras is a feast for the taste buds, with all the little places and taco stands. You won't have to walk far to find good food in 5 de dic and a list doesn't tell the whole story. That area is our favorite for exploring and eating. You'll discover your own favorites as you get out and wander. Start with the corner of Avenida Mexico and Honduras (where the Pemex station is) and wander in all directions. Edited: 3 years ago Hi Here are my thoughts: 1) How dependent are you on going to paid caravan parks when traveling by motorhome? * Do you really have to spend each night at a paid park, or is it possible to sneak a couple out-of-park-nights in there, where we just spend the night parked at the side of the road? You are dependent on paid caravan parks for electricity and disposal of your wastes. If you are travelling in summer or into the North of Australia it will be hot in your big tin can. You will need aircon. There are some National Park campsites that you can pay to stay overnight in too. Free camping is very restricted. Even if a piece of land looks secluded and empty does not mean it is a spot for you to camp. Land is owned by someone - either a farm or by the Local Council or Dept of Conservation. There are safety issues when just parking on the side of the road. Rangers will often come and fine and move illegal campers, especailly in popular destinations. * Is it typically necessary to book spots in caravan parks in advance? If you are travelling in peak periods it is mandatory. The same applies to popular destinations. 2) We'll be going through a couple of cities (Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne), how would you recommend seeing those with a motorhome (i.e. is it a good idea to drive into the city or just too much of a hassle)? Most people don't want to take a car into our major cities let alone a thumping great campervan. You will not be able to park in underground car parks because of height issues and on-street parks are generally too small for large campervans. I you have to go the campervan route it is best to leave the rig at your caravan park and get public transport into the CBD. 3) A couple of people recommended that we get a vehicle that's designed for more than 2 people in order to have more comfort. Would you agree here? If you can afford a bigger berthed rig, then it will mean you dont have to put your bed away before sitting down for breakfast/cook your meal etc. 4) Can you recommend any motorhome rental company in particular? Britz or Maui perhaps, but stay away from Apollo Campers, Jucy and Wicked. Read reviews online carefully. You only get what you pay for and sometimes not even then. Many people complain that their "Welcome pack" (or similar name) was not present/complete, that they did not get enough time to familiarise themselves with the features and that things in the van were broken/missing.Read the contract very carefully; there will be large one-way fees if you are dropping off at a different location. You may have to leave a large deposit on your credit card as a hold against any damage you might incur. Like $4,500 large. It might take a week or more for that charge to be removed from your card after your rental. Good Insurance is vital. You are hauling a large rig around unfamiliar roads and possibly through terrain and landscapes that could damage the vehicle. Cheers, UF Re your red centre portion- three nights - Your flights in and out of Uluru will generally be midday , so you lose 1/2 days to travel. Best thing to do is to out this trip day by day and add in flights to see where you lose time. Travel to KC is three hours each way. A car in Sydney will be a liability for the first few days of general city and harbour sightseeing. Then if you wish to go further like the lovely northern beaches for a drive to Palm beach etc , then a car is prefect for that as on public transport it would take ages. Then when you are ready to head to the Blue Mountains, get your car the night before and head off. A car in Cairns is pretty well essential and you have allowed enough time How are you getting to Whitsundays, ? They are a 8 hour drive from Cairns. You can fly direct Cairns to Hamilton Island airport, but there is low frequency. Edited: 3 years ago -:- Message from Tripadvisor staff -:- This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one. To review the Tripadvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason. My 1st (a short 6 days) trip to Costa Rica has me so excited. I am flexible about where to go, but want it to not be super hot weather. I would so appreciate suggestions for a couple of beautiful places where the weather 2nd week of March 2018 will likely be relatively COOL, I love the 60s and 70s but can deal with a high of 80 or less. Rain is just fine, but I get grumpy and lethargic when I'm hot (trust me I know this; I live in Phoenix). INTERESTS: moderate hiking (3-4 hours-- or 15 minutes if it's 90 degrees), all scenic views: volcanos, cliffs, beaches, rainforests, I'd love a guided river wildlife trip (not so much rapids ;), seeing a sloth and a toucan, bridges, zipline, guided nature walk/hike, snorkeling, cultural/historical sites, guided bicycle tour. I'M NOT: a sunbather, not a shopper, clubber, drinker or foodie. I love simple picnics for quick meals so I can get out and go. I have THREE ideas: #1--1 airport night (darn it), 2 nights Arenal, 3 nights Monteverde, and last night airport again. #2 - I read that Pacific coast is hotter. Should I go to the Caribbean coast (like Tortuguero) for cool weather? If it's the wrong time of year to see turtles, what else might be great to see and do in the east? #3 - Change arrival flight to 2:30pm Liberia, then Snorkel/sail at Guanacaste area (cooler underwater), then drive to Monteverde for 3 days before drive to San Jose. FLIGHTS: arrive San Jose 8:40pm on 7 Mar-depart San Jose 8am 14 Mar, 2018. Departure is not flexible. Dates are not flexible at all. THANK YOU so much for your helpful suggestions. Im looking at hotels. My husband and I will be arriving on the 9th and leaving on the 15th of March. We arrive in Tokyo, but we also want to see Kyoto. We will take a train to Kyoto. I would like to know what is enough days to spend in Kyoto and Tokyo. I want to divide my trip up where I spend the right amount of time in each city. If I should spend a bit more in Tokyo or the other Im ok with that. What are some recommendations on how long I should stay in each city and divide my trip. I was wondering if its best to get off the plan and get on a train to Kyoto and start there then make my way to Tokyo since we leave from there. My husband and I like staying in hotels that are right in the middle of shopping and the places to visit such as temples and palaces. What would be some good areas to stay in Tokyo or Kyoto that would have hotles close to the sites to visit. We arent to picky on hotels because we go out in the morning and dont return till night so just a place to sleep with perhaps a heater. I am staying in Japan from May 22 to June 11: 5 nights in Osaka, 5 nights in Kyoto and 10 nights in Tokyo. I'm going to purchase the Japanese Rail Pass and activate it when I travel from Kyoto to Tokyo. I was wondering does anyone have any suggestions as to what I should do in each of these cities, such as great places to site see that I mustn't miss or quirky hidden gems. Recommendations of places to eat, drink, shop and go on nights out, for all three cities, would also be greatly appreciated as i'm going with my friends. Also i'm hoping to travel to Mt Fuji from Tokyo and was wondering what is the best way to get there: bus or train? - National Super Alliance coalition has called for an urgent meeting to provide fresh guidance on its planned inauguration event - The planned meeting is expected to take place on Monday, January 15, during which the principals will also address concerns arising within the coalition - There has been disquiet in NASA after affiliate parties, Wiper and Amani National Congress (ANC), expressed dissatisfaction with allocation of parliamentary leadership slots - The coalition is pushing for the swearing-in of Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka on January 30, 2018 The National Super Alliance (NASA) has called for an urgent meeting to address pressing matters within the coalition a few days to its planned inauguration fete. Addressing supporters in Trans Nzoia county on Saturday, January 13, NASA co-principal and Ford-Kenya leader Moses Wetangula said the coalition will hold a summit on Monday, January 15. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens The special meeting, Wetangula said, is meant to provide guidance on the scheduled swearing-in event and also address concerns raised by affiliate parties. READ ALSO: Wetangula's Party denies holding secret meetings with Jubilee agents National Super Alliance Coalition leaders from left Musalia Mudavadi, Kalonzo Musyoka, Raila Odinga and Moses Wetangula. Photo: Facebook/Raila Odinga. There has been disquiet within the coalition after co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka's Wiper party angrily protested sharing of parliamentary slots and demanded for changes to be made. Musalia Mudavadi's Amani National Congress (ANC) had also raised similar concerns following appointment of two members of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party to crucial parliamentary leadership positions. READ ALSO: Kalonzo's party kicks storm in NASA, demands plum parliamentary job given to Raila's right hand man NASA co-principals Moses Wetangula and Musalia Mudavadi consulting with their leader Raila Odinga during one of their meetings. Photo: Facebook/Raila Odinga. As previously reported by Tuko.co.ke, ODM 's Opiyo Wandayi and Abdulswamad Nassir were appointed chairs of the National Assembly Public Accounts Committee (NAPAC) and Public Investments Committee (PIC) respectively. Though the other affiliate parties in NASA, ANC and Wiper included, also presented names of their members to be considered for the parliamentary committee jobs, they all lost to ODM. READ ALSO: Raila's emotional New Year message to Kenyans The ODM party, led by Raila, is perceived as a bully within the NASA coalition and that is not sitting pretty with co-principals Kalonzo and Mudavadi. In fact, the Wiper party is now bargaining for what it deems a fair share of parliamentary leadership positions before it can fully endorse the planned oath-taking ceremony. READ ALSO: There is hope for a better Kenya despite repercussions of the flawed 2017 polls - Kalonzo Musyoka NASA's presidential candidate Raila Odinga flanked by his deputy Kalonzo Musyoka during one of their press briefings. Photo: Facebook/Raila Odinga. The meeting scheduled on Monday is expected to iron out most of these concerns and give clear guidance on what to do next. The coalition is also still pushing for dialogue with the Jubilee party leaders. They insist that dialogue on electoral justice and reforms is the only thing that will stop the disputed swearing-in. Raila Odinga's 'Swearing in' Unstoppable - On Tuko TV Source: Tuko Breaking News Latest - Kenya's opposition chief, Raila Odinga, has reacted angrily to racist remarks that were made against African countries by US President Donald Trump - In a statement sent to newsrooms on Saturday, January 13, Odinga demanded for an apology from the US leader for referring to African countries as "shitholes" - Odinga's position appears to contradict that taken earlier by his own spokesperson, Dennis Onyango, who appeared to agree with Trump's remarks - Trump made the derogatory remarks while discussing issues pertaining to immigrants from Africa and other countries to America United State's President Donald Trump is not new to controversies, but his "shithole" remarks against African countries seem to have ruffled many feathers across the region as leaders come out to condemn and demand for apology. Kenya's opposition chief, Raila Odinga, is among those who want Trump to say sorry for referring to African countries as shitholes. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens In a statement seen by Tuko.co.ke on Saturday, January 13, Odinga termed Trump's comments as unfortunate and troubling. READ ALSO: Raila's spokesman agrees with US President Donald Trump's shithole racial slur about Kenya National Super Alliance (NASA) leader, Raila Odinga, termed US President Donald Trump's shithole remarks against African countries unfortunate and troubling. Photo: NMG. Odinga held that Trump had developed a habit of of bullying and disparaging poor African nations at every opportunity that he gets. The latest remarks, Odinga said, were hypocritical because Trump's administration is still doing business with several African countries, Kenya included. READ ALSO: Sonko reacts to Igathe's resignation President Donald Trump suggested the US should bring more immigrants from Norway and not shithole countries. Photo: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters The opposition leader pointed to recent media reports that indicated Africa was an important market for goods and services from US. Trump must also know that many of the poverty and governance related problems that African countries are facing are as a result of US foreign policies that directly or indirectly affect them, Odinga argued. READ ALSO: Igathe should not have asked for Sonko's trust. Sonko is not a Girl - Mutahi Ngunyi Position taken by the former prime minister on the matter appears to contradict that taken earlier by his own spokesperson, Dennis Onyango. Commenting on social media, Onyango agreed with Trump, arguing that African countries like Kenya were still unable to put their houses in order by conducting credible, free and fair elections. READ ALSO: I am in very good books with my Deputy Polycarp Igathe - Sonko responds after fall out claims A number of other African leaders, including from Uganda, South Africa and Botswana, have also reacted angrily to Trump's latest controversial remarks. United Nations (UN) and African Unions (AU) have equally weighed in on the matter. Raila Odinga wants government to apologise to victims of police brutality - On Tuko TV Source: Tuko - Kiambu county Deputy Governor James Nyoro's bodyguard, John Mungai, and his wife Loise Wangare have been shot and badly wounded by robbers - Mungai's 60-year-old father, Stephen Mburu, was murdered during the night robbery incident on Saturday, January 13 - Authorities are pursuing the killer robbers who reportedly escaped on foot after committing the heinous crime Bodyguard of the deputy governor of Kiambu county, James Nyoro, has been shot and seriously wounded by thugs. Tuko.co.ke has learned that John Mungai was shot together with his wife Loise Wangare and his 60-year-old father, Stephen Mburu, murdered in cold blood during a night robbery incident on Saturday, January 13. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens Confirming the incident, Kabete OCPD Joseph Ongaya said Mungai was ambushed by the armed robbers as he drove into his home in Kiambaa village. READ ALSO: Hessy wa Dandora cautions Uber drivers over gangs posing as customers John Mungai was ambushed and shot by the thugs while driving into his home in Kiambaa village, Kiambu county. Photo:Courtesy. The robbers, the police said, demanded for cash and other valuables from Mungai, who doubles as a General Service Unit (GSU). He reportedly managed to grab one of the assailants and engaged him in a scuffle during which he was shot in the chest and abdomen. READ ALSO: Police officer stabbed to death by suspected bhang peddler His wife, Wangare, arrived at the scene and tried to plead with the robbers to let go of her husband, only to be shot as well. The gunshots grabbed attention of Mungai's father, Mburu, who dashed to his son's compound to check what was going on. READ ALSO: 5 boys riding on a motorbike perish in fatal crash at Sigalagala along Kakamega-Kisumu road Upon arrival, Mburu tried to intervene in desperate effort to save his son and was gunned down while at it. Police are still in pursuit of the robbers who reportedly escaped on foot with valuables of unknown value. Millie Odhiambo warns Mike Sonko - On Tuko TV Source: Tuko.co.ke - Jubilee party official, James Muriithi's son, Titus Kangara, died following a ghastly road accident along Kagio-Sagana road in Kirinyanga, on Sunday, January 14 - Police officer, Peter Macharia, who was with Kangara also perished while two of his cousins accompanying him sustained serious injuries, in the 2 am incident - The party of four, were traveling home on a motorcycle after spending the night in a local joint - The three occupants of the vehicle involved in the accident, are wanted by police after fleeing the scene of the incident Jubilee Party Vice Chairman in Kirinyaga county, James Muriithi was the patron of tragic news, after his son was involved in a grisly road accident along the Kagia - Sagana road on Sunday morning, that claimed his life. 30-year-old Titus Kangara, was rushed to Kagia Nursing hospital where he was pronounced dead following failed efforts by doctors to stabilize his condition. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens A police officer by the name Peter Macharia, who had accompanied the politician's late son, also died while two others sustained serious injuries in the tragic accident which occurred at 2 am. READ ALSO: Matiangi trains his eye on illegal gambling dens Jubilee party Vice Chairman in Kirinyaga county, James Muriithi was the patron of tragic news, after his son was involved in a grisly road accident. Photo:Courtesy Kangara, police officer Macharia and his two cousins, were headed home on a motorcycle after spending the night at a local joint when a saloon car rammed into the motorcycle in the early hours of the morning. The saloon car was suspected to be in the hands of a drunk driver who was traveling to Kagio from Sagana when the fateful incident occurred. READ ALSO: Ruto mourns death of his outrider involved in grisly accident The saloon car was suspected to be in the hand s of a drunk driver who was headed to Kagio from Sagana when the fateful incident occurred. Photo:Citizen Mwea OCPD Samuel Saurye, confirmed the incident and said that police were still on the hunt for three suspects, of which included a woman, who were in the saloon vehicle. TUKO.co.ke understands that the three wanted individuals, were said to have fled the scene of the accident on foot following the accident. This was not the only high profile accident that claimed a life this weekend, as TUKO.co.ke formerly reported, a police outrider in Deputy President William Rutos motorcade died on Saturday, January 13 after he lost control of his motorbike. The bodies were ferried to Kibugi Funeral home in Kirinyaga. Source: Tuko.co.ke - Mourners angrily attacked family of the bereaved in Busia county and burnt into ashes seven houses in revenge over alleged witchcraft and murder - The vengeful mourners accused brother of the deceased of witchcraft and linked him to the death of his own brother - The incident reportedly unfolded moments after body of the departed arrived for burial on Sunday, January 14 - The burial had to be pushed forward Francis Okumu had lost his brother, who was set to be buried on Sunday, January 14. But just as body of the deceased arrived home in Busia county, another tragedy struck! A group of angry and rowdy mourners invaded Okumu's home and unleashed terror on the bereaved family in what is said to be a revenge attack over alleged murder. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens The mourners accused Okumu of witchcraft and linked him to the death of his own brother, only identified as Robert. And that was not all. READ ALSO: Kiambu deputy governor's bodyguard shot and badly wounded, his father killed by thugs The mourners accused brother of the deceased of practicing witchcraft and killing his own brother. Photo: Courtesy. According to a report by Kenya's NTV, the mourners went as far as killing Okumu's son and burning to ashes seven houses that belonged to his family. Two other people were reportedly wounded in the assault. The burial had to postponed following the chaotic and tragic attack that left several other locals in shock and confusion. READ ALSO: 5 boys riding on a motorbike perish in fatal crash at Sigalagala along Kakamega-Kisumu road Police and area chief arrived at Okumu's home moments later to quell the chaos. Unfortunately, serious damages had been done by the time the officers showed up. Three people have so far been arrested in connection with the incident. READ ALSO: Police officer stabbed to death by suspected bhang peddler Commenting on the incident, area chief warned the locals against taking law into their own hands. He also assured them that all those who were involved in torching houses will be apprehended and brought to justice. READ ALSO: Dad of form one student collapses after realising he has to pay KSh 16,000 school fees Investigation into the alleged murders is also underway. Millie Odhiambo warns Mike Sonko - On Tuko TV Source: Tuko Breaking News Latest - Uhuru joined ANC members in celebrating their 106th anniversary on Saturday, held at the Buffalo city stadium, South Africa - With him were Jubilee party officials David Murathe and Raphael Tuju - South African president Cyril Ramaphosa and president of the ANC, was also present in the anniversary celebrations Shades of yellow,green and black filled the Buffalo City stadium in the industrial town of east London as thousands of African National Congress (ANC) members excitedly welcomed President Kenyatta and his delegation to the venue on Saturday, January 13. Jubilee party leaders Vice Chairman David Murathe and Secretary General Raphel Tuju, accompanied Uhuru to the celebrations that marked the ANC's 106th birthday. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Wambui Kamiru asherehekea siku ya kuzaliwa kwa mumewe, Bob Collymore, kwa njia ya kipekee ustaajabisha South Africa Deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa, who is also president of the ANC, graced the colourful event. South Africa Deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa, who is also president of the ANC graced the colourful event. Photo:Twitter/UhuruKenyatta He said the visit by president Kenyatta would strengthen the bonds among the citizens of the two countries and the ruling parties. He said the visit by president Kenyatta would strengthen the bonds among the citizens of the two countries and the ruling parties. Photo:Twitter/UhuruKenyatta "President Kenyatta and the Jubilee delegation are here to express fraternal relations between the people of the two countries," Ramaphosa said. READ ALSO: Bob Collymore's wife celebrates his birthday with a cheeky message Ramaphosa and his team were elected last month and will be flag bearers in the forth coming election next year.Photo:Facebook/UhuruKenyatta Ramaphosa and his team were elected last month and will be flag bearers in the forth coming election next year. South Africa Deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa, who is also president of the ANC graced the colourful event. Photo:Twitter/UhuruKenyatta As TUKO.co.ke previously reported, President Uhuru Kenyatta's highly publicized trip to South Africa started on a slightly bad footing after a major security lapse. Source: Tuko - President Kenyatta arrived back into the country from South Africa on Sunday, January 14 at 6 pm - The president completed a 3-day visit to South Africa aimed at strengthening bilateral ties with the two countries - Uhuru was received by Deputy president William Ruto and other officials at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport President Uhuru Kenyatta jetted back into the country from South Africa, after completing a 3-day official visit on Sunday, January 14 The visit was focused on strengthening bilateral ties between Kenya and South Africa. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens Among other activities Kenyatta met with South African president Jacob Zuma and had the opportunity of celebrating African National Congress Party's 106th birthday. READ ALSO: Wambui Kamiru asherehekea siku ya kuzaliwa kwa mumewe, Bob Collymore, kwa njia ya kipekee Kenyatta also had the privilege of meeting current ANC party president and South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa. Photo:twitter/UhuruKenyatta Kenyatta also had the privilege of meeting current ANC party president and South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa. President Kenyattas ended his tour of the country by attending ANCs 106th anniversary celebrations at the Buffalo City stadium in the industrial town of East London, before flying back home. READ ALSO: NASA leadership to meet amid claims of Raila bullying Present to receive him at the airport was deputy president William Ruto and other senior government officials. Photo:twitter/UhuruKenyatta According to an official press statement by the PSCU seen by TUKO.co.ke, Kenyatta and his entourage touched down at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, shortly after 6 pm. Ramaphosa, congratulated President Kenyatta for winning last years election and pledged that his ANC party and Jubilee would work together to cement relations. Photo:twitter/Kenyatta Present to receive him at the airport was DP William Ruto and other senior government officials Ramaphosa, congratulated President Kenyatta for winning last years election and pledged that his ANC party and Jubilee would work together to cement relations between the people of the two countries. TUKO.co.ke previously established, that President Uhuru Kenyatta's highly publicized trip to South Africa started on a slightly bad footing after a major security lapse. Source: Kenya Breaking News Today There was a rush for Pfizer vaccines at a couple of sites today, as the roll out of that vac "The published so-called 'documents' on behalf of Petro Poroshenko are a low-grade forgery and fake, made and planted to Rustavi 2 TV broadcasting company by Russia's security forces [FSB]," reads the statement published overnight January 14. "The fact that is easy to verify eloquently illustrates the failure of the FSB. Oleksiy Poroshenko married in Kyiv in September 2013, so Petro Poroshenko's eldest son did not have a wife in 2007," it said. Read alsoPoroshenko: EU, NATO membership remains Ukraine's strategic goal, not prospect of 2018In the "letter", dated February 3, 2007, Petro Poroshenko allegedly promised during his stay in Russia "to steadfastly adhere to Russian legislation, and not to act against the interests of the Russian Federation". At that time, Poroshenko was a Ukrainian MP, who was not allowed into the territory of Russia. According to the materials published by the Georgian TV channel, Poroshenko allegedly told the FSB that the ban was ungrounded because he "has nothing to do with the anti-Russian campaign of [the then Ukrainian President Viktor] Yushchenko and acts in the interests of Russia, attracting large investments and creating jobs for Russians. He is also one of the founders of the Party of Regions." Among other things, the "letter" says that Poroshenko regularly visits St. Petersburg, where the parents of his son's wife live. However, Oleksiy Poroshenko married a Russian national Julia Alikhanova only in 2013. The presidential administration also highlights this inaccuracy, refuting the authenticity of the materials published in Georgia. Georgian Rustavi 2 TV channel is a private TV broadcasting company. It is one of the most popular mass media in Georgia. The company is known for its commitment to former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. It is also critical of the current Georgian authorities. Saakashvili is now one of Poroshenko's harshest critics in Ukrainian politics. In November-December 2017, he organized protests in Kyiv, demanding Poroshenko's impeachment. "Our interpretation of the Treaty is, of course, related to the subject of the Treaty, that is friendship, cooperation and partnership. So, if there is no friendship, cooperation, and partnership, a reason emerges to say: All the issues need to be addressed again, including those with regard to the borders. Therefore, I suggest to denounce at least the part of the Treaty related to Article 2, namely the recognition of borders", Zatulin said, as reported by RIA Novosti. Read alsoRussia decided to send troops to Crimea even before receiving Yanukovych letter witness testimonyHe also believes that the Treaty is "unilaterally beneficial" to Ukraine. "Without stipulating the mechanisms of partnership, cooperation and friendship, we recognize the territorial borders of Ukraine in Article 2 of the Treaty, and they are respectively ours, at the time of signing and ratification of the document. That is, Russia, when signing the Treaty in 1997 and ratifying it in 1999, confirmed it considered Crimea and Sevastopol part of Ukrainian territory," the Russian politician said. UNIAN memo. The Russia-Ukraine Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation, and Partnership was signed on May 31, 1997. The two countries formally recognized the borders of each other and consolidated the principles of strategic partnership and respect for territorial integrity. After the annexation of Crimea and the subsequent outbreak of fighting in Donbas, Ukraine repeatedly called for breach of the treaty due to Russia's violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity. "A Ukrainian doctor, who worked under a private contract in the Libyan city of Sebha and was kidnapped by one of the many armed groups, was released on January 13, 2018. This happened thanks to the agreements reached by the Ukrainian diplomats in the negotiations with the leaders of local tribes," the ministry said in a statement. Read alsoUkraine introduces new border crossing rules for foreignersUkraine's Embassy once again called on Ukrainian citizens who are now in Libya to immediately leave it since the settlement of such issues through diplomatic means is deeply problematic due to the tense security situation in the country. Military doctors say his condition is satisfactory and there is no threat to his life, the report said. The militants used artillery systems for the first time this year. The Ukrainian army has returned fire once, the press center added. Read alsoAnother Russian drone downed by Ukraine troops in Donbas, second since Christmas truceNo ceasefire violations were recorded along the contact line in Donbas in the second half of the day, starting from 15:30 local time. However, yesterday afternoon, Russian occupation troops flagrantly violate the ceasefire agreements for the New Year and Christmas holidays, as well as the Minsk accords, for the first time in 2018, having used artillery systems along with infantry weapons and mortars against Ukrainian army positions. In the Donetsk sector, the enemy fired a 122mm artillery system on the Ukrainian positions near the village of Vodiane. The defenders of the village of Pavlopil came under fire from 120mm mortars. In addition, the militants used heavy mortars, grenade launchers and PTRD anti-tank rifles near Butivka coal mine, as well as 82mm mortars and small arms outside the village of Kamianka. The illegal armed formations also opened fire from grenade launchers of various types and small arms on the defenders of the village of Verkhniotoretske. In the Luhansk sector, five 82 mm mortar shells hit the area near the village of Novoluhanske. As UNIAN reported earlier, the number of crimes committed by the militants against civilians in the occupied Donbas had increased, according to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry. Despite the decrease in fire provocations, there is still no full compliance with the ceasefire on the part of Russian occupation forces, the report said. In the Luhansk sector, the Ukrainian strongholds near the villages of Luhanske and Troyitske came under enemy fire from grenade launchers. Read alsoAnother Russian drone downed by Ukraine troops in Donbas, second since Christmas truceIn the Donetsk sector, the occupiers fired heavy machine guns and small arms in the suburbs of Avdiyivka. An enemy sniper was also active near the village of Kamianka. In the latter case, the Ukrainian soldiers had to return fire, using small arms. "No ceasefire violations were recorded in other defensive areas. A total four attacks on Ukrainian army positions have been reported along the contact line since the earlier hours of Sunday morning," the ATO HQ said. All 162 passengers and crew on board were evacuated and are safe, Trabzon Governor Yucel Yavuz said, as reported by Hurriyet Daily News. Read alsoHelicopter crashes in Kenya's Lake Nakuru, killing five (Video)Yavuz said the cause of the incident was not yet known and the airport was closed until 08:00 a.m. local (05:00 GMT). The private carrier Pegasus Airlines' Boeing 737-800 departed from Ankara late on January 13. Several flights of Turkish air carriers to and from the airport were canceled, as photographs from the scene showed the plane stuck in mud. First flight out of the runway following the incident was made hours after authorities closed the area for inspections. UNICEF/2018/Amer Almohibany A bloody start to a new year in Syria Over 30 children killed in the first two weeks of 2018 Statement attributable to Fran Equiza, UNICEF Representative in Syria AMMAN/DAMASCUS, 14 January 2018 At a time when most parents are filled with the new years hope for their childrens future, mothers and fathers in Syria are left grieving for the children they have lost. It is shocking that only in the first 14 days of the year more than 30 children have been killed in escalating violence in east Ghouta, where an estimated 200,000 children have been trapped under siege since 2013. In Idlib, to the northwest of the country, heavy violence reportedly killed and injured scores of children and women and displaced an estimated 100,000 civilians in the past few weeks. It is shameful that nearly seven years into the conflict, a war on children continues while the world watches. Millions of children across Syria and in neighbouring countries have suffered the devastating consequences of unabating levels of violence in several parts of the country. UNICEF received information from inside east Ghouta that people are taking shelter underground in fear for their lives. One particular heavy attack on residential buildings was so strong it reportedly injured 80 civilians including children and women. Medical personnel struggled to pull survivors out of the rubble. Two medical facilities came under attack in the past days in east Ghouta, and most health centres had to close because of the violence. In some areas, mobile emergency clinics are the only way for families to receive medical treatment and aid. In Idlib, the maternity and paediatric hospital in Maarrat An Numan was attacked three times taking it out of service and killing at least one patient and two medical staff. Schools have been reportedly closed in and around east Ghouta at a time when children elsewhere in Syria are sitting for their mid-term exams. While we saw a small glimmer of hope at the end of last year with the evacuation of 17 children in urgent need of medical attention; increased violence in and around east Ghouta turned hope into despair for the remaining 120 children who continue to suffer in silence waiting for urgent medical evacuation. We must be able to reach children in need of humanitarian assistance, urgently and without restrictions, wherever they are in Syria. The various parties to the conflict can make that happen by immediately allowing humanitarian workers to reach them with life-saving assistance. UNICEF will continue providing humanitarian assistance essential to the survival and mental well-being of children all over Syria. For the most vulnerable children in besieged and hard-to-reach areas, we can and must do better. What does the world need to take collective action to end the war on children in Syria? When will those who are fighting realise that by killing children they are also killing Syrias future? ### For more information: Joe English, UNICEF New York, jenglish@unicef.org, +1 917 893 0692 Salam Al-Janabi, UNICEF Syria, sabdulmunem@unicef.org, +963 (0) 931 471840 Tamara Kummer, UNICEF MENA Regional Office, tkummer@unicef.org, + 962 797 588 8550 WASHINGTON - An Afghan defense official told VOA that the recent spike in violence in Afghanistan is not the work of the Islamic State terror group. Rather the Pakistan-based Haqqani network is behind the attacks, he said. General Mohammad Radmanesh, a spokesperson for the Afghan Ministry of Defense, told VOA the Haqqani network, a U.S.-designated terror group, has been carrying out attacks under the name of the IS terror group. Based on our intelligence, they [IS] do not have the ability to carry out such attacks in the capital or its suburbs, Radmanesh said. Unfortunately, regional intelligence agencies are trying to portray them as a powerful group. And it is very clear that Haqqani terrorist group is carrying out these activities [attacks] under the name of IS. FILE - Armed Taliban fighters are seen at an undis FILE - Armed Taliban fighters are seen at an undisclosed location in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, Dec.13, 2010. Taliban fighters are currently engaged in clashes with Islamic State militants in the region. FILE - Armed Taliban fighters are seen at an undisclosed location in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, Dec.13, 2010. Taliban fighters are currently engaged in clashes with Islamic State militants in the region. However, the Afghan general did not rule out the presence of IS in Afghanistan. He said IS does have footprints in the country, but U.S. and Afghan forces have seriously undermined the terror groups abilities through military operations. Afghan security forces have cracked down [on] IS in a number of provinces and have caused them massive casualties in Nangarhar province [ISs traditional stronghold], Radmanesh added. Without specifically naming countries, General Radmanesh blamed the intelligence agencies of regional countries for trying to portray IS in Afghanistan as a potent and powerful terror group. The Islamic State group in Afghanistan is not linked with the main Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria, he added. Experts divided Experts are divided over who the members of the Islamic State in Afghanistan are and whether the Haqqani network and other terror groups have rebranded themselves as IS in the country. Some security experts like Atiqullah Amarkhil push back against Radmaneshs claims and argue that shifting blame from IS to Haqqani does not solve the problem nor does it reduce the severity of the security problem Afghanistan faces. We should not deceive our people by stating that Haqqani is behind the attacks, not IS. They both are, Amarkhil, a Kabul-based retired general, told VOA. IS is more active and trying to spread fear and create a gap between government and citizens, Amarkhil added. FILE - Security forces inspect the site of a massi FILE - Security forces inspect the site of a massive suicide attack that killed more than 150, according to the Afghan president, in front of the German Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, May 31,2017. A letter drafted by a senior Islamic State militant points to a growing power struggle within the groups Afghan affiliate. FILE - Security forces inspect the site of a massive suicide attack that killed more than 150, according to the Afghan president, in front of the German Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, May 31,2017. A letter drafted by a senior Islamic State militant points to a growing power struggle within the groups Afghan affiliate. Abdul Wahid Taqat, another security analyst and a former senior intelligence official in the Afghan government, agrees with Radmanesh and maintains that IS in Afghanistan is comprised of members of various banned Pakistani groups. The IS in Afghanistan is not linked to the one in Iraq and Levant [Syria]. This IS is composed of illegal Pakistani groups, Taqat told VOA. They [IS] are the Haqqanis, members of Lashka-e-Taiba, Sepah-e-Sahaba, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Jaish-e-Moahmmad, Harakat-ul-Islam and etc. And now Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence [ISI] gave them a new name. Michael Semple, an expert on Afghanistan at the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice, believes that the Afghan branch of the Islamic State does not have the capacity to carry out the types of sophisticated terror attacks that were carried out in recent months in Kabul. Within the Taliban, the Haqqani network have the main responsibility for attacks in Kabul and they have produced plenty of propaganda videos to show their men in training for suicide operations, Semple said. Daesh does not have the same capacity as the Taliban to launch attacks in Kabul, Semple added, using an Arabic acronym for Islamic State. Recent attacks on Shia civilians may well have been the work of Daesh. These unsophisticated attacks were within Daeshs capacity and consistent with Daeshs anti-Shia stance. There are also fears that by targeting Shiite minority in Afghanistan, IS wants to trigger a sectarian war in the country. Spike in violence by IS The Islamic State, however, has claimed responsibility for a number of deadly attacks in different parts of Afghanistan in recent months, including the capital Kabul, sparking fears among Afghans that the terror group might be gaining strength. The terror group has claimed responsibility for dozens of deadly terror attacks across the country since its emergence in eastern Nangarhar in 2015, including a suicide attack on protesters in Kabul in July 2016 that killed about 90 people and wounded another 400. In October 2017, a suicide attack on a mosque in Kabul killed at least 56 people and wounded more than 50 others. IS claimed responsibility for that attack as well. In December 2017, IS claimed responsibility for a suicide attack inside a Shiite cultural center in Kabul, which killed at least 41 people and wounded more than 90 others. In early January of this year, the terror group claimed responsibility for a suicide attack that struck a convoy of the Afghan security forces in Kabul, killing at least 15 people and wounding dozens more, including security forces. Afghans gather in front of the Shiite cultural cen FILE - Afghans gather in front of the Shiite cultural center after a suicide attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Dec. 28, 2017. FILE - Afghans gather in front of the Shiite cultural center after a suicide attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Dec. 28, 2017. ?Pakistan-based madrasas General Radmanesh said he believes that the increase in violence in Afghanistan has roots in Pakistani-based religious schools. The reason that terrorism still exists in Afghanistan, although Afghan forces have killed thousands of them, is the madrasas [religious schools] on the other side of the Durand Line [border line separating the two countries] that produce terrorists, he said. Radmanesh added there are an estimated 10,000 religious schools operating in Pakistan. Some of which, he claimed, train militants for jihad in Afghanistan. Afghan officials have long accused Pakistan of turning a blind eye on terror groups that train on its soil to carry out terror attacks across the border in Afghanistan and that the country is selective in its crackdown on terror groups. Pakistan denies that accusations and maintains that its military operations have targeted militants indiscriminately. Military-led counterterrorism operations have targeted terrorists indiscriminately including Haqqanis at a heavy cost of blood and treasure, Pakistan army spokesperson Major-General Asif Ghafoor told VOA following an announcement by the Trump administration that it wanted to suspend hundreds of millions of dollars in military assistance to Pakistan until the country takes decisive action against the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network. VOAs Afghanistan service also contributed to this report. SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - A young Kurdish filmmaker who lost both legs in a terrorist attack in Turkey is walking after receiving pioneering robotic surgery in Australia. Lisa Calan was among dozens of people injured when Islamic State militants bombed a Kurdish political rally in June 2015. Her Iraqi-born surgeon says his work to help victims of terrorism is an act of resistance against fundamentalism. Five people were killed when Islamic State militants bombed a Kurdish political rally in southeastern Turkey two-and-a-half years ago. More than 100 were injured, including Lisa Calan, a 29-year-old Kurdish filmmaker. She lost both legs above the knee in the blast. Lisa Calan on her wheelchair while being interview FILE - Lisa Calan on her wheelchair while being interviewed by Turkish reporters at her home five months after the Diyarbakir bombing that cost her two legs, Diyarbakir, Turkey, Oct. 2015. FILE - Lisa Calan on her wheelchair while being interviewed by Turkish reporters at her home five months after the Diyarbakir bombing that cost her two legs, Diyarbakir, Turkey, Oct. 2015. She is able to walk again on robotic prosthetics after a ground-breaking operation in Sydney that inserted metal implants directly into her leg bones. The operation took seven hours. The surgeons worked for free, and the Kurdish community in Australia raised about $400,000 for other medical and travel expenses. Munjid al-Muderis, an Iraqi born surgeon, said he used a pioneering technique to help Calan walk again. "What we did for Lisa is implanting integration devices into her skeleton. It is cutting-edge technology that represents an implantable device into the medullary cavity of the femur made of high tensile-strength titanium to penetrate the skin through a small opening and is connected to a robotic leg," he said. Al-Muderis arrived in Australia by boat as a refugee in 1990. He spent 10 months in immigration detention before being granted asylum. He has become one of Australia's most accomplished orthopedic surgeons, and regularly returns to Iraq to operate on victims of terrorism. On a recent visit, he helped to perform surgery on 190 people in 17 days. All the patients had been wounded in militant attacks. Al-Muderis said his work is an act of resistance against fundamentalist ideologies. Calan has returned home to Turkey and is recovering well. A recent video showed her dancing on her new robotic limbs. Ukraine proudly announced this year that the country was free of all monuments to Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin in towns controlled by the Kyiv-based government. But while Ukraine has been busy completing the tearing down of statues to Lenin and monuments to other Communist figures, Soviet heroes have never been more in vogue in neighboring Russia. Monuments to Lenin have been springing up across the country. Other Communist luminaries have received tributes, too, including Communist spymaster Felix Dzerzhinsky, the founder of the KGB, who was dubbed Lenin's "willing executioner." Dzerzhinsky once wrote: "We stand for organized terror -- this should be frankly admitted. Terror is an absolute necessity during times of revolution. Our aim is to fight against the enemies of the Soviet government and of the new order of life." A woman holding a portrait of Josef Stalin places A woman holding a portrait of Josef Stalin places flowers near the monument signifying his grave near the Kremlin wall, marking the anniversary of Stalin's birth, in Moscow's Red Square, Dec. 21, 2017. A woman holding a portrait of Josef Stalin places flowers near the monument signifying his grave near the Kremlin wall, marking the anniversary of Stalin's birth, in Moscow's Red Square, Dec. 21, 2017. Soviet nostalgia used to be the preserve of quirky fringe groups composed mainly of resentful old Communist retainers, destitute state pensioners and right-wing nationalists lamenting Russia's military weakness. But it has become more widespread, with even youngsters embracing a glorified past and Russian leader Vladimir Putin doesn't appear to mind. Remaining nostalgic Since 2014, regret about the collapse of the Soviet Union has been high, with about half of the population remaining nostalgic about the past and lamenting the end of the USSR, according to pollsters at the Leveda Center. A 2017 survey by the polling agency found that 47 percent of Russians approved of Josef Stalin, both for his personality as well as his "managerial skills," despite his bloodthirsty legacy. Historians estimate that Stalin was responsible for more deaths than Adolf Hitler. And nostalgia has fueled the rehabilitation of a host of characters in the Soviet story that few thought would ever again be eulogized including biologist Trofim Lysenko, who has been dubbed "the Soviet era's deadliest scientist" for his role overseeing Stain's agricultural polices that led to famines fatal to millions. Lysenko believed that modern genetics was a Western imperialist plot designed to undermine Russia. There have been an increasing number of books and articles praising Lysenko, "part of a disturbing pro-Lysenko movement, which is accompanied by a growing sympathy for Stalin," a group of Russian and German scientists noted in a recent article for the journal Current Biology. Despite the triumphs of modern genetics and the discrediting of Lysenkoism, "recent years have seen a rethinking of [his] doctrine in Russia," they said. Communist Valentina, 73, attends celebration of th Communist Valentina, 73, attends celebration of the 100th anniversary of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution near a statue of Soviet Union founder Vladimir Lenin in St. Petersburg, Russia, Nov. 7, 2017. Communist Valentina, 73, attends celebration of the 100th anniversary of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution near a statue of Soviet Union founder Vladimir Lenin in St. Petersburg, Russia, Nov. 7, 2017. Last November, the Kremlin played down the centennial of the Bolshevik Revolution, although it didn't move to deter Communist devotees from holding celebration rallies. Uneasiness about memories of revolution and uprisings is one thing; celebrating Soviet heroes and strong national leadership is another, say analysts. In the run-up to March presidential elections, Soviet nostalgia and celebrations of Russian nationalism serve a useful purpose for the Kremlin. Upcoming election Putin is assured of winning in March, but there are Kremlin worries about voter apathy and low turnout. Patriotic appeals and eulogies to forceful leadership and national discipline could help in getting more voters to the polling stations. Putin has not been shy to co-opt the Soviet regime's greatest victories and Russian nationalism to burnish himself and his own credentials. Flying into Crimea after annexing the Ukrainian province in 2014, Putin's itinerary was tightly choreographed to invoke the past. He laid a wreath at a World War II memorial, visited an ancient Russian Orthodox cathedral, and recalled czarist and Soviet-era glory with an inspection of Russia's Black Sea Fleet at Sevastopol. A woman photographs the sculpture of Soviet founde A woman photographs the sculpture of Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin during the opening of "Energy of the Dream. ?entennial of the 1917 Revolution" exhibition in Moscow, Nov. 2, 2017. A woman photographs the sculpture of Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin during the opening of "Energy of the Dream. ?entennial of the 1917 Revolution" exhibition in Moscow, Nov. 2, 2017. Not only have Kremlin officials increasingly been encouraging Soviet nostalgia and the memory of Stalin, they also have been promoting autocratic figures from Russia's pre-Communist past including Ivan the Terrible. Last October, the government endorsed the country's first-ever monument to Ivan the Terrible, with the unveiling in the city of Orel of a statue to the 16th-century czar who expanded Russia but at great human cost. Ivan the Terrible is reputed to have killed one of his sons during a rage. The official lionization of historical despots feeds into an embrace of anti-democratic values, according to academic Dina Khapaeva, professor of Russian at the Georgia Institute of Technology. She noted in an article for Project Syndicate, a nonprofit that distributes commentary, that Russian officials have even spoken approvingly of Russian serfdom, which "complements the desire for a return to autocracy." "No wonder, then, that monuments to Stalin, too, are multiplying in Russian cities," she said. An Iranian oil tanker that had been burning and listing off the coast of China for more than a week, exploded into a mass of flames Sunday and sank. There was "no hope" of recovering the bodies of the crew members, Mohammad Rastad, spokesman for the Iranian rescue team, said before the vessel sank. Rescue workers had recovered the bodies of three crew members from the Sanchi, the oil tanker that collided last week in the East China Sea with the CF Crystal, a Chinese cargo ship. Chinese state media said two bodies were recovered Saturday morning on the deck of the adrift Sanchi. A body found earlier last week is believed to be another of the 32 crew members, which included 30 Iranians and two Bangladeshis. The salvage team tried to reach the crew's living quarters Saturday, but was turned back by high temperatures. The team, however, was able to retrieve the ship's data recorder. The Panama-registered tanker Sanchi was sailing from Iran to South Korea carrying 136,000 metric tons of condensate, an ultra-light type of crude oil, when it slammed last Saturday into the Hong Kong-registered CF Crystal about 257 kilometers off the coast of Shanghai. The Crystal's 21 crew members - all Chinese nationals - were rescued after the collision.The ship was carrying grain from the United States to China. It is not clear what caused the collision. Transgender whistleblower Chelsea Manning is seeking to become a U.S. senator representing the state of Maryland, according to federal election filings. She would run as a Democrat, challenging two-term Senator Ben Cardin in Marylands June primary. Manning would have to file with the state election board by February 27 to get her name on the ballot. Cardin is the senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was first elected to the Senate in 2006. Cardin spokeswoman Sue Walitsky, without speaking about Manning directly, said Cardin is looking forward to a vigorous debate of the issues and a robust conversation with Maryland voters. Manning, a former army intelligence analyst, originally known as Bradley Manning, is the U.S. soldier who released more than 700,000 secret military documents and battlefield videos to WikiLeaks. She said she released the information to raise public awareness about the impact of war on civilians. Prosecutors said Manning was a traitor who put the U.S. and its armed forces at risk. In 2013, Manning was sentenced to 35 years in prison for releasing the classified documents. U.S. President Barack Obama granted Manning clemency before leaving office last year. After her conviction, Manning said she identified as a woman. During her imprisonment, she battled for and won the right to start hormone treatment. U.S. President Donald Trump says Manning is a traitor. Trump has attempted to bar transgender people from the military, but federal courts have ruled against that ban. GOMA, DRC - Congolese troops began a military offensive in the eastern city of Beni on Saturday against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a Ugandan rebel armed group blamed for an attack that killed 15 U.N. peacekeepers last month. The operation is part of a joint effort by the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda against the group after the suspected ADF attack on a base manned by Tanzanian peacekeeping troops. That attack, which also killed five Congolese soldiers and wounded another 53 peacekeepers, came amid a rising wave of violence in the mineral-rich, ethnically volatile area. "Since this morning, we have launched a general offensive against the ADF phenomena," General Marcel Mbangu, commander in charge of Congo's North Kivu province, said at a news conference. "This is, for us, the final offensive. We will fight them until the end, until we have secured our territory," he added. Residents reported the sounds of gunfire and explosions in Beni on Saturday. Rival militia groups control parts of eastern Congo long after the official end of a 1998-2003 war in which millions of people died, mostly from hunger and disease. A surge in militia violence across the country, which followed President Joseph Kabila's refusal to step down when his mandate expired just over a year ago, has raised fears Congo could slide into all-out war again. The Islamist ADF has long been active along the Congo-Uganda border and has been blamed for a spate of massacres. Last month, Uganda launched airstrikes and artillery attacks on ADF positions on its side. GENEVA - The World Health Organization reports a nationwide diphtheria vaccination campaign in war-torn Yemen remains stalled because the health authorities have not yet given the go-ahead for this life-saving campaign to begin. The Saudi-led coalition partially lifted its blockade of Yemen's air and sea ports on December 20. This made it possible for the U.N. children's fund to airlift nearly six million doses of essential vaccines to protect millions of children at risk of preventable diseases. The supplies include doses of anti-diphtheria vaccines for 2.7 million children and adults up to the age of 25. The vaccines meant to immunize people against the diphtheria epidemic and stop its rapid spread throughout the country remain unused. Latest official figures put the number of clinically diagnosed cases of diphtheria at 610, including 48 deaths. The World Health Organization says the eight percent fatality rate is alarmingly high. Diphtheria is a highly infectious, but vaccine-preventable disease.WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier, told VOA the program should get underway urgently, but negotiations for its start are still ongoing. "All parties of the conflict need to agree on the ground.Access has to be cleared. The available vaccines have to be agreed upon, in which areas would be priority areas, which groups might be priority areas. So, all this has to be agreed upon for the discussions to reach an agreement ongoing," he said. The war in Yemen has disrupted routine vaccinations against killer diseases, putting children at great risk. Lindmeier warned any delay in routine or special vaccination campaigns has major consequences for the future. He said children who are not vaccinated at a young age either will fall sick immediately or in years to come, resulting in many preventable deaths. The president of the Philippines said he is not interested in extending his six-year term or canceling elections next year. Rodrigo Duterte said in an interview with news website MindaNews that there will be no suspension of elections and there will be no term extension, especially for me. Dutertes term ends in 2022. The president talked with Minda about his vision for a Philippine federal government. He said he envisions a structure along the lines of the French government with a strong president who would be as powerful as the prime minister. Another change the president would like to see is the transformation of the Senate and the House of Representatives into one chamber with 50 lawmakers who can quickly enact laws. Duterte commissioned a 25-member Consultative Committee (ConCom) in 2016 to develop a blueprint for a federal government for the Philippines. He told Minda that he is still waiting for the committees draft. However, Minda noted that Duterte has yet to appoint any members to the committee. More than 12 million boxes of French baby milk products are being recalled from 83 countries for suspected salmonella contamination. The recall includes Lactalis' Picot, Milumel and Taranis brands. The head of the French dairy Lactalis on Sunday confirmed that its products are being recalled from countries across Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia after salmonella was discovered at one of its plants last month. The United States, Britain and Australia were not affected. Emmanuel Besnier told weekly newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche that his family company, one of the world's biggest dairies, would pay damages to "every family which has suffered a prejudice." The paper said 35 babies were diagnosed with salmonella in France, one in Spain and a possible case in Greece. Salmonella can cause severe diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting and severe dehydration. It can be life-threatening, especially in young children. Lactalis officials have said they believe the contamination was caused by renovation work at their Celia factory in Craon, in northwest France. France's agriculture minister said products from the factory will be banned indefinitely during the investigation. MEXICO CITY - Julio Juarez Ramirez is accused of plotting the murders of two journalists in 2015 The Guatemala attorney generals office confirmed Saturday the arrest of congressman Julio Juarez Ramirez, who is accused of plotting the murders of two journalists in 2015. Prosecutors and investigators with the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala said the politician orchestrated an attack on journalists Danilo Efrain Zapon Lopez and Federico Benjamin Salazar Geronimo, who were killed in March 2015. Juarez was arrested Saturday morning near his home in the southern district of Suchitepequez and transferred to Guatemala City, the capital of the Central American nation. He maintained his innocence as he reported to court on Saturday afternoon. He who owes nothing fears nothing, thats why Im here in the name of God, who will clear up everything, Juarez told reporters. Talk to the press of Suchitepequez and you will realize that I never, never had problems with the press. Juarez served as mayor of the southern city of San Antonio La Union from 2012 to 2015, before winning a seat in Congress the next year. According to investigators, Zapon, who was a journalist for the newspaper Prensa Libre, was attacked because he was working on a story about corruption in the Juarezs administration. Last December, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned Juarez under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act for his alleged role in the attack. Local media reported in 2015 that Juarez described himself as a friend of Zapons and admitted to meeting the journalist the day he was killed. Thats why they want to investigate me, but I am free of any involvement with him, Juarez told local media. Iran has lifted restrictions on the messaging app Telegram, the state news agency IRNA reported on Saturday. The popular service had been blocked during recent public protests, the most serious nationwide unrest in the Islamic republic since 2009. "An informed source announced that the filtering of the Telegram messenger has been ended and it is being used by users," IRNA reported. The AP news agency said it had spoken with residents in several cities, including Shiraz, Isfahan, Bandar Abbas, Rasht, and Oromieh, all of whom confirmed that they had access to the app. Earlier this month, Iran shut down Telegram and the picture-sharing app Instagram, claiming protesters were using them to spread unrest. At least 22 people were killed and 1,000 others arrested in the anti-government protests that began in late December, sparked at first over rising consumer prices. As the protests subsided, Tehran last week lifted restrictions on Instagram. Many Iranians access Telegram using virtual private networks and other tools to bypass government filtering of the Internet, residents said. But officials said hundreds of companies using the app for their marketing and sales had been hard-hit by the social-media restrictions, and President Hassan Rohani was quoted as saying about 100,000 people had lost their jobs. Iran continues to impose restrictions on the Internet and social media, with Facebook and Twitter still blocked. ANKARA, TURKEY - Irans president said Sunday the United States had failed to undermine a nuclear deal between Tehran and major powers, and hailed the accord as a long-lasting victory for Iran, state television reported. U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday delivered an ultimatum to European signatories of the deal to fix the terrible flaws of the agreement with Iran, or the United States would pull out. The American administration has failed to undermine the nuclear deal ... Trump, despite his repeated efforts, has failed to undermine the accord ... The deal is a long-lasting victory for Iran, President Hassan Rouhani said in a speech, broadcast live on state TV. On Friday, Trump agreed to waive sanctions against Iran for the last time to give the United States and European allies a final chance to amend the pact. Iran says the nuclear deal is not renegotiable and it will stick to the accord as long as the other signatories respect it but will shred the deal if Washington pulls out. Under the deal, Iran agreed to curb its nuclear program, in exchange for the lifting of most sanctions. TEHRAN, IRAN - Iran says 55 people are still being detained in the capital after hundreds were arrested during a wave of anti-government protests. The semi-official Fars news agency quoted judiciary spokesman Gholamhosein Mohseni Ejehi as saying there were around 400 protesters held across the country but that "some were released" Saturday and Sunday. Last week, an Iranian reformist lawmaker, Mahmoud Sadeghi, said some 3,700 people were arrested across the country. The protests, which began three weeks ago, were initially sparked by anger at the weak economy and official corruption, but escalated rapidly, with some protesters calling for the overthrow of the government. Clashes broke out at some protests, and at least 21 people were killed. Iranian authorities say the protests have been waning in recent days. The Iranian government acknowledged Sunday that 25 people had been killed during recent anti-government protests in cities throughout the country. Judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejehi said that none of dead were killed by security forces, as the officers were ordered not to use their weapons. A number of security officers were also among the dead, Ejehi said Sunday. He didn't provide details on how the 25 people were killed. Meanwhile, a Tehran prosecutor said that over 400 people detained during demonstrations were released, according to semi-official Fars news agency. Last week, reformist member of parliament Mahmoud Sadeghi said that about 3,700 people had been arrested during the protests. Sadeghi also reported last week that a man had committed suicide while in detention. The protests erupted nearly three weeks ago over economic issues, but grew into widespread unrest condemning the Islamic regime as a whole, with attacks on government and police buildings. BAGHDAD - Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced on Sunday his candidacy for the May 12 parliamentary elections to choose a prime minister. Abadi, a Shiite Muslim who led the country in the four-year war against Islamic State, said he will seek to form a cross-sectarian block called the victory alliance to contest the parliamentary elections, with candidates from other communities. Abadi took over the premiership in 2014 from Nuri al-Maliki, a close ally of Iran widely criticized by Iraqi politicians for the armys collapse as Islamic State militants swept through a third of Iraq. Maliki, who heads the Shiite Dawa party, announced Saturday he will be running in the elections. Abadi is a Dawa member but he didnt secure Malikis endorsement for his candidacy. Maliki said on Saturday Dawa supporters will be free to choose between his alliance, called state of law, and Abadis victory alliance. Abadi is credited for quickly rebuilding the army and defeating Islamic State in its main Iraqi stronghold, Mosul, last July, with strong assistance from a U.S.-led coalition. Maliki holds the ceremonial title of vice-president. He remains a powerful political figure as head of the Dawa and the largest political bloc in the current parliament. The prime ministers office is reserved for Iraqs majority Shiite Arab community under a power-sharing system set up after the 2003 U.S-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, a Sunni Arab. The largely ceremonial office of president is reserved for a Kurdish member of parliament. The speaker of parliament is drawn from Sunni Arab MPs. The parliament is yet to approve the May 12 date for the elections. DAKAR, SENEGAL - An Islamic State offshoot is claiming it carried out the October attack in Niger that killed four U.S. soldiers and four Nigerien troops and sparked questions about U.S. military involvement in West Africa's vast Sahel region. The Mauritanian Nouakchott News Agency reported Friday that Abu al-Walid al-Sahrawi with the self-professed IS affiliate claimed responsibility for the October 4 ambush about 200 kilometers (120 miles) north of Niger's capital, Niamey. The news agency has carried messages from the affiliate before, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadist websites. The U.S. Africa Command has been investigating the attack, which also wounded two U.S. and eight Nigerien troops. A final report is expected to be released this month. A 12-member Army Special Forces unit was accompanying 30 Nigerien forces when they were attacked in a densely wooded area by as many as 50 militants traveling by vehicle and carrying small arms and rocket-propelled-grenade launchers. The Pentagon has declined to release details about the commando team's exact mission. U.S. officials have said the joint U.S.-Niger patrol had been asked to assist a second American commando team hunting for a senior IS member. The team had been asked to go to a location where the insurgent had last been seen. Tip from villager After completing that mission, the troops stopped in a village to get food and water, then left. The U.S. military thinks someone in the village may have tipped off the attackers. The U.S. has approximately 800 troops in Niger, and U.S. Special Forces have been working with Niger's forces in recent years, helping them to improve their abilities to fight extremists. Multiple military efforts exist against extremist groups, including Boko Haram and al-Qaida affiliates, that roam the vast Sahel, the sprawling, largely barren zone south of the Sahara desert. The growing fight includes France's largest overseas military operation, a U.N. peacekeeping mission in Mali and a five-nation regional force called the G5 Sahel that launched last year. Officials have pointed out the danger and difficulty of hunting down an enemy in a region the size of Europe. The Mauritanian news agency also reported that the extremists claimed responsibility for an attack Thursday on a French military convoy, and for a series of attacks in Niger and border areas with Mali and Burkina Faso. CIUDAD VICTORIA, MEXICO - A journalist was killed Saturday in the Mexican border state of Tamaulipas, and authorities said they were investigating to see if his death is related to his work. Carlos Dominguez Rodriguez was slain in the city of Nuevo Laredo across the border from Texas while driving in a car with relatives who were unhurt in the attack, state security spokesman Luis Alberto Rodriguez told The Associated Press. Rodriguez said the body had stab wounds and there may have been gunshots. The 77-year-old Dominguez had worked for different print media outlets, including the Diario de Nuevo Laredo newspaper, but he was currently an independent journalist who wrote opinion columns for news websites, Rodriguez and other journalists said. If it is confirmed that Dominguez was murdered for his work, he would be the first journalist slain for his profession in the new year after a deadly 2017 that saw at least 10 killed in what international press groups called a crisis for freedom of expression in Mexico. Earlier in January, a news editor was killed in Mexico City in a robbery apparently unrelated to his profession. Rodriguez said preliminary investigations indicated that Dominguez had not reported receiving any threats or requested security. Tamaulipas' government released a statement saying it will act firmly against any attack on freedom of expression and the labor of communicators. Tamaulipas has been wracked by drug cartel violence, and the state is one where organized crime has often been able to intimidate media outlets into silence through violence and threats. Both the United Nations and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights have expressed concern about the impunity surrounding the killings of journalists in Mexico. On Jan. 7, in Guerrero state in southern Mexico, several journalists reported being roughed up. Bernandino Hernandez, who has worked with the AP, said state police beat, kicked and dragged the journalists. SYDNEY - About 1,500 people are being evacuated from an island off the northern coast of Papua New Guinea (PNG) after a nearby volcano erupted, the local Red Cross said Sunday. A volcano on the island of Kadovar, about 24 kilometers (15 miles) north of the Papuan mainland, began erupting Jan. 5. That prompted the evacuation of 590 people on Kadovar to the nearby island of Blup Blup. After venting ash for several days, the volcano exploded Friday, blasting out glowing red rocks and sulfur dioxide, the Rabaul Volcanological Observatory said in a bulletin. The PNG government then decided to evacuate Blup Blup as well because of issues with supplying people on the island along with the danger from the eruption. People evacuated from Papua New Guinea island after volcano explodes https://t.co/4NNNgL96jG pic.twitter.com/I7nqhnzvve Reuters Top News (@Reuters) January 14, 2018 The evacuees are being moved to the mainland, and the International Red Cross is providing about 87,000 kina ($26,274) in funding to help them, said PNG Red Cross Secretary General Uvenama Rova by telephone from the capital of Port Moresby. The people there, as the volcano erupted, they rushed immediately to escape. So they are in immediate need of food, water, shelter and clothing as well, he said. In the latest bulletin issued Sunday, the Observatory said a dome of lava on Kadovar was visible in the sea at the base of thick white steam clouds that are rising to 600 meters (1,969 feet) above sea level. Australias Foreign Minister Julie Bishop announced on Twitter that the Australian Government was contributing A$25,000 ($19,775) worth of humanitarian supplies. There are no confirmed records of a previous eruption of Kadovar, said Chris Firth, a volcanologist at Macquarie University, but scientists speculate it could have been one of two burning islands mentioned in the journals of a 17th-century English pirate and maritime adventurer, William Dampier. Pope Francis visits Chile and Peru next week, a trip that was meant to focus on the concerns of indigenous people, but is likely to be overshadowed by the Churchs sex abuse scandal in Chile and political troubles in Peru. Only a few days ahead of the trip, vandals in Chile firebombed three churches in the capital, Santiago, and left a note that read: Pope Francis, the next bomb will be in your robe. Authorities say no one was hurt in any of the attacks early Friday and only minor damage was reported. President Michelle Bachelet asked Chileans on Friday to receive Pope Francis in a climate of respect, and said it was not known who was behind the attacks. Its very strange, because its not something you can identify as a specific group, Bachelet said on national radio. Deputy Interior Secretary Aleuy Mahmud, center, ex Deputy Interior Secretary Aleuy Mahmud, center, exits the Santa Isabel de Hungria Catholic Church, past a door damaged in an overnight fire-bomb attack, in Santiago, Chile, Jan. 12, 2018. On the eve of a papal visit, vandals fire-bombed three churches in the Chilean capital and warned in a leaflet that "the next bombs will be in your cassock," an unprecedented threat against the pope and a violent start to what were already expected to be the first-ever protests against Pope Francis on a foreign trip. Deputy Interior Secretary Aleuy Mahmud, center, exits the Santa Isabel de Hungria Catholic Church, past a door damaged in an overnight fire-bomb attack, in Santiago, Chile, Jan. 12, 2018. On the eve of a papal visit, vandals fire-bombed three churches in the Chilean capital and warned in a leaflet that "the next bombs will be in your cassock," an unprecedented threat against the pope and a violent start to what were already expected to be the first-ever protests against Pope Francis on a foreign trip. Francis, who is from Argentina and is the first Latin American pope, will arrive in Chile on Monday. Sex scandal Chiles Catholic churches have been struggling to improve their image after a sex scandal involving Rev. Fernando Karadima. The Vatican confirmed in 2011 that Karadima engaged in sexual abuse, and Pope Francis ignited controversy in 2015 when he named one of Karadimas proteges as bishop of the southern diocese of Osorno. Victims of Karadima say the protege, Bishop Juan Barros, knew about the abuse but did nothing. Barros denies the claim. Opponents of the Barros appointment are planning protests in Santiago on Monday to coincide with the popes arrival. While in Santiago, Pope Francis is planning to hold an outdoor Mass for more than 500,000 people. Members of the movement Laicos de Osorno hold imag Members of the movement Laicos de Osorno hold images of the Rev. Fernando Karadima, and his protege Juan Barros, bishop of Osorno, with a message that reads in Spanish: "A bishop who covers up cannot be a priest," during a demonstration in front of the Apostolic Nunciature, in Santiago, Chile, Jan. 12, 2018. Members of the movement Laicos de Osorno hold images of the Rev. Fernando Karadima, and his protege Juan Barros, bishop of Osorno, with a message that reads in Spanish: "A bishop who covers up cannot be a priest," during a demonstration in front of the Apostolic Nunciature, in Santiago, Chile, Jan. 12, 2018. ?Indigenous groups Francis is also planning to meet with indigenous groups to highlight their struggles. He will celebrate Mass for the Mapuche in southern Araucania province on Wednesday and meet with representatives from other indigenous groups at a private lunch. The Mapuche group is not without controversy. Some radical members of the group have been staging violent protests including arson attacks at churches. Some of the pamphlets left Friday outside the firebombed churches in Santiago exhorted the Mapuche cause. On Thursday, Francis travels to Peru where he also hopes to champion the rights of indigenous people and the need to protect the Amazon. However, the visit will likely be dominated by the countrys political crisis. Political turmoil Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski narrowly escaped impeachment a few weeks ago over a corruption scandal with the help of allies of former President Alberto Fujimori. Soon after surviving the impeachment, Kuczynski pardoned Fujimori, who has served less than half of his 25-year sentence for corruption and human rights abuses. Critics of the president say the pardon was part of a backroom deal to avoid impeachment. Kuczynski denies the charge and says the pardon was for medical reasons and in the spirit of forgiveness. Observers of the trip will likely watch to see if Pope Francis signals any concern over the pardon, or the corruption scandal engulfing the president. Francis often talks about the problems of corruption, saying that it hurts the poor the most. During a previous trip to Latin America, he called corruption the plague. Rainforest While in Peru, Pope Francis will also travel to the Amazonian town of Puerto Maldonado to focus on the problems facing Amazon indigenous communities struggling against deforestation. Francis is planning to open a high-level church meeting on the Amazon in October 2019. The Synod on the Amazon will bring bishops and cardinals from around the world to the Vatican to discuss how to best help the Amazonian people. Next weeks travels will be the popes 22nd oversees trip and the sixth to his home continent. BANGKOK - Myanmars civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi has called the militarys investigation into the deaths of Rohingya Muslims found in a mass grave a positive indication, state media reported Saturday. The military, which has been accused of indiscriminate killings, rape and burning of Rohingya villages, acknowledged that security forces and villagers were responsible for the deaths of 10 people found in a mass grave in December. It said the 10 were Bengali terrorists who had threatened villagers, but that the military would take action against those who broke the rules of engagement. The government of Buddhist-majority Myanmar does not acknowledge Rohingya as a minority group even though they have lived in the country for generations. It says theyre immigrants from neighboring Bangladesh. Since August, military operations have driven more than 650,000 Rohingya into refugee camps across the border in Bangladesh. It is a positive indication that we are taking the steps to be responsible, Suu Kyi said, according to a report in the Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper. However, some may worry. But I believe that our investigation will prevent such things from happening again. Aung San Suu Kyi made the comments Friday during a joint news conference with Japans foreign minister. Aung San Suu Kyi is Myanmars foreign minister as well as the governments civilian leader, though the military has a final say in security matters. Neither the military nor Aung San Suu Kyi has said what action will be taken against those responsible for the deaths linked to the mass grave in Rakhine state, where most of the Rohingya live. A leading Somaliland politician says his son, who joined the Islamic State militant group five years ago, was killed in Syria. Faysal Ali Warabe, leader of the UCID party who ran for president of the self-declared republic during the November 13 election, says his son Hussein Faysal Ali Warabe was killed in an airstrike. Hussein, also known as Abu Shuaib As-Somali, joined the militant group in 2013, along with his wife. "We learned the news of his death yesterday [Saturday]," Warabe told VOA Somali. "His wife sent a recorded message via WhatsApp saying he was killed on Dec. 29." Warabe did not say where son was killed but says his family assumed he had left Raqqa safely. IS was pushed out of its former capital of Raqqa last year. "There was no fighting in the area he was staying, so it will have been an airstrike that killed him," he said. Asked how his son arrived in Syria, Warabe said he had traveled there from Finland where he was a citizen. But it was in Somaliland where he first tried to travel to Syria in 2013. Warabe said Hussein also tried to travel to Yemen the same year but was stopped by Somaliland authorities because his passport was nearing expiration. "He tried to travel to Garowe [Puntland] to obtain a Somali passport, which he could use to get a visa from Ethiopia. But he was intercepted in Las Anod," Warabe said. "We deported him to Finland. We told them [Finnish authorities] not to renew his passport. We told them he was a travel risk. But they said he didn't commit any crime, so he got a passport. And three months later, he traveled to Syria via Turkey." Warabe said his son was planning to leave Syria with his wife and two children after realizing that joining IS was a "mistake." "We were expecting him to come our way. He spoke to his mum and siblings on Dec. 24. We were expecting him to contact us from Turkey," he said. Warabe said the family contacted the Finnish embassy in Turkey about their son's intentions to leave Syria. Finnish authorities could not be reached for comment. Over the years, a number of Somali jihadists have joined IS, but nearly all of them traveled from western countries, including the United States, Canada and Europe. JOHANNESBURG - The new leader of South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) party, Cyril Ramaphosa, has said the question of whether President Jacob Zuma should step down would be addressed "as time goes on." There has been widespread speculation that Ramaphosa and his allies are lobbying ANC members to oust Zuma as head of state in the coming weeks, but he made no mention of Zuma's future in a closely watched speech on Saturday. Newly-elected ruling African National Congress (AN Newly-elected ruling African National Congress (ANC) party president, Cyril Ramaphosa, right, and former ANC president and South African President Jacob Zuma, left, attend the party's 106th birthday celebrations in East London, South Africa, Jan. 13, 2018 Newly-elected ruling African National Congress (ANC) party president, Cyril Ramaphosa, right, and former ANC president and South African President Jacob Zuma, left, attend the party's 106th birthday celebrations in East London, South Africa, Jan. 13, 2018 Ramaphosa won the race to succeed Zuma as ANC leader last month, narrowly defeating former Cabinet minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Zuma's ex-wife, in a bitter leadership contest that had threatened to split the 106-year-old ANC. In the interview to South Africa's eNCA television station, Ramaphosa said the issue of whether the ANC would push for Zuma to step down as president "will be dealt with, you know, as time goes on." In a statement issued in response to the interview, South Africa's presidency said Zuma and Ramaphosa had agreed to hold regular meetings "to ensure synergy between the governing party and government." Ramaphosa said Zuma was a "deployee of the ANC" and that the ANC "dictates to all of us." He added that he knew South African people were impatient for change but that "we should not humiliate President Zuma." Zuma, who orchestrated the removal of former president Thabo Mbeki in 2008 after succeeding Mbeki as ANC leader, no longer holds a top ANC post. Zuma's presidency, tainted by corruption accusations which he denies, has tarnished the image of Africa's oldest liberation movement and seen the economy slow to a near-standstill. Markets have rallied since Ramaphosa's election as ANC leader in December, as investors have warmed to his promises to root out corruption and kick-start economic growth. Any sign that Zuma could step down before his second presidential term ends in 2019 has tended to lift South African assets, including the rand currency. Ramaphosa faces a difficult balancing act as he struggles to unite a party which has been beset by bitter infighting for the past year. A faction within the ANC opposed his bid for party leader and is more closely aligned with Zuma. Afghanistan government negotiators and Taliban officials have reportedly opened unofficial talks in Turkey to discuss mechanisms that could pave the ground for initiating a formal peace dialogue. Participants of the meeting have told Afghan media the talks have been arranged in cooperation with the Turkish government. Officials from the Talibans Qatar-based office and other insurgent groups are said to be among the attendees. The Afghan government has not commented on the discussions. But a Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, has rejected the reports about the group's participation in talks in Turkey. The reported peace meeting in Turkey comes as a U.N. Security Council delegation is in Kabul holding talks with Afghan leaders on security and political issues in the war-torn country. Government officials and the visiting U.N. delegation have been tight lipped about the ongoing meetings. Authorities have tightened security in the embattled Afghan capital and diverted traffic in key roads to safeguard movements of the 15-member delegation. The visit comes as security around Afghanistan has deteriorated, with government forces and Taliban insurgents engaged in staging battlefield operations and guerrilla attacks. Local Politics also an issue Afghan political tensions are also running high as the governor of the northern Balkh province has refused to quit office, in defiance of a presidential decree that ousted him a month ago and appointed his successor. Attah Muhammad Noor, a powerful regional political figure, has been ruling the province for more than 13 years and insists President Ashraf Ghani has not authority to dismiss him. Noor maintains his Jamiat-e-Islami party is a key member of the central coalition government and had put forward certain demands for Ghani to meet before he steps down from the governors office. The political stand off has negatively impacted an already struggling Afghan economy, according to the business community, sparking historic devaluation of the local currency. The Afghan government is to host an international meeting early next month in which it is expected to present its "comprehensive strategy" for promoting peace talks with armed groups fighting Afghan forces and their international backers. WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump contended Sunday that a U.S. program to protect young immigrants from deportation is "probably dead," saying that opposition Democrats "don't really want it," but just want to be able to talk about the issue. DACA is probably dead because the Democrats dont really want it, they just want to talk and take desperately needed money away from our Military. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2018 The fate of the program protecting nearly 800,000 immigrants from deportation who were brought to the U.S. illegally by their parents years ago when they were children is at the forefront of the Washington political debate this week. It is part of discussions between the White House and Congress over new funding for the government to avert a partial government shutdown when U.S. agencies run out of money at midnight Friday. FILE - Demonstrators march during an immigration r FILE - Demonstrators march during an immigration rally in support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), on Capitol Hill in Washington, Dec. 6, 2017. FILE - Demonstrators march during an immigration rally in support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), on Capitol Hill in Washington, Dec. 6, 2017. Trump last week rejected a bipartisan proposal offered him by three Republican and three Democratic senators to extend the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to protect the young immigrants from deportation. The lawmakers also called for other immigration policy changes, including increased funding for security along the southern U.S. border with Mexico, where Trump is demanding that a wall be built to thwart more illegal immigration. But in the course of the White House meeting, Trump sparked an international uproar by reportedly describing Haiti, El Salvador and African nations as "s---hole countries," questioning why more immigrants from those countries should be allowed into the United States. Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois who was at the Oval Office meeting claimed the president made the derogatory term. Trump admtted to using "tough" language but has denied making the statement. Trump's denial was supported in separate appearances on Sunday news programs by Republican senators Tom Cotton of Arkansas and David Perdue of Georgia. In an appearance on the CBS news program "Face the Nation" Cotton said, "I didn't hear it, and I was sitting no further away from Donald Trump than Dick Durbin was." Cotton added that people shouldn't be surprised by Durbin's comments because the Illinois senator "has a history of "misrepresenting what happens in White House meetings." On ABC's "This Week" Republican Senator Perdue flatly denied Trump made the comment. In a pair of Twitter comments Sunday, Trump accused Democrats of trying to "take desperately needed money away from our Military" as part of the immigration and funding discussions. He said that as president he wants "people coming into our Country who are going to help us become strong and great again, people coming in through a system based on MERIT. No more Lotteries! #AMERICA FIRST." I, as President, want people coming into our Country who are going to help us become strong and great again, people coming in through a system based on MERIT. No more Lotteries! #AMERICA FIRST Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2018 Trump is calling for the end of of an immigration lottery program under which some foreigners have through a yearly drawing been able to legally emigrate to the U.S. Trump claims that other countries have sent potential terrorists and their most poorly educated citizens to America. Trump last year ended the DACA program that was created by his predecessor, former President Barack Obama, but delayed deportations to give Congress until March 5 to weigh in on the issue. Trump, at an unusual televised meeting with both Democratic and Republican lawmakers last week, told them he would sign whatever immigration legislation they could agree on, but then rebuffed the first compromise offered him by the six senators, with more conservative Republican lawmakers calling for tougher immigration restrictions. FILE - President Donald Trump speaks during a meet FILE - President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with lawmakers on immigration policy in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Jan. 9, 2018, in Washington. FILE - President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with lawmakers on immigration policy in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Jan. 9, 2018, in Washington. Meantime, a U.S. district court judge in California last week, over protests from Trump, ruled that for the moment at least he cannot end the DACA program. On Saturday, the government said it has resumed accepting requests to renew grants from the young immigrants to protect them from deportation. Many of the immigrants, called Dreamers by their advocates, have only known the U.S. as their home. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said in a statement on its website, "Until further notice . . . the DACA policy will be operated on the terms in place before it was rescinded" by Trump last September 5. The statement said that people who were previously granted deferred action under DACA may request renewal, but added that the agency is not accepting requests from individuals who were never granted deferred action under DACA. A DACA deferment gives prosecutors discretion on enforcing immigration laws, effectively allowing the undocumented immigrants to stay in the U.S. BOGOTA, COLOMBIA - The United Nations is willing to send more resources to Colombia to help the Andean country care for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans fleeing food shortages and economic devastation in their homeland, Secretary General Antonio Guterres said Saturday. Guterres is on a two-day visit to Colombia to discuss the progress of its peace deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels and ongoing peace talks with smaller guerrilla group the National Liberation Army (ELN), which recently restarted attacks after a months-long cease-fire. Venezuelans fleeing acute food shortages, high crime and political unrest have flooded across the border into Colombia in recent years. Some visit just to buy groceries, while others begin new lives, often working informally and without visas. Last year Colombia extended permits for Venezuelans in a humanitarian measure. The government estimates there are about 470,000 Venezuelans in the country. I want to manifest all the support of the United Nations to the government and people of Colombia in this humanitarian effort, the reception of all these people, and say that we are even willing to mobilize other international help as is possible, Guterres said after meeting with President Juan Manuel Santos, ministers and security officials. There has long been diplomatic tension between the neighboring governments. Santos has accused Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of destroying democracy in Venezuela, while Maduro has said Colombia is part of an international conspiracy seeking to overthrow his government. U.S. Homeland Security Chief Kirstjen Nielsen said Sunday it was "unfortunate" there was a false emergency alarm about an incoming missile in Hawaii, but said authorities are "all working to make sure it doesnt happen again." Officials continued to investigate the circumstances surrounding the Saturday incident in which residents of the western-most U.S. state, in the Central Pacific, were erroneously sent emergency alerts on television, radio, email and mobile devices that warned: "BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL." FILE - A screen capture from a Twitter account sho A screen capture from a Twitter account shows a missile warning for Hawaii, Jan. 13, 2018, in this picture obtained from social media. A screen capture from a Twitter account shows a missile warning for Hawaii, Jan. 13, 2018, in this picture obtained from social media. Just a few weeks ago, Hawaii reinstated its Cold War-era alarm sirens amid growing fears of nuclear aggression by North Korea. Authorities blamed Saturday's incident on human error. Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard told CNN, "The fact that these processes failed so epically that caused this trauma, caused this terror all across the state of Hawaii, must be fixed immediately, and those responsible for this happening need to be held accountable." Gabbard said it "was unacceptable that this happened, but it really highlights the stark reality the people of Hawaii are facing" in being the U.S. state closest to North Korea at a time when North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump have traded months of insults over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons development program and its frequent test missile launches. WATCH: Hawaii Governor: Redundancy System in Place to Prevent False Alarms Hawaii Gov. David Ige said the false missile alert that panicked islanders Saturday morning was "totally unacceptable" and told reporters he is "angry and disappointed" by the situation. "Today is a day that most of us will never forget a day when many in our community thought that our worst nightmares might actually be happening," he said. Questioned repeatedly by reporters about how such a mistake could happen, the governor said his administration is doing everything possible to make sure it does not happen again. Vern Miyagi, administrator of Hawaii's Emergency Management Administration, told reporters that the person responsible for the erroneous message "feels terrible" about it. Told by reporters that emergency sirens had actually gone off in some communities, Miyagi said he would have to look into the matter. Panic Hotel guests were herded into basements, while residents tried to find the safest places inside their homes. Some people were seen on video opening manhole covers to shelter underground. Donna McGarrity of Oahu was at home with her 30-year-old son when they got the alert. She said they took shelter in the center of the house, where she called her daughter who lived out of state "just to actually tell her I love her, just in case we got bombed," she told VOA. Diamond Head, an extinct volcanic crater, and high Diamond Head, an extinct volcanic crater, and high-rises are seen in Honolulu on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018. Diamond Head, an extinct volcanic crater, and high-rises are seen in Honolulu on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018. The mistake was discovered within 20 minutes, but it took 38 minutes for state officials to issue a correction on mobile devices, which brought criticism from islanders, government officials and the media. Hours later, McGarrity said she and her son were still shaken. "We just kept looking it up just to make sure that it was a false alarm," she said after the event. If the alert had been real, she said, they had been told a missile could have hit as soon as 12 minutes after the alert. "Ive never had anything like this happen, where it could be imminent, where in just a couple of minutes we could all be dead," she said. Earlier, Ige told CNN that the mistake happened when an employee simply erred. "It was a mistake made during a standard procedure at the changeover of a shift," he said, "and an employee pushed the wrong button." The White House sent out a statement by deputy press secretary Lindsay Walters: "The president has been briefed on the state of Hawaii's emergency management exercise. This was purely a state exercise." Ajit Pai, chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), tweeted Saturday that his agency was launching a "full investigation" into the false wireless emergency alert. The FCC has jurisdiction over the nation's emergency alert system. Hawaiian lawmakers react U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii tweeted, "What happened today is totally inexcusable. The whole state was terrified. There needs to be tough and quick accountability and a fixed process. ... There is nothing more important to Hawaii than professionalizing and foolproofing this process." Scott Saiki, speaker of the state House of Representatives, released a statement saying, "This system we have been told to rely upon failed, and failed miserably today. I am deeply troubled by this misstep that could have had dire consequences. Measures must be taken to avoid further incidents that caused wholesale alarm and chaos today." Saiki's statement continued, "Apparently, the wrong button was pushed, and it took over 30 minutes for a correction to be announced. Parents and children panicked during those 30 minutes. The Hawaii House of Representatives will immediately investigate what happened, and there will be consequences. This cannot happen again." Hawaii State Sen. Mazie Hirono tweeted a reassurance that the alarm had been false, adding, "At a time of heightened tensions, we need to make sure all information released to the public is accurate. We need to get to the bottom of what happened and make sure it never happens again." BEIRUT/ISTANBUL - The U.S.-led coalition is working with its Syrian militia allies to set up a new border force of 30,000 personnel, the coalition said on Sunday, a move that has added to Turkish anger over U.S. support for Kurdish-dominated forces in Syria. A senior Turkish official told Reuters the U.S. training of the new "Border Security Force" is the reason that the U.S. charge d'affaires was summoned in Ankara on Wednesday. The official did not elaborate. The force, whose inaugural class is currently being trained, will be deployed at the borders of the area controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) an alliance of militias in northern and eastern Syria dominated by the Kurdish YPG. In an email to Reuters, the coalition's Public Affairs Office confirmed details of the new force reported by The Defense Post. About half the force will be SDF veterans, and recruiting for the other half is underway, the coalition's Public Affairs Office said. The force will deploy along the border with Turkey to the north, the Iraqi border to the southeast, and along the Euphrates River Valley, which broadly acts as the dividing line separating the U.S.-backed SDF and Syrian government forces backed by Iran and Russia. U.S. support for the SDF has put enormous strain on ties with NATO ally Turkey, which views the YPG as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) a group that has waged a three-decade insurgency in Turkey. Fighters from the Kurdish People's Protection Uni FILE - Fighters from the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) monitor troop movements in the area of Afrin, along Syria's northern border with Turkey, on June 9, 2017. FILE - Fighters from the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) monitor troop movements in the area of Afrin, along Syria's northern border with Turkey, on June 9, 2017. Syria's main Kurdish groups have emerged as one of the few winners of the Syrian war, and are working to entrench their autonomy over swathes of northern Syria. Washington opposes those autonomy plans, even as it has backed the SDF, the main partner for the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State in Syria. The coalition said the BSF would operate under SDF command and around 230 individuals were currently undergoing training in its inaugural class. "Efforts are taken to ensure individuals serve in areas close to their homes. Therefore, the ethnic composition of the force will be relative to the areas in which they serve. "More Kurds will serve in the areas in northern Syria. More Arabs will serve in areas along the Euphrates River Valley and along the border with Iraq to the south," the coalition's Public Affairs Office said. 'A new mission' "The base of the new force is essentially a realignment of approximately 15,000 members of the SDF to a new mission in the Border Security Force as their actions against ISIS draw to a close," it said. "They will be providing border security through professionally securing checkpoints and conducting counter-IED operations," it said, adding that coalition and SDF forces were still engaging Islamic State pockets in Deir al-Zor province. IED stands for improvised explosive device. This April. 29, 2017, still taken from video, show FILE - This April. 29, 2017, still taken from video, shows an American soldier standing on an armored vehicle in the northern village of Darbasiyah, Syria. FILE - This April. 29, 2017, still taken from video, shows an American soldier standing on an armored vehicle in the northern village of Darbasiyah, Syria. The United States has about 2,000 troops in Syria fighting Islamic State, and has said it is prepared to stay in the country until it is certain Islamic State is defeated, that stabilization efforts can be sustained, and there is meaningful progress in U.N.-led peace talks on ending the conflict. The Syrian government in Damascus has declared the United States an illegal occupation force, and its SDF allies as "traitors". A top Syrian Kurdish politician told Reuters last week the United States appeared in no hurry to leave Syria. Former freedom fighter, Dumiso Dabengwa, has made a sensational revelation that the persecution of the late Father Zimbabwe Joshua Nkomos PF Zapu supporters started when the British appeared to be on the side of Robert Mugabes Zanu PF party instead of Nkomos Zapu. Speaking at a peace and reconciliation indaba on Friday in Bulawayo attended by hundreds of people, Dabengwa said a top military intelligence officer once told a high-level intelligence meeting attended by him, then Prime Minister Robert Mugabe, State Security Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, former Zipra commander Lookout Masuku, General Solomon Mujuru and then commander of the Rhodesian Forces General Peter Walls that Zapu and Zipra were the greatest threat to the Mugabe regime. When it became clear to our colleagues that the British would prefer them to be victors in the 1980s elections, it is then that they warned (Zanu) to make sure that they dont have an opposition. Zapu (Zimbabwe African Peoples Union) and Zipra (Zimbabwe Peoples Revolutionary Army) were the enemy. This was said in front of (prime minister Robert) Mugabe, in front of (Emmerson) Mnangagwa, in front of Solomon (Retired General Mujuru), in front of (late Zipra commander Lookout) Masuku, in front of General (Peter) Walls (then commander of Rhodesian Forces) and I was there when one of the majors in the intelligence services of Zimbabwe had to give a security brief on a Friday of what threats Zimbabwe would possibly face. He said the intelligence officer said, One threat you have is Zapu, that threat is Zipra. I am saying it for the first time. Some people will not know Ask Mugabe, ask Mnangagwa, ask all those other people that I have mentioned except Masuku and Mujuru who are late. This is what he (intelligence officer) said. The former Zapu and Zipra military intelligence supremo noted that I was the only one who intervened and tried to find out what this army colonel was saying and I asked him Do you realize that we are seated right here? I was actually sitting next to Mugabe myself and you (intelligence army officer) are telling the prime minister that I am the enemy (pause) and I asked Mugabe: Is this the security brief that we have come to attend?. And Mugabe said: Can you answer that question?. Mnangagwas spokesperson, George Charamba, was not available for comment. VOA Studio 7 was also unable to reach the former president for his reaction on these revelations. Dabengwa, Masuku, a large number of Zapu top officials and supporters were arrested in the early 1980s by the Mugabe government for allegedly plotting to topple the ruling party. Masuku died in the hands of the state officials, an act that has not been clearly articulated by the government, save to say he succumbed to meningitis. Zapu dismissed the cause of Masukus death as misleading, claiming that the former Zipra combatant was mercilessly killed by state security agents. At least 20,000 Zapu supporters in Matabeleland and the Midlands provinces were killed by the North Korean-trained Five Brigade, commonly known as Gukurahundi. One of the Five Brigade commanders was Perrence Shiri, who is currently the minister of agriculture. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Anzeige WELT AM SONNTAG: Mr. Chancellor, many of us in Germany do not want to abandon hope. So I must first ask you: are the chances of the UK remaining in the EU beyond March 2019 greater than zero? Philip Hammond: I would advise those people who value a close relationship between the UK and Europe to stop harking on about this illusion. We should focus instead on the new relationship and ensure that the UK and Europe continue to work closely together in the future. Those of us who campaigned against Brexit before the referendum have moved on. We are now entirely focussed on trying to get the best future partnership with the EU. Thats where the future lies. WELT AM SONNTAG: So could Britain, in one way or another, still remain part of the Single Market and the Customs Union despite Brexit? Anzeige Hammond: The moment we leave the European Union, we will automatically cease to be part of the Customs Union and the Single Market. But that does not mean we cant agree on new partnerships which replicate some of the features of the Customs Union and the Single Market. And thats what we should be discussing. WELT AM SONNTAG: There is a new buzz word: Bino, standing for Brexit in Name Only. Could that be where things end up? Hammond: No, I dont think so. We have a conscious decision by the British people to leave the EU. To leave the political structures of the European Union. The European Union has a clear aspiration for deeper integration and the British people dont share that aspiration. So the right way forward is for the UK to be outside the structures of the European Union. But we are and remain a large European economy. We remain an integral part of the Continent of Europe in many ways, not just economic but also security and cultural areas. We should seriously attempt to find ways to work as closely as possible together and at the same time allow the British people to go their own way. And we should allow the European Union to carry on with its process of integration unhindered by a large Member State that really does not want further integration. Anzeige WELT AM SONNTAG: Are you optimistic that this balancing act will succeed? Hammond: Theres a discussion going on amongst the public in the UK, and you will know this from reading the UK media, about what type of Brexit we want on a scale of a very close relationship with the European Union through to new trade deals and new relationships with third countries. We hear a willingness and enthusiasm in the USA and from many other countries around the world to make new trade deals with us. But we dont hear that from Europe. We hear from Europe only backward-looking stuff. Are you sure you want to leave? Or Its a bad decision to leave. Or You must be punished for deciding to leave. Well, we are leaving and we want to retain the closest possible partnership with the European Union. But we can only have that if the European Union also wants it. And the British people need to hear from their neighbours in Europe: Yes, even though youre leaving, we want to continue working closely together with you. We dont want there to be a large country, a large economy in Europe which is drifting away from the European mainstream. We want you to be close to us. Anzeige WELT AM SONNTAG: Brexit cannot be too soft, otherwise it might offer an incentive for the people in other countries to leave. Can you not understand this widespread attitude in Continental Europe? Hammond: I can understand that paranoia. But imagine you are running a successful, thriving club. If one member leaves, you dont immediately panic that all the other members might leave, but are confident they will want to remain. You cannot really run a club if you are constantly threatening members who decide to leave. You should rather redouble your efforts to remain attractive for new and existing members. The political structures of the European Union may not be right for Britain. We have a different culture and a different history. Were an island. That is not an insignificant fact. But the European Union has delivered a great deal for its member states. WELT AM SONNTAG: But the fact is that the EU is asking the British: Tell us what you want? To which you reply to the Continental Europeans: No, you tell us first what you want? Meanwhile, the clock is ticking and businesses on both sides of the Channel are growing uneasy because no one knows what adjustments they must make for the period after March 2019. Hammond: Its a courtship. We have to show a little of what were thinking and then we find out a little about what our partners in Europe are thinking. WELT AM SONNTAG: To us that sounds more like a poker game where one tries to pull a fast one on the other. Hammond: You can describe it that way (laughs). I would stick to my analogy of a courtship. As I told the participants in the WELT Economic Summit: You in Europe must develop an idea about what the future looks like. And I dont mean just governments, but also businesses, academics and civil society. We want to know: Whats your vision? WELT AM SONNTAG: Why is that so important? Anzeige Hammond: The British people are genuinely having a discussion about where our future lies. Should it be closer to the USA or the EU? That was also important for me at the WELT Economic Summit: I wanted to make sure that people in Germany in particular and in Europe in general understand: At the moment we in Britain are hearing voices from the US saying We welcome you, we want to be closer to you. But were not hearing any voices with positive messages from Europe. WELT AM SONNTAG: There could at least soon be an agreement on the two-year transition phase. Hammond: Yes, we need it to give businesses the planning certainty they require, ideally before the March Council. But I am confident that will work.That is why we have deliberately and consciously accepted the EUs suggestions on transition on current terms. That is the only way to get it done quickly and it needs to be done quickly. WELT AM SONNTAG: Have you received any signals at all from Chancellor Merkel? There are rumours that she is not really in favour of a bespoke trade agreement which your government is seeking? Hammond: There are a lot of rumours. My observation of Chancellor Merkel is that she is very pragmatic and that she is a problem solver. Of course the Chancellor has strong principles to which she feels very committed. And I wouldnt expect her to take any risks which might undermine the European Union. But I think as we go into the negotiations of a future partnership, the German voice will be a pragmatic voice, seeking solutions and attempting to find ways around the problems. WELT AM SONNTAG: We may not have a new Federal Government in place before April. Can you wait that long? Hammond: Well, the government here in Germany is functioning. But we would obviously prefer that the German voice was being heard more loudly in this debate. The fact that there isnt a full government in operation here in Berlin means that the voice of others is carrying more weight than it might otherwise do. Of course, when we move into the substantive talks about the future partnership, having a clear German government position will be vital. WELT AM SONNTAG: Last year you said Britain might be forced to change its economic model if it received insufficient access to the European market. Does that still apply? Anzeige Hammond: Weve had an election in the UK in the meantime which made it very clear that the British people have no appetite for changing our economic model. Whatever people say, in practice they have a strong attachment to a European-style market economy, with strong social welfare, strong labour protection and strong environmental rules. All the things we take for granted. And I hope very much that our European neighbours will want to keep us close and ensure we retain a European approach across Europe. WELT AM SONNTAG: What is then your vision for the post-Brexit UK, in say 2025? How will it compete? Hammond: The principal reason why I campaigned to remain in the European Union is that I think that the UK economy would have benefitted from a completion of the Single Market in the services sector where the UK has a very strong position. But even without EU membership, our growth will be driven by the expansion in global trade in services and the tech industries. In the new industrial revolution, many UK companies and foreign companies based in the UK are leading. Big data, artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, genome analysis, synthetic biology: in many of the technology areas which will transform the way we live, companies based in the UK are leading. WELT AM SONNTAG: Would the UK be willing to accept a free trade agreement with the EU that does not include services? Hammond: I dont think thats realistic proposition for us. More than 80% of our economy is services. Services is the fastest growing area of global trade. And it is the area where we have our biggest comparative advantage. In our goods trade with the rest of the EU we have an annual deficit of 100 billion euros whilst we have a surplus of 40 billion euros in our trade in services. To enter into an agreement on goods with no agreement on services would be a very one-sided arrangement and I dont think that could be attractive for us. WELT AM SONNTAG: But what do you have to offer in return? Hammond: Thats a very mercantilist question. (laughs) The benefits of trade accrue to both parties or it wouldnt happen. The British consumer also benefits from a BMW sold in Britain because he gets a good car at a reasonable price. Things are no different with our services. We are world market leaders in financial, legal and other high-quality services and play a hugely important role in the competitiveness of European business. Every time European firms raise capital through the City of London and do so more cheaply than they could raise it elsewhere in Europe, that makes those businesses that little bit more competitive. Why should you cut yourself off from the worlds leading financial centre right on your doorstep and find yourself beholden to other centres like Hong Kong, Singapore, New York or Tokyo. The Winnipeg Police Service says it has received local reports of a so-called "virtual kidnapping" extortion scheme, and is warning the public about the fraud. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 13/1/2018 (1331 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The Winnipeg Police Service says it has received local reports of a so-called "virtual kidnapping" extortion scheme, and is warning the public about the fraud. Virtual kidnappers tell their would-be victims that they've kidnapped a loved one, and demand a ransom. In reality, no one has been kidnapped, but victims pay quickly out of fear. Winnipeg police say they're aware of two such incidents in Winnipeg, one on January 9 and the other on January 10. "In both cases the victim wired funds to an out-of-country area code," said a police press release. "The amounts sent were less than $5,000." Winnipeg Police Service spokesperson Const. Rob Carver said there were some clear similiarities between the two cases. Both, he said, involved "drugs and Mexico," and the perpetrators demanded similar amounts of money. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Fraudsters don't even need to know the name of victim's loved one to pull off the scheme, Const. Carver said. They can simply cold-call victims and play a recording of someone screaming in the background. "And mom or dad says, 'Oh my God, Tanya, is that you?' and (the fraudsters) go, 'We have Tanya," he explained. "Well, you just divulged the name, and now they've got enough information... they know your area code, they know you live in Winnipeg, they know that you've got a kid named Tanya who's connected to you, and now they've got you on the hook." By the time the fake ransom has been paid and local police receive a report, Const. Carver added, there's nothing that can be done. "Local, municipal police services in Canada cannot investigate international fraud," he said. "We simply don't have any ability to do it." More information about virtual kidnapping can be found on the FBI website. Winnipeggers who have been targeted by such frauds should call the Winnipeg Police Service at (204) 986-6222. President Donald Trump is being heavily criticized after reports that he dismissed certain nations as sthole countries during a meeting with lawmakers and the Twitterverse had some ideas about how he could make amends. The Washington Post reported the president, 71, became frustrated during the meeting when they discussed protections for immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador and parts of Africa. Why are we having all these people from sthole countries come here? Trump said, according to the Post. Trump denied the comment in a tweet Friday morning, writing that the language used by me at the DACA meeting was tough, but this was not the language used. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. However, Sen. Dick Durbin who was in the meeting countered that Trump indeed said those words repeatedly. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Criticism against the presidents reported remarks grew as celebrities like Anderson Cooper, John Legend, Jimmy Kimmel, Don Lemon, Chelsea Clinton and others spoke out, and some social media users decided to take it upon themselves to figure out how to fix Trump in five words. The hashtag trended on Thursday, and the answers were creative. While one Twitter user suggested the country, Make Barack Obama President Again, another suggested that we replace Trump with the animatronic Disney robot version of the president, which social media had previously roasted for looking nothing like Trump. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. But one Twitter user pointed out that he didnt think there was any chance of fixing Trump in five words or otherwise. Theres no fixing a racist! #FixTrumpIn5Words. On Friday, a spokesman for the United Nations said there is no other word one can use but racist to describe the presidents reported comments. This isnt just a story about vulgar language, its about opening the door to humanitys worst side, about validating and encouraging racism and xenophobia, United Nations human rights spokesman Rupert Colville said. You cannot dismiss entire countries and continents as stholes, whose entire populations, who are not white, are therefore not welcome. A spokesperson for the African Union also responded to the reported remarks by pointing out many Africans arrived in the U.S. as slaves. Given the historical reality of how many Africans arrived in the United States as slaves, this statement flies in the face of all accepted behavior and practice, Ebba Kalondo, a spokesperson for the 55-nation African Union, told the Associated Press. This is particularly surprising as the United States of America remains a global example of how migration gave birth to a nation built on strong values of diversity and opportunity. The mantra for David Lettermans return to late night tonight heralded by an interview with Barack Obama on Netflix was crystal clear: see no Trump, hear no Trump, speak no Trump. Even with the early mention in the nearly one-hour My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman of possible Russian interference in our democracy, the diminishment by the head of the democracy of the press, Twitter, the difference between Fox News viewers and NPR listeners, the name of the former Celebrity Apprentice host was never actually uttered by the former President. A segment in Selma, Alabama with Congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis did mention Trump but only to dismiss him as an aberration in the American arch and body politic. In basically ignoring the ever looming current President of the United States on another s**tstorm of a day, the pre-taped result from last fall was a primarily a warm, fuzzy, and sauntering up on dull chat between two well-spoken men who obviously like and respect each other and didnt want to cause each other any possible grief. It may drive Trump bats**t not to have gotten any attention from his predecessor and an early morning tweet storm could always be coming. However, with Obama staying as far away from anything resembling controversy as possible, and Letterman often handing over the reigns of the interview, this debut episode of My Next Guest was not scintillating television by any stretch. And thats unfortunate. The fact is regardless of ones feelings about Donald Trump being in the White House and Obama being out of it, the imperious subject of The Art of The Deal has cranked up the political and cultural volume to previously unimaginable levels and news cycle speeds. Perhaps with a desire to turn that volume and velocity down, the sidestepping of Trump after a year in power and casting Obama within a very singular historical context made My Next Guest feel out dated. To put it another way securing the first extended sit-down with Obama since he left office last January may have looked good on paper as a way to open the six-episode series but in streaming service practice, it was already old news before it had begun this morning. Story continues With future guests scheduled in George Clooney, Malala Yousafzai, Jay-Z, Tina Fey and Howard Stern, My Next Guest seems determined not to break any new ground. Which again is unfortunate, because Netflix could be a perfect platform and the eternally oddball Letterman the perfect pitchman to lay down a bridge to a new sense of what late night could be. RelatedDavid Lettermans Netflix Series: First Look At My Next Guest With Barack Obama & His Dad Moves Going for the a bit of Oprah, a bit of the UKs now deceased Terry Wogan and a bit of what as once the Charlie Rose long format approach with My Next Guest, Letterman, who made it through his own sex scandal in 2009 after some public apologies, obviously wants to show those kids Colbert, Fallon and Kimmel how it could be done. A lofty goal, the immediate result is to still remind us why talk shows dont yet ring true on streaming. Despite the best efforts of the talented Sarah Silverman on Hulu and Chelsea Handler for two years on Netflix, the old school moves of jumping on the news of the day still prove the most deft. Just think of the show that could have been tonight if Letterman had quizzed Obama on his reaction to Trumps apparent disdainful comments about immigrants from Haiti and Africa, where the ex-POTUS own father harked from. Just think about that Reed Hastings, and the subscription sign-ups you would have hauled in. Thats not the show we saw starting at midnight. After a clip of Obama on Lettermans old CBS show in its final year of 2015 that saw the duo joking around about what they would do in retirement, My Next Guest cut to some intentionally low-fi footage of the ex-Late Nighter on the phone very politely asking the 44th POTUS if hed come on his new show. In typically Letterman fashion, the host acts like he got a No when clearly he got a Yes and, after a brief curmudgeonly monologue about getting fired and a Bill Clinton gag, the My Next Guest frontman is joined onstage at New York City College by Obama for their tete-a-tete. Being that we already knew Obama would be the first guest on the series from RadicalMedia and Worldwide Pants, the clip from 2015, the phone call and a scene of the ex-Senator from Illinois backstage, there really was little suspense or drama by the time he walked out on stage to a standing ovation from what was clearly a crowd that wanted to make America sane again. Once seated together, the thickly bearded and admiring Letterman and tieless Obama bantered about vacations, their kids, book deals, legacy, next steps, voting rights, the spirit of the civil rights movement of the 1960s and the work the 44th POTUS wants to do with his post-Presidency foundation. Then they wrapped it up and it was over, disappearing into the digital fog. And thats unfortunate too. Youre right Dave, your next guest needs no introduction but I hope the Oscar-winning Mr. Clooney comes with a bit more bite and lingering power. Related stories FCC Fields Viewer Complaints Over TV Networks' "Sh*thole" Reportage ESPN Morning Show 'Get Up' To Stay In Happy Little Sports World, Network Veep Says - TCA Trump Polls Pals For Support Of "Sh*thole" Attack He Swears He Didn't Make UPDATE with statements from Dushkus mother, brother Actress Eliza Dushku has accused famed stunt coordinator Joel Kramer of sexually molesting her when she was 12 years old during filming of True Lies. Dushku, the former Buffy The Vampire and Dollhouse actress, starred as the daughter of the characters played by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis, and Kramer, who has long been Schwarzenegger personal stunt double, was the films stunt coordinator. She also claims that after Kramer was confronted by an adult shed confided in, he intentionally injured her, breaking her ribs, in a stunt that went wrong during filming of the films Harrier Jet scene. Whereas he was supposed to be my protector, he was my abuser, the Bull actress wrote in a lengthy Facebook posting. These are outlandish, manipulated lies, Kramer told Deadline. I never sexually molested her. Im sick to my stomach. Its not true. I think shes making this up in her imagination. This is all lies. Lies, lies, lies. This is just crazy. I treated her like a daughter. We all looked out for her. How does a guy like me fight against something like this? I dont know what to do. I guess Ill have to get a lawyer and file a lawsuit against her for defamation and slander. Dushkus accusation: When I was 12 years old, while filming True Lies, I was sexually molested by Joel Kramer, one of Hollywoods leading stunt coordinators, she wrote. Ever since, I have struggled with how and when to disclose this, if ever. At the time, I shared what happened to me with my parents, two adult friends and one of my older brothers. No one seemed ready to confront this taboo subject then, nor was I. Dushku goes on to detail the alleged assault in his hotel room, but notes that she was wearing shorts and that there was no sexual penetration. I remember, so clearly 25 years later, how Joel Kramer made me feel special, how he methodically built my and my parents trust, for months grooming me; exactly how he lured me to his Miami hotel room with a promise to my parent that he would take me for a swim at the stunt crews hotel pool and for my first sushi meal thereafter. I remember vividly how he methodically drew the shades and turned down the lights; how he cranked up the air-conditioning to what felt like freezing levels, where exactly he placed me on one of the two hotel room beds, what movie he put on the television (Coneheads); how he disappeared in the bathroom and emerged, naked, bearing nothing but a small hand towel held flimsy at his mid-section. I remember what I was wearing (my favorite white denim shorts, thankfully, secured enough for me to keep on). I remember how he laid me down on the bed, wrapped me with his gigantic writhing body, and rubbed all over me. He spoke these words: Youre not going to sleep on me now sweetie, stop pretending youre sleeping, as he rubbed harder and faster against my catatonic body. When he was finished, he suggested, I think we should be careful [about telling anyone] he meant. I was 12, he was 36. Story continues I remember how afterwards, the taxi driver stared at me in the rear view mirror when Joel Kramer put me on his lap in the backseat and clutched me and grew aroused again; and how my eyes never left the drivers eyes during that long ride over a Miami bridge, back to my hotel and parent. I remember how Joel Kramer grew cold with me in the ensuing weeks, how everything felt different on the set. And I remember how soon-after, when my tough adult female friend (in whom I had confided my terrible secret on the condition of a trade that she let me drive her car around the Hollywood Hills) came out to the set to visit and face him, later that very same day, by no small coincidence, I was injured from a stunt-gone-wrong on the Harrier jet. With broken ribs, I spent the evening in the hospital. To be clear, over the course of those months rehearsing and filming True Lies, it was Joel Kramer who was responsible for my safety on a film that at the time broke new ground for action films. On a daily basis he rigged wires and harnesses on my 12 year old body. My life was literally in his hands: he hung me in the open air, from a tower crane, atop an office tower, 25+ stories high. Kramer also insisted that he never intentionally hurt her on the film. I remember she might have gotten a little bruised from hanging by a harness and wires during the Harrier Jet scene but I dont think she broke any ribs. Why speak out now? she asked on Facebook. I was 12, he was 36. It is incomprehensible. Why didnt an adult on the set find his predatory advances strange that over-the-top special attention he gave me. Fairly early on he nicknamed me Jailbait and brazenly called me by this name in a sick flirty way in front of others (at the time, I remember asking one of my older brothers what it meant). Sure, Ive come to understand the terrible power dynamics that play into whistle-blowing by subordinates against persons in power, how difficult it can be for someone to speak up. But I was a child. Over the years Ive really struggled as Ive wondered how my life might have been different if someone, any one grown-up who witnessed his sick ways, had spoken up before he lured me to that hotel room. Years ago, I had heard second hand that Joel Kramer was found out and forced to leave the business. I learned recently that in fact he still works at the top of the industry. And a few weeks ago, I found an internet photo of Joel Kramer hugging a young girl. That image has haunted me near nonstop since. I can no longer hide what happened. Kramer, however, says that her claim that he was found out about other alleged assaults on young actors and was forced to leave the business years ago is another lie. Look at my IMDb page, he said. There are no missing years. Thats another lie. And says he believes that the photo of him hugging a little girl she refers to is from his own Facebook page from the film The Conjuring 2. Hollywood has been very good to me in many ways, Dushka wrote. Nevertheless, Hollywood also failed to protect me, a child actress. I like to think of myself as a tough Boston chick, in many ways I suppose not unlike Faith, Missy, or Echo. Through the years, brave fans have regularly shared with me how some of my characters have given them the conviction to stand up to their abusers. Now it is you who give me strength and conviction. I hope that speaking out will help other victims and protect against future abuse. With every person that speaks out, every banner that drops down onto my iphone screen disclosing similar stories/truths, my resolve strengthens. Sharing these words, finally calling my abuser out publicly by name, brings the start of a new calm. She added that she is grateful to the women and men who have gone before me in recent months. The ever-growing list of sexual abuse and harassment victims who have spoken out with their truths have finally given me the ability to speak out. It has been indescribably exhausting, bottling this up inside me for all of these years. Someone accessed Kramers IMDb page today and posted that Joel Kramer is a known child molester. He repeatedly abused children off set of numerous movies and then left their life in his hands on-set during stunts. Its since been taken down. Somebody is hacking my IMDb page, he said, and now Im getting all kinds of hate emails saying that I should kill myself. Dushkus mother, Judith, confirmed her daughters account of the alleged assault. In a comment on Elizas Facebook page, she answered a commenters assertion that Your parents have some answering to do. Big blockbuster or not, my child comes to me and others saying they have been abused like this? No chance in hell that child would be going back, I dont care how much money or fame is at stake. Hollywood is vile and your parents made some poor decisions. Im sorry. I accept your condemnation as Elizas mother, Judith wrote. No, it was not her career that I feared for, as that meant nothing to me. I was afraid of Joel Kramer, too. And it was years later that I finally understood fully what really happened. At the time, Eliza was too scared to tell the whole story and in a way I think she protected me from knowing because she knew how frightened I was of the powerful men on the set. Her lose was the worst, but abuse can throw a wide net. I only began to understand this many years later. Thank you to your mother for what she did for you. I wish I had been that brave. Dushkus brother, Aaron Dushku, also supports his sister, telling Deadline, I support my sister and believe it all to be true. Related stories 'True Lies' Stuntman Joel Kramer Dropped By Talent Agency After Eliza Dushku Accused Him Of Sexual Assault Jamie Lee Curtis: Eliza Dushku Has "Awakened Us From Denial Slumber" Eliza Dushku's Former Agent & A Friend Confirm Her Sexual Assault Story On 'True Lies' Set: "Nobody Really Did Anything" False alerts advising Hawaiians to seek immediate shelter from an incoming ballistic missile caused understandable terror on Twitter Saturday. Residents of the the Aloha State were woken up by their mobile phones on Saturday morning as notifications were blasted telling that a ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii, according to social media posts. Though the message said it was an extreme alert and not a drill, followup messages 38 minutes later explained it was a mistake. State Warning Point has issued a Missile Alert in ERROR! There is NO threat to the State of Hawaii! the Honolulu police department wrote on their website. It was a false alarm based on human error, added Sen.Brian Schatz of Hawaii on Twitter, explaining that there is nothing more important to Hawaii than professionalizing and fool-proofing this process. What happened today is totally inexcusable, he continued. The whole state was terrified. There needs to be tough and quick accountability and a fixed process. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Terrified is an understatement. Hawaiis roughly 1.5 million residents and their visitors went into sheer panic, many including Million Dollar Listing: Los Angeles Josh Flagg taking to Twitter and Instagram to express their fear. It was a false alarm but I spent 40 mins balling my eyes out and praying for my life, wrote one user. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Hawaii representative Matt LoPresti called into CNN to tell his story, revealing that he and his family immediately sought shelter in the most inner room of their house. I was sitting in the bathtub with my children saying our prayers and fielding hone calls and messages from friends, families, and colleagues, he said. I was wondering why couldnt hear the emergency sirens and that was my first clue that maybe something was wrong. But we took it as seriously as a heart attack. I am extremely angry right now. Hawaiis governor David Ige also spoke out about the incident on Twitter. While I am thankful this mornings alert was a false alarm, the public must have confidence in our emergency alert system. I am working to get to the bottom of this so we can prevent an error of this type in the future, he wrote in a statement. I am meeting this morning with top officials of the State Department of Defense and the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to determine what caused this mornings false alarm and to prevent it from happening again. Hawaii has been on high alert of a nuclear strike in the back and forth jabs traded between North Korea and president Donald Trump. At a time of heightened tensions, we need to make sure all information released to the community is accurate, Senator Mazie Hirono, a Democrat, said on Twitter. We need to get to the bottom of what happened and make sure it never happens again. An Oklahoma woman was found guilty of first-degree murder after she forced a crucifix and medallion down her daughters throat. The jury recommended Juanita Gomez, 51, receive a sentence of life in prison without parole, according to The Washington Post. Juanita killed her 33-year-old daughter Geneva Gomez in 2016. While performing a welfare check in Oklahoma City, police discovered the bludgeoned body of Geneva, a police spokesperson told PEOPLE at the time. According to investigators, Genevas remains were allegedly covered in blood, and there was a large crucifix lying across her chest. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. Her face was also bruised and swollen, the spokesperson said. Juanita told investigators she had punched her daughter repeatedly before shoving the crucifix and a religious medallion into her throat. Panic in Hawaii: Residents Wake Up to Ballistic Missile Emergency Alert Sent by Mistake UPDATE 1/14/2017 9:35 a.m. PT: FCC chairman Ajit Pai issued a statement Sunday, calling the false emergency alert sent yesterday in Hawaii was absolutely unacceptable. It caused a wave of panic across the stateworsened by the 38-minute delay before a correction alert was issued. Moreover, false alerts undermine public confidence in the alerting system and thus reduce their effectiveness during real emergencies, Chairman Pai said. The FCCs investigation into this incident is well underway. We have been in close contact with federal and state officials, gathering the facts about how this false alert was issued. Based on the information we have collected so far, it appears that the government of Hawaii did not have reasonable safeguards or process controls in place to prevent the transmission of a false alert. He concluded, Moving forward, we will focus on what steps need to be taken to prevent a similar incident from happening again. Federal, state, and local officials throughout the country need to work together to identify any vulnerabilities to false alerts and do whats necessary to fix them. We also must ensure that corrections are issued immediately in the event that a false alert does go out. UPDATE 1/13/2017 11:52 a.m. PT: Hawaii Gov. David Ige told CNN that someone pushed the wrong button during an employee shift change, sending out the false alert about an incoming ballistic missile. Hawaii residents got a jolt this morning as they woke up to frightening mobile push alerts warning island residents of an incoming missile and instructing people to seek shelter. Hawaiis Emergency Management Agency then quickly announced that the message was a mistake. BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII, the message read. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. Also Read: 'Magnum PI' Reboot Lands at CBS Confused residents tweeted screenshots of the warnings shortly after 8 a.m. local time. Hawaii is considered particularly vulnerable these days because its on the flight path between the U.S. mainland and North Korea, which has been conducting intercontinental ballistic missile tests by Kim Jong-un. Story continues The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency tweeted its correction 12 minutes after the alert was issued to say it was a false alarm. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) also tried to calm their constituents in the message, calling it a false alarm. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Hawaii News Now reported that the alert sent people scrambling for shelters and their cars, and online for additional news. The site also said that cell phones were overloaded while the Hawaii Emergency Managements website appeared to crash. Related stories from TheWrap: 'Hawaii Five-0' Boss Is 'Shocked' That Cast Exits Led to Criticism of Show's Diversity Daniel Dae Kim Says 'Hawaii Five-0' Exit Was a Matter of 'Self-Worth' 'Hawaii Five-0': CBS Execs Maintain They Offered Daniel Dae Kim, Grace Park 'a Lot of Money' to Stay Watch Saturday Night Live on Yahoo View. If you want a real-world example of how the gender pay gap works, read about the salary discrepancy between Michelle Williams and Mark Wahlberg for the All The Money In The World reshoots. On Saturday Night Live,Aidy Bryant sat at the Weekend Update desk to give her take on the equal pay problem in Hollywood through that lens. Bryant's take was funny and an honest explainer for anyone (men) who can't understand why a woman would work for less than she's worth. Last week, USA Today reported that Williams was paid less than a thousand dollars that is $80 per day for the two-week shoot while Wahlberg earned $1.5 million. To put that another way, Williams made less than 1% of what Wahlberg did. Williams reportedly agreed to work for a reduced rate because she believed that re-casting Kevin Spacey "sends a message to predators." "I was immediately exhilarated," Williams told the L.A. Times. "I said, My answer is yes. You can have my salary. You can have my Thanksgiving holiday. You can have whatever you want. Let's go do it.'" Bryant suggested there might be another reason why Williams agreed: the urge to be "accommodating." Most women understand that urge. "I, like many girls have been taught to be accommodating and polite," Bryant explained. "Like once I felt bad about telling any Uber driver that he made a wrong turn, so I just went with him to New Jersey." Being accommodating is nice for others, but it doesn't do much for women. Instead, it results in a never-ending loop of putting other people's feelings and well-being way before their own. Or, as Bryant explained, it makes her brain a "tornado of 'are you OK? Is she OK? I'm sorry, here's $50.'" Women have to worry about coming off as "greedy" or "difficult," knowing if those words get attached to them it could be the end of their careers. It isn't just actresses who deal with this, it's women in every industry whose purse strings are controlled by men. The idea of being accommodating isn't about money, it's about power. Story continues Women often feel like they have to take bad deals and be thankful they're getting a deal at all. Being accommodating is not born from a fear of speaking up, but the fear that you'll lose it all if you do speak. When Williams' salary was made public there was outrage, but a woman getting paid less than a man for doing the same work is nothing new. Neither is the argument that women need to fight harder and speak louder to get paid fairly. For the record, Bryant thinks women are ready to negotiate harder, but she also thinks "maybe, just maybe, men at the table could also just be like a little more dec." Yes, that is cool speak for "decent" so that Bryant doesn't "come off like a shrew" (another familiar fear for many women). "Equal pay is the goal," Bryant said, but it's time that women stop taking the brunt of the fight. As Bryant said, if women have to start thinking more like Mark Wahlberg, to speak up and ask for what they want, than he needs to start thinking more like a woman who doesn't always have the same opportunity to speak like men do. Men need to understand that it's not just about women standing up, but everyone standing together to say they won't let anyone work for less than they deserve. Now that's a truly dec move. Read These Stories Next: Michelle Williams Reportedly Made Significantly Less Than Mark Wahlberg During All The Money In The World Reshoots Mark Wahlberg Vows To Donate $1.5 Million To Time's Up In Michelle Williams' Name Michelle Williams: Recasting Kevin Spacey "Sends A Message To Predators" Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here? Jo Wilson Crying After Seeing Her Ex In New Greys Anatomy Teaser Is More Than Anyone Can Handle Lifetime Announces All Their Scripted TV Is Made By Women Victoria Proves Queens Have The Same Work/Life Balance Struggles We Do CNN anchor Don Lemon began last nights broadcast with The president of the United States is racist Yesterday, January 11th, President Donald Trump continued his pattern of offensive rhetoric when he questioned in an immigration meeting why the United States would want to take immigrants from shithole countries. Many were quick to respond to Trumps comments with outrage. And CNN anchor Don Lemon took it a step farther, plainly stating that Trump is a racist. This is CNN Tonight. Im Don Lemon. The president of the United States is racist, Lemon began his broadcast. Those comments are frankly disgusting, Lemon continued. Theyre not shocking not even really surprising because this is who Donald Trump is this is what he thinks. The Washington Post reported that Trump made the comment in question during a meeting to discuss replacing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. When members of Congress brought up protecting immigrants from El Salvador, Haiti, and nations in Africa, Trump wondered aloud why the U.S. would want immigrants from shithole countries. In his broadcast, Lemon cited Trumps preference for immigrants from Norway a predominantly white, European country as further proof of the presidents racism. He also called out Trumps supporters for ignoring Trumps bigoted remarks. For years, I and others have been trying to tell you, the American people, that this man was was exhibiting bigoted behavior, he said. Trump denied making the shithole countries remark in a tweet on January 12th, but the White House, but Senator Dick Durbin confirmed on CBS Chicago that the president had made the comment. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Lemon and Trump have feuded before. In December, after the New York Times reported that Trump watches Lemons show out of spite, the president responded by denying that he watched the show and called Lemon the dumbest man on TV. Story continues This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. And Trump has a history of discriminatory statements. In November, he called Senator Elizabeth Warren Pocahontas at a Navajo veterans event. And most recently, the president said that immigrants from Haiti all have AIDS and Nigerians wouldnt want to go back to their huts after living in the U.S. Sadly, even in 2018, racism is still alive and well in the U.S. But one of the first steps to ending prejudice is to bring attention to it, so Lemons commentary was greatly needed. We commend Lemon for calling out prejudice, even at the hands of our own president. James Franco Amid the allegations of sexual misbehavior against James Franco, a passage from his novel has resurfaced where the actor describes his methods for picking up "young girls." The 2013 novel Actors Anonymous is a collection of confessions from anonymous actors, including Franco himself. In the memoir, the Golden Globes winner details just how he approaches and gets close to young, female fans. And honestly, it's creepy. One of my favorite approaches was to ask the young girls that requested to take a photo with me to email me a copy of the photo; that way I can give them my info very quickly in front of a crowd of fans and later work out a way to see them. RELATED: New Details About The Two Women Who Accused James Franco Of Sexual Assault And Harassment After Ally Sheedy Tweeted About Him He went on to write that while he was in Toronto screening the film 127 Hours he was asked to take a photo by an "okay-looking girl." She emailed him, but he said it was too late to meet up with her because he had already spent the night with a Princeton student who was volunteering at the festival. In the intervening months she had sent me plenty of photos of her body and especially her ass bent over in a G-string, so when she arrived at my Lower East Side apartment, I was ready and she was ready," Franco wrote. Not only did she allow me to do everything I wanted to her, she let me film it on my phone. The actor also revealed how he saw acting teachers. He described his view as "f--ked up," which is incredibly telling seeing as how some of his accusers attended his acting school. Some of the incidents he's being accused of allegedly happened while Franco was "teaching." They are unlike any other teachers because they deal with their students emotions and bodies," he wrote. "They get inside their students heads. Even if they have the best intentions, they cant help from becoming gurus and therapists for their students, because they deal on such intimate terms." Story continues "When you have a bunch of students looking up to you because you have liberated their emotions, its hard not to play the role of mentor/lover/father/mother. RELATED: Two More Women Accuse Russell Simmons Of Rape Bringing Total Number To 14 On Thursday, the Los Angeles Times released a report in which five women accused Franco of sexual misconduct. Four of those women were his students at his Studio 4 film school. Sarah Tither-Kaplan, 26, claimed that while they were filming an orgy scene, Franco removed the protective plastic guards that covered the actress' vaginas. She said he also simulated oral sex on the women, which another actress confirmed. I feel there was an abuse of power, and there was a culture of exploiting non-celebrity women, and a culture of women being replaceable, said Sarah Tither-Kaplan. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Two other women told the Times that Franco go angry at actresses who refused to go topless for scenes. Franco's attorney said the claims about the protective guards are inaccurate. Tither-Kaplan said Franco apologized to her in 2017 after the Harvey Weinstein allegations came out. I want to give him credit for at least being open to communicating with me, she said. I felt that he was still not really taking accountability for the environment on the sets. RELATED: 5 Horrible Things Jim Carrey Allegedly Did To His Ex-Girlfriend Before She Committed Suicide (According To Her Therapist) Emily Blackwood is an editor at YourTango who covers pop culture, true crime, dating, relationships and everything in between. Every Wednesday at 10:20 p.m. you can ask her any and all questions about self-love, dating, and relationships LIVE on YourTangos Facebook page. You can follow her on Instagram (@blackw00d) and Twitter (@emztweetz). Keywords: celebrity read more Following five allegations of sexual misconduct against James Franco, the actor chose not to attend the Critics' Choice Awards on Thursday, January 11. The actor was accused of sexual misconduct on January 9, with actress Violet Paley calling out Franco for wearing a Time's Up pin to the Golden Globes, following a previous alleged incident of sexual misconduct. Franco's attorney said the allegations are "not accurate". Despite the denial from his attorney, additional allegations from filmmaker and actor Sarah Tither-Kaplan as well as three of Franco's former students from Playhouse West have been revealed. Franco first addressed the allegations during a January 9 appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. He said the statements were "not accurate." He went on to say that "I completely support people coming out and being able to have a voice, because they didnt have a voice for so long. So I dont want to, I dont want to shut them down in any way. I think its a good thing, and its important." Although Franco had been in attendance during the Golden Globe Awards, he did not make an appearance at the Critics' Choice Award, where he received an award for "Best Actor in a Comedy Series", Buzzfeed reported. According to People, a source confirmed to them that Franco is "hiding out." The source said that, "Hes in a really bad place, so bad that he changed his phone number. His close friends are trying to be there for him but its been hard hes only talking to a select group of people." Franco has not addressed the allegations again since an appearance on Wednesday's, Late Night with Seth Meyers. When asked about the allegations he disputed the accuracy of one of the tweets, but said, "One of the things that I've learned is that this is a conversation that obviously needs to be had. I have my own side of this story, but I believe in these people that have been underrepresented getting their stories out enough that I will hold back things that I could say just because I believe in it that much." Story continues Related: Powerful People in Entertainment Who Have Been Accused of Sexual Harassment or Assault Check this out: A new, disappointing layer to the disturbing pay dispute behind All the Money in the World's reshoots has emerged. As a quick refresher, Christopher Plummer replaced Kevin Spacey in the film after the latter was accused of sexual assault by Star Trek: Discovery actor Anthony Rapp. According to sources, Mark Wahlberg earned about $1.5 million from the reshoots to eliminate an alleged sexual predator from the film, while Michelle Williams - who is the film's lead - earned about $1,000. But this isn't just another example of a male actor getting paid more than his female costar. In fact, a new report reveals that the reason for the disparity is much worse. According to a new exclusive from USA Today, Wahlberg allegedly demanded the money before he approved of Plummer's casting and agreed to the reshoots. You may be asking, "Why does Ridley Scott, the film's director, need his approval to change the film?" The source cited in USA Today's article says Wahlberg's contract gave him approval rights for all costars. Related Why Time's Up Was the Vital Next Step the #MeToo Movement Had to Take There's also a matter of a "reshoot clause," or a part of the contract that stipulates what might happen should reshoots be necessary. In this respect, the facts are murkier. One source says Wahlberg didn't have a clause for reshoots in his contract but Williams did. This is why Williams earned a modest per-diem pay and why Wahlberg could negotiate for more. However, another source says both Wahlberg and Williams had reshoot clauses in their contracts. Even in this case, though, it seems Wahlberg's costar approval would be the ultimate collateral. "I said I'd be wherever they needed me, whenever they needed me. And they could have my salary, they could have my holiday, whatever they wanted." Considering this information, it's clear that it's more than just a gender pay gap issue, but that definitely is part of it. Contract negotiations, naturally, are ground zero for pay disparities between a male and female lead. Outside of this, though, the story behind Wahlberg's hefty bonus seems to be something more sinister: when it comes to Williams, the actress was willing to do anything to get an alleged sexual predator out of the film. In fact, USA Today refers back to her comment on the matter of reshoots: "I said I'd be wherever they needed me, whenever they needed me. And they could have my salary, they could have my holiday, whatever they wanted. Because I appreciated so much that they were making this massive effort." Wahlberg, it seems, was willing to let the film implode if he didn't get his extra cash. A photo from Meghan Markles high-school days hinted at her royal future Meghan Markle, everyones favorite soon-to-be Princess Henry of Wales, has already begun her royal duties. Shes attended her first royal Christmas. Shes had lunch with Queen Elizabeth. And lets not forget that shell have to undergo hostage training from the British Special Air Service after she weds Prince Harry. Yikes! But an eagle-eyed Twitter account recently discovered proof that Meghan Markle has always been good at wearing a crown. A photo from what appears to be Markles high-school homecoming shows her donning a tiara. She looks radiant as ever, and its no surprise fans loved the throwback pic. The question is, why didnt we look this good at a high-school dance? Its fun to see Markle looking perfectly comfortable with a tiara on her head. But even if shes seen the snapshot, dont expect her to share it on Instagram: Shes already deleted her social media accounts in preparation for her royal wedding. (We dont blame her social media can sometimes be bad for you.) Its no secret that Markles incredibly photogenic. Her engagement photos with Prince Harry are all the proof you need. Shes also a talented actress and passionate speaker, as anyone whos watched her on Suits or listened to her 2015 speech on gender equality at the United Nations would know. Its clear Meghan Markle is more than qualified for royalty. But if you need more proof, check out an 11-year-old Markle protesting against a sexist commercial for dishwashing liquid: Even if she cant really wear a tiara just yet, were still waiting with bated breath not just for the royal wedding, but for what Markle chooses to do when shes officially Princess Henry of Wales. Trump is now saying he never made the sh*thole countries comment After causing massive public outrage and a media frenzy by declaring that certain parts of the world are shithole countries, President Trump is now denying he ever made such a statement, according to CNN. The original comment allegedly came on Thursday, January 11th, during a meeting in the Oval Office. Why do we want all these people from shithole countries coming here? Trump allegedly said to a group of lawmakers, according to The Washington Post. Why do we need more Haitians? Take them out. The group was discussing protection for immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador and African countries something that Trump apparently has no interest in. Instead, he suggested bringing more people over from places like Norway. Thursday night, White House spokesperson Raj Shah released a statement on the matter. He did not deny that the president made the comment, according to The Hill. However, come Friday morning, Trumps thumbs had something else to say. The language used by me at the DACA meeting was tough, but this was not the language used. What was really tough was the outlandish proposal made a big setback for DACA! he tweeted. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Hey, Donald, newsflash: If you are unable to specify the language you actually did use, then yeah, you probably used it, or at least something comparable. Never said anything derogatory about Haitians other than Haiti is, obviously, a very poor and troubled country, he continued. Never said take them out. Made up by Dems. I have a wonderful relationship with Haitians. Probably should record future meetings unfortunately, no trust! This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. But before explicitly denying the comments, Trump made sure to tease people with a series of ellipses-connected tweets about DACA, which was up for debate at the meeting. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. While we may never know if Trump really made those comments yesterday, his tweets from this morning make it clear that his views on immigration are still as troubling and discriminatory as ever. Police say Lizzie Dunn recanted her story after telling police a stranger sprayed her in the face with a harmful substance. (Photo: CBS2). Lizzie Dunn from Staten Island told police earlier this week she was attacked with acid when walking alone to a bus stop. The attacker was a panhandler, Dunn reported, a black woman in her 40s, who sprayed acid on her face when Dunn didnt have cigarettes or spare change to give her. I didnt know the person, Dunn, 52, told the Daily News. She then asked for money, and I told her no and sorry. Thats when the supposed woman got mad and grabbed Dunn by the shoulder, spun her around, sprayed her in the face, and fled, Dunn told police. After the alleged attack, Dunn frantically ran into a nearby deli and told the owner to call 911. We thought it was a prank at first, Andrew Kenwood, who was working at the deli, told NBC. She came in here, she was banging on the door, banging on the door. She was almost fainting and falling. When I tell you it was absolutely horrible it looks like her face is melting off. Medics rushed Dunn to Staten Island University Hospital, where she was treated for third-degree burns to her face, neck, and left hand. It seemed like she was spraying a lot of times, like she had to keep pressing the nozzle, Dunn told CBS. With my right hand I tried to grab the can and knock it out of her hand, and with the left hand I was trying to shield whatever spray she was misting on me. After a police investigation, her story turned out to be a lie. The wounds were self-inflicted, and she confessed to police her story was fabricated. The alleged acid assault in the Woodrow area yesterday has been found to have not occurred, the NYPDs 123rd Precinct tweeted on Tuesday. The injuries were self-inflicted and there is no perpetrator. There is no threat to the public. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Investigators believe Dunn used a spray bottle to burn herself with some kind of homemade acid. She had scars from previous self-inflicted injuries on her body, cops said. No motive or reason for the incident has been explained, and police have not determined if shell face charges of filing a false police report. Story continues Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. The morning after the Washington Post reported that President Trump referred to Haiti, El Salvador, and the entire continent of Africa as "shithole countries," stating that he'd prefer to receive immigrants from places like Norway, the commander-in-chief hosted a White House event honoring Martin Luther King Jr. "He stirred the hearts of our people to By Maggie Serota The morning after the Washington Post reported that President Trump referred to Haiti, El Salvador, and the entire continent of Africa as shithole countries, stating that hed prefer to receive immigrants from places like Norway, the commander-in-chief hosted a White House event honoring Martin Luther King Jr. He stirred the hearts of our people to recognize the dignity written in every human soul, Trump read from a prepared statement before signing an official declaration making January 15 a federal holiday. Today we celebrate Dr. King for standing up for the self-evident truth Americans hold so dear, that no matter what the color of our skin or the place of our birth, we are all created equal by God. Trump: I will now sign the proclamation making January 15, 2018 the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday, and encourage all Americans to observe this day with acts of civic work and community service in honor of Dr. Kings extraordinary lifeand it was extraordinary indeed. pic.twitter.com/CYSHWwH5sZ NBC Politics (@NBCPolitics) January 12, 2018 The most noteworthy aspect of the photo op came at the end of the event when the president ignored pointed questions from the press pool about his incendiary remarks as he was flanked by Vice President Mike Pence and a group of black supporters, including Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson. Reporters yell questions at Trump after he signs MLK Day proclamation: Mr President, are you a racist? pic.twitter.com/GsOA9jaPoM Marcus Gilmer (@marcusgilmer) January 12, 2018 As Trump is shaking his supporters hands, American Urban Radio Networks reporter and CNN contributor April Ryan is heard asking Mr. President, will you give an apology for the statement yesterday? Trump ignores her and just keeps socializing with his guests with his back turned to the pool. Mr. President, are you a racist? Ryan asked as Trump made his way to the door. Mr. President, will you respond to these serious questions about your statement, sir? Story continues The president responded by leaving the room. On Friday morning, the president wrote a tweet denying that he said anything derogatory about Haitians, a claim denied by Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), who was present at the immigration reform meeting. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This post Trump Declines to Deny That Hes Racist When Asked at MLK Event first appeared on SPIN. Angelina Jolie has been linked to a new man 16 months after splitting with Brad Pitt. This week, the 42-year-old actress was romantically linked to Cambodian filmmaker and lyricist, PraCh Ly. However, according to People, the rapper is just a friend. A source told the publication that Angelina isnt dating anyone and wont be for a very long time, with her focus solely on her children. Angelina and PraCh are thought to have been introduced through Loung Ung, the human rights activist and author behind the book, First They Killed My Father the inspiration for Angelina's Netflix movie. angelina-jolie-dating-rumors Angelina Jolie is not dating Cambodian filmmaker PraCh Ly Photo: Hubert Boesl/Wenn Angelina, 42, made a glamorous return to the spotlight last week, as she stepped out for the Golden Globes, accompanied by her 14-year-old son Pax. The actress is also a mother to Maddox, 16, Zahara, 13, Shiloh, 11, and nine-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne, whom she shares with Brad. The former couple confirmed their separation in September 2016, and at the end of 2017 Angelina spoke about their decision to make a film together, less than a year before their split. MORE: Angelina is joined by her daughters Shiloh and Zahara during gala in NYC The Maleficent star wrote and directed By the Sea, which she co-starred with her husband. During an interview on the Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast, she concluded it "may not have been a good idea". She explained: "I wanted us to do some serious work together, and I wanted to see him do that kind of work. So I thought that it could be a good way for us to communicate. And I think in some ways it was. And in some ways we learned some things. But there was a heaviness during that situation that carried on." angelina-jolie-brad-pitt Angelina and Brad decided to end their marriage in September 2016 Photo: Joe/WENN MORE: Maddox Jolie-Pitt talks about working with "wonder mom" Angelina Jolie Alluding to their relationship, she added: "Things happen for different reasons. You know, why did I write that exact piece? Why did we feel the way about it we did when we made it? I'm not sure." Brad, meanwhile, previously spoke about the couple's split in a candid interview with GQ saying: "If you love someone, set them free. Now I know what it means, by feeling it. It means to love without ownership. It means expecting nothing in return. It doesn't mean [expletive] all to me until, you know. Until you live it." Washington (AFP) - With the Islamic State group all but vanquished from its self-proclaimed "caliphate" in Iraq and Syria, the US-led coalition that has been fighting the jihadists for more than three years is transforming its mission. Eager to avoid a repeat of 2011, when America completed its troop withdrawal from Iraq only to watch in horror as IS later overran swathes of the country, the coalition is focusing on what it must do to stop a jihadi re-emergence. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis recently told reporters the mission now is shifting towards stabilization and making sure an "ISIS 2.0" can't pop up, using an alternate acronym to refer to the jihadist group. Already, the Pentagon has said it will stay in Syria "as long as we need to." "The longer term recovery is going to take a lot of effort and a lot of years after what (IS) did, because they forcibly kept innocent people in the midst of the combat zone, and that meant the residential areas took damage, the public areas -- everything took damage," he said, adding that a most pressing need is to clear cities and terrain of innumerable bombs, mines and booby traps. America hastily convened a coalition in 2014 after IS swept across vast tracts of Iraqi and Syrian territory, terrorizing residents and leaving a trail of murder and atrocity in their wake. The US military began bombing them that summer with the immediate goal of stopping IS from reaching Baghdad after they'd seized a string of major cities including Mosul and Tikrit. Today, the coalition boasts 70 nations as well as international organizations like NATO and Interpol. Though some alliance members are there in name only, bigger countries like Britain, France, Canada and Australia are helping in the skies and on the ground. A State Department official said some coalition members can play an increased role now that the main campaign is over, including by countering IS propaganda, sending in police trainers and providing funding. Story continues Nicholas Heras, a fellow at the Center for a New American Security, said that ideally, "you are going to have different partners taking on many different aspects of the stabilizing mission, the part that they do well." With IS now cleared from 98 percent of the terrain they once held, nations like France and Australia have begun pulling some military assets -- including planes and artillery -- from Iraq and Syria, and the Pentagon has said the tapering off of bombing missions means it has more resources to fight the Taliban in Afghanistan. But the coalition is keeping an indefinite presence to help Iraqis get the support and training they need, and to protect a Kurdish-Arab alliance who fought against IS in Syria. "If we were to repeat the mistakes that we made when the Iraq War came to a close then we are very much likely to see a repeat of the tragedies that followed," warned Steve Warren, a retired Army colonel who was top spokesman for the coalition between 2015 and 2016. "They need to morph into a stabilization force, there's no question." - 'Skin in the game' - America has about 2,000 troops in Syria and more than 5,000 in Iraq, augmented in both countries by coalition members who have provided commandos and military trainers. But where Iraq now has a cohesive military and some degree of political stability, Syria is mired in civil war and President Bashar al-Assad is working with Russia and Iranian militias to maintain control of areas once in the hands of rebels or IS. That means the US must keep boots on the ground in Syria to protect fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces who it backed to fight IS. "Unless we want to cede eastern Syria to the Iranians, (the coalition) needs to be there," Warren told AFP. "Not necessarily the US -- it's other partners who have skin in this game, which includes every country in Europe," he added, referring to the refugee crisis that has gripped the continent in part because of Syria. Additionally, extremist groups the world over are rebranding themselves under the IS banner, meaning the anti-IS coalition will have a role beyond the Middle East, including in African nations. Last year, four new African nations signed up to the coalition: Djibouti, Niger, Cameroon and Chad. "Pre-existing terrorist organizations like in the Philippines, like in Bangladesh, like in the Sinai and Afghanistan, they have basically rebranded themselves and started flying the ISIS flag in order to gain attraction and resources," the State Department official told AFP. US military officials stress the fight against IS is not over, and warn of the jihadists in Iraq and Syria returning to a more traditional insurgency. "Their repressive ideology continues. The conditions remain present for Daesh to return, and only through coalition and international efforts can the defeat become permanent," coalition commander Lieutenant General Paul Funk said, using an Arabic acronym for the group. Michael Steele, the first black chairman of the Republican National Committee, said in an interview with MSNBC Friday that he believes President Donald Trump is racist. Steeles comments follow Trumps reported description of Haiti, El Salvador and some African nations as shithole countries. At this point, the evidence is incontrovertible, its right there, Steele said when asked if Trump is racist by MSNBCs Hallie Jackson. Trump reportedly made the controversial remark while discussing a potential immigration deal with lawmakers at the White House on Thursday. According to the The Washington Post, Trump suggested the U.S. should bring in more immigrants from places like Norway, rather than having all these people from shithole countries come here. Trump has denied making the comment as reported. This was not the language used, he tweeted Friday. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Several other people, including CNN anchor Don Lemon, have accused President Trump of being racist following the remarks. When asked about his relationship with President Trump, Steele responded: [Trump doesnt] talk to me anymore. That conversation stopped a while back because I wasnt sycophantic . . . I wasnt sitting there [saying], heres your towel sir, yes sir, no sir, thats not how I play. And if you come to the table that way with him, your chances of having a conservation ends abruptly. Steele, who led the Republican National Committee from 2009 to 2011, has been a frequent critic of Trump. After the President endorsed Alabama Republican Senate nominee Roy Moore, who was accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women, Steele tweeted that America no longer has a moral compass under [Trumps] leadership.' And in 2016, Steele said during a dinner in San Francisco that he would not be voting for the then-Republican presidential candidate, saying that Trump captured that racist underbelly, that frustration, that angry underbelly of American life and gave voice to that. A woman romantically linked to the far-right UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader Henry Bolton was suspended from the party after offensive text messages she wrote about Prince Harrys fiancee, American actor Meghan Markle, were published on the Mail on Sunday. In the texts, Marney gave a list of reasons why she doesnt like Markle. Shes a gender equality t*** She is obsessed with race and her seen with [sic] taint our royal family. Just a dumb little commoner. Tiny brain, she wrote, adding Shes black. A dumb little actress that no one has heard of. This is Britain, not Africa. Marney then laughed off an accusation of racism from her interlocutor. Lol so what, she wrote, when the other person called her racist. Shes a black American. Pushing their way to the top slowly slowly. Next will be a Muslim PM and a black king, Marney added. Trending: Mitt Romney Texts 'I'm Running' For Utah Senate Seat To Top Businessman 01_14_Royal_Couple Peter Nicholls/Reuters Calls for the suspension and expulsion of Jo Marney, who describes herself as a Presenter. Music Journalist. Model. Actor. Brexiteer on Twitter, followed soon after the publication of the article. The text were also described as racist by some members of the party, which itself has often had to fend off accusations of racism. Her words were blatantly racist and there should be no room for that in UKIP, wrote party member Jack Penny on Twitter, after calling Marney the Wallis Simpson of UKIP, referring to the American divorcee with alleged Nazi sympathies that King Edward VIII married after abdicating. Also it would be hypocritical to allow her to stay because he said in the leadership election he was the candidate against racism and nazis so she has to go or he and UKIP are doomed if we let this behaviour happen in the party, the 16-year-old UKIP activist added. Story continues Don't miss: Trump Administration Promotes 24-Year-Old To Help Lead Fight Against Opioid Epidemic Penny was one of many voices calling for punishing Marney for her statements. UKIP's London Assembly Member Peter Whittle called the remarks disgraceful and called for her expulsion. Bolton first responded to Pennys tweet, saying Marney was suspended immediately upon us receiving this information and later addressed Whittles tweet in a similar fashion, but did not add any comment in relation to a possible expulsion. Marneys texts about Markle werent the only time she expressed offensive views. Social media posts unearthed by the British tabloid the Sun after revealing Marneys relationship with Bolton show her calling London a shanty town because of foreigners bringing their customs over here and also branding women accusing Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment and assault as whinging little divas." This time, the woman apologized for the shocking language she used in the texts, adding she the expressions used were deliberately exaggerated in order to make a point. Most popular: Will Natural Selection Make Us More Dumb? DNA May Shed Light On Whether Well Go to College I apologise unreservedly for the shocking language I used. The opinions I expressed were deliberately exaggerated in order to make a point and have, to an extent, been taken out of context. Yet I fully recognise the offence they have caused, a statement to the Mail on Sunday read. No offence was intended and, again, I apologise unreservedly for any such offence or hurt that my messages have caused to members of the public, members of Ukip my friends, family and loved ones. I have disappointed them all and let myself down. I cannot sufficiently express my regret and sadness at having done so, Marney added. The relationship between Marney and Bolton made headlines in the UK earlier this month, after the UKIP leader confirmed he split from his Russian wife and was now involved with a young lady who happens also to be a member of UKIP, denying he had a "clandestine affair," as the BBC reported. Bolston's private life noneless became the subject of an internal party investigation, with a meeting of UKIPs national executive committee planned for next Thursday to discuss fallout from the relationship, as British newspaper The Times reported. After Marneys text publications, some UKIP politicians were calling for Boltons resignation, Reuters reported. Other party members instead resisted the idea of sacking their leader, concerned about the future of a party that has endured three leadership elections and a shrinking popular support in recent months, since founder Nigel Farage stepped down after the Brexit referendum in 2016 delivered a majority for the Leave side for which he had campaigned. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek (CANBERRA, Australia) A 14-year-old girl who was the angelic face of an iconic Australian bushmens hat brand was remembered by hundreds of mourners Friday after her suicide focused attention on the dangers of cyberbullying. The memorial service for Amy Dolly Everett was held in the tiny Northern Territory town of Katherine near her familys cattle ranch. Most mourners dressed in her favorite color, blue, and many had driven hundreds of kilometers (miles) from distant ranches. A photograph of a young Dolly, her smiling face framed by sun-kissed curls and shaded by a rabbit-felt hat, has been featured in advertising of Akubra Hats since 2009, most recently this past Christmas. More than a century old and one of Australias most iconic brands, Akubra has made so-called bush hats, the Australian military slouch hats and even the fedora worn by Harrison Fords character Indiana Jones in the 1981 movie Raiders of the Lost Ark. Her family has blamed recent online bullying after Dollys death last week but hasnt given specifics of the bullying or her cause of death. The tragic news travelled quickly via social media from the remote and sparsely populated cattle country of Australias rugged far north. We are shocked and distressed to hear of the passing of Dolly, Akubra said in a statement. Stating that she chose to end her life to escape being bullied, the company said, To think that anyone could feel so overwhelmed and that suicide was their only option is unfathomable. Akubra, based in Kempsey, New South Wales state, has used the endearing Outback cowgirl image frequently in its marketing since it was taken at the remote Brunette Downs Station cattle ranch. After the service, mourners released balloons and butterflies. Her father, Tick Everett, flanked by his wife Meg and daughter Meg, urged parents to speak to their children about their relationships and bullying. Speak even if your voice shakes, he said, quoting a caption of a sketch of a dancer that Dolly had recently drawn. Stop bullying and be kind and do it for Dolly, he added. Story continues The debate about the perils to children of online communication caught the attention of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. From pain and loss, we must renew our commitment to say no to bullying, Turnbull wrote in a Facebook comment. The government had established an eSafety Commissioner to tackle cyberbullying and to work with internet companies to promote online safety, Turnbull said. The opposition Labor Partys last prime minister, Kevin Rudd, tweeted, Any form of bullying is an assault on our values. And in this young girls life with lethal effect. Northern Territory police say they are investigating the bullying allegations on behalf of a state coroner who will report on the cause of Dollys death. But no criminal investigation is underway. Coroners can recommend criminal charges at the end of an investigation into an unexpected death. Kyle Mizokami Security, Let the deathmatch begin. Here's Who Would Win Between the Navys Last Battleship and Russia's Battlecruiser In 1988 the USS Iowa loses, limping away to fight another day. Still, thats not all exactly bad news for the Americans: Kirov was forced to expend its missiles against a battleship that didnt sink, and wasnt able to fulfill its primary mission of sinking aircraft carriers or savaging NATOs Atlantic convoys. Kirov returns to her home port to rearm, but thanks to the carriers that were saved, there may not be a port to go home to. Its 1988. World War Three has begun, with the armies of the Soviet Union and the rest of the Warsaw Pact pouring over the Inter-German Border. Their destination: the Rhine River and beyond, dealing NATO a knockout blow that will end the war. Meanwhile at sea, an equally titanic battle is about to take place. A Soviet Kirov-class battlecruiser, attempting to intercept a U.S. Navy carrier battle group, is intercepted by the battleship USS Iowa. The biggest ship-against-ship battle since the World War Two is about to begin. Who wins? Recommended: Americas Battleships Went to War Against North Korea Recommended: 5 Places World War III Could Start in 2018 Recommended: How North Korea Could Start a War Built in the late 1980s, the Kirov-class battlecruisers were designedlike much of the Soviet navy at the timeto neutralize American carrier battle groups during warfare. American aircraft carriers were a threat to not only the Soviet mainland but also Moscows nuclear missile submarines, and were to be taken out as quickly as possible. A secondary mission of the Kirov class was as commerce raider, designed to cut the flow of American and Canadian ground reinforcements to the battleground in Europe. The Kirov class were the largest surface warships built since the end of World War II. Each displaced twenty-four thousand tons and measured 826 feet longnearly as long as an aircraft carrier. Nuclear powered, they could cruise indefinitely at speeds of up to thirty-two knots. Story continues The purpose of the battlecruisers was to attack, and they were well suited for the task. Each carried twenty enormous P-700 Granit antiship missiles. Each, a Granit missile weighed more than fifteen thousand pounds. This was enough to include 1,653-pound high explosive warhead, enough fuel to give it a range of three hundred miles at Mach 2.5, and a both inertial and active radar guidance. Initial targeting data would be provided by the space-based Legenda satellite targeting system, shore-based aircraft, shipboard helicopters or the battlecruiser itself. Granit was unique among Cold Warera antiship missiles in having an early networking capability. One missile per salvo rises higher than the rest, providing radar targeting information to the rest of the missiles though a network. If that missile was shot down, another would rise to take its place. The Kirov cruisers were also designed to be self sufficient in anti-air weapons, the overall armament forming a layered defense system. Each carried 96 S-300F long-range surface to air missiles, a naval adaptation of the land-based S-300 system. The ships also carried 192 3K95 short-range surface-to-air missiles based on the Tor, and forty 4K33 missiles based on the Osa. As a last resort, the ships had six AK-630 close-in weapon systems equipped with thirty-millimeter gatling guns. Four Kirov-class battlecruisers were built: Kirov, Frunze, Kalinin and Yuri Andropov. Built in the 1940s, the Iowa-class battleships were designed to be fast fleet battleships, capable of chasing down and engaging enemy battleships such as the famed Yamato class of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Although the Iowas never engaged another battleship, they provided naval gunfire support for U.S. ground forces during World War, the Korean War, Vietnam, and off the coast of Lebanon in 1983. The Iowas main armament consisted of three massive gun turrets, each housing three sixteen-inch guns. Each gun could heave a one thousand nine hundred pound armor-piercing shell to a range of twenty miles. The guns could make quick work of any modern warship, except for perhaps another battleshipbut they have to get the target in range first. The Iowa ships were heavily armored, as battleships should be, with just over a foot of steel protection at the waterline. Bulkheads were protected by eleven inches of steel, and the main guns had nearly twenty inches of steel armor. The ships were powered by four steam turbines, giving them a top speed of 32.5 knots. In the early 1980 all four battleshipsIowa, New Jersey, Missouri and Wisconsinwere returned to service and a number of upgrades were performed. Four of the ten dual five-inch gun mounts were removed, and it in their place sixteen Harpoon antiship missiles were installed. First deployed in 1977, the turbojet-powered, radar-guided anti-ship missiles pack a powerful 488-pound warhead. In addition to the Harpoons the Iowa class were fitted with thirty-two Tomahawk cruise missiles and four Phalanx CIWS close-in weapons systems. Back to our duel. In our scenario, lets assume that each ship knows the location of the other at three hundred miles. At this range, the Iowa class is at a disadvantage: its longest range weapons, the thirty-two Tomahawk missiles, are land attack missiles and useless against the Kirov. Kirov, on the other hand, launches all twenty of its Granit missiles. . . and then retreats. The battlecruiser has used up its entire complement of offensive weapons on a single massive blow and has nothing substantial left to continue the fight with. (While it still has a pair of 130-millimeter dual-purpose guns, it would be suicidal to get in close enough to use them, given Iowas overwhelming gun armament.) Two of the Granit missiles fail to launch, or malfunction and fall into the sea, leaving eighteen streaking towards the American battleship. Iowas deficiency in air defense armament means that it has only two Phalanx CIWS guns to shoot down the Granits. Its SLQ-32 active radar jammers and Mark 36 SRBOC chaff launchers attempt to spoof the Granits active radar guidance systems. Its impossible to say how many of the eighteen remaining missiles would have gotten past Iowas Phalanx gatling guns, radar jamming and chaff dispersal. For the sake of the scenario, lets assume nine missiles breach Iowas defenses. The mighty battleships armor was formidable, designed to shrug off sixteen-inch armor-piercing rounds, so its likely it would fare pretty well against a Mach 1.6 missile with a simple 1.5 ton high explosive warhead. The Iowas main guns were also heavily armored, as were the magazines and the engine spaces. Iowa would sustain damage, but how much? Lets assume two of the main gun turrets are knocked out of action, but one turret is still functional and the engines are undamaged. Three sixteen inch guns are still good enough to kill the Kirov but even under ideal circumstances, Iowa is only half a knot faster than the Russian battlecruiser, and at three hundred miles doesnt have a chance of catching up to it. If the Iowa were to close the distance with Kirov the odds slightly considerably. Iowa would have to get with sixty-seven miles for it to be able to use its sixteen Harpoon missilesbut even then such as small number of missiles would have a difficult time getting through Kirovs three-layered air defense network. In fact, the only range at which Iowa can really win a fight with Kirov is within twenty miles, when the ships nine sixteen-inch guns can come into play. At that range, the Kirov is indisputably dead meat, sent quickly to the bottom by the battleships big guns. Still, as satisfying as such an engagement would be, its hard to see how the Soviets would let an Iowa get that close. Our 1988 hypothetical engagement is an example of the superiority of guns over missiles in certain scenarios. Gunsat least conventional gunsjust dont have the reach of modern missiles. Certain advances since thenincluding railgun weaponry and the long-range anti ship missile (LRASM) could breathe new life into a battleship platform, but thats an argument for another day. In 1988 the USS Iowa loses, limping away to fight another day. Still, thats not all exactly bad news for the Americans: Kirov was forced to expend its missiles against a battleship that didnt sink, and wasnt able to fulfill its primary mission of sinking aircraft carriers or savaging NATOs Atlantic convoys. Kirov returns to her home port to rearm, but thanks to the carriers that were saved, there may not be a port to go home to. Kyle Mizokami is a defense and national security writer based in San Francisco who has appeared in the Diplomat, Foreign Policy, War is Boring and the Daily Beast. In 2009 he cofounded the defense and security blog Japan Security Watch. You can follow him on Twitter: @KyleMizokami. This first appeared in 2016. Read full article Seguin, TX (78155) Today Cloudy skies this morning followed by scattered showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon. High 97F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Isolated thunderstorms during the evening. Mostly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 72F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%. Mere months after former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio was pardoned of criminal contempt charges by President Donald Trump, on Jan. 9 he announced his candidacy for the US Senate. Arpaio, who was convicted of criminal contempt after ignoring a judge's order not to detain suspected undocumented immigrants, was the sheriff of Maricopa County, which includes the state's capital, Phoenix, for five terms, or 24 years. His tenure was widely reported on due to extreme policies, numerous lawsuits, and outrageous anti-immigrant rhetoric. Arpaio's criminal conviction came six months after he lost his seat to a Democratic challenger in 2016, and after Trump's pardon, he managed to emerge from the situation unscathed. It should come as no surprise, then, that the longtime Trump supporter immediately honed in on the president's voting base. "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 announced on Twitter. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. It's worth noting that Arpaio is by no means a shoo-in for the race; ultimately, he'll go head to head with Steve Bannon-backed former state Senator Kelli Ward and, if rumors prove true, Arizona Rep. Martha McSally. But it's pretty safe to say at this stage that the race to fill Jeff Flake's Arizona Senate seat is going to be one hell of a dog and pony show and we'll be keeping a close eye on this story as it develops. With spectacular designs, bigger screens, richer colors and sharper image quality, TVs once again took center stage at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, notably driven by innovation from LG and Samsung. Here's a look at some of the standout models from CES 2018. A roll-up screen LG caused a sensation in Las Vegas with two unusual TVs. The first incredible model has a screen that literally rolls up into the TV's base when switched off. This makes the 65-inch ultra-high-definition OLED TV incredibly discreet when not in use. Although still a prototype, it could become a retail model within the next two years, seriously shaking up the TV market -- although it won't come cheap! A supersized 8K TV The second exceptional TV on the South Korean manufacturer's stand is the world's first 88-inch 8K OLED TV, pushing back the limits even further with more than 33 million pixels (76804320) -- 16 times more than regular Full HD (19201080). This type of screen has many advantages, displaying bright colors and deep blacks with wide viewing angles. "The Wall" Samsung was out to turn heads with its huge 146-inch TV dubbed "The Wall." It also debuts a new screen technology called MicroLED. These self-emitting diodes are smaller than regular LEDs and require no extra backlighting system. They also promise improved power efficiency and an increased lifespan. This TV has a modular design since it's made up of smaller borderless displays, all of which are interchangeable. Samsung aims to bring "The Wall" to market during 2018. Expect a hefty price tag. HDR 8K prototype Over at Sony, all eyes were on a promising prototype: its first HDR 8K TV with X1 Ultimate processor. According to the Japanese manufacturer, this new model offers the best image quality yet in the history of its Bravia TV range. Screen brightness can reach up to 10,000 cd/sq m, the highest for the HDR format. Sony has not yet said when this kind of model could be available to buy. HDR10+ 4KTVs Panasonic was showing off its new 2018 range of 4K OLED TVs at CES. The FZ800 and FZ950 series -- each with 55-inch and 65-inch models -- all support HDR10+, a new more dynamic standard capable of adapting in different ways to sequences within the same video. This technology, developed in partnership with Samsung, will soon be rolled out to both brands' devices. Bill Murray returned to his old Saturday Night Live stomping grounds to do Steve Bannon in the programs cold open the way Bannon has never been done before. The sketch scorched Bannon, shithole diplomacy and even journalist Michael Wolff in an SNL take on Joe In The Morning. Before Bannon pops up and pulls off his grim reaper hood to reveal Murrays old familiar face, Wolff (played by Fred Armisen, another show alum) gets a grilling on Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House. Mika Brzezinski (Kate McKinnon) wants to know what Wolff didnt put in the book. There were baby races, says Armisen. Trump would ask to have two babies placed in his office, usually of different ethnicities. Someone would put a bowl of Goldfish crackers on the other side of the room. Trump would say, A thousand bucks on the black one. When hes asked if thats really true, Armisen shrugs, Yeah. As for the truth of the rest of the book, he says, You read it, right? You liked it? You had fun? Whats the problem? You got the gist, so shut up. Even the stuff thats not true, its true. Even the Bannon Cannon admits that everything hes quoted as saying in the book is pretty much true. But dont count him out now that he has been exiled by the Trump crew. Hes already working on a web series for Crackle, a line of wrinkled barn jackets called Frumpers for Guys and a skin-care line called Blotch. And hell be a kingmaker again. I convinced this country to elect Donald ... and I can do it again, he threatens. Next on the list could be controversial vlogger Logan Paul or incarcerated businessman Martin Shkreli. Its time for America to slide down the Bannon-ster, he chortles. The Bannon dynasty is dawning. But just when everyone is feeling bleak about the future, up pops Leslie Jones to yell OPRAAAAAAAAAH. Check out the video above. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Sidon (Lebanon) (AFP) - An official of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas was wounded on Sunday in a car bomb blast in Lebanon's southern port city of Sidon. Hamas's Lebanon branch named the wounded man as its "staff member" Mohammed Hamdan. "The blast wounded his leg, destroyed his car and damaged the building. Preliminary evidence points to Zionist (involvement) behind this crime," it said in a statement. A military source told AFP that a BMW "detonated, wounding Hamas official Mohammed Hamdan", and Lebanon's army said a "500-gramme bomb" had been placed in his vehicle. An AFP journalist in Sidon saw the burnt-out vehicle, a silver BMW, in a parking lot of an apartment building where Hamdan lived. Firefighters arrived to put out the flames and Lebanese security forces quickly cordoned off the area. "All civilians get back!" shouted an officer, ushering curious residents away from the charred car. The Red Cross confirmed there was only one person wounded in the blast and said he had been transported to hospital in a civilian vehicle. Hamas's representative in Lebanon, Ali Baraka, visited Hamdan at the Labib Hospital in Sidon. "Hamas is coordinating with Lebanese security forces to uncover all the links to this crime and the failed assassination attempt against Hamdan," he told reporters. "This message carries the fingerprints of Israel, which wants to shift the lens away from internal affairs to the outside because of the uprising in Palestine," Baraka said. Hamdan did not appear to have a public or political role in Hamas, but a Palestinian security source told AFP that he was a member of the organisation's security apparatus. "Hamdan is an official in Hamas's security service. His work is linked to internal Palestinian affairs," the source said. "Because of the nature of his work, the fingers are pointed to the Israeli enemy." Story continues Hamas has fought three wars with Israel in the past decade and is based in Gaza, but it operates branches elsewhere in the Middle East including Lebanon. Tens of thousands of Palestinian refugees live in Lebanon, many of them in 12 camps across the country. The most densely-populated is Ain al-Hilweh, which lies near Sidon and is home to an estimated 61,000 Palestinians, including 6,000 who have fled the war in neighbouring Syria. By longstanding convention, Lebanese authorities do not enter Palestinian camps, where security is instead left to joint Palestinian security forces. These units -- which include Hamas, rival Palestinian faction Fatah and other groups -- have fought several battles with jihadist groups inside Ain al-Hilweh. Georgetown (Guyana) (AFP) - The 15-nation Caribbean Community on Saturday condemned US President Donald Trump's use of "repulsive language" to reportedly describe Haiti and African nations. CARICOM "is deeply disturbed by reports about the use of derogatory and repulsive language by the President of the United States in respect of our member state, Haiti, and other developing countries," the bloc's Guyana-based headquarters said in a statement. "CARICOM condemns in the strongest terms, the unenlightened views reportedly expressed." At a White House meeting with Trump on Thursday, lawmakers raised the issue of protections for immigrants from African nations, Haiti and El Salvador. Trump then reportedly demanded to know why the US should accept immigrants from "shithole countries" rather than -- for instance -- wealthy and overwhelmingly white Norway. Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, who was present at the meeting, said Trump specifically asked, "Do we need more Haitians?" before launching into a diatribe about African immigration. As his remarks sparked a global firestorm, the president on Friday denied he ever said "anything derogatory" about the people of Haiti, whose government called Trump's reported remarks racist. CARICOM expressed full support for the Haitian government's reaction "to this highly offensive reference," said the bloc which includes former British, Dutch and French colonies. "It should be recalled that Haiti is the second democracy in the Western hemisphere after the United States and that Haitians continue to contribute significantly in many spheres to the global community and particularly to the United States of America," CARICOM said. The bloc "therefore views this insult to the character of the countries named and their citizens as totally unacceptable." The majority of Caribbean citizens are descendants of African slaves, while the ancestors of many others were indentured laborers from India. Zachary Keck Security, Asia And many more could be sold around the worldand soon. China Appears to Have Secretly Sold Pakistan a Large Combat Drone, Says Report China appears to have secretly sold Pakistan a large combat drone, according to new satellite images. This was first pointed out by the Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard College. Citing satellite images from November 2017, the Center reported on January 5th that there was a medium-altitude long-endurance drone spotted at the Alam Air Base in Mianwali, Pakistan. The drone in the image appears to be a Wing Loong I. This assessment is based on its wingspanwhich we believe to be around 14 meters and its V-tail, as well as a comparison with other satellite images of the Wing Loong I elsewhere in the world, the Center noted in its report. The report was later confirmed by IHS Janes, which cited different satellite images taken from the same time. The Wing Loong I is a strike-capable medium-altitude long-endurance drone built by the Chinese firm Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). It has a length of nine meters and a wingspan of fourteen meters. It can fly at heights of nearly 25,000 feet with a maximum speed of around 280 km/h and a range of 5,000 kilometers. According to IHS Jane's, it has a maximum take-off weight of 1,150 kilograms with a maximum payload capacity of 200 kg. The payload is split fifty-fifty between internal and external weapon stores. It is considered to be Chinas version of Americas Predator drone. Recommended: How North Korea Could Start a War Recommended: This Is What Happens if America Nuked North Korea Recommended: The Colt Python: The Best Revolver Ever Made? The drone in Pakistan appears to have been deployed for testing purposes. As the Center for the Study of the Drones analysis pointed out: No drones or supporting equipment are visible in earlier satellite images of the base, suggesting that this drone may have arrived at Alam Air Base sometime in late November. The fact that there is no evidence of additional drones at the base, along with the fact that it is painted whitenot the battlefield gray like other, deployed Wing Loong dronesmight suggest that it is a test platform, not an operational airframe. If so, this is probably not the first time that the Pakistan Air Force has been testing the Wing Loong I. In June 2016, a drone that appeared to be the Wing Loong I crashed near Alam Air Base apparently during a test run. Story continues Pakistan has been operating armed drones for a number of years now, likely with the assistance of China. Islamabad first acknowledged its strike drones in 2013, when the military released a statement saying it had developed two drones that it referred to as the Burraq and the Shahpar. Foreign experts immediately cast doubt on Pakistans ability to indigenously produce armed drones. For instance, Pieter Wezeman, a senior researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), told the Financial Times: Developing a drone with armed capability is much more difficult than just a reconnaissance one because the reconnaissance one can be built with very basic technology, but integrating weapons is a different level. He added: Either it is a Chinese UAV or based on Chinese technology. Indeed both the Shapar and the Burraq look a lot like the Chinese CH-3 UAV despite Pakistans claim that they were built by the local firms Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS) and National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM). Neil Gibson, an analyst at IHS Jane's, told FT that a "close analysis of the imagery released by Pakistan suggests at least a heavy debt to Chinese systems. Regardless of their origin, Pakistan began using the UAVs to carry out strikes against militant groups located in the country's tribal areas in 2015. Still deploying the Wing Loong I would be a significant upgrade over Pakistans current drone force. As the Center for the Study of the Drone noted in its analysis: The acquisition of a heavier multi-role drone like the Wing Loong I would allow Pakistan to carry out longer and more complex missions than it can with its current fleet of unmanned systems. It is quite possibly, however, that Islamabad ultimately opts for an indigenous drone that looks remarkably similar to the Wing Loong I. Indeed, in July 2017, Pakistans air force announced that it was developing a domestically built fifth-generation fighter, medium altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and munitions under a new program it called Project Azm. While Pakistans weapon designers work on building up this fleetlikely with the assistance of China, of courseIslamabad could be training its forces in operating the systems by relying on the prototype Wing Loong I seen in the satellite images. For its part, China has quickly become a major drone exporter especially for nations that do not have access to American drones. Along with Chinas own military and Pakistan, Beijing has exported the Wing Loong I to Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Last year it also announced its largest drone sale ever to a country it refused to disclose. That sale was of the more advanced Wing Loong II. Zachary Keck (@ZacharyKeck) is a former managing editor of The National Interest. Image: Reuters Read full article By Brenda Goh and John Ruwitch SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China's aviation authority on Friday demanded an apology from Delta Air Lines for listing Taiwan and Tibet as countries on its website, while another government agency took aim at Inditex-owned fashion brand Zara and medical device maker Medtronic Plc for similar issues. The moves follow a regulator's decision on Thursday to suspend Marriott International Inc's Chinese website for a week to punish the world's biggest hotel chain for listing Tibet, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau as separate countries in a customer questionnaire. The apparent intensification of efforts to police how foreign businesses refer to Chinese-claimed territories - even if only in pull-down menus - underscores just how sensitive the issue of sovereignty has become in a China that is increasingly emboldened on the international stage. The involvment of more than one Chinese authority in rebuking businesses across different industries suggested possible coordination at a high level of government. "It's hard not to see it as part of the wider trend where nationalist issues are being emphasized very deliberately as part of the new era," said a China-based Western businessman who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the topic. "It's hard not to think that this is the shape of things to come for foreign companies, having to be even more careful about these sensitivities." Hong Kong and Macau are former European colonies that are now part of China but run largely autonomously. China annexed Tibet in 1950, although Beijing has long claimed the Himalayan region has been an indivisible part of China throughout history. Taiwan is China's most sensitive territorial issue. The ruling Communist Party considers the self-ruled, democratic island a wayward province and refuses to renounce the threat of force to bring it into the fold. On Friday, the Civil Aviation Administration of China asked Delta to investigate the listing of Taiwan and Tibet as countries on its website, and called for an "immediate and public" apology. The aviation authority also said it would require all foreign airlines operating routes to China to conduct comprehensive investigations of their websites, apps and customer-related information and "strictly comply with China's laws and regulations to prevent a similar thing from happening". In a statement, Delta apologized for making "an inadvertent error with no business or political intention", saying it recognized the seriousness of the issue and had taken steps to resolve it. Separately, the same regulator that penalized Marriott - the Shanghai branch of the state cyberspace administration - accused Zara of placing Taiwan in a pull-down list of countries on its Chinese website. Medtronic had also put "Republic of China (Taiwan)" on one of its websites, the office said in a WeChat post, giving both companies until 6 pm local time to apologize. Medtronic issued an apology via social media, saying it had updated the website. An executive who answered the phone at Zara's Shanghai office was not able to immediately comment. China has long-running territorial disputes with several neighbors and has never been shy about correcting what it sees as misrepresentations of Chinese territory. Foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a regular briefing on Friday that Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and Tibet were all part of China. "The companies that come to China should respect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, abide by China's laws, and respect the feelings of the Chinese people. This is the minimum requirement of any company going to another country to carry out business and investment," he said. Last year, German carmaker Audi AG apologized for using a map that excluded Taiwan and parts of Tibet and the western Xinjiang region after it was heavily crticized on Chinese social media. (Reporting by Brenda Goh and John Ruwitch; Additional Reporting by Christian Shepherd in BEIJING and SHANGHAI Newsroom; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore) An Iranian oil tanker has sunk after burning for more than a week following a collision on January 6 in the East China Sea, Chinese state media said on Sunday, adding that large amounts of oil are burning in the surrounding waters. The stricken tanker, called the Sanchi, which had been adrift and on fire following the accident with the freighter CF Crystal, had "suddenly ignited" around noon (11 p.m. EST), China Central Television (CCTV) said. "Currently it has already sunk," CCTV said, citing the Shanghai maritime search and rescue center. It showed video of a tower of billowing black smoke and flames on the surface of the water. The ship sank before 5 p.m. (4 a.m. EST), CCTV said. Trending: Is Trumps Election the Revenge of the White Working Class? China's State Oceanic Administration said that because the hull of the ship had detonated, a large amount of oil in surrounding waters was on fire, according to the official Xinhua news agency. 01_14_Tanker 10th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters/Handout via Reuters The Administration said it would expand the scope of its monitoring and "quickly ascertain the spread and drift of overflowing oil" from the wrecked ship. Don't miss: Las Vegas Gunman Stephen Paddock's Girlfriend Had Fingerprints on His Ammunition, Documents Show A Chinese salvage team on Saturday recovered two bodies from the tanker. Another body, presumed to be one of the Sanchi's sailors, was found on Monday and brought to Shanghai for identification. The Sanchi's crew consisted of 30 Iranians and two Bangladeshis. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had told his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif by telephone that "as long as there is 1 percent of hope, China will continue to make 100 percent effort" to rescue and recover other members of the crew. Story continues Most popular: 'Kill Trump With His Own Weapon': Protesters March Against President Ahead of Davos Visit The tanker, owned by National Iranian Tanker Co, was carrying almost 1 million barrels of condensate, an ultra-light crude oil, to South Korea. It collided with the CF Crystal, which was carrying grain from the United States, about 160 nautical miles (114 miles) off China's coast near Shanghai. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek By Yawen Chen and Ryan Woo BEIJING (Reuters) - China's imports from North Korea plunged in December to their lowest level in dollar terms since at least the start of 2014, with trade curbed by U.N. sanctions aimed at persuading Pyongyang to abandon its ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs. Imports from North Korea slumped 81.6 percent year-on-year to $54.34 million, Chinese customs spokesman Huang Songping said in a briefing in Beijing on Friday. That's the smallest monthly value since at least January 2014. The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed signs that China, North Korea's main economic partner, was "sharply reducing" trade with its neighbor. "This action supports the United States-led global effort to apply maximum pressure until the North Korean regime ends its illicit programs, changes its behavior and moves toward denuclearization of the Korean peninsula," the White House said. The United Nations began imposing sanctions on North Korea in 2006, but tougher measures were invoked in 2017 as tensions flared anew over the country's nuclear and missile programs. The penalties that came into force on Sept. 5 last year banned countries from buying coal, iron ore, lead, lead ore and seafood from North Korea. In November, China imported no iron ore, coal or lead from North Korea, the second full month of the U.N. trade sanctions. "In terms of how big of an impact it (falling trade) had on North Korea, there was definitely impact because some of their products could only go to China while others could only be imported from China," said Chen Fengying, an economics expert at state-backed China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations. "You have to understand it was the most tense period for bilateral ties, and foreign relations determine trade relations." China, the main source of North Korea's fuel, did not export any gasoline, jet fuel, diesel or fuel oil to its neighbor in November. China's exports to North Korea in December declined 23.4 percent from a year earlier to $260 million, Huang told reporters. Compared with a month earlier, exports fell 9.7 percent. In November, China stopped exporting oil products to North Korea, after the U.N. Security Council that month imposed new caps on trade with North Korea, including limiting oil product shipments. For 2017, China's imports from North Korea dropped 33 percent to $1.72 billion, the lowest value in at least four years. However, exports to the country rose 8.3 percent to $3.34 billion. The value was the highest since 2014. Non-commodities that China exports to North Korea included electronics, plastic products and garments. Chinese customs will formally release data for trade with North Korea in the second half of the month, along with a breakdown by product. (Reporting by Yawen Chen, Stella Qiu and Ryan Woo, additional reporting by Matt Spetalnick and Doina Chiacu in Washington; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore, Shri Navaratnam and Susan Thomas) Vatican City (AFP) - A Chinese bishop who was removed from his diocese and held by authorities in detention for seven months has been freed, the Vatican said Friday. Last June the Holy See had expressed "grave concern" for Peter Shao Zhumin, saying he was being held in an unknown location and had been missing for some time. His friends said they feared the authorities were trying to force him to switch from the underground church recognised by the Vatican to the state-run Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association (CPCA). The bishop was released on January 3, Vatican spokesman Greg Burke said. According to the specialist religious website Asianews.it, Shao had been detained on May 18 after being "invited" to attend an interview with officials of the local Religious Affairs Bureau. His disappearance sparked a public spat between the Vatican and China, complicating discussions aimed at improving relations long strained by differences over who has the authority to appoint bishops in the country. Complicating matters, CPCA clergy chosen by the Communist Party are sometimes accepted by Rome, while Vatican-appointed bishops are not recognised by the government but are sometimes tolerated. China is estimated to have about 12 million practising Catholics divided between the official and the underground branches of the Church. The family of Ngoc Truong, a four-year Navy veteran who recently passed away after a battle with cancer, are dealing with another tragedy. According to them, Truongs mother was denied a visa to come to the U.S. to attend his funeral. Hes already done for this country, but what has this country done for him? What did this country do for him? Truongs father said in an interview with WREG. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Truong died Dec. 17 after suddenly being diagnosed with leukemia. Services were held Dec. 26. He was 22 years old. Written on his headstone is a version of the famous line from President John F. Kennedys inaugural address: Dont ask what your country did for you, but ask what you did for your country. Though born in Vietnam, Truong was a U.S. citizen. He grew up in Blytheville, Ark., and after high school enlisted in the Navy, serving aboard the USS John McCain. After four years in the service he left the Navy in October to go to school in Florida for graphic design. It was then he was suddenly struck with the fatal illness. Truongs parents are divorced, and his mother lives in Vietnam. According to his father, who runs a jewelry store in Blytheville, her visa application was denied twice. The episode has left him fuming mad. In a statement emailed to WREG, the State Department did not explain why Truongs mother was denied a visa. Visa records are confidential under U.S. law. We are unable to discuss specific visa cases, wrote a State Department official. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Administrations policy allows states to impose work requirements for people on Medicaid, meaning sick or injured Americans have to go to work, no matter what As many as 6.3 million people could lose Medicaid benefits as a result of the new change. Photograph: Jonathan Bachman/Reuters Dr Gary Leroys patients are salt of the earth: inner-city people working in Dayton, Ohio as dishwashers, car mechanics and patient care assistants. They do their best to make ends meet, but rarely do. Although the vast majority have jobs, most qualify for Medicaid, a public health insurance program which serves 74 million poor and disabled Americans. The program is almost entirely free, and based on need. This week, the Trump administration announced a new policy that allows states to require Medicaid patients to work. Six in 10 already do. I work with Appalachian, salt-of-the-earth, Rah! Rah! America individuals, Leroy said. To have them clumped into Well, these people just dont want to work well, of course they want to work. I have all these working poor people that are making minimum wages. When people are required to work to receive healthcare cover, Leroy said: Its almost like asking people to work with an anchor tied to their back. The politics of welfare are complex. In the 1990s, under Bill Clinton, reforms transformed pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps from an ethos to a matter of public policy. Now, the 10 states looking to implement work requirements for Medicaid coverage are all led by Republican governors or legislatures. The changes allow states to require Medicaid recipients who are not children, elderly, disabled or pregnant to either work or perform community engagement, which can include going to school, looking for a job, volunteering or caregiving. As many as 6.3 million people could lose Medicaid benefits as a result, an analysis by the left-leaning Center for American Progress found. About two-thirds of those individuals are believed to be students or caregivers who may not meet the strict requirements. States must apply to the federal government to add work requirements, a process which also requires Medicaid beneficiaries to pay a monthly fee for insurance or be locked out. Kentuckys application has already been approved. Story continues Kentucky will now lead on this issue, said Governor Matt Bevin, at a news conference. People on Medicaid, he said, want the dignity associated with being able to earn and have engagement in the very things theyre receiving. In some states, eligibility for programs such as food stamps and welfare are already caveated by work requirements, drug tests and complex eligibility rules. States applied to add work requirements to Medicaid under the Obama administration, but were not successful. Medicaid needs to be more flexible so that states can best address the needs of this population, said Seema Verma, head of the US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Our fundamental goal is to make a positive and lasting difference in the health and wellness of our beneficiaries, and todays announcement is a step in that direction. Before joining the Trump administration, Verma worked with then Indiana governor Mike Pence in an attempt to add work requirements to Medicaid. She also designed such a program in Kentucky. Leroy believes the new requirement will largely have one effect on his practice: adding a new layer of paperwork. They have to go to work no matter what, no matter their sick[ness]: diabetes or complications of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, afflictions they have no ability to overcome, he said. To say, you still have to go to work its a requirement there seems to be something just basically not right. Fundamentally not right. President Donald Trump (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Despite his hatred of the Iran nuclear deal, President Donald Trump has left the accord intact for now but has given European allies 120 days to agree to a new deal or the US will pull out. Mr Trump is waiving nuclear sanctions against Iran for the last time, administration officials said comments that were quickly followed by a stark warning from the President: Either fix the deals disastrous flaws, or the United States will withdraw. The action is the third time Mr Trump has given a reprieve to the agreement negotiated by the Obama administration, even though he has called it the worst deal ever. Mr Trump has also approved sanctions against the head of Irans judiciary, Sadeq Larijani, who the administration holds culpable for the violent crackdown on recent anti-government protests. Mr Larijani is among 14 individuals and entities that were designated on Friday to be sanctioned by the administration for human rights abuses, censorship in Iran and for providing support to Iranian weapons proliferators. The United States will not stand by while the Iranian regime continues to engage in human rights abuses and injustice, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. We are targeting the Iranian regime, including the head of Irans judiciary, for its appalling mistreatment of its citizens, including those imprisoned solely for exercising their right to freedom of peaceful assembly, and for censoring its own people as they stand up in protest against their government. We are also targeting Irans ballistic missile program and destabilising activities, which it continues to prioritise over the economic well-being of the Iranian people. Mr Trump said in a statement he is open to working with Congress on bipartisan legislation regarding Iran. But any bill I sign must include four critical components, he said. First, it must demand that Iran allow immediate inspections at all sites requested by international inspectors. Second, it must ensure that Iran never even comes close to possessing a nuclear weapon. Story continues He continued: Third, unlike the nuclear deal, these provisions must have no expiration date. My policy is to deny Iran all paths to a nuclear weapon not just for ten years, but forever. If Iran does not comply with any of these provisions, American nuclear sanctions would automatically resume. Fourth, the legislation must explicitly state in United States law for the first time that long-range missile and nuclear weapons programmes are inseparable, and that Irans development and testing of missiles should be subject to severe sanctions. Under the 2015 agreement with six nations, Iran agreed to restrict its nuclear programme for at least 10 years in exchange for the loosening of economic sanctions that had crippled its economy. The signatories of the accord were the US, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China and the EU. After the Presidents announcement on Friday, Obama officials who helped negotiate the 2015 agreement reiterated that the accord ensures Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon. It is also critical that the US remains part of the deal, they said. Wendy Sherman, former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs during the Obama administration, said on a press call that it would hurt the USs credibility if Mr Trump does not maintain the agreement. A senior Trump administration official said Fridays decision represents the next step in the strategy that Mr Trump announced last October, when the President said he had chosen not to certify that Tehran was complying with the deal. However, at the time, Mr Trump also stopped short of scrapping the accord altogether, saying he wanted his administration to work with Congress and other nations to address the deals many serious flaws. Even though Mr Trump has now imposed a 120-day deadline on his European partners, it does not appear like they have the appetite to negotiate a follow-on agreement regarding Iran. On Thursday, European foreign ministers met in Brussels with Irans foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, seemingly to press Tehran about its destabilising activities in the Middle East. I dont think anybody has so far produced a better alternative, said the Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson. The Iran nuclear deal makes the world safer. European partners were unanimous today in our determination to preserve the deal and tackle Irans disruptive behaviour. The EUs foreign affairs chief, Federica Mogherini, said, The deal is working it is delivering on its main goal which means keeping the Iranian nuclear program in check and under close surveillance. During a phone call, French President Emmanuel Macron also urged Mr Trump not to scrap the deal. Mr Macron reaffirmed Frances determination to see the agreement strictly enforced and the importance for all of its signatories to abide by it, his office said in a statement. Trump said he had used tough language but denies using specific phrase Senator who attended meeting: Trumps remarks hateful, vile and racist Donald Trump denied on Friday that he used the phrase shithole countries to describe Central American and African nations during talks with US lawmakers the day before. But one of the senators present contradicted Trump and called the remarks he had heard hate-filled, vile and racist. Senator Dick Durbin, a Democrat who was in the meeting, contradicted him to local Chicago press on Friday morning. He said Trump in the course of his comments said things which were hate-filled, vile and racist. Durbin said: He said these hate-filled things, and he said them repeatedly. A few hours later, at an event to honor Martin Luther King Jr, Trump ignored questions from reporters, including one who asked: Mr President, are you a racist? On Thursday, Trump reportedly grew angry during a meeting about protections for immigrants from several countries, and asked: Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here? Why do we need more Haitians? he reportedly added. Take them out. He also reportedly suggested the US bring in more people from Norway. Early on Friday, he denied using the derogatory language. The language used by me at the Daca meeting was tough, but this was not the language used, he tweeted, using an acronym for a program to protect young undocumented immigrants. What was really tough was the outlandish proposal made a big setback for Daca! Trump later added: Never said anything derogatory about Haitians other than Haiti is, obviously, a very poor and troubled country. Never said take them out. Made up by Dems. I have a wonderful relationship with Haitians. Probably should record future meetings unfortunately, no trust! But Durbin said: I cannot believe that in the history of the White House and the Oval Office, any president has ever spoken the words that I personally heard our president speak yesterday. Ive seen the comments in the press and Ive not read one of them thats inaccurate. Story continues Leaders around the world spoke out in anger on Friday. Haiti summoned the American envoy to the country, El Salvadors president lodged a diplomatic protest, and the UNs spokesman on human rights told reporters there is no other word one can use but racist. The Republican senator Jeff Flake also contradicted the president, tweeting: The words used by the President, as related to me directly following the meeting by those in attendance, were not tough, they were abhorrent and repulsive. Two of the presidents closest allies in the Senate, Republicans Tom Cotton and David Perdue, said in a statement: we do not recall the president saying these comments specifically. The Thursday remarks was first reported by the Washington Post, citing aides briefed on the meeting, and White House spokesman Raj Shah did not deny that the president had used profanity to describe the nations. Certain Washington politicians choose to fight for foreign countries, but President Trump will always fight for the American people, Shah said Thursday. He added that the president wanted merit-based immigration of people who can grow our economy and assimilate into our great nation. The president harped on those themes Friday morning, saying that the proposals he saw Thursday were inadequate and even a big step backwards. He claimed without specifics or evidence that the deal would force the US to take large numbers of people from high crime countries which are doing badly. I want a merit-based system of immigration and people who will help take our country to the next level. I want safety and security for our people. I want to stop the massive inflow of drugs, he said. That tweet and reported remarks echo Trumps long history of inflammatory comments about race, including years of spreading a false conspiracy about Barack Obamas birth, a campaign announcement calling Mexicans rapists, and a refusal to condemn white supremacists last summer. At the midday event to honor King, Trump decried racism. No matter what the color of our skin or the place of our birth, we are all created equal, he said. The president left the event without answering reporters questions, mostly about his views of people from Central America and Africa. Donald Trump, the US president - AP Donald Trump has announced he will not reimpose economic sanctions on Iran in a move that keeps the nuclear deal in place, despite his repeated criticism. However Mr Trump said this is the last time he will waive such sanctions and challenged European allies to agree a series of new requirements on Iran. He also ordered 14 separate sanctions to punish Iran over its human rights abuses, including in response to recent protests. These are separate to the nuclear deal. The news will be cautiously welcomed by British leaders and European Union figures who have lobbied hard to keep the Iran nuclear deal in place. Mr Trump said: Despite my strong inclination, I have not yet withdrawn the United States from the Iran nuclear deal. "Instead, I have outlined two possible paths forward: either fix the deals disastrous flaws, or the United States will withdraw. The 2015 agreement was signed by Barack Obama, Mr Trumps predecessor, and saw economic sanctions waived in return for Iran not developing nuclear weapons. Mr Trump was a fierce critic during the 2016 election campaign, calling it the worse deal ever and promising to scrap it if he became president. Pro-government demonstrators hold posters of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Credit: MOHAMMAD ALI MARIZAD/AFP/Getty Images An Iranian woman raises her fist amid the smoke of tear gas at the University of Tehran during a protest driven by anger over economic problems, in the capital Tehran on December 30, 2017 Credit: AFP PHOTO / STRSTR/AFP/Getty Images On Friday, Mr Trump faced a deadline over whether to reinstate sanctions on Irans central bank and oil exports a move that would almost certainly have collapsed the deal. Mr Trump has decided not take that step and instead waived the sanctions, senior administration officials said effectively leaving the deal in place. However, they added it would be the last such waiver that Mr Trump would issue and said it is now up to America and Europe to agree tougher requirements on Iran. It is 60 days until the next sanctions relief renewal deadline comes up. Specifically, Mr Trump wants Iran to limit its ballistic missile testing and be more open to international nuclear inspectors in return for keeping the nuclear deal in place. Story continues In a separate but linked move, Mr Trump also announced 14 designations against Iranian individuals and companies who will be punished for, among other things, alleged human rights abuses. Donald Trump, the US president Credit: UPI / Barcroft Images Targets include Sadeq Amoli Larijani, the head of Irans judiciary, who has overseen cruel, inhumane and degrading torture of prisoners, according to senior US administration officials. Other punishments are linked to censoring Iranian protesters, who have taken to the streets in recent weeks, and the attempt to stop them practising the right to free assembly. Allies are likely to breathe a sigh of relief that Mr Trump has not reimposed economic sanctions and brought down the nuclear deal - a decision partly credited to pressure from his cabinet colleagues. However the US president has effectively started the clock ticking, saying he will put sanctions back on unless a series of tougher restrictions are placed on Iran. These are additional to those already in place and will be negotiated between America and European countries rather than with Iran, US officials said. Talks are already quite far advanced. Mr Trump also hoped Congress can agree a new law that tackles similar issues. The move reflects Trump administration fears that Iran is using the nuclear agreement as a shield to aggressively pursue ballistic missiles development and sponsoring terrorism in the region. Mr Trump explained: No one should doubt my word. I said I would not certify the nuclear dealand I did not. I will also follow through on this pledge. "I hereby call on key European countries to join with the United States in fixing significant flaws in the deal, countering Iranian aggression, and supporting the Iranian people. "If other nations fail to act during this time, I will terminate our deal with Iran. It remains unclear whether Iran would agree to any tougher limits on its behaviour. Hassan Rouhani, Irans president, has previously rejected such calls. IN THE NEWS TODAY Africans woke up startled this morning after President Donald Trump reportedly referred to Haiti and African nations as "s---hole countries" in a meeting with lawmakers. The White House's statement did not deny that the president made those remarks. (CNBC & AP) * Trump asked why the US needs more Haitians. Mar-a-Lago may hold the answer (CNBC) * Trump signals openness to North Korea diplomacy (WSJ) Trump said he canceled a planned visit to a U.S. embassy in London because he didn't want to associate with what he called a "bad" real estate deal . Britons planned protests against Trump during his trip to the city, where he is deeply unpopular. (CNBC) Trump told The Wall Street Journal that Mexico could end up paying for his proposed border wall "indirectly" if the North American Free Trade Agreement gets tweaked. "They can pay for it indirectly through NAFTA," he told the newspaper in an interview. * US to extend sanctions relief to Iran, keeping nuclear deal in place for now (WSJ) * US Commerce Department wraps up steel probe, does not detail findings (Reuters) Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the government expects about 90 percent of workers to see an increase in their take-home pay as a result of the new tax law. Workers will not have to fill out new W-4 this year. (CNBC) Political leaders in Germany have reached a breakthrough in talks to form a new coalition government. It followed months of uncertainty after elections in September last year, which failed to produce an overall majority for any party. (CNBC) Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon is reportedly expected to testify before the House Intelligence Committee in a closed session next week. Bannon has hired lawyer Bill Burck to represent him during the testimony. (NBC News) Appearing on the debut episode of David Letterman's new Netflix (NFLX) series, former President Barack Obama said Americans are living in a political "bubble" by personalizing their respective media streams. (CNBC) Dropbox has secretly filed to go public in the first half of this year, a source confirmed to CNBC. Dropbox, last valued at $10 billion, reportedly hired Goldman Sachs (GS) and J.P. Morgan (JPM) to handle the offering. Intel (INTC) said that the recently-issued patches for flaws in its chips could cause some computers to reboot more often than normal. The company also said it might need to issue updates to fix those buggy patches. (Reuters) Walmart (WMT) is shuttering 63 of its Sam's Club locations across the U.S. Some stores went dark as early as Thursday, and not all of the retailer's employees were notified in advance. (CNBC) STOCKS TO WATCHIBM (IBM) has replaced Chief Financial Officer Martin Schroeter with Senior Vice President James Kavanaugh. Schroeter is moving to a new role as senior vice president for global markets.Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) said its chips are susceptible to the security flaw known as "Spectre", which can let hackers steal sensitive information. AMD had said earlier that the risk was "near zero" but maintains there has been no change in its view.Fiat Chrysler (FCAU) will invest more than $1 billion in its Warren, Michigan plant, and will shift production of its Ram pickup trucks from Mexico to that plant in 2020. The move will create 2,500 jobs at the factory.Ford Motor (F) is urging 2,900 owners of certain older pickup trucks to stop driving them, after confirming a second death in a truck containing a defective Takata airbag inflator. The defective part is contained in certain 2006 Ford Rangers.The FCC has paused its review of Sinclair Broadcast Group's (SBGI) purchase of Tribune Media (TRCO) while it examines Sinclair's offer to divest certain assets.Qualcomm (QCOM) is close to winning European Union approval for its proposed $39 billion acquisition of NXP Semiconductors (NXPI), according to the Wall Street Journal.WATERCOOLER Louis Vuitton is reportedly making its own luggage tracker and it will be the first such device to work internationally. The device apparently will be able to operate for six months on a full battery and recharge via USB. (Engadget) IN THE NEWS TODAY Africans woke up startled this morning after President Donald Trump reportedly referred to Haiti and African nations as "s---hole countries" in a meeting with lawmakers. The White House's statement did not deny that the president made those remarks. (CNBC & AP) * Trump asked why the US needs more Haitians. Mar-a-Lago may hold the answer (CNBC) * Trump signals openness to North Korea diplomacy (WSJ) Trump said he canceled a planned visit to a U.S. embassy in London because he didn't want to associate with what he called a "bad" real estate deal . Britons planned protests against Trump during his trip to the city, where he is deeply unpopular. (CNBC) Trump told The Wall Street Journal that Mexico could end up paying for his proposed border wall "indirectly" if the North American Free Trade Agreement gets tweaked. "They can pay for it indirectly through NAFTA," he told the newspaper in an interview. * US to extend sanctions relief to Iran, keeping nuclear deal in place for now (WSJ) * US Commerce Department wraps up steel probe, does not detail findings (Reuters) Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the government expects about 90 percent of workers to see an increase in their take-home pay as a result of the new tax law. Workers will not have to fill out new W-4 this year. (CNBC) Political leaders in Germany have reached a breakthrough in talks to form a new coalition government. It followed months of uncertainty after elections in September last year, which failed to produce an overall majority for any party. (CNBC) Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon is reportedly expected to testify before the House Intelligence Committee in a closed session next week. Bannon has hired lawyer Bill Burck to represent him during the testimony. (NBC News) Appearing on the debut episode of David Letterman's new Netflix (NFLX) series, former President Barack Obama said Americans are living in a political "bubble" by personalizing their respective media streams. (CNBC) Dropbox has secretly filed to go public in the first half of this year, a source confirmed to CNBC. Dropbox, last valued at $10 billion, reportedly hired Goldman Sachs (GS) and J.P. Morgan (JPM) to handle the offering. Intel (INTC) said that the recently-issued patches for flaws in its chips could cause some computers to reboot more often than normal. The company also said it might need to issue updates to fix those buggy patches. (Reuters) Walmart (WMT) is shuttering 63 of its Sam's Club locations across the U.S. Some stores went dark as early as Thursday, and not all of the retailer's employees were notified in advance. (CNBC) STOCKS TO WATCH IBM (IBM) has replaced Chief Financial Officer Martin Schroeter with Senior Vice President James Kavanaugh. Schroeter is moving to a new role as senior vice president for global markets. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) said its chips are susceptible to the security flaw known as "Spectre", which can let hackers steal sensitive information. AMD had said earlier that the risk was "near zero" but maintains there has been no change in its view. Fiat Chrysler (FCAU) will invest more than $1 billion in its Warren, Michigan plant, and will shift production of its Ram pickup trucks from Mexico to that plant in 2020. The move will create 2,500 jobs at the factory. Ford Motor (F) is urging 2,900 owners of certain older pickup trucks to stop driving them, after confirming a second death in a truck containing a defective Takata airbag inflator. The defective part is contained in certain 2006 Ford Rangers. The FCC has paused its review of Sinclair Broadcast Group's (SBGI) purchase of Tribune Media (TRCO) while it examines Sinclair's offer to divest certain assets. Qualcomm (QCOM) is close to winning European Union approval for its proposed $39 billion acquisition of NXP Semiconductors (NXPI), according to the Wall Street Journal. WATERCOOLER Louis Vuitton is reportedly making its own luggage tracker and it will be the first such device to work internationally. The device apparently will be able to operate for six months on a full battery and recharge via USB. (Engadget) More From CNBC Top News and Analysis Latest News Video Personal Finance DUBAI (Reuters) - Iranian authorities have arrested a dual national who was taking pictures during recent unrest, Iran's judiciary spokesman was quoted as saying on Sunday, as security forces sought to contain the most widespread protests in the country since 2009. "As far as I was able to find out, we had a dual national arrested and this person had been taking pictures and filming," Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei told a weekly news conference, according to the semi-official news agency Fars. Mohseni Ejei gave no further details. In early January, an Iranian judicial official said a European citizen had been arrested in anti-government protests in Borujerd county, western Iran, but did not specify the nationality of the detainee. The official accused the unnamed detainee of having been "trained by European intelligence services ... leading the rioters". At least 22 people have died and 1,000 been arrested in the anti-government protests that began in late December. Iran on Saturday lifted restrictions on the messaging app Telegram, after blocking the popular service. Pictures and videos of the protests were often posted on social media to encourage more people to take part in the marches. Irans Revolutionary Guards have arrested at least 30 dual nationals in the past two years, mostly on spying charges, according to lawyers, diplomats and relatives. (Reporting by Dubai newsroom; Editing by Dale Hudson) CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt's parliament approved on Sunday a cabinet reshuffle including four new ministers, government sources said, two months ahead of a scheduled presidential election. The reshuffle included the appointment of Abu Bakr al-Gendi as minister for local development, Rania al-Mashat as tourism minister, Enas Abdeldayem as culture minister and Khaled Badawy as public enterprise minister. Two new ministry deputies were also appointed in the reshuffle. Housing Minister Mustafa Madbuly will continue to serve as interim prime minister while Prime Minister Sherif Ismail recovers from surgery, government sources said. Egypt is set to hold a presidential vote on March 26-28, with a run-off on April 24-26. Candidates must register between Jan. 20 and 29. Egypt's last cabinet reshuffle was in February last year and included new investment and agriculture ministers. (Reporting by Moemen Abdelkhalek; Writing by Arwa Gaballa, editing by Louise Heavens; Editing by Louise Heavens) Supreme Court grants cert on a couple of (small?) sentencing cases | Main | Campaign to recall Brock Turner's sentencing judge turns in many signatures January 13, 2018 Noticing the rise in LWOP as death sentencing declines in Texas This lengthy article from the Houston Chronicle, headlined "Harris County leads Texas in life without parole sentences as death penalty recedes," provides an astute review of the sentencing impact of a decline of death sentencing. Here are excerpts (with the closing sentences prompting some commentary): Once known as the "capital of capital punishment," Harris County is now doling out more life without parole sentences than any other county in the state. In the 12 years since then-Gov. Rick Perry signed the life without parole or "LWOP" bill into law, Harris County has handed down 266 of those sentences nearly 25 percent of the state's total, according to data through mid-December obtained from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. "It's concerning, but this is like economics or engine performance, there's no free lunch," said Houston defense attorney Patrick McCann. "We have far fewer death cases than we used to. That's a tremendous win. But now we have a lot of LWOP sentences." The county's reliance on the lengthiest sentence available in capital murder cases comes as the Houston area and Texas as a whole has shifted away from capital punishment. For the first time in more than 30 years, 2017 saw no new death sentences and no executions of Harris County killers. And although part of that downturn stems from the possibility of life without parole, some experts see possible drawbacks.... Andy Kahan, the city of Houston's victim advocate, described life without parole as a "saving grace" for victims' families. "Like it or not, there's some really evil people out there that commit some horrible atrocities that deserve to be locked up for life," he said. "In a utopian world it'd be great if we didn't have to have it but that's not reality." While Harris County grabs the lion's share of the state's life without parole sentences, Dallas County came in right behind with 120, according to Texas Department of Criminal Justice data through Dec. 18. Tarrant County had 69 of the state's 1,067 total such sentences, while Bexar County had 47 and Hidalgo had 26.... Just over 17 percent of the state's population lives in Harris County, according to Texas Department of State Health Services population projections for 2016. That makes for an LWOP rate of 6 sentences per 100,000 residents, which is higher than in all but two counties with populations over 100,000. In comparison to murder figures, the relatively large number of life without parole sentences looks less surprising. According to an analysis of DPS data, in 2016 Harris County accounted for 27.7 percent of the state's murders and 22.7 percent of the murders cleared. And while Harris County accounts for a disproportionate number of total executions nationwide more than any other county or entire state, except the rest of Texas it has generated only a small fraction of the total life without parole sentences across the country, based on TDCJ figures and a 2017 Sentencing Project report. "Where the corporate culture has changed is the willingness to seek death," McCann said, referring to local prosecutors. "Cases that ten years ago would have been death even with LWOP are now charged as non-death," McCann said. "But that doesn't mean that they've stopped charging the LWOP cases." To some extent, Texas' relatively low LWOP use compared to national numbers may stem from the fact that prosecutors have only had the option for life without parole since 2005. Before that, the harshest choices were death or the possibility of release after 40 years.... Texas became the last death penalty state to adopt the option, after Harris County prosecutors dropped their opposition. Initially it only applied to capital murder, but later the law was expanded to include crimes like repeated sexual assault of a child. From the statute's inception, Harris County was one of its biggest users. "It's not surprising because Harris County is also the driver of the death penalty numbers and most juvenile commitments as well," Henneke said. "Across the board Harris County is the incarceration county."... Unlike with death-sentenced cases, there's no automatic appointment of post-conviction appellate counsel and no punishment phase of the trial, which makes the whole process quicker and cheaper. "Life without parole was an unintentional gift to major urban prosecutors' offices," McCann said. "It makes it very easy to dispose of a large number of violent and often youthful offenders without any more thought than one would need to toss away a piece garbage." The last few passages highlight what has long been my enduring concern as abolitionist have pushed for LWOP sentences as an alternative to the death penalty. Though the extreme LWOP sentence may at first be only available for the worst murders, once on the books it can and often does creep to be applicable to a range of other crimes. And capital cases come with super due-process, much of which is constitutionally requires; LWOP can be imposed, as this article puts it, "quicker and cheaper." While I understand why abolitionists celebrate the use of LWOP in order to engineer a decline in capital cases, I also lament the various ways abolitionist advocacy for LWOP alternatives have contributed to modern mass incarceration and further entrenched carceral commitments and contentments. January 13, 2018 at 06:37 PM | Permalink Comments -- LWOP can be imposed, as this article puts it, "quicker and cheaper." Relatively speaking. There still will be due process, obviously, and since the person isn't executed, there will be more time long term to find problems and/or grounds to commute the LWOP to a term of years. There are many decades long pending death penalty cases but recently I have also seen people executed in much less time. As LWOP is used more, there also will be more pressure to take special concern for that as well, especially once examples come to light where it is argued to be warranted when extra attention is given to specific cases, putting aside that I doubt there isn't some level of special concern as is. We already saw that for teens -- extra care was put for LWOP and an implication made only a few teens warrant LWOP. Once you have the death penalty on the books, it won't only be used for worse of worst cases. As an imperfect solution, given there isn't enough support for less, LWOP is provided here. The result will be imperfect, but the alternative again is the death penalty. Even with the death penalty in place, long prison sentences are being sought out, so the problem is there anyways. Finally, the same people who oppose capital punishment (some not big fans of LWOP) tend to generally put pressure in place to reduce harsh penalties of all sorts. Net, just what has the efforts of "abolitionists" done here? Posted by: Joe | Jan 13, 2018 7:16:26 PM Quicker: If you think the death penalty is deeply wrong [the professor thinks it is okay for certain cases], even an imperfect solution is worth it. Plus, just how much abolitionist efforts here factors in here is far from clear net. Posted by: Joe | Jan 13, 2018 7:22:45 PM Joe you say: "As LWOP is used more, there also will be more pressure to take special concern for that as well, especially once examples come to light where it is argued to be warranted when extra attention is given to specific cases, putting aside that I doubt there isn't some level of special concern as is." The ACLU documented more than four years ago, Joe, that there were more people serving LWOP FOR NON-VIOLENT OFFENSES than are on death row: https://www.aclu.org/report/living-death-life-without-parole-nonviolent-offenses. Meanwhile, over the last quarter-century, SCOTUS has not reviewed a single non-violent LWOP case, and in the one before that it affirmed the sentence (Harmelin in 1991). Ewing is closest, perhaps, of modern vintage and again SCOTUS affirmed and extreme sentence. In the interim, even though only serious forms of murder are even death eligible, the Supreme Court on average takes up a couple of capital cases every single term. I understand that abolitionists generally view death as a punishment to be morally wrong, but I seek to highlight how an even more robust version of living death punishments can often follow advocacy against the death penalty. This is not a zero some game, and some abolitionist advocacy can extend to non-capital cases (see Graham and Miller). But, because capital cases get so much process and attention, and LWOP cases still get relatively little, I am always concerned by the impact of this kind of extreme punishment shift and possible net-widening. Posted by: Doug B. | Jan 13, 2018 9:51:01 PM In Italy, this overdue execution would be called a suicide. https://www.yahoo.com/news/white-supremacist-gang-leader-slain-145009581.html Posted by: David Behar | Jan 14, 2018 1:49:41 AM The cited statistic underlines the efforts made by those against the death penalty to address LWOP too. The quarter century reference suggests the longer trend of long prison sentences is a result of various factors, the success in using LWOP as an alternative to the death penalty to my understanding more recent, to the degree the efforts had much success. So, how much exactly net are abolitionists hurting the cause here by pushing its use for a narrow class to avoid executions? Why are we citing them specifically? I understand your concern for other things being crowded out, but abolitionists are not exactly the best example there since they tend to express various concerns with the criminal justice system. I kinda get the idea you think that a few executions will serve a sort of "The Lottery" benefit to settle public demand while net helping other criminal justice matters. But, even if one grants (which abolitionists do not) executing fifty or whatever number of people a year is okay, that seems naive. (You probably would not put it that bluntly, but that is how it looks.) And, I thought we were addressing a more recent data set -- some more recent effect of abolitionist (a term that I continue to think is used with an edge) supporting LWOP. As the death penalty is used less (though with Trump, perhaps there will be an uptick), supposed LWOP will get more attention there -- SCOTUS review not the only way this can be done. Posted by: Joe | Jan 14, 2018 10:49:53 AM DB is a retarded idiot !!!!! Posted by: Claudio Giusti | Jan 14, 2018 4:13:35 PM Joe, abolitionists have been pushing for LWOP as an alternative to death for at least 30+ years. In some jurisdictions such as New Jersey, Joe, abolitionists pushed for mandatory LWOP (when there was no mandatory LWOP before) in order to get the death penalty abolished. That said, I do not mean to assert that the rise in LWOP sentences should be attributed largely or even significantly to the work of abolitionists. But I do mean to highlight that abolitionists energies and advocacy has, in some places at some times, further entrenched carceral commitments and contentments. In the end, my gripe really is the failure of abolitionists and their sympathizers to be more willing and eager to shift even a small percentage of their energies and advocacy toward the worst forms of the "living" death penalty. There is no LWOP Information Center, no NAACP LDF report on LWOP prisoners, no ABA LWOP Due Process Review Project, and so on and so on. And this is despite the fact that every single death row prisoner was convicted of a terrible murder and got super due process; a greater number of LWOP prisoners did not even commit a violent crime and got far less process. I hope you are right that LWOP prisoners will be getting more attention soon, but I have been lodging this complaint for two decades and I have seen precious little change so far (except for juvenile offenders). Posted by: Doug B | Jan 15, 2018 8:28:10 PM Longer prison times appears to be an indirect consequence of the decline of the Death penalty. Here in France,the average length of prison time has increased since 1981 - the year when Death penalty was abolished. Prior to 1981, a life sentence usually meant an average time of 12-15 years, whereas now a paroled lifer has spent an average time of 25 years in prison, maybe more. And this number concerns lifers who were granted a parole: an ever increasing number of lifers are found unparolable. Eventhough LWOP doesn't really exist in the French penal code (though, for very serious murder, there is still the possibility of a LWOP-like sentence that doesn't call its name), dying in prison has become a real prospect for offenders convicted of a serious crime. It's also interesting to see that most offenders who were sentenced pre-1981 but whose heads were spared (presidential reprieve, jurors who weren't willing to impose a death sentence...) are still in prison. Judges can be very cautious and this kind of offenders will be denied parole most of the time (public opinion seems to be here a crucial factor). I think that in other European countries a same phenomenon can be observed. Posted by: Raxatu | Jan 16, 2018 7:17:53 AM The main post specifically targeted abolitionists: "The last few passages highlight what has long been my enduring concern as abolitionist have pushed for LWOP sentences as an alternative to the death penalty." As I noted more than once, these people do not merely oppose the death penalty. They also generally (the ACLU cite underlines this) are concerned about what is deemed excessive punishment generally. There is no perfect solution here. They argue for the small subset of people otherwise worthy of execution, who are not all murderers, LWOP would be better than execution. This very well to some small extent helps overuse of LWOP, but any small influence THIS SPECIFIC GROUP has is balanced by their like efforts against overuse of punishment etc. generally. So, targeting abolitionists here is to me misguided here, except perhaps if one thinks it is okay to allow the death penalty, so the special efforts to stop it is not worth the possible risks. There are efforts against LWOP; see, e.g., the cases involving teens. There are efforts against long prison sentences as seen in the drug context. To the degree there should be more, I'm not really sure how abolitionists specifically are stopping it. If we didn't have the death penalty, there would be more ability to address other matters. Abolitionists are not to blame for there being one. It is said that "every single death row prisoner was convicted of a terrible murder and got super due process," which is false. Not every death row prison actually was convicted of "a terrible murder" -- numerous ones are guilty of murder that do not warrant the death penalty. It an aspect of the arbitrariness of the system. Multiple people on death row has had various due process violated. At times, the fact a "terrible murder" was deemed to have been committed affects such violations. I'm all for more attention to LWOP sentences. As to your long efforts, that's fine, but the article says "for the first time," so am I too off base to suppose that a conclusion is being made some sort of tipping point NOW -- not for three decades -- is in place regarding LWOP? If so, it is hard to know what will happen now that such a point has reached. And, yes, finally death is going to be different. A special weight is going to be put on it. Like chemo being used for cancer, stopping it will at times include usage of harsh methods that are still better than the alternative that might be open for abuse. But, LWOP prisoners are not merely forgotten by abolitionists. The same people against the death penalty do various things to concern themselves about their innocence, the injustice of their long sentences etc. It is much more like those not against the death penalty in all cases, not abolitionists, will not take enough care here. Posted by: Joe | Jan 16, 2018 8:07:49 PM " There is no LWOP Information Center, no NAACP LDF report on LWOP prisoners, no ABA LWOP Due Process Review Project, and so on and so on." There are various efforts against LWOP for teens, the Death Penalty Information Center has information on LWOP, you yourself cited an ACLU report concerning problems with LWOP, international efforts against LWOP ... and various efforts (be it racially inclined or otherwise) to address due process rights etc. that would bring within it those under LWOP too. And, more probably can be cited. So, I think your summary is a bit misleading to the extent it implies LWOP gets no real attention. Again, death is different, so yes, liberty will get somewhat less attention than deprivation of life. A suicide will get more attention than a long lingering patient who is suffering a lot. The suicide help advocate to me is not the best person to cite here, even if they in a small way promote that result. Posted by: Joe | Jan 16, 2018 8:31:40 PM Joe, I am not "targeting abolitionists" as much as just seeking to spotlight what Raxatu notes and what I have observed in various ways and in various settings: there seems sometimes to be a relationship in modern times between advocacy against/decline in the death penalty and greater use of greater terms of imprisonment. My comments here seek to highlight that the "death is different" concern driving some abolitionist advocacy seems often to have what might be called a "liberty cost." Those who see death as so much worse a punishment are perhaps willing to endure that liberty cost, but I am eager to make sure all recognize and reflect on this "liberty cost." And the "liberty cost" is borne by defendants who have generally committed less serious crimes --- sometimes far less serious crimes --- than those on death row. I share your view that most abolitionists do not wish to impose this "liberty cost" as part of their advocacy against the death penalty, and I also agree that many abolitionists assail LWOP now and will assail LWOP even more if they succeed in their abolitionist efforts. But, right now, seemingly 10 times as much attention is given to each and every capital case (every one of which involves a murder) than is given to any LWOP case (many of which involve no violence). LWOP gets some attention, but sooooo much less attention than the death penalty, and I think that is a shame in a country where so few get sentenced to death (less than one per week) and so many get LWOP (perhaps over 20 per week). Posted by: Doug B | Jan 16, 2018 10:10:52 PM Post a comment Paris (AFP) - The chief executive of France's Lactalis group on Sunday vowed compensation for victims of salmonella-tainted baby milk, as he revealed that recalls were now under way in 83 countries. Emmanuel Besnier, giving his first interview in nearly 20 years as head of the family-controlled company, told the Journal du Dimanche newspaper that the recall involved more than 12 million packages of Picot, Milumel, Celia and other brands of powdered baby milk. "We are going to draw the lessons from this crisis and set out an even stricter hygiene framework, in collaboration with the authorities," he said. Asked why he had not publicly addressed earlier parents' concerns as worries about the outbreak intensified, Besnier said: "It's true, by nature I'm not very forthcoming." "In a crisis like this, we act first, and perhaps I didn't take the necessary time to explain things." A total of 37 babies have fallen ill in France as a result of the contamination, health authorities said late Friday, along with a case in Spain and a suspected case in Greece. But Besnier said no new cases had been reported since December 8, a week after the recall was announced. The French government welcomed the pledge to reimburse victims, but said investigations would continue to determine why the contamination went undetected. Officials will also investigate why in some cases the affected milk continued to be distributed in supermarkets, pharmacies and even some hospitals after the recall was announced. "When you have a case of milk on the market which has clearly caused complicated health problems for children, it means at some point there was negligence," government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux told BFM television Sunday. Besnier's explanations "have not been sufficient," he added, vowing that the investigations "will not spare anyone", including the French state. - 'Not hiding things' - Story continues Besnier's interview with the newspaper included two of the first public photographsof the secretive leader in years, at the Lactalis headquarters in Laval, western France. Created in 1933 by Besnier's grandfather, Lactalis has become an industry behemoth with annual sales of some 17 billion euros ($20.6 billion), making it the world's third-largest dairy group, behind Danone and Nestle. The interview came after French finance minister Bruno Le Maire summoned Besnier to a meeting over the crisis on Friday, in which the chief executive agreed to pull from store and pharmacy shelves all products from the Craon factory where the outbreak was found. But Besnier did not appear with Le Maire at a press conference after the meeting, despite calls by several government officials for him to face the public. Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed against the group by families who say their children got salmonella poisoning after drinking powdered milk made by the company. Richard Ferrand, leader of President Emmanuel Macron's LREM lawmakers in parliament, said all efforts would be made to find the causes of the crisis, and did not rule out the creation of a parliamentary inquiry, sought by opposition groups. But Besnier, 47, denied claims by an association of victims' families that Lactalis had lied about the dates and number of stocks affected by the salmonella outbreak. "At no point was there any intention of hiding things," he said. - 'Buy our silence' - But the company's promise of compensation did not impress Quentin Guillemain, president of the Lactalis victim's association. "They are trying to buy our silence," he told AFP. "We want the truth," he added, berating Lactalis for failing to provide apologies or explanations. "Mr Besnier speaks of 83 countries affected... Where are these figures from? Have all the authorities been informed? We are waiting for answers," said Guillemain. Besnier meanwhile also defended the decision not to inform the authorities that internal tests had discovered salmonella on a broom and on the tiles of a dehydration tower at the company's Craon factory in August and November last year. "For us, these 'environment' tests are an alert to make sure we keep the bacteria far from the product," he said, adding that authorities would have been alerted only if bacteria were found in the powdered milk. The salmonella scare has cast a harsh spotlight on an executive and a company little known to the public, despite employing 15,000 people in France, where milk and cheese are proudly considered part of the country's heritage. Analysts say the crisis could dent the company's reputation among anxious parents worldwide. By Gina Cherelus (Reuters) - The founder of a Roman Catholic school and four children were among the victims of a deadly series of Santa Barbara County, California, mudslides that killed 18 people along the coast, officials said. The mudslides also injured nearly 30 people and destroyed about 100 homes in the Montecito area between the Pacific Ocean and the Los Padres National Forest. Rescue workers were searching for more missing people on Saturday. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office this week identified the 18 killed, citing the cause of death as multiple traumatic injuries resulting from flash floods with mudslides. * Joseph Bleckel, 87, was found in his home on Friday, the sheriff's office said. * David Cantin, 49, was the father of 14-year-old Lauren Cantin, whom rescuers pulled from her Montecito home earlier this week, the Associated Press reported. * Josephine Gower, 69, died when she was swept away in the mudslides, her daughter-in-law Sarah Gower confirmed in a Facebook post on Wednesday. Her body was found that night, near a highway hit by the slide. "I told her to stay on the second floor, but she went downstairs and opened the door and just got swept away," her son, Hayden Gower, told NBC affiliate KSBY. "I should have just told her to leave. You just don't even think that this is possible." * James and Alice Mitchell, who moved to the Montecito area in 1999, were found dead on a different street from their destroyed home, KSBY reported on Thursday, citing the couple's daughter, Kelly Weimer. James was 89, and Alice was 78. * Roy Rohter, 84, founder of the Saint Augustine Academy in Ventura, was killed on Tuesday when a mudslide swept him from his Montecito home, according to officials at the private Catholic school. * Rebecca Riskin, a 61-year-old retired professional ballerina and founder of real estate firm Riskin Partners, died in Montecito as a result of the flooding and mudslides in the area, the firm confirmed in a Facebook post and statement. She had lived in the city for nearly 30 years. * Peter Fleurat, 73, who studied nursing at Santa Barbara City College and worked as an end-of-life caregiver, died after water swept through his Montecito home, KSBY reported. He shared the home with his partner, who owned a cafe in Santa Barbara. Family friends told the station that the pair had been asleep in their home early in the morning when water rushed inside. * Mark Montgomery, 54, a doctor at Associated Hand Surgeons, was at home with his wife and two children when they were caught in the mudslide, a family friend told KSBY. He had been a clinical instructor in the department of Orthopedic Surgery at Harvard Medical School, according to his office's website. * Caroline Montgomery, 22, Mark Montgomerys daughter, also died in the slide, KSBY reported. * Marilyn Ramos, 27, died when mudslides hit the home her family was renting in Montecito, the Washington Post reported. A family friend said Ramos called home daily to her relatives in her native town of Marquelia near Acapulco on Mexico's Pacific coast. * Jonathan Benitez, 10, was Ramos' nephew, the Washington Post said. * Kailly Benitez, 3, was Ramos' daughter, the Post reported. * John McManigal, 61, had six sons and owned a financing company in Santa Barbara, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing a Facebook post by his brother. * Peerawat Sutthithepa, 6, who was called Pasta, loved trains, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing family friend Kevin Touly. His father, Pinit Sutthithepa, and 2-year-old sister, Lydia, are among the missing, the county sheriff's office said. Others identified by the sheriff's office included: * Martin Cabrera-Munoz, 48 * Sawyer Corey, 12 * Richard Taylor, 67 (Reporting by Gina Cherelus in New York; Additional reporting by Chris Kenning and Suzannah Gonzales in Chicago and Keith Coffman in Denver.; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Lisa Von Ahn) Residents of Hawaii woke up to a terrifying notification on Saturday morning when the Emergency Alert Service issued a ballistic missile warning, telling residents to "seek immediate shelter." "BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL," the alert, which was delivered at approximately 8:07 a.m. HST, reads. SEE ALSO: How wireless emergency alerts work This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. U.S. Represenative Tulsi Gabbard tweeted shortly after the alert, confirming that it was a false alarm. "I have confirmed with officials there is no incoming missile," she wrote. The Twitter account for Hawaii Emergency Management also noted that there there was no threat to the state. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Approximately 38 minutes after the initial alert was sent out, an additional alert was issued stating, "There is no missile threat or danger to the State of Hawaii. Repeat. False Alarm." This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. The Federal Communications Commission did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The website for Hawaii Emergency Management Agency was also offline Saturday, possibly due to an influx of traffic. According to Buzzfeed News reporter Amber Jamieson, a representative for the HEMA said the alert was pushed as part "of a drill that was going on." Even though the message clearly states, "THIS IS NOT A DRILL." This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. In addition to mobile devices, the alert also interrupted local TV. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. NBC News reports the alert was based on "human error, according to Hawaii Senator Brian Schatz. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. With tensions between the United States and North Korea at an all time high, the alert sent panic throughout the region and continental United States. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un have both threatened each other with the possibility of nuclear attack in recent months, as North Korea continues to test its nuclear capabilities, despite condemnations from the rest of the world. In November, Hawaii began retesting its Cold War-era siren due to a possible threat from North Korea. It's unclear if those sirens were tested in the false alarm on Saturday, but it appears as if the alarm was only issued using the wireless emergency alert (WEA) system, which was established in April 2012. Story continues It was all too real for people in Hawaii. According to New York Times media reporter Sydney Ember, people were sheltering in basements, some crying and holding each other. Ember's and other tweets showed the pure panic that ensued after receiving the alert. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. While some called for a revamp of the alert system, Jon B. Wolfsthal, director of the Nuclear Crisis Group noted that the false alarm not only panicked the entire nation, but was incredibly dangerous, and easily could have sparked an accidental war. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. White House Deputy Press Secretary Lindsay Walters issued the following statement on the incident: "The President has been briefed on the state of Hawaii's emergency management exercise. This was purely a state exercise." UPDATE: Jan. 13, 2018, 12:23 p.m. PST (LAS VEGAS) FBI agents knew the gunman behind the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history left behind big caches of guns, ammunition and explosives when they sought warrants to search his properties and online accounts, according to court documents released Friday. However, new questions were raised after a U.S. judge in Nevada unsealed the documents revealing some of what federal agents had learned about shooter Stephen Paddock in the week after the Las Vegas attack. The 315 pages of FBI affidavits provide just a glimpse of what investigators found during initial searches of Paddocks car and home after police found him dead late Oct. 1 in a hotel room at the Mandalay Bay resort. Girlfriend Marilou Danleys casino player rewards card was with him, although she was in the Philippines at the time. The documents made public did not answer the key question: What motivated Paddock, a 64-year-old high-stakes gambler, to unleash gunfire from his room on the 32nd floor of the resort into an outdoor concert below. Paddock killed 58 people and injured hundreds more before killing himself. Prosecutors didnt oppose the request for the records by media organizations, including The Associated Press. The affidavits were filed to get search warrants. The records also did not say whether Danley knew in advance about Paddocks plans and why Paddock apparently emailed himself about buying and selling weapons and accessories. Danley told investigators they would probably find her fingerprints on bullets because she sometimes helped Paddock load ammunition magazines. An FBI agent told a judge in an Oct. 3 document that Danley wasnt arrested when she returned to the U.S.; she had provided a DNA sample to authorities, and she was cooperating with investigators. Police and the FBI have described Danley as a person of interest in the case. FBI spokeswoman Sandra Breault in Las Vegas said late Friday she could not comment about Danley or the investigation Story continues Las Vegas police Officer Aden OcampoGomez and Breault said Friday that they had no update about Paddocks motive. Both called it an ongoing investigation. Another document said Paddock apparently sent messages between separate email accounts with similar names referring to buying and selling assault-style rifles and so-called bump stock devices to make the guns more rapid-fire. The records provided dont provide inventories of what was obtained from searches. Attorney Maggie McLetchie, representing AP and the Las Vegas Review-Journal, said she is still seeking those documents. Investigators have said Paddock meticulously planned his attack and intentionally concealed his actions. He modified assault-style rifles to shoot rapidly, set up cameras to watch for police outside his hotel room and wounded a security guard in the hotel hallway. Police and the FBI have said they found no evidence that Paddock had help carrying out the attack. Paddocks three-bedroom house in a retirement community in Mesquite was searched twice first by police and FBI agents in the hours immediately after Paddock was identified as the shooter. Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo later said that Oct. 2 search found 19 guns and several pounds of potentially explosive materials. A court document said more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition also was found. The FBI returned to the house a week later for what officials at the time called redocumenting and rechecking. Their warrant gave agents authority to search for trace evidence including blood and hair fibers. Officers initially searched the hotel suite where Paddock opened fire and his vehicle after it was found parked in the casino parking structure. Lombardo said several pounds of ammonium nitrate, a material used to make explosives, was found in the car. A document released Friday said more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition and 100 pounds (45.4 kilograms) of explosive material was found in the vehicle. Other searches were conducted at a house the gunman owned in Reno, where agents found a red SUV and a neighbor reported that Paddock kept a safe the size of a refrigerator in the garage. Agents said their initial search found a large quantity of ammunition and multiple firearms on the property. FBI agents returned to that house on Oct. 10 after local police determined someone had broken in days earlier. U.S. District Judge Jennifer Dorsey allowed the government to keep one affidavit sealed pending a hearing before a Nevada state court judge on Tuesday about whether Las Vegas police search warrant documents should also be made public. By David Shepardson (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Communications Commission said on Saturday it was launching a full investigation into a false emergency alert that said a ballistic missile was headed for Hawaii, the chairman of the commission said. The alerts to Hawaii cellphone users were issued at about 8:07 a.m. local time (1807 GMT), saying "ballistic missile threat inbound" and urging residents to seek shelter immediately. The message also appeared on Hawaii television stations, according to news reports. The alert was officially canceled about 38 minutes later. The FCC has jurisdiction over the emergency alert system. Earlier this week, Pai said the FCC would vote at its January meeting to enhance the effectiveness of wireless emergency alerts, which have been in place since 2012. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai posted on Twitter that the FCC was launching a full investigation and FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said the commission must find out what went wrong. "Emergency alerts are meant to keep us and our families safe, not to create false panic. We must investigate and we must do better," she wrote on Twitter. CNN reported Hawaiian Governor David Ige told reporters the mistake was the result of human error and someone at the state emergency management agency pushed the "wrong button" during a shift change. Wireless carriers do not prepare or write the alerts but they run simultaneously on all networks. The FCC is working to better target alerts to impacted people and will vote this month on a proposal to "more precisely target these alerts to affected communities." Pai is proposing that providers "deliver these alerts to match the geographic area specified by the officials sending the alert with no more overshoot than one-tenth of a mile," he said in a statement earlier this week. Pai said the improved alerts will "lead Americans to take more seriously the alerts they receive on their mobile devices." (Reporting by David Shepardson in Detroit; Writing by Yara Bayoumy; Editing by Diane Craft and Bill Trott) A senator who attended the closed-door meeting during which the president reportedly insulted Haiti and various African nations with an expletive now says Trump never said the word. Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga., who supports Trumps immigration policies, had previously claimed that he did not recall whether or not Trump used this incendiary language. But on ABC News This Week, he repeatedly said that the meeting had been grossly and totally misrepresented in the press. The shows host, George Stephanopoulos, pointed out that Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., have told others that the reports were more or less accurate. Im saying that this is a gross misrepresentation. Its not the first time Sen. Durbin has done it. And it is not productive to solving the problem, Perdue said. Stephanopoulos repeatedly tried to have Perdue clarify what he meant and asked point-blank if Trump did not in fact say the crass word during the meeting. Im telling you he did not use that word, George. And Im telling you its a gross misrepresentation. How many times do you want me to say that? Perdue replied. Reports that Trump used vulgar language to describe Haiti and African countries, while opining that the U.S. does not accept more immigrants from countries like Norway, during an immigration meeting on Thursday elicited widespread condemnation from both sides of the aisle. For instance, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said, These comments are highly inappropriate and out of bounds and could hurt efforts for a bipartisan immigration agreement. The president should not denigrate other countries. Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., similarly said, The words used by the president, as related to me directly following the meeting by those in attendance, were not tough, they were abhorrent and repulsive. Perdue and Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., were both present at the negotiations on reforming the immigration system. Their response to the widespread reports of Trumps language, however, generated a bit of controversy itself. They did not condemn or outright deny the comments. Instead, just as Attorney General Jeff Sessions had before the Senate intelligence committee in June, they simply said they could not recall what had happened. They said as much in the following statement, which was released Friday: Story continues President Trump brought everyone to the table this week and listened to both sides. But regrettably, it seems that not everyone is committed to negotiating in good faith. In regards to Senator Durbins accusation, we do not recall the President saying these comments specifically but what he did call out was the imbalance in our current immigration system, which does not protect American workers and our national interest. We, along with the President, are committed to solving an issue many in Congress have failed to deliver on for decades. Shortly after the ABC News interview on Sunday, Durbin spokesman Ben Marter said on Twitter that Perdue has a credibility problem. Credibility is something thats built by being consistently honest over time. Senator Durbin has it. Senator Perdue does not. Ask anyone whos dealt with both, Marter said. Two hours later, Marter added, Yesterday, Senators Cotton and Perdue could not recall what the President said. Today they can. That, folks, is a credibility problem. Read more from Yahoo News: Amman (AFP) - Germany's Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen said on Sunday the war against the Islamic State group is not over, even if the jihadists have been "largely defeated militarily". Von der Leyen was speaking to reporters on her first visit to Jordan where Germany has 280 members of its forces as part of the US-led coalition's battle against IS in Syria and Iraq. The jihadist group "has been largely defeated militarily", the German minister said, adding however that the ultra-radical Islamist fighters "are not to be underestimated". The battle must continue and IS must not be allowed "to retreat into safe havens", she said. In October, Germany redeployed to Jordan military personnel and Tornado surveillance jets after withdrawing them from Turkey amid a dispute with Ankara. Von der Leyen said Germany was now considering reducing the number of its troops in the region. The IS self-proclaimed "caliphate" that spanned territory the size of Britain in Syria and Iraq was largely defeated last year. Iraq announced the end of the three-year war against IS in December, and across the border in Syria the jihadists have been ousted from most of their strongholds, with only isolated pockets left. Jordan, a key US ally, has used its own air force and allowed US-led coalition forces to use its bases to battle IS in Iraq and Syria. The German defence minister also met Jordan's King Abdullah II and army chief of staff Mahmud Abdel Halim Freihat, and handed over two training aircraft and other military vehicles worth around 18 million euros. "Germany and Europe... have a strong interest in Jordan's stability," she said. The royal court said King Abdullah discussed with von der Leyen the "importance of intensifying cooperation and coordination among all concerned parties, regionally and internationally... to address the threat of terrorism". Germany spent some 130 million euros on defence aid for Jordan last year. This included weapons, equipment and infrastructure, according to the German news agency DPA. Hawaiis false ballistic missile alert was the latest reminder of the nuclear threat that North Korea poses to the U.S. amid the rising tensions and war of words between the two nations leaders. BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL, said the emergency system alert pushed to peoples smartphones statewide. It was until a second message popped up 38 minutes later that people learned the missile alert was a mistake, later blamed on someone pushing the wrong button. But had the alert been real, a series of high-level assessments and decisions would have been made during that time in quick succession, perhaps with dire consequences. The U.S. military officers at Pacific Command headquartered at Honolulu were able to immediately determine Hawaiis Emergency Management Agency had made a mistake and publicly delivered messages to that end. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Every moment of every day, the U.S. military and intelligence agencies have satellites in high-Earth orbit scouring the globe for anything amiss. The so-called early warning satellites are designed to identify within seconds the location of the launch site, the missiles trajectory and its potential target. A constellation of school bussized satellites, known as the Defense Support Program, forms the backbone of the system. The spacecraft are armed with cutting-edge infrared sensors and instruments that operate at wide angles to detect heat signatures from missile plumes as they flash against Earths background. A screenshot shows messages of emergency alerts on Jan. 13, 2018 for residents of Hawaii The satellites are sensitive enough to short-range missiles launch, and are therefore capable of tracking a North Korean ballistic missile as it headed 4,600 miles toward Hawaii. U.S. radar installations, naval ships, and allies detection systems in the region would assist in tracking the weapons flight and capturing its electronic emissions. For instance, all North Korean missiles use guidance and tracking systems to help guide it to a target. Story continues A combination of all this intelligence over a period of seconds or minutes would allow enable the U.S. government to triangulate the point of launch and track the trajectory of the missile, much of it under a method of spycraft known as measurement and signature intelligence, or MASINT. The information would be relayed to U.S. Forces Korea, headquartered in Seoul, and U.S. Pacific Command. A decision would be made on whether Americans were at-risk and if U.S. or allies should use missile defense systems to attempt to a shoot-down. That could take place on the Korean peninsula, where the U.S. recently deployed new systems, or by Japans missile defense network, or by American warships carrying interceptors operating in the Pacific Ocean. Adm. Harry Harris, head of Pacific Command, said in April that the missile defense systems in Hawaii were adequate for now but suggested considering stationing new interceptors and radar to knock out waves of incoming North Korean missiles. I believe that our ballistic missile architecture is sufficient to protect Hawaii today, but it can be overwhelmed, Harris told Congress. If a missile attack were determined to be a nuclear strike, a decision on a counter-strike would have to be made by President Donald Trump. The order to strike, which only the president can make, would be relayed to U.S. military officers in command of the nations intercontinental ballistic missiles, nuclear submarines or heavy bombers. As tensions continue to rise with North Korea, states like Hawaii and others governments are reevaluating how well prepared they are in the event of a nuclear strike. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. The messaging from civil defense agencies remember Duck and Cover? that had been fine-tuned during the Cold War has melted away in the intervening years. The federal government and law enforcement is more prepared for the aftermath of a terror attack than a missile attack let alone one involving a nuclear detonation. The false missile alert in Hawaii is all but certain to jolt many state and local governments to reassess their processes. Related: The North Korean women had gathered in the Chinese province of Shandong on Jan. 4 and begun their journey to South Korea via Vietnam, Laos and Thailand, the activist said. "The ill-fated boat had a capacity for about 10 people. The sinking may have been caused by being overcrowded," said the activist, asking to remain anonymous. After Hawaii residents received a false alarm about an impending missile strike Saturday, officials said the mistake was caused by an employee who had pushed the wrong button. At a news conference Saturday, officials said the employee greatly regrets his mistake. "This guy feels bad, right. He's not doing this on purpose it was a mistake on his part and he feels terrible about it," said Vern Miyagi, who oversees the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (EMA). Migayi said the system went into actual event mode instead of test mode. "There is a screen that says, 'Are you sure you want to do this?'" Miyagi said. The employee then confirmed the alert, officials said. The employee, who was not identified, will be counseled and drilled so that it never happens again, Miyagi stated. The mass text alert went out Saturday morning around 8 a.m. and read: "Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill. Many expressed their panic over social media as the U.S. and North Korea have exchanged threatening tweets of Nuclear war in recent months. Minutes after the alert, however, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) said she had confirmed there was no missile. HAWAII - THIS IS A FALSE ALARM. THERE IS NO INCOMING MISSILE TO HAWAII. I HAVE CONFIRMED WITH OFFICIALS THERE IS NO INCOMING MISSILE, Gabbard tweeted. Honolulu Police Department also later confirmed there was no threat in an online statement. RELATED STORIES Pentagon Says "Case Closed" on "Missile" Mystery Missiles Rain Down on Syria as Trump Family Dines at Mar-a-Lago, President Faces Russian Backlash False Missile Threat Causes Panic in Hawaii This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Related Articles: The threat of a North Korean missile hitting hitting Hawaii is dangerously real, as President Donald Trumps button tweets stoke dangerous tensions between the United States and the North Korean dictatorship. The threat felt very real on Saturday morning in Hawaii after an emergency alert was sent out to TV, radio, and cell phones about an inbound ballistic missile. The emergency alert was sent to an unknown number of people in the state, some of whom shared photos of themselves sheltering in place a little after 8 a.m. local time on Saturday. By many accounts posted on social media, the gravity of the scenario was terrifying for about a half-hour before the alarm was called a mistake by officials. Hawaii Governor David Ige told CNN that someone pressed the wrong button, which sent out the alert to telephones, radio stations and TV stations. It happened during a testing during a routine shift change at the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, according to a statement. I know first-hand how todays false alarm affected all of us here in Hawaii, and I am sorry for the pain and confusion it caused. I, too, am extremely upset about this and am doing everything I can do to immediately improve our emergency management systems, procedures and staffing, Ige said in a statement. The Hawaii EMA confirmed there was no ballistic missile and that there were no computer hacks to the HI-EMA system. The cause of the false alarm was human error. What was supposed to be an internal drill officials dont seem to know why external alerts went out will be put on hold. There is no credible threat and were referring everyone to the state Hawaii, a NORAD official told Inverse on Saturday shortly after the alert went out. It was a message sent in error. The alert read: Emergency Alert BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAD INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. About 38 minutes later, this message went out: Emergency Alert There is no missile threat or danger to the state of Hawaii. Repeat. False Alarm. Story continues The Hawaii EMA also issued a brief statement on Twitter as well, which for a time was the only information available: NO missile threat to Hawaii. The Federal Communications Commission oversees the Wireless Emergency Alert system, and Inverse has reached to the agency for comment on the matter. FCC chairman Ajit Pai said on Saturday that The FCC is launching a full investigation into the false emergency alert that was sent to residents of Hawaii. Around the state, people shared their terror, and then outrage, on social media: This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Memphis-based meteorologist Jim Jaggers was in Hawaii shared this image and caption: Ballistic Missile Warning in Hawaii. People are sheltering in place. Im in Kauai now. Will try to report as best I can. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Todays alert was a false alarm, said Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono. At a time of heightened tensions, we need to make sure all information released to the community is accurate. We need to get to the bottom of what happened and make sure it never happens again. Hawaiis other senator, Brian Schatz, said Saturday he spoke with U.S. Pacific Command, the unified military combatant overseeing the Pacific ocean, and we agreed to collaborate on an after-action process to make sure that this process gets fixed. This is a state responsibility but we will take collective action. Jon Wolfsthal, director of the Nuclear Crisis Group and based in Virginia, brought the false alarm into perspective this way: This is a false alarm but this is also how accidental wars start. Need mil to mil talks with DPRK as soon as possible. Story has been updated to reflect the latest information. Written by Nick Lucchesi More articles by Nick Follow Nick on Twitter tweetshare More From Inverse An electronic sign announces the all-clear in Oahu, Hawaii - REUTERS It took just three minutes for officials on Hawaii to realise that the text alert warning residents of an incoming missile strike had been sent in error. There was no missile. Yet it took another 35 minutes for panicking families holed up in garages, cowering under tables or frantically saying their goodbyes - to be sent a second message with the comforting news that annihilation was no longer imminent. A day later the island chains public officials say they have instituted a new system to reduce the risk of mistakes and to ensure errors can be more quickly corrected. But that still leaves a shaken population coming to terms with their 38 minutes of panic. So this was the most terrifying few minutes of my LIFE! Paul Wilson, a professor at Brigham Young University-Hawaii, wrote on on Twitter. I just want to know why it took 38 minutes to announce it was a mistake?!? The islands were just waking up on Saturday when they were bombarded with phone messages and warnings broadcast on TV and radio. BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL, it read. Hawaii was already on edge. It recently began conducting tests of its emergency nuclear sirens, something not done since the end of the Cold War, and holding Are You Ready drills. The state is first in line if North Korea follows through with threats to use its growing nuclear arsenal on the United States. To make matters worse, a handful of sirens sounded on Saturday morning even though they were not part of the emergency network triggered by an employee of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (Hema) during a routine test at 8:07am. Drivers abandoned cars on the highway north of Honolulu to huddle in a tunnel. Tourists thronged hotel lobbies unsure what to do. And families raced to their garages, the closest thing to a shelter on islands where basements are few and far between, or tucked children into storm drains. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Those away from loved ones later spoke of the agonising decisions they were forced to make. A Washington Post journalist published a message he received from a friend who had just dropped one child at the airport when he received the missile warning. Story continues I chose to go home to the two little ones I figured it was the largest grouping of my family knowing I likely wouldnt make it home in time, he said. Meanwhile officials were desperately trying to recall the message. At 8.13am Hema cancelled the warning, meaning it would not be rebroadcast to phones that had not yet received it. After another 10 minutes, officials posted on Twitter and Facebook that the alert was false, according to their timeline of events. Yet it took until 8.45am for Hema to send a new message to phones cancelling the original alert. It took 38 minutes for phone messages to be sent telling residents there was no threat Credit: Splash Vern Miyagi, the agencys administrator, apologised and said officials had to wait for authorisation from the Federal Emergency Management Agency before issuing a retraction. He said an unnamed employee pushed a button sending the alert rather than the option for testing. When prompted by a safeguard asking whether they were sure they wanted to send it, the employee clicked the option for yes. I cant explain that. Like I said, its a human error that were going to fix, said Mr Miyagi. David Ige, governor of Hawaii, promised a full investigation into what went wrong. Today is a day most of us will never forget, said David Ige, the states governor, during a news conference at Diamond Head Bunker, the emergency command post from where the mistaken alert was sent. Hawaii's nuclear alert shows perils of instant communication Officials promised to build a cancellation template to make it easier to correct mistakes and instituted a new system to ensure two people must sign off on future alerts Scott Saiki, the speaker of Hawaiis state legislature, said the system had failed miserably. Clearly, government agencies are not prepared and lack the capacity to deal with emergency situations, he said in a statement. By Tarek Amara TUNIS (Reuters) - Violent protests erupted again on Sunday in two areas of the capital Tunis and another town after a relatively calm two days, the latest protests in the country against austerity measures. After nearly a week of at times violent protests, police used tear gas against dozens of young protesters in the Ettadamen district of Tunis in renewed demonstrations over a tax hike. A Reuters witness saw youths around 20 years old throwing stones at police cars and setting fire to tires before security forces drove them back with tear gas. Witnesses told Reuters that violent protests were also taking place in Kram district in the capital. Protesters in Feriana city near the Algerian border tried to cut off roads and police were chasing protesters in the streets of the city and firing gas bombs. Protests erupted last Monday in several towns and cities across Tunisia following tax and price hikes imposed on Jan. 1 by a government seeking to reduce a budget deficit to meet an agreement with its international donors. Earlier on Sunday, hundreds of Tunisians demonstrated peacefully against government austerity measures in the capital, the seventh anniversary of the ousting of former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Almost 800 people have been arrested for vandalism and acts of violence, including throwing petrol bombs at police stations, according to the interior ministry. The government late on Saturday pledged extra aid for poor families and those in need in response to the demonstrations but protesters still took to the streets, holding banners with slogans against rising prices and new taxes. One rally took place in front of the Labor Union (UGTT) headquarters and several other protests were held along the central Habib Bourguiba Avenue, where hundreds of riot police had been deployed. "This is what the government has done to us," said one a protester named Fouad. "Pockets are empty because of unfair decisions by the government ... I am a professor and my wife is a teacher, but we are suffering today to meet our needs." "We have only won the freedom of expression after the 2011 revolution ... but we will remain in the streets until we win our economic rights just as we have our freedom," he added. Police were seeking to separate supporters of the opposition Popular Front party and the Islamist Ennahda party, which is part of the ruling coalition. The government and Ennahda accuse the PF of being behind some of the violence last week. Prices have increased for fuel and some consumer goods, while taxes on cars, phone calls, the internet, hotel accommodation and other items have also gone up. Tunisia has been hailed as the only democratic success of the Arab Spring: the one Arab country to topple a long-serving leader in that year's uprisings without triggering widespread violence or civil war. But Tunisia has had nine governments since Ben Ali's overthrow, none of which have been able to resolve deep-rooted economic problems. The economy has worsened since a vital tourism sector was nearly wiped out by a wave of deadly militant attacks in 2015, and has yet to recover despite improved security. (Editing by Ulf Laessing, Raissa Kasolowsky, David Evans and Sandra Maler) Icelands incredible, ever-changing ice caves The ice caves in the Vatnajokull National Park in Iceland, Nov. 29, 2017. (Photo: Matej Kriz/Caters News) These incredible frozen caves seem almost otherworldly as they daylight illuminates them. Matej Krizs incredible shots reveal the beauty of the brilliant caves, but hes also very aware of how deadly they can be. The photographer captured the amazing shots in the Vatnajokull National Park on the Breidamerkurjokull glacier tongue. Matej said: One of the ice caves has been well known for few years already, but new ones appeared on east side of the glacier tongue this year. I live in the area for almost one year and exploring is part of my job since I am working in the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, we were able to spot them from the boats in the end of the summer. Since my job involves cooperating with local companies, I have good relationships with them, and they told me about caves hidden from tourists, chichis the crystal blue one. It is always dangerous in these areas, to some of them you can get on the boat and then climb on the glacier, or with a super jeep or on your own, but anything can happen at any time of course. There are active volcanoes under the glacier, and earthquakes can break the entrance to the cave or you can encounter an Icelandic troll! The caves change every second thanks to the light, but it is just appearance during the days. The biggest problem is the warm weather or rain because ice caves are created by streams of water it is basically a glaciers waste pipe. Iceland is magical country and the ice caves are a fantasy world all by themselves. You can admire the whole thing or focus on details hidden in the ice and find much more. (Caters News) Photography by Matej Kriz/Caters News See more news-related photo galleries and follow us on Yahoo News Photo Twitter and Tumblr. India will handle China's growing assertiveness and has stepped up patrols on their disputed border to head off more standoffs, the country's top army officer declared Friday. The nuclear-armed neighbours have in the past gone to war over their border and last year were involved in a showdown over a Himalayan plateau claimed by China and Bhutan which is an ally of India. Indian army chief General Bipin Rawat said a military hotline was being set up between the two sides but insisted his troops are ready for new tensions. "We understand China is a powerful country but we are not a weak nation," Indian army chief General Bipin Rawat told a press conference when asked about the border dispute. "We have increased our troop levels... we have increased our patrolling intensity. We are capable of handling China's assertiveness. "We will not allow our territory to be invaded upon. Whenever intrusions take place we will defend because that's there in our charter." Hundreds of Chinese and Indian troops faced off last year on the Doklam plateau, a small strip close to the intersection between China, India and Bhutan. Rawat said Indian soldiers crossed into foreign territory during the standoff but only because Chinese forces had "big equipment and they meant business". "We knew they will try and claim the whole of Doklam. We felt a change in the status quo..(but) all effort was made by us to ensure it does not lead to a conflict. "Even if it would have escalated we were prepared (as) the terrain usually favours us." The border dispute began in mid-June after Chinese troops started building a road on the Himalayan plateau. India has an army base nearby and moved soldiers into the flashpoint zone to halt the work, prompting Beijing to accuse it of trespassing on Chinese territory. The two nations finally pulled back their troops in mid-August, averting a full-blown crisis. India and China fought a 1962 war over Arunachal Pradesh state and have a history of mistrust as they jostle for regional supremacy. Story continues China has fostered closer ties with India's arch-rival Pakistan in recent years. It has also invested in other countries in the region in a bid to win friends. India is revamping its military and bolstering its partnership with the United States and Japan. Both nations say they are committed to solving their border disagreements through dialogue, but progress has been glacial. Rawat said a military hotline with China was in the works to help defuse future border tensions. "We are moving very fast, very soon we will have a hotline with the Chinese. "As we are seeing increased activity along the LAC (Line of Actual Control), this can be deescalated through one-to-one talk at the highest level at the borders." Tehran refuses to bow to Donald Trumps demands over the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action agreed in 2015: Getty Iran has rejected Donald Trumps calls for changes to its 2015 nuclear deal, after the US President said America would leave the agreement unless its disastrous flaws were addressed. The Iranian foreign ministry has said it would not accept any changes, now or in the future. Foreign Minister Javad Zarif added that the demands were a desperate attempt to undermine the deal. Mr Trump was the one that needed to check his compliance, Mr Zarif added. President Trump made a temporary renewal of the agreement, which was negotiated by his predecessor Barack Obamas administration. He had previously described it as the worst deal ever. However, he said it would be the final time that economic sanctions would be waived by the US, although the deals European signatories the UK, France, and Germany, alongside Russia and China reaffirmed their commitments. Following the announcement, Mr Zarif tweeted: Trumps policy & todays announcement amount to desperate attempts to undermine a solid multilateral agreement, maliciously violating its paras 26, 28 & 29. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is not renegotiable: rather than repeating tired rhetoric, the US must bring itself into full compliance just like Iran. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Iran agreed to restrict its nuclear programme for at least 10 years in exchange for the relaxation of sanctions which have hamstrung its economic development in recent years. Despite his objections this is the third time President Trump has renewed the deal and UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said on Friday nobody has so far produced a better alternative. Mr Trump maintains that Iran is not complying with the spirit of the deal, despite his own advisors previously admitting there had been no technical violations. Either fix the deals disastrous flaws, or the United States will withdraw, he said. The US President is demanding Iran allow immediate inspections at nuclear sites on request, and that so-called sunset clauses, which see the restrictions on nuclear development relax after 10 years, be removed. Story continues My policy is to deny Iran all paths to a nuclear weapon not just for ten years, but forever, Mr Trump said. He also wanted to extend legislation to make explicit that testing of long-range missiles was inseparable from the nuclear weapons programme, so Irans ballistics testing should also be subject to severe sanctions. State-run news outlet, IRNA, reports that Irans foreign ministry responded to the demands, saying Iran strongly announces that it will make no measure beyond its JCPOA commitments and will make no changes in the nuclear deal neither now nor in the future. Even though Mr Trump has now imposed a 120-day deadline on his European partners, it does not appear like they have the appetite to negotiate a follow-on agreement regarding Iran. Earlier this week European foreign ministers met in Brussels with Mr Zarif, seemingly to press Tehran about its destabilising activities in the Middle East. The Iran nuclear deal makes the world safer. European partners were unanimous today in our determination to preserve the deal and tackle Irans disruptive behaviour, added Mr Johnson. By Ahmed Rasheed BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Sunday announced he would stand for re-election on May 12 at the head of a cross-sectarian bloc, and received the support of a powerful Shi'ite group close to Iran. Abadi, a Shi'ite Muslim who led Iraq in the three-year war against the jihadist group Islamic State, said the "Victory Alliance" that he was assembling to contest the parliamentary election would include candidates from other communities. Abadi took over the premiership in 2014 from Nuri al-Maliki, a close ally of Iran widely blamed by Iraqi politicians for the army's collapse as Islamic State seized a third of Iraq. Maliki, who heads the Shi'ite Dawa party, announced on Saturday that he would be running in the election. Maliki, who holds the ceremonial title of vice-president, remains a powerful figure as head of the largest political bloc in the current parliament. Abadi is a Dawa member but did not secure Maliki's endorsement for his candidacy. Maliki said on Saturday that Dawa supporters would be free to choose between his "State of Law" alliance and Abadi's Victory Alliance. The prime minister did, however, secure the support of powerful coalition of Iranian-backed Shi'ite groups who took part in the war on Islamic State, led by the Badr Organisation. Lawmakers close to Abadi and Badr leader Hadi al-Amiri told Reuters their representatives had signed an electoral pact on Sunday. Abadi is credited with quickly rebuilding the army and defeating Islamic State in its main Iraqi stronghold, Mosul, last July, with strong assistance from a U.S.-led coalition. His tie-up with Amiri's "Conquest Alliance" broadens his base within Iraq's majority Shi'ite Arab community. The prime minister's office is reserved for the Shi'ite Arabs under a power-sharing system set up after the 2003 U.S-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, a Sunni Arab. The largely ceremonial office of president is reserved for a Kurdish member of parliament. The speaker of parliament is drawn from Sunni Arab MPs. Parliament is likely to meet in the next few days to approve May 12 as the date for the election. (Reporting by Ahmed Rasheed; writing by Maher Chmaytelli; Editing by Kevin Liffey) By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Maayan Lubell GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli said on Sunday it had destroyed a cross-border attack tunnel that ran from Gaza into Israel and Egypt dug by Hamas, the Islamist group that controls the Palestinian enclave, and that it would destroy all attack tunnels by the year's end. Residents in Gaza said Israeli jets bombed an area east of the southern town of Rafah, by the Egyptian and Israeli borders, late on Saturday night. Israel confirmed the attack immediately after, but gave no details until Sunday. There was no immediate comment from Hamas or Egypt, or any reports of casualties. Israel says it has developed new means which it has declined to disclose, to find tunnels. Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman lauded the breakthrough in an interview on commercial television news, saying they would all be destroyed by the end of the year. "By the end of 2018, we will eliminate all the Hamas attack tunnels ... we may even manage to do this sooner, but the task is to destroy them all by the end of the year," Lieberman said. Tensions have risen since President Donald Trump reversed decades of U.S. policy on Dec. 6 by recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Gaza militants have launched 18 cross-border rockets or mortar bombs, causing no fatalities or serious injuries in Israel, and 15 protesters and two gunmen have been killed by Israeli fire. The attacks from Gaza, which Israel has blamed on groups not affiliated with Hamas, have drawn Israeli air strikes, usually on targets that have been evacuated. "There are those who say the Israeli military attacks sand dunes - that is incorrect," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, addressing criticism from lawmakers who have called for a stronger armed response, told reporters after the tunnel was targeted. Netanyahu cautioned Hamas that Israel "will respond with even greater force" if rocket strikes continue. Israel has said Hamas, as the dominant force in Gaza, bears overall responsibility for any attacks from the enclave. But Yoav Galant, a member of Netanyahu's security cabinet, said on Army Radio that Israel is "not looking for confrontation with Hamas". Nonetheless, he said Israel "could not abide by a situation in which Israelis are harmed by fire (from Gaza)". Colonel Jonathan Conricus, an Israeli military spokesman, described the target hit on Saturday as 1.5 km (one mile)-lone "terror tunnel" running the Kerem Shalom border crossing into Israel, and into Egypt. "It could also have served to transfer terrorists from the Gaza Strip into Egypt in order to attack Israeli targets from Egypt," he said. Kerem Shalom, the main passage point for goods entering Gaza, was shut down on Saturday before the Israeli attack. Underground tunnels are used to smuggle in all manner of commercial goods to Gaza, and to bring in weapons for militants from Hamas and other groups. They have also been used by Hamas to launch attacks inside Israel. During the last Gaza war, in 2014, Hamas fighters used dozens of tunnels to blindside Israel's superior forces. The Israeli military said it has destroyed three tunnels in the past two months. Israel has been constructing a sensor-equipped underground wall along the 60-km (36-mile) Gaza border, aiming to complete the $1.1 billion project by mid-2019. (Additional reporting by Ori Lewis, Editing by Jeffrey Heller, Raissa Kasolowsky and David Evans) Speaking at the meeting with Phnom Penh cyclo drivers, the premier introduced the organization of which he is honorary president and Phnom Penhs mayor (governor), Khoung Sreng, is president. It is estimated that the organization will need around $300,000 per year for its work. He will support it with $240,000, other donators will contribute $200,000 and the mayor will fund $10,000. To date, Mr Hun Sen has given $145,000, while $50,000 came from government members and other donators. Tokyo (AFP) - Japan's sewerage industry has found a way to clean up its dirty and smelly image: elaborately designed and colourful manhole covers with 12,000 local varieties nationwide -- including, of course, a Hello Kitty design. Appealing to a Japanese love of detail and "kawaii" ("cute"), bespoke manhole covers adorn the streets of 1,700 towns, cities and villages across Japan and have spawned a collection craze among so-called "manholers." The designs represent an instant guide to a place as they feature its history, folklore, or speciality goods: a castle design for an ancient town, a bay bridge for a port and Mt Fuji for a city at the foot of Japan's iconic mountain. As for Tama City, located in the western sprawl of greater Tokyo, locals are pinning their hopes on a more modern Japanese icon -- Hello Kitty -- to attract tourists, alongside the town's theme park showcasing much-loved children's character from the Sanrio company. "We'd be happy if people come and take some time for a stroll in our town while looking for the Hello Kitty manholes," said Mikio Narashima, who heads the city's sewage system division, after the city installed the first of the 10 designed covers. - 'Treasure hunting for adults' - Veteran spotter Shoji Morimoto said his passion for covers was fuelled after noticing that the central city of Fukui sported two phoenixes on its manholes. He later learned the imaginary birds were a symbol of the town's rise from a 1945 devastating US air raid and a deadly earthquake three years later. "I sometimes do research on why the town has that particular design. I'm impressed whenever I find out it represents the town's history and culture," said Morimoto, who coined the word "manholer" for like-minded people. Designed manholes cost more but appeal to a Japanese sense of detail, the 48-year-old Morimoto told AFP. Story continues He has already visited all the designed manholes in his local area. "Now I have to travel far," he admits. "It's treasure hunting for adults." "Manholers" take pictures of the covers they visit, with the more obsessive taking rubbings. For others, the interest lies more in "cover bonsai", plants growing on soil accumulated on and around covers. More than 3,000 people attended a "manhole summit" in western Japan in November. - 'Under the cover' - And manhole covers are not simply there to hide away dirty sewers, enthuses Tetsuro Sasabe, who is interested in covers for telecoms infrastructure. "I'm interested in why the manhole is there, where it leads to -- I'd say I'm interested in what's under the manhole covers," he said. He noted that there is a story even to plain covers -- such as finding the logos of now-defunct companies. Given their size, the covers cannot easily be collected in the same way people hoard stamps and coins. But to satisfy collectors' desire, the private-public GKP network designed to promote awareness on the importance of sewerage in society, has released 1.4 million cards of 293 different covers. The cards are free but they can only be obtained through local offices, thus working as a tourist magnet. They are numbered in chronological order and come with the manhole's exact GPS information for the convenience of manholers. "We believe Japanese manholes are cultural products we can boast to the world," said Hideto Yamada, a GKP planning official. And when a real cover does become available, demand is brisk. The eastern city of Maebashi held a highly competitive lottery in October as its offer to sell 10 used manhole covers -- 40 kilogrammes of iron -- at 3,000 yen ($28) each was swamped with more than 190 bids. - Non-slip - The history of decorating manhole covers in Japan dates back 40 years to a bid to improve the image of the sewerage system, according to GKP's Yamada. Cover designs must have the same friction level no matter which direction humans or cars come from so that people do not slip over them. This need for friction resulted in placing extra streaks of clouds, sea waves or tiny stars in the background, giving birth to "condensed designs," Yamada said. Overall, there are some 15 million manholes in Japan, of which only a fraction have colourful designed covers, carefully hand-painted. A plain cover costs some $600 but a colourful, designed one can be double that depending on the number of colours used and the level of detail used. The craze has since spread online with abundant information on where to find the best manholes via the hashtag #manhotalk. An extensive collection can be seen at Japan Society of Manhole Covers: http://sky.geocities.jp/usagigasi1f/ Paris (AFP) - President Emmanuel Macron on Friday joined calls by bakers for France's traditional baguette to be recognised as one of the world's cultural treasures on UNESCO's list of "intangible heritage". The call came after the art of Naples' dough-twirling pizza makers was given the nod by the UN cultural body's World Heritage Committee in December. "The baguette is envied around the world. We must preserve its excellence and our expertise, and it is for this reason that it should be heritage-listed," Macron told a group of master bakers at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris. Dominique Anract, the head of the national confederation of baking and pastry, earlier said the "marvellous" baguette, made of flour, water, salt and yeast, should "have its rightful place" in world heritage. Along with the Eiffel tower, the baguette is one of the main symbols of France, Anract told a local radio station. "The baguette is part of daily life in France and the bread has a special history," Macron said. "It's a morning, midday and evening tradition for the French. "I know our bakrs, they saw the Neapolitans succeed in getting their pizza classified under UNESCO world heritage, and they said why not the baguette -- and they're right!" A picture shows the message A new chapter in #MeToo appears to be emerging in China after a university professor was sacked and another is facing an investigation over sexual misconduct allegations. The #MeToo campaign spread rapidly in the West in October after multiple accusations against Hollywood movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. Allegations have been made against men in China particularly within academia - but the movement has struggled to gain momentum in a country where the media and Internet are controlled by a stability-obsessed, male dominated Communist Party. However, on Thursday a Beijing university said it had sacked one of its top scholars after he was accused of sexual misconduct by a group of women. Beihang University said on its official microblog that an investigation found that Chen Xiaowus behavior had violated professional ethics and created an odious influence on society. The university said: Morality and ability, and actions and talent are as one. This is the demand of Beihangs values and the school has zero tolerance for violations of professorial ethics, A placard with the hashtag "MeToo" is seen on a European Parliament member's desk during a debate Credit: Reuters Beihang also pledged to upgrade mechanisms to identify such cases. The initial allegation against Chen came from one of his former doctoral students, Luo Qianqian, who posted on Sina Weibo, Chinas Twitter, that the professor had tried to pressure her into sex 12 years ago. Ms Luo, who lives in the US, tagged the post #WoYeShi, the Chinese translation of #MeToo, and said in her online comments that the campaign had inspired her to act. Several other alleged victims came forward with accounts of Chens behaviour. Ms Luo wrote on her Weibo after Chens dismissal: Women who have awoken to themselves are even more powerful! "Kindness and bravery are our most beautiful expressions. Chens case was covered widely in Chinese media, possibly because the allegations originated overseas. And then on Friday, another Beijing professor was at the centre of sexual misconduct claims. Story continues Xue Yuan, a professor from the University of International Business and Economics, was accused of sexual harassment in an online posting by an anonymous college student. The student also sent emails to Chinas graft body, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Commerce, the China Daily said. A vendor sells #MeToo badges a protest march for survivors of sexual assault and their supporters in Hollywood, Los Angeles Credit: Reuters The university said that it had immediately formed an investigative team. It said: The working team has exchanged emails with the Internet user (who made the allegations), inviting her to supply authentic, correct and original evidence under the condition of protecting her privacy and personal safety." Meanwhile, Xue Yuan, who is carrying out a short term academic project overseas was called back for further investigation. The two cases are being widely discussed on Chinese social media, raising hopes among many that more women might speak out. However, Leta Hong Fincher, an expert on feminism in China, said the authorities will act before the movement becomes too powerful. So far, students at around 60 universities in China have joined in the #MeToo campaign, many of them using their real names, said Hong Fincher, author of Betraying Big Brother: The Feminist Awakening in China. Women are posting the letters on social media, but censors delete them very quickly. There's no question that the Communist Party is frightened by the prospect of a viral #MeToo movement galvanising Chinese university students." The men have not yet responded to the allegations. Additional reporting by Christine Wei As temperatures dropped below zero on South Dakotas Pine Ridge Indian Reservation earlier this month, one young girl felt she had had enough. She was tired of feeling cold inside her home as temperatures plummeted, which they do often there. She had enough of watching her parents constantly struggle to scrounge up wood to heat the house. The 12-year-old girl went to the bathroom and tried to kill herself. She was tired of waking up cold, Jimmy Two Bulls, a Pine Ridge resident whos helping out the girls family, told HuffPost. Reservation life is a hard life to live. Its a struggle. Suicides reached record highs in South Dakota last year. Oglala Lakota County, which is where the Pine Ridge reservation is located, was one of five counties in the state with the highest rates of suicide. People who have experience dealing with depression and suicide on the reservation say this is tied, in part, to the devastatingly difficult conditions residents face. While theres no indication that suicides increase during the winter, local experts say winters relentless conditions can lead to feelings of despair. A 2016 study conducted through the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs found that theres a close correlation between poverty rates and suicide rates in the U.S. Its tough, and it all builds up, Eileen Janis, 57, who co-runs Oglala Sioux Tribe Suicide Prevention, told HuffPost. And you say: To hell with it. I just want to die. Pine Ridge, South Dakota: Youth suicide on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation remains a pressing concern. Oglala Sioux Tribe Suicide Prevention, the reservation's sole suicide prevention program, conducts outreach and collaborates with health professionals and religious leaders to place those at risk into appropriate programs. (Photo: Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post via Getty Images) Janiss organization is the reservations sole suicide prevention group, and she and just one other counselor, Yvonne DeCory, serve the reservations 40,000 residents. Both women keep their phones on 24 hours a day, seven days a week. DeCory said they may get calls about three or four suicide attempts a night, year round. Pine Ridge, which is larger than Delaware and Rhode Island combined, is in the third-poorest county in the United States. Its home to the Oglala Lakota, a tribe thats part of the Sioux people. Per capita income in the county is $9,150, and 80 percent of residents are unemployed. Story continues The pervasive poverty forces residents to make impossible choices: whether to pay to heat a home or buy enough food to feed the family, for example. Suicide is the most severe risk advocates worry about during the winter. But its not the only one. People living without heat are also susceptible to hypothermia, and older members of the community are particularly vulnerable because their health could already be compromised. Those who rely on space heaters run the danger of starting a house fire. Children who dont have access to sufficient heat struggle to sleep at night and then arent able to concentrate in school, Alice Phelps, 47, principal of the Wounded Knee School District, told HuffPost. The children act up at school. But when we talk to them one-on-one, the bottom line is they didnt sleep that night, Phelps, who grew up on the reservation, said. Theyll say: I didnt have a blanket. I gave it to my little sister. I was cold. It just breaks your heart. Winter is also the time children appreciate school the most, because the building is heated and theyre guaranteed at least one hot meal. Attendance is near perfect at this time of year, Phelps said. They want to be in school, Phelps said. Its warm. Its safe. Their immediate needs are met. Attendance is near-perfect during the winter at the Wounded Knee District School on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation when low-income children are desperate for a respite from the cold. At school, they're guaranteed warmth and hot meals. (Photo: Facebook/Wounded Knee School District) Wounded Knee is working on building a safe house, a place where up to 10 children in need of a place to stay for the night can come, whether because of abuse at home or not having heat or other critical resources. The building is basically complete, but Phelps is working on hiring a staff member to run it. But even those on the reservation who can afford to buy propane to heat their homes typically cant afford as much as it takes to keep a house livable when temperatures are drop below zero, said Bob Claussen, owner of Bobs Gas, a company in Martin, South Dakota, that makes the 45-mile trek to the reservation when its able. Claussen said he typically gets around 15 small orders for propane about $150 worth of propane at a time. But that can last only about three weeks, he said. Children who live in overcrowded homes without sufficient heat often have trouble sleeping at night and then can't concentrate in school, said Alice Phelps, principal of the Wounded Knee School District. The school works to provide the resources it can to help support these students. (Photo: Jeri Baker/One Spirit) A number of nonprofits work with fuel companies to get propane to households in need. Lakota Kidz, an organization that donates supplies like books and clothes to the reservation, is one of the groups that works with Bobs Gas. Lakota Kidz donates enough to cover two months worth of fuel for about 30 families on the reservation. Last year, the Oglala Sioux Tribe received $1.2 million in funding from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, a federal program that helps underserved families with their energy bills and other needs. Those funds will drop slightly this year. In addition to struggling to afford heat, many residents also live in run-down homes that simply arent built for the brutal winters. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. Many of the homes on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation are nothing more than one room and aren't equipped to withstand freezing temperatures. (Photo: Jeri Baker/One Spirit) Some of these homes have only one room. In more than half the homes, anywhere from three to four families are packed under one roof. Faced with few alternatives, residents take desperate measures to stay warm. Some keep their ovens on. Others take refuge in their cars, which also raises the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Residents will wrap plastic around their windows to help insulate the interior, said Jeri Baker, founder of One Spirit, a nonprofit that provides firewood to people in need. The organization pays five workers to collect wood and deliver it to struggling households. The workers get $100 to $150 per job. The nonprofit spent about $11,000 last year on salaries and equipment, Baker said. The nonprofit One Spirit hires five local residents to cut wood and deliver it to people in need on the reservation. The employees earn $100 to $150 per delivery. (Photo: Jeri Baker/One Spirit) Jimmy Two Bulls, whos employed by One Spirit, grew up on the reservation and still chokes up when he talks about the conditions hes seen. Hes been to homes that have gaping holes in the floor. He recently visited an elderly woman who didnt have a handle on her front door and used a rag to keep it shut. Outside of his work with the nonprofit, Two Bulls donates what he can, when hes able. An older woman recently approached Two Bulls with a Mason jar filled with $67 in coins. She asked him how much the loose change could buy her. Two Bulls handed over a load of wood, free of charge. All around, he said, its a hard thing to witness. The reservation is preparing for a cold front this weekend and potential storm. Temperatures are expected to drop to -5 with a wind chill of -19. Advocates and educators are taking necessary precautions. Janis and DeCory said they are monitoring Facebook to see if there are any children in distress, and they are giving their numbers to as many people as possible. Others in the community are checking in on older residents. Everyones in survival mode, Phelps said. Out here, it feels like were in our own world. It doesnt feel like the U.S. It feels like a third world country. If you or someone you know needs help, call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. You can also text HELLO to 741-741 for free, 24-hour support from the Crisis Text Line. Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention for a database of resources. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Vatican City (AFP) - Pope Francis called Sunday for hospitality towards migrants, calling it a "sin" to give in to fear of the other as he marked the World Day of Migrants and Refugees. "It is not easy... to put oneself in the shoes of people so different from us," the pontiff said during a solemn mass at St Peter's Basilica. "Local communities are sometimes afraid that the newly arrived will disturb the established order, will 'steal' something they have long laboured to build up," Francis said. While such fears are not a sin, said the spiritual leader of the world's 1.3 billion Roman Catholics, "the sin is to refuse to encounter the other, the different, the neighbour." "The sin is to allow these fears to determine our responses, to limit our choices, to compromise respect and generosity, to feed hostility and rejection," Francis said, adding: "We often refuse to encounter the other and raise barriers to defend ourselves." The 81-year-old pontiff, himself the son of immigrants to Italy from Argentina, has championed the cause of migrants and asylum seekers since his election in 2013. His first official trip outside Rome was to the tiny Italian island of Lampedusa, which was at the time the first point of arrival in Europe for thousands of migrants. In April 2016, Francis visited the Greek island of Lesbos, a main entry point to Greece for migrants travelling from the Turkish coast, and returned home with three families of Syrian refugees aboard the papal plane. "Every stranger who knocks at our door is an opportunity for an encounter with Jesus Christ, who identifies with the welcomed and rejected strangers of every age," Francis said Sunday. On Monday Francis will begin an eight-day tour of his native South America, visiting Peru and Chile. Speaking at the meeting, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc said that 2017 was a year of solidarity between Vietnam and Laos; the two countries solemnly celebrated the 55th anniversary of Vietnam-Laos diplomatic relations and the 40 years of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.In addition, both sides well implemented the Politburos resolutions of the two countries and the 39th session of the Inter-governmental Committee on bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.This year, the two countries will continue boosting bilateral cooperation ties in the multifaceted fields, especial focusing on exploitation of the Vung Ang Sea Port.PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc also suggested the best preparations for the 40th session of the Inter-governmental Committee on bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and Laos. BY LAM NGUYEN- Translated by Huyen Huong Lome (AFP) - Thousands of people took to the streets in Togo on Saturday in the first anti-government protests of the year, as supporters of President Faure Gnassingbe staged counter-demonstrations. A coalition of 14 political parties has staged almost weekly demonstrations since August last year, calling for Gnassingbe to step down and the introduction of a two-term limit for presidents. Gnassingbe has been in power since 2005 when he took over from his father, General Gnassingbe Eyadema, who himself ruled Togo for 38 years. There was a strong police presence in Lome on Saturday, according to an AFP reporter at the scene. But unlike previous demonstrations, where opposition supporters clashed with the security services, it passed off without incident. The veteran opposition leader Jean-Pierre Fabre said the date was chosen because Saturday was the 55th anniversary of the assassination of Togo's first post-colonial president, Sylvanus Olympio. Fabre described it as a "fateful date" of broken dreams when "violence and deception entered the country's political history". Similar protests were held elsewhere in the former French colony, as well as in Berlin and Washington by the country's diaspora. Supporters of Gnassingbe's ruling Union for the Republic (UNIR) party took to the streets in seven cities outside Lome. UNIR executive secretary Aklesso Atchole called the mobilisation "marches for peace". "These marches also aim to support the actions of the head of state," he said. The opposition has organised a women-only march in Lome next Saturday. Several West African countries have called on Gnassingbe and the opposition to meet for talks under the supervision of Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo and Guinea's Alpha Conde. Talks were announced in early November but appear to have stalled, with no date fixed for the start of discussions. The opposition first wants its supporters who were arrested at previous demonstrations to be freed from custody. It also wants security forces to withdraw from the north of the country, where the Panafrican National Party (PNP) has support. Fabre said a coalition delegation would be in Accra and Conakry on Monday and Tuesday on the invitation of Akufo-Addo and Conde. A passenger plane skidded off the runway at Trabzon Airport in Turkey - AFP A passenger plane skidded off a runway and was left stuck precariously on the side of a cliff in northeast Turkey last night. All 162 passengers and crew on board the Pegasus Airlines' Boeing 737-800 miraculously escaped, with no serious injuries reported, following the incident at Trabzon Airport, on Turkeys Black Sea coast. Authorities are yet to establish what led to the budget airline plane veering off of the runway shortly after landing, with unverified reports suggesting the incident may have been caused by a bird strike. Photographs from the scene showed the plane, which departed from the Turkish capital of Ankara on Saturday evening, stuck on a partly frozen muddy slope with the nose of the aircraft just metres from the sea below. Data from flight tracking website RadarBox suggests the aircraft struggled to reduce its speed upon landing, reporting the plane was travelling at a speed of 110 knots (204km/h) on the final third of the runway. A passenger plane skidded off the runway at Trabzon Airport in Turkey Credit: AFP Panicked passengers were evacuated from the aircraft early on Sunday after emergency service crews arrived at the scene. One unnamed passenger told Turkish media they waited inside the plane for at least 20 minutes waiting for help to arrive. There was a smell of fuel inside so we all thought the plane [would] explode, but thankfully it did not happen, they said. Trabzon Gov. Yucel Yavuz said all 162 passengers and crew on board were evacuated and safe early Sunday Credit: DHA-Depo Photos via AP Another passenger, Fatma Gordu, said there was anguish amongst passengers on board after the plane landed in rainy conditions, adding the aircraft started shaking on the runway. We tilted to the side, the front was down while the planes rear was up. There was panic. People shouting, screaming, she told state-run news agency Anadolu. Emergency service crews at the scene Credit: Anadolu Agency/Getty Another passenger, Yuksel Gordu, said it was a miracle that they survived the ordeal. The plane could have caught fire or fell into the sea. I thank God it didnt. I feel like going crazy whenever I think about these moments, he said. The Pegasus plane is seen stuck in mud Credit: Anadolu Agency / Getty Footage posted on social media showed at least one of the aircrafts windows had been smashed and another clip appeared to show one of the planes engines in the water. Story continues Trabzon governor Yucel Yavuz said the cause of the accident, which resulted in the airport being closed for several hours, is not yet known. Weve taken all necessary measures, he told Turkish media. We will reopen the airport to airport traffic as soon as possible. Trucks try to pull back the stuck aircraft at Trabzon Airport Credit: Anadolu Agency/Getty Pegasus Airlines said in a statement they were sorry to report that Flight PC 8622 had a runway excursion incident during landing. All 162 passengers, 2 pilots and 4 cabin crew have been disembarked safely from the aircraft. There has been no loss of life or injury to anyone on board, the statement said. Turkish Airlines said two inbound flights to Trabzon and a scheduled flight from the city to Istanbul were cancelled as a result of the incident. All services have now resumed as normal. By Alison Bevege SYDNEY (Reuters) - About 1,500 people are being evacuated from an island off the northern coast of Papua New Guinea (PNG) after a nearby volcano erupted, the local Red Cross said on Sunday. A volcano on the island of Kadovar, located about 24 km (15 miles) north of the Papuan mainland, began erupting on Jan. 5. That prompted the evacuation of 590 people on Kadovar to the nearby island of Blup Blup. After venting ash for several days, the volcano exploded on Friday, blasting out glowing red rocks and sulphur dioxide, the Rabaul Volcanological Observatory said in a bulletin. The PNG government then decided to evacuate Blup Blup as well because of issues with supplying people on the island along with the danger from the eruption. The evacuees are being moved to the mainland and the International Red Cross is providing about 87,000 kina ($26,274) in funding to help them, said PNG Red Cross Secretary General Uvenama Rova by telephone from the capital of Port Moresby. "The people there, as the volcano erupted, they rushed immediately to escape. So they are in immediate need of food, water, shelter and clothing as well," he said. In the latest bulletin issued on Sunday, the Observatory said a dome of lava on Kadover was visible in the sea at the base of thick white steam clouds that are rising to 600 metres (1,969 feet) above sea level. Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop announced on twitter that the Australian Government was contributing A$25,000 ($19,775) worth of humanitarian supplies for those affected. There are no confirmed records of a previous eruption of Kadovar, said Chris Firth, a vulcanologist at Macquarie University, but scientists speculate it could have been one of two "burning islands" mentioned in the journals of a 17th-century English pirate and maritime adventurer, William Dampier. ($1 = 1.2642 Australian dollars) ($1 = 3.3113 kinas) (Reporting by Alison Bevege; Editing by Christian Schmollinger) Trumps Tweets have rattled a lot of people Earlier this month, Donald Trump sent a chill across the world with a Tweet directed at North Korea bragging about the size of his nuclear button. It was a chilling reminder that Trump has the ability to unleash nuclear armageddon within his reach, day and night. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. The stand-off sparked a huge spike in sales of potassium iodide pills in America, NPR reports commonly advertised online as blocking radiation from nuclear fallout. Troy Jones of NukePills.com said that he saw demand soar on January 2 in the wake of Trumps satement. Jones shipped 140,000 doses of the drug, compared to 8,400 on a normal day. Jones said, On Jan. 2, I basically got in a months supply of potassium iodide and I sold out in 48 hours. Most popular on Yahoo News UK Driver faces 5,000 fine after ploughing through 20ft puddle to soak mum with pram Woman who confessed to killing and burying man believed to be her father is charged with murder Total panic as armed jewel thieves storm Ritz Hotel in Paris and steal goods worth millions of pounds Jet Airways hostess is arrested for smuggling $500,000 from India under her shoes and make-up M25 rapist Antoni Imiela given seven life sentences referred to parole board Local chemists also reported high demand for the pills, which are available over the counter in America. Doomsday preppers believe that the pills protect against radiation but they actually protect the thyroid gland against specific radioactive isotopes. Americas Nuclear Regulatory Commission says, If terrorists attack either at a nuclear power plant or with a dirty bomb, radioactive iodine would have to be released in order for potassium iodide (KI) to be needed. Potassium iodide protects the thyroid gland only against the internal uptake of radioiodines. In the case of a dirty bomb, protective actions will be made according to the threat presented. If the bomb contained radioactive iodine, then the use of KI may be appropriate. However, radioactive iodine is not considered to be a viable component of a dirty bomb due to its relatively short half-life and the difficulties in obtaining significant quantities. EASTERN GHOUTA, Syria (Reuters) - His brow dripping with blood and his skin caked with brick dust, Abu Abdallah was pulled out from under the rubble of his house near Damascus after it was blown up in an air raid. He was lucky to survive the bomb that fell while he was having breakfast, dropped by one of the countless warplanes that emergency workers say have pounded the rebel-held Syrian enclave of Eastern Ghouta in recent days. His three-year-old son was not so fortunate. "We were sitting around, eating," said Abu Abdallah - a sobriquet meaning 'Abdallah's father' - as he recalled Tuesday's strike. "My son wanted to use the toilet, so his mother took him. Then the missile came down." "In less than a minute, the entire house fell on top of us." Relatives in the living room were also trapped in the debris. Everyone was screaming. "I was under the rubble... and my head was bent down, I couldn't raise it," said Abu Abdallah, who declined to give his full name. "I said that's it, this will be the end of me." Syrian troops and their allies have blockaded Eastern Ghouta, a densely populated pocket of satellite towns and farms, since 2013. It is the only remaining major rebel enclave near the Syrian capital. Rescue workers arrived within minutes and then pulled his wife out, he recalled. "She told them there is a boy... and they got him out," he added. "Everybody in the house got out safely except the boy. He was martyred. "Honestly, I keep remembering the boy when they pulled him out... and the pressure with everything on top of me." Abu Abdallah, 26, comes from the eastern Ghouta village of Marj al-Sultan, which the Syrian army recaptured from insurgents in late 2015. He had moved deeper into the enclave to the town of Saqba with his family to try to escape the bombing. "Now it's still not clear what we will do," he said. His family is staying with relatives while he recovers from a head injury and a back strain. Home to around 400,000 civilians, the Eastern Ghouta enclave faces a humanitarian catastrophe, the U.N. human rights chief said this week. Syrian government forces and their allies have killed at least 85 civilians there since the end of December, including 21 women and 30 children, Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein also said. "The (world) should have mercy on these children and women because they have nothing to do with the fighting," Abu Abdallah said. "If they want to fight, let them go fight on the frontlines. But why are they bombing us?" (Writing by Beirut bureau; editing by John Stonestreet) A plane landing in an airport in northern Turkey skid off the runway and nearly fell into the Black Sea, clinging from a steep slope with its nose toward the water below. All the people on board survived the incident. The dramatic scene occurred on Saturday night at Trabzon Airport, the final destination of the Boeing 737-800 plane that departed the Turkish capital of Ankara earlier in the day. The plane touched the runway but then veered to the left, nosediving down the cliff before getting stuck in mud a few feet away from the sea. Passengers panicked. "We tilted to the side, the front was down while the plane's rear was up. There was panic; people shouting, screaming," Fatma Gordu, who was on board of the flight, told state-run news agency Anadolu, quoted in AFP. Trending: Is Trumps Election the Revenge of the White Working Class? 01_14_Pegasus Muhammed Kacar/Dogan News Agency via Reuters "We stayed inside the plane for at least 20 minutes waiting for someone to help us," an unnamed passenger told English-language Turkish publication Daily Sabbah. "There was a smell of fuel inside so we all thought the plane will explode, but thankfully it did not happen," the passenger added. All of the 168 people on board of the aircraft were able to safely evacuate the aircraft, according to the flight operator, low-cost carrier Pegasus Airlines. All 162 passengers, 2 pilots and 4 cabin crew have been disembarked safely from the aircraft. There has been no loss of life or injury to anyone on-board, Pegasus said in a statement posted on their website, describing the event as a runway excursion incident." Don't miss: Las Vegas Gunman Stephen Paddock's Girlfriend Had Fingerprints on His Ammunition, Documents Show 01_14_Pegasus_2 Ihlas News Agency (IHA) via Reuters Story continues The airport was temporarily shut down until Sunday morning as firefighters cooled down the plane and authorities investigated the accident, whose cause remains unclear. According to Turkish reports, the weather conditions at the time of landing featured light rain and fog. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek A passenger jet carrying 168 people skidded off a runway at a Turkish airport, coming to rest on a cliff edge just metres from the sea. The Pegasus Airlines Boeing 737-800 skidded off the runway at Trabzon airport on Saturday evening after arriving from Turkeys capital Ankara. Nobody was injured and the 162 passengers, two pilots and four cabin crew were evacuated from the plane. Close call the plane ended up metres from the sea after skidding off the runway (Pictures: Getty) Runway Excursion Incident Pegasus Airlines issued a statement after the incident Footage from inside the plane reportedly shows panicked passengers in the aftermath of the crash. One passenger, Fatma Gordu, is reported as saying: We tilted to the side, the front was down while the planes rear was up. There was panic. People shouting, screaming. MORE: Landscapers superhuman strength saved his life after he got stuck under a dumper truck MORE: It is cheaper flying to Beijing that taking a return trip from London to Glasgow The incident left Trabzon Airport shut but it reopened on Sunday morning. In a statement, Pegasus Airlines described the crash as a Runway Excusion Incident. No injuries the passengers, pilots and cabin crew were all uninjured after the incident Evacuation passengers and crew were evacuated from the plane after the crash The airline said: Were sorry to report that the Boeing 737-800 type TC-CPF registered aircraft of Pegasus Airlines Flight Number PC 8622 Ankara-Trabzon flight scheduled at 18:25 UTC tonight, had a Runway Excursion Incident during landing at Trabzon Airport (13 January 2018). All 162 passengers, 2 pilots and 4 cabin crew have been disembarked safely from the aircraft. There has been no loss of life or injury to anyone on-board. Pro-Trump supporters disrupted a conference being held in London where Mayor, Sadiq Khan was set to make a speech. The Fabian society, a socialist organisation, had their conference interrupted after demonstrators, from a group called White Pendragons, shouted their support for the US President. The protest was apparently against comments made by the Mayor of London about Mr Trump's plans to cancel his trip to the UK. On Friday, Mr Khan said: "It appears that President Trump got the message from the many Londoners who love and admire America and Americans but find his policies and actions the polar opposite of our citys values of inclusion, diversity and tolerance. His visit next month would without doubt have been met by mass peaceful protests. Demonstrators arrived at the Fabian conference to interrupt a speech by the Mayor of London Credit: SIMON DAWSON/ REUTERS This just reinforces what a mistake it was for Theresa May to rush and extend an invitation of a state visit in the first place. Lets hope that Donald Trump also revisits the pursuit of his divisive agenda. The demonstrators were removed from the conference to the sound of cheers Credit: SIMON DAWSON/REUTERS The group entered the conference moments before Mr Khan was due to make his keynote speech. Protestors were escorted out by police Credit: SIMON DAWSON/ REUTERS The Mayor appeared to read a newspaper as the group were led out of the hall to cheers from attendees of the Fabian Society. Mr Khan announced: "It is a pleasure to be [joined] by what some would call very stable geniuses." Tunis (AFP) - Tunisians on Sunday marked seven years since the uprising that launched the Arab Spring, with fresh protests and some people expressing pride but others anger over persistent economic problems. The North African country is seen as having had a relatively smooth democratic transition since the January 14, 2011 toppling of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali after 23 years in power. But seven years later, anger has risen over new austerity measures after a year of rising prices, with protesters again chanting the 2011 slogans of "Work, Freedom, Dignity". On Sunday, several hundred people took part in rallies in the capital Tunis, responding to calls to demonstrate from a powerful labour union and several political parties. Security was tight as protesters poured through checkpoints into Habib Bourguiba Avenue, the epicentre of the 2011 demonstrations, but no incidents were reported. Demonstrators chanted against "poverty and hunger" as they marched up the avenue, accusing "thieves" of having stolen the country. Outside the offices of the powerful UGTT trade union, demonstrator Foued el-Arbi waved an empty basket marked "2018". "This empty basket sums up our situation seven years after the revolution," said the philosophy professor. But others expressed their pride over the uprising that unseated Ben Ali. The revolution "is the best thing that could have happened, despite the hardships... As long as there are people (who believe), there is hope," said Mohamed Wajdi. A wave of peaceful protests and night-time unrest hit cities and towns across the country over the past week, after hikes in value-added tax and social security contributions introduced in early January. The interior ministry says it has arrested more than 800 people suspected of taking part in violence, theft and looting since the unrest began. Protesters' demands have included a review of the 2018 austerity budget and more efficient measures to fight enduring corruption. Story continues - 'Fall of the budget' - More than 1,000 people took part in Sunday's protest outside the UGTT offices. "The people want the fall of the 2018 budget," some chanted, echoing 2011 calls for the fall of the regime. Hundreds more gathered after Ennahdha, an Islamist party that is part of the ruling coalition, and Prime Minister Youssef Chahed's Popular Front party also called for demonstrations. President Beji Caid Essebsi marked the anniversary by attending the opening of a youth centre in the working-class Tunis suburb of Ettadhamen, which saw clashes between young protesters and police this week. "This year we will start to take care of the young," he said. "The revolution for freedom and dignity... was in effect led by the young." Several local residents turned out to air their frustration. "He says he will help us, and then he goes back to his palace," said Mouna, a high school student. Tunisia's 2011 revolt was sparked by the self-immolation of a fruit seller in desperation at police harassment and unemployment. On January 14, 2011, Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia, inspiring similar revolts across the region in what became known as the Arab Spring. Tunisia has been praised for its steps towards democracy in the years since, compared to countries now wracked by war such as Syria or Yemen. A new constitution was adopted and legislative and presidential polls held in 2014. But authorities have struggled to revitalise Tunisia's economy, including after deadly jihadist attacks in 2015 dealt a major blow to the key tourism sector. Seven years on, youth unemployment is more than 35 percent, according to the International Labour Organization, while inflation was more than six percent at the end of last year. On Saturday, Essebsi announced an increase in aid to the needy and improved health care as part of social reforms. The action plan, costing more than 70 million dinars ($28.5 million), will benefit more than 120,000 Tunisians, according to the authorities. Tunisia has secured a 2.4-billion-euro ($2.9-billion) IMF loan in return for a reduction in its budget deficit and financial reforms. A group of right-wing protesters wheeled a homemade gallows outside a hall where Londons Muslim mayor was about to speak and tried to arrest him for disrespecting U.S. President Donald Trump, The Washington Post reported. Mayor Sadiq Khan laughed it off, calling the protesters very stable geniuses. The crack was a dig at Trump, who said earlier this month in a tweet amid concerns about his mental fitness that he is a very stable genius. The half-dozen protesters calling themselves the White Pendragons managed to delay Khans planned speech on gender equality before members of the liberal Fabian Society for several minutes, The Guardian reported. They accused the mayor of treachery and treason, though it wasnt entirely clear why. The gallows was decorated with a white dragon and the words: Take Back Control. The men waved an American flag and shouted pro-Brexit slogans. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. One of the protesters, David Russell, was identified by the British press as a member of the far-right English Defense League and the host of an anti-Islam radio program. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. The group failed to make a citizens arrest of the mayor and was escorted from the venue by security guards. As for disrespecting Trump, Khan has long butted heads with the president and declared himself no fan. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Trump in turn has mocked Khan on Twitter because of terror attacks in his city. After Trump announced Thursday he was canceling his trip to Britain, Khan said that the president got the message that Londoners dont agree with his policies and that he would have been met with mass protests. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Trump claimed he was canceling his trip because he could not support an Obama administration deal to sell the U.S. Embassy there. The decision to sell the real estate was actually made by George W. Bush administration officials. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Also on HuffPost This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Moscow (AFP) - The Russian army on Friday said it had "eliminated" the militants behind a mortar attack on a base in Syria on New Year's Eve that killed two Russian soldiers. "The command of our troops in Syria carried out a special operation to find and eliminate the group of militants that carried out the mortar attack on the Hmeimim base (Western Syria)," the Russian defence ministry said in a statement. Special forces tracked the fighters to their base camp near the border of Idlib province, the statement said. When the fighters, whose affiliation was not announced, were preparing to leave the base they were "destroyed by a Krasnopol guided missile," according to the ministry. "A drone assembly and storage area was also discovered" the announcement said. Ten drones equipped with explosives attacked Russia's airbase in Hmeimim in the early hours of January 6, the military previously reported. There were no casualties. Russian President Vladimir Putin made a surprise visit to Syria last month where he ordered the start of a pullout of Russian troops, saying their task in the war-torn country had been largely completed. Three battalions of military police and officers of the Russian Center for Reconciliation would remain in Syria, as well as two Russian bases, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on a subsequent trip. By Rania El Gamal and Stephen Kalin DUBAI/JEDDAH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, detained for over two months in an anti-corruption crackdown, is negotiating a possible settlement with authorities but so far has not agreed on terms, a senior Saudi official said. Prince Alwaleed, whose net worth has been estimated by Forbes magazine at $17 billion, is chairman and owner of international investment firm Kingdom Holding <4280.SE>, and one of the country's most prominent businessmen. "He offered a certain figure but it doesnt meet the figure required from him, and until today the attorney-general hasnt approved it," the official said on condition of anonymity under government briefing rules. A second source familiar with Prince Alwaleed's case told Reuters on Saturday that the price had offered to make a "donation" to the Saudi government, which would avoid any admission of wrongdoing, and to do so from assets of his own choosing. The government refused those terms, the source said. Kingdom Holding's share price jumped as much as 9.8 percent on Sunday in response to news of the negotiations, adding about $860 million to the company's capitalization. The stock price was still 7 percent below its level just before Prince Alwaleed was detained. Since early November Prince Alwaleed has been held, with dozens of other members of Saudi Arabia's political and business elite detained in the crackdown, in Riyadh's opulent Ritz Carlton hotel as authorities seek to reach settlements with the detainees. Saudi officials say they aim to claw back some $100 billion of funds that rightfully belong to the state. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who launched the crackdown, has indicated he wants to close existing cases quickly and expects most suspects to cut a deal. The allegations against Prince Alwaleed include money laundering, bribery and extorting officials, a Saudi official told Reuters soon after his detention. Neither he nor his company has commented publicly on the charges. Kingdom Holding, which has said it is continuing to operate normally, did not respond to requests for comment when asked about any settlement talks. Construction giant Saudi Binladin Group said on Saturday that some of its shareholders might transfer part of their holdings to the state in a settlement with authorities. Chairman Bakr Bin Laden and several family members were detained in the crackdown. In late November, senior Saudi Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, once seen as a leading contender to the throne, was freed after reaching a settlement with authorities that involved paying more than $1 billion, according to a Saudi official. (Additional reporting by Saeed Azhar in Dubai and Marwa Rashad in Riyadh; Editing by Andrew Torchia and Dale Hudson) An NYPD traffic officer shown in September 2017 wearing a traditional turban directing traffic. A new settled case will allow officers to grow longer beards and wear navy blue turbans as part of their uniforms in an effort to allow more diversity in the police force. (Photo: Getty Images) The NYPD has recognized that beards are more than just a fashion statement. New York City police officers can now grow beards for religious reasons. The new policy has been implemented after a Muslim cop filed a lawsuit. He claimed he was unjustly suspended for wearing a beard more than 1 millimeter long. Officer Masood Syed is responsible for the policy change. Syed, 33, filed a class-action lawsuit in June 2016 in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, challenging the constitutionality of the NYPDs ban on beards. He cited it as a violation of First Amendment rights. The lawsuit came after Syed, a Pakistani-American, was suspended without pay when he refused to shave his 1-inch beard, which he wears as a Sunni Muslim. Syed has worked as a law clerk for the NYPDs deputy commissioner of trials since 2006. Syed had kept his beard when he joined the force by asking for medical accommodation. Two years later, he asked for religious accommodation, according to NBC News. In 2016, it was the first time a supervisor told Syed he was out of compliance with NYPD policy. When he refused to shave, he was suspended. Shortly after the lawsuit was filed, he was restored to full duty and permitted to keep his 1-inch beard. But the fight wasnt over. In December 2016, the NYPD revised its policy allowing facial hair of up to a half inch for religious beliefs with the departments approval. On Jan. 2, the city settled the class-action lawsuit. We are pleased with the resolution of this case, a New York City Law Department spokesman told the Daily News about the settlement. The agreed-upon reforms balance the operational needs of the police department with the religious beliefs and needs of officers. The new NYPD policy allowing for longer beards also permits cops to wear turbans for religious reasons. The turbans will have to be navy blue and display a departmental insignia. Its a major change, Police Commissioner James ONeill said about the rule change. ONeill has hopes the new dress code will bring more diversity to the force, thus increasing the number of applicants. Story continues Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. By Ed Stoddard EAST LONDON, South Africa (Reuters) - South Africa wants to attract foreign investors to help it kick-start economic growth and will crack down on corruption, the new leader of the ruling African National Congress said on Saturday. Cyril Ramaphosa, who narrowly won the race to succeed President Jacob Zuma as ANC leader last month, also used a speech to mark 106 years since the founding of Africa's oldest liberation movement to call for party unity after a bitter leadership contest. South Africa's economy has slowed to a near-standstill over Zuma's two presidential terms, as allegations of influence-peddling in government and mismanagement of state-owned enterprises have dented consumer and business confidence. But Ramaphosa's election win has injected a sense of optimism that the ANC, which has governed South Africa since the end of apartheid in 1994, could win back the trust of voters and investors disillusioned with Zuma's rule. Ramaphosa, 65, a former trade union leader and one of the country's wealthiest businessmen, pledged during his campaign for ANC leader to address record unemployment and a sluggish economy. "South Africa is open for investment," he told tens of thousands of cheering ANC members in a stadium in the Eastern Cape province on Saturday. Through foreign investment "we can grow our economy, create jobs, end poverty," he said. "We must have an economy that offers policy certainty and addresses areas that inhibit investment, growth as well as social inclusion." Ramaphosa reassured investors that the role, mandate and independence of the central bank would be maintained while plans for free higher education for the poor would be implemented gradually so as to safeguard public finances. The ANC needs to follow the example of liberation hero Nelson Mandela to unite the country and combat the racial inequalities that persist to this day, he added. Story continues Ramaphosa faces a difficult balancing act as he must accommodate the competing interests of rival ANC factions vying for control of the party. One faction backed his bid for ANC leader, while another favoured Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, a former cabinet minister and ex-wife of Zuma. ZUMA'S FUTURE There has been widespread speculation that Ramaphosa and his allies are lobbying ANC members to oust Zuma as head of state in the coming weeks, but he made no mention of Zuma's future. Zuma, 75, sat alongside Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta to hear Ramaphosa speak and was booed on several occasions during Saturday's anniversary celebrations. Zuma's second presidential term doesn't officially end until 2019 when national elections will be held, but he could be removed early through a motion of no confidence in parliament or at a meeting of the ANC's national executive committee. Ramaphosa welcomed Zuma's recent announcement that there would be an inquiry into influence-peddling in government and said it was a top priority for those responsible to be prosecuted. Zuma has denied allegations that he has allowed his friends to influence the appointment of ministers. Ramaphosa said that corruption in the private sector was also an important issue. ANC member Vanita Kok, from the Khoisan royal house, said Ramaphosa's message struck a chord because "corruption is rife". While markets have rallied since Ramaphosa's victory, some analysts are sceptical he will deliver on his bold promises. Gwen Ngwenya, an economist at South Africa's Institute of Race Relations, said: "Ramaphosa is hamstrung by the need to ensure unity, and this will result in confused policymaking." (Reporting by Ed Stoddard; Writing by Alexander Winning; Editing by Alexander Smith and Clelia Oziel) The Dragon, NASAs free-flying spacecraft, departed for Earth early Saturday morning. After about a month-long mission at the International Space Station (ISS), the spacecraft is now on track to touch down in the Pacific Ocean around 10:30 a.m. EST and will then be retrieved by SpaceX, according to Space.com. It was originally designed to carry humans, but the Dragon currently only transports cargo. The Dragon was launched with more than 4,800 pounds of supplies and is now carrying more about 4,000 pounds worth of goods, including a group of mice that were used to explore muscular breakdown in space, as a part of NASAs Rodent Research-6 experiment. Trending: ''Shithole' Projected onto Trump Hotel in Washington DC 1_13_SpaceX Dragon Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images) The experiment is an effort to understand whether drugs will be able to help astronauts with muscle loss, which is a well-known effect of space travel, especially during long-duration missions. Forty mice are aboard the ISS for varying amounts of time, with two months being the longest. In both cases, animals are euthanized humanely, and tissue samples are harvested for subsequent study and comparison with Earth-based control groups, NASA explains on its website. Story continues The mice should have a safe trip, considering NASA referred to its Falcon 9 rockets and Dragon capsules as one of the safest and most advanced human spaceflight systems ever builtand we are set to meet the additional milestones needed to launch our demonstration missions this year, the space agency said in a statement, the space agency said in a statement, according to The Wall Street Journal. The Dragon departed for the ISS on December 15 from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida and landed and arrived on December 17, according to a NASA statement. Its currently the only flying spacecraft thats capable of carrying large amounts of items back down to Earth. Later this year, its expected to conduct its first-ever manned test flight. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Beirut (AFP) - Syrian troops have recaptured dozens of towns and villages from jihadist fighters, a monitor said Sunday, bringing them closer to a key military airport in the country's northwest. "In the past 24 hours, regime forces have taken at least 79 villages in the southern parts of Aleppo province, an area near the Abu Duhur military airport," said Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor. Russia-backed regime troops are aiming to reach the Abu Duhur base as part of a weeks-long assault against Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which is dominated by Al-Qaeda's former Syria affiliate. The offensive has seen Syrian forces seize surrounding territory in the provinces of Aleppo and Hama as they close in on Abu Duhur, which lies just inside the Idlib province. They briefly broke into the air base this week from the south but were ousted in a ferocious counter-offensive by jihadists and rebels. With the latest push in Aleppo province, Abdel Rahman said, army troops were seeking to open a new front on the airport's northern and eastern flanks. "Regime troops lost control of those villages in southern Aleppo province in 2012," he said. "They are advancing quickly now because of HTS's collapse, and the withdrawal of its fighters and those of other groups from the area," Abdel Rahman added. Syrian daily Al-Watan, which is close to the government, also reported that the army was "encircling" the airport. The airport straddles the border between Aleppo and Idlib, the last province in the country outside the government's control. In addition to the base, the regime hopes to secure a key patch of highway running through Idlib that links the northern city of Aleppo with the capital Damascus further south. Rebels and jihadists overran Idlib province over the course of several months in 2015, capturing Abu Duhur in September of that year. Since then, the jihadist forces behind HTS have expanded their control in the province, with the influence of mainstream rebels shrinking drastically. The fighting in Idlib has displaced nearly 100,000 people since early December, the United Nations has said. There was one small problem with President Donald Trumps boast about selling a bunch of F-52 fighter jets to Norway. The aircraft doesnt actually exist; its a plane used in the Call of Duty first-person shooter video game. Trump made the gaffe during a joint press conference with Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg at the White House on Wednesday. In November, we started delivering the first F-52s and F-35 fighter jets, Trump bragged about the reported $10 billion order. We have a total of 52 and theyve delivered a number of them already a little ahead of schedule. Norway purchased 52 F-35 jets and Trump appeared to misread a written statement and combine the figure of 52 planes with the F fighter designation, the BBC reported. The Call of Duty Wiki page described the fictional jet as being equipped with afterburners for greater speed to outrun aircraft, as well as air brakes, which provide the fighter with additional maneuverability in tight corners or for avoiding enemy fire. Heres how Late Show host Stephen Colbert broke down the fake news: People on Twitter also had some thoughts: This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Related Coverage Ben Stiller Reading Trump's 'Stable Genius' Tweets As Zoolander Is Like Ridiculously Funny Tweeters Ridicule Trump's Reason For Scrapped UK Visit Celebrities Erupt In Anger Over Donald Trump's 'Shithole Countries' Comment Also on HuffPost Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Warfare History Network History, Europe As the Wermacht tightened the ring around Sevastopol in 1942, German and Soviet fighter aces blazed away at one another day after day. Top Gun, World War II Style: The Shocking Dogfight between Russia and Nazi Germany In June 1942, the Black Sea port of Sevastopol on the Crimea was the scene of some of the fiercest fighting of World War II. Commanded by Generaloberst Erich von Manstein, the German Eleventh Army was dispatched in a powerful attack to seize this important stronghold. Throughout the battle, a stiff but uneven air war raged between German Messerschmitt Me-109 fighters and a handful of determined Soviet airmen based inside Sevastopol. Due to the limited geographic area, the same fighter aces on both sides met in combat each day. Hauptmann Gordon Gollob, Oberleutnants Anton Hackl, Heinrich Setz, and Feldwebel Ernst-Wilhelm Reinert were among the most prominent protagonists in German Fighter Wing 77 (JG 77), as were Kapitans Mikhail Avdeyev, Konstantin Alekseyev, and Boris Babayev in the Soviet naval 6th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment6 GIAP/VVS-ChF. A Mutual Respect Both sides learned to pay great respect to their adversaries. Heinrich Setz, commanding the fourth Staffel (squadron) of JG 77, described the air combat with most experienced Soviet fighter pilots over Sevastopol as extremely hard, and Hauptmann Gollob was compelled to instruct his fighter pilots to avoid turning combats at low flight altitude. Recommended: The Colt Python: The Best Revolver Ever Made? Recommended: Smith & Wesson 500: The Gun That Has As Much Firepower As a Rifle Recommended: Smith & Wesson's .44 Magnum Revolver: Why You Should Fear the 'Dirty Harry' Gun And Kapitan Mikhail Avdeyev, commanding the first squadron (1 AE) of 6 GIAP/VVS-ChF, dedicated much space in his memoirs to honor a most feared German ace over Sevastopol, whom the Soviet pilots called Ztheir interpretation of the call sign on the fuselage of this Me-109 F as a black Latin character Z. Avdeyev wrote: Z appeared every day, always with his back protected by other fighters. Usually, he picked his victims carefully, and only rarely were his attacks without success. More than once, I tried to pursue this Fascist, but this proved to be a most difficult undertaking. Story continues It was clear that Z was an outstanding pilot, definitely somebody from von Richthofens inner circle or maybe even von Richthofen himself.[Von Richthofen was cousin to the famous WWI ace and, at age 47 in 1942, Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe 4th Air Fleet fighting at Sevastopol.] That damned Z deprived us of our sleep and never left us in peace. It was as if he jeered at us. A hundred times I examined my mind to find out different ways of attacking himfrom above, from below, from the clouds or from the sun. But these fine theories always were shattered by the realities. Z wasnt someone whom you could lure into a trap, or who could be made to lose his nerves through a frontal attack. He was a worthy opponent, and he definitely gave us a lot of headache. Z was Anton Hackl, the Staffelkapitan of 5./JG 77. Toni Hackl would remain in frontline service during the entire war. He was among the few who survived more than a thousand combat sorties, achieving a total of 192 confirmed and 24 unconfirmed aerial victories. Roaming the skies above Sevastopol with his Me-109 F-4, Black 5, in June 1942, Toni Hackl would bring down 11 Soviet aircraft during this battle, making him the most successful German fighter pilot during the campaign. Mikhail Avdeyev was a stunned witness of how swiftly Z shot down an Il-2 of 18 ShAP/VVS-ChF in early June: The fighters of the 1st Eskadrilya took off first. Three or four minutes later, a dozen Messerschmitts appeared. In that moment, Mayor Gubriys Stormoviks were taking off. Eight Yakovlevs met the Messerschmitts over the sea. Our fast, sudden attack and precise gauge maneuvers drew the Messerschmitts into combat and prevented them from engaging the Stormoviks. Then, from somewhere high above, beyond the dogfight, one Messerschmitt, which no one had detected, came rushing downward like a vulture. It set one of the Stormoviks on fire and disappeared at treetop level. Together with Danilko, I tried to pursue him as he leveled out from the dive, but we were intercepted by four Messerschmitts. We caught a quick glimpse of a black Z on the hunters fuselage side. Nevertheless, both Soviet and German accounts indicate that the Soviet naval airmen based inside Sevastopol in general were tougher than their German counterparts. Several statements by Luftwaffefliers that flew against Sevastopol reveal how impressed the Germans were with the stamina displayed by these Soviet pilots. Duels in the Skies In early June 1942, the airmen of both sides had been involved in a prolonged and intense campaign over the eastern part of the Crimea, the Kerch Peninsula (which was completely overrun by the Germans in May 1942), and were in desperate need of a rest. Leutnant Armin Kohler of I./JG 77 wrote in his diary: Each day there is an uninterrupted row of combat sorties. We are unable to sleep at night. If this carries on much longer, our nerves will soon be worn down. To Hauptmann Gordon Gollob, who commanded the German fighter force in the Crimea, this was a cause of great concern. At the onset of the assault against Sevastopol, he wrote in his diary: The pilot situation looks bad, partly because of losses in aerial combat and injuries, and partly because some pilots have to be relieved from first-line service. Far from everyone is able to stand the enormous physical and mental strain. The most reasonableand most humanthing to do is to release those pilots who have lost their perseverance from first-line service before they influence other pilots with their negative attitude or get killed. But Hitler was determined to capture Sevastopolthe thorn in the side of his armybefore the summer offensive against the oil fields in the Caucasus was opened. As they were lined up against Sevastopol, the exhausted Luftwaffe pilots knew that notwithstanding their numerical superiority, it would not be an easy fight. This had been proven to the fighter pilots of JG 77 on May 27, 1942 when four Me-109s bounced two MBR-2 hydroplanes of the Soviet 116th naval reconnaissance aviation regiment (116 MRAP/VVS-ChF). The slow hydroplanes should have been no match to the Me-109 F-4s, but the MBRs, piloted by Kapitan Nikolay Tarasenko and Leytenant Yevgeniy Akimov, fought off the attack vigorously by turning head-on against the Germans. Unteroffizier Ernst Thomas Me-109 was shot down and the remaining three chose to disengage, thus enabling the MBR-2s to land safely at Sevastopol. Unteroffizier Thoma landed in his parachute in the sea near Cape Khersones and was rescued by the Soviets. He was brought to Sevastopol, where he reportedly revealed the number of planes, the location of the forward German airfields, and other details regarding JG 77. The following night, a group of MBR-2s from 116 MRAP/VVS-ChF raided the German airfield in accordance with the information given by the unhappy Ernst Thoma. Later the Soviets executed him. Of the Soviet airmen in Sevastopol, the fighter pilots of 6 GIAP/VVS-ChFawarded the name of honor Sevastopolskiyconstituted the greatest threat to the Luftwaffe. The most famous pilot of this unit was Kapitan Mikhail Avdeyev, an excellent marksman who commanded the first squadron, 1 AE, of this regiment. On June 1, Avdeyev and his wingman Starshiy Leytenant Danilko came close to killing Generaloberst Erich von Manstein. As the two Soviet pilots returned from a reconnaissance mission over the road to Yalta, they spotted a lone motor torpedo boat. Disregarding the order to avoid combat, they immediately put down the noses of their Yak-1s and came down with guns blazing. Generaloberst von Manstein had boarded the Italian motor torpedo boat in order to check if the strategically important road from Sevastopol to Yalta could be controlled from the sea. Suddenly machine-gun bullets crashed into the deck of the boat. The two Yak-1s dived with the sun at their backs, undetected by the enemy. To the left and to the right of von Manstein, the port commander of Yalta, Kapitan Joachim von Wedel; the Italian commander of the torpedo boat; and the Generalobersts faithful driver, Oberfeldwebel Fritz Nagal fell dead. Von Manstein was lucky to escape any injuries. The Siege of Sevastopol Begins The German attack on Sevastopol, initiated on June 7, 1942, was preceded by five days of German artillery shelling and bombardment from the air. Between June 2 and June 6, six hundred aircraft of Generaloberst Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofens Air Corps VIII carried out relentless softening-up bombings of Sevastopol. Individual German bomber crews made up to 18 sorties daily. What the defenders of Sevastopol had to endure was even worse than the previous Luftwaffe blitz against Warsaw, Rotterdam, London, or Malta. A Soviet army commander recalls how the German bombers literally plowed up the earth throughout our defense area. And yet, it took 25 days of furious ground fighting before the German flag could be raised in the ruins of Sevastopol. Earth, water, rock fragments, steel, and cement were intermingled with bleeding corpses, recalls Hauptmann Werner Baumbach, a German bomber pilot veteran who took part in the battle: And yet, the Russians continued to cling to their ground, their native soil, with unparalleled tenacity. A report from the German Eleventh Army noted: Defying our air superiority, the enemys air force intervened in the ground combat with ground-attack aircraft and fighters. On June 7, Gordon Gollob wrote in his diary: My fighters achieved nine victories, while one officer and an Unteroffizier went missing. The Russians are putting up a desperateand quite skillfulfight. I shot down a LaGG-3, which fell straight into the ground at Sevastopol IV Airdrome and burst into flames. But I also was a close call from getting shot down myself. I barely managed to reach our own lines with a shot-up radiator. Leutnant Wolfgang Werhagen, an 11-victory ace in 4./JG 77, was captured after being shot down. Mikhail Avdeyev describes how the Yak-1s of 6 GIAP/VVS-ChF tied up the Me-109s that attempted to escort a formation of Il-2s:Suddenly one of the Messerschmitts broke away from the fighter tussle and headed for the Il-2s, but Kapitan Konstantin Alekseyev saw it in time and shot down the German. A second Me-109 was shot down by me, and one more Me-109 fell burning toward the mountains. But the overwhelming German superiority in the air was too much even to the determined and experienced veterans of 6 GIAP. For several hours the whole scene was buzzing, howling and thundering; there was no way for us to repulse the masses of enemy aircraft that kept arriving in wave after wave, recalls Avdeyev. There was not enough fighters or antiaircraft artillery. Against a loss of three Yak-1s, 6 GIAP/VVS-ChF chalked up nine kills on June 8. At the same time, 12 Soviet aircraft were claimed by the pilots of JG 77, three of them by Toni Hackl. Of the three top aces in 6 GIAP/VVS-ChF, only one would escape unscathed from the following weeks stiff air combats. On June 8, Kapitan Alekseyev was shot down and bailed out with severe wounds. Kostya Alekseyev had a total score of 11 personal and six group victories, which made him the top ace of the Soviet Black Sea Fleet Air Force at that time. Mikhail Avdeyev recalls the fateful mistake committed by Kapitan Alekseyevs wingman: Together with his wingman, Katrov, he carried out a prolonged dogfight with six Messerschmitts, who attempted to break through to our Stormoviks. Here the main task was holding the enemy at bay, not shooting down. But Katrov couldnt stand it and went after a Messerschmitt that appeared in front of him. This was exactly what the Germans had been waiting for. A pair of Messerschmitts came rushing to attack Katrov. Alekseyev tried to overtake them but was himself squeezed between two other fighters, one from each side, who set his aircraft on fire. Oberleutnant Heinrich Setz described this combat : I managed to position myself behind one of these guys several times. My cannon wouldnt fire, and left with only the machine guns I didnt have the sufficient fire power. The Russians proved to be very skilful fliers, and I found myself attacked over and over again. After a prolonged dogfight, I suddenly saw a Yak climbing after a Messerschmitt. I went after him. While turning, I came so close that I almost rammed him. The burst from my machine-guns hit his engine and cockpit. He went down and crashed right next to his own airfield. Mounting Soviet Losses On June 9when 11 of the Soviet navy aircraft in Sevastopol were shot downthe time had come for Boris Babayev. That morning, the three Yak-1 sections that remained in Mikhail Avdeyevs 1 AE of 6 GIAP/VVS-ChF took off to pave the way through the Me-109s for the Il-2s of Mayor Gubriys 18 ShAP/VVS-ChF. Because the German forward command kept the Soviet airfields inside the fortress under constant surveillance, von Richthofen could personally direct the JG 77 fighters against the Yak-1s as he saw the dust blown up when the Soviet pilots started their engines. Avdeyev and his wingman Katrov were first to race across the runway, and as soon as the undercarriage of his fighter left the ground he was charged from above by two Me-109 pilots. Both Soviet pilots engaged the enemy while Boris Babayev and three other Yak pilots took to the air. But soon German reinforcements were called in. The Yak-1 pilots were locked into a severe combat with a large number of German fighter pilots, including Anton Hackl, Heinrich Setz, and Ernst-Wilhelm Reinert. The Il-2s and three I-16s of 6 GIAP/VVS-ChF took off just as a formation of Ju 88s was approaching with the obvious intent of bombing the airfield. With the Me-109s occupied attacking the Yak-1s, the Shturmoviks and Ishaks managed to slip away to carry out a swift low-level attack against the German troops not many miles away. Boris Babayev bailed out of his blazing Yakovlev; he got entangled with the rigging lines of his parachute and fell with his face downward, breaking his front teeth and fracturing his face as he hit the ground. By comparing Soviet sources with corresponding German sources, it is obvious that Babayevs Yak-1 fell prey to Toni Hacklregistered as his 59th kill. The combat was still raging as one of the German pilots caught sight of the Il-2s and I-16s that were returning from their strafing. Several Me-109s turned to intercept them, and the Yak-1s duly followed to protect their comradesbut in vain. I dived against a bird which had large areas painted red, Heinrich Setz recalled. I gave him a burst from my cannon and he exploded in a huge cascade of fire immediately in front of me. Avdeyevs wingman Katrov fell to a certain deathending up as Heinrich Setzs 74th victory. From his observation tower, von Richthofen saw the Soviet aircraft go down in flames. Its great fun! he chuckled. Next, two I-16s were knocked down, by Setz and Reinert (the latters 49th victory). The stiffness of the combat is indicated by the entry in Gordon Gollobs diary for that day which reads: We fought at altitudes between 1,500 feet and the deck. I shot down an I-153, but I was also hit myself and landed close behind our own lines with a burning tire. Following this, 6 GIAP/VVS-ChF was left with only four Yak-1s remaining. On June 10, Soviet Fifth Air Army sent 20 Yak-1s of 45th Fighter Aviation Regiment (45 IAP) from northwestern Caucasus as reinforcements to Sevastopol. Next day, another group of eight Yak-1s arrived from the units of VVS-ChF that were based in the same area. While the army fighters managed to reach their destination without incidents, the naval Yakovlevs were spotted by Heinrich Setz. Climbing with the sun at his back, Setz put a well-aimed burst into one of the Yaks, which fell to the ground the German aces 76th kill. The mainly inexperienced Soviet airmen could not outweigh the loss of Babayev and Alekseyev, and the air-combat situation grew more and more difficult for the Soviets. On June 12, Avdeyev had to make good an escape by flying down a Sevastopol street. When he returned to base, he learned that only three of the new navy Yakovlev pilotsthe units political commissar and two inexperienced Serzhantshad survived that days air fighting. In his memoirs, Avdeyev wrote laconically: And next day, the Commissar and his wingmen were no more. On June 13, the Soviet navy pilots in Sevastopol registered seven aircraft lost against two victory claims. In addition, the 45 IAP pilots Ivan Shmatko, Serzhant Vazyan, and Leytenant Ushakov were shot down. After a few days, 45 IAP had lost nine Yak-1s, and most of its novice pilots were killed. A Chance to Kill Z In response to the relentless German fighter attacks from above, the Soviet airmen adopted a new tactic. Taking off as fast as they could, they raced out over the sea at low level. Once out of sight of Sevastopol, they climbed high and turned back. Three attacks were made by strong Il-2 formations, an astounded Gordon Gollob wrote in his diary on June 14. These guys have some nerves, Heinrich Setz noted in his diary: Each day they see their friends go down in flames, and yet theyre back in the air with the same enthusiasm the next day. During one of the air combats on June 15, Avdeyev finally managed to get the feared Z in his gunsight:The sun was already sinking below the horizon. Suddenly I spotted the hated reddish-brown (carrot-colored) plane over the airfield. I called upon all gods to ensure that my engine and guns would not fail, that my speed wouldnt decrease, so that nothing would go wrong. The matter had become personal: Z had become my nightmare, my idee fixe, the symbol of everything that I hated ferociously I still dont know the reason for thiseither Z made a blunder, or my swift attack caught him by surprisebut finally, and not without sensing a fiendish pleasure, I saw my ryzhiy (carrot) cross the threads of my gunsight. I fired one burst. A second. A third. The plane passed by. I turned my head and looked back: Trailing smoke, Z rushed toward friendly territory. I turned to follow him, but too latea pack of Messerschmitts intercepted me. Until today, I dont know if I managed to shoot him down or not, nor do I know if it was General von Richthofen himself, or one of his favorites. But we never saw Z again. In vain we looked for his dirty reddish-brown machine in the sky. Although Avdeyev may have come out with a moral victory from his last engagement with the infamous Z, it is clear that neither Toni Hackl nor any other German fighter pilot was shot down over Sevastopol on June 15. However, Avdeyevs observation that Hackl disappeared from the skies in this area is correct. On June 14, Hackl received the Knights cross during a ceremony led by Gordon Gollob. After that, Hackl left for a well-deserved home leave. Incidentally, Mikhail Avdeyev and Konstantin Alekseyev were appointed Heroes of the Soviet Union on the same day. The German Army Captures Severnaya Bay Day after day, thousands of bombs rained upon Sevastopol and its fortifications. The combat record of I./KG 100s Hauptmann Hansgeorg Batcher reads: June 9: Fort Cheek hit with an SD 1000-bomb; June 13: Fort Kappa hit with SD 1000; June 15: SD 1000 on Fort Bastion. On June 17, the Germans concentrated their efforts against the Soviet Coastal Battery 30, also known as Fortress Maxim Grouchy Ithe key to the Soviet defense in the north. Between 3:15 and 3:30 pm, 27 Ju 87s of Hauptmann Alfas Orthofers II./StG 77 attacked the fortress. A German infantry Leutnant later wrote: Our Stukas come buzzing. They dive away over their wings and descend toward Maxim Gorkiy with screaming engines. Over and over again! Their machine-guns are spitting small flames. The air trembles from the bomb detonations. Dark smoke and gigantic dust clouds rise. One of the Ju 87 pilots, Oberleutnant Maue, succeeded in scoring a direct bomb hit on the last remaining gun tower of the fortress; shortly afterward the German soldiers were able to seize the stronghold. It proved to be the turning point of the battle. With Coastal Battery 30 neutralized, the German LIV Corps managed to breach the Soviet lines north of the Severnaya Bay, opposite to the city of Sevastopol. It then became increasingly difficult for the Soviets to counteract against the Germans, who had the attackers advantage of choosing where to locate his main effort. The German air superiority also became increasingly overwhelming. On June 18, the flotilla leader Kharkov was severely damaged by the close hit of a German bomb near Khersones. Meanwhile over Sevastopol eight Il-2 Shuturmoviks of the Soviet 18th Ground-Attack Aviation Regiment (18 ShAP) and a number of escort fighters were bounced by some 20 Me-109s during takeoff from the Sevastopol airfield Khersonesskiy Mayak. Within a few minutes, Gordon Gollob sent one Il-2 and one fighter (claimed as a LaGG-3) back to the ground. Other pilots of JG 77 were credited with four kills. Because Gollob earlier had refrained from reporting four of his victories, his two kills on June 18 were officially recognized as his 100th and 101st victorieswhich rendered him a mentioning in the OKW Bulletin the following day. On June 19, the German ground troops reached the northern shore of Severnaya Bay, and were able to subject the Soviet airfields to an intense artillery shelling, which destroyed four Soviet naval aircraft on the ground and almost completely paralyzed any Soviet air activity. German LIV Corps reported: No enemy air activity. On June 19, Heinrich Setz patrolled above Sevastopol searching for an opportunity to achieve his 80th victory. Only after 12 hours did he spot the first Soviet aircraft. Setz dived straight on a group of LaGG-3s that were taking off, shot down oneit crashed straight on Khersonesskiy Mayak Airdromeand then made a quick escape. On June 20, all hydroplanes and bombers were flown out of Sevastopol. One GST (a license-built U.S. Catalina) was intercepted by I./JG 77 Me-109s near the Kerch Peninsula and ended up as Feldwebel Ottokar Pohls fifth victory. The pilot, Kapitan Chebanik, was killed. Von Manstein then launched an amphibious landing on the southern shore of Severnaya Bay, at the outskirts of Sevastopol. In preparation, the Luftwaffe carried out a concentrated bombardment against the inner fortification belt around the city. While the German troops lay waiting in their trenches, the bombers and Stukas kept coming throughout June 23, unloading their deadly cargo over a small area. The thick smoke that rose from Sevastopol completely covered the horizon, Gordon Gollob wrote in his diary. Continued Soviet Resilience But still the last Soviet airmen in the besieged fortress kept fighting, as Gollob noted on June 23: We drop bombs against ships and quays in the western part of the bay, and strafe vehicles and other targets of opportunity. But even though the airfield Sevastopol IV is subjected to continuous shelling from our antiaircraft artillery, Russian aircraft continue to take off and land at this place. That day, Setz was amazed to see a single I-153 carrying out what he described as aerial acrobatics above Khersonesskiy Mayak Airdrome. One minute later, I had destroyed the biplane, Setz wrotehis 81st. The brave 6 GIAP/VVS-ChF fought its final combat over Sevastopolat least for almost two yearson June 24, 1942. On June 25, as only 32 aircraft remained in Sevastopol, the decision was taken to evacuate all airmen of 6 GIAP/VVS-ChF. Each day, the Soviet situation deteriorated. Von Manstein pressed hard for increased air support, and on June 26, the fortifications on the Sapun hills, which had blocked the advance of XXX Corps in the eastern sector for so long, were completely devastated by the air attacks. Meanwhile, 16 Soviet aircraft were put out of commission during air raids and artillery shelling against Khersonneskiy Mayak Airdrome. Other German aircraft were launched against the Soviet supply shipping. Flotilla leader Tashkent of the Soviet Black Sea Navy was able to evade the attacks by He 111s of I./KG 100 Wiking and arrived with badly needed reinforcements of the 142 Rifle Regiment. The destroyer Bezuprechnyy, en route to Sevastopol with 320 soldiers, did not have the same fortune. The combat report of II./StG 77 for June 26 reads: Eight Ju 87s attacked the destroyer in grid 34 East 4588. Two direct hits were scored. The destroyer sank after two minutes. The decisive hit, which resulted in the splitting of the vessel in two halves, was scored by Oberfeldwebel Werner Haugk. The second hit was scored by Stabsfeldwebel Bartle. Early next morning, III./StG 77 and I./KG 100 pursued flotilla leader Tashkent as it withdrew from Sevastopol with 2,100 injured soldiers on board. Soviet journalist Yevgeniy Petrov, who experienced the struggle between the commander of the ship, Kapitan Vasiliy Yeroshenko, and the Luftwaffe fliers, recalled: Yeroshenko rushed between starboard gaff-end and backboard gaff-end during the entire air attack. He peered at the diving aircraft and with a hoarse voice gave the correct instructions in the right time: Shift the helm backboardShift the helm starboard! On occasion, he even waved his hand to encourage me. Only after four hours, when 335 bombs had been dropped against the ship, did Oberfeldwebel Herbert Dawedeit of 8./ StG 77 manage to score a close hit that caused severe damage to the ship. But it survived and could be towed back to Novorossiysk. Nevertheless, the bomb attacks against Bezuprechnyy and Tashkent compelled the Soviets to refrain from dispatching further large sea vessels to Sevastopola decision that would be most fateful to the remaining men in the besieged garrison. The Soviets Break A final effort to supply the badly mauled defenders was made by 20 PS-84 transport planeslicense-built U.S. C-47s brought in from the famous Moscow Aviation Group MAGONthat carried out 288 night supply flights between June 21 and July 1, but it did not suffice. By now, the Soviet defenders were in complete disarray. On June 28, the Luftwaffe carried out a relentless bombing of Sevastopol in order to drown the sound of the assault boats that were brought forward, and the amphibious landing took place the following night. The Soviets were caught by surprise, and the Germans managed to get a foothold. Early next morning, the German fliers carried out rolling attacks to the east of the city, where German XXX Corps launched yet another attack. More than 1,300 Luftwaffe sorties were carried out on June 29 alone. The only Soviet opposition in the air was when eight Yak-1s of 45 IAP intercepted an StG 77 formation, with Kapitan L. Saprykin and Leytenant Nikolay Lavitskiy claiming one of the Ju 87s. Approximately three hundred Stukas are launched in merciless, deafening attacks against the Sapun Heights, wrote a German infantry Oberstleutnant. Never everneither previously, nor laterdid the men of 42nd Infantry Regiment experience something like this. Finally, the entire Soviet defense collapsed. With almost all artillery ammunition spent and no hopes for any significant reinforcements or supplies, thousands of Soviet soldiers fell back toward Cape Khersones, more or less in disorder. Panic is spreading, particularly among the officers, wrote the commander of the Soviet Coastal Army, General-Mayor Ivan Petrov. His aviation arm carried out its last 22 sorties on June 30, and during the following night, 11 Yak-1s, one LaGG-3, four I-16s, three I-153s, one I-15bis, seven Il-2s, and four U-2s took off and flew to Anapa in northwestern Caucasus. Thirty nonoperational aircraft were set on fire on the ground. The Russian will to resist is broken, noted German XXX Corps on the evening of June 30. And still von Manstein shuddered at the prospect of drawn-out and merciless streetfighting inside the city of Sevastopol. In order to avoid that, he wrote, I instructed the artillery and the Luftwaffe to have a word once again. All bombers, Stukas and all available artillery pieces opened a terrible bombardment against the city early on July 1. Leutnant Herbert Kuntz of I./KG 100 recalls: The impact of our heaviest bombs is terrible. Entire blocks of houses disintegrate. Rocks, parts of roofs and rafters are flung 3,000 feet high. The assault was met with full success, von Manstein noted. On the afternoon of July 1, the German flag was raised in the ruins of Sevastopol. The Soviet Supreme High Command surrendered to the harsh realities and issued an order that permitted General-Mayor Petrov to abandon Sevastopol. Petrov and the other commanders of the Coastal Army were evacuated by the submarines Shch-209 and L-23, and PS-84s flew the commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Vitse-Admiral Filipp Oktyabrskiy to safety in the Caucasus. General-Mayor Petr Novikov assumed command of the defense positions at Cape Khersones. While the Soviet troops flocked to Cape Khersones hoping for the arrival of an evacuation fleet, Hauptmann Hanns Heise led I./KG 76 and parts of I./KG 100 in an attack against the Black Sea Fleet in the Caucasus ports of Taman, Anapa, and Novorossiysk. The Soviet fighter interception force was severely dealt with by the escorting Me-109s of II./JG 77which claimed six victories for no lossesonly one German bomber was shot down. The damaged flotilla leader Tashkent and destroyer Bditelnyy were sunk, as were a dozen other ships of various size. With this, the last Soviet hope for a large-scale evacuation of Sevastopol was lost. At the same time, other German aircraft broke up all Novikovs attempts to organize a defense at Cape Kersones. Hauptmann Hansgeorg Batcher of I./KG 100 carried out his 300th bombing sortie against these targets on July 2. Two days later the main Soviet resistance on the Khersones peninsula was broken, and the last sporadic fighting subsided on July 9. General-Mayor Novikov, the last commander of the Soviet Defense District, was found among the 95,000 Soviet troops that surrendered. Novikov eventually was executed by the SS in Concentration Camp Flossenburg. After an eight-month siege of Sevastopol, the Soviet resistance had finally been crushed. It is clear that this immense German victory could not have been achieved without the contribution made by Fliegerkorps VIII/Fliegerfuhrer Krim, which launched 23,751 sorties from June 2 through July 3, dropping 20,529 tons of bombs. Aftermath According to German sources, 123 Soviet planes were destroyed in the air (including 118 by fighters) and another 18 on the ground. StG 77 alone carried out 7,708 combat sorties, dropping 3,537 tons of bombs. Total combat losses by the participating Luftwaffe units were limited to 23 aircraft destroyed and seven damaged in the vicinity of Sevastopol between June 2 and July 3. The most outstanding fighter pilots received the highest awards. Hauptmann Gollob was awarded the Swords to his Knights Cross with Oak LeavesGollob was the 13th member of the Wehrmacht and the 11th fighter pilot to be awarded the Swords, the second highest German military award. Setz and Oberleutnant Friedrich Geisshardt received the Oak Leaves to their Knights Crosses. The commander of the Eleventh Army, Erich von Manstein, was not even awarded the Oak Leaves to his Knights Cross following the victory at Sevastopolalthough he was promoted to Generalfeldmarschall. On July 5, a victory banquet was held in the old Czar castle Livadia at Yalta. All unit commanders of the Eleventh Army, from battalion commanders and above, and several Luftwaffe unit commanders, took part. But as to remind the participants of the stiff fight that had been offered by the defenders of Sevastopol, the Soviet aviation also had a voice in the matter. A sudden attack by twin-engine SB bombers of Soviet 6th Bomber Aviation Regiment, commanded by Podpolkovnik (Lieutenant-Colonel) V.I. Lukin, sent the festively dressed officers tumbling toward the basement, and the bombs dropped caused considerable bloodshed among the waiting drivers outside. The defenders of Sevastopol indeed amazed the world for their long and tenacious resistance. It cost the German Eleventh Army more than 24,000 casualties, and four thousand from participating Romanian units. The Soviet aviation at Sevastopolwhich had mustered no more than 53 serviceable aircraft at the onset of the battlecarried out 3,144 sorties, including 1,621 ground-attack sorties, between May 25 and July 1. This cost them 69 planes and 50 airmen. The eight-month defensive fight for Sevastopol was an example set for the upcoming battle of Stalingrad. As the exhausted troops of the German Eleventh Army raised the German flag in Sevastopol, the Wehrmacht had already embarked on its road to that ill-fated city. Of the famous aces who fought each other in the Sevastopol skies, all but one survived the war. On March 13, 1943, Heinrich Setz was killed during a dogfight with RAF Spitfires over France. He was credited with a total of 138 victories and was awarded the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves. Gordon Gollob would become the first pilot to reach the 150-victory markin August 1942and he ended the war as Adolf Gallands successor as Inspector of the Fighter Aviation Arm. He died on September 17, 1987. Toni Hackl, the formidable high-side attacker who was even mentioned in his opponents postwar memoirs, died in 1984. Mikhail Avdeyev rose to command 6 GIAP/VVS-ChF and experienced the triumph of flying above the re-conquered Sevastopol two years later. After the war, he reached the rank of General-Mayor and died in 1979. Konstantin Alekseyev died in 1971, at age 56. Ernst-Wilhelm Reinertwho eventually fought the RAF and the USAAF in Tunisia, where he achieved 51 victories between January and April 1943ended the war with a total of 174 victories. Although diseased, 81-year-old Reinert is still alive to tell the story of the stiff duels with some of the best Soviet fighter pilots over Sevastopol, 58 years ago. This article by Christer Bergstrom and Andrey Mikhailov originally appeared on Warfare History Network. Image: Wikimedia Commons Read full article By Yeganeh Torbati WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. diplomat in charge of refugee issues plans to quit his post within days, according to an email seen by Reuters, becoming the third senior U.S. official to leave or be re-assigned from refugee work in recent weeks. Simon Henshaw, the acting assistant secretary of the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration at the State Department, wrote in an email to colleagues in the refugee sector on Saturday that he will be leaving the job at end of next week. His email said he would remain at the State Department in a different capacity. Henshaw, a career Foreign Service officer with three decades of experience at the State Department, did not give details of why he was leaving, except to say that the move came at his request. Henshaw did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "After 4 and a half years in the job and a year into the new administration, I thought it time for me to move on," Henshaw said in the email, which was seen by Reuters. Henshaw said the bureau will be run from Jan. 22 onward by Carol O'Connell, who is the deputy assistant secretary of state for African affairs, according to her State Department biography. "In a world where the number of refugees and displaced persons continues to rise, I think we should all be proud (of) the good that we have done and the help that we have provided to so many," Henshaw wrote. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Henshaw's departure. Henshaw is the latest senior U.S. official working on refugee issues to leave their job or be sidelined as the Trump administration reshapes U.S. refugee admissions. Since taking office last year, President Donald Trump has slashed the number of refugees allowed into the country, paused the refugee program entirely for four months, instituted stricter vetting requirements, and quit negotiations on a voluntary pact to deal with global migration. On Tuesday, Reuters reported that Lawrence Bartlett, previously the head of the refugee admissions office at the State Department, has been given a temporary re-assignment in the State Department office handling Freedom of Information Act requests. Earlier this month, Barbara Strack, chief of the Refugee Affairs Division at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, under the Department of Homeland Security, said she would retire in January. (Reporting by Yeganeh Torbati; Editing by Yara Bayoumy and Bill Trott) (NEW YORK) There was a time when brassy letters spelling Trump had money-making allure. But now the board of a 376-unit luxury condominium tower on Manhattans West Side is asking a court to declare that it has the right to yank President Donald Trumps name off the building if enough residents decide they dont like his politics. The condominium board for the 48-story building overlooking the Hudson River filed a lawsuit last week in state court against DJT Holdings LLC, a company controlled by the Trump family. The building was once part of a multi-tower Trump project called Trump Place, built in partnership with Chinese investors. But the Republican presidents connection to it today is a licensing agreement from 2000 in which he allowed his name to be used to market the building. Big letters spelling out Trump Place adorn the buildings side. In its lawsuit, the board said it hasnt taken any position yet on whether the Trump name should be removed from the property at 200 Riverside Blvd. Its only asking the court to rule that the licensing agreement does not require use of Trumps name. Harry Lipman, a lawyer for the condominium, said if the judge rules in its favor, the boards residential committee will give the unit owners the opportunity to express themselves through a fair and democratic vote on the issue without any threat of legal action by the licensor. In a letter to the condominium board last spring, Trump Organization attorney Alan Garten warned that removing Trumps name from the building would constitute a flagrant and material breach of the license agreement. Lawrence Rosen, a lawyer who represents DJT Holdings, reiterated that stance Thursday. The condominium has always been, and remains, obligated to use the Trump name on the building; it was part of the original deal going back several decades, he said in an email. The current Board of Directors acted pre-maturely and improperly in filing the lawsuit, circumvented an entire class of unit owners, and acted in violation of its own governance procedures. Story continues Trumps name already has been removed from three nearby rental buildings that were part of the same real-estate development but now have different owners. Other towers in the complex have left the name up. A former resident of 200 Riverside, Harvey Koeppel, told The New York Times the condominium board circulated a survey last year asking residents whether they should remove the Trump name. A majority was in favor, Koeppel said. Discussions about a name change were chilled, he said, after Gartens letter pushing back. Its unclear whether removing the Trump name would help or hurt condo owners in the building looking to sell their units. A recent report by the research firm CityRealty found that the average price per square foot for condos sold in 11 Trump-branded buildings in Manhattan fell 7 percent in the 12 months through November compared to a year earlier. The square-foot price stayed roughly the same at 200 Riverside, dropping 1 percent to $1,586, according to the report. The average price for a condo in the building was $2.1 million. The owners of hotels in Manhattans Soho neighborhood, and in Toronto, also have removed the Trump name from their buildings during the past year. PALM BEACH, Fla. (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump was briefed on Saturday after an official message was mistakenly sent to Hawaii residents' mobile phones warning them of an imminent ballistic missile attack. "The President has been briefed on the state of Hawaii's emergency management exercise. This was purely a state exercise," White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters said. (Reporting by Steve Holland; Writing by Yara Bayoumy; Editing by Will Dunham) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House physician pronounced Donald Trump to be in "excellent health" after Trump had his first medical exam as U.S. president on Friday, capping off a week in which his mental fitness for the job has come under intense scrutiny. Trump spent about three hours with military doctors at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, an exam that White House doctor Ronny Jackson said went "exceptionally well." "The president is in excellent health and I look forward to briefing some of the details on Tuesday," Jackson said in a brief statement distributed by the White House. The exam came after a new best-selling book portrayed Trump, 71, as unfocused and childlike. The White House has faced a barrage of questions over his contradictory messages on key policies and an incident last month where he slurred some words while giving a speech. The White House determines what data will be released from the exam. Trump is not compelled to release any information, and there is no template for the presidential exam. Jackson is expected to take questions about the results from reporters on Tuesday. Past presidents are not known to have been tested for mental acuity while in office - including Ronald Reagan, who five years after leaving the White House was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. The White House had made clear that Trump's examination would not include a psychiatric exam. Results of past presidential physicals have included basic data like weight, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. There is a long history of the White House picking and choosing what to reveal about the commander in chief's health, said Barbara Perry, director of presidential studies at the University of Virginias Miller Center. For example, John F. Kennedy disclosed war injuries but not the fact he suffered from Addison's disease, a degenerative condition. Perry said she believed presidents should be subject to a raft of tests to establish they are fit to serve. When he was running for office, Trump released a glowing report from his personal physician in New York, who said Trump would be "the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency." The public report from Trump's upcoming exam was also likely to be short and sweet, said George Annas, head of the Center for Health Law, Ethics and Human Rights at Boston University School of Public Health. "I dont think you could expect to see anything else, unless its something that makes him look good," Annas said. (Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Peter Cooney) Washington (AFP) - US President Donald Trump announced Friday he would not reimpose nuclear sanctions on Iran, keeping a landmark 2015 deal alive... for now. The Republican leader grudgingly agreed to sign sanctions waivers, ensuring Washington will live up to its commitments for another 120 days, but he cautioned it would be "for the last time." During that four-month period, he wants Congress and America's main European allies to draw up a new deal -- without negotiating with Tehran -- to replace the "disastrous flaws" in the current agreement. "Despite my strong inclination, I have not yet withdrawn the United States from the Iran nuclear deal," Trump said in a statement. "Instead, I have outlined two possible paths forward: either fix the deal's disastrous flaws, or the United States will withdraw." The new deal -- which Trump envisions as being outlined in US law and involving Britain, France and Germany -- would impose tougher controls on Iran if sanctions relief is to continue. In particular, it will not begin to expire after 10 years as parts of the existing deal do, but instead would impose permanent restrictions on not just Iran's nuclear plants but also its missile program. "These provisions must have no expiration date. My policy is to deny Iran all paths to a nuclear weapon -- not just for 10 years, but forever," Trump said. "If Iran does not comply with any of these provisions, American nuclear sanctions would automatically resume." Trump is also urging Congress to reform US law so the president is no longer required to declare every 90 days whether he thinks Iran is in compliance, or to renew sanctions waivers every 120 or 180 days. Iran's foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, took to Twitter to describe Trump's decision and the announcement as "desperate attempts to undermine a solid multilateral agreement." The 2015 deal, he said, "is not renegotiable. Rather than repeating tired rhetoric, US must bring itself into full compliance -- just like Iran." Story continues - Street protests - Trump's decision was announced alongside another package of new sanctions -- punishing not Iran's nuclear program, but its alleged abuse of human rights in a crackdown on recent street protests. The most prominent new name on the Treasury sanctions blacklist, which forbids Americans from doing business with the targets, is the head of Iran's judiciary, Sadegh Amoli Larijani. The US Treasury said Larijani, the brother of Iran's parliamentary speaker and former nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani, is to blame for the torture and degrading treatment of prisoners. Washington policy hawks hailed Trump's decision, which they said would concentrate minds in Europe, where leaders have urged the US president not to sabotage a deal they see as a landmark diplomatic success. "So Trump now has issued explicit May deadline to Congress and Europeans: Fix Iran nuke deal or no more sanctions waivers," wrote Mark Dubowitz, head of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. "Is he bluffing? I don't think so. Busy four months ahead." But supporters of the existing deal between Iran and six world powers, including the former officials in Barack Obama's administration who negotiated it, denounced Trump's plan. Diplomacy Works, a pressure group set up by former secretary of state John Kerry to defend the deal, was scathing. "Today, we learned that the president's plan includes bullying our allies into fundamentally altering the terms of a deal that they know is working for our mutual security and have publicly stated they have no interest in amending," it said. - 'Solid agreement' - The other signatories to the deal -- Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia -- and the European Union, which oversaw the talks, were watching carefully. The British and German foreign ministries said they had taken note of the decision and would confer with France before deciding on a course of action. "The UK has a clear position on the Iran nuclear deal: we regard it as a crucial agreement that makes the world a safer place by neutralizing the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran," the British Foreign Office said. The EU said it would hold internal consultations and was "committed to the continued full and effective implementation" of the deal. America's allies see the accord as the best way to thwart Iran's nuclear ambitions and a victory for multilateral diplomacy. Tehran categorically denies it is seeking to develop atomic weapons. But Trump argues that Obama gave away too much to Iran in sanctions relief, without forcing the Islamic republic to end its ballistic missile program and support for militant groups. While there may be some relief that Trump has yet to torpedo the hard-won accord, there were clear signs of frustration from European capitals in the runup to the decision. French President Emmanuel Macron called Trump on Thursday and stressed France's determination to see "the strict application of the deal and the importance of all the signatories to respect it." And Russia spoke out strongly in favor of the accord, calling it "the result of a consensus among many parties." UN inspectors have certified Iran's compliance with the deal nine times, most recently in November. By Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump gave the Iran nuclear deal a final reprieve on Friday but warned European allies and Congress they had to work with him to fix "the disastrous flaws in the pact or face a U.S. exit. Trump said he would waive sanctions against Iran that were lifted as part of the international deal for the last time unless his conditions were met. The ultimatum puts pressure on Europeans - key backers and parties to the 2015 international agreement to curb Iran's nuclear program to satisfy Trump, who wants the pact strengthened with a separate agreement within 120 days. "Despite my strong inclination, I have not yet withdrawn the United States from the Iran nuclear deal," Trump said in a statement. "Instead, I have outlined two possible paths forward: either fix the deals disastrous flaws, or the United States will withdraw." Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif responded on Twitter that the deal was not renegotiable and that Trump's stance "amounts to desperate attempts to undermine a solid multilateral agreement." Trump, who has sharply criticized the deal reached during Democrat Barack Obama's presidency, had privately chafed at having to once again waive sanctions on a country he sees as a rising threat in the Middle East. "This is a last chance," Trump said, pushing for a separate agreement. "In the absence of such an agreement, the United States will not again waive sanctions in order to stay in the Iran nuclear deal. And if at any time I judge that such an agreement is not within reach, I will withdraw from the deal immediately." The EU said in a statement it had taken note of Trumps decision and would assess its implications. Underscoring the difficulty now facing Europeans, a European diplomat, speaking under condition of anonymity, said: "It's going to be complicated to save the deal after this." While Trump approved the sanctions waiver, the Treasury Department announced new, targeted sanctions against 14 entities and people, including the head of Iran's judiciary, Sadeq Amoli Larijani, a close ally of Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Trump now will work with European partners on a follow-on agreement that enshrines certain triggers that the Iranian regime cannot exceed related to ballistic missiles, said senior administration officials who briefed reporters on the decision. One senior administration official said Trump would be open to remaining in a modified deal if it were made permanent. "I hereby call on key European countries to join with the United States in fixing significant flaws in the deal, countering Iranian aggression, and supporting the Iranian people," Trump said in the statement. Republican Senator Bob Corker said "significant progress" had been made on bipartisan congressional legislation to "address the flaws in the agreement without violating U.S. commitments." SEVERAL CONDITIONS Trump laid out several conditions to keep the United States in the deal. Iran must allow "immediate inspections at all sites requested by international inspectors," he said, and "sunset" provisions imposing limits on Iran's nuclear program must not expire. Trump said U.S. law must tie long-range missile and nuclear weapons programs together, making any missile testing by Iran subject to "severe sanctions." The president wants Congress to modify a law that reviews U.S. participation in the nuclear deal to include "trigger points" that, if violated, would lead to the United States reimposing its sanctions, the official said. This would not entail negotiations with Iran, the official said, but rather would be the result of talks between the United States and its European allies. Work already has begun on this front, the official said. Analyst Richard Nephew said whether Trumps conditions could be met depended on whether he wants a face-saving way to live with the nuclear deal with the political cover of tough-sounding U.S. legislation, or whether he really wants the deal rewritten. Nephew, a former White House and State Department Iran sanctions expert, said legislation could be drafted that might appear to assuage Trumps concerns, but that getting Iran to agree to allow unfettered international inspections or to no time limits on the nuclear deal's restrictions was impossible. Trump has argued behind the scenes that the nuclear deal makes the United States look weak, a senior U.S. official said. A decision to withhold a waiver would have effectively ended the deal between Iran, the United States, China, France, Russia, Britain, Germany and the European Union. The other parties to the agreement would have been unlikely to join the United States in reimposing sanctions. Hailed by Obama as key to stopping Iran from building a nuclear bomb, the deal lifted economic sanctions in exchange for Tehran limiting its nuclear program but Trump has argued that Obama negotiated a bad deal. PRESSURE FROM EUROPE Britain, France and Germany called on Trump on Thursday to uphold the pact. Iran says its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes and that it will stick to the accord as long as the other signatories respect it, but will shred the deal if Washington pulls out. Two EU diplomats said EU foreign ministers will discuss what to do now at their next regular meeting, scheduled for Jan. 22 in Brussels. The U.S. Congress requires the president to decide periodically whether to certify Irans compliance with the deal and issue a waiver to allow U.S sanctions to remain suspended. Trump in October chose not to certify compliance and warned he might ultimately terminate the accord. He accused Iran of not living up to the spirit of the agreement even though the International Atomic Energy Agency says Tehran is complying. Hard-liners on Iran in the U.S. Congress have called for the reimposition of the suspended sanctions and an end to the nuclear deal, while some liberal Democrats want to pass legislation that would make it harder for Trump to pull Washington out without congressional consent. Trump and his top advisers have been negotiating with U.S. lawmakers on Capitol Hill to try to change sanctions legislation so that Trump does not face a deadline on whether to recertify Iranian compliance with the nuclear deal every 90 days. (Additional reporting by Jeff Mason, Doina Chiacu, David Alexander and Arshad Mohammed in Washington, Robin Emmott in Brussels, John Irish in Paris and Parisa Hafezi in Ankara; Writing by Steve Holland and Jeff Mason; Editing by Yara Bayoumy, Bill Trott and Leslie Adler) Accra (AFP) - Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo on Saturday said Donald Trump's reported description of African nations as "shithole countries" was unacceptable, while his predecessor branded the US head of state a racist. President Akufo-Addo tweeted that Trump's reported language was "extremely unfortunate", adding: "We are certainly not 'a shithole country'." "We will not accept such insults, even from a leader of a friendly country, no matter how powerful." Ghana is widely seen as a stable, peaceful country in an often turbulent region, and has close ties to the United States. In 2009 Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, chose Ghana's capital Accra to set out his foreign policy goals for Africa in a speech in which he said he saw Africa "as a fundamental part of our interconnected world". Africans were "partners with America on behalf of the future we want for all of our children. That partnership must be grounded in mutual responsibility and mutual respect", he said. Akufo-Addo's comments follow a strongly worded African Union statement on Friday and a demand from African ambassadors at the United Nations for a retraction and an apology. The group of UN diplomats said it was "extremely appalled at, and strongly condemns the outrageous, racist and xenophobic remarks". Ghana's former president John Dramani Mahama, whom Akufo-Addo defeated in elections just a month after Trump's own win at the polls, on Twitter asked: "Isn't Trump demonstrating that he's nothing but a racist and pursuing a policy of 'Make America White Again'?" He also highlighted the contrast between Trump's praise for Africa last year when he met leaders from the continent on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. "Shithole? Thought they said he was so impressed with us just last September?" Mahama tweeted under a mocked-up photograph of Trump being shown a map of Africa in which all the countries were labelled "Nambia". Story continues Trump was widely derided last year after twice referring to Namibia as "Nambia" at the September meeting. Namibia on Saturday added its voice to the chorus of complaints, saying the president's language had "no place in diplomatic discourse" and was "contrary to the norms of civility and human progress". "The Africa we know and live in is one that is recovering economically and rising," it added. "The USA we know is one that was built with blood and sweat of African slaves and immigrants from all over." Trump reportedly demanded to know why the US should accept immigrants from "shithole countries", after lawmakers raised the issue of protections for immigrants from African nations, Haiti and El Salvador. He has since denied using the reported language. burs-phz/dl By Lucia Mutikani and Pete Schroeder WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that a program that protects illegal immigrants brought to the United States as children from being deported would "probably" be discontinued. Trump has said he would end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, and his Twitter comments on Sunday came as lawmakers worked on a bipartisan compromise on immigration policy. Efforts to extend the program are further complicated because it could make a funding bill to avert a government shutdown due Friday more difficult. "DACA is probably dead because the Democrats don't really want it, they just want to talk and take desperately needed money away from our military," Trump said on Twitter. But he left a door open that a deal could be reached with Democrats in Congress. A U.S. judge ruled last Tuesday that DACA should remain in effect until legal challenges brought in multiple courts are resolved. The debate over immigration policy became increasingly acrimonious after it was reported on Thursday that the president described immigrants from Haiti and Africa as coming from "shithole countries" in a private meeting with lawmakers. The comments led to harsh recriminations from Democrats and Republicans alike, even as bipartisan talks continued in Congress. It has distracted from the policy discussion of not only DACA, but of broader issues like immigration based on merit, which the president says he favors over a policy of family reunification, what he calls "chain immigration." "I hope that we are actually going to work on fixing DACA," said Representative Mia Love on CNN's "State of the Union" program on Sunday. "We cannot let this derail us." Love, whose parents are from Haiti, had criticized Trump for his remarks and called on him to apologize. Trump denied making the remarks Friday, although U.S. Senator Richard Durbin, who was in the White House meeting, said the president had used the term. Lawmakers hope to reach an immigration deal before Jan. 19, when Congress must pass a funding bill or the government will shut down. Some Democrats insist that the DACA question be addressed by then. Lawmakers are trying to combine some form of relief for DACA immigrants along with enhanced border security, including a wall along the Mexican border, sought by Trump. The president's inflammatory comments left lawmakers struggling to find a path forward. "I hope we can move beyond that. What was reported was unacceptable. But what we have to do is not let that define this moment," said Republican Senator Cory Gardner on CBS's "Face the Nation" program. Republican Senator David Perdue, who was at the same White House meeting and had said he did not recall whether Trump made the comment, was more explicit Sunday. He called the new stories a "gross misrepresentation." "I'm telling you, he did not use that word," he said on ABC's "This Week" program. However, Republicans and Democrats have both said they either heard Trump say it, or heard directly from colleagues who did. Republican Senator Jeff Flake said Sunday he was told about the remarks by colleagues who attended the meeting, before the news reports emerged. "I heard that account before the account even went public," he said on "This Week." One of Trump's top advisers, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, said on "Fox News Sunday" she did not recall if Trump used "that specific phrase." She also appeared to rebut Trump's remarks from earlier in the day, with talks ongoing. "DACA is not dead," she said. (Reporting by Lucia Mutikani and Pete Schroeder; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky and Jeffrey Benkoe) Jeff Borghoff was 51 years old when he began to experience memory loss and difficulty concentrating at work. The software developer could no longer gather his thoughts. He found himself putting co-workers on hold during conference calls to buy extra time to comprehend what they were saying. Eventually, he had to ask for a less stressful job. The father of three began a year-long medical journey to search for an explanation until he got his diagnosisearly-onset Alzheimers, a degenerative disease with no cure. Still, he had hope. Jeff's doctor told him that scientists were closing in on a cure, and advised him to look into clinical trials for new Alzheimers drugs. Clinical volunteers should consider themselves front line battle warriors in the cure for Alzheimers, said Jeff. Our participation is about saving multiple generations of lives. Trending: Protesters Storm H&M Stores In South Africa After The Release Of a Controversial Advertisement But in a bombshell decision that hampers hopes of a treatment or cure for the most expensive disease in America, Pfizer announced this week that it would end all research and development efforts into new drugs and treatments for Alzheimers and Parkinsons disease. The worlds third largest pharmaceutical company released a statement saying that as "a result of a recent comprehensive review it would lay off nearly 300 scientists and end its neuroscience discovery and early development efforts. "The report of Pfizer's decision to end it's Alzheimer's drug research and trials is a gut punch to the millions of people with Alzheimer's, their caregivers and families let alone the folks that will be losing their jobs," said Jeff. The fear is that this becomes a trend, said James Beck, the chief scientific officer at the Parkinsons Foundation. Other pharmaceutical companies are also weighing this option and if the biggest of the bunch decides to exit the party, it might have a ripple effect on the others, he told Newsweek. Private foundations and government-funded research initiatives can work to keep up the pipeline of basic science, but ultimately it takes funding from a large company to get a treatment onto the shelves of CVS or Walgreens, he said. Story continues GettyImages-140162678 Getty Images Parkinsons and Alzheimers are "snowflake diseases" because they develop uniquely from person to person. As a result, clinical trials are drawn-out, complicated and costly. And Pfizers efforts into these diseases have been largely unsuccessful. In 2012, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson ended research on the drug bapineuzumab in its second round of clinical trials because it failed to aid Alzheimers patients. That same year, the company wrote off $725 million after a phase-three trial for the drug dimebon failed to relieve Alzheimers. Over the past 20 years, Pfizer sponsored at least 99 trials of 24 potential Alzheimers drugs, and only Aricept was approved. Each human clinical trial can cost tens to hundreds of millions of dollars. Don't miss: Trump Slams Romney By Joking GOP Chair Should Drop Her Uncles Name Pfizer was heavily invested in Parkinsons and Alzheimers research, and was part of the Dementia Discovery Fund, launched in 2015 with GlaxoSmithKline and Eli Lilly as a partnership between industry and government groups to develop treatments for the diseases. The Pfizer neuroscience group currently has nine drugs in clinical development, and four of them are focused on Alzheimers. The potential payoff for an FDA-approved treatment to Parkinsons or Alzheimers could be huge, but the definite, near-term costs are also staggering. Still, Pfizer isnt hurting for money. The company is set to win big from the tax overhaul, but theyre passing the money on to investors instead of funding research and development. The company plans to spend about $10 billion buying back shares of its own stock, adding to the $6.4 billion it previously greenlit. It will also increase its dividend rate by six percent to 34 cents per share. That money could fund multiple clinical trials. Failed trials can also ultimately prove helpful. It is important to note that much of the knowledge we have gained about potential new treatments have been from clinical trials that have failed to meet endpoints, The Alzheimers Association wrote in a statement. Jeff is currently involved in the phase III trial of a drug created by Biogen called Aducanumab. "I recall waiting anxiously last year for the press release from Biogen regarding current trial results," he said. "I remember falling to my knees in tears when the good news results were published and the trial continued. It's very difficult to reconcile statements like 'most value to shareholders' from Pfizer when you're 53 and living with a terminal disease like Alzheimer's." Jeff and Daughter Borghoff Family After Jeff was diagnosed, he was forced to quit his job. His wife, Kim, now works three jobs to support the family. She shares caregiving duties with her mother-in-law and three children, Michael, 23; Erin, 21; and Aubreigh, 19. Jeffs needs become more complex each day and money is often tight. Most popular: New York Woman Sentenced To 23 Years In Prison For Poisoning Her Former Boss and His Wife Money is one thing, but the emotional burden of watching Jeff, once gregarious and jovial, slowly fade away weighs on the family daily. He knows that as his disease progresses he will lose the ability to recognize the faces of his own children. Alzheimers is the sixth leading cause of the death in the United States, and more than 5 million Americans currently live with the disease. In 2017, Alzheimers and other forms of dementia will cost the country $259 billion, and patients also received an additional $230 billion worth of unpaid care from family and friends. Its estimated that by 2050, nearly 20 million people could be living with neurodegenerative illnesses like Alzheimers and Parkinsons, and Alzheimers will be the most costly disease in the U.S. We are becoming ill-prepared, said Beck. The government can only do so much, its beholden upon our system to have pharmaceutical companies invest in those diseases. We see a declining number of neurological researchers. The situation were in has been growing to crisis levels. Still, there is more the government can do to aid research and development, says James Hendrix, director of Global Science Initiatives at The Alzheimers Association. The Federal Government launched a war on cancer 50 years ago, and it changed everything. Today we have treatable and curable forms of cancer that were deadly 50 years ago, he told Newsweek. The same thing needs to happen for Alzheimers. If Congress increases its investment into understanding and learning more about the disease, the risk a pharmaceutical company takes on by running clinical trials becomes lower, he said. For every $100 the U.S. government spent on Alzheimers research in 2016, it spent $16,000 in Medicare and Medicaid costs caring for individuals living with this fatal disease. There is currently a 170-member bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimers Disease working to rectify the situation. They worked to secure a $400 million increase in funding for Alzheimers research at the National Institutes of Health in 2017, bringing the total spent on research to nearly $1.4 billion. But thats not enough, said Hendrix. Hes hoping that Congress will secure another $400 million this fiscal year. We're just asking to get the same amount of funding as other major diseases do, he said. The National Institutes of Health spent over $1.8 billion in fiscal year 2017 on research for digestive diseases, for example. There is currently only one government-funded research program dedicated to Parkinsons, funded by the Department of Defense, but a bill in the Senate contains provisions to severely restrict the research and limit funding. Current patent laws also restrict the potential payoff for clinical trials for pharmaceutical companies, according to Hendrix. The way our patent laws are set up doesnt work for the protracted studies into Alzheimer's treatment, he said. It's not like treating an infection, this is something that slowly progresses over years but for biological candidates, you only get 12 years of exclusivity. Trials often take between five and 10 years, sometimes more, before it can be determined if a drug or intervention is working. Patent protection and market exclusivity will likely be expired or nearly expired by that time. The loss of exclusivity makes it difficult for drug companies to justify the costs of the study. But Congress has so far avoided the issue. Patent law is very complicated and nobody wants to take it on, said Hendrix. Pfizer has said that it will continue to invest money into a neuroscience venture capital fund to advance research. "My hope is they make good on their promise," said Jeff. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek The Bush speechwriter who coined the term axis of evil has become one more Never-Trump Republican overtaken by the pace of the events he decries Donald Trump at a veterans rally in Des Moines, Iowa in January 2016. Photograph: Aaron P. Bernstein/Reuters The chaos that marked Donald Trumps presidential campaign is a hallmark of his presidency. Decorum once associated with the Oval Office has been replaced by modern presidential, an amalgam of tantrums, tirades, and tweetstorms, all emanating from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue or Trump-owned properties. This break with the past is every bit as much about substance as it is style. Trumps legal brush-back pitch hurled at the author Michael Wolff, his firing of FBI director James Comey and his taunts of Kim Jong-un, North Koreas dictator, are not simply poses. They graphically reflect Trumps understanding of his powers and the deference to which he believes his decisions and person are entitled. David Frums Trumpocracy is an attempt by the former speechwriter for George W Bush author of the term axis of evil and never-Trump Republican to come to grips with this. He laments what he views as the corruption of the American Republic and painstakingly catalogs the threats he sees posed by Trump to America, liberal democracy and Europe. Frum is disturbed by Trumps nepotism and tropism toward kleptocracy, citing a legal ruling obtained by Trump that the White House was outside the scope of federal anti-nepotism laws. More broadly, Frum is alarmed by Trump disabling the federal governments inhibition against corruption and his disdain for the notion that the law should be insulated from politics. To prove his point, Frum cites Trumps expectation of personal loyalty from federal prosecutors and his public comments that the FBI director really reports to the president. Frum is not sanguine about a return to old norms in a post-Trump America. He observes that it took a lot of work by a lot of people over a long time to build even Americas highly imperfect standards of public integrity. Like Rome, which was sacked in an afternoon, Frum adds, undoing that work would be a far easier task. Story continues At the same time, Frum confronts the disconnect between white working class voters and Americas elites, and acknowledges that while it was Trump who lit the fuse, the powder that exploded on election night 2016 was all around: Donald Trump did not create the vulnerabilities that he exploited. They awaited him. Frum rattles off the systemic stresses generated by globalization and immigration that led to Trumps electoral college win. In that vein, Frum had already been skeptical about the benefits of immigration. As he writes here, population is citizenry as well as a labor force and when it grows slowly, it can less easily assimilate newcomers. Frum is mindful that the terms Trump-voter and Republican are not synonymous. To illustrate this point, he dissects in granular detail how Pennsylvanians reelected Pat Toomey, their incumbent Republican senator, while casting their lot for Trump, then diagrams the Toomey and Trump electoral coalitions. Although their voters overlapped, they were not identical. Class fissures were prevalent. Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan could very well have been winners for Clinton if their war casualties were lower Yet it is over the very issues of class and the countrys red-blue divide that Frum appears to miss part of the picture. Its not only about jobs, income, opioids or even race. It is also about the impact of Americas 21st-century wars, and who has done the actual fighting and dying. The fact is that red state residents are over 20% more likely to join the military, while the denizens of blue America punch way above their weight when it comes to college. Even as Hillary Clinton won 2.86 million more votes, Trump won 60% of veterans. Ironically, the George W Bush administration helped set the stage for Trump. There was a notable correlation between battlefield casualties and support for Trump. Those parts of the US that felt the carnage more as a reality than as an abstract swung Republican. According to Douglas L Kriner of Boston University and Francis X Shen of the University of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan could very well have been winners for Clinton if their war casualties were lower. Veterans of Foreign Wars members listen as Trump speaks in Charlotte, North Carolina in July 2016. Photograph: Evan Vucci/AP Frums book is a victim of timing, buffeted by the release of Wolffs Fire and Fury and the passage of the tax bill. In addition to lambasting Trump for his authoritarian tendencies, Frum takes the president to task for a lack of accomplishments, for delivering very little by way of an affirmative conservative agenda. Actually, since the book was put to bed, a lot has changed. Heading into 2018, the tax code has since been upended, Obamacares individual mandate is gone and the US recognizes Jerusalem as Israels capital. While the desirability of any of this is clearly subject to debate, each development is tangible and potentially lasting. The author is on stronger ground when he examines Russias role on the global stage, the 2016 election and the intellectual moorings of Trumpism. Frum critically quotes a 2014 speech in which Steve Bannon offered more than a mere dollop of praise for Vladimir Putin, and for that period in American history where freedoms were controlled at the local level. As a coda, Bannon also described a June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower as treasonous and unpatriotic. And we know how that ended. Frum is less than optimistic as he looks at the US, Europe and the future. Trumpocracy also struggles with how to actually connect with white working class voters, who may have comprised as much as 45% of 2016s electorate and who are now the heart and soul of the Republican base. As the scholar Barrington Moore Jr. said more than a half-century ago, No bourgeoisie, no democracy. How all this plays out in the years ahead remains the open question. Frum, for one, is fearful, and understandably so. Oslo (AFP) - President Donald Trump's invitation to Norwegians to immigrate to the United States, while railing against entrants from "shithole" countries, has received a glacial reception in this Nordic country. The US leader prompted a wave of indignation on Thursday in reported remarks, made to US Senators and Congressmen when he said ""Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?" Trump was referring to African countries and Haiti, US newspapers reported. The US leader then suggested the United States should welcome immigrants from places like Norway, whose prime minister met with Trump on Wednesday. Norwegians reacting on social media were in no hurry to relocate. Last year the Nordic nation was named the happiest country in the world. "Im a Norwegian who enjoyed studying and working in the US. The only thing that would attract me to emigrate to the US is your vibrant multicultural society. Dont take that away," declared Jan Egeland, a former UN Under Secretary General and the current head of the Norwegian Refugee Council. Another Norwegian tweeter, riismeister, said "why would I trade very affordable healthcare (including mental health), very affordable higher education, 49 weeks parental leave (combined for mom+dad), and minimum 25 vacation days per year for a maniac with a big button who wants to take away even more of my rights?" For influential Norwegian commentator Andreas Wiese, Trump's comments were "proof of his racism". According to the Norwegian statistics institute SSB, 502 Norwegians left the country to relocate to the United States in 2016, 59 fewer than the previous year. Norway's foreign minister refused to comment on the controversy. Curt Mills Politics, North America Fox personality Tucker Carlson speaks at the 2017 Business Insider Ignition: Future of Media conference in New York The death of Trumpism without Trump seems greatly exaggerated. Tucker Carlson, Ann Coulter Force Trump Back Right on Immigration For those hoping that President Donald Trump was marching toward a more conventional presidency, Wednesday provided the best day of news in months. Not only had former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon been excised by the president himself from the official Trump movement, but hed also been defrocked from Breitbart News, an organization hed overseen since before Trumps rise to the fulcrum of American politics. To cap it off, the president appeared willing to completely backtrack on immigration pledges, telling Sen. Dianne Feinstein that he was open to guaranteeing DACA up front, and earlier in the week, he said he was willing to take the heatabsorb any incoming fire from immigration hardliners. Incredibly stunned, is how one Democratic Hill staffer for a senior Democratic senator had put it to me, on Trumps comments to Feinstein. The president has no clue what his position is. She said something that sounded good and he reflexively went Sure! The president was corrected by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy during the exchange, and some of Trumps lines were scrubbed from the official administration transcript of the meeting. Says the Hill source: When he said, I think what Dianne meant... you could hear her in the background go, No its not, Kevin! But less than a day of action has transformed the landscape of the debate. On Thursday, Sen. Jeff Flake was hailing the fact the Senate Gang of Six had a deal on the matter. By Thursday afternoon, that proposed deal was dismissed by the president, and by Thursday evening, the capital was embroiled in the fracas over arguably the most controversial remark by Donald Trump of his tenure. And Flake has quickly reverted to his role as the presidents foe, tweeting Friday morning: The words used by the President, as related to me directly following the meeting by those in attendance, were not tough, they were abhorrent and repulsive. Story continues And what cannot be discounted as leading factor in the presidents seeming reversal has been the pressure put on the White House by immigration hardliners. Trumpism without Trump has been widely eulogized after Bannons tumble. But if the president and his allies took their victory over Bannon as broad license to maneuver toward the establishment, it is clear that, on immigration at least, thats a nonstarter. The torrent of criticism from the populist Right has been considerable. If you see that kind of deal come out of Congress, and you may, the Republican Party is done, it's over, it's toast. it will be a short epitaph too, suicide, Fox News grandee Tucker Carlson said on his show Wednesday. Sometimes Trump confidante Ann Coulter was more pointed, penning a column titled, It Turns Out Bannon Was Trump's Brain. While much of the establishment D.C.and the countrywas aghast Thursday evening at the presidents lavatorial allusion to Haiti, El Salvador and African nations, Carlson and Coulter were buoyant. He's trying to win me back, Coulter tweeted. Carlson didnt hold back: Option A: El Salvador isn't a s--thole, so they don't need 17 years of Temporary Protected Status, and migrants from there should be sent home immediately. Option B: El Salvador is, in fact, a s--thole. And some in the White House concede this will likely aide with president with his base. The seeming success (for now) of Coulter and Carlson to prod the president back into their ranks on this issue raises the question: can the mostly more moderate voices that remain in the administration continue to be thwarted from the outside? At least one Republican candidate seeking to win a U.S. House seat laments Bannons reversal of fortunes, commenting to me: Bannon represented the future of the Republican Party: one that was geared towards the working man by limiting illegal immigration, ending foreign wars against American interest, taxing the 1% , bringing back protectionism and tariffs. Carlson has been critical of Bannonseeing him as sort of a poseurbut like the former Breitbart chief, he has be unafraid to lob criticism at the administration when it deviates from the nationalist-populism that vaulted Trump to power. In recent days, Carlson told Freddy Gray of the London Spectator that the concern in D.C. over Iran is vastly overblown, and that he doesnt believe that Bashar al-Assad was responsible for last Aprils chemical attack in Syriathe pretext of President Trumps targeted bombing of that country. He also chided the presidents tax reform plan, to this point the administrations most salient achievement, as a sellout to Trumps political base. So what does a Trumpist, divorced from Bannon, foreign policy look like? One critical area where this will be tested immediately is North Korea, particularly with all the potential fire and fury that could be sparked by the upcoming Pyeongchang Olympics in February. Bannon has noted to me that he views North Korea as a largely unsalvageable distraction. Carlson agrees, noting that Pakistan is a far more concerning case and that United States has allowed its nuclear armament for decades. But Bannons old enemies in the administration, namely National Security Advisor H. R. McMaster, see it differently. McMaster has emerged as a hawks hawk on North Korea, including entertaining some sort of first strike on the country. Maybe the conservative war for Trumps brain isnt over. Instead, it could just be getting started. Curt Mills is a foreign-affairs reporter at the National Interest. Follow him on Twitter: @CurtMills. Image: Reuters Recommended: Why North Korea's Air Force is Total Junk Why Doesn't America Kill Kim Jong Un? The F-22 Is Getting a New Job: Sniper Read full article Tunisian security forces in the Ettadhamen on the outskirts of Tunis late on January 10, - AFP The Tunisian government may increase aid for poor families in a bid to defuse tensions following anti-austerity protests that saw hundreds arrested and left at least one man dead. Beji Caid Essebsi, Tunisia''s president, hosted emergency talks with trade unions, employers associations, and political parties on Saturday. "We discussed the general situation in the country and the reforms, especially socio-economic, that must be adopted to overcome the current problems," Wided Bouchamaoui, the head of the UTICA employers association, told reporters after the meeting. Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi (C) attends a meeting with political parties, unions and employers following unrest triggered by austerity measures Credit: FETHI BELAID/AFP Noureddine Taboubi, the secretary general of UGTT, the country's main trade union, said no specific moves had been agreed but that measures "must be adopted" to aid needy families and improve the social safety net. A Tunisian government source told Reuters that a package of measures would include extra aid to poor families and people in need, but did not give further detail. Peaceful protests broke out across Tunisia after the government adopted a new budget that raised taxes and pushed up the cost of living on January 1. Demonstrations escalated on Monday night as youths burned tires to block streets and clashed with security forces. The unrest largely tailed off after the military was deployed on the streets of several cities on Thursday, but tensions remain high. Police fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators at a small protest in the central city of Sidi Bouzid overnight on Friday. Khlifa Chibani, a spokesman for the Interior ministry, said on Saturday a total of 803 people suspected of taking part in acts of violence, theft and looting have been arrested since last Sunday. Police intervene during a protest in Tunis on January 12, 2018 Credit: Anadolu He said 97 policemen and members of the security forces had been injured over the week. It is unclear how many protesters have been injured. A man in his 40s died in disputed circumstances during unrest in the northern town of Tebourba on on Monday night. Story continues The unrest comes ahead of Sunday's seventh anniversary of the revolution that toppled the dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2011, an event that sparked similar uprisings in Egypt, Libya, and Syria. While the other revolutions have descended into violence or given way to authoritarianism, Tunisia is widely seen as a success story of the Arab Spring. Its democracy remains for the most part intact and a secular party currently leads the government in coalition with a moderate Islamist group. But frustration has grown among many Tunisians over economic stagnation and unemployment. Tunisia agreed to take decisive economic measures to bring down the countrys deficit. in return for a $2.9 billion loan (2.2 billion) from the International Monetary Fund. Beirut (AFP) - The US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group said on Sunday it was working to create a 30,000-strong border security force in northern Syria, drawing sharp condemnation from Turkey. With the offensive against IS winding down, the coalition and its allies in the Syrian Democratic Forces alliance were beginning to shift their focus to border security, coalition spokesman Colonel Ryan Dillon told AFP. "There is a goal of a final force of approximately 30,000," about half of whom would be retrained SDF fighters, he said. "There are approximately 230 individuals that are training right now in the border security force. That's an inaugural class," Dillon said. Backed by the US-led coalition's air strikes, special forces advisers, and weapons, the SDF has ousted IS from swathes of northeastern Syria. Its Kurdish and Arab members now control territory bordering Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east and Syrian government forces to the west. Turkey reacted sharply to news of the border force on Sunday, saying it would "legitimise a terror organisation". Ankara is fiercely opposed to the SDF, which is dominated by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) -- considered by the Turkish government to be a "terrorist" group. "Rather than end its support to the PYD-YPG, these steps taken to legitimise a terror organisation and to make it permanent in the region are worrying," said Ibrahim Kalin, spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "Accepting this state of affairs is absolutely not possible," Kalin added. - 'A new phase' - Top SDF media official Mustefa Bali confirmed the creation of the border force, and said training had already begun. "We are transitioning to a new phase of coordination between us and the international coalition," Bali told AFP. "The wide areas and cities that were liberated need someone to protect them." Story continues Bali said the new units would be deployed along the Turkish border and adjacent to territory held by Syrian troops, but did not immediately respond to a question on rules of engagement in those areas. Turkey has often targeted YPG positions in northern Syria and on Sunday, Erdogan threatened to attack the Kurdish-held area of Afrin in northern Syria "in the days ahead". The SDF's relationship with regime forces is less tense. Since last year, a "de-confliction line" cutting diagonally across eastern Syria has largely kept the two forces from clashing. There was no immediate reaction from the Syrian government to the border force announcement. The coalition declined to comment on possible military protocol when it came to Turkish or regime troops. Dillon said the force was primarily part of a broader strategy to "prevent the resurgence of IS". "With the fight against IS, as the remaining pocket continues to go away, we know that doesn't mean the end of Daesh," he told AFP, using the Arabic acronym for IS. "We'll have to make sure that there is security that can be maintained," he said. Dillon said SDF troops in Syria's east were already coordinating with Iraqi forces across the border to target any "transient movement" by IS fighters between the two countries. A dormant volcano that first began erupting on January 5 exploded on Friday, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of people from the Kadovar island in Papua New Guinea. At least 1,500 residents had been evacuated on Sunday and were brought to the Papuan mainland, about 15 miles from the Kadovar island. They were provided with around 87,000 kina ($26,274) in funding to help them, the agency told Reuters. Additional financial help to supply the evacuees with basic goods and accommodation was pledged from Australia. The Australian government is contributing 25,000 Australian dollars (nearly $20,000) in humanitarian supplies to Papua New Guinea, Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop wrote in a tweet. Trending: Eric Clapton: I'm Going Deaf But Will Still Keep Playing This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. A first batch of 590 people were evacuated to the nearby Blup Blup island, also known as Ruprup island, when the eruption began nine days ago. This was the first such instance ever recorded for the 1,197-feet Mount Kadovar, which vented ash for several days before exploding, blasting out glowing red rocks and sulphur dioxide. A dome of lava was also observed in the sea at the base of thick white steam clouds that were rising to almost 2,000 feet above sea level, according to the latest bulletin of the Rabaul Volcanologist Observatory quoted in Reuters. Don't miss: Trump Never Used The Word 'Shithole' Claims GOP Lawmaker Local authorities have planned a further evacuation of people in the islands of Blup Blup and Bamalso known as Biemfearing that their own volcanoes could erupt, and also issued a tsunami warning. 01_14_Papua Samaritan Aviation/via Reuters "Volcanoes are very unpredictable, we are hearing various reports that activity has been building up and we need to take all precautions to keep our people safe," read a statement from Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, quoted in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. "We will not take risks with human lives, let's get people out of harm's way now." Story continues Most popular: Sexual Assault Claims by Male Models Hit Top Fashion Photographers Rabaul Volcano Observatory volcanologist Steve Saunders said further eruptions in nearby volcanic islands were "unlikely," whereas a tsunami triggered by seismic activity at Kadovar was a possibility. "There is a potential for [the eruption] to get more violent than it is at the moment, and if it does become more violent, there's the possibility for tsunami," Saunders said, quoted in ABC. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Washington (AFP) - US President Donald Trump pushed back at a report that he had suggested he had a good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, saying he had been misquoted. The Wall Street Journal quoted Trump as saying in an interview Thursday: "I probably have a very good relationship with Kim Jong-Un." But the White House insisted he said "I'd," not "I", and Trump followed up in a tweet on Sunday. "Obviously I didn't say that. I said 'I'd have a good relationship with Kim Jong Un,' a big difference. Fortunately we now record conversations with reporters," he tweeted. "And they knew exactly what I said and meant. They just wanted a story. FAKE NEWS!" Both The Wall Street Journal and the White House posted audio recordings of Trump's remarks on Twitter. These, while not completely clear, appeared to support White House press secretary Sarah Sanders' account. She had earlier tweeted a written message disputing the newspaper's article. "President Trump said, I'D probably have a very good relationship with Kim Jong Un of North Korea. I'D -- I'D -- I'D. NOT I!" the message read, with "I'D" in red ink, under a red banner reading "FAKE NEWS." Mockingly mimicking the newspaper's front page, it then reads "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL -- FAKE NEWS IS AT IT AGAIN! -- FALSELY QUOTING PRESIDENT TRUMP." Washington and Pyongyang are in a standoff over North Korea's missile and nuclear programs, which could be used to target the United States and its allies. Trump has repeatedly insulted the North Korean leader, describing him as mad and a "rocket man." Asked by The Wall Street Journal if he had spoken to Kim, Trump said: "I don't want to comment on it. I'm not saying I have or haven't. I just don't want to comment." Trump suggested his variable position on individuals was part of a broader strategy. Story continues But it was not clear how his remarks fitted with his self-described policy of "maximum pressure" on Pyongyang. In the coming week the United States and Canada are to host a meeting in Vancouver on the nuclear standoff with North Korea, bringing together friendly powers from around the world. Related: For more news videos visit Yahoo View. A white supremacist gang leader was slain by fellow inmates at a California prison, law enforcement and watchdog groups said Friday. Devlin Gazoo Stringfellow, 48, was a kingpin in the Public Enemy Number 1 street gang, which emerged from the southern California punk scene in the late 1980s and became what the Southern Poverty Law Center described as a hybrid racist skinhead group and criminal street gang. 920x920 Handout Trending: Consumer Electronics Show Highlights Include Cool New Tech Toys "The groups mercenary and criminal nature, coupled with a white supremacist ideology and a subculture of violence, makes it a triple threat, both to law enforcement and to the public at large," according to the Anti-Defamation League. Stringfellow was stabbed to death by two prisoners using weapons made by inmates in the exercise yard of Folsom Prison, spokesman Lt. L.A. Quinn told media outlets. He identified those believed to be responsible for the stabbing as Jacob Kober, 29, and Stephen Dunckhurst, 49, and said no charges had yet been filed. Don't miss: Is Hawaii Prepared for North Korea Nuclear Attack? Island State Just 4,600 Miles From Rogue Nation Stringfellow was transferred to the prison from Los Angeles County in 2014. He was serving a six-year prison sentence for possession of a controlled substance for sale, carrying a concealed dagger and assault with force, reported SF Gate. All members of PENI were previously made members of the Aryan Brotherhood prison gang, Matthew Buechner, a former gang investigator with the California corrections department told the Associated Press. He said that Stringfellow had long been a target for fellow gang members. Most popular: Who Is Frankie Muse Freeman? Civil Rights Activist Dies At The Age Of 101 He was a loud mouth and (the Aryan Brotherhood) does not want attention, Buechner said in an email. Its members lure targets into thinking they are safe, then strike as violently as possible to send a message to enemies and membership to stay in line. Story continues Stringfellow was the second high profile gang leader slain at the facility slain at the high security facility in recent years, with Hugo Yogi Pinell, 71, a purported member of the Black Guerrilla Family, slain in 2015 after spending decades in isolation after a violent failed escape attempt. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Earlier this week, the author Matt de la Pena wrote about the importance of including the darker sides of life in stories for children. In it, after recalling a time when an elementary school student asked him what he would ask his favorite authors, he wrote that he would like to pose some questions to one he admires, Kate DiCamillo: How honest can an author be with an auditorium full of elementary school kids? How honest should we be with our readers? Is the job of the writer for the very young to tell the truth or preserve innocence? DiCamillo shares her response here. Dear Matt, I read Love, and I want you to know that when I turned the page and saw that child hiding under the piano small, worried, afraid I felt a wave of recognition. I felt seen. I was a kid who hid under the literal (and metaphorical) piano. I felt isolated by the secrets and fear in my household. For me, as a kid, to see that picture would have been such a relief. I would have known that I was not alone. I would have felt less ashamed. You asked how honest we, as writers of books for children, should be with our readers, whether it is our job to tell them the truth or preserve their innocence. Heres a question for you: Have you ever asked an auditorium full of kids if they know and love Charlottes Web? In my experience, almost all of the hands go up. And if you ask them how many of them cried when they read it, most of those hands unabashedly stay aloft. My childhood best friend read Charlottes Web over and over again as a kid. She would read the last page, turn the book over, and begin again. A few years ago, I asked her why. What was it that made you read and reread that book? I asked her. Did you think that if you read it again, things would turn out differently, better? That Charlotte wouldnt die? No, she said. It wasnt that. I kept reading it not because I wanted it to turn out differently or thought that it would turn out differently, but because I knew for a fact that it wasnt going to turn out differently. I knew that a terrible thing was going to happen, and I also knew that it was going to be okay somehow. I thought that I couldnt bear it, but then when I read it again, it was all so beautiful. And I found out that I could bear it. That was what the story told me. That was what I needed to hear. That I could bear it somehow. Story continues So thats the question, I guess, for you and for me and for all of us trying to do this sacred task of telling stories for the young: How do we tell the truth and make that truth bearable? When I talk to kids in schools, I tell them about how I became a writer. I talk about myself as a child and how my father left the family when I was very young. Four years ago, I was in South Dakota, in this massive auditorium, talking to 900 kids, and I did what I always do: I told them about being sick all the time as a kid and about my father leaving. And then I talked to them about wanting to write. I talked to them about persisting. During the Q&A, a boy asked me if I thought I would have been a writer if I hadnt been sick all the time as a kid and if my father hadnt left. And I said something along the lines of I think there is a very good chance that I wouldnt be standing in front of you today if those things hadnt happened to me. Later, a girl raised her hand and said, It turns out that in the end you were stronger than you thought you were. When the kids left the auditorium, I stood at the door and talked with them as they walked past. One boy skinny-legged and blond-haired grabbed my hand and said, Im here in South Dakota and my dad is in California. He flung his free hand out in the direction of California. He said, Hes there and Im here with my mom. And I thought I might not be okay. But you said today that youre okay. And so I think that I will be okay, too. What could I do? I tried not to cry. I kept hold of his hand. I looked him in the eye. I said, You will be okay. You are okay. Its just like that other kid said: youre stronger than you know. I felt so connected to that child. I think we both felt seen. My favorite lines of Charlottes Web, the lines that always make me cry, are toward the end of the book. They go like this: These autumn days will shorten and grow cold. The leaves will shake loose from the trees and fall. Christmas will come, then the snows of winter. You will live to enjoy the beauty of the frozen world, for you mean a great deal to Zuckerman and he will not harm you, ever. Winter will pass, the days will lengthen, the ice will melt in the pasture pond. The song sparrow will return and sing, the frogs will awake, the warm wind will blow again. All these sights and sounds and smells will be yours to enjoy, Wilbur this lovely world, these precious days I have tried for a long time to figure out how E. B. White did what he did, how he told the truth and made it bearable. And I think that you, with your beautiful book about love, wont be surprised to learn that the only answer I could come up with was love. E. B. White loved the world. And in loving the world, he told the truth about it its sorrow, its heartbreak, its devastating beauty. He trusted his readers enough to tell them the truth, and with that truth came comfort and a feeling that we were not alone. I think our job is to trust our readers. I think our job is to see and to let ourselves be seen. I think our job is to love the world. Love, Kate The following feature is excerpted from TIME Martin Luther King, Jr.: His Life and Legacy, available at retailers and at the Time Shop Revolutions tend to be measured in blood. From Lexington and the Bastille to the streets of Algiers, the toll on a repressed people seeking freedom is steep. But what does it take for a people to absorb degrading insults, physical attack and political repression in hopes that their oppressors will see the error in their ways? For Martin Luther King Jr., it was a dream. Over the course of a decade, King became synonymous with nonviolent direct action as he worked to overturn systemic segregation and racism across the southern United States. The civil rights movement formed the guidebook for a new era of protest. Whether it be responding to wars or protesting an unpopular administration at home, or the color revolutions across Europe and elsewhere overseas, the legacy of moral victory begetting actual change has been borne out time and again. The movements enduring influence is a far cry from its humble beginnings. In March 1956, 90 defendants stood in wait in an aging Greek-revival courthouse in Montgomery, Ala. They faced the same charge: an obscure, decades-old anti-union law making it a misdemeanor to plot to interfere with a companys business without a just cause or legal excuse. Their offense? Boycotting the citys buses. Young, old and from all walks of life24 were clergymenwhat united them was their dark skin and their act of quiet rebellion. First to face the judge was Martin Luther King Jr., 27, the youthful pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery. Almost four months earlier, a black seamstress named Rosa Parks had sparked a boycott of the citys privately owned bus services after she was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white patron. Within days, the Montgomery Improvement Association was formed to organize private carpools to compete with the buses. King, who had moved to the city only two years earlier, was quickly elected its leader. Story continues For 381 days, thousands of black residents trudged through chilling rain and oppressive heat, ignoring buses as they passed by. They endured death threats, violence and legal prosecution. Kings home was bombed. But instead of responding in kind, the members of the movement took to the pews, praying and rallying in churches in protest of the discrimination they suffered. In the courthouse, 31 testified to the harassment they endured on the citys segregated buses, not so much a legal strategy as a moral one. Unsurprisingly in a city whose whitesupremacist White Citizens Council membership skyrocketed after the boycott, King was found guilty and jailed for two weeks. As he said later, It was the crime of joining my people in a non-violent protest against injustice. The boycott ended on Dec. 20, 1956, after the Supreme Court ruled that the racial segregation of buses was unconstitutional. But the enduring victory of Montgomery belonged not to the lawyers but to King and his fellow pastorsand the tens of thousands who followed them. Their protest shone a spotlight on the absurd lengths (enforcing an arcane and rarely invoked law) to which an entrenched power would go to protect a system designed to rob citizens of their worth solely because of their skin color. The strong man is the man who will not hit back, who can stand up for his rights and yet not hit back, King told thousands of Montgomery Improvement Association supporters at the citys Holt Street Baptist Church on Nov. 14, 1956. The black citizens of Montgomery would demonstrate their humanity while victims of a broken society. Nonviolence was the testing point of the burgeoning civil rights movement, King explained. If we as Negroes succumb to the temptation of using violence in our struggle, unborn generations will be the recipients of a long and bitter night ofa long and desolate night of bitterness. And our only legacy to the future will be an endless reign of meaningless chaos. King had made the plight of the nations oppressed black citizens too plain to ignore, and it was a sharp blow to the Christian conscience of the white South. Theyve become tortured souls, Baptist minister William Finlator of Raleigh, N.C., told TIME then of his colleagues. King has been working on the guilt conscience of the South. If he can bring us to contrition, that is our hope. Read more: John Lewis: Why Getting Into Trouble Is Necessary to Make Change King became the symbol of nonviolent protest that had come to the fore in Montgomery. Inundated with speaking requests and interviews, and beset by threats of violence, King become a national celebrity both for what he accomplished and how. Our use of passive resistance in Montgomery, King told TIME, is not based on resistance to get rights for ourselves, but to achieve friendship with the men who are denying us our rights, and change them through friendship and a bond of Christian understanding before God. On Jan. 10, 1957, weeks after black residents returned to unsegregated buses in the Alabama capital, King convened a gathering at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, the church where his father preached and that he would later lead. He invited influential civil rights activists, like strategist Bayard Rustin and organizer Ella Baker, and prominent black ministers from across the South to discuss how to expand the nonviolent resistance movement. After weeks of discussions, they formed the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), a confederation of civil rights groups across the South, with King at the helm, that would go on to spread his philosophy. Central to the SCLCs mission was the notion that the Montgomery model could be replicated across the segregated South, to strike a blow against the entire Jim Crow system, which entrenched racial division in law and practice. But it wasnt an easy sell. As the SCLC worked to recruit black churches and ministers, the organization faced real concerns of retaliationboth physical and economicagainst those who signed on. Some doubted the method of nonviolent protest, believing the courts would eventually provide for integration. Others, especially younger groups, called for more-aggressive efforts. But by 1960, nonviolent protests were sweeping across the South. In just one week in April, hundreds of black students were arrested as young people sat in and picketed segregated stores and diners from Nashville, Tenn., to Greensboro, N.C. Yet progress was painfully slow. In Savannah, Ga., the white mayor, Lee Mingledorff, demanded that the city council outlaw unlicensed picketing. I dont especially care if its constitutional or not, he said. There were even more arrests, but the protests tired before achieving change. The following years efforts were hardly more effective. A summer of Freedom Ridesin which black and white activists would jointly challenge segregation on busesresulted in thousands of arrests and dozens of incidents of violence against demonstrators. But Jim Crow held. Groups consisting of younger and more impatient activists, like the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and the Congress of Racial Equality, shifted strategy, borrowing the lessons of Montgomery. In late 1961, the SNCC and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People targeted the heavily segregated city of Albany, Ga., with boycotts and sit-ins. The SCLC and King joined the effort, and in July 1962 King was jailed. Days later, King was quietly bailed out and ejected from prison by Albany police chief Laurie Pritchett, who had studied the nonviolence protest method and released King to undermine it. In other cities, violence by police against peaceful demonstrators brought outcry and sympathy. But Pritchett met nonviolence with nonviolence. Within weeks, the protest fizzled out. For King, Albany was largely a failure, and his takeaway was for the movement to better pick its spots. That place was Birmingham, Ala., probably the most thoroughly segregated city in the United States, King would say. Racially motivated bombings against blacks had earned the city the nickname Bombingham, and many of its majority-black residents were denied all but the most menial jobsif they could find work at all. Unlike in Albany, where the goal had been to desegregate the city, in Birmingham King focused on the downtown shopping district. And unlike in Albany, he had a foil of the first degree: Birminghams commissioner of public safety, Eugene Bull Connor. Connor told TIME in 1963 that the city aint gonna segregate no niggers and whites together in this town. The tactics changed too. While there were sit-ins and kneel-ins and demonstrations, the SCLC also encouraged an economic boycott of the city. Birminghams economic heart, its shopping district, was crippled when black residents refused to shop in segregated stores. Boycott organizers patrolled the streets to shame black residents into toeing the line. The protests were designed to force a crisis point, and Connor only aided the effort. When business took down Whites Only signs, the avowed racist threatened to pull their licenses. On Good Friday, King was jailed for his 13th time for more than a week. Using the margins of scrap paper smuggled into his cell, King drafted his Letter from Birmingham Jail, among the clearest representations of his philosophy. Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue, King wrote. It seeks so to dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored. Children provided the movement with some of its most powerful images, and the SCLC and King encouraged students to skip school to join sit-ins and marches. On May 2, the Childrens Crusade saw the arrest of hundreds of students in Birmingham, some under the age of 10, who sang and prayed as they awaited arrest. The New York Times compared the scene to a school picnic as they were transported to the citys jail by every available city vehicle. Within hours, the prison was at capacity, filled with hundreds of school-age children. Unbowed, Connor changed tactics, and the next day he deployed fire hoses and police dogs against a peaceful protest march in the downtown business district. The images, some of the most grotesque and iconic of the era, dominated nightly news broadcasts and national newspapers and magazines nationwide. In Washington, lawmakers took up the issue of civil rights legislation with renewed vigor. President John F. Kennedy said the days events were so much more eloquently reported by the news camera than by any number of explanatory words, calling the scene shameful. In a paralyzed Birmingham, more than 2,000 people had been arrested, with officials turning the state fairgrounds into a makeshift holding area. The fire department bucked Connors orders to redeploy its hoses against demonstrators. The citys chamber of commerce pleaded for talks, even as political leaders were steadfast in their commitment to Jim Crow. By May 8, the white business leaders had acceded to most of Kings demands, promising to desegregate diner counters, rest-rooms and water fountains within 90 days. It was far from total victory, but King had something more important: the attention of an outraged and rapt nation. The legacy of the water cannons and dogs, of callused feet and imprisoned children, would be incarnated in the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act and the Twenty-Fourth Amendment, which banned poll taxes. Montgomery and Birmingham also formed the script for peaceably countering injustice in a nation founded on protest. From antiwar protests during Vietnam to Occupy Wall Street and beyond, Kings commitment to nonviolent protest lives on. Imprisoned in Birmingham Jail, King wrote in praise of those nonviolently demonstrating outside for their sublime courage, their willingness to suffer and their amazing discipline in the midst of great provocation. One day the South will recognize its real heroes. Julian Assange speaks from the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy in May 2017 following Swedens dropping of sexual assault charges against the WikiLeaks founder. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images) WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange may be leaving the Ecuadorian Embassy in London for nonpolitical reasons: his body odor. The foreign minister of Ecuador, Maria Fernanda Espinosa, has said the country is considering and exploring the possibility of mediation to resolve the untenable situation with Assanges stay in the embassy. According to reports, Assange rarely bathes and doesnt wash his hands after eating. Unless the people around him force him into the shower, he might not change his clothes for days, Jeremie Zimmermann, a friend and former colleague, wrote in 2012. An aide close to Assange, Daniel Domscheit-Berg, told the International Business Times: Julian ate everything with his hands and he always wiped his fingers on his pants. I have never seen pants as greasy as his in my whole life. A source inside the embassy told the IBT that Assange doesnt wash properly, and that complaints by the staff may have prompted the Ecuadorian government to make arrangements for him to leave. Theres only one bathroom in the embassy, which the staff has to share with Assange, according to the IBT report. Assange has lived at the embassy for five years as a de facto political prisoner for avoiding arrest on sexual assault charges in Sweden. That case was dropped, but Assange still faces jail time for skipping bail. He could be arrested if he leaves the embassy. He also could still be extradited to the U.S. for leaking documents revealing military secrets and diplomatic cables in 2010. Hes remained the public face and head of WikiLeaks while living at the embassy and continues to publish secret documents. The Ecuadorian government has granted Assange citizenship, but its application to give him diplomatic status was turned down by the British government. It may not just be his alleged smell that is causing trouble for Assange with the Ecuadorians. His recent criticism of Ecuadorian ally Spain for human rights violations may have strained relations. Story continues In October Assange tweeted: This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Witch hunt begins against Catalonian judges. In a private forum, a judge criticized Spanish police terrorizing Catalan voters calling them uniformed terrorists, wrote Assange. The Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying, The comments by Mr. Julian Assange do not represent the position of the Ecuadorian State. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle Katherine Lang returned from a 10-day vacation to find people living in her South Carolina hom, which she was in the process of renovating. The family living there apparently fell victim to a rental scam while trying to move to the area from Kentucky. (Photo: Beaufort News) Katherine Lang of Beaufort, S.C., returned home after a 10-day vacation to make an unsettling discovery: A new family had moved into her home. She arrived to find two dogs running around, a cat lounging on top of a washing machine, and food cooking on the stove. She heard two people talking inside the house, found them, and confronted them. I said What are you doing in my house? Lang told the Beaufort Gazette. It became clear to me what happened. 22-year-old Tyggra Shepherd and her husband had moved into the house while Lang was away. The couple were apparent victims of a phony rental scam. The couple had come to Beaufort from Kentucky looking for work and needed a place to stay while they tried to improve their fortunes. They had their children stay with relatives, they say, while they explored their options in Beaufort. It was then they were taken in by a fake landlord offering Langs home for $850 in rent a month. I was so crushed when I found out it was a scam, Shepherd said. Finding a place to live in Beaufort is hard when you need something you can afford and still raise a family adequately. Shepherd burst into tears when she found out the home really belonged to Lang and that they would have to move out. The couple have apparently made arrangements with Lang to stay for a time and then move out. Lang, who is trying to sell the house, says shell move up her moving date to another local home. Shepherd originally responded to an ad posted to a Beaufort Facebook group advertising the home for rent. Shepherd says she wired the scammer $1,150 based on a phony lease agreement and that she was supposed to receive a set of keys in the mail. But they never arrived. The phony landlord, according to Shepherd, said that the delivery driver with the keys had been arrested and the truck impounded. The landlord, however, told them that the back door was unlocked and they could move in whenever they were ready. Its believed the fake landlord got access to the house with a spare key kept under the cover of an outdoor electrical outlet. Story continues They tell people to send the deposit to a certain address, and people trustingly do that, said Susan Trogdon, a local residential and commercial property manager. People just really have to do their research when they do anything online and find a reputable company somebody you can verify exists. The Beaufort Police Department have a three-officer task force with a mission to handle rental fraud, but this case is the only recent one to be reported. Shepherd was reportedly encouraged to file a report with the FBI. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. The covert battle waged by Israel against Iran on Syrian soil, according to foreign reports, is coming out of the fog. It no longer matters whether Israel claims responsibility for strikes in Syrialike the one reported by the Syrian army on Tuesdayor doesnt. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter We have to get used to the idea that Israel is likely engaged in a military conflictso far, controlledagainst an Iranian military force that is entrenching itself in Syria. The cabinet, which recently discussed the Israeli policy on the northern frontagainst Syria, Lebanon and Iranlikely reached the exact same conclusion. In the past year, the defense establishment heads have often discussed the possibility that Iran would build air, naval and land bases in Syria and operate a division of Shiite militias against Israel. These are threats Israel cant ignore, but they dont constitute a real military challenge. Iranian leaders and Revolutionary Guards. A top political and security challenge to the Israeli government (: AFP) The main problem with the Syrian front is the establishment of a crowded system of precision-guided rockets and surface-to-surface missiles which will begin in Lebanon, stretch all the way to the southern Golan Heights and cover the entire Israeli territory with precision-guided warheads. This scenario will present a security challenge which Israel has never experience before. At the same time, the Iranians are building a missile front in Gaza, which would require the IDF to divide its efforts in fighting high-trajectory weapons between the north and the south. So far, Israel has failed in neutralizing the missile and rocket array that has been deployed in Lebanon for years. The battle it is waging, according to foreign reports, is aimed at preventing the Lebanese arsenal from turning into an arsenal of precision-guided missiles. In Syria, on the other hand, the Iranians are likely just beginning the process of building a similarand more crowdedmissile arsenal, based on an existing local industry and on the land bridge from Iran to Syria through Iraq. To complete this arsenal, they need time and money. If the Russians and Americans are incapableor unwillingof doing it through diplomacy, Israel apparently has no choice but to do it on its own. We can no longer hide behind vague statements and hints. This is a war for all intents and purposes. The enemy must know this, andmore importantlythe Israeli public must internalize and prepare. Hezbollah, Lebanon and Syrian flags on Syrian border (Photo: AP) The recent Air Force strike, according to the Syrians, was carried out in a military complex near Al-Qutaifa, where the Syrian Scud brigades were stationed in the past, and which likely houses rockets, missiles, production factories and storehouses intended for Syria and Lebanon. In both cases, were talking about one array which has been defined by Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman as the northern front. Theres no longer Syria and Lebanon. Theres an Iranian wall of fire from the Mediterranean Sea to the southern Golan Heights. And Israel will keep fighting these arrays in varying intensity, depending on the Syrian-Iranian response and on Hezbollahs conduct. If someone doesnt fold there, a war could break out. So far, there have been no signs of surrender on the Iranian side. On the contrary: In spite of the protests in Iran, the past two years have been very successful for the ayatollahs in spreading the Islamic revolution. Until 2015, the Revolutionary Guards main achievement was reflected in Lebanon; in the past two years, Iran has managed to get hold of Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Yemen and deepen its influence in Oman and Bahrain. The Iranian governmentespecially the Revolutionary Guardsis in a state of euphoria over the sense of victory in Syria. Mohammad Ali Jafari, commander of the Revolutionary Guards, and Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force, have become new idols among the Shiites in the Middle East. The Iranians plan to translate the victory in Syria into economic, and mainly strategic, achievements. Hossein Salami, deputy commander of the Revolutionary Guards, stated thataccording to the Iranian strategyIsrael is no longer perceived as a threat, as Hezbollah has an advantage over it. Whether true or not, the Iranians believe it and are acting accordingly, presenting a top political and security challenge to the Israeli government. Israeli jets attacked terror infrastructure targets overnight Saturday in the Gaza Strip in the southern city of Rafah. A statement published by the IDF Spokespersons Unit said that The Hamas terror organization is responsible for everything that happens in the Gaza Strip and that emanates from it. The IDF completed its destruction in the early hours of Sunday morning of a Hamas terror tunnel that was attacked by Israeli jets Saturday evening underneath the Kerem Shalom border crossing. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The tunnel reached all the way to the Egyptian side of the border and was dug from Rafah at a length of approximately 1.5 kilometers. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the same evening that Israel would continuue to systematically respond with even greater force to terror attacks launched by Hamas from the Gaza Strip, confirming that the Israel Air Force (IAF) had attacked the Hamas target in the southern Gazan city. Tunnel discovered by the IDF (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit) There are people who say that the IDF attacks sand dunes. That is not correct. We are responding to aggression against the State of Israel and are taking vigorous and systematic action against hostile infrastructures, Netanyahu said as he boarded the plane for his departure for India. Hamas needs to understand that we wont allow these continued attacks and we will respond with even greater force. PM Netanyahu and Sara Netanyahu board plane for India (Photo: Avi Ohayon/GPO) Israeli planes bombed the tunnel opening at around 11pm Saturday night on the Gazan side in Rafah, some 900 meters from the enclaves border with Israel. The tunnel penetrated 180 meters into Israel territory, passing underneath Kerem Shalom, the only commercial crossing between Gaza and Israel which serves as the conduit for gas and diesel pipelines and antennas. Israel shut down the crossing before the IAF attack until further notice. IDF Spokesperson Brigadier-General Ronen Manelis denied claims made by Hamas that the tunnel was merely intended for smuggling. IAF F-15 jet (Photo: Reuters) This is the first terror tunnel of its kind that has been dug over the last year and was still being worked on. Its possible that the it was dug on the Egyptian side to stage a combined attack in the future on the Kerem Shalom crossing from the Egyptian side too and to transport activists or weapons to the Sinai, Manelis said. It is a significant asset for Hamas. We will continue to act rigorously against the terror tunnels and we are not interested in an escalation of the situation, Manelis continued. The tunnel endangered the Kerem Shalom crossing and Hamas did this cynically and absurdly. Yoav Galant, a member of Netanyahu's Security Cabinet, also said on Army Radio that Israel is "not looking for confrontation with Hamas." Nonetheless, he said Israel "could not abide by a situation in which Israelis are harmed by fire (from Gaza)". (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit) The incident marks the fourth time the IDF has uncovered and destroyed Hamas tunnels in the last three months, but a different method was adopted to neutralize the latest tunnel. One time it is an incident, two times it is a coincidence and three times it is a system, Manelis asserted. The IDF has the most advanced ability in the world against tunnels, but it is not a magic solution and it is still a process. Through that crossing, tens of thousands of tons of merchandise is transported to the Palestinians. Other officials in the IDF also refuted Hamas claims that the tunnel was intended only for smuggling. We know how smuggling tunnels look and this is absolutely a terror tunnel, the central part of which was dug underneath a commercial crossing. Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said that the tunnel was a flagrant violation of Israels sovereignty. The destruction of the attack tunnels is an essential component of the policy of systematically striking Hamass strategic capabilities, Lieberman said. The message to Gazas leadership ad residents is clear: Invest in the sanctity of life, no in burial tunnels. Hamas militants in a tunnel (Photo: Reuters) A military committee charged with reviewing Operation Protective Edge published in October 2016 some of its conclusions, including a belief that the IDF was not adequately prepared for the tunnel threats on the eve of the war. In September 2016, a senior Israeli military official said a massive underground barrier being built along the Gaza border to defend against Hamas tunnels should be finished in a matter of months. The Palestinian representative to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, sent a letter to the Security Council accusing Israel of committing crimes against Palestinian children and calling for the release of Palestinian teen provocateur Ahed Tamimi Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter "Generation after generation only know life under occupation and that of an occupying Power that continues to commit human rights violations and brutal crimes against them, their families and their land, with complete and utter impunity," Mansour bemoaned. "One detrimental aspect of the practices and policies of the occupying Power that has left thousands of children traumatically scarred is Israels mass arrest campaigns throughout the Occupied State of Palestine," Mansour asserted. "Since 1967, nearly 800,000 Palestinians, including children, some as young as 12, have been kidnapped and imprisoned by the occupying Power." Ahed Tamimi in court (Photo: Reuters) Tamimi's latest public encounter with the IDF, when she and her cousin were filmed hitting DF soldiers in an effort to provoke them into responding, was not her first and Mansour admits as much in his letter. "Aheds latest encounter with Israeli occupying forces is not her first. When she was only 10-years-old, Israeli occupying forces arrested Aheds mother while photographers captured her crying and running frantically after the armored military vehicle her mother was in. Then again, on 31 August 2015, another video went viral as Ahed and her mother were photographed trying to free her 11-year-old brother from an Israeli occupying force who was choking him," he wrote. "Ahed, like all other Palestinian children, yearns to live a life free of occupation and violence; a life where all children should be able to grow up in an environment enveloped in peace and security and with human dignity," Mansour continued, calling for her release along with other Palestinian minors detained by Israel. Palestinian representative to the UN Riyad Mansour (Photo: EPA) Mansour described the night of Tamimi's arrest "Israeli occupying forces violently entered and raided the home of the Tamimi family in the West Bank village of Nabi Salih. They did so in the middle of the night while the family was asleep and arrested Ahed"further noting that "A so-called Israeli military court indicted Ahed on five counts of assault for 'attacking' two occupying forces." Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, slammed Mansour's letter and accused the Palestinian Authority of incitement. "Instead of continuing to spread lies and anti-Israeli propaganda, it would be better if the Palestinian leadership focused on putting an end to the terrorism and incitement that resulted this week in the criminal terror attack in which Raziel Shevah was murdered ," Danon said. "Raziel is survived by six children. His killers would likely receive a monthly salary from the PA , a reward for murdering innocent Israelis. This is the face of the Palestinian leadership, and no letter could hide that," Danon added. Police have launched investigations into four reports of rape in Tel Aviv over the weekend of three young women and a 19-year-old young man. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The first complainant, a 20-year-old woman, told police a man she knew came to visit her at her Tel Aviv apartment on Friday night, claiming he was drinking alcohol and at some point violently attacked and brutally raped her. The suspect, who was found and arrested, insisted the relations were fully consensual, but police investigators questioned his version and asked the court to extend his remand. The second complainant, also a 20-year-old woman from Tel Aviv, said she was raped by a 21-year-old man she knew at the bathroom of a club on Ibn Gabirol Street in the early hours of Saturday morning. Police arrested the suspect, who confirmed he had sex with the complainant, and that they knew each other, but similarly claimed the relations were fully consensual. He was released under restrictive conditions. Police are investigating both versions. The third complainant, another 20-year-old woman from Tel Aviv, said she was raped by a 20-year-old man she knew, whom she encountered while partying at a club on Ben Avigdor Street in the southern part of the city. She said she left the club with him and went to his car, where he raped her. The suspect, a Ramla resident, was arrested after the report but he refused to cooperate with investigators, and police asked to keep him in custody. The fourth complainant, a 19-year-old man from the Sharon region, was partying with his friends at a club on Carlebach Street in Tel Aviv on Friday night, when he went missing around 2:30am. Several hours later the man was found inside a parked vehicle, with no clothes on, and completely disoriented. He said he had been raped. Police are investigating whether the young man was disoriented because he was drunk, or whether his drink was spiked, following which he was raped. So far, no suspects have been apprehended. The Shin Bet and Israel Police have arrested a Tayibe resident suspected of supporting the Islamic State (ISIS) and planning to carry out attacks inspired by the terror group, it was cleared for publication on Sunday. Hassan Khaled Taher Sheikh Yusuf, 26, allegedly tried to convince additional people to carry out attacks in Jerusalem amid the Temple Mount crisis. After failing to recruit others, he planned to carry out an attack on his own. Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon has pledged not to withdraw his Kulanu party from the coalition, regardless of whether police release a recommendation to indict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the conclusion of a string of corruption investigations. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Speaking in an interview with Israeli journalist Amit Segal on the Channel 13 Meet the Press program, Kahlon said The presumption of innocence applies to everyone, and called for the the media hype surrounding ongoing investigations be reined in. Allow the recommendations to be made. We wont avoid a decision, but I am saying to you that at the moment, the law states that until the Attorney General (AG) makes a decision, there is no reason to deal with it at all. When the AG declares there is an indictment, I have no doubt that Netanyahu will have to go. Until then, everything is speculation. Lets see what happens. Minister Kahlon and PM Netanyahu (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky) Pressed on the statement, Kahlon sought to clarify his remarks by insisting that he meant Netanyahu would only have to leave office after a hearing, not after the filing of an indictment. I didnt pass a budget just to go and dismantle the government in one month, Kahlon said as he doubled down on his commitment of loyalty to Netanyahu. Anyone who thinks I am demolition contractor I think is deluding himself. Also asked about the recordings of the prime ministers son, Yair Netanyahu, in which he can be heard telling Ori Maimon that he has to "hook him up. Bro, my father cut a great deal for your father in the Knesset, bro" and discussing with two other friends his experiences at a strip club, Kahlon was reticent, but did offer his thoughts that a sincere apology by the young Netanyahu was necessary. I am not getting into that. I just want to say that the things that were said really disturb me. Afterall, we all know women. We all have wives, daughters, sisters and a feminine environment and we want them to be respected, Kahlon said. PM Netanyahu and his son, Yair (Photo: AFP) Thats why these things disturb me a lot morethe language and the conversation, Kahlon added in reference to the crude conversations between Yair and his friends. I also want to say that if the apology from Netanyahus son was sincere, if he understood his mistake and genuinely apologizednot a political apology, but a real one from the heart, and he conveys the message that these things cannot be saidobviously I think this is an important message for the public. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived Sunday for his first visit to India to expand defense, trade and energy ties. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, received a pleasant surprise upon their arrival in New DelhiIndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to welcome them in person, even though the foreign minister is normally the one greeting dignitaries to the country. Modi also tweeted a greeting to Netanyahu in Hebrew: "Welcome to India, my friend the prime minister. Your visit is an historic and special one, and will strengthen the strong ties between our countries." Netanyahu arriving in India (Photo: AFP) During his six-day stay Israel and India are expected to sign agreements on cybersecurity, energy and space cooperation and film production. They're also expected to review progress in implementing agreements on cooperation in technology, water and agriculture that were signed during Modi's visit to Israel last year, the first by an Indian prime minister to Israel. Before leaving for India, Netanyahu told reporters in Israel that the trip "serves our security, economic, trade and tourism interests, as well as many other areas." "We are strengthening ties between Israel and this important global power," he said. The visit marks 25 years since India and Israel established diplomatic relations, but comes just weeks after India voted in favor of a UN resolution denouncing US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Netanyahu greeted by Modi as he arrives in India (: '') X Daniel Carmon, the Israeli ambassador to India, played down India's vote. "I think that the relationship is much stronger than one vote at the UN," he said. Bilateral trade between the countries has skyrocketed from $200 million in 1992, when India and Israel established diplomatic ties, to $4.16 billion in 2016. But that remains far below Israel's nearly $40 billion in annual trade with its largest partners, the United States and the European Union. Still there are irritants in the growing relationship, including India's cancellation of a $500 million anti-tank missile deal with Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. It wasn't clear why India scrapped the deal before the contract was signed. During the Cold War, India didn't have open relations with Israel, leaning heavily in favor of the Palestinians. But over the past quarter century, the two countries have developed close ties. Carmon said that Israeli-India ties would withstand any troubles. Netanyahu embraced by Modi as he arrives in India (Photo: AFP) "The relationship is an all-weather relationship," he told reporters Friday, adding it was "so strong and so important to both countries that our feeling is that nothing can reverse it." He said Netanyahu was bringing with him 130 businesspeople, "which reflects the enthusiasm in Israel to do more business with India." On Monday, Netanyahu will have formal discussions with Modi and call on President Ram Nath Kovind as well as attend an India-Israel CEO Forum Meeting. In Mumbai, Netanyahu will meet with Jewish community leaders, Indian business leaders and representatives of the Bollywood film industry. Netanyahu will also visit Modi's home state of Gujarat in western India. Saturday nights demolition of a cross-border Hamas tunnel , which reached all the way to Sinai, is likely to have strategic consequences. It may disrupt the reconciliation process between Egypt and Hamas and may prompt Hamas and Islamic Jihad to attack Israel and initiate an escalation before losing all the tunnels they have dug to infiltrate Israel. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter For the past several months, since Israel uncovered two terror tunnels infiltrating its territory from Gaza, Hamas has likely avoided deciding how to react to Israels seizure of attack tunnels which it planned to use in the next escalation in the strip. The Hamas tunnel discovered by the IDF (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit) The tunnel underneath the Kerem Shalom border crossing was an operation of deception not only against the Egyptians, but against Israel too. Hamas likely believed the IDF would never imagine it was digging a tunnel under the strips only lifeline, endangering the populations welfare. Hamas military wing likely counted on this tunnel for smuggling strategic weapons, possibly heavy precision-guided missiles that would be sent to the strip from Iran through Sinai and serve Hamas in its next conflict with Israel. But that wasnt its only purpose. Another purpose was to infiltrate Israel and target the Gaza vicinity communities of Kerem Shalom and Shlomit, and possibly also bomb the crossing on its Israeli side, sort of like what Samson did when he said Let me die with the Philistines, a story Hamas apparently misinterpreted. The conclusion is that they were willing to sacrifice the Gazans welfare and vital needs in favor of a strategic surprise for Israel in the Kerem Shalom area. Those who wondered about Hamas leader Yahya Sinwars apparent moderation have now received their answer. The restraint practiced by the radical terrorist, who was released in the Shalit deal, was simply a way of covering up his intention to carry out a murderous attack in Israel and bypass the Egyptian measures aimed at disconnecting the Islamic State in Sinai from Hamas and other Palestinian terror organizations in Gaza. Yahya Sinwars restraint was simply a way of covering up his intention to carry out a murderous attack (Photo: AP) The tunnels exposure will likely also make it clear to the Egyptians that Hamas tried to deceive them. As we know, there are more than 1,000 smuggling tunnels on the Gaza-Sinai border, underneath the Philadelphi Route. These tunnels are mostly used for smuggling goods, but also for smuggling weapons and people from the strip to Sinai and from Sinai to the strip. Since these smugglings served the ISIS branch in Sinai, the Egyptians took different measures to disconnect the strip from Sinai. These measures included destroying the tunnels and discharging sewage into them. Recently, the Egyptians dug a deep canal parallel to the Philadelphi Route and filled it with seawater, causing many of the tunnels to collapse. But the Egyptians likely never imagined that Hamas and other Palestinian organizations would dare dig a tunnel under Israeli territory which would reach Sinai. A pretend reconciliation The Egyptian intelligence official who negotiated a reconciliation with Hamas were willing to ignore the fact that Hamas and Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood movement are in fact the same thing under a different name. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi sees the Muslim Brotherhood movement in his country as an existential threat, but he was willing to reconcile with Hamas to prevent Palestinian aid from Gaza to ISIS, which is fighting the Egyptian army in Sinai and carrying deadly terror attacks. In its distress, Hamas pretended to want the reconciliation and was willing to accept the Egyptian demands. The organization is receiving no aid from Arab countries or from Europe, and its relations with Iran have yet to yield the desired fruit. Seeing the economic, social and existential distress of the strips residents grow on a daily basis, Hamas new leadership in Gaza accepted all the Egyptian demands and even pretended to sever its ties with ISIS in Sinai. Egyptian President al-Sisi was willing to reconcile with Hamas (Photo: EPA) Now, the Egyptians are discovering that Hamas actually deceived them. While making promises, it opened an underground bypass route to Sinai and to ISIS. Hamas likely did it to be able to smuggle strategic weapons from Iran through the Red Sea and Sinai, but the Egyptians understand the organization to receive ISISs approval to do that. Following the exposure of the tunnel on Saturday night, the Egyptians will likely draw their own conclusions about Hamas, which allegedly became their ally in the war on ISIS. We must not forget the Israeli point too: On its way to Sinai, Hamas also prepared a strategic attack in Israel, cynically ignoring the fact that Israel could respond by cutting off the Gaza Strips only lifeline to the outer world, as the Egyptians have yet to open the Rafah Crossing for regular passage of goods and people. Israel is the only one allowing the passage of goods, fuel and gas to the strips residents and allowing people to cross into Gaza through the Erez Crossing. Israels warning to Hamas The IDF destroyed the tunnel on Saturday night and Sunday morning in a sophisticated manner aimed at preventing an escalation. Its also possible that the army didnt want to disrupt Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to India (https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5070257,00.html). On Saturday night, the IDF issued a statement that the Kerem Shalom Crossing would be closed on Sunday, without providing further details. The statement was in fact a warning to Hamas shortly before IAF planes attacked the tunnel shaft in the Palestinian Rafah area. The Kerem Shalom Crossing. The Gaza Strips only lifeline to the outer world (Photo: AFP) The reason for the warning was to prevent casualties on the Palestinian side. Had Hamas people been killed inside the bombed tunnel, we would be in the middle of an escalation by now. The odd statement about the Kerem Shalom Crossing was also aimed at pointing out, both to sources in the strip and to international sources, that Hamas was jeopardizing the only lifeline from the strip for its military wings terroristic-operational needs. The purpose of the warning was also to prevent harming uninvolved citizens in case of an unexpected accident during the tunnels destruction. Everything went as planned, however. The Air Force planes used particularly accurate and heavy ammunition to destroy the tunnel shaft on the Palestinian side, while other IDF forcesmainly engineering and infantry unitsquietly destroyed the route of the tunnel on Israeli territory. Hamas and Islamic Jihad now understand, without a doubt, that they are about to lose all their underground assets. Furthermore, the Egyptians are going to reevaluate their relationship with Hamas in Gaza. As a result, the probability that the two largest terror organizations in the strip will initiate an escalation with Israel, before losing the ability to surprise us with a strategic attack, is growing. The Reform Movement and the Women of the Wall group accused the Israeli government on Sunday of offering a "humiliating solution" for the Western Wall egalitarian prayer area. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The two groups petitioned the High Court of Justice, demanding it to order the state to implement a plan reached to build a separate prayer area at the holy site, where they could worship according to their own beliefs, with men and women praying together. The government decided to freeze the implementation of the agreement in June after facing pressure from the ultra-Orthodox parties. Unfreezing the plan's implementation requires an additional government decision. Meanwhile, the situation at the Western Wall remains unchanged, with men and women allowed to pray together only at a distant location allocated for them. An extended panel of seven judges heard the petition on Sunday. The petitioners asked Chief Justice Esther Hayut why the Women of the Wall are not allowed to bring Torah books to the separate area in which they now pray in. In turn, Hayut asked the state's representative, attorney Nahi Benor, "If according to the Western Wall rules outside Torah books cannot be brought into the main plaza, why not allow women to use the Torah books already there?," to which the latter answered plainly: "Because the Torah books are in the men's section." Benor said the state wishes to reach an agreement with the Women of the Wall and the Reform Movement to avoid embarrassing images surfacing in the media of security forces dragging worshipers out of the Western Wall Plaza. "Having peoplemany times young girlsbeing dragged out is not the ideal way to go about it," he said. The ideal solution, he suggested, was the prayer area at the southern part of the Western Wall catering for egalitarian prayer services. Women of the Wall at the Kotel (Photo: EPA) Attorney Orly Erez-Likhovski, who represents the petitioners, said the southern prayer area "is hidden behind walls and fences to send a message the petitioners should pray like lepers." "The law promises our feelings would not be hurt. This is a basic right. We have freedom of worship at the Western Wall," she added. The state, she said, does not implement the plan "because there's concern the Orthodox worshipers' feelings would be hurt. We agreed, in order to avoid hurting their feelings, to move aside, but the state says instead, 'Take a separate and unequal arrangement that humiliates you.'" She presented the judges with videos showing the separate prayer area, as well as videos showing ultra-Orthodox disrupting their prayer at the beginning of every Hebrew month. Some of the petitions asked to allow women to pray at the women's prayer area with prayer shawls and Torah books. Rabbi Gilad Kariv, the leader of the Reform Movement, lamented that "Anyone who needs proof of why the Western Wall plan should be implemented in full should see the disgraceful videos from the Western Wall Plaza. The Israeli government continues providing support to extremist elements who have no interest in compromise or mutual respect." He went on to express his hope that "the court accepts our position and orders the state to build an egalitarian prayer area, which is connected and linked to the Western Wall Plaza." Anat Hoffman, the leader of Women of the Wall, said the High Court justices "Watched a video demonstrating the reality of lawlessness at the Western Wall, documenting the disruptions to Women of the Wall's prayers, while police are helpless and lack determination to stop it." In addition, she continued, "the judges watched a video demonstrating the solution the state is offering is prayer at a remote corner, a sun porch located inside an archeological site." Hoffman noted the hearing made it clear that "the original Kotel planwhich came of dialogue, compromise and consultationis the right and worthy solution. Any other solution is capitulation to the extremist Haredi minority, which has taken over this precious national resource that belongs to the people of Israel and all Jews around the world." VANCOUVER - The man who was considered for 37 years by Israeli and French intelligence agencies to be the mastermind behind a deadly terror bombing of a Paris synagogue has been released from prison by French authorities. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Until 2008, Hassan Diab, a Beirut-born Canadian, managed to convince the Canadian government that he had nothing to do with the October 1980 bombing of the French Israeli Liberal Union Synagogue on Rue Copernic during the Jewish festival of Simchat Torah, which claimed the life of 42-year-old Israeli Aliza Shagrir, along with two French citizens, and wounded scores. Diab, 64, who was a lecturer at the University of Ottawa, was eventually arrested in 2008 in Canada and extradited to France in November 2014 by the presiding judge, who expressed his concerns over the veracity of the evidence against Diab. Hassan Diab (Photo: AFP) It was, the judge said convoluted, very confusing, with conclusions that are suspect. Since his extradition, Diab has been kept in a protected prison on the outskirts of Paris, and has consistently professed his innocence, claiming he was not even in the city at the time of the bombing, but was in the University of Beirut where he was studying. Investigators believe the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) was behind the attack. The French state prosecutor, meanwhile, said Diabs passport was found in the hands of PFLP members arrested in Italy three days after the attack. Following their arrests, and in light of evidence taken from the scene, both Israeli and French intelligence marked Diab as a prime suspect. At the end of last week however, following a discussion attended by two investigative justices from the French Supreme Court, the court determined the evidence against Diab was too weak and too scant to justify his arraignment and continued incarceration. Diab was subsequently released, and the decision was immediately appealed by the French state prosecutor. South Africa has protested to the US embassy in Pretoria about reported remarks by US President Donald Trump that some immigrants from Africa and Haiti come from "shithole" countries. South Africa's foreign ministry called the remarks, which sources said Trump made earlier this week during a meeting on immigration legislation, "crude and offensive" and said Trump's subsequent denial was not categorical. "Relations between South Africa and the United States, and between the rest of Africa and the United States, must be based on mutual respect and understanding," the foreign ministry said in a statement on Sunday. It said it would ask the second-in-charge of the US embassy to explain Trump's comments on Monday. Trump was widely condemned by many African countries and by international rights organisations for the comments. Botswana's foreign ministry earlier summoned the US ambassador in protest. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented Sunday evening on the IDF's detonation of the terror tunnel running underneath Kerem Shalom the previous day, and said, "even here in India my thoughts are with you, the IDF soldiers, and on the wonderful work you've done (Saturday) in taking out another tunnel." Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter "We are systematically demolishing Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad's tunnel infrastructures, and they would do well not to try us," the prime minister warned before his meeting with Indian Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj, part of his state visit to the subcontinent. Turning to the minister, Netanyahu said, "It's a true honor and a true delight to be here. There's a lot of enthusiasm, not only in our meetings at the level of governments and leaders, but also in the people. PM Netanyahu (R) met Indian Minister of External Affairs Swaraj (Photo: Avi Ohayon/GPO) Switching to Hebrew, the prime minister explained, "We are here in India on a historic visit. It is important for the State of Israel that one of the world's major powers wants to develop close relations in many areaseconomics, trade, security and agriculture." PM Netanyahu's meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister Swaraj (: ") X Minister Swaraj turned to the Israeli visitor and said, "Very warm welcome to India. The feeling is mutual. We were eagerly looking forward to your visit and after the visit of Prime Minister Modi, all of us were very excited to receive you in India. And today, that dream has come true." Minister Swaraj emphasized the warm and special friendship between the two countries and said that they want to deepen cooperation in all areas. She pointed out the fact that the reciprocal visits in the past year reflect the friendship between the countries. The destroyed tunnel (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit) 'Just as there's an Iron Dome, there's an Iron Dome underground' Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) Maj.-Gen. Yoav Mordechai also commented on the tunnel's destruction in an interview to the Arab television channel Alhurra. "Israeli genius and the Jewish mind have found a solution to all terror tunnels," Mordechai declared. "Just as there's an aerial Iron Dome, there's an Iron Dome underground." "I wish to send a message to anyone digging or going near the tunnels: as you've seen in the past two months, there is nothing but death in those tunnels," COGAT said, adding, "I'm also surprised because these are days of reconciliation, whereas the tunnel was excavated into Israel and then into Egypt. What message does that send to important Egypt, that Hamas is digging tunnels into its territory? Egypt, which was responsible for and supported (Palestinian) reconciliation." According to Mordechai, Israeli "has information on additional tunnels and we will soon learn of their discovery." COGAT Mordechai said Jewish genius has found a solution to the tunnels (Photo: Chaim Tzach) Commander of the Gaza Division's Southern Brigade Col. Kobi Heller said that, "The IDF has recently undertaken a widespread offensive against tunnels excavated by the various Gaza Strip terror organizations breaching into Israeli territory. "Extraordinary collaboration between engineering and intelligence people, working hand in hand with people from the technological tunnel discovery lab in Gaza Division has reached a breakthrough in the technological aspect of tunnel discovery and significant achievements in subterranean exposure." "The tunnel runs directly beneath the only route for goods passing from Israel into Gaza and parallel to gas and diesel pipelines, which may have served as the tunnel's targets," Col. Heller said. "The tunnel's proximity to the crossing endangered its continued operations as the Gaza Strip's main lifeline," he added. The tunnel passed underneath the Kerem Shalom crossing (Photo: AFP) "The Hamas terror organization is the sovereign in Gaza and will be held responsible for any terrorist activities compromising Israeli sovereignty, including underground," Heller said. "The air force targeted the tunnel on the Palestinian side east of Rafah, hundreds of meters from Israeli land. In so doing, we've concluded destroying the tunnel and it no longer poses a threat to the people of Gaza." The tunnel reached all the way to the Egyptian side of the border and was dug from Rafah at a length of approximately 1.5 kilometers. Israeli planes bombed the tunnel opening at around 11pm Saturday night on the Gazan side in Rafah, some 900 meters from the enclaves border with Israel. The tunnel penetrated 180 meters into Israel territory, passing underneath Kerem Shalom, the only commercial crossing between Gaza and Israel which serves as the conduit for gas and diesel pipelines and antennas. Israel shut down the crossing before the IAF attack until further notice. The incident marks the fourth time the IDF has uncovered and destroyed Hamas tunnels in the last three months, but a different method was adopted to neutralize the latest tunnel. Police have arrested ten Hamas and a-Shabab al-Aqsa terrorists in east Jerusalem on suspicion of planning an event for a recently released convict. The convict himself, the son of terrorist Mossabah Abu Sbieh who carried out an attack in the capital a year ago that claimed the lives of a civilian and a Border Policeman, was one of those arrested. CAIRO Egypt's president has sworn in four new cabinet ministers in a limited government reshuffle. President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi swore in the new ministers of culture, tourism, local development and business just hours after parliament approved their appointment on Sunday. Einas Abdel-Dayem, a career flute player who received her education in France and is currently in charge of the Cairo Opera House, was named Culture Minister. Another woman, U.S.-educated economist Rania al-Mashat, takes over the tourism portfolio, a key job at a time when Egypt is struggling to revive the lucrative sector decimated by years of turmoil following a popular uprising in 2011. Khaled Badawi was named Business Minister. Abu Bakr el-Gindy took the local development portfolio. Israeli actress Gal Gadot won an award at the National Board of Review Awards Gala last week, but for once, something else eclipsed another stepping stone in her meteoric rise in Hollywood, namely her dress, designed by Lebanese fashion designer Elie Saab. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Gadot stood front and center on the red carpet clad in a beautiful blue number, designed by Saab. The excited designer then hurriedly uploaded a photo snapped at the event to his Instagram account, deeming her "flawless." Saab's many fans in Lebanon, however, saw many flaws, and inundated the designer with scathing critiques, prompting him to delete the post. Gadot's dress caused an uproar in Lebanon (Photo: Getty Images) "I love and respect Elie Saab, but is he really pleased when an Israeli actress wears his dress?" tweeted Lebanese journalist Heba Bitar. "I don't have a problem with her wearing @ElieSaabWorld but I do have a problem with posting her picture from Elie Saab's account and bragging about an ex-Israeli soldier wearing his dress!" tweeted one critic. "Don't ruin one the few things that make us proud Lebanese people!" Gadot has also faced criticism directed at her from Lebanon in the past. This past summer, after a multitude of debate on social media, Israel's neighbor to the north decided not to screen Gadot's starring vehicle Wonder Woman , as did several other Arab countries. The countries cited Gadot's statements of support of the IDF during Operation Protective Edge as justification. The Israeli star has not publically addressed the Lebanese boycott of her movie since it hit screens. Surprisingly, a sequel she also starred in, Justice League, was cleared for screening in the country. (Photo: Getty Images) Gadot, meanwhile, moved on to the next event cementing her newly-found position as a feminist icon, when she won the #SeeHer award at the 2018 Critics' Choice Awards this past Thursday, and used the occasion to make a wonderful speech. Not trying to hide how moved she was, Gadot took to the stage and accepted the award from Wonder Women director Patty Jenkins. The award, handed out for the second consecutive year, is given to trailblazing women whothrough their workfeminine stereotypes both on and off the silver screen. Last year Oscar winning actress Viola Davis was given the award. "I wanted to portray a strong and independent womana real one. All of these qualities I looked for, I found in her. She is full of heart, strength, compassion and forgiveness," the visibly moved actress said. Gadot then went on to mention the year's three highest grossing movies were directed by women and added that, "Although though this is progress, there is still a long way to go. As artists and filmmakers, I believe it's not only our job to entertain, but to inspire and educate for love and respect. My promise and commitment to all of you is that we will continue to band together to make strides uniting for equality." Gadot accepting the #SeeHer award at the Critics' Choice Awards (Photo: Getty Images) Later in her speech, taking place in Santa Monica, California, the star said she dedicated the award to the brave men and women who have made their voices heard this past year in speaking out against sexual harassment and assault. To the adulation and thunderous applause of the crowd, Gadot vowed, "I will not be silenced." In her introduction of Gadot, Jenkins said she was "so happy to be here to shine a light on this wonderful human being for using all of those superpowers this year to breathe life, complexity, humanity, joy into a tour de force performance that could have been so much less and still succeeded." "But in the hands of Gal Gadot, Wonder Woman came back to life in all of her glory and is out there inspiring the world again," Jenkins concluded. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said during a conference of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)'s Central Council Sunday evening that "Europeans wanted to bring the Jews here to preserve their interests in the region. They asked Holland, which had the world's largest fleet, to move the Jews." Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Then, quoting an Egyptian philosopher's words on the Balfour Declaration on providing a national home for the Jewish people, Abbas said, "Israel is a colonial project that has nothing to do with Jews." PA President Abbas, at the meeting (: AFP) Abbas also attacked President Donald Trump, who claimed he intended to cut American aid to the Palestinians over their intransigence to cooperate in peace negotiations. "I see a tweet on Twitter," Abbas said and quoted, "'We will not give the Palestinians money because they refuse to negotiate.'" Cursing the president, Abbas said, "May your house come to ruin (an Arabic epitheted). Where did you offer that to me? On the phone? On television?" Abbas's speech was part of the Central Council's two-day conference in Ramallah. The Council is the PLO's second most important body and it was convened following President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihadwhich are not PLO members but were initially slated to attend as welldecided to boycott the event citing their desire to not "serve as a fig leaf," and due to the deadlock in the Palestinian reconciliation process The PLO chief routinely addresses the Balfour Declaration, calling it the "root of the crime" against the Palestinian people. A year and a half ago, Abbas called on the Arab League's member states to assist Palestinians by suing Britain over the declaration, which called for the creation of a Jewish national home and therefore led to the 1948 war's nakba (Arabic for "catastrophe"). Abbas routinely cites the Balfour Declaration as the 'root of the crime' against Palestinians (: AFP) Abbas dedicated a sizeable portion of his speech to Jerusalem, saying, "True, Jerusalem does not have the Kaaba (a structure in Mecca considered the holiest site to Islam), but it is the first direction for prayer and the third holiest site to Muslims." "Jerusalem is our eternal capital," Abbas declared, "come what may. It is for this reason that we are gathered hereto defend it. We're in a sensitive position. What can we comprise on later? The state itself? Abu Dis as capital ? We're done. Here we stay. We will not make the mistakes of the pastof 1948 and 1967 again. Jerusalem and al-Aqsa, of which Mohammad spoke, are one of the holiest sites after Mecca and Medina." On the American recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, nominally the reason for the conference, Abbas said that, "Jerusalem has been taken off the table with one swift tweet from Mr. Trump." "Nevertheless, we are here to stay. We will not leave our villages. This is our land. We will take instructions from no one. We stick by our people, our land. We say to Trump, we will not accept his deal. The deal of the century has become the slap in the face of the century," Abbas quipped. Abbas said President Trump's deal of the century became the 'slap in the face of the century' (Photo: AFP) The conference was convened following President Trump's December speech in which he declared that his administration officially recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Trump also said he would support the two-state solution, if the parties agreed to it and that he had instructed the State Department to prepare for moving the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. "The current American Ambassador to Tel Aviv David Friedman says there's no occupation. That Israel is building on its own land. He asked the State Department to refrain from using the word 'occupation.' They asked me to receive him. I said, 'Him? No, I will not receive him. Not here, not in Amman and not in Washington." The PA president recounted his refusal to meet with US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman (Photo: Western Wall Heritage Foundation) In his speech, covering a wide range of topics, Abbas also commented on talks held with then prime minister Ehud Olmert in the previous decade. "They told me they wanted to remain on the eastern borders for 40 more years. I'm old, so I thought I misheard. 'What do you mean four years?' I asked. He replied it was 40 years. So I bid him farewell," Abbas recounted. "We will continue dialogue with the Israelis because it is useful. Some in the Israeli public are in favor of peace and some oppose it. I've always been a proponent for it, as far back as 1977 in the National Council's meeting in Cairo. Who do we want peace with? Israel. Even if (Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu doesn't." Some ten "Disabled Panthers" activists protested outside the Shoham home of Welfare Minister Haim Katz. Protesters intend to spend the night outside Katz's home, in protest of his alleged failure to support their demands regarding disability benefits. Charges have been pressed in Uruguay against the owner of the Buena Vista Valizas hostel, who refused to admit an Israeli couple simply because they were Israelis. Following Ynet's report of the incident, a member of the Uruguayan parliament sued the hostel's owner and called on the tourism minister and on the mayor of Rocha, the municipality in which the hotel is located, to join him, Spanish paper El Pais reported Saturday in its Uruguayan edition. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The suit's aim, the parliament member named Alejo Umpierrez said, was to protect Uruguay's image, emphasizing its appeal to tourists. The Buena Vista Valizas hostel in Uruguay was sued following its refusal to admit an Israeli couple The parliament member added that, "The incident and its ramifications have shown the public and social outcry such events produce, on the international level as well." The El Pais article on the incident (Photo: El Pais) 'The incident is not congruent with our tradition as an open country' The story about the Israeli couple being refused has made waves in the South American country. Initially, the owner of Buena Vista Valizas notified the two through the Booking website that they were not wanted on his property because they were Israelis. "I had not seen that they were from Israel," the website's cancelation message from the owner said. "I am very against the policy of your country and you are not welcome in my house." The hostel owner's message The El Pais story on the incident said the Uruguayan Tourism Ministry confirmed Friday morning it had received a discrimination complaint regarding an Israeli couple wishing to stay at the aforementioned hostel. The complaint, the paper said, came from the Central Committee of Israeli in Uruguay (CCIU). A message on the Tourism Ministry's official Twitter page said, "This is unacceptable and not congruent with our tradition as a country open to receive visitors from all over the world." The article further said that the hostel was also apparently operating illegally, without a license or being registered. "The hotel in question is not registered with the Tourism Ministry, and it was therefore decided to send inspectors to the site to have the license examined." Other reports published in places like the Montevideo Portal website said the hostel received a demolition order. The site further said Rocha Mayor Anibal Pereyra said that a message communicating the hostel's irregularity and lack of registration in the requisite land forms had already been sent to the owner. The hostel's page after it was blocked on Booking's Israeli version (Photo: Booking) While it's important to note that even if the place is shut down, it will not be directly due to its owner's refusal to host the Israeli couple, only after the incident did local authorities examine the property's legality, which led them to discover it was not properly registered. 'Everyone is appalled by what's been done to you' Yul Bardosh, the father of A. who is still hiking with her partner in South America and is likely unaware to all of the hubbub caused by her trip, said he has been inundated with messages since the initial report on Thursday. In addition to contacting Ynet, Bardosh emailed Booking and other touristic sites such as Tripadvisor and Airbnb and asked them to remove the property from their listings. "It's hard to contact (the couple) right now due to reception problems. We only know they're okay. When she returns to civilization it'll hit her like a ton of bricks," Barodsh jokingly told Ynet. Bardosh also sent a letter to the Israeli Embassy in Uruguay. The letter he received from Ambassador Nina Ben Ami said, "The story is gaining traction in the media. Everyone is appalled at what's been done to you. The Jewish community wanted to make sure you were alright." The hostel's page before the block (Photo: Booking) "A local Uruguayan man wrote me today to say he apologizes on behalf of all of the people of Uruguay and offered to welcome you into his Montevideo home," the letter concluded. "The ambassador and the local's responses are praiseworthy and point to the power of the article, as well as the story itself, and show that not everyone is always against us," Bardosh told Ynet on Saturday. Following the original article, Israelis seem to have banded together to down vote the hostel's ratings on various tourist sites, in addition to it being blocked on Booking's Israeli site. "We deeply regret and denounce the incident," the Tourism Ministry summed up its comment. "Our society is pluralistic and varied and we do not allow insular incidents to sow malice and propagate prejudice and malintent. Here we are making a stand, to defend the most precious values of peaceful coexistence in our country." Its a museum now, has been for some time. A group of us visited the museum when it reopened in 1990. I havent been back since then, and I really should go again. The experience was overwhelming. I kept hearing my grandmothers voice in my head. My grandmother Dora was born in 1902, in a province called Galicia, which is now part of Poland but was then part of Austria-Hungary. She was the eldest of 5 children. Her father came to New York before World War I, and sent for his family after the war. Dora, two of her sisters and her brother all came here eventually, but Doras mother never came, she was was afraid. She walked with a limp, and was scared theyd send her back to Europe. The youngest sister stayed with their mother. Both were killed in the Holocaust. Dora came here with her sister Shirley. She told me the story many times. They travelled with their aunt and uncle, and arrived in Rotterdam just before the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah. There was an argument about whether the girls could buy candy for the holiday, but by the time the uncle gave permission, the stores had all closed. A sailor took a liking to Dora, and gave her a tin of sardines. She said He told me not to eat them when the ship got out onto the big water, but I didnt listen,. She blamed those sardines for the horrible seasickness she experienced the entire time the ship was on the Atlantic. Consequently she was extremely debilitated when she arrived at Ellis Island, and was held at the hospital. She spoke about how the doctor asked to walk a straight line, to prove she was well. She also had her first encounter with an African American, he was serving food in the cafeteria. He had to explain to Dora that his skin was naturally dark, not dirty. If my grandmother had not made that trip to Ellis Island, I would not be here today. I don't hear the voices of my other grandparents, because they died before I was born. but I know their stories... Dora's husband Harry died when my mother was a little girl, so I don't know much. He was also from Eastern Europe, not sure exactly where. Maybe Hungary. He was ...horrors...an illegal alien. I was told he sailed from Europe to Canada, walked across the border and made his way to New York City. He never became a citizen, had to register as an alien during World War II. My paternal grandparents came from the same small town outside Kiev, in the Ukraine. My grandfather, I'm told, was a Socialist and participated in the failed 1905 revolution. He came to New York in 1907, and sent for my grandmother two years later. In the 1920's he went to court and legally changed his name, and the names of his children, from something long and Russian to something very, very Jewish. We cannot forget where we come from, that every family in America can trace its roots to immigrants, people like my grandparents, who came to this country looking for a better life for themselves and their children. My grandmother came here as a young woman, but did not become a citizen until my mother was an adult. Why? Because of a mistake at Ellis Island. Apparently Doras uncle gave the wrong name to the immigration officials, and there was no record of Dora entering the country. Rather, her sister Florence was recorded as as having entered twice, in two different years.If my grandmother had not made that trip to Ellis Island, I would not be here today.I don't hear the voices of my other grandparents, because they died before I was born. but I know their stories...Dora's husband Harry died when my mother was a little girl, so I don't know much. He was also from Eastern Europe, not sure exactly where. Maybe Hungary. He was ...horrors...an illegal alien. I was told he sailed from Europe to Canada, walked across the border and made his way to New York City. He never became a citizen, had to register as an alien during World War II.My paternal grandparents came from the same small town outside Kiev, in the Ukraine. My grandfather, I'm told, was a Socialist and participated in the failed 1905 revolution. He came to New York in 1907, and sent for my grandmother two years later. In the 1920's he went to court and legally changed his name, and the names of his children, from something long and Russian to something very, very Jewish.We cannot forget where we come from, that every family in America can trace its roots to immigrants, people like my grandparents, who came to this country looking for a better life for themselves and their children. In the shadow of the Statue of Liberty is Ellis Island. Ellis Island served as a major immigration processing center in the first half of the 20th century. If your family emigrated from Europe during that time, chances are they came through Ellis Island. It took Manhattan Beach two tries, but the son of Somebeachsomewhere got his initial victory of 2018 in the $25,000 Open Pace at Miami Valley Raceway on Saturday night (January 13). Driver Trace Tetrick benefitted from Manhattan Beachs best post position in quite some time to control the race throughout. After easily getting the top from the three-hole, the winner cruised through quarter-mile splits of :28, :56.3 and 1:24.1 before sprinting home by open lengths in 1:52.1. The 12-degree temperature didnt seem to faze the Walter Haynes Jr.-trainee as the five-year-old gelding notched his 13th career victory and upped his lifetime bounty to almost $700,000. John McGill and Brian Carsey are partners on Manhattan Beach, who lead My Hero Ron (Tyler Smith) and Boys Round Here (Kayne Kauffman) across the finish line. Four divisions of the first leg of the Claim To Fame late-closing series for male $20,000 claimers also went to post on Saturday, each carrying a $20,000 tag. A total of 10 horses changed hands through the claim box, although 34 claims were entered. Most popular at the claim box was Just Bettor, an eight-year-old Bettors Delight gelding, who had 14 hopeful new owners. Through luck of the random draw, Black Magic Racing is the new owner. Just Bettor finished fourth in the first leg. Tetrick, who was recently crowned champion of the North America Drivers Challenge at Miami Valley, won four of the first 12 races, including a trio of trips to the winners circle with horses from the Tyler George Stable. (Miami Valley Raceway) The United States Trotting Associations District 7, encompassing Pennsylvania, held its annual membership meeting on Saturday (January 13) at the Omni Bedford Springs Resort. District Chairman Sam Beegle was joined by directors Russell Williams, Rich Gillock, Barry Brown, and Kevin Decker. Beegle asked Williams to guide the review of the USTA rule change proposals. Russell stated that the group would start with the series of proposals turned in by the Universal Rules Committee, chaired by John Campbell and including Pennsylvanians Williams, Brett Revington, and Anthony Clark; the other proposals were then discussed. Below are the recommendations of those attending the District 7 meeting for their Directors at the USTA national meetings in Columbus late this winter. The recommendations are presented as they were numbered; those marked with an asterisk (*) were the proposals of the Rules Committee. It was noted that at the beginning that the wording used in all of the proposals should indicate the rules should be applied only at extended pari-mutuel tracks. 1. (uniform claiming allowance percentages) TABLED. 2. (head numbers) APPROVED. 3. (define length) APPROVED. 4. (breath analyzer requirements)* APPROVED. 5. (vs. human illegal drugs)* APPROVED. 6. (officials at charted matinees) TABLED. 7. (track condition, variant, wind indicator)* TABLED. It was proposed that the variant should include both wind and weather factors, and that other track condition designations should be considered. 8. (identifier verifies males) APPROVED. 9. (stable vs. corporation) APPROVED. 10. (scratches due to date change) TABLED. 11. (fair start pole)* APPROVED by a 14-4 vote. This proposal drew one of the most spirited participation, with the discussion basically dividing at the term protecting the majority of the public vs. the extra betting from wagering whales which often follows this triggering situation. 12. (driver in accident medical clearance)* APPROVED. 13. (human disorderly conduct)* APPROVED. 14. (equality of substitute driver)* REJECTED, primarily because it was felt the decision should belong to the trainers, not the judges. 15. (whipping regulations #1) REJECTED; several horsemen were concerned by loose lining, especially in the stretch. 16. (whipping regulations #2) REJECTED. 17. (unnecessary ontrack conversation)* APRROVED WITH AMENDMENT limiting the objectionable conversation to range from the start of the post parade to the finish. 18. (change of sex notification) APPROVED. 19. (restricted trainers/trainers)* APPROVED by a 16-1 vote. 20. (pleasure horse registration) APPROVED. 21. (correction of ownership transfer date) APPROVED. 22. (non-reusable horse names) APPROVED. 23. (embryo transfers) APPROVED. 24. (dissolution of district meetings; by-law change) REJECTED. There was also a discussion on the coming of chip implantation, with most favouring the move but some expressing a concern for hardship imposed on several groups, with the Amish particularly focused on, but the low cost of the scanners offset many of these concerns. (With files from USHWA) Rod Starkewski enjoyed a successful Saturday at Northlands Park with a training triple early on the 11-race program. Starkewski won his first start of the day in the second race with his homebred pacer Getup Gideon ($21) riding the rail to upset 3-5 favourite Lizard King with Phil Giesbrecht working out the winning trip. The Lamont, Alberta horsemen scored back-to-back victories with Outlawburntpopcorn ($9.20) prevailing from the pocket over the favoured Senseless Beauty in rein to Dave Kelly. Both Getup Gideon and Outlawburntpopcorn are owned by the veteran trainer. Shes All Mine ($40.60) was another longshot winner for Starkewski a couple races later as Kelly sent the Terry Yuck-owned mare wire-to-wire in the fifth. Starkewski's training triple put him in the win column for the 2018 season following a career-best campaign in which his stable earned $383,979 in purses. Kelly made a fourth trip to victory lane in Saturday's finale with the Shawna Griffin-trained Art The Third. Giesbrecht ended the day with three driving wins. To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Northlands Park. Duncan Price, 74, a longtime harness horseman, passed away this past Tuesday (January 9). He was born in Suffolk, England on September 30, 1943 to the late John and Jean Price and was a resident of Grant Park, Ill. Price was a longtime breeder, owner, trainer and driver in Illinois where he owned and operated Galewood Farm in Grant Park for a number of years. After working with his family at the first harness racing track in Rhodesia, Africa, He came to the United States when he was barely 18 years old with nothing, not even a place to live, according to the oldest of his three surviving children, daughter Laurie Price Chapman. In Rhodesia, his father, John, operated the racetrack, while his mother, Jean, was responsible for managing the wagering at the track, which only raced trotters. At the young age of 18, Prices father suggested that he should go to the United States to learn about pacers. He spent some time in New York and Florida before settling in Illinois, where he had served as president of the Illinois Harness Horsemens Association and never moved back to Rhodesia. He loved the sport of harness racing, said Price Chapman. Every waking moment, thats what he did. He is survived by his former wife Candy Price, three children, Laurie Chapman Price (daughter), Wendy Price (daughter) and John Price (son) and two grandchildren, children of Wendy, Kennedy Price (grandson) and Marissa Price (granddaughter) and his brother Juan Price. Along with his parents, he was also preceded in death by his sister Anne Price. The Celebration of Life for Duncan Price will be held on Monday (January 22) at the Grant Park Community Center located at 209 West Dixie Highway, Grant Park, Illinois, 60940 from 4 9 p.m. with an open forum from 6:30 7 p.m. for anyone wishing to share their memories of Duncan. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made in Duncans name to the International Elephant Foundation, because he always loved elephants. Donations to the International Elephant Foundation can be made by clicking here. To visit their website, click here. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Duncan Price. (USTA) There is one day a year when people are completely justified in being selfish on their birthdays, of course. People tend to plan their self-indulgent birthday celebrations exactly the way they want them, and rightfully so. That is why it is so remarkable that a 13-year-old harness racing participant is putting others before herself when it comes to her special day. For the second year in a row, Standardbred horse owner Ellen Carragher of Stratford, Prince Edward Island has opted to not have a traditional birthday party, but will instead host a Skate for Mental Health, which will take place on Sunday, February 11 (from 5:30 6:30 p.m.) at the Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown. Last years inaugural edition of the skate raised $9,269, and Carragher is looking to increase that amount this time around. The online auction for the cause will launch on Sunday, February 4. Any funds raised from the skate and auction will go directly to the PEI division of the Canadian Mental Health Association. Ellen Carragher (second from right), pictured making a sizeable donation to the PEI division of the Canadian Mental Health Association in 2017 While in communication with Standardbred Canada, Carragher, an anxiety sufferer, said, I am very appreciative of the overwhelming support I received last year from family, friends, community members and businesses that helped me not only to raise money for this very worthy cause, but also helped me to raise awareness. To visit the wepage for the online auction, click here. To view the Facebook page for the skate, click here. My goal is to raise awareness of, and money for, Mental Health, Carragher has explained on the auction page. I want to remind people who are also struggling with anxiety or other mental health issues that they are not alone, and the importance for us to keep talking about it. I personally know how hard it is to talk about this in front of people, and I also know how awful it feels to keep it inside and not talk about it at all. Carragher has put together a sponsorship package for those that are interested. For further information, please contact [email protected]. BRADENTON At Thursday's land use meeting, Manatee County Commissioners approved plans for a solar village and resort with zero energy ready "coastal cottages" in the historic Cortez fishing village. Hunters Point Resort & Marina is planned for 86 cottage-style residences built on 18.7 acres north of Cortez Road and east of 126th Street West. Plans for the gated, waterfront community also include 45,620 square feet of non-residential that would include a section of two-story lodges with 62 hotel rooms, a clubhouse, retail and dining. The units would be steel-framed, two-bedroom homes with only 484 square-feet under air, with another 966 square feet for exterior decks and the usable rooftop. Developer Marshall Gobuty, who previously built Mirabella , a LEED, ENERGY STAR, and HERS certified 55+ villa community south of Manatee Ave and east of 75th street is leading the project. Gobuty is a trailblazer and after building the first LEED certified villas in Florida at Mirabella, he's planned an ambitiously green development at Hunters Point, partnering with the U.S. Department of Energys Zero Energy Ready Home program and the Florida Solar Energy Center at the University of Central Florida to design what he refers to as "coastal cottages" with solar panels that would make the homes energy independent. Tesla will provide the solar technology and battery packs, while Panasonic delivers a high-speed fiber optic network, street lighting and security monitors. Gobuty's ambition is nothing less than to revolutionize the way we think of building houses. "We're not just going to build houses," said Gobuty, "we are going to change the way things are done." tiny houses. Commissioner Carol Whitmore used the term several times in praise of smaller homes being added to the local menu, but Gobuty stressed that quite different from the super-small, typically portable homes associated with the popular Just don't call themCommissioner Carol Whitmore used the term several times in praise of smaller homes being added to the local menu, but Gobuty stressed that quite different from the super-small, typically portable homes associated with the popular tiny house movement , his homes are fully livable, one and two bedroom units that add considerable outdoor space for the customer who wants to downsize the amount of indoor space they need to maintain. Boaters would have access to an existing 17-slip marina, as well as a 31-slip dock that would be built on a canal that could be used to access the Anna Maria Sound. An electric water taxi is planned, that would take passengers to Anna Maria Island. The developer said that Hunters Point, which was the original name of the Cortez Village before it was changed in the early 19th century, would respect the old Florida look of Cortez with energy efficient versions of the "cracker cottages" that include the more modern design features and conveniences of new homes. Commissioner Robin DiSabatino asked if the applicant had a ballpark figure for price. Gobuty responded that it was too early in the process to give numbers, but that the price of the waterfront land in that part of the county would add a premium to what they expected to sell the same style houses for in other future developments. "We're already looking at other potential locations to do this sort of development," said Gobuty. "We think this is the beginning of a home-building revolution." "We think that if we do something like this and it's maybe 20 or 30 miles inland, and it's not on the water or near the docks, we can get the pricepoint in the area of $130-140,000, and that's our goal," Gobuty added. During public comment, one speaker said the county commission had been "gifted with an opportunity to approve a development that couldn't be more compatible and timely." Christine Weaver, a Mirabella resident, called Cortez "a real treasure for our community" and said that based on her experience, there was no one better suited than Gobuty to "uphold its cultural and environmental integrity." Cortez resident and restaurateur Karen Bell (Starfish Company), said she was in favor of the development and said that she believed Gobuty would be a responsible steward of Cortez's culture. City of Bradenton Vice Mayor Gene Gallo also spoke on the development's behalf. Gallo said that while he's had his share of problems with developers who say one thing and do another, he's never been as impressed with one as much a Gobuty based on what he'd accomplished with Mirabella. A local realtor who focuses on green real estate projects praised it as "a model of environmentally-responsible development," and James Robinson of Realogy also spoke in favor of Gobuty and the project, saying that his company has "noticed a buzz like we've never before seen." While no one spoke against the project, Richard Steele of Steele Environmental Consulting in Sarasota asked what steps were taken to ensure that the old gas station currently on site was not impacting local groundwater. Staff indicated that the tanks had long been removed from that site and that the developer would still have to go through such analysis before coming back for site plan approval. Robert Boyette is one of 23 people who live on the canal already. Boyette wanted to ensure that stipulations for those residents building and improving their docks and seawalls were in perpetuity, so that existing property owners would be protected. In applicant rebuttal, members of the developer's team said that such stipulations were already recorded and that the documents would made available. They also noted that deed restrictions previously placed on the dock width for that property were actually lifted in the development plans, and that any docks that comply with state and local statutes would be allowed. Commissioners gave glowing reviews of the application, noting that they'd never seen such consolidated supported for a project, particularly in Cortez, a community that is known as being fiercely defensive of its culture. The motion to approve passed unanimously. Iran rejects Trump's call for changes to nuclear deal Al Jazeera news : Iran has said it will not accept any changes to the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal, after US President Donald Trump threatened to pull out of the agreement unless its "terrible flaws" are fixed. The Islamic Republic's foreign ministry said in a statement that it would not "move beyond its commitments" to the existing agreement, to which Trump has extended the US commitment for another 120 days, Iran's state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported on Saturday. "Iran strongly announces that it will make no measure beyond its Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) commitments and will make no changes in the nuclear deal neither now nor in the future," the statement said. The nuclear deal, formally known as the JCPOA, has eased sanctions on Iran in exchange for Tehran halting uranium enrichment. It was agreed upon by the United States under the administration of former President Barack Obama, Iran and five other countries in July 2015. Trump announced on Friday that the US would keep the pact in place and waive sanctions against Iran for the "last time", in order to secure agreement from the US' European allies to fix its "terrible flaws". "Despite my strong inclination, I have not yet withdrawn the United States from the Iran nuclear deal," he said in a statement. "Instead I have outlined two possible paths forward: either fix the deal's disastrous flaws, or the United States will withdraw," he added. Netanyahu begins 6-day India visit today with focus on defence, security The visit by Israeli PM comes a little more than six months after his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi visited the Jewish state. AP, Ahmedabad : Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke protocol to receive Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and his wife Sara, at Ahmedabad airport on Sunday ahead of his six-day visit to India with focus on defence and security. PM Modi will host Netanyahu for dinner on Sunday night. In the past, Modi has welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in his home state. Netanyahu would be only the second Israeli Prime Minister to visit India since diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in 1992. His visit is happening almost 15 years after the first visit by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to New Delhi in 2003. The visit by Israeli PM comes a little more than six months after Narendra Modi visited the Jewish state. Strengthening cooperation in key areas of trade and defence, including a possible inking of a multi-million dollar Israeli anti-tank missiles deal, is on the table during the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. After his arrival, Netanyahu and PM Modi are likely to visit the Teen Murti Circle in New Delhi where the two leaders will lay a wreath at the monument, where the "Haifa liberation day" is commemorated every year on September 23. Notably, Teen Murti Marg will formally be renamed as Teen Murti Haifa Marg. Later in the afternoon, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is expected to call on the visiting Israeli PM at the Taj Palace Hotel. Modi will host a private dinner for Netanyahu. The visiting dignitary, on Monday, will be given a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhawan which will be followed by the wreath laying at the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi. Netanyahu will also meet his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi and hold delegation level talks. The two sides will sign agreements and also issue a joint press statement. The Israeli PM will call on President Ram Nath Kovind later in the day. On Tuesday, the minister will leave for Agra and visit Taj Mahal in the city. On the same day, he will visit Delhi and participate in the Raisina Dialogue, where he is scheduled to deliver an inaugural speech. 2 BCL activists stabbed Chittagong Bureau : Two students of Haji Mohsin college , chittagong belong to Bangladesh Chhatra League were stabbed by the rival of the feud group of Chhatra League yesterday . Following the handing over an activist of Shibir to police , the incident might be occurred, difference quarters suspecting. The injured students named Rashedul Islam and Abir Hossain are the students of class eleven and they were admitted in Chittagong Medical college hospital. Police Naik of Chittagong Medical college Hospital police camp Silabrata Das told that following the altercation between two groups of chatra league , one group supporters instantly stabbed them on the spot. Chhatra League leader of Mohsin college Maymun uddin Mamun told that one Sibir activist Yousufuddin was handed over to Police on Januray 9 last but later sibir activist Yousuf was released from Chowkbazar thana with the help of one section of BCL. With sequel of releasing the sibir activist, the incident was occurred, different quarters suspecting. Trump to attend Davos economic forum Reuters : US President Donald Trump plans to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland later this month, his chief spokeswoman said on Tuesday. Last year, the annual elite gathering of world leaders and chief executives held in the Swiss alps focused on what impact the newly elected Republican president would have on the global economy. This year, Trump will discuss his "America First" agenda in person, said White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders. "At this year's World Economic Forum, the president looks forward to promoting his policies to strengthen American businesses, American industries, and American workers," Sanders said in a statement. Canada hopes G7 summit serves as springboard for new ideas AFP, Ottawa : Canada hopes the upcoming G7 summit it is hosting will serve as a springboard for fresh ideas on key issues including climate change, the global economy and security, the lead organizer told AFP. "The G7 serves well as a proving or testing ground for discussions that could eventually go into the G20 or the United Nations or international financial institutions," Peter Boehm, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's G7 representative, said in an interview with AFP. "The beauty of these summits is that there is informal dialogue between leaders," said Boehm, who has participated in several past summits. Canada assumed the G7 presidency at the start of January and will host the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States in the picturesque resort village of La Malbaie on the shores of the Saint Lawrence River from June 8-9. The agenda for the 44th Group of Seven industrialized nations summit includes advancing gender equality and women's empowerment, the implementation of the Paris climate agreement, and the global economy. Boehm said the discussion on climate change will "inevitably include energy and renewable forms of energy" and "more broadly the resilience of coastal communities." "We've seen a very bad hurricane season," he noted. "Many of the islands affected by these terrible hurricanes have lost their tourism economies." Turkish jet skids off icy runway into black Sea A passenger jet carrying 168 people came within metres of plunging into the Black Sea after it skidded off a icy runway as it landed at Trabzon airport in Turkey. Internet photo Daily mail : A passenger jet carrying 168 people came within metres of plunging into the sea after it skidded off an icy runway as it landed at a Turkish airport. Panic spread through the Boeing 737-800 as it stopped at the edge of the Black Sea - with its nose dangling precariously off a cliff edge. Luckily, flight PC8622's wheels became stuck in icy mud as it left the runway at Trabzon Airport, which may have preventing it from entering the sea. Pegasus Airlines confirmed in a statement there were no injuries among the 162 passengers onboard as well as two pilots and four cabin crew after they were evacuated. Shocking footage from inside the Pegasus plane taken just moments after the crash shows passengers evacuating as women and children are heard crying out in fear. The aircraft's left jet engine was also ripped from its wing during the crash. Bodies fill the central aisle of the aircraft and stewards can are heard addressing passengers over a loud speaker system. The dramatic footage appears to show smoke billowing from the cabin. Another clip taken from outside the aircraft shows fire services dousing the plane with jets of water. However, from the video there is no suggestion of there having been a fire. More footage shows passengers gathering under the wing of the plane on the steep slope down to the water. The flight departed from Ankara, Turkey's capital, on Saturday evening. But on landing at Trabzon Airport, just under 90 minutes later, the plane left the runway. Pegasus Airlines is a Turkish budget airline based in the Kurtkoy area of Pendik, Istanbul. One of the passengers, Fatma Gordu, said panic erupted onboard during the landing. 'We tilted to the side, the front was down while the plane's rear was up. There was panic. People shouting, screaming,' she told state-run news agency Anadolu. The airport was temporarily shut before reopening on Sunday morning. Edn bosses helpless Staff Reporter : The agitating teachers of ebtedayee madrasas on Sunday vowed to continue their hunger strike unto death after the education minister and the state minister delivered statements containing no hints of immediate acceptance of their demand. Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid and State Minister (Technical and Madrassah Education) Kazi Keramat Ali asked the striking ebtedayee madrasas teachers to end their fast unto death programme and give time to the government. The two ministers said the teachers' demands could only be met subject to the finance ministry's allocation of necessary funds for nationalising ebtedayee madrasas. The Ebtedayee madrasas' teachers, as such, rejected the call of the two ministers. A 25-member team led by Swatantra Ebtedayee Madrasas Shikkhak Samiti President Ruhul Amin Chowdhury and General Secretary Qazi Mokhlesur Rahman called on the two ministers at an education ministry office in Bangladesh Secretariat at about 2:30pm amid their fast unto death programme. They demanded nationalisation of all primary level madrasas under the Bangladesh Madrassah Education Board. After attending the meeting, Ruhul Amin Chowdhury said that the ministers requested them to end their hunger strike immediately as their demand would only be met if the finance ministry allocates necessary funds. "We will continue our protest until assurance of nationalisation is given by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina or Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid" he said. Earlier on the day, Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith ruled out the demand placed by the madrasa teachers. The minister passed the comment while replying to a question over hunger strike being continued by the Ebtedayee madrasas teachers in the capital. Muhith, however, said the government would include private schools and colleges under the monthly pay order facility with certain conditions. The primary madrasas teachers started fast-unto-death programme on January 9, after sit-in demonstration for eight consecutive days till January 8, to press forth their six-point demands, including nationalisation of Ebtedayee madrasas. Their demands include salary under national pay scale, construction of separate buildings for Ebtedayee madrasas and trainings similar to the primary school teachers. About 50,000 teachers of 10,000 Ebtedayee madrassahs are living in an inhumane condition without adequate salaries, teachers said. Meanwhile, at least 150 agitating teachers of Ebtedayee madrasas, who have been observing hunger strike in front of the Jatiya Press Club, fell sick in six days. Of them, 20 have been admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment. AL, BNP aspirants collect forms Reza Mahmud : Both the two major political parties namely Awami League and the BNP have almost finalised the names of mayor candidates for Dhaka North City Corporation by-polls. But the nomination papers are still on sale. Political leaders and analysts said, two candidates from the major two parties are active in the field. One is Md. Atiqul Islam, former President of BGMEA who collected nomination papers from AL; another is BNP's Executive Member Tabith Awal, who contested the mayor post in the last polls. AL insiders say that the party Chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given green signal to Atiqul Islam for the post. Atiqul Islam has started mass communication and campaign in every ward in the DNCC jurisdiction. There are 11 more aspirants also bought nomination papers from AL on Saturday and Sunday. They are former MP HBM Iqbal, industrialist Adam Tamiji Huq, Rasel Asheki, Principal of Monipur School and College Farhad Hossain, daily Bangladesh Today Editor Jobaer Alam, Dokan Malik Samity Chairman Helaluddin, AL former Central Executive Committee Member Momtaz Uddin Ahmed Mehedy, former Ward Councillor Shamim Hasan, businessman Abed Mansur and former Army official Yad Ali Fakir. All the aspirants expressed their hopes to get party ticket to contest in the DNCC by-election scheduled to be held on February 26. "I am just being introduced to the people in the areas as the Prime Minister asked me to do so," said Atiqul Islam to The New Nation. When contacted, AL Presidium Member Faruk Khan, MP told The New Nation on Sunday, "Atiqul Islam is working at field level. But AL kill officially declare the name of the party's candidate on Tuesday." On the other hand, five mayor aspirants of BNP for DNCC by-polls on Sunday collected the party's nomination forms. They are Asaduzzaman Ripon, Akhteruzzaman, Shakil Wahed, MA Qaiyum and Tabith Awal. All of them expressed their hopes to get party ticket. Among them, Tabith Awal has reportedly been given green signal from the party chief Begum Khaleda Zia. Insiders of the party said every leader and activist knows that Tabith is the lone candidate to have started preparation for the polls. He is passing busy time to meet party men in every ward of DNCC. "I am trying to know the party leaders and activists and voters, especially of new 18 wards of DNCC. The leaders and activists in other areas are helping me in my pre-election work everyday," Tabith Awal told The New Nation on Saturday. When contacted, BNP National Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas told The New Nation on Sunday, "Our party will finalise the nomination as per the candidate's popularity." Besides, the party's Senior Joint-Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said that the BNP would declare the name of its mayor candidate for DNCC by-polls around 10:00pm on Monday. Examinees demand cancellation of banks` written tests Staff Reporter : The examinees, who took part in the recruitment tests of the eight state-run banks on Friday, have alleged that the examinations were held amid gulf of irregularities. So, they have demanded cancellation of the tests. Otherwise, they will go to the court for justice. The examinees said these from a demonstration held in front of the Jatiya Press Club. They also brought out a procession to march towards Bangladesh Bank. But the police intercepted them. As a result, they went to Dhaka University campus. They said that Dhaka University's Management Department arranged the examinations and failed to finish it perfectly. "There were many irregularities in the examinations' halls. The question papers also were leaked. The seat plan was not allocated orderly," said Khaled Saifullah, an examinee. According to a number of candidates, there were no seat plans at Hazrat Shah Ali Mohila College centre and in many cases four to five candidates sat on a single bench, meant for two. The authorities on Saturday announced a date for retaking the recruitment tests of eight state-run banks in the capital following demonstration of candidates of two examination centres ( Government Bangla College in Mirpur-1 and Hazrat Shah Ali Mohila College) over seat shortage and mismanagement. It may be mentioned that the Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court Syed Mahmud Hossain on Thursday stayed the order of the High Court that postponed recruitment tests of state-owned Sonali, Rupali and Janata banks and now there is no bar to arrange the recruitment process of the posts of senior officer, officer (cash) and of the three banks. The Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division passed the order hearing a petition filed by Bangladesh Bank on Wednesdfay. Attorney General Mahbubey Alam stood for the central bank. On January 7, the High Court stayed the recruitment process following a writ petition filed by 28 candidates who applied for the different posts of Sonali Bank as per the circular issued in 2016. The recruitment examination for senior officers of eight state owned banks was scheduled to be held on January 12. Divine blessings for Muslim Ummah sought First phase of Biswa Ijtema ends: Thousands of devotees joined the Akheri Munajat on the bank of the Turag River at Tongi seeking divine blessings of Allah for the Muslim Ummah on Sunday. Md Joynal Abedin Khan : More than 26 lakh devotees, including women, took part in the Akheri Munajat (final prayers) wrapping up the first phase of Bishwa Ijtema on the banks of the Turag River at Tongi in the outskirts of capital Dhaka on Sunday morning. The devotees prayed for peace, prosperity and welfare of the Muslim Ummah across the world. Bangladeshi Senior Islamic Scholar of Kakrail mosque Hafez Mawlana Mohammad Zubaer conducted the 35-minute prayers. Zubayer recited in Arabic for the first 14 minutes which began at 10:40am and then continued in Bangla. The Directorate for Mass Communication and Gazipur District Information Office aired the prayers. The devotees, including cabinet members, lawmakers, professionals and political leaders, gathered in an area of 10 square kilometres spreading over Khilkhet, Cherag Ali, Tongi BISIC industrial area and Ashulia. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina jointed the Akheri Munajat from her official residence at Ganabhaban in the city's Sher-e-Banglanagar area while BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia from her residence 'Feroza' in Gulshan. Awami League Presidium Member Advocate Sahara Khatoon, Joint General Secretary Dr Dipu Moni and Agriculture Affairs Secretary Faridunnahar Laily as well as family members and relatives of the premier joined the prayers from the Ganabhaban. PM's Principal Secretary Md Nojibur Rahman, Military Secretary Major General Mia Mohammad Jainul Abedin, Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim, Special Assistant Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap and officials and employees of the Prime Minister's Office and Ganabhaban took part in the munajat from there. Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq and Local lawmaker Jahid Hasan Rasel also took part in the prayers. Meanwhile, women devotes expressed their frustration and angered with the management bodies as they had to gather on the rooftops of factories and residential buildings due to lack of special spots for thousands of female participants. "Separate arrangements should be made for women outside the congregation venue," said one Kamrunnahar who came from Narsingdi. The devotees from 16 districts of the country attended the first phase of the Ijtema. The districts included Dhaka, Narayanganj, Madaripur, Gaibandha, Sherpur, Lakkhipur, Bhola, Jhalakathi, Patuakhali, Narail, Magura, Panchagarh, Nilphamari and Natore. Some 4,473 devotees from 88 countries joined the first phase of the Ijtema. The devotees from other 16 districts of the country will participate in the second phase of Biswa Ijtema slated for January 19-21. No vehicles have been allowed to use Gazipur intersection, Mirerbazar in Pubail and Abdullahpur in Ashulia since Sunday morning. Bangladesh Railways arranged 19 special trains for carrying the devotees back home after the end of prayers. More than 7,000 police personnel were on the alert in and around the congregation venue, said Gazipur Superintendent of Police Harun-Ur-Rashid. The New Delhi-based Tablig-e-Jamaat has been organising the Ijtema since 1967. For managing the growing number of devotees coming from home and abroad, the congregation is being held in two phases since the year of 2011. We need more to do for Rohingya orphan children REFERRING to a survey of Ministry of Social Welfare, a national English daily on Sunday reported that around 40,000 of the Rohingya children have lost contact with either or both of their parents. They are orphans. Of them, 8,882 have lost track of both of their parents. At present, the Rohingya refugee children are suffering harsh conditions in camps in the country's southeastern bordering district Cox's Bazar. Since August 25, nearly 800,000 Rohingya have poured across the border to Bangladesh; of them 720,000 [60%] are children. The new comers have joined 500,000 others who had come in the previous influxes. Now, 21 per cent of children under five years of age are suffering from malnutrition. The Prime Minister's Office earlier had issued 20 directives regarding the Rohingya --one of them was to run a survey on orphan children. In line with the directive, the Social Services Department under Social Welfare Ministry in September last year identified nearly 36,373 Rohingya children as orphans conducting a survey in the previous three months. The Ministry had decided to give them special protection. As per newspaper report, a project of Tk 17.22 crore has been taken to give financial support to around 9,000 orphan children. Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner said they were further cross-checking the survey results and the verification process would start on January 27. Presently, the government with the support of UNICEF, World Health Organization and GAVI [the vaccine alliance] has launched a vaccination campaign for 255 000 Rohingya children aged 6 weeks to 6 years living in 12 temporary camps in Cox's Bazar to check the outbreak of diphtheria. No doubt, it is the parentless children who are the most vulnerable. They are vulnerable to diseases, they are vulnerable to trafficking, and they are vulnerable to sexual exploitation. This is a humanitarian crisis and for each child it is a catastrophe. It's a good news that, the Rohingya orphans are living with their close relatives. Apart from education, several schemes have also been taken for building their physical and mental health. Quoting statement of Cox's Bazar DC, the report also said the 'support scheme' could be extended, if the Rohingya repatriation is delayed. It is not possible for Bangladesh to bear the burden of 1.2 million refugees along with 60 per cent children for an indefinite period. It will also not be wise for us to nourish an entire population of another country, even if we have the capability. Here, the international community will also have to come forward to ensure a safe return of Rohingya to their homeland. In fact, the Rohingya children, particularly the orphans, are now facing an uncertain future. So, we think there are more things to do must. The ongoing violence in the Rakhine State of Myanmar has stolen their childhoods. Along with other humanitarian supports, the children also need a bright future, a hope for the coming days. The entire South Asia region will have to face the dire consequences for many years, if the Rohingya children issue is not treated carefully. Trump`s threat to democracy Nicholas Kristof: Two political scientists specializing in how democracies decay and die have compiled four warning signs to determine if a political leader is a dangerous authoritarian: 1. The leader shows only a weak commitment to democratic rules. 2. He or she denies the legitimacy of opponents. 3. He or she tolerates violence. 4. He or she shows some willingness to curb civil liberties or the media. A politician who meets even one of these criteria is cause for concern, Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, both professors at Harvard, write in their important new book, How Democracies Die, which will be released next week. With the exception of Richard Nixon, no major-party presidential candidate met even one of these four criteria over the last century, they say, which sounds reassuring. Unfortunately, they have one update: Donald Trump met them all. We tend to assume that the threat to democracies comes from coups or violent revolutions, but the authors say that in modern times, democracies are more likely to wither at the hands of insiders who gain power initially through elections. Thats what happened, to one degree or another, in Russia, the Philippines, Turkey, Venezuela, Ecuador, Hungary, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, Ukraine, Poland and Peru. Venezuela was a relatively prosperous democracy, for example, when the populist demagogue Hugo Chavez tapped the frustrations of ordinary citizens to be elected president in 1998. A survey that year found that the Venezuelan public overwhelmingly believed that democracy is always the best form of government, with only one-quarter saying that authoritarianism is sometimes preferable. Yet against their will, Venezuelans slid into autocracy. This is how democracies now die, Levitsky and Ziblatt write. Democratic backsliding today begins at the ballot box. Receive emails about each column and other occasional commentary. You agree to receive occasional updates and special offers for The New York Timess products and services. Likewise, the authors say, no more than 2 percent of Germans or Italians joined the Nazi or Fascist Parties before they gained power, and early on there doesnt seem to have been clear majority support for authoritarianism in either Germany or Italy. But both Hitler and Mussolini were shrewd demagogues who benefited from the blindness of political insiders who accommodated them. Let me say right here that I dont for a moment think the United States will follow the path of Venezuela, Germany or Italy. Yes, I do see in Trump these authoritarian tendencies plus a troubling fondness for other authoritarians, like Vladimir Putin in Russia and Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines but Im confident our institutions are stronger than Trump. Its true that he has tried to undermine institutions and referees of our political system: judges, the Justice Department, law enforcement agencies like the F.B.I., the intelligence community, the news media, the opposition party and Congress. But to his great frustration, American institutions have mostly passed the stress test with flying colors. President Trump followed the electoral authoritarian script during his first year, Levitsky and Ziblatt conclude. He made efforts to capture the referees, sideline the key players who might halt him, and tilt the playing field. But the president has talked more than he has acted, and his most notorious threats have not been realized. Little actual backsliding occurred in 2017. That seems right to me: The system worked. And yet. For all my confidence that our institutions will trump Trump, the chipping away at the integrity of our institutions and norms does worry me. Levitsky and Ziblatt warn of the unraveling of democratic norms norms such as treating the other side as rivals rather than as enemies, condemning violence and bigotry, and so on. This unraveling was underway long before Trump (Newt Gingrich nudged it along in the 1990s), but Trump accelerated it. It matters when Trump denounces the deep state Justice Department, calls Hillary Clinton a criminal and urges jail for Huma Abedin, denounces journalists as the enemy of the American people and promises to pay the legal fees of supporters who beat the crap out of protesters. With such bombast, Trump is beating the crap out of American norms. I asked the authors how we citizens can most effectively resist an authoritarian president. The answer, they said, is not for Trump opponents to demonize the other side or to adopt scorched-earth tactics, for this can result in a death spiral in which rule-breaking becomes pandemic. Its also not terribly effective, as weve seen in Venezuela. Rather, they suggested protesting vigorously but above all, in defense of rights and institutions, not just against the ruler. They emphasized that its critical to build coalitions, even if that means making painful compromises, so that protests are very broadly based. If these actions are limited to blue-state progressives, the risk of failure and/or deeper polarization is very high, Levitsky told me in an interview. Extraordinary measures are sometimes necessary to defend democracy, but they should rest on extraordinary coalitions coalitions that include business leaders, religious leaders and crucially, as many conservatives and Republicans as possible.--The New York Times The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. Print edition not available for Day Pass option. Investcorp, a global provider and manager of alternative investment products, has recognized Nemir Kirdar, the firms founder and former executive chairman, with an Eisenhower Fellowship named in his honour. The Nemir Kirdar Fellowship will honour Kirdars legacy and distinguished leadership in advancing international understanding and building bridges across borders and cultures. It will be awarded to the Eisenhower Fellow who most closely represents the leadership skills and values of integrity and dedication embodied by Kirdar, a devoted Eisenhower Fellowships Trustee. Shahd Attar of Saudi Arabia, an advocate for womens empowerment and career success in Saudi Arabia, was selected as the Nemir Kirdar Fellow. As Investcorps founding CEO and executive chairman, Nemir Kirdar pioneered a new investment model with the mission of acting as a bridge between surplus funds in the Gulf and non-traditional investment opportunities in the US and Western Europe. In October 2017, Kirdar stepped down as chairman of the Investcorp Board of Directors following a 35-year career at Investcorp. We are thrilled to have Nemir Kirdars distinguished legacy recognized with a fellowship named in his honour, said Mohammed Alardhi, executive chairman of Investcorp. We are equally excited to announce Shahd Attar as the first recipient. Attar very clearly represents both the exceptional leadership skills and the values of integrity and dedication to ones native country for which Nemir Kirdar is well known. As a Consumer Insights Manager at Saudi Telecom and the companys first female employee, Attar co-founded a non-profit organization, CellA Connection in Arabic which she developed to systematically support the thousands of entry-level women entering the workforce in Saudi Arabia. During her Eisenhower Fellowship, Attar created a sustainability plan for her non-profit organization to ensure its short- and long-term impact on womens entrepreneurship and workforce diversity in Saudi Arabia. George de Lama, president of Eisenhower Fellowships, said: "We are pleased to announce the establishment of the Nemir Kirdar Fellowship, honouring Investcorp's founding CEO for his integrity, global vision and long-time commitment to the development of exceptional young leaders. The inaugural recipient of the award, Shahd Attar, is an extraordinary representative of the values embodied by both Nemir Kirdar and Eisenhower Fellows alike." Founded in 1953 to honour President Dwight D Eisenhower, Eisenhower Fellowships identifies, empowers and connects innovative leaders through a transformative fellowship experience and lifelong engagement in a global network of dynamic change agents committed to creating a world more peaceful, prosperous and just. TradeArabia News Service KPMG in the Middle East and South Asia (MESA), a top professional service networks in the region, reported 12.7 per cent growth in aggregated revenues of member firms across the MESA region for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. Revenues across all core functions grew in double digits with audit revenues increasing by 13 per cent, Tax by 19.1 per cent and advisory by 10.6 per cent. Within advisory, deal advisory and risk consulting revenues increased by more than 20 per cent this year. KPMG in Bahrains managing partner, Jamal Fakhro said: As the challenging economic conditions are beginning to show signs of improvement, I believe there are a lot of business opportunities in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the region, which we will continue to leverage. Businesses are still working to transform their operations to keep up with market disruption and developments, and it is for this reason that we continue to work closely with our clients to help them grow their business. William B Thomas, chairman of KPMG International, said: The robust growth achieved by our member firms for the fourth consecutive year has once again placed MESA among the fastest growing regions within the KPMG network. We see MESA as a high growth market and one which we will continue to invest in both globally and through our local member firms. By the end of FY17, KPMGs resource pool across the MESA region had expanded to nearly 7,500 professionals and associates, with member firms present in 15 countries and covering 32 office locations. This year KPMG member firms in the region received a number of prestigious accolades. These included the Best Audit Services Award at the MENA Insurance Reviews Insurance Awards 2017 won by KPMG in the Lower Gulf and the Advisory Services Company of the Year Award at MEED awards 2017 won by KPMG in Saudi Arabia. KPMG is ranked as a Top Tier Firm in the GCC according to ITR World Tax and among Universums Most Attractive Employers in the Middle East. Abdullah Al Fozan, chairman for KPMG Middle East and South Asia said: The year has been an exciting one as we continued to work alongside the regions major transformation programs, assisting numerous clients for the introduction of VAT and also in digitalization programs for many regional conglomerates. In addition, we established our first data and analytics lighthouse, increased the use of analytics across all our core functions and introduced Clara, our smart audit platform to the region. Commenting on recent investments and alliances, he added that KPMG has scaled up senior resourcing in areas of public sector transformation and healthcare among many other priority sectors. A recent acquisition added 35 professionals with experience in both cloud and on premise technology solutions. In the alliance space, KPMGs global alliance with Microsoft was extended to the Middle East earlier this year. KPMG has ambitious plans for the region and will continue to build on its strengths in the year ahead in order to be seen as the clear choice for clients. TradeArabia News Service The second Middle East & Africa Fintech Forum will be held in Manama, Bahrain, on March 7 and 8 under the theme 'Beyond Disruption'. The forum will be opened by Rasheed Mohammed Al Maraj, Governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain. The event will be held under the patronage of the Central Bank of Bahrain and hosted by Bank ABC and Arab Financial Services (AFS). Beyond Disruption brings together leading and well regarded global experts and industry leaders in a highly engaging format of talks and discussions addressing the most pressing issues in the fast-evolving FinTech landscape. The conference will tackle the biggest disruptors for banks in the near future. From the emergence of challenger banks to the cutting-edge advances in Artificial Intelligence to the rise of cryptocurrencies and the drive for greater financial inclusion across the globe. Keynote speakers include Anthony Thomson, founder of the first UK digital bank, Atom Bank and the award winning Metro Bank, and Gregg Cross, chief business officer at Soul Machines, in addition to industry experts and leading FinTech commentators. Sael Al Waary, chairman of AFS and deputy group CEO of Bank ABC, said: This FinTech Forum goes beyond disruption and helps facilitate the establishment of a cashless society and more sophisticated financial technology services in Bahrain and the region as a whole. AFS, as a key regional payments provider and FinTech enabler, is taking this initiative to ensure that all future prospects of the financial industry vis-a-vis technology are explored. Al Waary added: The forum is deliberately designed to be highly engaging, with discussions on how FinTech is transforming banking, the move from artificial intelligence to emotional intelligence, the future prospects for the financial industry, and how financial inclusion will transform our world. The world-renowned key speakers addressing the conference demonstrate the significance of the dramatic and transformational change across the financial industry. B Chandrasekhar, chief executive officer of AFS, said: Were looking forward to hosting the second edition of this crucial forum. Our intent is to enable leading influencers, innovators and investors to discuss and collaborate on implementing ground-breaking solutions. We are dedicated to serving financial institutions and to help our clients optimise the true potential of FinTech. We envisage this annual Forum to become an integral part in building our FinTech ecosystem across the Mena region. The first AFS Mena FinTech Forum, held in March 2017, saw over 350 attendees with notable speakers such as Susanne Chisti, the author of FinTech Circle, and experts from PayTM India, FSS, Visa, McKinsey, IBM and ai Corp. - TradeArabia News Service Traditionally in the GCC, owning large pieces of land has been a means of safeguarding wealth for both governments and the private sector. However, these lands often lie dormant and unexploited, said a report. According to management consultancy Strategy& (formerly Booz & Company), part of the PwC network, recent growing economic pressure calls for a new approach in order to unlock these lands true value. Among governments, that value resides in generating income, plugging any budget deficits, as well as in the potential for developing land to better meet the needs of its citizens, stated the report. In Saudi Arabia for example, the government is consolidating all its strategic land holdings to be used in major government-led development projects. For private sector owners, the goal is the same: to commercially exploit and develop dormant land, however these players will do so due to the need to avoid idle land taxes, hedge against slower growth of their core businesses and to diversify their portfolios, it added. Ramy Sfeir, a partner with Strategy& Middle East and leader of the family, investments, and real estate and the deals platforms, said: "The region has been hit by lower oil prices, political uncertainty has also risen we are now in a situation where we need to generate value through all means available, which includes these dormant land banks." "We have outlined five approaches to extract value from these lands, which all offer a range of potential returns and corresponding levels of risk," observed Sfeir. These five approaches are: *Mortgaging property or selling and then leasing back: This is the fastest means of releasing capital, with limited requirements and transferring all risk of the property to the buyer. This however often eliminates the opportunity to create long-term value. *Leasing the property under a long-term arrangement: This approach is often used, particularly for hotels and malls. It generates recurring income for the duration of the lease, requires limited capabilities and funding, and preserves long-term usage rights for the owner. However, its success depends on the investor, which could be a risk of its own. *Selling property outright: Historically, this has been the preferred strategy of large institutional landowners as it required few capabilities and funding. However, its popularity led to a limited real estate investment and development activity in the region, and is one of the key reasons behind the housing shortage in Saudi Arabia. This approach might also limit any future chances of creating value. *Contributing land to a development project with a partner: Here, the landowner partners with an investor and contributes the land as equity, in return for partial ownership of the project, while the investor puts in the capital. When the property starts generating income, the landowner and investor split proceeds based on ownership. The disadvantage is that the approach does not guarantee returns, and it can introduce significant risk due to the owners lack of control over the developer. *Contributing land and equity to a development project: The final option, and the most complex, asks that the landowner shifts from a passive investor to an active developer. In addition to the land, the owner also contributes equity in return for a larger share of the development proceeds. Although it offers the highest potential returns, it also presents the greatest risk, as it requires heavy capital and the widest range of capabilities. Commenting on this, Karim Abdallah, a partner with Strategy& Middle East, said: "Unlocking value from dormant land is not easy; there are four key success factors that landowners should consider. They should firstly be proactive and think strategically, they should seek the right deal and partner for them, they should structure the agreement to align with their incentives and retain control, and finally, they should consider all viable financing mechanisms and vehicles." Bruno Wehbe, the principal with Strategy& Middle East, said: "Long gone are the days when governments and private-sector entities could apply a buy-and-hold mindset to purchasing land. Economic pressures, new taxes on undeveloped land, and other challenges are pushing these owners to exploit their land banks as best they can, both for their sake and for the rest of the countrys economy." "Rather than sitting back and waiting for offers from investors, landowners are encouraged to be far more proactive and strategic in seeking their partners, and should follow one of the five approaches outlined above," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Senior officials from Saudi Arabia and Japan will discuss opportunities for partnership and investment between the two countries at the Saudi-Japanese Business Forum, which opened today in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, said a report. The forum is being organised by the Saudi Arabia General Investment Authority (Sagia), added the Saudi Press Agency report. The event is being held in the presence of the Minister of Commerce and Investment Dr Majid Bin Abdullah Al Qasabi; Japanese Minister of Economy and Trade and Industry Hiroshige Seko; Sagia Governor Eng Ibrahim bin Abdul Rahman Al Omar and leaders of the governmental and economic sectors in both countries, it said. This forum supports the relations between the kingdom and Japan, which began more than 60 years ago, and has witnessed throughout history a number of qualitative leaps resulting in many bilateral agreements and mutual visits between the leaders and officials of the two friendly countries. The forum will discuss the requirements for reaching effective and successful partnerships to make use of the qualitative investment climate between the kingdom and Japan and develop the promising sectors in both countries, added the report. Egypt-based DP World Sokhna, a marine terminal of global shipping terminal operator DP World, recently welcomed the M/V Kota Pekarang, one of the largest vessels owned by Pacific International Lines (PIL), the operator of Red Sea Service (RSS) from Xingang, China. The ship is one of three 12,000 TEU container vessels PIL has added to its weekly service to DP World Sokhna Port, which includes seven vessels in total, said a statement. At a welcome ceremony to celebrate the arrival of the PIL vessel and its crew, Captain Ashraf Elmoghanny, general manager of Sokhna Port; and Amr Hamed, DP World Sokhnas container terminal commercial manager; presented a commemorative plaque to PIL Egypts delegation, it said. The delegation consisted of Amr Yakan, deputy managing director; Johan Schror, general manager; Ahmed Moustafa, country manager of operation division; Ibrahim Abu El Soud, Sokhna branch manager; and Hatem Elkady, marine operation manager, it added. Ajay Singh, CEO of DP World-Sokhna, said: We are proud to receive the largest PIL vessel to arrive here which confirms our ability to handle ships of all shapes and sizes. This landmark event also confirms to development of the port and increasing trade in the local economy, which bodes well for future trade in the country and the shipping routes we serve, he said. We look forward to receiving others in future in support of global trade, especially on the maritime routes that DP World serves, he added. DP World Sokhna is part of the DP World's international network of 78 marine and inland terminals in 40 countries across six continents. Situated at the heart of the vitally important East-West trade route just below the southern entrance to the Suez Canal, DP World Sokhna is strategically located to handle cargo transiting through one of the world's busiest commercial waterways. TradeArabia News Service Radisson Blu, an iconic hotel brand, has announced the opening of its second hotel in Vienna, Austria. The modern 233-room Radisson Blu Park Royal Palace Hotel, Vienna, a rebranding of an existing hotel, opened its doors under a new umbrella to offer memorable and unique experiences that meet the promises of the iconic, stylish and sophisticated hotel brand. The hotel is located next to Schonbrunn Palace one of the most important cultural and historical monuments in the country. The capital of Austria remains a focal market for our growth journey, said Elie Younes, executive vice president and chief development officer of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. The additional hotel brings the groups portfolio in Vienna to three hotels two Radisson Blu properties and one Park Inn by Radisson with nearly 500 rooms, and we will continue to look for further opportunities in this city alongside our franchise partner Austria Trend. The Radisson Blu Park Royal Palace Hotel, Vienna, features 233 guest rooms, including 21 suites. Guests have an all-day restaurant and lobby bar, executive lounge, gym, sauna and relaxation area at their disposal. The property also features a ballroom, with more than 600m2 of space and a total capacity of 500 people, along with nine modern seminar rooms. The Austria Trend Hotels, Austrias largest hotel group, have already had a successful cooperation with the Radisson Blu Hotel Altstadt in Salzburg since 2001. Our partnership with the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, operator of Radisson Blu, in Salzburg has proven to be very positive; the figures are very satisfactory, explained Martin Winkler, spokesman of the Verkehrsburo Group executive board. Our aim is to strengthen the international position of the Hotel Park Royal Palace through the Radisson Blu brand. Radisson Blu is an established and attractive hotel brand, for guests in the leisure and business segments, as well as those from the intercontinental overseas markets especially from the US and Asia, added Andreas Berger, managing director of the Austria Trend Hotels. The positioning of the Radisson Blu Park Royal Palace Hotel, Vienna, as a leading international hotel in the immediate vicinity of Schonbrunn Palace will be strengthened through the cooperation. - TradeArabia News Service Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa by Anantara in Abu Dhabi has promoted Daniella Swanepoel as director of spa. In her new role, Swanepoel is responsible for overseeing all the operations of the hotel's Anantara Spa with her team of 20 specialists. At the Anantara Spa an array of indigenous treatments are offered, from Middle Eastern traditions and Thailands exotic remedies to authentic Turkish and Moroccan and the newly launched signature Hammam journeys. South African born Swanepoel continuously ensures that the Anantara Spa is on the forefront of pioneering treatments and has initiated the launch of the fat freezing, CoolShaping and body contouring technologies as well as advanced skin care. Wael Soueid, area general manager, Anantara Abu Dhabi, said: Daniella joined Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa by Anantara in August 2013 as a spa manager and has been an integral part of the development and success of the Anantara Spa. Her drive, passion and commitment to achieve excellence has made Daniella a true leader. She goes above and beyond the call of duty and is always ready to learn, improve and grow. Swanepoel is also responsible for the recently launched wellness initiative, the Anantara Eastern Mangroves Spa Membership Program. Guests will benefit from a monthly massage, a variety of exclusive savings on future treatments and retail at the Anantara Spa in addition to benefits at the Mangroves Lifestyle Gym, The Beauty Spot, exclusive invitations to special member events, dining and stay experiences at Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa by Anantara. - TradeArabia News Service January 2018 will see Celebrity Cruises join its sister lines, Royal Caribbean International and Azamara Club Cruises, under the representation of Safeen Tourism which operates as Royal Caribbean Arabia. Ranked among the top cruise liners in the world, the Celebrity Cruises 12 ships take guests across the seas in modern luxury, combining stylish design with the sophistication of a contemporary cruising experience. Mohamed Saeed, general manager, Royal Caribbean Arabia, said: Were delighted to announce that Celebrity Cruises is now under the umbrella of Royal Caribbean Arabia. Celebrity Cruises is known for its smart integration of luxury with the latest technology. As pioneers in the cruise industry, we look forward to launching our most innovative ship yet, Celebrity Edge, by the end of this year. Celebrity Cruises recently refreshed ship: Celebrity Constellation is operational during the winter season from the Arabian Gulf, departing from the Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal at Zayed Port to numerous destinations in the Arabian Sea. With options of 12-day to 15-day cruises, the sailings include the beautiful cities of Dubai and Muscat, continuing the journey to picturesque destinations in India including Mumbai, Goa and Cochin. Celebrity Constellations current itineraries are packed with a variety of experiences, in line with the temperate weather in this region, ensuring that our guests have the most diverse range of cruise packages for an ideal getaway, added Saeed. - TradeArabia News Service On January 4, 2018, an 8-year-old girl, Zainab Ansari, was abducted from a street in Kasur, Pakistan around 8 P.M. After numerous days of searching, her corpse was discovered in a dumpster of a nearby neighbourhood. After an autopsy, it was confirmed that she had been brutally raped and later strangled to death by her rapist. Since the incident, another national outrage has broken out over Pakistan. Citizen out on streets with #JusticeForZainab slogans Citizens and residents alike have started protesting and demonstrations are rampant. The message is clear they want justice for Zainab. The hashtag #JusticeForZainab has been trending on various social media platforms and has caught the attention of multiple prime time international media outlets. The parents of the 8-year-old had gone to Saudi Arabia to fulfill their pilgrimage and left Zainab in the hands of her Kasuri relatives. The sudden disappearance of Zainab had pushed her relatives to approach local authorities; however, no extensive effort was made to find her as the police showed no concern. Seeing the lack of interest taken by the police, the community began a search and rescue operation, and after several days of hunting, they were able to locate Zainab's dead body. "My relatives and neighbours told [me] that the police used to come, have food, and leave," recalled Ameen Ansari, the father of the victim. "While they didn't do anything, my friends and family spent day and night looking for my daughter," he told the local media. Protesters vs. Police Protesters then stormed into local government offices and the police station demanding justice for Zainab, as the rapist had not been taken into custody. The angry protest eventually transformed into a violent scuffle, killing two people and leaving a dozen injured. In a Tweet, government officials confirmed the arrest of a few of the police for opening fire on the demonstrators. Jibran Nasir, lawyer and social activist, blames the federal and local governments for such incidents. He says, "The federal and provincial governments should revise the education curriculum and include topics on sexual abuse." He vows to take measures to empower children, and protect them from sexual advances and rampant pedophilia. Rising paedophilia in Pakistan Before Zainab, roughly 700 cases of paedophilia have been reported to the media and local police. Last November, 6-year-old Zainab Batool was kidnapped while coming back from a store, a few yards from her home. She was later found unconscious, with torn clothing and a bruised face, in a heap of trash at the local wholesale market. Is there a fix? In an international study conducted during 2012, Pakistan was ranked the highest in watching online pornography. Though officially banned, consumers received access via various VPN configurations. Evidently, sexual deprivation is the largest reason that the lives of young children, boys and girls alike, are being ruined. So what's the fix? Who should we be protecting our kids from? Knowing how rapidly a disease like pedophilia is increasing in Pakistani society, and seeing how the police are least interested in these cases, who should the government appoint to control such an epidemic? Should local authorities with power be more attentive to these cases? Should local schools be more articulate when explaining topics related to sex? Overall, the sexually frustrated people of this country need to control their urges. They shouldn't be assaulting kids or destroying their youthful sense of security, just to satisfy their own taboo needs. Last Week In Politics has seen Toby Young resign from his role on the board of the Conservatives new Office for Students (OfS), Nigel Farage has stated that he is not against the idea of a 2nd referendum, Virgin Trains announced they would no longer be selling the Daily Mail on their trains, much to the disappointment of the fascist sympathisers and supporters. The Conservative government have tried to claim credit for legislation brought in by the much-demonised EU. In the world, Donald Trump has cancelled his trip to the UK, Egypt have been accused of covertly supporting Trumps Jerusalem claim. Plus, Israel continue to push for the eradication of Palestine. Iran have stated they reject any amendment to the 2015 nuclear deal. UK news Toby Young resigned from his position on the board of the Conservatives new OfS, this came just before it was revealed that he had attended and spoke at a secret eugenics conference that is invitation only. Previous topics have previously included speculation that racial admixture has a negative effect on population quality, that racial hormones explain Nobel Prize winners, and three separate men presenting on why women are supposedly innately less intelligent. Furthermore, fellow presenter, Emil Kirkegaard, defended paedophilia suggesting that drugging the child before sex might be a compromise as they were unlikely to know it had happened and therefore wouldnt be harmed. The OfS itself is yet more corporatisation of our education system, and despite its name, the regulator has just one student on its board. The board also, ridiculously, contains 5 members who have significant links to massive corporations with far from impeccable records, such as HSBC, Credit Suisse and Boots. Nigel Farage has been in the news a lot this week, first he claimed that Virgin Trains deciding to not sell the Daily Mail was restricting freedom of speech and called it a ban, this is an absurd notion, read more here. But perhaps interestingly he has now stated that he wouldnt be against a 2nd EU referendum, why the change of tune? The reality is simple, Nigel Farage has realised that he is irrelevant and unless he has the EU to blame for everything, he will no longer be in the limelight, it is why after the Brexit vote, he swanned off to America and casually made a nest up Donald Trumps backside. Michael Gove and Theresa May have been singing from the rooftops about the extending the ban on plastics sold in supermarkets. In 2014, the European Parliament held a vote on reducing disposable plastic waste in supermarkets with the Conservative MPs voting against it and demanding a load of concessions in the process. The legislation was passed in 2015, which means by 2019, the annual consumption level does not exceed 90 lightweight bags per person and 40 per person by 2025 or alternatively, not to be given for free at stores and sales points by the end of 2018. This month they have announced a new policy of clamping down on disposable plastic bag waste. The above EU legislation became what we know as the 5p charge on plastic bags and the extension, along with the charge, is EU policy and not Conservative policy. News of the world Donald Trump has decided against his UK visit fearing that he would not receive the red-carpet treatment from the British public. Furthermore, he also claims he doesnt like the new embassy and blames Obama for selling it, even though it was sold prior Obamas election in 2008. It is also reported that the strained relationship between the US and the UK played an important role in his decision. Iran have stated that they reject any amendments made to the 2015 nuclear deal made with the US, Trump said that this is the final time they would waive the sanctions if the flaws arent fixed. Russia have stated that this could be one of the biggest foreign policy mistakes made by the US government. Egypt have been accused of carrying out Trumps agenda in Israel after they have appeared to use 4 popular TV personalities to push the idea of Trumps Jerusalem declaration as a positive step for the country. Israel meanwhile continue their attempts to eradicate Palestine by bombing a goods crossing between Gaza and Israel, they claimed to target terrorist infrastructure when the reality is that they have targeted a crossing that hinders the Palestinians abilities to get food supplies. Each year on September 19, cities across Mexico stage emergency disaster simulations and evacuations that bring people out in droves. The drill falls on the anniversary of an 8.0-magnitude earthquake that shook Mexico's capital in 1985, burying nearly 10,000 people amid its rubble. The annual drill began in Mexico City around 11 a.m. on Tuesday, just like it does every year. The alert went out over radio, television, phones and public loud speakers. People left homes, offices and shops and headed to designated safe areas promoted days ahead of time. ... The irony of the situation was apparent to Mexicans, for whom the drills are a way of life, even a minor annoyance. Many noted the contrast between the orderly, almost mundane quality of some drills and the chaos of real life. Hawaii residents and tourists alike were shaken shortly after 8 a.m. local time Saturday when a push notification alerted those in the state to a missile threat, causing an immediate panic until officials confirmed it was a false alarm. "BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL," read the message, which also blared across Hawaiian televisions stations. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, confirmed the false alarm on Twitter 12 minutes after the errant message was sent. But it took about 38 minutes for another push notification to arrive on phones declaring there was no real danger. ... In a televised press conference, Vern Miyagi, the agency's administrator, apologized and said the false alarm was caused by a "human error," when the wrong button was pushed during a shift-change drill. "It was a procedure that occurs at the change of shift where they go through to make sure that the system, that it's working," Gov. David Ige told reporters. "And an employee pushed the wrong button." These shift changes happen three times a day, every day of the year, he added. In recent coverage of the ability of citizens to deal with an earthquake in Mexico, much was made of the fact that Mexico City held their annual earthquake emergency drill just two hours before (" Hours after an earthquake drill in Mexico City, the real thing struck ," CNN), so that people were well prepared to deal with an actual earthquake. From the article:. While there is no question that Hawaiians had to be terrified (" 'This Is Not A Drill': A False Ballistic Missile Alert Shakes Hawaii ," NPR) by the false warning of an incoming ballistic missile--likely from North Korea--why not try to make lemonade from the failure? From the article:This sounds crazy, but by instituting emergency drills in the Western states most at threat from such a terror, not only would people be better educated about what to do in case of a dire emergency (and yes, when I was an 8 year old, I sent away for a Civil Defense brochure on how to build a backyard bomb shelter), but wouldn't it put greater pressure on the federal government to engage with North Korea?OTOH, it could be argued that instituting such drills would "weaken" the perception of US superiority, which would be used against North Korea to try to get them to stand down from the posturing and other threats they've been making.OTOH/2, preparedness demonstrates the country's ability to ward off, withstand, and respond to such threats. Labels: disaster planning, emergency management planning For eight years former President Barack Obama was forced to deal with constant negative reporting from Fox News. While he's been mostly silent since leaving office, Obama decided to speak out against the network and their viewers during an interview with David Letterman. Obama on Fox News During the 2008 presidential election, it was made clear that Fox News was going to oppose whoever ended up winning the Democratic primary. While Hillary Clinton was the favorite, then Illinois Sen. Barack Obama was able to pull off the upset and challenge Republican nominee John McCain during the general election. Led by names like Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly, Fox News went as far as prompting debunked conspiracy theories like "birtherism," though their efforts failed and Obama was elected to the White House. Over the course of the next eight years, the network aligned themselves as the top conservative media voice in the country, hitting Obama over nearly ever aspect of his administration. Fast forward to present day and the president has been low-key while Donald Trump as taken on the role of commander in chief, ironically with Fox as his biggest media supporter. As seen during the debut episode of Netflix's "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman" on January 12, Obama gave his thoughts on those who watch Fox News. Former President @BarackObama resurfaced on Friday and took a shot at Fox News viewers, saying theyre living on a different planet than people who consume mainstream media. https://t.co/PGQ5GEW2KJ Fox News (@FoxNews) January 13, 2018 Joining host David Letterman at City College of New York, Barack Obama discussed a variety of topics during the hour-long episode, while specifically taking a jab at Fox News and their viewers. "One of the biggest challenges we have to our democracy is the degree to which we dont share a common baseline of facts, Obama went on to say. "If you watch Fox News, you are living on a different planet than you are if you are listening to NPR," the former president added. Fox viewers react After the episode was posted to Netflix, Fox was quick to single out the quote and post it across their social media feeds, getting a predictably negative reaction on Twitter. "Yea ...it is called earth and the rest of you watching 'mainstream media' are on Uranus!" one tweet read. Yea ...it is called earth and the rest of you watching mainstream media are on Uranus! Jodi's Journal (@JodiJournal) January 13, 2018 Who the heck is interested what Obama says or thinks. He did nothing for 8 years and now is begging for money to build a Library. Ray Karaliunas (@RayKaraliunas) January 13, 2018 "Who the heck is interested what Obama says or thinks. He did nothing for 8 years and now is begging for money to build a Library," another Twitter user added. "So thankful to not be on the same planet as Obama and the libs," a follow-up tweet added. He's right we are all living on the planet Earth and we are living in the reality world. Unlike the former Dem and his Snowflakes living in the world of make believe where everyone gets everything for free and no one has to ever leave their couch. So Sad if they only new ! Sully (@IBTGOG) January 13, 2018 Keep doing what your doing Fox, Obama and Dems had cnn, cbs, nbc and abc plus Bloomberg and most of print media and they still lost. Gordon Pearson (@PearsonGord) January 13, 2018 Its called living in reality on Earth - not living in La La Land on CNN. Craig Figgins (@cafiggins) January 13, 2018 "Ummmmm yep its called planet earth Gods whole world," another tweet added. "He's right we are all living on the planet Earth and we are living in the reality world. Unlike the former Dem and his Snowflakes living in the world of make believe where everyone gets everything for free and no one has to ever leave their couch. So Sad if they only new!" an additional tweet noted. While the headlines during the start of 2018 have been dominated by Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump has apparently also been busy. After sending out a tweet about her upcoming plans in the new year, Melania came under fire from critics. Melania on 2018 It's been a wild ride in the world of politics to start 2018 with Donald Trump being at the center of nearly all the drama and controversy. From the release of "Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House" by author Michael Flynn, to the continuation of the Russian investigation, to the president's recent comments about several foreign countries being a "sh*thole," the former host of "The Apprentice" has been playing defense in response the overwhelmingly bad press. In an attempt to deflect from the negative headlines, the White House have done their best to shift the focus to a more positive message, including from Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Presidential Counsel Kellyanne Conway, in addition to Trump's laundry list of tweets. While the president is known for his reckless behavior on social media, Melania Trump has taken a different approach, which was seen during a tweet on January 12. It was a productive week with meetings, meetings & more meetings! Lots of work to be done in 2018 - looking forward to the year ahead as FLOTUS! pic.twitter.com/4e6rQs7541 Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) January 12, 2018 Taking to her Twitter feed on Friday, Melania Trump posted her plans for 2018 which include a lot of meetings and work to get done. "It was a productive week with meetings, meetings & more meetings!" Melania tweeted out. "Lots of work to be done in 2018," Melania went on to write, before adding, "looking forward to the year ahead as FLOTUS!" Instant reaction Not long after Melania Trump sent out her tweet, those who oppose the current administration decided to hit back. "Are you still doing Bachelor parties?" one tweet mockingly read. She doesn't like him either, what are you giving her the business for?? Michael C... (@MichaelCaz1) January 12, 2018 Are you still doing Bachelor parties? JFK (@JKLUBER) January 12, 2018 Looks like your hubby hasn't been telling you some things about this #StormyDaniels lady. Hoping you don't go the way of his past two wives. lol Deus Corvus (@Crovius) January 13, 2018 "Your husband's a filthy racist. Have a nice weekend," one Twitter user wrote in reference to Donald Trump's recent controversial remarks. "Seriously!!!! I mean, seriously, that's what you gleaned from this week?" another tweet asked with anger. "Hey Melania, any comment on your husband's affair with Stormy Daniels? Or is it just another day w/the Donald?" a tweet wondered. If Melania had an ounce of dignity, she wouldnt have married the pig. Shes just another example of conspicuous consumption. Her path to citizenship is also very suspicious. Michael Durkin (@michaeldurkin58) January 13, 2018 Seemed like a STORMY week to me. Going to need some jack DANIELS. (reply with #HELPME if you need bailing out) Matt Meyerson (@MattRPRT) January 12, 2018 "Just read the latest news. Get the hell out while you still have some dignity," a follow-up tweet suggested. "Seemed like a STORMY week to me. Going to need some jack DANIELS. (reply with HELP ME if you need bailing out)" an additional tweet added in reference to recent reporters of the president's past infidelities. The backlash continued as the opposition to the entire administration kicked into high gear. KKK leader Edgar Ray Killen, 93, the convicted killer in the Mississippi Burning case died in Mississippi State Penitentiary on Friday. Killen was the first person arrested in the case after 41 years in 2005 and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He was found guilty of manslaughter for the deaths of three civil rights workers who died on June 21, 1964. Three civil rights workers died James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner were their 20s and had volunteered for the Mississippi Summer Project. They had been trying to help register African American voters at the time of their disappearances in Neshoba County, Mississippi. The three men had been investing a fire that happened at the Mount Zion Church which occurred June 16. Schwerner had visited the church in May 1964, he had been interested in using the church for a Freedom School, according to Famous Tails. On the evening of June 16, Mount Zion Church was holding a business meeting when about 30 members of the KKK surround the building and waited outside. As the meeting adjourned and members of the church left they were confronted by Klan members who were armed with shotguns and rifles. As Klan members began attacking the church members, some of the Klan members went to a car and grabbed approximately 10 gallons of gasoline. They went inside the church and set it on fire. When Schwerner heard what happened the three men went back to the town, When they began to speak to the townspeople they discovered that the Klan was looking for them. They decided to leave Mississippi and trio took Highway 16. As they were driving they were unaware that Deputy Sheriff Price who was a Klan member had spotted them driving and conveniently pulled them over. Deputy Sheriff Price arrested Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner for suspicion of the church fire and brought them to the Neshoba County jail. They were they were held for seven hours before being released. The Sheriff was also involved Deputy Sheriff Price escorted the civil rights workers as they were driving to the state line. As Price was following behind them he broke away and disappeared. A short time later he came back and drove up behind them. Chaney who had been driving the car pulled over again and the men got into his car. While sitting in the car other vehicles began to approach. Deputy Sheriff Price then began driving on a dirt road and the other vehicles followed. The FBI was called in to investigate the men's disappearance. Their bodies were found at Old Jolly Farm at the site of a dam. They had all been shot in the head. As a result, 16 people were arrested for their murders but only seven were convicted of the crimes in 1967, according to the Jurist. The SETI Institute and the Mars Institute, using images acquired by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, has discovered possible entrances to Lava Tubes on the northeastern floor of Philolaus Crater near the North Pole of the moon. Since scientists believe that permanently shadowed craters at the lunar poles contain ample deposits of Water Ice, the discovery has enormous implications for future lunar colonies and economic development. What are lava tubes on the moon? Lava tubes on the moon were formed when lava flowed across the surface. The lava eventually hardened on the surface with flows continuing underground. When the underground lava flows drained, huge caverns were formed, some large enough to contain a small city. The entrances to these underground voids occurred when part of the roof of the tube collapsed. Some 200 of these skylights have been found on the lunar surface. The lava tubes are thought to be ideal locations for future lunar colonies as they provide some protection from radiation and meteor strikes. Why is the discovery near the moons North Pole important? The possible caverns at the Philolaus Crater could contain deposits of water ice that have accumulated over billions of years. If ice exists inside lava tubes at the North Pole, it can be more easily extracted than if future colonists were obliged to mine it from underneath the lunar regolith. The ice could be located next to the possible site of lunar colonies, greatly simplifying the process of mining, processing, and eventually using the product. What should happen next? The next step should be further exploration of the Philolaus Crater region to determine if what were seen in the images are, in fact, entrances to the tubes. Robotic explorers should be sent inside the lava tubes to specify their dimensions and confirm whether or not the suspected ice deposits exist. Eventually, human astronauts should pay the lava tubes underneath the Philolaus Crater a visit, should they exist. If ice is discovered, it can be extracted and stored for future lunar colonists. The colony, once it is in place, would start to process the ice, partly for its own use, but partly to create rocket fuel to be sold to both government and commercial customers. The discovery will no doubt impact NASAs current plans to return to the moon, recently mandated by the Trump administration. A number of other countries, such as China and India, also have lunar ambitions. Commercial companies such as Moon Express, Astrobotic, and Blue Origin have moon exploration plans, not only in partnership with government space agencies but also on behalf of commercial customers. The number of people who conscientiously oppose Trump and his policy is increasing. The latest is the resignation of the US ambassador to Panama, John Feeley. The diplomat who is an ex-marine pilot has been a Career Diplomat for nearly three decades. He has sent in his resignation effective from March 09, this year. The diplomat had sent in his resignation much earlier to the latest foul mouth invective hurled by Trump against Haiti and similar nations. Though Trump has denied the accusation, independent observers have confirmed Trump used the invective freely. CNBC News has reported that the ambassador has resigned as he felt he could no longer serve President Trump. Resignation The ambassador has sent his resignation to the state department and the same has been confirmed. John Feeley has referred to his oath when he had joined the diplomatic corps to serve the President. He added that his training also centered around the fact that in case a person has a difference with the policy of the Chief Executive, he is duty bound to resign. CNBC has quoted from the resignation letter of Feeley that he could not agree with the policy of President Trump and so he felt compelled to resign. Trump's conduct Trump is behaving like bull in a china shop. His off-the-cuff remarks on many subjects show the president is in the habit of mouthing words that he later denies. Apart from using intemperate language, Trump is in the habit of conveying his ideas through Twitter. This is also a first and no other president has followed this route. The resignation of a respected member of the diplomatic corps on policy differences with the president is not something that happens often.Perhaps there are much more who find the policy and statements of Trump repugnant and are serving as they may not have an alternative source of income. The resignation of the ambassador to Panama cannot be dismissed as a storm in the teacup and it is possible that deeper issues are involved. Future The undersecretary of state for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, Steven Goldstein told CNN that the resignation of Feeley was received by the White House towards the end of December. He added that the state department was sorry to see Feeley go. Feeley was sworn in as ambassador in January 2016. He will be replaced by the Deputy Chief of the Mission Roxanne Cabral who will officiate in his place till a new ambassador is appointed. There have been rumors about Joy-Anna Duggar Forsyth and her due date for months. Now In Touch Weekly is sharing that it looks like Joy's due date proves that she didn't actually get pregnant until after she was married to Austin. The fans were pretty concerned that she might have gotten pregnant early because of how big her baby bump was so quick. What does her registry reveal? Joy-Anna's registry reveals that she will be having her baby next month. Her due date shows as February 25, which proves that Joy got married before she got pregnant. The Duggars actually wait to even kiss until they get married, so it was pretty shocking that fans would even think that she got pregnant before the wedding. This shows that Joy-Anna is due exactly nine months after her wedding date. More than likely, she got pregnant on the wedding night or not long after that. It sounds like Kendra and Joseph Duggar got pregnant that fast as well. She put on the registry that she wants a children's book, nightlights and a few other things. There are actually not a lot of items on the registry. What is going on with Joy-Anna? The thing is that Joy-Anna Duggar Forsyth hasn't even announced the sex of her baby yet. It sounds like they are waiting until the baby gets here. A family friend even said that the couple isn't admitting that they know what they are having yet and that they are going to be surprised as well. Considering that she has a great family with a lot of babies it will be easy for her to get stuff passed on to her if she has a boy or a girl. She did recently share that her baby would be about six months older than Jinger's baby. Jinger just announced that she is expecting her first child with Jeremy Vuolo. Joy and Austin seem to be doing well since they got married. They are still living in Arkansas. They will be on the new season of "Counting On" and the viewers will get to know them better and see how they are doing with their married life. Joy already said, "Im most looking forward to watching Austin as a dad and raising children together with him. Are you surprised to hear that Joy-Anna Duggar Forsyth didn't end up getting pregnant until after she was married? Sound off in the comments below on your thoughts, and don't miss new episodes of "Counting On" when they start airing soon on TLC. If Joy has the baby before the show starts, they may throw together an episode about it and let fans see the birth before everything else. I know I can't wait to get the details! Lala Kent has been sparking rumors of an engagement to boyfriend Randall Emmett on Instagram for the past several months by wearing a mysterious ring on her left-hand ring finger, but is she really ready to get married? During a new interview, Kent appeared to confirm that she is not yet engaged by stating that she doesn't really care to get married at all. "I don't really care to get married," Lala Kent said during an interview on "The Tomorrow Show with Keven Undergaro," via a report by Perez Hilton on January 12. That said, Kent made it clear that she does believe in marriage and noted that her parents have been married for "a very long time." According to Kent, she doesn't need to marry boyfriend, Randall Emmett. Would Lala Kent accept a proposal from Randall Emmett? While Lala Kent said that she doesn't need to get married, she did say that she would "of course" say "yes" if her boyfriend Randall Emmett was to pop the question. What she didn't explain was the meaning behind the ring that she is currently wearing, and has been since October of last year. So, when it comes to her ring, nothing was confirmed or denied. Lala Kent and Randall Emmett have been dating for two years During her interview on "The Tomorrow Show with Keven Undergaro," the "Vanderpump Rules" star said that she and Emmett have been together for the past two years. However, Kent didn't confirm who her boyfriend was until January 1 while she and the movie producer celebrated the New Year in his hometown of Miami, Florida. As fans of "Vanderpump Rules" will recall, Lala Kent began facing claims of possibly dating a married man during the fifth season of the show and ultimately, because of the allegations, she quit the show. That said, she kept in touch with her co-stars and after reconciling with a number of her fellow cast members, she agreed to reunite with them in February of last year for the reunion special for season five. Months later, she again reunited with her co-stars and began filming the currently airing sixth season of the hit Bravo reality series. To see more of Lala Kent and her co-stars, including Lisa Vanderpump, Katie Maloney, Kristen Doute, Jax Taylor, Ariana Madix, Brittany Cartwright, Stassi Schroder, Scheana Marie, James Kennedy, Tom Schwartz, and Tom Sandoval, don't miss "Vanderpump Rules" season six. Monday nights at 9 p.m. on Bravo TV. As for Randall Emmett, he is not expected to be featured on "Vanderpump Rules" in any capacity. As the United States stands back, the Saudis and even the U.N. special envoy are now open to a greater Russian diplomatic role in shaping the future of Syria. On Dec. 24, Saudi Arabias foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, called together a delegation of Syrian opposition leaders to deliver a blunt message: Riyadh would be throttling back its military support for their efforts to overthrow Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. As Foreign Policy writes in an article "Dancing to Russias Tune in Syria", Jubeir said that it's time to devote their energies instead to securing a political deal with Damascus at a peace conference in January in Sochi, Russia, according to two opposition sources and two other diplomatic officials who described the meeting to Foreign Policy. If they were well prepared for Sochi, Jubeir argued, they would be in a better position to get an agreement on a political transition. (Saudi officials in New York and Washington did not respond to requests for comment.) Jubeirs appeals mark another reversal for Syrias beleaguered anti-Assad forces, who already lost the covert military backing of the United States in July. More important, the Saudi message underscores the success of Russias diplomatic push to shape the future of postwar Syria, which is quickly coming to rival the official, U.N.-led process that has sputtered along for five years in Geneva. Even the United Nations is now torn over whether to take part in Russias peace plan, with Staffan de Mistura, the U.N. special envoy for Syria, mounting a behind-the-scenes push to secure a seat at the table in Sochi and urging Saudi Arabia and the Syrian opposition to attend. U.S. decreasing influence in Syria Moscows growing diplomatic clout in the Syrian endgame has been made possible, in part, by Washingtons passivity. The Donald Trump administration has focused more on fighting the Islamic State and fending off Iran than on shaping the political future of the war-ravaged country. Syria is an example of how U.S. diplomacy is not front and center, one U.N. Security Council diplomat said. The U.S. has lost ground to Russia on that issue. Even if the United States wanted to play a bigger role in postwar Syria, its disengagement has weakened its ability to do so, said retired Marine Gen. John Allen, the former U.S. envoy for the anti-Islamic State coalition. In many respects, the political trajectory has been decided by the Russians, Allen said last month. And sadly, the United States has little capacity now to exert leadership in this process or to participate. Russias latest diplomatic drive began more than a year ago. In January 2017, the Russian government held talks in Astana, Kazakhstan, with Iranian and Turkish officials to work out a cease-fire; the United States was largely excluded from the process, which is ongoing. Peace talks in Sochi and Geneva's decreasing influence Now Moscow is planning to use a conference later this month at the Black Sea resort of Sochi to help determine the contours of Syrias political future which the Russians hope will include Assad. Russias diplomatic push worries many Western governments and Syrian opposition leaders. They fear the meeting will simply consolidate recent military gains by Russia and the Syrian government, perpetuate Assads brutal rule, and drive a new generation of Syrians into the insurgency. They also worry the Russian process will jettison some core parts of what was agreed in Geneva, such as a transitional government and a blueprint for life after Assad. There is no alternative to the Geneva process led by the U.N., Frances U.N. ambassador, Francois Delattre, told reporters late last month. There is no other game in town. More than 130 Syrian opposition groups, alarmed by the apparent willingness of de Mistura to take part in the Sochi talks, sent him a letter on Jan. 3 calling the negotiations a dangerous departure from the [U.N.-led] Geneva process and a serious threat to Syrias prospects for peace. The problem is that the Geneva process is starting to look less viable. Russias military assistance to the Assad regime has made Damascus less open to the idea of ceding power to a transitional government, a key element of the Geneva plan. European allies privately complain that the United States hasnt used its diplomatic muscle to support the Geneva talks and that theres no single figure at the White House or State Department tasked with shaping the discussions. Someone has to own this and nobody does, said a former senior U.S. national security official who has ties to the White House. To judge by the Saudi message to the Syrian opposition, however, as well as divisions inside the U.N., it increasingly appears that someone does indeed own the process: Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Trump administration officials counter that the United States has more leverage in Syria than it did a year ago, now that its Kurdish partners control more territory and U.S. troops remain on the ground.) West doesn't which negotiations should it participate in While U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has made it clear that the U.N. will only go to Sochi if the United States, Saudi Arabia, and other key allies either attend or give him a green light, de Mistura has argued that both the U.N. and the Syrian opposition should take part. Last month, during the eighth round of Geneva talks, he pulled aside opposition leaders and pressed them to attend the Russian talks. Guterres ordered him to stand down, but not before the message got out. There is a split at the U.N., one diplomat said. De Mistura wants to go so he can inject a U.N. viewpoint into the proceedings. But his colleagues in New York feel it will simply legitimate the Russian aims". So far, the secretary-general feels Sochi doesnt pass the smell test, the diplomat said. Guterres is scheduled to meet with an opposition delegation at U.N. headquarters Monday afternoon. De Mistura has a tendency to lean toward the Russians rather than the United States, said Radwan Ziadeh, a Syrian human rights activist based in Washington. He feels the U.S. has withdrawn from the Syrian file and the only way for him to deliver is to lean toward the Russians. A spokesman for de Mistura declined to respond to questions about his support for the Sochi talks and referred FP to a series of statements by the U.N. special envoy indicating that any constitutional committee that might emerge from Sochi would have to be endorsed by the U.N., in consultation with the U.N. Security Council. Officially, the United States still pins its hopes on the talks in Geneva, with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster, and Secretary of Defense James Mattis all trying to push Assad toward the exit. Geneva is the only way forward, one State Department official told FP. As our focus remains on Geneva and substantive progress from those negotiations, all other methods only serve as a distraction. But there are signs of a split in Washington, too, which could open the door to a more active Russian role. Several top U.S. officials, including Brett McGurk, the special presidential envoy for the global coalition to counter the Islamic State; Michael Ratney, the special envoy for Syria; and David Satterfield, the acting assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, favor a limited approach to Syria that focuses on defeating the Islamic State, countering Iranian activities, and then winding down U.S. activities in Syria, according to diplomatic sources. McGurk seems especially open-minded about Moscows diplomatic efforts. Weve engaged with the Russians on this about exactly what they have in mind, and they have said that Sochi would be kind of a gathering of Syrian figures, and then what happens in Sochi would feed directly into Geneva, he told reporters last month. What we would not support and what would have absolutely no legitimacy would be a parallel process thats parallel entirely to Geneva. But with the United States taking a back seat in Syria, a parallel diplomatic push seems to be exactly what is taking place. Today Georgia marks National Flag Day that is also known as the Five Cross Flag of Georgia, Agenda.ge reports. Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili raised the national flag with the children of Georgian heroes Giorgi Antsukhelidze and Zaza Damenia at the Presidential Palace this morning. The Georgian national flag will be festively raised in different regions of Georgia. Citizens are also encouraged to raise symbolic flags out of their windows to join the national celebration. The tragic fate of sailors aboard an ill-fated Iranian oil tanker that had been burning near Chinas eastern coast for a week has been sealed. Iranian officials say the vessel has fully sunk, and that available evidence indicates that all crew members died soon after it collided with another vessel and a powerful blast ensued, Press TB reports. Thirty two crew members were on board, comprising 30 Iranians and two Bangladeshis. Mohammad Rastad, a spokesman for the Special Task Force established over the incident, said on Saturday that there was no hope to find the crew members alive. Rastad said available evidence, including remarks by the crew members from the CF Crystal and latest updates from rescue workers and the commander-in-chief of the Chinese rescue mission, showed that the crew had died early after the collision because of the massive blast and the release of toxic gas. Iran dispatched a rescue team, comprising Navy Commandos on speedboats, but the team was stuck some 1,000 meters away from the burning tanker due to the extreme heat. Rastad said efforts by rescuers to embark on the ship and retrieve the bodies of the mariners failed because of back-to-back explosions on the tanker. Russias Ambassador to the U.S. Anatoly Antonov and the U.S. Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman outlined joint steps to improve the relations between Moscow and Washington, TASS reports. On Saturday, the Russian ambassador hosted a reception at his residence, which was devoted to the Day of Russian Press. He told reporters he considered good and constructive the meeting with Huntsman a few days earlier. "I consider Huntsman a clever, smart professional," the Russian diplomat said. "The meeting was good, it was constructive and I estimate as positive Huntsmans mood towards development of the Russian-American relations." Antonov met Huntsman, who was in Washington for planned consultations with the Administration and the Congress, on Thursday. The meeting participants outlined "joint steps," aimed at improving of the Russian-American relations, which "is very important," he continued. "He would be working with the [U.S.] Department of State, with the White House, and he would be working at Capitol Hill (the U.S. Congress - TASS), which is especially important. We shall be working together to restore the relations." The Russian ambassador stressed that under the current conditions it is impossible to hope for quick improvement of the bilateral relations. "Unfortunately, we have confirmed with regret, it would not be possible to do it promptly." "It will take many efforts from both sides," the Russian ambassador said. "We have analyzed all the bilateral concerns, all the bilateral problems.". by Thu Anh HCM CITY A drama project featuring the traditional music genre of the southern region, cai luong (reformed opera), by veteran and young artists in HCM City has attracted young audiences back to the theatre. The shows feature historical plays and songs in different styles performed by pioneers in the 1960s-80s. The project has received support from Tran Huu Trang Theatre, one of the regions leading cai luong troupes, as well as dozens of veteran and performers from the city and southern provinces. Hoa ieu at Chin Rong (The Chorus of the Nine-Dragon Land) was launched by veteran scriptwriter Hoang Song Viet. It has attracted young stars of leading cai luong troupes in Can Tho and provinces of Ben Tre, Tra Vinh, Tien Giang, Kien Giang, Long An, ong Thap, and Ca Mau. It also features veteran performers such as Kim Ngan and Cong Minh of HCM City. My project preserves cai luong by restaging famous plays that have been performed by different generations. I want to offer unique tunes of cai luong since the art began in My Tho in Tien Giang Province in the 1920s, said Viet, who spent several months working with his partners, including provincial television stations and radios. My staff, including skilled artists from Viet Nam Television (VTV), HCM City Television, Can Tho Television and Bac Lieu Television and Radio, have written and directed shows for the project, he added. Viets shows are staged every month at theatres in the Mekong River Delta region. They also air live on VTV5 and VTV9 channels. On stage: Young and veteran artists perform in a project called Ba The He Ve Lai Coi Nguon (Three Generations Perform Cai Luong). Photo Thanh Hiep Le Hoangs Cai Luong Stage began last year and has offered historical plays with settings in the Tran, inh and Ly reigns (between the 10th and 14th centuries). His projects plays, including Ngoc Ky Lan (Kylin Jade) and Thai Hau Duong Van Nga (Mother Queen Duong Van Nga), have been restaged several times at the Binh Thanh District Cultural House. Our shows attract veteran actors such as Peoples Artists Bach Tuyet, Le Thuy and Ngoc Giau, and Meritorious Artist Kim Tu Long, who perform a unique style of cai luong, said Hoang, adding that he had also invited young talents from art schools, such as the HCM City Theatre and Cinematography University and the University of Culture. Hoangs project has a part-time staff of theatre directors, actors and stage workers, but he pays them monthly salaries to keep the business stable. I love watching shows staged by Hoangs artists because their art is traditional, but brings a fresh style. I think they will face big challenges, but they have a future, said Vu Hoang Long, a third-year student at the HCM City University of Law. Artist Long, one of the regions biggest cai luong stars, rejected invitations from State-owned art troupes so he could join Hoangs project. Cai luong projects launched by young artists like Hoang need our veterans support to develop their business. These projects are a good chance for young actors and me to show off our art, he said. Meritorious Artist Kim Tu Long (left) and his actors perform unique tunes of cai luong (reformed opera) to preserve the art. Photo courtesy of the organiser Long also launched a drama project called Ba The He Ve Lai Coi Nguon (Three Generations Perform Cai Luong) at Cong Nhan Theatre in HCM Citys District 1 last year. His project offers live shows on the countrys historical events in contemporary periods. Featured plays are Cau Tho Yen Ngua (Poems on the Saddle), Ngon Lua Thang Long (Fire of Thang Long Citadel) and Tieng Goi Non Song (The Call of the Nation), which include national heroes and soldiers. Through our project, we hope to encourage young people to learn about traditional theatre, said Long, adding that his staff has received support from the HCM City Theatre Association as well as many young talents from southern provinces. Longs shows offer tickets at affordable prices, ranging from VN50,000 (US$2.2) to 100,000 ($4.5) each, to attract students and labourers. His actors have staged plays in Ha Noi and Hai Phong. The love of cai luong runs in our blood. We want to expand cai luong for young people, who have encouraged our artists to keep the art alive, said Long, who has performed in more than 200 plays, videos and movies. VNS HCM CITY Young artists of the The Gioi Tre (World of Youth) Drama Troupe will offer three new comedies to serve theatregoers during the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday. The shows will mark the troupes eighth anniversary this year. The featured play is Bao Gio Me Lay Chong (When Does Mom Get Married?), a production by young director Ngoc Hung, with actors Diem Phuong, Anh Tu and Quang Tuan, graduates of the HCM City University of Theatre and Cinematography. Director Hung uses both Eastern and Western styles to feature the plays theme about urban women and social problems. I wanted to direct plays on a stage filled with light and sound and visual effects, he said. Hung, a reporter, theatre writer and director, knows how to dazzle the audience during and after performances. A stage is a channel for dreams. A director should be a mason building his own house, he said before the premiere of Bao Gio Me Lay Chong yesterday. I dreamed of owning a theatre even as a student at university, he said, referring to his migration to the stage in 2009 when he and his partner, a businessman, formed the troupe. Hung has written and directed more than 20 plays on different topics. Most of his works, which are stories about urban youth, have helped young actors like Thu Trang, Hoang Phi and Tien Luat become popular among theatre lovers. One of his highlighted plays, Chuyen Tinh Bangkok (Love Story in Bangkok), has been performed 200 times since its initial show in 2014. Though the play was about a well-worn topic, love, it brought new messages and included new concepts for the theatre. Thanks to his contribution, The Gioi Tre Troupe is one of the citys leading private drama troupes, and is also a place for young actors to improve their skills. The theatre has offered quality plays and has been able to earn a profit. The Gioi Tre Troupe offers quality shows at only VN30-50,000 (US$0.7) per ticket to attract young audiences. I believe in their future, said Tran Thuy Giao, a fan of Hung. Giao and her friends say they enjoy serious plays about conflicts in life and love such as Dream Boys and Trai Yeu (Men in Love). The comedy Bao Gio Me Lay Chong and other new plays will be staged every Saturday and Sunday in January and February at 125 Cong Quynh Street in District 1. The troupe will offer free performances for the poor in rural districts during the Tet holiday, which begins on February 14. VNS Vietnamese-French writer Bui Thi Hong Van (pen name Nuage Rose) revived memories of wartime and evoked interest in Viet Nams history among young people with her book, Trois Nuage au Pays des Nenuphars (Three Clouds in the Country of Nenuphars). The book won the Most Favourite title from the French Writers Association and was introduced at book fairs in Belgium, France and Switzerland. It was recently published in Vietnamese. The book tells the story of a small girl who had to be evacuated from Ha Noi during the American air war against North Viet Nam. Her book restores the fragrance of villages and colours of memories with a softness and tenderness that contrasts with the violence and madness of war. The author spoke to Minh Thu about her own memories of the past and present emotions. Inner Sanctum: Congratulations on the success of your book. I have heard that the story is about to be filmed. Can you tell us something about this? Im happy to share with Viet Nam News readers the latest information about the book. The Tre (Youth) Publishing House has told me that the Vietnamese version of the book will be reprinted after just seven months. As an author, Im honoured and happy. Well, producing a film based on the story is another joy. Just like the books publishing, adapting the book to film is something that Id never imagined. I just handed the fate of Three Clouds to someone I trusted, since the director plays the most important role. Once I trust, I will respect and follow his way. The purpose is not to make a bestseller or do a business. I just want to create an artwork and help people know more about war time.Viet Nam won the war. But while the US produced many films about the war, weve seldom presented films on this topic to the world. Inner Sanctum: When you release a book, you tell the story in your own words. But when it is adapted into a film, it goes to more people in another language. What do you think about this? Not important! The story I told is also the story of millions of Vietnamese people. Inner Sanctum: Before this autobiography was published, did you tell stories of the past to your children, both the beautiful memories and the hardships? My children, Vanessa and Joachim Muhlheim, were born and raised in France. They lived as a French family, enjoyed the French social environment and went to French schools. It is natural and there is nothing to bother or worry about. Myself, I was away from home, studying and working in France, and I also integrated into the French life. What does Tet (Lunar New Year) mean to me, when I am alone, living around the French? There is no flower market! No firecrackers! Banh chung (square glutinous cake) is bought from the Chinese market. Even my Tet is not a holiday in France. One day, I thought about my children and asked myself: Who are you going to be? Is there something that you can pass on to them about your homeland, relatives, and traditions. Memories and nostalgia burst out in my mind. I wanted to share these with my children. From the small memories, the New Year, the moments I lived peacefully with family, I wanted Vanessa and Joachim to know it. Just like that! We talked, no structure, no sequence. And above all, I wanted them to speak Vietnamese. It was very difficult because Im the only speaking in Vietnamese to them. But my husband understood and encouraged me a lot in educating them. Inner Sanctum: Are you writing another book? Would you like to share something about it? The first book, when writing, I wrote it for myself. Not one to sell. I had no intention of writing on the war and history as there are too many experts in the field. I just tell a story of my childhood in the context of historic moments. For me, I have written because of a very simple reason. I dont know how to express myself orally. The second book is also about Ha Noi. Its on the way to publication. I hope I can introduce it to you soon. Inner Sanctum: May I ask why you always choose to write and publish in French first, not Vietnamese, while these are stories about Viet Nam? I would like to correct that. I do not "choose". The story was "accidentally" printed. Im not a professional writer or a famous person. When I finished the book, I had no intention to publish it. But many of my acquaintances read it and encouraged me to publish. Then I received some proposals from some publishers in Paris. When the book was introduced in Viet Nam, many readers asked me the same question. I wrote in French as I can express myself better in French than in Vietnamese. I have lived in France for a long time and there are many notions in Vietnamese that I dont know. When I started to write, French came naturally. The French language allows me to have the parenthesis to tell what I thought Id forgotten about the past. Inner Sanctum: In recent years you have returned to Viet Nam often and participated in many cultural activities. Do you have any comment on contemporary Vietnamese literature, authors and the taste of Vietnamese readers? I will not allow myself to judge readers in any country. That is the freedom of every person. Its better if people have different tastes. I do not even allow myself to evaluate contemporary authors. I do not know much about contemporary Vietnamese literature. When writing, I never care about taste of readers, because I am not creating a kind of "business literature". Inner Sanctum: Do you think that life in the past has carried a lot of emotion and greater inspiration to write than the current life? Its complicated. The past always makes me sad and regretful. Sad memories make us sad to think of them, of course. And for beautiful memories, we still feel sad that they are gone. Inner Sanctum: Ha Noi is developing rapidly, and this has many corollaries population explosion, pollution and so on. The ancient beauty is being lost. How do you feel about this when you return to the city? It is inevitable, if we want the country to develop and our descendants to live a modern life, full of facilities. Everywhere, I find billboards saying "old Ha Noi", "old food", "old town", "ancient tradition" and "old pho". It means everybody remembers and regrets things that have been lost. But of course, no one can give up the modern life and its comforts. When I first returned, I used to go to bed with an image of Ha Noi and memories of when I was small. Even on hot summer nights, no electricity, lying on the floor, opening the door to receive the breeze and hearing the cicadas song. How I remember those days! VNS HCM CITY -- The average income of civil servants from HCM City is expected to increase this year but will not exceed 1.8 times their main salaries, according to Le Thanh Phong, the chairman of HCM City Peoples Committee. The pay raises, which would be 0.6 times their salary this year, 1.2 times in 2019, and 1.8 times by 2020, will be submitted to the city Peoples Council for approval in March. Phong said the decision on piloting special policies which allow the city to make more independent decisions will become effective today. HCM City makes up the largest proportion, up to 27.8 per cent, of the state budget, while the labour productivity of the citys government officials is 1.5 times higher than that of other localities across the country. Each government official renders services to around 700 residents compared with 340 residents per official in other localities. Many officials in HCM City, who earn the same level of salaries as their counterparts in other localities, must seek outside financial support as prices in HCM City are higher than in other provinces and cities. ao Thi Nga, who works for a food safety management agency in HCM City, said she and her husband have relied on support from the husbands family for several years. My husbands mother has helped us as we both have low salaries, Nga said. Tran Vinh Tuyen, deputy chairman of HCM City Peoples Committee, said many young male officials do not want to tell their girlfriends about their jobs because they may think the salary is too low. In other countries, especially in Singapore, Government officials are proud to talk about their jobs because they receive high salaries that show their competence, Tuyen said. However, many government officials in HCM City say that an increase for all government officials would not encourage competent officials to work harder. Bui Anh Tuan, an official at the urban railroad management unit of HCM City, said that salaries for government officials should be based on each position, the individuals work experience and performance. The same rate should not be applied to everyone, he added. Salary payments create (healthy) competition among officials at a Government office, and at the same time offer opportunities for promotions for young officials, said Tuan. The funds for increases in civil servants incomes will come from the state. -- VNS by An Phuong Blogging has become a passion with Viet Nams youth and has brought them a wide variety of job opportunities. Surprisingly, the addiction is nothing new and, in fact, has been around for a decade with many popular online personas, including Michelle Phan, Zoe Sugg (Zoella), Ryan Higa (nigahiga) and Felix Kjellberg (PewDiePie), among others. Its difficult to determine who was the top blog trendsetter as bloggers each have their own story to tell. Together, the pieces make the picture complete. While Michelle Phan and Zoe Sugg are widely known for their skincare and makeup skills, Felix Kjellberg has been a success in the gaming field. Michelle Phan seems to be everyones childhood hero. I admire the passion and creativity that she puts into her videos. Her beauty journey is fascinating, Ngoc Anh, a frequent YouTube user, told Viet Nam News. A lot of work: Blogging requires a great deal of time since blogs and vlogs need to be updated regularly. Photo courtesy of Letsplaymakeup Blogging is special in that it emphasises personal experiences and the ability to effectively deliver content via social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Blogspot. Due to its friendly nature and interface, bloggers who post videos (called vlogs) on YouTube seem to reach a bigger audience. When I started blogging on Instagram, I had 60,000 followers. That number significantly increased to 100,000 as soon as I created my YouTube channel and vlogged! the beauty blogger known as Letsplaymakeup said. Being able to communicate a distinctive personality has played a significant role in follower engagement, she added. Blogging content The variety of content that blogging covers has made it an interesting career for anyone, regardless of background, especially in the digital era. The Vietnamese blogging industry, for instance, bloomed within the last two years, with debuts of many bloggers and vloggers, mostly in beauty, technology and lifestyle categories. Some of the well-known bloggers include Changmakeup, Trinh Pham, Chloe Nguyen, Letsplaymakeup, Hannah Olala, Vinh Vat Vo, Review Dao and Sup Heo, among others. There arent many bloggers who have early access to beauty products and technology gadgets in Viet Nam and worldwide. So their first-hand opinions are worthwhile, at least to me, Ngoc Anh said. Travel is another topic that has long been embraced by bloggers in Viet Nam as tips on where to stay and dine affordably are always in demand. All about looks: Beauty is one of the most popular topics that Vietnamese bloggers covered in 2017. Photo courtesy of Chloe Nguyen In addition to more in-depth topics such as beauty, technology and travel, many bloggers and vloggers are expert at reviewing games and children toys, with Oops Banana and Tho Nguyen attracting millions of views per video. Content is worth spending time on as long as its helpful and entertaining, Ngoc Anh said, adding that reaction videos to popular trends are also her favourites. According to beauty blogger Chloe Nguyen, interesting content that is well received by viewers is one of the most important elements determining a bloggers success. Im inspired by all things beauty and after two years pursuing my YouTube career, I still believe that by creating content dear to my heart and experiences, Im able to engage and maintain audiences interest, she said. Blogger Letsplaymakeup agreed, saying that honesty is key to blogging, which differentiates it from other social-media jobs. Even though it doesnt seem to be proper job, blogging helps creators earn a living as long as theyre serious about it, she said. Opportunities, challenges There are three common ways that bloggers, particularly those on YouTube, create multiple streams of income. To begin with, they can get paid by YouTube after connecting their channels to an AdSense account for monetisation. Unlike overseas bloggers who directly work with YouTube, most Vietnamese bloggers have to depend on a YouTube partner such as Yeah1! and METUB for payment collection. Even though the amount of money earned from YouTube is definitely not much, Im glad to have some extra income to invest in better filming devices, said Chloe Nguyen, adding that quality video is a must. As blogging can work as a marketing tool, many brands and advertising agencies seek collaborations with bloggers, creating another stream of income for bloggers. So far, Ive had great experience working with technology brands and retailers. Its a win-win situation when Im provided with the latest gadgets, while brands and retailers can promote their products to a wider audience, technology blogger Review Dao said. Even so, this mode of collaboration raises ethical questions about bloggers possibly lying about the quality of promotional products in exchange for money. Dishonesty can jeopardise any bloggers reputation and even long-term career, Letsplaymakeup said. As a way of respecting viewers, bloggers should provide truthful, real experiences after using promotional products from brands, she said, adding that claims about their collaborations with brands in their videos or posts should always be true. BLACK REPUBLICAN BLOG - The Republican Party is the party of civil rights and the four Fs: faith, family, freedom and fairness. The Democratic Party is the party of the four Ss: slavery, secession, segregation and socialism (Quote By Author Michael Scheuer). Jan 13, 2018 | By Benedict French architect Arthur Mamou-Mani is using robotic machinery, including 3D printers, laser cutters, and robotic drill arms, to build the 2018 Burning Man Temple. Burning Man is an annual gathering in Nevada in which a large effigy of a man is burnt in promotion of peace and understanding. Once a small gathering of likeminded friends on a San Francisco beach, the annual Burning Man festival is now a huge event on the American calendar. Every year, tens of thousands of attendees gather to discover art, make friends, and witness the burning of a giant wooden effigythe Manat a temporary city in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada. Although ostensibly an event for exploring artistic self-expression, burning things remains an important part of Burning Man, and its not just the Man that meets its fiery fate during the week-long event. Since the turn of the millennium, attendees have also taken part in a ritual burning of a wooden temple, an act that usually takes place the night after the burning of the Man. Each year, an artist is chosen to create the Burning Man Temple, and for 2018 the task has been assigned to French architect Arthur Mamou-Mani. According to the architect himself, the structure195 feet wide and 65 feet tallwill be built using robotic machinery, including 3D printers, laser cutters, and robotic drill arms, before it is razed to the ground at the end of summer. Mamou-Mani, who is based in London, has called his temple Galaxia, a name derived from a series mid-century science fiction works by author Isaac Asimov, reflecting the events theme for the year: I,Robot. The structure will be built mostly off-site at The Generator, a maker space in Sparks, Nevada, with fabrication set to begin in April or May, around five months before the various sections of the structure are delivered using flatbed trucks to the site of Burning Man. The Galaxia temple will consist of 20 timber trusses pointing towards one point in the sky, and will contain a 3D printed teardrop at its center, which serves as the temples mandalaa representation of the universe in Buddhist and Hindu symbolism. Below this suspended teardrop will be a ripple in the ground, depicting the teardrops anticipated fall, while the timber sections will provide small alcoves in which attendees can write messages to be burned with the temple. Mamou-Mani believes tools like 3D printers are making architecture more hands-on, something he is very happy about: Its almost like the architect is back in the process of making the structure, not just designing it, he said. They are again master builders, like in the age of cathedrals, when architects were there to build, watch for imperfections. If it falls, they would work on it, build, it would fall, they'd build, fall, build. The architect also thinks that digital tools, including both hardware and 3D modeling software like Rhinoceros and Grasshopper 3D, can put an element of craftsmanship back into architecture, taking the focus away from monetary gain. He also hopes that on-site construction 3D printing becomes more common in the future, bringing the architect closer to the project. I really hope that this project will help prove that architects can build too, and that we will soon be able to use those digital fabrication tools for on-site construction, Mamou-Mani said. Using this example of the Temple, architects can be more involved and therefore create buildings that are more unique, more spiritual. Mamou-Mani is the director of Mamou-Mani Architects, which specializes in digitally enhanced architecture. He is also a professor at the University of Westminster and owns a digital fabrication laboratory called the Fab.Pub. Over the last six years, Mamou-Mani has contributed several installations for Burning Man, including a piece called Tangential Dreams, which won the Architizer A+ Award for architecture in 2016. Posted in 3D Printing Application Maybe you also like: Anjali Puri in The Wire: Krishnamurthys 1-800 Worlds, The Making of the Indian Call Centre Economy brings to life the world of young people working phones all night, trying to be intelligible and efficient to sometimes irate customers in Europe or North America. At the heart of the book is Krishnamurthys own four-month stint, while she was a doctoral student, as a voice and accent-trainer at a leading business-process outsourcing (BPO) outfits in Pune. She assumed an American accent for her job interview, worked through the night, and lived the call-centre life so intensely that she was eventually sad to leave. Her book traces the divergent narratives that formed around the transnational call centre industry which took root in India in 1998, boomed in the mid-2000s and then began to decline as multinational corporations found greener locales for voice-based operations. While industry and government extolled call centres as an advanced solution for literate populations in newly-liberalised countries, media focused on the cultural alienation and exploitation of workers. Consumer-goods and advertising companies avidly eyed young employees earning more than twice as much as comparable Indian workers leading to other debates about the supposedly hedonistic and promiscuous lifestyles fostered by call-centre work. This study a scholarly work that is also deeply empathetic and at times playful illuminates this heady, fraught world without simplistic narratives or judgement. More here. In English, Haaretz Misleads on Ibrahim Abu Thuraya | Main | Updated: AFP Photo Captions Mislead on Gaza 'Smuggling Tunnels' January 14, 2018 AFP Last To Correct Its Own Arabic Mistranslation BBC and The Guardian, clients of Agence France Presse photo service, along with Getty Images, a distribution partner of AFP, have all corrected an AFP photo caption which mistranslated an Arabic sign about the boycott of Israeli good. Only AFP has failed to answer CAMERA's call to correct. Though the inaccurate captions in question date to 2015, last week they again appeared on numerous news sites due to the Israeli Strategic Affairs Ministry publication of a list of 20 BDS organizations whose key activists will be denied entry into Israel. The captions wrongly state that the pictured sign is "calling to boycott Israeli products coming from Jewish settlements." In fact, the Arabic writing on that sign makes no reference whatsoever to a selective boycott of "Israeli products coming from Jewish settlements." The sign actually states: "Boycott your occupation...support your country's produce." Moreover, the sign is credited to "the national campaign for boycott of the occupation and its goods" along with two other groups. A tourist photographs a sign painted on a wall in the West Bank biblical town of Bethlehem on June 5, 2015, calling to boycott Israeli products coming from Jewish settlements. The international BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions) campaign, that pushes for a ban on Israeli products, aims to exert political and economic pressure over Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories in a bid to repeat the success of the campaign which ended apartheid in South Africa. AFP PHOTO / THOMAS COEX Palestinians walk past a sign painted on a wall in the West Bank biblical town of Bethlehem on June 5, 2015, calling to boycott Israeli products coming from Jewish settlements. The international BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions) campaign, that pushes for a ban on Israeli products, aims to exert political and economic pressure over Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories in a bid to repeat the success of the campaign which ended apartheid in South Africa. AFP PHOTO / THOMAS COEX In response to communication from CAMERA's BBC Watch, BBC commendably corrected the caption on its site, which now accurately says the sign is "calling for a boycott of Israeli products." Also as a result of BBC Watch's communication, Getty Images, which is a distribution partner with AFP, also amended its caption to accurately refers to a "boycott of Israeli boycotts." In addition, in response to communication from CAMERA's UK Media Watch, The Guardian also corrected the AFP caption which it had used. The Guardian also commendably appended a note alerting readers that on January 12 "the picture caption which contained a mistranslation" was amended. Only AFP has failed to correct its own caption in violation of the news agency's Editorial Standards and Best Practices, which states: Particular vigilance is needed during translation and proofreading of graphics, with regard to both the text and graphic elements. Good proof reading comprises three phases: the coherence and general relevance of the graphic, the text content (form and shape, spelling, font,) and the graphic content (accuracy, choice of colours). Posted by TS at January 14, 2018 06:27 AM Guidelines for posting This is a moderated blog. We will not post comments that include racism, bigotry, threats, or factually inaccurate material. Post a comment Amy Chozick in The New York Times: Hillary Clinton, the first woman who had a real shot at the presidency, has finally set off a national awakening among women. The only catch? She did it by losing. In the year since a stoic Mrs. Clinton watched as Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the 45th president, a fervor has swept the country, prompting womens marches, a record number of female candidates running for office and an outcry about sexual assault at all levels of society. Even those women who disliked Hillary-the-candidate or who backed her opponent Senator Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary now credit the indignities and cynicism Mrs. Clinton faced in the 2016 election and her unexpected loss to Mr. Trump, an alleged sexual abuser, for the current moment. We wouldnt be here black gowns at the Golden Globes, sexual assault victims invited to the State of the Union address, a nationwide, woman-led voter registration drive timed to the anniversary of the Womens March without Mrs. Clintons defeat. And yet, for Mrs. Clinton, its the latest and perhaps last cruel twist in a public life full of them. Her loss to Mr. Trump helped ignite the kind of movement shed once been poised to lead but that she now mostly watches from the sidelines. Ever since she wielded a bullhorn at Wellesley in the late 1960s and later instructed her classmates to practice politics as the art of making what appears to be impossible possible, Hillary Rodham seemed destined to empower women. But over the next several decades, the promise of that young activist collided with the realities of presidential elections and her husbands personal scandals. Mrs. Clinton scarred by the blowback for saying she chose to pursue a career rather than staying home to bake cookies, chastised by her husbands West Wing aides for declaring that womens rights are human rights in Beijing in 1995 and warned by her 2016 campaign chairman to avoid talking about glass ceilings came to adopt a more tentative embrace of how she talked about her gender. More here. President Donald Trump's new US ambassador to Netherlands has walked back his controversial 2015 comments about Muslims and violence in the northern European country. Three years ago, Peter Hoekstra blamed the"Islamist movement" for "chaos" in the country, claimed there were no-go zones and asserted that cars and politicians were being burned. "Looking back, I'm dismayed that I said it. There are of course situations in European countries that resemble that, but that has never been the case in the Netherlands. It was an incorrect statement. It was just wrong," Hoekstra said in an interview Friday with the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. Hoekstra said he "mixed up" countries, though he didn't specify which ones. He had previously denied making the comments, which are on camera, in an interview with a Dutch journalist on Capitol Hill in December, calling it fake news. Referring to that exchange, Hoekstra told the De Telegraaf: "It was not the case that I was shown at that moment that clip from 2015. I do not know what I was referring to when I was talking about fake news." Hoekstra called his denial in that interview of having spoken about "chaos" in the Netherlands a "miscommunication." "That politicians are being burned, that was an inaccurate statement," he said. "And the no-go zones, that could have been an exaggeration of what is taking place here." A no-go zone is a reference to Muslim-controlled neighborhoods in Europe where sovereign nations allegedly cede authority to Muslim immigrants. Asked by the newspaper if it was normal to be so "frivolous" with facts, Hoekstra said: "I formulated it incorrectly. If someone came to me the next day and indicated my mistake, then I would have said: You are right, thank you." Hoekstra denied he put his ambassadorship in jeopardy with his comments. The envoy is a former 18-year Republican congressman from Michigan who served for several years as chair of the House Intelligence Committee. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani mocked Donald Trump for failing to kill off the Iran nuclear deal despite the US leader's 2016 election promise to do so. Trump signed off on a waiver Friday to keep several sanctions on Iran suspended, essentially keeping the nuclear deal in effect. The US President must sign such waivers every few months under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), an agreement brokered in 2015 that obliges Iran to restrict its nuclear program in exchange for the easing of sanctions. Despite keeping the deal intact, Trump stirred ire in Tehran on Friday by announcing fresh separate sanctions on 14 Iranian individuals and entities at the same time. Among them was the head of Iran's judiciary, Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani. "It's been one year since Trump has been trying to kill JCPOA and hasn't been successful. This means victory of law over dictatorship," Rouhani said Sunday, slamming the US for what he said were its attempts at "self-aggrandizing." State news agency IRNA reported him saying that Iran had proved it was right "and our enemies were wrong." "I am very happy to see that the White House has failed to disrupt international obligations, break loyalty and stand against the resolution of the United Nations Security Council which was the outcome of an agreement among seven countries," he said. Rouhani's remarks were the latest in a tit-for-tat exchange between Trump and Iranian officials over the deal, as well as anti-government protests that took place across the country recently. Trump openly supported the protesters, who staged the biggest challenge to the Iranian regime since 2009. The US State Department also openly encouraged Iranians to protest. Many of the new US sanctions on Iran were in response to the government's crackdown on the largely peaceful protests. Others were linked to support for the country's ballistic missile program, which falls outside the scope of the nuclear deal. In a bizarre kicker in the waiver announcement, the US indicated it hoped to rewrite much of the nuclear agreement and to get its European allies, who wholly back the deal as it is, to do the bargaining for it. European foreign ministers on Thursday urged Trump to sign the waiver and support the deal. The 2015 agreement was brokered by the Obama administration, along with the UK, Russia, France, Germany and China. Trump under pressure Iran on Saturday warned of a "severe" response to the new sanctions. Iran's Foreign Ministry said the Trump administration's "hostile and illegal act" in targeting Larijani "has gone way beyond all internationally accepted behavior red lines." Trump -- who during the election campaign described the Iran pact as "the worst deal ever" -- is under pressure to make good on more of his pre-election promises. But he is also under immense pressure by European powers who helped brokered the deal to preserve it. According to US officials who spoke to CNN, Trump's own senior security advisers also urged the President to sign off on the waivers and not to kill off the agreement. The new US sanctions on Iran are a way for Trump to keep pressure on Iran without jeopardizing the nuclear deal. They are also the first concrete international response to the Iranian government's treatment of protesters. Roughly 3,700 people were arrested during the rallies, one of the country's lawmakers said Tuesday. Other Iranian authorities had previously said 450 people were detained. A 22-year-old protester, Sina Ghanbari, died in Tehran's notorious Evin Prison in police custody, state-controlled Aftab News reported last week. Under increased scrutiny, Tehran on Saturday lifted restrictions on Telegram, acknowledging that the social networking app had been "filtered" during the protests, state media reported. Authorities have arrested the friend of a 19-year-old Pennsylvania college student whose body was found buried in an Orange County park. Authorities say 20-year-old Samuel Lincoln Woodward of Newport Beach was taken into custody Friday on suspicion of murder. They say DNA evidence linked Woodward to the crime, but specific details and a cause of death aren't being released. "We do know that they had a communication to meet up at the park. How well they knew each other in high school we don't know. Why they were there we don't know, it's part of the investigation, said Don Barnes, an undersheriff. They say Woodward was the last person to see Blaze Bernstein alive. The University of Pennsylvania student was visiting his family in Foothill Ranch during winter break when his high school friend Woodward picked him up on January 2 and drove him to several places before winding up at Brago Park. Bernsteins body was found Tuesday in a shallow grave at the park in Orange County. A motive has not been determined. Charges have not yet been filed. (CNN) - The mother of an African-American teenager who was told by his teacher that other students would lynch him if he didn't do better in class said a reprimand of the Ohio educator is not sufficient. "She should not be in the classroom," Tanisha Agee-Bell said of the white middle school teacher in Mason. The teacher needs to demonstrate she understands the context in which her words were taken, Agee-Bell told CNN on Friday. Agee-Bell said her son Nathan told her that his eighth-grade social studies teacher last month said he was not pulling his weight in classroom group work. Mason City Schools spokeswoman Tracey Carson on Friday said the teacher told Nathan: "Your classmates are tired of you costing them points. When you come in tomorrow without your homework completed, your classmates are going to be angry and become a mob who will want to lynch you." Carson told CNN on Friday that the teacher "was reprimanded and is required to have cultural proficiency training." "I didn't understand how she could say that to any child, much less my black child in her white classroom," Agee-Bell said, referring to the teacher. CNN is not naming the Mason Middle School teacher because there is no evidence she has been investigated by law enforcement. The mother said the teacher apologized to the 13-year-old in front of the class, saying she did not mean any harm. According to the Ohio Department of Education, just 4% of the Mason school district student body is black. Just over 63% of district students identify as non-Hispanic white. Agee-Bell, who serves on the Mason City Schools' Diversity Council, said Nathan is the only black student in the class. Agee-Bell said that she and representatives of the Diversity Council approached the district last month regarding the incident, but that the district only responded after the story received local media attention. The mother said she hoped the teacher would educate herself further on African-American history, "so she can know what pictures her words put in [Nathan's] head." "My son knows his history," she said. In a statement, Superintendent Gail Kist-Kline acknowledged problems within the school system. "We have seen an uptick in the number of racially and culturally insensitive comments in our schools and community," she wrote. "We will continue to invest in training and resources on culturally proficient practices for administrators, educators and classified staff members that lift up our district's values. Little in size, but one big ball of energy. This is 3-year-old Layla and this is her playground. Complete with books, toys and a place for tea, of course. But playtime was almost timed out for good. We felt we had our hands tied with the county, said Jayson Przybyla, homeowner where the tree house is. And the Przybylas called the news. We did our due diligence. We went to the county to apply for a permit, they said we didn't need one, so we built the structure, a neighbor complained," Jayson said. Boy, this sounds familiar, not this treehouse though. It came down to, not so much the treehouse itself but, where it was that the county took issue with. We were told we cant have the playhouse on a vacant lot," said Lauren Przybyla, homeowner, and wife of Jayson. It's a vacant lot they own next to their house. But as far as the county was concerned the treehouse either had to come down or the lots had to be joined together. A pricey proposition either way. But then the dispute made the news, a petition to let it stay wound up with more than 1,000 signatures and the Przybylas got an unexpected call from the county on Friday. They said they took a look at our case and everyone had no issue with it and signed off on it," Jayson said. Their permit is now approved. The case closed. And the lesson get everything in writing," Jayson said, learned. We're just extremely grateful for the media coverage, Lauren said. Wheres the Coverage? Israel Prevented Several Dozen Terror Attacks in Europe | Main | AFP Last To Correct Its Own Arabic Mistranslation January 14, 2018 In English, Haaretz Misleads on Ibrahim Abu Thuraya Update, 8:10 am EST: For Second Time, Haaretz English Edition Corrects on Abu Thuraya's Leg Injury Despite the fact that Haaretz's earlier this month corrected a photo caption which inaccurately reported on the unclear circumstances regarding the death of double amputee Ibrahim Abu Thuraya, along with the circumstances in which he lost his legs, the Israeli daily's English edition continues to get the facts wrong. Thus, in the English edition, Amira Hass' Jan. 8 Op-Ed ("One Palestinian More or Less, What Does It Matter to the Israeli Army?"), misleadingly refers to "Abu Thuraya, whose legs had been amputated after an Israeli air strike nine years ago." Abu Thuraya injured his legs in a clash with soldiers, and not in an air strike. Haaretz ran this AP story last month stating: While relatives have claimed Abu Thraya lost his legs in an Israeli airstrike while trying to rescue people, AP records show that he was wounded on April 11, 2008, in a clash between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants in the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza. AP television footage from that day shows Abu Thraya identifying himself as he is taken away on the back of a pickup truck. He is also seen being taken on a stretcher. The Hebrew version of Hass' Op-Ed does not claim that Abu Thuraya lost his legs in an Israeli air strike. It states (CAMERA's translation): Less than two weeks after he wrote this, the army's criminal investigation unit announced that it would investigate the circumstances of the death of Ibrahim Abu Thuraya, a double amputee. But that wasn't the only instance in which Haaretz's English edition inaccurately reported on Ibrahim on Abu Thuraya while the Hebrew edition was more careful. Thus, in Thursday's English print edition, a page one, top of the fold, story ("IDF surrounds Nablus in hunt for rabbi's killers") reports on a statement by Joint List MK Ahmad Tibi reacting to the condemnation by U.S. Ambassador David Friedman regarding the killing of Rabbi Raziel Shevach: "Friedman is horrified? I didn't hear him say a word when an Israeli sniper shot a double amputee in Gaza or when young Mohammad Tamimi was shot in his head," he said referring to recent shootings of Palestinians by the IDF in Gaza and the West Bank. As previously reported, and as Haaretz itself earlier acknowledged in a previous correction, the circumstances regarding the death of Abu Thuraya are unclear. The Israeli army, for its part, said no live fire was directed in Abu Thuraya's direction and so far has been "unable to conclude whether he was killed by Israeli forces or what caused his death," as Haaretz previously reported. Thus, while it's legitimate to report Tibi's accusation that an Israeli sniper shot Abu Thuraya, Haaretz failed readers by adding, as a statement of fact, that Tibi's statement was "referring to recent shootings of Palestinians by the IDF in Gaza and the West Bank." The equivalent article in Haaretz's Hebrew print edition, in contrast, did not repeat as fact Tibi's unproven charge that an Israeli sniper shot Abu Thuraya. For additional instances of "Haaretz, Lost in Translation," or when the English edition contains inaccurate charges against Israel that don't appear in the parallel Hebrew item, please see here. Posted by TS at January 14, 2018 03:25 AM Guidelines for posting This is a moderated blog. We will not post comments that include racism, bigotry, threats, or factually inaccurate material. Post a comment One more coast guard ship is deployed from Mumbai for search operation after a Pawan Hans helicopter, carrying five senior officials of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and two pilots, crashed off the Mumbai coast minutes after it took off on Saturday. INS Makar, twin hulled catamaran hydrograph ship from Karwar, is enroute to augment the search efforts in the area. A total of 5-6 coast guard ships are deployed in the area already, ONGC officials said. INS Teg and Tarasa are coordinating the search in the area. ICG Ships Samudra Prahari, Achook & Agrim are also at work in the area. ICGS Samrat sailed out from Mumbai and joined the search and rescue operations. ONGC vessel TAG 15 undertaking Side Scan Sonar (SSS) operations have found some debris 600 yards from wreckage position. Meanwhile, diving team ex- Samudra Sevak is preparing to undertake diving operations in the area. So far, six bodies have been recovered. The police informed that the bodies have been brought to Cooper Hospital for postmortem. A total of seven people were on-board in the Pawan Hans Dauphin N2 that crashed and a total of four bodies have been recovered so far. Meanwhile, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) identified two of the bodies to be of ONGC employees. The ONGC, along with the ICG and the Indian Navy, has pressed its helicopter and speedboats for search operations. The helicopter, which took off from Juhu at 10.20 am, was scheduled to land at ONGCs North Field oil rig at 10.58 am. The last contact with the Air Traffic Control (ATC) was made at about 10.30 am, 30 nautical miles off Mumbai. The cause of the tragic incident is still unknown. Christian Worship Revived in Largest Assyrian City in Iraq Iraqi Christian residents of Qaraqosh attend a Palm Sunday service at the Church of the Immaculate Conception on April 9, 2017. ( AFP) QARAQOSH, Iraq -- The names of Asian cities are often unknown to most people in the western world. Qaraqosh [Baghdede in Assyrian] is one such city. Its connection to Biblical accounts of history dates to hundreds and even thousands of years before Christ as it lies within the Nineveh Governate and close to the ruins of both Nineveh and Nimrod. The city has a long history dating back to the earliest centuries A.D. The city was heavily damaged during 2014 when ISIS gained control. Most of the population fled to safety. Displaced residents began returning in 2016 after Iraqi forces were able to defeat the ISIS troops and retake the city. Before the ISIS take over, the residents typically identified themselves as either Muslim or Christian. The term Christian, however, was broadly generic, meaning "not Muslim." "Steve Van Valkenburg with Christian Aid Mission says, 'When ISIS came in and persecuted them and chased them out, many of these Christians went to places like Erbil and Dohuk and Kurdistan. In those locations, there is a ministry assisted by Christian Aid Mission that was able to reach out and feed and clothe and share the Gospel and give out Bibles and disciple new believers.'" During his status as a refugee, Nasim, a citizen of Qaraqosh who would have identified himself as Christian, was introduced by CAM workers to a genuine relationship with Christ. Nasim has returned Qaraqosh to rebuild his home and spread the Gospel to others -- traditional Christians and Muslims.Van Valkenburg said, "Many Muslims have believed in Christ, but also many of the historic Christians have believed. So, for them, being a Christian means a lot more than just not being a Muslim. Now being a Christian means that they're born again, they believe in Christ as their Savior and Lord, it means that they begin to read the Bible and they attend Bible studies, and they're discipled." Christian Aid Mission is providing supplies for residents to rebuild their homes. They also offer support such as audio Bibles that will help these new Iraqi Christians grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ and to reach this oral culture with the Gospel effectively. The Unethical Prosecution of an Assyrian Attorney Attorney Robert DeKelaita speaking at a rally. On January 2, 2018, Judge Goldsmith from the federal court in Michigan ordered the release of Assyrian (also known as Chaldean or Syriac) Christian detainees who had been held for deportation. In his decision, the judge cited that the country conditions in Iraq precluded the possibility of returning the refugees to their homes safely. The determination came as no surprise to the Assyrian community in the US who have been well aware of the massacres and persecution inflicted on their remaining families in both Iraq and Syria. The judge's determination was also consistent with an official US State Department designation of genocide against Assyrian Christians and other minorities by ISIS. On March 15, 2016, after an agonizingly long, drawn out deliberation Secretary of State John Kerry finally declared that Assyrians had suffered genocide, thereby legally obligating the US to assist the beleaguered community. Enter then Robert DeKelaita of Chicago. Mr. DeKelaita was a prominent immigration attorney who had for decades advocated for Assyrian Christians who had already managed to enter the US. Mr. Dekelaita had earned his Master's Degree in International Relations from the University of Chicago and his law degree from Loyola University of Chicago. On September 23, 2014, Mr. Dekelaita was indicted on 14 counts of numerous violations including immigration fraud. The basic gist of all of the counts could be summarized as alleging that Mr. DeKelaita fabricated the applicants' immigration applications. During discovery and the ensuing court case, it was revealed that the federal government had been investigating Mr. DeKelaita for over a decade including wire taps and possibly sending imposter clients in a brazen attempt at entrapment after their investigation failed to uncover anything of substance. Of the original 14 counts, the number was whittled down to 5 after the prosecution themselves withdrew several counts, and the jury rejected another 1 and reduced 3 substantially. The Judge then tossed out what was left of the 3 counts, leaving one that he referred to as a "close call" for the Court. A final appeal is pending , but of all of the prosecutions' failed witnesses who had testified, only one case remained relevant in the remaining count of conspiracy. The remaining asylum applicant acknowledged in his testimony lying in order to get into the US on a marriage visa before even meeting Mr. Dekelaita. While on the stand, the asylum seeker acknowledged being very active in the Chaldean Church in Iraq. He acknowledged running or owning a liquor store and provided written proof of Islamist threats against him to shut down his store because of Islam's prohibition against drinking. He eventually had his store blown up and provided written proof of a police report. Finally, his business associate was killed by the Islamists. He understandably fled for his safety as he believed his life was in danger and emigrated to the US. Mr. DeKelaita subsequently helped him to prepare his case for asylum. Shockingly, while on the stand, the refugee testified that despite the bombing of his store and assassination of his partner, he did not feel threatened while in Iraq and that Mr. Dekelaita had somehow compelled him to make that statement. For those in the community who had suffered the intense persecution and intimidation by Islamists, the statement defied credulity and led many to believe that this witness and others may have been coerced and pressured into testifying. Others have pointed out that an attack in Europe can provoke concern as far as the US, and yet this sole remaining prosecution witness seemed unfazed by personal threats, murder and bombings. The peculiarity of the zeal with which the US attorney has continued to prosecute Mr. DeKelaita defies rational explanation. Quite ironically, on the very day that Mr. DeKelaita's trial began, the Obama administration, an administration overflowing with irony and contradiction, presented arguments before the US Supreme Court in support of the administration's executive action protecting Central American refugees from deportation. Although Central America may have various social and economic problems, no one with any remaining fairness would or could argue that the conditions faced by Central Americans reached those endured by Assyrian Christians facing genocide in Syria and Iraq. The crux of the remaining count against Mr. Dekelaita is really whether or not a Christian minority in Iraq or Syria facing written threats, assassination, and bombing would indeed feel frightened or not. And, still more, if he in fact was genuinely frightened for his life to return, then what would have prompted him to testify in court that he was compelled by Mr. DeKelaita to lie? Could the asylum seeker himself already vulnerable due to his confessed marriage visa fraud have been compelled to change his story to suit the prosecution's narrative? Could he also be a victim, having been threatened with deportation (a certain death sentence for him) if he did not toe the prosecutor's line? One cannot be sure, but the strength of the prosecution's last count hangs precariously on a reasonable person's belief that their only remaining witness says he really wasn't fearful for his life despite all he had personally endured in Iraq. In the meantime, the legal bureaucracy grinds on arguing for or against statutes of limitations as well as other legal machinations important only to those embedded in the process. It is difficult to gauge how much time and money the prosecution has spent over the last decade trying to prove that what Judge Goldsmith and the US State Department acknowledged as persecution and genocide of Assyrian Christians was actually fabricated by Mr. DeKelaita for his clients. But, estimates run into the millions, as deep state vendettas are never cheap. Mr. DeKelaita still has a couple of appeals left, but win or lose, by leveraging the seemingly infinite resources of tax payers, the prosecution has already won. Mr. Dekelaita has lost his law license, his home and has endured the breakup of his marriage. All done for the purpose of saying that Assyrian Christians really have not been victims in Iraq and Syria. But history and perhaps future oversight investigations will tell a different story. Let us continue to hope reason prevails. https://www.aish.com/jw/s/Nazi-Havens-in-South-America.html Secret files reveal 9,000 Nazi war criminals fled to South America after WWII. After 1945 the scale of the horror of the Holocaust came to light. Faced with unprecedented cruelty, much of the world responded with unprecedented vigor. The new term crimes against humanity was coined in the subsequent Nuremberg trials, as Allied lawyers called senior Nazis to account. Yet fewer than 300 Nazis faced judgment in the Nuremberg trials while up to 9,000 Nazis by some counts were spirited away from Europe after World War II, helped by sympathetic agents and friends. Many found new lives in South America. By the late 1940s, much of South America, particularly Brazil, Chile and Argentina, was a haven for thousands of Nazis eluding justice. German prosecutors in recent years have estimated that Brazil accepted between 1,500 and 2,000 Nazis, Chile took in between 500 and 1,000, and Argentina welcomed up to 5,000 Nazis to their country. Many South American countries were home to large communities of ethnic Germans during and after World War II. In many cases, these communities were sympathetic to and even welcomed Nazis, helping them to evade justice. In the mid-1980s, it was estimated that 3.6 million of Brazils 130 million citizens, one million out of Argentinas 28 million people, and 200,000 out of 3.5 million citizens of Paraguay were ethnically German. Many of them maintain the language and traditions of their forefathers, the New York Times noted in 1985. Because of their strong cultural identity, the older German farming communities in southern Brazil and southern Paraguay have often been accused of harboring Nazis. In 1962, the Chilean town of Colonia Dignidad was found to be home to 300 families whod fled Germany after World War II, finding a welcome and no questions asked among their compatriots in South America. In 1955, Gen. Alfredo Stroessner, a grandson of immigrants from Bavaria, opened Paraguay to former Nazis. In the 1930s, Brazil had the biggest Nazi party in the world after Germany, with 40,000 members; many of these Brazilian Nazis welcomed German Nazis after the war. In Argentina, future president Juan Peron spent part of the war, from 1939 to 1941, working in Argentinas embassy in Italy and openly admired the politics of Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler. When Peron became President of Argentina in 1946, he ordered the establishment of secret channels dubbed ratlines to ferry thousands of Nazis from ports in Spain and Italy out of Europe and into Latin America. Juan Peron Historian Uki Goni, in his 2002 book The Real Odessa: Smuggling the Nazis to Perons Argentina, documents that in 1946 Juan Peron sent secret word to France that Nazi officials facing prosecution at home would find a welcoming haven in Argentina. The Odessa theory, popularized in the 1972 novel The Odessa File and 1974 movie of the same name, was that a secret group of former SS officers had banded together and was helping former Nazi officials to escape post-war Europe. While there was no Odessa group, the truth was far stranger: some of the most senior officials in governments, the Catholic church and aid organizations actively worked to help Nazis escape justice, often sending them to South America. Perons key point man in creating a pipeline for Nazis was the Argentinian Cardinal Antonio Caggiano. He passed along Perons top-secret message to a Cardinal in France, who communicated with Nazis living in France, helping usher them to Argentina. Peron invested considerable manpower in smuggling Nazis to Argentina, even setting up a secret office in Bern to help handle the paperwork. In Spring 1946, the first French Nazis began receiving Argentinian tourist visas and setting sail for South America. Alois Hudal Many of these Nazis escaping to South America were aided by Catholic officials. Some merely wanted to help Catholics escape from the rising Communist governments in central Europe. Other officials, however, were actively anti-Semitic and desired to help Nazis elude justice. One of the highest ranking Catholic officials who aided Nazi criminals was Bishop Alois Hudal, an Austrian-born admirer of Hitler. Bishop Hudal worked in Rome, ministering to Axis POWs, and tirelessly aided war criminals by providing them with false Vatican-issued identity papers allowing them to gain passports from the International Red Cross and travel to South America. Bishop Hudal worked with a network of officials throughout Europe; it was he, with the aid of a Franciscan friar in Italy, who provided false papers that allowed senior Nazi Adolf Eichmann to sail for Argentina. Hudals activities helping refugees (many of whom were Nazis evading justice) garnered him much praise and financial support. The American Catholic Bishops Conference even approved a monthly stipend of $200 to Bishop Hudal to help him in his work. The work of Bishop Hudal and other Catholic officials to help Nazis flee was an open secret. A 1947 memo sent from the United States Italian embassy noted that The Vatican of course is the largest single organization involved in the illegal movement of emigrants out of Europe in those years. Bishop Hudal and other Catholic officials had a willing accomplice in Carl Jacob Burckhardt, President of the International Red Cross in the years after World War II. In his 2011 book Nazis on the Run: How Hitlers Henchmen Fled Justice, historian Gerald Steinacher chronicles Burckhardts anti-Semitism, as well as his penchant for helping Germans, including former Nazis. Its hard to know just how many former Nazis fled Europe using false Red Cross papers; in 2012, German lawyers, after examining recently declassified archives, estimated that thousands of Nazis were similarly able to obtain false Red Cross passports. About 800 SS members were able to flee to Argentina alone using these false documents. One Nazi who fled to Argentina was Horst Wagner, who aided in the deportation and murder of at least 350,000 Jews. Wagners story would have remained unknown were it not for the efforts of German family therapist turned author Gisela Heidenreich, whose mother Edith met and fell in love with Horst Wagner during the war. In 2012, Ms. Heidenreich published a work documenting Wagners escape from justice, Beloved Criminal: A Diplomat in the Service of the Final Solution. After escaping from an Allied-run jail in 1948, Wagner followed a path dubbed the Kloster Line, receiving sanctuary in convents and churches in Austria before heading to Rome. There, Bishop Hudal helped him obtain false papers and sail to Argentina. Franz Stangl, the commander of the extermination camps of Sobibor and Treblinka who oversaw the murder of nearly one and a half million Jews, was another senior Nazi Ms. Heidenreich uncovered who followed the same path. Stangl was aided by Catholic church officials and eventually fled to Brazil on a false Red Cross passport. Stangl was eventually extradited to Germany in the 1960s and died in jail. Wagner met a different fate: he was never extradited and lived to old age in the Argentinian town of Bariloche, near Patagonia where he celebrated at weekly get-togethers in local beer halls, singing Nazi songs with other SS comrades who called Argentina home. In addition to being ideologically sympathetic to Nazi ideology, Juan Peron also had a financial motive in bringing so many Nazis to his country. In 2005, drawing on government archives that had just been declassified, German journalist Gaby Weber found that Peron systematically used his government to launder money belonging to Nazi-owned companies, whose profits would otherwise have been seized as part of criminal investigations. In The German Connection: The Laundering of Nazi Money in Argentina, Ms. Weber estimates that value of the money laundering operation at well over one billion dollars. A Mercedes-Benz plant in the suburbs of Buenos Aires might have been the center of the program bringing German wealth and former Nazis to Argentina, Ms. Weber uncovered. Adolf Eichmann worked at the plant, first under his own name, and later under an alias. According to Ms. Weber, Eichmann might have worked as a paymaster, financing the movement and flight to Argentina of other Nazis, before he was captured by Israeli forces in 1960, tried, and executed in 1962. Otto Skorzeny Otto Skorzeny, an SS commander who was known as Hitlers favorite Nazi commando, is another senior Nazi figure who might have arranged for other Nazis to find homes in South America. Escaping from an Allied prison in 1947 with the help of local pro-Nazi citizens, Skorzeny moved to Madrid, where he ran an import/export agency that was rumored to be a front for organizing the escape of Nazis to South America. Skorzeny made numerous trips to Argentina, eventually working for a time as a bodyguard to Juan Perons wildly popular second wife, Eva, known as Evita. Evita seems to have been an enthusiastic helper of Nazis in her own right. She was reported to have been romantically involved with Skorzeny, and also might have been active in laundering money from German Nazis. In 2011, Brazilian authors Leandro Narloch and Duda Teixeira wrote, It is still suspected that among (Eva Perons) possessions, there were pieces of Nazi treasure that came from rich Jewish families killed in concentration camps. Nazis who eluded justice to find a haven in South America include Angel of Death Josef Mengele, who conducted gruesome experiments at Auschwitz, and fled to Argentina in 1949. He moved to Paraguay in 1959 and Brazil in 1960; he drowned while swimming on a Brazilian beach in 1979. SS Col. Walter Rauff, who invented mobile gas chambers that killed at least 100,000 people; he died in Chile in 1984. Eduard Roschmann, known as the Butcher of Riga; he died in Paraguay in 1977. The Beast, SS officer Gustav Wagner. He died in Brazil in 1980 after the supreme court blocked his extradition to Germany over paperwork. Klaus Barbie, known as the Butcher of Lyon. The Gestapo chief in Lyon, France, contributed to the death of thousands of French Jews and members of the French resistance. He was smuggled into Bolivia, in part with American help, where he aided anti-communist efforts. He was finally extradited in 1983 and imprisoned in France. The Torah commands Justice, justice shall you pursue (Deuteronomy 16:18). A generation ago, thousands of Nazis eluded justice by fleeing to South America. Today, as a new generation of historians delving into archives and other records, the truth about how so much of South America became a Nazi haven is being uncovered. Its too late to try most of these Nazi war criminals but their victims, and all of us, deserve to know the truth about this dark chapter in South Americas past. Your free time is precious, so how to spend it? Here are five ideas for Birmingham this week, Jan. 14-20, 2018. Mary Colurso | MColurso@AL.com Don't Edit (Photos by Mary Colurso | mcolurso@al.com) GOOD DEEDS Take a selfie to remember on Friday. Two friendly goats, Flanders and Clarine, will be on scene to pose with visitors at Naked Art Gallery. Meanwhile, their owner, Therese Bynum of Team Magic, will serve hot toddies of the apple-brandy-cranberry variety as folks check out the artworks and meet the cloven-hoofed celebs. All bar tips and 10 percent of artwork sales that evening will go to Hand in Paw, a nonprofit organization that offers animal-assisted therapy. Toddies and Goat Selfies, Jan. 19, 5 p.m.-8 p.m., Naked Art Gallery, 3831 Clairmont Ave., free admission, 205-595-3553. Don't Edit (Photo by Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com) SPECIAL EVENTS Permission to come board, captain? It's always polite to ask, but the question will be moot at the Birmingham Boat Show. This four-day event welcomes outdoor enthusiasts, fishing buffs, paddlers who are crazy about kayaks just about anyone who plans to be on the water this year. Special attractions include two drag boats, a demo on marine electronics and appearances by wakeboard champ Jimmy LaRiche. It's all happening Thursday-Jan. 21 at the BJCC Exhibition Halls. Birmingham Boat Show, Jan. 18-21, BJCC Exhibition Halls, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. North, $10, free for children age 12 and younger, http://www.birminghamboatshow.com. Hours 12 p.m.-9 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 11 a.m.- 9 p.m. Saturday, 12 p.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Don't Edit (Courtesy photo) DANCE Watch closely. That's what we plan to do when Ballet Memphis performs on Saturday at the Alys Stephens Center. The Tennessee troupe will present four original works in concert, starting at 8 p.m. All were inspired by the struggle for civil rights, reflecting the ideas "that everyone matters, that dignity and kindness must ultimately speak louder and that we understand our own humanity through our interactions with others." The performance is linked to the 2018 Alabama Dance Festival. Ballet Memphis, Jan. 20 at 8 p.m., Alys Stephens Center, Jemison Concert Hall, 1200 10th Ave. South, $25-$45, $10 students, 205-975-2787. Don't Edit (Courtesy photo/"Shot in Alabama") VISUAL ARTS Peek into the past at the Birmingham Public Library. An exhibit of about 30 images, "Shot in Alabama: Historical Birmingham Photographs," is on view through Feb. 4 at the downtown branch's first floor gallery. These diverse photos from the Civil War, the Great Depression and more offer an illuminating look at the state and its people, 1839-1941. The show includes 19th century portraits, rural and urban photos, tourist shots and postcards, all linked to a 2017 book by photo researcher Frances Osborn Robb. "Shot in Alabama: Historical Birmingham Photographs," through Feb. 4, Birmingham Public Library, Central Branch, First Floor Gallery, 2100 Park Place, free admission, 205-226-3600. Library hours 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Tuesdays, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m.-6 p.m. Sundays. Don't Edit Don't Edit (AL.com file photo) CONCERTS Sports on the brain? You're not alone. The Alabama Symphony Orchestra is reaching out to fans with its next pops concert, "We Are the Champions." Saturday's program at Samford University's Wright Center will feature college fight songs, themes from the Olympics, movie anthems (including music from "Rocky" and "The Natural") and an orchestral version of "Casey at the Bat." Sportscaster Eli Gold, the voice of the Crimson Tide, will be on hand to emcee. "We Are the Champions," pops concert performed by Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Jan. 20 at 8 p.m., Wright Center, Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Drive, $29.50-$49.50, 205-975-2787, 205-251-6929. Conducted by Christopher Confessore. Don't Edit More on entertainment in Alabama 53 must-see concerts coming to Alabama in 2018 Meet the 2018 Alabama Music Hall of Fame inductees 17 hot new restaurants that opened in Birmingham in 2017 17 places famous for gumbo at Alabama's beaches Longtime volunteer's wizardly ways keep Alabama Theatre (and its Mighty Wurlitzer) running smooth Construction is set to start Monday, Jan. 15 on the widening of Interstate 65 in north Shelby County, according to the Alabama Department of Transportation. The work is expected to be complete in fall 2020. The project involves widening I-65 from four to six lanes for a 3.5 mile stretch from the State Route 3 interchange at Exit 238 in Alabaster to the County Road 52 interchange Exit 242 in Pelham, according to ALDOT. The contract was awarded to Dunn Construction and Wiregrass Construction as a joint venture for $67.5 million. Motorists are asked to consider using alternate routes, adjust arrival/departure times, observe work zone speed limits and other work zone signs, and use extreme caution in the construction area. Gov. Kay Ivey made the widening of the heavily congested thoroughfare a priority after hearing from the Shelby County legislative delegation and ALDOT Director John Cooper. She announced the project on May 11, 2017. "By expanding I-65 in Shelby County, we are not only meeting a long-overlooked need in our state, we are also signaling that economic development is central to my administration and that Alabama is open for business, Ivey said in a May statement. "I instructed Director Cooper to move forward with this project because it is the right thing to do for the people and businesses of Alabama." Currently, 93,000 vehicles per day travel this section of roadway, with over 12,000 of those being tractor-trailers, the governor's office said. Cooper said traffic in this area is expected to grow to over 150,000 vehicles per day during the next 20 years. Alabama education officials gave K-12 public schools a 'C' for the 2016-2017 school year, earning 79 out of 100 available points on the first state report card in more than a decade assigning letter grades based on student and school-based measures. That grade was revealed during the Alabama Board of Education work session on Jan. 11. School- and district-level grades will be made public on Feb. 1, according to state officials. The state report card is required by a law passed in 2012, called the Legislative School Performance Recognition Program Act. The law required the use of A through F letter grades to identify school performance. State officials are calling this a "prototype" as they intend to gather public input on the design of the report card in February and March before finalizing it in the fall. The 'C' grade Alabama earned reflects a number of measures of school and student performance, including achievement and graduation rates. Fourteen states currently use A through F grading systems. Proponents of letter grades say the simple rating is more easily understood by parents and communities. Opponents say education is too complex to reduce performance to a single letter grade. Paige Kowalski of the Data Quality Campaign, which studies the quality of education-related information provided by states, said, "Our research shows that 89 percent of parents think that a school's overall performance rating, like an A-F letter grade, would help them make decisions related to their child's education." So, after six years of development, state education officials decided these five measures best reflect the work of Alabama's schools: Academic achievement as measured by the scores in grades 3 through 8 and in grade 10 on the ACT Aspire from spring 2017, How much student test scores have improved from one year to the next, i.e., from 3rd to 4th grade, How many students graduated from high school in four years and in five years, How many students earned indicators of college or career readiness, and How many students miss 15 days of school or more, called a chronic absenteeism indicator. All schools, except those noted below, have been graded, but the public won't see those grades until Feb. 1. Schools that exclusively serve special populations, such as children with disabilities or incarcerated youth, and schools that don't have any tested grades (such as schools serving Kindergarten through 2nd grade) are excluded from the grading system. Students enrolled at the Alabama School of Fine Arts or at the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science are not included, nor are those schools given grades. Only students who were enrolled for a "full academic year" are included in the grade. Students are considered enrolled for a full academic year if they are included on a school or district's enrollment on the 20-day-after-Labor Day report and also in the ninth month of the school year without a break in enrollment. Students that move between schools during the school year within the same district don't count in either school's grade, but do count in the district's grade. Students that move during the school year from one district to another within Alabama don't count in the grade for a school or a district, but they do count in the state's grade. The public can't do much with the state's overall grade, but when school and district grades are released on Feb. 1, parents and communities will have a whole lot more information about their public schools than they've ever had before. How the grade is calculated It's important to understand what the points for each indicator mean and how the overall grade was calculated in order to ask the right questions and target improvement efforts within a school. The best way to view the report card is online at this link. It can be accessed easily from the home page of the Alabama State Department of Education web site, www.alsde.edu. Here's a look at how the grades are calculated, what the indicators mean, and how to interpret the scores. The state department has provided a technical guide with details on calculations here. Overall score Simply put, the higher the overall point score, the higher the grade. Higher points mean better outcomes for students, at least on the measures included in the report card. Both the point score and letter grade will be displayed prominently on the online dashboard. The score is a sum of the points for each of the individual indicators. The grading scale is the classic A through F scale, where 90 and above is an 'A', 80 to 89 points earns a 'B', 70 to 79 points is a 'C', 60 to 69 points is a 'D', and 59 or below earns an 'F'. The asterisk (*) If an asterisk is visible, as it is on the state's overall grade, that means at least one subpopulations, noted below, didn't meet the state's score in at least one of the indicators. The details will be available adjacent to each indicator. According to the state report card, only Asian students and students of two or more races, met at a minimum the state score for all indicators. The red 'X' means that group failed to meet the state score for at least one indicator. Subpopulations, also called subgroups, first got attention under No Child Left Behind, which required schools to show a subgroup's test results in order to ensure small groups of students didn't get lost in the larger school population. The requirement to break out, or disaggregate, results for subgroups remained in ESSA. Alabama's overall grade for K-12 public schools for the 2016-2017 school year, published Jan. 11, 2018. Subpopulations Subpopulations, or subgroups, are a way of breaking down students by race, ethnicity, disability status, poverty status, and English language proficiency status. The subpopulations included are: Race and ethnicity groups, including Economically disadvantaged (if a student is eligible for free or reduced-price meals) Students with disabilities (specifically, students with an Individualized Education Plan) Students with Limited English Proficiency Student engagement While not currently included as a part of the overall point score, this is a measure of how many students in 6th grade or above are engaged in at least one extra- or co-curricular activity connected to the school, such as sports, student government, community service, etc. Stu_EngJan18.jpg District officials were responsible for submitting this indicator as the state department does not collect that information. When you click on the link, you'll see the individual measures by district and school. Because students could be counted more than once if they participated in more than one activity, the percentage may be inflated as to the overall student population. State officials said student engagement is a good way to monitor whether students are at risk of dropping out of school. Expenditures per student PPExpJan18.jpg This section displays the amount of funding from federal, state, and local sources that is spent "for the education of each student." State officials said this is included because not all communities invest the same amount of resources in students which can impact student outcomes. Accountability indicators These are the factors the state department of education chose to represent school performance in Alabama. Many education groups had a hand in deciding which of these factors were included and what weight each is worth. For the report card, each of the indicators is scored individually, then multiplied by the appropriate weight, and ultimately added together to get the total score. Weights_Jan18.jpg For the 2016-2017 report card, the math and reading results for students in 3rd through 8th grades and also in 10th grade taking the ACT Aspire, the Alabama Alternate Assessment (AAA) and Scantron (Florence City Schools only) were used. Academic achievement Ach_Jan18.jpg Attaining high achievement scores is the goal schools should be aiming at, state officials said. Alabama students earned 60.27 points for the 2016-2017 school year. That does not mean that 60.27 percent of students reached proficiency on state tests. This score is based on the percentage of students in tested grades scoring at level 2 (close), 3 (ready), or 4 (exceeding). Students at level 2 earn one-half of one point. Students at level 3 earn one point, and students at level 4 earn 1.25 points. The total of students at each level is multiplied by the appropriate weight, and those points are added together for the total point score in achievement. The percentage of students proficient on state tests was published on the federal report card, released in December. On tests taken in spring of 2017, 39 percent of all tested students reached proficiency in reading, 44 percent in math, and 35 percent in science. Academic growth Academic growth is considered by many to be a more important measure of school success than achievement. When a student enters a school for the first time, the school takes the child where they are and moves them forward. The academic growth measure is an attempt to see how well schools are doing that. Growth_Jan18.jpg Points earned for academic growth are an indication of how well schools are moving students forward as measured by growth in test scores from one year to the next. Individual student growth is categorized as low, average, or high. Students with low growth earn no points, average growth earns one point, and high growth earns 1.5 points. The total of students at each level is multiplied by the appropriate weight, and those points are added together for the total point score in academic growth. Statewide, Alabama's schools earned 87.86 points. Again, that is not the same as saying 87.86 percent of children showed growth. In fact, the public doesn't know how many students showed which level of growth. The only assertion that can be made from the point score for this indicator is: the higher the academic growth score, the better the school did at moving children forward in their education as measured by test scores. Graduation rate Alabama officials have had their troubles with graduation rates in recent years, with federal auditors finding the state had artificially inflated graduation rates by including students who did not take rigorous coursework aligned with Alabama's standards. Points for this indicator are earned based on the percentage of students who graduate within either four or five years of when they first entered ninth grade. Again, Alabama's earning 87 points does not mean that 87 percent of students graduated within four or five years. Alabama's high school graduation rate for 2017 has not yet been released, but these points are based on the 2017 graduation rates. The 2016 four-year graduation rate for the state was 87.1 percent. College and career readiness Because Alabama no longer requires students to pass a graduation test, some have questioned how education officials can know that students are ready to enter the workforce or attend college. Points are awarded for this indicator based on the percentage of students earning one of seven credentials indicating the student is ready for college or career. Those indicators are: Earning a benchmark score in any section of the ACT college entrance exam, Earning a score of "3" or greater on an Advanced Placement test, Earning a score of "5" or greater on an International Baccalaureate test, Earning college credit through a dual enrollment course or other postsecondary course, Earning an industry credential in a career tech course, Being accepted into the military, or Achieving the silver or gold level on the ACT WorkKeys exam. CCR_Jan18.jpg This measure includes all students, not just graduates, who started 9th grade four years earlier. Alabama students earned 66 points in this category, meaning 66 percent of students who started 9th grade in 2013, had earned one of these indicators. Chronic absenteeism This is a count of students who have missed 15 or more days of school during the 2016-2017 school year. These are full-day absences, excused and unexcused. ChrAbs_Jan18.jpg Students can't learn if they aren't at school, state officials said. Research shows that schools can play a role in reducing chronic absenteeism and state officials have been helping schools across the state address this issue in recent years. The number of points awarded is based on the students not chronically absent. The number shown on the report card shows that 17.68 percent of students were chronically absent during the 2016-2017 school year. So the number of points awarded for the indicator is the inverse, or 82.32 points. Adding it all up, getting a grade, seeing who's struggling Each school's point score for each indicator will then be added up, and a grade will be assigned. The overall grade is based on lumping all students together into one big group. State officials said they wanted to provide the breakdown of subpopulations to help school and district officials target improvement efforts. On every indicator except for chronic absenteeism, five subpopulations scored fewer points than the state did overall: Black students, Hispanic and Latino students, economically disadvantaged students, students with disabilities, and students with Limited English Proficiency. On the chronic absenteeism indicator, the subpopulations not scoring as high as the state overall are American Indian and Alaska Native students, white students, economically disadvantaged students, and students with disabilities. State officials said the next step for schools and parents is to use the information provided to craft a plan to improve outcomes for students. Reaction to the state's overall grade and distribution of points ranged from concern over low points in achievement to surprise that the overall point score was as high as it was. Updated to clarify that schools have previously been given an overall letter grade, but not since 2001. Erin Olsen found one of her sister MaryKate's two dogs, missing since a car wreck that killed MaryKate last Tuesday, on Saturday morning. "I'm so glad we found Piper," she said on Saturday afternoon, "but I'm desperate to find Phoebe." Piper and Phoebe had been with their owner, 26-year-old MaryKate Olsen, in her dad's truck last Tuesday as they drove back to Marietta, Ga., from New Orleans, where they had attended her maternal grandmother's funeral. The vehicle struck a guardrail about a mile north of the Perdido exit on I-65, according to Alabama State Troopers, and flipped, killing MaryKate. Erin, who lives in Colorado, has been searching for the dogs for days, with the help of her best friend and a handful of volunteers. She heard that a dog who fit Piper's description had been seen early in the morning along County Road 47 in Perdido, so after spending Friday night in Atmore, she went to the neighborhood near the Perdido Volunteer Fire Department at dawn on Saturday morning. She spotted Piper, a Chihuahua-Dachshund mix, on the front porch of a house, still sporting her collar and tags. The dog was on an electric blanket that had been left out during the cold night for a cat. "She kept herself nice and warm," Erin said. Piper recognized Erin's voice and scent, she said, and gobbled down the sausage biscuit Erin held out to her. Piper was checked by a veterinarian in Bay Minette. "She had a few ticks and some scrapes," she said. "We got her cleaned up and fed." One of the rescue volunteers had brought a sweater for the diminutive dog. Erin bought Piper a leash, then put the dog to work, traipsing through the woods to look for Phoebe, a Maltese-Shih Tzu mix. "If anybody could find Phoebe, it would be Piper," Erin said. "She's trying to help us track through the woods near where she was found." Erin, her friend and Piper searched the woods, including an abandoned house, and returned to the crash site a couple of miles away from where Piper was found, but they didn't find Phoebe before dark Saturday. Rita Tullis of Nokomis, Ala., is one of the volunteers who has helped search for the dogs since she found out they were missing last week. "I just have a love for animals," she said. She and a group of six volunteers searched in the cold Saturday, when the high temperature struggled to reach 40 degrees. Rita plans to search again Sunday morning, starting at 8 a.m. at the Perdido Volunteer Fire Department. Erin will also continue to search, though she said she needs to get back to work in Colorado before returning for MaryKate's funeral. Arrangements have not yet been announced because Erin's grandfather, whose wife of 60 years was buried last Monday, had a mild heart attack Thursday and is recovering in the hospital. Erin will continue looking for Phoebe because she knows her sister wouldn't want her to give up yet. "I keep talking to her spirit and telling her I'm going to find her babies," she said. Sen. Richard Shelby's stance against failed Republican Senatorial candidate Roy Moore played a pivotal role in the state landing the $1.6 billion Toyota/Mazda plant, according to the head of the Business Council of Alabama. "With the recent announcement of the F-35 Lightning landing in Montgomery and the decision for Toyota/Mazda to choose Huntsville Alabama this week, only one man made that happen...Senator Shelby," BCA President and CEO William Canary said in a statement to AL.com. "Because of his unwavering courage and leadership, he made this happen. Without his principled stands, (Toyota and Mazda) would have gone to North Carolina, especially if Mr. Moore was elected." Reports recently emerged that Shelby was the target of a censure campaign by backers of Moore, who lost his U.S. Senate bid in December to Democrat Doug Jones. Shelby publicly said he would not support Moore in the wake of allegations theformer Alabama Chief justice had improper sexual contact with teenage girls in the 1970s. Shelby did not back Moore's opponent but said he wrote in the name of a "distinguished Republican" on election day. Jones' victory made him the first Democrat to win a U.S. Senate seat from Alabama in more than 20 years. Shelby was the last Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from Alabama - winning in 1992 - before switching to the Republican party in 1994. Weeks after Jones' victory, the Air Force announced the state would serve as the home base for the Air Force's F-35 jets. Then, last week, Toyota and Mazda announced their new joint plant would be built in North Alabama, with the state beating out rival North Carolina for the coveted facility. BCA chief: Shelby deserves commendation, not censure Shelby's stance against Moore have led to a push for an official censure from the state Republican party and robocalls backed by a Texas financier called for his resignation. Shelby's office has called the efforts a "shortsighted attempt to divide the party over Sen. Shelby's noble stance." Canary agreed. "I publicly would urge the GOP to adopt a resolution that commends Senator Shelby for his service to Alabama," he said. North Alabama has been on a roll in this early portion of 2018, and some of it has come at the expense of coastal Alabama. Highlights include: Toyota and Mazda announced Wednesday that they'll build a $1.6 billion auto manufacturing plant in Limestone County. The companies preferred the location for logistical purposes, Gov. Kay Ivey announced And Mobile's only pro sports team, the Class AA minor league baseball BayBears, apparently is headed north. When it comes to big economic wins of late, coastal Alabama - home of some of the state's fastest population growth - clearly is trailing the Tennessee Valley. And it might be reopening a few wounds and causing some hard feelings that will spill over into the state's 2018 elections. 'Sun over the Gulf' Two years ago, state lawmakers from the coast butted heads with northern lawmakers over how to divide the state's $1 billion BP settlement, a one-time windfall. The northern side mostly got its way, forcing a deal that draws the ire of the coast's local politicians to the present day. In the words of Baldwin County Commissioner Chris Elliott, a candidate for state Senate this year, "They robbed us out of BP funding." Baldwin County's soaring growth is more or less unrivaled in the state: From 1960 to 2014, the population increased three-fold, mostly in Baldwin's southern half, transforming a once-sleepy region between Interstate 10 and the Gulf. And it's become one of the foundation stones upholding Republican dominance of state political offices. This year, gubernatorial candidates are expected to flock to Baldwin during the campaign. The top two Republicans, in terms of fundraising, are Gov. Kay Ivey (who has amassed $2.3 million in contributions) and Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle (who has raised about $1.5 million). Both are already talking up their devotion to the coast. Brent Buchanan, a representative for Ivey's campaign, pointed to an introductory line in the governor's State of the State speech: "I declare that the state of the state is strong and our future is as bright as the sun over the Gulf." More tangibly, Buchanan said the governor is committed to the coastal region and "has proved so with contributions for Airbus' Aviation Education Center, more public land protection for Dauphin Island and support for the Gulf State Park project, and millions in road funding." The Gulf State Park complex, anchored by a hotel and conference center facing the Gulf of Mexico between Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, could open later this year. Battle's campaign, meanwhile, is looking for more opportunities to introduce him to coastal voters. Said Battle campaign spokesman Nick Lough: "Baldwin and Mobile counties are vital to Huntsville's success. North Alabama would not have the ability to attract some of our jobs projects if the Port (of Mobile) wasn't around. The communities are more connected than ever and that's a good thing for Alabama." Battle's campaign also said the mayor, if elected governor, will be able to find the right "major employer" to fill the South Alabama Megasite in Bay Minette. "Why? Look no further than what just happened this week with the Toyota-Mazda announcement at the Huntsville Megasite," said Lough. "He was at the head of the table during months of negotiations. He gets it and understand that if he can get Mobile and Baldwin headed in the same type of direction, then they'll achieve even greater economic success." 'Friends and neighbors' As longtime political observers note, Battle is pretty much an unknown on the coast. "There is no doubt that Tommy Battle must be seen as something other than the mayor of Huntsville," said Jess Brown, a retired political science professor at Athens State University. Steve Flowers, a former Republican in the Legislature who writes a political column published in more than 60 newspapers in Alabama, said Battle's lack of statewide name ID puts Ivey "in the catbird seat right now." But Flowers also touts an old political theory of "friends and neighbors voting." According to the theory, candidates may glad-hand all over, but they'll win or lose depending on how many votes they pile up in their home territory. A good example of this might be John McMillan's victory in the 2010 GOP runoff for agriculture commissioner against Dorman Grace. McMillan, who lives in Baldwin's Stockton community, grabbed nearly 40,000 more votes than Dorman in Mobile and Baldwin counties, and it was that margin that largely determined the outcome. "There is just no way anymore for a statewide candidate for the Republican primary to ignore Mobile and Baldwin counties," said McMillan, who is running for state treasurer this year. This year, the only gubernatorial candidate who's from the coast is state Sen. Bill Hightower, R-Mobile. Hightower gained a measure of regional renown in 2016 when he helped lead efforts among southern lawmakers in to collect more of the BP settlement. In an interview this past week, he said that the split between north and sound can rear its head far beyond the Statehouse in Montgomery. Hightower said during the annual Paris Air Show pilgrimage, in which Alabama politicians travel to France to meet with aerospace suppliers, the northern and southern lawmakers often split up and host separate receptions: The northern lawmakers meeting with Boeing, while southern lawmakers chumming with Airbus. Said Hightower, "We need to sell ourselves as one Alabama and not let companies outside the state control how we control our business, and that's a tragedy to me." Obviously, Hightower's home address in the Mobile area makes him no sure bet to win over coastal voters. In last year's Senate Republican Party primary, state Sen. Trip Pittman of Montrose finished a distant third in Mobile and Baldwin counties behind Roy Moore and Luther Strange. 'Open for tourism' Like Ivey and Battle, other gubernatorial candidates from outside the coast are pitching their attachment and loyalty to the region. Scott Dawson, a GOP candidate who's a youth pastor in Birmingham, is calling for tax benefits that could help spur coastal tourism even higher. Dawson said that Alabama needs to be at a competitive advantage over Florida and Tennessee when it comes to luring non-profit groups and religious institutions for conventions. He said he would like to offer them tax exemptions at hotels. Dawson said that the state also should create tax breaks for Alabama families who stay in the state for vacations, perhaps in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach rather than Sandestin and Panama City. "Of course, there would have to be guidelines for nights and you cannot make it a free-for-all," he said. The point, Dawson said, is to declare to the rest of the state, "Our Gulf Coast is open for tourism." On the Democratic side, Sue Bell Cobb - the former Alabama Supreme Court chief justice - has a similar vision in that she wants to make Alabama "more competitive with Florida and Mississippi" when it comes to tourism. "Florida has the advantage of decades of marketing. Mississippi has the advantage of casinos," said Cobb. "We can be creative and more strategic with our marketing efforts." Cobb and Democrat Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox, who are the two most well-funded Democrats in the running, both say that leveraging the Port of Mobile is important. Cobb says she's "committed to deepening and widening" the port's channel. Maddox said he is pushing for "preserving and protecting" the coastal areas environmental assets will assist in promoting the regions' economy. He shares the frustration among coastal Alabama lawmakers about the BP oil spill allocation, referencing the terrible tornadoes that shattered Tuscaloosa in 2011. "As governor, I will ensure that funds from a presidential disaster are invested into areas who earned it through their suffering," Maddox said. "I know the immense challenges of recovering from a natural disaster. Understanding this perspective, I believe it to be unfair that coastal Alabama had to forfeit so much of the BP money to the state coffers because of a lack of fiscal management in Montgomery." Hernandez Stroud Hernandez Stroud of Huntsville, an assistant law professor at Washington and Lee University, has been named one of Forbes 2018 '30 under 30' in Law and Policy. (Andrea Mabry) Hernandez D. Stroud has come a long way. Raised in Alabama in the working-class neighborhoods of north Huntsville, his parents -- Hernandez K. and Bettie Stroud -- worked several jobs at one time to make ends meet. The length of that journey is not lost on the 29-year-old assistant law professor at Washington & Lee University. That journey, in fact, makes his selection as one of Forbes magazine's 2018 "30 under 30" list for Law and Policy, even more satisfying. Before his mother got a job as a mail carrier, they lived frugally on his father's paycheck as a bread factory worker and his mother's odd jobs. "My parents worked tirelessly to give me the best childhood they could create," he said. With both parents working long hours, his grandparents played a crucial role in helping to raise him. Stroud often wore hand-me-downs from the children of white families whose homes his grandmother cleaned. He noticed the difference in those white families' lives and his. "They had better toys; they didn't add water to empty soap bottles to get more soap; and their home, so grand, was like something out of a movie," Stroud said. "Still, because my family loved me, I never thought long enough about the differences to notice a distinction or to raise a question. Nothing felt amiss. But I did grow up telling myself, 'One day, I want to live in a house like this.'" He's not ashamed of his background, but wears it like a badge. "Few things in my childhood taught me the value of hard work like walking for miles in cheap shoes in the Alabama sun, scavenging with my grandfather for cans to sell to earn a few bucks," Stroud said. He put in the hard work. Stroud attended Montview Elementary and Chapman Middle School and graduated from Hazel Green High School in 2006. He went to the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2010, on full academic and music scholarships, having played classical trumpet from age 9. After becoming the first in his family to graduate from college, he earned his master's in education policy and urban education from the University of Pennsylvania in 2012 and his law degree from Washington and Lee in 2015. After graduating, he held a fellowship at Yale Law School for a year, and in 2016, clerked for the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Alabama. He now serves, just two years after graduating, as an assistant law professor at his alma mater. One of his proudest moments in law came in 2014 when he argued before U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito in Washington and Lee's annual moot court competition. Now, he's been recognized by one of the nation's premier publications as being one of the nation's most promising young people in his chosen profession. That doesn't mean he's changed inside. Before passing away, his grandparents, a mechanic named Henry Ford, Sr. and a maid named Charlie Mae Ford, made sure of that. "Neither of my grandparents graduated from high school, but they were the wisest people I have ever met. My grandparents' lives represent some of the deepest wounds of our nation's social fabric," he said. "Imagining your grandparents, bone-tired from working for others, drink from water fountains marked 'colored' or being instructed to eat food in a room with a dog due to their skin color makes it easy to comprehend the value of justice, empathy, and appreciation for the small things in life. "My grandparents are why, whenever I commence a new job, I smile and introduce myself to the person raking the leaves or mopping the floors," Stroud said. "Those people are, essentially, no different than my grandparents." During graduate school, Stroud worked two years for Teach for America in west Philadelphia, at a public, all boys charter school. He taught 10th grade history and civics. "Teaching in Philadelphia confirmed my decision to go to law school. My students were quite bright; they were funny, inspiring, and thoughtful; they wanted to succeed just like any other kids," he said. "But they faced tremendous challenges in their goings on outside the classroom that affected their ability to concentrate inside the classroom. I have even lost some former students to violence and suicide. That deeply troubles me. "Understanding that a student had their head down, not because they were disinterested in learning or apathetic toward their future, but because they were suffering trauma, meant that I had to figure out how best to tap my students' potential," he said. "Having some experience in such a life helped me do that." His ultimate path to the legal profession has its roots in Alabama. During his freshman year at UAB, a parent of one of his close friends was murdered. He attended the trial to support his friend. "Observing the judge and lawyers made me realize that the judiciary may be, at times, the one governmental institution that safeguards liberty and promotes justice for a poor or penniless person," he said. "I wanted to be like those people, to use the law to ensure justice for all parties involved in a matter." Though there in support of the victim's family, "I had not considered the criminal defendant's humanity," Stroud stated. "Yes, the defendant had committed an atrocious act but as the trial progressed, I began to wonder about his story: He had a family present who appeared to love him and thought the world of him," he said. "That the judge was a servant of the law, not the other way around, and that the judge treated the defendant as an individual, not as some animal, while holding the defendant responsible, intrigued me." "In other words, seeing what I now understand as the rule of law -- which protects the rights and liberties of all Americans -- in action taught me that without the rule of law, any rights are meaningless." The journey takes a new turn for Stroud this year. He's been selected to clerk at the U.S. Court of the Appeals for the First Circuit, an opportunity that could lead to a clerkship at the U.S. Supreme Court. Pretty good for a kid from Alabama who'd never met a lawyer until he got to college at UAB. He'd love it if kids today who are growing up in similar settings could be able to dream beyond their circumstances. "I am not naive that for some children, especially those in the direst circumstances, this may be easier said than done," he said. "However, if I could talk today with kids who face hardship, I would say to them to try to find a passion in life. And to work as hard as you can in school. "Wanting to be the best at trumpet--my passion--distracted me from the streets and that developed in me a dogged optimism that good enough isn't good enough." Haskins writes about points of pride statewide. Email your suggestions to shaskins@al.com, or tweet them to @Shelly_Haskins using #AlabamaProud Chile has suffered some of the worst cases of ecclesiastic sex abuse in the region, and the Catholic Church is paying the price. Santiago, Chile The last time a pope visited Chile was in 1987, when the then staunchly Catholic South American country was in the midst of military rule. Even communists embraced John Paul II, because of the Chilean Churchs outspoken defence of human rights. But 31 years on, the arrival of the first Latin American pope is not provoking the same euphoria. Chile has suffered some of the worst cases of ecclesiastic sex abuse in the region, and the Catholic Church is paying the price. When the former archbishop of Buenos Aires became Pope Francis in 2013, his charisma and above all his promises to reform some of the darkest practices of the Vatican, captured the imagination and admiration of much of the world, especially in his region. He vowed that there would be zero tolerance for sex abuse within the Catholic Church and formed a special commission to investigate the issue, inviting two victims to take part. Five years later, growing unhappiness over the Vaticans follow up on zero tolerance is casting a shadow on the papal visit here. The pontiffs controversial decision to name Father Juan Barros as Bishop of Osorno, even though he was accused of facilitating and covering up abuses for Chiles most notorious pedophile priest, Fernando Karadima, left many stupefied. We are not happy to receive him, because he says one thing and does another. The Church continues covering up abuses and the pope rewards the culprits. Silvana Gonzalez, Catholic protester And when Pope Francis was caught on video telling a pilgrim in Rome that Osorno parishioners were suffering because they were dumb and twisted by the left, there was outrage. Silvana Gonzalez is one of dozens of Catholics who protested on the steps of Osornos Cathedral on the eve of the Popes arrival. We are not happy to receive him, because he says one thing and does another. The Church continues covering up abuses and the pope rewards the culprits. And calling us dumb is an insolent offence that we cannot tolerate, Gonzalez told Al Jazeera. Just days before the popes arrival , the Boston-based research group bishopaccountability.org published a database listing some 70 Chilean priests, deacons, religious brothers and even a nun who have been accused of molesting children. Some remain in active ministry. Millions of Catholics have lost faith Some 30 of Osornos parishioners are coming to Santiago for the Popes arrival. They will be joining other protesters who say they want to hold the pope accountable. Among them is Juan Carlos Cruz, one of three of Karadimas victims. He says the pope has betrayed Chile by defending the institution and re-victimising the survivors. The pope has great headlines but no follow up. Apart from Bishop Barros, we have Cardinal Errazuriz, who was rewarded by being named to the committee of eight cardinals that council him, along with George Pell, another abuser from Sydney, says Cruz. And the current Archbishop of Santiago, Ricardo Ezzati, has been named a cardinal, when he has covered up not only our abuses but those of many others. Pope Francis holds the book of the Gospel as he celebrates the Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peters Basilica at the Vatican [File: Alessandra Tarantino/AP Photo] Pope Francis knows that in Chile and in Peru, where he will also stop, millions of Catholics have lost faith. Just ahead of his trip, the pope ordered the Vatican to take over an elite Catholic group in Peru, after years of charges that its founder sexually abused scores of children and adult members. And after saying that there was no room on the popes schedule to meet with abuse victims during his trip to Chile and Peru, the Vatican is now indicating that it wont rule it out. These are important gestures. But Pope Francis will have to do more to inspire trust in the Catholic Church, which in Chile is now the lowest in Latin America. In many countries but especially in Chile, sex abuses within the church have been and continue to be very painful. Cases are still being revealed. The popes visit here is an opportunity to tell him about these issues. What we need is an open heart to listen to what he has to say, says Javier Peralta, director of the National Commission for the Papal Visit. Trumps new relaxed rules of engagement are killing civilians and breeding the next generation of anti-US fighters. US President Donald Trump loves signing executive orders. During his first year in office, he has signed dozens of controversial orders on a wide variety of subjects, ranging from national security to trade. Some of these executive orders, such as the ones on the Muslim travel ban and the Mexican border wall, received a lot of media attention and triggered protests around the world. But many other decisions by the president, causing death and destruction in faraway places like Somalia, went considerably unnoticed. Only weeks after taking office, Trump signed a directive declaring parts of Somalia an area of active hostilities. This declaration relaxed some of the rules aimed at preventing civilian casualties when the US military carries out counterterrorism strikes in Somalia. The Pentagon claimed that this order expanded its targeting authority to defeat al-Shabab in Somalia in partnership with the African Union and Somali forces. But, in practice, what this order did was little more than allow US soldiers to kill at will and with impunity within the borders of Somalia. This is illegal, immoral and counterproductive. An illegal order The US aerial bombardment of Somalia started during George Bushs war on terror, but the number of civilian casualties was minimal back then. Since the current US president relaxed the rules of engagement, the number and scope of these attacks increased dramatically, leading to many civilian casualties. According to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, there were 32 to 36 reported US drone strikes in Somalia between 2001 and 2016. In 2017, 34 air and drone strikes were carried out, killing more than 200 people. Al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda-linked militant group, is the official target of most US drone strikes in Somalia. Its ultimate objective is to overthrow the government in Mogadishu and establish a new state in its place. Several African nations have been battling the armed group for over a decade, but Western nations, including the US, are now overtly leading the fight. In the process, Washington appears to be relying on backdoor dealings and violating the sovereignty of an independent nation. It is not clear who authorises the air and drone strikes the US is conducting. Somalia is not the failed state it once was it is no longer a playground for uninvited foreigners. Today, theres an internationally recognised administration in Mogadishu with functioning judicial, legislative and executive branches, and this administration, not Donald Trump, should be the one authorising the measures that can be used in the fight against al-Shabab in the country. Somalias constitution clearly states that the countrys sovereignty is inviolable. Its legislative and executive branches are responsible for the security of the nation and only they can decide on military action. Without their approval, attacks are in violation of the nations sovereignty and are therefore illegal. Immoral attacks on innocent civilians The US cites its national interests and security as a pretext to conduct attacks on alleged al-Shabab bases in Somalia. No one is denying some of those killed as result of these strikes are indeed al-Shabab fighters, but the vast majority of the victims are civilians. We know this because al-Shabab usually confirms the deaths of its senior commanders and fighters. We have witnessed this when Sheikh Ali Jabal, a senior al-Shabab commander in Somalia, was killed in a US strike in August last year. The cowardly American enemy planes tried to strike him, the group said in a statement circulated on social media. The first missed him and the second hit, making him a martyr. Al-Shabab leaders do not try to hide the deaths of the groups commanders and members, because they know that this would be a hard and futile task. Information about these deaths can easily surface through the clans and communities their fighters hail from. So, when we see statements by US forces declaring that they killed dozens of terrorists in Somalia and hear no confirmation from al-Shabab leadership about these deaths, we question the validity of US claims about the identities of the victims. Most civilian deaths do not get global attention because the attacks take place in al-Shabab-controlled areas. This makes it impossible for journalists and international human rights groups to investigate. Sometimes local media publish photos and names of the civilian victims of US attacks. But even this depends on the victims clan. If a victim belongs to a minority clan that holds no political power, the government will easily dismiss them as terrorist sympathisers. On August 17, 2017, the US launched three precision air strikes in the southern town of Jilib. US Africa Command released a statement claiming to have killed terrorists. However, the victims, seven of them, were civilians from the same family. Photos of their bodies and the remnants of their house were widely published in Somali media. But the victims belonged to a minority clan that has no power and influence in Somalia, and their relatives desperate plea for justice perished soon after they buried their loved ones. A few days later, another US-led military raid took place in Bariire village, 45km from Mogadishu, killing 10 people, including children. Again, the Somali government and the US claimed that they only killed terrorists. This time, however, the victims hailed from an influential clan. Survivors and relatives challenged the false official claims about the attack. To prove their case, family members took an unprecedented step and transported the victims bodies to the capital city to put them on display. Due to the pressure, government officials met relevant clan elders, apologised and agreed to pay compensation. Despite the solid evidence and a confirmation from the Somali government, the US administration still insists that victims of this attack were not civilians. By denying facts, the Trump administration is damaging US reputation as a nation that respects human rights and the rule of law. A counterproductive campaign The US military campaign in Somalia will not yield any results. Bombs dropped from the sky will certainly take out a few al-Shabab commanders; two of their former leaders were already killed by the US. They may also force their operatives into hiding or restrict their movements. But killing a few commanders and fighters isnt going to bring the demise of the group. After all, al-Shababs success is not based on individuals its based on an ideology and you cannot defeat an ideology with bombs. Somalis wont be outraged over the fight against al-Shabab and the killing of the groups fighters. People in the country understand these men have signed up to kill or be killed. But the indiscriminate killings of civilians is antagonising Somalis. This gives legitimacy to the militant group as a resistance movement, especially within communities living under its rule. Every innocent person killed by the US is a gain for al-Shabab. Victims family members and fellow clansmen will seek retaliation. To them, revenge is an act of justice. Most of the victims of US military operations in Somalia are farmers and nomads who have no animosity towards the American people. US bombardment is forcing many to flee their homes. In recent months, we have seen drone refugees arriving in Mogadishus overcrowded camps for the internally displaced. Children are traumatised by the constant fear of bombs falling from the sky. Mr Trump, your bombs are breeding the next generation of suicide bombers in Somalia. Fight al-Shabab but stop terrorising innocent Somalis. To achieve any success, you must respect international and Somali law, reverse your immoral actions and rethink your strategy in Somalia. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. Today marks the seventh anniversary of the fall of Tunisias dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. But instead of celebrating, Tunisians are out in the streets again. What went wrong? The dictatorship established in the 1950s, which morphed into a police state in the later decades, banned politics and pushed citizens away from their countrys public affairs. The Tunisian revolution swept away that closure and created the Tunisian homo-politicus. Since January 2011, Tunisians have become incredibly politicised and the political system has been opened to all. Yet what the Revolution did not do was create a Tunisian homo-economicus. The Tunisian economy remained mismanaged. Anger boiled over when the political opening reached its limits and that mismanagement was no longer tolerable. Socioeconomic anger In fact, the economic situation has worsened since 2011. The countrys public debt jumped from 39.2 percent of the GDP in 2010 to 60.6 percent in 2016. The Tunisian dinar, the local currency, lost around 40 percent of its value to the US dollar. Unemployment persisted, especially among youth (around 35 percent now). The prices of basic goods have been continually rising. Tunisians of all walks of life complain that their living conditions are deteriorating and that they are unable to make ends meet each month. This is the main trigger of todays protests. And in a way, it was also the trigger of most of the demonstrations the country has witnessed for the past seven years. What sparked this wave of protests is the finance law which came into effect on January 1. The parliament passed the law last year and although it was discussed in the media, it did not catch the publics eye. It was only when prices went up that people paid attention. {articleGUID} A group of mostly young activists launched a protest campaign against the law called Fech Nestanaou (What are we waiting for?). They were a few dozens whose means were limited to tags on walls and distributing tracts. The police, unreformed and still working with the Ben Ali-era methods, harassed, brutalised and arrested (briefly) many of them. A smear campaign against the movement followed. But because of the latent anger, many people went out demonstrating, independently from Fech Nestanaou. Leftist political groups, some of them with anarchist tendencies, joined the movement as well. Protests spread in the streets of Tunis, Sfax, Jebeniana, Sousse, and other cities across the country. Criminal elements managed to take advantage of the situation and there were incidents of looting in some areas. A political elite without a people This latest crisis comes amid a larger one which has gripped the country since the fall of Ben Alis regime. The elections of 2014 elevated two winners: centrist party Nidaa Tounes and the Islamist Ennahdha. Nidaa Tounes, whose political campaign was built on countering Ennahdha, accepted to form an alliance with the latter. This led to a general disappointment among the party grassroots and a wave of resignations ensued. Then, when the party leader Beji Caid Essebsi left the party to become president of Tunisia, a succession crisis erupted and the party felt apart. The alliance was, therefore, from the beginning, a weak one and based on mistrust. The consensus, which was mainly the result of agreements between Caid Essebsi and Ennahdha leader Rached Ghannouchi, could not go deep into the constituencies of the two parties. It remained purely nominal. Ministers and members of parliament were disconnected from their bases and many laws and measures they passed reflected their self-interest and had limited reach. But while weakened as a political party, Nidaa Tounes remained symbolically strong. For many secular Tunisians, it is the secular alternative to Ennahdha. For members of the Tunisian bureaucracy, it is the old state-party. For the international community, it is the modernist facade of Tunisia. As for Ennahdhas leadership, fearing the local and global hostility towards Islamism, Nidaa Tounes was a good smokescreen in which to hide. The consensus, as dysfunctional as it is, remains the best alternative for two exhausted enemies. Therefore, when the Parliament examined the finance law drafted by the government and largely inspired by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), there was very little opposition among the consensus MPs. They voted for the law, but they did not defend it in public and could not present it to their constituencies. Additionally, due to disagreements between Prime Minister Youssef Chahed and the leadership of the political parties within his coalition government, communication about the finance law and its implementation was limited. His relationship with the president is also said to be rather dysfunctional, which adds another level to the existing deep-rooted crisis. Empty political promises The finance law was, furthermore, a blow to many Nidaa Tounes voters expectations. During the 2014 electoral campaign, Nidaa Tounes rallied its supporters with the promise not only to counter the Islamist Ennahdha, but also to strengthen the state. Its followers saw in this promise the comeback of the strong state as it was under Tunisias nationalist leader Habib Bourguiba (in power 1956-1987). They imagined an idealised past, where the state would provide jobs, subsidies, social security and so on, coming back. Likewise, expectations were high among those who voted for Ennahdha; many were expecting better distribution of wealth, social welfare and more social projects. In reality, however, the Nidaa-Tounes-Ennahda government gradually applied austerity measures, decreased subsidies and limited public-sector employment. This situation has been repeating since 2011. Economic problems lead to popular anger. Popular anger leads to popular revolt. Political parties exploit that anger to gain power by means of false promises, and then fail to alleviate the economic problems. It is a vicious circle. Solving the current crisis will not be easy. The angry citizens will hardly accept another series of promises. Suspending the finance law may help calm the streets, but it will slow down the economy even more. The government might be sacked and Caid Essebsi and Ghannouchi might agree on appointing another prime minister, but that would mean perpetuating the vicious cycle. Moreover, this dead-end may bring back the old practices from the dictatorship era and trigger the rebuilding of the police state. The UN OHCHR and Amnesty International have recently warned the Tunisian governments against such attempts. There is, therefore, an urgency to find a solution, perhaps by forming a government of technocrats similar to the one that led the country to its 2014 elections in order to organise the May 2018 local elections and the late 2019 legislative and presidential elections. The countrys hope is that these elections will bring in fresh blood and different, more representative and able politicians. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. Islam was mentioned a total of 21 times in the Austrian coalitions new governmental programme, titled Together. For our Austria. In terms of domestic security, the programme focused on political Islam and Islamist extremism. Yet, despite a dramatic increase in the number of right-wing attacks in recent years in Austria, there was no mention of right-wing activity or fascism in the document published in late December by chancellor-elect Sebastian Kurzs centre-right Peoples Party (OVP) and the far-right-wing Freedom Party of Austria (FPO). According to Austrias domestic intelligence service (BVT), authorities pressed charges in about 1,690 cases related to right-wing activity in 2015 the highest number in a single year and an increase from 1,200 in 2014. Austria is the only country in Western Europe with a far-right government since Kurz won Austrias national elections last October. The OVP will govern the country for the next five years in coalition with the FPO, a party founded by former Nazis, currently led by Heinz-Christian Strache. The coalition governments rhetoric has alarmed some Austrian Muslims who fear they have been cast as a threat to society. Professor Farid Hafez, a fellow at Georgetown Universitys Bridge Initiative, said the governments focus on Islam in their programme was unprecedented in the history of the second republic of Austria. In itself, its something very new, Hafez told Al Jazeera. I think what well see in the next five years is something that we have never seen before in Austria. Combating political Islam Many Austrians were concerned that while political Islam was often mentioned, it was not clearly defined and in reality, it was common Austrian Muslims that were being targeted in the governments programme. Under the heading of Combating political Islam, the coalition government called for closer monitoring of Islamic preschools and Islamic private schools and for their closure where legal requirements are not met. One of their aims was to prevent foreign influence, particularly in the field of education and to implement a ban on overseas funding. However, the prohibition applied only to Muslims; no other religious community was mentioned in the report. The governments rhetoric has alarmed some Austrian Muslims [Thomas Kronsteiner/Getty Images] When you bring [political Islam] into the discussion you can mean anything or nothing by it; thats exactly the danger of it. Possibly and thats my greatest fear any political opposition and NGOs might be targeted in the future by something called political Islam, Hafez said. If you look at the programme in detail, the way they were framing political Islam was very much in a way where you could potentially target many different groups. Prevention and de-radicalisation measures in the report also focused solely on Muslims; dangers posed by other groups were ignored. Islam is a religion that propagates peace and is in no way a danger for any state or society. Unfortunately, when we look at the government programme, Islam is being put into that very corner. Ibrahim Olgun, president of the Islamic Community in Austria Their manifesto also called for an authorised German translation of the Quran to be used and for Muslims to distance themselves from certain passages of the Quran. [Kruzs Freedom Party] has shifted their focus completely and they dont see Muslims any more as partners in Austrian society, but rather as a threat to Austrian society, Hafez explained. Ibrahim Olgun, president of the Islamic Community in Austria, agreed that Islam was wrongly linked with political Islam. We absolutely disagree with this, since the religion of Islam is not a political tool and should be treated equally with the dominant religions in Austria, Olgun said. Islam is a religion that propagates peace and is in no way a danger for any state or society. Unfortunately, when we look at the government programme, Islam is being put into that very corner. The Austrian government did not respond to Al Jazeera for comment. Growing religious intolerance Verbal and physical abuse of Muslims in Austria has risen, according to Dokustelle, an organisation that documents cases of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim racism. Between 2015 and 2016 the most recent year that statistics are available Islamophobic attacks increased by 62 percent to 253 incidents. In a recent example marking the start of the new year, Asel Tamga, the first Viennese baby born in 2018, made international headlines after she was subject to a wave of Islamophobic and racist comments. The baby was featured on the newspaper Heutes Facebook page, photographed in the arms of her headscarf-wearing mother. The post was quickly bombarded with comments such as: Deport the scum immediately and Im hoping for a crib death. The comments escalated to such an extent that Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen intervened, writing on Facebook: Confidence and cohesion are greater than hatred and incitement. Welcome, dear Asel! Protection of religious minorities are mentioned in the government programme, but only in regards to battling the persecution of religious minorities especially Christian minorities who should be protected against extremist religious ideologies (e.g. political Islam). Meanwhile, educated Austrian Muslim women fear that a ban on the veil, or hijab, might ensue after Austrias newly-appointed Education Minister Heinz Fassman recently told a local paper that teachers should not wear a headscarf. This will also affect other sectors and have a negative impact on the employment situation which is precarious for visible Muslim women already, said Dudu Kucukgol, a PhD student and researcher on sexism, racism and Islamophobia. Kurz was welcomed by the Muslim community when he started as state secretary in 2011. He made positive statements and really seemed to bring a shift in paradigm. He was against headscarf debates, he strongly insisted that Muslims are a positive part of the Austrian society. However, after a few years his language and politics changed. Husein Veladzic, an imam of a mosque in the Austrian city of Linz, however, believes that the Islamophobic discourse may produce an opposite effect in some aspects. He has noticed that as the far right becomes more prevalent, more non-Muslim Austrians have been visiting his mosque to learn about Islam. The attacks [against Islam and Muslims] are heavy, of course. But it also spurs an interest for Islam. People start asking themselves, What is [Islam]? Is it really like this? People are informing themselves, Veladzic said. Mohammed Hamdan suffers leg injury after a bomb planted in his car detonates in southern Lebanese city of Sidon. A car bomb explosion in the southern Lebanese city of Sidon has slightly wounded a member of Hamas, according to the Palestinian group, which blamed Israel for the assassination attempt. Mohammed Hamdan suffered a leg injury on Sunday after a bomb planted in his car detonated, Hamas media group said in a statement. Initial indications point to Zionist [Israeli] fingers behind this criminal act, Hamas said without further details. Hamdan was taken to a local hospital for treatment, according to local media reports and a photograph released by Hamas. Lebanese news outlets said the blast took place as the Palestinian was getting into his booby-trapped BMW in the area of al-Boustan al-Kabir in Sidon, some 40km south of the Lebanese capital, Beirut. Powerful blast The bomb used about 500 grams of explosives and was placed under the drivers seat, according to the Lebanese National News Agency. The explosion destroyed the vehicle and caused damage to a nearby building, sending black smoke rising above the city. Firefighters rushed to the scene to put out the flames, while security forces cordoned off the area. Hamas statement described Hamdan as one of its cadres in Sidon. The group has previously accused Israel of being involved in the assassination of a number of its members inside and outside Palestine. In November 2017, it blamed the Israeli national intelligence agency Mossad for the killing of Mohammed al-Zawari, a Tunisian commander of Hamas armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, after conducting an 11-month-long investigation. Indian PM receives Netanyahu at the airport as the Israeli leader begins six-day trip to cement closer ties. Benjamin Netanyahu has arrived in India on a six-day trip, becoming the second Israeli prime minister to visit New Delhi since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1992. In a move described by the Indian foreign ministry as a departure from protocol, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Netanyahu at the Delhi airport on Sunday. It is Netanyahus first official trip to the South Asian country. {articleGUID} The visit is a fitting culmination to the silver jubilee year of the formal relationship, foreign ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said on Twitter. Defence, security, trade and agriculture cooperation will be high on the agenda, as Israel looks to cement closer ties with South Asias major economic power. India is the biggest buyer of Israeli defence equipment. We have landed in India. Thank you to my good friend Narendra Modi for the warm welcome! https://t.co/mLsGxZT1E7 Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) January 14, 2018 The trip comes weeks after New Delhi voted against Israel at the United Nations resolution on the status of Jerusalem. Apoorva Gautam, head of BDS India, said intensifying of diplomatic relations with Israel shows there is deep contradiction in Indias position at the international level with respect to Israel. There is an unmistakable attempt to join the US-Israel camp except when it comes to taking positions at the UN. She added that Indias support to Palestinian cause at the UN is in response to international pressures and an attempt to not isolate India. TIMELINE 1947: India voted against UN Partition Plan to create the states of Israel and Palestine 1950: India formally recognises Israel 1992: India establishes full diplomatic relations with Israel 2002: Israel Space Agency and Indian Space Research Organisation sign deal on space cooperation 2006: India-Israel agreement for agricultural cooperation signed 2017: Joint-development programme for missile defence system for $2.5bn Modi, who became the first Indian prime minister to visit Israel six months ago, has addressed Netanyahu as a friend. The Indian leader had cultivated closer ties with Israel while he was still the chief minister of Gujarat state. On Sunday, the two prime ministers attended a ceremony at a war memorial in New Delhi to mark the formal renaming of Teen Murti Chowk as Teen Murti Haifa Chowk as a symbolic gesture of friendship. At least 44 Indian soldiers had laid down their lives protecting the Israeli city of Haifa during World War I. The Israeli Prime Ministers visit to India signifies intensification of the strategic partnership with India, which is based on three legs defence, intelligence and civilian sector trade and investment, said Sreeram Chaulia, the Dean of Jindal School of International Affairs. Although India voted against Israel at the UN on President Donald Trumps Jerusalem move, Israel understands Indias position and has not made cooperation with India conditional. Israel benefits from arms sales and diplomatic openness of India and is not looking to convert India to its side on Palestine or Iran. So, New Delhi and Tel Aviv have successfully de-hyphenated their ties from third party issues. That is a sign of maturity and hard-headed realism on both sides. Illegal settlements In 2003, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon visited India during the government of the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has been vocal about establishing a closer ties with Israel. India established diplomatic relations with Israel in 1992 but purportedly kept the ties under the wraps as it continued to support the Palestinian cause. {articleGUID} Israel faces global condemnation as it continues to build illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. Netanyahus visit marks several awful developments for India, starting with the hypocrisy of the Indian governments occasional lip service to the Palestinian struggle against Israeli occupation, while strengthening its partnership with Israel, said Githa Hariharan, a supporter of BDS movement in India. But there are large numbers of Indians who stand by the idea of India our freedom fighters had, she said referring to the secular foundation of India as opposed to Israel, which was established as a Jewish state on occupied Palestinian land. And this is what makes us condemn our governments courting of Israel and its war machine. The Israeli leader will visit Modis home state of Gujarat where he is expected to participate in a joint road show with Indian prime minister, according to the NDTV. His final stop will be in the financial hub of Mumbai, where he is expected to meet Bollywood figures and invite them to shoot films in Israel. Netanyahu is accompanied by a 130-member business and trade delegation and the two nations are expected to ink agreements on cyber-space, film production and energy. The Israeli leader will hold bilateral discussions with Modi on Monday. Both prime ministers will attend the second India-Israel CEO Forum Meeting on January 15. Since Modis BJP came to power in 2014, the two countries have grown closer. This Indian government is driven by the exclusivist ideology of Hindutva, which has striking similarities with the exclusivist Zionist ideology the Israeli state is based on, Hariharan told Al Jazeera. Zeenat Saberin contributed from New Delhi A missile has crashed near civilians in Syrias Idlib province at a makeshift camp for displaced people from the nearby Hama province. Dramatic footage captured in the countryside area by Al Jazeera showed men, women and children desperately trying to find the nearest cover after the attack images of which were also included in the film. Al Jazeeras Sinem Koseoglu, reporting from Antakya in southern Turkey, said the missile strike was the strongest violation yet of a peace accord agreed in Kazakhstans capital, Astana, recently between Russia, Turkey and Iran. Syrians are not surprised. Many of them believe that it is a kind of the diplomatic leverage game just before the Sochi meeting that is going to be held at the end of January, she said. Violence elsewhere A push by the forces loyal to Syrias President Bashar al-Assad aided by Russian air raids was causing a new wave of displacement from rebel-held territories. About 120,000 people have fled their homes in Idlib province in recent weeks. At least 179 people were killed in the besieged Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta in the past two weeks, according to activists. Several people were in hospital after a bombing by government forces in Eastern Ghouta. Aid workers on the scene said there were being treated for suffocation after a suspected chlorine gas attack. PA leader says the US presidents decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israels capital will never be accepted. Mahmoud Abbas has sharply criticised Donald Trump, saying the Palestinian Authority (PA) will never accept the US presidents decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israels capital. The PA president made his comments on Sunday at the start of a two-day central council meeting of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in Ramallah. Politically, Jerusalem is our capital; in our religion, it is our capital; geographically, it is our capital, said Abbas. But it was removed from the map with a tweet from Mr Trump, he added. Now we say No to Trump, we wont accept his plan we say the deal of the century is the slap of the century, noted Abbas, referring to the US presidents pledge to achieve the ultimate deal peace in the Middle East. The Palestinian leader also said that Israel had ended the Oslo peace accords of the 1990s with its actions, and also called the US ambassadors to the UN and to Israel Nikki Haley and David Friedman a disgrace. {articleGUID} It was a very strong speech by Abbas who used very critical language, said Al Jazeeras Imran Khan, reporting from Ramallah. Trumps decision on December 6 was widely condemned by the international community and ignited deadly protests in the occupied Palestinian territories. Abbas had previously said the US could no longer play any role in the Middle East peace process following Trumps move. The status of Jerusalem is extremely sensitive and is one of the main sticking points in efforts to resolve the conflict. Palestinian leaders want occupied East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state, while Israel says the city cannot be divided. Israel sees the entire city as its capital. Key decisions The PLO meeting in Ramallah is supposed to lay out the Palestinian strategy to confront the US in the wake of its Jerusalem decision. Yet, questions over Palestinian unity were raised earlier on Sunday after it emerged that political movements Hamas and Islamic Jihad would boycott the event. Both groups, which are not part of the PLO but are regularly invited to observe its meetings, refused to attend despite receiving an official invitation. Hamas said would not send representatives to the council meeting because it objected to Abbas decision to hold the meeting in the occupied West Bank. Islamic Jihad had earlier announced that it would not participate in the meeting in Ramallah and later urged the Palestinian National Council (PNC) the highest decision-making body of the PLO to end relations with the US and accelerate internal reconciliation, Palestinian news agency Wafa reported. {articleGUID} Hamas and Islamic Jihad are both based in Gaza, and the former governs the besieged Palestinian enclave. In his speech, Abbas criticised the two movements for not attending the central council meeting, said Khan. Abbas said that this wasnt about politics any more, this was about the future of Jerusalem and of a Palestinian state, our correspondent added. He said that this was a time where the Palestinians needed to get together because Jerusalem is the religious, cultural and political capital of Palestine. Khan said the council was expected to announce on Monday how it would move forward following the US decision. They will issue some recommendations, which will be key in shaping any future Palestinian negotiations not just with Israel but also the international community, added Khan. History Will Remember the U.S. Government as Going too Easy on Hackers and Leakers Photo courtesy of AP The United States made a nuclear deal with Iran and also paid a ransom to have numerous American hostages/prisoners returned. In exchange, billions of dollars changed hands. In the prior year, the U.S. indicted a number of Iranian hackers for hacking U.S. banks and a dam in the city of Rye in Westchester County, NY. Thankfully nobody was harmed or killed as a result of the dam attack but it was luck that saved them. As we have pointed out, being able to identify foreign hackers is a rarity. Had we gotten them into our prison system, we would have sent an incredibly powerful message to hackers worldwide. We would have saved U.S. citizens and corporations potentially billions of dollars in damages. Instead, we gave billions of dollars to the Iranian government and didnt get these hackers in return. Even worse, Chelsea Manning who before altering her sex was Bradley Manning leaked confidential military documents responsible for getting U.S. assets and allies killed. Her prison sentence was shortened by decades for no apparent reason. We arent sure how this is possible but treason is now a partisan issue. These were some negative comments by high-profile Republicans. We could find no negative comments from high-ranking Democrats: When I was leading soldiers in Afghanistan, Private Manning was undermining us by leaking hundreds of thousands of classified documents to WikiLeaks, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) said in a statement. I dont understand why the president would feel special compassion for someone who endangered the lives of our troops, diplomats, intelligence officers, and allies. We ought not treat a traitor like a martyr. This is just outrageous. Chelsea Mannings treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nations most sensitive secrets, said House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.). President Obama now leaves in place a dangerous precedent that those who compromise our national security wont be held accountable for their crimes. Im stunned, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz) said. President Obamas commutation of Chelsea Mannings sentence is a grave mistake that I fear will encourage further acts of espionage and undermine military discipline. It also devalues the courage of real whistle-blowers who have used proper channels to hold our government accountable. Now, Chelsea Manning is running for a U.S. Senate seat in Maryland. A traitor to the country who did untold damage and would have been executed for the same offense decades ago could soon become a powerful part of our government. What signal are we sending to hackers around the world and in the U.S.? A terrible one. We arent taking cybersecurity seriously. Its a travesty. The wars of the future have already begun. Its a cyberwar and the U.S. is a major target. Our businesses and citizens are on the front lines and fending for themselves. The goal of any government is to protect its citizens and in this capacity when it comes to cybersecurity, it has let us down. Hamas, Islamic Jihad to skip event, raising questions about how to proceed with campaign for statehood. Palestinian leaders are set to hold a crucial summit in response to the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital, but political movements Hamas and Islamic Jihad are boycotting the event, raising questions about unity as President Mahmoud Abbas ramps up the campaign for statehood. Hamas had announced it would not participate in the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) Central Council meeting on Sunday and Monday, saying it objected to Abbas decision to hold the meeting in the occupied West Bank. Hamas will not take part in the upcoming meeting, Hussam Badran, a Hamas spokesman, said in a statement on Saturday, urging that it be held outside the occupied Palestinian territories to escape from Israeli pressure. {articleGUID} News of the Hamas boycott comes as Israel announced on Sunday the closure of Gazas only commercial border crossing of Karam Abu Salem, and Israeli warplanes bombed a site near the Rafah crossing. On Sunday, the Israeli prime ministers office confirmed the bombardment of the crossing that connects Gaza with Egypt. Islamic Jihad had earlier announced that it would not participate in the meeting in Ramallah, and later urged the Palestinian National Council (PNC) the highest decision-making body of the PLO to end relations with the US, and accelerate internal reconciliation, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported. Hamas and Islamic Jihad are both based in Gaza, and the former governs the besieged Palestinian enclave. While both organisations are not part of the PLO, they are regularly invited to observe its meetings. PNC head Saleem al-Zanoon will preside over the meeting of the Central Council, the second-highest Palestinian legislative body after the PNC. In a statement posted on the PNC website on Saturday, Zanoon urged unity among all Palestinian factions, saying the situation is very delicate and the challenges and risks are increasing. As long as Israel chose aggression and refused to recognise our rights and our state with Jerusalem as its capital, it is our right to reconsider and choose alternatives that will achieve our legitimate national goals, he said. He added that the council meeting will go ahead, saying he hopes the leaders will come up with resolutions that protect our national rights in establishing our independent state with Jerusalem as its capital. Among the statements being considered by the PLO Central Council is the declaration of the areas liberated by Israel in 1967 as a state under occupation, according to Palestinian news agency Wafa, quoting Azzam al-Ahmad, a member of the Fatah Central Committee. Other diplomatic actions are also being considered for the UN General Assembly, UN Security Council and the International Criminal Court. Palestinian demonstrators clash with Israeli troops in Ramallah on Saturday [AP] Questions on legitimacy Diana Buttu, a Palestinian human rights lawyer and former PLO spokeswoman, however, said the Hamas and Islamic Jihad boycott raises more questions about the councils legitimacy. This is a council that has not had elections in two decades, and whose legitimacy, like the legitimacy of Mahmoud Abbas, went away a long time ago, Buttu told Al Jazeera on Sunday. What they should be focused on is having elections, and creating a new council that is representative of people and their political views, rather than just holding a meeting, just for the sake of holding a meeting, she added. The boycott by Hamas also exposes conflicts with Fatah, the PLOs political arm led by Abbas. In October last year, the two parties signed a reconciliation deal in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, as part of an effort to end a decade-long rift and present a united front for Palestinian statehood. The agreement raised hopes that it would bring relief to the humanitarian situation in Gaza, made worse by the Israeli blockade. However, talks have since broken down. On December 6, US President Donald Trump declared that he was formally recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, igniting deadly protests in the Palestinian territories. Palestinians said Trumps decision destroyed the possibility of peace, and removed the US as a neutral broker of talks between Israelis and Palestinians. East Jerusalem is considered by the Palestinians as the capital of the future Palestinian state. Al Jazeera speaks with an organiser of the protest movement leading rallies against the countrys austerity measures. Tunis, Tunisia Large protests broke out across Tunisia this month over a government decision to impose strict economic and tax reforms that increased the price of basic goods. The anti-austerity protests come as Tunisians mark the seventh anniversary of the fall of longtime leader Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who was forced from power after a popular revolution in 2011. Rallies have been held in Tunis, the capital, and elsewhere across the country, led by the civil movement Fech Nestannew (What are we waiting for?). Nearly 800 protesters have been arrested, according to United Nations figures, including 200 people between the ages of 15 and 20. A 2016 deal between Tunisia and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is a large reason behind the austerity measures, critics say. The four-year, $2.8bn IMF loan is tied to a promise by the Tunisian government to carry out economic and social reforms. The governments 2018 budgetary law, which came into effect this month, has been the focus of protesters anger, as it brought price hikes to basic goods, such as food and gas, and the value-added tax. Al Jazeera spoke to Tunis-based protest organiser Warda Atig, 25, about how the Fech Nestannew movement came about, its demands, and whether the Tunisian government may revise its economic policies. Al Jazeera: What is the idea behind Fech Nestannew? Warda Atig: Fech Nestannew is a movement created by Tunisian youth after the governments finance act of 2018 came into effect. Following this act, the prices went up and the state stopped recruiting for public sector jobs. Thats why we decided to create this movement, in order to push the government to cancel this financial measure. Al Jazeera: How did your protests begin and when? Atig: When we first heard about this law, in November and December of last year, several youth factions from the different progressive political parties organised discussions [about] what the law was and what the impact of the law would be on society. We were waiting for the government to make the law official and we chose the date of our first action to be January 3. The date is very symbolic because, on January 3, 1984, there was the Intifada al-Khubez (bread uprising) in Tunisia [over an increase in the price of bread]. On January 3, we made a declaration in front of the municipal theatre [on Habib Bourguiba Avenue in downtown Tunis] and we distributed pamphlets with our demands. We were about 50 activists. We cant wait any longer, says Tunisia protest leader Warda Atig [Jillian Kestler-DAmours/Al Jazeera] Al Jazeera: What are those demands? Atig: We want the government to end the increase in prices, cancel the moratorium on recruiting in the public sector, provide security and healthcare, end privatisation and put forward a national strategy to counter corruption. These demands [are in response to] decisions taken by the government [and] they are within the context of the finance act of 2018. So we are asking [the government] to cancel this act. If they dont cancel it, they will privatise national companies, they will not fight corruption, they will continue to increase prices. We are explaining to people that we have to say no to this act. Al Jazeera: Protests have taken place across Tunisia. How did these different regions get involved in your movement and do you have a coordinated strategy? Atig: First, we created a group on Facebook. Then, there were many reactions from people in other regions. People started to ask themselves, What are we waiting for? People from student unions and other young people who were very active regionally also got involved. It started here (Tunis) with different groups, including student unions and groups of unemployed graduates. Everyone here helped spread this campaign and what happened in Tunis happened in all the other regions. This isnt only [a movement] for Tunis; its for all of Tunisia. Al Jazeera: The government has accused protesters of looting and engaging in acts of violence. How do you respond to people who have criticised your protests as violent? Atig: First of all, our campaign has no relation to violence or breaking things. In Kasserine, the police caught someone while he was giving money to protesters and urging them to break things This type of thing is known to happen, even during Ben Alis time, when people from the ruling party encourage people to commit acts of violence in order to discredit social movements. The governments response to our movement has been to arrest us. They broke into our houses in the middle of the night. There are Facebook pages belonging to the ruling parties that distorted our reputations. Even the governmental media tried to give a bad image to our campaign. Al Jazeera: This movement appears in large part to be led by educated, urban youth. How do you bridge a possible gap between the organisers and the general Tunisian public most affected by the states austerity measures? Atig: The criticism only comes from people who belong to the ruling parties. They say these people of Fech Nestannew belong to the [block of leftist opposition parties called the] Popular Front. They say, [we] want to take over the authority [and we] want to be in power so thats why [we] are taking advantage of the people. But our relationship with regular people is very good. We chose Fech Nestannew, a phrase in the local Tunisian dialect [of Arabic], so it would be easy for everyone to understand. Al Jazeera: Why do you believe the 2018 finance act is harmful to Tunisians? Atig: The government itself confessed that the tenets of this act would make people suffer unemployed people, the poor and workers. Poor people pay taxes and value-added tax, while they increase the salaries of ministers and members of parliament. Many people who were corrupt during the Ben Ali era were granted pardons in the context of a reconciliation act. The poor are footing the bill. Al Jazeera: These anti-austerity protests are coinciding with the anniversary of the 2011 revolution that toppled Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Was this done on purpose and if so, do you hope to use the timing to galvanise support? Atig: January is very famous [for protests] in Tunisia. In 2011, and even last year, there was a movement in January. In addition to that, the finance act came into effect in January. January 3 is also the anniversary of the [1984] bread protests. All these circumstances contributed to our movement coinciding with the anniversary of the revolution. Protesters shout slogans against rising prices and tax increases in Tunis [Zoubeir Souissi/Reuters] Al Jazeera: What happens if the government agrees to cancel the finance law? Will this movement continue? Atig: If they cancel this finance act, OK, the campaign will dissolve. But if they cancel the act and present the same procedures only under a different name, we will continue. Al Jazeera: Are you hopeful they will cancel it? Atig: No. [Laughs] Al Jazeera: Why not? Atig: We are doing this in order to make people aware that the ruling people right now are here to enforce the dictates of the IMF. At least we are continuing the revolutionary process. As long as Tunisia continues these deals with the IMF, we will continue our struggle. We believe that the IMF and the interests of people are contradictory. Al Jazeera: The Tunisian prime minister recently told people that 2018 will be the last difficult year and after this, things will get better. How do you respond to that? Atig: We cant wait any longer. Thats why we called [our movement], What are we waiting for? Seven years on after Bouazizi set himself on fire, economic stagnation and widespread discontent persist in Sidi Bouzid. Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia Akram Hamdi says he has sent out nearly three dozen resumes. But the 25-year-old is still unemployed, nearly two years after he graduated with a bachelors degree in business economics from the University of Sfax, on the Tunisian coast. It destroys me psychologically, Hamdi told Al Jazeera from a dimly lit cafe in Sidi Bouzid, where at 1:30 in the afternoon, he was having a coffee alongside two friends. Of the three young men, only one currently has a steady job. The situation since the revolution is worsening. [The government] destroyed us, they destroyed the country, Hamdi said. This is where the Tunisian revolution began, when 26-year-old fruit vendor Mohamed Bouazizi set himself alight in protest against the harassment and indignities he faced daily. His act of desperation pushed thousands of Tunisians into the streets, forced out long-time Tunisian President Zinedine El Abidine Ben Ali and led to a series of popular uprisings that toppled leaders across the Arab world. But exactly seven years after Ben Ali stepped down on January 14, 2011, Sidi Bouzid remains in the grips of severe economic hardship. For other people maybe things changed since the revolution but for me, nothing changed Ismail Aloui In fact, many people say things are worse than before. Sidi Bouzid should be moving forward. It was the spark of the revolution, but other cities progressed and Sidi Bouzid stayed the same, said Zaineb, 22, who only gave Al Jazeera her first name. We used to have three classes in society, but now there will only be the rich and the poor, added her friend, Houiem, 25. Neglected region Located in the centre of Tunisia, Sidi Bouzid has long been economically neglected, far from cities on the coast or the capital, Tunis, which have traditionally benefitted from more economic development. The national unemployment rate among university graduates sits at around 30 percent, according to United Nations figures. But in Sidi Bouzid, that number has recently been estimated to be closer to 45 percent, if not higher. Frustration among unemployed graduates has been growing in recent years and protests demanding more public sector jobs and other employment opportunities are common. At least 7,000 university graduates are without jobs in Sidi Bouzid alone, a student union leader in the city told local media in 2016. Statistics show that the level of poverty has been increasing there is despair, mainly among youth, who represent about 25 percent of the whole population, explained Massoud Romdhani, president of the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights. Romdhani told Al Jazeera that social justice and dignity were the key demands of the Tunisian revolution. People in the countrys interior towns, in particular, who had been neglected for such a long time felt that it was their time to change things. But the economic model that prevailed after Ben Alis fall did not lead to any real development in the central region, he said. There is no language of hope on the part of the government or on the part of the opposition, Romdhani said. I know that the expectations are high and the stakes are high, but we need also a certain type of leadership that gives a bit of hope to these young people. Akram Hamdi is still unemployed, nearly two years after he graduated with a bachelors degree in business economics in Tunisia [Jillian Kestler-DAmours/Al Jazeera] Prices going up Hajer Laifi, a 32-year-old primary school teacher, said the revolution made little difference in peoples daily lives. Instead, [the situation is] worsening. Prices are getting very high, she said, clutching a plastic bag filled with leafy green vegetables from the market. The price of produce has dropped slightly compared with last week, however, Laifi conceded. Peppers cost 2.5 Tunisian dinars ($1) a kilogramme (kg) last week and now they are down to 2 dinars a kg, while tomatoes have gone from 1.4 dinars ($0.57) to 0.8 dinars a kg, she said. A recent rise in the prices of basic goods and services as a result of a new budgetary law for 2018 pushed hundreds into the streets across the country this month. Under the banner Fech Nestannew (What are we waiting for?), civil society groups and human rights activists have called for the finance law to be scrapped. Massoud Romdhani But for the most part, the protests remain modest in size. On Saturday, a march organised by the Popular Front, an opposition party that supports the Fech Nestannew movement, blocked traffic on the main road in Sidi Bouzid. A few dozen people marched through the city, chanting for the fall of the government. They quickly dispersed after reaching a statue downtown that was erected in 2011 to commemorate Bouazizis self-immolation. The beige vendors cart, with a red and white Tunisian flag affixed above it, is now covered in graffiti bearing the slogans of the anti-austerity protests. While the number of public protests held in Tunisia doubled between 2015 and 2017, according to Romdhani, widespread frustration over the economy has also pushed some Tunisian youth towards extremist groups. Others have chosen to leave the country altogether, while many have rejected politics altogether: less than three percent of Tunisian youth belong to political parties, he said. Whether the budget is the straw that broke the camels back, Romdhani added, referring to this months anti-austerity protests, this is only the [tip] of the iceberg. Nothing changed Even those with jobs say they are struggling to make ends meet. Ismail Aloui, 25, makes 300 dinars every month working as a mechanic at a car body shop. Its not enough, he said, explaining that some months, as much as half his salary goes to paying for electricity and water alone. His father no longer gets a retirement pension, so he and his siblings shoulder most of the expenses. People are losing hope younger. They think they should stop studying because they have no hope Fadi Mesbahi, 22-year-old supermarket worker For other people maybe things changed since the revolution, Aloui told Al Jazeera, standing in the shade along Sidi Bouzids main road, but for me, nothing changed. Im still at the same level. Originally from Sidi Bouzid, Fadi Mesbahi works at a supermarket in the town of Nabeul, a coastal city about 200km from his hometown. People are losing hope younger, the 22-year-old told Al Jazeera, a few steps from the statue commemorating Mohamed Bouazizi. They think they should stop studying because they have no hope to find employment. Meanwhile, Hamdi, the unemployed graduate, said he takes odd jobs in construction to help his family make ends meet. His father works in agriculture and brings home only 400 Tunisian dinars every month. But with an older brother and four younger sisters and the rise in prices, that wont be enough, he said. Given that we have electricity to pay, water, taxes, he explained, trailing off. To wake up in the morning and have to ask your father for money in these circumstances, he added, its not a good feeling. President Magufuli will not seek to extend presidential terms from five years to seven, his party says. Tanzanian President John Magufuli will not seek to extend presidential terms in the East African country, his party said. Some members of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) have been calling on Magufuli, 58, to extend presidential terms from the constitutionally mandated five years to seven years. President Magufuli has appealed to Tanzanians to ignore such calls because the issue of presidential term extension has never been discussed by top organs of the ruling party, CCM said in a statement on Saturday. Magufuli does not plan to make the change at any time during his presidency, the statement added. Tanzania, one of sub-Saharan Africas most stable democracies, has held five relatively peaceful multi-party elections since 1995, all won by the ruling party. Magufuli was elected in October 2015 for his first term and has not indicated whether he will seek re-election in 2020. If he does and wins, he would be ineligible to contest the vote in 2025. For months, the opposition has alleged a shadow campaign to change the constitution and extend Magufulis term. Nicknamed the Bulldozer for his strict leadership style, Magufuli has won praise for his tough anti-corruption fight. Opponents, however, accuse him of cracking down on dissent and limiting democratic space. He has denied the allegations. Commemoration of the fall of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali coincides with broader protests against state austerity measures. Tunis Several thousand people marched through the main street of the Tunisian capital on Sunday, marking the seventh anniversary of the toppling of the countrys former president after mass protests. But, for many people, this years commemoration of the fall of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali turned into a protest against state austerity measures, unemployment and economic hardship. Protesters chanted: Work, freedom and national dignity and The people want the fall of the budget, among other slogans, as they marched along Habib Bourguiba Avenue. The government recently passed a budget law for 2018 that increased taxes and the prices of basic goods, including food and gasoline. Now we are jobless again, said Amel Berrejab, 33, protesting with a group of university graduates who are unemployed despite having passed a national certification exam. Berrejab said that while she has a masters degree and several years of teaching experience in private schools, the state has not been able to place her in a public school. This is Tunisia seven years after the revolution. The government cannot give the rights to its people, to its young [graduates], so this is really sad, she said. Spreading protests Civil society groups and human rights activists in Tunis launched the anti-austerity protests at the start of January, under the banner Fech Nestannew (What are we waiting for?). The rallies have since spread to several cities across the country and gained the support of the Popular Front, a coalition of leftist opposition parties. A large contingent of Popular Front party members and a handful of parliament members marched on Sunday. There is nothing but poverty. Nothing changed since the revolution. Our revolution was stolen and the people won nothing, said Rachida Gheriani, 59, a Popular Front activist who came from the northwest governorate to participate in the march. Peoples daily lives have gone down and there is no longer a middle class, she said. Wadii Jlassi was among the many Popular Front supporters marching in Tunis [Jillian Kestler-DAmours/Al Jazeera] Amani Abid, another Popular Front supporter, held up a yellow card during the march. This is the yellow card and on [January] 20 there will be a red card, the 24-year-old said, referring to a protest planned on that date in front of the Tunisian parliament. The Tunisian government has accused Fech Nestannew protesters of engaging in acts of violence and looting during protests, several of which have taken place at night. Aid to the poor But the government is under increased pressure to cancel the budgetary measures. On Saturday, it announced plans to increase aid for poor families, including pensioners, by $70.3m, Reuters reported. This will concern about 250,000 families, said Mohamed Trabelsi, minister of social affairs. It will help the poor and middle class. The government also promised to provide better healthcare services. Hassen Ghanem said the revolution did not succeed in making a change at the socioeconomic level [Jillian Kestler DAmours/Al Jazeera] The Tunisian army has been deployed around the country since the protests first erupted, and police were out in large numbers on roads across the capital on Sunday. Meanwhile, Mohamed Beji Essebsi, the president, was in a poor neighbourhood of Tunis in the morning to ring in the refurbishment of a youth centre. Police officers and members of the countrys national guard lined the streets of Tadamon in advance of Essebsis arrival. The United Nations estimates that about 778 people have been arrested since the anti-austerity protests began, including about 200 young people between the ages of 15 and 20. A better future On Friday, a spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights called on Tunisian authorities to not execute arbitrary arrests. The authorities must ensure that those exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are not prevented from doing so, Rupert Colville said in a statement. The government cannot give the rights to its people, said Amel Berrejab, an unemployed university graduate [Jillian Kestler DAmours/Al Jazeera] Amnesty International also accused Tunisian officials of using increasingly heavy-handed methods to disperse rallies and subsequently arrest protesters. Despite this, in downtown Tunis on Sunday, citizens waved Tunisian flags and walked peacefully amid a large police presence. Hassen Ghanem, a father of two children under the age of six who is unaffiliated with any political party, said while the revolution may have ushered in a new political system, it did not succeed in making a change at the socioeconomic level. The regular citizen is someone who has continued in the same suffering since 2011, he said. Still, Ghanem said he brought his children to the commemoration to show them that if they want to, they can make a change. Im an ordinary citizen and Im living through difficulties, but I have great hope that through my children, our country will have a better future. Turkeys president vowed to purge terrorism across the border in Syria, as Turkish forces pounded US-backed fighters with artillery fire on Sunday. A military operation in northern Syria against the city of Afrin controlled by the Syrian Kurdish armed group YPG will be launched in the days ahead, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was quoted as saying by the official Anadolu news agency. He said the attack on Afrin would be an extension of the 2016 Euphrates Shield Operation, which targeted Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) fighters, as well as the YPG. The eight-month combat effort officially ended in March 2017. Turkish soldiers are currently based in rebel-held territory on both sides of Afrin. In the coming days, God willing, we will continue with the Afrin [operation] that we started first with Euphrates Shield Operation to purge terrorism from our southern borders, Erdogan said in a speech in central Anatolian Tokat province. The US views the YPG as the most effective fighting force against ISIL. US President Donald Trump decided to arm YPG fighters, despite Turkeys objections and a direct appeal from Erdogan at a White House meeting last May. American arms shipments began before the offensive to recapture the city of Raqqa from ISIL. YPG played a prominent role in defeating the group in its former de facto capital in northern Syria late last year. Tensions between the NATO allies remain high, despite Trump saying last November that Washington would no longer supply weapons to the YPG. Without mentioning the US, Erdogan said on Sunday he expected allies not to make mistakes by taking sides with the YPG during the battle for Afrin. We expect from our allies that they behave in accordance with the spirit of our deep-rooted relationship during this process, Erdogan said, adding despite everything he hoped for cooperation to achieve common interests in the region. I hope these forces will not make a mistake of appearing on the same stage with the terrorist organisation during the Afrin operation, the president said. {articleGUID} A senior Syrian Kurdish official said on Sunday that fighting between the YPG and Turkish forces was already under way. There is attacks and clashes on the border between Turkey and the Peoples Protection Units YPG, Hediye Yusuf said on Twitter. She called Turkeys operation against Afrin a violation that undermines international efforts to reach a political solution in Syria. Afrin canton faces an attack by Turkey, and there is attacks and clashes on the border between Turkey and the People's Protection Units YPG. Afrin never hesitated to support Kobane, Reqqa, Manbej and Der Alzor by fighters to eliminate terrorism and made thousands of martyrs in th Hediye Yusuf (@CudiHerjin) January 14, 2018 A YPG spokesman in Afrin told The Associated Press news agency fighting broke out after midnight between his unit and Turkish troops near the border. Rojhat Roj said the shelling of areas in Afrin district, in Aleppo province, killed one YPG fighter and wounded several civilians on Sunday. YPG will fight to defend our gains, our territories, Roj said. {articleGUID} The US-led coalition fighting in Syria has announced it will train about 15,000 Syrian Kurd fighters to be part of a 30,000-strong border force in the countrys north. The base of the new force is essentially a realignment of approximately 15,000 members of the Syrian Democratic Forces [SDF] to a new mission in the Border Security Force, as their actions against ISIS draw to a close, Colonel Thomas F Veale, a coalition spokesman, told The Defense Post in a story published on Saturday. The SDF, also consisting of Arab fighters, is dominated by the Kurdish YPG. Turkey reacted angrily to the news on Sunday. Rather than end its support these steps taken to legitimise a terror organisation and to make it permanent in the region are worrying, Ibrahim Kalin, Erdogans spokesman, was quoted as saying by local media. Accepting this state of affairs is absolutely not possible. {articleGUID} Since December, Ankara has reinforced its southern border by sending armoured vehicles, tanks, and heavy machine guns, the Hurriyet daily cited sources as saying. Turkey has been working closely with Russia and Iran to end the nearly seven-year Syrian war, despite Moscow and Tehran supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Ankara backing the anti-Assad opposition. YPG is considered by Turkey to be a terrorist group with ties to the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged a decades-long fight inside the country. PKK is blacklisted as a terrorist organisation by Turkey and its Western allies. More than 40,000 people in Turkey have been killed since the 1980s after the PKK launched its rebellion. Statement from Iranian president comes days after Trump threatened to withdraw if landmark agreement is not amended. The United States has failed to undermine the nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in a statement broadcast on state television. His comments on Sunday came just days after US President Donald Trump threatened to withdraw from the deal if its disastrous flaws were not fixed. The American administration has failed to undermine the nuclear deal Trump, despite his repeated efforts, has failed to undermine the accord, Rouhani said in his speech, according to a report from the Reuters news agency. The Iranian president further hailed the deal as a long-lasting victory for Iran. On Friday, the White House said that Trump would waive sanctions against Iran to keep the deal alive, but it would be the last time unless the US and Europe reach an agreement in the next 120 days to strengthen the landmark agreement. I have outlined two possible paths forward: either fix the deals disastrous flaws, or the United States will withdraw, Trump said. This is the last chance. In absence of such an agreement [between the US and European powers], the United States will not again waive sanctions in order to stay in the Iran nuclear deal. Trump has repeatedly threatened to tear up what he has described as the worst deal ever negotiated. Iran has said it will not accept any changes to the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal, which eased sanctions on the country in exchange for Tehran halting uranium enrichment. Trump is required to renew the existing deal every 120 days under US law. Mohammad Javad Zarif, Irans foreign minister, on Friday accused Trump of desperate attempts to undermine a solid multilateral agreement, while European leaders have urged all parties to continue to fully implement this agreement. Officials say international school and some shopping centres to reopen, but residents remain worried about the disease. Zambias government plans to open its international school and a few shopping centres, after saying it has made progress in its fight against cholera, which has killed at least 72 people since September 2017. The move, announced this week, comes amid fears the government has not done enough to provide information on the outbreak. More than 3,100 cases have been reported nationwide over the last four months, with the capital city of Lusaka the highest affected by the water-borne disease. Large gatherings, including church meetings, weddings and funerals in the affected parts of Lusaka have been banned, but the health minister said things were improving. Lusakas international school will reopen on January 16, Health Minister Chitalu Chifuy said on Saturday. They have been inspected and meet sanitary conditions, he added. According to a government official, retail stores in some parts of the capital will reopen on Sunday, but not in Kanyama, where at least 55 people were arrested a day prior after riots broke out over the curfew and the ban on gatherings. Rioters pelted police stations with stones and damaged windows, while a car and a truck hired to clear debris by the government were set on fire. {articleGUID} The government will not allow lawlessness, Minister of Home Affairs Stephen Kampyongo said. The security and safety measures will remain in force, and if anyone breaks the law, they would be dealt with, as the cholera situation is a matter of life and death, he added. Earlier this month, President Edgar Lungu ordered soldiers and police to join council workers across the country in cleaning up markets and drainage systems. In the capital, the streets around the markets were lined with heaps of debris and piles of black, muddy waste material, waiting to be collected. On Sunday, Lusaka district recorded 87 new cases, including 14 children, taking the figure in the district to 2,927. Residents are reluctant to shake hands, as per Zambian custom, and instead they bump fists to greet each other. In most of the restaurants and shops around the city, sanitiser points are set up, with guards ensuring they are used before people enter. Im worried about the current situation and have taken precautions, Andrew, a Lusaka resident, told Al Jazeera. I now wash and sanitise my hands five times a day and think twice before shaking hands with anyone. Street stalls demolished The clean-up operations include covering hundreds of shallow wells in Lusaka, as well as shutting down major markets and razing roadside vending stalls, major sources of incomes for many households in the city and across the country. Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, told Al Jazeera that there was not enough information being provided by the government. The government decided to clear away the street vendors and the sewage system that was clogged, she said. It was literally an overnight change. Since the vendors voted the current political party in, there is a bit of animosity on their part. Everyone is being extra cautious. Weve been told no gatherings so a few restaurants and bars have been told to close early. Church gatherings not really allowed. Gyms seem to be running but with extra sanitiser. Families affected by cholera refused to give details to Al Jazeera out of fear of being singled out, as well as for fear of stigmatisation. A vaccination campaign in Lusakas most affected parts was launched last week [Ministry of Health] A doctor at the treatment centre in the Matero neighbourhood, who wished to remain anonymous, said the situation was serious but manageable. The doctor added that the governments decision to ban public gatherings helped contain the outbreak. Corruption is source of cholera Meanwhile, opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema blamed the government for the situation. Corruption is a source of cholera, Hichilema said. If the $42m they spent on firefighters was used to improve sanitary conditions in Kanyama, there could not have been cholera, he added. The government has been behind this creation of [an] unsanitary environment because of corruption. We will fight cholera together because of our people but we will continue to talk about the corruption in government. The World Health Organization did not respond to Al Jazeeras repeated requests for comment, but a statement on its website warned the rainy season, coupled with inadequate water supply and sanitation, increases the risk of outbreaks in Lusaka and other parts of the country. 201750 2018-01-13 201712201710%2,758 20175020152,61020153,670 The U.S. Economy Is Booming, Which Is Why The U.S. Trade Deficit With China Grew In 2017 By Salvatore Babones JAN 12, 2018 @ 09:18 AM https://www.forbes.com/sites/salvatorebabones/2017/12/31/china-max-how-demography-economics-and-geography-will-combine-to-limit-chinas-growing-power/2/#170cfb821ad8 China's trade surplus with the United States rose by 13% in 2017 to a record $288 billion, according to Chinese official data. The actual figure reported on the Chinese side was 1.87 trillion yuan, which most Western news outlets converted to $276 billion. What's $12 billion between friends? Take your pick; both numbers are big. But not big enough. The U.S. reports trade figures monthly, and U.S. data showed that the trade deficit was already $342 billion by the end of November. Consolidating the $30 billion U.S. surplus with Hong Kong (most of which goes to China) puts the all-China deficit at $312 billion for the first 11 months of 2017. Add in another $30 billion or so for December, and the full-year 2017 U.S. trade deficit with China and Hong Kong is likely to come in at around $340 billion. That means that the final 2017 U.S. deficit with China/HKG may be up 17%-18% from the $280 billion consolidated China/HKG deficit recorded for 2016. The official U.S. trade deficit with China reported by the U.S. Census Bureau on February 6 will be big, growing and politically messy. And it shouldn't worry anyone at all. Trade deficits mean different things in different economies at different times. In a weak economy hit by major shocks and falling into recession, big trade deficits can be a sign that a country is spiraling out of control toward a balance of payments crisis. But that hardly applies to the U.S. today. In a strong economy, a big trade deficit simply means that more capital is flowing into a country than is flowing out.That's because when the capital account is positive, the current account has to be negative to balance it out. And a negative current account means a trade deficit. They question for America's economic health is: Why capital is flowing in? Is capital pouring into the United States right now seeking investment opportunities, or is capital being sucked into the U.S. because of an economic crisis requiring external funds to stabilize a rapidly deteriorating situation? Coming amidst the fastest economic growth in three years and four Fed rate hikes in 12 months, it seems clear that America's burgeoning capital account surplus reflects the fact that international investors are looking for a piece of the action in the world's more advanced, most dynamic mature economy. If the Trump tax cuts succeed in boosting growth and (especially) in convincing companies to repatriate profitscurrently held overseas, look for the U.S. trade deficit to widen even further in 2018 as the money pours in. That may be good, bad or neither for long-term economic growth, depending on who you believe. But it will still have nothing to do with China. The U.S. trade deficit is proudly made in America. About the show A weekly programme that examines and dissects the worlds media, how they operate and the stories they cover. Watch The Listening Post every Saturday at 0830GMT Tomorrow, we expect the Department of Justice's inspector general to release the first part of his report to congressional investigators. The report is expected to cover the alleged bias and malfeasance by the FBI , among other things. A hallmark of the Democrats and the Clintons in particular is that, with the aid of a complaisant press, they hide their wrongdoings with countless obfuscations and distractions so that the truth of consequential matters is buried in chaff and hard to see. This week, we can look forward to an effort to clear away the chaff and reveal the wheat. Allegations that Department or FBI policies or procedures were not followed in connection with, or in actions leading up to or related to, the FBI [d]irector's public announcement on July 5, 2016, and the [d]irector's letters to Congress on October 28 and November 6, 2016, and that certain underlying investigative decisions were based on improper considerations; Allegations that the FBI [d]eputy [d]irector should have been recused from participating in certain investigative matters; Allegations that the Department's [a]ssistant [a]ttorney [g]eneral for [l]egislative [a]ffairs improperly disclosed non-public information to the Clinton campaign and/or should have been recused from participating in certain matters; Allegations that Department and FBI employees improperly disclosed non-public information; and Allegations that decisions regarding the timing of the FBI's release of certain Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) documents on October 30 and November 1, 2016, and the use of a Twitter account to publicize same, were influenced by improper considerations. The most significant portions of the report, to my mind, will be who illegally accessed the NSA (National Security Agency) and FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) databases (billions of emails, texts, phone calls) and who unmasked and publicized the information there, plus the relationship of the FBI with Fusion GPS and other outside contractors and on what basis did the foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court issue a warrant to surveil the Trump campaign? The short explanation of this is Sharyl Attkisson's (unedited): First, intel agencies werent supposed to surveil US citizens. But they did. Then they werent supposed to "store" it. But they did. Then they werent supposed to search it. But they did. Then they werent supposed to "unmask" it. But they did. Then they werent supposed to leak it... All last week, Conservative Treehouse has been offering up far longer, more detailed explications of what occurred and suppositions about who did what. While the explanations seem credible, we may have to wait to see if they are correct. It remains a most valuable if hard to read source. Here is one part of a recent report from there which forms a useful base from which to view what will surely be coming in the following days: If a search is conducted from an intelligence agency of the U.S. government whose objective is to ensure "[n]ational [s]ecurity" there are different FISA rules [from the ones for] a search from an intelligence agency not engaged in "[n]ational [s]ecurity[.]" ... When a FISA-702 search is conducted based on the need for "national security" no approval from the FISA court is needed. Search away. If the FISA search is because of a "vital national security interest" the resulting search data can be opened without seeking permission from the FISA court. A "FISA-702(16)" Search Result would be a search result of the FBI (counter[-]terrorism) database or NSA database that returns an American person as a result of a "To" or "From" (16) type data search. EXAMPLE: Querying phone data (phone number) TO: Mohammed BadGuy or FROM: Mohammed BadGuy might return a list of phone numbers that also contains an American person[']s phone number. That American person is protected by the [F]ourth [A]mendment. To look at the "upstream" connections of the American [p]erson to other people, likely Americans, the search operator would need to ask permission of the FISA Court to review the upstream results. [NOTE: *Exception* the search was vital to national security. If so, the upstream phone numbers could be reviewed without asking FISA permission.] A "FISA-702(17)" Search Result would be a search result of the FBI (counter[-]terrorism) database or NSA database that returns an American person (702) as a result of an "ABOUT" (17) type data search. EXAMPLE: Querying everything in email ABOUT: Mohammed BadGuy might return communication of an American who wrote a letter about Mohammed BadGuy or maybe he told a friend in a text to check out a media story about Mohammed BadGuy. To look at the email or text of the American, the search operator would need to ask permission of the FISA Court to see the email/text content. Someone inside the FBI was giving FISA-702 search results on U.S. individuals to a private entity that had nothing to do with government. Those 702 (American [c]itizen) results were not "minimized" and exposed the private data of the American citizen(s). In addition, NSA [d]irector Mike Rogers, who is also in charge of Cyber Command, discovered people within the intelligence community were doing "searches" of the NSA and FBI database that were returning information that had nothing to do with "Foreign Individuals[.]" ... Mike Rogers discovered FBI contractors doing FISA-702 "About Searches" that resulted in returns providing information on Americans. Those results were passed on to people outside government. We do not yet know who these independent contractors were who were allowed to riffle through the NSA database, or why the FBI shared the results with them. Nor can we imagine why the FBI even hired outside contractors for such work. But the supposition is that these independent contractors were Fusion GPS, a dirt-digging opposition research firm paid by Hillary Clinton and apparently President Obama (through hired counsel), and even the FBI or others subcontracted by them were working in league with them. Should that prove true, we have the worst political scandal in U.S. history: a weaponization of our law enforcement agencies to assist one candidate and destroy her opponent. Summarizing the Conservative Treehouse offerings, my Facebook friend Harry Lewis notes in relevant part: [Obama] and his allies tried to strangle the new Trump [a]dministration in its crib. Those efforts continue to this date. According to the website, ... Fusion [GPS] already was working as a private contractor for the FBI before April 18, 2016, and was given access, through the FBI, to the NSA database. If true, that means that the FBI, certainly through the level of [a]ssistant FBI [d]irector McCabe, and probably up to the level of FBI [d]irector Comey, already was engaged in spying on the Trump campaign by early April. The "about queries" are Google-style searches of the NSA database containing intercepted electronic communications. If the intercepts are of foreigners, then no FISA warrant is required. If [U.S.] persons are talking to foreigners, then their conversations are intercepted "incidentally[,]"[] and the identity of the [U.S.] person is masked (concealed) by NSA. That operation certainly was known to Comey's superiors in the Department of Justice's National Security Division. It also was known, in turn, by Attorney General Lynch. It very likely was known to the White House. (Nellie Ohr's visit to the White House is the smoking gun for this). When ... Fusion [GPS] hired Nellie Ohr, they also were connecting to her husband, a senior Justice Department official. Ohr applied for a ham radio license, because [the] NSA isn't surveilling ham radio frequencies, and they knew that. ... When Trump hires Manafort in March 2016, ... Fusion [GPS] already knew that Manafort was dirty (was taking money from a Ukrainian dictator being propped up by the Russians; Mueller's indictment alleges money[-]laundering by Manafort) from their previous reporting on him. That's their pitch to the FBI and the Hillary campaign: exposing Manafort can bring down Trump. What Sundance is saying is that ... Fusion [GPS] already was a private contractor for the FBI, that the operation to spy on Trump and his associates was an FBI/Justice Department/White House/Hillary Clinton/DNC operation from the beginning, and that Steele was brought in to create a "foreign" connection to all of this as cover for the FISA applications and warrants which would justify this sordid and illegal abuse of [U.S.] intelligence capabilities retroactively. If you know about the dossier and its work only through TV and major press accounts, you know nothing. I'm sorry to say. For example, there has been a "blizzard of lies" about Christopher Steele, who was the Fusion GPS source on Russia. Christopher Steele was Hillary's hired gun, paid gobs of money to dig up dirt on Donald Trump. Yet somehow this "brilliant" spy lacked the surveillance skills to know that Hillary had hired him. That's one of the many whoppers in the released Glenn Simpson testimony in which Steele is portrayed as a "Boy Scout" operating from the highest and purest of motives. Steele's stenographers in the press invariably describe him as "highly regarded" and apolitical. The propagandistic omniscience behind these descriptions is laughable and amounts to nothing more than liberals presiding over a kangaroo court in which they can endlessly appeal to their own authority: we say he is "highly regarded," so he is; we say that his motives were pure, so they are; we say that parts of his report have been "corroborated," so don't question them. The claim that Steele was operating above politics is a joke. According to the British press, he was a socialist before working for British intelligence as a Russian expert a career path that should stimulate skepticism, or at least curiosity, in a vigilant press. Steele was the perfect counterpart to John Brennan, who entered American intelligence after supporting the American Communist Party. Incidentally, some of the best reporting on this has been done by women women without pink pussy hats. Catherine Herridge, Sara Carter, Kimberley Strassel, and Sharyl Attkisson come readily to mind. Kimberley Strassel warns this week about the chaff being thrown up about the dossier in an effort to keep you confused and ignorant about what went on. There's no such thing as a coincidence in Washington, so why the sudden, furious effort by Democrats and the media to give cover to the Steele dossier? As in, the sudden, furious effort that happens to coincide with congressional investigators' finally being given access to FBI records about the Trump-Russia probe[?] This scandal's pivotal day was Jan. 3. That's the deadline House Intelligence [c]hairman Devin Nunes gave the Federal Bureau of Investigation to turn over documents it had been holding for months. Speaker Paul Ryan backed Mr. Nunes's threat to cite officials for contempt of Congress. Everyone who played a part in encouraging the FBI's colonoscopy of the Trump campaign congressional Democrats, FBI and Justice Department senior career staff, the Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama political mobs, dossier commissioner Fusion GPS, the press corps knew about the deadline and clearly had been tipped to the likelihood that the FBI would have to comply. Thus the dossier rehabilitation campaign. Weeks before, the same crew had taken a desperate shot at running away from the dossier, with a New York Times special that attempted to play down its significance in the FBI probe. You can see why. In the year since BuzzFeed published the salacious dossier, we've discovered [that] it was a work product of the Clinton campaign, commissioned by an oppo[] research firm (Fusion), compiled by a British ex-spook on the basis of anonymous sources, and rolled out to the media in the run[-]up to the election. Oh, and it appears to continue to be almost entirely false. When the best you've got is that a campaign orbiter made a public trip to Russia, you haven't got much. ... We don't know exactly what Congress has seen, but it's a safe bet it's hot. The media and Democrats are trashing Sens. Chuck Grassley and Lindsey Graham for their criminal referral of Mr. Steele to the Justice Department. But neither man would make such a move without good and documented cause. If anything, the referral is suggestive of FBI misbehavior. Evidently whatever Messrs. Grassley and Graham found came only at this late stage, after the bureau reluctantly made key documents available to lawmakers. The implication is that the FBI and Justice Department knew they had a problem and were concealing it from investigators.... If Mr. Steele was such a professional, why was he out spreading national[] security "intelligence" through the media? If Mr. Simpson was so worried for his country, why did he spend months dodging congressional requests for testimony, and refuse to name his client? If Mr. Steele was confident enough in his document to spool it to the FBI, why has he ducked every congressional request that he explain his work? And that's before Mr. Grassley's claim to have credible evidence that Mr. Steele lied to the government. Any decent investigation of what took place should, at a minimum, involve a number of high officials in multiple counts of illegal leaking of classified information, along with perjury before Congress. At a minimum, the penalties for misusing FISA databases and a more stringent means of addressing privacy concerns should be getting far more attention in Congress than they have as it races to reauthorize FISA. Environmentalism began as a sincere conservationist movement but subscribes to a view of man as nature's enemy. Nature itself is revered and intrinsically embodied with value. Environmentalists seek to limit human access to, rather than allow use of, nature to advance human life, health, and happiness. Environmentalists perceive man as an immoral, destructive interloper who can interact only negatively with his natural surroundings. Much of the disagreement over the use of America's natural resources stems from confusion over the difference between conservation and environmentalism. Conservation, a rational, conservative approach to protecting and preserving the environment, is an ethic of resource utilization. Conservationists view man as a natural, invested partner in the endeavor to preserve the environment to ensure its continued, sustainable use by humans. In his book, Smoking Them Out: The Theft of the Environment and How to Take It Back (American Tradition Institute, 2013), Greg Walcher focuses on these ideological differences as he examines the environmental movement. Walcher begins with the history of the environmental movement. He demonstrates how the stewardship of our resources water, forests, energy sources, other natural resources has become less about real science and conservation and more about politics and achieving centralized control. This change in focus has created unintended consequences, far removed from the ideals of caring for the environment and, today, bordering on malfeasance. The author describes an environmental industry that has grown by leaps and bounds since the 1980s. Although their stated goals have remained the same, the nature of the groups has changed radically as they borrowed techniques from non-profit organizations in other fields and raised huge sums of money, much from major foundations such as the Ford Foundation, the Heinz Endowments, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and other entities known for supporting anti-capitalist goals. Many of the organizations boast membership statistics that dishonestly include visitors to their websites and attendees to their meetings to claim extensive and widespread support for their activities, while having few actual, dues-paying members. Large organizations often spawn new groups that are portrayed as concerned citizens promoting an alleged grassroots issue of regional concern, such as "Friends of the Canyon," to give an image of neighborhood conservation groups valiantly fighting large, evil corporations. The emphasis has been on stopping development rather than compromising to balance community needs with legitimate environmental concerns. As a result, hundreds of new local groups have sprung up to influence nearly all major natural resource agencies at every level of government. They pursue lawsuits in staggering numbers, greatly impeding progress on the development of environmental policies. The Sierra Club alone filed 129 federal lawsuits between 2001 and 2007. During his tenure as head of the Department of Natural Resources in Colorado, Walcher dealt firsthand with the full smorgasbord of environmental concerns. He describes his interactions with factions of the powerful, politically connected international environmental industry and takes issue with their negative characterizations of coal-miners; oil, gas, and mining companies; loggers; and farmers as irresponsible abusers of the environment. Walcher considers the Endangered Species Act of 1973 the most powerful environmental law ever passed a failure. Half of the species on the endangered list have been on the list for more than 20 years, and only one third have an actual recovery plan in place. The legislation has accomplished little to recover endangered species, and, in the vast majority of cases, the situation has worsened. Rather than recovering and reintroducing self-sustaining populations of species, the focus has been on habitat conservation, resulting in legislation and regulations to control property, land access, and resources with a negligible effect on actual species recovery. Walcher's approach to species endangerment was to build state-of-the-art recovery facilities: first an aquatic species hatchery and, later, similar facilities for birds and mammals. The goal was to recover sufficient numbers of the species to place them into a suitable habitat for their growth. While the program became overwhelmingly successful, little interest arose from the government and environmental groups. Walcher became aware that listings of endangered species were made with inadequate proof that they were, in fact, endangered, and statistics on historic populations or recovery goals were not part of the equation. Further, the law offered no appeals process or comment period for the public to contest a potential listing. Since the inception of the Act, 1,435 species had been placed on the list, and only eight had been removed. From this dismal record, Walcher concluded that the real agenda was to control land and human activity. In his well researched book, Walcher describes similar scenarios of environmentalists' intrusions in the management (or mismanagement) of other resources: forests, land, water, and energy. He shows how well endowed environmental organizations are adept at imposing their agendas at any cost and with any subterfuge necessary. In land management, he explains how America's forests had traditionally been kept in check by nature, with periodic fires sparked by lightning. But forest management was created and engaged in fire suppression, with logging taking the place of fire to thin forests. In the late 1990s, logging became unpopular and a hot-button issue for environmentalists. The result: a massive overgrowth of trees, brush, grasses, and weeds that deteriorated the health of forests and produced a literal tinderbox. Our forests are so overcrowded that they currently burn at a rate unmatched in recorded history, threatening the wildlife they sustain. An interesting split on land management and development issues between the West and East is also explored in Smoking Them Out. Whereas in the Western states, much of the land is state- and federally owned, government land ownership constitutes a mere 1% to 2% in the East. For example, Nevada consists of nearly all public land, while less than 1% of New York State land is government-owned. This means that Nevada has a much lower tax base available for local schools, fire departments, water and sewer services, and other needs. The amount of publicly owned lands presents a difficult challenge for Western states hampered by government regulation of much of the land surrounding their communities. In the end, Walcher promotes a policy of hands-on environmentalism recovering endangered species, restoring forests through effective clearing, responsible mining with an emphasis on mitigation and reclamation, and other such sensible interventions. With millions of acres of land currently restricted for human activity, our forests and water supply have suffered, and we have strayed from the original intent of resource protection to a hidden agenda of control. Flush with cash and an armamentarium of legal guns, the environmental groups have embarked on a multi-decade destructive crusade that has plundered resources and ensured that the next generation will not enjoy the same standard of living; will travel less; will live in smaller homes; will relinquish cars; and will consume, manufacture, and produce less. In Smoke Them Out, Greg Walcher demonstrates that the answer is not to continue to promulgate a massive regulatory morass, but to engage in sensible conservation and recovery policies. Moving forward, environmental policy should be about responsibly providing the necessary natural resources to sustain a prosperous country. As is clear from the many examples set by impoverished countries, when people have inadequate resources to sustain their communities and livelihoods, they focus on survival and don't expend time and energy for conservation. The phrase "chain migration" is what Durbin and his fellow liberals like to call a racist "dog whistle," but this dog won't hunt. One wonders if Sen. Dick Durbin ever objected to the phrase "chain of custody" in judicial proceedings as evidence of racism in a justice system said to be unfair to blacks. Or maybe he thought "chain smoking" is a phrase coined by Klansmen watching slaves harvest tobacco. Has he ever participated in a chain letter? Democrats like Durbin like to view everything through race-colored glasses, and the phrase "chain migration" is no exception, with Durbin claiming President Trump's use of the term reminded blacks of slavery: Durbin told the media on Friday that he reprimanded Trump for using the term "chain migration" in immigration negotiations, claiming [that] it [is] associated with racism, despite the Illinois senator just this week also using the term. Durbin said in an interview: That was the nature of this conversation. When it came to the issue of, quote, "chain migration," I said to the president, do you realize how painful that term is to so many people? African-Americans believe they migrated to America in chains and when you talk about chain migration, it hurts them personally. Durbin used the word "chain," despite it allegedly being a code word for slavery, in the famous televised immigration meeting just before that private meeting: Durbin, though, just days ago, used the exact term in a meeting at the White House where he sat next to Trump to negotiate the terms of an immigration deal. Durbin said during the White House meeting: You said at the outset that we need to phase this. I think the first phase is what Chuck and Steny and I have mentioned, and others as well: [w]e have a deadline looming and a lot of lives hanging. We can agree on some very fundamental and important things together on border security, on chain, on the future of diversity visas. On "chain"? In the 2010 debate on the DREAM Act, Sen. Durbin not only used the phrase "chain migration," but advocated ending it as a policy: In 2010, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) advocated on the Senate floor for ending the process known as "chain migration," whereby newly naturalized citizens can bring an unlimited number of foreign relatives to the U.S., a term that he now claims insinuates racism. While asking Congress to pass the expansive and failed "DREAM Act" amnesty, which would start by legalizing millions of illegal aliens, Durbin touted the fact that the legislation at the time would have ended chain migration, preventing newly amnestied illegal aliens from bringing their extended family members to the U.S. "The DREAM Act would not allow what is known as chain migration," Durbin said. "In fact, DREAM Act students would have very limited ability to sponsor their family members for legal status." Sen. Durbin should be familiar with racist catchphrases, since he has used them in the past such as when Senate Republicans delayed a vote on the nomination of Loretta Lynch to be attorney general until after a vote on a bill to prevent human trafficking. He said Republicans were pushing Lynch "to the back of the bus." This came from a man who, during the Bush administration, when he opposed the nominations of black Americans Condoleezza Rice and Janice Rogers Brown and hispanic Miguel Estrada. As Investor's Business Daily editorialized at the time of Lynch's nomination: Last week, Durbin accused Republicans of forcing Lynch, President Obama's African-American nominee to replace Eric Holder, to "sit in the back of the bus" until a vote on a controversial sex trafficking bill could be held. That thinly veiled reference to the moment in 1955 when Rosa Parks refused to move from her seat in a Montgomery, Ala.[] bus was meant to paint Senate Republicans as racists. This came as news to Tim Scott, R-S.C., the first black elected to the Senate from the Deep South since reconstruction. "It is helpful to have a long memory and remember that Dick Durbin voted against Condoleezza Rice during the 40th anniversary of the March (on Selma)," Scott noted. "So I think, in context, it's just offensive that we have folks who are willing to race-bait on an issue as important as human trafficking." Not only did Durbin oppose the nomination of the first black woman, and only the second woman, to be secretary of state, but he also fought President Bush's nomination of hispanic Miguel Estrada to sit on the U.S. Court of Appeals: Durbin also opposed the nomination of Miguel Estrada, President George W. Bush's U.S. appeals court nominee. Estrada was described in a Nov. 7, 2001[] borderline[] racist staff memo to Judiciary Committee member Durbin as "especially dangerous, because he has a minimal paper trail, he is [l]atino[,] and the White House seems to be grooming him for a Supreme Court appointment. They want to hold Estrada off as long as possible." "They" were left-leaning special[] interest groups such as the People for the American Way, the National Organization of Women, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund[,] and the Alliance for Justice groups that, like current Democrats, believe that you must be the "right kind" of [h]ispanic or black to hold high public office. Conservative blacks and [h]ispanics need not apply. Estrada, who was rated "well qualified" by the American Bar Association, and who had enough votes to be confirmed in the absence of a filibuster, remained in limbo for more than two years until he gave up in frustration and withdrew his nomination for the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2003. Durbin also had no problem opposing the nomination of a black woman, California Supreme Court justice Janice Rogers Brown, to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit: Durbin was fine with sending Janice Rogers Brown to "the back of the bus" and filibustering her nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, where she became the first African-American woman to serve. Twice Durbin voted against cloture motions on her nomination. Brown, the daughter of an Alabama sharecropper, was the first black woman to sit on the California Supreme Court and was re-elected with 76% of the vote. Was filibustering her nomination racist, Sen. Durbin? Liberals such as Durbin tout "diversity" and "equality[]" but hypocritically oppose a Hispanic such as Estrada because he is a "dangerous [l]atino" and Brown because, as a Sen. Ted Kennedy staff memo said, "we can't repeat the mistake we made with Clarence Thomas." So where does Durbin come off accusing Trump of using an allegedly racist phrase, a phrase he has used himself to describe a policy he once opposed, while having a history of opposing black and hispanic nominees of a Republican president because they weren't the "right kind" of blacks and hispanics? Daniel John Sobieski is a freelance writer whose pieces have appeared in Investor's Business Daily, Human Events, Reason Magazine, and the Chicago Sun-Times among other publications. The Ladies vs. the Mullahs No one knows her name, but a young Iranian woman waving a white scarf has become a symbol of almost forty years of struggle by Iranian women, protesting the gender apartheid that clerics brought to our country, overnight, in the winter of 1979. She waved a white scarf in the air as a symbol of peaceful defiance and a campaign, #MyStealthyFreedom, of women fighting for their right to feel the wind in their hair in Iran, the country of my birth. The reaction of the paramilitary forces of the regime has not been so peaceful, with this young woman allegedly detained and other protesters killed by the dictatorial theocracy of Iran, which demands that women cover their hair. The young woman's struggle is part of a longer battle that Iranian women and men have fought against the Shia clergy's thirst for power and wealth since the 1840s, when a band of organizations, the Ladies' Secret Society, emerged to take Iran back from occupying clergy. They prevailed with the 1906 Constitutional Revolution that established a secular system of governance and separation of religion and state. They hearkened back to a secular philosophy that has defined the Persian Empire since the year 539 B.C., when the emperor of Persia, Cyrus the Great, wrote the first proclamation of human rights and separation of religion from the state. However, a few clerics, like the ayatollah Khomeini, would not give up. He knew that the Iranian people did not want clerical rule and that he would never be able to take over Iran through a democratic process. Khomeini needed America's power and shopped for the support of U.S. presidents, beginning by writing to John F. Kennedy but succeeding only in fooling former president Jimmy Carter's administration, which took the bait and helped Khomeini take Iran in 1979. Today, the people of Iran call the ideology that controls every aspect of their lives "political Islam." You cannot convince a single Iranian that his dictatorial rulers care about Iran and Iranians. Khomeini told us, "Iran is only a base and financial source for us to establish the rule of Islam throughout the world." The uprisings of the people of Iran, trending now with the hashtag #IranProtests, are nothing new. The women of Iran have been fighting since the day Khomeini announced the imposition of his regressive sharia law on the people, making the free and equal women of Iran and their children property of men, perhaps better defined as "slaves." We marched day after day, in the rain and snow, with little support from the West. I lost friends to prison, assassination, and exile. My father begged me to go into exile, and I did, fleeing with my young daughter, tears in our eyes. Iranians endured eight years of a bloody and inhumane war between Khomeini and Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, with an estimated one million young boys and men of Iran dying. The women of Iran have constantly protested in defiance of sharia laws, to be arrested, tortured, and abused in prisons. In 1998, Tehran University students rose up in protest, in support of a professor who was fired and replaced by an illiterate, elderly cleric. The protests lasted for weeks and ended with over 8,000 dead young students of Iran, with unknown numbers in prisons. During the decades of 1990s and the 2000s, as the West entertained handpicked presidents of Iran, the women of Iran continuously demonstrated for their human rights and were beaten, arrested, and imprisoned. On Sept. 18, 2001, defying the regime's warnings and pressure, brave Iranians were the only people in the Middle East to hold a candlelight vigil in solidarity with America. The thousands who marched peacefully down one of the main boulevards of Tehran were brutally attacked by Revolutionary Guards and paramilitary forces. Many paid a high price for their bravery. They were arrested and hauled off to prison. In 2006, women organized a march and handed out 5,000 brochures that explained that sharia laws imprison the people. They were attacked and arrested. In 2007 and 2008, women began the One Million Signature Movement, a petition against sharia laws. In one week, more men and women volunteered to collect signatures in every city of Iran. The One Million Signature Movement brought to life the brave women of Iran, who quickly established organizations and websites. But the inevitable happened. In the early morning, paramilitary forces kicked in the doors to the women's homes and beat them up in front of their husbands and children before taking them away to prison with their collected signatures. In 2008, many Iranians, backed by world human rights organizations, proposed that the Nobel Peace Prize be given to the women of Iran for the One Million Signature Movement for courageous acts of defending human rights. The academy gave it, instead, to the new president of the United States. The next year, fearless women led the Green Movement of the people of Iran. All they wanted was for Western democracies to stop empowering the dictatorial regime. For days, they chanted, "Obama! Obama! Are you with them or with us?" The world watched, mostly in silence, as they were killed. I gasped in horror as I watched a young woman activist, Neda Agha-Soltan, take her last breaths after being shot by a sniper in a video captured by her friends. Obama decided to stay aligned with the gender apartheid tyrants of Iran. The theocratic tyranny in Iran is, by all definitions, international laws and United Nations resolutions, a gender apartheid regime, vehemently and actively opposed by the people of Iran. Isn't it past time for Western democracies and women to cease support for Tehran? Instead, shouldn't support go to the legacy of the Ladies' Secret Societies and the brave women who are its descendants? Manda Zand Ervin is a human rights activist, born in Iran and living in exile in the United States. She is the author of the forthcoming book The Ladies' Secret Societies. A speedboat carrying 27 Chinese tourists and several Thai crews exploded on southern Thailand's Andaman Sea near Phi-Phi Islands on Sunday. The photo taken by a mobile phone on Jan. 14, 2018 shows a speedboat explosion on southern Thailand's Andaman Sea near Phi-Phi Islands. A speedboat carrying 27 Chinese tourists and several Thai crews exploded on southern Thailand's Andaman Sea near Phi-Phi Islands on Sunday. [Photo: Xinhua] A Thai was killed and 16 others have been found injured, according to local media. The speedboat was on its way to Phi-Phi Islands and caught fire near the Viking Cave in the sea at about 1 p.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday. Five Chinese were seriously injured, according to the Consulate-General of China in Songkhla. The consulate said all the Chinese tourists have been helped ashore while the rescue team is still searching for the others. All the injured were hospitalized. The photo taken by a mobile phone on Jan. 14, 2018 shows a speedboat explosion on southern Thailand's Andaman Sea near Phi-Phi Islands. A speedboat carrying 27 Chinese tourists and several Thai crews exploded on southern Thailand's Andaman Sea near Phi-Phi Islands on Sunday. [Photo: Xinhua] Local media said there was a fuel leak. The captain went to check the engine and it suddenly exploded. The fire quickly spread, prompting all the passengers to scramble for swimming vests and jump into the sea. Local media said there were five Thai passengers and 27 Chinese tourists, including three children on board. A seriously injured Thai crew was later pronounced dead from burns. The explosion is under investigation. Up North: What's Doing with Illegals on the Other Fenceless Border? Since Donald Trump has ascended to the White house, there's been endless talk about the wall, and border security, as a follow-up to his months-long promises to quash the untenable invasion of people from dozens of countries. There are often, when these issues are discussed, raised eyebrows at the status of our "northern border." The answer is that while thousands of illegals are not sneaking in through our northern border, the problem up in Canada is a lesser invasive element: smugglers, dopers, and unsavory trespassers who must be caught and turned back. These are different problems, but still requiring surveillance, monitoring, 24-hour-a-day shifts tough standards and the latest high-tech equipment and electronics. I went to see for myself. I was on an expedition with CIS (Center for Immigration Studies) on a border run, twelve of us in two commodious vans. My companions were also members of CIS, fascinating, often brilliant in their fields, and never dull all ages and professions. We have government types, a three-star general, mining execs, top immigration experts, state committee heads, Heritage people, journos (me and a solid newspaper reporter who'd worked many years in Texas on a major paper), and others. All are strong Republicans and conservatives and a pleasure to be with, as I have found over the years and several such border tours together. We jinked into and out of Canada and the U.S. as we checked on various border crossings. In doing so, we traveled some 1,200 miles; took briefings from the U.S. and Canadian border patrols; talked with Canadian Mounties; and Q&Aed with Homeland Security, RESC, deportation and recovery people, and others in order to surveil and research infiltration and departing illegals. This is my third such expedition the two priors being along the southern border and Mexico, where we sat in court to observe judges dealing with caught illegals as well as spent time with border patrol outposts and such. We saw firsthand people waiting until nightfall to cross the fences and triple-barriers with ten-foot-wide sand "moats." These are set up to disclose illegal entry footprints as men drop from fencing or walls onto sand and make their way to surrounding grassy areas. We stopped at dozens of fencing and barriers in sporadic spots not, of course, the continuous solid fencing or gates or barriers that have been called for repeatedly by Republicans. We stayed on an Indian reservation, Mohawk Nation at Akwesasne, several days, where I was distressed to see they had not a single computer for patrons. They had eyes only for one-armed bandits and lackaday cadaverous elderly throwing away their life savings on the cloud-cuckoo-land dream of windfall-winning at those sepulchral silver wish-seducing machines and smoke-shrouded craps tables. Along the way to our appointed destinations ,two signs evoked laughter: RED LIVES MATTER. Further down the same rural road, another placard: EVEN BURNT RED LIVES MATTER! They have everything dedicated to hauling in cash from the on-leave sanity of everyday locals on a long-term bender. The food in the Mohawk casino was plenteous and decidedly down-home (down-tent?), and drinks were humongous and constant. Entry tab for the craps table was $25 a chip, a tad steep for most. We drank juice mixes, did not gamble, and found the whole vista of American Indians recouping shekels from the local whites grimly scenic and histrionic. Dispiriting. Much of the attendee population was notably fond of dessert, as well as all the fixin's of any other food group, judging by the girth of their expansive belts. In Vermont, we stopped in at an ancient library cum opera house, something out of Harry Potter in its crenellations and 19th-century spires. Quite charming but the town standout is that it is where The Beatles reputedly congregated when they were trying to reunite with John Lennon, who, owing to his known use of weed, was denied entry into the States back in the day. Tough call. In Vermont, Ben & Jerry HQ was just down the street in one town. Though we may eat their product, we disagree with them on most lib-lub everything, including U.S. politics, climate, defense, and the rest of the political. Burlington for the Tall Ships coincided with our landing there the very weekend this regatta dropped anchor, only once every few years. Bevies of patriotic folk scooting about, boarding this ship or that, centuries-old ships and combat frigates or whatever. For purchase: Hudson Bay thick green, yellow, red-on-white field stripes on everything, everything you can conceive of. It struck me that the source of these quintessentially "American" tchotchkes and dust-collectors was originally American Indian in style, design, execution, and finish. The Canadian crossing checkpoints and passport outposts were unfriendly and cool, asking us endless questions, likely because we were six or seven people per van, filled with non-related people from all points in the U.S., without a reasonable rationale for why we were together. (We had a reason, but the passport control guys did not understand why anyone would care about infiltration or illegal aliens.) We were denied entry to Canada, our closest ally, at one outpost coming from the state of Vermont. One of us had apparently committed some sort of youthful indiscretion; the Canadian border patrol grilled this person for a long time, twice, and discovered whatever it was in the shady past that was deemed a no-no, and boom, we were all denied entry. Had to turn both vans around and go back. Only one point in six or seven entry points featured a guy who was welcoming and friendly and just scanned our passports and smilingly wished us well. All the others were brisk and seriously professional skeptical of everything we said. Polite, but no funny business. In Ottawa, we popped in to eat at a surefire Hillary fave, a restaurant called...Pinocchio, which evoked a laugh when I mentioned the evident analogy to colleagues. One immediately stated, quoting a major politico in his past, "When you hear a good line, steal it." I amended it to Four Pinocchios for Hillary. She gets that award often, according to the still fawning media. Cameras are everywhere, even remote farms and outposts, unused roads, where we were viewing illegal crossover sites (night only we were in daytime). Soon, we pulled up to some overgrown, weed-choked back road with STOP in huge letters on a scruffy pole, along with ARRET on the reverse side. Very soon, two or three guys in border patrol or Mountie insignia would haul up alongside and ask what we were doing and why we were there. This is in marked contrast to the astringent lack of border patrol presence on the southern border, a direct consequence of former president Obama's peculiar directives to ignore or overlook insurgent illegals at border points and all along the unmonitored areas of the border states. We spent considerable time with retired and welcoming border patrol vets, often accompanying us, all of whom were delighted to spend time taking us around to well known alien hotspots they regularly surveiled. We went to a patrol HQ, where this super-ripped honcho in an olive drab T-shirt and cargo pants, the head guy at the HQ, a pistol slung at his hip, showed us around the patrol realm, their ATVs, the handcuffs, the computers, holding stalls for men, separate quarters for women, and explained the procedures of how long they could hold 'em before they had to fold 'em, feed any detainees every six hours. All regulated. By-the-book proper. The border guys all delighted to see our committed group, traveling with their veteran retired buddies. Border police and all their crews have gotten precious little public acclaim or support, so our troupe of a dozen anti-illegal invasion investigators was a standout wherever we stopped in these precincts, among these dedicated and hardworking men and women. Under the present administration, it is great to report, morale is miles better than under its predecessor. President Trump has issued outright support and fulsome praise for these hardworking men professionals often endangered by their jobs, as well as by the shadowy underworld they have to deal with night and day. Bradley Manning, the traitor who was convicted of violating the Espionage Act, was sent to prison, changed his name to Chelsea, and was pardoned by Obama. Now he is running for the Senate in Maryland in the Democratic primary against incumbent Senator Ben Cardin. Are there enough mentally ill voters in Maryland to elect Bradley to the Senate? On the one hand... 1) Mentally ill voters. Mentally ill voters, including but not limited to people who believe that you can change your sex, will flock to Bradley's banner. You could say Bradley is the poster boy for mentally ill people. 2) Feminist voters. Feminist voters will probably tilt more to Bradley than to Senator Cardin. In fact, Chelsea can have crossover appeal with both men and women, given that his top half sort of looks female and his bottom half is male. (His top half is also male.) You could even say that Bradley is a balanced ticket all on his own. 3) America-hating voters. America-hating voters will love Bradley, since he betrayed our country by giving out thousands of our military secrets. 4) Criminal voters. Criminal voters will love Bradley, since Bradley is one of them! 5) Illegal alien voters. Illegal alien voters might vote for Bradley because, like criminal voters, they are criminals, too just more virtuous ones. 6) Abortion issue voters. Bradley will probably have an advantage with pro-abortion voters. Bradley is an abortion inspiration. Pregnant women looking at Bradley will be more inclined to rush to have an abortion, for fear that their child will end up like him. On the other hand: 7) Class warfare voters. Class warfare voters, who are concerned about taking money from those who have more of it and redistributing it to government bureaucracies, unions, and others, have no special reason to like Bradley and will probably stick with Cardin. 8) Islamic voters. Bradley probably will not have an advantage with Islamic voters, doing only statistically insignificantly better with Islamists who want to stone Bradley than with Islamists who want to throw Bradley off a rooftop. On the other hand, the votes of LGBTQ Muslims are in Bradley's back pocket, if not unzipping his pants outright. 9) Environmentalist voters. Enviro-nuts I mean environmentalist voters have no special reason to vote for Bradley and so will probably stick with Cardin. 10) Racial hating voters. Minorities, who have been taught that white people hate them, have no special reason to vote for Bradley and will probably stick with Cardin. So Bradley has a chance if he can mobilize crazy people, feminists, and criminals. Remember, this is Maryland, so anything is possible. Questions for discussion: By this time next year, do you think Bradley will be undressing in the congressional gym with Kirsten Gillibrand? Do you think he will be showering with Elizabeth Warren after a hot, sweaty workout? How do you think female Democratic senators will enjoy being nude around Bradley? Will Dianne Feinstein and Susan Collins go shopping for bras with Bradley? Ed Straker is the senior writer at Newsmachete.com. With Chelsea Manning, Democrats are scraping bottom in their 2018 lineup In a year when Democrats are supposed to be taking over Congress, it's pretty amazing how shallow their bench is. Instead of offering strong candidates with real counter-ideas supposedly to oppose Republicans, they seem to have a larger than normal crop of human muck. Yet as the Roy Moore debacle showed Republicans, elections are won by attracting good candidates. With charmers like these in Democrats' current lineup, there's reason to question whether there's really going to be a wave. Chelsea Manning is the latest to join this clown cavalcade, filing to run for a seat in the Maryland Senate. It's an astonishing development, given the scope of Manning's crimes. While in a position of trust, Manning downloaded 700,000 government secrets and then forked them over to Wikileaks for global distribution, endangering U.S. agents and nullifying countless intelligence operations. He was then caught, sentenced to 35 years in Leavenworth, whined about not liking it, got special treatment in a government-funded sex change, and then received a pardon from President Obama, which he has since used to taunt the last two administrations and America in general, free and unaccountable for his crimes. He took to writing columns for the Guardian and living the celebrity lifestyle, taunting his detractors in Twitter, communicating almost exclusively in emojis. Now he's in line with the Democrats for a Senate seat as they plan to take over Congress, which ought to go over real well with the Fort Meade crowd, in their home of the National Security Agency. And you thought Bluto in the Senate couldn't be outdone. Yet the problem goes well beyond Manning. Just last week, the hot desperate talk from Democrats was all about Oprah Winfrey, a daytime talk-show host, running for president to succeed President Trump. Sure, she's had success as an executive. She's also had success emoting. But the outsider act has already been done. If she can't win on that novelty value, and has no governing experience, it's unclear what value she might be to voters. But she's the name the Democrats are putting out there. The less-celebrated Democrats out there paint a picture nearly as repulsive as that of Manning. There was the Democrats' New Mexico congressional candidate, David Alcon, arrested for stalking in Albuquerque, not just ten years ago, but late last year, according to the New Mexico papers. The creep stalked a woman, sent her threatening text messages, said he wanted her to have his baby and transmitted photos of his genitals. Apparently, the Democrats have disavowed him and it's unclear if he got his paperwork in on time but obviously, he saw this year as a good time to be a Democrat in the House. There's also Democratic congressional candidate Willie Singletary, a former Philadelphia judge who was caught with his hand in the till in a parking fee scam, lost his job and went to jail for perjury. He says his Democratic congressional run is because he needs "a fresh start." The Democrats, via the Huffington Post, have made much of what they claim is a surfeit of criminality among on the Republican bench, claiming four Republicans now running have convictions. But it's a false argument, given that most of the named candidates, such as former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio, were convicted in politically motivated prosecutions so common during the Obama era. The Democrats by contrast have venality, treason and thievery as their candidates' disqualifiers. No party can prevent any interloper from running under its banner, but cripes, this is supposed to be a 'wave year' for Democrats. All we are seeing is sludge. In a private meeting, Trump asked why we're importing immigrants from countries without any sense of Western civilization or values who have no intention to assimilate. Good question. But because he allegedly used a bad word, justifiably and correctly, if true, he is now, again, branded a racist. Once again, the loathsome Senator Dick Durbin has besmirched himself by running to the anti-Trump media to proclaim that Trump used a bad word! Dick Durbin gets away with the murder of facts. He is a well known liar. He's lied before about private government meetings. Jack Hellner lists many of his crimes against the American people here. Durbin lied incessantly about Obamacare, as did all the Democrats, and he lies now about immigration. He is on record opposing chain migration in 2010. Now whoever opposes it is racist. Mark Levin has on occasion revealed that the late Sen. Fred Thompson once told him that Durbin was the most disingenuous member of Congress, that he could not be trusted. Seems true now that Durbin speaks as though the nation cannot survive without an influx of Africans, Haitians, and persons from any other country who want to come to America. Who would not want to come here? Did Trump use an unacceptable word when discussing immigration in a private meeting? So what? Was he correct to ask the question? Of course he was. The Immigration and Nationalization Act of 1965 was Ted Kennedy's baby. Enacted in 1968, it ended the National Origins Formula that had been the law of the land since 1921. Kennedy promised that it would not alter the demographic make-up of America. "The bill will not flood our cities with immigrants. It will not upset the ethnic mix of our society. It will not relax the standards of admission." Then, in 1986, the Immigration Reform and Control Act was passed the Simpson-Mazzoli Act. Simpson promised Reagan that the bill would insure "control of our borders." The joke was on the rest of us. The three million people who got amnesty became eleven million people within ten years. Those who had been trying to enter the country legally gave up and claimed to be illegal; it was easier to stay, claiming amnesty. Ted Kennedy on the 1986 Simpson-Mazzoli bill: "This amnesty will give citizenship to only 1.1 to 1.3 million illegal aliens. We will secure the borders henceforth. We will never again bring forward another amnesty bill like this." The borders were never secured. Our cities have been flooded with immigrants who have upset the ethnic mix of American society. And now the Democrats want another amnesty for 11-20 million illegal aliens. Every letter of that law has been abrogated since it was passed, most willfully during the Obama administration. Obama encouraged parents in Central America to send their children here unaccompanied! And they came, by the tens of thousands. The left wants and needs its underclass who else will continue to vote for them but those who are dependent upon them? Chain migration resulted in the continued influx of non-English-speaking persons, uneducated and without skills beyond straining welfare benefit programs. This mass migration to America has continued unabated since 1965. The Immigration Act of 1990, the ridiculous "diversity lottery," is a joke upon a travesty. Fast-forward to the present, and we have the ever odious Dick Durbin, the liar of the Senate, defending illegal immigration from anywhere and everywhere without vetting, the threat of terrorism be damned. "We are a welcoming and diverse nation! We do not discriminate." Durbin and his cohorts in the Democratic Party without question value the DACA people illegal aliens like the man who murdered Kate Steinle over and above American citizens. They care not a whit about the thousands of Americans who have been killed by illegal immigrants, by their drugs, their drunk driving, their gang activities. They do not care how many unemployed Americans do not have jobs because the jobs are taken by illegal aliens. They do not. No matter how many people are murdered or maimed by this criminal element imported from all over the world, the likes of Durbin will defend the alien, not the citizen or the citizen's grieving family. He is the Fernand Mondego, the scoundrel of Dumas's Count of Monte Cristo, of Congress. Dick Durbin will lie, cheat, and betray any friend or stranger for his own aggrandizement and the furtherance of the progressive agenda. Like Obama, Durbin and his ilk want to fundamentally transform our country from what it was meant to be to something only Saul Alinsky and George Soros could love. If you have powerful politicians like Durbin not caring about the Constitution and going after political opponents: In 2010, Senator Durbin sent a letter to IRS telling them to investigate conservative groups. Is it any wonder Lois Lerner acted as she did? Somehow a Georgetown-educated lawyer seemed not to care that the Constitution protects free speech, especially political speech, and not just the speech of those who agree with the policies of those in power. Pretty soon you may have a President who dictatorially ignores Congress and rewrites immigration law to allow those he wants to stay special benefits. Pretty soon you may have a President who dictatorially ignores Congress and rewrites immigration law to allow those he wants to stay special benefits. You may have politicians from throughout the U.S declaring that they are going to ignore their oath of office and declare that they will be sanctuary cities and states and just refuse to enforce immigration laws that Congress passed that they don't like. You may have Judges that just go along with the violations of law and the Constitution. You could have a President, intelligence community and Justice Department that illegally spies on 1,000's of Americans including a Presidential candidate and staff and who also illegally leak names and conversations of those who disagree with their agenda. You may have a Justice Department and FBI which investigates and prosecutes based on political beliefs instead of the law itself. What is truly dangerous to our freedom and democracy is when the media, which was given great protections (and therefore power) by our founding fathers, goes along with the politicians and bureaucrats that clearly violate laws and the Constitution in seeking to destroy a president who is seeking to give the power and money back to the people, where it belongs. Durbin was also involved in House Banking Scandal in the early 1990's. It is no wonder Durbin likes to punish banks since he thought everything should be free including overdraft privileges. Following is a list of 325 sitting and former House members (including non-voting delegates) who were found by the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct to have had overdrafts at the House bank between July 1, 1988, and Oct. 3, 1991. It includes the committee's April 1 list of 22 members found to have abused banking privileges and the April 16 list of 303 other overdrafters. Former members are in italics. ()4 Richard J. Durbin, D-lll. 12 He seemingly used insider information to benefit himself. On September18, 2008 he was in a closed-door meeting where Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman urged Congress to bail out banks. The next day Durbin sold $115,000 of bank stocks. Since so many seem to be concerned about politicians mental health, shouldn't they investigate Senator Durbin? Anyone who ever thought out, wrote and read a statement comparing our soldiers to Nazis and dictators like Pol Pot is obviously a few bricks short of a load. It is time the media did their job instead of essentially being stenographers for Democrats when they seek to destroy Trump every day. Thank goodness, we have a President who is seeking to enforce the laws Congress passes and who is working as fast as he can to drain the swamp and give the power back to the people. He has to work fast because there will be a new story teller every day similar to Durbin. So it was strange stuff to read that some guy named Moby, who apparently is a popular dee jay and entertainer, was out canoodling with the CIA one day, and according to his own account of the mattr, was propositioned by the spy agency to spread it around about President Trump being a Russian agent. According to Pitchfork : Talking with WFPK's Kyle Meredith, Moby cited active and former CIA agents who were truly concerned about Trumps collusion with Russia. They were like, This is the Manchurian Candidate, like [Putin] has a Russian agent as the President of the United States, he said. So they passed on some information to me and they said, like, Look, you have more of a social media following than any of us do, can you please post some of these things just in a way that sort of put it out there. If the story is true, it's a stunning revelation that falls right into line with all the other Deep State efforts to undermine the presidency of Donald Trump before he even got to office. Moby also said he heard from the agents that every word of the Steele Dossier, which has the agency in such hot water right now, was true, which probably was their position at the time. Yet the remarks stand in stark contrast to longtstanding practice, because the CIA is explicitly forbidden by its charter from domestic meddling. It took a great deal of heat for its efforts to do that in hearings commenced by Frank Church and his committee in the early 1970s. The hammer came down so hard on the CIA as its "family jewels" were exposed, that the agency was effectively crippled in its aftermath, during the Carter years. But the agency had supposedly learned its lesson and from then on, confined its spy activities to the overseas arena. Which is what makes Moby's claims so startling. Would the CIA really be caught dead in a room with a guy like this? Moby is a vocal supporter of Chelsea Manning and according to his Wikipedia bio, apparently not the kind of guy who might be granted a security clearance, given his dissolute pattern of life. Not that this is utterly necessary in the case of an agent - the CIA deals with dodgy characters all the time, but in such instances, the important question is if he could he keep a secret. Well, he didn't. All the same, his charges bear looking at. First, let's look at motive. Did Moby have anything to gain by spilling the beans? Not really - it seems the guy wanted to hurt Trump by saying 'hey even the CIA thinks this.' It's unlikely he knew the officials could be fired for domestic activity. Second, the CIA yes indeed is very sensitive to propaganda and with it, pop culture. They are also very social media-savvy. We have seen this with its Hollywood collaborations to boost its image and we know they know the value of entertainers such as Moby from their overseas exploits. The fact that Moby is a show business boob wouldn't deter them from being in a room with him if he could be of some use to them. But it's just as possible, as writers Scott Johnson and John Hinderaker of Powerline note, that Moby was duped, and the people he was speaking to weren't CIA officers at all. It could have easily been someone just saying he was from CIA, given that the CIA would be unlikely to identify itself as such to someone like him. How would Moby know the difference? And yet, and yet, to use a U.S. entertainer to 'put it out there' that Trump was a Russian agent is just so illegal, and just fits so perfectly into the emerging story of an agency out of control. Hinderaker, citing thoughts from Johnson, writes: Until recently, I never would have imagined that a top FBI investigator would send his lover easily discoverable texts about how they can stop the Republican nominee from winning the presidency. Would present or former CIA agents identify themselves as such to entertainers in order to convince them to assist in the campaign to destroy the Trump presidency? I dont know. But CIA agents and officials have done things in recent years that I never would have imagined, like leaking to reporters to try to destroy the Trump presidency. There's one way to get to the bottom of this: Someone, perhaps in Congress or through a new special prosecutor, needs to get Moby to identify who exactly his sources were. He's spilled too much and the public has a right to know. More than 80 companies have announced bonuses or raises or improved benefits for workers, now that a new tax[] cut law is likely to boost after-tax revenue for most big U.S. companies. It is truly a shame that someone at Yahoo Finance is so incompetent that he doesn't understand how the tax cuts work. He says in his headline that the Trump tax cuts aren't helping Century Link workers, but he is 100% wrong. The tax cuts are obviously helping the workers there, because although the company is not able to give them a raise, Trump and the Republicans did, because they gave the workers more take-home pay, which is just like a raise. From the article: This writer is just Like Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats, who really don't want workers in the private sector to keep more of the money they earn. The reform and cuts are working fast. How about celebrating the new workers for Fiat-Chrysler who are going to be in Warren, Michigan instead of Mexico? Obviously, in a capitalist economy, not every company will be able to give raises. Some will fail, and companies that are losing money won't save on taxes. It is a simple concept. My guess is that Sears and Kmart employees won't fare as well as Walmart workers or other profitable companies, but everyone who earns money in the United States will see his tax rates go down. It is too bad that the Yahoo Finance guy had to look so hard to report this story and then get it all wrong by saying Trump's cuts didn't help those employees. But not CenturyLink ( CTL ), the embattled telecom provider based in Monroe, La., which informed employees recently that there will be no raises this year. In an email to employees on Jan. 11, CEO Glen Post said, "We cannot afford merit increases across the organization at this time[.] ... I believe [that] it is necessary that we not pay merit increases this year." It is truly a shame that someone at Yahoo Finance is so incompetent that he doesn't understand how the tax cuts work. He says in his headline that the Trump tax cuts aren't helping Century Link workers, but he is 100% wrong. The tax cuts are obviously helping the workers there, because although the company is not able to give them a raise, Trump and the Republicans did, because they gave the workers more take-home pay, which is just like a raise. From the article: More than 80 companies have announced bonuses or raises or improved benefits for workers, now that a new tax[] cut law is likely to boost after-tax revenue for most big U.S. companies. But not CenturyLink (CTL), the embattled telecom provider based in Monroe, La., which informed employees recently that there will be no raises this year. In an email to employees on Jan. 11, CEO Glen Post said, "We cannot afford merit increases across the organization at this time[.] ... I believe [that] it is necessary that we not pay merit increases this year." Obviously, in a capitalist economy, not every company will be able to give raises. Some will fail, and companies that are losing money won't save on taxes. It is a simple concept. My guess is that Sears and Kmart employees won't fare as well as Walmart workers or other profitable companies, but everyone who earns money in the United States will see his tax rates go down. It is too bad that the Yahoo Finance guy had to look so hard to report this story and then get it all wrong by saying Trump's cuts didn't help those employees. This writer is just Like Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats, who really don't want workers in the private sector to keep more of the money they earn. The reform and cuts are working fast. How about celebrating the new workers for Fiat-Chrysler who are going to be in Warren, Michigan instead of Mexico? Two leakers say he used the term "s---holes" to describe Haiti and African countries. However, the only person corroborating that as this is being written is a Democrat. Given that Harry Reid gleefully admitted to lying about Mitt Romney not paying taxes, it's not irrational to question that Democrat's veracity. Our first step in responding to the fake news firestorm about what Trump did or didn't say about some African countries is to figure out what Trump actually said. We also know that the leakers were willing to hurt the U.S. in order to gain a partisan political advantage. The leakers knew that whether they were telling the truth or not, it would hurt the U.S. and that didn't slow them down a bit. That indicates a lack of trustworthiness. We further know that the leakers were wrong in that already Jake Tapper is saying Trump didn't attack Haiti in the way the leakers said Trump did. There are two trustworthy Republican senators who say they didn't hear Trump say what the leakers claim. Even Lindsey "I want citizenship and welfare for life for anyone who can sneak into the U.S." Graham didn't confirm the leakers' terminology. Instead, Graham said Trump said something Lindsey "Americans are the problem and everyone overseas is better than Americans" Graham felt the need to "chastise" Trump about. The reality is that Trump probably used coarse language to make a valid point: why are we letting people with no skills and whose allegiance is to their tribe, not their country in when we're keeping people with skills and whose allegiance is to the rule of law out? In fact, we can easily imagine Trump describing countries like Somalia as hellholes. Interestingly, the use of "hellhole" which is hardly less offensive than "s-hole" to describe Haiti and Somalia is common; just check the internet. Apparently, only when Trump uses a pejorative to describe countries do the media go into a hissy fit. Anyone who wouldn't say that Haiti and Somalia are hellholes is lacking in compassion. The people in Somalia and many other African countries live miserable lives, and pointing that out is hardly an act of evil. The real problem for the Democrats is that Trump is saying what most Americans believe: the role of immigration is to help America, not to help the rest of the world. If someone from Somalia has what it takes to be a good American, by all means, let him in, but that doesn't mean we should be taking pretty much anyone from Somalia while rejecting highly skilled people from Japan or Norway. What's really interesting is that the same leftists now having a conniption fit over what Trump might have said have been telling us for decades that those same countries are in fact hellholes. For ages, leftists have been saying we have to let immigrants in from poor third-world countries because life in those countries is so bad. It's unclear how leftists are rationalizing the fact that they continue to say life in those countries is bad with being incensed with Trump saying life in those countries is bad, but the one skill leftists have is nursing double-standards, so they'll undoubtedly muddle through. Even better, how many Americans have given of their hard-earned money not other people's tax dollars to help Haiti and other third-world countries precisely because those countries are hellholes? After all, if Haiti isn't a horrible place to live, why send money at all? Why the media insanity? Basically, it's Russia redux. The Democrats, being fascists at heart, refuse to accept any election result they don't approve of. As a result, they will do anything to attack Trump. Democrat politicians care no more about low-skill legal immigrants and illegal aliens than they do about inner-city blacks. So long as they get the votes, Democrats are more than willing to watch the people they supposedly stand up for live horrible lives in miserable conditions. The whole attack on Trump is simply a disinformation campaign to distract Americans from the Democrats' plan to remake America in the image of those third-world hellholes, with the Democrats being the kleptocrats who live large off the labors of others. You can read more of Tom's rants at his blog, Conversations about the obvious, and feel free to follow him on Twitter. What Sheikh Khalifa could teach Angela Merkel In slightly over a year, I've ventured on two informational tours led by Dr. Daniel Pipes, president of the Middle East Forum. Last year, we studied the immigration crisis in Europe, and we recently returned from the United Arab Emirates, where our theme was "an Arab success story." I expected to learn how the UAE has thrived in a troubled region, but to my surprise, I may also have discovered the linchpin that could untangle Europe's Gordian immigration knot. To say Europe has an immigration "system" is to give too much credit. For the past few years, hundreds of thousands of migrants have streamed across the Mediterranean from Africa and the Middle East. Many seek asylum from the Syrian civil war. Others simply take advantage of the chaos. By throwing away their passports, immigrants from all over the world can pose as Syrian refugees and gain access to rich northern European countries like Germany and Sweden. This influx has increased both terrorism and crime. The rate of terror plots in Europe shot up from an average of one every 24 days in 2014 to one every 9.6 days in 2015, every 6.2 days in 2016, and every 5 days during the first five months of 2017. Fifteen percent of the plots involved refugees or asylum-seekers. In Germany, more than half the terrorist plots involved migrants, and in 2016, 8.6% of German crime suspects were migrants, despite their making up less than 2% of the population. On New Year's Eve 2016, gangs of migrant men sexually assaulted more than 1,200 German women. Similar mass assaults have happened in Sweden. In stark contrast, the UAE tightly controls immigration. The population is only about 10% local Emiratis and 90% foreigners, who enter on visas tied to temporary employment contracts and can almost never become Emirati citizens. Laborers are mostly from South Asia or the Philippines, and many professionals and managers come from the West. Although foreigners far outnumber the Emiratis, there is little crime or terrorism. The UAE doesn't publish crime statistics and may underreport crime to encourage tourism, but it's generally acknowledged to be a safe place. One crowdsourcing site ranks Abu Dhabi as the lowest-crime city in the world. Since 2014, there has been only one successful terror attack, resulting in one fatality. Uncontrolled immigration is very expensive. In Europe, many immigrants have no imminent prospect of employment and rely on local government welfare for housing and food. The German federal government spent 21.7 billion on immigration in 2016, and cash-strapped Italy has announced that it will spend 4.2 billion on immigrants in 2017. Combining generous welfare with open borders creates a magnet for the world's poor. Europe will go bankrupt long before it has welcomed the entire Third World. In contrast, the UAE admits only foreigners who contribute to the economy. While the rulers provide generous benefits for indigenous Emiratis, there is no welfare for immigrants. Visas are tied strictly to temporary employment contracts. If you lose your job, you go back home. And only foreign workers with sufficient income are allowed to bring their families. Around 2015, when the magnitude of the European refugee crisis became apparent, there was much criticism of the Gulf states, including the UAE, for their refusal to accept Syrian refugees. In response, the UAE announced that it would accept 15,000 Syrians by 2021 and make financial contributions to refugee camps outside the UAE. The Emiratis were willing to help the refugees, but only if they could do it without hurting their own citizens or derailing their own goals. The UAE system works because the Emiratis make rigid, hardheaded decisions about immigration that maximize their national interests. It's past time for Europe to do the same. And European citizens know it. Seventy-six percent of Europeans disapprove of the way their leaders have handled the immigration crisis, according to a 2017 poll, and 90% disapprove in frontline countries like Greece and Italy. Other polls found that immigration was the most important factor for British voters who supported Brexit. Because establishment politicians have been unwilling to address these issues, anti-immigration parties are growing stronger. Dr. Pipes has argued that despite their drawbacks including, in some cases, fascist associations these parties offer a positive way forward. They will gradually smooth their rough edges in order to convince voters to trust them, while legacy parties will poach their ideas to stay in power. This process is at work in Austria, where, in December, 31-year-old Sebastian Kurz became the world's youngest head of state. Although he leads the legacy center-right Austrian People's Party, which has been in power for 30 years, Mr. Kurz known in Austria as "wunderwuzzi," which translates as "whizz kid" rebranded his party, ran on an anti-immigration platform, and formed a governing coalition with the anti-immigration Freedom Party (FPO). Their proposals include requiring immigrants to learn German, reducing welfare benefits for new immigrants, ending illegal immigration, speeding asylum decisions, fighting radicalism, and strengthening Europe's external borders. Austria's radical experiment may be the last best hope for Europe. Chancellor Kurz will convene an E.U. summit meeting on immigration when Austria assumes the presidency of the Council of the E.U. in the second half of 2018. Let's all hope European leaders take a page from the hardheaded, patriotic sheikhs of the UAE. But recently, the World Health Organization and the FDA have questioned the effectiveness of Tamiflu. According to Mark Ebell, an epidemiologist : In this flu season, many people, when struck with the onset of the flu, take the drug Tamiflu (oseltamivir), which is supposed to reduce the harshness and length of the flu's effect on the body. Oseltamivir has generated over $18bn in sales worldwide, half of it from governments stockpiling the drug. Yet, the FDA had long concluded that there was no evidence that oseltamivir reduced complications, hospital admissions, or mortality and actually prevented the manufacturer from making such claims in their promotional materials. Following requests from The BMJ [all italics for journals removed ed.], data from several unpublished trials were eventually made available to researchers. Analysis of their results found only a 20[-]hour mean reduction in symptoms and no evidence of a reduction in the likelihood of pneumonia, hospital admission, or complications requiring an antibiotic. A subsequent Cochrane review, led by Professor Tom Jefferson at the Centre [sic] for Evidence[-]Based Medicine in Oxford, using an even larger set of unpublished studies, confirmed these findings and provided additional evidence of the drug's harms, such as nausea, vomiting, and psychiatric events. Withholding these data was a serious breach of research ethics by Roche, argues Ebell: suppressing information obtained from patients enrolled in trials of a then experimental drug, who thought that they were contributing to the medical knowledge base. He points to several important lessons, including the need for all trials be published, and individual patient data be made available for independent reanalysis, and recognition that money spent stockpiling drugs that are minimally effective is money not spent on other public health priorities. Belief in the efficacy of oseltamivir "may have led to less research to find truly effective drugs for influenza, again harming the public," he adds. "It is appropriate that the WHO downgraded the status of this drug based on the concerted efforts of The BMJ, Jefferson and his team, and many others," concludes Ebell. It is especially troubling that the manufacturer has withheld information from researchers. Cochrane researchers, joined by the BMJ (formerly the British Medical Journal), complained that Tamiflu[-]maker Roche is keeping important data from the public. They note that despite requests dating back to 2009, Roche refuses to release crucial data from eight of 10 Tamiflu clinical trials. Last year, I caught the flu and I took Tamiflu for the first time. I felt better in about a week. Did Tamiflu reduce the length of my sickness? It's impossible to tell, and anecdotes can't conclusively answer this question. Like any drug, Tamiflu can have side-effects. The FDA allows the sale of this drug but limits the claims of what it can do, and the WHO's downgrading of Tamiflu, and the withholding of research data, raises a question mark. The efficacy of this drug should be researched further in rigorous double-blind studies with control groups, not funded by the manufacturer, to establish whether it really reduces the severity of the flu and whether it is being prescribed under the proper circumstances. Ed Straker is the senior writer at Newsmachete.com. China is willing to promote bilateral relationships with Angola to a new stage, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Saturday during his new year visit to the continent of Africa. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) meets with Angolan President Joao Lourenco in Luanda, capital of Angola, on Saturday, January 13, 2018. [Photo: fmprc.gov.cn] In his meeting with Angolan President Joao Lourenco in the capital of Luanda, Wang congratulated the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties with Angola. He also hailed the good bilateral relations marked by long-time mutual trust, understanding and support. China supports Angola in pursuing a development path that suits its own conditions, promoting its economic diversification strategy and enhancing its self-development capacity, Wang said. China hopes to strengthen pragmatic cooperation with Angola, promote bilateral relationships to a new level, and expand new areas of cooperation, he said. Wang added that China will continue to encourage Chinese enterprises to invest in and cooperate with Angola, while pointing out that the legitimate interests of Chinese enterprises should be protected according to law. For his part, Lourenco said bilateral cooperation has borne fruitful results after 35 years since the two sides established diplomatic relations. The president thanked China for its investment and financing support, which played a very important role in the peaceful reconstruction of post-war Angola after a 27-year civil war ended in 2002. Lourenco expressed his hope that China will continue to support Angola in large-scale infrastructure construction, such as railway and others, and welcomed Chinese enterprises to cooperate with Angola in the fields of mining, agriculture, animal husbandry and tourism. Angola will quicken its pace to improve investment and business environment, so as to guarantee the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, the president said. Wang introduced the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation summit to be held in Beijing this year, saying that China expects to strengthen communication with African friends to make the summit a historic event, and push the China-Africa comprehensive strategic partnership to new heights. Lourenco said he was pleased to be invited to attend the forum in China. Wang, who is in Africa for his first new year trip, will also visit Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe after Rwanda and Angola. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 13) A former consultant of the Department of Health (DOH) tagged 19 former and incumbent officials, including former Health Secretary Janette Garin, as part of a "mafia." Dr. Francis Cruz, a former consultant under Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial, said this "mafia" benefited from the purchase of the more than 3-billion controversial Dengvaxia vaccine and other projects. "These are not hardened criminals that they intended to be a mafia. They evolved to be a mafia. They are bureaucrats who got tempted hindi ba then they formed a collusion at namihasa na [and they got used to it]," Cruz said in an interview Saturday. Cruz said the officials in the "mafia" are behind the purchase of the anti-dengue vaccines, ghost projects of the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) worth 23 billion, and assorted medicines worth 12 billion. When asked how the "mafia" profited from the purchases and the projects, Cruz said, "No, its not a kickback. It's worse kasi. These are all insiders with accredited suppliers who could be a financier." He added that 90 percent of the disbursed funds goes back to DOH, 10 percent goes back to the financier. Cruz said he will go to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) next week to turn over documents. "Kulong kayo. Maniwala kayo. Magsunog na kayo ng dokumento sa.... Hindi mapapalitan ang ibang documents. Alangan sunugin niyo ang Landbank, ang DBM, ang National Treasury," he said. [Translation: You'll be jailed, believe me. Burn the documents, they won't be replaced. You can't burn down Landbank, the Department of Budget and Management, and the National Treasury.] All lies? Garin denied Cruz's allegations, saying that it's a "shame" for a former Health Department consultant to malign his other co-officials. "His motivation in hurling this unsubstantiated accusations against career DOH officials is very questionable. If indeed he knows of anomalies in the DOH, why did he not file cases in court or the Ombudsman?" Garin said in a text message. She said Cruz should substantiate his claims. "I will definitely stop him if he is intending to destroy the DOH as an institution, even if I have to file a libel case against him," she added. Meanwhile, the former Health chief welcomed the documents Cruz claimed to have as proof. "I welcome those documents, if there are any. I am wondering why he has been allegedly and persistently requesting the suspension of those hardworking, career officials." She then called for incumbent Health Chief Francisco Duque III to have the allegations investigated. "These attacks are not only geared towards specific persons. It's an attack on the institution, seemingly designed to paralyze Sec. Duque and DOH," Garin said. Cruz earlier testified at the Senate hearing on the Dengvaxia vaccine on December 11. The National Bureau of Investigation is already investigating the controversial purchase and the vaccination of more than 873,000 children despite health risks. Atty. Ferdinand Topacio of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) said they're already building a case against those individuals. The VACC is working with the Public Attorney's Office on forensic examination on children who were administered with the vaccine. CNN Philippines' Correspondent Anjo Alimario and digital producer Chad de Guzman contributed to this report. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 14) The Palace said on Sunday President Rodrigo Duterte is open to talking to Communist leader Joma Sison. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque told CNN Philippines' Weekend Updates, while Duterte still refuses to go back to the negotiating table with the rebels, there are two conditions that might prompt the President to reconsider. "Right now he's closed to it, his mind is closed to it (peace talks). But what will prompt him to reopen is really the CPP-NPA (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army) to be more humble, and he did explore the possibility of a one-on-one with Joma Sison," he said. Roque said the President wants to talk to Sison, "just the two of them, personally with no fanfare." In November last year, however, Duterte said he will not allow Sison to set foot in the country, threatening his arrest. Read: Duterte: I won't allow 'dying Sison' to return home The communist leader has been in self-exile in the Netherlands since 1987. He is the founder of the CPP, which has been negotiating with the government through the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). The government in November ended the peace talks with the CPP-NPA-NDFP, following the escalation of attacks and violence. Read: Duterte formally ends talks with Reds Before Duterte terminated talks with the communists, the long-stalled fifth round of peace negotiations was scheduled for November 25 to 27, 2017 in Norway. The Norwegian government had acted as third party facilitator of the talks to put an end to the 48-year-old insurgency, the longest-running in Asia. Last December, Duterte declared the communist party and its armed wing a terrorist organization. Read: President Duterte declares the communist party and its armed wing a terrorist organization CNN Philippines Digital Producers Yvette Morales, Eimor Santos and VJ Bacungan contributed to this report. After Padmaavats ban in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, now comes a sigh of relief for the makers. Mumbai: After Padmaavat has faced a ban in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, now comes a sigh of relief for the makers as Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jai Ram Thakur has confirmed that he has no plans to ban the film. I dont want to say anything else on the matter. We will think what we can do. The film is indeed controversial. I respect art but when it comes to peoples sentiments being hurt, it must be thought about and discussed, Thakur had earlier stated. However, on Saturday he confimed to Hindustan Times, There is no ban on the movie. Neither I nor any of my colleague have opined to ban this film. Padmaavat has been through a lot of controversy because a certain section of the society, mainly the Karni Sena, has opposed the release of the film. The latest update on the release of Padmaavat is that the movie will hit theatres on Republic Day along with Akshay Kumars Padman. The release date for Zoya Akhtar directed film is yet to be announced. Mumbai: Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt have started shooting for their highly anticipated musical drama 'Gully Boy'. The 'Udta Punjab' actress took to Twitter to announce the news. "And finally its Day 1 of #GullyBoy !!! Such a special film for me for various reasons!!!! Wish me luckkkk!!!! Your support and love means the world to me. Wohooo let's do this! @RanveerOfficial #zoyaakhtar," she tweeted. And finally its Day 1 of #GullyBoy !!! Such a special film for me for various reasons!!!! Wish me luckkkk!!!! Your support and love means the world to me Wohooo lets do this! @RanveerOfficial #zoyaakhtar Alia Bhatt (@aliaa08) January 14, 2018 Co-star Ranveer retweeted her post, while director Zoya Akhtar shared an image from the sets of the movie. The filmmaker also took to her Instagram page to share a photo of 'Gully Boy's clapper to start Day 1 of the shoot. She captioned the image, "Day 1 #herewego #gullyboy #slateit #makingmovies #anotherdayinparadise." This is Ranveer's second collaboration with Zoya. The first movie they had worked on together was 'Dil Dhadkne Do'. Farhan Akhtar, who is also the producer of the film also wished his sister good luck as he tweeted, "And it begins.. Day 1 of #GullyBoy. All the best Zoya @aliaa08 @RanveerOfficial & team." And it begins.. Day 1 of #GullyBoy. All the best Zoya @aliaa08 @RanveerOfficial & team. Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) January 14, 2018 'Gully Boy' is inspired by the lives of Mumbai street rappers Divine and Naezy. The release date for the flick is yet to be announced. Viacom18 Motion Pictures announced that Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus is all set for a worldwide January 25 release. Mumbai: Sanjay Leela Bhansali's controversial flick 'Padmaavat' now has an official release date. Viacom18 Motion Pictures announced that Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus is all set for a worldwide January 25 release in Hindi, Telugu and Tamil, adding that the period drama will be the first Indian film to get a global IMAX 3D release. "'Padmaavat' is a cinematic masterpiece in every sense of the word. We hope that we will surpass the expectations of our fans from across the world. We are humbled with the immense support we have received from the government authorities, the Central Board of Film Certification and the entire film fraternity", said Sudhanshu Vats, Group CEO, Viacom18. He further noted, "'Padmaavat' is a story that's inherently Indian in its context, ethos and values. In the past, international film-makers have presented Indian stories such as Gandhi, Life of Pi, The Jungle Book and others to the world. We believe that this is the right time for us to truly make in India and show the world a tale that every Indian is proud of". It has been cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification with a U/A release certificate post the incorporation of only five modifications. The movie stars Deepika Padukone as Rani Padmavati, Shahid Kapoor as Maharawal Ratan Singh and Ranveer Singh as Alauddin Khilji. Ajit Andhare, COO, Viacom18 Motion Pictures said, "Padmaavat is our magnum opus - a tribute to Rajput valour created at a scale that will be a delight to watch on the large screen". "The film will witness a mega-scale release across maximum screens, languages & formats covering 2D, 3D & Imax 3D in India & the world. It carries the trademark style of Sanjay Leela Bhansali, wherein each frame of the film is a timeless work of art. 'Padmaavat' will create its own benchmark as an immortal classic when it releases across the world on the 25th of January", he added. Speaking on the same, Bhansali said, "Padmaavat is a dream come true for me. I have always been fascinated by the stories of honour, valour and vigour of our great Rajput warriors that have been captured so beautifully in our literature and this movie is my homage to those glorious stories." "I would also like to thank the entire film fraternity for supporting Viacom18 and Bhansali Productions through the entire production and pre-release phase and hope they like the film they so supported", he continued. The film is based on 16th-century Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi's epic poem 'Padmavat'. A source explains, Kriti will be meeting some crime reporters to get into the skin of the character, a source said. Actress Kriti Sanon, who shed her glam image with Bareilly Ki Barfi, will be going deglam in her next. The actress will play a crime reporter in Arjun Patiala and she will soon begin prepping for the same. A source explains, Kriti will be meeting some crime reporters to get into the skin of the character, a source said. Kriti will be seen playing a crime journalist. The film will also star Diljit Dosanjh in the titular role as a small-town guy. The shooting of the film will start in February 2018 in Punjab. BCI offfers to mediate, forms seven-member delegation. New Delhi: A day after four Supreme Court judges took the unprecedented step of airing their differences with Chief Justice Dipak Misra in public, the legal fraternity came together to control the damage and mend relations between the countrys five senior-most brother judges. The Bar Council of India (BCI), a statutory body which regulates legal practice and legal education in India, formed a seven-member delegation which will meet the five judges and try to resolve the issue. Amidst indications that CJI Misra may meet the four rebel judges J. Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B. Lokur and Kurian Joseph on Sunday or Monday to settle the differences, BCI chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra told the media here, We have unanimously decided to form a seven-member delegation of the council who will meet honourable judges of the Supreme Court. We want that the matter be solved at the earliest. We have got appointment from 23 judges. We want this matter to be solved earliest. Expressing anguish over the turn of events, Mr Mishra said, We have given an opportunity to Congress president Rahul Gandhi and other political parties to comment on the judiciary. This is extremely dangerous. We request the political class to refrain from commenting on this issue. We do not want the judiciarys image to be tarnished. People have unflinching faith in the judiciary. Talking about the differences between the CJI and the four judges on finalising the Memorandum of Procedure relating to judges appointment, Mr Mishra said, MoP must be finalised at the earliest. Judges have been appointed through collegium. This is not an issue that must be taken to the public. We request the judges not to give an opportunity for such an incident to occur again. Together, the CJI and the four judges form the Supreme Court collegium, the highest decision-making body of the judiciary. On Friday, the four top judges of the Supreme Court had held a press conference during which they questioned the conduct of the CJI, especially over the allocation of cases. The judges said they had failed to persuade CJI Misra that certain things are not in order, and left it to the people to protect the judiciary. They warned that democracy was under threat. We tried to persuade the CJI that certain things are not in order. Unfortunately, the efforts failed. We are convinced that unless corrective steps are taken immediately, the judiciary will lose its strong and independent tag, which is an essential hallmark of democracy, they had said. Talking separately on Saturday, Justice Kurian and Justice Gogoi asserted that there was no constitutional crisis in the apex court. Justice Kurian also stressed that the issues they had raised required no external intervention and would be resolved by the judiciary itself. This is not an issue that requires mediation from outside. This is an internal issue of the institution and the institution will sort it out. A correction inside the institution is what is required, Justice Joseph said in Kochi, while maintaining that the four judges had acted solely in the interest of judiciary and justice. Except Justice Chelameswar, the other three judges are out of station and are expected to return to the capital by Sunday evening. Their meeting with the CJI is, thus, likely on Monday. One of the four judges told this correspondent that so far nothing has been told to any one of us. On Saturday morning, attorney general K.K. Venugopal told a television channel that by Monday morning litigants and lawyers would see unity among the Supreme Court judges as a solution would be found by then. Meanwhile, on Saturday, TV visuals showing Prime Ministers principal secretary Nripendra Misra turning up at the residence of the CJI led to speculation about the purpose of the meeting and sparked a political controversy. Sources maintained that he had gone to meet the CJI to wish him for the New Year and the CJI shifting to the official residence in Krishna Memon Marg, but could not meet the CJI who was busy in his morning schedule. The Congress, however, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi must answer as to why a special messenger was sent to meet the CJI. The TV visuals Nripendra Misra driving to the CJIs official residence. However, the gates were not opened and after waiting for a while, the principal secretary to the PM was seen driving back. The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) also met on Saturday and expressed grave concern over the differences between the senior judges and CJI, while also taking note of concerns raised by the four senior judges. DMK working president M.K. Stalin called for President Ram Nath Kovinds intervention. DCW chief Swati Maliwal termed the incident as 'most evil,' and demanded maximum punishment for the accused. The doctor would regularly beat her up, according to DCW, as burn marks and bruises have been found all over her body. (Representational Image) New Delhi: A Delhi doctor allegedly thrashed, attacked with scissors and poured hot water on her 14-year-old domestic help, according to the Delhi Commission for Women. She also kept the girl without food and was arrested on Saturday. The domestic help, who is originally from Ranchi, was placed at the doctor's house through an employment agency. The doctor would regularly beat her up, according to DCW, as burn marks and bruises have been found all over her body. "She was also reportedly burnt with hot iron, the doctor even poured hot water on her. The girl was also attacked with scissors," DCW chief Swati Maliwal said and added that the doctor spat on her and tried to strangle her. The girl has been "reduced to bones," as her employer also did not bother to provide her with food. Maliwal termed the incident "most evil" on twitter, demanding maximum punishment for the accused. 14 , , , , pic.twitter.com/leyEpBT6Xf Swati Jai Hind (@swatimaliwal) January 13, 2018 The Delhi Police has also raided the office of the agency that placed the girl in the doctor's house. Virender Dev Dixit perpetrated he is God and demanded donations to stop the world from ending in 2020. The Delhi ashram that was raided had deplorable living conditions, with small cage-like rooms and the girls were constantly kept under CCTV surveillance. (Representational Image) New Delhi: In the month since the raids on self proclaimed godman Virender Dev Dixit has started, letters of plea from distraught parents have started piling up on lawyer Shalabh Gupta's desk. Gupta represents Foundation for Social Empowerment, the NGO which first filed the FIR against the self-proclaimed godman. "I don't know where my daughter has been kept, in what condition, I have not been allowed to meet her. I have come to know there is some ganda kaam (dirty things) happening in the ashram," reads one letter, according to a report in Times of India. "When we met our daughter, she said she was happy and wanted to stay in the ashram. But she looked weak and scared. I think she is being pressurised to give such statements. I beg you to bring my daughter back,'' reads another. Dixit's victims were mostly Brahma Kumari followers, a sect that he was linked to in earlier days, but later fell out with. He had a network of "matas" and "bhais," who regularly held satsangs or Gita path in lower middle class neighbourhoods in UP and Rajasthan. Through these networks, Dixit perpetrated the idea that Brahma Kumari founder Lekhraj Kripalani's soul had transferred into him, after which he would hold a seven-day meditation and sermon camp. They came back from the camp thinking that Dixit was none other than God himself, as confirmed by K Garg, an assitant sub-inspector of police and a former follower of the sect himself. There was a set of rules for the followers, confirms another follower. Sex, extravagant food, social functions---were all forbidden. Garg, whose 16-year-old daughter was sent to the ashram after Dixit "asked" for her, also says that over time, they were also indoctrinated to happily part with money, property and their daughters. "We thought what could be better for a girl than to immerse herself in spirituality,'' Garg says, whose daughter was taken to an ashram in Kampil, a small town UP, in 2003, "after 2004-2005, we did not see her though we would go to the ashram every week for meditation. We only spoke to her twice on the phone. Despite being with the police himself, the lack of contact with his daughter did not strike Garg as strange or out of the way. His daughter is still missing and an FIR has been registered in the case. Dixit's mode of operation was quite simple. He perpetrated he is God, the world would come to an end in 2020 and to prevent that, followers should make "sacrifices" in the form of donations. According to the Times of India report, Banda's Savita, who alleges she was raped by Dixit while being a sevadar (servant) at his ashram, sold off 10 bighas and donated Rs 10 lakh. Not only that, she even surrendered her daughter to Dixit's ashram in 2007. Savita escaped with her daughter in 2015 on the pretext of bringing in more followers. "Hum dhoondh rahe the bhagwaan, aur woh nikla shaitan (We went searching for God, we found the devil),'' says the disillusioned Savita. Dixit lured young girls into his trap by feeding the opium of spiritual education to the parents. Some of these girls were as young as 14. He first shifted them away from their homes, so they could not ask help from their parents. The Delhi ashram that was raided had deplorable living conditions, with small cage-like rooms and the girls were constantly kept under CCTV surveillance. Parents were allowed to meet their daughters only in the company of others and after a wait of hours. One family, Times of India reports, moved to Delhi from Telengana in the hope that this might increase the frequency of the meetings, but managed to see her only two to three times over a span of two years. The secret goings-on in the ashram were first brought into attention when a family from Rajasthan's Jhunjhunu insisted that they be allowed to meet their daughter. They contacted the Foundation for Social Empowerment for assistance, who put them through to a PCR. A subsequent raid on December 19, 2017 revealed that 50 other women were held inside the Rohini Ashram. The ashram functioned on a properly maintained hierarchy. Older men and women were given sevadar duty and formed the outer cordon. The 'behens' and 'matas' were kept behind locked doors and were allowed no contact with the sevadars. Savita, the woman from Banda, said that her daughter was one of the behens. These girls were woken up at 2-2:30 am and forced to listen to Dixit's sermons blaring from TV sets. They were encouraged to stare at the image for a couple of hours and meditate, following which they would bathe and get ready around to 4 am. They would spend their days listening to sermons. Threats that a curse would befall the parents of the girls who disobeyed, were mixed in these sermons. If Dixit came to the ashram, 8-10 would be selected for the night for 'gupt prasad', which according to Garg and Savita was a code for sex. Savita narrated that those who got the 'gupt prasad,' were called ranis and Dixit was their Krishna, who could also have 16,108 ranis. The ashram also kept track of the menstrual cycles of the women. Complains of ill-treatment and sexual abuse signed by female inmates were found among the papers seized from the ashram, along with a visitors' register that had only male names. The reason for their visit to the ashram was ambiguous. Washington (CNN) President Donald Trump's reported derogatory remarks about Haiti and slur against immigrants from "shithole" countries in Africa sent shockwaves around the world, simultaneously becoming a diplomatic issue that could damage America's global image and complicating an immigration reform effort at home. Shock and outrage greeted Trump's remarks in a meeting with lawmakers on immigration reform on Thursday. Several countries called in U.S. ambassadors for an explanation and to remonstrate with them over the President's language. Lawmakers expressed disappointment and disgust, with one declaring the comments counter to the very "essence of American patriotism." Even as Trump's comments provided fodder for late night comics, they raised questions about whether he has now made it harder for lawmakers to find a compromise to achieve immigration reform. Critics in the U.S. and abroad noted that Trump's sentiment cut against the idea of the United States as a nation of immigrants and the foundational view that the content of person's character is more important than their origin or the color of their skin. Many of those who criticized Trump said his remarks would damage America's global reputation. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican who has maintained a close relationship with Trump while at times being critical, was at the meeting Thursday. "Following comments by the President, I said my piece directly to him yesterday," Graham said. "The President and all those attending the meeting know what I said and how I feel. I've always believed that America is an idea, not defined by its people but by its ideals." "E Pluribus Unum" "The American ideal is embraced by people all over the globe," Graham continued. "It was best said a long time ago, E Pluribus Unum Out of Many, One. Diversity has always been our strength, not our weakness. In reforming immigration we cannot lose these American Ideals." Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona said in a statement that "respect for the God-given dignity of every human being, no matter their race, ethnicity or other circumstances of their birth, is the essence of American patriotism." "To believe otherwise is to oppose the very idea of America," he said. "People have come to this country from everywhere, and people from everywhere have made America great. Our immigration policy should reflect that truth, and our elected officials, including our President, should respect it." A source briefed on the Oval Office meeting Thursday confirmed that during the meeting on immigration legislation, Trump asked, "Why do we want all these people from shithole countries coming here?" Although the President denied he had used such language on Friday, Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin, who was at the meeting with Graham and others, said Trump did do so, and called his language "vile." Two immigration hard-liners, Republican Sens. Tom Cotton and David Perdue, said they "do not recall the President saying these comments specifically." Trump on Friday also denied demanding that Haitians be removed from negotiations about protected status for people from certain countries. Former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton weighed in, noting that Trump dismissed Haitians on the eve of the eighth anniversary of a deeply destructive earthquake. "The anniversary of the devastating earthquake 8 years ago is a day to remember the tragedy, honor the resilient people of Haiti, & affirm America's commitment to helping our neighbors," Clinton wrote on Twitter. "Instead, we're subjected to Trump's ignorant, racist views of anyone who doesn't look like him." A source familiar with Thursday's meeting said the President did not refer to Haiti as a "shithole" country, though he did say it about countries in Africa. The source said two different remarks by the president had been conflated. First, when talking about "temporary protected status" countries as part of the immigration deal, it was mentioned that Salvadorans, Hondurans and Haitians have that status. "Haitians?" the President said, according to the source. "Why do we need more Haitians? Take them out." Meaning take them out of the deal. Then, in a separate part of the conversation when they were referencing the diversity visa lottery, Trump referred to people from Africa as coming from "shithole countries." Parsing the President's comments does little to mitigate their damage, critics said. Former senior U.S. diplomat Nicholas Burns tweeted that the "damage overseas from Trump's ignorant and racist remarks can't be exaggerated. No President in the last 100 years has reduced America's moral authority as he has." The African Union, a group representing the continent's 55 countries, issued a blistering statement saying the President had dishonored U.S. values. "The African Union Mission wishes to express its infuriation, disappointment and outrage over the unfortunate comment made by Mr. Donald Trump, President of the United States of American, which remarks dishonor the celebrated American creed and respect for diversity and human dignity," the AU mission in Washington said in a statement. The group demanded "a retraction of the comment as well as an apology, not only to the Africans but to all people of African descent around the globe." Saying they believe the administration has a "huge misunderstanding of the African continent," the union said "there is a serious need for dialogue" between the Trump administration and African countries. Africans of all stripes took to social media. Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi tweeted, "Africa isn't a shithole. It's the most beautiful continent in the world. Beautiful, hardworking people. We have diamonds, gold, iron, cobalt, uranium, copper, bauxite, silver, petroleum, cocoa, coffee, tea etc." "Sadly we have #shithole leaders like Trump shitting on us every day." South Africa's best known morning-news anchor, Leanne Manas, tweeted, "Good morning from the greatest most beautiful 'shithole country' in the world!!!' Elsewhere on Twitter, many Africans posted landscape pictures testifying to the true identity of their nations. Senegal's President, Macky Sall, said in a tweet that he was "shocked by the words of President Trump on Haiti and Africa." "I reject them and condemn vigorously. Africa and the black race deserve the respect and consideration of all," Sall added. Botswana's Ministry of International Affairs summoned the U.S. ambassador to complain about Trump's disparaging comments. Comics riffed off the statement, with "Daily Show" host Trevor Noah, a South African native, saying, "I don't know how to break this to you, but I think the President might be racist." But some comics stopped joking. "It really is unfathomable," said Jimmy Kimmel. "You just can't believe this is the guy running our country." Trump's comments hit hard in Haiti, which on Friday marked the anniversary of a 2010 earthquake that killed between 220,000 and 300,000 people. In an interview with NPR, Haiti's ambassador to the US, Paul Altidor, said he was "surprised and disappointed" in Trump's remarks. 'Misguided, misplaced' "If they are to be true, we hope there will possibly be an apology for what was said here because we thought they were misplaced, they were misguided," Altidor said. "These type of statements do not help in enforcing the relationship between Haiti and the U.S." The ambassador said the Haitian government had summoned the US charge d'affaires to clarify the remarks. The furor lent new significance to already planned remarks Friday by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to staff at the State Department in which he stressed that "values matter." "Our values as a nation bond us together and define who we are," he said, and "form the foundations of trust" in the workplace. "The Bostwana Government has also enquired from the U.S. Government through the Ambassador, to clarify if Botswana is regarded as a 'shithole' country," the statement said. "America's birth was far from perfect," said Tillerson, recalling the country's troubled past from its founding, through the civil war, the suffrage movement and the civil rights movement, "and we're still not perfect, but we've never lost sight of aspirational values." A Senior State Department official said U.S. ambassadors had been issued guidance on how to deal with the remarks if called in by foreign ministries to explain them. The diplomats were encouraged to assure host governments that the "US has great respect for the people of Africa and all nations, and our commitment remains strong." The official said each envoy should note what an honor it is to be in their post and how much they value the relationship with the people of their host country. CNN's Jake Tapper, Abby Phillip, Elise Labott, Laura Koran and Catherine Treyz in Washington as well as David McKenzie in Johannesburg contributed to this report This story was first published on CNN.com, "World wonders if Trump is eroding US 'moral authority.'" Netanyahu's visit to India is only the second one by an Israeli prime minister and comes after a gap of 15 years. New Delhi: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who is on a six-day visit to India, was on Sunday received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Delhi Airport. Setting aside protocol, Modi received his Israeli counterpart with a hug upon arrival. "Welcome to India, my friend PM Netanyahu! Your visit to India is historic and special. It will further cement the close friendship between our nations," Modi tweeted. Welcome to India, my friend PM @netanyahu! Your visit to India is historic and special. It will further cement the close friendship between our nations. @IsraeliPM #ShalomNamaste pic.twitter.com/sidgMmA1fu Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 14, 2018 The two prime ministers attended a solemn ceremony at the Teen Murti Memorial on Sunday to mark the formal renaming of Teen Murti Chowk as the Teen Murti Haifa Chowk by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC). The three bronze statues at Teen Murti represent the Hyderabad, Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers, who were part of the 15 Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade, which carried out the victorious assault on the fortified city of Haifa on September 23, 1918, during World War I. The visit marks 25 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and takes place about six months after Modi's trip to Israel, the first by an Indian prime minister to the Jewish state. Netanyahu's visit to India is only the second one by an Israeli prime minister and comes after a gap of 15 years. #WATCH Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu received by PM Narendra Modi in Delhi. #NetanyahuInIndia pic.twitter.com/CTv4rlEWSg ANI (@ANI) January 14, 2018 Keen to strengthen bilateral relations "even more", Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu earlier on Sunday left for India along with the largest business delegation that has ever accompanied an Israeli premier on an overseas tour. "This evening I am leaving on an historic visit to India. I will meet with the Prime Minister, my friend Narendra Modi, with the Indian President and with many other leaders. We will sign very many agreements," Netanyahu said in statement. "We are strengthening ties between Israel and this important global power. This serves our security, economic, trade and tourism interests, as well as many other areas. This is a great blessing for the State of Israel," he said. "Indian Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi is a close friend of Israel and of mine and I appreciate the fact that he will accompany me on extensive parts of my visit," Netanyahu said just before leaving for New Delhi. "On this visit I intend to strengthen bilateral relations even more. This visit is an opportunity to enhance cooperation with a global economic, security, technology and tourism power," he added. Netanyahu will hold meetings with President Ram Nath Kovind and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, apart from Modi. Several MoUs, including in the field of oil and gas, renewable energy, amended protocol for airports, cyber security, and co-production of films and documentaries, will be signed between the two sides. Israel's Saare Tzedek hospital would be signing an agreement with the ministry of health and family welfare. Sources said that this relates to sharing of knowledge in the field of homoeopathy and Ayurveda that have been gaining popularity in Israel over the last few years. Technion-Israel Institute of Technology would also be signing an agreement with the ministry of science and technology, sources here said. Netanyahu is leading a high-profile delegation comprising 130 businessmen from 102 Israeli companies drawn from areas like agriculture, water, cyber security, health care and security, on his trip. Israel will be investing USD 68.6 million to boost cooperation with India in areas like tourism, technology, agriculture and innovation over a period of four years, a senior official here said ahead of Netanyahu's visit. The commitment is in addition to the India-Israel Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation Fund of USD 40 million over five years with equal contribution from both sides that has already been agreed between the two nations, Deputy Director General of Israel's Foreign Ministry, Gilad Cohen, earlier told PTI. The Indian prime minister will be hosting a private dinner for Netanyahu today evening after his arrival in New Delhi. The Israeli leader would also meet Swaraj. The Israeli premier would be formally welcomed on Monday morning at Rashtrapati Bhawan following which he would lay a wreath at Rajghat. He would then participate in a dialogue at Hyderabad House which will also include a one-on-one discussion with Modi. A meeting with President Kovind is also scheduled for Monday. Netanyahu, accompanied by his wife Sara, would be travelling to Agra to see the Taj Mahal on Tuesday and return to Delhi to participate in the Raisina Dialogue. Modi would be accompanying Netanyahu to Gujarat on Wednesday where he will be welcomed in the same fashion as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was with a road show in Ahmedabad. The road show is said to be an 8-kilometre drive from the airport to the Sabarmati Ashram. The two leaders will also be witnessing several innovative technologies in the field of water, agriculture and health at iCreate and visit a Centre of Excellence. Netanyahu would arrive in Mumbai on Wednesday in the evening where he will meet the Indian Jewish community. A packed schedule on Thursday for the Israeli premier in Mumbai would include a "power breakfast" with Indian business leaders, a business seminar, attending two memorial services for the victims of the 26/11 attack at the Taj hotel and Nariman House and finally a gala event with Bollywood actors. Loya's lawyer Ameet Naik said the death of Justice Loya was a tragedy and not a controversy. He also requested to not politicise the matter. Anuj, son of Justice Loya, said the Loya family was pained with the chain of events which has been happening in the past few days. (Photo: ANI | Twitter) New Delhi: "Please don't harass us," said Anuj Loya, son of deceased Justice BH Loya urged NGOs and politicians in a press conference on Sunday. An emotional Anuj said the Loya family was pained with the chain of events which has been happening in the past few days. "We are convinced that his (Loya's) was a natural death, we do not have any suspicion about it. There is no doubt about it, everything is clear," he said, adding that the family did not have any complaints against anyone. Loya's lawyer Ameet Naik said the death of Justice Loya was a tragedy and not a controversy. He also requested to not politicise the matter. "There is no controversy. No need of politicising the issue. This is a tragic event. We do not want to be victims of politicisation of the issue. Let it remain the way it is noncontroversial," he said. Read: Judge Loya death: Submit autopsy report by Jan 15, SC tells Maha govt The reaction comes two days after four Supreme Court judges held a press meet to protest against the Chief Justice of India. Terming the concern voiced by the judges as "extremely important", Congress president Rahul Gandhi and other opposition parties had on Friday called for a "thorough probe" into the mysterious death of judge BH Loya. Read: Issues raised by top SC judges disturbing, need to be looked into: Cong The BJP shot back, with its spokesman Sambit Patra accusing the Congress of politicising internal matters of the judiciary. In an unprecedented move in the annals of judiciary, four senior most judges of the Supreme Court on Friday questioned the unilateral and biased decisions of the Chief justice of India Dipak Misra in allocation of important cases to junior judges. The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Maharasthra government to file the autopsy report into the death of former CBI judge BH Loya who died in mysterious circumstances in December 2014. At the time of his death, Loya was presiding over the CBI court hearing the alleged Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case. He died of cardiac arrest on December 1, 2014, according to hospital records, a day after he attended the wedding ceremony and reception of the daughter of fellow Judge Sapna Josh. In 2017, the Caravan reported that Loyas family members claimed that the 48-year-olds death was suspicious. The letter by former judges P B Sawant, A P Shah, K Chandru and H Suresh was given to the media. The view expressed by the retired judges is 'quite similar to the views of the Supreme Court Bar Association that till this crisis is resolved, the important matters should be listed before a five-judge Constitution bench of senior judges'. (Photo: Asian Age) New Delhi: Four retired judges, including an ex-Supreme Court judge, on Sunday wrote an open letter to the Chief Justice of India, saying they agree with the issues raised by the four apex court judges over allocation of cases and the crisis needs to be resolved "within the judiciary". The letter by former apex court judge P B Sawant, ex-chief justice of Delhi High Court A P Shah, former Madras High Court judge K Chandru and ex-Bombay High Court judge H Suresh was given to the media. It also went viral on social media. Justice Shah confirmed having written an open letter along with the other retired judges and told PTI, "We have written the open letter which the other judges named in the letter have also consented to." He said that the view expressed by the retired judges is "quite similar to the views of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) that till this crisis is resolved, the important matters should be listed before a five-judge Constitution bench of senior judges". Justice Shah said that earlier he was not sure about the consent given by the other three judges and, therefore, he initially denied having written any letter but now all of them have given consent to it. The letter quoted the judges as having said, "The four senior puisne Judges of the Supreme Court have brought to light a serious issue regarding the manner of allocation of cases, particularly sensitive cases, to various benches of the Supreme Court. They have expressed a grave concern that cases are not being allocated in a proper manner and are being allocated arbitrarily to particular designated benches, often headed by junior judges, in an arbitrary manner. This is having a very deleterious effect on the administration of justice and the rule of law." The four retired judges said that they agree with the four judges of top court that though the CJI is the master of roster and can designate benches for allocation of work but this does not mean that it can be done in an "arbitrary manner" such that, "sensitive and important cases" are sent to "hand-picked benches" of junior judges by the chief justice. "This issue needs to be resolved and clear rules and norms must be laid down for allocation of benches and distribution of cases, which are rational, fair and transparent," they said, adding that this must be done "immediately to restore public confidence" in the judiciary and in the Supreme Court. The letter further said that "however till that is done, it is important that all sensitive and important cases including pending ones, be dealt with by a Constitution bench of the five senior most judges of this Court". It added, "Only such measures would assure the people that the Supreme Court is functioning in a fair and transparent manner and that the power of the Chief Justice as master of roster is not being misused to achieve a particular result in important and sensitive cases. We, therefore, urge you to take immediate steps in this regard." Gen Rawat said the army will have to evolve new strategies and new tactics to deal with the situation. Gen Rawat said some youths continue to be radicalised and are joining militancy and army has been trying to maintain pressure on terror groups. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: Political initiative must go hand-in-hand with military operations in Jammu and Kashmir to bring peace, Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat said on Sunday, and favoured ramping up military offensive to pile up heat on Pakistan to stop cross-border terrorism in the state. Gen Rawat said the armed forces operating in the state cannot be status quoist and must evolve new strategies and tactics to deal with the situation, which he feels is marginally better since he took over a year ago. In an interview to PTI, the Army chief asserted that there was room for ramping up heat on Pakistan to cut flow of cross border terror activities, clearly indicating that the Army will continue its policy of hot pursuit in dealing with militancy. The political initiative and all the other initiatives must go simultaneously hand-in-hand and only if all of us function in synergy, we can bring lasting peace in Kashmir. It has to be a politico-military approach that we have to adopt, the Army chief said. In October, the government had appointed former Intelligence Bureau chief Dineshwar Sharma as its special representative for a sustained dialogue with all stakeholders in J-K. When the government appointed an interlocutor, it is with that purpose. He is the governments representative to reach out to the people of Kashmir and see what their grievances are so that those can then be addressed at a political level, the army chief said. Asked whether there is room for ramping up pressure on Pakistan to force it to stop sending terrorists to the state, he said, Yes, you cannot be status quoist. You have to continuously think and keep moving forward. You have to keep changing your doctrines and concept and the manner in which you operate in such areas. Gen Rawat said the army will have to evolve new strategies and new tactics to deal with the situation. At the same time, he said an overall approach was required to deal with the Kashmir issue. Since beginning of last year, the army pursued an aggressive anti-terror policy in Jammu and Kashmir and, at the same time, forcefully responded to all ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control with a tit-for-tat approach. Military is only part of the mechanism to resolve the Kashmir issue. Our charter is to ensure that the terrorists who are creating violence in the state are taken to task and those who have been radicalised and are increasingly moving towards terrorism are prevented from doing so, he said. Gen Rawat said some youths continue to be radicalised and are joining militancy. The Army has been trying to maintain pressure on terror groups, he said. The Armys aim is to ensure that it continues to maintain the pressure on the terrorists and those fomenting trouble there, Gen Rawat said. But at the same time, we have to also reach out to the people, he said. Asked whether the situation in Kashmir has improved since he has taken over as the Army chief a year ago, Gen Rawat said, I am only seeing a marginal change in situation for the better. I do not think it is time to become over confident and start assuming that the situation has been brought under control because infiltration from across the borders will continue. The LoC has remained volatile in the 2017. According to official figures, 860 incidents of ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops were reported in 2017 as against 221 the year before. India has also been effectively retaliating to Pakistani firing and even crossed the LoC to punish Pakistani troops on several occasions as part of tactical operation. The pictures were posted during the wee hours of Sunday, and the 'blue tick' that marks a verified account also disappeared at the time. Two photographs of Pakistan's flag and the neighbouring country's President Mamnoon Hussain were posted from the Twitter account of India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Syed Akbaruddin. (Photo: ANI) New Delhi: In what can only be a case of hacking, two photographs of Pakistan's flag and the neighbouring country's President Mamnoon Hussain were posted from the Twitter account of India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Syed Akbaruddin. The pictures were posted during the wee hours of Sunday, and interestingly, the "blue tick" that marks a verified account also disappeared at the time. The account was later restored along with the blue tick and the questionable tweets were also removed. Evidently, cyber attack has not been a new strategy for the terrorists in Pakistan, and government officials have been prime targets. In 2016, a total of 199 government websites were hacked in India, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had told the Parliament. In fact, more than 700 websites under the Indian government have been hacked from 2013 to 2016. In January 2017, the website of the National Security Guard (NSG), the Indian special forces unit combating terror activities, was also hacked posing unprecedented threat to national security. The website was, however, blocked immediately by the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT.IN). As technology has progressed, so has the strategy of terror attacks, and cyber warfare has taken over the battlefield to breach the national security. Addressing the press on Saturday, Army Chief Bipin Rawat also focused on the increasing threat of cyber and information warfare, adding that the Indian security forces are concentrating more in that area. Cyber warfare is a phenomenon plaguing countries across the world too. Although the culprits of cyber attacks are practically impossible to nab, the source has often been traced to Russia. In 2017, more than 300 Ukrainian companies were penetrated by hackers speculated by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to be from Russia, in an attempt to cripple the financial system of the country. Czech Republic too fell victim to a massive cyber attack, wherein emails of dozens of its most senior diplomats were hacked. Russian hackers were again thought to be behind it. Recently, Russian hackers are laying blueprint to hack the internal email system of United States Senate, a report by a cyber security firm has suggested. Yashwant asks party colleagues to speak up for democracy. New Delhi: Disgruntled BJP leader Yashwant Sinha on Saturday asked his party colleagues and ministers to get rid of their fear and speak up for democracy like the four Supreme Court judges who came out publicly against the chief justice. Attacking the Narendra Modi government, the former Union minister referred to the comments of the four judges to claim that the prevailing atmosphere was like the Emergency in 1975-77 and voiced concern over short parliamentary sessions. If Parliament is compromised, the Supreme Court is not in order, then democracy is threatened, he told reporters. If four seniormost Supreme Court judges say democracy is under threat, we have to take their words very seriously, he said. Every citizen who feels for democracy should speak up. I will ask party (BJP) leaders and senior Cabinet ministers to speak up. I will appeal to them to get rid of their fears and speak up, he said. However, Mr Sinha insisted that it was for the apex court to sort out the crisis after the four senior judges virtually revolted against the countrys chief justice yesterday, raising questions on selective case allocation and certain judicial orders. Like the Chief Justice of India in the Supreme Court, the Prime Minister is also first among equals in the government and his cabinet colleagues should speak up, he said. Mr Sinha, who has been a vocal critic of the Modi government over issues like demonetisation, GST and Kashmir, claimed that he was personally aware of the fear in which members of the cabinet in this government are working, and that also is a threat to democracy. The BJP has in the past attributed Mr Sinhas scathing criticism of the government to his being sidelined in the party with finance minister Arun Jaitley once dubbing him as a job applicant at 80. Mr Sinha was a Cabinet minister in the first BJP-led NDA government and held the finance and foreign affairs portfolios. While speaking to repo-rters, Mr Sinha also rejected suggestions that politicians should not wade into the judicial crisis, saying when four seniormost SC judges have gone public, it was no longer an internal matter of the court and it was imperative for every concerned citizen to raise his voice. Political parties and Parliament should speak when four seniormost judges had spoken about dangers to democracy, he said. No anti-incumbency, says Sidda after meeting Rahul. Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah, accompanied by a delegation of the party leaders from the state, leaves after meeting party president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI ) New Delhi: With Hindutva emerging as the main poll plank for BJP and Congress in Karnataka, state chief minister Siddaramaiah, along with other senior Congress leaders of the state, on Saturday met Congress chief Rahul Gandhi at his residence. The meeting comes in the wake of a verbal duel between Mr Siddaramaiah and BJP president Amit Shah. Karnataka is likely to witness election in April-May. The Karnataka chief minister was in the national capital to discuss the partys poll preparedness and strategy at a meeting called by Congress president Rahul Gandhi, which lasted for about three-and-a-half hours. Mr Gandhi is scheduled to launch the first leg of his partys poll campaign in Karnataka on February 10-12. The state is expected to go to the polls in March-April. Karnataka Congress president G. Parameshwara, working presidents S.R. Patil and Dinesh Gundu Rao, the partys Karnataka in-charge K.C. Venugopal were also present at the meeting, besides senior leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, K. Rahman Khan, K.H. Muniyappa, Oscar Fernandes and Veerappa Moily. This (election) will not be a battle between me and (BS) Yeddyurappa. It will not be a contest between me and (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi. It will be a battle of two ideologies secularism and communalism, Mr Siddaramaiah told reporters after the meeting. Mr Siddharamaiah said, The BJP has nothing to talk about and raising irrelevant issues. That (Hindtva) is the only issue they have. Yogi Adityanath and Amit Shah are also raising the same issue and Narendra Modi may also raise the same issue. But the Congress will go to elections with development plank. This was the first meeting called by the Congress president on the Karnataka polls after last months Gujarat Assembly election. Mr Siddaramaiah said the partys poll preparedness was reviewed in detail at the meeting and its strategy chalked out. He (Gandhi) is very happy with the functioning of the party (in Karnataka) and the (state) government. Our government is not facing any anti-incumbency. We will win the upcoming polls with a comfortable majority, he added. Veteran spotter Shoji Morimoto's passion for covers was fuelled after noticing that the city of Fukui sported two phoenixes on its manholes. Designed manholes cost more but appeal to a Japanese sense of detail (Photo: AFP) Tokyo: Japan's sewerage industry has found a way to clean up its dirty and smelly image: elaborately designed and colourful manhole covers with 12,000 local varieties nationwide -- including, of course, a Hello Kitty design. Appealing to a Japanese love of detail and "kawaii" ("cute"), bespoke manhole covers adorn the streets of 1,700 towns, cities and villages across Japan and have spawned a collection craze among so-called "manholers." The designs represent an instant guide to a place as they feature its history, folklore, or speciality goods: a castle design for an ancient town, a bay bridge for a port and Mt Fuji for a city at the foot of Japan's iconic mountain. As for Tama City, located in the western sprawl of greater Tokyo, locals are pinning their hopes on a more modern Japanese icon -- Hello Kitty -- to attract tourists, alongside the town's theme park showcasing much-loved children's character from the Sanrio company. "We'd be happy if people come and take some time for a stroll in our town while looking for the Hello Kitty manholes," said Mikio Narashima, who heads the city's sewage system division, after the city installed the first of the 10 designed covers. 'Treasure hunting for adults' Veteran spotter Shoji Morimoto said his passion for covers was fuelled after noticing that the central city of Fukui sported two phoenixes on its manholes. He later learned the imaginary birds were a symbol of the town's rise from a 1945 devastating US air raid and a deadly earthquake three years later. "I sometimes do research on why the town has that particular design. I'm impressed whenever I find out it represents the town's history and culture," said Morimoto, who coined the word "manholer" for like-minded people. Designed manholes cost more but appeal to a Japanese sense of detail, the 48-year-old Morimoto said. He has already visited all the designed manholes in his local area. "Now I have to travel far," he admits. "It's treasure hunting for adults." "Manholers" take pictures of the covers they visit, with the more obsessive taking rubbings. For others, the interest lies more in "cover bonsai", plants growing on soil accumulated on and around covers. More than 3,000 people attended a "manhole summit" in western Japan in November. 'Under the cover' And manhole covers are not simply there to hide away dirty sewers, enthuses Tetsuro Sasabe, who is interested in covers for telecoms infrastructure. "I'm interested in why the manhole is there, where it leads to -- I'd say I'm interested in what's under the manhole covers," he said. He noted that there is a story even to plain covers -- such as finding the logos of now-defunct companies. Given their size, the covers cannot easily be collected in the same way people hoard stamps and coins. But to satisfy collectors' desire, the private-public GKP network designed to promote awareness on the importance of sewerage in society, has released 1.4 million cards of 293 different covers. The cards are free but they can only be obtained through local offices, thus working as a tourist magnet. They are numbered in chronological order and come with the manhole's exact GPS information for the convenience of manholers. "We believe Japanese manholes are cultural products we can boast to the world," said Hideto Yamada, a GKP planning official. And when a real cover does become available, demand is brisk. The eastern city of Maebashi held a highly competitive lottery in October as its offer to sell 10 used manhole covers -- 40 kilogrammes of iron -- at 3,000 yen ($28) each was swamped with more than 190 bids. Non-slip The history of decorating manhole covers in Japan dates back 40 years to a bid to improve the image of the sewerage system, according to GKP's Yamada. Cover designs must have the same friction level no matter which direction humans or cars come from so that people do not slip over them. This need for friction resulted in placing extra streaks of clouds, sea waves or tiny stars in the background, giving birth to "condensed designs," Yamada said. Overall, there are some 15 million manholes in Japan, of which only a fraction have colourful designed covers, carefully hand-painted. A plain cover costs some $600 but a colourful, designed one can be double that depending on the number of colours used and the level of detail used. The craze has since spread online with abundant information on where to find the best manholes via the hashtag #manhotalk. Study also suggests intelligence is important to people, as it implies an improved ability to find work and greater competence in life. The study also found men are just as likely as women to identify as sapiosexual, and an IQ of 120 was found to be the ideal level of intelligence. (Photo: Pixabay) According to a new study, it seems that for some, looks and personality really do not matter. The study found that nearly one in ten people find intelligence to be the most attractive feature in a partner. This trait is known as sapiosexuality. The study also found men are just as likely as women to identify as sapiosexual, and an IQ of 120 was found to be the ideal level of intelligence. The research was carried out at the University of Western Australia (UWA) and looked at the romantic and sexual preferences of 383 people, aged between 18 and 35. While most people showed no significant sexual inkling towards intelligence, a small group of people responded strongly to the trait. According to study author Dr Gilles Gignac, from the school of Psychological Science at UWA, this suggests sapiosexualism is a genuine sexual orientation that exists in a small subset of the population. Gignac went on to add that the emergence of the popular culture notion of a sapiosexual, an individual who finds high levels of intelligence (IQ) the most sexually attractive characteristic in a person, suggests that a high IQ may be a genuinely sexually attractive trait, at least for some people. The term 'sapiosexual' has recently received widespread media attention and speculation as it grows in popularity with a dedicated dating app, called Sapio, which aims to help sapiosexuals meet one another. The study also suggests that intelligence is important to most people, as it implies an improved ability to find work and a greater competence in other areas of life with a majority of the population saying that intelligence was the second most sought after 'non-physical property'. Kindness and understand was the most desirable, with 'exciting' and 'easygoing' coming in as the third and fourth most attractive personality traits. The research was published in the journal Intelligence. Students had allegedly gathered on one side for selfies. Clockwise: The Grief-stricken mother of a student who was on the ill-fated boat; parents of a deceased girl, police personnel talking to a victim of the tragedy. (Photo: PTI) Mumbai: An outing at sea turned tragic for a group of 36 teenage students of K.L Ponda High School and Junior College, when three of their female companions lost their lives after the overloaded boat in which they were travelling capsized off the Dahanu coast around 11.30 am on Saturday. According to the police, the mishap was reported five kilometres off Parnaka Beach, which is located a few meters away from the school in the Agar area of Dahanu in Palghar district. The students, who are aged 16 to 17 years, reside in villages and hamlets in and around Dahanu. Thirty-three students were rescued in a massive search and rescue operation that was launched by a combined team of Indian Coast Guard along with the police and maritime board personnel with active participation from local villagers and fishermen. All were rushed to the nearby Cottage Hospital in Dahanu and discharged late in the evening. The deceased have been identified as Sonal Bhagwan Surti, Jhaanvi Harish Surti and Sanskriti Mahavanshi all aged 17 years residents of Ambedkar Nagar area of Masoli village in Dahanu Road, said superintendent of police, Palghar, Manjunath Singe. While Sonal and Jhaanvi, who were first to be pulled out, died while undergoing treatment, Sanskriti was declared dead on arrival. As per prima facie findings, the mishap occurred after some of the teenagers had climbed onto the roof of the trawler Dahanu King to click selfies and videos. When all of them came on one side, the boat tilted and consequently capsized. As soon as we learnt about the mishap, our entire group immediately reached the spot and assisted the authorities in rescue operations, said Harshil Arekar, a local fisherman. Fortunately, it was the low-tide period and the boat had also not gone very far, else the casualties could have been much more. Since it was a weekend the children may have planned a joy ride, said Vijay Kumar Adhikari, a member of the Coast Guard rescue team. We are thankful to the Almighty that our daughter was rescued; however, at the same time our heart cries for the parents who have lost their children, said Ashok Ghodi, a parent from Patelpada. The police took the students statements to ascertain the exact number of people on board and, if need arises, will press interceptor craft and special patrol vessels for night search operations. The boat driver, Mahendra Ganpat Ambire (50), is alleged to be the first person to jump out from the sinking vessel and swim to safety. Ambire is presently hospitalised and will be arrested as soon as he is discharged and booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, the police said. Parents have alleged that the boat owners were involved in an illegal business of luring tourists into taking joy rides without any safety measures in case of such emergency situations. The incident is a clear indication that there is little attempt to enforce vigil and ensure strict security measures by the authorities, said a parent. 1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war. 2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war. 3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament of the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength. 4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war. 5. Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites. 6. Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination. 7. Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N. 8. Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev's promise in 1955 to settle the German question by free elections under supervision of the U.N. 9. Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the United States has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress. 10. Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N. 11. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If its charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces. (Some Communist leaders believe the world can be taken over as easily by the U.N. as by Moscow. Sometimes these two centers compete with each other as they are now doing in the Congo.) 12. Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party. 13. Do away with all loyalty oaths. 14. Continue giving Russia access to the U.S. Patent Office. 15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States. 16. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights. 17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers' associations. Put the party line in textbooks. 18. Gain control of all student newspapers. 19. Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack. 20. Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policymaking positions. 21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures. 22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to "eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms." 23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. "Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art." 24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press. 25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV. 26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural, healthy." 27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a "religious crutch." 28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state." 29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis. 30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the "common man." 31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the "big picture." Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over. 32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture--education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc. 33. Eliminate all laws or procedures which interfere with the operation of the Communist apparatus. 34. Eliminate the House Committee on Un-American Activities. 35. Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI. 36. Infiltrate and gain control of more unions. 37. Infiltrate and gain control of big business. 38. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand. 39. Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose Communist goals. 40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce. 41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents. 42. Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special-interest groups should rise up and use united force to solve economic, political or social problems. 43. Overthrow all colonial governments before native populations are ready for self-government. 44. Internationalize the Panama Canal. 45. Repeal the Connally reservation so the United States cannot prevent the World Court from seizing jurisdiction over nations and individuals alike. When asked whether the family sought any investigation into Loyas demise, Anuj preferred not to comment. Mumbai: The family of the late judge Brijgopal Harkishan Loya, who supposedly died due to cardiac arrest in Nagpur on December 1, 2014 where he had gone to attend a wedding, has appealed to everyone that it has no doubts regarding his demise. Last year, a long-form narrative journalism magazine published a report stating that Loyas family members claimed that the 48-year-olds death was suspicious. Loya was presiding over a special CBI court in Mumbai, where he was hearing a case related to the alleged extra-judicial murder of an extortionist Sohrabuddin Sheikh by the Gujarat police, in which Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah was one of the accused. Addressing the media in a press conference on Sunday evening in Mumbai, Loyas son Anuj and retired district judge K.B. Katke, who was also present at the event, said that the family was being harassed by NGOs, lawyers and activists who want to take advantage of the issue. Anuj requested them not to pursue the matter and leave the family alone. When asked whether the family sought any investigation into Loyas demise, Anuj preferred not to comment. There was some suspicion surrounding the demise of my father due to emotional turmoil, but now it is clear. I was 17 at that time and did not understand anything at the time, said Anuj. He further said that the video that his grandfather and aunt had released after his fathers death was done due to their emotional state of mind but now they are satisfied that nothing was amiss in the death of his father. The Mahabharat was a civil war and no Indian really celebrates it. The Ramayan, on other hand, was a war. War, as the word suggests, is an armed conflict. It is fought against external forces or between two opponents. In a democracy, we have another kind of war a political war. By its very semantic implication, its a non-weapon, lung-power war between competitors and rivals to capture power. Democratic India, however, beginning its independent political journey in 1947, continues to be a unique and somewhat baffling case of ceaseless political power-squabbling, a war game of cacophony, clash, chaos, confusion and confrontation. Its rarely of cooperation between men, matter and mind the overall success of democracy notwithstanding. Today, as the nation celebrates Army Day, lets explore a little history. Before 1947, India was a British colony and hence not a democracy. But in ancient times, around 6th century BCE, the country did have several democratic states like the Koliyas of Ramagrama, the Bulis of Allakappa, the Kalamas of Kesaputta and the Bhaggas of Sumsumara Hill. The most famous and organised of all the ancient republics were the Sakyas of Kapilavastu and the Lichchhavis of Vaishali (modern-day UP and Bihar respectively). Nevertheless, the 5,000-year history of South Asia (then Bharatvarsha) is marked by two unique features that are most conspicuous: first, the region faced an internal war of all against all; and second, recurring foreign invasions, mostly through the land routes. Thus, all across the geography of Indian history, we find numerous instances of indigenous forces joining hands with foreign invaders to subdue their own local neighbours and rivals. This baffling scenario could constitute a researchers delight one can spend a lifetime exploring, narrating and scripting the bewildering blend of bravery and butchery of Indian and foreign soldiers, simultaneously participating in a war which inevitably constituted a mixture of both war and civil war. We have plenty of stories of Maratha, Jat, Sikh, Rajput, Oudh, Bengal, Mysore, Burma and various rajas, maharajas, sultans, badshahs and principalities either on an endless fighting spree among themselves, or joining foreign forces (Mughals, British, French, Dutch, Portuguese and Danish) to fix their domestic rivals. Seen against this backdrop, the recent celebration of the 1818 Koregaon Bhima battle (fought on January 1, 1818 between the British East India Company and the Peshwa faction of the Maratha Confederacy at Koregaon Bhima) is neither new nor newsworthy. It was in tune with the historical forces of India and neatly fits into the virtually uniform character and characteristics of the whole of Hindustan. For that matter, you may take any battle of Indian history and the answer will be there for all to see. When the Anglo-Gurkha war was fought, it was the Bengal Armys Hindi-speaking East Indian soldiers, affectionately referred to as the purbaiyas (recruited mainly from Arrah, Balia, Chhapra, Danapur), and Bengali-speaking troops from eastern part of Bengal who joined the British. Did Indian troops celebrate their victory over Gorkhas which ended with the treaty of Sigauli in 1816? Similarly, when the six battles of the Anglo-Sikh war (Mudki, Feroze Shah, Buddewal, Aliwal, Sobraon and Chilianwala) led to comprehensive defeat for Sikh soldiers of Lahore Durbar in 1849, (which once again happened due to the contribution of soldiers from East India, known as the Bengal Army, and treachery in Sikh ranks), did the Hindi-speaking as well as Bengali soldiers celebrate their victory over Sikhs, highlighting what a brave bunch of Indians they were? Again, when the same Gorkhas and Sikhs, who were humbled not too long ago by the combined might of a majority East Indian soldiers and a minority British troops in 1816 and 1849, crushed the Sepoy Mutiny (First War of Indian Independence) in 1857, which consisted of the likes of Mangal Pandey from Ballia and Muslim soldiers of the remnants of the Mughal Durbar, did the victors celebrate? No. And rightly so, as one does not celebrate civil war, but in retrospect regret it. The Mahabharat was a civil war and no Indian, to my knowledge, really celebrates it. The Ramayan, on other hand, was a war. Hence, the celebration of Diwali (festival of lights) is linked with it. One celebrates and commemorates victory against foreigners, not a civil war with fellow countrymen. Thus, the recent political muscle-flexing and consequential violence on the streets of several towns of Maharashtra and Gujarat stand out as glaring examples of contemporary Indias inherent ability (not inability) of not coming to terms with its traditional faultlines of ignorance and prejudice, and a lack of any desire to learn lessons from its own history. Apparently, it all began with a proposed memorial rally; a rally to celebrate and salute one indigenous groups victory over another group, belonging to same geography. That is fine. Recalling the past and holding a remembrance day for a historical victory is always exemplary. For herein lies the beauty and uniqueness of celebration. It stood out owing to its occasion being one in which both victors and vanquished belonged to the same state, speaking the same language, following the same culture, hailing from the same geography, possessing the same food habits and worshipping the same gods the only exception being their caste. They were one. Yet they were not one because they refused to be one. They were inseparable, but they were not, by choice. There also existed a prominent hyphen between these two Indian groups. A microscopic minority the British. Both cause and effect first evolved and then revolved round this microscopic minority. Western white Christians who came as traders from 8,000 km away but found a sizeable number of civil war-loving Indians a fascinating specimen of homo sapiens whose fondness and preference for foreigners was too conspicuous to be missed. A large number of Indians traditionally have been gracious hosts to far-off people. Unlike China, which always hated foreigners as barbarians, a sizeable number of Indians loved the white foreigners more than their own coloured countrymen. It didnt take long for the Europeans, who came as traders, to grasp this basic reality. Today, the best (or worst) part of the story is that the history of Indian geography is either being conveniently forgotten or deliberately being ignored by a large section of the Indian demography. Learning lessons from the past is an anathema to most people. What is there to learn from the past? Isnt history a dead subject? Indeed! But shouldnt the dead subject be thoroughly studied and relived to ensure that the present and future dont prematurely turn out deadly and fatal? To understand this further, only one instance from Indian history would suffice. Lets face it with grace and dignity, without recourse to rancour and revenge. Reality be realised, not denied. Thus, when the rank white Christian stranger Vasco da Gama arrived at the Malabar coast port of Calicut on May 17, 1498, he received friendly treatment from the Hindu ruler (bearing the hereditary title Zamorin). The Portuguese soon saw through the faultlines of the Orient. Later, the English succeeded in stamping out their rivals. Indian rulers and soldiers defeated other Indian rulers and soldiers. They made foreigners their rulers and India ruled. Mera Bharat Mahaan and Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam at its zenith! After numerous complaints from users in Google Product Forums, Google has finally admitted its premium Home Max device glitch. Google says it is aware of the complaints and promised a fix as soon as possible. Google has admitted that the Home Max has an issue when it is connected to the WiFi network. This issue is faced by many Google Home Max users. According to the complaints on the Google Product Forum, the Home Max is killing the WiFi network' for many users. To bring the network back, the router needs to undergo a hard restart from the user. According to Google forum reports, most of the users who are using a TP-Link Archer C7 router are mostly affected by the problem. TP-Link engineers even replied to a user, acknowledging the root cause of the issue. The engineers said the problem could be MDNS (Multicast Domain Name System) multicast discovery packets which are sent to keep the live connection. Home Max apparently is sending thousands of these packets in a short span of time, thereby overloading the router which results in jamming the network. Google says it is aware of the complaints and promised a fix as soon as possible. Users need to hold up on the issue for now. Pak Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif issues nuclear threat in response to Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat's statement. Pakistan's foreign office spokesperson, too, said that country is fully capable of defending itself. (Photo: AFP) Islamabad: Pakistan Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Saturday issued a nuclear threat to India while responding to a statement of Army Chief General Bipin Rawat. "Very irresponsible statement by Indian Army Chief, not befitting his office. Amounts to invitation for nuclear encounter. If that is what they (India) desire, they are welcome to test our resolve. The general's doubt would swiftly be removed, inshallah," Asif tweeted. Very irresponsible statement by Indian Army Chief,not befitting his office. Amounts to invitation for nuclear encounter.If that is what they desire,they are welcome to test our resolve.The general's doubt would swiftly be removed, inshallah. Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) January 13, 2018 On Friday, Rawat, during a media briefing in Delhi, said the force was ready to call Pakistan's "nuclear bluff" and cross the border to carry out any operation if asked by the government. He was responding to a question on the possibility of Pakistan using its nuclear weapons in case the situation along the border deteriorates. Following Asif's remarks, Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal went on a tweeting spree. "The threatening and irresponsible statement by the Indian Army Chief today is representative of a sinister mindset that has taken hold of India. Pakistan has demonstrated deterrence capability," he tweeted from his personal handle. The threatening and irresponsible statement by the Indian Army Chief today is representative of a sinister mindset that has taken hold of India. Pakistan has demonstrated deterrence capability.1/2 Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) January 13, 2018 "These are not issues to be taken lightly. There must not be any misadventure based on miscalculation. Pakistan is fully capable of defending itself," he said in a second tweet. These are not issues to be taken lightly. There must not be any misadventure based on miscalculation. Pakistan is fully capable of defending itself. 2/2 Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) January 13, 2018 This all comes after Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Asif Ghafoor reacted to Gen Rawat's statement and said such statements were unbecoming of a person of his stature. "We believe COAS is a very responsible appointment and four-star is a rank with age-long experience and maturity," the Geo TV quoted Ghafoor as saying. Ghafoor further stated that Pakistan has a credible nuclear capability, exclusively meant for the threat from the east. "But we believe it's a weapon of deterrence, not of choice." Israeli military spokesman said tunnel belonged to Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas and was intended for attacks as opposed to smuggling. The tunnel began east of the city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip, crossed into Israel some 180 metres, then continued into Egypt for an unspecified length, with no exit point detected. (Photo: AP) Jerusalem: Israel said on Sunday it used a combination of air strikes and other means to destroy a tunnel stretching from the Gaza Strip into the country and continuing into Egypt. Israeli military spokesman Jonathan Conricus said the tunnel belonged to Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas and was intended for attacks as opposed to smuggling. Such tunnels have been used to carry out attacks in the past. He said he was not aware of any casualties from the destruction of the tunnel, which was still being built. It ran underneath the main goods crossing between Israel and the blockaded Gaza Strip -- known as Kerem Shalom -- as well as gas and fuel pipelines, he said. According to Conricus, Israeli air strikes on late Saturday along with other unspecified means were used to destroy the tunnel. The strikes occurred within the Gaza Strip, while further means were carried out in Israeli territory. The tunnel began east of the city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip, crossed into Israel some 180 metres, then continued into Egypt for an unspecified length, with no exit point detected, he said. Conricus said Israel had coordinated with Egypt on the operation. The tunnel stretched a total length of around a kilometre and a half, he said. Israel says it has been developing a new method to identify and destroy such tunnels, though it does not comment on details. It is also building an underground wall in the area around the Gaza Strip to stop such tunnels. The latest tunnel was the third destroyed since late October by Israel, but it comes at a particularly sensitive time. Tensions between Palestinians and Israel have been high since US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital on December 6. Unrest has included rockets being fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel, with Israel's military responding with air strikes. Conricus on Sunday said Israel was defending its sovereignty with the destruction of the tunnel and was not seeking an escalation. The Ranger will be available in three trim grades: XL, midlevel XLT, and a high-level Lariat trim series. It will include FX Off-Road packages, and in SuperCab or SuperCrew cab configurations. (Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Co.) The Ford Ranger is returning to the North American market with a 2.3L EcoBoost engine, 10-speed automatic transmission, and a suite of Fords latest technologies. Production of the mid-size truck, which can seat up to five people, will begin later this year at Ford's Michigan Assembly Plant, according to the automaker. Ford decided to bring the Ford Ranger back partly due to increased customer demand in the mid-size truck market, which has seen an increase in U.S. sales by 83% since 2014. Ranger has always held a special place in the hearts of truck fans, said Hau Thai-Tang, Ford executive vice president, Product Development and Purchasing. The all-new Ranger is designed for todays midsize truck buyer, delivering even more utility, capability and technology for those who blend city living with more off-the-grid adventures on weekends. The revived Ranger includes a center stack with an eight-inch touchscreen that features Fords SYNC 3 system. Available SYNC 3 features include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, Ford+Alexapersonal assistant functionality and optional navigation, Ford said. Also available are AC power outlets that allow for charging of laptops and USB outlets, and an available FordPass Connect 4G LTE modem that provides Wi-Fi access for up to 10 devices. Available SYNC 3 features include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, Ford+Alexapersonal assistant functionality and optional navigation. (Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Co.) The Ranger will be available in three trim grades: XL, midlevel XLT, and a high-level Lariat trim series. It will include FX Off-Road packages and in SuperCab or SuperCrew cab configurations. The FX4 Off-Road Package provides additional trail capability and includes a terrain management system that offers four distinct driving modes: normal; grass, gravel and snow; mud and ruts; and sand. Available driver-assist technologies include standard automatic emergency braking, while lane keeping assist, lane departure warning, a reverse sensing system and blind spot information system with trailer coverage are standard on XLT and Lariat trim levels. Additional features include optional LED headlamps and tail lamps. Optional exterior lighting includes puddle lamps and lighting for the cargo bed, while Fords available Smart Trailer Tow connector alerts drivers to faulty trailer connection, the automaker said. Ford had sold the earlier iteration of the Ranger in the U.S. in the 1983 to 2012 model-years. The truck became a popular choice for pest-control fleets and smaller fleets in general due to its affordability. The last Ford Ranger built in the U.S. was a fleet order for Orkin Pest Control, which had adopted the Ranger as a mainstay vehicle before shifting to the Tacoma. Metro Police has reported that the body of a woman they later identified as Kerrice Lewis, 23, a resident of Hyattsville, Md., was found about 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 28, in the trunk of her burning Lexus in an alley in the 800 block of Adrian Place, S.E., near Fort Dupont Park. Mercedes Rouhlac identified herself to ABC7 News as Lewiss best friend and ex-girlfriend. Lewis was the third of three people who knew each other that were shot to death on Dec. 28 in separate but nearby locations, D.C. police said. The first of the three, Ronzay Green, 23, of Northeast D.C., was fatally shot in the parking lot of a 7-Eleven convenience store in the 900 block of Eastern Avenue, N.E. about 11:20 a.m. According to police, about seven hours later Armani Nico Coles, 27, was found unconscious lying in the road at the intersection of Eastern Avenue and Kenilworth Avenue just across the D.C. line in Capitol Heights, Md. Police said he had been shot and pushed out of a vehicle. Coles died after being taken to a nearby hospital. William Sharp, Lewiss grandfather, told the Washington Post that Lewis knew the other two victims. He told the Post he and his wife had raised Lewis since she was 11 years old. He said Lewiss mother died of a brain aneurysm in 2005 and her father was shot to death on the front porch of a house in Northwest D.C. in 2006, the Post reported. Police said they had no suspect and no known motive for Kerrice Lewiss murder. Source: The Washington Blade Saudi Arabia police say they have arrested several young men who last week appeared in a what was described online as a gay wedding video. In the video, the men are sprayed with confetti as they walk side by side on a carpet at an outdoor venue. One of them seems to be wearing a long bridal veil. On Monday night, Mecca Police said they had identified the cross-dresser and other people involved in the incident. The Mecca Police said the gay wedding scene had taken place on Friday during a festival at a resort in the holy city. While Saudi Arabia has no written laws concerning sexual orientation or gender identity, judges use principles of Islamic law to sanction people suspected of extra-marital sexual relations, homosexual sex or other immoral acts. Supreme Court Refuses To Hear Lambda Legals Appeal Of Mississippis Law Legalizing Anti-LGBT Discrimination Via Bloomberg The U.S. Supreme Court left intact a Mississippi law that lets businesses and government workers refuse on religious grounds to provide services to gay and transgender people. The justices turned away two appeals by state residents and organizations that contended the measure violates the Constitution. A federal appeals court said the opponents hadnt suffered any injury that would let them press their claims in court. The Mississippi fight in some ways represented the flip side of a Colorado case the high court is currently considering; the question in that instance is whether the state can require a baker who sells wedding cakes to make one for a same-sex couples wedding. The Mississippi law, by contrast, gives priority to religious rights. The state enacted its law less than a year after the 2015 Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. I'm going to slot this one in the whogivesafuck file! Since I never went to university I never bothered learning what the acronymn - SJW was until at least a year after I first heard it.This is just more Ben Shapiro/New/Nazi/Right horsehit about their neverending battle against children of wealthy liberals...who are about the only people left in today's America who can afford a college or university education today!Corporate-sponsored liberalism has matched the same pattern conservatism has long played on social issues: completely burying class inequalities and making social issues all about various identities...and this is just not going to carry much interest any longer among the majority of people who want real answers about real issues they care about and get nothing out of allying with either liberal or conservative camps!The biggest mistake the white majority in America made..was right at the beginning..alowing the rich landowning/slaveholding class to create this white identity to start with! Prior to Eurocolonization of the world, there was no thought given to creating a "white race!" Your identity was tied to your nation of origin..color be damned!But, after it all got rolling, black and every other non-white group also started to take on the reverse identity politics...played by elite classes within each group to maintain their loyalties. The last thing any of these groups want is white, black, brown, red, yellow all getting together and using their numbers to fight for class interests against monied elites who live high on the hog off of the majority!And that's why the greatest enemy and greatest fear of all capitalist classes...whether they call themselves right or left is socialism! Because even a moderate, capitalist-functioning socialism takes wealth away that they believe they are entitled to!So, in this example, some kid is bitching that his attempt at racist humor wasn't taken the right way by someone he describes as a radical feminist who is now persecuting him....too fucking bad! If I try to tally up all of the women who are exploited, abused, assaulted, murdered by men who feel entitled to become part of their lives, some crazy feminist badgering this little shit online pales in comparison! That is all! The body of a missing boater has been found. Body of missing boater found Joshua Ford, 35, went missing Saturday, Jan. 13 Ford launched around 8 a.m. in an orange canoe; didn't return when expected Officials said 35-year old Josh Ford's body was found in the waters just south of Rocky Point. Its the same area where a canoe matching Ford's had been found capsized earlier on Sunday. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is conducting the ongoing investigation. Ford's girlfriend, Angela Barton, reported Ford missing after he failed to return from a fishing trip on Saturday. Barton was running late for work when she dropped Ford and his canoe off at Ben T. Davis beach near the Courtney Campbell Causeway in Tampa on Saturday morning about 8 a.m. "And he was like, 'That's it' and he came to my window, gave me a kiss and I said 'I'll see you later... have a good day,'" recalled Barton. She said she spoke with Ford on the phone again just before 10 p.m. Saturday. Later, she tried to text him but he did not reply. She called him after work and said the call went straight to his voicemail. "I keep expecting to see him walking because he made it to shore and can't call anybody and is walking home." - Angela Barton "I went home figuring he was just out on the water having a good day and then it got later and I said, "His phone's dead he's probably out on the shore waiting for me. I better just go pick him up," said Barton. She took her father with her to look for Ford and when the sun started going down she began to panic and called authorities. "We waited another hour and still no sign of him, so I called because I knew something had to be wrong," she said. The search began but failed to turn up anything until Sunday morning around 10 a.m., a full 24 hours after Barton had last heard from Ford. The Coast Guard informed her they had located a canoe matching Ford's capsized in the waters south of Rocky Point. Less than five hours later they located a mans body now identified as Ford. It wasn't the ending Barton had hoped for. "I keep expecting to see him walking because he made it to shore and can't call anybody and is walking home," said Barton. Now, shes heartbroken and left wondering how a fun day off on the water turned so tragic. Stay with Bay News 9 for updates. The Bible has been under attack in the western world for over 200 years but never more intensely than today. These attacks have taken different forms and have come from many different corners of the academic world, from philosophers, to scientists, to textual critics. In the specialized world of archaeology the attacks have increased dramatically in the past 50 years. Once a specialization filled with Bible believing individuals, the field of archaeology is now overrun with atheists and skeptics, agnostics and those committed to the destruction of the Bible as a source of true historical information. These attacks on the Bible are a part of a sweeping movement in western culture. Spearheaded by academic elitists in the university and the public educational system, the news and popular media, and the entertainment industry, these revisionists cloak themselves with supposed objectivity, purity of motives, and the superiority of science over the "uninformed", "unscientific", religious community. They regularly mock those who question their world-view and their conclusions by name-calling and the worst forms of anti-Bible and anti-Christian propaganda. They have powerfully infected the church by turning Bible believing Christians against the very Scripture which is the foundation of truth and life in this world. Instead of contending for the Bible, Christian academics, pastors, and lay-persons are making egregious accommodations to these destroyers of faith and truth. In these days of intense spiritual battle, God has called ABR to step into the gap to contend for the truth and to assist the church in this critical hour. ABR is a non-profit ministry dedicated to demonstrating the historical reliability of the Bible and to give answers to questions being asked by believers and non-believers alike. We do this by using original archaeological fieldwork and research along with studies in other apologetic disciplines. We take on the bold claims of skeptics and critics. We challenge the bizarre anti-biblical propaganda that is purveyed upon the public as gospel through television and print media. We uphold the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is God's message for the salvation of all mankind! Mainly Jem's Birding & Ringing Exploits in the Eastern Province & Ringing Trips to Bahrain PR Newswire SYDNEY, MELBOURNE, Australia and BRISBANE, Australia, January 15, 2018 SYDNEY, MELBOURNE, Australia and BRISBANE, Australia, January 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Trianz, a global digital transformation consulting and technology services firm today announced its acquisition of CBIG Consulting (CBIG), a leading Business Intelligence and Big Data Analytics consulting firm based out of Chicago. (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/626944/Trianz_Logo.jpg ) In 2013, Trianz made a commitment to focus exclusively in the areas of Cloud, Analytics, Digital, Infrastructure and Security -related services to help clients transition to digital enterprises. Trianz has grown steadily for the past 5 years, developing capabilities research, strategy, process and technology consulting and managed services capabilities. The addition is part of Trianz' ongoing strategy to scale its digital transformation services portfolio comprising of Cloud, Analytics, Digitalization, Infrastructure and Security services. Trianz has also built strong technology partnerships in these areas, emerging as a Managed Services Partner of both AWS & Microsoft Azure. Trianz is rated #1 by clients for business impact, quality of services and commitment - for 2 years in a row. Founded in 2002, CBIG is headquartered in Chicago and is present in several locations across the U.S. CBIG offers a full array of analytics and information management services - from strategy and planning to full stack technology implementations for leading enterprises that help them make intelligent business decisions. CBIG's project teams comprise of leading strategic business consultants, data scientists and analysts, data engineers and architects. The collective knowledge of these teams in over 500 engagements has helped CBIG increase enterprises' value and competitive edge. In 2017, CBIG was named as one of 'America's Best Management Consulting Firms.' Speaking on this occasion, Sri Manchala, President and CEO at Trianz, said, "Trianz has established itself as a strong player in the digital evolution space enabling business and IT leaders drive transitions to a digital enterprise. Our goal is to continue to scale our portfolio and capabilities in Cloud, Analytics, Digitalization, Infrastructure and Security to emerge as a leading firm by 2020. CBIG brings experience in multiple industries, depth in analytics and carries strong client centricity and a commitment to their success. Trianz and CBIG clients now have access to a large practice with end-to-end capabilities from strategy to implementation and managed services. We look forward to continued client success as one team going forward." Todd Nash, a founding Principal of CBIG expressed his views, "The hallmark of our success was built on quality teams, value delivery, client satisfaction and lasting partnerships. Being part of Trianz will help us amplify this success to our clients by offering a wider breadth of services, global scale and technology depth. We are excited about joining forces with Trianz and look forward to the opportunity ahead." About CBIG Consulting CBIG Consulting is a leader in Business Intelligence, Big Data Analytics, Data Warehousing, and Cloud-based Analytics platforms. Named a top BI and Big Data consulting firm by independent research organizations and publications, CBIG's management consultants, business analysts, data scientists, architects and engineers are seasoned professionals dedicated to the analytics space. CBIG works with global enterprises, mid-size businesses, and non-profit organizations in solving mission-critical reporting and analytical needs. CBIG is headquartered in the Chicago area and has additional offices in San Francisco, Boston, Denver, Austin, Raleigh, Irvine and Seattle. http://www.cbigconsulting.com About Trianz Trianz simplifies digital evolutions through effective strategies and excellence in execution. Collaborating with business and technology leaders, we help formulate and execute operational strategies to achieve intended business outcomes by bringing the best of consulting, technology experiences and execution models. Powered by knowledge, research, and perspectives, we enable clients to transition to a digital enterprise by leveraging Infrastructure, Cloud, Analytics, Digital and Security paradigms. With offices in Silicon Valley, Washington DC Metro, Jersey City, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Chennai, we serve Fortune 1000 and emerging organizations across industries globally. http://www.trianz.com Media Contact: Prashant Bhavaraju Vice President - Marketing [email protected] +1-408-387-5800 http://www.trianz.com BORDERLAND BEAT The Most Extensive and Reliable Source of Information Related to the Mexican Drugs Cartels. You will not find this level of coverage anywhere else, join us! Send information, pictures or videos, you remain 100% anonymous. Envia fotos, videos, notas, enlaces o informacion todo 100% Anonimo. General Mail Box: borderlandbeat@gmail.com Want to be a contributor or citizen reporter for Borderland Beat? We love to have you in our team, send us an email! WARNING: Posts may contain strong violent material, discretion is advised. COMMENTS: We do not publish all comments, and we do not publish comments immediately. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chairs a meeting with the Vietnam-Laos Cooperation Committee,relevant ministries and sectors on January 13th. (Photo: VNA) The event was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh. According to a report by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the two nations exchanged more than 300 visits at all levels and saw significant progress in economic cooperation in 2017. They have worked together to promptly remove obstacles and step up trade and investment promotion activities. Vietnam now ranks third among countries and territories investing in Laos with 276 projects worth about USD5 billion in total. Accumulative disbursement has been estimated at over USD1.6 billion so far, accounting for 32.5 percent of the total Vietnamese investment. Vietnam-Laos trade in the first 11 months of 2017 exceeded USD808 million, up roughly 10 percent from 2016. Joint projects in transport infrastructure and connectivity have been developed between the two countries and within the region. The two sides are continuing to seek funding for key projects, such as 725-km Hanoi Vientiane Highway and a railway connecting Vung Ang, Tan Ap, Mu Gia (Vietnam) and Thakhec, Vientiane (Laos). Last year, Vietnam granted 1,246 scholarships to Lao students, 246 higher than the number pledged by the two Governments. PM Phuc said that 2017 was a year of solidarity between the two countries and both sides successfully organised grand ceremonies to mark 55th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties and 40 years since the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty on Amity and Cooperation. The two nations should promote bilateral cooperation in various fields, he said, asking relevant sides to effectively coordinate to carefully prepare for the 40th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-governmental Committee for Bilateral Cooperation to be held later this year. Vietnam will continue its support for Laos in socio-economic development, he noted, adding that inspections must be carried out to accelerate the progress of some key cooperation projects./. Fianna Fail has called on the DUP leader to "follow her words with action" as we head towards Brexit. Arlene Foster yesterday called for closer relations between the UK and Ireland, suggesting in a speech in Killarney in Kerry, that leaders on both sides of the border should work together for the benefit of everyone. Northern Ireland's chief nursing officer has warned that the health service cannot continue its heavy reliance on agency workers to bolster staffing levels. Professor Charlotte McArdle also said that unless a health transformation programme is up and running within the next two to three years the already under-pressure health system will be in significant difficulties. The Press Association recently revealed that cash-strapped health trusts were being charged up to 100,000 for some agency nurses to address acute shortages of permanent staff. It emerged that the cost of an uncontracted agency nurse could be up to four times more than that of a staff nurse. In some cases, agency nurses are costing more than a consultant's salary. "We will always be reliant on agency staff due to unplanned sickness, maternity leave etc, but not at the levels we are at the moment. "This year will be difficult but once we see an increase in overseas staff and students coming through, that should hopefully start to turn around. But we cannot continue in the model we are currently working in. We need the transformation programme. "If we continue with the current system we are always going to run out of nurses because supply cannot keep up with demand. We need to transform the health service and make sure we have staff of whatever kind," said Professor McArdle. Transforming Your Care - an ambitious 10-year plan to make Northern Ireland's health and social care system fit for the 21st Century - was unveiled by then health minister Michelle O'Neill in 2016. However, with the collapse of the Stormont powersharing government there has been little progress implementing the plan. "If we don't get a transformation programme up and running over the next two to three years we will be back in significant difficulties," said Professor McArdle. "The way services are organised is out of date and not delivering the way we want it to and therefore existing capacity cannot meet the ever-rising demand. "Transformation of health and social care is the answer, and indeed is the only way forward," she added. Professor McArdle said while the absence of a health minister is not impeding ability to get work done, she warned that one is needed to help make longer term decisions. Describing the health system as being under pressure she added that "superb" nursing staff are being asked to work harder and harder in difficult circumstances. Social policy activist Professor John Monaghan has died aged 73 Prof Monaghan was a longstanding member the Society of St Vincent de Paul and the public face of the charity for 15 years. He is survived by his wife Catherine, his children and grandchildren. In 2014, Prof Monaghan was awarded the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (the highest papal honour that can be bestowed on a layperson) for his work in SVP and promoting social justice issues in Ireland. President Michael D Higgins led the tributes describing Prof Monaghan as a passionate advocate for the importance of education and an ethic of care. "It is with great sadness that I learned of the death of Professor John Monaghan," the President said in a statement. "Throughout his career, Professor Monaghan was a passionate advocate of the importance of education, and an ethic of care. Through his work with the Society of St Vincent de Paul, John Monaghan set a powerful example of practical solidarity and inclusiveness, working to improve the welfare of those most in need. "His loss will be felt most acutely by his wife Catherine and the members of his family. It is to them, and to all those who had the privilege of knowing and working with John Monaghan, that I send my deepest condolences." Statement by President Higgins on the death of Prof. John Monaghan: pic.twitter.com/rgVRelh5tK President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) January 14, 2018 The social justice advocate grew up in Dublin and was Professor of Mechanical Engineering in Trinity College where he was elected Fellow in 1993. In a statement, SVP National President Kieran Stafford said: "John was a compassionate, non-judgemental and caring person who has influenced and inspired many SVP members. "I had the privilege of serving with him for 8 years as a trustee of SVP and in that time his calm intelligent counsel aided some very tough decision making. "He was a truly exceptional member of SVP and has changed so many lives for the better. Every day he used his talents to advocate for Social Justice in our world, my last conversation with him was on that very subject. "Those of us who had the honour to serve with him will never forget his dedication to help those in need and bring about an end to poverty." Mr Stafford said he felt Prof Monaghans unselfish attitude was summed up in a quote that came from the man himself. "I believe that over the years I have gained and learned so much more from the people that I have had the privilege of meeting than they have gained from me," Prof Monaghan told the SVP Bulletin in 2014. "When you see the bravery of people in difficult circumstances, the unseen heroes, thousands of them that we meet every night of the week, they are the people who make it all so important." Mr Stafford added: "Throughout his active life he was devoted to his own family and the SVP family. "Our sincere condolences to his wife Catherine, his children and grandchildren." Pope Francis has called on governments and societies to welcome and integrate migrants. At a special mass in Rome earlier, the Pontiff said communities must "open themselves without prejudice" to those arriving. The Palestinian president hit out at US president Donald Trump in a fiery, two-hour-long speech on Sunday, saying "shame on you" for his treatment of the Palestinians. He also warned he would have no problem rejecting what he suggested would be an unacceptable peace plan. The speech by Mahmoud Abbas ratcheted up what has been more than a month of harsh rhetoric toward Mr Trump since the presidents recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital. Relations between Washington and the Palestinians have sunk to a new low, boding poorly for a peace plan the White House has promised to present. Mahmoud Abbas Speaking to the Palestinian Central Council, a decision-making body, Mr Abbas repeated the Palestinians opposition to Mr Trumps Jerusalem recognition and censured Mr Trump for accusing the Palestinians of refusing to negotiate. "He (Trump) said in a tweet: We wont give money to the Palestinians because they rejected the negotiations," Mr Abbas said. "Shame on you. When did we reject the talks? Where is the negotiation that we rejected?" Mr Trump infuriated Palestinians and Muslims around the world when he announced late last year that the US would recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move its embassy there, upending decades of US policy and countering an international consensus that the fate of Jerusalem should be decided in negotiations between the sides. Mr Abbas has said that by siding with the Israelis on a sensitive issue, the announcement had destroyed Mr Trumps credibility as a Mideast peace broker. "We can say no to anyone if things are related to our fate and our people, and now we have said no to Mr Trump," he said. "We told him the deal of the century was the slap of the century. But we will slap back." Mr Abbas also said that the Palestinians have rejected a US request to halt payments to roughly 35,000 families of Palestinians killed and wounded in the conflict with Israel, including suicide bombers and other militants. Israel argues that the practice encourages violence. Hoping to secure what he has called the "ultimate" deal, Mr Trump has for nearly a year dispatched his Mideast team, led by his adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner, to the region to try to breathe life into moribund peace talks, which collapsed in 2014. But the Jerusalem pivot threw a wrench into Mr Trumps peacemaking attempts. Since then, the Palestinians have butted heads with the US at the United Nations, winning a global rebuke against Mr Trumps move. Mr Trump has responded by threatening to cut aid and to reduce US payments to the UNs Palestinian refugee agency. The US is the largest donor to the agency. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has welcomed Mr Trumps tough line toward the Palestinians, while also pushing forward with more settlement construction on lands sought by the Palestinians. Palestinian officials say that while they have not received a formal proposal from the US, they have heard from Saudi interlocutors that the US is exploring the possibility of offering the Palestinians a statelet in the parts of the West Bank they already control, with Israel controlling the borders, and the Gaza Strip. US officials have not confirmed the claims. But if true, the proposal would fall far short of Palestinian claims to the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza for an independent state. Mr Abbas said the Palestinians will not accept the US as a sole broker, and believe a deal can only be reached if there are multiple parties, such as with the international nuclear deal between six global powers and Iran. - AP A murder investigation has been launched after a 19-year-old man was stabbed to death at a house party in England. Police were called to a property in Willows Road in Walsall shortly before 2am on Sunday. The victim, who police have not named, died at the scene "despite the best efforts of emergency services" to save him, West Midlands Police said. Detective Inspector Ian Wilkins said: "Investigations are at an early stage, but there appears to have been a party at an address in Willows Road which resulted in a disorder and a young man tragically losing his life. "I would urge the person or persons responsible for the stabbing to come forward and hand themselves in. "The police will find out who is responsible and I would ask them to search their conscience and come and talk to us as soon as possible." Officers are carrying out house-to-house inquiries and forensic investigations at the scene. Update 8.58pm: A 30-year-old father who had been missing after mudslides cascaded through Montecito earlier this week has been identified as one of the dead. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office says Pinit Sutthithepa's body was found on Saturday afternoon. His two-year-old daughter, Lydia, is still missing. Mr Sutthithepa's six-year-old son, Peerawat, and his father-in-law, 79-year-old Richard Loring Taylor, were also among the 20 people killed. Authorities say four people, including Mr Sutthithepa's daughter, have been reported missing. Friends have said Mr Sutthithepa arrived from Thailand, leaving behind his wife and two children but sending them money for years until he could bring them to the United States. Parishioners prayed for those killed and for families still searching for missing relatives. Because most churches in coastal Montecito remain in an evacuation area, many worshippers attended Sunday services in nearby towns. At a church in Santa Barbara, they lit candles and prayed for families who lost loved ones. They said the victims were their friends and neighbours. In the disaster area, firefighters are going door to door to check the structural stability of homes damaged in the storm. Recovery crews continue to work around the clock, digging away at the masses of mud, boulders and toppled trees. AP Earlier: California mudslides death toll rises to 19 The death toll from the mudslides in California has risen to 19, authorities said. The body of Morgan Corey, 25, was found in mud and debris in Montecito, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said. Her 12-year-old sister, Sawyer, had been found dead earlier. Another person who had been on the list of missing, 62-year-old Delbert Weltzin, was found alive and well, Mr Brown said without elaborating on the circumstances. The two developments reduced the number of missing from seven to five. "While every hour it remains less likely that we will find anyone alive, there is always hope," the sheriff said. The army of searchers and recovery workers in Montecito swelled to more than 2,000 five days after a powerful storm swept in from the Pacific and dumped a deluge on mountain slopes above the coastal enclave that were burned bare by a huge wildfire in December. The backbreaking work went on in the summerlike weather that has made the stretch of Santa Barbara County coast about 90 miles northwest of Los Angeles a haven for the wealthy, celebrities and tourists. "We have to do whatever it takes," said Capt Tom Henzgen, leader of a team from the Los Angeles Fire Department. Long-range forecasts gave the crews about a week before the next chance of rain - and potential new mudslides - although the precipitation was expected to be disorganised and light. Another system was possible two days later. Crews worked throughout the day on Saturday to clear debris basins and officials said there was still a lot more work to be done. Tom Fayram, the deputy director of the county's flood control district, said the crews were making great progress and he was confident that at least a base level of water would be able to pass through the creek channels. Much of the community of about 9,000 remained under mandatory evacuation orders, even unscathed areas, as crews both removed debris and worked to restore water, sanitation, power and gas. All warnings and orders for neighbouring Summerland and Carpinteria were lifted. Tanker trucks sucked muddy water from flooded sections of US 101, the only direct major artery between Los Angeles and the Santa Barbara region. The California Department of Transportation abandoned an estimate of reopening the highway on Monday and said it was not known when the closure would be lifted. Amtrak, which began restoring rail service two days after the flood, was adding cars to trains because of heavy demand. Two boat companies that normally take tourists out to Channel Islands National Park and on whale-watching excursions were ferrying people between the Ventura and Santa Barbara harbours. Santa Barbara County said authorities were testing the ocean waters. Down the coast in Ventura County, environmental health officials warned that storm runoff can carry disease-causing bacteria and warned the public to avoid contact with ocean water until tests are reviewed next week. In the disaster zone, searchers used chain saws and rakes to remove logs and sift through the remnants of what was left of multimillion-dollar homes. Crews with backhoes and jackhammers pulverised enormous boulders that were left when the torrents stopped. Rescuers said they would search every piece of debris and pile of dirt to look for the missing. The so-called Thomas fire, which led to the floods, was declared fully contained on Friday. It erupted on December 4 in Ventura County and destroyed more than 1,000 structures as it swept through the city of Ventura and then threatened Carpinteria, Summerland and Santa Barbara. At 440 square miles, it became the largest wildfire in California records. AP Update 8.05pm: Ukip leader Henry Bolton is facing calls to resign as his girlfriend was suspended from the party for allegedly making racist remarks about Meghan Markle. Mr Bolton's 25-year-old partner Jo Marney has apologised for "shocking" language in a series of messages to a friend in which she made highly offensive comments about Prince Harry's fiancee and black people. The 54-year-old party leader, whose relationship with Ms Marney is under investigation by Ukip, said on Sunday that she had been suspended "immediately upon us receiving this information". The Mail On Sunday printed texts it said had been sent by Ms Marney, including use of the word "Negro" and a message reading "This is Britain, not Africa" during a discussion about the royal engagement. UKIP leader's girlfriend Jo Marney revealed to be an out and out racist in string of texts to former friend. Marney has now been expelled from her boyfriend's partyhttps://t.co/AR3dZua8ae pic.twitter.com/9f10Qr7ZOH Otto English (@Otto_English) January 13, 2018 Mr Bolton, whose controversial private life is already being probed by senior party officials, is now facing calls to step down. Ukip West Midlands MEP Bill Etheridge, addressing the party leader via an online video, said: "Go now. Go quietly and leave us to deal with what's left." In the Facebook message Mr Etheridge said: "It appears that we are now seeing Ukip resources, which are at best scant, being used to defend Henry's private life." He said he would step down as a Ukip spokesman if Mr Bolton, who was elected leader last September, "insists on prolonging this agony". Fellow former Ukip leadership candidate Ben Walker also called for Mr Bolton to resign, accusing him of having "deeply flawed judgment". Asked by the Press Association whether Mr Bolton should resign former Ukip leader Nigel Farage declined to comment. Former leadership candidate Suzanne Evans told BBC News: "It's just another scandal on top of scandal after scandal with Mr Bolton. I understand he is considering his position today. "We will have to see what the next few hours bring." Party chairman Paul Oakden said Mr Bolton now finds himself with a "difficult" decision to make and is expected to decide on Sunday what to do to "help remedy the situation". He told BBC's Sunday Politics: "I think it is very clear that Henry is increasingly in a position where he's got some difficult decisions to make." Mr Oakden, who declined to give his own views on Mr Bolton's current situation, said the party needs to be "behind our leader 100% in taking that battle (for Brexit) forward". He said: "Whether or not the party decides it is willing to give that support to Henry is for the party to decide." The party's National Executive Committee will meet next Sunday. In a statement to the paper Ms Marney, who describes herself on her Twitter profile as a model, actor and journalist, as well as a Brexiteer, apologised. She said: "The opinions I expressed were deliberately exaggerated in order to make a point and have, to an extent, been taken out of context. Yet I fully recognise the offence they have caused." Mr Bolton told a young party member online, who urged that Ms Marney should have her membership removed: "Jo was suspended immediately upon us receiving this information." Peter Whittle, leader of Ukip's delegation in the London Assembly, called for Ms Marney to be "expelled altogether" for the "disgraceful remarks". Mr Bolton left wife Tatiana, 42, who gave birth to their second daughter at London's St Pancras station in 2016 after going into labour on a train, prior to his relationship with Ms Marney becoming public in early January. The Ukip leader confirmed that he had a "change in my relationship status" in recent weeks, although he denied reports that it had involved "a clandestine affair with a young lady who happens also to be a member of Ukip". Earlier: Girlfriend of Ukip leader suspended after 'racist' Meghan Markle remarks The girlfriend of Ukip leader Henry Bolton has been suspended from the party after reportedly making racist remarks about Meghan Markle. Jo Marney, 25, sent a series of messages to a friend in which she made highly offensive comments about Prince Harry's fiancee and black people, according the Mail on Sunday. In a statement to the paper, Ms Marney said she apologised "unreservedly" for the "shocking language" used in the messages, but said they had been "taken out of context". Mr Bolton, 54, whose relationship with Ms Marney is under investigation by the party, said on Sunday that she had been suspended "immediately upon us receiving this information". The Ukip leader sent the message in reply to a young party member who urged him to publicly call for Ms Marney to have her membership removed. "She has to go or he and @UKIP are doomed if we let this behaviour happen in the party," the teenage activist said. Peter Whittle, leader of Ukip's delegation in the London Assembly, also called for Ms Marney to be "expelled altogether" for the "disgraceful remarks". Meanwhile former Ukip leadership candidate Ben Walker called for Mr Bolton to resign, accusing him of having "deeply flawed judgement". Party chairman Paul Oakden said he decided to suspend Ms Marney's party membership immediately after he was made aware of the messages. "Ukip does not, has not and never will condone racism," he told the Mail on Sunday. The report of Ms Marney's use of highly offensive language about people from different ethnic backgrounds comes as Mr Bolton faces an investigation into his controversial private life by senior party officials. Mr Bolton left wife Tatiana, 42, who gave birth to their second daughter at London's St Pancras station in 2016 after going into labour on a train, prior to his relationship with Ms Marney becoming public in early January. The Ukip leader confirmed that he had a "change in my relationship status" in recent weeks, although denied reports that is had involved "a clandestine affair with a young lady who happens also to be a member of Ukip". He said he had already made clear on social media that he had recently been spending time "with somebody who has become increasingly important to me". On Sunday he was accused on Twitter of being in Ms Marney's company when he appeared on television in mid-October. He tweeted: "Utterly false! Photo taken by Gawain Towler (Ukip communications official). The woman just in shot is a BBC staffer." In a letter to members, Mr Oakden said the National Executive Committee ruling body agreed to discuss the leader's private life at a special meeting in January. On Sunday a teenage activist called on Mr Bolton to back calls for Ms Marney to be expelled from Ukip. "If @_HenryBolton truly cares about @UKIP he will publicly call for Jo Marney removal from the party her words were blatantly racist and there should be no room for that in UKIP," the young party member said. "Also it would be hypocritical to allow her to stay... because he said in the leadership election he was the candidate against racism and nazis so she has to go or he and @UKIP are doomed if we let this behaviour happen in the party." "Jo was suspended immediately upon us receiving this information," Mr Bolton tweeted in reply. "The opinions I expressed were deliberately exaggerated in order to make a point and have, to an extent, been taken out of context. Yet I fully recognise the offence they have caused," Ms Marney said in a statement. On her Twitter profile Ms Marney describes herself as a model, actor and journalist, as well as a Brexiteer. Mr Bolton was elected Ukip leader last September. Ltd is eyeing a 20 per cent jump in revenues next fiscal as the country's focus on raising domestic output propels a stagnant rig hire market. The company, which owns 16 rigs used for drilling of oil and gas, is expected to end the current fiscal with a revenue of Rs 3 billion, up from Rs 1.05 billion in the previous year, its CEO Rajeev Nayyer said. "In the next fiscal, we are expecting a 20 per cent rise in revenues to Rs 3.6 billion" as more of the company's rigs are hired by explorers, he told PTI. Of the 16 rigs it holds, 15 are on-land drilling rig and one is submersible rig. Three of the on-land rigs are in Dubai and out of the remaining 12, the company expects at least eight to be hired by explorers, the CEO said. The company's offshore semi-submersible rig, the Essar Wildcat, is already deployed on a three-year contract with state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) since May 2017, Nayyer added. Public and private sector firms are stepping on gas to explore and produce more oil and gas as they look to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi's target of cutting import dependence by 10 per cent by 2022. India currently imports over 80 per cent of its oil needs. Nayyer said three of the land rigs are in operation through contracts with Oil India Ltd (OIL) and Mercator Petroleum, and another five are likely to be placed next fiscal. "More contracts are under negotiation," he said, adding that the company is benefiting from upswing in the country's upstream sector. "We are close to signing more contracts with clients, both new and old so FY 2018-19 will also see us growing our revenues further to Rs 3.6 billion," Nayyer said. The current fiscal, he said, has really been a landmark year for the company with a turnaround in revenues after commencing drilling for contracted clients. "There is an upswing in exploration activity in India, and we are glad that we have the expertise and resources to support the prime minister's call for increasing domestic crude production, thus ensuring the country's energy security," he said. Asked about rig hire rates, he said rates have bottomed out and the company's rigs are commanding "decent" price. He, however, neither disclosed the rig hire rates or the company's profitability. Ford Motor Co on Sunday will officially take the wraps off its long-awaited Ranger midsize pickup truck, a year ahead of its arrival in showrooms, as rivals consolidate positions in a segment Detroit automakers once gave up for dead. Ford executives did not disclose prices or fuel efficiency ratings for the new Ranger during a briefing for the media ahead of the official unveiling at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. More than two years ago Ford telegraphed its decision to re-launch the Ranger midsize truck in North America after killing the model in 2011. At ... Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra on Sunday separately met high-level delegations of top two lawyers bodies BCI and SCBA and assured them that the crisis erupting after the revolt by the four senior-most judges against him would be sorted out soon and congeniality would prevail. A seven-member Bar Council India (BCI) panel led by its chairman Manan Kumar Mishra had a 50-minute meeting with the CJI after hectic parleys with several apex court judges, with whom they shared the views of the apex body of the Bar regulating the lawyers. Coming out of the official residence of the CJI at 5, Krishna Menon Marg here, the BCI chairman told reporters that the meeting with the head of the judiciary was held in a congenial atmosphere and that Justice Misra assured that everything would be sorted out soon. We met CJI in a congenial atmosphere and he said everything will be sorted out soon, Mishra said. He also said that before meeting the CJI, the panel also discussed the crisis plaguing the higher judiciary with several other judges, including three of the four senior-most judges who had on Friday held an unprecedented press conference. The BCI chairman said the panel met Justice J Chelameswar, Justice M B Lokur and Justice Kurian Joseph, and they also assured that everything would be sorted out. He did not mention whether the panel had any talks with Justice Ranjan Gogoi, who was not in the city. The four apex court judges Chelameswar, Gogoi, Lokur and Joseph had raised a litany of problems, including the assigning of cases in the apex court, and said there were certain issues afflicting the countrys highest court. Mishra said they would hold a press conference on Monday to apprise about the BCIs day-long parleys with the judges of the apex court in the wake of the crisis. Earlier, Bar Association (SCBA) President Vikas Singh met the CJI and handed over a resolution of the apex court lawyers body on the crisis. The senior lawyer told PTI that he handed over a copy of the SCBA resolution to the CJI, who assured him that he would look into it. I met the CJI and handed over a copy of the resolution. He said he would look into it and ensure there was congeniality in the at the earliest, Singh told PTI after his 15-minute meeting with the CJI. Singh expressed hope that all judges of the apex court would give consideration to its resolution in which the association asked for a full court discussion to defuse the present crisis plaguing the higher judiciary. Several judges of the apex court also met each other over the ongoing crisis during the day. Two top court judges S A Bobde and L Nageswara Rao met Justice J Chelameswar, who had led the four judges in the unprecedented press conference at his official residence here, sources said. The BCI panel also had a brief meeting with Justice Arun Mishra, who has been in the focus for hearing PILs seeking a probe into the death of special CBI judge B H Loya. Loya, who was dealing with the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, had died of cardiac arrest three years ago. The four judges had questioned the allocation of Loya's case to Justice Mishra, bypassing senior judges. Sources said that the full court of the will in all possibility deliberate upon the situation arising out of the controversial presser of its four seniormost judges who virtually revolted against the CJI on Monday. Full court mechanism is one in which deliberations by all the judges of the top court takes place in-house and not in the open. Six months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic visit to Israel, first ever by any Indian prime minister to the Jewish nation, his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu is arriving in India today for a six-day state visit. The Israeli Prime Minister, who is the second Prime Minister from his country after Ariel Sharon to visit India in the last 25 years of a diplomatic relationship, will be accompanied by a 130-member delegation from various sectors including cyber, agriculture and defence. Later in the day, he will call on External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj. The visiting dignitary, on Monday, will be given a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhawan which will be followed by the wreath laying at the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi. Netanyahu will also meet his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi and hold delegation level talks. The two sides will sign agreements and also issue a joint press statement. The Israeli Prime Minister will call on President Ram Nath Kovind later in the day. On Tuesday, Netanyahu, accompanied by his wife Sara, will leave for Agra to see Taj Mahal. On the same day, he will visit Delhi and participate in the Raisina Dialogue, where he is scheduled to deliver an inaugural speech. Netanyahu will leave for Ahmedabad on the fourth day of his tour and visit Sabarmati Ashram. The minister will also attend an event at the International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology (iCreate). He will later visit the Centre of Excellence, Vadrad. On the same day, the minister will leave for Mumbai. On Thursday, Netanyahu will have a power breakfast with Indian CEOs and attend a business seminar. He will also lay a wreath at Taj Hotel Mumbai and pay a visit to Nariman House - Chabad Centre. He will also reach out to Bollywood personalities in an exclusive 'Shalom Bollywood' event, that aims at exploring business opportunities for Indian filmmakers in Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived here on Sunday on a six-day visit, during which he will hold extensive talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, who received him at the airport, setting aside protocol. Modi welcomed Netanyahu with a hug upon his arrival. "Welcome to India, my friend PM @netanyahu! Your visit to India is historic and special. It will further cement the close friendship between our nations," Modi tweeted in English and Hebrew. Natanyahu, who arrived here with his wife Sara, and a high-level business delegation, tweeted, "We have landed in India. Thank you to my good friend Narendra Modi for the warm welcome!" Ahead of his departure from Israel, Netanyahu said, "We are strengthening ties between Israel and this important global power (India)." "This serves our security, economic, trade and tourism interests, as well as many other areas. This is a great blessing for the state of Israel," he said. According to Israeli officials, Netanyahu was pleasantly surprised by Modi welcoming him at the airport. "I very much appreciate the gesture," Netanyahu was quoted as saying by officials. Modi and Netanyahu are known to share a warm personal rapport. During Modi's visit to Israel last year, Netanyahu had received the Indian prime minister at the airport. Netanyahu's visit to India is only the second by an Israeli prime minister and comes after a gap of 15 years. Former prime minister Ariel Sharon had visited India in 2003. Modi and Netanyahu later attended a ceremony to rename Teen Murti Chowk in central Delhi as Teen Murti-Haifa Chowk. They also laid a wreath and signed the visitor's book at the memorial. The three bronze statues at Teen Murti represent the Hyderabad, Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers who were part of the 15 Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade. The brigade carried out the victorious assault on the fortified city of Haifa on September 23, 1918, during World War I. The renaming gesture underscores the special link and the common history between Israel and India, Netanyahu said after the event, according to Israeli officials. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also called on the Israeli prime minister. During the meeting, Netanyahu told Swaraj that he was overwhelmed by the warmth he received upon his arrival here. He also said that his visit can catapult bilateral ties to the next level. Later, Modi also hosted a private dinner for Netanyahu and his wife. During Netanyahu's visit, which comes days after India voted against Israel at the UN on the Jerusalem issue, several MoUs, including in the field of defence, oil and gas, renewable energy, amended protocol for airports, cyber security, and co-production of films and documentaries are expected to be signed between the two sides. India had last month joined 127 other countries to vote in the United Nations General Assembly in favour of a resolution opposing the recent decision of US President Donald Trump to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital. During his stay, Netanyahu will also visit Gujarat and Mumbai. On January 15, Netanyahu will meet the Indo-Israeli CEO forum here and address a separate business event. He will deliver a speech at the Raisina Dialogue on January 16. Netanyahu will also call on President Ram Nath Kovind. He will leave for Ahmedabad on the morning of January 17. In Ahmedabad, he will visit the Sabarmati Ashram. Modi and Netanyahu will also visit the Center of Excellence in Vadrad and inaugurate a Center of Excellence for date palms in Bhuj via video conferencing. The Israeli prime minister will have a number of engagements in Mumbai on January 18. The Israeli embassy had said that Netanyahu will meet with Jewish community leaders and select members of the Indian business community in Mumbai. It had said he will reach out to Bollywood in an exclusive "Shalom Bollywood" event. In Mumbai, he will also attend a ceremony at the Chabad House, which will be attended by Moshe Holtzberg. Fondly known as Moshe, the 11-year-old's parents were killed in the Chabad House during the 26/11 terror strike, which had come under attack. scientists have spotted the farthest known galaxy in the universe, a primitive cluster of stars just 500 million years old. An intensive survey deep into the universe by NASA's Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes has yielded the image of the galaxy named SPT0615-JD, stretched and amplified by a phenomenon called gravitational lensing. Though a few other primitive galaxies have been seen at this early epoch, they have essentially all looked like red dots given their small size and tremendous distances. However, in this case, the gravitational field of a massive foreground galaxy cluster not only amplified the light from the background galaxy but also smeared the image of it into an arc. "No other candidate galaxy has been found at such a great distance that also gives you the spatial information that this arc image does," said Brett Salmon of the Space Telescope Science Institute in the US. "By analysing the effects of gravitational lensing on the image of this galaxy, we can determine its actual size and shape," said Salmon. First predicted by Albert Einstein a century ago, the warping of space by the gravity of a massive foreground object can brighten and distort the images of far more distant background objects. Astronomers use this "zoom lens" effect to go hunting for amplified images of distant galaxies that otherwise would not be visible with today's telescopes. SPT0615-JD was identified in Hubble's Reionization Lensing Cluster Survey (RELICS) and companion S-RELICS Spitzer programme. "RELICS was designed to discover distant galaxies like these that are magnified brightly enough for detailed study," said Dan Coe, Principal Investigator of RELICS. By combining the Hubble and Spitzer data, Salmon calculated the lookback time to the galaxy of 13.3 billion years. Preliminary analysis suggests the diminutive galaxy weighs in at no more than 3 billion solar masses. It is less than 2,500 light-years across The object is considered prototypical of young galaxies that emerged during the epoch shortly after the Big Bang. The galaxy is right at the limits of Hubble's detection capabilities, but just the beginning for the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope's powerful capabilities, said Salmon. "This galaxy is an exciting target for science with the Webb telescope as it offers the unique opportunity for resolving stellar populations in the very early universe," he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu will attend on Sunday, a solemn ceremony at the Teen Murti Memorial here to mark the formal renaming of as Teen Murti Haifa Chowk. The two leaders will also lay a wreath and sign the visitor's book at the memorial, official sources said. Netanyahu is arriving in India on a six-day visit on Sunday. The three bronze statues at Teen Murti represent the Hyderabad, Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers who were part of the 15 Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade. The brigade carried out the victorious assault on the fortified city of Haifa on September 23, 1918, during World War I. There are various accounts of this battle - all narrate the valour with which the lancers undertook the assault on the garrisoned city protected by a joint force of Ottomans, Germany and Austria-Hungary. The liberation of Haifa cleared a supply route for the Allies to the city through the sea. Forty-four Indian soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice during the liberation of the city in World War I. Till date, the 61 Cavalry celebrates September 23 as its Raising Day or "Haifa Day. Tens of thousands of devotees across Himachal Pradesh on Sunday took a dip in rivers braving cold weather to mark the auspicious Makar Sankranti festival. A huge gathering was seen at Tattapani, around 52 km from the state capital, and Manikaran, home to a Sikh shrine in Kullu district, for a holy dip in the Sutlej and Parvati rivers respectively. Both Tattapani and Manikaran, known for hot springs with high sulphur concentration, witnessed a majority of devotees mainly from Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi. "Every year more than 20,000 devotees are expected on Makar Sankranti," a priest at Tattapani told IANS. Likewise, the devotees took a holy bath in Vashist temple, located on the outskirts of the popular tourist resort Manali. The temple is situated on the left bank of Beas river, also known for its hot springs. Makar Sankranti, a major harvest festival celebrated in various parts of the country, also marks the beginning of warmer and longer days compared to the nights. Traders in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), blocked the Neelum Valley road and burnt tyres to show their anger against load shedding and damage of transformers in the area. The protest was called by the Anjuman Tajiran (trade union) in Muzaffarabad as local businessmen have been facing huge losses due to severe power cuts. #WATCH PoK: Protests in Muzaffarabad by traders against load shedding pic.twitter.com/QQB6gI2VZo ANI (@ANI) January 14, 2018 The protesters raised slogans against the Water and Power Development Authority and Prime Ministers of and Pakistan. The police tried to disperse the protesters forcibly, causing major tension in the area. A protester said, "We have requested the concerned authority, but they are not listening. Since the PML (N) government has come to power, our problems increased manifold". It is ironic that the hub of hydropower generation, suffers long and persistent power outages, ranging from four to 12 hours. As per an estimate, produces roughly 1,500 MW electricity through hydropower but fails to get its total requirement of 400 MW. The people of PoK blame Islamabad for exploitation of its resources and in return keeping the region in the dark. In what can only be a case of hacking, two photographs of Pakistan's flag and the neighbour country's President Mamnoon Hussain were posted from the Twitter account of India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations The pictures were posted during the wee hours of Sunday, and interestingly, the "blue tick" that marks a verified account also disappeared at the time. The account was later restored along with the blue tick and the questionable tweets were also removed. Evidently, cyber attack has not been a new strategy for the terrorists in Pakistan, and government officials have been prime targets. In 2016, a total of 199 government websites were hacked in India, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had told the Parliament. In fact, more than 700 websites under the Indian government have been hacked from 2013 to 2016. Last year in January, the website of the Security Guard (NSG), the Indian special forces unit combating terror activities, was also hacked posing unprecedented threat to security. The website was, however, blocked immediately by the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT.IN). As technology has progressed, so has the strategy of terror attacks, and cyber warfare has taken over the battlefield to breach the security. Addressing the press yesterday, Army Chief Bipin Rawat also focused on the increasing threat of cyber and information warfare, adding that the Indian security forces are concentrating more in that area. Cyber warfare is a phenomenon plaguing countries across the world too. Although the culprits of cyber attacks are practically impossible to nab, the source has often been traced to Russia. Last year, more than 300 Ukrainian companies were penetrated by hackers speculated by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to be from Russia, in an attempt to cripple the financial system of the country. Czech Republic too fell victim to a massive cyber attack, wherein emails of dozens of its most senior diplomats were hacked. Russian hackers were again thought to be behind it. Recently, Russian hackers are laying blueprint to hack the internal email system of United States Senate, a report by a cybersecurity firm has suggested. Dr Bhamre assures Armed Forces Veterans the nation stands with them Armed Forces Veterans Day is being celebrated by the Armed Forces across the country today, as a mark of respect and commitment towards the veterans. Raksha Rajya Mantri Dr Subhash Bhambre inaugurated the main event at the Manekshaw Centre, Delhi Cantt. This Day is commemorated in the memory of first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Field Marshal K M Cariappa becoming a veteran in 1953. Speaking on the occasion Dr Bhamre said, Nation is proud of your selfless devotion to duty and the sacrifices made by each one of you. I can say it with conviction that it is only due to our formidable Armed Forces, each and every citizen of INDIA, today is brimming with unstinted faith and confidence to face the world with pride." The RRM assured the veterans the whole country appreciate their sacrifices towards the Nation and said, I can assure you all that your sacrifice in service to the motherland though is un-parallel and cannot be compensated at any cost, but we shall strive to put in our best to ensure that we stand with you at all times." Earlier, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC), Lt Gen Satish Dua laid a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti along with veterans from the Army, Navy and the Air Force. Rallies have been held at eight stations, namely New Delhi, Allahabad, Mumbai, Port Blair, Pune, Lucknow, Jalandhar and Jaipur to mark the occasion. A large number of agencies involved in veterans affairs such as Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB), Ex Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) and Veterans Directorates of the three Services as well as pension sanctioning and pension disbursing agencies had set up stalls to redress problems being faced by the veterans and their families. In addition to that nationalised banks had also put up stalls to help the veterans. A new and improved version of the ECHS Card was released by the RRM on the occasion. Secretary, Ex Servicemen Welfare Smt Sanjeevanee Kutty spoke to the gathering about the new initiatives being undertaken to ameliorate problems being faced by Ex-Servicemen. The function was also attended by Chief of the Army Staff General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa and senior officials of the Armed Forces & Ministry of Defence. NAo/NM/DK/Rajib Hello Joe, read the November 2016 email from someone identifying himself as John Doughs. I have found a major vulnerability in Uber. The email appeared to be no different from other messages that Joe Sullivan, Ubers chief security officer, and his team routinely received through the companys bug bounty programme, which pays hackers for reporting holes in the ride-hailing services systems, according to current and former Uber security employees. Yet the note and Ubers eventual $100,000 payment ... There has been a 62 per cent decline in security aid from the the US to Pakistan over the last five years, according to an analysis of data released by the US Congressional Research Service (CRS). The data indicative of worsening US-Pakistan ties come as US President Donald Trump in his new year's tweet slammed Pakistans "lies and deceit" and providing "safe haven" to terrorists in return for $ 33 billion aid over the past 15 years. Trump tweeted that there will be no more Days after the Trump's tweet, the US suspended about $2 billion in security aid to Pakistan for failing to clamp down on the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani Network terror groups and dismantle their safe havens. Source: Congressional Research Service In the post-9/11 period, Pakistan emerged as one of the biggest recipients of US aid because of its role as a regional ally in the American-led military intervention in Afghanistan. Pakistan received nearly $33 billion in the form of US security aid, economic aid and Coalition Support Funds (CSF) over 15 years. Bilateral relations became increasingly fraught since the US special-forces raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan, that killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin-Laden in May 2011. This led the US to become critical of Pakistans role in fighting terror, particularly on the matter of safe havens to terrorists. Economic and humanitarian aid to Pakistan too declined 77 per cent from $1.1 billion in FY12 to $246 million in FY16. Since 2002, Pakistan has received over $13 billion in Coalition Support Funds (CSF) from the US. These are meant to reimburse Pakistan for its operational and logistical support of US-led counterterrorism operations in the region, the CRS notes. The CRS reimbursement has declined 20 per cent from $688 million in FY12 to $550 million in FY16. The White House has denied and corrected a quote attributed to President Donald Trump that suggested he had good contacts with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. "I probably have a very good relationship with Kim Jong- Un," Trump was quoted as telling The Wall Street Journal in an interview on Thursday, refusing to confirm whether the two had spoken. "I have relationships with people. I think you people are surprised." But Press Secretary Sarah Sanders insisted -- in a Twitter meme -- that Trump was misquoted. "President Trump said, I'D probably have a very good relationship with Kim Jong Un of North Korea. I'D -- I'D -- I'D. NOT I!" the message read, with "I'D" in red ink, under a red banner reading "FAKE NEWS." Mockingly mimicking the newspaper's front page, it then reads "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL -- FAKE NEWS IS AT IT AGAIN! -- FALSELY QUOTING PRESIDENT TRUMP."Washington and Pyongyang are in a standoff over North Korea's missile and nuclear programs, which could be used to target the United States and its allies. Trump has repeatedly insulted the North Korean leader, describing him as mad and a "rocket man." Asked if he had spoken to Kim, Trump said "I don't want to comment on it. I'm not saying I have or haven't. I just don't want to comment." Trump suggested his variable position on individuals was part of a broader strategy. But it was not clear how his remarks fit with his self- described policy of "maximum pressure" on Pyongyang. Next week, the United States and Canada are to host a meeting on the nuclear standoff with North Korea in Vancouver, bringing together friendly powers from around the world. The South African team were bowled out for 335 in their first innings on Day 2 of the second Test at the SuperSport Park here on Sunday. Resuming their innings at 269 for six wickets, the home team was bowled out just before lunch, with Ravichandran Ashwin claiming four wickets for 113 runs. Faf du Plessis (63) spearheaded the South African attack today, helping his team cross the 300 mark. Ishant Sharma chipped in with three wickets, while Mohammed Shami claimed one. Earlier on Saturday, the Proteas got off to a decent start with openers Dean Elgar (31) and Aiden Markram (94) tackling the Indian bowlers well. Markram, who was dismissed six runs shy of his third century, became the second-fastest South African to score 500 runs after five test matches. Hashim Amla (82) consolidated South Africa's innings along with Markram and kept the scoreboard ticking until the latter fell at the team's score of 148. Following Markram's wicket, A.B. de Villiers (20) chipped in and along with Amla took the team to 199 until the swashbuckling batsman was clean bowled by Ishant Sharma. However, with Ravichandran Ashwin dismissing Quinton de Kock for a duck and Hardik Pandya chipping in with his top-hole fielding skills, the home team lost three quick wickets for just 23 runs. The Indian team had begun their innings, at the time of filing this report. The team trails by 331 runs with 10 wickets remaining, at lunch on Day 2. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Conference (NC) chief Farooq Abdullah said on Sunday that further division of India would cause more destruction and added that the enemy was not across the border but amongst us. Speaking at a press conference here, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said, "Any further division of this nation will cause only destruction. Our enemy is not across the border but among ourselves. Unless we fight this enemy, there is no solution". He added that the country would not be able to resolve the problem of Jammu and Kashmir if there was a conflict amongst the people. Abdullah also stressed on the resumption of talks between India and Pakistan. " Security Advisers of India and Pakistan have met in Bangkok. If there is terrorism, then it is necessary that both the countries (India and Pakistan) meet together and discuss over this issue. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least four people have died and 16 others got injured after riots broke out in Venezuela's Merida state over food shortages. Venezuela is dealing with a major economic crisis caused due to the decline oil prices and sanctions levied by the United States. "An armed group in moving vehicles shot people queuing to buy rice in front of a store," the Anadolu Agency quoted the Mayor Silvio Luis Torres, as saying. According to the eyewitnesses, among the dead were a 17-year-old minor and a 23-year-old Manuel Alberto Oria Marquez, who was shot while looting a food truck. The injured were rushed to a hospital in Valera city for medical assistance. When asked about the reason behind the riots, deputy to the National Assembly for Merida state Addy Coromoto Valero said, "In this town, lots of people go hungry. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hours after landing in Delhi, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted in Hindi on Sunday to express happiness over meeting his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi for the second time in six months. "???? ????? ??????? ??????? ???? ??, ??? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ????????? ????? ?? ??? ???! #ShalomNamaste," Netanyahu tweeted. On that note, Netanyahu, who apparently was surprised by Modi's "personal welcome" at the airport, dwelled upon bringing the bilateral relationship to "new heights" together. "Thank you to my good friend, Indian PM Narendra Modi, who surprised me with a personal welcome at the airport upon my arrival in India. Together we will bring the relations between our countries to new heights!" the Israeli PM said in another Twitter post. The Israeli premier, who is on a six-day maiden visit to India, is accompanied by his wife Sara and a 130-member delegation from various sectors, drawn from cyber, agriculture and defence. Apart from Delhi, Netanyahu will be visiting Agra, Gujarat and Mumbai and will be accompanied by the Indian Prime Minister on extensive portions of his visit. Earlier in the day, the two prime ministers attended a ceremony to mark the formal renaming of iconic Teen Murti Chowk as Teen Murti-Haifa Chowk. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is arriving in Delhi on Sunday, will be received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two Prime Ministers will then move to Teen Murti Memorial for a solemn ceremony. The leaders will lay a wreath and sign the visitor's book. The ceremony will also mark the formal renaming of Teen Murti Chowk as the Teen Murti Haifa Chowk by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC). The three bronze statues at Teen Murti represent the Hyderabad, Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers, who were part of the 15 Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade, which carried out the victorious assault on the fortified city of Haifa on September 23, 1918, during World War I. There are various accounts of this battle - all narrate the brave valour with which the lancers undertook the assault on the garrisoned town protected by a joint force of Ottomans, Germany and Austria Hungary. The capture of Haifa cleared a route for the Allies to supplies to the city through the sea. About 44 Indian soldiers had made the ultimate sacrifice during the liberation of the city in World War I. Till date, the 61 Cavalry celebrates 23rd September as its Raising Day or "Haifa Day." The Israeli Prime Minister, who is the second Prime Minister from his country after Ariel Sharon to visit India in the last 25 years of a diplomatic relationship, who will be here on a six-day visit to India, will be accompanied by a 130-member delegation from various sectors, including cyber, agriculture and defence. Later in the day, Prime Minister Netanyahu will call on External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj. On Monday, the visiting dignitary will be given a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, which will be followed by the wreath laying at the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi. Both the prime ministers will also meet and hold delegation level talks. The two sides will sign agreements and also issue a joint press statement. The Israeli Prime Minister will call on President Ram Nath Kovind, later in the day. On Tuesday, Netanyahu, accompanied by his wife Sara, will leave for Agra to see Taj Mahal. On the same day, he will visit Delhi and participate in the Raisina Dialogue, where he is scheduled to deliver an inaugural speech. Netanyahu will leave for Ahmedabad on the fourth day of his tour and visit Sabarmati Ashram. The minister will also attend an event at the International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology (iCreate). He will later visit the Centre of Excellence, Vadrad. On the same day, the minister will leave for Mumbai. On Thursday, Netanyahu will have a power breakfast with Indian CEOs and attend a business seminar. He will also lay a wreath at Taj Hotel Mumbai and pay a visit to Nariman House - Chabad Centre. He will also reach out to Bollywood personalities in an exclusive 'Shalom Bollywood' event, which aims at exploring business opportunities for Indian filmmakers in Israel. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In the eighth incident of its kind, a doctor's car was set on fire by unidentified miscreants while it was parked outside his hospital here on Sunday morning. The doctor, identified as Ajay, told ANI that as per CCTV footage, an unidentified person in a Maruti Suzuki 800 poured a substance on the car and set it on fire around 6:03 a.m. "Around 6:30 a.m., I got a call saying that my car was in flames. Later, the CCTV footage showed that the miscreant came in a silver-coloured Maruti 800, poured something over the car and fled from the spot. A fire engine was called in to douse the flame, and we informed the police," he said. Dr. Ajay further said as per the police, this is the eight such incident being reported from the district. Additionally, a majority of the other seven cars, he said, also belonged to doctors. Investigation in this matter is underway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mohammad Mahmood Ali inaugurated the third Telangana International Kite Festival and the first International Sweet Festival at Parade Grounds here. Praising the initiative of organising the fest in the state by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, Ali congratulated the teams participating in the fests. "We also used to fly kites when we were young. Since the Telangana Government was formed we have been celebrating this festival on a wide scale. I would like to congratulate everyone participating in this festival", he said. Mahmood was accompanied by Telangana Minister of Tourism Azmeera Chandulal. The kite festival began Telangana in 2016. The first two edition was hosted by the Aga Khan Academy on its premises in Shamshabad for the first two editions, later on, Telangana Tourism moved from being a partner to the organiser of the event. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is raising irrelevant issues in the poll-bound state, his Uttar Pradesh counterpart, Yogi Adityanath, highlighted that the law and order situation there was at its worst. Speaking to ANI, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said, "We do not indulge in vote bank politics. We are more focused on poverty-stricken people, farmers and women empowerment. It is true that in Karnataka, the condition of law and order is at its worst. Development and nationalism are the main issues for us and we will continue with the same in Karnataka as well". He pointed out that the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) workers have been murdered in a barbaric manner there, farmers have committed suicides and honest and loyal employees have been demeaned. "People will definitely give a befitting reply to the kind of governance being seen there", Chief Minister Adityanath stated. Earlier on Saturday, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the Congress Party is confident of winning and serving a second term in office in the state. Responding to his recent tussle with his Uttar Pradesh counterpart over Hinduism and most-recently, the alleged killing of Hindus, Siddaramaiah claimed that the BJP has run out of issues to discuss, and hence are raising irrelevant ones. "The BJP is raising irrelevant issues in Karnataka. 'Hindutva' is the only issue they have. Yogi Adityanath and Amit Shah are also raising the same issue, and Narendra Modi may also raise the same in the future," he said. Karnataka will go to polls in April this year. Congress President Rahul Gandhi is expected to visit Karnataka from February 10 to 12 for the first leg of the election campaign. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hollywood's highest paid-actor Mark Wahlberg has responded to criticism that he was paid USD 1.5million to reshoot 'All the Money in the World' by donating the full sum to the Time's Up legal fund. The actor issued a statement which read, "Over the last few days my reshoot fee for All the Money in the World has become an important topic of conversation. I 100 percent support the fight for fair pay and I'm donating the USD 1.5 million to the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund in Michelle Williams' name." The 46-year-old actor had come under fire after details of his apparently lucrative deal to save director Ridley Scott's film 'All the Money in the World' were leaked, according to the Hollywood Reporter. There was a public outcry when it was revealed that Michelle Williams was paid just one percent of her co-star Mark's fee for reshoots on the movie after Kevin Spacey - who was originally playing billionaire J Paul Getty was accused of sexual misconduct and replaced by Christopher Plummer. Wahlberg, named as the highest paid actor in the world last year after earning around USD 50 million, reportedly drove a hard bargain after Spacey was axed from the project. Williams and Wahlberg are both represented by the William Morris Endeavor. WME is making a USD 500,000 donation as well. WME said, "The current conversation is a reminder that those of us in a position of influence have a responsibility to challenge inequities, including the gender wage gap. In recognition of the pay discrepancy on the All the Money in the World reshoots, WME is donating an additional USD 500,000 to the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund in Michelle Williams' name, following our $1 million pledge to the organization earlier this month." "It's crucial that this conversation continues within our community and we are committed to being part of the solution," concluded the statement. Meanwhile, Williams has applauded Wahlberg's recent donation to the Time's Up legal defence fund. She said, "Today isn't about me. My fellow actresses stood by me and stood up for me, my activist friends taught me to use my voice, and the most powerful men in charge, they listened and they acted. If we truly envision an equal world, it takes equal effort and sacrifice. Today is one of the most indelible days of my life because of Mark Wahlberg, WME and a community of women and men who share in this accomplishment. Anthony Rapp, for all the shoulders you stood on, now we stand on yours." Time's Up campaign was created in the wake of the sexual assault and harassment allegations which have emerged in recent months. The group is advocating for gender equality and has launched a legal fund to victims, and also supported stars wearing black to the Golden Globes Awards to show solidarity with victims. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One more coast guard ship is deployed from Mumbai for search operation after a Pawan Hans helicopter, carrying five senior officials of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and two pilots, crashed off the Mumbai coast minutes after it took off on Saturday. INS Makar, twin hulled catamaran hydrograph ship from Karwar, is enroute to augment the search efforts in the area. A total of 5-6 coast guard ships are deployed in the area already, ONGC officials said. INS Teg and Tarasa are coordinating the search in the area. ICG Ships Samudra Prahari, Achook & Agrim are also at work in the area. ICGS Samrat sailed out from Mumbai and joined the search and rescue operations. ONGC vessel TAG 15 undertaking Side Scan Sonar (SSS) operations have found some debris 600 yards from wreckage position. Meanwhile, diving team ex- Samudra Sevak is preparing to undertake diving operations in the area. So far, six bodies have been recovered. The police informed that the bodies have been brought to Cooper Hospital for postmortem. A total of seven people were on-board in the Pawan Hans Dauphin N2 that crashed and a total of four bodies have been recovered so far. Meanwhile, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) identified two of the bodies to be of ONGC employees. The ONGC, along with the ICG and the Indian Navy, has pressed its helicopter and speedboats for search operations. The helicopter, which took off from Juhu at 10.20 am, was scheduled to land at ONGC's North Field oil rig at 10.58 am. The last contact with the Air Traffic Control (ATC) was made at about 10.30 am, 30 nautical miles off Mumbai. The cause of the tragic incident is still unknown. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least two people have died and 17 went missing after an earthquake of 7.3 magnitude hit Peru's coast on Sunday. According to CNN, Arequipa Governor Yamila Osorio said on Twitter that one 55-year old man died in the town of Yauca after being crushed by a rock. Meanwhile, Jorge Chavez, chief of Peru's Civil Defense Institute (INDECI), told local radio station RPP that a second death was reported in the town of Bella Union. "Prelim M7.3 earthquake near the coast of southern Peru Jan-14 09:18 UTC," tweeted USGS Big Quakes. Prelim M7.3 earthquake near the coast of southern Peru Jan-14 09:18 UTC, updates https://t.co/akiSg41Zo4 - USGS Big Quakes (@USGSBigQuakes) January 14, 2018 The quake hit 31km south-southwest of Acari, according to the US Geological Survey. Several media reports state that a tsunami warning is in place near the epicentre of the quake. Peru is located in the Ring of Fire, which is an area in the Pacific Ocean vulnerable to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre, tsunami waves are possible within 300 km of the epicentre along the coast of Peru. After attending a ceremony along with visiting Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Teen Murti Memorial here on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed sacrifice of Indian soldiers during World War 1. "Salute to the great Indian traditions of selfless sacrifice and penance," PM Modi penned down in Gujarati in visitors book at Teen Murti Chowk, which was formally renamed to Teen Murti-Haifa Chowk. "It is the 100th anniversary of the end of World War-1. Many golden pages of the sacrifices of Indian braves are written in the history of both World Wars," he wrote in the book. The three bronze statues at the chowk stands in the remembrance of the lancers who as part of the British Army fought a victorious battle in Haifa on September 23, 1918, during World War I. "One of these pages was written 100 years ago, in the sacrifice of Indian soldiers at Haifa. The sacrifice commemorated at Teen Murti observes its centenary," PM Modi's inscription read. "In the presence of the Prime Minister of Israel, we pay homage to the brave soldiers," he further wrote. After PM Modi received his Israeli counterpart Netanyahu at a Delhi airport today, both attended a ceremony to mark the formal renaming of the iconic chowk as Teen Murti Haifa Chowk. The two premiers, who signed the visitor's book at the chowk, were received by Army Chief General Bipin Rawat and Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday wished the nation on the festivals of Makar Sakranti, Pongal, Magh Bihu and Uttarayan. In a series of tweets, the Prime Minister extended his greetings to all those celebrating various festivals. "On the occasion of makar sankranti, I extend my greetings to all the people," tweeted Prime Minister Modi. "Pongal greetings to everyone!" said Prime Minister Modi. Wishing the nation on the occasion of Magh Bihu, Prime Minister Modi said, "I hope this festival strengthens the bond of brotherhood and makes our society more happy and prosperous." Prime Minister Modi also extended Uttarayan wishes to the people of Gujarat. The Nation celebrate these festivals with much fervour and enthusiasm. Devotees take holy dip at Ganga Sagar in West Bengal on the occasion of Makar Sakranti, while Andhra Pradesh welcomed the first day of Pongal today. (grammar ki BAAP BHAI kar dii..CORRECT IT!) On the occasion of Uttarayan, Gujarat government conducts International Kite Festival. Since 1989, Ahmedabad has been hosting the festival every year on the Sabarmati riverfront and lakhs of revelers come to witness the creative kites flying and clashing among themselves in air. The International Kite Festival began on January 7 and will end on January 14. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Ram Nath Kovind urged the youth of the nation to avail the self-employment opportunities created by Central government. President Kovind averred that to improve the economic condition, the youth should engage in entrepreneurship. While inaugurating the "Economic Democracy Conclave" in Thane district President Kovind urged the youth to benefit from Central government schemes such as Mudra, Start-up India and Stand-up India. The conclave aims to create a platform for young entrepreneurs and self-employed individuals, and provide them motivation, networking and mentoring. The President also lauded Maharashtra government's initiative to promote entrepreneurship in the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bar Council of India, after meeting the rebel judges on Sunday, expressed confidence that the apparent rift between the four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court and Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra would be resolved soon. "We have been told that there is no crisis. It is an internal matter which will be resolved soon. I am sure a solution will be found in two to three days," said Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairperson Manan Mishra after meeting Justice Jasti Chelameswar, who was among the SC judges that took on CJI publicly on Friday. Earlier in the day, the seven-member BCI delegation also met the other three apex court judges, who, along with Chelameswar, had alleged irregularities in the administration of the SC. The BCI had formed the delegation to resolve the issue between the two parties today. Justices Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B Lokur and Kurian Joseph, on Friday, held a press conference - a first by the SC judges - and alleged that the CJI had been violating the conventions in his role as the master of the roster. The judges appealed the nation to save the institution if they wanted democracy in the country to survive. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Supporters of jailed Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Lalu Prasad on Sunday arrived at Birsa Munda Jail with 'Dahi chuda' for the party supremo on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. The supporters had very carefully packed dahi chuda for their leader. Dahi chuda is a traditional dish, eaten during Makar Sankranti. Birsa Munda Jail is where the RJD chief is locked up and was sentenced to 3.5 years of jail in a fodder scam case. Earlier on January 6, a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court sentenced former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad to 3.5 years of jail in a fodder scam case. The fodder scam involved the embezzlement of about Rs 900 crore from the Bihar exchequer. The corruption scheme involved the fabrication of 'vast herds of fictitious livestock for which fodder, medicines and animal husbandry equipment was supposedly procured over a period of 20 years'. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu here today and discussed bilateral ties between the two countries. The Ministry of External Affairs took to Twitter to say, "Warm and engaging conversation on various aspects of our bilateral ties aimed at strengthening our strategic partnership". Later in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be hosting a private dinner for the visiting dignitary. Netanyahu, who is on a six-day visit to India, is accompanied by his wife Sara and a 130-member delegation from various sectors, including cyber, agriculture and defence. The Israeli premier will be visiting Delhi, Agra, Gujarat and Mumbai and will be accompanied by the Indian Prime Minister on extensive portions of his visit. Hours after landing in Delhi, Netanyahu tweeted in Hindi to express happiness over meeting his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi for the second time in six months. Earlier in the day, the two leaders attended a ceremony to mark the formal renaming of iconic Teen Murti Chowk as Teen Murti Haifa Chowk. The two premiers, who signed the visitor's book at the chowk, were received by Army Chief General Bipin Rawat and Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar. They laid wreath and paid tribute at the Chowk. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Trump administration has resumed accepting Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), a programme that protects certain illegal immigrants from deportation, renewal requests as a result of a federal court order. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services said that the DACA program will be operated "on the terms in place" before it was rescinded last September, reported CNN, citing a statement posted online on Saturday. The move unfolds as US District Judge William Alsup issued a preliminary injunction this week blocking President Trump's decision to end the Obama-era program. The statement said, "Due to a federal court order, USCIS has resumed accepting requests to renew a grant of deferred action under DACA." However, neither any new applications will be accepted nor it would be processing applications for those who have never before received DACA protections. According to the reports, Judge Alsup, in his order on Tuesday, stated that the Trump administration's move to rescind DACA was done without following the proper legal procedures and that the federal government would have to "maintain the DACA program on a nationwide basis." Trump branded the order "unfair" at the time, and suggested that it would be reversed by a higher court. Supporters of DACA rejoiced and celebrated the ruling in the streets of San Francisco on the federal court's decision at the time. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)